March 31, 2026 – A bipartisan group of state legislators joined leadership from Donate Life New York State for a press conference in support of the 2026 Doorways to Donation Act, which would increase organ and tissue donor registration and expand access to life-saving transplants for New Yorkers in need.

Legislators – Majority and Minority lawmakers, from the Bronx to Buffalo – also told their personal stories about organ and tissue donation, encouraging New Yorkers to enroll in the Donate Life Registry. The event was led by Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Assembly Member Phil Palmesano to kick off Donate Life Month, which, every April, honors those who’ve saved lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation.

“For more than a decade, we’ve made strong progress in growing the organ donor registry, but Donate Life Month reminds us that there is still more work to do to meet the need for life-saving transplants in New York,” said Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. “With nearly 8,000 New Yorkers still waiting for a life-saving transplant, I’m proud to partner with Donate Life New York State and my colleagues in the Legislature to support the 2026 Doorways to Donation Act, which will allow New Yorkers to register as organ donors when filing their taxes. This commonsense bill will help grow the registry, save lives, and give more New Yorkers the chance to heal with their families and communities.”

“My family knows firsthand the life-saving power of organ donation. My sister Teresa received two kidney transplants, one from the generosity of a stranger and one that I was honored to donate myself. That experience showed me how decisions can save lives and bring hope to families in need,” said Assemblymember Phil Palmesano. “That's why it is so important to give more New Yorkers the opportunity to register as donors. The 2026 Doorways to Donation Act will make that choice easier for many New Yorkers, and in doing so, will change the lives of those still waiting for a second chance.”

“At Donate Life NYS, we work every day toward achieving our mission of ensuring a life-changing organ transplant for every New Yorker in need. Thanks to our strong coalition of advocates, we have more than doubled our donor enrollment numbers in the past decade. We have momentum, but we still trail behind. To meet the national average registration rate, we need 2.3 million more New Yorkers to enroll as donors,” said Aisha Tator, Executive Director of Donate Life New York State. “We are grateful for the bipartisan advocacy of our state lawmakers, the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and DOH Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder. Together, we can address this health crisis and save and heal the lives of thousands of New Yorkers.”

The 2026 Doorways to Donation Act (A10299A/S8841), sponsored by Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia and State Senator Gustavo Rivera, would enable New Yorkers to register as an organ and tissue donor when filing their annual income tax returns online. The reform would make it easier and more convenient for New Yorkers to register as donors, giving fresh hope to the nearly 8,000 New Yorkers currently awaiting a life-saving transplant. Since enacting a similar law in 2024, Michigan has already seen 36,000 unique enrollments to its registry.

“After waiting 16 years with my son for his kidney transplant, I know firsthand how life-changing organ donation can be for a family. That is why I’m proud to introduce the 2026 Doorways to Donation Act, which would give more New Yorkers a convenient way to enroll as donors,” said Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia. “Every day, thousands of New Yorkers are waiting for a life-saving match. By allowing people to register when they file their taxes, this legislation would expand access to donor enrollment and help give more New Yorkers the second chance they are waiting for. We have bipartisan support in both chambers, and I look forward to getting this passed and signed into law alongside my colleagues.”

“I want to thank Donate Life for being such a reliable guiding force in our State’s efforts to boost our less than stellar organ donation rates. After the full implementation of my Living Donor Support Act, we must continue pushing for similar measures such as my bill to allow New Yorkers to enroll as organ donors when filing their income taxes. Approximately 8,000 New Yorkers are waiting for an organ to save their lives and they are counting on us,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.

At the beginning of the press conference, violinist Rachael Devernoe performed a rendition of“Wilderness,” and the Donate Life Youth Ambassador Ava Walia recited a poem in honor of her grandfather. The winners of the 2026 Donate Life Student Art Contest, Ava Walia and Joanna Deng Liu, were honored by the Majority Leader for their contributions.

In line with this year’s theme of “Leave a Legacy,” roughly a dozen state legislators shared their personal stories of connection to organ donation and the impact it has had on families and communities across New York.

"Every 18 hours, a New Yorker loses their life waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant," said Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany). "Every year, Donate Life NYS helps reduce that long wait by addressing the root causes of delay and misinformation. Through these efforts, Donate Life has managed to increase organ, eye, and tissue donations through education and advocacy campaigns all while signing up more New Yorkers for the donor registry list. I look forward to continuing to work with Donate Life to save more lives across New York State."

“Donation, in any form, is one of the purest gifts a person can give, because it has the power to change, and sometimes save, a life. When I donated a kidney to a Purple Heart veteran, he told me, ‘You gave me a life,’ and those words have stayed with me ever since,” said Assemblymember Ari Brown,

“Organ donation is one of the most meaningful ways a person can make a lasting impact. I’m proud to stand with Donate Life New York State to encourage more New Yorkers to register as donors and give others a second chance at life,” said Assemblymember Amy Paulin.

One person can save 8 lives and heal 75 more through organ, eye and tissue donation. New Yorkers can register to become donors at DonateLifeNYS.org/register.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE, FULL VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE