Sen. Jeremy Cooney

Maddy summarySenate Resolution J 1293 commends Armando and Shayla Gramajo for receiving New York State's Liberty Medal, the Senate's highest honor for individuals. The resolution recognizes their 2024 actions when they intervened to save a woman attacked with a knife in White Plains - Armando (a bus driver and former Guatemalan Army veteran) stopped the attacker, and Shayla (a physician's assistant) provided medical aid using household items until emergency services arrived. This symbolic resolution, passed by the New York State Senate, formally honors their humanitarian act and does not create new laws or affect any policies. It serves as a ceremonial tribute to their spontaneous, life-saving response.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the date of New York's presidential primary from the current June election to the first Tuesday in March (commonly known as Super Tuesday). It directly affects voters and candidates participating in the state's presidential nominating process by moving the primary earlier in the election cycle. The bill amends election law to replace the existing June primary date with a March date specifically for selecting presidential delegates, while keeping other primary elections (like for state offices) on their current schedule. This is a procedural adjustment to election timing, not a substantive policy change.

Establishes portable polling locations for early voting; provides that a county board of elections may establish one or more portable polling locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 8355) is a ceremonial resolution dedicating a specific bridge on State Route 2 in Petersburg, Rensselaer County, to Fire Chief Robert Bornt. It requires the installation of a commemorative sign reading "Bridge Dedicated to Fire Chief Robert Bornt" on the bridge crossing State Route 22. The bill explicitly states this is purely ceremonial, does not change the bridge’s official name, and will not disrupt highway commerce. It has no substantive policy impact beyond symbolic recognition.

Includes entities that provide employment or services to formerly incarcerated persons in the preferred source exemption for purposes of state purchasing.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for cannabis distributors to file quarterly tax returns from the 20th to the 50th day after each quarter ends (February, May, August, November). It directly affects licensed cannabis distributors who must submit tax filings electronically under New York's tax law. The change modifies Section 495 of the tax law to update the filing timeframe, requiring distributors to submit returns showing tax due and required information by the new deadline. The bill is a technical amendment to tax filing procedures with no other policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New York state agencies to donate unused state-owned personal property (excluding vehicles) to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are current with their annual filings. It permits donations when the property's fair market value is below a threshold set by the commissioner, in addition to existing disposal options like sales or reuse. Agencies must maintain records of all donations for audit and cannot donate property purchased with special funds without reimbursing that fund. The law applies directly to state agencies managing surplus property and qualifying nonprofits seeking donated resources.

Prohibits the sale or offering for sale, delivery or manufacture of food or beverages containing kratom or its derivatives, or 7-hydroxymitragynine; provides penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3142) modifies New York's criminal procedure law to allow prosecutors to withhold the identities of certain witnesses and victims in homicide cases. Specifically, it permits the withholding of information related to 911 callers, victims of violent felonies (including those under Penal Law articles 125, 130, or 230.34), or witnesses in cases where the defendant has proven ties to a criminal enterprise. Prosecutors no longer need court approval to withhold this information - though they must notify the defendant in writing - unless the court orders disclosure for "good cause." The change directly affects defendants in homicide cases with documented criminal enterprise affiliations and aims to protect vulnerable witnesses from potential retaliation.

Provides that recounts of ballots conducted by the board of elections or a bipartisan committee appointed by the board can be either done manually or via the use of any automated tool authorized for such use by the board of elections, which is independent from the voting system it is being used to recount, of all ballots for a particular contest where the margin of victory is less than or equal to 0.5% but greater than 0.25%; allows for losing candidates to deny a recount before any recount is conducted.