Sen. Pete Harckham

Maddy summaryS 8401 amends New York's dental licensing requirements to expand qualifying pathways for applicants. It allows individuals to meet the "experience" requirement for licensure by completing a postdoctoral specialty dental residency program (at least one year) or the first year of a multi-year program, provided the program is CODA-accredited and includes a formal competency assessment. Applicants entering after their first year of such a program must also pass the CDCA-WREB-CITA-administered ADEX clinical exam. This change directly affects dental applicants seeking licensure by broadening acceptable training paths beyond traditional residency programs. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Permits licensed insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, consultants, and intermediaries to carryover up to five hours of continuing education credit per biennial licensing period.

Prohibits drug, cannabis or alcohol testing of pregnant or postpartum individuals and newborns unless the individual consents and it is within the scope of medical care, or the testing is necessary for a medical emergency.

Addresses non-covered dental services by requiring all policies providing coverage of and all contracts for dental services issued to include a disclosure stating that a participating provider may charge their normal fee for services that are not covered; requires a cost estimate to be provided.

Relates to the municipal sustainable energy loan program regarding qualifying water improvements, qualifying resiliency improvements and, in a city with a population of one million or more, the use of low carbon intensity building components.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program requiring mattress manufacturers and importers to manage the disposal of used mattresses sold in the state. To comply, producers must submit a plan to the Department of Environmental Conservation that outlines how they will collect discarded mattresses, transport them to designated sites, and recycle or reuse the materials. The legislation sets specific goals for making collection sites accessible to most residents within a few years and defines recycling as separating materials for new products, while excluding burning or landfilling. Retailers are also assigned responsibilities under the law, and the bill establishes an advisory board to oversee the program's implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the compulsory school age from six to five years old for full-time instruction in New York State. It requires children who turn five on or before December 1st to start school in September of that year, while those turning five after December 1st can begin the following September. Parents may choose to delay kindergarten enrollment until the next September, and the bill maintains exceptions for high school completers and full-time workers. The change affects all school districts and parents of five-year-old children.

Requires every city or county social services district to provide a wearable or mobile phone-based panic button to each employee whose job responsibilities necessitate direct interaction with clients in a client's home.

Relates to the statute of limitations for certain deed theft actions; revives such actions otherwise barred by the existing statute of limitations and states who may bring such actions; grants trial preference to such actions; directs the chief administrator of the courts to promulgate rules for the timely adjudication of certain revived actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires election boards to extend voting time at affected polling places or districts if voting is disrupted for over 15 consecutive minutes. If disruptions occur, the board must toll the voting clock during the delay and extend voting time proportionally afterward, or schedule additional voting on the next available day if same-day extension is impractical. The board must also publicly notify voters, candidates, media, and community groups about the extended hours through multiple communication channels. This directly affects voters at disrupted locations, election officials managing polling operations, and candidates needing to coordinate with affected districts.