Sen. Steve Rhoads

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act to create a dedicated funding mechanism for improving groundwater and surface water quality across the county. It establishes a new water quality restoration fund financed by an additional sales tax of one-eighth of one percent, which would be approved through a mandatory referendum and remain in effect until 2060. The revenue generated would be split evenly between funding individual septic system upgrades and larger wastewater treatment facility projects. Additionally, the legislation grants the county authority to consolidate existing sewer districts into a single county-wide wastewater management district to streamline operations and enforce nitrogen reduction goals. The bill also outlines a schedule for transferring a portion of existing sewer taxpayer protection funds into the new restoration fund over a ten-year period.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state program to offer grants and low-interest loans to small businesses facing financial losses from declared emergencies. Administered by industrial development agencies, the program targets businesses with 50 or fewer employees that were operational before the disaster and suffered damage, inventory loss, or revenue decline. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate prior financial viability and submit a plan for how they will use the funds, with each business limited to receiving up to $25,000 in total assistance. Agencies are required to establish uniform criteria for selecting recipients and coordinate efforts to prevent duplicate funding from multiple sources. The legislation also mandates that agencies track loan performance and report the data annually, while exempting any deferred interest from state taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New York State law to include making a terroristic threat as a specific crime that qualifies for bail eligibility. It achieves this by amending existing sections of the Criminal Procedure Law to list terroristic threats alongside other serious terrorism-related offenses, such as money laundering in support of terrorism. The changes apply to the legal processes for granting bail in cases involving these designated crimes, ensuring they are treated consistently with other felony terrorism charges. The legislation does not alter the definition of the crime itself but rather adjusts the procedural rules regarding pre-trial release for individuals charged with it.

Enacts the "Nassau future protectors act" to provide additional credits to the Nassau county law enforcement explorers in competitive civil service examinations; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Educator Expense Assistance Act allows K-12 teachers, counselors, principals, and aides to deduct specific work-related costs from their taxes. Eligible educators can claim up to $300 annually if filing as single or $600 if married filing jointly, covering expenses for professional development, books, supplies, and computer equipment. To qualify, educators must work at least 900 hours per year in a school providing elementary or secondary education. This change takes effect immediately to provide financial relief for unreimbursed business costs incurred by school staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the "unique abilities employment act," allows school districts to hire up to 1,700 employees with developmental disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome, to fill specific job roles. Under the new rules, these positions are classified as noncompetitive and can be filled only by individuals certified by health services as having a developmental disability, while still offering them the same chance to take promotional exams as other staff. The legislation directly impacts school districts by authorizing them to create these roles and affects the state's civil service system by adding a new category for this type of employment.

Exempts vehicles owned and/or operated by a not-for-profit corporation, any private vehicle operated by a worker or volunteer, first responders, military personnel, veterans, healthcare workers, critical infrastructure workers acting on behalf of such organization or public employees traveling in an official capacity, wholesale food distributors or wholesale or retail delivery vehicles from the imposition of the metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax.

Establishes an independent state monitorship to oversee containment, remediation, excavation and cleanup of the groundwater plume associated with the Northrop Grumman Bethpage Facility and Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant sites in the hamlet of Bethpage within the town of Oyster Bay and compliance by Northrop Grumman and any other parties responsible for such containment, remediation, excavation and cleanup with any operative consent decrees, consent judgments, settlements, or agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that all medical facilities must have immediate access to every single-occupancy bathroom where a patient might be in an emergency. The law requires facilities to ensure that staff can reach these specific rooms without delay to assist patients in urgent situations. It applies to every medical facility and takes effect immediately upon passage. The measure focuses on improving emergency response capabilities within healthcare settings by guaranteeing quick access to patient rooms.

Provides that when a court of appeals judge recuses themselves from sitting in or taking part in the decision, action, claim, matter, motion or proceeding, a replacement shall be chosen on a rotating basis, based on seniority, of the next available appellate division judge.