Bill > S06260

This bill expands the circumstances under which a person convicted of a crime in New York can file a motion to vacate their judgment, making it easier to seek relief from past convictions. The bill creates two new sections in the criminal procedure law that allow individuals to file motions to vacate judgments based on changes in law, decriminalization of offenses, or constitutional violations. Key provisions include allowing motions to be filed at any time after a trial or plea, permitting relief if an offense has been decriminalized or if there has been a substantive or procedural change in law that could be applied retroactively. The bill also establishes new discovery requirements, mandating that prosecutors, prior defense counsel, court clerks, and probation departments provide relevant documents and evidence to the applicant. Additionally, the bill requires courts to conduct hearings and address claims of actual innocence, and it provides mechanisms for vacating judgments, dismissing accusatory instruments, and sealing records. The legislation aims to provide more opportunities for individuals to challenge past convictions, particularly when changes in law or new evidence suggest their original conviction may have been unjust.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6260