Sen. Jim Tedisco

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New York State Park Police as an independent law enforcement agency under the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner. It ensures the park police operate separately from the New York State Police while allowing coordination on training, emergencies, and other shared concerns. The bill formalizes this structure by amending existing law to create the agency and define its operational independence.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits commercial octopus farming for human consumption within the state. It bans any person from raising octopus in controlled aquaculture settings (like farms) where the purpose is food production, while explicitly exempting wild-caught octopus and research activities unrelated to commercial farming. Violations carry daily fines of up to $1,000 per offense. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Establishes a program for specific individuals to become complex care assistants and provide private duty nursing services to certain Medicaid enrollees.

Establishes the rural suicide prevention council to identify barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services and other policies, practices, resources, services, and potential legislation that aim to reduce death by suicide and suicide attempts and acknowledge the demographic and cultural differences in rural communities; makes related provisions.

Establishes an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for certain public safety dispatchers, public safety telecommunicators, 911 operators, communications officers, police communication technicians, emergency services operators and emergency services dispatchers employed by the state, or a county or municipal emergency services department.

Establishes the nutrient inactivant application permit to allow for the use of products used for controlling phosphorus levels in lakes or ponds to prevent and inhibit harmful algal blooms.

Provides that court records in a proceeding under articles 77, 78 and 81 of the mental hygiene law shall not be perused, examined, disclosed, taken or copied by any other person than a party, the attorney or counsel of a party, the guardian, the court evaluator or the court examiner except by order of the court, or the office of the attorney general.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New York's "First Responder Peer Support Program Act," creating a statewide grant program to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for first responders. It directly affects firefighters, police officers, EMTs, 911 operators, emergency dispatchers, coroners, and other emergency personnel by providing grants to local entities for trauma-informed training and mental health services. Key provisions include mandatory evidence-based training on suicide prevention and resilience, strict confidentiality rules prohibiting disclosure of personal information, and annual reporting requirements that exclude identifiable data. The program aims to improve mental health access while ensuring privacy and reducing barriers for those in high-stress emergency response roles.

Dedicates all that portion of the state highway system constituting bridge number 1007069, located on Union Avenue, state route 9P, crossing interstate 87 in the city of Saratoga Springs, county of Saratoga, to Assembly Member Bobby D'Andrea.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors Senator Michael N. Gianaris as he receives the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader's Legislative Legacy Award. The bill formally recognizes his decades of public service, highlighting his legislative achievements in areas such as tenant rights, criminal justice reform, and election access. It expresses the Senate's gratitude for his contributions and directs that a copy of the resolution be sent to him as a token of appreciation.