Healthcare

passed · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 4548: Permits dentists to administer vaccinations against human papillomavirus

This bill amends New York's education law to explicitly permit dentists to administer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations as part of their professional practice. It directly affects dentists by expanding their scope of practice to include HPV vaccine administration, which is currently typically provided by physicians or nurses. The key provision adds "the administration of vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV)" to the legal definition of dental practice under Section 6601. This change would allow dentists to provide HPV vaccines during routine dental visits, potentially increasing access to the vaccine. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands dental scope to include HPV vaccinations, increasing access to preventive healthcare services and broadening provider availability for public health initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 4816: Includes Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as occupational diseases for purposes of workers' compensation

Includes Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as occupational diseases for purposes of workers' compensation; clarifies that disability includes disability caused by Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases; requires insurance coverage of long term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for long-term medical care of Lyme/tick-borne diseases, expanding health coverage for affected workers under workers' compensation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation to cover Lyme disease as occupational illness, requiring insurance coverage for long-term medical care, strengthening worker benefits and protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 11: Requires disclosure of information concerning non-invasive prenatal screening for chromosomal abnormalities

Requires disclosure of information concerning non-invasive prenatal screening for chromosomal abnormalities including the benefits and limitations of non-invasive prenatal testing, the difference between non-invasive prenatal testing and prenatal diagnostic testing, and current recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires disclosure of prenatal screening info to patients, aligning with patient rights and informed healthcare decisions per ACOG/ACMG guidelines.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New York · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 1683: Enacts the "public university emergency contraception education act"

Enacts the "public university emergency contraception education act" requiring public universities to develop, produce and distribute informational materials related to emergency contraception.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates public universities to distribute emergency contraception educational materials, expanding access to health education resources under higher education, directly supporting educational access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public universities to distribute emergency contraception education materials, improving access to reproductive health information and services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New York · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 1812: Relates to the certification of innovative statewide substance use disorder treatment services

This bill creates a certification process for organizations providing in-home substance use disorder treatment services in New York. It requires applicants (including out-of-state entities registered with the state) to meet specific clinical standards, including conducting screenings for overdose risk, mental health conditions, and suicide risk. Certified providers must implement safety plans, medication-assisted treatment, naloxone access, and regular recovery planning. The law aims to standardize and expand access to in-home treatment while ensuring providers meet defined safety and clinical requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires certified substance use treatment with overdose risk screening and medication-assisted treatment, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates clinical standards including mental health screenings, medication-assisted treatment, naloxone access, and safety plans for substance use disorder care, strengthening treatment protocols and patient safety.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New York · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 4953: Establishes an intensive addiction and medical services integrated services pilot program

Establishes an intensive addiction and medical services integrated services pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs that provide intensive addiction and medical services integrated services to individuals who have significant addiction and medical issues.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes addiction treatment pilot program, aligning with criminal justice reform to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation services for high-need individuals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates integrated addiction/medical pilot program, expanding access to treatment for co-occurring conditions under healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 8813: Relates to cases terminated due to mental disease or defect and to establishing reporting obligations regarding such cases

This bill updates New York's legal process for cases where criminal charges are terminated due to a defendant's mental disease or defect. It requires courts to dismiss all criminal charges and arrange for discharge planning (including referrals to outpatient services when clinically appropriate) when a defendant is committed under a final order of observation. Institutions like hospitals must track and report on these referrals through biennial submissions, while the state must publish annual data online about case numbers, originating counties, inpatient care details, and referral outcomes. These changes aim to standardize post-termination care coordination and transparency without altering criminal liability for the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires outpatient referrals for mental health cases, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary incarceration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates referrals to outpatient mental health services when clinically appropriate and requires tracking/reporting of these referrals, improving access to mental healthcare for defendants with mental health conditions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 8801: Permits local health officials to request copies of certain reports and records

This bill (S 8801) allows local health officials to request autopsy and toxicology reports related to deaths for public health purposes. It directly affects local health officials and coroners/medical examiners, who must provide these records within strict timeframes: 3 business days for deaths within the official's district, or up to 7 days for out-of-district requests involving residents. The bill specifies that requests are valid when a death occurs within the district or when a resident had a related injury, treatment, or was found deceased in the district. Officials must maintain logs for out-of-district requests and provide written requests to the relevant health official within 3 business days. The policy change streamlines access to death-related data for public health monitoring without altering death certification processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables public health data access for officials, strengthening disease surveillance and response efforts through mandated report sharing for public health purposes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · New York · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 8544: Excludes certain medication abortion drugs from being deemed unlawful to prescribe or dispense and from being deemed misbranded under certain circumstances

Provides that the prescribing, dispensing, or receipt of mifepristone or any drug used for medication abortion shall not be considered a criminal conversion act under certain circumstances; provides that mifepristone or any drug used for medication abortion shall not be deemed to be adulterated or misbranded under certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes legal barriers to prescribing medication abortion drugs, enhancing patient access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New York · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 8866: Establishes "The Equity in Fertility Treatment Act"; relates to the definition of infertility and health insurance coverage for the treatment of infertility

Establishes "The Equity in Fertility Treatment Act"; relates to the definition of infertility and health insurance coverage for the treatment of infertility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health insurance coverage for infertility treatment, expanding patient access to reproductive healthcare services per its title and summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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