Healthcare

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5222: Permits midwives and physician assistants to certify the cause of death on a fetal death certificate

Permits midwives and physician assistants to certify the cause of death on a fetal death certificate if they are in attendance at or after a fetal death.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands scope of practice for midwives and PAs in healthcare certification, directly supporting medical professionals' roles in health services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 929: Provides for the protection of health information

Provides for the protection of health information; establishes requirements for communications to individuals about their health information; requires either written consent or a designated necessary purpose for the processing of an individual's health information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient health information privacy via consent requirements, directly advancing patient rights safeguards in healthcare policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 1226: Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care

Requires public notice and public engagement when a general hospital seeks to close entirely or a unit that provides maternity, mental health or substance use care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public notice before closing mental health/maternity units, protecting access to critical healthcare services and preventing service disruptions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · New York · Senate Dec 12, 2025

S 123: Relates to prohibiting the sale of infant walkers and restricting the use of such infant walkers in certain settings

S 123 bans the sale of infant walkers by all sellers (manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and secondhand dealers) in New York State. It also restricts the use of infant walkers in child care facilities, requiring medical necessity approval from a professional for any exception. Child care facilities must receive plain-language notice about the ban and follow rules set by the Office of Children and Family Services. The law allows the attorney general to enforce the ban through injunctions and impose civil penalties for violations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans infant walkers to prevent injuries, requiring medical oversight in child care - direct public health protection aligning with injury prevention under healthcare policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 5, 2025

A 7563: Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

This bill allows criminal cases in counties outside cities with over one million residents to be transferred to specialized mental health courts in neighboring counties. It requires the defendant's motion, consent from both district attorneys, and excludes family violence cases where the accused and victim are family members. The transfer cannot take effect for five days unless the receiving court agrees to accept the case earlier. This creates a formal process for connecting defendants with treatment-focused courts in adjacent jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates formal process to transfer eligible criminal cases to mental health courts, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through specialized diversion.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes formal process for transferring criminal defendants to mental health courts, expanding access to mental health treatment services as part of the healthcare system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Nov 21, 2025

S 4892: Relates to physical therapist assistants

Provides that supervision by a licensed physical therapist of a physical therapist assistant shall be continuous but shall not require the physical presence of the licensed physical therapist at the time and place where services are being performed; requires a licensed physical therapist to be available for consultation with the physical therapist assistant or the patient within a reasonable amount of time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows flexible supervision for physical therapist assistants, improving access to physical therapy services without requiring physical presence of supervising therapists.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Senate Nov 21, 2025

S 3416: Authorizes practitioners in institutional dispensers to dispense controlled substances as emergency treatment and authorizes practitioners to dispense controlled substances for use in detoxification treatment

Authorizes practitioners in institutional dispensers to dispense controlled substances as emergency treatment for use off the premises of the institutional dispenser; authorizes practitioners to dispense controlled substances for use in maintenance or detoxification treatment to an addict or habitual user.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes expanded access to controlled substance treatment for addiction, improving patient access to healthcare services for mental health and detoxification.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · New York · Senate Oct 16, 2025

S 1720: Establishes an awareness campaign on the use of hormone replacement therapy in treating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause

S 1720 would have required New York's public health department to launch an awareness campaign about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopause and menopause symptoms. The campaign would have provided women directly affected by these symptoms with plain-language information on HRT benefits, risks, side effects, available types, and current medical recommendations. The bill specifically mandated that the campaign cover symptom management, health risks, and evidence-based usage guidelines for HRT. However, the bill was vetoed by the governor on October 16, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates public health awareness campaign on HRT benefits/risks, improving patient access to evidence-based information for menopause care.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Oct 16, 2025

A 4159: Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to certain peer support advocates based on such advocates' prior history of incarceration

Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to peer support advocates who are certified or licensed and are participating in the provision of corrections-based substance use disorder treatment and transition services based on such advocates' prior history of incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves barriers for formerly incarcerated peer advocates in correctional treatment programs, advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through direct service access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves barriers for certified peer advocates in correctional substance use disorder treatment, improving access to mental health services within healthcare context.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New York · Assembly Oct 16, 2025

A 7617: Removes the prohibition on patient participation in multiple transplant programs in New York state

This bill removes a New York state law that previously prohibited transplant patients from being listed on waiting lists at multiple organ procurement organizations. It directly affects patients awaiting organ transplants who may now be eligible for placement on waiting lists at different facilities within New York. The key change eliminates the specific ban (previously in Public Health Law §4363) that prevented patients from having multiple listings simultaneously. This amendment updates organ allocation rules to allow patients to potentially access multiple transplant programs without violating state policy. The law took effect immediately upon signing on October 16, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prohibition on multiple organ transplant listings, improving patient access to critical healthcare services by allowing simultaneous waiting list enrollment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare