Sen. Julia Salazar

Guarantees localities the ability to use state funds to provide public benefits to non-citizens, including prevention services, adoption subsidy, kinship guardianship assistance, after-care services for youth and families involved with child welfare, child care assistance, and all other public services and benefits.

Imposes a commercial vacancy tax on vacant or abandoned commercial storefronts located in a city with a population of one million or more of one percent of the assessed value of the property.

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.

Establishes in the department of agriculture and markets a program to purchase fresh produce from farms located in the state and distribute such produce to areas determined by the commissioner of agriculture and markets to be food deserts; promotes opportunities for farm ownership among under-represented farmers, including farmers who are black, indigenous, or people of color.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for the medical use of psilocybin (a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms) in New York State. It creates a "psilocybin assisted therapy grant program" to fund treatment for veterans, first responders, retired first responders, and low-income individuals through certified facilitators (mental health professionals who complete state-approved training). The law defines medical psilocybin, sets requirements for treatment settings and facilitator certification, and includes legal protections against penalties for those using it under the program. It also mandates a two-year department report on the program's implementation and establishes a pilot program for naturally grown psilocybin. The bill makes a specific appropriation to fund the grant program.

Establishes instruction in financial literacy for students in sixth through eighth grade; requires such instruction to include content on budgeting, savings, credit, debt, insurance, investment, and other issues associated with personal financial responsibility as determined by the education department.

Prohibits a cause of action for defamation where the subject of such action includes an allegation made to an employer regarding an unlawful discriminatory practice or act of retaliation.

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.

Relates to the creation of a department of corrections and community supervision identification form; relates to the use of such form as proof of identity for individuals applying for a non-driver identification card or certain driver's licenses.