BCW Joins Coalition Urging Veto of Flawed NY Health Information Privacy Act

The Business Council of Westchester recently joined a broad coalition of organizations across New York’s economic sectors urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to veto the New York Health Information Privacy Act (NY HIPA).

“While we fully support the goal of safeguarding sensitive reproductive and gender-affirming care data, this legislation has expanded dangerously beyond its original purpose. As drafted, NY HIPA creates an unprecedented privacy regime that reclassifies routine consumer transactions—such as purchasing common household goods—as “regulated health information,” read the letter.

The bill creates fatal operational flaws, including overbroad definitions of health data that encompass IP addresses and location indicators, and unworkable consent mandates that will result in consumer fatigue. Furthermore, the legislation fails to align with other state frameworks or provide necessary exemptions for federally regulated sectors and standard service-provider transfers.

Enacting NY HIPA in its current form would impose sweeping compliance costs, disrupt essential services, and place New York businesses at a severe competitive disadvantage. The coalition urged Gov. Hochul to veto the legislation to allow for the development of a targeted, enforceable approach that protects privacy without undermining the state’s affordability and economic viability.

To see the full letter, click here.