Sen. Steve Rhoads

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 3071 establishes an 18-member task force focused on reviewing and promoting safety in school transportation. This task force will include education stakeholders, parents, teachers, administrators, and school bus personnel, along with state commissioners. Its duties involve studying current state laws, regulations, and programs related to school bus safety, pedestrian safety for students, and identifying best practices for bus stops and driver protocols. The task force is responsible for issuing a final report with recommendations to state leaders within 18 months, and the act itself will expire after 24 months.

Provides that a member with credited service in excess of twenty-five years shall receive an additional retirement allowance equal to one-sixtieth of such member's final average salary for each year of creditable service in excess of twenty-five years; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryS 1527 creates a sales tax exemption for commercial energy storage systems equipment and their installation costs. This directly affects businesses installing such systems on non-residential properties to store electricity for later use in heating, cooling, hot water, or power. The bill amends tax law to exempt these systems from state sales tax, covering both the equipment and installation services. Local governments must explicitly adopt this exemption in their tax ordinances to apply it.

Enacts the "pediatric palliative care act" to establish pediatric palliative care centers to provide palliative care to individuals who are under twenty-one years of age, have been diagnosed with a chronic, complex, life-threatening illness that is expected to shorten their life expectancy, and is not expected to survive past twenty-one years of age.

Relates to preferences under the affordable home ownership development program for veterans with service-related disabilities; defines "veteran with a service-related disability".

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Governor Hochul to proclaim June 2026 as Aphasia Awareness Month in New York State. It aims to increase public awareness about aphasia - a communication disorder affecting stroke survivors and millions of New Yorkers - by aligning with National Aphasia Awareness Month. The bill contains no new policies or funding; it is a symbolic recognition effort.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (J 1603) memorializes Governor Hochul to officially designate April 2026 as "Workplace Violence Prevention Month" in New York State. It does not create new laws but requests the Governor issue a proclamation to raise public awareness about preventing workplace violence, particularly highlighting healthcare workers' elevated risk (five times higher than other industries). The resolution references April as the nationally recognized Workplace Violence Prevention Awareness Month and directs copies to the Governor and medical associations. It is a ceremonial measure focused on awareness, not policy change.

Maddy summaryThis resolution memorializes Governor Hochul to issue a proclamation designating May 2026 as Speech-Language-Hearing Month in New York State. It does not create new laws or policies but requests the Governor issue a symbolic proclamation to raise public awareness about communication health and honor professionals in speech-language and hearing services. The resolution directly affects New Yorkers by encouraging community recognition of communication health needs and the work of related professionals, though it has no binding legal effect. The Senate adopted this resolution on February 25, 2026, as a non-binding request to the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Governor Hochul to designate April 6, 2026, as Tartan Day in New York State, recognizing Scottish heritage and contributions. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but formally asks the Governor to acknowledge Scottish-American cultural ties through a ceremonial proclamation. The resolution highlights historical connections between Scotland and New York, including Scottish roots of many early American leaders and cultural traditions like tartan. As a non-binding memorial resolution, it has no direct policy impact beyond the symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (S 1633) asks Governor Hochul to designate February 23, 2026, as "Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Day" in New York State. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally requests the Governor issue a proclamation to recognize the day. The resolution highlights statistics on domestic violence prevalence across diverse communities and the state's high demand for related services. It is a symbolic action intended to raise public awareness, not a policy measure with direct implementation.