Relates to prohibiting colleges from asking about an applicant's prior arrests or convictions during the pre-admissions process

Latest action Mar 17, 2026

Relates to college admissions for persons previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

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

New York State Senate

Amends the Correction Law.

Committee

Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · New York State Senate

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To make the aspirations of Brown v. Board of Education a reality for people with past criminal justice involvement and to benefit New York State's economy. This will be accomplished by removing barriers to high- er education, and those with past criminal justice involvement will be equipped with the tools necessary to become fully reintegrated into society, in turn strengthening families and the fabric of New York's communities.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionMar 17, 2026Result: passed
(5) (2) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionMar 25, 2025Result: passed
(4) (2) (0) (1)

The sponsor's argument

Why Zellnor Myrie says this is needed

Long ago, in the landmark decision Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 493, the United States Supreme Court recognized the critical role that education plays in our society and the importance of ensuring that all people have access to education, stating as follows: "(Education) is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment" Today it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity where the state has undertaken to provide it is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms. This legislation will make the aspirations of Brown v. Board of Educa- tion a reality for people with past criminal justice involvement. Furthermore, it is to the benefit of our great state's economy to have more of its citizens as gainfully employed taxpayers than either re-in- carcerated or reliant on public assistance because they are unable to compete in our demanding economy. By removing barriers to higher educa- tion, those with past criminal justice involvement will be equipped with the tools necessary to become fully reintegrated into society, in turn strengthening families and the fabric of New York's communities.

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

Mar 17, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate
Mar 25, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 30, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
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.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 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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