Sen. James Skoufis

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every general hospital in New York to establish a community advisory board composed of local residents to advise on hospital planning and programs. The legislation mandates that hospitals create mission statements identifying the communities they serve and regularly review these statements along with financial reports and performance data to ensure they are meeting local health needs. Hospitals must make these documents publicly available online and file them with state health officials, while board members are allowed to receive expense reimbursements but cannot be paid for their service. The law also clarifies that government employees can serve on these boards without losing their jobs and applies to both private voluntary non-profit hospitals and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Establishes a private right of action against mental health professionals who engaged in sexual orientation change efforts, revives such actions otherwise barred by the existing statute of limitations and grants trial preference to such actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the commissioner of transportation to create an interactive website where the public can report issues such as potholes, debris, and damaged signage on public highways. The proposed system allows users to track the status of their reports and receive updates when repairs are finished or when information is sent to the responsible local municipality. Additionally, the commissioner must post the locations of reported defects on state highways and notify the appropriate authorities when a problem is identified on a road under local jurisdiction. The law will take effect approximately seven months after it is signed into legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the time limits for filing civil lawsuits related to child sexual assault, incest, and the use of children in sexual performances. It allows victims to seek compensation for physical or psychological injuries at any time, even if years have passed since the abuse occurred. The law applies to cases involving offenders who were under eighteen years old at the time of the incident and does not require a prior criminal conviction to proceed. Additionally, the bill revives specific lawsuits that were previously dismissed because the filing deadline had expired, giving those plaintiffs a window to restart their legal claims.

Permits libraries occupying or possessing public land to develop, lease, or use such property for the purposes of constructing affordable, mixed-use housing; provides that such use aligns with libraries' educational purposes, represents a valid exercise of the trustees' power, and is in the best interests of the libraries.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands residency requirements for correction officers working at local correction facilities in New York. It allows officers to live in counties within neighboring states if those counties are contiguous to their workplace and within 45 miles (measured by nearest boundary lines). Previously, officers typically needed to reside in the same county or a directly adjacent New York county. The change directly affects correction officers employed by sheriff's departments or local correction facilities across New York State. It removes geographic barriers for hiring and retention, particularly in border communities.

Establishes the "stop online predators act"; requires operators of covered platforms to conduct age verification to determine whether a user is a covered minor; requires operators of covered platforms to utilize certain default privacy settings for covered minors; requires operators of covered platforms to require parental approval of certain activity related to a covered minor's covered platform account.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Resolution that formally congratulates the Bolton Central School Boys Varsity Basketball Team, their coaches, and athletic director on winning the Class D State Championship. The resolution specifically names the individual players, Head Coach Cody Kober, Assistant Coach Angel Figueroa, and Athletic Director Mark Andrejkovics, and directs that copies of the document be sent to them. It recognizes the team's 26-1 season record and their victory over Sackets Harbor High School, highlighting the athletic achievement without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools to provide plant-based food options as an alternative to every meal or snack upon request by a student or their parent. The plant-based option must be offered at no additional cost and must meet USDA standards for meat alternatives, while the school must also include this availability in all food-related written materials. Schools must respond to requests in a reasonable manner, and the requirement applies to all students regardless of whether they have requested the option, though requesting students may still choose non-plant-based meals. The law takes effect immediately but applies to school food service starting one year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially recognize March 31, 2026, as Farmworkers Day in New York State. The resolution honors the historical contributions of farmworkers to democracy and human rights, particularly referencing the United Farm Workers movement and their advocacy for better working conditions. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a commemorative proclamation to acknowledge the legacy of farmworkers. The measure directs the governor to issue a formal statement recognizing this date and highlights New York's 2019 Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act as part of the state's ongoing support for farmworker protections.