Sen. Monica Martinez

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the New York State Insurance Superintendent's authority to create or enforce suitability requirements for term life insurance policies (which have no cash value). It requires that suitability assessments for such policies only consider a consumer's age and annual income, prohibiting any additional factors. The bill nullifies existing regulations (like 11 NYCRR Part 224) that conflict with this rule, directly affecting insurance agents, companies selling term life insurance, and consumers purchasing these policies in New York. It aims to increase term life insurance availability by reducing regulatory barriers.

Enacts the "television subscriber choice act" to enhance consumer choice and ensure that multichannel video programming distributors have the flexibility to offer programming packages that best meet the needs and preferences of their subscribers; requires that a video programmer shall offer each channel for license to a multichannel video programming distributor without requiring channel bundling requirements as a condition of carriage of such channel; makes it unlawful for a video programmer to demand unreasonable fees or other financial obligations for channel carriage; defines terms; makes related provisions.

Directs the commissioner of health to provide authorizations to all fiscal intermediaries that timely submit a request for authorization prior to January 1, 2026; details information required for such authorizations; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryS 4930 makes certain fees charged for emergency medical services (EMS) permanent, replacing a temporary 4-year provision that was set to expire. The bill changes existing law to eliminate the expiration date for fees collected by municipalities or EMS providers under a 2022 law. This directly affects local governments and emergency medical service organizations that collect these fees. The key change is removing the automatic repeal after four years, ensuring these fees remain in place indefinitely. The bill does not create new fees or alter service requirements - only changes the duration of existing fee collection.

Excludes the five state-run veterans homes from assessments on their gross receipts received from all patient care services and other operating income; directs the Commissioner of Health to apply to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for any necessary waivers pursuant to federal law and regulation.

Establishes an Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leadership institute within the state university of New York as an initiative for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leaders in higher education with a mission to retain and grow from within SUNY a greater proportion of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) professionals at SUNY campuses; creates an eight member advisory council.

Relates to special provisions for the operation of bicycles when approaching stop signs and traffic-control signals including steady circular red signals and red arrow signals.

Prohibits the transportation of dogs in the back of a motor vehicle intended for any load unless such space is enclosed or has side and tail racks to a height of not less than forty-six inches extending vertically from the floor; the motor vehicle has installed means of preventing the dog from being ejected; or the dog is cross-tethered to the vehicle or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the dog from being ejected from the motor vehicle; imposes fines for violations.

Requires background checks and fingerprinting of certain construction contractors working in school facilities; requires the contractors to run such background checks.

Relates to veterans' eligibility for public housing; expands eligibility requirements to include veterans of the recent conflicts; requires granting of a preference for public housing to veterans or families of veterans who have a military service connected disability.