Sen. James Skoufis

Requires each utility to take appropriate safety precautions regarding electrical hazards, including developing plans to promptly de-energize downed wires within two hours of notification of the location of such downed wires from a municipal emergency responder and promptly secure such wires within six hours in the case of events that are not considered emergencies.

Removes the requirement for registration stickers on certain motor vehicles; provides for the issuance of electronic certificates of registration for certain motor vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage, raising premiums, canceling policies, or limiting coverage based solely on a policyholder owning or harboring a specific dog breed or mix. It directly affects homeowners and renters insurance policyholders who might previously have faced discrimination due to their dog's breed. The law amends insurance regulations to ban these restrictions, ensuring coverage decisions cannot be influenced by breed alone. It applies to all policies issued, renewed, or modified after the effective date.

Creates a special on-premises license for properties which are located within a designated industrial or economic zoning district, occupy not less than twenty thousand square feet of floor area, and are located at least 500 feet from a residential building.

Requires public authorities and public benefit corporations to negotiate with professional firms providing architectural, engineering, geological, landscape architectural or surveying services in order from the most qualified to the least qualified with regard to the provision of services to the authority or corporation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts to provide additional bus transportation for students in universal pre-K programs beyond what's already funded. Districts may offer this extra transportation equally to all pre-K children in similar circumstances within their boundaries, with the district covering the costs. Crucially, this transportation will not count toward state funding calculations for those students, meaning districts bear the full expense without receiving state aid for it. The policy applies starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryS 5860 modernizes New York's chiropractic practice laws by expanding what licensed chiropractors can legally do. The bill allows chiropractors to use diagnostic imaging (like X-rays), provide nutritional counseling, dispense approved supplements, and perform certain soft tissue treatments - previously restricted under older rules. It also authorizes chiropractic clinical assistants to support licensed practitioners under supervision. This directly affects chiropractors and their patients in New York, clarifying scope boundaries without permitting drug prescriptions or surgical procedures. The bill passed the Senate in June 2025 and is now pending in the Assembly's Higher Education committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all covered water systems (serving specific residential populations) to replace every lead service line in their systems by November 1, 2037. It mandates that water systems cover all replacement costs at no direct charge to property owners, including planning, construction, and restoration. Property owners must allow access for replacement or opt-out by replacing their portion within 45 days at their own expense. The law applies to all lead pipes connecting water mains to buildings, including those owned by customers, and defines "lead service lines" to include certain galvanized pipes and lead connectors.

Repeals managed long term care provisions for Medicaid recipients; establishes provisions for fully integrated plans for long term care including PACE and MAP plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends multiple sections of New York's public authorities law to explicitly include "stormwater" in the legal definition of "sewage" for water, sewer, and water and sewer authorities. It adds a new definition stating "stormwater" means water runoff that exceeds soil absorption capacity during rain or melt events. The change directly affects these public authorities by expanding their regulatory scope to cover stormwater under existing sewage-related rules. The bill does not create new programs or funding but clarifies how stormwater is legally treated in water management frameworks. (164 words)