Asm. Jeffrey Dinowitz

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include displaying a swastika in public view as a form of aggravated harassment in the first degree. It specifically targets methods like billboards, aerial displays, or similar public methods for uninvited viewing, making such acts punishable under the same legal framework as other severe harassment. The law directly affects individuals who display swastikas publicly in these specified ways, treating it as a more serious criminal offense. This change clarifies and expands existing harassment definitions to address hate symbols in public spaces.

Maddy summaryThis New York State bill allows for advance payments of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to qualifying low-income workers, replacing the current system where refunds are issued after annual tax filing. Eligible workers - including those aged 19 or older (down from 25) and without children - will receive four payments: three during the year (20% of the expected credit) and one adjusted payment after the tax year ends. The bill also increases the credit percentage for 2027 and later years (up to 40%), raises the income threshold for phaseout to $24,960 (from $11,610), and includes annual inflation adjustments. Payments will be delivered via direct deposit or electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.

Imposes penalties for non-compliance of DHCR orders by owners of multiple dwelling units; provides a fine of $5,000 for each instance of non-compliance.

Enacts the "civil justice protection act (CJPA)"; requires that no person shall waive a series of rights and procedures when purchasing goods and services.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's existing sales tax exemption for textbooks to include all books required for college courses by professors. It directly affects students purchasing required course materials, who must present a valid student ID at checkout to verify the book is mandated for their class. The exemption now covers any required reading - beyond traditional textbooks - at accredited colleges and universities. The policy change takes effect 90 days after the law is signed, applying to future sales of qualifying materials.

Requires that public schools provide instruction on climate change, including but not limited to identifying the causes and impacts of climate change on individuals, environments and communities, and learning to evaluate solutions.

Relates to unlawful dealing in real property, when a person uses material governmental information, which such person knows or has reason to know is non-public, to purchase or sell real property; makes such offense a class A misdemeanor.

Prohibits hospitals, health systems, and health care providers from charging facility fees that are not covered by the patient's health insurance carrier.

Suspends the registration of a vehicle which has been documented five times within an eighteen month period by a photo violation monitoring device for failure of an operator thereof to comply with traffic-control indications for a period of ninety days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local health departments to immediately notify a newborn's pediatrician and parents when a positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) test is identified in a newborn. It mandates confirmatory urine testing for infants under three weeks old and ensures follow-up care by a pediatric infectious disease specialist before the baby turns four weeks old, including head measurements, eye exams, hearing tests, and blood work. The law also adds CMV to the list of reportable communicable diseases under public health regulations. This directly affects newborns with CMV, their parents, pediatricians, and hospital staff responsible for reporting and care coordination.