Senate Codes Committee reports nine bills, including new cyber‑extortion and expanded computer‑crime offenses

The Senate Standing Committee on Codes met Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, and voted to report nine bills to the full Senate, including legislation to create a cyber‑extortion theft offense, expand computer‑related crimes, increase corporate fines, extend statutes of limitation for family offenses, and create a private civil cause of action for tampering with certain protective devices.

The committee reported the following bills to the full Senate (motions, movers/seconds, and vote notes are listed where recorded in the committee transcript):

- Senate Print 83 (Sen. Liu): Establishes the crime of larceny by cyber extortion, defined as intentionally obtaining property from a person or entity in New York through the use of certain malicious software. Motion moved by Sen. Marra and seconded by Sen. Kavanaugh; reported by voice vote.

- Senate Print 630 (Sen. Stavisky): Requires the district attorney to notify victims by letter of the final disposition of a case within 60 days when the disposition includes a conviction; the letter must notify victims of their right to make a victim impact statement and to personally appear at parole hearings. Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded by Sen. Murray (and Sen. O'Meara, as recorded); reported by voice vote.

- Senate Print 866 (Sen. Bailey): Redefines the term “physically helpless” to describe an individual unable to communicate affirmative consent through words or clear actions; the bill’s text in the transcript was partially redacted. Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded by Sen. Murray; reported by voice vote.

- Senate Print 273 (Sen. Krueger): Adds contacts via text message, email, private message, direct message, or other electronic communication to the definition of aggravated harassment in the second degree. Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded by Sen. Murray; reported by voice vote.

- Senate Print 2551 (Sen. Myrie): Increases fines imposed on corporations for offenses defined in the penal law. Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded by Sen. Murray; the transcript records Senators O'Meara and Murray voting in the negative; the bill was nonetheless reported.

- Senate Print 3693 (Sen. Sanders): Creates new offenses including unlawful disruption of computer services in the first and second degree, unlawful computer access assistance in the first and second degree, unauthorized use of an Internet domain name or profile, and unlawful introduction of a computer contaminant; the measure also allows a civil action for compensatory damages for victims. Motion moved by Sen. O'Mara and seconded by Sen. Kavanaugh; reported by voice vote.

- Senate Print 3909 (Sen. Parker) — New York State Phoenix Act: Extends the statute of limitations for felony family offenses to 10 years and for misdemeanor family offenses to five years. Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded as recorded; the transcript records two senators in the negative (recorded as “Senators Mario and Omera” in the transcript). The bill was reported.

- Senate Print 4188 (Sen. Comrie): Establishes the crime of misappropriation of payroll funds when a person knowing funds are designated for payroll or payroll taxes intentionally prevents their intended use. Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded by Sen. Murray; reported by voice vote.

- Senate Print 4322 (Sen. Scarcellus Fantin): Creates a private cause of action for unconsented removal or tampering with a protective device (redacted term in transcript). Motion moved by Sen. Kavanaugh and seconded by Sen. Murray; the transcript records Sen. O'Mara as “without recommendation” on the motion; the bill was reported.

Why this matters: Several bills broaden criminal liability for computer‑enabled conduct and introduce civil remedies for victims, reflecting the committee’s focus on technology‑related offenses and victim protections. The Phoenix Act would change time limits for prosecuting family‑offense cases, a procedural change that affects how long prosecutors and victims may bring charges.

What the committee did and did not decide: The committee reported all nine measures to the full Senate for further consideration. Committee action was limited to reporting the bills; the transcript records minimal debate or amendment discussion for these items. Where the transcript records negative votes or “without recommendation,” those instances are noted above. No committee amendments, referrals to other committees, or instructions to staff were recorded in the transcript provided.

Meeting details: The committee convened with a quorum and proceeded through the agenda by voice votes and recorded motions. Nine bills were considered and reported in a session that lasted about six minutes, according to the meeting audio timestamps in the transcript.

Votes at a glance: Each listed bill was “reported” out of committee as recorded in the transcript. Where individual negative votes or “without recommendation” were named in the transcript, they are recorded above exactly as spoken in the committee record.

Next steps: Reported bills proceed to the full Senate for further action; the committee transcript does not record any additional deadlines or implementation timelines for the measures it reported.