Sen. James Skoufis

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests Governor Hochul to proclaim February 4, 2025, as Canada Day in New York, recognizing the state's economic and cultural ties with Canada. It cites New York's $28 billion in annual trade with Canada, 800 Canadian-owned businesses employing 58,000 New Yorkers, and cross-border initiatives like the Champlain Hudson Power Express project. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally asks the governor to issue the proclamation. It was adopted by the Senate on February 4, 2025, and will be sent to the governor and Canadian Consulate for consideration.

Relates to fines for false alarms by an alarm system; allows a municipality to enact, adopt or enforce any ordinance, resolution or regulation requiring any alarm system company to pay for or be responsible for any fines, fees or other penalties relative to false alarms only when the false alarm is attributed to a deficiency in the alarm system or an error of the alarm system company or central station.

Maddy summaryS 3939 requires every general hospital in New York to establish a community advisory board made up of local residents. The board must help hospitals create and update mission statements, review how well they serve community health needs (especially for underserved groups), and report annually on charity care and access to services. Hospitals must publicly share these reports on their websites and the state health department’s site. The bill also ensures board members cannot be state employees and are only reimbursed for expenses, not paid a salary.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (J 260) formally commends Jose Cristales, an off-duty firefighter, for receiving the New York State Senate's Liberty Medal - the Senate's highest honor. It recognizes his heroic actions on September 12, 2024, when he saved a woman trapped under a car by coordinating bystanders and a construction crew to lift the vehicle, performing CPR until emergency services arrived. The resolution has no policy impact; it is a symbolic tribute to Cristales' life-saving intervention and embodies the Senate's tradition of honoring exceptional humanitarian acts.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate Resolution (J 259), not a legislative bill with policy changes. It formally commemorates the 17th anniversary of Kosovo's independence (declared February 17, 2008) through a resolution adopted by the legislature. The resolution acknowledges Kosovo's history, progress in democracy, and the contributions of Kosovar communities in New York to cultural and economic life. It has no direct impact on laws, regulations, or affected populations beyond expressing legislative recognition.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate resolution (J 255) commending Brandon Gruttemeyer for receiving the New York State Senate's Liberty Medal - the highest honor for an individual. It recognizes his heroic 2024 rescue of a non-swimmer who nearly drowned at Lake George, where he located the victim underwater and administered life-saving CPR until emergency services arrived. The resolution formally praises his actions and transmits a copy of the resolution to him. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legislative effect beyond the Senate's ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summaryS 778 regulates online dating services in New York by setting consumer protections and pricing limits. It caps two-year membership costs at $1,000 (with exceptions for one-year contracts), bans requiring ancillary services (like photo sessions) as a condition of use, and mandates a minimum number of matches per month for paid accounts over $25. If services fail to deliver the promised matches for two consecutive months, users can cancel and receive a refund (minus a small fee for services provided). The bill also grants a three-day cooling-off period for cancellations without penalty and requires dating platforms to return or destroy user data upon contract end.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests Governor Hochul to proclaim May 2025 as Muslim History Month in New York State. It aims to recognize Muslim cultural contributions, promote education about historical Muslim achievements (such as advancements in science and medicine), and foster community understanding. The resolution does not create new laws but encourages symbolic acknowledgment through the Governor's proclamation.

Enacts the "private well testing act"; authorizes the department of health to promulgate rules and regulations to establish standards for the testing of drinking water from privately owned wells.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (J 247) requests Governor Hochul to issue a proclamation designating January 2025 as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in New York State. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally asks the Governor to recognize the month, aligning with national observance. The resolution highlights cervical cancer statistics in New York (840 new cases and 180 deaths in 2024) and emphasizes the need for public awareness of prevention and screening. As a memorial resolution, it is procedural and symbolic, directly affecting the Governor’s role in issuing the proclamation.