New York Senate Bill S00633

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Directs the division of criminal justice services to develop information on the safe storage of firearms to be provided to parents of school children.

Summary

S00633 would require New York State to create and distribute parent-facing information about the safe storage of firearms. The bill directs the Division of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the State Education Department, to develop a clear and concise informational notice explaining the current safe-storage laws and how parents can learn more. That information must be translated into the six most common languages in the state. The bill also amends the Education Law to require that the materials be made available on the Education Department’s website and provided to parents at the beginning of each school year in all public, nonpublic, and charter schools. The measure is tied to existing Penal Law provisions on firearm safe storage, and it is intended to improve awareness of those requirements among families with school-age children.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new Education Law section and a new Executive Law section, creating a statewide school-based notice requirement for firearm safe-storage information. It would not change the underlying criminal provisions on firearm storage, but it would require state agencies and schools to distribute educational materials annually and online, affecting public, private, and charter schools as well as parents and guardians of students.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and education initiative rather than a controversial policy overhaul. Its emphasis on parental notice, multilingual access, and explanation of existing law suggests a preventive, informational approach that is likely to be viewed favorably by supporters of gun-safety education.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the requirement that schools, including nonpublic and charter schools, distribute state-prepared firearm-storage information to parents each year. Supporters are likely to see this as a low-burden safety measure that promotes compliance with existing law, while critics may object to involving schools in firearm policy messaging, the mandate on private and charter schools, or the broader implications of state-directed gun-safety outreach. No specific objections or amendments are reflected in the provided transcripts or vote history.