Bill > A00894

This bill amends the New York State Penal Law to allow the transfer of certain legally possessed and registered weapons from a deceased person's estate to their immediate family members, specifically defined as a child or spouse. Currently, there are restrictions on transferring certain types of weapons (likely referring to assault-style weapons or other regulated firearms). The bill creates a new provision that permits these weapons to be bequeathed or passed through intestacy (when someone dies without a will) to an immediate family member, provided the weapon was legally possessed and validly registered prior to the owner's death. The bill also modifies existing language to clarify that such transfers are permissible and do not constitute a criminal offense, which would otherwise be classified as a class A misdemeanor. By allowing these specific weapon transfers within a family, the bill provides a legal pathway for maintaining ownership of registered firearms after the original owner's death, while maintaining existing registration and transfer regulations. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A894