S.965 (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.2384 (Eichenstein): Requires insurers to provide coverage for rare diseases, life-threatening conditions, degenerative and disabling conditions, or diagnoses involving medically fragile children. Read the bill and get updates: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S965  

S.1287a (Persaud)/A.1296a (Paulin): Will create a permanent RDAC to study the needs of people with rare diseases and make recommendations on them. The bill has passed the Senate and sits in the Assembly Ways & Means Committee. Read the bill and get progress updates: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1287 

S.2398 (Persaud)  Requires genetic testing results only be received by patients and health care providers providing direct care while health insurance companies only receive a record that the genetic testing was performed. Read the bill and get progress updates https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2398 

A.183 (Rosenthal) / S.3029 (Stavisky): bill creates process to license Genetic Counselors and create a state board for genetic counselors (currently NYS does not license them). The bill currently sits in the Higher Education committees. Read the bill and get progress updates: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A183 

A.2714 (Rosenthal): Provides additional $15 monthly under SNAP allowance of $15 for menstrual products, including but not limited to, tampons, sanitary napkins, cups and panty liners. Read the bill and get progress updates https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2714?utm_campaign=subscriptions&utm_content=new_prev_ver&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ny_state_senate 

S.172 (Ramos) / A.084 (Solages): Increases Temporary Disability Insurance Benefita and expands coverage for individuals temporarily unable to work due to illness and childbirth. Read the bill and get progress updates https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S172 

S.1633 (Fernandez) / A.2613 (Lunsford): Provides protections for sensitive health information and requires health info networks, systems, and providers to provide patients a right to restrict disclosures of info.  Read the bill and get progress updates https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1633 

• The Governor's office begins collecting budget requests from staff and state agencies - October
• Governor proposes a budget to the Senate & Assembly Legislature - January 21
• The Senate & Assembly reply with their analysis of the proposed budget, called the "Blue Book" (Senate) and the "Yellow Book" (Assembly) - late January
• The Legislature holds joint public hearings on the budget - late January through February
• The Governor offers changes to the budget proposal based on legislative and public feedback; called "the 30-day amendments" - late February
• The Legislature offers their budget counter-proposals; called "one-house budget bills" - early March
• Legislators negotiate with the Governor's office on a final budget - through March
• Final budget agreement approved by the Governor & Legislature - sometime in April

Read about the full budget process 

• • May 9, 2025: Budget Passed 

Governor Hochul, the Senate and Assembly have reached a final agreement on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026. While the voting process can take a few days, once the bills start coming out it essentially means the task is complete. Read more here.

• • Mar. 11, 2025: Legislature Releases One-House Budget Counter proposals
    The Senate & Assembly released their final big-picture budget counter proposals and now the final budget negotiations begin. Read more here

  • Feb. 21, 2025: Governor releases 30-day amendments
    Gov. Hochul released her 30-day amendments to the proposed state budget. These usually reflect technical corrections to the proposal and changes resulting from early negotiations with the Legislature. 

  • Feb. 1, 2025: Legislature issues first response to budget proposal
    The Senate & Assembly issued their first official response to the Governor's budget proposals. Known as the Blue Book (Senate) and Yellow Book (Assembly) they can be found on the legislature's websites. Legislative website links 

  • Jan. 28, 2025: Budget hearings have begun!
    The state Senate & Assembly has started joint hearings on the Governor's proposed budget. There are different hearings for each section of the budget, and guests are invited to testify in their area of concern. Written testimony can also be submitted. Click to see the hearing schedule. 

  • Jan. 21, 2025: Gov. Hochul delivers state budget proposal
    NYS funds many vital healthcare programs like Medicaid, the Essential Plan, infant testing, & health related agencies like the Dept. of Health. NYS also passes many health laws & programs in the state budget. https://www.budget.ny.gov/     

  • Jan. 14, 2025: Gov. Hochul delivers her State of the State speech
    The Governor uses this speech to explain many of her policy priorities & proposals for the year, including many health proposals. Read the speech proposals here

  • Jan. 8, 2025: 2025-2026 Legislative Session begins
    The state legislature has kicked off their 2025 - 2026 legislative session. Regular meetings have begun and committee appointments will be announced soon. The 2025 session schedule for the Senate & Assembly can be found here:   Senate      Assembly