Sen. Pam Helming

Establishes the offenses of menacing a police officer or peace officer in the first degree and menacing a police officer or peace officer in the second degree; relates to circumstances under which an officer is not required to issue an appearance ticket; makes conforming changes.

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.

Provides that a green CHIPS project means that the project shall meet certain criteria, including but not limited to, it will create at least 250 new net jobs or make at least 3 billion dollars in qualified investment; makes related provisions.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill classifies emergency medical services (EMS) as "essential services" for the purpose of qualifying for state aid. It directly affects municipalities and EMS providers by changing their eligibility to apply for state financial assistance. The key provision amends the General Municipal Law to explicitly state that EMS provided under specific conditions shall be deemed essential services when seeking state aid. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. This is a procedural change to state aid eligibility criteria, not a new funding program.

Authorizes justice courts to exercise jurisdiction over commercial claims arising out of a transaction between a claimant and a natural person, wherein the money, property or service which is the subject of the transaction is primarily for personal, family or household purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3453) increases penalties for repeat domestic violence offenses by adding a 10-year lookback period for prior convictions. It creates a new "aggravated harassment in the first degree" offense specifically for individuals who commit harassment against someone they live with or are in a domestic relationship with, after a prior harassment conviction within the last decade. The bill also amends related offenses like assault, strangulation, and menacing to include stricter penalties when the perpetrator has a prior conviction for similar crimes and is part of the same household or family as the victim. These changes directly affect repeat offenders in domestic relationships, making certain offenses class E or D felonies instead of lower-level charges. The bill focuses on holding repeat domestic violence perpetrators accountable through enhanced sentencing.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 7302) modifies New York's firearms licensing process by allowing applicants to request privacy for their personal information (name, address, etc.) on public records. It affects anyone applying for or renewing a firearms license, giving them a new option to avoid public disclosure if they meet specific safety or privacy grounds - such as being a law enforcement officer, under a protection order, or fearing harassment. The licensing officer must grant these privacy requests unless false information is provided, while still allowing law enforcement access to the records upon request. The change updates existing rules to add this privacy option during the license application and recertification process.

Prohibits a municipality from relocating migrants from such municipality to another municipality in New York unless and until a resolution authorizing the relocation has been adopted by the governing bodies of both the municipality to which the migrants are to be relocated and the county in which the receiving municipality is located; mandates written notice prior to location; provides for a fine for violations.

Maddy summaryS 4614 requires that any revenue from new or increased state taxes be deposited into a special fund. This fund then distributes payments annually to all cities, villages, and towns (outside villages) based on their proportion of the state's total property value. The payments must be used directly to lower each municipality's local property tax levy, reducing residents' property tax bills. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, after passing committee referral.