New York State Senate Expands Reproductive Protections, Women’s Health, and Privacy
January 21, 2025
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ISSUE:
- Abortion
- Health
- Womens Issues
- Healthcare

The New York State Senate today advanced legislation to strengthen abortion rights and ensure access to reproductive healthcare for all New Yorkers. The included legislation aims to further safeguard New Yorkers' reproductive health and privacy by: requiring companies that collect and sell healthcare information to receive affirmative consent by users to sell such information to third parties; allowing an alternative labeling option for prescribers of medication abortion prescription drugs; and prohibiting the use of “restricted substances” in menstrual products. The package also includes legislation to establish educational and awareness programs related to women’s health including The New York State Abortion Clinical Training Program Act, The Public University Emergency Contraception Education Act and a Hormone Treatment Therapy for Menopause campaign through the Department of Health's Healthcare and Wellness Education and Outreach Program. Lastly, the package will expand access to abortion care by allowing pharmacists to administer contraceptive injections and require state contracts to include a clause that contractor health insurance plans include supplemental breast cancer screenings.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “This past November, New Yorkers made their voices loud and clear with the passage of Proposition 1. This landmark measure safeguarded the fundamental right to abortion access and enshrined equal rights and protections for everyone in our state constitution. Today, we are taking the next step in expanding protections for reproductive freedom, women’s health and privacy. We are ensuring that individuals seeking abortion care receive the support they need, that menstrual products are free from harmful substances, and that healthcare practitioners are equipped with the training necessary to provide essential reproductive services. From enhancing privacy protections for health information to empowering pharmacists to administer contraceptive injections, this legislation reflects our unwavering dedication to protecting the health, dignity, and rights of every individual in our state.”
Bill sponsor and Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee, Senator Lea Webb said, “I am extremely proud of the work we are doing in New York to protect women’s reproductive rights and ensure equitable access to women’s health care. Women deserve the highest quality care for their health at every stage of their lives, including access to period products, timely prenatal care, safe birthing experiences, comprehensive postpartum care, and access to healthcare professionals educated in the appropriate care for all stages of menopause. We know that these issues disproportionately impact people of color and rural communities, which often experience negative health outcomes. I thank the Senate Majority Leader for bringing forward this important package of legislation. This is another important and significant investment in New York’s fight for reproductive rights and an important step towards more equitable health care for women across our state.”
Amends The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grant Program: S.135, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, amends the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grant program to provide practical support including reimbursement for travel, meals, and lodging to individuals accessing abortion care.
Prohibits ‘restricted substances’ in menstrual products: S.1548, sponsored by Senator Nathalia Fernandez, prohibits “restricted substances,” to be determined by the Department of Health (DOH), from being used in menstrual products.
The New York State Abortion Clinical Training Program Act: S.1438, sponsored by Senator Krueger, would establish a clinical training program through the Department of Health (DOH) for the purpose of training healthcare practitioners in the performance of abortion procedures and related reproductive healthcare services.
Protection of Health Information: S.929, sponsored by Senator Krueger, would regulate how companies collect and sell healthcare information, establish data privacy standards for entities that collect personal data related to individuals’ health and provide additional rights and protections to users related to consent and deletion of private health information.
Permitting alternative labeling for medication abortion prescription drugs: S.36A, sponsored by Senator Shelley Mayer, would permit prescription labels for medication abortion prescription drugs (mifepristone, misoprostol and their generic alternatives) to include the name of the prescribing health care practice instead of the name of the prescriber at the prescriber's request.
The Public University Emergency Contraception Education Act: S.1683, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, would require public universities to develop, produce and distribute materials related to emergency contraception.
Raising Awareness to Hormone Therapy Treatments for Menopause: S.1720, sponsored by Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, would inform the public about hormone treatment therapy for treating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause symptoms through the DOH’s Health Care and Wellness Education and Outreach Program.
Authorizing pharmacists to administer contraceptive use injections: S.1703, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, permits pharmacists to administer injections for contraceptive use as prescribed by a licensed provider acting within the scope of their practice.
Supplemental breast cancer screening coverage contractual clause: S.1773, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, requires state contracts for goods and services to include a clause that contractors may not offer health insurance plans that do not include coverage for supplemental breast cancer screenings.
