Sen. Jake Ashby

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially designate March 2026 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in New York State. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about problem gambling and encourage people to learn about prevention, treatment, and recovery resources. It highlights statistics showing that problem gambling affects hundreds of thousands of adults and students in the state, particularly as mobile sports betting continues to grow. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal proclamation to promote awareness during a designated month.

Establishes the rare disease advisory council to identify best practices, raise awareness regarding rare diseases, evaluate barriers to access to care, and to make recommendations to the legislature and the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new office within the Office for the Aging focused on supporting older adults in the workforce. It establishes a coordinator (appointed by the Office for the Aging director) who will work with the Department of Labor and Division of Human Rights to develop and coordinate programs. Key provisions include creating a centralized website with job resources, providing information on age discrimination protections, and offering outreach about available services. The office directly serves older adults seeking job placement, career development, or workplace support.

Maddy summaryBill S 5432 increases various disability benefits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers injured in the line of duty. It doubles the weekly permanent total disability benefit from $600 to $1200 and raises the maximum combined earnings and benefits for severely injured volunteers from $800 to $1600. The bill also significantly increases temporary total disability benefits, setting a rate of $650 per week for injuries from July 2021 to June 2025, and $800 per week for injuries occurring after July 2025. These adjustments aim to provide enhanced financial support to volunteers experiencing disabilities from their service.

Increases the amount of years of military service credit a member may purchase from three years to four years; provides that the provisions of such act shall not be subject to the requirement that the state shall make an equal payment to the retirement system.

Establishes that when an actor threatens to disseminate or publish a still or video image depicting such other person with one or more intimate parts exposed or engaging in sexual conduct with another person, including a still or video image created or altered by digitization, where such person may reasonably be identified from the still or video image itself or from information displayed in connection with the still or video image within the provisions of unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image.

Enacts the "omnibus emergency services volunteer incentive act" to provide benefits to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers; increases the personal income tax deduction after four or more years of service; exempts motor vehicles used in the performance of such volunteers' duties from registration fees, use taxes and special fees for volunteer license plates; authorizes the provision of municipal health insurance coverage to such volunteers; establishes a volunteer recruitment service loan forgiveness program.

Provides that in any civil, criminal or family court proceeding, where evidence is offered and a party contends that such evidence has been fabricated by means of generative artificial intelligence, the court shall not, on that ground alone, conduct an inquiry into such alleged fabrication unless the party so contending makes a showing sufficient to support a reasonable inference that the evidence may not be authentic.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution directs Governor Kathy Hochul to officially proclaim March 2026 as Women's History Month in New York State. The bill asks the governor to recognize and honor the historical contributions of women across various fields including politics, education, medicine, civil rights, and business. It highlights specific New York women who have made significant impacts, from early suffrage leaders to modern public servants and athletes. The resolution is ceremonial in nature and does not create new laws or change existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (J 1664) honors Jonathan A. Dandes, president of Rich Baseball Operations and a Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, who died on February 22, 2026. It memorializes his 40+ years of service to the Buffalo Bisons, Sahlen Field, and Western New York community through roles including executive vice president of Rich Entertainment Group and director of the National Kidney Foundation. The resolution directs the legislature to "pause in its deliberations to mourn" his passing and transmit a copy to his family. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create policy changes or affect any legislation.