Sen. Brian Kavanagh

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New York State 1332 innovation program under a federal waiver, providing health insurance coverage for New Yorkers under age 65 with household incomes between 133% and 250% of the federal poverty level who don't qualify for Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance. It requires coverage for essential health services, including access to cancer centers (at Medicaid reimbursement rates), dental, vision, and support for chronic illnesses. Eligibility excludes those eligible for Medicaid, the Child Health Insurance Program, or affordable employer coverage. The program is subject to federal approval and aims to fill coverage gaps for this specific income group.

Enacts the climate and community investment act; prioritizes the allocation of public investments in disadvantaged communities; addresses climate change challenges through the expansion and growth of clean and renewable energy sources; adopts best value requirements for the solicitation, evaluation and award of renewable energy projects; establishes a community just transition program; establishes a climate pollution fee and a household and small business energy rebate; creates the climate and community investment authority.

Establishes the "education equity act" which provides language assistance to parents or guardians who have children enrolled in public school and whose primary language is not English; defines terms; creates an annual language assistance plan to assess language needs in the district; requires the department of education to establish web pages detailing the rights of parents to translation services in each covered language; requires annual reports by each school district to the local board of education.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as "the prison wage act," mandates compensation for incarcerated individuals performing labor in state and local correctional facilities. It requires that these individuals be paid at least one-half of the state's minimum wage for any work performed or for which a wage would typically be due. This compensation applies to various types of labor, including general facility work, tasks for nonprofit organizations, and participation in work release programs. Additionally, hourly incentive allowances for educational and training programs must also meet this minimum wage standard.

Maddy summaryBill S 1189 establishes new licensure requirements for entities providing fiscal intermediary services for personal assistance programs. Beginning April 1, 2027, these fiscal intermediaries must obtain a license from the commissioner, a process that includes an application fee and an assessment of their character, competence, and compliance. The bill also broadens the definition of fiscal intermediaries, modifies their annual reporting obligations, and creates a confidential state registry for personal assistants that these intermediaries must maintain. This legislation directly affects fiscal intermediaries, personal assistants, and consumers utilizing these services.

Establishes new targets for offshore wind electricity generation; includes the requirements that there is at least 15 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2040, at least 18 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2045 and at least 20 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2050.

Relates to an increase in punishment for certain actions against on-duty auxiliary police officers such as criminally negligent homicide, assault or menacing of such officer.

Enacts the "faith-based affordable housing act" for development on residential land; defines terms; provides that each village, town, and city shall allow the construction and occupation of residential buildings on any covered site up to the specified densities; provides that all residential buildings constructed pursuant to this section in a town, village, or city with fewer than one million inhabitants shall set aside twenty percent of the residential floor area for households earning an average of eighty percent of area median income; outlines the densities for New York city; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3210) expands firearm background checks for applicants under 22 years old by requiring state agencies to provide juvenile delinquency records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It directly affects individuals under 22 seeking to purchase firearms, as their juvenile court records - previously not included in background checks for this age group - will now be accessible. The key mechanism is an amendment to the Family Court Act, mandating that juvenile delinquency records be made available to NICS and state police for background checks under federal law. This creates a concrete policy change in how firearm eligibility is assessed for young adults.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6971) sets new documentation requirements for lenders seeking to foreclose on residential mortgages in New York. It requires lenders to prove ownership of the mortgage note, provide a complete payment history from loan origination, and document the physical location and chain of custody of the original note. These rules apply specifically to foreclosures on one- to four-family residential properties. The bill also clarifies that defendants can raise statute of limitations or "lack of standing" defenses at any time during the case, not just in initial pleadings.