Sen. James Skoufis

Relates to conducting investigations into the administration and enforcement of the New York state uniform fire prevention and building code and the New York state energy conservation construction code by counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5835) waives state license fees for fishing, hunting, and trapping for a specific group: New York residents who are certified first responders and were disabled due to a certified World Trade Center-related medical condition. It directly affects those first responders who developed such disabilities as a result of 9/11 response efforts. The key provision amends existing law to add this group to the list of individuals eligible for free licenses, alongside tribal members, active military, and blind residents. The policy change provides direct financial relief for these eligible first responders by eliminating recurring license costs. The bill passed the Senate and is now in the Assembly for consideration.

Relates to treatment of gains from qualified opportunity zones in calculating taxable income; removes exclusion of gains on property in qualified opportunity zones in calculation of income.

Enacts the "student voter empowerment act"; requires each institution of higher education to designate a staff member to act as a student voting coordinator; requires such coordinator to develop and implement a student voting action plan to increase student voter registration and voting and democratic participation among students.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1056, amends existing laws to make criminal history background checks free of charge for mentoring programs operated by not-for-profit corporations. Currently, these programs pay a processing fee for background checks on prospective employees and mentors. Under this bill, mentoring programs run by not-for-profit corporations will no longer be charged this fee. The bill also updates the definition of a "mentoring program" to include youth sports programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows brewery supply stores (retailers selling homebrewing equipment and ingredients) to sell New York state-labeled beer for customers to take away. It amends liquor laws to permit these stores to hold licenses for off-premises beer sales, but only for beer produced in New York and bearing state labels. The change specifically expands the types of licensed locations (adding brewery supply stores to grocery/drug stores) while restricting sales to only New York-produced beer. This directly affects New York brewery supply stores seeking to sell beer for takeout, not homebrewers or other retailers.

Establishes an indirect source review for heavy distribution warehouse operations; requires the department of environmental conservation to conduct a study regarding zero-emissions zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New York's not-for-profit corporation law to increase transparency for organizations incorporated on behalf of government entities. It requires incorporators to disclose if a nonprofit is formed at the request of a municipal corporation, state authority, or district (Section 402, added paragraph 9). Corporations must also obtain consent from the Authorities Budget Office if their structure involves government officials in leadership roles (Section 404, added paragraph w). These changes apply specifically to local development corporations and similar entities, ensuring their governance aligns with public oversight requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New York's definition of "period of war" in the real property tax law to expand eligibility for the alternative veterans' exemption. It adds specific recent military conflicts to the existing list, including the Global War on Terrorism (September 11, 2001, through end of hostilities), and NATO combat operations in Somalia (1992-1994), Bosnia (1995-2004), and Kosovo (1999-1999). Veterans who served during these newly included periods will now qualify for the tax exemption. The change directly affects veterans whose service falls within these defined modern conflicts, ensuring they meet the eligibility criteria under current law.

Limits the identification of individuals who provide face-to-face care to or direct observation of a patient to their first name and first initial of their last name; requires complainants to only submit the address of the health care facility at which they were providing services at the time of the offense in cases involving an alleged offense against a hospital worker health care practitioner.