Sen. Jamaal Bailey

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6551) requires health insurance plans in New York to cover image-guided breast biopsies when recommended by a physician based on nationally recognized clinical guidelines. It directly affects patients seeking breast cancer screening and diagnosis, as well as insurance companies that must now include this specific procedure in mandatory coverage. The bill amends insurance law to explicitly add "image-guided breast biopsies" to the list of covered services alongside mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI scans. Coverage applies only when the procedure aligns with evidence-based guidelines developed by independent medical organizations. The change takes effect January 1, 2026, for all new or renewed insurance policies.

Establishes the farm ownership succession planning program to provide farm owners with a succession planning toolkit that can be used by such farm owners who plan on selling or closing their farm.

Relates to the health, safety and human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, incarcerated birthing parents and their children; requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to establish rules and regulations relating to conditions in institutions and correctional facilities and the treatment and care of birthing parents in such institutions and facilities.

Requires cultural awareness and competence training for medical professionals, including two hours of course work or training encompassing minority healthcare issues; provides an exemption for certain individuals; requires hospitals and facilities to request documentation of the completion of training from employees and prospective employees.

Provides that for taxable years beginning on and after January first, two thousand twenty-six, a resident taxpayer who serves as an active volunteer firefighter or as a volunteer ambulance worker shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed equal to eight hundred dollars; provides for a real property tax exemption under certain circumstances to an enrolled member of an incorporated volunteer fire company, fire department or incorporated voluntary ambulance service residing in such city, village, town, school district, special district, fire district or county.

Establishes a blue envelope program for persons with mental health disorders, behavioral disorders and persons who are neurodivergent to be provided with blue envelopes to keep their identification, vehicle registration, and other related documents to improve their safety during law enforcement interactions; requires the municipal police training council to promulgate rules and regulations requiring training and instruction for all police officers with respect to the blue envelope program.

Directs the office of children and family services to establish a center for fatherhood initiatives to issue grants to initiatives regarding the promotion and advancement of fatherhood, including but not limited to all underserved fatherhood groups to help expand opportunities to improve parenting knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the state education commissioner to require public school districts to report on their compliance with existing art education instruction requirements for elementary and secondary grades. Districts must detail which schools lack art education, reasons for non-compliance, student participation, and if they employ certified art teachers or provide sufficient class time. Superintendents of non-compliant districts must develop and implement corrective action plans, and districts failing to report will be listed publicly. The commissioner will also provide an annual report to the governor and legislative leaders analyzing the data and suggesting steps to ensure compliance across all public schools.

Relates to commissaries and canteens at correctional institutions; provides that items for sale at a commissary or canteen shall be sold for no more than a certain percentage over the purchase price; provides that the department of corrections and community supervisions shall publish on its website the price list for all commissary items for sale at each institution as of June 1, 2026 and on an annual basis thereafter.

Establishes visiting policies for incarcerated people, to provide incarcerated people opportunities for personal contact with relatives, friends, clergy, volunteers and other persons to promote better institutional adjustment and better community adjustment upon release.