Sen. Jake Ashby

Relates to benefits for police officers, correction officers, firefighters, and other emergency personnel diagnosed with PTSD by making their injury compensable if it cannot be shown, by a preponderance of evidence, that the PTSD was caused by factors unrelated to their occupation.

Directs the department of health to establish a right to preventative maintenance of wheelchairs program, after consultation with certain other offices, under which owners of manual and powered wheelchairs shall be entitled to reimbursement of certain preventative maintenance costs for such wheelchairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York municipalities to choose whether to offer a 5% property tax exemption on qualifying residential properties owned by active or retired National Guard members and military reservists. To qualify, the property must be the owner’s primary residence (with exceptions for medical reasons), and the applicant must submit an annual application with a U.S. Department of Defense "twenty-year favorable service letter." The exemption applies only to the residential portion of the property and cannot be stacked with existing military tax benefits. Municipalities must adopt local ordinances to implement this option, which takes effect immediately.

Prohibits the acquisition of real property by foreign countries and entities of particular concern as well as citizens, companies, entities, and members of such countries and entities.

Relates to the distribution of fire insurance premium taxes; provides that a percentage of fire insurance premium taxes be paid to the treasurer of the NYS Professional Firefighters Association to promote, support and maintain the well-being of paid professional firefighters employed in the state.

Establishes the shovel-ready housing program under which certain municipalities, at their option, may pre-authorize parcels of property for the construction of housing; establishes a shovel-ready community tax rebate for taxpayers residing in municipalities that opt-in to the shovel-ready housing program; provides for annual apportionment to municipalities that have certified participation in the shovel-ready housing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New York's commercial security tax credit program to include restaurants as eligible businesses. It allows restaurants with 50 or fewer employees to claim a tax credit of $3,000 per location for security costs exceeding $4,000 (for businesses with ≤25 employees) or $6,000 (for businesses with >25 employees). Eligible expenses include security cameras, alarms, lighting, locks, and security officers. The credit applies to taxable years beginning in 2025 and affects qualifying restaurants statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for certain organizations to provide fiscal intermediary services - such as managing payments for home care programs - from April 1, 2025, to July 1, 2025. It requires subcontractors working with the statewide fiscal intermediary to register with the state department within 30 days of being selected. The change directly affects entities currently offering these services, ensuring they can continue operating under the new timeline while meeting registration requirements. The law takes effect immediately but applies retroactively from April 1, 2025.

Enacts "Kirby and Quigley's Law"; expands the definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include harm to a companion animal during the commission of a felony.

Establishes a local government salt brine equipment grant program under which the secretary of state may award matching grants to municipalities to cover costs associated with purchasing salt brine equipment.