Bill > S04079

This bill establishes a new criminal offense called "coercive control" in New York State, which occurs when a person intentionally limits or restricts another person's behavior, movement, social connections, or financial autonomy within the same household or family, without the victim's consent. The bill defines lack of consent as occurring through forcible compulsion or when the victim fears that refusing will result in further restrictions. Importantly, the law does not apply to legally authorized arrangements like power of attorney, guardianship, or parental control of a minor child. The conduct must be a "course of conduct" rather than a single isolated incident, and if proven, would be classified as a class E felony, which is the lowest level of felony in New York's criminal code. The bill amends the state's penal law by adding a new section (135.80) to explicitly criminalize this form of domestic control and psychological manipulation, recognizing that such behavior can be a form of domestic abuse even without physical violence.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4079