Sen. Patrick Gallivan

Permits at the discretion of the court certain members of the deceased victim's family to read statements in court during the sentencing of a defendant, rather than allowing only a single member of the victim's family to read a statement in court, upon consultation with counsel for the defendant and the people.

Directs the department of environmental conservation to promulgate regulations to implement a state-owned property remediation program for brownfield properties owned by the state, or any department or agency thereof; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all visitors entering New York correctional facilities to undergo body scanning before entry, and mandates that incarcerated individuals be scanned upon intake and after visits. It specifies that facilities must offer alternative screening methods for medical reasons or if someone declines scanning, though visitation may be denied for non-medical refusal. Regulations will define when scanning is required, including accommodations for medical needs and prohibiting harassment for choosing alternatives. The law takes effect immediately, with related public health law changes set to be repealed alongside it.

Authorizes school districts to establish an insurance reserve fund in an amount and manner determined by a qualified and independent actuary certified by the American Academy of Actuaries to be reasonable and necessary.

Maddy summaryNew York State bill S 313 expands the powers of the state Industrial Development Agency (IDA) by adding new authority to provide loans, grants, and equity funding to qualifying businesses. Specifically, it allows the IDA to offer seed and early-stage equity investments to private companies or legal entities in the seed, early-stage, or venture phase, located in or planning to locate within a municipality that created the IDA. A key condition requires businesses to repay funds if they leave the benefiting municipality within a timeframe set by the IDA. This directly affects early-stage businesses seeking capital in New York and municipalities that established their local IDAs, with the goal of generating additional economic activity. The bill amends Section 858 of the General Municipal Law to include these new provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates multiple taxes on health insurance in New York State, directly affecting consumers and health insurance companies. It phases out four specific taxes over time, including the $1.1 billion annual "covered lives assessment" on insured individuals, a 9.63% surcharge on hospital services, a $350 million flat tax on commercial insurance policies, and a $149 million tax on insurance companies. Key provisions gradually reduce these taxes: for instance, the insurance company tax drops from 1.75% to 0.37% by 2030 and is eliminated entirely after 2031. The legislation aims to lower health insurance costs by removing these taxes, which the bill states collectively cost consumers over $5 billion annually in 2018.

Requires each school district to provide interventions and special curricula for children with dyslexia or other phonological learning differences or disabilities.

Provides for distinctive license plates for gold star family members; eliminates the registration fee for gold star mother and gold star family member distinctive license plates.

Requires the Empire State Development corporation's broadband program office to assist in the provision and expansion of broadband internet access service and to address inequities in the availability of such service.

Maddy summaryS 5931 delays the enforcement of regulations requiring truck manufacturers to sell more zero-emission vehicles. It prevents the Department of Environmental Conservation from implementing rules that would have forced manufacturers to increase zero-emission truck sales before January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturers by extending the timeline for compliance. This policy change postpones the effective date of the advanced clean trucks rules without altering the 2027 deadline.