Asm. Rebecca Seawright

Establishes the "education equity act" which provides language assistance to parents or guardians who have children enrolled in public school and whose primary language is not English; defines terms; creates an annual language assistance plan to assess language needs in the district; requires the department of education to establish web pages detailing the rights of parents to translation services in each covered language; requires annual reports by each school district to the local board of education.

Directs payment of certain internet sales and use taxes into the central business district tolling capital lockbox fund partially dedicated for the MTA to be made without appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a requirement that applicants must pass an exam to become a licensed master social worker in New York. It directly affects individuals seeking this specific license by removing the examination step from the qualification process. The key provision eliminates Section 7704(d) of the Education Law, which previously mandated the exam. As a result, applicants will no longer need to pass a test to qualify for the license, simplifying the licensing pathway. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to award reasonable legal fees and costs to people who win discrimination lawsuits under New York's human rights law. It directly affects individuals who successfully sue for unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, or other areas covered by the law. The key provision requires courts to grant these fees to winning plaintiffs (except when the Division of Human Rights is the winning party), making it easier for people to pursue discrimination claims without bearing full legal costs. The bill does not change what constitutes discrimination but ensures that successful plaintiffs can recover their legal expenses.

Authorizes physicians and pharmacists to enter into collaborative practice medication adherence protocols for their patients; makes permanent certain provisions relating to authorizing pharmacists to perform with physicians in certain settings.

Requires insurance coverage of sonograms and other diagnostic procedures used to detect breast cancer for covered persons with a prior history of breast cancer or who have a first degree relative with a prior history of breast cancer.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes possessing a flamethrower a class E felony under New York law. It defines a "flamethrower" as any device projecting burning fuel at least three feet, excluding inoperable displays. The law specifically excludes historical flamethrowers (built before 1966 with at least five significant pre-1966 components), those used for agriculture/construction, and flamethrowers owned before the law takes effect. It does not ban manufacturing or restoring components, only possession of active devices meeting the definition. The law takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for safe injection sites in New York, creating a program approved by the Department of Health to provide overdose prevention services. It directly affects people who use drugs (participants), community health organizations operating the sites, and local communities through designated locations. Key provisions require sites to offer sterile equipment, overdose monitoring, naloxone access, referrals to treatment, and language-accessible education, while mandating annual reporting on participant numbers and services. The bill also provides legal immunity from arrest or penalties for participants, staff, and property owners who follow approved protocols, ensuring these sites operate without criminal or civil liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits deceptive information and voter suppression in New York elections. It bans knowingly spreading false details about voting times, locations, eligibility rules, registration status, or candidate party affiliations that prevents people from voting (Section 17-151). It also criminalizes using force, authority, or abuse of power to stop someone from voting freely or compel them to vote a certain way (Section 17-153), making both offenses misdemeanors with fines up to $500 or up to one year in jail for first offenses. Repeat violations escalate to felony charges, and the Attorney General gains concurrent authority with district attorneys to prosecute these violations.

Enacts the "Tevyan Rowe child and young teen mental health community safety act"; directs boards of education to create policies, procedures, and guidelines for at-risk children and young teens who have demonstrated suicidal ideation, been victims of harassment or bullying, and/or who have eloped from school property; establishes a commission to evaluate the safety and security of children in primary and secondary public and private schools in this state.