Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 2, 2026Result: passed
(61) (0) (0) (2)
Senate bill · S8339 (2025-26)
Provides an exception to hospital visitation rules for members of the clergy
Latest action Jun 2, 2026
New York State Senate
Same as A7200, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Provides an exception to hospital visitation rules for members of the clergy.
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 Oct 20, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to providing an exception to hospital visitation rules for members of the clergy.
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, Rules · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Senate.
The sponsor's argument
Why Leroy Comrie says this is needed
This bill will serve to ensure clergy will be able to provide means of support to the people that need it the most, and to the families of those individuals. Clergy has always and continues to alleviate a lot of fear, tense moments by supporting the spiritual safeguard as well as emotional care that families need. According to studies allowing clergy to visit those in hospitals has been shown to help staff burnout and allow for better experience through tough circumstances,
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 HealthMay 12, 2026Result: passed
(14) (0) (0) (1)
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
- May 14, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- May 13, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Show full history (5 earlier events)Show less history
- May 12, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1098
1ST REPORT CAL.1098
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
- Jun 3, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RULES
NY Senate
- Mar 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly