Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "caste" to New York's existing anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It defines "caste" as a hereditary social hierarchy based on birth that restricts opportunities, and prohibits discrimination against individuals because of their caste in hiring, housing, and public services. The law amends existing sections of the executive law to explicitly include caste alongside other protected characteristics like race, gender, and disability. It directly affects people in New York who experience caste-based discrimination in workplaces, housing, or public spaces. The key mechanism is updating anti-discrimination statutes to include caste as a protected category, making such discrimination unlawful under current enforcement frameworks.

Provides that the existence of an infestation of pests in a premises occupied for dwelling purposes is a breach of the warranty of habitability, and requires a landlord to keep premises occupied for dwelling purposes free from an infestation of pests, prevent the reasonably foreseeable occurrence of such a condition and expeditiously remediate such condition and any underlying defect.

Establishes the foster care higher education scholarship pilot program; grants awards for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for higher education for children and young adults receiving foster care services in New York.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits specific practices in New York rodeos, including calf roping, using flank straps or bucking straps on animals, electric prods, and spurs with fixed/sharpened rowels. It directly affects rodeo operators, performers, and venues hosting rodeos in New York. Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense, potential license revocation, and loss of state tax abatements for hosting venues. The law takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1294) protects the privacy of electronic toll and transit payment records, such as E-Z Pass and MetroCard data, by making them confidential. It directly affects motorists using toll systems, transit riders with account-based payment methods, and the public entities managing these systems. The law prohibits public disclosure of individual travel records under most circumstances but allows access for account holders to review their own data, for law enforcement with valid warrants or subpoenas in criminal cases, for billing disputes, and for specific student ID sharing with NYC schools. It does not affect aggregate data use or the collection of tolls/fare revenues.

Requires the commissioner to incorporate measures of racial and socioeconomic integration into state accountability models; requires data compiled to be included in the school report card created by the department.

Enacts the "Customer Savings and Reliability Act" in relation to regional affordable gas transition plans to guide an orderly, affordable, and equitable right-sizing of the utility gas system in a manner that aligns with climate justice and emissions reduction provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain public water systems (serving at least 15 year-round residents or 25 regularly) to identify lead service lines connecting water mains to properties. It defines "lead service line" broadly, including galvanized pipes downstream of lead lines or where lead connectors are used. Water systems must obtain property owner or occupant consent for free inspections, with a 30-day response window; if consent isn't received, occupants may provide consent. Inspections must occur within 60 days of consent, focusing solely on identification, not removal, of lead service lines.

Relates to enacting the Justice for Nursing Home Victims act; creates a nursing home resident COVID-19 compensation program to provide full compensation to any nursing home resident or their statutory beneficiary when COVID-19 caused or contributed to such resident's death; provides the responsibilities of a nursing home during a pandemic; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Establishes a 10 day waiting period for the purchase of any firearm; establishes violations of such provisions shall constitute a class A misdemeanor.