Sen. Steve Rhoads

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally commemorates the 115th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire on March 25, 2026. It recognizes the 146 garment workers who died in the 1911 tragedy and honors their legacy by acknowledging the continued efforts of labor unions in protecting workers' rights. The resolution also highlights the historical impact of the fire, which led to significant labor law reforms and the advancement of immigrant rights in New York State.

Maddy summaryThis bill would reduce taxable income for individuals by excluding overtime pay from federal adjusted gross income. Specifically, it creates a new tax provision allowing workers to subtract wages earned for hours beyond their normal schedule (defined as "overtime compensation") from their taxable income. The change would apply to all taxpayers earning overtime pay, effectively lowering their federal income tax liability for that income. The provision would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Exempts operators of law enforcement and fire department vessels from laws which regulate vessels on the navigable waters of the state while such operators are in the course of responding to emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally honors Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis posthumously after he received the Congressional Medal of Honor and was inducted into the Hall of Heroes. The resolution acknowledges Ollis's sacrifice during a 2013 Taliban attack in Afghanistan, where he shielded an allied officer and saved over 40 personnel. It recognizes the Medal of Honor ceremony held at the White House and Ollis's induction at the Pentagon, noting that his name is now inscribed on the Medal of Honor Garden Wall. The resolution concludes by directing a copy of the document to Ollis's family.

Provides that the "Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag" shall be the official state flag for the raising of awareness of veteran suicide; directs the commissioner of general services to establish a protocol for the flying of such flag.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 8461) requires that uncommitted funds in New York's Climate Investment Account - collected by utilities through customer bills under the "bill-as-you-go" system - be automatically returned to ratepayers at the end of each fiscal year. It directly affects utility customers who paid these funds, ensuring unused money is credited back to their accounts instead of remaining in the state fund. The key provision amends state law to mandate this refund, specifying that funds not allocated for climate programs by year-end must be credited to ratepayer accounts. The bill does not change how funds are used for climate initiatives but clarifies the process for returning unused amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's law to explicitly include veterans in the legal definition of "military status." It expands the current definition - which already covers active military service - to protect veterans who have completed their service from unlawful discrimination. The key change adds the phrase "a person's participation in the military service... if such person has been released from such service" to the existing definition. This means veterans will now be covered under the same anti-discrimination protections that apply to active-duty military personnel. The change applies to all areas governed by this law, including employment and housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3245) updates how New York local governments and school districts calculate payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) for tax-exempt properties. It requires the Commissioner of Taxation to compute an annual "quantity change factor" showing percentage shifts in taxable property values between specific assessment rolls. This factor must include changes in value for properties under PILT agreements, ensuring these adjustments directly impact local tax revenue calculations. The bill affects municipalities and school districts receiving PILT payments by standardizing how property value changes are factored into their funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill phases in tax cuts for New York residents by gradually increasing the tax-free threshold for married couples filing jointly and heads of household over ten years. For married couples, the tax-free amount rises from $10,000 in 2026 to $100,000 by 2035, with corresponding adjustments to tax rates for income above $500,000. It repeals existing tax law provisions related to benefit recapture and updates the tax rate tables annually to reflect these changes. The bill directly affects New York residents filing as married couples or heads of household, particularly those with taxable incomes between $7,500 and $25 million.

Maddy summaryS 587 creates a new income tax deduction for cash tips received by workers, specifically for tips classified as wages under federal tax law. This change directly affects service industry workers (like servers and bartenders) who receive cash tips, allowing them to subtract those tips from their taxable income. The bill adds a specific deduction line to the tax code for cash tips received during a tax year, effective for all tax returns filed for 2025 and later. It does not change how tips are reported to employers but adjusts how they are treated for state tax purposes. The bill is currently pending in committee review.