Sen. Alexis Weik

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates May 2026 as Black Heritage Month and May 31, 2026, as National Black Heritage Day in Panama. The measure honors the cultural and historical contributions of Afro-Panamanian communities, including their music, art, and role in shaping the nation's identity. It specifically calls on New Yorkers to recognize and celebrate the legacy of African and Antillean descendants in Panama. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the Panamanian-American community in New York State.

Prohibits funding for SUNY, CUNY or community colleges which, directly or indirectly, permit terrorist organizations on campus; provides that the state university trustees adopt rules and regulations that any student group or student organization that receives funding from the state university of New York that directly or indirectly promotes, encourages, advocates, or permits any terrorist advocacy or activities on campuses, shall be ineligible for funding, including funding from student activity fee proceeds.

Eliminates the zero-emission school bus mandate; authorizes the New York state energy research and development authority conduct a study to determine the feasibility of converting school buses to zero-emission vehicles.

Relates to segregated confinement; provides that certain incarcerated individuals shall not be placed in a residential rehabilitation unit; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryS 16, "Jacobe's Law," requires school staff to contact parents or guardians when bullying or harassment is confirmed involving a student. School counselors, principals, or other designated staff must first discuss with the student whether contacting parents would raise health, safety, or privacy concerns before making reasonable efforts to notify them via phone, email, or mail. The law also protects individuals who report bullying or harassment in good faith from retaliation or legal liability. This affects students involved in such incidents, their parents/guardians, and school staff responsible for handling reports.

Removes references to the electric school bus mandate; provides that there shall be no mandate requiring school districts to purchase, operate or maintain any certain type of school buses and that the superintendent of each school district shall have the sole authority to determine the types of school buses such school district will purchase, operate and maintain; repeals certain provisions of law relating to electric school buses.

Maddy summaryBill S 48 proposes an amendment to the state constitution regarding the passage of budget bills. Currently, the Governor or acting Governor can certify the need for an immediate vote on a bill, which waives the standard three-day review period for it to be on legislators' desks. This bill would prohibit the Governor from calling such an immediate vote specifically for budget bills or appropriation bills. This change would ensure that all budget-related legislation must be available to legislators in its final form for at least three calendar legislative days before a final vote can occur.

Maddy summaryS 4496 aims to protect women's sports at the middle school and high school levels. Its stated purpose is to prevent unfair competition within these sports categories. Without the full text of the bill, specific details regarding the mechanisms or provisions it proposes to achieve this protection are not available.

Enacts the "dismantling student antisemitism act", or "DSA act"; requires mandatory sensitivity training that includes the topic of antisemitism; includes reporting requirements regarding antisemitism complaints and disciplinary processes.

Maddy summaryS 3639, "Nick's Law," increases penalties for drivers who flee the scene of an accident resulting in death. It upgrades the offense to a class B felony (with fines of $2,000-$30,000) instead of a lower misdemeanor, directly affecting drivers who leave such accidents without reporting. The bill also adjusts court procedures for adolescent offenders charged with this specific hit-and-run, requiring additional factors to be considered before transferring cases to family court. These changes aim to strengthen accountability for leaving death-related accident scenes.