Senate Insurance Committee advances nine bills; most reported or referred to Finance

The New York State Senate Standing Committee on Insurance advanced nine bills at its March 24, 2025 meeting, moving most by voice vote and either reporting them out of committee or referring them to the Senate Finance Committee.

Chair New York State Senator Molsey Bailey presided over the session, which featured brief descriptions of each bill, motions to move the measures, and committee voice votes. Several bills were recorded “without recommendation” and will be sent to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

The committee took action on the following bills (motions, movers/seconders and outcomes are recorded as stated in the committee transcript):

• S.2128 (Sen. Jackson) — Would amend the Insurance Law and the Public Health Law to require certain health insurance issuers to certify that a majority of prescription drug rebates are provided to patients at the point of sale. Motion moved by Senator Hart and seconded by Senator Dava. Committee action: referred to the Finance Committee without recommendation (voice vote).

• “Center Front 33,212” (as read on the record; sponsor identified as Senator Captain) — An act described in the transcript as amending the Insurance Law and the State Finance Law to provide state assistance to local governments and enforce fire prevention and building codes. Motion moved by Senator Dabo and seconded by Senator Har. Committee action: referred to the Finance Committee without recommendation (voice vote).

• S.4867 (sponsor text in transcript: Senator F. And I.) — Would amend the Insurance Law to prohibit application of fail-first or step-therapy protocols for diagnosis and treatment of serious mental-health conditions. Motion moved by Senator Harkin and seconded by Senator Dobble. Committee action: referred to the Finance Committee (voice vote).

• S.5045 (Sen. Bailey) — Would amend the Insurance Law in relation to physical therapy services. Motion moved by Senator Ashley and seconded by Senator Hellman. Committee action: bill reported out of committee (voice vote).

• S.5047 (Sen. Bailey, as read in agenda) — Would amend the Insurance Law regarding offering reward or incentive programs to eligible members. Motion moved by Senator Harcomb and seconded by Senator Dabo. Committee action: bill reported out of committee (voice vote).

• S.5318 (sponsor read as Senator Barry Max in the transcript) — Would amend the Insurance Law to prohibit insurers from reducing disability benefits unless certain conditions are met. Motion moved by Senator Helmig and seconded by Senator Davo. Committee action: bill reported out of committee (voice vote).

• S.5461 (sponsor read in the transcript as Senator County) — Would amend the Insurance Law to add homeowner natural-disaster preparedness, home safety and loss-prevention courses. Motion moved by Senator Fernandez and seconded by Senator Madabo. Committee action: bill reported out of committee; Senator Helmy recorded without recommendation.

• S.5545 (sponsor read in the transcript as Senator Hoy Monsiegle) — Would amend the Insurance Law regarding the definition of infertility and health insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization. Motion moved (recorded as moved by Senator Harcom) and seconded (recorded as Senator Fernandez in the transcript). Committee action: bill reported out of committee (voice vote); some members were recorded as without recommendation per the transcript.

• S.5556 (sponsor read in the transcript as Senator Holman Siegel) — Would amend the Insurance Law to prohibit exclusion of coverage based on gender identification on claims forms. Motion moved by Senator Harper and seconded by Senator Dabo. Committee action: bill reported out of committee; Senator Hellman asked to be recorded “with” (direct) for the vote per the transcript.

Context and why it matters

Many of the bills the committee advanced would change coverage rules or insurer practices that affect insured New Yorkers — for example, how rebate savings are passed through at the pharmacy counter, limits on step therapy for serious mental-health conditions, infertility and IVF coverage, and the scope of disability-benefits reductions. Referral to the Senate Finance Committee is the next step for measures that have fiscal implications.

What the record shows

- The session was procedural and brief on substantive debate: the transcript records bill introductions, motions, and voice votes with little floor-level debate on policy details. - Several votes were recorded “without recommendation” for individual senators (the transcript records “without rec” in several instances); the transcript shows voice votes in which senators said “aye.” - The committee chair repeatedly stated where bills would be reported or referred to the Finance Committee.

Next steps

Bills referred to the Finance Committee will require further committee action there before reaching a full-floor consideration. Reported bills move forward in the Senate process according to chamber rules and scheduling.

Ending note

The committee meeting on March 24, 2025 focused on advancing a set of insurance-policy bills; transcript records show procedural movement of measures rather than extended debate or amendment on the committee floor.