Asm. Alex Bores

Permits a school food authority to attribute moneys spent on purchases of food products from New York state farmers, growers, producers or processors made for its school breakfast program to the thirty percent of costs for school breakfast, snack and lunch service programs.

Permits the admissibility into evidence of statements in learned treatises, periodicals, or pamphlets if the statement is called to the attention of an expert witness and the publication is established as a reliable authority by the expert's admission or testimony, by another expert's testimony, or by judicial notice.

Provides that certain communications made without malice regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination shall be deemed privileged; provides that a prevailing defendant in an action brought against such defendant for making a communication that is privileged shall be entitled to attorney's fees and costs for such defense.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the location of new cannabis retail stores and on-site consumption facilities. It prohibits new licenses for storefronts within 500 feet of school grounds (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings) and within 200 feet of houses of worship (including all entrances/exits in mixed-use buildings). These rules apply only to new licenses issued after the bill's effective date. The law directly affects cannabis businesses seeking to open new locations in the state.

Relates to an increase in punishment for certain actions against on-duty auxiliary police officers such as criminally negligent homicide, assault or menacing of such officer.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 7414) prohibits detention facilities in New York from placing children in "segregated confinement" for more than 17 hours a day. It defines segregated confinement as cell confinement exceeding 17 hours daily, excluding facility-wide emergencies or medical/mental health treatment. The law applies to all detention facilities holding children under the Family Court Act or Criminal Procedure Law. Exceptions allow room confinement authorized by regulations when a child poses an immediate danger to themselves or others.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's Motor Vehicle Commissioner to evaluate offering road tests in languages other than English. It directs the commissioner to assess feasibility by December 31, 2028, including which languages would be needed, which communities would benefit, associated costs, and evaluation methods. The study must specifically address how road tests could be provided in languages beyond English, focusing on practical implementation. The bill expires January 1, 2029, after the evaluation deadline. This is a procedural requirement, not a policy change, affecting only the evaluation process.

Relates to the right to unemployment benefits based on employment with certain educational institutions, including the state university of New York, the city university of New York and public community colleges; clarifies the meaning of certain terms relating to such rights to unemployment benefits.

Requires certain political communications to include provenance data for all audios, images or videos used in such communications; provides for the repeal of certain provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Reduces certain commercial rent taxes for premises occupied by certain retail or food services businesses having a base rent of less than one million dollars per year and located in the borough of Manhattan south of the center line of ninety-sixth street.