Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.
Rep. Doug Smith
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill increases weekly financial benefits for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers injured in the line of duty. It raises permanent total disability payments from $600 to $1,200 per week and updates temporary total disability rates, with the current rate at $800 per week for injuries occurring after July 2025. Permanent partial disability payments also increase, with rates rising from $95 to higher amounts depending on the injury date. The changes apply directly to volunteers who suffer work-related injuries affecting their ability to work. The bill amends Sections 8, 9, and 10 of the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $500 annual tax credit for K-12 teachers in New York who pay out-of-pocket for approved classroom supplies. It covers expenses like books, writing tools, paper, instructional materials, and field trips, but excludes religious materials, sports programs, and most extracurricular activities (except music/drama). The credit reduces income tax liability, with any excess paid as a refund if it exceeds the tax owed. The credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2027, and is limited to qualified public or private schools. It directly benefits teachers who bear these costs without employer reimbursement.
Requires certain bills which establish a commission, task force, board, council or any similar body shall have not less than one position appointed by each of the legislative leaders.
Requires lifetime post-release supervision for offenders convicted of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, course of sexual conduct against a child in the first and second degrees or sexual abuse in the first degree when the other person is less than eleven years old; prohibits good behavior allowances against a determinate sentence for a person convicted of any such crimes.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6049) adds "October 7th Remembrance Day" to New York State's official calendar of commemorative days, to be observed annually on October 7. It directly affects the state's official observance schedule but does not create new policies, funding, or requirements for individuals or organizations. The bill amends existing law by inserting this date into a list of established commemorative days (like Holocaust Remembrance Day or Juneteenth), with no additional provisions or mechanisms. As a procedural naming bill, it has no direct impact on citizens or government operations beyond formal recognition.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a crime to wear body armor while committing any offense involving a deadly weapon (like a firearm). It directly affects individuals who wear body armor during crimes involving weapons, creating a new offense separate from the underlying crime. The key provision requires courts to impose consecutive sentences for this new "unlawful wearing of body armor" offense, meaning the jail time for this specific act runs after the sentence for the original crime. The law applies to both misdemeanors and felonies committed with a deadly weapon while wearing body armor.
Maddy summaryMelinda's Law protects non-abusive parents who report domestic violence from losing custody of their children. It requires courts to consider whether a parent reported abuse before removing children, treating them as "not at fault" if they reported it and are not neglectful. The law prevents abusers from threatening to have children taken away as leverage to control the non-abusive parent. It applies to cases where domestic violence - defined to include emotional, psychological, or physical abuse - has occurred, with specific court procedures to verify reports. This directly affects parents in domestic violence situations seeking to report abuse without fear of child removal.
Excludes the five state-run veterans homes from assessments on their gross receipts received from all patient care services and other operating income; directs the Commissioner of Health to apply to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for any necessary waivers pursuant to federal law and regulation.
Requires a government photo identification card to be presented when casting a ballot; provides for a method to receive a government photo identification card at no charge; provides that notaries are not permitted to collect a fee for collecting the documents required.