Sen. Brian Kavanagh

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 859 (the "robocall prevention act"), limits unsolicited robocalls to New York residents and requires phone companies to provide free call-blocking technology. It bans most robocalls unless made with a resident's prior consent, for emergencies, by labor organizations to members, or as permitted by regulations. Telephone service providers must offer free call mitigation technology that blocks unwanted robocalls while allowing emergency calls to go through. The law directly affects New York residents receiving calls and all telephone service providers operating in the state.

Establishes the climate change adaptation cost recovery program to require companies that have contributed significantly to the buildup of climate-warming greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to bear a share of the costs of needed infrastructure investments to adapt to climate change; mandates that projects funded by the program require compliance with prevailing wage requirements; requires that contracts for funded projects contain a provision that the structural iron and structural steel used or supplied in the performance of the contract or any subcontract thereto shall be produced or made in whole or substantial part in the United States, its territories or possessions; makes additional provisions; establishes the climate change adaptation fund.

Removes the lifetime ban on jury duty for convicted felons; provides that if convicted of a felony, such person has completed all sentencing requirements to such conviction, including any required term of imprisonment, probation, or community supervision.

Relates to providing information to patients and the public on policy-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each health care facility a list of its policy-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.

Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.

Diminishes certain limitations and restrictions on emergency assistance to pay rent arrears; removes the requirement that such assistance be repaid by the recipient.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces a new licensing requirement for consumer debt collectors operating within the state, aiming to standardize how these entities handle personal and family debts. To operate legally, companies must apply for a license, pay fees, post a surety bond, and adhere to specific regulations regarding their operations, record-keeping, and prohibited collection practices. The legislation explicitly exempts certain groups from these rules, including attorneys, banks, government agencies, and non-profit credit counseling organizations, while establishing penalties for those who violate the new standards. Additionally, the bill prevents local governments from passing laws that conflict with these state-level regulations and sets a threshold for determining when one company controls another in the debt collection industry.

Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care.

Establishes a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities; provides a definition of extreme heat condition days and the standard to measure room temperature.

Expands the food donation and food scraps recycling program by scaling down the annual average tonnage requirement every two years until 2028; removes exceptions regarding recycler capacity.