Sen. Bill Weber

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the Nature Center at Rockland Lake State Park as the "Lauren Shields Nature Center" in honor of organ donation advocate Lauren Shields. It requires the state parks commissioner to install and maintain signage identifying the center with this dedication and to include information about organ donation on the signs. The legislation clarifies that while the center will be ceremonially dedicated to Shields, its official name will not change to avoid confusion. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of State Route 306 in Ramapo, Rockland County, as the Chief Hugh (Chaim) Jacobson Memorial Highway to honor him. The legislation requires the Department of Transportation to install signs identifying the road with this dedication while explicitly stating that the official street name will not change. This measure is intended as a ceremonial tribute rather than a functional rebranding to ensure there is no confusion for drivers or disruption to commerce.

Makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners; adds nurse practitioners as persons who can authorize or make certain determinations authorized to be made or determined by physicians.

Authorizes the Congregation Divrei Chaim to receive retroactive real property tax exempt status for the 2023, 2024, 2025 assessment rolls and all of the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 school taxes for two parcels of land located at 67 and 71 College Road in Monsey.

Delays the zero-emission school bus mandate for a period of five years; requires school districts to only purchase or lease zero-emission school buses by 2032 and requires school districts to only operate and maintain zero-emission school buses by 2040.

Authorizes the Tovas Dovid Community Kollel, Inc. to receive retroactive real property tax exempt status for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 assessment rolls and all of the 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school taxes.

Authorizes the Congregation Atzei Chaim to receive retroactive real property tax exempt status for the 2023 and 2024 assessment rolls and all of the 2023-2024 school taxes.

Establishes participation in assigned risk plans for voluntary foster care agencies (Part A); requires the office of children and family services to establish standards of payment for liability insurance costs beginning July 1, 2028 for the 2027-2028 rate year that ensures the maximum state aid rate accurately reflect the year over year increased costs for voluntary foster care agencies; directs such office to establish an application process (Part B); establishes the voluntary foster care agency insurance bridge fund; establishes a process for the distribution of moneys in such fund; sets eligibility requirements; requires certain supporting documentation (Part C).

Prohibits artificial intelligence companions from using features which are considered unsafe for minors; defines terms; specifies what are considered unsafe features.

Enacts the "fairness in cooperative homeownership act"; regulates the submission and determinations of applications for ownership of cooperative apartments.