Sen. Jabari Brisport

Establishes the Hudson Valley power authority to own and operate electricity service and to create or acquire one or more wholly owned subsidiaries or membership interests in subsidiaries; establishes energy observatory corporations for studying and enabling effective community governance of power authorities; makes related provisions.

Provides that allocation of funds from the clean water state revolving fund and the drinking water revolving fund by the environmental facilities corporation shall be proportional according to population of municipalities and shall not be subject to dollar limitations.

Maddy summaryBill S 7617, known as the "Safer Consumption Services Act," allows the Department of Health to approve entities to establish overdose prevention center programs. These programs provide hygienic spaces for individuals to consume preobtained drugs, staffed by healthcare professionals or trained personnel. They offer sterile supplies, overdose prevention education, administer first aid, and provide referrals to substance use disorder treatment and other services. The bill grants immunity from criminal, civil, or administrative penalties to participants, program staff, and property owners solely for their good faith involvement in an approved program.

Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to establish a ride clean rebate program for electric assist bicycles and electric scooters; defines terms; provides a fifty percent rebate for eligible purchases.

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possession of controlled substances; establishes the drug decriminalization task force to develop recommendations for reforming state laws, regulations and practices so that they align with the stated goal of treating substance use disorder as a disease, rather than a criminal behavior.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's penal law to change how "second felony drug offenders" are defined. It removes an exclusion that previously prevented violent felony convictions from counting toward second-offense status (now including violent felonies defined in penal law section 70.02). It also repeals an outdated subdivision (section 70.70, subdivision 4) related to these offenses. The changes directly affect individuals convicted of a drug felony who have prior felony convictions, including violent felonies, potentially leading to enhanced penalties. The bill takes effect immediately for cases sentenced on or after the effective date.

Prohibits title insurance corporations from making payments to lenders on title insurance claims when the transaction conveying such title is false or fraudulent.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial assistance standards for New York residents receiving public assistance. Starting July 1, 2025, the monthly need standard for eligibility and maximum benefit amounts will double (e.g., from $158 to $316 for single-person households), with annual adjustments tied to federal cost-of-living changes. Home energy grants and supplemental home energy grants also double starting July 2025 (e.g., from $14.10 to $28.20 monthly for single-person households). These changes directly affect low-income individuals and families qualifying for state public assistance programs.

Provides assistance to incarcerated individuals being released from correctional facilities for enrollment in safety net assistance, public assistance, supplemental assistance program (SNAP), special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC), the home energy assistance program (HEAP), supplemental security income, and state supplemental payments.

Establishes a state SNAP minimum benefit program to provide a minimum amount of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits that is higher than the amount of federal SNAP benefits.