Requires health insurance policies to include coverage for doula services as required coverage for maternity care

Latest action Apr 29, 2026

Requires health insurance policies to include coverage for doula services as required coverage for maternity care.

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 A5140, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Insurance Law.

Committee

Insurance · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Insurance · New York State Senate, Women's Issues · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To require all health insurance companies to include coverage for doula services.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 29, 2026Result: passed
(57) (1) (0) (5)
Vote: Committee vote · Women's Issues
Senate Women's IssuesMar 25, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Women's Issues
Senate Women's IssuesMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Al Taylor, Brian Cunningham and 4 more on Agora

Democratic6

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

This bill shall require all health insurance companies to provide cover- age for doula care services. A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Countless scien- tific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved phys- ical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. For example, a Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, found an unusually high number of positive birth outcomes when a doula was present. With the support of a doula, women were less likely to have pain-relief medications administered and less likely to have a cesarean birth. Regardless of the socioeconomic status, a woman should not be subject to limited birthing support. This legislation will offer all mothers the opportunity to be cared for by licensed doulas.

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

Apr 29, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 29, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 29, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
NY Assembly
Mar 30, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 26, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (9 earlier events)

Mar 25, 2026
1ST Report CAL.640
1ST REPORT CAL.640
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WOMEN'S ISSUES
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 22, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 21, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 20, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1141
1ST REPORT CAL.1141
NY Senate
Mar 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WOMEN'S ISSUES
NY Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
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 2, 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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