Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 7008) allows towns and villages to require that their local justices (who handle minor court cases) must be licensed to practice law in New York State. It gives local governing bodies (like town boards) the option to vote to adopt this requirement, but it is not mandatory for all communities. If adopted, the new rule would take effect at the start of the next judicial term following the election after the local law is passed. The bill directly affects town and village justices and the local governments deciding whether to implement this educational standard.

Requires insurance companies, medical expense indemnity corporations, hospital service corporations, health service corporations and medical assistance programs to provide coverage for prescribed antiviral therapeutics approved by the food and drug administration for the treatment of COVID-19 at no cost to the patient.

Restricts the disclosure of personal information by businesses; provides that a business that retains a customer's personal information shall make available to the customer free of charge access to, or copies of, all of the customer's personal information retained by the business.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes time limits for civil lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. It allows victims to file lawsuits at any time after the abuse occurred, regardless of when it happened, as long as they were under 18 at the time. The law covers civil claims for physical, psychological, or other injuries from offenses including rape, incest, sex trafficking, and child sexual performances as defined in New York's penal law. It specifically applies to cases where the abuse occurred before the victim turned 18, and does not require a prior criminal conviction to file a civil claim.

Requires the public school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's education law to explicitly permit students to miss school for mental or behavioral health reasons, directly affecting students, parents, and school districts. It requires the state education commissioner to establish rules governing such absences, similar to existing rules for religious observances. Schools must follow these rules when approving absences related to a minor's mental or behavioral health, rather than relying on general absence policies. The change does not create new mental health services but formalizes a pathway for students to miss school without penalty for these health needs. The bill focuses on attendance policy, not treatment access or school funding.

Requires all municipalities that collect demographic information about a person's gender or sex to update all applicable forms and data systems to include a gender "x" option.

Enacts "Isabella's law" to require all health insurance policies and medical assistance to provide insurance coverage for the cost of medically necessary hearing aids for children under the age of 16.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits public notaries' recordkeeping requirements. It states that notaries no longer need to create or keep any records for notarial acts, except for electronic notarizations as specified in another section of the law. The change applies immediately and directly affects all public notaries in New York State by reducing their administrative duties.