Includes Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as occupational diseases for purposes of workers' compensation

Latest action Feb 3, 2026

Includes Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as occupational diseases for purposes of workers' compensation; clarifies that disability includes disability caused by Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases; requires insurance coverage of long term medical care for Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases.

Not chosen yet

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

New York State Senate

Same as A1038, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Law.

Committee

Labor · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Labor · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would add Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases to the list of occupational diseases for disabilities sustained or death incurred by an employee under the Workers' Compensation Law. Addi- tionally, this bill would require health insurers to provide coverage for long term medical care for Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateFeb 3, 2026Result: passed
(59) (1) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborJan 21, 2026Result: passed
(12) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 9, 2025Result: passed
(59) (1) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborMar 3, 2025Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Aron Wieder, Carrie Woerner and 11 more on Agora

Democratic10
Republican3

Show all 13 on Agora

William Magnarelli

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Christopher Ryan says this is needed

This bill would ensure Workers' Compensation Law coverage for a disabil- ity caused by or in connection with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases while performing work involving outdoor activity or the treat- ment of animals. Additionally, this bill would require health insurers to provide coverage for long term medical care of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases. Lyme disease is a lifelong illness that is exacerbated unless treated immediately. Unfortunately, Lyme disease, its co-infections, and other tick-borne diseases are generally hard to diagnose because their symp- toms often mimic those of dozens of other common illnesses, presenting symptoms that are sometimes misdiagnosed as mental illness, depression, nutritional deficiencies or Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, chronic Lyme disease is still not fully recognized by many infectious disease doctors leading to further misdiagnoses. One tick may carry more than one disease, resulting in people receiving a "co-infection," two illnesses, from a single tick bite. Climate change, specifically, higher temperatures, is causing the State to expe- rience longer and more severe tick seasons, with the majority of tick- to-human bites occurring in the warmer months when ticks are most active and when more people are outdoors for recreation or work.

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.

Full history

Feb 3, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Feb 3, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Feb 3, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Jan 28, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Jan 27, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (12 earlier events)

Jan 21, 2026
1ST Report CAL.133
1ST REPORT CAL.133
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate
Apr 9, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 9, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Mar 5, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 4, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Mar 3, 2025
1ST Report CAL.436
1ST REPORT CAL.436
NY Senate
Feb 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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