Sen. Jessica Ramos

Requires judges or justices in a court that exercises criminal jurisdiction, including town and village justices, family court judges, and justices of the supreme court who regularly handle matrimonial matters, and court clerks of such courts to attend a program approved by the chief administrator of the courts addressing issues relating to domestic violence totaling at least ten hours every two years; requires law enforcement officers to complete ten hours of domestic violence training every two years.

Maddy summaryS 2455 establishes the New York State Worker Protection and Labor Enforcement Fund, which will use money paid by employers who violate labor laws (such as wage theft or safety rules) to boost the Department of Labor's enforcement efforts. The fund collects penalties and damages from violations of specific labor law sections (including those covering wages, safety, and discrimination) and uses these funds - on top of existing budgets - to hire more enforcement staff and investigate violations. The Department of Labor must report annually on how the fund's money was spent, including the number of cases handled and personnel supported. This bill takes effect April 1, 2026, and directly affects employers who breach labor laws and the Department of Labor's ability to enforce them.

Requires child protective services to orally and in writing disclose certain information to parents and caretakers who are the subject of a child protective services investigation; requires such oral and written disclosure to contain certain information regarding the rights of the person under investigation.

Relates to the regulation of street vendors in cities with a population of one million or more by authorizing such cities to adopt a program to regulate street vendors; requires street vendors to obtain a permit; provides for penalties for failure to comply with such regulations.

Maddy summaryS 2228 provides a premium reduction on medical malpractice insurance for physicians and licensed midwives who complete approved risk management courses focused on obstetrics and midwifery. The bill requires the health commissioner to approve courses covering evidence-based practices like reducing unnecessary early deliveries, managing complications (e.g., hemorrhage, hypertension), and improving prenatal through postpartum care. Successful completion of these courses earns continuing education credit and qualifies participants for the insurance premium discount. This policy directly affects healthcare providers in New York State who deliver obstetric care, aiming to incentivize training that enhances patient safety and birth outcomes.

Establishes the child victims act fund which provides grant awards in reimbursement to public school districts and voluntary foster care agencies located within the state who have been named as defendants in certain child sexual abuse legal cases and in which it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that no insurance policy for the covered period can be located after a good-faith effort to do so has been made, there was a monetary judgment issued or settlement agreement with regard to such action and where it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that payment in full of such judgment or settlement would put a substantial burden on the district's or agency's ability to execute its mission and negatively impact its existing student population.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on caste in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It adds "caste" to New York's existing anti-discrimination protections, defining caste as a hereditary social hierarchy that restricts mobility and rights. The law makes it unlawful for employers, housing providers, or public accommodations to deny services or opportunities based on caste, alongside other protected characteristics like race or gender. This directly affects individuals from communities where caste-based discrimination occurs, such as certain South Asian diaspora groups, by extending legal safeguards to these specific circumstances.

Prohibits any local police department, county sheriff's office, the division of the state police or any agency that employs a peace officer in this state from participating in the 1033 federal excess property program for the purposes of receiving lethal or offensive weapons.

Maddy summaryS 1272 requires all public school districts in the state to provide financial management instruction to students in grades four through eight. The bill mandates teaching practical skills like budgeting, saving, credit, debt, insurance, and investment to build personal financial responsibility. School districts must develop age-appropriate curricula with support from the education commissioner, who will create regulations and provide model teaching resources. This law takes effect July 1, 2025, after the commissioner finalizes implementation rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New York City district and school leadership teams to include at least one student representative. District teams must appoint a high school student (selected by the community superintendent), while school teams must appoint a student (selected by the team's chair). The law takes effect 90 days after enactment, mandating schools to implement these appointments through updated rules. It directly affects NYC public school districts and their leadership structures by formally integrating student representation into decision-making bodies.