Sen. Andrew Gounardes

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's Higher Education Services Corporation to create a single, centralized net price calculator tool on its website. The tool will estimate the actual cost of attending any college in the state after accounting for non-repayable financial aid (like grants), using household income and assets entered once by the user. It replaces linking to individual college calculators by compiling data from all institutions into one accessible platform, using the most recent tuition and fee information reported by colleges. This directly affects students and families researching college affordability by providing a standardized, state-wide cost estimate.

Relates to the age requirement for voting in a primary election; provides that a person who is seventeen years of age at the time of a primary election and who will be eighteen years of age at the time of the general election for which such primary election is held, shall be eligible to vote in such primary election.

Maddy summaryS 5091 expands New York's "Doctors Across New York" program to include dentists, allowing them to access the same loan repayment and practice support benefits previously available only to physicians. The bill allocates specific state funds for dentist loan repayment (through Section 2807-m) and practice support (through Section 2807-m), maintaining the existing regional funding distribution (1/3 to NYC, 2/3 to other areas) and prioritizing underserved communities. Key provisions require at least 50% of funds to support general hospitals and ensure dentists working in primary care or specialty practices in underserved areas can qualify for assistance. The changes directly affect dentists and physicians seeking to establish or join practices in medically underserved regions across New York State.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for small businesses in the state with 500 or fewer employees who buy personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves, or face shields for their workers. Employers can claim a credit of up to $5,000 per year toward the cost of qualifying PPE purchases. Unused credit amounts can be carried forward to future tax years. The credit applies to the taxable year the bill takes effect and all subsequent years.

Allows application to a court to compel compliance with a chemical test where a motorist is suspected to be under the influence and where the driver has refused a chemical test.

Maddy summaryS 3779 increases the maximum number of academic years students can receive tuition assistance under New York's program from four to six years. It directly affects undergraduate students enrolled in eligible two- or four-year colleges who rely on this state-funded aid. The key change extends eligibility periods, with specific provisions for students in remedial programs (counted as five-year programs) and those transferring due to college closures (allowing up to two additional semesters). This update aligns the program with longer degree completion timelines common in higher education.

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.

Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4160) requires state correctional facilities to provide free voice communication services (like phone calls) to incarcerated individuals, with no cost to the person initiating or receiving the call. It prohibits state agencies from charging fees or generating revenue from these communication services and mandates that in-person visit programs remain available - digital services cannot replace them. The law repeals an existing correction law section and takes effect April 1, 2026, applying to new or renewed communication contracts after that date. It directly affects incarcerated people in state prisons and youth detention centers by guaranteeing free access to basic voice communication.

Establishes the office of flooding prevention and mitigation to manage and coordinate the work of task forces, commissions, and other bodies and programs tasked with examining issues related to flooding, to review and assess best practices and make recommendations regarding flood prevention and mitigation, and to assist municipalities in developing strategies and policies to combat flooding.