Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 2, 2026Result: passed
(58) (3) (0) (2)
Senate bill · S4306 (2025-26)
Requires patient hospital admissions form to allow patient to designate a domestic partner with the same privileges as a next-of-kin respecting authorizing…
Official titleShow
Requires patient hospital admissions form to allow patient to designate a domestic partner with the same privileges as a next-of-kin respecting authorizing surgery
The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.
Latest action Jun 2, 2026
New York State Senate
Summary
Requires patient hospital admissions form to allow a patient to designate a domestic partner with the same privileges as a next-of-kin respecting visitation and the authorizing of surgery for a patient in the absence and unavailability of a next-of-kin or nearest relative where the patient has given no specific instructions and becomes unable to execute a health care proxy or make decisions about their health care.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Public Health Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To require hospitals to recognize a domestic partner as a legal relative for such purpose, if the patient indicates on admission data that such person is a domestic partner or next of kin.
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.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Health · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Health · New York State Senate.
The sponsor's argument
Why Kevin S. Parker says this is needed
When someone is admitted or receives services from a health care provid- er, they have to give next of kin information. Hospitals usually request the nearest relative information and recognize the nearest relative as the person who can consent on behalf of the patient in case of the need for emergency. Some hospitals recognize only a legal relative such as a spouse or children, and will not recognize as next of kin, an unmarried partner, even though the patient may have lived with that person in a husband or wife capacity. This legislation would enable domestic part- ners to be recognized by hospitals as next of kin.
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: Committee vote · Health
Senate HealthApr 21, 2026Result: passed
(15) (0) (0) (0)Vote: Committee vote · Health
Senate HealthApr 29, 2025Result: passed
(14) (0) (0) (0)
Full history
- Jun 2, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- Jun 2, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- Jun 2, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
- Apr 27, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Apr 22, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Show full history (7 earlier events)Show less history
- Apr 21, 2026
1ST Report CAL.810
1ST REPORT CAL.810
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate
- Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
- May 1, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Apr 30, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
- Apr 29, 2025
1ST Report CAL.890
1ST REPORT CAL.890
NY Senate
- Feb 4, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate