Asm. William Colton

Provides for the establishment of residential home safety and loss prevention courses certified by the superintendent of financial services; requires insurers to provide actuarially appropriate discounts on fire and homeowners insurance premiums to those homeowners who have completed a residential home safety and loss prevention course; directs the superintendent of financial services to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement such program and specifies certain matters which must be included in such rules and regulations; requires the superintendent of financial services to issue a report thereon.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state, county, and local transportation agencies to design all publicly funded road projects - including construction, reconstruction, and major maintenance - to safely accommodate all users (drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders) through "complete street" principles. It applies to projects receiving both federal and state funding under transportation department oversight, excluding routine resurfacing but including projects with a 10+ year lifespan. The law mandates agencies consider factors like traffic volume, population density, and community input when planning, rather than automatically prioritizing vehicles. It does not change existing project approvals but sets new standards for how projects must be designed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public construction projects costing over $250,000 to provide a financial guarantee (a surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit) when no public fund has been set up to pay for the project. The bond, equal to the project’s full cost, ensures that workers and suppliers of labor or materials will be paid promptly. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and their workers on large public projects where public funds aren’t already allocated. The law applies to all contracts entered into after its effective date.

Creates statewide emergency and crisis response council to work in conjunction with the commissioners of mental health and addiction services to jointly approve emergency and crisis services plans submitted by local governments, and provide supports regarding the operation and financing of high-quality emergency and crisis services provided to persons experiencing a mental health, alcohol use, or substance use crisis.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) - companies that manage prescription drug coverage for insurers - from owning, operating, or controlling pharmacies directly or indirectly. It applies to all entities (including corporations and associations) currently violating this rule, requiring them to sell their pharmacy holdings within three years. The law defines "pharmacy benefit manager" using an existing public health law definition. This creates a clear separation between PBMs and pharmacies, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest in drug pricing and patient care.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts individuals aged 75 or older from jury duty upon their written request. It requires the chief court administrator to create a form for seniors to submit, after which they are automatically excused unless they later request reinstatement. The exemption remains in effect until the person formally asks to be considered for jury service again. This policy directly affects senior citizens who qualify and seek relief from jury service obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal right for New Yorkers to sue fossil fuel companies for climate-related damages. It targets companies that emitted at least one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases between 1989 and the bill's effective date, excluding public utilities and government entities. The law establishes a "right of action" under New York's General Business Law, allowing individuals or communities to seek compensation for harms linked to fossil fuel activities. This provision directly affects fossil fuel producers and distributors meeting the emissions threshold, enabling lawsuits based on historical climate impact and industry deception.

Enacts the "patient privacy protection act"; prohibits ex-parte interviews of other party's treating physicians or health care providers in personal injury, medical, dental, or podiatric malpractice, or wrongful death actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 11th as "September 11th Remembrance Day," adding it to the state's list of official public holidays. It directly affects state government operations and businesses that follow public holiday schedules, as the day will now be observed as a closed day for most state offices and services. The key mechanism involves amending multiple laws (including the General Construction Law and Transportation Law) to explicitly include September 11th in the defined list of public holidays and business holidays. This change means government offices and many businesses will be closed on September 11th each year, aligning with existing holiday observances like Memorial Day and Veterans' Day.

Relates to decreasing the length of the suspension period applicable to certain individuals who lose their jobs due to a labor dispute, such as a strike, and who seek to obtain unemployment insurance benefits; decreases the suspension period from two consecutive weeks to one week; provides that the waiting period and suspension period shall be served concurrently.