New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York A11681: Enacts the Essential Health Care Access Protection act
Status: In committee, September 2, 2026
Enacts the "Essential Health Care Access Protection act" under which the enforcement of certain restrictive covenants against health care professionals is prohibited when such enforcement may impair essential health care services.
What the bill says
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "Essential Health Care Access Protection act".
From the introduced text, September 2, 2026:
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "Essential Health Care Access Protection act" THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Essential Health Care Access Protection act". § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2803-cc to read as follows: § 2803-CC. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AFFECTING ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: (A) "HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL" SHALL MEAN A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED PURSUANT TO TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW. (B) "RESTRICTIVE COVENANT" SHALL MEAN ANY COVENANT, AGREEMENT OR PROVISION THAT RESTRICTS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP, FROM PRACTICING, ACCEPTING EMPLOYMENT OR PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO ANOTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. 2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW, NO COURT OF THIS STATE SHALL GRANT INJUNCTIVE OR OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF ENFORCING A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGAINST A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WHERE THE COURT DETERMINES THAT SUCH ENFORCEMENT WOULD: (A) MATERIALLY IMPAIR ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES WITHIN THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY; (B) CAUSE OR MATERIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ELIMINATION OR SUBSTANTIAL …
Sponsors
- Angelo Santabarbara (D, 111) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : REFERRED TO HEALTH
Subjects: Public Health Law
Common questions
- What is A11681?
- A11681 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Enacts the Essential Health Care Access Protection act.
- What does A11681 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "Essential Health Care Access Protection act".
- What is the status of A11681?
- In committee as of September 2, 2026. Latest action: REFERRED TO HEALTH (September 2, 2026).
- Who sponsored A11681?
- Angelo Santabarbara (D, 111).
- Where is the official record for A11681?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A11681
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.