Sen. Neil Breslin

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the direct descendants of patients who have been deceased for at least fifty years to request access to those patients' clinical records. To qualify, individuals must provide proof of their direct descent from the former patient, and facilities are required to follow specific rules for verifying this relationship and releasing the requested documents. The law clarifies that facilities do not need to keep records indefinitely, but if they are available, they must be provided to eligible family members within a reasonable time. This change expands the group of people authorized to view historical mental health records beyond current patients and their immediate living relatives.

Provides for a working families tax credit; directs quarterly prepayment of the credit; provides for a sliding reduction in the credit for incomes which exceed a certain threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the requirement for insurance companies to provide space on their forms for individuals to register as organ donors. It directly affects insurance providers and the people who fill out these forms by ensuring they have the option to indicate their donation status. The law mandates that these updated forms must be in effect starting January 1, 2026, allowing state officials time to create necessary rules for implementation. Once signed into law, the bill becomes active immediately, setting the stage for the specific deadline when the new form requirements will begin.

Creates the Albany county pine hills land authority to transition the future use of facilities of the College of Saint Rose in a way to promote and stimulate economic development in the county of Albany and city of Albany; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state officials to expand the safety information displayed on a public website specifically for stretch limousines and other motor carriers. The law mandates that the site include detailed data such as the number of inspections, out-of-service orders, defect rates, and records of serious injuries or fatal crashes involving these vehicles. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to publish an annual report summarizing safety complaints, verification status, and enforcement actions taken in response to those reports. These updates will allow the public to better assess the safety history of specific operators and understand how quickly the agency responds to reported issues.

Provides that the failure by the utilization review agent to make a determination within certain time periods shall be deemed to be an approval of the health care services.

Enacts the "beauty justice act"; provides for the regulation of ingredients in personal care products and cosmetics; prohibits the sale of personal care products and cosmetic products containing certain restricted products.

Relates to requiring the use of project labor agreements for large scale construction projects under the state university construction fund; provides an exception to such requirement may be granted; provides that the fund may require every contractor become party to a project labor agreement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows a close friend of a deceased person to make an anatomical gift, such as donating organs or tissues, if no other authorized family members object. It updates the legal hierarchy for who can authorize a donation by adding "close friend" as a specific category alongside guardians and other relatives. The law also clarifies that if multiple people in the same category are available to make a decision, the gift can only proceed if a majority of them agree. These changes take effect on January 1st of the year following the bill's passage and are intended to provide more flexibility for individuals who wish to donate but do not have immediate family present.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how the state calculates payment rates for federally qualified health centers to better match their actual operating costs. It requires the health department to analyze five years of cost data, including expenses for staffing, physical facilities, and technology, and to remove existing caps on these payments starting in April 2025. The law establishes a new method for adjusting these rates annually based on federal market basket figures and changes in the scope of services provided. This change directly affects federally qualified health centers by ensuring their reimbursement reflects the true cost of delivering care.