Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 28, 2025, as Rare Disease Day in New York State. It aims to raise public awareness of rare diseases, which affect approximately 1 in 10 New Yorkers, and aligns with the national observance of Rare Disease Day to highlight ongoing efforts in diagnosis, research, and treatment support. The resolution does not create new laws but serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage broader recognition of these conditions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Governor Hochul to officially designate April 30, 2025, as "Denim Day" in New York State. It supports an annual awareness event established to combat sexual violence and challenge victim-blaming attitudes - originating from a 1999 Italian court case where a rape victim was blamed for wearing tight jeans. The resolution highlights statistics on sexual violence affecting women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws but formally recognizes a community awareness initiative.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (J 142) asks Governor Hochul to officially designate May 11-17, 2025, as Police Week in New York State, aligning with National Police Week. It does not create new laws or policies but formally honors law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The resolution highlights the sacrifice of over 20,000 U.S. officers since 1791 and seeks to raise public awareness about officer safety. It directly affects the Governor (as the recipient of the request) and New York residents, who would observe the designated week. The resolution is purely ceremonial and does not impose any legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis resolution implements a videoconferencing system for New York State legislative meetings under Public Officers Law, requiring physical quorum presence in locations where the public can observe. It permits remote participation for legislators only during extraordinary circumstances with leadership approval, while prohibiting virtual meetings if no physical quorum exists. The resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption and remains active until the underlying 2022 law expires.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (R 6) sets the fixed meeting schedule for the New York State Senate during 2025-2026. It specifies that the Senate will meet at 3:00 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, and at 11:00 AM on Wednesdays and all other days, unless otherwise ordered. The resolution directly affects the Senate's internal operations by establishing a consistent weekly schedule for legislative sessions. It is a procedural measure with no policy impact beyond organizing the Senate's calendar.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (Senate Resolution 7) adopted on January 8, 2025. It directs the Temporary President to appoint a two-member Senate committee to formally notify the Governor that the Senate is organized and prepared to begin its legislative work. The resolution has no policy substance and solely addresses Senate organizational protocol at the start of a session.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (R 4) elects Benjamin M. Sturges III as the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms for the 2025-2026 term. It directly appoints him to this leadership role responsible for Senate security, protocol, and operations. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 8, 2025, formalizing his appointment for the specified two-year period. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or affect broader policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural resolution electing Alejandra Paulino of Albany, New York, as Secretary of the Senate for the 2025-2026 term. It directly appoints her to this administrative Senate role without altering any policy or affecting legislation. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 8, 2025, formalizing her appointment for the specified term.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 2 establishes the procedural rules for the New York State Senate during the 2025-2026 legislative session. It defines leadership roles (including the Temporary President as the majority leader), outlines committee appointment processes, sets standards for managing legislative documents, and requires non-discrimination in Senate operations. This procedural bill directly affects Senate members, staff, and committee structures by governing how the chamber conducts its business.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 8 requires the Temporary President to appoint two senators to inform the Assembly that the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed with business. This is a routine procedural step to coordinate the start of legislative sessions between the two chambers. It does not create new laws or affect any specific policies, but ensures smooth communication between the Senate and Assembly at the beginning of each session. The resolution was adopted on January 8, 2025.