Sen. Chris Ryan

Enacts "Nima's law" which prohibits the retail sale of nitrous oxide; establishes civil penalties for violations; includes nitrous oxide misuse in the health care and wellness education and outreach program to expand education on the dangers of nitrous oxide misuse; prohibits the sale of whip cream chargers.

Establishes a twenty-four hour, toll-free hotline and website for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus (LGBTQ+) individuals who are experiencing emotional distress, suicidal ideation, or crisis-related challenges, which shall provide immediate support, referrals, resource lists, and other information.

Directs the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish a program for individuals to receive free drug test strips to detect the presence of medetomidine, benzodiazepine, nitazenes, and/or other harmful contaminants; directs the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, in cooperation with the commissioner of the department of health, to develop and conduct a public awareness and educational campaign on the dangers of medetomidine, benzodiazepine, nitazenes, and/or other harmful contaminants.

Provides parity to durable medical equipment providers by requiring Medicaid managed care organizations to reimburse such providers at no less than one hundred percent of the medical assistance durable medical equipment fee schedule for the same service or item.

Maddy summaryS 8841 adds mandatory electronic personal income tax filings as a new method for New Yorkers to register for the Donate Life Registry, which facilitates organ, eye, and tissue donation. It requires tax forms subject to electronic filing to include a clear, conspicuous question asking: "Would you like to be added to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this question'." This change directly affects all New York residents who file taxes electronically, making organ donation registration part of routine tax processing. The bill updates existing public health law provisions to include tax filings alongside other registration methods like driver's licenses and health insurance applications.

Authorizes the New York state thruway authority to issue annual short distance commuter permits which shall provide for travel at no charge between interchanges in permit areas.

Relates to providing information to patients and the public on hospital rule-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each hospital a list of its hospital rule-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.

Establishes a fiscal cliff task force to conduct a study on fiscal cliffs in the state's public assistance programs and to make recommendations related thereto.

Establishes an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for employees of the New York Power Authority with the job title of mechanic, technician, electrician, equipment operator, power plant operator, utility security officer, or lineperson.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework for anti-stalking orders to protect victims from repeated, severe harassment. It directly affects stalking victims (petitioners) and alleged stalkers (respondents) by establishing specific court procedures for obtaining protective orders. Key provisions require courts to issue orders prohibiting contact (including digital communication), surveillance, remote control of connected devices (like smart home systems), and proximity to victims' homes or workplaces. The law defines "stalking" broadly to include numerous offenses under existing penal codes, such as harassment, assault, and unauthorized sharing of intimate images. These orders can be issued quickly without notice for immediate threats, with final orders requiring a court hearing.