Sen. John Liu

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign-influenced businesses from spending money on New York state or local elections. It defines "foreign-influenced" as businesses where foreign owners hold 1% or more of equity (or 5% for multiple owners), or where foreign entities control political decisions. Businesses making political contributions must certify they aren’t foreign-influenced and provide this certification to election committees. Violations carry felony charges and civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation.

Provides that a voter may register to vote at any residence to which the voter maintains a continuous connection with an intent to remain, including a second home or a vacation home or a home where a student lives while attending a college or university.

Requires the creation of an immigration enforcement activity transparency dashboard, which shall be made publicly available, to track certain information relating to immigration authorities activities within New York state.

Relates to notices of violation of the city of New York's solid waste recycling laws; requires a photograph of the alleged violation to be mailed with the ticket.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4262) increases pension benefits for New York City Police Department (NYPD) detectives, sergeants, and lieutenants who retire after meeting specific service thresholds. It adds 5% (for 25 years of service), 10% (for 30 years), or 15% (for 35 years) of the highest pay grade for their rank to their pension calculation, based on their final salary. The increase replaces any other pension adjustment under a separate provision (section 14-111). This directly affects NYPD officers retiring in these ranks with the required service years, providing a concrete, higher pension calculation.

Maddy summaryS 103, the "New York Religious Freedom Act," prohibits state and local agencies and law enforcement from collecting, sharing, or using personally identifiable information about individuals' religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations for government databases related to law enforcement or immigration. It specifically bans using public funds or resources to create or enforce such databases and restricts sharing religious data with federal authorities, except in limited cases like targeted criminal investigations with a clear link to the crime or for providing religious accommodations. The law also terminates existing agreements that conflict with these restrictions and clarifies that agencies may still share citizenship or immigration status information as permitted under federal law. This directly affects all New York state and local government agencies handling personal data.

Requires public utility companies to repair or replace all damaged residential lateral sewer and water pipes where such damage was caused by such public utility company.

Prohibits local, state and federal law enforcement officers from wearing any mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties; excludes certain protective masks.

Enacts the "fair share act"; authorizes cities imposing city personal income taxes to adopt and amend local laws imposing an additional tax of two percent on the annual city taxable income of city residents, estates and trusts reporting any return in excess of one million dollars.

Requires persons possessing any firearm to hold a firearms safety certificate; establishes application and training process therefor; makes technical corrections.