Sen. Rob Rolison

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1943) expands New York's hate crime definition to include trespassing at religious buildings like churches, synagogues, mosques, or other houses of worship. It directly affects individuals who commit trespass at these locations while targeting someone based on their race, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. The key change amends the penal law to add these locations to the list of places where a hate crime can be charged, raising the offense level if convicted. This creates a specific legal pathway for prosecuting bias-motivated trespass at religious sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2012) restores the reimbursement rate for local governments enforcing navigation laws to 75% of their approved costs. It directly affects counties, towns, and villages that enforce navigation regulations, particularly those managing Lake George park areas (which are exempt from funding reductions). The bill amends a law to ensure eligible local entities receive up to 75% of their authorized enforcement costs, calculated using state vessel registration fees and specific administrative funds. It does not change the total funding pool but adjusts how reimbursements are calculated and distributed. The change takes effect April 1, 2025.

Authorizes municipalities to adopt a local law, ordinance or resolution providing for a sales tax exemption for clothing and footwear after March 1, 2025 and no later than August 1, 2025; provides for the repeal of such provisions on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryS 2337 defines "residence" for sex offender registry purposes as any place a convicted sex offender lives, stays, or plans to stay for more than two days per week. This change directly affects individuals required to register under the sex offender registry act by clarifying where they must report their primary living location. The bill establishes a clear threshold - more than two days weekly - to determine what qualifies as a "residence" for registry compliance. The definition takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,000 supplemental payment for New York taxpayers who claim a newborn baby as a dependent on their federal tax return. It directly affects parents or guardians with newborns not previously claimed as dependents, providing the payment for each qualifying child starting in tax year 2026. The payment is issued automatically by the state tax commissioner and treated as an overpayment if it exceeds the taxpayer's state tax bill. The credit applies to newborns born in the current or prior tax year, with payments beginning April 1, 2026.

Directs the metropolitan transportation authority to contract with a certified public accounting firm for the conducting of an independent forensic audit of such authority.

Relates to decisions by the state board on electric generation; requires approval through public referendum prior to certification for establishing a major electric generating facility.

Relates to distinctive plates for medal of honor recipients; removes the word "congressional" from distinctive plates; provides for the reissuance of plates to persons assigned distinctive plates for medal of honor recipients.

Repeals congestion pricing (Part A); directs the metropolitan transportation authority to contract with a certified public accounting firm for the provision of an independent, comprehensive, forensic audit of the authority (Part B).

Allows a tax exemption for taxpayers in the amount of the purchase price of a fire extinguisher, fire alarm, heat alarm or carbon monoxide alarm purchased for residential use during the month of October.