Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it.
Prohibits the application of pesticides to certain local freshwater wetlands for local governments that have implemented a freshwater wetlands protection law; provides that any local law or ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall take effect on the first day of January after it shall have been adopted.
Relates to regulation of the billing by general hospitals and the distribution of funds from the general hospital indigent care pool; requires use of a uniform application form and policy.
Enacts the "freelance isn't free act"; provides for the payment of freelance workers as independent contractors, including requiring written contracts; timely payment of compensation and handling controversies relating to payment, complaint procedures, and penalties; excludes construction contracts.
Prohibits consideration of a law of another state that authorizes a child to be removed from their parent or guardian based on the parent or guardian allowing their child to receive gender-affirming care in custody cases; prohibits law enforcement agencies from cooperating with or providing information to any individual or out-of-state agency or department regarding the provision of lawful gender-affirming care performed in this state; prohibits the issuance of a subpoena in connection with certain out-of-state proceedings relating to seeking health or related information about people who come to New York to receive gender-affirming care; prohibits the arrest of a person for performing or aiding in the lawful performance of gender-affirming care within this state; relates to the extradition of gender-affirming care providers; relates to licensure of health care providers; prohibits insurance providers from taking adverse action against a health care provider who provides gender-affirming care.
Prohibits the placement in segregated confinement of any person in the first eight weeks of the post-partum recovery period regardless of pregnancy outcome by amending the definition of special populations to include such persons.
Establishes the office of equity for energy and climate to support local and communally developed climate projects to support disadvantaged communities, including by establishing and administering the community solutions fund and the solutions grants program; provides for funding and standards for climate and community protection projects and programs.
Relates to the confidentiality and expungement of records in juvenile delinquency cases in the family court; requires certain records to be expunged automatically.
Relates to returnable bottles; adds noncarbonated soft drinks, certain noncarbonated fruit or vegetable juices, coffee and tea beverages, carbonated fruit beverages and cider to the definition of "beverage"; provides that beginning April 1, 2026, the handling fee will be six cents for each beverage container accepted by a deposit initiator from a dealer or operator of a redemption center.
Provides benefits to Metro-North employees involved in or who witness a serious injury or fatality of another person in the course of an assigned duty.