Sen. Pete Harckham

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes certified recovery residences - supportive housing for 4-14 people recovering from substance use disorder - with state aid covering up to 50% of construction or operating costs. It requires providers to seek municipal approval for facility locations, giving local governments 40 days to review sites, suggest alternatives, or object based on neighborhood impact. If disputes arise, the state commissioner resolves them within 15 days, considering existing facility density and community character. The bill directly affects individuals in recovery, providers operating these residences, and local governments managing site approvals.

Provides for automatic enrollment to NY-Alert on the application for a learner's permit, driver's license, non-driver identification card, or renewal thereof; requires a space for an applicant to opt out of such enrollment.

Relates to liability of the state for damages caused by reported defects and potholes if the report was made fourteen days or more before the damage occurred; establishes an interactive website for reporting defects and potholes on the state highway system and thruway.

Maddy summaryS 4778 establishes a 7% tax on digital advertising revenue exceeding $100 million annually for companies operating in New York. It directly affects large digital ad platforms (like social media or search engines) that use personal data for targeted ads, requiring businesses with over $1 million in New York digital ad revenue to file annual tax returns. The tax applies to "annual gross revenues" from digital ads in the state, defined as income before expenses, and takes effect for 2026 tax years. This policy creates a new revenue source by taxing a specific digital business model, avoiding traditional sales tax loopholes.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent disability benefits for volunteer firefighters who develop heart or coronary artery conditions related to their service. It removes an expiration date (previously set for June 30, 2025) from existing provisions in the volunteer firefighters' benefit law. The change directly affects volunteer firefighters who become disabled due to heart disease or coronary artery issues while serving, ensuring they continue to qualify for these benefits without time limits.

Exempts qualified military benefits from inclusion in a resident's adjusted gross income, including any allowance or in-kind benefit other than personal use of a vehicle, received by any former member of the uniformed services of the United States or any dependent of such member by reason of such member's status or service as a member of such uniformed services.

Relates to the confidentiality and expungement of records in juvenile delinquency cases in the family court; requires certain records to be expunged automatically.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts health care employers from requiring nurses or health care workers (excluding doctors, residents, and security staff) to work more than their regularly scheduled hours, except in specific emergencies or during ongoing surgical procedures. It defines "regularly scheduled work hours" to include pre-scheduled on-call time and shift report communication, and prohibits using on-call time as a substitute for mandatory overtime. Exceptions include health care disasters, official emergency declarations, unanticipated staffing emergencies, or procedures requiring continuous presence for patient safety. The law aims to protect patient care quality by limiting excessive work hours, without affecting existing rights under other laws or collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Raise the Wage Act," increases New York's minimum wage to $21.25 per hour in New York City by 2028, $17.25 in the city's suburbs (Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester) by 2026, and gradually across the rest of the state. It repeals current static wage provisions and establishes automatic annual adjustments tied to inflation and productivity, mirroring the formula used for upstate wages since 2022. The bill directly affects all hourly workers covered under New York's labor law, particularly in low-wage sectors like home care and childcare. This indexing mechanism aims to prevent future erosion of purchasing power, ensuring wages keep pace with rising living costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2710, changes retirement rules for New York City police officers by reducing the required service time for full retirement benefits from 22 years to 20 years. It specifically applies to members of the New York City Police Pension Fund, allowing them to retire with full benefits after 20 years of service instead of the previous 22-year requirement. The bill amends three sections of the retirement law to update definitions, benefits, and eligibility, ensuring NYC police officers can access normal retirement benefits at the 20-year mark. This is a direct policy change affecting NYC police officers' retirement timelines, with no broader application to other public safety workers.