Asm. MaryJane Shimsky

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "consumer debt" as any obligation for personal, family, or household expenses (including medical debt), excluding real estate-secured debt and rent arrears. It updates court procedures to use "consumer debt" instead of "consumer credit transaction," requiring summons to display this term in both Spanish and English and setting a 3-year filing limit for such cases. The bill also clarifies venue rules for lawsuits and adjusts filing fees for consumer debt actions. These changes standardize legal terminology and processes across New York courts for debt-related cases involving individuals.

Maddy summaryBill A 6326 requires gas and electric utility companies to provide their customers with at least 45 days' written notice before any service rate or charge increase takes effect. This bill directly affects gas and electric corporations by mandating this notification period and impacts their customers by ensuring they are informed in advance of changes to their utility costs. It amends the public service law to add this new requirement.

Requires utilities to notify property owners prior to beginning any non-emergency construction or other work that may interfere with a property owner's ability to use, or access such owner's property; requires notice to include, but not limited to, a description of the work to be performed, the expected duration of such work, the location of such work, any road closures or detours that may occur due to such work, any action that may directly and materially impact the use of such property, and the contact information for the utility performing such work; provides notice may include electronic communications, signage, and written materials; exempts cases where a natural or man-made disaster or state of emergency occurs.

Establishes the youth justice innovation fund to make funds available to community-based organizations for services and programs with the purpose of youth development and preventing youth arrest and incarceration.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution K 498 is a resolution that requests Governor Kathy Hochul to officially declare May 2025 as Williams Syndrome Awareness Month in New York State. This aims to increase public understanding of Williams Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects individuals and families.

Requires public-facing websites operated by political committees to contain "paid for by" language; adds such public-facing websites to the list of political communications that qualify as independent expenditures.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) congratulating Catherine Rinaldi on her retirement as President of MTA Metro-North Railroad after her service since 2018. It recognizes her career path at the MTA, including roles as General Counsel, Executive Vice President, and her leadership in achieving Metro-North's best on-time performance and safety program awards. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions and is a symbolic gesture with no policy impact or effect on legislation.

Relates to requiring gender neutral bathrooms in state-owned buildings; provides that if no single-occupancy bathroom can be designated as gender neutral in a state-owned building, a multiple-occupancy bathroom shall be designated as gender neutral instead; requires state-owned and state-leased buildings to provide adequate notice regarding gender neutral bathrooms.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's insurance law to regulate "step therapy" protocols used by health insurers. It directly affects patients and insurers by limiting how insurers can require patients to try lower-cost drugs before covering a prescribed medication. Key provisions include capping required drug trials at two per condition, banning protocols for unapproved or unsupported drugs, requiring insurer acceptance of doctors' written proof of drug failure as valid evidence, and preventing redundant step therapy for patients who recently completed it under another plan. The changes take effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts certain harmful chemicals in menstrual products sold in New York State. It prohibits manufacturers from intentionally adding specific substances like lead, mercury, formaldehyde, phthalates, and PFAS (a class of chemicals including Teflon-like compounds) to products such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. Starting immediately upon the bill's effective date (12 months after enactment), these chemicals cannot be added as intentional ingredients, with future safety thresholds for remaining traces to be set by health and environmental agencies by 2029. The law applies to all distributors and sellers of menstrual products within New York.