Sen. Tom O'Mara

Authorizes Mark Barnhart, David Skinner, and James Pappas to take the competitive civil service examination and be placed on the eligible civil service list for employment as full-time police officers with the village of Wayland.

Relates to prohibiting civilian drone use within 500 feet of a correctional facility except when in use under the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization.

Exempts farmers from commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements when operating a covered farm vehicle within one hundred fifty miles of such farmer's farm.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1500) increases the maximum speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph on specific New York state highways and roadways currently set at 65 mph. It directly affects drivers traveling on designated routes, including the Thruway, Southern Tier Expressway, I-81, I-87, I-88, I-90, I-99, and several state routes listed in the bill. The key provision amends existing law to permit this higher speed limit on these roads, provided the Department of Transportation establishes it according to applicable rules. The change applies only to the specific roadways enumerated in the bill text, not to all state highways.

Relates to the length of time of a state disaster emergency declaration; requires the governor to transmit a weekly report to the legislature during a state disaster emergency; relates to the communication between the governor and parties affected by a suspension of laws during a state disaster emergency.

Authorizes local governments to opt out of mandates and benchmarks arising under the climate leadership and community protection act and associated universal electrification requirements by filing a resolution with the department of environmental conservation.

Prohibits statewide elected officers and certain appointed officers from receiving compensation for any book or other published work written during the course of their term of service.

Prohibits ballot harvesting; prohibits a person from submitting an application for an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter without notarized consent; permits family members, caregivers and other officials to submit applications.

Maddy summaryS 503 allows courts to admit evidence of a defendant’s prior sexual offenses in current sexual offense cases, provided the evidence is relevant to issues like motive, intent, or a common pattern. The court must first determine that the evidence’s value outweighs its potential to unfairly prejudice the defendant. Prosecutors must disclose such evidence to the defense at least 15 days before trial, including witness details or testimony summaries. This bill applies to all pending cases after its effective date, aligning with federal evidence standards for similar crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York's environmental conservation law to update safety rules for transporting liquefied natural and petroleum gas within the state. It requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Conservation, to establish route certification criteria considering population proximity, fire department capabilities to handle gas leaks or fires, and accident risks - ensuring standards meet or exceed federal regulations. The bill mandates that carriers must hold federal hazardous materials permits and that local fire departments receive notice about route safety assessments. It repeals outdated provisions while clarifying enforcement, including civil penalties for non-compliance and requiring cost analyses for fire department training upgrades. The changes directly affect gas transportation companies, local fire departments, and state agencies overseeing safety compliance.