Sen. Nathalia Fernández

Maddy summaryThis bill amends reporting requirements for New York's Division of Minority and Women's Business Development. It mandates that the division issue an annual report summarizing each state agency's progress on contracting with minority and women-owned businesses, including participation rates, spending data, waiver requests, and violation determinations. The report must include specific metrics like agency-specific participation rates, total certified business numbers, contract values by category (e.g., construction, services), and demographic breakdowns. The report will be shared with state officials and made publicly available online. This procedural change updates existing law to standardize and expand transparency around state contracting efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New York state and local municipalities to establish permanent memorials honoring those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It creates a dedicated "COVID-19 permanent memorial fund" managed by the state comptroller and parks department, which will receive state appropriations, grants, donations, and bequests specifically for building and maintaining these memorials. The bill requires community input - especially from families of those impacted - during memorial design and location decisions, with all funds kept separate from other state money.

Exempts a person from a money judgment arising from an action in another state for knowingly engaging in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion.

Maddy summaryThis bill would impose a new tax on New York State residents with $1 billion or more in net assets (total wealth minus debts), calculated as if they sold all assets at market value on December 31, 2024. Taxpayers would pay the resulting tax over 10 years with an annual interest-like fee, or in full for the 2025 tax year. It includes credits for taxes paid to other states on assets accumulated before New York residency, and excludes certain assets like gifts made within five years. The tax applies only to New York residents meeting the $1 billion threshold, with the first payment due for the 2025 tax year. The bill is currently pending in the Budget and Revenue committee.

Requires contractors receiving public funds to pay amounts owed to small businesses and minority-owned business enterprises within 10 days of receipt of an undisputed invoice generated by a small business, minority-owned business enterprise or vendor management service and managed service provider on behalf of the small business or minority-owned business enterprise.

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to create a family reunion program to provide eligible incarcerated individuals and their families the opportunity to meet for an extended period of time in a residential setting.

Requires high schools in grades nine through twelve to provide a course in financial literacy; requires students to complete such course as a condition of graduation.

Creates statewide emergency and crisis response council to work in conjunction with the commissioners of mental health and addiction services to jointly approve emergency and crisis services plans submitted by local governments, and provide supports regarding the operation and financing of high-quality emergency and crisis services provided to persons experiencing a mental health, alcohol use, or substance use crisis.

Enacts the "access for all act" removing the requirement for in person attendance at public meetings by community boards in a city with a population of over one million.

Requires homeless shelters to keep an opioid antagonist on hand at all times and trained personnel when required by when applicable law, regulation, code, or operating plan approved by a social services district or the commissioner otherwise requires employees to be at the premises, sets out the requirements for the training of those employees; develops a training plan for opioid overdoses in conjunction with a registered opioid overdose prevention program.