Sen. Jessica Ramos

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, a nonprofit organization founded in 1977 to support African American lawmakers. The bill formally recognizes the group's role in advocating for equity and providing resources to over 700 state legislators representing more than 50 million people. It directs the legislative body to pause its proceedings to honor the organization's contributions and mandates that a copy of the resolution be sent to the caucus. As a procedural measure, the bill does not alter laws or policies but serves to acknowledge the milestone and the organization's impact on public service.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Governor of New York to officially recognize May 2025 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. The resolution highlights the impact of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease affecting thousands of New Yorkers, and notes the importance of public awareness and early diagnosis. It does not change laws or allocate funds but serves to bring attention to the condition and support for those affected.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers of domestic workers to provide paid sick leave, directly affecting household workers like nannies, caregivers, and housekeepers. It mandates that employers with 5-99 workers (including those hiring domestic workers) provide 40 hours of paid sick leave annually per employee, while larger employers (100+ workers) must offer 56 hours. Small employers (4 or fewer workers) must provide 40 hours of *unpaid* sick leave unless they earned over $1 million in the previous year, in which case it becomes paid. The law applies to all domestic workers as defined by existing labor law, with no exemption for household employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 527) changes rules for charter schools in New York by restricting how they can expand grade levels. Starting June 1, 2025, charter schools cannot apply to revise their charters to serve grades across multiple school classifications (like elementary, middle, or high school) simultaneously. The rule applies to all new charter revisions submitted after that date. It directly affects charter schools seeking to expand their grade offerings, requiring them to stay within a single classification (e.g., only elementary or only high school). The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryS 363, the "New York junk fee prevention act," requires businesses selling goods or services in New York to clearly disclose the total price - including all mandatory fees - before a purchase. It defines "mandatory fees" as unexpected charges consumers can't reasonably avoid (like default add-ons), excluding taxes, delivery costs based on consumer choice, or certain financial fees. Businesses must display total prices prominently in ads and at checkout, avoiding misleading fine print. Violations can trigger penalties up to $1,000 per intentional violation, with enforcement by the attorney general or affected consumers. The law exempts businesses already complying with federal broadband or cable disclosure rules, and certain financial service disclosures.

Enacts "Cecilia's act for rights in the sex trades"; decriminalizes certain prostitution offenses; amends provisions relating to prosecution of such offenses and vacating judgments.

Maddy summaryS 1209, the "Marvin Mayfield Act," eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for felony convictions by amending sentencing laws. It requires courts to issue written sentencing decisions explaining individualized findings, rather than applying fixed minimum terms. The bill also expands pre-sentence reports to include analysis of incarceration costs and increases access to these reports for defendants and their attorneys before sentencing. This directly affects individuals convicted of felonies in New York State, shifting sentencing focus toward rehabilitation and community safety over rigid minimum terms.

Relates to fair pricing for low-complexity, routine medical care to more closely align payment rates across ambulatory settings for selected services that are safe and appropriate to provide in all settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for filing lawsuits in the Court of Claims by removing the strict requirement for detailed specificity in certain sexual offense cases. It directly affects individuals seeking legal relief for injuries caused by sexual crimes against children or adults, as well as the parties being sued. Under the new provisions, plaintiffs alleging harm from specific sexual offenses or incest no longer need to provide the same level of detailed initial information as required in other types of claims. The changes apply immediately to new lawsuits, pending cases, and some previously dismissed cases that are currently being appealed.

Codifies certain regulations of the workers' compensation board relating to access to prescription medication and coordination with workers' compensation board regulations governing network pharmacy use; requires the workers' compensation board to file a report on out-of-network pharmacy use within 3 years of the effective date.