Asm. Vivian Cook

Provides that certain purchase contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental resilience, racial equity, valued workforce, valued agricultural sector, animal welfare, and nutrition.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3223) would allow eligible veterans to fish for free in all state parks managed by state agencies. It specifically covers veterans who served on active duty with an honorable discharge, including those with qualifying conditions or specific LGBT veteran status as defined in existing law. The state office responsible for parks would need to create rules to implement this free access, with the policy taking effect 90 days after enactment. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet become law.

Requires that public contracts be divided by size into large, medium, small and micro contracts for the purpose of increasing opportunities for small businesses, including minority-owned business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises, to participate in state contracts.

Provides for adult changing tables to be placed within an enclosed restroom facility or other similar private facility that is for use by persons with disabilities who need help with diapering at commercial places of public amusement and state-owned buildings open to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a legislative resolution that honors the life and service of Assistant Sergeant Major Paulene Lewis Hopkins, a veteran, educator, and community leader. It officially recognizes her historic role as a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas during World War II. The resolution also acknowledges her later career as an accomplished educator and her extensive civic work, while formally pausing legislative proceedings to pay tribute to her legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores Denis Butler, a current employee of the unified court system, to active status in the New York state and local employees' retirement system after his retirement was previously finalized. It nullifies his December 30, 2021, retirement and grants him service credit for all work performed from that date forward until his next retirement. The Office of Court Administration is responsible for covering all past costs related to implementing these changes, and the law takes effect immediately.

Requires the display of certain labels and warnings on gas stoves sold, displayed for sale, or offered for sale at retail to a consumer in this state; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.

Establishes visiting policies for incarcerated people, to provide incarcerated people opportunities for personal contact with relatives, friends, clergy, volunteers and other persons to promote better institutional adjustment and better community adjustment upon release.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires chatbot operators (proprietors) to prevent their AI systems from impersonating licensed professionals like doctors, lawyers, or therapists when providing advice or taking actions that would be illegal if done by a human. Proprietors must clearly disclose to users that they are interacting with an AI chatbot in the same language and readable font size as the chatbot's interface, and cannot avoid liability by merely stating this fact. If a chatbot causes harm through such impersonation, affected individuals can sue for actual damages, plus attorney fees if the violation was willful. The law specifically targets chatbots offering professional advice, excluding basic tools like spellcheck or payment processors.

Establishes the "accountability of costs for data centers act"; requires each electric corporation, gas corporation and municipality to establish an independent classification of service for large energy use facilities that is separate and distinct from other classifications of service; authorizes the department of public service to develop financial surety requirements.