Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4594: Imposes increased fines on certain individuals who commit riot in the first degree during a state disaster emergency

This bill (A 4594) increases fines for repeat offenders convicted of rioting in the first degree during a declared state disaster emergency. It specifically applies to individuals with two or more prior convictions for the same crime who commit rioting again while a disaster emergency is active. The law allows courts to raise the maximum fine by up to $2,000 in these cases. The change only affects those meeting the prior conviction and emergency conditions, with no other policy changes. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases fines for repeat riot offenders during disaster emergencies, expanding penalties without rehabilitation or reform elements, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6417: Includes fires caused by the manufacture of a controlled substance within the crime of arson in the first degree

This bill amends New York's penal law to explicitly include fires caused by manufacturing controlled substances (like illegal drugs) within the definition of first-degree arson. It directly affects individuals who manufacture controlled substances and cause fires, whether to buildings, contents, or people, by expanding the circumstances that trigger this severe felony charge. The key change adds that "while manufacturing, attempting to manufacture or endeavoring to manufacture a controlled substance in violation of article two hundred twenty," causing fire or destruction now qualifies as first-degree arson. This creates a specific legal pathway to prosecute drug manufacturing operations that result in fires, without altering the underlying drug laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding drug manufacturing fires to first-degree arson, increasing felony charges and penalties without reform focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5414: Provides for penalties for causing the death of an animal

This bill (S 5414) adds a new offense to New York's Agriculture and Markets Law: causing the death of an animal through specific acts of cruelty defined in existing sections (353 or 353-a) becomes a class D felony. It directly affects individuals who commit intentional cruelty (like torture, maiming, or unjustified injury) that results in an animal's death. The key mechanism is amending the law to treat the death itself as a separate felony when it occurs during the commission of other animal cruelty crimes. This raises penalties from misdemeanors to a felony for those whose actions lead to animal fatalities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds new felony for animal cruelty death, expanding criminalization beyond typical criminal justice reform scope95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2096: Relates to the criminal possession of fentanyl

This bill makes criminal possession of fentanyl a class E felony under New York law. It directly affects individuals who knowingly possess, manufacture, distribute, or use fentanyl or its analogs to enhance other illegal substances. The key provision defines these actions as a specific felony offense, raising the legal consequences for such possession. The bill was referred to the Codes committee on January 15, 2025, and takes immediate effect.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates fentanyl possession to a class E felony, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties - directly opposing reform by strengthening punitive measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2727: Creates the crime of reckless endangerment of the public health for recklessly transmitting HIV/AIDS

Creates crimes of reckless endangerment of public health with respect to HIV/AIDS transmission; creates crime of filing false instrument with respect to HIV/AIDS; provides for HIV/AIDS testing for alleged sex offenders and public health offenders; provides for contagious disease testing for persons in the custody of the department of corrections; provides that if an incarcerated individual tests positive notice shall be given to all employees that will have contact with such incarcerated individual.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for HIV transmission, expanding criminalization rather than reforming justice system; no indicators of support for reform or rights protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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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

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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passed · New York · Senate May 29, 2026

S 626: Adds ammunition to the list of prohibited items to purchase or dispose of after certain convictions

This bill adds ammunition to the list of items prohibited from purchase or disposal after certain criminal convictions. It expands existing law that already bans firearm transactions for people barred from firearm possession due to prior convictions or disabilities. Now, individuals prohibited from owning firearms cannot legally buy or give away ammunition. Violating this provision would be classified as a class D felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands restrictions on convicted individuals' access to ammunition, increasing criminalization and reducing defendant rights per bill's prohibition on ammunition transactions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5745: Expands felony sex offenses to include certain offenses related to prostitution and human trafficking

Expands felony sex offenses to include promoting prostitution in the second degree, promoting prostitution in the first degree, compelling prostitution, sex trafficking, and sex trafficking of a child.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands felony sex offenses including trafficking, increasing criminalization of related acts. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3891: Establishes the crime of unlawful tampering of the milk supply in the first degree

This bill creates a new class D felony offense for intentionally damaging or tampering with raw milk supply with the intent to cause substantial harm or contamination, without legal authority. It directly affects dairy producers and milk suppliers by making such acts criminal and granting them the right to seek compensation for impaired milk. The law requires offenders to pay the fair market value of the damaged milk and shields owners from liability under this section. It aims to protect raw milk supply integrity through criminal penalties and civil remedies, without altering existing dairy regulations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new class D felony for milk tampering, expanding criminalization without reform context, per indicator.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2328: Relates to unlawful storage of a firearm leading to use in the commission of a crime

S 2328 creates a new class E felony offense for failing to safely store a firearm (rifle, shotgun, or handgun) in accordance with existing storage laws (Sections 265.45-46), when that firearm is later used by another person to commit a crime that would have been reasonably preventable with proper storage. This law directly affects gun owners who do not follow safe storage requirements, potentially holding them accountable if their improperly stored firearm is used in a crime by someone else. The key provision establishes that unsafe storage becomes a criminal offense itself if it enables another person’s crime, rather than just the crime committed with the firearm. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new felony for negligent firearm storage, expanding criminalization and aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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