Asm. Al Taylor

Maddy summaryThis bill allows taxpayers to deduct interest paid on qualified student loans from their federal adjusted gross income (AGI). It directly affects individuals with student loan debt who itemize deductions or meet specific income thresholds. The key provision adds a new tax law section requiring this deduction, aligning with existing federal rules under 26 USC § 221. The change applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and would reduce taxable income for eligible borrowers.

Requires the preparation and dissemination of written materials regarding child access prevention and the safe storage of firearms; establishes such information shall be provided to students and/or persons in a parental relationship to such students at the beginning of each semester or quarter of the regular school year beginning on and after July 1, 2026.

Enacts provisions relating to collective negotiations by health care providers with certain health care plans in certain counties; applies to health benefit plans that provide benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident or sickness, including an individual, group, blanket or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement offered by certain enumerated entities.

Prohibits telephone corporations from charging a caller any increased rates, charges, or fees for long-distance or other calls without first notifying such caller.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York pharmacists to administer FDA-approved progestin-only contraceptive injections for birth control, expanding access to contraception. Pharmacists must complete a patient risk assessment, provide educational materials, and notify a patient's primary care provider (with opt-out allowed) before administering the injection. They must also complete required training and may refuse service if safety concerns exist. The law directly affects patients seeking contraception - particularly those without regular doctors - and pharmacists who provide this service.

Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2027, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; directs the multi-agency bottle bill fraud investigation team to submit a report on findings of pervasive bottle redemption fraud in New York state.

Provides for a working families tax credit; directs quarterly prepayment of the credit; provides for a sliding reduction in the credit for incomes which exceed a certain threshold.

Imposes a commercial vacancy tax on vacant or abandoned commercial storefronts located in a city with a population of one million or more of one percent of the assessed value of the property.

Establishes the New York Health program, a comprehensive system of access to health insurance for New York state residents; provides for administrative structure of the plan; provides for powers and duties of the board of trustees, the scope of benefits, payment methodologies and care coordination; establishes the New York Health Trust Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to finance the plan; enacts provisions relating to financing of New York Health, including a payroll assessment, similar to the Medicare tax; establishes a temporary commission on implementation of the plan; provides for collective negotiations by health care providers with New York Health.

Prohibits reporting debt arrears of an individual which are due to a COVID-19 related hardship to a consumer reporting agency; provides for the removal of such information from an individual's file with such agency.