Sen. Leroy Comrie

Provides all registered voters on the day of the general election and the primary election in every even numbered year a full work day off without the loss of pay; provides a tax credit to small businesses who provide a paid day off to employees on general election day.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain goods and services sold by cemeteries for exclusive use on their own grounds from state sales tax. It specifically covers tangible property (like headstones or markers) and services (such as plot maintenance) approved by the state cemetery board. The law clarifies that cemetery corporations - defined under state nonprofit and religious corporation laws - are not required to collect sales tax when selling these items or services for use within their cemetery property. This change aims to preserve cemetery funds for long-term maintenance and prevent abandonment, directly affecting cemetery operations and their tax obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New York City's on-demand E-hail paratransit pilot program until March 2027, expanding it to include 1,200 additional Access-A-Ride paratransit users. It requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to add these new users by March 2026, selecting them to represent diverse demographics (age, disability, location, and usage patterns). The pilot allows enrolled users to book immediate rides via smartphone app or phone, with fares matching standard bus/subway rates and no limits on ride duration or frequency. The MTA must also report on ridership, usage, and costs by April 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a tax on sugary drinks based on their sugar content per 12-ounce serving. Distributors (like manufacturers and wholesalers) pay the tax, which is added to the retail price: no tax for drinks with ≤7.5g sugar/12oz, $0.01 per ounce for 7.5-30g, and $0.02 per ounce for ≥30g. Revenue from this tax funds a "community health equity fund" as specified in the bill's abstract. The tax applies to most nonalcoholic beverages containing added sugars, excluding medical drinks, milk, natural fruit/vegetable juices, and water.

Relates to the indemnification of directors, officers and key persons; ensures the survival of indemnification in case of a merger or consolidation of a corporation; provides that once a right to indemnification arises, it continues to benefit a former director, officer or key person's and their heirs and estate; makes related provisions.

Enacts "private environmental law enforcement act"; authorizes any private citizen who has an interest which is or may be adversely affected to commence civil judicial actions for injunctive or declaratory relief to remedy environmental harms under certain circumstances; provides that such action may be commenced against any person for any violation of an administrative or court order compelling an investigation or remediation of an inactive hazardous waste disposal site.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pipeline companies to obtain explicit local government approval before constructing new pipelines through incorporated villages, towns, or cities. Specifically, it mandates that a two-thirds vote of the local governing body (village board, town board, or city council) must approve the route, construction method, and terms of the project. Pipeline companies must also provide a bond to cover pavement relaying costs if streets are excavated, and cities can sue for unpaid relaying expenses if pavement is improperly restored. The law directly affects pipeline developers and local governments, creating a formal approval process for new pipeline infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state transportation department to install "Watch for Motorcycles" signs on all state highways. It directly affects drivers and motorcyclists by mandating clear, standardized warning signs to improve awareness. The signs must follow the state's existing traffic control device manual for design and placement, with implementation effective April 1st after the bill's enactment. The measure is purely procedural, focusing on signage without altering traffic laws or funding.

Maddy summaryBill S 6761 changes how the area median income (AMI) is calculated for new affordable housing programs in New York City. For these programs, the AMI will be determined by using the lower figure between the AMI of the specific zip code where the program is located and the AMI of the broader region. This new calculation method will directly affect how eligibility and rent levels are set for future affordable housing projects within NYC.

Maddy summaryS 2219 requires New York City's Rent Guidelines Board to use specific criteria when calculating annual rent adjustments for rent-stabilized properties. The bill mandates the Board to consider all property sizes, categorize owners by unit count (including rent-stabilized units), gross rent, and income, and publicly disclose data sources like the Department of Finance's real property forms. It also restricts hardship rent increases to owners with 20 or fewer units citywide and prohibits these increases for limited liability companies and large real estate firms. This directly affects rent-stabilized housing landlords and tenants in New York City by changing how rent adjustments are calculated and who qualifies for certain increases.