Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Maddy summaryThis bill preserves healthcare providers' access to independent dispute resolution for payment disagreements with insurers. It updates fee determination rules to require resolution entities to consider factors like provider training, usual charges for similar services, regional rates, and case complexity when setting fair reimbursement. The changes directly affect doctors, hospitals, and insurers by clarifying how payment disputes over services will be resolved. The law ensures providers can challenge underpayment claims using these specific, transparent criteria. It does not create new payment standards but maintains existing dispute resolution access.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates New York State's practice of changing clocks for daylight saving time (DST), permanently adopting standard time year-round. It repeals provisions requiring the state to advance clocks in April and revert them in October, removing the seasonal time changes from all state laws and regulations. The change affects all state agencies, courts, public offices, and local governments, which will no longer need to adjust time schedules. The policy takes effect on January 1, 2026, ending the current DST schedule established under the Uniform Time Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $250 million revolving fund to help municipalities create their own high-speed internet service providers. It directly affects towns, villages, cities, and counties seeking to build public broadband networks by providing low-cost loans for startup costs. The fund, managed by the Public Service Commission, allows loans for infrastructure development, with preference given to applications demonstrating greatest need and promoting equitable geographic distribution. Repaid loans and interest replenish the fund, creating a sustainable source of capital for future municipal broadband projects.

Directs the department of environmental conservation to develop and implement a tree planting pilot program in the ten zip codes in the state with the highest incidence of asthma.

Establishes a co-navigation services program for persons who are deaf-blind to provide services to a person who is deaf-blind that assist the person to physically access the person's environment and to make informed decisions, including providing visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind.

Provides that publicly funded libraries may not ban books because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval; directs school districts to adopt the ALA library bill of rights.

Relates to the ability of a fare-paying passenger in a transportation network company vehicle and the driver of such vehicle to consent to sexual activity inside such vehicle.

Relates to paratransit services; directs that an applicant for recertification submit correspondence from a licensed physician in lieu of an in-person assessment.

Provides final discipline authority over civilian complaints to the civilian complaint review board; creates a hearing officer and adjudicative body for such complaint review board.

Requires SUNY and CUNY campuses to hire energy management, materials management, and sustainability education and engagement employees at each SUNY and CUNY campus in numbers proportionate to campus size.