Asm. Karines Reyes

Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2027, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; directs the multi-agency bottle bill fraud investigation team to submit a report on findings of pervasive bottle redemption fraud in New York state.

Requires school districts to collect and annually report to the department of education certain information regarding manifestation determination reviews (MDRs) conducted during the prior school year; requires certain disaggregated information to be publicly reported regarding MDRs.

Establishes the safe water and infrastructure action program for the purpose of making payments toward the replacement and rehabilitation of certain existing local drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer systems; applies to any county, city, town, village or public authority drinking water system, storm water system or sanitary sewer system within the state that is not under the maintenance and/or operational jurisdiction of a private entity.

Maddy summaryBill A 7958, titled the "Paid-In Act," proposes to exempt used books from sales and use taxes. This means that individuals purchasing second-hand books would not pay sales tax on those items. The exemption applies to used books with a price of up to one hundred dollars per item. This bill directly affects consumers buying used books and the businesses that sell them.

Directs the commissioner of health and commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities to jointly promulgate rules and regulations requiring pediatric health care providers to screen children beginning at the age of 12 months for autism spectrum disorders during each wellness and preventative care examination and to conduct such screening annually until such child reaches age six, and thereafter at eleven and fourteen years of age.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates special "epilepsy awareness" license plates for New York residents who choose to purchase them. Owners pay a $25 annual fee on top of regular registration, with all fees deposited into a new "epilepsy awareness fund." The fund finances research and education programs about epilepsy, including scientific studies and public awareness initiatives on seizure prevention and first aid. These programs are managed by the state health department under established public health law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6913) requires all cosmetology licensees and applicants in New York to complete an online domestic violence and sexual assault awareness course. The course, developed by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence with advocacy groups, covers abuse definitions, warning signs, how to support victims, local resources, cultural considerations, and legal protections. It must be culturally competent, linguistically accessible, and include practical strategies for salon environments. The law affects current and new cosmetology license holders, mandating completion before license issuance or renewal.

Establishes the New York Health program, a comprehensive system of access to health insurance for New York state residents; provides for administrative structure of the plan; provides for powers and duties of the board of trustees, the scope of benefits, payment methodologies and care coordination; establishes the New York Health Trust Fund which would hold monies from a variety of sources to be used solely to finance the plan; enacts provisions relating to financing of New York Health, including a payroll assessment, similar to the Medicare tax; establishes a temporary commission on implementation of the plan; provides for collective negotiations by health care providers with New York Health.

Establishes the student loan borrower bill of rights to protect borrowers and ensure that student loan servicers act more as loan counselors than debt collectors.

Maddy summaryThis bill significantly expands eligibility for judicial diversion programs, allowing individuals charged with a broader range of offenses to participate if they have a "qualifying diagnosis." This diagnosis includes serious mental disorders, other mental health disorders causing severe functional impairment, or substance use disorders. While most Class A felonies and Class B sexual offenses are generally excluded, the bill establishes a new "diversion part" in each county. It also redefines "treatment" within these programs to include evidence-based interventions outside of carceral settings.