New York Senate Bill S07287

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/8/25
• Refer: 4/8/25

Caption

Provides that every insurance policy delivered or issued for delivery in New York which provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall provide space on any enrollment, renewal or initial online portal process forms so that the insured or applicant for insurance shall register or decline registration in the donate life registry.

Summary

This bill amends the Insurance Law and Public Health Law to require that certain major medical or similar comprehensive health insurance policies and contracts include a space on enrollment, renewal, or initial online portal setup forms for an insured, applicant, subscriber, or applicant for coverage to either register or decline registration in New York’s Donate Life Registry. The required prompt would ask whether the person wants to be added to the registry for organ, eye, and tissue donation, with a clear option to check “yes” or “skip this question.” The bill applies to policies and contracts delivered or issued for delivery in New York, but it excludes forms issued by the NY State of Health, the official Health Plan Marketplace, except for certain forms specifically referenced in the Public Health Law and Insurance Law. It updates several existing provisions in the Insurance Law and Public Health Law that already address Donate Life Registry registration opportunities, mainly by clarifying the obligation to provide space on forms and by aligning the language across the affected statutes.

Impact

The bill would amend sections 3221, 3216, and 4306 of the Insurance Law and section 4408 of the Public Health Law. Its practical effect is to standardize and clarify that covered health insurance enrollment and renewal forms must include a Donate Life Registry registration/declination prompt, while preserving existing exceptions for certain state marketplace forms. It does not create a new registry, but reinforces and refines the mechanism by which eligible insureds are offered the opportunity to join the organ, eye, and tissue donor registry.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment. The bill was reported favorably from the Senate Insurance Committee and advanced through the legislative process without any recorded votes or committee debate in the provided materials. That indicates the measure was viewed as a routine clarification or technical update to existing donor-registration requirements rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

No specific opposition or controversy is reflected in the provided transcripts or voting history. The main policy issue apparent from the text is the scope of the requirement—namely, which insurance forms must include the Donate Life Registry prompt and which marketplace-related forms remain exempt. The bill appears aimed at clarifying those boundaries and ensuring consistent implementation across insurers and health plans.