In a powerful sample of support for reproductive rights, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new legislation designed to strengthen New York’s position as a safe refuge for reproductive health care in the United States.
The bill, known as S.36a/A.2145a, allows medical care providers who recipe abortions medications to use the name of their practice on recipe labels instead of their own. This measure seeks to protect the privacy of medical professionals in a context of growing hostility towards reproductive health care, both at the state and federal level.
“Reproductive freedom will always be protected in the state of New York, and I will never give up in this fight,” Hochul said in a statement, highlighting the need for this legislation before the national scene around reproductive rights. “At a time when fundamental rights are under attack throughout the country, we are redoubled our commitment to guarantee access to reproductive health care and defend those in the first line of this battle.”
This bold movement arrives at a crucial moment. Since the Supreme Court annulled Roe v. Wade in June 2022, more than half of the female population in the US lives in states with significant restrictions on access to abortion, according to the Associated Press agency.
In marked contrast, New York has pledged to be a safe refuge for those who seek reproductive attention, with the support of various government leaders, including the majority leader in the state Senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
“This bill is a direct response to the growing attacks on reproductive rights throughout the country. While other states intensify their efforts to criminalize abortion, New York remains firm. We will not allow extremists of anti-abortion to intimidate suppliers or block access to attention,” said Stewart-Cousins in a statement.
Hochul also approached the worrying trend of increasing violence and hostility towards reproductive care providers. He mentioned the case of a doctor in Indiana who faced threats and disciplinary measures after providing care to a girl, stressing that “our doctors are in danger in America after Roe.”
The governor also made a forceful promise to protect New York medical professionals against legal actions derived from the care they provide to patients from states with restrictive laws.
“I will never allow our doctors to extradit for simply fulfilling their oath,” said Hochul.
Legal and social battles around abortion have affected the lives of innumerable people in conservative states. With the new legislation of Hochul, New York remains one of the few states committed to reproductive rights, which includes a solid financial and infrastructural support to improve access to all forms of reproductive health care.
In her speech on the state of the State of 2025, the governor highlighted plans to distribute $ 25 million in various reproductive health programs, reinforcing New York’s determination to face the regressive laws that emerge in other parts of the country.
“These laws provide critical protections to our doctors and ensure the status of New York as a shelter for women seeking reproductive attention,” said Assembly, Carl Heastie.
In addition to the emotional and psychological dimensions of these problems, the economic aspect was also a key point in the legislative effort. Many reproductive health providers, argued Heastie, have dealt for a long time with the lack of adequate financing to cover the costs of the services they offer. To address this imbalance, city leaders are working on the creation of a new $ 20 million fund aimed at ensuring that these suppliers can maintain their essential operations without the constant threat of financial crises.
In addition to the key provisions within the new law that protect the privacy of suppliers, Governor Hochul announced efforts to expand the Telemedicine Law approved in 2023. The objective is to allow medical professionals to consult patients with patients in states with restrictive laws without facing reprisals.
“We are very proud that the women’s rights movement was born here in our state. We will continue to be that lighthouse of hope,” said Hochul.
After the seismic change in abortion rights after the Dobbs ruling, many states, including New York, have reinforced their position on reproductive health care. The new signed bill is an essential part of that commitment and complements a series of legislative protection measures that place New York at the forefront of the struggle for reproductive justice.
Legislators and defenders have openly praised Hochul’s leadership.
“While the Trump administration and some hostile states fight a war against women and their bodies, the state of New York will continue to be a safe refuge for those who seek or provide reproductive health care,” said Manhattan’s assemblyman, Linda Rosenthal.
