Sen. Jeremy Cooney

Enacts the tropical rainforest economic & environmental sustainability act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains; establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the process for handling violations issued by school bus stop-arm cameras. It clarifies that vehicle owners who contest liability for these violations will have their cases heard by an administrative tribunal designated by the local government. The bill outlines the procedures for these hearings, offering options such as in-person, online video, or written explanations, while ensuring due process. Additionally, it requires local legislative bodies to notify the state comptroller about the establishment or elimination of traffic violations bureaus.

Removes the requirement that an employer has employed an average of one thousand or more persons in the past three years in order to pay less frequently than weekly, but not less frequently than semi-monthly; provides for damages for violations where the employer paid the employee wages on a regular payday, no less frequently than semi-monthly.

Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4160) requires state correctional facilities to provide free voice communication services (like phone calls) to incarcerated individuals, with no cost to the person initiating or receiving the call. It prohibits state agencies from charging fees or generating revenue from these communication services and mandates that in-person visit programs remain available - digital services cannot replace them. The law repeals an existing correction law section and takes effect April 1, 2026, applying to new or renewed communication contracts after that date. It directly affects incarcerated people in state prisons and youth detention centers by guaranteeing free access to basic voice communication.

Establishes the universal basic income for transition-age youth pilot program to provide regular monthly payments to state residents who age out of foster care.

Imposes fines for failure to exercise due care and move over when approaching parked, stopped or standing motor vehicles on the shoulder of a highway.

Provides that a person is guilty of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree when such person commits the offense of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree and causes the death or serious physical injury of another person.

Maddy summaryBill S 358 aims to expand eligibility for personal and home care services funded by Medicaid. It removes specific functional assessment criteria, which currently require individuals to need assistance with a certain number of daily living activities to qualify. This includes removing particular requirements for those with dementia or Alzheimer's diagnoses. The bill directly affects individuals seeking to receive in-home care services through the Medicaid program by making it easier to meet eligibility standards.

Establishes the relocated worker grant program which requires the empire state development corporation to design and implement the relocated worker grant program which shall include a certification process to certify relocated workers and certify qualifying expenses for a reimbursement grant; defines terms; makes related provisions.