Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the price thresholds at which food and drink sold in vending machines become subject to certain taxes. It increases the current limits from $1.50 (for coin-only machines) and $2.00 (for other payment methods) to $3.00 and $3.50, respectively. Vending machine operators selling qualifying items below these new prices will remain exempt from the tax. The change applies temporarily until May 31, 2026, and directly affects businesses operating vending machines. The policy alters the tax exemption rules for small-value snacks and beverages sold through vending.

Relates to establishing the housing access voucher program; provides that the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal shall implement a program of rental assistance in the form of housing vouchers for eligible individuals and families who are homeless or who face an imminent loss of housing; provides that the commissioner shall designate housing access voucher local administrators in the state to administer the program.

Maddy summaryS 4799 creates a legal right for New Yorkers to sue fossil fuel companies that contributed to climate change through their activities. It applies to companies that emitted at least one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from 1989 until the bill's effective date, excluding public utilities and government entities. The bill establishes new provisions in state law, including definitions and a "right of action," to enable lawsuits for climate-related damages like health impacts and property loss. This would allow individuals and communities to seek compensation for harms directly linked to fossil fuel emissions.

Enacts The New Deal for CUNY; increases the ratio of faculty and mental health counselors to full-time students; requires that certain amounts of tuition be replaced by federal, state, and city funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits police officers from using chemical agents - such as pepper spray, tear gas, or oleoresin capsicum - against any minor under 18 years old in all circumstances. It directly affects minors under 18 and requires all police departments to update their use-of-force policies to ban these chemical agents. The law amends existing policy rules to explicitly forbid such use, applying immediately upon enactment. This is a policy change to restrict specific police tactics targeting children, with no exemptions or exceptions specified.

Removes provisions that prohibit cities of one million or more from strengthening rent regulation laws to provide more comprehensive coverage than state laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4502) repeals a 2011 law that imposed an annual spending cap on state Medicaid funding and related administrative processes. It specifically removes Sections 91 and 92 of Chapter 59, which limited how much the state could spend on Medicaid each year. By eliminating this cap, the bill allows Medicaid funding to increase without the previous annual spending restriction. This change directly affects the state’s Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to low-income residents, by removing a barrier to funding growth. The repeal would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits elected officials from collecting retirement benefits while serving in the same elective public office they retired from. It requires that if an official retires from an elected position and then is re-elected or takes a new term in that same office, their retirement allowance is suspended until they leave that position. The law applies to all current and future elected officials in New York State. Exceptions only apply if earnings from the office stay below specific limits, but the core rule is clear: dual receipt of salary and retirement benefits is not permitted.

Establishes the teachers' fossil fuel divestment act; requires the New York state teachers' retirement system to divest the retirement system of any stocks, securities, equities, assets, or other obligations of corporations or companies included on an exclusion list of coal producers and oil and gas producers.

Authorizes the attorney general to commence a special proceeding in a court hearing jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of the environmental conservation law and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto in the name of the people of the state.