Asm. Amy Paulin

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's General Municipal Law to clarify that when cities or villages submit applications with environmental assessment forms to agencies, the existing rules in effect at the time of filing will continue governing the review process until all agencies make final decisions and any appeals are resolved. It directly affects local governments and developers submitting projects requiring environmental reviews. The key provision ensures that established review procedures remain unchanged during the approval process, preventing new rules from disrupting ongoing reviews. The bill maintains consistency in environmental assessments without altering substantive standards or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new class B misdemeanor crime for incarcerated individuals who harass facility employees. It specifically prohibits three actions: displaying intimate body parts in view of staff, causing employees to be exposed to such displays, or threatening to expose bodily fluids (blood, urine, etc.). The law directly affects correctional facility staff, parole board employees, mental health personnel, probation officers, and police officers working in these settings. Violations carry penalties of up to 90 days in jail. The bill focuses solely on protecting staff within correctional facilities and related agencies, without altering broader sentencing or release policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans facilities housing non-native big game mammals (like deer or elk) from allowing people to pay to hunt or spear these animals in enclosed areas where escape is impossible. It specifically prohibits activities such as shooting tied or confined animals in pens, cages, or fenced areas without escape routes, and prevents releasing confined animals while others shoot at them. The law defines "fee" broadly to include payments for lodging or meals at these facilities, not just direct hunting fees. This directly affects hunting facilities that operate enclosed areas with non-native animals, requiring them to modify their practices to allow escape routes for the animals.

Prohibits the department of environmental conservation from issuing or authorizing any permits to new or expanding large concentrated animal feeding operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits school bus drivers from using hands-free mobile telephones while operating a bus carrying students. It directly affects school bus drivers during student transport, with exceptions for emergencies (like contacting emergency services) or when the bus is parked safely off the road. The law allows use of exempt devices like two-way radios for school district communication, as designated by education officials. It does not ban all phone use but specifically targets hands-free devices during active student transport.

Establishes a mandated window of five business days for both Medicaid and private insurers to respond to pre-authorization claims for testing and/or treatments made by physicians on behalf of oncology patients.

Increases the handling fee paid by a deposit initiator to a dealer or operator of a redemption center from three and one half cents to five cents per container; decreases the amount of quarterly payments a deposit initiator must pay the commissioner of taxation and finance from eighty to forty-seven percent of the balance of initiator's refund value account; provides for registration as a redemption center.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign-influenced business entities from contributing to or spending on New York state and local elections. It defines "foreign-influenced" as businesses where foreign owners hold ≥1% of shares (single owner) or ≥5% (multiple owners), or where foreign entities influence political decisions. Businesses making election-related spending must file a certification signed by their CEO confirming they meet the criteria. Violations carry felony charges and civil penalties, directly affecting businesses with significant foreign ownership and election committees receiving such funds.

Designates all agents employed by the city of New York police department in the titles of traffic enforcement agent I and traffic enforcement agent II as peace officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's Social Services Law to allow licensed creative arts therapists to bill Medicaid directly for their services, rather than requiring them to work through another provider. It specifically adds creative arts therapists to the list of mental health professionals (including mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists) already permitted to bill Medicaid for covered services within their scope of practice. The change applies only to services Medicaid already covers, and does not alter the therapists' existing scope of practice. The bill was referred to the Health committee on February 20, 2025.