Sen. Toby Stavisky

Enacts the "NYS net neutrality protection act"; relates to state contracts being only with internet service providers compliant with net neutrality; prohibits the purchase of internet services from a non-net neutral source of internet services; requires certain disclosures by internet providers.

Permits cooperative housing corporations to directly obtain a shareholder's death certificate upon providing appropriate documentation of their creditor status.

Ensures continuity of care for cancer patients during insurance contract negotiations by requiring insurance coverage and treatment continue until the conclusion of care.

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Enacts the building up immigrant legal defense or BUILD act to provide competitive workforce development and capacity building grants to eligible entities that are seeking to expand access to representation for individuals facing deportation by increasing the workforce and strengthening the legal services infrastructure needed to provide such representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for small businesses in the state with 500 or fewer employees who buy personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves, or face shields for their workers. Employers can claim a credit of up to $5,000 per year toward the cost of qualifying PPE purchases. Unused credit amounts can be carried forward to future tax years. The credit applies to the taxable year the bill takes effect and all subsequent years.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain goods and services sold by cemeteries for exclusive use on their own grounds from state sales tax. It specifically covers tangible property (like headstones or markers) and services (such as plot maintenance) approved by the state cemetery board. The law clarifies that cemetery corporations - defined under state nonprofit and religious corporation laws - are not required to collect sales tax when selling these items or services for use within their cemetery property. This change aims to preserve cemetery funds for long-term maintenance and prevent abandonment, directly affecting cemetery operations and their tax obligations.

Permits any child who is at least fourteen years of age to have administered to themself, regardless of parental consent, certain immunizations required or recommended by law.

Maddy summaryBill S 4032 exempts dry cleaning businesses from paying sales and use taxes on equipment certified by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for pollution prevention or control. Specifically, it applies to machinery that prevents pollution from dry cleaning operations and does not use EPA-classified hazardous air pollutants, qualifying for DEC air facility registration exemption. The exemption covers equipment used in dry cleaning plants for controlling contaminants, including replacements or upgrades to existing pollution-control systems. This change takes effect at the start of the next sales tax quarter following the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a tax on sugary drinks based on their sugar content per 12-ounce serving. Distributors (like manufacturers and wholesalers) pay the tax, which is added to the retail price: no tax for drinks with ≤7.5g sugar/12oz, $0.01 per ounce for 7.5-30g, and $0.02 per ounce for ≥30g. Revenue from this tax funds a "community health equity fund" as specified in the bill's abstract. The tax applies to most nonalcoholic beverages containing added sugars, excluding medical drinks, milk, natural fruit/vegetable juices, and water.