Asm. Harvey Epstein

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in New York to cover specific pre-term labor care. It mandates coverage for home nursing visits to monitor expectant mothers diagnosed with pre-term labor (between 20-36 weeks of pregnancy), administration of Makena medication by nurses, and counseling services for emotional support. These services are required for individuals who have experienced pre-term labor, miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss within a month of birth. The law applies to all health insurance policies providing hospital, surgical, or medical coverage, directly affecting insurers and pregnant people with these specific needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from using or contracting for DNA phenotyping, which predicts physical traits (like eye color or ancestry) from DNA samples, in criminal investigations or prosecutions. It bans all evidence derived from this technology from being used as reasonable cause for arrest or in court, and requires existing DNA phenotyping data held by police to be destroyed immediately. Any conviction linked to such evidence becomes eligible for legal review. The law directly affects police departments, prosecutors, and criminal court proceedings by eliminating a specific investigative tool.

Implements automatic enrollment for the tax abatement program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occupied by senior citizens; provides for a check box for a taxpayer to opt-out of data sharing and automatic enrollment on their tax return.

Establishes a five-year window for any entity participating in the New York state supportive housing program (NYSSHP) in good standing with such program to participate in a request for proposal to increase their contract rates up to ESSHI levels.

Establishes the public water justice act; prohibits sale of waters of the state unless otherwise specifically authorized; establishes a public water justice fund for royalties and fees collected from persons or entities authorized to sell waters of the state.

Requires insurer to respond within thirty days of a written request from an insured for their health plan documents, including copies of most recent group or individual contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors working on qualifying construction or demolition projects in cities with over 1 million residents to recycle at least 50% of the waste generated (by weight), measured after the law takes effect. It applies specifically to projects like multi-unit residential buildings, larger commercial structures, and major demolitions, excluding hazardous materials like asbestos or lead-contaminated waste. Contractors must document compliance within 30 days of project completion and face fines for non-compliance, with a phased approach starting at 25% for projects permitted within one year of enactment. The law aims to reduce landfill use by integrating recycling requirements into existing waste management systems for large urban projects.

Relates to prohibiting the release of certain balloons; prohibits a person from knowingly or intentionally releasing outdoors any balloons constructed of electrically conductive material filled with helium or a gas lighter than air; provides exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 21st each year as "Down Syndrome Awareness Day" in New York State. It adds this date to the state's official calendar of commemorative days, which already includes other observances like Holocaust Remembrance Day and Juneteenth. The bill does not create new policies or funding; it simply establishes a formal recognition day to raise awareness about Down syndrome. This designation affects all New York state entities and residents, encouraging official observances and educational efforts on that date.

Authorizes and directs the state board of elections, in cooperation with county boards of elections, to create an online petitioning system for designating petitions; provides that use of such online petitioning system shall not preclude the collection and use of paper designating petitions; authorizes the state board of elections to promulgate necessary rules and regulations.