Sen. Tony Palumbo

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (Senate Resolution 1516) passed by the legislature to commemorate the 18th anniversary of Kosovo's independence on February 17, 2026. It formally acknowledges Kosovo's independence from Serbia (declared in 2008) and celebrates its progress in democratic governance, while recognizing the contributions of Kosovar communities in New York. The resolution has no legal effect and does not create new policies or affect any individuals or groups. It serves solely as a ceremonial expression of support for Kosovo's independence and its partnership with the United States.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (J 1518) formally congratulates Southampton Intermediate School's eighth-grade students for winning first place in Cornell University's New York Agriculture in the Classroom Mac and Cheese Challenge. The resolution recognizes their achievement in creating an innovative mac and cheese chicken pot pie recipe, which was judged on culinary skill, originality, and integration of agricultural knowledge among over 260 statewide submissions. It specifically honors the team members - Cole Collins, Gabe Galvis Mejia, Chris Glorioso, and others - and their educators who guided the project. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy impact and serves solely to acknowledge the students' academic and culinary accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution congratulating Jolie Chichak, a Shenendehowa High School student, on winning the 2025 NYSPHSAA Girls Tennis Singles State Championship. It formally recognizes her athletic achievement (including her first Section 2 singles title and school's first state singles championship) and academic record (96.33 GPA). The resolution has no policy impact - it solely offers symbolic recognition to Chichak and her coaches/school staff. It does not create legal obligations or alter any laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants peace officer status to employees of the Town of Southold who work as public safety officers on Fishers Island. It amends the criminal procedure law to formally recognize these individuals as peace officers for their duties on the island. The law explicitly states that this status does not permit carrying or possessing firearms without a valid license under the penal law. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural Senate resolution (not a bill), requesting Governor Hochul to declare July 1, 2026, as "Canada Day" in New York State. It memorializes the strong economic, cultural, and trade ties between New York and Canada, including $17 billion in annual exports and over 1,300 Canadian businesses operating in the state. The resolution has no binding effect; it simply asks the Governor to issue a ceremonial proclamation recognizing these connections. The legislature adopted it on February 3, 2026, and will send it to the Governor and Canada's New York Consul General.

Requires approval by 2/3 vote of membership of the senate and assembly voting separately to increase or decrease any tax rate, impose a new state tax, extend or delete existing state tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a 2001 law to clarify how the Ridge Volunteer Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association collects and uses specific taxes. It requires the association to collect "foreign" fire insurance premium taxes (from policies covering properties in their district but written outside it) under Insurance Law sections 9104 and 9105. The collected taxes must be used *only* to provide care and relief for disabled or indigent volunteer firefighters and their families within the association's purpose. The changes apply to taxes due on premiums received after January 1, 2026.

Prohibits persons convicted of murder or sentenced to life without parole or where the defendant acting either alone or with one or more other persons, commits or attempts to commit robbery, burglary, kidnapping, arson, rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse, escape in the first degree, or escape in the second degree, and, in the course of and in furtherance of such crime or of immediate flight therefrom, such defendant, or another participant, if there be any, intentionally causes the death of: a police officer; a peace officer; a firefighter, emergency medical technician, ambulance driver, paramedic, physician or registered nurse involved in a first response team, or any other individual who, in the course of official duties, performs emergency response; or an employee of a state correctional institution or was an employee of a local correctional facility, when such person was engaged in the course of performing their official duties, from being eligible for commutation of sentence.

Allows the alteration or repeal of real property tax exemptions for certain private institutions of higher education by the passage of a private bill by the legislature and approval by the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes a constitutional rule requiring bills to be available to lawmakers in final form at least three days before final vote. It limits exceptions to "messages of necessity" (allowing faster votes) to only situations certified by the governor as a "state disaster emergency" under existing law. This directly affects governors and legislators by restricting how often emergency exceptions can bypass standard review periods during crises. The change applies to all bills, ensuring emergency exceptions remain narrowly tied to actual disasters defined by statute.