Healthcare

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6678: Requires notification of misconduct by medical professionals

Requires notification of misconduct by medical professionals; requires medical professionals to notify the department of health within 10 days of being charged with a crime; includes verbal, written, or physical behavior of a sexual nature in the practice of medicine that has no legitimate medical purpose and/or that exploits the current or former practitioner-patient relationship in a sexual way in the definition of professional misconduct.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates reporting of medical misconduct to protect patient safety, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5017: Relates to creating NYCHA-based health centers

Relates to creating NYCHA-based health centers to provide basic health services for residents living on NYCHA campuses, specifically specialty care and testing for lead poisoning and mold exposure and specifically respiratory related illnesses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates NYCHA-based health centers to provide specialty care and testing for lead, mold, and respiratory illnesses, directly expanding access to healthcare services for vulnerable residents.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2292: Relates to the office of addiction services and supports and tobacco-limited and tobacco-free facilities for treatment

This bill requires New York's Office of Addiction Services and Supports to establish new tobacco policies for addiction treatment facilities. It mandates that facilities serving children, youth, or young adults must be entirely tobacco-free, while other facilities may choose to be "tobacco-limited" (allowing limited tobacco use in designated areas) or tobacco-free. The policy also adds priority admission for individuals whose children are in foster care or at risk of placement under family court or social services laws. These standards apply to all facilities providing substance abuse treatment services. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates tobacco-free addiction treatment for youth facilities, improving treatment environment and aligning with healthcare best practices for patient care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2615: Authorizes one percent of mobile sports tax revenue be used for problem gambling

This bill directs 1% of mobile sports betting tax revenue (with a minimum of $6 million annually) to fund problem gambling education and treatment programs. It requires the state gaming commission to allocate these funds starting in the first fiscal year mobile betting operations begin, with the money deposited into the commercial gaming fund for this specific purpose. The policy directly affects state-funded gambling treatment services and public health programs addressing gambling addiction. It creates a dedicated, ongoing revenue stream from mobile sports betting taxes to support these services, separate from other lottery or gaming funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects mobile sports betting tax revenue to fund gambling treatment programs, increasing public health funding via existing tax allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $6M+ annually for problem gambling treatment/education, directly funding mental health services under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Public Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8912: Requires gambling be taught in health education classes

This bill requires all public schools in New York to include lessons about gambling risks in health education classes for every grade level, from elementary through high school. It mandates that teachers certified in health education integrate age-appropriate instruction on gambling's dangers alongside existing lessons about alcohol, tobacco, and drug misuse. Schools must teach these topics as part of required health courses, with students demonstrating knowledge through tests or projects. The law applies directly to all public K-12 schools and their health curricula, without creating new standalone classes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of gambling risk education in health curriculum, expanding required school instruction on student health topics within existing educational framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates gambling risk education in health classes, aligning with public health prevention of addiction-related health issues alongside substance misuse topics.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3310: Establishes under the direction of the state board of pharmacy a drug repository program

Establishes under the direction of the state board of pharmacy a drug repository program to accept and dispense donated prescription drugs; authorizes such board and the commissioner of health to promulgate rules and regulations; makes definitions; exempts such persons or entities who dispense such donated drugs from criminal or tort liability or professional disciplinary action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates drug repository for donated prescriptions, improving patient access to medications while exempting providers from liability, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · New York · Senate Mar 4, 2026

S 8496: Relates to the establishment of regulations for administering immunizations based on the recommendations of certain entities

Relates to the establishment of regulations for administering immunizations taking into consideration the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the advisory committee on immunization practices, any interstate body established for purposes of reviewing and making recommendations regarding immunization coverage and access, or other similar nationally or internationally recognized scientific organizations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands advisory bodies for immunization administration, strengthening public health program coordination without restrictions or defunding.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate May 21, 2026

S 2446: Establishes a wound care kit and xylazine test strip distribution

Establishes a wound care kit and xylazine test strip distribution program to supply wound care kits designed for the treatment of injection-related wounds and skin and soft tissue infections, and xylazine test strips, to individuals with a substance use disorder or who are otherwise at risk of drug use, free of charge; prohibits facilities from collecting personally identifying information on such individuals; prohibits police from targeting individuals receiving wound care kits or xylazine test strips under such program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes harm reduction for substance use, reduces criminalization by prohibiting police targeting of recipients, aligns with reform goals of diverting from punitive measures.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides free wound care kits and xylazine test strips for substance use disorder patients, directly improving access to treatment for injection-related wounds and infections, aligning with healthcare access and public health support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6467: Provides for universal newborn nurse home visiting services; requires health insurance coverage for universal newborn nurse home visiting services

Provides for universal newborn nurse home visiting services; requires health insurance coverage for universal newborn nurse home visiting services; authorizes the department of health to apply for certain waivers; directs the superintendent of financial services to require an insurer, health carrier or health benefit plan to notify enrollees annually of universal newborn nurse home visiting services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for newborn nurse home visiting services, expanding access to preventive healthcare under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6065: Relates to the dispensing of hearing aids

This bill requires physicians who dispense hearing aids after conducting a required medical evaluation to sell them and related services (including repairs) at fair market value, not at inflated prices. It directly affects otolaryngologists and other licensed physicians who dispense hearing aids, mandating they provide repairs on devices they sold. Key provisions include prohibiting profit-based pricing for hearing aids and ensuring all necessary items or services are sold at fair market value. The law also requires these physicians to comply with additional existing regulations (sections 791, 798, and 803 of the business law). The bill takes immediate effect and was recently referred to the Consumer Protection committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents inflated pricing for hearing aids, ensuring fair market value and mandatory repairs, improving patient access and protecting from exploitative costs.95% confidence

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