Asm. Catalina Cruz

Directs the office of victim services, in consultation with the office for the prevention of domestic violence, to establish a statewide supervised visitation initiative including culturally sensitive services that provide language access for those who need it and that are affordable for those with limited means to pay; requires the submission of regular assessments and reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework for protective orders targeting severe stalking behavior, directly affecting victims (petitioners) and alleged stalkers (respondents). It establishes temporary and final "anti-stalking orders" that prohibit contact, surveillance, and remote control of connected devices (like smart home systems), requiring respondents to stay away from victims' homes, workplaces, or schools. The law defines "stalking" broadly to include offenses like harassment, assault, identity theft, and unauthorized sharing of intimate images, requiring a "course of conduct" (two or more acts within 90 days) to trigger the order. Courts must issue temporary orders the same day if an immediate threat exists, with final orders requiring a hearing to confirm evidence supports the petition.

Maddy summaryBill A 5846 provides remedies for disruptions during early voting or Election Day voting, directly affecting voters and the Boards of Elections. It mandates that if voting at a polling place or district is delayed for over 15 consecutive minutes, the Board of Elections must extend the voting timeframe to compensate for the lost time. This extension can happen on the same day or a subsequent voting day, potentially at alternative locations. The bill also requires the Board of Elections to widely publicize any such remedial actions taken, though they can vote to waive the extension under specific, documented circumstances.

Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to pay a participating pharmacy at minimum at the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC) rate, or at the pharmacy acquisition cost rate if greater or there is not a NADAC rate, plus a professional dispensing fee that is at minimum the professional dispensing fee paid under the state medical assistance program.

Provides that beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, certain graduate students shall be required to pay 25% of all current and future mandatory university fees; provides that in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, no mandatory university fees shall be charged to certain graduate students and adjunct staff, with the exclusion of the graduate student association student activity fee.

Establishes an indirect source review for heavy distribution warehouse operations; requires the department of environmental conservation to conduct a study regarding zero-emissions zones.

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.

Enacts the empire state licensing act to provide all New Yorkers with access to professional, occupational, commercial, or business licenses, permits, certificates, or related registrations regardless of an applicant's citizenship or immigration status.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's Energy Research and Development Authority to develop recommendations for establishing microgrids - local power networks that can operate independently during outages - at critical facilities like hospitals, fire stations, schools, water plants, and emergency shelters. It mandates the Authority to evaluate which facilities should prioritize microgrids, identify geographic areas needing them (based on past storm damage and disadvantaged communities), and propose funding solutions. The Authority must submit these recommendations to state leaders within one year of the bill's effective date. The bill focuses on enhancing grid resilience for essential services without specifying funding sources or implementation timelines.

Relates to the provision of breast pumps and related collection and storage materials to certain incarcerated nursing birth parents who are confined in or committed to an institution or local correctional facility with or without their child subject to specific time limitations; requires institutions and local correctional facilities to provide pumps and related materials to such incarcerated birth parents; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to issue an annual report on data relating to incarcerated birth parents.