Sen. Robert Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the State University of New York (SUNY) board of trustees from the list of entities authorized to approve charter school applications in New York. It specifically deletes SUNY's role as a "charter entity" in education law, leaving only local school district boards (with geographic limits) and the Board of Regents as approval authorities. The change streamlines the charter school approval process by eliminating SUNY as a potential reviewer, affecting how new charter schools and school conversions are evaluated.

Enacts the good jobs guarantee program to provide workforce training and opportunities for employment for residents of New York state to secure high paying jobs through the acquisition of job skills.

Maddy summaryS 4421, the "Make Transit Affordable Act," creates a one-year fare-free bus pilot program in New York City, funded by $45 million in state funds. It requires the MTA to establish at least 15 new fare-free bus routes across all five boroughs, prioritizing routes serving low-income communities, areas with high ridership, and routes facing safety concerns. The bill also allocates $160 million annually to prevent a planned 4% subway and bus fare increase. The program mandates regular reporting on ridership, safety metrics, and rider surveys to evaluate impact, with routes selected to improve access for residents facing transportation cost barriers.

Requires instruction in civic education for grades 5 through 12 including instruction on the NYS constitution; federal, state and local government; civic literacy; methods of public participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6778) increases New York State's tax-free contribution limits for family tuition accounts under the College Choice Tuition Savings Program. It raises the annual limit from $5,000 to $10,000 for individuals or heads of household, and from $10,000 to $20,000 for married couples filing jointly. The change applies only to state income tax (not federal tax) and is available solely to the account owner. The policy takes effect immediately for the current tax year.

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 summaryBill S 8134 amends the retirement and social security law to change how certain public employees contribute to their retirement system. It directly affects public employees who have ten or more years of membership in a state retirement system. For these employees, the bill sets their annual retirement contribution rate at a flat three percent (3%) of their annual wages. This replaces the current system where contribution rates can vary based on the employee's income level for members who joined after April 1, 2012.

Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.