Sen. James Sanders

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-funded program and dedicated fund to support research on lupus, an autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1.5 million Americans - disproportionately women of color and those facing health disparities. It provides grants to state academic medical institutions for lupus research, including causes, diagnosis, and treatments, through a competitive peer review process modeled after federal standards. A new advisory council, composed of lupus patients, medical experts, and health professionals, will oversee the program and prioritize research addressing health inequities. The initiative aims to accelerate scientific progress toward better lupus care and outcomes, reducing the current gap in treatment options and diagnostic delays.

Provides for automatic issuance of identification cards to incarcerated individuals and assistance with obtaining copies of any documents needed to apply for identification cards, including, but not limited to, an incarcerated individual's social security card and birth certificate.

Maddy summaryS 6340 makes it a crime to secretly use drones to photograph or record people in places where they reasonably expect privacy, such as their homes or yards. This law directly affects drone operators who intentionally capture images or video without a person's knowledge or consent. The bill adds a new section to the penal law defining this as "unlawful surveillance in the second degree," criminalizing the act of using aerial imaging technology for surreptitious observation. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "gate money program" providing eligible formerly incarcerated individuals with a monthly stipend upon release from state correctional facilities. Eligible individuals must have served at least six months and not previously received funds from the program, receiving $425 per month for up to six months (max $2,550 total), adjusted annually for inflation. Payments are made immediately upon release (in cash/check) and monthly thereafter, in addition to other funds, and do not affect eligibility for public assistance benefits. The program is funded by a $25 million appropriation from the state general fund, administered by the Department of Corrections.

Establishes standards for the closure of bank accounts in the state of New York to include providing notice of closure and the return of funds to account owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new admission requirements for graduate-level teacher and educational leader programs in New York. It requires programs to use rigorous selection criteria, such as a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate studies or alternative measures like strong letters of recommendation, language skills, or writing samples. Programs may exempt up to 50% of incoming students based on demonstrated potential or extenuating circumstances, but must report these exemptions and criteria to the state education department.

Reinstates a bank tax based on the highest of four bases: a tax on allocated entire net income, a tax on allocated alternative entire net income, a tax on allocated taxable assets, or a fixed dollar minimum tax; prohibits banks from segregating their income and capital into business and investment varieties.

Prohibits persons named on the No Fly List maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation from obtaining or renewing a license to carry, possess, repair and dispose of firearms.

Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to examine and conduct a study on the availability of campus services, programs and resources for veteran students.

Establishes an agrivoltaic production tax credit for farmers who manage a farm operation that is situated wholly or in part within one or more qualified agrivoltaic facilities.