Bill > A09061

This bill creates a new criminal offense called "aggravated harassment of a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault" in New York state law. Specifically, the bill defines this crime as occurring when a person commits aggravated harassment in the second degree (which is already defined in existing law) with the knowledge or perception that the victim is a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault. The act of targeting someone because of their status as a domestic violence or sexual assault survivor becomes an elevated criminal offense, classified as a class E felony. This means that if someone harasses a person specifically because they know or believe that person has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, they can be charged with a more serious crime than standard harassment. The bill is designed to provide additional legal protection for survivors by recognizing the particular vulnerability and potential additional harm caused by targeting someone based on their traumatic experiences. The law will go into effect on the first of November following its passage.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9061