Sen. Nathalia Fernández

Co-sponsor S 8426

Passed · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Prevents discrimination by insurers based on an individual's mental health or substance use disorder

Prevents discrimination by insurers based on an individual's mental health or substance use disorder; incorporates into law federal enforcement rules set forth in the federal mental health parity and addiction equity act of 2008.

HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurer discrimination against mental health/substance use disorder patients, enforcing parity and protecting patient rights under federal law.95% confidence Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents insurer discrimination on mental health/substance use, ensuring equal access to benefits, aligns with expanding worker benefits under employment standards.85% confidence

Passed Jun 4, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Primary S 8637

Passed · New York Senate · Lead sponsor

Relates to purposes of the drug treatment and public education fund

Expands the purposes of the drug treatment and public education fund to include prevention and recovery programs; requires reporting to be made available on the office of addiction services and supports' website.

Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands fund purposes to include prevention/recovery programs, directing existing budget toward public health services.90% confidence Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands drug treatment fund to include prevention/recovery programs, directly supporting criminal justice reform through rehabilitation and recidivism reduction.95% confidence HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands drug treatment fund to include prevention/recovery programs, strengthening public health services under healthcare topic.95% confidence

Passed Jun 3, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Co-sponsor S 6130

Passed · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Relates to the consumer protection division in the department of state

Requires the consumer protection division to establish a process by which any state agency or third party, pursuant to an interagency agreement with the division for the purposes of fraud prevention, identity verification, and ensuring the integrity or security of individual identities, to grant access to verify New York resident identities via a secure comparison process against state systems.

TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates secure identity verification process for fraud prevention and identity security, directly enhancing cybersecurity measures under technology policies.85% confidence

Passed Jun 3, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor S 1330

Passed · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Relates to requiring the establishment of automatic payment plans

Relates to requiring the establishment of automatic payment plans; requires utility companies headquartered in New York to establish a statewide program to provide eligible participants with affordable payment plans.

Passed Jun 3, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Primary S 8363

Passed · New York Senate · Lead sponsor

Enacts the individual counseling rate enhancement act

Requires a rate enhancement for reimbursement of individual psychotherapy services provided by a mental health counselor, a clinical social worker, or a psychologist where such services are provided in an outpatient substance use disorder clinic.

HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires higher reimbursement rates for mental health counseling in substance use clinics, directly supporting access to mental health services.95% confidence

Passed Jun 3, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Co-sponsor S 6319

Passed · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Relates to motions to vacate judgment; repealer

Relates to motions to vacate judgment; authorizes filing motions to vacate judgment for a conviction that was subsequently decriminalized; authorizes motions to vacate judgment to be filed at any time after entry of a judgment obtained at trial or by plea; repeals certain provisions relating thereto.

Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes vacating convictions for decriminalized offenses, correcting past injustices and reducing unnecessary convictions.90% confidence

Passed Jun 3, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor S 1169

Passed · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Relates to the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems

Regulates the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination; requires independent audits of high risk AI systems; provides for enforcement by the attorney general.

Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents algorithmic discrimination in AI systems, supporting criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in high-risk applications.80% confidence Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents algorithmic discrimination in AI systems used in employment, protecting workers' rights from biased hiring/promotion decisions.65% confidence TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI to prevent algorithmic discrimination, requires audits for high-risk systems, and provides enforcement, promoting consumer protection and digital equity in technology.95% confidence

Passed Jun 3, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor S 9629

In committee · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Enacts "Francesco's law"; repealer

Enacts "Francesco's law" which establishes violations for the failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms in the presence of a minor or a prohibited person; requires the office of gun violence prevention to collect and analyze statistical and other information and data with respect to injuries or deaths of minors resulting from failure to safely store a firearm, rifle, or shotgun.

In committee Jun 2, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor S 8851

In committee · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Relates to prohibitions on the use of certain tropical hardwoods for state contracts

Requires that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains.

EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits state contracts using certain tropical hardwoods to prevent forest degradation/deforestation, directly protecting natural resources and conservation.95% confidence

In committee Jun 2, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor S 8951

In committee · New York Senate · Co-sponsor

Prohibits cannabis inversion

Enacts the "cannabis supply chain integrity and anti-inversion act"; prohibits any act or omission involving illicit cannabis; provides penalties for such cannabis inversion.

Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes penalties for illicit cannabis activities, strengthening law enforcement authority in criminal justice enforcement.95% confidence

In committee Jun 2, 2026 1 co-sponsor Track