Sen. James Skoufis

Prohibits the diminution of health insurance benefits of public employee retirees and their dependents or reducing the employer's contributions for such insurance; defines employers to include the state, municipalities, school districts, and public authorities and commissions.

Maddy summaryS 3936 prohibits any town, city, or neighborhood (municipality or subdivision) from using the word "swastika" in its official name. Existing names containing the word must be changed by the local governing body. The bill takes immediate effect and applies to all municipal entities across the state. This is a straightforward policy change banning a specific term from official place names.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires regulated utility companies to annually report all utility poles in public rights-of-way, clearly marking which are currently in use versus unused. Companies must create a removal plan for unused poles and remove them within one year of identification. The state commission can impose fines of up to $10,000 per unused pole per year for non-compliance. The reports must be submitted to the commission, governor, and key legislative committees by December 1 each year. This directly affects utility companies operating in public spaces, aiming to clear unused infrastructure.

Relates to owner liability for failure of operators to comply with toll collection regulations; requires public authorities to send a notice to owners upon incurring an obligation to pay a toll; provides for the adjudication of such liability and defenses to an allegation of liability; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's environmental conservation law to clarify rules for power plants operating under the federal Clean Air Act. It prohibits electric generating facilities from using secondary fuel sources or emergency engines except during true emergencies (as narrowly defined) or per federal rules (40 CFR 60.4211). The bill also requires department approval for alternative operating scenarios in permits and explicitly excludes preventable issues like poor maintenance from qualifying as emergencies. These changes directly affect power plants subject to federal air quality regulations, ensuring stricter controls on emissions during non-routine operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a mandatory $1-per-semester fee for all students enrolled at State University of New York (SUNY) colleges and universities. The collected funds belong exclusively to the SUNY student assembly, with no other institution or entity allowed to access the money. The fee is collected alongside regular tuition payments and must be delivered to the student assembly within 30 days of collection. The student assembly then has full discretion to use the funds for its own purposes, as specified in the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryS 4898 updates New York's civil service law to classify members of the state militia holding appointed or employed positions as "public employees." This directly affects those militia members, bringing them under standard civil service protections and procedures previously excluded from the definition. The key change amends the legal definition in the civil service law to include militia roles, removing a prior exclusion. This ensures these personnel are treated like other public employees under relevant state laws, though they remain excluded from specific provisions in sections 210 and 211 of the law.

Provides that in years where a pay period occurs on January first of such year, the salaries of members of the legislature shall be payable in twenty-seven bi-weekly payments.

Directs the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation to promulgate rules and regulations establishing targets for the sales of zero emissions medium and heavy duty vehicles in the state.

Requires the disposal of copies of identification documents by owner, lessee, proprietor or manager of any hotel, motel, steamboat, tourist cabins, camp, resort, tavern, inn, boarding or lodging house.