Year-End Albany Update
As 2025 came to a close, Kathy Hochul acted on nearly all legislation passed by the State Legislature, signing 713 bills into law and vetoing 140. The year-end rush reflected a mix of real progress, hard compromises, and unfinished business heading into 2026.
Climate advocates closed the year with a win. The governor signed legislation repealing the “100-foot rule,” ending a policy that forced utility customers to subsidize new gas hookups. This long-overdue change is a meaningful step toward cleaner air, climate responsibility, and lower energy costs. We are deeply grateful to VID’s Environmental Chair, Nat Johnson, and committee members for their tireless advocacy, which helped keep this issue front and center at VID and in Albany.
We also want to highlight progress on the Medical Aid in Dying Act, an issue where VID has been a vocal and consistent proponent. After years of advocacy, the governor announced support for a revised version of the bill, clearing the path for terminally ill New Yorkers to access end-of-life care with dignity and strong safeguards. While final steps remain, this marks a significant milestone for compassionate, patient-centered policy.
Not all outcomes were positive. Among the most consequential vetoes was the New York Health Information Privacy Act (NYHIPA), which would have strengthened protections for sensitive health data beyond HIPAA, a critical safeguard in a post-Dobbs era for people seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care. Several other high-profile bills were vetoed as well, including the Grieving Families Act, the Freedom to Read Act, and reforms to speed up FOIL requests, setting the stage for continued advocacy and renewed fights in 2026.
Read more about these bills, and others that passed or were vetoed, in the articles linked below.