Sen. Joe Griffo

Maddy summaryS 6842 adds specific protections against anti-Semitism to New York's human rights law and hate crimes statute. It defines anti-Semitism to include actions like demonizing Jewish people, spreading false conspiracy theories about Jewish communities, or blaming Jewish individuals for societal issues. The bill requires state agencies to use this definition when reviewing discrimination complaints based on Jewish religious practice, heritage, or ethnicity. Violent acts motivated by anti-Semitism that cause injury or property damage will now be classified as hate crimes under New York law.

Enacts the New York state antisemitism vandalism act which establishes the crime of vandalism of pro-Israel print, which provides a class A misdemeanor for any individual who intentionally destroys, damages, removes, or causes to be destroyed, damaged or removed any banner, poster, flyer or billboard which is located in a public space, where the intent or purpose of such banner, poster, flyer or billboard is to bring awareness for Israeli individuals who have been victims of a crime, or to positively support the country or citizens of Israel in any way.

Authorizes the state board of parole to require a violent felony offender to serve their maximum term, if, by clear and convincing evidence, release would pose an imminent threat to society; authorizes the withholding of good behavior allowances of violent felony offenders by the state board of parole upon such a finding.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the maximum age for provisional or permanent appointment as certain police officers from 35 to 40 years old. It directly affects applicants seeking police positions under municipal civil service rules, particularly in cities like Buffalo. The key change modifies civil service law to increase the upper age limit for taking the written exam, while maintaining specific exceptions for military service time, Buffalo Housing Authority employees, and exhausted eligible lists. The policy change aims to expand the pool of eligible candidates for police departments without altering other merit-based requirements.

Relates to environmental quality reviews of housing development projects that propose to build twenty or more units; provides that municipalities shall not be prohibited from performing their own environmental reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,000 supplemental payment for New York taxpayers who claim a newborn baby as a dependent on their federal tax return. It directly affects parents or guardians with newborns not previously claimed as dependents, providing the payment for each qualifying child starting in tax year 2026. The payment is issued automatically by the state tax commissioner and treated as an overpayment if it exceeds the taxpayer's state tax bill. The credit applies to newborns born in the current or prior tax year, with payments beginning April 1, 2026.

Establishes the "New York state veterans cemetery act"; directs the division to conduct an investigation and study on the issue of the establishment of a New York state veterans cemetery funding program.

Maddy summaryS 3471 creates tax credits for New York employers who provide or sponsor on-site or nearby child care facilities. It offers a 10% credit (up to $10,000) on eligible operating costs and a 20% credit (up to $20,000) for qualified facility construction or improvements. The bill requires facilities to be licensed, serve primarily employees' children (excluding households earning over $200,000 annually), and comply with specific reporting rules. These credits apply to business franchise, personal income, and insurance franchise taxes under New York law.

Provides that the text to be used in a proposed amendment, proposition or question to be submitted to the people for approval shall be in the legislation proposing such amendment, proposition or question and shall not be altered without approval by the legislature.

Authorizes real property taxing jurisdictions to grant a partial tax exemption for property purchased by a clinician in a clinician shortage area, as determined by the commissioner of health, which will be such clinician's primary residence and they will practice in such shortage area; provides state aid to taxing jurisdictions which grant the exemption to the extent of the tax savings provided to clinicians.