Recognizing May 2026, as Myositis Awareness Month in the State of New York

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stefani Zinerman

Recognizes May 2026 as Myositis Awareness Month to raise public awareness, honor affected individuals, and support education and research efforts in New York.

ADOPTED

Summary of Bill: K 1303 (2025-2026) – Recognizing May 2026 as Myositis Awareness Month (New York)

Purpose and Intent

The bill is a resolution recognizing May 2026 as Myositis Awareness Month in the State of New York.

It aims to raise public awareness about myositis, a group of rare, chronic autoimmune muscle diseases, and to acknowledge the needs of individuals and families affected by these conditions.

The resolution aligns with broader nationwide efforts organized by The Myositis Association to increase education, support, and research.

Key Provisions

Formal Recognition: States that May 2026 should be recognized as Myositis Awareness Month in New York.

Public Awareness Encouragement: Encourages all residents to learn about the forms and symptoms of myositis and to support affected families and communities.

Gratitude to Advocacy Groups: Acknowledges The Myositis Association as a leading organization in patient services, education, research, and awareness.

Purpose of Proclamation: Intended to pause legislative deliberations briefly to acknowledge the observance and to transmit a suitably engrossed copy to The Myositis Association.

Who Is Affected

Individuals living with myositis in New York State, including:

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies such as dermatomyositis, polymyositis, inclusion body myositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, antisynthetase syndrome, anti-MDA5 autoantibody–positive myositis, and juvenile dermatomyositis.

Caregivers and families of those affected.

Healthcare providers with expertise in diagnosing and treating myositis.

The broader public audience in New York, which may gain awareness about rare diseases and related health disparities.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Introduced and adopted in May 2026; the action history shows introduction and adoption on May 7, 2026.

Type of Action: A ceremonial/recognition resolution rather than a statute imposing new regulatory or funding requirements.

Deliverables: A copy of the engrossed resolution to The Myositis Association.

Notable Context and Impact

Emphasizes the challenges of diagnosing myositis and the generally limited treatment options, highlighting the need for increased awareness and ongoing research.

Mentions health disparities, noting that women and people of color may experience more pronounced challenges across myositis forms.

Does not authorize new spending or create new programs; rather, it serves as a symbolic recognition intended to elevate awareness and support for affected individuals and related research efforts.

Sponsor

Primary Sponsor: Assembly Member Zinerman (with a co-sponsor noted as Stefani Zinerman).

If you’d like, I can attach context on how similar awareness resolutions function in practice for public health campaigns or provide background on the specific myositis conditions mentioned.