Sen. Lea Webb

Prohibits hospital interference with patient care where the practitioner is acting in good faith and within the scope of their practice; defines emergency medical conditions; requires appropriate medical screening and stabilizing treatment of persons in an emergency department, including pregnant persons, or appropriate transfer.

Relates to school district unexpended surplus funds; provides that for the 2027--2028 school year and thereafter, surplus funds shall mean any operating funds in excess of six percent of the current school year budget, and shall not include funds properly retained under other sections of law.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a requirement that applicants must pass an examination to become a licensed master social worker. It directly affects individuals seeking this specific license by removing the exam hurdle. The bill removes paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 7704 in the education law, which previously mandated the exam. This is a procedural change to licensing rules with no new requirements added.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New York's board of elections to copy electronic ballot images and cast vote records from voting machines within one week after an election and make them public records available upon request. It directly affects voters and election officials by increasing transparency in election results. The key provision mandates that these electronic records - showing how each ballot was interpreted - must be preserved and provided to anyone who requests them, rather than remaining sealed. The bill does not change voting procedures but ensures public access to the digital records used to tabulate votes.

Requires the higher education services corporation to make a determination of financial eligibility of a student for financial aid, awards and loans within 60 days from the day of the receipt of the financial aid application; where the higher education services corporation fails to make a timely determination the applicant shall be deemed eligible for such aid for the semester for which the application was made; allows for a 30-day extension if notice is given to the educational institution within the initial 60-day period.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state-operated hospitals - including university health centers, cancer institutes, and certain public hospitals - from taking patients to court to collect unpaid medical bills. It defines "medical debt" as any unpaid charge for health care services, products, or devices provided by these facilities. The law prevents hospitals from using court action to recover such debts, directly protecting patients who owe medical bills to these specific state-run institutions.

Authorizes the dispensing of abortion medication under certain conditions; requires insurance policies providing coverage for contraception to provide coverage for abortion medication.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the "look-back period" for Medicaid applicants receiving home care (non-institutionalized individuals), meaning their past asset transfers won't be reviewed to determine eligibility. It repeals a specific provision in the Social Services Law that previously required a 60-month review of asset transfers for home care applicants. The bill changes the eligibility rules to remove this review period, directly affecting people applying for community-based long-term care services instead of nursing home care. The change applies to non-institutionalized applicants and removes the requirement for reviewing asset transfers made within a specified look-back window.

Requires gas pipeline facilities to accelerate the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of equipment or pipelines that are leaking or leak prone and increase safety reporting relating to gas pipeline leaks; requires the public service commission to establish timelines for the repair, rehabilitation or replacement of leaking or leak prone infrastructure; requires the commission to provide a gas safety report to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 3-year trial program allowing 16- and 17-year-olds (who meet labor law requirements) to work as personal assistants for people needing daily care support. It directly affects teens aged 16-17 seeking such roles and the individuals or families they assist, who would choose and oversee their work. Key provisions limit these assistants to 8 hours per day and 6 days per week, with supervision required by the person needing care or their representative. The program expires after three years unless renewed, and the bill was recently referred to the Health committee for review.