Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5795) creates Excelsior Scholarships specifically for low-income students enrolled in public Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM) programs at New York State public universities. It provides tuition assistance covering up to $5,500 per year (or actual tuition, whichever is less) for students with family adjusted gross income at or below $125,000 annually. To qualify, students must maintain full-time enrollment (12 credits/semester), complete required credits yearly, and not have full tuition covered by other aid like federal Pell Grants. The scholarship lasts up to the standard program duration (e.g., 3-4 years for JD programs) and applies to tuition only, after other financial aid is applied.

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 7884 proposes to amend the tax law to allow a deduction from personal gross income. This deduction is specifically for expenses incurred by taxpayers when adopting a child from the foster care system. It covers various costs, including adoption fees, medical and legal fees, court costs, and other related expenses. The bill aims to reduce the taxable income for individuals who incur these specific adoption-related expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects specific percentages of revenue from video lottery gaming at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga racetracks to three key areas: (1) 6.5%-7.5% of wagered funds to support New York schools (including those for students with disabilities), (2) 4% to fund racetrack capital improvements (like equine drug testing labs), and (3) 3% for general racing operations. It also allocates 8.5% to a breeding fund and modifies prior funding structures for Nassau/Suffolk video lottery facilities. The bill directly affects New York’s public education system, thoroughbred racing industry, and specific racetracks. It replaces outdated language in tax law to clarify how video lottery gaming revenue is distributed.

Permits any child who is at least fourteen years of age to have administered to themself, regardless of parental consent, certain immunizations required or recommended by law.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New York City's on-demand E-hail paratransit pilot program until March 2027, expanding it to include 1,200 additional Access-A-Ride paratransit users. It requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to add these new users by March 2026, selecting them to represent diverse demographics (age, disability, location, and usage patterns). The pilot allows enrolled users to book immediate rides via smartphone app or phone, with fares matching standard bus/subway rates and no limits on ride duration or frequency. The MTA must also report on ridership, usage, and costs by April 2027.

Repeals certain provisions relating to use tax exemptions for certain race horses; prevents nonresident race horse owners from avoiding use tax in certain situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a tax on sugary drinks based on their sugar content per 12-ounce serving. Distributors (like manufacturers and wholesalers) pay the tax, which is added to the retail price: no tax for drinks with ≤7.5g sugar/12oz, $0.01 per ounce for 7.5-30g, and $0.02 per ounce for ≥30g. Revenue from this tax funds a "community health equity fund" as specified in the bill's abstract. The tax applies to most nonalcoholic beverages containing added sugars, excluding medical drinks, milk, natural fruit/vegetable juices, and water.

Allows evidence of a defendant's prior crimes or acts to be admissible in a criminal case for certain purposes including as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, state of mind of the defendant, state of mind of the victim or other party, absence of mistake or accident, identity, modus operandi, or common scheme or plan; requires that the prosecution provide reasonable notice of the general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial.

Enacts "private environmental law enforcement act"; authorizes any private citizen who has an interest which is or may be adversely affected to commence civil judicial actions for injunctive or declaratory relief to remedy environmental harms under certain circumstances; provides that such action may be commenced against any person for any violation of an administrative or court order compelling an investigation or remediation of an inactive hazardous waste disposal site.