Asm. MaryJane Shimsky

Expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness; increases loan reimbursement for certain attorneys who work in legal services with indigent clients.

Enacts the "NY broadband resiliency, public safety and quality act" to provide for oversight of the resiliency, public safety and quality of broadband and voice over internet protocol service.

Establishes the "no severance ultimatums act", which prevents employers from giving coercive ultimatums to employees or former employees relating to severance agreements.

Establishes a chief sustainability officer to coordinate efforts across state agencies and other state government entities to address climate change mitigation and climate sustainability efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets limits on property tax increases for New York counties, cities, towns, and villages (excluding New York City and certain counties). It specifically caps how much local governments can raise taxes to cover teacher retirement costs when the required contribution rate jumps more than 2 percentage points from the previous year. The law clarifies that these limits apply to most property tax levies but exclude certain special assessments authorized under specific state provisions. The goal is to prevent sudden, large tax hikes on residents by tying increases to predictable factors like retirement system costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 9-member task force within New York's Office of Mental Health to study how elderly residents in community mental health housing can "age in place" while receiving proper care. The task force will examine specific barriers, including integrating mental and medical care, making housing ADA-compliant, training staff on elderly needs, and improving transportation for medical appointments. It must issue a report with recommendations to the governor and legislature within 12 months, after which the task force automatically expires. The bill directly affects elderly residents in state-funded mental health housing programs and aims to improve their care coordination and living conditions.

Prohibits governmental entities from entering into agreements to house individuals in immigration detention facilities; requires governmental entities to terminate existing contracts for the detention of individuals in immigration detention facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New York's Liquor Authority to permit outdoor alcohol service for specific special events during June and July 2026. It directly affects licensed alcohol businesses (like bars and restaurants with on-premises permits) and local governments seeking to approve such events in designated areas. Key provisions include allowing enclosed outdoor service areas with flexible barrier rules, requiring joint licensee responsibility for enforcement issues, mandating safety resources like law enforcement patrols, and setting requirements for shared service areas on public civic campuses. The bill also specifies that participating licensees must submit joint operating plans detailing underage prevention, staff ratios, and container safety measures.

Enacts the "PFAS discharge disclosure act"; requires certain SPDES permit holders to conduct PFAS monitoring and disclose the results from such monitoring.

Provides that certain communications between a claimant's attorney or representative and an injured employee's treating provider or a claimant's medical consultant are not improper influence or an attempt to improperly influence.