Asm. Steve Otis

Maddy summaryThis bill speeds up insurance claim processing for property damage in counties where a state disaster emergency has been declared by the governor. It requires courts to hold a mandatory preliminary conference within 30 days of a claim being filed, followed by a settlement conference within 14 days after a formal case notice is filed. The bill also sets a 60-day deadline for completing discovery (exchanging evidence) and limits pre-trial motions to 30 days after the case notice. These rules apply specifically to insurance claims related to declared disaster emergencies, directly affecting homeowners and businesses seeking compensation for disaster-related property damage.

Requires student onboarding and ongoing education on reproductive health services available to students including where the closest reproductive health clinics are located; all resources available to a student seeking reproductive health services including but not limited to financial assistance and mental health services and any reproductive health resources available to a student through the institution.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's social services law to clarify that when a parent or caregiver excludes a child from a public assistance household application, the child's unearned income (such as savings or investment interest) is not counted toward the household's income for benefit eligibility. It specifically updates Section 131-a to exclude such income from calculations when a child is intentionally left out of the household unit. This change directly affects families applying for public assistance who choose not to include a child living with them in their aid application. The provision ensures that the excluded child's financial resources do not impact the household's eligibility or benefit amount.

Requires fashion sellers to carry out environmental due diligence for the portions of their business related to wearing apparel, footwear or fashion bags, including wearing apparel, footwear or fashion bags produced as a private label; establishes a fashion remediation fund.

Expands the solar energy system equipment tax credit to cover solar energy system equipment installed in a community solar array; defines "community solar array" to mean a location other than a person's principal residence where solar energy system equipment is owned and installed for use in such person's principal residence.

Directs the department of public service to prepare a written report on the affordability of water services for commercial and residential customers within 180 days of effectiveness; requires an updated report to be submitted one year after the initial report.

Enacts the "crash victims bill of rights"; requires accident reports to be delivered to victims of accidents or their next of kin; requires victim impact statements to be delivered at traffic infraction hearings by injured parties or their next of kin; requires employers to grant leave of absence to employees delivering a victim impact statement at a traffic infraction hearing; directs the superintendent of financial services to conduct a study and complete a report on certain automobile crash information.

Enacts the reproductive health care facilities and religious worship access act; provides that the crime of criminal interference with health care services or religious worship shall be established by the mens rea of knowingly injuring, intimidating or interfering with a person obtaining or providing or assisting in obtaining or providing reproductive health services or a place of religious worship; includes in the definition of such crime engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts within twenty-five feet of the premises of a reproductive health care facility or a place of religious worship; defines such premises; provides for a civil cause of action for any person harmed by conduct constituting such a crime.

Authorizes cities and towns, except a city with a population of one million or more, to establish community housing funds; authorizes such cities and towns to impose a real estate transfer tax with revenues to be deposited in such funds; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds two voting seats for high school students on five city education councils, including those for special education, English language learners, high schools, District 75, and community school boards. High school students enrolled in relevant programs (such as special education, bilingual/ESL, or general high school) qualify for these seats, which are appointed annually by school administrators or the chancellor. The change replaces previous non-voting student positions with voting roles, allowing students to directly participate in policy decisions affecting their education.