Sponsor · State Senator, District 36 · Democratic/Working Families
Senate bill · S6813 (2025-26)
Enacts the optometry freedom act
Summary
Enacts the optometry freedom act which prohibits a carrier or vision plan restricting an optometrist's choice of supply.
Your position on this bill
Not chosen yet
Where it stands
Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
New York State Senate
Same as A6615, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Amends the Insurance Law.
Committee
Insurance · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Insurance · New York State Senate.
Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To provide that insurance carriers and vision care plans shall not restrict or limit the sources and suppliers of services or materials, or use of optical labs provided in the treatment of a patient.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Cosponsors
The sponsor's argument
Why Jamaal Bailey says this is needed
This bill would allow patients to authorize their optometrist to select the services, materials, and laboratories that are needed for the care and treatment of the patient and not to defer such medical decision-mak- ing to the insurance company. While managing health care costs is impor- tant, this consideration should not replace the medical judgement of the provider in treating a patient. Moreover, allowing insurance companies to determine which services, materials, and laboratories must be used provides the opportunity for such companies to have vertical control over such services, materials, and laboratories, further enriching the insurance companies at the expense of the patient and their care.
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
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
NY Assembly
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
NY Senate
- May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
- Mar 24, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO INSURANCE
NY Senate
- Mar 6, 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.