New York Bill Book

This bill creates a special group to figure out which required health insurance benefits to cut, and forces lawmakers to vote on those cuts without making changes.

This bill looks like a boring study, but it is actually a trap door to cut your health coverage. Right now, state law forces insurance companies to cover certain important things like cancer screenings or maternity care. This bill sets up an unelected group to bundle up cuts to those protections into one giant package. Then, it forces lawmakers to vote yes or no on the whole package within 90 days, without fixing or changing a single word. It is a sneaky way to let insurance companies pay for less care while avoiding public debate on each specific cut.

Insurers

• Accountability (hurts) — Gives an unelected group the power to write a major law.. The commission writes a single piece of legislation to repeal benefits that elected lawmakers are not allowed to amend.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Targets required health coverage for cuts.. The bill's explicit goal is to submit recommendations for the repeal or modification of state laws that mandate health benefits.
• Process Transparency (hurts) — Forces a rushed, take-it-or-leave-it vote.. Lawmakers must vote on the proposed cuts within 90 days and are legally banned from making any amendments to the bill.

Pushing for it: Insurance companies (through lower costs)
Bearing the cost: Patients (paying out of pocket for cut benefits)

• Official text (NY A04498)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4498
• LegiScan — A04498https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A04498/2025

This bill would help digital gaming companies save money on taxes, which could make it easier for them to grow.

If this bill passes, digital gaming companies could get more tax breaks. This might help them create more jobs, but it could also mean less money for public services.

Big Business

• Accountability (hurts) — Less oversight on tax credits. The bill reduces the requirements for companies to qualify for tax credits.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Neutral impact on rights. The bill does not affect individual rights directly.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts tax burden. Tax credits for businesses may lead to less funding for public services.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Limited transparency. The process for allocating tax credits may not be clear.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Favoring businesses over public funding. The bill favors tax breaks for businesses over funding for community services.

Pushing for it: Digital gaming companies
Bearing the cost: Public services

• Official text (NY A03457)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3457
• LegiScan — A03457https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A03457/2025

This bill would let health insurers pay providers using virtual credit cards, which might have fees that could affect healthcare costs.

If this bill passes, healthcare providers might face extra fees when getting paid. This could lead to higher costs for patients. It's important to think about how this affects everyone.

• Accountability (neutral) — Providers must be notified of fees.. Insurers must inform providers about potential fees.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Providers can choose payment methods.. Providers can opt for payment methods without fees.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Fees could be passed to patients.. Providers may increase costs to cover payment fees.

• Official text (NY S02105)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2105
• LegiScan — S02105https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/S02105/2025

This bill would change health services and funding for New Yorkers, helping many people get better care and support.

Now is the time to pay attention to this bill. It could help improve healthcare services and support for many people. If you care about health services, let your voice be heard.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Improves access to various health services.. The bill includes provisions to enhance healthcare access and support.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Funding shifts may affect costs.. Some funding changes could shift costs onto consumers.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Reports required to track spending.. Quarterly reports will help track Medicaid expenditures.

• Official text (NY A03007)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3007
• LegiScan — A03007https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A03007/2025

Employers get tax credits for tipped workers

This bill could help employers who pay their workers minimum wage plus tips, but it's unclear how much it would help workers themselves, so now is the time to weigh in on whether this is a good use of tax credits

Miscellaneous industry

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill does not seem to increase or decrease accountability. The credit is given to employers, not workers
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — The bill does not seem to increase or decrease worker rights. The credit is for employers, not workers
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — The state would bear the cost of the tax credit. The credit would reduce the amount of tax revenue collected
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill does not seem to increase or decrease transparency. The credit is straightforward, but its impact is unclear
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — The bill would shift funding from the state to employers. The credit would reduce tax revenue

Pushing for it: Employers
Bearing the cost: State tax revenue

• Official text (NY A05705)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5705
• LegiScan — A05705https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A05705/2025

This bill would help protect people from ghost guns and bad insurance practices

This bill has many parts that could affect you, from gun safety to insurance rules. It's still being discussed, so now is the time to learn about it and share your thoughts.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increased transparency in government spending. The bill extends the effectiveness of certain provisions relating to purchasing of services and commodities by the state
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Stronger protections for consumers and communities. The bill establishes crimes related to 3D printing of ghost guns and prohibits using employment, education, or zip code to determine car insurance rates
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No significant shift in cost burden. The bill does not appear to significantly shift the cost burden from one group to another
• Process Transparency (helps) — Increased transparency in government processes. The bill requires the superintendent of state police to develop, maintain, and disseminate a critical incident paid leave policy
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No significant funding tilt. The bill does not appear to significantly favor one group's funding over another

• Official text (NY A10005)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10005
• LegiScan — A10005https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A10005/2025

The betting corporation must send any money it hasn't paid out by Feb. 28 to the counties, or pay a penalty.

