Bill > S00058

This bill establishes a new criminal offense of making a terroristic threat specifically against a police officer, which would be classified as a class C felony. The law defines the crime as occurring when a person intentionally threatens to commit a specified offense against a police officer with the purpose of intimidating or coercing a civilian population, influencing government policy through intimidation, or affecting government conduct through serious criminal acts like murder or kidnapping. Importantly, the bill stipulates that a defendant cannot defend themselves by claiming they did not actually intend or have the capability to carry out the threatened offense, nor can they argue that the threat was not made directly to the targeted police officer. The new criminal provision would be added to the penal law under section 490.21, and the law would go into effect on the first of November following its enactment, providing law enforcement and judicial systems time to prepare for the new statute.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S58