Requires grants under the volunteer fire infrastructure and response equipment (V-FIRE) grant program to be awarded equally among the regions of the state with eligible departments.
Maddy summaryThis is a procedural Senate resolution (not a bill), requesting Governor Hochul to declare July 1, 2026, as "Canada Day" in New York State. It memorializes the strong economic, cultural, and trade ties between New York and Canada, including $17 billion in annual exports and over 1,300 Canadian businesses operating in the state. The resolution has no binding effect; it simply asks the Governor to issue a ceremonial proclamation recognizing these connections. The legislature adopted it on February 3, 2026, and will send it to the Governor and Canada's New York Consul General.
Provides that no bill which increases, extends, imposes or revives any tax, fee, assessment, surcharge or any other such levy or collection, be passed or become a law, except by the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the legislature voting separately; makes an exception for any bill which results from the passage of a home rule message.
Prohibits persons convicted of murder or sentenced to life without parole or where the defendant acting either alone or with one or more other persons, commits or attempts to commit robbery, burglary, kidnapping, arson, rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse, escape in the first degree, or escape in the second degree, and, in the course of and in furtherance of such crime or of immediate flight therefrom, such defendant, or another participant, if there be any, intentionally causes the death of: a police officer; a peace officer; a firefighter, emergency medical technician, ambulance driver, paramedic, physician or registered nurse involved in a first response team, or any other individual who, in the course of official duties, performs emergency response; or an employee of a state correctional institution or was an employee of a local correctional facility, when such person was engaged in the course of performing their official duties, from being eligible for commutation of sentence.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4458) would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID - such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID - during both voter registration and at polling places when voting in person. It mandates this ID requirement for all in-person voters, including those who registered by mail, with exemptions only for voters who are illiterate or have a physical disability. The bill amends the state constitution to establish this photo ID standard, replacing current registration and voting procedures. This change would directly affect all voters who need to verify their identity at these two points in the voting process.
Relates to term limits for the office of governor; term limits for the offices of comptroller and attorney-general; limits the terms of office as a member of the legislature any person may serve.
Allows the alteration or repeal of real property tax exemptions for certain private institutions of higher education by the passage of a private bill by the legislature and approval by the governor.
Prohibits the passage of bills by the legislature between the hours of midnight and eight o'clock a.m. unless 2/3 of the legislature is present; requires two-thirds approval for messages of necessity.
Relates to capping the state budget at fifteen percent of total state gross domestic product for the prior calendar year, as determined by the state comptroller.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state constitution to establish specific rules for filling vacancies in U.S. House and Senate seats. It requires special elections for House vacancies occurring more than three months before a general election (held 70-80 days after a governor's proclamation) and sets temporary appointment periods for Senate vacancies based on calendar year timing. These rules directly affect how federal offices are filled when vacancies arise, ensuring vacancies are addressed within defined election cycles. The changes apply specifically to federal elected positions, not state offices.
