Senate Bill S9975

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Prohibits the disclosure of the personal information of any active or former New York state, New York city or local municipal emergency first responder, judges or prosecutors

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 20, 2026	referred to investigations and government operations

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §89, Pub Off L; add §§250.61 & 250.62, Pen L; add §50-h, Civ Rts L

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits the disclosure of the home address, personal telephone numbers, personal email addresses or personal social media handles of any active or former New York state, New York city or local municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a New York state, county or municipal prosecutor or the spouse or child thereof; relates to criminal penalties; permits civil action.

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9975

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public officers law, the penal law and the civil
rights law, in relation to prohibiting the disclosure and publication of
the home address, personal telephone numbers, personal email addresses,
or social media handles of any active or former New York state, New York
city or local municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any court
of law of this state, or a New York state, county or municipal prosecu-
tor

 
PURPOSE / GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To protect the safety and privacy of emergency first responders, judges,
and prosecutors by prohibiting the disclosure or publication of their
personal identifying information, including home addresses, telephone
numbers, email addresses, and social media handles.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the public officer's law to prohibit disclosure of
personal identifying information of active or former emergency first
responders, judges, and prosecutors.

Section 2 amends the penal law by creating two new offenses:

*Unlawful disclosure in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, when
such information is disclosed with reckless disregard for harm.

*Unlawful disclosure in the first degree, a class E felony, when such
disclosure is made with intent to expose individuals or their families
to harm.

Section 3 amends the civil rights law to create a private right of
action for individuals whose personal information is unlawfully
disclosed. Courts may award damages, including liquidated damages, puni-
tive damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief.

Section 4 sets the effective date as 90 days after enactment.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Public servants such as emergency first responders, judges, and prosecu-
tors are increasingly vulnerable to harassment, threats, and targeted
violence due to the widespread availability of personal information
online. The rise of "doxxing" has created serious safety concerns not
only for these individuals but also for their families.

This legislation establishes clear legal protections by restricting the
dissemination of sensitive personal information and creating both crimi-
nal penalties and civil remedies for violations. By doing so, it deters
harmful conduct while providing resources for victims.  Protecting these
individuals ensures they can perform their duties without fear of intim-
idation or retaliation, which is essential for maintaining public safety
and the integrity of the justice system.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal. Any costs associated with enforcement are expected to be
absorbed within existing resources.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become
law.

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9975
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 20, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Investigations
   and Government Operations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public officers law, the penal law and the civil
   rights law, in relation to prohibiting the disclosure and  publication
   of  the  home  address,  personal  telephone  numbers,  personal email
   addresses, or social media handles of any active or  former  New  York
   state,  New  York city or local municipal emergency first responder, a
   judge of any court of law of this state, or a New York  state,  county
   or municipal prosecutor
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 89 of the public officers law is amended by  adding
 a new subdivision 7-a to read as follows:
   7-A. (A) NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL PERMIT THE DISCLOSURE OR PUBLI-
 CATION  OF  THE HOME ADDRESS, PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS, PERSONAL EMAIL
 ADDRESSES, OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE OR FORMER  NEW
 YORK  STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER,
 A JUDGE OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A NEW YORK  STATE,  COUNTY
 OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR.
   (B)  "FIRST  RESPONDER"  OR  "NEW  YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY, OR LOCAL
 MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER" SHALL MEAN A POLICE OFFICER,  PEACE
 OFFICER,  FIREFIGHTER, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, PARAMEDIC, OR OTHER
 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF
 THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.
   § 2. The penal law is amended by adding two new  sections  250.61  and
 250.62 to read as follows:
 § 250.61 UNLAWFUL  DISCLOSURE  OF  THE  HOME ADDRESS, PERSONAL TELEPHONE
            NUMBERS, PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESSES OR  PERSONAL  SOCIAL  MEDIA
            HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY
            OR  LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER, A JUDGE OF ANY
            COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A NEW YORK  STATE,  COUNTY  OR
            MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR IN THE SECOND DEGREE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15605-01-6

