Bill > S01252

This bill amends the New York penal law to establish a rebuttable presumption that a crime committed on, in, or upon a house of worship is a hate crime. Specifically, the bill defines a "house of worship" as a permanent structure primarily used for religious worship, excluding religious sites that function as schools, hospitals, or other non-worship facilities. A rebuttable presumption means that when a crime occurs at a house of worship, it is initially considered a hate crime, but the defendant can present evidence to challenge this presumption. The bill also updates the existing definition of "gender identity or expression" to include a person's gender-related identity, appearance, behavior, expression, or other gender-related characteristic, regardless of their assigned sex at birth. By creating this presumption, the bill aims to provide additional legal protection for religious institutions and recognize the potential heightened vulnerability of these spaces to targeted criminal activity. The law would take effect immediately upon passage.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1252