Rep. Charles Fall

Maddy summaryThis bill increases criminal penalties for damaging property or stealing items at religious worship sites and cemeteries. It makes damaging religious items (like scrolls, vestments, or religious symbols) at churches, synagogues, or religious museums a class D felony, and upgrades cemetery vandalism or theft (e.g., headstones, monuments) to higher felony levels based on value. Offenders face harsher punishments for targeting these specific locations, including theft exceeding $250 at cemeteries or damage exceeding $2,000 at religious sites. The law directly affects individuals who commit these acts at protected locations, with penalties now reflecting the heightened seriousness of targeting sacred or memorial spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permit system for facilities that respectfully handle cremated remains and natural organic reduction (like composting). Operators must be New York not-for-profit corporations that file detailed plans with the cemetery board, including evidence of conservation easements, a pledge against building crematories, and consumer contracts. The permit requires compliance with existing zoning laws and cemetery board regulations governing land access and remains disposal. It directly affects facility operators and consumers using these specific memorial services, ensuring standardized management of such lands.

Maddy summaryBill A 4459 creates new rules for businesses leasing credit card terminals (point-of-sale equipment) in New York. It requires leasing companies to clearly disclose key terms in plain language, including total costs, monthly payments, fees, and the terminal’s make/model before signing a lease. Businesses gain a 3-day right to cancel a lease after receiving the signed agreement, and leasing companies must separately outline payment processing services if bundled. Violations carry $5,000 civil penalties per offense. The bill directly affects small businesses that lease credit card machines for daily transactions.

Enacts "Chelsey's law"; provides that a person commits the crime of manslaughter or aggravated manslaughter when such person knows or has reasonable grounds to know that a controlled substance is likely to cause the death of another person and sells, administers, delivers, or causes the delivery of a controlled substance to another person and such substance causes, contributes to, or aids in the death of such other person.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,500 annual tax credit for children under 18 who are the children of U.S. military members who died while serving in combat during wartime. The credit directly benefits eligible Gold Star children by reducing their family's income tax liability, with any unused portion carried forward to future tax years. It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, and the credit cannot exceed the taxpayer's total tax for the year. The policy specifically targets financial support for children of fallen service members, with no additional eligibility requirements beyond the parent's wartime death and the child's age.

Relates to compensation paid to persons employed in positions requiring foreign language skills; establishes career ladders for persons holding such positions; establishes supervisory positions for persons required to have foreign language skills.

Designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree as a class E felony; designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the second degree as a class D violent felony offense; designates unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the first degree as a class B violent felony offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4435) establishes the New York State Muslim American Advisory Council to advise the state legislature on policies affecting Muslim Americans. The 10-member council, appointed from community organizations and legislative leaders, will provide recommendations to improve civic participation, integration (socially, educationally, culturally, and economically), and communication between state agencies and Muslim communities. The council must submit an annual report with factual findings and recommendations to the legislature within 16 months of its creation.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes NYPD detective bureau promotion rules. It requires that officers permanently appointed as lieutenants or sergeants who serve more than 18 months in temporary commander or supervisor roles must be formally appointed to those positions with proper compensation. The policy directly affects NYPD detectives in temporary leadership roles within detective squads. The key change ensures automatic promotion and correct pay after 18 months of temporary duty, replacing the previous temporary assignment structure.

Relates to procedures relating to driving while ability impaired by drugs; defines impairment and intoxication; updates procedures for field testing of drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs to include the use of oral/bodily fluid tests; provides that refusal to submit to such field tests is specified to be a traffic infraction; makes related provisions.