Asm. Rebecca Seawright

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4886) creates a $2,000 refundable tax credit for New York taxpayers who experience the stillbirth of a child. It directly affects eligible parents who would have claimed the child as a dependent under federal tax law and have a stillbirth certificate issued under public health law. The credit is refundable (meaning it can result in a payment even if no tax is owed) and applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025. The bill requires a certificate of stillbirth from the public health law to qualify, but does not change dependency rules.

Provides final discipline authority over civilian complaints to the civilian complaint review board; creates a hearing officer and adjudicative body for such complaint review board.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 106) increases monthly financial standards for public assistance eligibility and home energy grants in New York State. It doubles the current monthly need standards for households (e.g., a single-person household jumps from $158 to $316) and home energy grants (e.g., from $14.10 to $28.20) starting July 1, 2025, for all public assistance recipients. The bill also establishes annual cost-of-living adjustments based on federal Social Security data. These changes directly affect low-income individuals and families receiving state public assistance benefits.

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.

Requires state agencies and courts to take into consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition and contemporary examples of antisemitism when reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any non-criminal or criminal law, rule, or policy prohibiting discriminatory acts.

Relates to creating a separate tax on inheritance income, creating a separate tax on gift income, the computation of the estate tax, and creating a gift tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a lifetime ban preventing people convicted of felonies from serving on juries. It amends state law to no longer disqualify individuals based on past felony convictions, meaning former felons could be summoned for jury duty. However, it maintains that people currently incarcerated for felonies remain excused from service while in prison. The law would take effect 180 days after enactment.

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.

Provides for a personal income tax deduction for school supplies paid for out-of-pocket by K-12 teachers in public and nonpublic schools, up to $500 per year.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1711) creates a legal right for individuals to sue their sexual partner if they intentionally removed or tampered with a condom or other protective device (like a diaphragm or dental dam) during consensual sex, or misled them about using one, without their consent. It directly affects people in consensual sexual relationships where protection was mutually agreed upon. The law allows victims to seek compensatory damages and consider emotional harm from risks like STIs or unintended pregnancy. It specifies that past consent to sex without protection doesn't imply future consent, and clarifies that this doesn't affect existing rights like child support claims.