Technology

Specifies that professional liability insurance insurers cannot deny coverage or increase rates solely based on legal use or prescription of certain gender-affirming care-related drugs; prescribes procedures for warrants issued in other jurisdictions for electronic data related to legally protected health activities; provides for additional procedural methods for protection of legally protected health activities.

Prohibits the use of a wage-fixing algorithm in combination with personal or behavioral data to set or recommend wages or compensation; defines terms; establishes penalties for violations of such prohibition.

Directs the commissioner of health to conduct a study on and then integrate blockchain technology into its New York state of health marketplace and statewide health information network for New York and improve interoperability of these two platforms.

Requires the registration of data brokers; imposes regulations upon data brokers; establishes a data deletion mechanism for consumers; imposes penalties upon data brokers for violations of the law.

Establishes the NY digital choice act requiring social media companies to provide covered users with a copy of the covered user's social graph at the request of the covered user; defines terms; provides requirements for the interoperability of covered users' data; grants the attorney general the authority to promulgate rules and regulations and enforce such provisions.

Creates penalties for likenesses altered or created by artificial intelligence being used for commercial gain; establishes a private right of action for the unlawful dissemination of still or video images generated by artificial intelligence.

Enacts the New York Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act establishing protections for individual rights with respect to computational algorithms; establishes protections against the use of algorithms involved in consequential decisions, such as those that impact people's rights, civil liberties, and livelihoods, including employment, banking, health care, the criminal justice system, public accommodations, and government services; prohibits developers and deployers from offering, licensing, or using covered algorithms that discriminate based on protected characteristics or that cause a disparate impact; requires developers and deployers of covered algorithms to complete independently audited pre-deployment evaluations and post-deployment impact assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate any potential biased use or discriminatory outcomes; requires developers and deployers to mitigate any harms identified by the pre-deployment evaluations and impact assessments and ensure that any covered algorithm performs reasonably well and is consistent with its publicly-advertised purpose; increases transparency around the use of covered algorithms in consequential decisions, including providing individuals a right to appeal an algorithmic decision to a human decision-maker; provides remedies for violations.

This Senate Resolution (S.1384) requests Governor Hochul to officially proclaim May 21, 2026, as Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) in New York State. It aims to raise public awareness about digital accessibility for people with disabilities, particularly in video gaming, where accessibility barriers affect millions. The resolution is symbolic - no new laws or funding are created - and directly affects New Yorkers, especially disabled gamers and communities advocating for inclusive digital experiences. It aligns with GAAD's global mission to promote inclusive design in technology.

Requires covered businesses to annually report to the department of labor regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use for the previous year; requires the department of labor to file an annual report on the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring and the nature of artificial intelligence use in the state; establishes penalties for covered business that fail to submit such reports.

This bill requires operators of companion chatbots in New York to include a clear warning about potential psychological risks and dependency. It directly affects businesses, corporations, or individuals running chatbots designed to simulate interpersonal relationships (like romantic, familial, or therapeutic interactions) as their primary function. The law mandates that this warning appear prominently on the chatbot's website and be available in all languages the chatbot supports. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.