Asm. Karines Reyes

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-funded program to provide health insurance coverage to New Yorkers who lose eligibility for federal subsidies due to their immigration status. It establishes a new state premium assistance program that offers financial help equivalent to federal tax credits for lawfully present individuals who are currently ineligible for federal aid. Additionally, the legislation expands eligibility for existing state coverage to include more noncitizens and increases income limits for pregnant individuals and their newborns, with some provisions funded directly by state money regardless of federal approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Car Rentals Integrity Act, requires motor vehicle rental companies to show customers the full cost of a rental, including all mandatory fees and extra charges, at the time of booking. It defines mandatory fees as costs required to rent the car and extra costs as charges for optional services like child seats or additional drivers, ensuring the advertised price reflects the total amount due. Rental companies must provide a detailed list of these fees, which can include airport surcharges and young driver fees, preventing misleading low-price advertisements that omit essential costs. The law applies to all rental vehicle operators and will take effect thirty days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies court filing rules for certain sexual offense claims. It exempts two specific types of cases from needing detailed legal descriptions: claims involving sexual offenses against children (including incest or child sexual performances), and claims involving sexual offenses against adults aged 18+. The exemption applies to court filings alleging physical or psychological injury from these acts, reducing the required specificity in the initial legal documents. The law applies immediately to new cases, pending cases, and some previously dismissed cases that are currently being appealed.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York State's newborn screening program to include five additional rare genetic conditions: CLN2, MPS IVA, MPS VI, MPS VII, and Fabry disease. The legislation directly affects newborns in New York by requiring healthcare providers to test for these conditions shortly after birth, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment. The bill achieves this by amending the state's public health law to add these specific diseases to the official screening panel. This change ensures that infants at risk for these treatable conditions can receive timely medical intervention. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates reporting requirements for lobbyists working with small nonprofits that lobby government. It raises the financial threshold for mandatory reporting from $5,000 to $10,000 annually for 501(c)(3) nonprofits (starting in 2026), while keeping it at $5,000 for other lobbyists. Nonprofits exceeding these thresholds must file bi-monthly reports detailing lobbying spending and pay a $200 registration fee, with reduced fees for those under the limit. The bill also requires clients (nonprofits) to submit semi-annual reports if they spend over $5,000 (or $10,000 for 501(c)(3)s) on lobbying. These changes aim to clarify and adjust transparency rules for smaller lobbying entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New York's Council on the Arts to officially designate "Little Yemen" as a cultural district within the city of New York. It specifically defines the district's boundaries - bounded by White Plains Road (west), Bronxdale Avenue (east and north), and Van Nest Avenue (south) - and empowers the Council to provide grants, technical assistance, or other support to cultural institutions in this area. The designation aims to promote regions with identifiable cultural heritage, like Little Yemen, by connecting them to state resources. This policy change directly affects cultural organizations and community initiatives within the designated neighborhood.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York public schools to provide plant-based food options upon request by a student or their parent/guardian. Schools must offer these meat-free alternatives (defined as USDA-recognized meat substitutes) at no extra cost compared to standard meals, and include this option in all food service descriptions. The policy applies to every meal or snack the student participates in, while allowing students to choose non-plant-based options if they prefer. It does not mandate schools to offer plant-based meals to all students, only to those who specifically request them.

Expands documentation requirements for limited-profit housing companies when providing information to the commissioner of housing of the state of New York and any relevant supervising agency.

Relates to prohibiting the exclusion of coverage for losses or damages caused by exposure to lead-based paint; provides that no insurer licensed or permitted by the superintendent to provide liability coverage to rental property owners shall exclude coverage for losses or damages caused by exposure to lead-based paint.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Freedom of Information Act to establish specific deadlines for government agencies to respond to public records requests. It requires agencies to provide records within 5 business days, deny requests in writing, or acknowledge receipt with an estimated completion date. The law sets progressively shorter response timeframes starting in 2029, ranging from 180 days to 60 days depending on when the request is made, with exceptions for cases involving federal law conflicts, safety concerns, or extremely large volumes of records. Additionally, the bill mandates that agencies accept and respond to requests via electronic mail when possible and requires all state agencies with websites to allow online submission of records requests.