Asm. Lester Chang

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the standard fee that New York notaries public can charge for common services from $2 to $5 per transaction. It directly affects notaries by raising fees for administering oaths, certifying acknowledgments of documents, and swearing witnesses. The key provision updates Section 136 of the executive law to replace all instances of "$2" with "$5" for these specific notarial acts. Electronic notarial services are excluded from this change and will continue to be regulated separately. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Relates to qualifying offenses for pre-trial detention; adds class B felonies under article two hundred twenty of the penal law as qualifying offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new class A-1 felony offense for selling controlled substances (from Schedules I-V) that directly causes someone's death. It specifically applies to individuals who violate public health law by selling, giving, or supplying these drugs, resulting in a fatality. The key provision defines this as the most serious felony charge, replacing or adding to existing penalties for drug-related deaths. The law takes effect 30 days after enactment, with necessary rule changes allowed before that date. It does not affect other drug offenses or non-fatal cases.

Establishes a veterans in agriculture assistance and outreach program to help integrate veterans into the field of agriculture, and support veterans currently working in agriculture; designs an associated logotype for the promotion of products produced by a veteran or qualified veteran business entity.

Criminalizes the act of engaging in any scheme, plan or pattern to transport an undocumented immigrant from any location outside of New York state to a location within New York state with the intent of dropping such person off in any municipality or federal property located wholly within New York state boundaries or to transport an undocumented immigrant from any location within New York state to another location within New York state with the intent of dropping such person off in any municipality or federal property located wholly within New York state boundaries.

Requires the use of a fire-resistant blanket, bag or container when charging a bicycle with electric assist or an electric scooter; requires sellers of such vehicles to include a fire-resistant blanket, bag, or container with the sale of each e-bike or e-scooter; establishes fines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that batteries used in electric-assist bicycles and electric scooters must be tested and approved by specific accredited laboratories, such as Underwriters Laboratories or labs meeting international ISO/IEC standards. It mandates that these batteries display a certification seal from an approved lab, including those accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 or participating in the OSHA NRTL program. The law directly affects battery manufacturers and sellers of e-bikes and e-scooters, who must ensure compliance before selling or using these devices. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.

Requires a valid government issued photo identification card be presented when casting a ballot; provides for persons eligible for Medicaid to receive identification cards.

Expands the veterans tuition awards program to include all persons who were honorably discharged and were residents of the state before and after serving in the armed forces of the United States; provides veterans an award equal to the in-state tuition paid at a state university for each semester the veteran is engaged in undergraduate, graduate or vocational study.

Increases the amount of money a public retirement system retiree may earn in a position of public service in the year 2025 and thereafter to $100,000.