 S. 9975                             2
 
   FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION,  "FIRST RESPONDER" OR "NEW YORK
 STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER" SHALL
 MEAN A POLICE OFFICER, PEACE  OFFICER,  FIREFIGHTER,  EMERGENCY  MEDICAL
 TECHNICIAN,  PARAMEDIC,  OR  OTHER  EMERGENCY  MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER
 ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.
   A  PERSON  SHALL NOT KNOWINGLY, WITH RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR THE PROBA-
 BILITY OF EXPOSURE OF ANOTHER TO HARASSMENT OR RISK OF HARM TO  LIFE  OR
 PROPERTY, DISCLOSE OR POST OR PUBLISH IN ANY WAY INCLUDING ON THE INTER-
 NET  THE  HOME  ADDRESS,  PERSONAL  TELEPHONE  NUMBERS,  PERSONAL  EMAIL
 ADDRESSES OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE OR  FORMER  NEW
 YORK  STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER,
 A JUDGE OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICI-
 PAL PROSECUTOR.
   UNLAWFUL DISCLOSURE OF THE HOME ADDRESS, PERSONAL  TELEPHONE  NUMBERS,
 PERSONAL  EMAIL ADDRESSES OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE
 OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY  OR  LOCAL  MUNICIPAL  EMERGENCY
 FIRST  RESPONDER,  A  JUDGE  OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A NEW
 YORK STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR IN THE  SECOND  DEGREE  IS  A
 CLASS A MISDEMEANOR.
 § 250.62 UNLAWFUL  DISCLOSURE  OF  THE  HOME ADDRESS, PERSONAL TELEPHONE
            NUMBERS, PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESSES, OR PERSONAL  SOCIAL  MEDIA
            HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY
            OR  LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER, A JUDGE OF ANY
            COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A NEW YORK  STATE,  COUNTY  OR
            MUNICIPAL  PROSECUTOR,  OR THE SPOUSE OR CHILD THEREOF IN THE
            FIRST DEGREE.
   FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS  SECTION,  "FIRST  RESPONDER"  OR  "NEW  YORK
 STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER" SHALL
 MEAN  A  POLICE  OFFICER,  PEACE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER, EMERGENCY MEDICAL
 TECHNICIAN, PARAMEDIC, OR  OTHER  EMERGENCY  MEDICAL  SERVICES  PROVIDER
 ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES.
   A PERSON SHALL NOT KNOWINGLY, WITH INTENT TO EXPOSE ANOTHER TO HARASS-
 MENT  OR  RISK OF HARM TO LIFE OR PROPERTY, DISCLOSE, POST OR PUBLISH IN
 ANY WAY INCLUDING ON THE INTERNET THE HOME ADDRESS,  PERSONAL  TELEPHONE
 NUMBERS,  PERSONAL  EMAIL ADDRESSES, OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES OF
 ANY ACTIVE OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY  OR  LOCAL  MUNICIPAL
 EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER, A JUDGE OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR
 A NEW YORK STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR, OR THE SPOUSE OR CHILD
 THEREOF.
   UNLAWFUL  DISCLOSURE  OF THE HOME ADDRESS, PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS,
 PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESSES, OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE
 OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY  OR  LOCAL  MUNICIPAL  EMERGENCY
 FIRST  RESPONDER,  A  JUDGE  OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A NEW
 YORK STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR, OR THE SPOUSE OR CHILD THER-
 EOF IN THE FIRST DEGREE IS A CLASS E FELONY.
   § 3. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section  50-h  to
 read as follows:
   §  50-H.  DISCLOSURE  OF THE HOME ADDRESS, PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS,
 PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESSES, OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES OF ANY ACTIVE
 OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY  OR  LOCAL  MUNICIPAL  EMERGENCY
 FIRST  RESPONDER,  A  JUDGE  OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A NEW
 YORK STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR IS  PROHIBITED.  1.  FOR  THE
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "FIRST  RESPONDER"  OR  "NEW  YORK  STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL
 MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER" SHALL MEAN A POLICE OFFICER,  PEACE
 OFFICER,  FIREFIGHTER, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, PARAMEDIC, OR OTHER
 S. 9975                             3
 
 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF
 OFFICIAL DUTIES.
   (B)  "DISCLOSE"  SHALL  MEAN  TO  SOLICIT,  SELL,  MANUFACTURE,  GIVE,
 PROVIDE, LEND, TRADE,  MAIL,  DELIVER,  TRANSFER,  PUBLISH,  DISTRIBUTE,
 CIRCULATE, DISSEMINATE, PRESENT, EXHIBIT, ADVERTISE OR OFFER.
   2.  NO  PERSON,  BUSINESS,  OR  ASSOCIATION  SHALL DISCLOSE OR POST OR
 PUBLISH IN ANY WAY INCLUDING ON THE INTERNET THE HOME ADDRESS,  PERSONAL
 TELEPHONE  NUMBERS,  PERSONAL  EMAIL ADDRESSES, OR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA
 HANDLES OF AN ACTIVE OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK  CITY  OR  LOCAL
 MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER, A JUDGE OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS
 STATE,  OR A NEW YORK STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR OR SPOUSE OR
 CHILD THEREOF UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH  A  REASONABLE  PERSON  WOULD
 BELIEVE  THAT PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION WOULD EXPOSE ANOTHER TO HARASS-
 MENT OR RISK OF HARM TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.
   3. A PERSON, BUSINESS, OR ASSOCIATION THAT VIOLATES SUBDIVISION TWO OF
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE ACTIVE OR FORMER NEW YORK STATE, NEW
 YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST  RESPONDER,  JUDGE  OF  ANY
 COURT  OF  LAW  OF THIS STATE, OR STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR,
 THE SPOUSE OR CHILD THEREOF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON RESIDING  AT  THE  HOME
 ADDRESS  OF SUCH INDIVIDUAL, WHO MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION IN THE SUPREME
 COURT.
   4. THE COURT MAY AWARD:
   (A) ACTUAL DAMAGES, BUT NOT LESS THAN LIQUIDATED DAMAGES  COMPUTED  AT
 THE RATE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION;
   (B)  PUNITIVE  DAMAGES  UPON PROOF OF WILLFUL OR RECKLESS DISREGARD OF
 THE LAW;
   (C) REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND OTHER LITIGATION  COSTS  REASONABLY
 INCURRED; AND
   (D) ANY OTHER PRELIMINARY AND EQUITABLE RELIEF AS THE COURT DETERMINES
 TO BE APPROPRIATE.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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Senate Bill S9975

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Actions

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Actions

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9975 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments