2026 End of Legislative Session Summary
The Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) spent the 2026 legislative session advocating for policies that protect older adults, people with disabilities, and vulnerable New Yorkers. New York's Legislature adjourned its 2026 session in June. While several important bills are awaiting Governor Hochul's signature, meaningful progress was made on legislation that promotes the ability of older adults to live independently and with dignity.
Below are a few of the legislative priorities and other matters that CELJ supported this year and what they could mean for older adults, families, and communities across New York.
Legislation Pending Action by Governor Hochul
While the legislative session has ended, advocacy continues. The following bills passed the Legislature and are awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. Your voice of support can help make a difference.
Here is how you can help:
Contact Governor Kathy Hochul and encourage her to sign these important bills into law.
Phone: (518) 474-8390
Email: Legislative.Secretary@exec.ny.gov
Reach out to your State Senator and Assemblymember to thank them for supporting legislation that protects older adults and vulnerable New Yorkers.
Share this legislative summary with friends, family, and community organizations.
Follow CELJ for updates on these and other policy priorities throughout the year.
Ceasing Repeated and Extremely Egregious Predatory (CREEP) Behavior ActA3226A / S3394A
The CREEP Act updates New York's stalking laws so more victims can get a court order for protection, no matter who is stalking or harassing them. Under the current law, many people cannot get this type of protection if the person harming them is not a family member or intimate partner.
Everyone deserves to feel safe. Many older adults face stalking, harassment, intimidation, or other harmful behaviors from neighbors, caregivers, or people they know. This bill closes an important gap in the law by helping more victims get a court order for protection, even when the person causing the harm is not a family member or intimate partner.
No one should be denied protection simply because of their relationship with the person causing the harm.
Learn more: Memo of Support
Passed by the Legislature – this bill is awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. If signed into law, will take effect 180 days after signature.
Nonprofit Contracting Reform
These two bills improve how New York collaborates with nonprofit organizations by facilitating faster funding, making the contracting process clearer, and speeding up payment timelines. When nonprofits have the resources they need, communities benefit. These reforms help organizations retain staff, sustain programs, and keep serving people without interruptions caused by delayed state payments.
Access to Operating Funds - Services shouldn't have to wait because funding does. S9855A/A11179
This bill helps nonprofit organizations receive a portion of their state funding sooner instead of waiting months to be reimbursed after services have already been provided. It also makes the contracting process easier and more flexible. Organizations like CELJ provide free vital services to older adults and vulnerable New Yorkers. Receiving funding sooner helps nonprofits pay staff, keep programs running, and continue serving their communities without unnecessary financial hardship.
2. Transparency & Payment Predictability - When nonprofits are paid on time, they can focus on helping people. S9761 / A10741
This bill helps nonprofit organizations get paid more quickly by making the state contracting process clearer and improving payment timelines. Delayed payments can make it difficult for nonprofits to plan and continue providing essential services. More reliable payment timelines help organizations focus on serving their communities instead of worrying about cash flow.
Reliable funding helps nonprofits keep their doors open and continue serving New Yorkers.
Passed by the Legislature – these bills are awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. If signed into law, will take effect 180 days after signature.
Consumer Debt Uniformity Act A10182A / S9760
This bill extends important legal protections beyond credit card debt to include other everyday debts, such as medical bills, rent, tuition, and utility bills. It also makes the court process fairer and more consistent.
Older adults can face serious hardship when debts are confusing or unfair. This bill extends protection beyond credit card debt and makes the legal process clearer and more consistent. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly, regardless of the type of debt they owe.
Passed by the Legislature - The bill is awaiting Governor Hochul's signature. If signed, it will take effect immediately.
Learn more: Memo of Support
Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Waiver Program A11569 / S9573
The NHTD Waiver Program helps eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities receive long-term services and supports in their homes and communities rather than in nursing homes. The 2025-2026 Enacted Budget placed a cap on the number of individuals who could participate in the NHTD Waiver Program. The cap was quickly met, and eligible individuals were prevented from accessing this essential program.
