# Kathy Hochul's New York policy actions > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kathy-hochuls-new-york-policy-actions > Updated: 2026-08-07T11:28:19.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 4. In late July 2026 Governor Kathy Hochul advanced two separate policy initiatives in New York. The Medical Aid in Dying Act became effective on 5 August 2026, making the state the 14th U.S. jurisdiction to permit physician‑assisted suicide. The law allows adults who are at least 18, mentally competent, residents of New York, and diagnosed with a terminal illness expected to cause death within six months to request a lethal medication that they must self‑administer after a written and oral request, a mandatory five‑day waiting period, confirmation by two independent physicians and a mental‑health evaluation. Religious and health‑care institutions may opt out on moral grounds. The New York Department of Health issued implementation guidelines, and a U.S. District Judge issued a temporary restraining order protecting several Catholic orders while a federal lawsuit alleging First‑Amendment violations proceeds. A week later Hochul announced a gun‑safety package directing State Police to prioritize on‑site inspections of firearm dealers whose inventory is linked to guns recovered in crimes, expanding the regional Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns and launching a public‑awareness campaign for dealers. She also said she will introduce legislation requiring all firearm sales to be conducted in person, framing the measures as a response to more than 30 regulatory proposals from the DOJ and ATF that could loosen federal gun controls. Together, the end‑of‑life legislation and the gun‑dealer oversight initiative illustrate Hochul’s simultaneous focus on divergent policy fronts. ## Claims - The Medical Aid in Dying Act went into effect on a Wednesday in New York State. (corroborated by 7 sources) - New York becomes the 14th U.S. state to legalize medical aid in dying. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The law allows adults at least 18 years old, of sound mind, with a medically confirmed terminal illness expected to cause death within six months, to self‑administer lethal medication. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The law includes protections that allow religious institutions and health‑care providers to opt out of participation. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law in February. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The New York Department of Health is responsible for creating implementation guidelines for the law. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to increase inspections of firearm dealers linked to crime guns. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The plan includes expanding the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Hochul proposed legislation requiring all firearm sales to be conducted in person. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Catholic health‑care providers have filed a federal lawsuit claiming the law violates their First Amendment rights. (corroborated by 3 sources) - U.S. District Judge Anne Nardacci issued a temporary restraining order protecting several Catholic orders from enforcement of the law. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The actions respond to more than 30 regulatory proposals released by the ATF and DOJ. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-07: New York's Assisted Suicide Law Takes Effect New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, took effect on 5 Aug 2026, allowing terminally ill adults to obtain lethal medication under strict criteria, amid strong Catholic and pro‑life‑c 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-yorks-assisted-suicide-law-takes-effect ### 2026-08-05: New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act Takes Effect, Legalizing Assisted Suicide New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act took effect, allowing terminally ill adults to self‑administer lethal medication with safeguards; the state becomes the 14th to legalize assisted suicide amid religious‑group 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-legalizes-medical-aid-in-dying-joining-13-other-states ### 2026-07-30: New York Governor Kathy Hochul Announces New Gun Safety Measures Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled New York gun‑safety actions: tighter dealer inspections, expanded interstate task force, a public‑awareness push and a bill to require in‑person firearm sales, responding to ATF rule‑ 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-governor-kathy-hochul-announces-state-gun-safety-measures ### 2026-07-27: New York Governor Kathy Hochul's assisted‑suicide law takes effect Governor Kathy Hochul’s assisted‑suicide law took effect on Aug 5, 2026, making NY the 13th U.S. jurisdiction to allow medical aid in dying, with added safeguards amid disability‑rights opposition. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-governor-kathy-hochuls-assistedsuicide-law-takes-effect --- Cite as: Kathy Hochul's New York policy actions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kathy-hochuls-new-york-policy-actions