Sen. Jeremy Cooney

Maddy summaryThis bill allows businesses licensed to sell alcohol for on-site consumption to apply for special permits to operate between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on January 1st. The legislation specifically targets retail establishments in communities where sales must cease early on New Year's Day, enabling them to serve customers during those specific morning hours. To obtain this permission, business owners must pay a fee of $51 per day. The law takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law, giving authorities time to implement any necessary rules.

Requires certain watercraft, aircrafts, and trains to use clean energy, including ensuring such vehicles are zero-emissions; requires NYSERDA to study zero-emission commercial vehicles, the use of renewable energy in publicly funded airports, and the use of sustainable aviation fuel; requires NYSERDA to administer a grant program to flying schools and clubs that install charging infrastructure.

Provides for indexing of certain appropriations; provides that on and after January first, two thousand twenty-five and on each following January first, the commissioner shall index the level of such appropriations for subsequent state fiscal years based on the national highway construction cost index for the most recent twelve month period; provides that the commissioner shall increase appropriations by the rate of inflation for the most recent twelve month period that is available at the time the adjusted rate is calculated and announced using the national highway construction cost index, or a successor index as calculated by the United States federal highway administration, if such rate of inflation is greater than zero percent.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Vehicular Violence Accountability Act, aims to strengthen driver education and create new legal penalties for causing harm while operating a vehicle. It requires all new driver license applicants to complete a mandatory training course that includes specific modules on road rage, work zone safety, and the dangers of vehicular violence, alongside existing requirements for alcohol awareness and other safety topics. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new article in the penal law that defines "vehicular violence" as negligent conduct causing injury or death while driving, separate from driving under the influence, and creates specific offenses for serious physical injury, aggravated injury, and death resulting from such acts. By integrating these educational components into the licensing process and clarifying criminal definitions, the bill seeks to promote safer driving habits and provide clearer legal consequences for accidents caused by negligence.

Provides for an applicant to voluntarily indicate that such applicant has a health condition or disability that may impede effective communication with a law enforcement officer when registering a motor vehicle, and that such information shall be provided to a law enforcement officer who makes a traffic stop of such vehicle.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the eligibility for a pilot program that allows drivers to take their required pre-licensing course online instead of in person. It permits qualified applicants to participate in this internet-based pilot from June 30, 2020, through June 30, 2025, while specifically excluding those seeking Class DJ or Class MJ licenses. The legislation aims to evaluate how effective online delivery is for this mandatory training requirement under the vehicle and traffic law.

Provides that family members of paid professional firefighters who died in the line-of-duty may obtain a "Survivor of the Bravest" license plate; provides for the annual service charge collected to be deposited into the department of motor vehicles distinctive license plate development fund.

Relates to the purchase of zero-emission buses and the procurement of electric-powered buses, vehicles or other related equipment and infrastructure; requires public utilities to have infrastructure, capacity, facilities, and transmission and distribution systems needed to supply power for the charging of zero-emission buses; provides a tariff for charging of electric buses.

Provides for certain presumptions for reckless driving and the implementation of a reckless driving and vehicular violence awareness component of the pre-licensing course for driver's licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New York residents to request distinctive license plates labeled "4-H member" for their vehicles. To obtain these plates, applicants must pay the standard registration fee plus an additional annual service charge of $25. If more than $6,000 in these fees are collected, the surplus money will be deposited into a new 4-H foundation fund to support the program. The bill also establishes a financial safety measure requiring a $6,000 surety bond to ensure the plates are sold, unless at least 200 orders are received before the plates are designed.