June 11, 2026
(13 Min. Read)
The New York State Legislature concluded its 2026 legislative session following a year defined by prolonged budget negotiations, significant policy debates, and an unusually compressed legislative calendar. The Session began in January with the introduction of Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget Proposal and unfolded against a backdrop of uncertainty regarding federal funding and its potential impact on the State’s fiscal outlook.
Budget negotiations extended nearly two months beyond the April 1 statutory deadline, making the SFY 2026-27 Budget one of the latest enacted budgets in recent years. The enacted budget ultimately reflected many of the Governor’s core priorities and served as the primary vehicle for resolving several of Session’s most significant policy issues. In addition to significant investments in education, healthcare, housing, transportation, economic development and local government assistance, workforce development, and affordability initiatives, the budget included major policy changes relating to immigration protections, environmental permitting reform, climate and energy policy, utility affordability, automobile insurance, public safety, and public employee benefits.
Because the budget was not finalized until late May, lawmakers had only a limited period to advance non-budget legislation before adjournment. As a result, the final weeks of session were particularly active, with legislators working late into the night to move hundreds of bills through both houses before returning to their districts. The legislative session ended with much of the same deliberate pace that characterized the budget process. Nevertheless, lawmakers approved 485 bills during the final week of session and 759 bills over the course of the year. While those figures fell below the 563 bills passed during the final week of the 2025 session and the 856 bills approved during the full 2025 legislative year, they nonetheless reflect a productive end to a session shaped by significant procedural and scheduling challenges.
Among the most significant issues debated during the closing days of session were artificial intelligence and emerging technology regulation, consumer protection, climate and energy policy, and healthcare regulation. Lawmakers also approved several measures that could have long-term implications for New York’s governmental and electoral landscape, including constitutional amendments relating to the state’s redistricting process and election administration.
Additionally, after multiple vetoes in prior years, the Legislature chose not to pursue changes to the state’s wrongful death laws through the latest version of the Grieving Families Act (A.11340 /S.10171 Lunsford - Cleare) or additional restrictions on the ability of health systems to reconfigure services under the proposed Local Input in Community Healthcare (“LICH”) Act (S.9388 / A.10736 Rivera - Simon).
Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the Legislature’s most active policy areas during the 2026 session. Lawmakers approved a series of measures addressing transparency, consumer protection, workforce impacts, and the use of AI-generated content.
Several bills which passed both houses focused on increasing transparency surrounding AI-generated content and the data used to train AI systems:
Also passed in both houses were bills aimed at protecting minors from potentially harmful AI interactions:
Both houses also passed A.9581-B/S.8706-B (Bronson - Hinchey), which requires covered businesses to annually report to the Department of Labor regarding their use of artificial intelligence and its impact on hiring and workforce practices.
Beyond these measures, lawmakers continued to consider broader AI governance proposals addressing high-risk AI systems, algorithmic discrimination, audit requirements, and developer accountability for harmful AI outcomes.
Taken together, these actions reflect New York’s continued effort to establish itself as a national leader in artificial intelligence regulation, building upon initiatives such as the Empire AI consortium and the recently enacted RAISE Act framework governing advanced AI models.
Consumer-protection legislation focused on data privacy, financial decision-making, and the use of emerging technologies in consumer-facing services. Lawmakers advanced measures designed to increase transparency in automated decision-making and strengthen protections for sensitive personal information.
The Legislature also continued to examine broader consumer privacy and digital rights issues, reflecting growing concern over the collection, use, and commercialization of personal data in the modern economy.
One of the session's most closely watched consumer protection debates involved the use of consumer data and technology to influence pricing decisions. Both houses of the Legislature approved the One Fair Price Act (A.9349-B/S.8623-B (Torres-May), which would prohibit the use of surveillance pricing—the practice of using a consumer's personal data to determine individualized prices for goods or services. The legislation builds upon a 2025 law requiring disclosure of algorithmic pricing practices and reflects growing legislative concern regarding the use of personal data in commercial transactions.
The Legislature also considered additional restrictions on dynamic pricing technologies. S.8616-A (May), which would have prohibited the use of electronic shelf labels capable of rapidly changing prices in grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail establishments, passed the Senate but did not receive final passage in the Assembly before adjournment.
