Sen. Jessica Ramos

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a specific section from the public health law that previously addressed individuals who knew they had a venereal disease. By repealing this section, the legislation stops the state from enforcing any rules or penalties related to that specific requirement. The change takes effect immediately and prevents any new legal actions from being started under the old rule.

Maddy summaryBill S 4612 amends the workers' compensation law to include coverage for treatment provided by licensed massage therapists. It defines "massage therapist" and adds them to the list of authorized healthcare providers within the workers' compensation system. Under this bill, an injured employee can receive massage therapy if prescribed or referred by an authorized physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, or nurse practitioner. Massage therapists rendering such treatment would be required to maintain patient records. However, their reports or opinions would not be considered evidence of the causal link of an injury to a work accident or occupational disease, nor evidence of disability, under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state transportation and safety agencies to create a scannable code for work zone and truss construction signs. When drivers or pedestrians scan this code with a smartphone, it will display the sign's text in the most common non-English language within a ten-mile radius. Additionally, the law mandates that signs in residential areas and on truss-type buildings be printed in both English and Spanish starting one year after the bill takes effect. These changes aim to improve safety by making critical construction information accessible to non-English speakers.

Permits amendment of a claim or notice of intention to file a claim to correct jurisdictional pleading defects and the dismissal of a claim based upon claimant's failure to comply with jurisdictional pleading requirements.

Directs the department of motor vehicles to develop a plan to increase the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles, by county, in New York state outside of the city of New York; defines accessibility; requires a report to identify any existing local guidelines for accessible vehicles; directs development of benchmarks for increasing wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Includes the unaccrued portion of a non-schedule award in the amounts to be payable to and for the benefit of certain persons where a claimant was entitled to death benefits at the time of death.

Requires all authorities having jurisdiction over a population exceeding five thousand residents to adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform by June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-seven.

Requires health care plans and payors to have a minimum of twelve and one-half percent of their total expenditures on physical and mental health annually be for primary care services.

Maddy summaryBill S 3233 requires anyone (other than election officials) who sends mail to registered voters or voter registration applicants - intended to challenge their qualifications - to report specific details to the state election board within two business days. This includes submitting copies of the mail, the recipient list, and the sender’s personal information, with failure to comply creating a presumption that the mail cannot be used in challenges. The bill also updates voter challenge rules to mandate detailed affidavits with sworn statements, an oath, and specific documentation of the challenge reason. Additionally, it prohibits using citizenship information collected for voter challenges for any other purpose and treats citizenship certification errors as innocent.

Maddy summaryS 8512 (the "Solar UP Now NY Act") defines "portable solar generation devices" as moveable photovoltaic systems under 1,200 watts that connect via standard outlets to offset household electricity use. It exempts these devices from utility interconnection rules and net metering requirements, meaning customers don’t need utility approval, pay fees for grid feedback, or install extra equipment. The bill directly affects residential and small commercial users who want to use simple portable solar units without regulatory hurdles. Utilities cannot be held liable for damage from these devices, and the law takes effect immediately.