Senate Standing Committee reports nine substance-use bills, advancing ibogaine research and school prevention instruction

The Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorder convened on April 29, 2026, and reported nine bills to other committees, advancing measures on clinical research, treatment access, prevention education and overdose-prevention requirements.

The first bill, S1817, sponsored by Senator Fernandez, would direct the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to encourage and facilitate clinical research into the use of ibogaine in drug treatment. The chair described the measure as "an interesting one" and said "the topic of ibogaine I think is still new in New York and in practice, so having more research behind it is I think always good." The committee moved and seconded the bill and reported it to the Finance Committee by voice vote; the transcript records the referral but does not provide a roll-call tally.

S4747A, sponsored by Senator Clear, would establish an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program with a statutory repeal on expiration. Committee members moved, seconded and reported the bill to Finance; the transcript records the procedural referral without a recorded roll-call count.

S4948A, sponsored by Senator Harcomb, would amend the mental hygiene law to permit reimbursement for nonmedical transportation for individuals with substance use disorder to access peer support services. The chair voiced support for the approach, saying, "We love peer support services." The measure was moved, seconded and reported to Finance (voice vote); specific vote counts were not recorded in the transcript.

S5103, sponsored by Senator Harcomb, would require schools to include instruction on prevention of co-occurring disorders as part of health education programs. The bill was moved, seconded and — according to the transcript — drew at least one negative voice vote before being reported to the Education Committee.

S5900 (sponsored by Senator Lanza) would direct distribution of educational materials on prescription drug misuse in counties with the highest prevalence of opioid misuse; S5969A (sponsored by Senator Parker) would create a substance use disorder treatment bill of rights; and S8363A (sponsored by Senator Fernandez) would establish a rate enhancement for individual counseling integrated into care. Each of these measures was moved, seconded and reported to the calendar or Finance as noted in the record; the transcript shows voice votes with no roll-call tallies.

S7508 (sponsored by Senator Clear) would amend the Public Health Law to require prescribers to prescribe an opioid antagonist when prescribing an opioid. The committee moved and seconded the bill and reported it to Finance (voice vote).

S9272 (sponsored by Senator Fernandez) would expand opioid overdose prevention measures in certain settings; it was moved, seconded and reported to Education.

Votes at a glance: each bill on the day's agenda was moved and seconded; all were reported to the committee or calendar listed on the record (Finance, Education or Calendar). The transcript records voice votes and occasional single "no" responses on some items but does not include roll-call tallies or named vote records.

The committee did not set next steps or dates for further consideration in the transcript. Several bills were described as pilot programs or statutory amendments to the mental hygiene law and public health or education law; the transcript includes the statutes as stated by the bill readers but does not provide statutory citations beyond those names.

The meeting closed with thanks from the chair and no additional business recorded in the provided transcript.