Bills affecting Adoptive or foster parent in New York — 2026 session

Establishes the electric landscaping equipment rebate program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce noise pollution by promoting the adoption of quieter, zero-emission landscaping equipment; provides for rebates at the point of sale for applicants purchasing or leasing certain equipment; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.

Provides for a tax deduction for the adoption of a child with special needs of an amount equal to $10,000.

Relates to a state transportation plan; requires such plan include a minimum twenty-year forecast period at the time of adoption, assessing long-range needs spanning such period, including a forecast of highway pavement and bridge conditions.

Establishes the child victims act fund which provides grant awards in reimbursement to public school districts and voluntary foster care agencies located within the state who have been named as defendants in certain child sexual abuse legal cases and in which it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that no insurance policy for the covered period can be located after a good-faith effort to do so has been made, there was a monetary judgment issued or settlement agreement with regard to such action and where it can be demonstrated by the public school district or voluntary foster care agency that payment in full of such judgment or settlement would put a substantial burden on the district's or agency's ability to execute its mission and negatively impact its existing student population.

Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers including a proposed change of rates, charges, terms and conditions of service, the adoption of rules, regulations, guidelines, orders, standards or final policy decisions.

Provides that any requirement that undocumented immigrants who are seeking asylum in the United States be sheltered in a certain locality or localities shall only apply to those towns, cities, and counties that opt-in to such requirement through the adoption of a local law or ordinance; defines the term "sheltered" as including, but not limited to, being temporarily or permanently placed into housing, dwelling, or living quarters by a state or local governmental entity.

Provides for automatic issuance of identification cards to incarcerated individuals and assistance with obtaining copies of any documents needed to apply for identification cards, including, but not limited to, an incarcerated individual's social security card and birth certificate.

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).

Establishes confirmatory adoptions providing for the adoption of children born as a result of assisted reproduction; allows for more than two persons to be named parents of a child; establishes presumed parentage and provides for the challenge and adjudication thereof; repeals certain provisions relating thereto.

Directs the department of social services to establish a refugee resettlement program with the goals of achieving economic and social self-sufficiency, assisting victims of human trafficking, and assuring proper foster care for unaccompanied refugees.

Relates to the assessment of extraordinary needs count for purposes of the apportionment of public moneys to school districts employing eight or more teachers; defines count of homeless children and children or youth in foster care.

Increases tax rates imposed on unincorporated businesses and corporations in New York city upon adoption of a local law by the local legislative body of the city of New York.

Relates to liability to support a child who is placed in foster care pursuant to an approved application for foster care maintenance; provides that such liability shall not be imposed if it will adversely affect the health, safety or welfare of the child on whose behalf such payments are to be made or other persons in the child's household or will adversely affect the length of the child's placement or impair the ability of the child to return home when discharged from foster care; limits the ability of a county or local social services district to cause a referral to be sent for the purpose of commencing collection of child support for a child placed in foster care.

Provides for a deduction against personal gross income in an amount equal to fees, costs and expenses paid or incurred including legal fees and agency costs in connection with the adoption of a child.

Relates to improving student mental health and mental health literacy in institutions of higher education in the state; requires the amendment or adoption of related protocols, policies and programs in SUNY, CUNY and independent institutions of higher education.

Provides for a deduction from personal gross income for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child in the foster care system.

Establishes a tax credit for pet adoption not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars.

Establishes the interagency council on kinship care to investigate, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the unique issues of kinship caregivers.

Specifies methods of calculating deposits and reserves for the aggregate trust fund and reserves of the state insurance fund; provides that all computations made or directed by the workers' compensation board shall be on the basis of the survivorship annuitants table of mortality, the remarriage tables of the Dutch Royal Insurance Institution applicable to claims for accidents occurring on or before December 31, 2025, and beginning January 1, 2026 and on January 1 of each tenth year thereafter, the United States life table for the total population published by the department of health and human services and the remarriage table published by the department of health and human services and the remarriage table published by the United States railroad retirement board applicable to claims for accidents occurring on or after January first of the year following the adoption of any revision of such tables; makes related provisions.

Enacts the small insurer protection act prohibiting the filing of an application for an order of rehabilitation or liquidation of a small insurer on certain grounds unless such order is based on: the superintendent's adoption of a report on examination finding the company insolvent; or the annual or quarterly financial statements of the company, which show that the company's admitted assets do not exceed its liabilities and surplus to policyholders if the company does not maintain reserves in an amount determined reasonable by its independent loss reserve specialist or its appointed actuary.