Sen. Rob Rolison

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (J 1620) adopted by the New York State Senate to honor the late Denis Michael Troy, a longtime Orangetown Councilman and Rockland County Legislator. It expresses the Senate's "profound regret" over his death and commemorates his 30+ years of community service, including his work on the Orangetown Council, advocacy for local services, and roles in organizations like the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely a formal expression of condolence to his family and community. It was adopted by the Senate on February 25, 2026.

Establishes the carbon farming certification committee for the purpose of developing a certification framework, determining qualified carbon removal practices eligible for the carbon farming tax credit, and promulgating certification standards for qualified carbon removal practices; provides for the development of educational materials to encourage carbon farming by promoting farming practices which reduce, sequester and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions on land used in support of a farm operation; establishes carbon farming tax credits.

Establishes the safe water and infrastructure action program for the purpose of making payments toward the replacement and rehabilitation of certain existing local drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer systems; applies to any county, city, town, village or public authority drinking water system, storm water system or sanitary sewer system within the state that is not under the maintenance and/or operational jurisdiction of a private entity.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Urban Agriculture within the state Department of Agriculture. It defines urban agriculture to include community gardens, urban farms, farmers markets, and community-supported agriculture programs. The office will identify vacant public lands in urban areas, coordinate with municipalities to facilitate community access to these spaces (often at low or no cost), and develop standardized application processes for groups seeking to use them. This directly affects urban residents, community groups, and local governments by creating a dedicated state resource to expand food production opportunities in cities. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly after passing the Senate.

Maddy summaryBill S 1733 creates a new program to help municipalities improve water quality in water bodies managed by lake associations within their jurisdiction. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will establish this program to identify water quality concerns, determine effective remediation strategies, and assist with best practices for maintaining water quality. Additionally, the DEC will create a grant program to provide financial assistance to municipalities for remedial actions. The department is authorized to develop rules and regulations to implement these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special optional retirement plan for New York State correction officers (and others performing correction duties). It allows eligible members to retire after 20 years of service (or at age 62) and receive a pension equal to 1/40th of their final average salary per year of service (capped at 50% of that salary). Members with over 20 years of service get an additional pension of 1/60th of final salary per extra year (capping total benefits at 75% of final salary). The state will pay additional contributions to cover these enhanced benefits, calculated by the retirement system's actuary. The plan is optional and does not affect existing retirement rules for other state employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 9229, "Billy's law") adds arson in the fourth degree (Penal Law § 150.05) and arson in the third degree (Penal Law § 150.10) to the list of offenses where judges may deny bail or order pre-trial detention. It directly affects defendants charged with these specific arson felonies who are already out on bail, released under conditions, or awaiting arraignment for other crimes involving harm to people or property. The law amends New York’s criminal procedure law to include these arson charges under the same bail denial criteria applied to other serious offenses like firearm possession or crimes causing identifiable harm. This change requires judges to consider the nature of the arson charge when determining pre-trial release, without altering the existing "reasonable cause" standard prosecutors must meet.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 9231) amends New York's criminal procedure law to include "aggravated cruelty to animals" as an offense for which bail may be authorized. It specifically adds this charge - defined under Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a - to existing lists of offenses where bail eligibility applies. The bill affects defendants charged with aggravated animal cruelty under current law, directly changing their bail eligibility under sections 510.10, 530.20, and 530.40. It does not alter the definition of the crime or its penalties, only the bail process for this specific charge. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Establishes law enforcement officer grant funds and firefighter grant funds to cover expenses related to hiring law enforcement officers and firefighters and equipment and resources for such officers and firefighters.

Relates to computer-related crimes; creates the crimes unlawful disruption of computer services in the first and second degree, unlawful computer access assistance in the first and second degree, unauthorized use of internet domain name or profile, and unlawful introduction of a computer contaminant; allows for a civil action for compensatory damages for victims of such crimes.