Rep. Doug Smith

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's Family Court Act to require courts to assign lawyers to petitioners (the person filing a custody case) in certain custody proceedings. Previously, court-appointed counsel was available only to respondents (the other party), but this change extends that right to petitioners in specified cases. The amendment applies specifically to proceedings under Part Three of Article Six of the Family Court Act. It ensures both sides in custody disputes can receive legal representation when the court determines it is necessary.

Defines the term "construction projects" to mean the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of any school building where a district receives any apportionment for debt service or building aid and the school building is sited within the Long Island region; provides that each contract involving the award of a construction project shall require the use of a project labor agreement for all contractors and subcontractors on such project.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax deduction for taxpayers who pay for required college course supplies (like textbooks or lab materials). It allows a deduction equal to 25% of these expenses in 2001, increasing to 50% in 2002, 75% in 2003, and 100% for all years after 2003. The deduction applies only to taxpayers who do not claim a separate credit for college expenses under another tax provision. It directly affects college students' families or individuals who pay for these mandatory supplies out of pocket.

Directs the public service commission in consultation with NYSERDA to conduct a full cost benefit analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of renewable energy systems in the state of New York and to compare such directly with other methods of electricity generation within nine months after the effective date and every four years thereafter.

Relates to establishing the lump sum allocation advisory committee (Part A); relates to requiring transparency, identification and disclosure of certain appropriations (Part B); relates to withholding the salaries of the governor, agency commissioners and deputy commissioners for failing to meet certain reporting deadlines (Part C); relates to creating a tax rate reduction board to look at personal income tax and corporate franchise tax rates (Part D); relates to conducting an audit of all state economic development programs (Part E); relates to prohibiting certain political contributions by individuals appointed to entities that oversee lump sum appropriations (Part F); relates to prohibiting certain third party contracts (Part G).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5661) changes New York State's earned income credit (EIC) calculation for tax years starting in 2026, setting the applicable credit percentage at 45% for qualifying low-income taxpayers. It directly affects New York residents who claim the EIC, increasing their state credit amount. The bill includes a safeguard: if federal actions materially reduce New York's ability to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds for the EIC, the credit percentage would drop to 20% for affected years. The change applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and requires state officials to certify any triggering federal event.

Creates the under-grounding of electrical power or telecommunications lines fund to provide for the purpose of moving overhead electrical power or telecommunications lines underground from monies appropriated, including, but not limited to, any funds supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster recovery and hazard mitigation which may be used for state infrastructure repair.

Requires residents of the state, who are foreign refugees, to register with the office of temporary and disability assistance; directs such office to provide registration information to the office of children and family services, the department of health, the office for new Americans, the department of law, the division of state police, the NYC police department, county sheriff's offices, municipal police departments, and the division of homeland security and emergency services; directs the office for new Americans to conduct background screenings of all refugees who register; requires refugee resettlement agencies to submit quarterly reports to the bureau of refugee and immigrant assistance on the refugees to whom it provides assistance, and to monitor the activities of such refugees for a certain period of time; directs the division of homeland security and emergency services to develop and implement a plan to ensure compliance by refugee resettlement agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill waives the $25 processing fee for criminal history background checks required by mentoring programs operated by not-for-profit corporations. It requires these programs to collect fingerprints but eliminates the standard fee they would otherwise pay to the state. The exemption applies specifically to formal mentoring programs matching youth with adult volunteers for developmental support, as defined in the law. This directly affects qualifying not-for-profit mentoring organizations seeking background checks for volunteers or staff.