Bill > S01660

This bill amends Chapter 137 of the 1817 New York state laws relating to slaves and servants by adding a new section that provides a formal acknowledgment and apology for the state's historical involvement in slavery. The bill explicitly recognizes slavery and the transatlantic and domestic slave trade as appalling tragedies in New York's history, emphasizing their barbaric nature and fundamental negation of human dignity. The legislation formally acknowledges that slavery and the slave trade should always have been considered crimes against both the state and humanity. Furthermore, the bill offers a specific apology for the state's role in sanctioning, exploiting, and perpetuating slavery, including the creation of slave codes that led to the exploitation and abuse of children and the dissolution of families. The bill specifically mentions Sojourner Truth, a notable former slave from New York, as a personification of the suffering caused by these institutions. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passage, serving as an official recognition of the state's historical wrongdoings and a symbolic step toward acknowledging the deep injustices of slavery.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1660