New York Assembly Bill A02166

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/25
• Refer: 1/15/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes amendments to a license to carry or possess a firearm to be made by the filing officers or county clerk of each county, unless otherwise specified through resolution of the county's legislative body.

Summary

This bill amends New York’s firearm licensing law to replace references to a “licensing officer” with a “filing officer,” defined as the county clerk in each county unless a county legislative body designates otherwise. It would shift responsibility for processing amendments to pistol/revolver licenses and semiautomatic rifle purchase/possession licenses, as well as certain address-change notifications, to the filing officer rather than the prior licensing officer terminology. The bill also makes conforming changes throughout Penal Law section 400.00 to reflect this new administrative role. The measure preserves the existing structure of firearm license amendments, renewals, recertifications, fees, and recordkeeping, but changes who receives and files those documents. It keeps the current statewide framework for license expiration and recertification intervals, including five-year recertification for most licenses and three-year recertification for certain licenses issued under paragraph (f) of subdivision two. It also retains the existing fee structure and county-level authority over certain fees, while continuing fee waivers for specified retired law enforcement and court officers.

Impact

The bill would amend Penal Law sections 265.00 and 400.00 to redefine the local official responsible for firearm license administration in most counties, effectively transferring or clarifying administrative duties to county clerks as “filing officers” unless a county legislature provides otherwise. It would affect the processing of license amendments, recertifications, duplicate licenses, and related notifications, but would not materially change who may obtain a license or the substantive eligibility standards for firearm possession. Counties and county clerks would be the primary affected local entities, along with firearm license holders who interact with the licensing system.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the available context suggests a procedural and administrative measure rather than a highly contested policy change. The sponsors appear to support simplifying or standardizing firearm license administration by clarifying the responsible local office. Because there are no transcripts or vote records provided, there is no documented public sentiment in the supplied materials beyond the bill’s formal introduction and referral to the Committee on Codes.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is administrative authority: the bill would allow county legislative bodies to specify a different filing officer, which could raise questions about local control versus uniform statewide administration. Another possible issue is whether shifting duties from “licensing officers” to county clerks could create confusion during implementation or require counties to adjust procedures and staffing. No specific opposition or support is documented in the provided record, so any contention is inferred from the structure of the change rather than from recorded debate.