Rep. Landon Dais

Establishes a captive insurance program for commuter vans, black cars, ambulettes and paratransit vehicles, small school buses, and charter buses that are engaged in the business of carrying or transporting nine to twenty-four passengers for hire; pre-arranged for-hire vehicles and accessible vehicles; defines terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6341) requires New York state agencies, boards, departments, and commissions to collect more detailed demographic data about Black/African American communities, moving beyond the current single "Black/African American" category. It mandates collecting specific ethnic group data (e.g., Nigerian, Haitian, Jamaican) and making this information publicly accessible to better reflect the diversity within this population. The goal is to help regional governments and officials design targeted programs addressing unique social, educational, health, and economic needs. The bill aligns with updated federal standards (effective 2029) that require disaggregating the "Black or African American" category into more specific ethnic groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill targets repeated violations of license plate covering rules and toll payment obligations. It allows vehicle registration suspension or denial for drivers who cover or obscure license plates three or more times within five years (not from the same incident), and for vehicles with unpaid tolls. Key mechanisms include automatic registration blocks until toll debts are paid and preventing registration transfers for vehicles linked to outstanding toll liabilities. It directly affects drivers with repeated plate violations or unpaid tolls, impacting their ability to register, renew, or transfer vehicle registrations.

Directs NYSERDA to issue a request for proposals to identify cities, towns, or villages that are interested in participating in municipal-level energy efficiency and weatherization pilot projects to help decrease residential energy usage and reduce future capital costs for utilities; directs NYSERDA to identify three pilot areas focusing on the ability to replicate projects elsewhere and the costs and benefits to ratepayers both in the affected area and in the rest of the utility service territory.

Provides that a microbusiness licensee authorized to conduct retail sales may serve as a processor and cultivator for purposes of cannabis showcase event permits.

Prohibits artificial intelligence companions from using features which are considered unsafe for minors; defines terms; specifies what are considered unsafe features.

Enacts the "school security guard training enhancement act"; provides that annual training where a security guard is employed or contracted by a school in this state shall require the completion of school specific-training.

Requires the office of victim services to publicize programs offered by the office and to include certain information in annual reports to the governor and the legislature and to make such reports public on the office's website.

Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to pay a participating pharmacy at minimum at the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC) rate, or at the pharmacy acquisition cost rate if greater or there is not a NADAC rate, plus a professional dispensing fee that is at minimum the professional dispensing fee paid under the state medical assistance program.

Provides that beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, certain graduate students shall be required to pay 25% of all current and future mandatory university fees; provides that in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, no mandatory university fees shall be charged to certain graduate students and adjunct staff, with the exclusion of the graduate student association student activity fee.