Sen. Alexis Weik

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally honors Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis posthumously after he received the Congressional Medal of Honor and was inducted into the Hall of Heroes. The resolution acknowledges Ollis's sacrifice during a 2013 Taliban attack in Afghanistan, where he shielded an allied officer and saved over 40 personnel. It recognizes the Medal of Honor ceremony held at the White House and Ollis's induction at the Pentagon, noting that his name is now inscribed on the Medal of Honor Garden Wall. The resolution concludes by directing a copy of the document to Ollis's family.

Provides that the "Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag" shall be the official state flag for the raising of awareness of veteran suicide; directs the commissioner of general services to establish a protocol for the flying of such flag.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 8461) requires that uncommitted funds in New York's Climate Investment Account - collected by utilities through customer bills under the "bill-as-you-go" system - be automatically returned to ratepayers at the end of each fiscal year. It directly affects utility customers who paid these funds, ensuring unused money is credited back to their accounts instead of remaining in the state fund. The key provision amends state law to mandate this refund, specifying that funds not allocated for climate programs by year-end must be credited to ratepayer accounts. The bill does not change how funds are used for climate initiatives but clarifies the process for returning unused amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3245) updates how New York local governments and school districts calculate payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) for tax-exempt properties. It requires the Commissioner of Taxation to compute an annual "quantity change factor" showing percentage shifts in taxable property values between specific assessment rolls. This factor must include changes in value for properties under PILT agreements, ensuring these adjustments directly impact local tax revenue calculations. The bill affects municipalities and school districts receiving PILT payments by standardizing how property value changes are factored into their funding.

Establishes certain caffeine safety warnings for covered establishments for items with high caffeine; establishes caffeine labeling requirements for food and dietary supplements containing certain amounts of caffeine per serving.

Establishes term limits for the office of governor and for members of the legislature; changes the term for members of the legislature to a four year term.

Maddy summaryThis bill phases in tax cuts for New York residents by gradually increasing the tax-free threshold for married couples filing jointly and heads of household over ten years. For married couples, the tax-free amount rises from $10,000 in 2026 to $100,000 by 2035, with corresponding adjustments to tax rates for income above $500,000. It repeals existing tax law provisions related to benefit recapture and updates the tax rate tables annually to reflect these changes. The bill directly affects New York residents filing as married couples or heads of household, particularly those with taxable incomes between $7,500 and $25 million.

Maddy summaryS 587 creates a new income tax deduction for cash tips received by workers, specifically for tips classified as wages under federal tax law. This change directly affects service industry workers (like servers and bartenders) who receive cash tips, allowing them to subtract those tips from their taxable income. The bill adds a specific deduction line to the tax code for cash tips received during a tax year, effective for all tax returns filed for 2025 and later. It does not change how tips are reported to employers but adjusts how they are treated for state tax purposes. The bill is currently pending in committee review.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax credit for homeowners in school districts and certain local governments that maintain stable property tax budgets (called "freeze-compliant budgets") for 2026 through 2028. Homeowners whose primary residence is in an eligible district can receive a credit equal to either the actual increase in their school district taxes or a calculated amount based on the district's allowable tax growth rate, whichever is larger. The credit applies to taxes paid directly to school districts or other eligible local governments (like towns or villages), but excludes cities with over one million residents. It only benefits taxpayers in districts that meet specific budget stability requirements for the specified years.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially recognize March 2026 as Youth Art Month in New York State. It does not change laws or create new programs, but rather designates a specific month for public awareness of art education. The resolution highlights the importance of visual arts in schools and encourages community support for art programs. It is a ceremonial measure that directs the governor to issue a proclamation for the observance.