Sen. Robert Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific court locations where legal cases involving the state constitution's amendment process must be filed. It requires that such cases be heard only in designated courts within the judicial department where at least one plaintiff resides, with specific counties listed for each of the four judicial departments. The law covers various aspects of constitutional amendments, including how they are proposed, placed on ballots, and interpreted. This procedural change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryS 1527 creates a sales tax exemption for commercial energy storage systems equipment and their installation costs. This directly affects businesses installing such systems on non-residential properties to store electricity for later use in heating, cooling, hot water, or power. The bill amends tax law to exempt these systems from state sales tax, covering both the equipment and installation services. Local governments must explicitly adopt this exemption in their tax ordinances to apply it.

Provides for salary bonuses for members of the uniformed service with the New York city fire department who retire with at least twenty-five, thirty or thirty-five years of service.

Maddy summaryBill S 1424 amends the education law to expand protections against discrimination for students. It prohibits discrimination by school employees or other students on school property or at school functions based on a student's religious attire, clothing, or facial hair. This bill adds these specific protections to existing anti-discrimination provisions covering characteristics like race, religion, and disability. It also clarifies that certain gender-based admissions and disability-related actions permitted under other laws are not prohibited.

Relates to preferences under the affordable home ownership development program for veterans with service-related disabilities; defines "veteran with a service-related disability".

Directs the education department and OCFS to prepare posters and pamphlets with information regarding higher education funding opportunities for foster youth.

Maddy summaryBill S 6221 establishes additional state building aid for school districts to help cover specific infrastructure costs associated with transitioning to zero-emission school buses. This aid applies to "incremental zero-emission school bus storage costs," such as facility modifications for wider doors, specialized lifts, and charge management systems. It also covers "incremental customer-owned make-ready costs" for infrastructure needed to install electric vehicle chargers. This financial support is available for approved expenditures through the 2034-2035 school year, provided they are not reimbursed by other state, federal, or electric utility funding sources.

Establishes a gender-affirming care access program to provide support and increase access to gender-affirming care including certain medical and surgical care.

Maddy summaryS 487 designates August 31st of each year as "Overdose Awareness Day" in New York State. The bill amends the executive law to add this date to a list of established commemorative days, such as Juneteenth and Holocaust Remembrance Day. This is a symbolic designation with no new funding, policies, or direct impact on specific groups - it simply recognizes the day for public awareness purposes.

Relates to permitting certain not-for-profit corporations engaged in engineering for certain conservation efforts to do business or provide professional engineering, land surveying, or professional geology services in the state.