Asm. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1724, "Hunger-Free Campus Act") creates a grant program to address student food insecurity at public colleges and universities. It requires qualifying campuses to meet specific standards - including establishing student-inclusive task forces, providing SNAP enrollment assistance, operating food pantries, and hosting awareness events - to earn "hunger-free campus" designation. Public institutions meeting these criteria receive competitive grants to fund food security initiatives like meal vouchers, pantry access, and SNAP outreach. The program mandates annual student hunger surveys and requires a two-year report to state leaders detailing grant usage, student impacts, and recommendations for future funding.

Establishes a local authorities searchable subsidy and economic development benefits database; relates to the obligations of certain industrial development agencies and local development corporations.

Prohibits any cannabis related advertisements in establishments within a certain distance from schools; increases penalties for prohibited advertisement of tobacco and cannabis products; requires enforcement inspections.

Enacts the "sustainable affordable housing and sprawl prevention act"; exempts or limits environmental review under SEQR for the construction of certain new residential units to avoid creating unnecessary housing sprawl; limits certain rights to action under SEQR; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5158) requires for-hire vehicles carrying nine or more passengers (like taxis and ride-share vans) to have New York state-issued license plates to receive mandatory safety inspections. Vehicles with out-of-state plates would be denied safety inspections under this rule. The law specifically applies to vehicles with nine or more passenger seats (excluding the driver), as defined in the bill. It changes inspection eligibility based solely on license plate origin, ensuring these vehicles meet New York's safety standards through state registration.

Prohibits the New York state environmental facilities corporation from entering into contracts, leases or other agreements with entities that are not compliant with the requirements of article five-A of the general municipal law regarding participation by minority- and women-owned businesses.

Requires certain health insurance issuers to certify that at least a majority of prescription drug rebates are provided to patients at the point of sale.

Relates to certain prostitution offenses and fines relating thereto; relates to motions to vacate judgment and motions for new sentencing; relates to investigation into acts alleged to be the unauthorized practice of massage therapy by potential victims of human trafficking; prohibits the possession of reproductive or sexual health devices from being permitted in specified criminal or civil proceedings as evidence of prostitution; relates to services for exploited individuals, services for victims of human trafficking and the interagency task force on human trafficking; establishes the victims of sexual exploitation fund; makes conforming changes; repeals provisions relating to prostitution, prostitution in a school zone, defense against patronizing a person for prostitution and a motion to dismiss information, simplified information, prosecutor's information or misdemeanor complaint.

Requires insurers which issue contracts providing long term care benefits to maintain records of policies cancelled during each year and requires that such records indicate which policies were cancelled due to, or within thirty days after, an increase in policy premiums.

Authorizes the empire state development corporation to retain an independent MWBE consultant firm for the purpose of helping reduce contractor violations of the provisions of article 15-A of the executive law; requires contractors in violation of the provisions of article 15-A of the executive law to retain independent monitors to oversee compliance.