ALBANY, N.Y. — All year long, News10NBC has covered legislation in Albany and how it could impact the Rochester area. Now, with the year winding down, the fate of these bills are in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s hands. Here are some of the bills that Hochul signed in December, after they passed the State Legislature and State Assembly earlier this year.
Medical Aid in Dying Act
Hochul signed a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe a pill to end the life of a person with less than six months to live. Medical staff don’t have to participate in providing aid in dying if they don’t feel comfortable doing so.
Hochul said the bill that the legislature passed this year had several protections to ensure that no patient is coerced into taking the pills and that no medical professionals are forced to help.
Medical aid in dying is already legal in some other states. News10NBC spoke with a Rochester woman whose brother opted for aid in dying in Washington State. Ethan Remmel was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, which spread to his bones and caused severe pain.
Jail and Prison Oversight Omnibus Bill
Hochul signed a bill aiming to protect inmates and hold prison staff accountable. The new law will require more cameras in prisons, the release of video footage related to deaths involving correctional officers, detailed autopsy reports, and more.
The family of inmate Robert Brooks, the Greece native who was killed at Marcy Correctional Facility, has advocated for the bill.
Brooks’ family has said there needs to be systemic change to keep inmates safe and hold prison staff accountable.
Bill on affordability for lung cancer screening
Hochul signed a bill aiming to make lung cancer screening more affordable. The new law requires health insurance policies to cover follow-up screenings or diagnostic services for people with lung cancer and eliminates cost-sharing for those services.
It’s part of the state’s goals to make medical care more affordable, also banning co-pays for essential medications like insulin and inhalers. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in New York, with nearly 13,000 diagnoses and 7,000 deaths each year.
Bill on AI use for ads and using the likeness of dead people
Hochul signed a bill that requires all advertisers who use artificial intelligence-generated content to include a warning saying so.
The bill also requires advertisers who use the likeness of dead people to get consent from their families before including them. In November, a company called Two Way launched an app to create AI versions of dead loved ones. That sparked a debate about using dead people’s AI-generated simulations.
Bill on property tax breaks for older adults
Hochul signed a bill that aims to give older adults a break on their property taxes. Under the bill, older adults statewide could get a property exemption of up to 65%. Eligibility depends on your income and other criteria.
The state says it could save some taxpayers up to $300 a year. Before the bill, the exemption was capped at 50%. Localities can decide whether or not they want to opt in.
A look at bills that Gov. Hochul has signed as the year winds down WHEC.com.
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