At a time when our fundamental freedoms face unrelenting attacks, New York must rise as the bold, unwavering resistance our nation needs. We are a state shaped by people who refused to bow to injustice—and that legacy demands action now. We cannot simply hold the line; we must push it forward
2026 Priorities
2026 Reproductive and Sexual Health Rights and Access Agenda
BUDGET PRIORITIES
$35M to Backfill Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid Defund. In July of 2025, President Trump and his allies in Congress advanced legislation that prohibits Planned Parenthoods from receiving federal Medicaid funding. This action threatens access to care not only for those on Medicaid, but for all patients that rely on Planned Parenthood for essential care. In recognition of this, Governor Hochul committed to backfilling this loss in October. Our state budget must reaffirm that commitment.
$30M in Funding for the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program (RFEP). In 2022, Governor Hochul made a historic $25M investment in new grant funding to support abortion access. Funding for the RFEP has remained flat since its inception in 2022, despite the increasing attacks on abortion access and the rising costs of care.
Sustained Grant Funding Supporting the Provision of Medication Abortion and Care Later in Pregnancy ($20M). The FY26 budget included $20M to support access to medication abortion and care later in pregnancy. This was a deeply needed investment to address unsustainable Medicaid reimbursement for these critical services. Providers have yet to receive this funding, and the need for it is only growing. New York must maintain this investment into the future to ensure providers can sustainably deliver the care their patients need and deserve without the financial barriers of the past.
Sustained Reproductive Health Care Improvement Funding for Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Providers ($15M). The FY26 established the Reproductive Health Care Improvement Program a capital funding stream to help providers address the unique needs of their individual health centers – supporting not only security upgrades, but necessary health center renovations that improve access to care and facilitate debt retirement.
$15M in Additional Funding to Support the Family Planning Grant (FPG). This grant supports access to a range of essential primary and preventive reproductive health care services for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals. However, the grant remains seriously underfunded and now is at risk for further cuts due to the Trump Administration’s pending budget and regulatory actions related to the federal Title X family planning program. It is critical that the state increase funding for the grant to ensure our most vulnerable communities can continue to receive the care they need regardless of federal funding.
PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT ADVANCES OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Electronic Health Records Privacy A.2613 Lunsford/S.1633 Fernandez
Electronic health records have become increasingly portable and interconnected, leading to patients’ entire medical records becoming available to all providers with access. This places patients who receive abortion and gender affirming care at risk, particularly those patients who receive this care in New York and travel back to a state that criminalizes such care. This legislation would require electronic health record companies to create the ability to segment electronic health records and suppress sensitive health information at a patient’s direction.
Fund Practical Support for Abortion Patients A.2137 González-Rojas/S.135 Cleare
This bill would expand our state’s Reproductive Freedom + Equity program to fund practical support needs of patients seeking abortion who are facing barriers like the cost of transportation, lodging, meals, and childcare.
Protect Access to Medication Abortion S.8544 Hinchey/A.9217 Paulin
Despite over two decades of documentation showing the safety and efficacy of mifepristone in managing pregnancy loss, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would conduct a new review that could jeopardize the drug’s approval or conditions of use. This legislation would protect access by clarifying that state law does not prohibit the prescribing and dispensing of mifepristone solely because the FDA changed its conditions of use.
Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Program A.6571 Rozic/S.5981 Fernandez
This bill will would put into statute a commitment fully fund the state’s longstanding Family Planning Grant program with state dollars.
Prescription Labeling Confidentiality for Gender-Affirming Care A.6927 Simone
This legislation would create an important layer of protection for providers of gender-affirming care by allowing them to put their organizational practice name rather than the prescriber’s name on medication labels specific to the provision of this care.
Protecting Coverage of Gender-Affirming Care A.6596 Rosenthal
This bill would build on existing state protections for gender-affirming care by ensuring New York continues to provide Medicaid coverage regardless of federal threats or actions and would prohibit discrimination in private health insurance plans.
Gender-Affirming Care Access Program A.8841 González-Rojas/S.7924 Gonzalez
Legally protecting the provision of gender-affirming care is just the first step in making access to this care a reality. This bill would establish a grant program to fund providers and other organizations to support access to gender-affirming care.
COALITION PRIORITES
PPESA is proud to support the following legislative priorities of our coalition partners.
Maternal Health, Dignity, & Consent Act A.860 Rosenthal/S.845 Salazar
Pregnant and post-partum New Yorkers are all too often drug-tested with no medical reason, and without their knowledge or consent, and screened for substance use without any context for how this information will be used. The consequences are devastating - families are harmed through separation, and people’s sense of safety and trust in their providers, and the medical system is fundamentally altered and fractured. This legislation takes steps towards addressing this trauma and harm by requiring that providers inform patients about the medical basis for a drug test or screen, providing them with the knowledge of how it relates to their or their newborn’s care, and that a positive result could have certain legal consequences.
Prohibiting the Use of Restraints on People Who are Pregnant, Birthing, and Post Pregnancy A.1607 Rosenthal/S.2666 Salazar
Despite New York’s prohibition on shackling people who are pregnant, in labor or delivery, or recovering from pregnancy outcomes, loopholes in our state law have allowed this dangerous and degrading practice to continue. This legislation would narrow the exceptions in which shackling may be permitted.
Supporting Breastfeeding and Nursery Access for Incarcerated Parents A.1670 Rosenthal/S.2667 Salazar
This legislation would provide resources and supports to facilitate breastfeeding and lactation, improve access to nursery programs with extended timeframes for children to stay with parents, and require data collection on nursery program participation in New York.
The CARE Act A.4879 Kelles/S.4583 Salazar
All people deserve access to the care and resources they need to maintain their health and wellbeing even in carceral settings. The Care Act would establish a comprehensive statutory policy of human rights related to incarcerated pregnant or postpartum people in New York State.
Gender Identity Respect Dignity and Safety Act (GIRDS) A.5478 Gallagher/S.1049 Salazar
This legislation protect the safety of transgender individuals in the carceral system by requiring that prisons and jails presumptively place transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex people in facilities which most closely align with their gender identity.
Decriminalization of Sexually Transmitted Infections A.733 González-Rojas
Under NYS law, it is a misdemeanor for any person with a known STI to have sexual intercourse with another person with no exceptions for when someone with a known STI discloses their status, has an STI at an undetectable level, or takes action to reduce harm in sexual activity. This legislation would repeal that section of our law.
The Healthy and Safe Students Act A.7496 González-Rojas/S.6901 Salazar
New York currently has no requirement for schools to provide any sex education, and many public schools that do offer sex education often include inaccurate, incomplete, or biased information. This legislation would require public and charter school students receive medically accurate, age-appropriate, inclusive comprehensive sex ed.