Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 296: Enacts the "New York state phoenix act"

Enacts the "New York State Phoenix Act"; extends the statute of limitations for felony family offenses to ten years and misdemeanor family offenses to five years.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends statute of limitations for family offenses to aid victim accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting victims' rights.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6345: Establishes the commission on public safety, emergency preparedness, and mental health

This bill creates a new commission within the executive department to coordinate public safety, emergency preparedness, and mental health efforts across state agencies. The commission, made up of agency heads (including the superintendent of state police and mental health commissioner), will work with divisions focused on school safety, emergency planning, and mental health to provide schools and communities with resources, training, and support - especially to reduce mental health stigma. It requires the commission to hold public hearings twice yearly, maintain a website for public comments, and submit annual reports to the governor and legislature. The bill directly affects state agencies, schools, and communities by establishing structured collaboration for safety and mental health initiatives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates commission to coordinate mental health resources and reduce stigma, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of addressing root causes and improving community safety.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates commission to coordinate mental health efforts, reduce stigma, and provide resources - directly advancing mental health services per support indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7676: Relates to criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree

This bill increases penalties for individuals who possess a weapon in subway stations, train stations, terminals, or on mass transit vehicles (like buses or trains) and use or attempt to use that weapon to commit another crime. It directly affects people carrying weapons in transit areas who escalate their actions to commit additional offenses. The key mechanism adds a new rule to the penal code, treating such weapon use in transit as a more serious crime (fourth-degree possession) rather than a lesser charge. The law applies to all public and private mass transit systems operating in these locations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for weapon possession in transit when escalated to other crimes, expanding criminalization and strengthening sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by increasing penalties for weapon possession in transit areas (subway/train stations), directly addressing public transit security within the transportation topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Public Transit

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5467: Relates to granting local law enforcement agencies the authority to enforce federal immigration law

Relates to granting local law enforcement agencies the authority to enforce federal immigration law under the 287(g) program in order to enhance the enforcement of federal immigration laws regarding individuals engaged in criminal activity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands local law enforcement's authority to enforce federal immigration law under 287(g), increasing criminalization of immigration status tied to criminal activity rather than advancing reform or reducing enforcement.92% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationThe bill grants local law enforcement agencies authority to enforce federal immigration law, which increases state immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 518: Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for police, firefighters, correction officers and first responders

Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires diversity training for law enforcement, promoting accountability and reducing bias - key criminal justice reform measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6547: Relates to the use of a vehicle as a weapon

Relates to the "Heather D. Heyer act" which increases penalties where a vehicle is used as a weapon in a hate crime and makes it illegal to travel upon a roadway in a vehicle within 1000 feet of a protest.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for vehicle-as-weapon hate crimes and restricts protest access, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' and 'expands criminalization' indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1501: Includes the throwing, tossing or expelling of saliva at or on an employee of a correctional facility within the crime of aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual

Includes the throwing, tossing or expelling of saliva at or on an employee of a correctional facility within the crime of aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding saliva-throwing to aggravated harassment, increasing penalties for inmate misconduct against correctional staff.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety for correctional employees by criminalizing saliva-throwing as aggravated harassment, directly protecting workers' safety in their workplace.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2434: Relates to the crimes of bribery and abuse of public trust

This bill amends New York's penal law to update bribery and abuse of public trust offenses. It lowers the monetary threshold for second-degree bribery from $5,000 to $1,000 (making it a class C felony) and raises the first-degree threshold from $100,000 to $3,000 for certain crimes. The bill also creates a new "abuse of public trust" category (Article 196) for public servants who misuse their position to facilitate or conceal felony offenses. These changes directly affect public servants and individuals offering benefits to influence their official actions, increasing penalties for bribery and misuse of public office.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill lowers bribery thresholds for felony charges and creates new abuse of public trust offense, strengthening accountability for public officials in criminal justice system.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1463: Abolishes citizens arrests; repealer

This bill eliminates New York State's legal allowance for ordinary citizens to make arrests without police involvement. It specifically repeals sections of the criminal procedure law and penal law that previously permitted private individuals to use physical force (including deadly force in limited cases) to arrest people suspected of committing certain felonies like robbery or murder. The change directly affects citizens who might have attempted to detain someone for a crime, removing their legal authority to do so. It does not impact police arrest powers but restricts this practice to law enforcement only. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals citizen arrest provisions, reducing potential misuse of force and enhancing accountability in criminal procedure90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5076: Relates to the prohibition on certain databases and registries

Provides that no state or local agency, or any agent thereof, may use any funds, facilities, property, equipment or personnel of such agency to investigate, enforce or provide assistance in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals, or maintaining a database of individuals, on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national or ethnic origin.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits discriminatory data collection by law enforcement based on protected characteristics, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill prohibits state/local agencies from assisting federal programs requiring registration based on national/ethnic origin, limiting cooperation with federal enforcement.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits databases tracking protected characteristics, enhancing data privacy protections by restricting discriminatory data collection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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