S1946: Provides for the expungement of syringe convictions

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Where it stands

Passed the legislature and is awaiting a signature.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A2601, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Criminal Procedure Law.

Committee

Codes · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Codes · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To expunge conviction records related to the possession or sale of hypo- dermic syringes and needles.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 22, 2026Result: passed
(37) (22) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceMar 24, 2026Result: passed
(15) (7) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Codes
Senate CodesJan 28, 2026Result: passed
(9) (4) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 29, 2025Result: passed
(36) (20) (0) (7)
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceApr 29, 2025Result: passed
(16) (6) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Codes
Senate CodesApr 9, 2025Result: passed
(8) (4) (0) (1)

Cosponsors

The sponsor's argument

Why Gustavo Rivera says this is needed

In October of 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul put an end to the criminaliza- tion of the possession of hypodermic needles and syringes by signing chapter 433 of the laws of 2021, which decriminalized the possession and sale of hypodermic needles and syringes in New York State. This law is a step forward in stopping the counterproductive use of law enforcement resources on individuals for the possession or sale of these instruments while ultimately lowering the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis infections and expanding syringe access by allowing pharmacies and healthcare agencies, registered with the state ESAP program, to provide syringes without a cap. While this essential piece of legislation was a step in the right direc- tion, our work is not done to eliminate the criminalization of the possession of hypodermic needles and syringes. This bill would expunge conviction records related to the possession or sale of hypodermic needles and syringes, a natural next step after they were decriminalized in October 2021. Arrests and convictions such as these have hindered New Yorkers' ability to obtain employment, education, and housing. It is imperative that New York continue to take the necessary steps toward moving away from the criminalization of drugs to embracing harm reduction. This bill would achieve this by eliminating unnecessary barriers caused by the criminalization of a successful public health effort by expunging arrest or conviction records related to the sale of or possession of hypodermic needles or syringes. This bill is modeled on the expungement provisions enacted for marijuana convictions following the decriminalization of various marijuana offenses.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

May 13, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.313
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.313
NY Assembly
May 13, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 13, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A2601
NY Assembly
Apr 22, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 22, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate

Show full history (20 earlier events)

Apr 22, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Mar 26, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 25, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Mar 24, 2026
1ST Report CAL.596
1ST REPORT CAL.596
NY Senate
Mar 19, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.313
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.313
NY Assembly
Mar 17, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Jan 28, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Jun 9, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
May 1, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Apr 30, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Apr 29, 2025
1ST Report CAL.751
1ST REPORT CAL.751
NY Senate
Apr 9, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.