Sen. Mark Walczyk

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2021) amends New York's penal law to allow licensed firearm holders to carry firearms openly - meaning visibly outside a holster or bag - without restrictions based on their job or location. It directly affects individuals holding valid concealed carry licenses, expanding their existing permit to include open carry options. The key change removes previous limitations tied to employment or possession location, while still requiring compliance with all state and federal firearm laws. The amendment takes effect November 1st following enactment.

Includes falsely reporting incidents in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of police officers to a particular address or location as a felony offense under the crime of falsely reporting an incident in the second degree.

Relates to purchases of food products for school meals from New York state farmers, growers, producers or processors; prohibits sale of school foods containing certain synthetic color additives; establishes a "healthy kitchens, healthy schools program" to provide grants for kitchen upgrades; prohibits school meals from containing more than 25 grams of added sugars per day, in aggregate.

Requires the state board of elections to participate in the systematic alien verification for entitlements (SAVE) program, administered by the United States citizenship and immigration services agency, to verify that a person who is either registered or registering to vote is a United States citizen.

Provides that crimes committed against a person on school grounds shall be deemed to be one category higher than the specified crime the person committed; enacts "Suzanne's Law".

Authorizes school districts to establish reserve funds for special services or programs upon approval by the board of education of such district in an amount not to exceed 10% of other reserve funds of the district.

Maddy summaryS 3638 creates a new class E felony offense for intentionally interfering with police officers during official duties. It specifically prohibits actions like spitting, throwing objects, or physical contact (such as pushing or shoving) that hinder officers. The law applies to anyone who obstructs a police officer while they are performing their job. Violating this law carries serious criminal penalties as a class E felony.

Maddy summaryS 685 creates an exception to existing prohibitions on fossil fuel use in new buildings. This bill allows new building projects to continue using fossil fuels if their site plan or subdivision plat received approval from a local planning board before December 31, 2025. The measure ensures that projects with initial approvals in place before this deadline are not subject to the upcoming fossil fuel ban.

Requires a state agency to get approval from the senate and the assembly prior to adopting or readopting a rule on an emergency basis unless such rule is necessary on an emergency basis for the preservation of the public health, safety and general welfare of the public.

Relates to crimes against public trust by state officers; requires such state officers' salary to be suspended pending indictment for such crimes; if convicted requires such state officers to pay back the portion of their salary beginning with the pay period immediately proceeding the date upon which the first convicted offense occurred.