S 56 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes a drug checking program

Summary

Establishes through the department of health a drug checking services program to allow individuals to bring drugs or controlled substances and have them tested for contaminants, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds; requires the department to establish public health surveillance of the unregulated drug supply; provides exemptions for participants in the drug checking program from certain controlled substance offenses.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S56A → S56B · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from S56-A to S56-B and updated to reflect the 2025-2026 legislative session. The core policy changes involve shifting the authority to provide drug checking services from local governments to counties and municipalities, expanding the list of protected individuals to explicitly include counties and municipalities, and removing the requirement for a separate program establishment clause in favor of new rules promulgated by the commissioner.

Scope change

The scope of entities authorized to provide drug checking services was narrowed and clarified by removing 'local government' as a standalone option and explicitly adding 'counties' and 'municipalities' to the list of authorized entities.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of entities authorized to provide drug checking services was updated to explicitly include 'counties' and 'municipalities' while removing the generic term 'local government'.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the department to 'establish a program' was removed and replaced with a directive for the commissioner to promulgate specific rules and regulations for service provision.

ENFORCEMENT

The list of individuals granted immunity from arrest and prosecution was expanded to explicitly include 'counties' and 'municipalities' alongside other authorized entities.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from S56-A to S56-B, and the legislative session was updated to 2025-2026.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 9, 2025

How they voted

37–25

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 63

Jun 9, 2025

D Democratic41

36 Yea 5 Nay

87% Yea

R Republican22

1 Yea 20 Nay 1

90% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO HEALTH

upper

Jun 9, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

May 29, 2025

Committee

COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 56B

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HEALTH

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 56A

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HEALTH

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO HEALTH

upper

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors