Sen. Pat Fahy

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes state-supported housing navigation services for New York residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It requires the state to create individualized housing plans, assist with housing programs, coordinate transitions, and develop sustainability strategies to help these individuals secure stable housing. The law mandates a statewide training curriculum for housing navigators and creates a multi-agency task force - including housing experts and state agency representatives - to implement and evaluate the program. The services will become operational starting April 1, 2027, with the task force required to report on progress and recommend improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "vehicular homicide" for drivers who cause another person's death through reckless conduct showing extreme disregard for human life. It directly affects drivers whose actions - like severe speeding or ignoring traffic signals - result in fatalities, even if they didn’t intend to cause death. The law classifies vehicular homicide as a class B felony, the same penalty as second-degree murder in New York, making it a serious criminal charge. This change would replace or add to existing laws for deaths caused by negligent or reckless driving.

Relates to clarifying which entities handle the reporting of pregnancy loss; the responsibilities of health care providers and penalties for not protecting the identities of individuals who suffered a pregnancy loss.

Establishes the New York state museum partnership trust to serve as a focal point for the receipt and administration of private gifts, devises and bequests of real and personal property donated to further historic preservation, advance cultural education, and enhance the state museum.

Establishes a direct support wage enhancement to employees that provide direct care support or any other form of treatment, to individuals with developmental disabilities and whose income is less than $125,000.

Establishes the child victims act fund which provides grant awards in reimbursement to public school districts and voluntary foster care agencies located within the state who have been named as defendants in certain child sexual abuse legal cases and in which it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that no insurance policy for the covered period can be located after a good-faith effort to do so has been made, there was a monetary judgment issued or settlement agreement with regard to such action and where it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that payment in full of such judgment or settlement would put a substantial burden on the district's or agency's ability to execute its mission and negatively impact its existing student population.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on caste in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It adds "caste" to New York's existing anti-discrimination protections, defining caste as a hereditary social hierarchy that restricts mobility and rights. The law makes it unlawful for employers, housing providers, or public accommodations to deny services or opportunities based on caste, alongside other protected characteristics like race or gender. This directly affects individuals from communities where caste-based discrimination occurs, such as certain South Asian diaspora groups, by extending legal safeguards to these specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "small wholesaler liquor license" for businesses with annual gross revenue under $500,000. It allows these license holders to sell liquor wholesale to licensed retailers, manufacturers making non-beverage products, and for interstate sales under other states' laws, including wine sales without extra fees. The license requires a $2,000 annual fee and specific application documentation. It directly affects small liquor wholesalers who previously couldn't access this license tier. The bill becomes effective 120 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 543 creates a tax credit for New York landowners who commit to forestry stewardship or habitat conservation on eligible land. Landowners with at least 25 contiguous acres certified as valuable wildlife habitat or suitable for recreation (e.g., fishing, hunting) can claim a credit equal to 25% of real property taxes paid on that land, up to $10,000 annually. To qualify, land must be part of a 5-year agreement with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, recorded publicly, and maintained under approved conservation plans. This credit directly affects private landowners managing conservation-eligible properties, reducing their personal income and business franchise tax burden.

Maddy summaryS 6559 would allow local governments (counties, cities, towns, villages, or school districts) to provide a 100% property tax exemption for veterans who served in combat zones and are 100% permanently disabled due to military service, or their unmarried surviving spouses. This exemption would apply directly to the property tax bill for eligible veterans, bypassing any local limits on standard property tax exemptions. Localities would choose whether to implement this option, and the exemption would apply to properties assessed on or after January 1, 2025. The bill does not require localities to adopt this exemption but provides a new option for those that choose to do so.