Sen. Peter Oberacker

Creates a state trooper highway memorial task force to develop and establish guidelines for recognition of members of the division of state police who have died in the line of duty; provides such recognition shall be by means of dedicating a portion of the state highway system, or the placement of a memorial plaque or marker along a state highway.

Relates to providing a space on a certificate of title for an owner to designate a beneficiary to whom the vehicle shall be transferred upon the death of the owner.

Amends the 2024 capital projects budget to allow competitive grants to include funding for safety and security projects at small businesses at risk of hate crimes or attacks.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent key provisions allowing nurse practitioners to diagnose illnesses and provide treatment within their specialty areas, working collaboratively with licensed physicians or other nurse practitioners. It requires written practice agreements and protocols for this collaboration, including specific rules for resolving disagreements about diagnosis or treatment. The law directly affects nurse practitioners and physicians who collaborate with them, ensuring consistent practice standards without temporary expiration. This updates prior temporary rules (set to expire in 2026) by making them permanent under New York's education law.

Maddy summaryBill S 358 aims to expand eligibility for personal and home care services funded by Medicaid. It removes specific functional assessment criteria, which currently require individuals to need assistance with a certain number of daily living activities to qualify. This includes removing particular requirements for those with dementia or Alzheimer's diagnoses. The bill directly affects individuals seeking to receive in-home care services through the Medicaid program by making it easier to meet eligibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts to create policies enabling homeschooled students to try out for and join their district's interscholastic sports teams. It requires these students to meet the same academic, health, and behavioral standards as enrolled public school students - including annual academic checks, health exams, and age requirements - and limits participation to their district of residence. Parents must provide transportation, and districts may set additional academic eligibility rules. The policy is optional for school boards, not mandatory.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3422) requires the New York governor's salary to be withheld until the state budget is fully approved by the legislature. It directly affects the governor, delaying their net salary payment (after standard deductions like taxes) if the budget isn't passed before the fiscal year begins. The governor would receive the withheld amount immediately after the legislature completes budget passage, as defined by the bill. The rule takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryS 1436 requires employers to provide paid sick leave based on business size: employers with 5-99 full-time equivalent employees must offer 40 hours of paid sick leave annually per worker, while those with 100+ employees must provide 56 hours. Smaller employers (4 or fewer full-time equivalents) generally provide unpaid sick leave unless they earned over $1 million net income last year, in which case it becomes paid. Employees accrue sick leave at a rate of one hour for every 30 regular work hours, starting from hire or the bill's effective date. The law takes effect immediately and applies to all covered employers in New York.

Bars a person who is convicted of a hate crime from attending any SUNY or CUNY institution; provides for the expulsion of a student who is convicted of hate crimes; provides for reinstatement of such student if the conviction is subsequently overturned.

Restores the legislative checks and balances to any emergency declaration that exceeds forty-five days; ensures judicial due process rights for any action that impairs fundamental constitutional rights by limiting the powers of the governor to suspend laws during a state disaster emergency; requires a specification and explanation of which municipalities are affected by such suspension of laws.