The Overview

If you've ever struggled to get a primary care appointment in New York, this new law could change who makes some of the calls about your care. New York's S 3822, which makes conforming changes reflecting the previously authorized scope of practice of nurse practitioners, became law when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed it June 26. Nurse practitioners could help fill primary care gaps amid physician shortages, but a 2023 study in *Medical Care Research and Review* found that nurse practitioner employment in New York primary care practices was lower than its comparison-state-based estimate after the state's 2015 modernization law. ​

What the Law Does

The law makes conforming changes to state statutes so that nurse practitioners can authorize or make certain determinations that had been limited to physicians, bringing the written law in line with the scope of practice nurse practitioners were already authorized to hold. Before this fix, the statutes contained language that technically barred nurse practitioners from carrying out functions they were otherwise permitted to perform, creating a gap between what the law said and what regulators had already allowed.

Assemblymember Amy Paulin, the Assembly bill's sponsor, wrote that the law "removes inconsistencies in the law that prohibited" nurse practitioners from carrying out functions within their authorized scope. In practical terms, the Watertown Daily Times reported that the legislation lets nurse practitioners handle more routine medical paperwork.

Legislative Status

Sen. Gustavo Rivera was the bill's lead sponsor, and seven cosponsors joined him: George Borrello, Siela Bynoe, Robert Jackson, John Liu, Peter Oberacker, William Weber and Alexis Weik.

The Senate passed the bill 59–1 on June 4, with only one dissenting vote out of 60 cast. The Assembly passed it 133–1 on June 5, with one no vote out of 134 cast. Combined, the two chambers cast 192 yes votes against just two no votes. A prior-session version of the bill was introduced in 2023–2024 before the measure finally cleared both chambers in the 2025–2026 session.

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