Sen. Pete Harckham

Directs the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing targets for the sales of zero emissions medium and heavy duty vehicles in the state.

Maddy summaryS 6728, the "Great Swamp Protection Act," establishes a legal framework to protect the 6,000-acre Great Swamp wetland ecosystem in Dutchess and Putnam counties. It creates a 13-member commission (with state, county, and local representatives) to develop a land use and management plan for the area, coordinating state, county, and federal efforts. The bill designates specific lands as a "Great Swamp preserve" to safeguard wetlands, critical watersheds, and habitats for endangered species, while ensuring existing agricultural, recreational, and tourism activities continue under the plan. It directly affects landowners, local governments, and conservation agencies managing the region’s natural resources.

Requires the department of education to develop school health and mental health professionals to student ratios in public schools for students who do not receive services pursuant to the individuals with disabilities education act.

Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2027, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center; directs the multi-agency bottle bill fraud investigation team to submit a report on findings of pervasive bottle redemption fraud in New York state.

Enhances criminal investigations and prosecutions in relation to the integrity of statements of those accused of crimes and to promote confidence in the criminal justice system.

Relates to correctional facility visits by the correctional association; authorizes the correctional association to visit correctional facilities at any time and without advance notice; grants the correctional association access to certain records and information of correctional facilities.

Permits an incorporated firefighter's benevolent association created by act of the legislature to include the following in the purposes of the association without an additional act of the legislature; to promote friendly association for the betterment of the members of the corporation; to promote relations between the members of the corporation and the local community; to provide relief, aid and assistance to those members and their families who are injured, disabled or indigent; to provide for the health and safety of the members of the corporation; to maintain suitable headquarters for the members of the corporation; to acquire real and personal property such as may be necessary for the purposes set forth in this section; to study and disseminate among the members of the corporation the most efficient manner of fighting fires; and to promote the volunteer fire service within the territory now served or which may hereafter be served by the fire department associated with such corporation.

Directs the department of public service, in conjunction with the New York state energy research and development authority, and the power authority of the state of New York to commission a study on the utilization of directional noise reduction optimization technology for wind turbines in New York state.

Allows a licensed psychologist to apply to the department of education for conditional prescribing certification if the psychologist meets certain requirements; allows the department of education to waive certain requirements for an applying psychologist; provides that a conditional prescribing certification shall be valid for a period of two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 6795) gives New York utility consumers the right to choose between analog and digital meters for electricity, water, or gas without fees, penalties, or service charges. It requires utilities to provide 90 days' written notice before installing digital meters and lets consumers refuse the switch or demand a return to analog meters at any time. Utilities must replace digital meters with analog ones within 10 days for those with electromagnetic sensitivity or 30 days for others upon written request. The law also prevents utilities from installing digital meters in multi-unit buildings if 50% or more of residents opt out.