A 1426 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration

Summary
Includes a police or peace officer turning off their body camera or deleting a body camera recording in the crime of tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Mar 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A1426 A1426A · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill expands the scope of the penal law by adding a new crime of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, while also modifying the existing tampering with physical evidence statute. The changes make it a separate offense for police officers to turn off body cameras, creating clearer accountability for law enforcement misconduct.
Scope change
The bill now covers both tampering with physical evidence and obstructing governmental administration as distinct offenses, with specific provisions for police body camera usage.
SCOPE

Added a new crime of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree (class A misdemeanor) that specifically addresses police officers turning off body cameras or audio when department policy requires recording.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the tampering with physical evidence statute to clarify that police officers who believe evidence is about to be used in proceedings and intend to prevent it by concealing, altering, or deleting body camera footage are committing tampering with physical evidence (class E felony).

DEFINITION

Added specific language defining when body camera footage constitutes evidence that cannot be tampered with, including situations where it is about to be produced or used in official proceedings.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 1426A
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO CODES
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO CODES
lower
Jan 9, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO CODES
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors