The New York Senate adjourned the 2023-2024 legislative session on June 6 followed by the New York Assembly on June 7. The state legislature operates on a two-year biennium schedule. At the end of 2024, bills that have not been signed by the governor will fail. The legislature introduced 24,491 bills and passed 1,701. As of writing, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has signed almost 900 bills.
Here’s what you may have missed:
Technology
On June 20, Governor Hochul signed two bills focused on social media and privacy. The New York Child Data Protection Act (SB 7695) prohibits online platforms from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal information of individuals under 18 years old except with informed consent or when strictly necessary for the website's function. The bill empowers the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to enforce the law by seeking injunctions and damages or civil penalties. According to the bill sponsor, Senator Andrew Gounardes (D), “New York is sending a clear message to Big Tech: your profits are not more important than our kids’ privacy and wellbeing.” The SAFE for Kids Act (SB 7694) requires social media companies to limit access to addictive feeds for users under 18. Without parental consent, these users will not receive such feeds but can still search for specific topics. The bill also prohibits social media platforms from sending notifications to minors during certain hours without parental consent. It grants the OAG the authority to enforce the law and seek penalties. Additionally, the bill requires establishment of acceptable age verification and parental consent methods with specifics to be determined by the OAG through a rulemaking process.
Hochul stated, “New York is leading the nation to protect our kids from addictive social media feeds and shield their personal data from predatory companies. Together, we’ve taken a historic step forward in our efforts to address the youth mental health crisis and create a safer digital environment for young people.”
Healthcare
SB 1974 permits individuals to get prescribed medications from any pharmacy if their employer or insurance carrier does not provide access to the medication. This bill establishes regulations that pharmacies and pharmacists must follow and prohibits employers or carriers from encouraging claimants to use certain pharmacies. SB 1974 passed the state senate in March and the state assembly on May 30. The goal of the bill, according to the sponsor, is to “provide workers’ compensation claimants with greater flexibility by allowing them to fill their prescriptions not only at network pharmacies…but also at pharmacies that are registered as resident, in-state pharmacies with the New York State Department of Education.” This measure is eligible to be sent to Hochul for approval.
Budget
After three weeks of negotiations and several temporary extensions, the governor and legislature reached an agreement on a budget that includes housing development tax credits, caps on insulin, education spending increases, Medicaid extensions, and paid family leave hours. The budget provides 20 additional hours of leave for eligible pregnant employees to attend appointments and prenatal care. Insulin is no longer subject to a deductible, co-payment, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirements. Upon signing the budget, Hochul stated New York is taking “one step to helping millions of New Yorkers achieve that dream of better, more inclusive opportunities for people, making people feel safer when they walk down the streets, where they can find opportunity and success for themselves and their families.” As pledged by the governor, the budget does not introduce any new state income tax increases.
What’s Next
All 150 seats in the state assembly and all 63 seats in the state senate will be up for grabs in November. Notable Assemblymembers not running for re-election include the chairs of the Higher Education Committee; Mental Health Committee; Veterans’ Affairs Committee; Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee; Local Governments Committee; Ways and Means Committee; and the Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee. In the state senate, the chairs of the Disabilities Committee, Insurance Committee, and Consumer Protection Committee are not seeking re-election. The primaries were held on June 25 and the general election will be held on November 5.
In New York, the legislature may be reconvened by legislative leaders at any point throughout the remainder of the year to consider legislation from the 2023-2024 legislative session.
For any action on pending legislation throughout the rest of the year or questions on New York’s legislature, please contact Allison Collins at acs@stateside.com
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