New York Assembly Bill A04201

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/25
• Refer: 1/31/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes the crime of stalking a police officer, peace officer, correction officer or firefighter to include intent to harass, annoy or alarm a police officer, peace officer, correction officer, firefighter or an immediate family member of a police officer, peace officer, correction officer or firefighter, intentionally engaging in a course of conduct directed at such person which is likely to cause such person to reasonably fear physical injury or serious physical injury, the commission of a sex offense against, or the kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment or death of such person or a member of such person's immediate family.

Summary

A04201 would add a new section to the New York Penal Law creating the offense of stalking a police officer, peace officer, correction officer, or firefighter. The bill applies when a person intentionally targets one of these public safety workers, or their immediate family members, because of the person’s employment or perceived employment, and does so with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm. The conduct must be a course of behavior likely to cause reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury, a sex offense, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, or death. The bill expressly covers conduct carried out in person or electronically, including through social media. A violation would be classified as a class A misdemeanor, and the bill would take effect 60 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would expand New York’s criminal law by creating a specific stalking offense for targeted harassment of police officers, peace officers, correction officers, firefighters, and their immediate family members. It would give prosecutors a distinct charge where the victim is selected because of their public safety role, and it would make clear that online and social media conduct can satisfy the statute. The measure would affect individuals accused of repeated threatening or harassing conduct toward these protected classes, while also extending protection to family members exposed to the same risk.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and protective of first responders and correction personnel. The bill is framed as a public-safety measure aimed at addressing targeted harassment and intimidation. Because no transcript or voting history is available, there is no documented opposition or formal controversy in the supplied record.

Contention

The main policy issue is the creation of a special stalking offense for a defined set of public employees and their families, which may raise questions about whether these groups should receive protections beyond the general stalking statutes. Another likely point of discussion is the breadth of the bill’s language, especially the inclusion of electronic and social-media conduct and the standard that the conduct be likely to cause fear of serious harm. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments are included in the provided materials.