Environmental and energy policy remained a major focus during the 2026 session. Lawmakers considered a broad range of proposals addressing waste reduction, clean energy deployment, building efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and the growing energy demands associated with artificial intelligence and data center development.
One of the session’s most closely watched environmental debates centered on the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. The legislation would have established a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging materials, required producers to fund recycling and waste management systems, and imposed packaging reduction requirements on covered products. Despite significant support from environmental advocates, the bill once again failed to reach final passage before adjournment.
The proposal is expected to remain a significant environmental policy issue in future legislative sessions.
One of the Legislature’s most notable responses to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure was the consideration of restrictions on large-scale data center development.
Both houses of the Legislature passed A.11560/S.10642 (Barrett - Gonzalez), which would establish a one-year moratorium on permits for certain large-scale data centers, require utilities to create a separate service classification for large data centers, and establish energy-efficiency requirements for those facilities.
Perhaps the session’s most consequential long-term actions involved proposed constitutional amendments affecting redistricting and election administration.
Because constitutional amendments in New York must be approved by two separately elected Legislatures and then ratified by voters, each proposal must pass again in 2027 before appearing on a statewide ballot.
The Legislature approved the first passage of a constitutional amendment A.11553-A (Heastie)/S.10637-A (Stewart-Cousins) that would significantly alter New York’s congressional and legislative redistricting process. Among other changes, the proposal would authorize the Legislature to redraw congressional district boundaries between decennial censuses, eliminate the current requirement that the Independent Redistricting Commission submit a second redistricting plan if its initial proposal is rejected, and allow the Legislature to advance its own maps if the commission process breaks down. The amendment would also remove several existing constitutional redistricting criteria and eliminate current supermajority voting requirements for legislative approval of redistricting plans.
If ultimately approved by voters, the amendment could substantially reshape congressional and legislative redistricting beginning with the 2028 election cycle.
The Legislature approved the first passage of a constitutional amendment (A.5036-C (Jacobson)/S.5711-C (Skoufis)) that would require most local and judicial elections outside New York City to be held in even-numbered years. The proposal would move elections for city officials, county clerks, sheriffs, district attorneys, and most judicial offices outside New York City from odd- to even-numbered years, aligning them with state and federal election cycles. New York City elections and village elections would remain exempt from the change. The amendment would also authorize a transition process through 2034 to align existing terms of office with the new election schedule.
If approved, the amendment would complete the state’s ongoing transition toward consolidating local elections with higher-turnout even-year election cycles, a process that began with legislation enacted in 2023 affecting many town and county offices.
As the Legislature concluded its work for the year, attention quickly shifted from policymaking to politics. The 2026 election cycle is expected to bring significant turnover to Albany, with a notable number of legislators retiring, pursuing higher office, or departing public service altogether. In addition, the implementation of the State’s cap on outside income for legislators may accelerate turnover among some members and contribute to broader changes within the Legislature.
This year's elections feature several competitive legislative contests across the State. Many of these races reflect broader debates within the Democratic Party regarding housing, affordability, economic development, public safety, climate policy, and the role of government.
Several races may have implications beyond the individual districts involved. The retirements of Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, along with numerous open-seat contests, will create opportunities for a new generation of lawmakers to enter Albany and could reshape committee leadership and conference dynamics in the coming years.
While the overall partisan balance of the Legislature is unlikely to change significantly, the composition of both conferences may continue to evolve. As veteran lawmakers depart and new members arrive, shifts in leadership, committee membership, and policy priorities are likely to influence the legislative agenda on issues including housing, labor, healthcare, climate policy, consumer protection, and emerging technologies.
Below is a summary of other notable legislation tracked by Brown Weinraub on behalf of our clients, including measures that were supported, opposed, or closely monitored based on client priorities. Please reach out to your lobbyist or our Legislative Director, Everett Hart (ehart@brownweinraub.com), with any questions for additional detail.
Please note that once a bill passes both houses, it may be delivered to the Governor at any time between passage and the end of the calendar year. The Governor generally has 10 days after delivery to sign or veto a bill; however, bills delivered at the end of session are subject to an extended 30-day review period. If the Governor does not act within the applicable time period, the bill is automatically vetoed.
This bill prohibits certain food and food color additives and establishes requirements for the reporting of GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) substances. It further provides that recognition by the FDA of any such substance as safe may not be alleged as a defense in court. This bill has passed both houses and awaits the Governor's action.
