Bill > S00990

This bill amends New York's penal law by changing the classification of criminal possession of a firearm from a class E felony to a class D felony, which represents a more serious criminal offense. The bill modifies section 265.01-b of the penal law to update language and increase the severity of the penalty for individuals who either possess a firearm or who lawfully possessed a firearm before a 2013 law and failed to register it as required by state law. Specifically, the bill replaces gender-specific language ("he or she") with the gender-neutral term "such person" and changes the felony classification from class E to class D. This means that individuals convicted of criminal firearm possession could now face more significant legal consequences, including potentially longer potential prison sentences. The bill will take effect 30 days after it becomes law, which is a standard implementation timeline for legislative changes in New York.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S990