Sen. Pam Helming

Provides that the state shall pay to the city or county operating a facility, including whenever a person confined during proceedings pursuant to article ten of the mental hygiene law has been placed in any county jail or penitentiary, or a city prison operated by a city having a population of one million or more inhabitants, the actual per day per capita cost as certified to the state commissioner of corrections and community supervision by the appropriate local official for the care of such person as approved by the director of the budget.

Maddy summaryS 207 eliminates the annual renewal requirement for most motor vehicle registrations in New York. Instead of renewing annually, registrations for most vehicles will now remain valid until the vehicle's title is transferred to a new owner. The bill removes all references to "renewals" and "renewal fees" from the vehicle and traffic law, updating provisions that previously governed registration periods and fees. This change directly affects all New York motor vehicle owners who would have previously needed to renew their registrations annually. The law makes technical updates to ensure other sections of the law align with this new registration structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases payments to rural critical access hospitals (CAHs) by setting their reimbursement rates at 101% of reasonable costs for covered services like emergency care, inpatient care, and outpatient treatments. Starting April 1, 2027, these hospitals will receive payments calculated using the same method as Medicare uses for outpatient CAH services under federal law. The rate applies to services provided to patients eligible for state-funded payments under the public health law. Implementation depends on annual state funding appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns, cities, and villages to create local rules governing where and how cannabis can be consumed in public spaces. Municipalities may establish time, place, and manner restrictions for public cannabis use (such as prohibiting consumption near schools or parks), but cannot ban licensed dispensaries. The law does not override state licensing rules for cannabis businesses but gives local governments authority to regulate public consumption directly. It also includes provisions for inspections of unlicensed cannabis activity and civil penalties for violations. This affects all local governments and cannabis businesses operating in public areas within their jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryS 8511 allows employers hiring volunteer or paid firefighters to conduct background checks on job applicants. The bill requires employers to provide applicants with copies of any background records obtained and give them a chance to explain the results. This directly affects firefighters applying for positions with fire departments across New York. The law adds a specific provision to criminal procedure law, ensuring transparency in the background check process for this workforce. It does not change existing background check rules for other professions.

Establishes a high school robotics grant program; provides funding to high schools for participation in robotics competitions; sets forth eligibility requirements; provides for the application and awards process.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how New York school districts calculate education funding by replacing outdated 2000 census data with current federal census information. It revises definitions for "census count" and "poverty rate" to use the latest National Center on Education Statistics data and three-year average small area income estimates, rather than the 2000 census. School districts, particularly those classified as "high-need" under existing law, will have their funding formulas recalculated using these updated metrics. The changes directly affect how funding is distributed based on student poverty levels, with Section 3 adjusting specific percentage rates for different district types. The bill takes effect April 1st after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1556) adjusts New York State personal income tax thresholds to automatically rise with inflation starting in 2026. It requires the state tax commissioner to increase key tax amounts - like income tax brackets, standard deductions, and certain calculation thresholds - each year using the federal Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U). This change directly affects all New York residents who file personal income tax returns, preventing their tax burden from increasing solely due to inflation. The adjustments will be rounded to the nearest $50 increment and take effect immediately, though the first adjustment applies to the 2026 tax year.

Safeguards cash accounts for people with developmental disabilities in a facility under the control of the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities and the commissioner of alcoholism and substance abuse services.

Maddy summaryS 3452 allows criminal cases involving eligible veterans to be transferred to a veterans treatment court within the same county or an adjacent county, expanding access for veterans facing charges in areas without such courts. The transfer requires the veteran's request, court approval, and the district attorney's consent, following a model used in drug courts. This change would immediately more than double the number of counties where veterans can access specialized treatment programs addressing underlying issues like mental health or substance abuse. The bill applies to pending felony cases in local criminal courts and aims to broaden New York's existing network of 20 veterans treatment courts.