Includes contacts via text, email, private message, direct message or other electronic communication in the definition of the offense of aggravated harassment…

Official titleShow

Includes contacts via text, email, private message, direct message or other electronic communication in the definition of the offense of aggravated harassment in the second degree

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

PassedLatest action Apr 28, 2026

Includes contacts via text, email, private message, direct message or other electronic communication in the definition of the offense of aggravated harassment in the second degree.

Not chosen yet

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 A2239, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A2239, the matching Assembly bill.

Amends the Penal Law.

Committee

Codes · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Codes · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To treat electronic communications with intent to harass or threaten another person under the same standard as telephone calls.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 28, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A2239, the matching Assembly bill.
(57) (1) (0) (5)
Vote: Committee vote · Codes
Senate CodesApr 21, 2026Result: passed
(11) (2) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 8, 2025Result: passed
(61) (1) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Codes
Senate CodesFeb 24, 2025Result: passed
(11) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Carrie Woerner, John Liu and 9 more on Agora

Democratic6
Republican5

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Liz Krueger says this is needed

Existing law treats telephone calls made with an intent to harass or threaten an individual as aggravated harassment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, but does not have any provision related to elec- tronic communications such as text or email. As technology has evolved, forms of harassment have also evolved, and updating New York's penal law to reflect these changes will help protect New Yorkers from these new forms of harassment. A recent incident where multiple individuals were sent unsolicited and unwanted text messages with sexually graphic images from the same indi- vidual highlights the need to update the law. Law 'enforcement represen- tatives indicated that under existing law such communications could only be treated as harassment in the second degree, a violation. Since violations can only be charged in cases where law enforcement witnesses the offence, no charges could be brought in this case. By updating the law to treat texts, private messages, emails and other electronic commu- nications under the same standard as phone calls, this legislation will provide law enforcement with greater ability to address this new form of harassment.

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

Apr 28, 2026
3RD Reading CAL.797
3RD READING CAL.797
NY Senate
Apr 28, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 28, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S2273
NY Senate
Apr 27, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Apr 22, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (17 earlier events)

Apr 21, 2026
1ST Report CAL.797
1ST REPORT CAL.797
NY Senate
Jan 27, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
Jan 27, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 27, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Senate
Jan 22, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.230
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.230
NY Assembly
Jan 21, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
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
Apr 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 8, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Feb 26, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 25, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 24, 2025
1ST Report CAL.360
1ST REPORT CAL.360
NY Senate
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Senate
Jan 15, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly

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.

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