Sen. Simcha Felder

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $250 tax credit for individual taxpayers who purchase and install qualifying security systems on their residential property. It directly affects homeowners who buy systems designed to detect intrusions or theft, such as alarms or surveillance devices, and must provide proof of purchase. The credit is available as a one-time reduction against income tax for taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and applies only to systems installed on residential property. The bill does not change crime prevention laws but provides a financial incentive for homeowners to enhance security.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow property owners in cities with over 1 million residents to temporarily exempt vacant lots from real estate taxes if used for public benefit purposes like community gardens, urban farms, or pop-up parks. The exemption requires at least 20 weekly hours of use during November-March and 25 hours during April-October. Property owners cannot receive any profit from these public uses to qualify for the exemption. The tax break applies only while the property serves the public benefit, ending if usage stops or profit is involved.

Requires a police officer to be present at schools within the city of New York during instructional hours and at least one hour prior and one hour after such instructional hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York City to repair curbs to specified standards and sets a 90-day deadline for completing repairs after a homeowner request. It directly affects owners of one-, two-, or three-family homes who report curb issues via NYC 311 or the city website. If the city fails to repair within 90 days, homeowners can hire a licensed contractor and receive a property tax credit covering the reasonable repair costs. The law applies to curb repairs only, not other sidewalk or infrastructure work.

Requires every case of an injury arising from or caused by a bicycle with electric assist, an electric scooter or limited use motorcycle to be reported at once to the police authorities of the city, town or village where the person reporting is located; provides that the failure to report shall be a class A misdemeanor.

Establishes a bicycle and electric scooter operator's safety manual; provides for the issuance of a license for residents who successfully read and comprehend the operator's safety manual; requires residents who operate a bicycle, bicycle with electric assist or electric scooter in New York City to have a license to operate such devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York high schools to award academic credit toward diplomas for practical experience gained outside of school, such as internships or trade-related learning. It directly affects high school students who complete off-campus learning experiences and school districts that must create rules to implement this credit. The key provision mandates that schools cannot block credit for such experiences if they align with academic courses or trades, overriding existing regents' rules. This changes current practice by formally integrating external learning into diploma requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a violation to wear a mask or facial covering that disguises identity during a protest, lawful assembly, or riot. It applies to anyone participating in such events who conceals their face, except for masks worn for weather protection, religious reasons, medical needs, or in specific public parades or exhibitions. The law criminalizes the act itself, not the protest or assembly, and specifies these four exceptions to the prohibition. The bill defines the violation as a separate offense under penal law, with no mention of penalties in the provided text.

Enacts the "family court adjusted service time (FAST) act"; requires family courts in New York City to remain open until midnight on at least one weekday each week in at least two counties effective January 1, 2026, and in at least three counties, effective January 1, 2027.

Removes the $250 amount of damage from cemetery desecration in the second degree; makes cemetery desecration in the second degree a class E felony to apply to any damage or theft regardless of value; adds crime of cemetery desecration in the first degree and makes such crime a class D felony.