Despite three prior vetoes by Governor Hochul, legislation that would dramatically expand damages in wrongful death actions, S4423/A6063, has once again passed the Senate and Assembly. This bill is nearly identical to the versions she vetoed in 2022, 2023, and 2024, each time citing significant concerns for New York’s healthcare system.

If enacted, this legislation would significantly increase already high medical liability costs and further strain the availability of essential medical services across the state. These changes would run counter to efforts to protect and expand patient access, particularly as potential federal actions could impose additional financial pressure on New York’s healthcare system.

What to Do

Please email Governor Hochul as soon as possible and respectfully urge her to veto S4423/A6063. Encourage her to instead pursue a balanced approach to modernizing New York’s wrongful death statute, one that improves fairness while also addressing our state’s extraordinary liability costs.