Sen. Rob Ortt

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally commends Leigha Walker, a high school student and Subway employee, for receiving the New York State Senate Liberty Medal. The document details her heroic actions on June 9, 2024, when she helped save a man's life after his truck crashed into the restaurant where she worked. Walker called emergency services, broke the truck's window to access the victim, and performed CPR until medical personnel arrived. The resolution serves to recognize her bravery and humanitarian efforts rather than changing any laws or policies.

Provides that the inspector shall at least annually inspect any vessel operated on privately or publicly owned underground non-navigable waterways with no navigable inlet or outlet that carry passengers for compensation; makes technical corrections; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates the use of live restraint cable devices for trapping wildlife by authorizing the Department of Environmental Conservation to create specific rules for their use. It prohibits certain types of traps, such as those with teeth or nooses, while allowing the department to permit live cable devices for species like coyotes during a designated season starting December 1st. The regulations mandate that these devices include safety features like swivels and break-away mechanisms, require users to check traps every 24 hours, and mandate completion of a training course before use. The law takes effect immediately but is set to expire on February 16, 2026.

Relates to bioheating fuel requirements; allows B100 or B99 biofuel and R100 or R99 renewable fuel to be used to blend with or replace fossil heating oil in order to create bioheating fuel.

Relates to monies appropriated and received each year by the state as a portion of the negotiated percentage of the net drop from electronic gaming devices the state receives.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially recognize June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New York State. The measure does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the community's history and achievements. It highlights key milestones such as the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and recent legal victories for LGBTQIA+ rights. The bill is purely ceremonial and affects only the state's official calendar and public recognition of the month.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes former Senator Neil D. Breslin as the recipient of the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader's Legislative Legacy Award. The document highlights his extensive career in public service, including his 13 terms in the New York State Senate, his leadership roles in ethics and insurance committees, and his advocacy for vulnerable populations. It also lists specific laws he sponsored that improved access to healthcare and prescription drug coverage for New York residents. The resolution concludes by directing that a copy of the text be sent to Senator Breslin to honor his contributions to the state.

Relates to increasing the earnings limitation for positions of public service; increases the earnings limitation from $35,000 to $50,000 in 2024 and thereafter.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the laws governing wrongful death lawsuits to clarify which types of financial compensation survivors can receive and how those funds are shared. It explicitly allows juries to award damages for specific costs such as funeral and medical bills, as well as for emotional suffering, loss of financial support, and the loss of guidance or companionship from the deceased. The legislation also defines who is eligible to receive these funds, including spouses, domestic partners, children, and individuals who stood in a parent-like role to the deceased. Additionally, the bill establishes rules for distributing the recovered money among eligible family members based on the specific financial injuries each person suffered and clarifies how legal fees and other expenses are handled.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Jillian Hanesworth and Augustus Clarke for winning the 2024 Sports Emmy Award in the Short Film category. The bill formally recognizes their work on the film "Still Here," which highlights the resilience of Buffalo following the 2022 mass shooting and blizzard. It directs the legislative body to pause its proceedings to acknowledge their achievement and mandates that a copy of the resolution be sent to them. The measure serves as a public commendation of their specific contribution to the NFL 360 series rather than altering any laws or policies.