Sen. Gustavo Rivera

Requires chain restaurants to display an added sugars warning next to or directly under the name of each food item with high added sugars content wherever such food item is listed on a menu, menu board, or food tag, and by any self-serve dispensing point at which such food item is dispensed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows a close friend of a deceased person to make an anatomical gift, such as donating organs or tissues, if no other authorized family members object. It updates the legal hierarchy for who can authorize a donation by adding "close friend" as a specific category alongside guardians and other relatives. The law also clarifies that if multiple people in the same category are available to make a decision, the gift can only proceed if a majority of them agree. These changes take effect on January 1st of the year following the bill's passage and are intended to provide more flexibility for individuals who wish to donate but do not have immediate family present.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how the state calculates payment rates for federally qualified health centers to better match their actual operating costs. It requires the health department to analyze five years of cost data, including expenses for staffing, physical facilities, and technology, and to remove existing caps on these payments starting in April 2025. The law establishes a new method for adjusting these rates annually based on federal market basket figures and changes in the scope of services provided. This change directly affects federally qualified health centers by ensuring their reimbursement reflects the true cost of delivering care.

Limits the amount of rent increases for residential ground lease cooperative apartment buildings; establishes certain rights upon the expiration of such leases.

Extends provisions of law relating to allowing pharmacists to direct limited service laboratories and order and administer COVID-19 and influenza tests and modernizing nurse practitioners and authorizing pharmacists to perform collaborative drug therapy management with physicians in certain settings.

Provides that substituted consent by a guardian, health care proxy, or other third party shall not authorize a procedure resulting in sterilization in the absence of the informed consent of the person being sterilized.

Provides that the court shall not reduce jury awards as excessive in employment discrimination actions unless the court finds exceptional circumstances which compel the conclusion that the jury was influenced by partiality, prejudice, mistake or corruption.

Amends the constitution to delete the requirement that registration for purposes of voting be completed at least ten days before election day; provides that laws be made to adequately safeguard against deception in the exercise of the right of suffrage.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes specific restrictions on who can receive personal and home care services under Medicaid in New York. It repeals a rule that previously required individuals to need assistance with more than two daily activities or, for those with dementia, supervision with more than one daily activity to qualify. The change allows people with fewer daily living challenges to become eligible for these services if a physician determines they are cost-effective and appropriate. Additionally, the bill clarifies that individuals must be able to make their own choices about the type of care they receive or have a designated representative do so. These updates take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.