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We did it! New Yorkers passed Prop 1!
Thank you to all the BKForgers who helped raise awareness and get out the vote for Proposal 1 (aka the NY Equal Rights Amendment) to protect our fundamental rights and reproductive freedom — including abortion.
Prop 1 will close loopholes in the New York State Constitution to make sure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy status, disability status, or whether someone is LGBT. By updating the state constitution, Prop 1 will ensure that our fundamental rights and reproductive freedoms are permanently protected and cannot be rolled back by out-of-touch politicians in the future.
See the official press release from New Yorkers for Equal Rights
Protect the Rights of Incarcerated Pregnant and Postnatal People and Their Babies
BKForge applauds the State Senate for passing the Compassion and Reproductive Equity (CARE) Act (S7132) in the 2024 session. We must keep pushing the Assembly to move this bill forward in the 2025 session (A7630).
The Compassion and Reproductive Equity (CARE) Act would amend current correction law and create a standard of care for incarcerated pregnant and postnatal individuals and their babies. Currently, the rights of pregnant individuals are compromised by the policies and practices of correctional institutions and facilities in New York State. The CARE Act would address the health disparities faced by incarcerated pregnant individuals and guarantee pre and postnatal care for both the birthing parent and the baby.
The current standard of care is vague and limited in its scope — failing the population of pre and postnatal incarcerated individuals in New York State. The CARE Act, above all else, would ensure and protect the human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, incarcerated birthing parents of children, and their children.
Learn more from New Hour’s resources and use their form to sign on as an individual supporter.
▼ 2025 legislative priorities ▼
Informed Consent Act
New York needs this bill to improve maternal-fetal and infant health, especially among marginalized communities. We urge the legislature to pass the Informed Consent Act, which would require informed consent to drug test pregnant people and newborns. Black and Latine families are disproportionately subjected to drug testing and reporting to the family policing system, despite similar drug use rates amongst white people. The practice of forcing patients to submit to drug testing without informed consent can lead to forced family separation and cause irreparable harm to infants and parents. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposes the practice of mandated or required drug testing, especially covert drug testing, for the purpose of detecting substance use.
This bill was drafted with the input of service providers and impacted people who have been forced to submit to drug testing without informed consent. The Informed Consent Act supports healthy pregnancies, infants, and families by giving pregnant and postpartum people the information they need to make informed decisions about drug testing and screening.
To learn more, visit informedconsentny.com and find resources from NYCLU, the Bronx Defenders, Pregnancy Justice, Drug Policy Alliance, and others in support of the bill.
Reproductive Freedom and Equity Funding Program
The right to abortion is meaningless without access. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Funding Program (RFEF) was envisioned to create a sustainable funding mechanism for abortion providers, abortion funds, and logistical support funds — the organizations that make the right to care a reality for people seeking abortion in New York.
Thanks to years of advocacy, the FY2025 state budget includes some components of the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Funding Program (RFEF). New York allocated $26 million for abortion providers and nonprofit organizations that provide or facilitate access to abortion care. This funding can go towards increased staffing, outreach costs, other operational needs, and covering the costs of uncompensated abortion care for those who cannot afford it. Unfortunately, the funding cannot be used for practical support or capital costs. BKForge will continue to advocate for all the components of RFEF and to ensure that New York lives up to its promise as an access state for everyone.
Voluntary Contribution Fund for Abortion Access
Bill numbers: A1473 / S758 (2022 bill number; still awaiting reintroduction in Senate for 2023-2024)
We call on the legislature to establish an Abortion Access Fund and permit taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to it on their state income tax return form. The money would be distributed by the Department of Health to nonprofit organizations that provide logistical and financial support to individuals who cannot afford abortion care. It is critical that the legislature take this step to support more equitable abortion access. Abortion is prohibitively expensive for many, with the average cost ranging from $523 at 10 weeks to $3,000 at 24 weeks gestation. Passing this bill would establish a mechanism for New Yorkers to help low-income people with these costs.
K-12 Comprehensive Sex Ed
Bill numbers: A4604 / S2584A (2022 bill number; still awaiting reintroduction in Senate for 2023-2024)
We call on the New York State legislature to make evidence-based, age appropriate comprehensive sex ed a priority. New York currently has no statewide learning standard for comprehensive sexuality education, which means students across the state are receiving inadequate, biased, or misleading sex ed — or none at all. Comprehensive, evidence-based, inclusive sex ed has been strongly associated with reductions in STIs, unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, and bullying of LGBTQIA+ students, as well as with improvements in academic performance. By passing this bill, New York would ensure that our young people receive age-appropriate, necessary skills to foster healthy relationships and that our educators are equipped with the professional development and tools needed to guide their students. All K-12 students in the state should have access to comprehensive sex ed led by teachers who are adequately trained and knowledgeable.
Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act
In 2021-2022, the US saw the first annual increase in infant mortality rates in 20 years, and at a higher rate among Black women (source: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System). Currently, women of color—particularly Black women—exhibit a maternal mortality rate of 3-4 times that of Caucasian women. Evidence demonstrates that provider bias holds more responsibility for maternal illness and death in pregnancy care, as well as child outcomes, than other factors including access to health care, socioeconomic status, and physical health among Black women. However, providers in New York involved in this care are not presently required to undergo any specific implicit bias training or testing, nor does there exist a system to track incidents related to bias or stereotyping.
We urge the legislature to pass the Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act, which would amend state public health law to implement an implicit bias training and follow-up program for all health care providers involved in perinatal care. It would also require hospitals to provide written information regarding patient rights, including how to seek legal counsel in case of pregnancy-related injury or death, and require information related to pregnancy to be included on death certificates if known.
Coverage for All
We urge the legislature to pass this bill, which would expand health insurance access for New Yorkers who are excluded from eligibility for coverage because of their immigration status. This bill would direct the Commissioner of Health to seek approval from the federal government for the use of surplus reserves in the basic health plan trust fund, which supports the New York State Essential Plan, to support individuals covered under the 1332 state innovation waiver program. The goal of the state legislation is to improve access to care by expanding eligibility for certain publicly subsidized programs for individuals who currently face barriers to health care coverage due to their immigration status.
Learn more from the #Coverage4All campaign and sign their petition in support of the bill.