County leaders will get extra funds for services, while the betting company loses money it might have kept, so they may push back.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Adds penalties for late distribution. Increases corporate accountability
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — Does not change bettor rights. No impact on consumer protections
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Corporation loses unclaimed funds and may pay penalties. Cost shift to betting corporation
• Process Transparency (helps) — Sets clear deadlines and penalties. Improves transparency of fund handling
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Redirects unclaimed money to counties. Tilts funding toward local government

• Official text (NY A10231)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10231
• LegiScan — A10231https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A10231/2025

This bill would give companies a tax break if they hire new workers, especially those who were unemployed or work in certain industries. It could help create jobs.

This bill offers businesses a reward for hiring people. It's a way to encourage companies to grow and hire more workers. The bill gives a bigger reward if the new hire was unemployed for a while or works in jobs like making things. This could be good for people looking for jobs and for the economy. It's a good idea to watch this bill to see if it passes and how it helps people find work.

Big Business

• Accountability (hurts) — The bill includes a provision to prevent employers from firing an employee just to hire a new one to qualify for the credit.. The bill states an employer shall not discharge an employee and hire a qualifying employee solely for the purpose of qualifying for this credit.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — The bill does not directly impact existing rights or protections for workers.. The bill focuses on tax incentives for employers and does not alter worker rights or protections.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — The cost of the tax credit is borne by the state's general fund, reducing tax revenue.. The bill establishes a tax credit, which reduces the amount of tax revenue collected by the state. The exact cost is not specified but is a reduction in state funds.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill is in its early stages and has not undergone significant public debate or amendment.. The bill was introduced and referred to a committee. Details on public hearings or amendments are not yet available.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — The bill provides a financial benefit to businesses, shifting potential state revenue towards private companies.. The bill creates a tax credit, which is a direct financial benefit to businesses, effectively transferring state funds to private entities.

Pushing for it: Businesses that create jobs
Bearing the cost: State of New York (reduced tax revenue)

• Official text (NY S01393)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1393
• LegiScan — S01393https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/S01393/2025

The betting company must give any unclaimed prize money to local counties by March 15, or pay a penalty.

Citizens should watch this bill because it forces the betting firm to hand over unused winnings to local governments, which could boost community services, and it makes the firm pay if it delays.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — penalty for late distribution. adds 5% penalty and interest for missed deadline
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no change to personal rights. does not affect right to sue or consumer protections
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — cost stays with betting corp if late. penalty applies to corporation, not consumers
• Process Transparency (helps) — clear deadline and reporting. requires distribution by March 15 and outlines penalty
• Funding Tilt (helps) — shifts unclaimed money to counties. unclaimed winnings go to local government revenue

• Official text (NY S09545)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9545
• LegiScan — S09545https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/S09545/2025

This bill would help seniors by not counting some income when deciding if they can get help paying for medicine.

Seniors could get more help with their medicine costs if this bill passes. It is important to support this change now, so they can afford what they need.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill provides clearer guidelines for income assessment.. The health commissioner has the power to set policies.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — This bill protects seniors' access to necessary medications.. Excluding certain income helps more seniors qualify.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs are not shifted to others.. The bill does not change who pays for the program.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The process for excluding income is clear.. The health commissioner will set the policies.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Funding sources remain unchanged.. The bill does not affect overall funding.

• Official text (NY A00841)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A841
• LegiScan — A00841https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A00841/2025

This bill would let volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers get both a property tax break and an income tax credit, helping them save more money.

This bill is good news for the brave people who volunteer as firefighters and ambulance workers. Right now, New York law makes them choose between two ways to save money on taxes for their service: a break on their property taxes or a credit on their income taxes. This bill would get rid of that choice, letting them use both benefits. This means they could keep more of their money, which helps them and their families. Some might argue that giving more tax breaks could reduce money for other state programs. But supporters believe it is a fair way to thank volunteers for their important, often dangerous, work in our communities. Since it is still new, people can tell their lawmakers if they think this is a good idea.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Gives volunteers more financial benefits for their service.. The bill would allow volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to receive both a property tax exemption and an income tax credit, which they currently cannot do.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — State might collect less tax money.. Allowing more tax credits could reduce state tax revenue, though the exact amount is unknown from the text.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Helps volunteers keep more of their money.. The bill directly benefits volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers by increasing their potential tax savings.

