Sen. Tony Palumbo

Maddy summaryBill S 7021 establishes a new retirement service credit for members of New York State public retirement systems who serve as volunteer firefighters or emergency service providers. Eligible members can receive one year of service credit for every five years of volunteer service, up to a maximum of three years of credit for fifteen years of service. To qualify, members must have at least five years of existing credited service and will pay a portion of the cost, calculated as three percent of their compensation for the twelve months preceding the application. The bill requires volunteer service to be certified by the agency and applications to be submitted before retirement.

Provides for the licensing, inspection and regulation of animal boarding kennels; authorizes the department of agriculture and markets to license, inspect and regulate animal boarding kennels.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4758) changes the legal definition in New York's public health law to explicitly include certain emergency dispatchers and operators as "certified first responders." It adds "public safety dispatchers, emergency responders, emergency operators, emergency complaint operators, and emergency services dispatchers" to the official definition, recognizing their role in providing communication support within police, fire, rescue, and emergency services departments. The change does not create new duties or funding but formally acknowledges these staff as first responders under existing law. The bill was referred to the Health committee on February 12, 2025.

Provides that the village of Southampton is hereby authorized to designate emergency response and rescue vehicles assigned to the Southampton village ocean rescue as authorized emergency vehicles.

Enacts the New York state antisemitism vandalism act which establishes the crime of vandalism of pro-Israel print, which provides a class A misdemeanor for any individual who intentionally destroys, damages, removes, or causes to be destroyed, damaged or removed any banner, poster, flyer or billboard which is located in a public space, where the intent or purpose of such banner, poster, flyer or billboard is to bring awareness for Israeli individuals who have been victims of a crime, or to positively support the country or citizens of Israel in any way.

Defines the practice of certified registered nurse anesthetist; requires collaboration with a licensed physician qualified to determine the need for anesthesia services; requires licensing; defines qualifications.

Maddy summaryS 58 creates a new criminal offense for making threats of violence against police officers, classifying it as a class C felony. The bill defines the crime as threatening to commit violence against an officer with the intent to intimidate civilians, influence government policy, or disrupt government operations. It explicitly states that lacking the intent or ability to carry out the threat is not a valid defense. This law directly affects individuals who make such threats, imposing felony penalties rather than lesser offenses. The bill aims to strengthen legal consequences for threats targeting law enforcement personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1943) expands New York's hate crime definition to include trespassing at religious buildings like churches, synagogues, mosques, or other houses of worship. It directly affects individuals who commit trespass at these locations while targeting someone based on their race, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. The key change amends the penal law to add these locations to the list of places where a hate crime can be charged, raising the offense level if convicted. This creates a specific legal pathway for prosecuting bias-motivated trespass at religious sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires for-hire vehicles carrying 9+ passengers (like larger taxis or shuttles) to have New York state-issued license plates to receive a bi-annual safety inspection in New York. It directly affects commercial ride-hailing and transportation companies operating such vehicles with out-of-state plates. The key provision prohibits state safety inspections for these vehicles unless they are registered with New York, aligning with how New York requires inspections for out-of-state vehicles. The law defines "for-hire vehicle" as any passenger vehicle with a 9+ seat capacity (excluding the driver) used for commercial rides.

Prohibits the manufacture, modification, sale, transfer, equipping, use, or operation of a robotic device or an uncrewed aircraft equipped or mounted with a weapon within the state.