Senate Higher Education Committee reports 10 bills to the floor, including changes to trustee appointments and scope for campus vaccinators

The New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education met Feb. 10, 2026, and by voice vote or unanimous consent reported ten bills to the Senate floor or to referral committees, according to committee proceedings.

The committee considered measures ranging from governance changes at the State University of New York and the City University of New York to several bills that would expand who may administer or order immunizations in outpatient and campus settings. Committee staff introduced each bill and noted whether memos of support or opposition were on file.

Highlights from the session include:

• S.78 (sponsor listed in the record as 'senator Lou, January') would require institutions of higher education to provide written notice about tuition liability and withdrawal policies multiple times during an academic year so students understand potential tuition owed after withdrawal. Committee staff said there were no memos for or against; Senator Jackson moved the bill and it was reported to the floor.

• S.161-A (sponsor 'Ramos') would raise the maximum student-loan forgiveness available to district attorneys, public defenders and indigent civil legal services attorneys from $3,400 to $8,000 per year and expand the eligibility period. Staff said the bill, if reported, would go to the Finance Committee; the committee reported it to Finance.

• S.378 would require the State Education Department and the Office of Children and Family Services to produce conspicuous materials about state and federal supports for foster youth attending SUNY or CUNY and make that information available in admissions and financial offices. The committee reported the bill to the floor.

• S.6110 (sponsor 'Stavisky') would create an expedited approval mechanism for registration of new curricula or programs at not-for-profit colleges and at SUNY and CUNY under specified conditions. The bill was moved, seconded and reported to the floor without recommendation.

• S.627 (sponsor 'Stavisky') would make SUNY and CUNY trustees independent of the appointing entities for trustees appointed after the effective date; the committee reported the bill to the floor.

• S.505340 (sponsor 'Savicki Javelry') would authorize physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to direct medical assistants to administer immunizations under direct supervision in outpatient settings, with training requirements; a memo in support from Lakisha Community Health Center was noted. The committee reported the bill to the floor.

• S.5392 (sponsors recorded as 'Gonzales Banff') would permit certain foreign not-for-profit corporations to obtain certificates of authority to engage in engineering work for wetlands conservation. The Nature Conservancy provided a memo of support; the committee reported the bill to the floor.

• S.5706 (sponsor 'Stoufis') would allow certain nursing students to administer certain vaccines pursuant to patient-specific or non-patient-specific orders and authorizes supervising clinicians to issue such orders. The committee reported the bill to the floor.

• S.7205 (sponsor 'Cooney') would permit pharmacy technicians to compound, prepare, label and dispense prescriptions and to administer vaccinations under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist; several pharmacy organizations submitted letters of support. The committee reported the bill to the floor without recommendation.

• S.84916 (sponsor 'Hinchey') — discussed in greater detail at the meeting — would authorize health-care practitioners to order and administer immunizations recommended by nationally recognized health-care organizations or interstate review bodies as well as those recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. That bill was also reported to the floor after discussion (see separate story on the committee exchange).

Committee staff identified the effective dates given in the bill texts when reported; several measures take effect immediately and others specify a 90-day or similar delayed effective date. Most bills were reported by voice vote; the record notes voice responses of 'Aye' or statements that the bill was 'reported to the floor' or 'reported to the Finance Committee.' The transcript did not include roll-call tallies or a recorded list of individual aye/no votes for the motions taken.

The committee adjourned at 9:51 a.m.