A 5546 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Provides for the release of patient records by the office of mental health

This bill requires New York's Office of Mental Health to create rules for releasing patient records after a person's death. It allows family members, legal representatives, or healthcare providers involved in the person's care to access these records upon written request, while respecting any prior expressed wishes of the deceased. The rules must follow federal privacy laws (HIPAA) and define "family member" for treatment-related requests. It applies directly to families of deceased residents in mental health facilities and the Office of Mental Health, overriding some existing privacy restrictions. The bill does not change current rules for living patients' records.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

1510
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 152
Mar 4, 2025
D Democratic105
105 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican47
46 Yea 1
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors