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Senate bill · S2046 (2025-26)

Establishes the mental health educational opportunity program and the mental health higher educational opportunity program

Latest action Jun 1, 2026

New York State Senate

Sponsor

Lea Webb

State Senator, District 52 · Democratic/Working Families

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Summary

Establishes the mental health educational opportunity program and the mental health higher educational opportunity program to provide additional educational opportunities for students at certain universities and colleges in the state to enroll in academic programs that lead to a degree or degrees required for licensure in any of the mental health professions.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Education Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To provide additional educational opportunities for students to enroll in academic programs that lead to a degree or degrees required for licensure in any of the mental health professions.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate.

Cosponsors

José M. Serrano, Julia Salazar and 3 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)
  • Democratic5

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Lea Webb says this is needed

Our state and our country are facing a mental health crisis. Action is needed to encourage more students to go into the mental health field in order to meet the growing demands for mental health and behavioral health professionals. There is also a huge disparity between the current demographic make-up of behavioral health professionals and the general population. There is a particular shortage of multi-lingual profes- sionals which continues to drive disparities in access to treatment for those who are not proficient in the English language. Both the EOP and the HEOP program have proven successful, and we need to build on its success to meet the needs of our state. Public and Inde- pendent colleges and universities can play an integral role in fostering the next generation of mental health professionals by supporting them as they navigate graduate school, getting credentialed, and opening up opportunities through internships.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 1, 2026Result: passed

    (47) (13) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesMay 28, 2026Result: passed

    (18) (3) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education

    Senate Higher EducationMar 10, 2026Result: passed

    (10) (1) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 5, 2025Result: passed

    (49) (11) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesMay 29, 2025Result: passed

    (20) (0) (0) (1)

Full history

  1. Jun 1, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 1, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 1, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Assembly

  4. May 28, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  5. May 28, 2026

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1349

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1349

    NY Senate

Show full history (9 earlier events)
  1. Mar 10, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  3. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Senate

  4. Jun 5, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  5. Jun 5, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  6. Jun 5, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Assembly

  7. May 29, 2025

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  8. May 29, 2025

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1475

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1475

    NY Senate

  9. Jan 15, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Senate