Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the laws governing wrongful death lawsuits to clarify exactly what types of money can be awarded to the surviving family members of a deceased person. It explicitly allows juries or courts to grant compensation for funeral costs, medical bills incurred before death, grief, and the loss of financial support, guidance, and companionship. The legislation also defines who is eligible to receive these damages, including spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, and individuals who stood in a parent-like role to the deceased. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for how the awarded money must be shared among eligible survivors based on their individual losses and outlines how legal fees and other expenses are handled.

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state's department of economic development to prioritize tourist promotion agencies that support the sport of stickball. It amends existing economic development laws to allow the department to provide funding specifically for stickball promotion while also noting a preference for agencies promoting cricket. The legislation takes effect approximately 270 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis New York law prohibits businesses from using social media platforms to collect debts from consumers. It defines a social media platform as a service that allows users to create profiles, connect with others, and share content, while excluding simple email or direct messaging tools. The bill aims to stop companies from posting debt notices on public feeds or sending harassing messages through social networks. Once signed into law, this rule immediately applies to all debt collection activities involving these digital services within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates state agricultural laws to officially classify cannabis as a crop, livestock product, and livestock. By adding a new paragraph to the agriculture and markets law, it incorporates the legal definition of cannabis from the state's cannabis law into the agricultural code. The change takes effect immediately upon signing, ensuring that cannabis is recognized within the existing framework for farming and agricultural markets.

Requires electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle capable parking spaces to have handicap accessible spaces that are large enough to accommodate such wheelchair accessible electric vehicles, including but not limited to, vans and minivans.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the state from issuing permits for drilling, deepening, or converting wells that use carbon dioxide to enhance natural gas or oil production. It specifically targets operations involving carbon dioxide injection for completing or recompleting resources, alongside wells that use high-volume hydraulic fracturing defined as injecting 300,000 gallons or more of water. The law applies to any applicant seeking authorization for these specific well activities and takes effect immediately upon signing.

Directs the superintendent of financial services to create a private education debt registry which shall contain information and documentation relating to loans issued by creditors including interest rates and copies of the notes and instruments used by such creditors for education loans.

Prevents the displacement of call center workers who provide call center services for the government in certain circumstances; provides protections for call center workers when contracts with call center contractors are terminated; requires new call center contractors to hire existing call center workers; protects collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to boost the production and availability of native plant seeds within New York State. It directs state agencies to work with private nurseries and potentially manage their own growing operations to ensure these seeds are affordable and plentiful for public projects. The legislation specifically defines native plants as those indigenous to New York and mandates their use in state landscaping, reforestation, and habitat restoration efforts. Once established, the program will set rules for eligible plants and utilize state funds to support seed supply development.