Healthcare (Public Health)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3956: Requires cytomegalovirus screening for every newborn

This bill (A 3956) requires all newborns in New York to be screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV) using a specialized blood spot or urine test within the first 21 days of life. It directly affects every newborn and their parents, as parents may opt out of the screening. The law mandates screening via dried blood spot or urine PCR testing, with the health commissioner allowed to approve alternative equivalent tests through regulations. The bill amends Public Health Law to add this requirement, effective 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates newborn CMV screening to improve early detection of preventable health issues, strengthening public health services and patient access to preventive care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1589: Provides for mental health screening and creating a presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder is proximately caused by employment for law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel

Provides for mental health screening; creates a presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder is proximately caused by employment for law enforcement officers and emergency medical services personnel.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates presumption for PTSD treatment in mental health services for first responders, advancing mental health care access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7642: Relates to discrimination against vaccinated persons

This bill prohibits businesses like hotels, transportation services, and entertainment venues from denying services to customers solely because they received a vaccine. It makes it a misdemeanor for innkeepers, common carriers, or amusement venues to exclude vaccinated people from accommodations or privileges. The law directly affects businesses that provide public services and sets a legal penalty for discriminatory actions based on vaccination status. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, with no delay or exception for vaccination status.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents discrimination against vaccinated individuals, promoting public health initiatives by removing barriers to vaccination access and protecting individuals from exclusion in service settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4258: Requires certain locations and venues maintain a supply of opioid antagonists

This bill requires nightlife venues, sports centers, theaters, concert halls, and amusement parks to maintain an unexpired supply of opioid antagonist nasal spray and have at least two staff members trained in identifying opioid overdoses and administering the medication during operations. These requirements are established through new public health guidelines under state law. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment, focusing on improving immediate response to opioid overdoses in high-traffic public spaces.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid antagonist availability and staff training in venues, directly improving emergency response to overdoses as a public health measure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 12, 2026

S 56: Establishes a drug checking program

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides exemptions from controlled substance offenses for drug checking participants, reducing criminalization and aligning with harm reduction reform in criminal justice.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes public health surveillance for drug safety, reducing health risks from contaminants and aligning with harm reduction strategies in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Public Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 10, 2025

A 8459: 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 coverage for opioid epidemic entities, enabling funds for public health initiatives addressing the crisis.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Public Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5433: Establishes the New York state service corps, relates to the New York state service corps - health services track; repealer

This bill creates the New York State Service Corps, administered by the Department of Labor with coordination from the Departments of Parks, Recreation, and Health. It provides educational service opportunities - including residential programs, fellowships, and internships - for youth, recent graduates, retirees, and individuals pursuing high school equivalency, without replacing civil service positions. The bill also establishes a specific health services track that places health professionals (such as nurses and therapists) in eligible facilities with critical staffing shortages, including correctional centers, mental health facilities, and non-profit health centers serving Medicaid-eligible patients. This track replaces previous public health law provisions to increase health services availability in underserved settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates educational service opportunities (fellowships, internships) for youth and high school equivalency seekers, expanding access to education.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a health services track placing health professionals in service roles, advancing healthcare workforce development without replacing civil service positions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Medicaid Public Health

Track

died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3363: Relates to the authority of a hospice medical director to sign a death certificate

S 3363 allows hospice medical directors or physicians they designate to sign death certificates, expanding authority beyond the last attending physician. This directly affects hospice care providers and their medical staff by streamlining end-of-life documentation processes. The bill amends Public Health Law Section 4141 to explicitly include these authorized signers in the certification requirements. It makes a specific procedural change to existing law without altering broader healthcare policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines hospice end-of-life documentation by expanding authority to medical directors, improving care coordination without restrictions or funding changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7171: Provides for the development of an environmental health tracking system within the department of health with cooperation from certain other agencies

Provides for the development of an environmental health tracking system within the department of health with cooperation from the departments of environmental conservation and labor; provides that the purpose is to gather various environmental data to correlate with disease data; requires the cooperation of the state university of New York schools of public health at Albany and Buffalo.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates environmental health tracking system to correlate environmental data with disease, enabling better environmental health monitoring and policy decisions.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes environmental health tracking system within health department to correlate environmental data with disease data, supporting public health initiatives through data-driven disease prevention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Health

Track

signed · New York · Assembly Nov 21, 2025

A 2311: Relates to prohibiting charges for the issuance of a certificate of still birth or fetal death

This bill (A2311) prohibits local health offices from charging fees when issuing certificates for stillbirths or fetal deaths. It directly affects parents or families seeking official documentation for pregnancy losses. The law amends public health regulations to remove all fees for these specific certificates, replacing previous fee structures. The bill passed both legislative chambers in 2025 and was signed into law on November 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves financial barrier for essential health documentation, improving access to public health services related to pregnancy loss.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health