Sen. Nathalia Fernández

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally congratulates the Tappan Zee High School Girls Basketball Team and their coaching staff on winning the NYSPHSAA Class A Championship. It specifically recognizes the players, head coach Riley Chevrier, assistant coaches Sarah Kukla and Darrell Flynn, and athletic director William Pilla for their athletic achievement and dedication. The resolution also notes that the team will visit the State Capitol in Albany on May 7, 2026, to celebrate their victory. Copies of this document will be sent to the recognized individuals as an official record of the state's commendation.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially declare April 19-25, 2026, as Library Week in New York State. The resolution highlights the value of libraries and librarians during this annual observance, which aligns with National Library Week. It does not create new laws or change policies, but instead serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize the role of libraries in the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Governor of New York to officially declare April 28, 2026, as Animal Advocacy Day. The resolution highlights the positive roles animals play in families, public safety, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about animal welfare. The measure is a ceremonial action that requires no further legislative steps once the proclamation is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Governor of New York to officially recognize April 2026 as Sikh Heritage Month. The resolution highlights the contributions of the Sikh community to the state and aims to increase awareness of Sikh history and traditions. It does not change laws or create new programs but serves as a formal proclamation to honor the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows retired New York state employees to change their designated beneficiaries if that beneficiary was convicted of a family offense (such as domestic violence) and the retiree was the complainant in the case. Retirees have 180 days from the conviction date to submit a written request to the retirement system to update their beneficiary or election. The law applies to all retirement systems covered under the state’s retirement and social security laws, including public education and city employee plans. The comptroller must notify retirees about this provision and create implementing rules. It directly affects retirees who are complainants in family offense cases involving their current beneficiaries.

Directs the office of children and family services to establish Dolly Parton's statewide imagination library program for encouraging children from birth to five years of age, inclusive, to develop a love of reading and learning; directs the office of children and family services to promote the statewide development of local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs; advance and strengthen local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs with the goal of increasing enrollment; recruit volunteers to assist in the development, promotion, and coordination of local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs; solicit donations, gifts, and other funding to financially support local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs; develop community engagement; develop, promote, and coordinate a public awareness campaign to make donors aware of the opportunity to donate to the affiliate programs and make the public aware of the opportunity to register eligible children to receive books through the program; administer the local match requirement and coordinate the collection and remittance of local program costs for books and mailing; and develop statewide marketing and communication plans; establishes the imagination library of New York fund.

Prohibits the use of intoxication of the victim as a defense in sex crimes where the victim is under the extreme influence of any substance which renders them incapable of appraising or controlling such victim's conduct and incapable of clearly expressing lack of consent.

Maddy summaryS 399 makes it illegal for most people to possess or sell "pistol converters" (devices that turn semi-automatic pistols into machine guns) or "convertible pistols" (specific semi-automatic pistols that can be easily converted using common tools like screwdrivers). The bill defines convertible pistols as those with a "cruciform trigger bar" that can be altered with household tools, excluding most standard semi-automatic pistols. It criminalizes selling or transporting convertible pistols (a class D felony), with exemptions for police, military personnel, and licensed gunsmiths. The law aims to prevent easy conversion of standard firearms into automatic weapons under state law.

Establishes a master of social work paid field practicum pilot program to provide a stipend to students who are enrolled in a master of social work program for the first 450 hours of field practicum completed towards such masters' degree; requires the office of mental health to complete a report making recommendations on how to expand the pilot program to increase the number of social workers in the state, improve representation in the field of social work, mitigate student debt and improve labor conditions for social workers upon graduation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords to maintain habitable housing conditions before they can pursue rent payments or eviction cases. Specifically, landlords cannot file such actions if there are unresolved housing code violations, lack of essential utilities (heat, water, electricity, sewage), rodent infestations, or other dangerous conditions that have existed for five or more days in the building. Landlords may submit an affidavit claiming violations were recorded erroneously, but courts can dismiss cases if the affidavit is untrue or unsafe conditions persist at filing. The law also mandates that landlords include specific notices about tenant protections in eviction notices. This directly affects landlords seeking to collect rent or evict tenants and strengthens tenant safeguards against unsafe housing conditions.