Provides that possession and use of a firearm in certain locations under the supervision, guidance and instruction of a qualified firearms instructor shall not be a crime.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3229) expands a property tax exemption for veterans' families by allowing immediate family members (parents, spouses, children, or siblings) of service members killed in active duty during wartime to qualify for the "Gold Star Family" tax exemption. It requires local governments (counties, cities, towns, villages, or school districts) to adopt specific local laws to include these family members as "qualified owners" of their primary residence. The exemption applies only to the family member’s primary home, not other properties, and does not affect existing additional exemptions. This change directly impacts families who lost loved ones in military service, providing potential property tax relief for their main residence.
Creates crimes of reckless endangerment of public health with respect to HIV/AIDS transmission; creates crime of filing false instrument with respect to HIV/AIDS; provides for HIV/AIDS testing for alleged sex offenders and public health offenders; provides for contagious disease testing for persons in the custody of the department of corrections; provides that if an incarcerated individual tests positive notice shall be given to all employees that will have contact with such incarcerated individual.
Eliminates state sales and compensating use taxes on motor fuels and diesel motor fuels; authorizes localities to eliminate such taxes at the local level; establishes various exemptions from New York's sales and use tax; provides for a sales tax exemption for housekeeping supplies and for ready-to-eat foods.
Directs the commissioner of health to conduct an investigation of the department's performance, compliance and enforcement of applicable state laws, rules, regulations, and directives or executive orders, with respect to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes, adult care facilities, and assisted living residences, and to propose a pandemic response plan for future disease outbreaks.
Directs the licensing authority in each county to process firearms license applications for victims of domestic abuse who have been issued an order of protection within 14 days of receiving the application.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2578) changes how certain financial assets can be used to pay compensation for minor victims of specific sexual crimes. It removes an exemption that previously protected trusts, annuities, and similar accounts held for a judgment debtor (the person who owes money), making these assets subject to payment in cases where a minor was a victim of rape in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse, or sexual conduct against a child. The key provision amends New York's Civil Practice Law to require these assets be used to satisfy judgments for physical or psychological injury caused by those offenses. This directly affects minor victims of these crimes and their ability to recover compensation from the perpetrator's assets held in certain financial accounts.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York law to allow courts to issue **lifetime orders of protection** when the respondent is convicted of specific violent felonies, including sexual assault under Penal Law sections 255.25-255.27 or felonies in Penal Law articles 120, 125, 130, 135, or 263 (or attempts to commit them). Previously, such orders had fixed time limits (up to 8 years), but this change adds "lifetime" as a duration option for these high-risk cases. The law directly affects victims of domestic violence or abuse where the perpetrator received one of these felony convictions. It does not apply to lesser offenses or non-felony cases.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes criminal possession of fentanyl a class E felony under New York law. It directly affects individuals who knowingly possess, manufacture, distribute, or use fentanyl or its analogs to enhance other illegal substances. The key provision defines these actions as a specific felony offense, raising the legal consequences for such possession. The bill was referred to the Codes committee on January 15, 2025, and takes immediate effect.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides free access to New York State parks and campsites for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance service members. Specifically, it exempts these individuals from park fees when using public campsites, parks, or recreational areas, applying the same terms as the general public but without payment. The provision covers active volunteer firefighters (as defined in Section 215 of the General Municipal Law) and enrolled members of volunteer ambulance services (under Article 30 of the Public Health Law). It amends existing law to ensure these groups receive the same fee-free access already available to veterans, Gold Star families, and people with disabilities. The policy applies statewide across all relevant recreational facilities.
