New York Senate Bill S07170

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/3/25
• Refer: 4/3/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Provides for a gun violence prevention program in the public schools; provides that the program is to be developed by the department of education in conjunction with other state agencies and educational organizations and is to be made available to schools for use in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade; provides for a report to the governor and the legislature on the program; enacts the "gun violence prevention act".

Summary

S07170 would create the “Gun Violence Prevention Act” and direct the New York State Education Department, in consultation with school districts and several state agencies, to develop and make available a gun violence prevention program for schools. The program is intended for use with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and would include practical life skills, self-reflection, role-play, goal-setting, leadership development, and parental/community involvement. Schools could choose to use the department-provided materials and request additional information and resources. The bill also requires the department to report to the governor and legislature by July 1, 2028 on the program’s results, including whether it reduced gunshot injuries among children and adolescents and whether it should be expanded, modified, eliminated, or replaced with other programs. The act would take effect 180 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would amend the Education Law by adding a new section 3204-a, authorizing and directing the Education Department to develop a statewide gun violence prevention curriculum/resource program for public schools. It would affect school districts, students in pre-K through grade 12, families, and the Education Department, while also involving the Department of Health, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Environmental Conservation, and other educational organizations in program development. The measure does not mandate a specific classroom requirement for all schools, but it creates a state-supported program and a reporting framework that could influence future education and public safety policy.

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 preventive in tone. The sponsor’s findings frame gun violence as a serious youth safety issue and present education as a nonpunitive intervention aimed at reducing harm. The bill explicitly states that it is not intended to oppose lawful gun ownership or supervised hunting and sport use, suggesting an effort to present the measure as balanced rather than anti-gun.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the subject matter itself: gun violence prevention in schools can raise concerns among gun rights advocates, parents, and school districts about political messaging, curriculum content, and whether the state should be involved in firearm-related instruction. Some may question the effectiveness of school-based prevention programming or whether it overlaps with broader public health and criminal justice efforts. The bill attempts to reduce that tension by emphasizing skills-based prevention, optional local use of materials, and a statement that it does not oppose lawful gun ownership.