Rural Suicide Prevention Council bill (S.3610A/A.8434) sits on Hochul's desk after passing both houses in June; she vetoed a near-identical bill in 2024 citing cost, and Sen. O'Mara is publicly pressing her to sign this time
The bill would create a temporary 15-member Rural Suicide Prevention Council inside the Office of Mental Health (three commissioner seats plus 12 appointees of the governor and legislative leaders), unpaid, meeting at least three times a year, with a preliminary report due in nine months and a final report in 18, sunsetting after two years. It passed the Senate and Assembly without opposition in June. Hochul vetoed the 2024 version, with sponsors saying she cited fiscal concerns and existing OMH programs; the current fiscal note lists costs as "to be determined." Sen. Tom O'Mara used his Sept. 21 column to push for a signature, crediting Steuben County Legislator Joseph Tobia. Supporters cite a 2023 NORC report putting rural New York's suicide rate at 15.2 per 100,000 versus 7.5 urban. Not yet delivered/acted on, so this is logged as news, not in the legislation table; watch for a sign or veto through year-end.