Bill sponsor Senator Cordell Cleare said, "Opportunity to access empowering health care is one step, but without the practical support to make such access manifest, the rights enshrined in our Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grant Program are incomplete. Fortunately, this legislation makes certain that those who need support to access care will receive it. In doing so, we will improve health outcomes for all those seeking reproductive care."
Bill sponsor Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, “S.1548 is about protecting the health and safety of individuals who use menstrual products. For far too long, harmful chemicals like talc, mercury, and lead have gone unchecked in these products, putting countless lives at risk. By prohibiting these dangerous substances, we are prioritizing transparency, accountability, and public health. I am proud to join Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and my colleagues in advancing this critical legislation as part of our ongoing commitment to reproductive rights and health equity.”
Bill sponsor Senator Liz Krueger said, “I am proud to be part of a Majority Conference that understands the need to protect the reproductive rights of all New Yorkers in the face of what we can only anticipate will be an onslaught from the incoming administration in Washington. The bills in this package, including mine to protect privacy -- more important than ever due to the increasing criminalization of reproductive issues by extremist legislatures -- and to establish an abortion clinical training program, will help ensure that critical reproductive healthcare remains accessible for New Yorkers and those who come to our state seeking care.”
Bill sponsor Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am proud to sponsor legislation that will strengthen New York’s telehealth shield law and protect the doctors taking on significant personal risk to care for women in need. My bill, S.36A, will allow pharmacies and providers filling prescriptions to use the provider’s practice name instead of the provider’s name on the prescription label for abortion medication. New York must continue to fight for our sisters across state lines whose futures, health, and well-being are threatened and the doctors serving them.”
Bill sponsor Senator Kevin Parker said, "With the Public University Emergency Contraception Education Act, we are not only equipping students with vital knowledge but also affirming their right to make informed decisions about their own bodies. The bill will create a statewide Emergency Contraception College Education and Awareness Outreach Program through the NYSDOH and would be geared specifically towards students at our state's public universities and educational institutions. In a world where information can change lives, we stand resolute in our mission to provide clear, compassionate education that respects individual choices and ignites a proactive approach to wellbeing."
Bill sponsor Roxanne J. Persaud said, “This bill S.1720 is an essential step toward increasing awareness about the symptoms and health risks of perimenopause and menopause, as well as the benefits of hormone therapy treatments. It will provide essential information to the public, empowering New Yorkers to better manage their symptoms with increased knowledge that will guide them when speaking with their medical professionals and, in turn, improve their access to care and its outcome.”
Christian LoBue, President of the National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund said, “This year’s legislative package represents bold, forward-thinking solutions to address the diverse needs of our communities, from safeguarding sensitive health information to improving access to abortion care, contraception, and hormone replacement therapy. We applaud the expansion of the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program to include funding for practical support, such as transportation, lodging, and childcare, that addresses the deep-rooted barriers to abortion care that persist in our state. This Program provides vital support to abortion providers and funds, like the New York Abortion Access Fund, that work tirelessly to ensure patients get the care they need, especially in the face of mounting federal threats to access. At NIRH, we know that the most enduring progress in protecting and expanding reproductive freedom happens at the state and local levels. We are proud to work alongside our partners in championing these efforts.”
Robin Chappelle Golston, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts said, “As New York prepares for the challenges and attacks on reproductive freedom presented by the incoming federal administration, it is imperative that this preparation includes the fortification of our state’s provider protections, patient privacy measures, and funding access to care. As an already fragile care eco-system continues to grapple with the far-reaching impacts of the Dobbs decision, it will take bold action from our legislature to ensure New York patients and providers are fully supported. There is no freedom without access, and the actions from the New York State Senate today are an important step toward breaking barriers and maintaining this critical access to reproductive health care.”
Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union said, “Reproductive freedom and gender justice are under unprecedented threat. With Trump in the White House, and without the protections of Roe, this threat is existential. This moment demands brave and bold leadership. We are grateful that the Senate is starting the year by passing critical measures to implement health privacy protections and to expand access to abortion care. These measures build on the added protections of the NY Equal Rights Amendment. This is just the beginning of the work we will do together this year to ensure that New York is meeting the moment.”
Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, FACOG, Chair, ACOG District II said, “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), District II applauds the New York State Senate for their commitment to passing important reproductive health protections. As we anticipate new challenges to equitable, comprehensive reproductive health care access, and as the national maternal mortality crisis continues, New Yorkers cannot afford to lose more ground. It is more critical now than ever that we prioritize investment in reproductive health care to ensure robust access and equitable health outcomes.”
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