Asm. Karl Brabenec

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 6145) requires dog owners to provide appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors during inclement weather (extreme heat above 90°F or cold below 32°F) and restricts tethering. It prohibits tethering dogs for more than 30 minutes at a time (max 4 times daily without supervision), for ill or young dogs, or with unsafe collars/tethers. Shelter must include waterproof roofing, insulation, ventilation, space for movement, clean water, and protection from weather, while banning crawl spaces, vehicle undercarriages, or degraded materials. Violations carry fines up to $250, with courts allowing credit for owners who improve shelter compliance. The law directly affects dog owners who leave pets outdoors unsupervised.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state, county, school district, and other public employers (including community colleges and public benefit corporations) to provide employees with up to 8 hours of paid leave annually to volunteer as poll workers during elections. The leave is excused (not deducted from other leave) and must be granted for election-related duties. Employers must establish simple guidelines for requesting and approving the leave, but the bill explicitly states it won't override existing collective bargaining agreements or employee benefits. The policy directly affects public employees who wish to serve as poll workers without losing pay or accrued leave time.

Prohibits electric, gas, telephone, cellular telephone, television, internet, energy, water services or any other utility providers from imposing additional fees related to administrative surcharges, fees for non-use or any other charges to customers living at their primary residence who are over sixty-five years of age or who have a developmental disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "First Responder Peer Support Program Act" to create a statewide grant program for peer-to-peer mental health support services. It directly affects first responders - including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, 911 operators, and correctional officers - by providing funding for local programs offering trauma-informed training and mental health resources. Key provisions include requiring standardized training on trauma, suicide prevention, and resilience; mandating strict confidentiality for participants; and prohibiting disclosure of personal information to employers. Grants are allocated to eligible local entities, with annual reports tracking program use without identifying individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an optional 20-year retirement plan for New York state correction officers (including employees directly performing correction officer duties). Eligible members can choose this plan within one year of the law's effective date, allowing retirement after 20 years of service or at age 62. Upon retirement, they receive a pension equal to 1/40th of their final average salary per year of service (capped at 50% total), with additional benefits beyond 20 years capped at 75% of final average salary. The state covers the extra costs through additional contributions.

Prohibits the governor from preventing or inhibiting state agency cooperation with the federal government for the purposes of immigration enforcement; prohibits state agencies from preventing or inhibiting collaboration with federal agencies for the purposes of federal immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals who own or are suing over vacated properties to enter those sites to check for and remove abandoned pets. It also requires government housing departments to inspect abandoned dwellings for stray animals and report them to animal control or humane societies. The law clarifies that anyone who finds a pet during these inspections does not automatically become its owner. Additionally, the bill imposes fines on property owners who fail to inspect their abandoned homes for stray animals, with the collected money going to an animal population control fund.

Maddy summaryBill A 3631 allows New York schools to use state or local funds to purchase whole or reduced-fat New York milk (defined as milk produced, processed, and distributed within New York State) for student meals or sales. It requires the Education Commissioner to notify schools about the provision and mandates a report after two years tracking school participation, milk consumption changes, and state promotion efforts. The bill expires if federal school lunch rules change to permit whole/reduced-fat milk generally or if updated federal dietary guidelines allow it. This policy directly affects public schools in New York seeking to support local dairy producers through school meal programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York school districts to purchase or lease only zero-emission school buses (electric or hydrogen-powered with no tailpipe emissions) when buying new vehicles by July 2027. It also mandates that all components and final assembly of these buses and their charging infrastructure must be made in the U.S. unless a waiver is granted for cost or feasibility reasons. Districts facing financial hardship may receive up to two years to comply after a cost-benefit analysis, and the law includes protections preventing workforce displacement for transportation employees during the transition. The full transition to zero-emission school buses must be completed by July 2047, or when all state vehicle fleets meet this standard, whichever comes later.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows home-schooled children residing in a school district to participate in that district's interscholastic sports and driver's education programs. It requires home-schooled students to meet all standard course or activity requirements and pay any applicable fees. The law applies only to districts offering these specific programs, and students cannot simultaneously attend another school within the same district. This change directly affects home-schooled students seeking athletic or driver's education opportunities in their residential district.