Sen. Leroy Comrie

Maddy summaryS 3968 requires merchants (like stores) to include a specific disclosure in any written or spoken communication attempting to settle a civil case related to alleged shoplifting. The notice must clearly state that the settlement involves a larceny claim, explain the civil liability amounts ($1,500 max for unrecovered merchandise plus penalties), clarify that civil penalties are separate from criminal charges, and state that refusing the settlement doesn’t prevent criminal prosecution. Merchants who fail to include this notice face strict liability for actual damages, triple the settlement amount sought, and legal costs. This law applies immediately to all future settlement attempts involving larceny-related civil actions.

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Requires stores to publicly display their return and refund policies, including tracking of returns; establishes that failure to display provides buyer with automatic refund or credit.

Requires facilities offering dialysis services to have an alternate generated power source for use during a general power outage or disaster emergency; provides exemptions.

Authorizes the New York city council to approve or deny by a majority vote, any public authority's or public benefit corporation's use of eminent domain.

Enacts the building up immigrant legal defense or BUILD act to provide competitive workforce development and capacity building grants to eligible entities that are seeking to expand access to representation for individuals facing deportation by increasing the workforce and strengthening the legal services infrastructure needed to provide such representation.

Requires the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation to review the policies of the department of parks and recreation of the city of New York regarding trees and tree maintenance.

Maddy summaryS 3779 increases the maximum number of academic years students can receive tuition assistance under New York's program from four to six years. It directly affects undergraduate students enrolled in eligible two- or four-year colleges who rely on this state-funded aid. The key change extends eligibility periods, with specific provisions for students in remedial programs (counted as five-year programs) and those transferring due to college closures (allowing up to two additional semesters). This update aligns the program with longer degree completion timelines common in higher education.

Relates to veterans' eligibility for public housing; expands eligibility requirements to include veterans of the recent conflicts; requires granting of a preference for public housing to veterans or families of veterans who have a military service connected disability.

Relates to applications for the approval and construction of energy-related projects of the New York Power Authority by the public authorities control board.