Pushing for it: Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers
Bearing the cost: New York State (potential lost tax revenue)

• Official text (NY A00288)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A288
• LegiScan — A00288https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A00288/2025

This bill would create a single health plan for every New Yorker so you never have to pay a medical bill or insurance premium again.

This bill wants to make healthcare a right for everyone in the state. Instead of paying a private insurance company every month, you would pay a new tax out of your paycheck based on what you earn. In return, all your doctor visits, hospital stays, and long-term care would be totally free at the counter. It is a massive plan that would completely change how we pay for health, but it still has a long way to go before it becomes law.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Guarantees comprehensive health coverage as a right for all residents.. The bill explicitly states that all residents have the right to health care and establishes a universal guaranteed health care coverage program.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Replaces flat insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs with a tax based on ability to pay.. Funding comes from a broad-based revenue system based on ability to pay, including a payroll assessment similar to the Medicare tax.
• Accountability (helps) — Removes insurance company gatekeepers from medical decisions.. The text states the program will maximize patient autonomy and stop health plans from making decisions guided by economic interests rather than health needs.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Creates a massive public fund dedicated entirely to paying for citizens' healthcare.. Establishes the New York Health Trust Fund to hold all monies used solely to finance the plan.

Pushing for it: New York Health Trust Fund
Bearing the cost: Private health insurance companies

• LegiScan — A01466https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A01466/2025

This bill forces hospitals to send a letter to all patients if their doctor is found guilty of a sex crime against a patient.

Right now, bad doctors can quietly move from clinic to clinic. This bill would change that by forcing hospitals to warn you if your doctor is found guilty of abusing a patient. It makes hospitals dig through their records and mail a warning to every single person that doctor treated. If the hospital drags its feet, they get hit with a massive fine. This is a huge win for patient safety because it stops hospitals from sweeping abuse under the rug.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Forces hospitals to take responsibility for doctors they hire.. Hospitals face a $20,000 monthly fine if they fail to notify patients about an abusive doctor.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects patients' right to know about their medical providers.. Requires direct notification to all current and previous patients of a convicted physician.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Hospitals pay for the mailings.. The cost of sending certified mail falls on the medical facilities, which is a fair burden for patient safety.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Brings hidden misconduct records into the light.. Mandates disclosure of criminal convictions, civil judgments, and medical board penalties directly to patients.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Neutral funding impact.. Fines go to the state as a penalty, not to enrich any specific private group.

Pushing for it: Unknown
Bearing the cost: Hospitals failing to notify patients

• Official text (NY A02205)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2205
• LegiScan — A02205https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A02205/2025

This bill would make sure everyone pays the same for disability insurance, no matter their race or gender.

If this bill passes, it will help protect people from unfair charges for disability insurance. Everyone deserves to be treated equally, and now is the time to support this change.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects against discrimination in insurance.. This bill ensures equal treatment in disability insurance.
• Accountability (helps) — Holds insurance companies accountable.. Insurance companies must treat everyone fairly.

• Official text (NY A00486)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A486
• LegiScan — A00486https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A00486/2025

This bill would give volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers money back for their fishing and hunting licenses, helping those who help us.

This bill is a good idea because it thanks people who volunteer their time to keep us safe. Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers do a hard job for free. Giving them money back for their fishing and hunting licenses is a small way to say thank you. It could help more people want to volunteer. This bill is still being looked at, so people can still tell their lawmakers what they think.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No direct impact on accountability for public or private entities.. The bill focuses on providing a tax credit to volunteers, not on changing accountability rules.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact on individual rights or protections.. The bill does not remove or add any specific rights or protections for ordinary people.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — The state budget would cover the cost of the tax credits, benefiting volunteers.. The tax credit means the state would forgo some tax revenue, effectively paying for the licenses for volunteers, which is a positive cost for a public good.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific provisions in the bill text regarding process transparency.. The bill text does not address how decisions are made or how information is shared with the public.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — The bill provides a financial benefit to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.. By offering a tax credit for licenses, the bill directly supports and rewards a specific group of public service volunteers.

