Sen. Chris Ryan

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Governor of New York to officially designate May 5, 2026, as Queens Day to recognize the borough's cultural diversity and contributions to the state. The resolution directs the Governor to issue a proclamation for this date, which will coincide with a Queens Day celebration event in Albany featuring food, beverages, and displays of local businesses. The bill is sponsored by Senator Stavisky and was adopted by the Senate on March 24, 2026, after being referred to the Finance Committee. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Governor, the Queens Borough President's office, and the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Resolution that formally honors Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, who died in a car accident on January 31, 2026. The resolution expresses the legislative body's condolences to her family and acknowledges her service, community involvement, and dedication to public safety. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official tribute to recognize her life and contributions.

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 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.

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 increases penalties for theft and fraud targeting individuals aged 60 or older, classifying these crimes as Class B felonies. It directly affects elderly victims (60+) and perpetrators of such offenses, including common scams like identity theft or fake tech support calls. The law creates two new criminal provisions: Section 165.80 for theft against elderly persons and Section 190.91 for fraud against elderly persons, both elevating penalties from lesser offenses. This change reflects legislative intent to address a 14% rise in elder fraud complaints (2023) and $77.7 billion in global fraud linked to elderly victims annually.

Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to autonomously communicate in their preferred manner and utilize any validated communication supports that meet their needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax-advantaged savings program called SAVE for small businesses with 25 or fewer employees and annual net income under $250,000. It allows these businesses to contribute up to 10% of their previous year's gross profits to the accounts and deduct those contributions from their taxes, while tax-free withdrawals are permitted during specified economic hardship periods if the funds are used for worker hiring or job retention. The program requires the state tax commissioner to establish account standards, set distribution limits during hardship periods, and report annually on the accounts' effectiveness in stabilizing businesses and creating jobs.

Shifts the conducting of the income verification process for the purposes of the senior citizen tax exemption from municipalities to the department of taxation and finance.

Maddy summaryS 6639 increases the percentage of overtime pay excluded from retirement benefit calculations for public employees from 15% to 30% of their regular wages. It directly affects state and local government workers covered by retirement systems using "final average salary" calculations. The bill changes the threshold so more overtime pay will now be included in determining retirement benefits, rather than excluded.