Asm. Chris Eachus

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for residents of Rockland and Orange counties to help offset the cost of congestion tolls. It allows individuals who pay tolls to cross the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge or the George Washington Bridge to receive a credit if they enter the congestion tolling zone within two hours of crossing. The credit amount equals the total qualified tolls paid during the tax year, with specific rules for how the credit is calculated for married couples filing jointly. The legislation applies immediately to the tax year it takes effect and all subsequent years.

Provides that the amount of a STAR real property tax savings may not be less than the amount of the STAR real property tax savings from the previous year.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts community colleges from paying the metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax. It achieves this by adding community colleges to the list of eligible educational institutions that are already exempt from the fee, which currently includes public schools and certain libraries. The change applies immediately upon enactment, relieving these colleges of the specific tax requirement without altering any other parts of the tax law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires tuition assistance corporations to document specific reasons when an applicant's or their parent's income changes, such as job loss, serious illness, or military deployment. The legislation also clarifies eligibility rules for the Excelsior Scholarship by setting income limits and defining how income adjustments are calculated for students in full-time programs. Additionally, it allows the scholarship program to review an applicant's financial status after the initial qualifying year if their income drops due to significant life events like death, divorce, or disability. These changes aim to ensure that financial aid decisions reflect current economic circumstances rather than relying solely on past income data.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a provision within the volunteer firefighters' benefit law that covers disabilities caused by heart disease or malfunctioning coronary arteries. By extending the existing temporary coverage, which was set to expire in June 2025, the legislation ensures that volunteer firefighters who suffer these specific health issues remain eligible for benefits indefinitely. The law applies only to injuries that occur after the bill takes effect and does not change the fundamental rules for how these benefits are calculated or awarded.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts to receive additional state building aid to help pay off debt from tax certiorari bonds used for school construction. To qualify, a district must have issued a bond with a total value higher than its general fund spending in the year before it started receiving bond money. The district must submit specific financial documents to the state commissioner to verify the debt and receive the aid, which is calculated based on a formula involving the district's building aid ratio and its debt payments. This change applies to debt service payments made starting in the 2023-2024 school year and continues for future years.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the ability for certain properties to receive tax exemptions if they are being used in violation of local zoning laws. It directly affects owners of real estate who might have previously claimed tax breaks while operating their properties against zoning regulations. The key mechanism is a specific amendment to the Real Property Tax Law that explicitly lists zoning violations as a condition that disqualifies a property from exemption status. By taking effect immediately upon enactment, the change ensures that non-compliant properties must pay full taxes rather than benefiting from special exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the maximum amount of money justice courts can handle in small claims cases from $3,000 to $5,000, excluding interest and costs. It also updates the fees required to file these claims, increasing the cost for smaller claims from $10 to $15 and for larger claims from $15 to $20. The changes apply to individuals and businesses filing suits in justice courts for monetary recovery or property disputes within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new felony crimes for actions that endanger firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers during building fires or evacuations. It specifically targets individuals who alter or partition buildings without permits in ways that block escape routes, resulting in injury or death to these service members. The offense is charged as a class E felony if it causes injury, and as a more serious class D felony if it causes death or if the person has a prior conviction for the same crime.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts and boards of cooperative educational services to create special reserve funds specifically for paying other post-employment benefits, such as healthcare, that employees are entitled to after leaving their jobs. The legislation defines these benefits and permits these entities to fund the reserves through budget appropriations, taxes, or transfers from existing funds, provided a public hearing is held before moving money. It also requires strict financial reporting and prohibits governing board members from using the funds for any purpose other than covering these specific post-employment obligations. Additionally, the bill repeals two existing legal sections and amends education law provisions regarding how costs are allocated to certain school districts.