Asm. Amy Paulin

Maddy summaryBill A 2266 requires state agencies operating prisons and youth detention facilities to provide incarcerated individuals with free voice communication services (and optionally video or messaging), effective April 1, 2026. It prohibits facilities from charging inmates for these services or generating revenue from them, and mandates that communication services cannot replace in-person visit programs. The bill repeals the existing correction law section on this topic and adds new requirements for agencies managing correctional facilities. This directly affects all people confined in state correctional facilities by guaranteeing free communication access with external contacts.

Relates to the conversion to condominium ownership for the preservation of expiring affordable housing in the city of New York; provides expanded homeownership opportunities from the conversion of certain residential rental buildings to condominium status by property owners that commit to preserve the inventory of expiring affordable housing in the city of New York.

Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.

Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers including a proposed change of rates, charges, terms and conditions of service, the adoption of rules, regulations, guidelines, orders, standards or final policy decisions.

Requires the empire state plaza art commission to examine the historical significance of major rivers in the state of New York in connection with renaming the agency buildings located at the empire state plaza; requires the governor to choose the new agency building names within 60 days after the commission's recommendation.

Establishes an age-friendly health system technical assistance center to provide assistance in relation to age-friendly health systems; relates to hospital performance data.

Requires the state office for the aging to publish a "Guide to Actions When Someone Close Dies"; establishes a temporary special advisory committee to create and publish such guide.

Maddy summaryBill A 1223 sets specific filing deadlines for designating petitions (used by candidates to appear on primary election ballots) for the 2026 primary election cycle. It requires these petitions to be filed between the 13th Monday before and 12th Monday before the primary, and invalidates signatures made earlier than 41 days before the filing deadline or later than the 12th Thursday before the primary. The bill applies directly to candidates and petition organizers preparing for the 2026 primary elections. It is temporary, taking effect January 1, 2026, and automatically expiring December 31, 2026, after which the previous filing rules would resume.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1395) expands who can authorize the donation of a deceased person's body for medical education or research. It amends New York's public health law to add "a close friend" (as legally defined) to the list of individuals permitted to make such anatomical gifts, alongside family members and guardians. The law clarifies that if multiple eligible close friends exist, the donation requires agreement from a majority of those reasonably available. This change streamlines the process for body donations after death while explicitly including close friends in the decision-making authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in New York to cover one rescue inhaler and one maintenance inhaler for asthma treatment at no cost to the patient. It applies to all medical, major medical, and comprehensive health insurance policies that cover prescription drugs, directly affecting asthma patients who rely on these medications. Insurers must provide this coverage without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing, with a narrow exception only for high-deductible plans that would otherwise disqualify patients from health savings accounts. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for all new or renewed policies.