Sen. Michelle Hinchey

Requires all public school districts, charter schools and non-public schools in the state that participate in the national school lunch program or school breakfast program as provided in the national child nutrition act to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to the student.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York insurance law to require health insurers to allow patients to try cheaper interchangeable biologics and biosimilars before covering brand-name drugs. It updates prior authorization rules so insurers must consider these cost-saving alternatives when reviewing coverage for biologic medications. The law also allows insurers to move a drug to a higher-cost insurance tier only if a cheaper interchangeable biologic or biosimilar is simultaneously added to the plan's drug list. These changes directly affect patients seeking biologic treatments and insurers managing prescription drug coverage.

Enacts the bucks for boilers act, which creates a program to aid in transition of housing units to electric heat pumps and other high energy efficiency upgrades.

Directs the commissioner of the New York state division of housing and community renewal to promulgate rules and regulations to provide a taxpayer or entity having applied for the low-income housing tax credit and certified by the division of housing and community renewal with a notice of placement on a waiting list upon the submission of a completed application.

Maddy summaryS 1715 establishes a five-year pilot program in New York State to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (a treatment using high-pressure oxygen) to veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder. The program requires the state health commissioner to collect annual data from participating providers on costs and effectiveness, with a final report due by December 31, 2031, to state officials. Eligible veterans must be New York residents with a diagnosed condition and receive a prescription from a licensed medical professional. The program aims to evaluate the therapy's cost and efficiency for veterans through this data-driven assessment.

Grants the commissioner of education the power to identify schools for additional support and assistance and establish performance targets for such schools.

Requires electric corporations and gas corporations to provide, as part of every billing statement, a tariff cost estimate in a clear, conspicuous and easily understandable manner; requires such corporations to include an itemized disclosure of the primary cost components comprising the delivery portion of the bill.

Prohibits hospital interference with patient care where the practitioner is acting in good faith and within the scope of their practice; defines emergency medical conditions; requires appropriate medical screening and stabilizing treatment of persons in an emergency department, including pregnant persons, or appropriate transfer.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York's cannabis revenue fund to cover the costs of a tracking and tracing system for cannabis products. It specifically authorizes the Office of Cannabis Management and the Cannabis Control Board to use fund money for implementing, administering, and enforcing cannabis regulations, including the tracking program. The amendment to state law clarifies that these costs are eligible expenses from the fund, ensuring agencies have dedicated resources for regulatory oversight without needing separate budget approvals. This directly affects state cannabis regulators and the oversight of the legal cannabis market.

Adjusts the calculation of the empire state child credit to provide for a one thousand dollar credit per qualifying child who is less than four years of age and a five hundred dollar credit per qualifying child who is four years of age or older for certain qualifying taxpayers.