Sen. Leroy Comrie

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3144, expands the required service area for accessible paratransit transportation. It mandates that accessible buses be available within a service area measuring three miles from any bus line operated by a transportation authority or its subsidiaries. This provision applies to both existing requirements for a percentage of accessible buses and the mandate for 100% accessible fixed-route buses, aiming to ensure broader geographical access for transportation-disabled persons, including those in wheelchairs.

Allows the higher education services corporation to consider an applicant's change in income due to the loss of employment in determining eligibility and award amount for the tuition assistance program.

Establishes a bill of rights for the unhoused; provides that no person shall be denied certain rights because of a state of homelessness nor shall such persons be harassed, cited, fined, or arrested by law enforcement, security personnel, public employees, or private citizens for the exercise of certain rights; describes rights; provides for a bill of benefits of the unhoused for the free provision of a postal address and the right to juridical services to ensure protection from the violation of their protected rights; requires the office of temporary and disability assistance to create a pamphlet of such rights; makes related provisions.

Relates to the public release of grand jury documents; releases the district attorney's grand jury charges to the public upon request once the grand jury has reached a final decision.

Maddy summaryS 2204 requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to study whether the Triboro rail line corridor - spanning from the Bronx through Queens to Brooklyn - could safely and effectively operate as a shared public transit and freight rail line. The study, to be completed within one year, will examine challenges, benefits, and operational details like station locations, service frequency, and cost estimates for co-mingling transit and freight traffic. It specifically aims to assess potential travel time reductions, environmental benefits, and economic impacts for outer borough residents. The MTA must report findings to state leaders, including projected ridership and phased implementation plans, but does not authorize actual service changes.

Grants the department of financial services jurisdiction over the financing of motor vehicles; requires motor vehicle dealer finance managers to be licensed by the department of financial services.

Maddy summaryBill S 6595 establishes a property tax abatement program for owners of certain buildings in cities with populations of one million or more. This program incentivizes the installation of "facility-integrated carbon-to-value equipment" designed to capture, remove, or beneficially use carbon dioxide emissions. Eligible property owners can receive an abatement for a compliance period of up to eight years, calculated as the lesser of 5% of eligible equipment expenditures, the taxes payable, or $100,000 annually (with a potential maximum of $800,000). The equipment must demonstrate a net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and specific restrictions apply, including for certain boiler systems and locations within environmental justice areas.

Maddy summaryS 3926 requires full disclosure of all recordings from police body cameras and vehicle cameras in criminal cases, including outtakes and unused portions, rather than just footage the prosecution plans to use. It directly affects prosecutors, defendants, and courts in criminal proceedings involving police video evidence. The bill mandates that prosecutors disclose all such recordings unless exempt under public officers law, with a limited exception: if materials exceed 10 hours, prosecutors may initially disclose only trial-relevant footage plus a summary, but must provide additional requested recordings within 15 days. This changes current disclosure practices to increase transparency around police-captured video evidence.

Requires that consumer reporting agencies contact consumers when a request is made for their consumer reports; requires consumer reporting agencies to provide the consumer with information pertaining to the entity that requested the consumer report.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5460) exempts certain cooperative corporation and condominium properties from specific real property tax rules if their municipality adopts a local law or school district resolution before the tax assessment date. It applies to properties not already subject to those tax rules before January 1, 2027, and excludes properties participating in affordable housing programs. The exemption requires municipal action prior to the tax assessment date but does not apply to properties already taxed under the rules before 2027 or those tied to affordable housing agreements. The changes take effect for tax assessments starting January 1, 2027.