Healthcare (Mental Health)

passed · New York · Assembly May 29, 2026

A 10142: Relates to veterans health care

Relates to veterans' health care; creates a veteran health care review to ensure veterans and their families have access to health and mental health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, military sexual trauma, reproductive and mental health conditions, and suicide prevention.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental health treatment, PTSD care, and suicide prevention, advancing healthcare access for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates veteran health care review to ensure access to mental/health treatments including PTSD, suicide prevention, and military sexual trauma, directly expanding services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 30, 2026

A 10093: Establishes a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus crisis hotline

Establishes a twenty-four hour, toll-free hotline and website for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus (LGBTQ+) individuals who are experiencing emotional distress, suicidal ideation, or crisis-related challenges, which shall provide immediate support, referrals, resource lists, and other information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes mental health crisis support hotline for LGBTQ+ individuals, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 8875: Directs the director of the office of the aging to establish a caregiver crisis hotline

Directs the director of the office of the aging to establish a caregiver crisis hotline to provide emotional support resources for informal caregivers of a person in need of assistance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes caregiver crisis hotline for emotional support, directly advancing mental health services for caregivers within healthcare support systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 9063: Includes avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders as eating disorders for the purposes of mental health

This bill expands New York's official definition of "eating disorder" in mental health law to explicitly include avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), alongside existing conditions like anorexia and bulimia. It directly affects individuals diagnosed with ARFID by ensuring they qualify for mental health services, insurance coverage, and prevention programs previously limited to other recognized eating disorders. The key mechanism amends two laws: updating the definition in the Mental Hygiene Law (Section 30.02) and requiring the state's eating disorders awareness program to cover this newly included condition. This change ensures ARFID is formally recognized in medical and mental health practice under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands mental health coverage by including ARFID in eating disorder definitions, ensuring access to services and insurance for affected individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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signed · New York · Assembly Feb 13, 2026

A 9491: Relates to cases terminated due to mental disease or defect and to establishing reporting obligations regarding such cases

This bill (A 9491) requires courts and mental health institutions to coordinate discharge planning for defendants in criminal cases terminated due to mental disease or defect. It mandates that courts order referrals to community services (when clinically appropriate and with consent) and dismiss charges upon termination, while institutions must track referrals and submit de-identified annual reports to state officials. The mental hygiene law office must publish annual public data on defendant outcomes, including admission rates, discharge planning, and referral patterns. The bill directly affects defendants in such cases, courts, mental health facilities, and state agencies, without altering eligibility for services or requiring referrals where consent is absent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates community referrals for mental health cases, reduces recidivism by improving rehabilitation, and aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coordination between courts/institutions for mental health discharge planning and community referrals, strengthening continuity of care for mental health patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8695: Relates to joint certification of certified community behavioral health clinics

Provides for administrative review when applying for an additional certification by applicants to become certified community behavioral health clinics if such applicant is already certified by either the department of mental health or the office of addiction services and supports and is in good standing for five or more years.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines certification for existing behavioral health clinics, enabling expanded mental health service access without redundant processes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · New York · Senate Jan 21, 2026

J 1374: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2026, as Mental Health Awareness Month in the State of New York

This Senate Resolution (J 1374) asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially designate May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in New York State. It does not create new laws or programs but requests a symbolic proclamation to highlight mental health issues. The resolution cites statistics on untreated mental illness, youth mental health challenges, and suicide rates to emphasize the importance of awareness. The bill directly affects the Governor, who has the authority to issue such proclamations, but does not impose any legal requirements on state agencies or residents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareResolution requests Governor to designate Mental Health Awareness Month, citing mental health statistics to promote awareness and services within healthcare.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 20, 2026

A 9494: Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

Allows the removal of criminal actions to a mental health court in an adjoining county and provides for the reversion to the original court of record where the defendant fails to comply with or complete the mental health court program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows mental health court diversion for criminal cases, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration - key reform strategy aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables mental health court diversion, supporting treatment access for defendants with mental health needs as part of court system integration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 14, 2026

A 9549: Relates to involuntary emergency admission of persons alleged to be mentally ill

Enacts "Jesse's law" to provide that a person subject to involuntary emergency admission for immediate observation, care, and treatment of mental illness shall have the right to select the hospital they are admitted to.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareGives patients right to choose mental health hospital during involuntary admission, protecting patient rights in mental healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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passed both · New York · Senate May 20, 2026

S 8899: Relates to supervision by certain marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors

This bill amends New York's education law to clarify supervision requirements for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. It specifies that applicants must complete 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience (for mental health counselors) or 1,500 client contact hours (for marriage and family therapists), all under qualified supervisors. Supervisors must hold at least 3 years of licensure, have diagnostic privileges, and complete 36 hours of continuing education in supervision ethics. The bill also allows the department to accept supervised experience obtained in waiver-exempt settings or under good-faith belief of proper authorization. These changes directly affect therapists seeking licensure and those providing supervision in mental health practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies supervision standards for mental health counselors, ensuring qualified practitioners through defined experience hours and supervisor requirements, strengthening professional standards in mental health services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health

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