Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6861: Establishes a senior citizen substance use disorder demonstration programs

Directs the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports, in consultation with the director of the state office for the aging, to develop comprehensive substance use disorder prevention, education and treatment demonstration programs for senior citizens.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates substance use disorder treatment programs for seniors, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare policy frameworks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 20, 2026

A 3767: Prohibits the retrospective denial of payment for substance use disorder treatment services

Prohibits the retrospective denial of payment for substance use disorder treatment services if an insured was covered for such services at the time treatment was initiated; requires insurers to notify a treatment provider when an insured has lost coverage based on termination of the insured's employment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from retroactively denying payment for substance use treatment, ensuring coverage continuity and protecting patient access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents loss of treatment access when employment ends by requiring insurer notifications upon coverage termination due to job loss, protecting workers' healthcare benefits tied to employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6863: Establishes an alternative resolution program for service members and veterans accused of certain felonies

This bill creates a program allowing courts to offer veterans and active service members accused of certain non-violent felonies (excluding sex offenses and specific violent crimes) an alternative to standard sentencing. It requires courts to assess whether the individual's military service contributed to their crime through a court-approved evaluation for conditions like PTSD or substance abuse. If eligible, defendants receive treatment instead of jail time, with the court considering if their service-related condition played a role in the offense. The program aims to address gaps in mental health care for veterans within the criminal justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeOffers treatment instead of jail for veterans with military-related issues, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration in sentencing reform90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates court-approved mental health evaluations (PTSD/substance abuse) for veterans' sentencing, directing treatment over jail time, supporting mental health access.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill offers treatment alternatives instead of jail for veterans with service-related issues (PTSD/substance abuse), diverting them from standard sentencing for non-violent felonies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing Substance Abuse Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 5900: Relates to the distribution of educational materials regarding the misuse of and addiction to prescription drugs in counties with the most prevalent prescription substance use disorder

Relates to the distribution of educational materials regarding the misuse of and addiction to prescription drugs in counties with the most prevalent prescription substance use disorder.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDistributes educational materials on opioid misuse in high-abuse counties, a public health initiative addressing addiction prevention within healthcare topic area.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 4, 2026

A 5764: Replaces the word addict or addicts and the word addiction with the words persons with substance use disorder or a variation thereof

Replaces certain appearances of the words addict, addicts and addiction with the words person with a substance use disorder, person with a mental health disorder, person with co-occurring disorder, person in recovery, or a variation thereof.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill replaces stigmatizing terms with person-centered language, reducing barriers to care and aligning with mental health support initiatives in healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5754: Requires schools to include instruction on the prevention of co-occurring disorders as an integral part of their health education programs

This bill requires all New York schools to integrate instruction on preventing co-occurring disorders - such as mental health issues combined with substance misuse (alcohol, tobacco, or drugs) - into their standard health education curriculum. The instruction must be tailored to students' grade levels, focusing on promoting mental wellness, healthy decision-making, and understanding pathways to addiction. Schools must develop this content with input from existing advisory councils on youth substance abuse and suicide prevention. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all public and private schools offering health education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of mental health/substance prevention in health curriculum, strengthening educational content and student wellness programs per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health/substance misuse prevention education in schools, directly supporting mental health services through early intervention and wellness promotion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5884: Relates to establishing a crisis intervention team program

S 5884 establishes a crisis intervention demonstration program in New York City and other cities with populations of one million or more. It requires the state mental health commissioner to create a coordinator position to train law enforcement officers on responding to mental health and substance abuse crises, while partnering with community mental health providers to offer alternatives to jail. The program will be funded through a new state fund (initially up to $1 million from the state general fund) and federal/private grants, with annual reporting on training participation and program effectiveness. This bill directly affects law enforcement agencies in large cities that choose to participate, as well as mental health service providers and individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1M from state general fund for crisis intervention program, directly funding a new initiative under budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes crisis intervention teams to train officers on mental health crises, offering alternatives to jail instead of incarceration, promoting criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mental health crisis program with law enforcement training and community partnerships, funded to improve access to alternatives to jail for mental health crises.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

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signed · New York · Senate Sep 26, 2025

S 6757: Relates to statewide opioid settlement agreements

Clarifies that certain provisions related to statewide opioid settlement agreements shall cover settlements and releases related to any entities involved in the prescription drug marketing, supply and payment chain that may have contributed to the opioid epidemic through illegal conduct.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies settlement scope to cover opioid epidemic contributors, enabling broader use of funds for public health programs (a healthcare topic).80% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Public Health Substance Abuse

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 3669: Provides targeted inflationary increases for designated programs

S 3669 establishes a 7.8% targeted inflationary increase for designated programs and services for the 2025-2026 state fiscal year, effective April 1, 2025. This increase applies to rates of payments, contracts, or other forms of reimbursement for programs overseen by offices such as mental health, developmental disabilities, addiction services, and services for children, families, victims, and the aging. The bill specifies that this 7.8% increase is inclusive of most other inflationary adjustments for the period, limiting additional new increases. The goal is to help these programs account for the effects of inflation on their operational costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates 7.8% inflation-adjusted funding increase for essential state programs including mental health, developmental disabilities, and aging services, directly funding public services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates 7.8% inflationary increase for healthcare programs including mental health, addiction services, and aging care, directly increasing funding for covered services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 16, 2026

S 5779: Requires certain entities to stock opioid antagonists and to store naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to automated external defibrillator cabinets

Requires certain entities to stock opioid antagonists and to store naloxone nasal sprays with or adjacent to automated external defibrillator cabinets.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone availability near AEDs to reverse opioid overdoses, improving emergency public health response and patient access to life-saving treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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