Pushing for it: Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers (Cost of licenses)
Bearing the cost: New York state budget (Cost of licenses)

• Official text (NY A00952)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A952
• LegiScan — A00952https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A00952/2025

This bill would let people sue if their rights are taken away and help them pay for lawyers.

If this bill passes, it will be easier for everyday people to stand up for their rights and get help paying for legal costs. Now is the time to support it.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Increases rights for citizens. Allows citizens to sue for rights violations
• Accountability (helps) — Holds the state accountable. State waives immunity for rights violations
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Helps cover legal costs. Winning parties can recover attorney fees

• Official text (NY A01081)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1081
• LegiScan — A01081https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A01081/2025

This bill would force health insurers to keep paying for your brand-name medication while you appeal their decision to drop it from their approved list.

If your health insurance suddenly stops covering a medication you rely on, it can be terrifying. This bill would make sure that if you are taking a brand-name drug with no generic option, your insurer has to keep covering it while you fight their decision. It gives patients breathing room instead of forcing them to pay out of pocket or skip doses during an appeal.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Insurers must honor coverage during an appeal.. Requires insurers to maintain coverage under the same terms while a grievance or appeal is pending.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects patients from losing access to needed medicine.. Gives covered persons the right to continuous coverage of a single source drug during an appeal.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Insurers pay for the drug during the appeal.. Prevents the cost of the drug from falling on the patient while the denial is being appealed.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Does not change how the appeal process works.. The bill focuses on coverage during the appeal, not the transparency of the process itself.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No state funding changes.. Does not appropriate public funds.

• LegiScan — A01287https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A01287/2025

This bill would stop state and local governments from cutting health insurance benefits for their retired workers.

When people work for the government their whole lives, they count on the health insurance they were promised for retirement. Sometimes cities or states try to save money by cutting those benefits later. This bill would make that illegal. It forces public employers to keep paying their share so older folks do not suddenly face huge medical bills.

Workers

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects benefits. Locks in health coverage levels for retired public workers so they cannot be reduced.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Prevents cost shifting. Stops the government from shifting healthcare costs onto retirees who live on fixed incomes.
• Accountability (helps) — Keeps promises. Forces public employers to honor the benefit levels that were in place when the employee retired.

• LegiScan — A01668https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A01668/2025

This bill would stop companies from forcing disabled people to take endless medical tests or fill out repeat paperwork just to get the money they are owed.

Right now, companies can make it incredibly hard for disabled people to get their benefits by asking for the same doctor notes over and over. If this bill passes, it will ban those unfair tricks. If a company breaks the rules, you could take them to court and make them pay for your lawyer. This is a huge win for regular people, even though the state left its own programs out of the new rules.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Strong enforcement. Lets regular people take companies to court and makes the companies pay the legal bills if they lose.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Stops bad faith delays. Creates strong new rules to stop companies from delaying disability checks with endless paperwork.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts burden to bad actors. Forces companies that break the rules to pay for the harm they cause, plus interest and penalties.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Neutral. The bill focuses on fairness in the claims process rather than public transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Neutral. No direct state funding changes are mentioned.

• Official text (NY A02543)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2543
• LegiScan — A02543https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A02543/2025

This bill would give you the power to stop health networks from sharing your sensitive medical records with anyone you do not approve.

Right now, your electronic health records can be shared across state lines without you knowing. This bill would change that. It puts you in charge of who sees your most private medical history. If out of state officials try to snoop on your reproductive or gender care, you could block them. The bill does let the state health department make some exceptions, but overall it is a massive win for patient privacy. It forces big data networks to build tools that actually protect you while this bill is still moving through the legislature.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Creates a strong new right to medical privacy.. Gives patients the explicit right to restrict the sharing of their sensitive health information, especially to out of state entities.
• Accountability (helps) — Forces compliance from data networks.. Requires health information networks to abide by the patient's requested restrictions and build the tech capacity to do so.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Patients get to see who viewed their data.. Requires networks to provide patients with a report detailing exactly who their information was disclosed to.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Industry bears the cost of compliance.. Health information networks will have to spend money to upgrade their systems to allow for these new privacy controls.

Pushing for it: Patients
Bearing the cost: Health information networks

• Official text (NY A02613)https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2613
• LegiScan — A02613https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A02613/2025