Sen. James Sanders

Provides that certain purchase contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental resilience, racial equity, valued workforce, valued agricultural sector, animal welfare, and nutrition.

Regulates the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination; requires independent audits of high risk AI systems; provides for enforcement by the attorney general.

Requires merchants to round cash purchases to the nearest five cent denomination in order to encourage the reduction of the circulation of pennies within New York state.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date of the state charter advisory board from October 3, 2026, to October 3, 2031. The advisory board, which provides guidance on chartering financial institutions, will continue to operate under this new timeline instead of ceasing operations in 2026. By delaying the repeal of the relevant law, the legislation ensures the board remains active for an additional five years. The change applies to the financial services sector and affects the regulatory framework for chartering entities within the state.

Enacts the "NYS ratepayer protection nuclear moratorium act" under which certain state funds and subsidies are prohibited from being expended for new, reopened or rebuilt closed nuclear power facilities and related entities; creates a nuclear assessment task force.

Authorizes the city of New York to discontinue certain parkland in the borough of Queens and transfer such parkland to the metropolitan transportation authority.

Requires that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains.

Prohibits landlords from restricting the installation of appliances or fixtures by tenants; provides that the landlord is not compelled to change utilities or alter the unit for such installation; prohibits surcharge where tenant pays utilities directly to provider; requires a tenant restore appliances or fixtures to the condition they were prior to being installed or allowing such appliances or fixtures remain in the rental unit at no cost to the landlord; defines "appliances or fixtures".

Requires that public contracts be divided by size into large, medium, small and micro contracts for the purpose of increasing opportunities for small businesses, including minority-owned business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises, to participate in state contracts.

Provides for enrollment of eligible incarcerated persons in the medical assistance for needy persons program; provides for enrollment of incarcerated individuals in other medical assistance programs, where eligible.