Sen. George Borrello

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.

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.

Maddy summaryS 6842 adds specific protections against anti-Semitism to New York's human rights law and hate crimes statute. It defines anti-Semitism to include actions like demonizing Jewish people, spreading false conspiracy theories about Jewish communities, or blaming Jewish individuals for societal issues. The bill requires state agencies to use this definition when reviewing discrimination complaints based on Jewish religious practice, heritage, or ethnicity. Violent acts motivated by anti-Semitism that cause injury or property damage will now be classified as hate crimes under New York law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a religious exemption allowing children to attend school without required vaccinations if their parent, guardian, or legal custodian holds genuine and sincere religious beliefs opposing the vaccines. It directly affects families seeking to exempt their children from vaccination requirements for school attendance. The key provision amends public health law to require schools to accept such religious exemptions without demanding a certificate, while still reporting immunization status for exempt children. The exemption covers vaccines for diseases like measles, polio, and pertussis, as specified in existing law. This changes school vaccination policy by adding a religious exception to the current immunization requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all prescription containers for opioid medications to have a red cap top displaying the warning "Caution: OPIOID. Risk of overdose and addiction." It directly affects pharmacies dispensing opioids by mandating this specific container labeling. The key mechanism specifies that containers must use a red cap (or red stickers if caps are unavailable) with the exact warning text, replacing existing color-coded labeling requirements for controlled substances. This policy change aims to increase visible safety warnings at the point of prescription.

Allows courts to consider the risk of continued substance abuse and likelihood of serious harm to the principal when considering committing such principal to the custody of the sheriff.

Enhances penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals by making such offense a felony, including torture, beating, or killing of any animal; makes animal cruelty, including overdriving or depriving an animal of sustenance a felony when committed while released on recognizance for violating an order of protection; allows aggravated animal abuse to be considered for bail.

Provides that each fire district, department or company required to provide enhanced cancer disability benefits for volunteer fire fighters pursuant to section two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law shall be entitled to reimbursement by the state for payments made in order to obtain the insurance coverage necessary to satisfy the requirements of section two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law.

Permits schools located within the state to purchase reduced fat or whole New York milk to provide or sell at such school; defines New York milk as raw milk produced by milking cows within the state, transported to a dairy processing center within the state, and processed as fluid milk into containers intended for distribution to consumers.