Sen. Rachel May

Requires DHCR to develop a common application and web portal for certain funding, tax credits, loans, and grants for housing; requires such application to be available upon request from relevant state agencies; requires such web portal to be manageable by relevant state agencies; makes relevant provisions.

Relates to parole eligibility for certain incarcerated persons age fifty-five or older if they have served at least fifteen years of their sentence or sentences.

Establishes that when mechanically propelled vessels meet swimmers, kayaks, canoes, row boats, paddleboards, crew racing shells or other nonmotorized boats or floatation devices proceeding in such direction as to involve risk of collision, the swimmer, kayak, canoe, row boat, paddleboard, crew-racing shell or other nonmotorized boat or floatation device shall have the right of way.

Enacts the "Empowering People in Rights Enforcement (EMPIRE) Worker Protection Act"; relates to the delegation of state enforcement authority to private actors; authorizes an affected employee, whistleblower, representative organization or an organizational deputy to initiate a public enforcement action on behalf of the commissioner for certain provisions of the labor law, or any regulation promulgated thereunder.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Access to Representation Act, would guarantee the right to legal counsel for certain low-income individuals facing immigration proceedings in New York. It directly affects non-citizens and citizens with disputed status who are detained or subject to removal, as well as those with a significant connection to the state. Under the proposed law, eligible individuals would receive ongoing legal representation from designated providers starting from their first court appearance or as soon as possible thereafter. The program would be administered by the New York State Office for New Americans, which would set income limits and oversee the delivery of legal services.

Permits libraries occupying or possessing public land to develop, lease, or use such property for the purposes of constructing affordable, mixed-use housing; provides that such use aligns with libraries' educational purposes, represents a valid exercise of the trustees' power, and is in the best interests of the libraries.

Enacts the student journalist education act to protect student speech at educational institutions unless such speech is libelous, an invasion of privacy, or incites students to commit an unlawful act, violate school policies, or to materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the school.

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 creates a new program in New York that requires electricity providers to purchase and retire tradeable geothermal renewable energy credits to support the adoption of geothermal heating and cooling systems. The legislation establishes a geothermal portfolio standard that will gradually increase the percentage of credits providers must acquire, starting at 0.1% in 2027 and reaching 2% by 2032, with a potential increase to 3% after a review. These credits are issued for eligible geothermal installations placed in service after January 1, 2026, and providers who fail to meet the requirement must pay an alternative compliance fee that decreases over time. The bill also creates a dedicated geothermal fund to receive these compliance payments, which will be used for geothermal deployment, workforce training, and low- and moderate-income installations.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Resolution that formally congratulates the Bolton Central School Boys Varsity Basketball Team, their coaches, and athletic director on winning the Class D State Championship. The resolution specifically names the individual players, Head Coach Cody Kober, Assistant Coach Angel Figueroa, and Athletic Director Mark Andrejkovics, and directs that copies of the document be sent to them. It recognizes the team's 26-1 season record and their victory over Sackets Harbor High School, highlighting the athletic achievement without altering any laws or policies.