Bill > A09335

This bill amends the New York State Penal Law to expand protections for healthcare facilities and places of religious worship by creating new restrictions on demonstrations and interference. The bill broadens the definition of criminal interference to include groups of two or more people who fail to maintain a 25-foot distance from reproductive health care facilities or religious worship sites, including their parking lots, driveways, and entrances. It also updates language to be more gender-neutral, using terms like "such person" instead of "he or she" and expands definitions of terms like "health care facility" and "place of religious worship". The bill establishes that intentionally obstructing, intimidating, or interfering with people seeking or providing reproductive health services or accessing religious worship can be considered a criminal offense. Additionally, the bill creates escalating penalties, with repeat offenders potentially facing a class E felony charge. The new provisions aim to protect individuals' access to healthcare services and religious spaces by preventing potentially intimidating or obstructive group demonstrations near these locations. The law will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9335