Asm. Rebecca Seawright

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's social services law to provide targeted assistance for people with medically diagnosed HIV infection. It requires social services districts to ensure individuals with HIV who are homeless or facing homelessness pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent, and to provide emergency shelter, transportation, or nutrition assistance when needed to maintain independent living. The bill also mandates districts to help with eligibility documentation, arrange home visits for interviews, and refer to specialized resources, while creating a statewide online resource hub for HIV-related services. Funding rules are updated to allow full reimbursement for HIV-related emergency shelter costs (up to 110% of fair market rent) and necessary transportation/nutrition payments. The policy directly affects low-income New Yorkers living with HIV who face housing instability.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York residents aged 70 or older to request an automatic exemption from jury service without needing to prove physical or mental incapacity, undue hardship, or extreme inconvenience. To qualify, individuals must submit proof of age (via mail, fax, email, or in person) to the commissioner of jurors. The exemption applies to the entire jury service period, replacing previous requirements that applicants justify their request. It directly affects seniors receiving jury summonses and takes effect September 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThe bill imposes a tax on New York residents with $1 billion or more in net assets (total assets minus debts) by calculating gains as if their assets were sold at market value on December 31, 2024. Taxable gains apply only to the value exceeding $1 billion, capped at 25% of that excess. Taxpayers may pay the full amount or in ten annual installments with an annual deferral charge based on estimated borrowing rates. It covers assets owned directly, through trusts, or held by family members, including those donated within five years.

Creates the health insurance guaranty fund to protect covered individuals against the failure or inability of a health insurer to perform its contractual obligations due to financial impairment or insolvency.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 330) changes the effective date for voter enrollment changes in New York State. It affects voters who submit enrollment changes after February 14th but before or on the June primary. The key provision requires such changes to include a U.S. Post Office postmark dated after February 14th (or be in an envelope showing that postmark) to take effect on the seventh day after the June primary; otherwise, they take effect immediately. The bill aims to clarify deadlines for enrollment updates tied to election timing.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of leg-gripping traps (traps that clamp onto an animal's leg with teeth or excessive jaw spread) for trapping wildlife in New York State. It directly affects trappers, wildlife managers, and anyone using traps for hunting or pest control. Key provisions ban traps with jaw spreads exceeding 7¼ inches in water during beaver/otter season or 5¾ inches otherwise, require traps on land to be covered and equipped with safety devices, and forbid traps that suspend wildlife. The law amends existing environmental conservation statutes to implement these specific restrictions.

Allows evidence of a defendant's prior crimes or acts to be admissible in a criminal case for certain purposes including as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, state of mind of the defendant, state of mind of the victim or other party, absence of mistake or accident, identity, modus operandi, or common scheme or plan; requires that the prosecution provide reasonable notice of the general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial.

Establishes the New York long term care trust program to provide long term care benefits for eligible residents who have paid the required premium contributions and are in need of assistance with at least two activities of daily living as determined by the department of health.

Provides that any person who has been injured by reason of any violation of any such rules, regulations or policies as the superintendent may promulgate may bring an action in such person's own name; assert a counterclaim; or, if an action is commenced by the mortgagee or anyone acting on its behalf, bring a third party claim, against either the mortgagee and/or the mortgage servicer to enjoin any violations thereof; authorizes damages; makes related provisions.

Provides that any one-way, round trip or multi-trip tickets purchased for use on the Long Island Rail Road or the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company by a senior citizen or a person with a disability shall be valid at any time during the day or night.