Bill > S08599

This bill amends the New York penal law to expand protections for access to reproductive health care facilities and places of religious worship by creating new provisions that criminalize certain group demonstrations near these locations. Specifically, the bill makes it a criminal offense for groups of two or more people to demonstrate or prepare to demonstrate within 25 feet of reproductive health care facilities or places of religious worship, including their parking lots, driveways, and entrances. The bill broadens the definition of interference to include actions that physically obstruct, intimidate, or impede access to these facilities, and clarifies definitions of terms like "physical obstruction" and "place of religious worship". The legislation also establishes escalating penalties, including making repeated offenses a class E felony, which means a person can be charged with criminal interference in the first degree if they have previous convictions for similar offenses. The new provisions aim to protect individuals seeking reproductive health services or exercising religious freedom from harassment, intimidation, and physical obstruction. The law will take effect 60 days after becoming official.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8599