The 2026 legislative session ended late on Friday, June 5. With just one week of post-budget session following a delayed state budget, lawmakers raced to pass bills, with many left unpassed as the clock ran out. Below are some highlights of legislation that passed both chambers – which we have fought hard for and which we’ll be advocating for the governor to sign. Also listed are bills that did not get across the finish line – yet! – but which we’ll be working on next session.
Be sure to keep an eye out for Policy Matters for ongoing updates.
Passed both chambers
Nonprofit Contracting (S.9761 Mayer / A.10741 Paulin) (S.9855 Mayer / A.11179 Paulin)
New York nonprofits provide vital services, including legal services. However, delays and inconsistencies in state processes are putting nonprofits at risk of collapse. These bills will ensure nonprofits have access to operating funds and improve transparency and accountability that will strengthen nonprofit operational infrastructures. The first addresses definitions to improve transparency, predictability, and faster reimbursement. The second addresses advancement processes. The bills address issues outlined in the Governor’s veto message last year, and we are hopeful that they will be called up and signed quickly. You can also read the New York Legal Services Coalition statement.
You can find Empire Justice Center’s Memos of support on our website:
Memo of Support – Improve Transparency and Payment Predictability
Memo of Support – Access to Operating Funds Conciliation
Codification of the Homeowners Protection Program (S.2627A Kavanagh / A.1625A Solages)
HOPP provides critical services for homeowners at risk of foreclosure. Codifying HOPP in law will help ensure that the free housing counseling and legal services that thousands of New York homeowners depend on to stay in their homes will exist in perpetuity.
Consumer Debt Uniformity Act (S.9760 Gounardes / A.10182A Taylor)
CDUA extends existing protections for credit card debt to other everyday debts, including medical, rent, tuition, and utility debt. It will reduce confusion for courts, industry, and consumers.
Private Student Loan Consumer Protections (S.5598 May / A.4922 Levenberg)
Private student loan borrowers face a greater risk of default than federal loan borrowers due to a lack of borrower protections. With the new limits on federal student loans included in last summer’s federal budget bill, New Yorkers are likely to be increasingly reliant on private student loans. This bill will provide practical safeguards for borrowers.
Medicaid dental coverage (S.3566 Cleare/ A.1931 Paulin)
This bill ensures that those with Medicaid insurance have access to medically necessary dental implants, crowns, root canals, and related procedures if authorized by a qualified dentist. While New York’s Medicaid program currently covers these dental services, the lawsuit that established this coverage will sunset in 2028. Prior to this suit, people on Medicaid, who are often low income, disabled, or over age 65, would be forced to have teeth removed, go without replacement dentures for up to eight years, or be forced to live without half of their teeth before qualifying for dentures altogether. This bill helps to right these arcane practices, allowing those on Medicaid access to the dental health coverage that ensures quality of life.
New York Health Information Privacy Act (S.9269 Kreuger/ A.10357 Rosenthal)
This bill will give New Yorkers control over their electronic health data – especially in aps and other digital tools – and will make it harder for law enforcement in a hostile state to use those data to prosecute New Yorkers for accessing legally protected healthcare.
Disappointments
Privacy in Court-Ordered Name Changes (S.10600 Bottcher/ A.3925 Lavine)
This bill will ensure that people who are changing their names through the courts have the same privacy as people who are changing their names through marriage, divorce, and adoption. Currently, confidential information (including home addresses, birth certificates, birth dates and medical records) are being scraped and re-published, which is a safety and privacy concern for all petitioners, and particularly for those who are victims of domestic violence and for transgender and nonbinary people.
The need is increasingly urgent as e-filing expands, notably in New York City. As more proceedings move online, the risks associated with public access to sensitive personal data will continue to increase without legislative action.
Conciliation (S.4417 May / A. 6448 Hunter)
Currently public benefits recipients in the Rest of State who fail to comply with work requirements are subject to sanctions (loss of benefits) which are more stringent and harmful than those that apply to recipients in New York City. This bill will ensure that all New Yorkers are treated equally. It was also included as a recommendation of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. We look forward to working to correct this injustice.
