New York Senate Bill S00964

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25

Caption

Provides that no state or local agency, or any agent thereof, may use any funds, facilities, property, equipment or personnel of such agency to investigate, enforce or provide assistance in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals, or maintaining a database of individuals, on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national or ethnic origin.

Summary

S00964 would add a new section to the New York Civil Rights Law prohibiting state and local agencies, and their agents, from using public funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of certain federal programs that require registration of individuals or maintain databases of individuals based on protected characteristics. The bill specifically covers programs tied to race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or national or ethnic origin. In practical terms, the measure is designed to prevent New York government resources from being used to support federal registration or database systems that single out people on those grounds. It would apply broadly to state and municipal departments, boards, commissions, public authorities, and other governmental entities, and would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact

The bill would amend the Civil Rights Law by creating a new prohibition on the use of state and local government resources in connection with certain federal registration or database programs. It would not directly regulate private parties, but it would restrict how New York agencies and their personnel may cooperate with federal enforcement efforts involving identity-based registries. The affected entities include a wide range of state and municipal agencies and public bodies.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed as a civil rights and privacy protection measure. Its sponsors are all Democrats, suggesting support from lawmakers concerned about discrimination, surveillance, or profiling. No contrary views are documented in the supplied record, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from debate history, but the bill’s framing indicates a protective and rights-oriented intent.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the scope of the prohibition: the bill bars agencies from using resources to assist in federal programs that maintain registries or databases based on protected characteristics, which could raise questions about federal-state cooperation and preemption. Supporters are likely to view the measure as preventing discriminatory tracking and protecting vulnerable communities, while critics may argue it could interfere with lawful federal enforcement or information-sharing responsibilities. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, no specific objections or named opponents are identified.