Asm. Jo Anne Simon

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New York State program to help residents refinance higher education loans at lower interest rates. It authorizes up to $500 million in state bonds to consolidate and refinance eligible borrowers' existing student loans, with interest rates capped at 5.5% during repayment. The program requires the state corporation to review financial hardship cases for missed payments and mandates annual public reports detailing loan refinancing numbers, demographic data (gender, race, ethnicity), and financial outcomes by group. The program directly affects New York residents with qualifying student loans who apply for refinancing through this state-administered initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new felony offense for harassing someone specifically because the harasser believes the person is a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault. It directly affects survivors of these crimes by adding a targeted legal protection against harassment that exploits their trauma. The key provision makes it a class E felony (punishable by up to four years in prison) to commit "aggravated harassment" with the belief or perception that the victim is a survivor. The law would take effect November 1, 2025, if passed.

Restricts a law enforcement officer from initiating a traffic stop for certain violations of the vehicle and traffic law; provides for the suppression or exclusion of evidence obtained in violation of such provisions; relates to the duties of the division of criminal justice services making certain information pertaining to traffic stops public.

Enacts the "fair pay for home care act" relating to minimum wages applicable to home care aides; provides for a minimum wage of 150% of the applicable statewide or regional minimum wage.

Establishes protections for adults sixty years of age or older, or at least the age of eighteen and who, because of mental or physical impairments, are unable to manage their own resources or protect themselves from financial exploitation without assistance from others.

Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services provided to individuals under the age of twenty-one; directs that funds in the healthcare stability fund can be used for the funding of children's behavioral health outpatient rate increases.

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.

Authorizes the dispensing of abortion medication under certain conditions; requires insurance policies providing coverage for contraception to provide coverage for abortion medication.

Relates to allergy awareness and training in restaurants; requires allergen awareness training; requires certification within thirty days after hire date.

Lowers the blood alcohol concentration required for driving while intoxicated from .08 of one per centum to .05, and for aggravated driving while intoxicated from .18 per centum to .12.