Provides for the release of patient records by the office of mental health
This bill requires New York's Office of Mental Health to create rules for releasing patient records after a person's death. It allows family members, legal representatives, or healthcare providers involved in the person's care to access these records upon written request, while respecting any prior expressed wishes of the deceased. The rules must follow federal privacy laws (HIPAA) and define "family member" for treatment-related requests. It applies directly to families of deceased residents in mental health facilities and the Office of Mental Health, overriding some existing privacy restrictions. The bill does not change current rules for living patients' records.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Assembly Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 14, 2025
Last action Feb 24, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Mar 4, 2025
How they voted
151–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 152
Mar 4, 2025
D
Democratic105
100% Yea
R
Republican47
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
12
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jo Anne Simon
DDemocratic
Co
Angelo Santabarbara
DDemocratic
Co
Manny De Los Santos
DDemocratic
Co
Mary Beth Walsh
RRepublican
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