Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Maddy summaryThis bill allows cities with over 1 million residents (like New York City) to add a 4.3% surcharge on personal income tax for residents earning over $500,000, effective January 2026. It applies to married couples filing jointly, single filers, heads of household, and estates/trusts. All revenue from this surcharge must be used exclusively for early childhood education programs in the city, not general funds. The surcharge expires December 2030, and cities must adopt the local law by December 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax-free "catastrophe savings accounts" for homeowners in the state to save for disaster-related costs. It allows taxpayers to deduct contributions (up to specific limits based on their insurance deductible or self-insured amount), earn tax-free interest, and withdraw funds tax-free if used for qualified expenses like hurricane or flood damage repairs. Contributions are capped at $2,000 for low deductibles, up to twice the deductible (max $15,000), or $250,000 for self-insured homeowners. The accounts are protected from legal claims and must be used solely for primary residence disaster costs tied to a state-declared emergency.

Establishes the construction insurance notification act (CINA) requiring notification of governmental agencies and departments when certain construction insurance policies have lapsed or been canceled.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 100% tax deduction for capital gains earned from selling stock or ownership interests in New York corporations or LLCs to employee-owned enterprises (EOEs) located in New York. To qualify, the EOEs must have their commercial base in New York, and if structured as an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), they must meet federal ESOP requirements. The deduction applies directly to individuals or entities selling business ownership to these qualifying New York-based employee-owned businesses. This policy change specifically modifies tax law to incentivize sales of New York business interests to employee-owned entities meeting defined criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5330) allows insurance companies to offer free or low-cost programs to help policyholders prevent property damage (like fire safety checks or security upgrades), directly benefiting homeowners and businesses. It requires these programs to follow rules set by the state insurance superintendent. Insurers who fail to comply face a $500 penalty per violation, and the law takes effect immediately. The change updates insurance law to encourage proactive risk reduction without mandating specific programs.

Provides for the appointment of three alternates on rent guideline boards; one alternate shall represent tenants, one shall represent owners of property and one shall be a public representative; alternates shall be permitted to participate in all proceedings of the board as non-voting members; an alternate shall only participate as a voting member of the board and be paid when a member, representing the same interest as the alternate, is unable to fulfill their duties on the board; applies to the city of New York, counties outside the city, towns and villages.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits home care aides to 12-hour shifts without their explicit consent. It prohibits employers from requiring overtime beyond this limit, and any agreement for longer shifts must be voluntarily provided in writing for each specific instance. The law protects aides from retaliation, including dismissal or penalties, for refusing excessive hours or reporting violations. Exceptions only apply during true emergencies after exhausting all staffing options, and even then, overtime cannot exceed four hours without consent.

Requires motor vehicle repair shops to disclose types of replacement parts used in automobile collision repairs and provides a disclosure form to be signed by the owner consenting to the use of any such parts; forbids use of any other parts except new original equipment manufacturer parts on any vehicle during the first year of its manufacture and for the two years following.

Updates contingent fee rules for attorneys in claims or actions for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice; permits applications for enhanced fees; permits plaintiffs to waive contingent retainer limitations.

Prohibits provisions in any waiver, settlement, agreement or other resolution of any claim where the foundation for which is an alleged violation of the labor law or article fifteen of the executive law, that prevent the disclosure of the employee's workplace experience with the employer.