S4914B

The New York State Senate passed legislation strengthening the state's shield law to protect reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care providers from investigation and prosecution by other states. Senate Print 4914B passed 37-20 on a roll call vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Hoylman-Sigal, creates three layers of protection: safeguarding sensitive healthcare information held by private institutions from access by hostile states or the federal government, ensuring all professionals involved in providing such care receive legal protection, and ensuring courts apply New York's shield law protections. During debate, supporters noted that 19 states restrict reproductive healthcare and 26 states restrict gender-affirming care. Sen. Hoylman-Sigal stated that providers already face legal risk, citing a New York provider who was sued and prosecuted by another state for providing reproductive healthcare. Sen. Mayer emphasized that attacks on providers are "no longer hypothetical," while Sen. Krueger highlighted New York's role as a refuge for those denied healthcare in their home states. The bill takes effect immediately. Twenty senators voted against the measure, including Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber, and Weik.