Sen. Joe Griffo

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the minimum age for obtaining a hunting license in New York from 14 to 12 years old, directly affecting young hunters aged 12-13. Key provisions require that 12-13-year-olds must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult (21+ with 3+ years' big game hunting experience) holding a valid license while hunting deer, bear, or using firearms/crossbows. The bill also updates age requirements for muzzle-loading firearms and crossbow use, maintaining supervision rules for younger hunters. These changes apply specifically to hunting regulations for big game and firearms under the Environmental Conservation Law.

Enhances sentences for certain offenses involving weapons on or near school grounds; relates to the availability of certain records of juvenile delinquents or youthful offenders; relates to annual earnings limitations for certain retired police officers employed by a school district or a board of cooperative educational services; adds a defendant's identifiable ties to the community and state to consideration for whether to fix a securing order, including residence, employment, enrollment with an educational institution, and immediate family; allows courts to hold a pre-trial community safety and well-being hearing; relates to the court's consideration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances and significant physical injury in determining whether to remove adolescent offenders to family court; defines such terms; provides factors for the court's consideration of whether extraordinary circumstances exist; exempts adolescent offenders who were illegally in possession of a loaded firearm from those authorized to be removed to family court; modifies the crime of criminal solicitation in the third degree.

Repeals the provision of law that volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who receive a real property tax exemption for service may not receive the income tax credit for such service.

Maddy summaryThis New York bill authorizes cities, towns, and villages to purchase residential homes in floodplains from willing owners at pre-flood damage market value. If purchased, the homes must be demolished, and the land converted into public open space. Municipalities cover standard real estate costs like appraisals and closing fees, while owners pay for mortgages, moving costs, and potential elevation requirements. Homeowners are not forced to sell but may need to implement flood risk mitigation measures if they stay.

Establishes the commission on reopening the Indian Point energy center; relates to definitions of certain terms relating to renewable energy; repeals provisions relating to electric generating facilities; directs the New York state energy research and development authority to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear small modular reactors.

Removes ammunition and ammunition sales from the requirements of background checks; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto; repeals the background check fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4461) changes how police handle arrests and releases for certain offenses. It replaces old rules allowing officers to issue "appearance tickets" instead of making arrests with new criteria, specifying 11 situations where an arrest is required (e.g., hate crimes, family violence, or outstanding warrants). It also creates standardized pre-arraignment bail amounts for release before court - up to $750 for class E felonies, $500 for misdemeanors - and allows credit card payments for traffic cases. These changes directly affect police officers, people charged with crimes, and court procedures in New York. The bill does not alter sentencing or penalties but modifies early-stage law enforcement and court processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state program to expand broadband access in New York by shifting from a top-down approach to a locally-driven model. It allows counties and local communities to form regional groups (regional consortia) that design their own broadband plans to cover all residents in underserved areas - defined as locations with internet speeds below 100 Mbps - using state and federal funds. Key provisions include requiring these regional plans to guarantee universal coverage, permitting local collaboration with internet service providers, and prioritizing access over speed or reliability. The program replaces the existing "New NY Broadband Program" and gives local governments direct control over how infrastructure (like fiber or mobile hotspots) is deployed in their communities.

Enacts the "grid resiliency act" relating to the operation of major electric generation facilities, peaker plants, and simple cycle and regenerative combustion turbines, and to tax credits for the purchase and installation of residential auxiliary electric generating equipment and for disruptions in electric or gas service.

Enacts "the combating campus antisemitism act"; prohibits the granting of tuition assistance awards to any student who has knowingly engaged in promoting antisemitism in a manner that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action, that constitutes "true threats"; makes related provisions.