This bill affects school districts and their ability to recover costs from energy performance contracts. It extends the maximum recovery period from eighteen to twenty-five years.
This bill provides liability protections for healthcare providers who administer vaccines, provided that the vaccination does not arise from willful misconduct or gross negligence.
This bill establishes requirements governing communications relating to an individual's health information, including consent requirements for the processing of such information.
This bill incorporates recommendations from national medical associations into state vaccine recommendations and coverage requirements. The legislation was signed on May 15, 2026 (Chapter 114).
This bill incorporates recommendations from national medical associations into state school vaccine recommendations and coverage requirements. The legislation was signed on May 15, 2026 (Chapter 115).
Establishes the Police Radio Transparency Act, requiring public access to certain police radio communications and limiting the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies may encrypt radio transmissions. The legislation is intended to promote transparency and public access to information while preserving exceptions for officer safety, active investigations, and other sensitive law enforcement activities.
Prohibits the use of "stealth crawlers," automated tools that access websites or online services without authorization or in a manner designed to evade detection and establishes enforcement mechanisms to address unauthorized data collection practices.
A.11569/S.9573 (De Los Santos - Rivera): Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Wait List
This bill ensures transparent, equitable, and regionally based access to the Nursing Home Transition & Diversion (NHTD) Medicaid Waiver Program by requiring the Department of Health to establish and maintain waiting lists once federally approved waiver capacity has been reached.
While several notable bills did not pass both houses this year, we expect many of these proposals to be reintroduced and reconsidered during the 2027-2028 Legislative Session. Because a new Legislature will convene following the 2026 elections, all legislation must be reintroduced and assigned new bill numbers. As a result, bills that did not pass this year will return to their committee of origin and must proceed through the legislative process anew before receiving floor consideration.
Would require healthcare providers who administer vaccines to individuals 19 years of age or older to report such vaccinations to the NYSDOH or, for providers located in New York City, the NYCDOH.
Status: Passed Assembly; Senate Health Committee.
Would establish a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for mattresses, requiring manufacturers to develop and implement a stewardship program for the collection, transportation, and recycling of discarded mattresses. Following extensive stakeholder engagement, the legislation was significantly amended during the session to more closely align with successful mattress recycling programs operating in other states.
Status: Assembly Ways and Means Committee; Senate Passed.
Would require health plans to increase spending on primary care to 12.5% of total healthcare spending in order to increase investments in primary care, improve access, and reduce long-term costs.
Status: Senate Passed; Assembly Ways and Means Committee.
Would establish new protections for residents of ground lease cooperative apartment buildings, including provisions relating to ground lease expirations and opportunities for resident ownership groups to acquire underlying property interests.
Status: Assembly Rules Committee; Senate Judiciary Committee.
Would require reporting of Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by businesses operating in New York with more than $1 billion in annual global revenue, modeled after similar legislation enacted in California.
Status: Senate Passed; Assembly Codes Committee.
Would establish a legal framework governing the operation of autonomous vehicles in New York, including requirements related to testing, deployment, oversight, and the operation of vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.
Status: Assembly Transportation Committee; Senate Transportation Committee.
Would authorize medical assistants to administer vaccines under the supervision of a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
Status: Senate Passed; Assembly Higher Education Committee.
Would prohibit pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers from restricting the ability of providers to utilize contract pharmacies, imposing burdensome administrative requirements, or requiring disclosure of proprietary data related to participation in the 340B program.
Status: Senate Passed; Assembly Health Committee.
Would require the Department of Health to develop a ra-i8te add-on supporting dyadic care services in pediatric settings to help ensure infants, young children, and families receive appropriate early intervention services and support.
Status: Remained in the Health Committees of both houses.
Would establish a regulatory framework for prediction market platforms, including licensing requirements, consumer protections, advertising restrictions, and oversight of event-based contracts that allow participants to wager on the outcome of future events.
Status: Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee; Senate Finance Committee.
Would prohibit the retail sale of nitrous oxide for recreational intoxication purposes.
Status: Senate Passed; Assembly Rules Committee.
If there is a bill that was not listed here that you would like to know the status of, please reach out to your lobbyist or our Legislative Director, Everett Hart (ehart@brownweinraub.com).
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