Sen. Leroy Comrie

Prohibits allocation of economic development power to data centers; provides for certain caps on amounts and eligibility for industrial development agency financial assistance; provides for the return of industrial development agency-awarded financial assistance if certain job levels are not maintained within 5 years of project completion; designates the department of environmental conservation as the mandatory lead agency for environmental quality review of any action consuming over 20 megawatts; requires environmental quality review for any action within 10 miles of a federally recognized Indian nation's territory.

Requires gas corporations to file maps with the public service commission annually to assess leak-prone gas infrastructure and the decommissioning of such leak-prone gas lines; requires the public service commission to publish such maps and certain accompanying documents on the commission's website; directs the public service commission to designate neighborhood priority decarbonization zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New York's parole process by requiring the state board of parole to consider specific, evidence-based factors when deciding whether to release incarcerated individuals on parole. It mandates that the board evaluate rehabilitation efforts (like vocational training or therapy participation), release plans (including job opportunities and community support), and the seriousness of the crime, while prohibiting decisions based solely on victim input. The board must now provide detailed written explanations for denials and report quarterly to the public on parole denials, including demographic data (without identifying individuals) and reasons for each decision. This directly affects incarcerated individuals seeking parole and the parole board's decision-making procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5759) imposes a 5-year moratorium on spreading or selling biosolids - treated sewage byproducts used as fertilizer or soil amendment - on farmland, parks, or other non-crop areas. It directly affects wastewater treatment facilities, farmers, and businesses that sell or use biosolids for agricultural purposes. The law bans land application, permits for such use, and sales of biosolids or products containing them, with exceptions for landfill disposal and compost made from food waste, manure, or other non-biosolids materials. The ban applies statewide and includes penalties for violations, such as fines up to $2,500 per offense.

Amends early voting provisions; provides that an application for an absentee ballot that does not provide a reason that the applicant is entitled to such a ballot shall be processed as an application for an early mail ballot.

Prohibits cases from being closed without a hearing or written stipulation; requires a stenographic record of all hearings held; requires minutes and decisions to be provided to the injured worker in their native language.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large group health insurance plans to cover hearing aids for policyholders who receive a medical evaluation and have them fitted by a licensed hearing aid provider. It mandates coverage for the cost of hearing aids (up to $2,500 per ear every 36 months) but prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on brand, style, or technology. The law applies to all large group medical, major medical, or comprehensive health insurance policies and ensures coverage for in-network providers. It directly affects insured individuals with hearing loss and the insurers offering these plans.

Requires the community gardens task force to conduct an assessment of all community gardens located on publicly owned land in the state to facilitate each garden's designation as a critical environmental area.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially recognize June 2026 as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in New York. The resolution highlights the significant impact of the disease, noting that it affects hundreds of thousands of residents and causes more deaths than certain cancers. It also points out the high costs of care and the challenges faced by caregivers, including issues of discrimination in healthcare settings. By adopting this measure, the legislature intends to increase public awareness and encourage further action on this health issue.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 101st birthday of Malcolm X, recognizing him as a significant advocate for human rights and an influential African American leader. The bill directs the legislative body to pause its proceedings to honor his life, detailing his history from his birth in Omaha to his work as a minister, his founding of civil rights organizations, and his assassination in 1965. By adopting this measure, the legislature formally acknowledges his contributions to the struggle for equality without imposing any new laws or policies.