Sen. Luis Sepúlveda

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses selling consumer goods or services in New York to display any arbitration clauses in contracts using large print (16-point font or larger). It prohibits mandatory arbitration clauses that bind consumers to submit disputes to arbitration before court, making such clauses void. Businesses must provide contracts with arbitration clauses in large print for initial consumer agreements, with civil penalties of up to $250 for first violations and $500 for repeat offenses. The law directly affects New York businesses and consumers purchasing goods or services for personal, family, or household use.

Relates to prohibiting consumer reporting agencies from requiring or requesting a copy of a consumer's social security card when furnishing consumer reports or investigative consumer reports to third parties.

Provides notice of the death of an incarcerated individual occurring in the custody of the department of corrections and community supervision; requires the department to promptly notify the next kin and any other person designated as the representative of any incarcerated individual whose death takes place during custody.

Requires highway projects that receive state funding to include the installation of broadband conduits suitable for fiber optic cables or wireless facilities that support broadband services; provides for access to such conduits on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis, for a charge not to exceed a cost-based rate.

Relates to incarcerated individuals wages; provides that incarcerated individuals shall be compensated at a base rate of $1.20 to $10 per day and shall be given biannual raises for adequate performance; provides that incarcerated individuals not participating in a work or program assignment due to age or frailty shall be paid $1.00 per day, adjusted every 5 years for cost of living.

Establishes the professional practice of community midwifery; defines as the management in the home, birth center, or community setting, of normal pregnancies, child birth, and postpartum care, including newborn evaluation, resuscitation and referral for infants; sets requirements for license and practice.

Requires small businesses to have and maintain a first aid kit on the premises of the business at all times and to store such kits in an accessible location and to make such kits available for use by any person who enters the premises of the business.

Relates to parole eligibility for crimes committed at age twenty-one or younger; provides if such individual is convicted of a crime prior to their twenty-second birthday for which they were sentenced to a period of incarceration greater than 20 years, they shall be eligible for parole after fifteen years of incarceration.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6173) clarifies when police officers may use deadly force in a homicide. It states officers may only use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious injury to themselves or others, or to arrest someone fleeing a felony involving death or serious injury. The bill requires officers to consider all circumstances at the time, including avoiding force if safer alternatives exist, and specifically notes that people with disabilities are more likely to experience excessive force during police interactions. It also prohibits using deadly force solely to prevent self-harm unless an imminent threat exists. The law directly affects police officers’ use of force decisions and the safety of people interacting with law enforcement.

Maddy summaryS 1439 (New York) imposes a new tax on investment income from long-term capital gains, dividends, and other low-taxed federal income types. It directly affects high-income New York residents with significant investment earnings, targeting individuals and estates with taxable income above specific thresholds. The bill adds a 7.5% tax on long-term capital gains above $400,000-$500,000 (depending on filing status), gradually increasing to 15% above $800,000-$1 million. This tax phases in over defined income ranges and is administered like existing state income tax. The bill is currently referred to the Budget and Revenue committee.