Sen. Lea Webb

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies rules for health care plans (like insurance companies and HMOs) when ending contracts with health care professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.). It requires plans to provide written reasons for termination and allow a 30-day review by a panel of three licensed peers before finalizing termination, except in cases of fraud or imminent patient harm. The bill also prohibits termination for protected actions, such as advocating for patients, filing complaints, or requesting a review. These changes apply to all health care professionals licensed in New York under current law, ensuring fairer processes for contract disputes.

Requires the department of labor create and maintain a list of available careers and job openings for veterans in the state of New York and provide such list to the department of veterans' services; requires such list to be placed on the department of veterans' services website.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state and local parks to test their drinking water for lead contamination at least once every three years. If lead levels are found to be unsafe, park managers must provide free safe water, shut down affected outlets, post warnings, and share results online. The law also mandates that officials publish a biennial report on these findings and exempts New York City parks if they already have a testing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a licensing system for two specific professions: orientation and mobility specialists (who help visually impaired people navigate safely) and vision rehabilitation therapists (who provide training for daily living skills). It defines these roles, sets education and training requirements for licenses, and creates a state board with representation from both professionals and the visually impaired community. Only licensed individuals may use these titles or provide these services, and the law explicitly states these specialists cannot prescribe optical devices. The bill directly affects visually impaired residents (including those legally blind or partially sighted) who seek these services and the professionals working in this field.

Requires medical assistance to include medical care, services or supplies to monitor blood pressure that have been validated for accuracy and are furnished without prior authorization to eligible pregnant women.

Provides that certain purchase contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental resilience, racial equity, valued workforce, valued agricultural sector, animal welfare, and nutrition.

Regulates the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination; requires independent audits of high risk AI systems; provides for enforcement by the attorney general.

Prohibits a property owner from enforcing or adopting a restriction that prohibits one or more religious items from being displayed or affixed on any entry door or entry doorframe of a dwelling.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the village of Johnson City to create and collect a new tax on hotel and motel room rentals. Under the proposed law, the tax rate would be capped at three percent of the per diem rental rate and could be collected by the village's fiscal officer or passed directly to room owners for collection. The revenue generated from this tax would be deposited into the village's general fund for any lawful purpose. The legislation includes specific exemptions for government entities, certain non-profit organizations, and permanent residents who stay for at least thirty consecutive days. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for filing tax returns, appealing tax assessments, and limits the duration of any enacted tax to a maximum of two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary task force within the Office of Mental Health to study how to help residents of community-based mental health housing programs age in place. The nine-member group will investigate barriers to care, propose policy changes to improve access to medical services, ensure housing compliance with disability laws, and develop training for staff. The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature within twelve months, after which the bill and the group will automatically expire.