Rep. Simcha Eichenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of State to study all legislative studies completed over the past five years. It requires the department to examine their costs, whether studies delivered required reports, and how many recommendations became laws or regulations. The Department must submit a report within one year to the governor and legislative leaders. This procedural bill does not create new laws but aims to evaluate how effectively past legislative studies were executed. It affects the Department of State, which must gather data from other state agencies to complete this review.

Provides that each electric corporation shall establish a unique priority phone number that shall remain in operation every day of the year for customers who have documented their need for essential electricity for medical needs; makes related provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 394) amends New York's criminal procedure law to authorize bail for defendants charged with certain aggravated harassment offenses when those charges are classified as hate crimes. Specifically, it adds "aggravated harassment in the first degree" (Penal Law §240.31) and "aggravated harassment in the second degree" (Penal Law §240.30) to the list of offenses where bail may be granted, provided the harassment is charged as a hate crime under Penal Law §485.05. The bill applies directly to individuals facing these specific hate crime-related harassment charges during pretrial proceedings. It does not change existing hate crime definitions but expands bail eligibility for these particular offenses.

Provides that a qualified voter may receive an absentee ballot if such voter is unable to appear personally at the polling place of the election district in which such individual is a qualified voter because of a religious observance or practice.

Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.

Maddy summaryBill A 1223 sets specific filing deadlines for designating petitions (used by candidates to appear on primary election ballots) for the 2026 primary election cycle. It requires these petitions to be filed between the 13th Monday before and 12th Monday before the primary, and invalidates signatures made earlier than 41 days before the filing deadline or later than the 12th Thursday before the primary. The bill applies directly to candidates and petition organizers preparing for the 2026 primary elections. It is temporary, taking effect January 1, 2026, and automatically expiring December 31, 2026, after which the previous filing rules would resume.

Requires the appointment of a Title VI coordinator at every college and university in the state to ensure compliance with Title VI of the federal civil rights act of 1964; requires the division of human rights to develop training for students and employees; requires the Title VI coordinator to notify annually all students and employees of the institution's policies and procedures for reporting discrimination and harassment.

Directs the commissioner of the office of general services to erect a monument to be known as the "New York state Holocaust memorial" in the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza to memorialize the victims of the Holocaust and to educate the public about the history of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and all manifestations of intolerance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans to cover backup cochlear implant devices for patients who need them, including during device upgrades or replacements after the initial implant. It directly affects patients with cochlear implants who currently lose access to backup equipment after 3-5 years, as insurers only cover backups at the time of initial surgery. The law mandates that insurance must cover the backup device (external components like a processor) whenever prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider, as long as the patient is using the implant. Coverage will follow standard insurance terms like deductibles and copays but must remain available throughout the patient's need for the device, effective January 2027.

Prohibits the issuance of violations or tickets during certain weekend hours to residential occupants for violations of the sanitation department regulations regarding placing trash or garbage out for collection earlier than allowed under the city routing system designated hours.