Criminal Justice

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1004: Relates to determining the capacity of a defendant to stand trial

This bill amends New York's criminal procedure law to clarify how courts assess whether a defendant has the mental capacity to stand trial. It requires psychiatric examiners to specifically evaluate whether "restoration services" (such as medication support, competency training, or symptom management) could reasonably restore a defendant's capacity within a set timeframe, and include this assessment in their reports. The bill directly affects defendants in criminal cases who may lack mental capacity due to illness or disability, ensuring their evaluation process considers potential treatment pathways. Key provisions define "restoration services" and mandate that examiners' reports detail the feasibility of such services before a court decides on next steps.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to assess restoration services for defendant competency, promoting fair trials and rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 4, 2026

A 11199: Enacts the "police radio transparency act"

Requires that any law enforcement agency in the state that encrypts any portion of its radio communications shall ensure that all of its radio communications, with the exception of sensitive information, may be monitored in real time by professional journalists, newscasters, and individuals employed by emergency services organizations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by mandating transparency in radio communications for journalists and emergency services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 8944: Relates to certain guilty pleas

Relates to certain guilty pleas where the plea is in the interest of justice and which are entered into with both the permission of the court and the consent of the people.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires court permission and consent for guilty pleas 'in the interest of justice,' aligning with protections for defendant rights and fair process in criminal justice.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 3864: Enacts the "criminal court opinion transparency act"

This bill requires New York courts to publish detailed criminal case data online in a machine-readable format. It mandates collecting and sharing defendant demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), judge names, case issues, and publication status for every criminal case, with new data updated quarterly. The information must be accessible via a free public database allowing search and bulk download for analysis. This affects courts (which must transmit data) and the public (which gains access to previously unpublished case details). The law applies to all criminal cases, including those resolved in favor of the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates public transparency of criminal court data including demographics and case details, enabling bias analysis and enhancing judicial accountability - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 329: Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern

This bill (S 329) changes criminal procedure rules to allow defendants to appeal a judge's decision denying a motion to suppress evidence - even if they later enter a guilty plea. It directly affects criminal defendants who want to challenge evidence rulings that may involve issues of public concern. The key provision amends the law to make such denial orders "reviewable upon appeal" from the final conviction, removing a previous barrier that prevented appeals after a guilty plea. This provides a clearer path for defendants to seek appellate review of critical evidence rulings without being barred by their own plea. The change applies to all criminal cases where evidence suppression is contested.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows defendants to appeal evidence suppression rulings after guilty plea, strengthening due process rights in criminal proceedings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed both · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 1946: Provides for the expungement of syringe convictions

This bill (S 1946) allows individuals convicted of specific syringe possession offenses to have their court records sealed. It directly affects people convicted under Penal Law sections 222.10, 222.15, 222.25, 222.45 (current law) or former section 220.45 (prior to the bill's effective date). The key provision adds these conviction types to the list of offenses eligible for expungement under New York's criminal procedure law. The bill creates a legal mechanism for sealing these specific past records, without changing current possession laws or penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement of minor syringe possession convictions, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed · New York · Assembly Mar 25, 2026

A 9584: Enhances know your customer requirements and responsible gaming procedures

Enhances know your customer requirements and responsible gaming procedures; relates to the opening and closing of an authorized sports bettor's account; prohibits an authorized sports bettor from allowing another person to access such bettor's account; allows a bettor who does so to be designated a prohibited bettor; provides for the disposition of revenues from violation fines.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes sports wagering account sharing, expanding criminalization without reform context per indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed · New York · Assembly Mar 4, 2026

A 1034: Includes masking products within the definition of drug-related paraphernalia

Includes masking products including but not limited to synthetic urine, human urine, a substance used or designed to be added to human urine or a substance used or designed to be added to a chemical test, within the definition of drug-related paraphernalia.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding masking products to drug paraphernalia definition, increasing penalties for drug test evasion attempts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · New York · Assembly Jan 12, 2026

A 2620: Relates to procedures required for the custodial interrogation of children

Amends procedures required for the custodial interrogation of children to provide additional protections and for taking juveniles and sixteen and seventeen year olds into custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds protections for minors during custodial interrogation, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice procedures95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 3516: Relates to enacting the "keep police radio public act"

Enacts the "keep police radio public act"; ensures that, except for sensitive information, all radio communications are accessible to emergency services organizations and professional journalists.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates public access to police radio comms (except sensitive info), enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track