Currently, there is no waiting list or tracking mechanism to determine when a vacancy occurs for the next person. This legislation requires the NYS Dept. of Health to establish a waiting list per designated waiver region. Maintaining regional waiting lists with transparent and equitable protocols is the only way to ensure equitable access so that eligible individuals are considered in a fair and consistent manner when openings become available.
Nursing Home Hospice Agreements A10310A / S9620A
Hospice care gives people comfort and support when they are in the last phases of an illness that cannot be cured and during end of life. Hospice is specialized care that provides physical comfort and emotional, social and spiritual support. People living in nursing homes have the right to access hospice care just like they would in a community setting. Nursing homes however are not required to establish agreements with hospice providers. The result is residents in nursing homes without such an agreement are faced with having to move or go without this specialized care that if they were in the community would be able to access.
This bill requires nursing homes to establish agreements with hospice providers so that residents and their families have meaningful choices about hospice services. It would also establish minimum requirements for coordination between nursing homes and hospice providers.
Nursing Home Ownership Disclosure A10312A / S9555A
As nursing homes increasingly become for-profit, it is important that who owns and operates the nursing home is transparent and clear to understand by current and prospective residents and their families.
This bill expands the information nursing homes must disclose to residents and their families including information on the ownership structure, the current board of directors and/or members of a limited liability entity, and any contractors involved with the major functions of the nursing home, including staffing, food and linen service.
CELJ Priorities That Did Not Pass and Will Remain Priority in 2027
Good Guardianship Act (A9295B / S8654B)
Guardianship is meant to be a last resort; a legal intervention used only when a Court has determined an individual cannot safely manage decisions about their health, finances, or living arrangements. However, there are not enough qualified guardians to serve the roughly 30,000 New Yorkers who need them, including in WNY.
Judges are struggling to find qualified guardians who lack financial resources or family members to serve as guardian. This bill addresses the gap by creating a statewide initiative of not-for-profit guardians that leverages the expertise and capacity of existing, reputable not-for-profit organizations to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary guardianship services. Through this initiative, well-established guardianships programs will grow, new programs will be created, and alternatives to guardianship will be promoted where appropriate to ensure that individuals across the state have access to these services.
While this bill did not pass this session, it passed the Senate, building momentum for continued advocacy in 2027.
Learn more:
Increase the Personal Needs Allowance S4744B / A2048
The Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) is the small portion of income that nursing home residents may keep each month to pay for essential personal items that are not covered by Medicaid. These everyday necessities include clothes, haircuts, books, hobby materials, snacks, cell phone services, cable/internet, cards and more. Small comforts that support everyday dignity. The rest of the resident’s income, known as a “NAMI” goes to the nursing home towards the cost of their care.
The PNA is $50 and has not been adjusted or increased since 1988. $50 in 1988 is the equivalent to ~$140 today. The PNA is often a resident’s only source of spending money, yet $50 today has far less purchasing power than in 1988. $50 is not enough to meet basic personal expenses especially in a world where every day items continue to rise in price. The gap between what the PNA allows residents to afford and what residents need has direct consequences on resident quality of life, emotional well-being and dignity.
This bill would raise the monthly PNA for eligible individuals from $50 to $200, with future increases linked to the cost of living. We will continue to advocate for the passage of this bill and for the next year’s budget include an increase.
Learn more and to sign a petition calling on the Governor to include an increase in the budget:
Financial Exploitation Protections A7019 / S6379
Financial exploitation is one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse. Laws must be strengthened to ensure uniformity across the state; covering Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, banking, and other financial institutions. In many cases, victims’ accounts are completely depleted before investigations conclude. It is critical that financial institutions have the ability to pause suspicious transactions and report concerns before irreversible harms occur. This legislation, with an amendment to allow for the depositor to object to such a hold, strikes the balance of safeguarding vulnerable adults while respecting vital civil liberties.
On December 2, 2025, Karen Nicolson, CEO, testified before the Assembly Standing Committees on Aging, Banks, and Children and Families:
CELJ Testimony: Adult Protective Services and Elder Financial Exploitation
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Many of the challenges addressed through legislation begin in our own neighborhoods. Advocacy begins with you. Contact the Center for Elder Law & Justice to learn about available legal services and advocacy resources.
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