S 4774 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes the offense of vehicular homicide

This bill creates a new criminal offense called "vehicular homicide" for drivers who cause another person's death through reckless conduct showing extreme disregard for human life. It directly affects drivers whose actions - like severe speeding or ignoring traffic signals - result in fatalities, even if they didn’t intend to cause death. The law classifies vehicular homicide as a class B felony, the same penalty as second-degree murder in New York, making it a serious criminal charge. This change would replace or add to existing laws for deaths caused by negligent or reckless driving.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S4774 → S4774A · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its sponsorship to include multiple senators and to streamline its legislative history by removing provisions related to vehicular assault. The core substantive change involves replacing a detailed amendment to existing vehicular assault laws with a new, standalone section establishing the crime of vehicular homicide as a class B felony, requiring proof of depraved indifference to human life.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from amending existing vehicular assault statutes to creating a specific, standalone offense for vehicular homicide.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the original intent to include causing serious injury while driving with a revoked or suspended license within the definition of vehicular assault.

DEFINITION

Added a new standalone offense of vehicular homicide, defined as causing death while operating a motor vehicle with depraved indifference to human life.

ENFORCEMENT

Upgraded the penalty for the new vehicular homicide offense to a class B felony, whereas the previous draft proposed a class D felony.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect multiple sponsors and added procedural text indicating the bill was reported favorably by the committee and ordered to a third reading.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 12, 2025

How they voted

58–1

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 63

Jun 12, 2025

D Democratic41

37 Yea 1 Nay 3

90% Yea

R Republican22

21 Yea 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

upper

Jun 12, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

lower

Jun 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jun 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 4774A

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

upper

1 primary · 27 co-sponsors