Time is Running Out to Pass These Critical State Bills

There are just days left in this year’s state legislative session and, despite some progress on key legislation, lawmakers still haven’t passed a number of key protections for New Yorkers. These include bills to safeguard abortion, gender-affirming and prenatal care, students’ freedom to read, voting rights, fair parole, access to safe drinking water, and internet access.

I’m writing to tell you not to leave Albany before passing these bills.

1. Protect Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care
New York has long been a leader in protecting access to care, but the digital tools designed to improve our health can also put us at risk. No one should have to face stigma, discrimination, and legal danger just to get the care they need. That’s why state lawmakers must pass two critical bills – the Electronic Health Records Segmentation Act (S.1633-B/A.2613-A) and the New York Health Information Privacy Act (S.9269/A.10357) – that take a comprehensive approach to ensuring people, not corporations or bad actors, control our most sensitive health information.

2. Safeguard Prenatal Care
No New Yorker should have to fear seeking healthcare during their pregnancy. Yet pregnant patients and their newborns, especially low-income women and women of color, are frequently drug tested without their knowledge or consent for no medical reason. Lawmakers must urgently pass the Maternal Health, Dignity, and Consent Act (S.845-A/A.860-A) to remove this harmful barrier to prenatal care.

3. Protect the Freedom to Read
Students deserve to see their experiences and communities reflected in the classroom. But across the country – including in New York – right-wing groups have sought to ban books about communities of color and LGBTQ people. The Freedom to Read Act (A.9537-B/S.8630-C) would address this problem by empowering school librarians to curate collections that provide students with a wide variety of appropriate materials.

4. Pass Same-Day Registration
As Trump and his allies threaten the right to vote, New York must strengthen it. Lawmakers must pass a state constitutional amendment to establish same-day voter registration through Election Day (S.5751/A.2162)

5. Secure Fair Parole
Our criminal legal system should be focused on rehabilitating people and helping them to reintegrate into their communities. But too often, the New York Parole Board fails to release incarcerated New Yorkers who have rehabilitated themselves and are eager to reunite with their families. The Fair and Timely Parole (S.159/A.127) and Elder Parole (S.9846/A.514) bills would make sure the Parole Board is focused on granting parole based on who someone is today, not their past actions.

6. Guarantee Access to Safe Drinking Water
New York has 550,000 lead service lines that expose families – especially children of color – to the severe health risks of lead. The Lead Pipe Replacement Act (A.7878/S.6892-A) requires full lead line replacement at no cost to residents. It also prioritizes disadvantaged communities and places where children are most at risk.

7. Provide Internet in Shelters
Lack of internet access severely disadvantages homeless people across nearly all aspects of life, from employment, to education, to finding a permanent home. Lawmakers must provide reliable, privacy-preserving, high-speed internet access to all people in temporary housing by passing S.8026/A.1755.

New Yorkers like me are counting on you to pass these crucial bills before the end of this year’s legislative session.