S 1985 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requires police officers to take temporary custody of firearms when responding to reports of family violence

Summary

Requires police officers to take temporary custody of firearms for not less than one hundred twenty hours when responding to reports of family violence.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Oct 2025

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed Oct 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S1985 → S1985A · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill modifies New York's gun seizure laws during domestic violence incidents by creating a tiered system for police custody of firearms. Previously, officers could only take guns in plain sight or from arrested individuals. Now, officers must take custody of firearms from anyone suspected of domestic violence if specific risk indicators are present, such as victim threats, lethality assessment questions, or officer judgment of danger.

Scope change

The bill expands police authority to seize firearms from suspects who are not arrested but are suspected of domestic violence, based on specific risk indicators found in domestic incident reports.

REQUIREMENT

Changed police custody requirements from optional to mandatory for firearms in plain sight, and added new mandatory seizure conditions for firearms in possession of suspected domestic violence suspects.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new criteria requiring seizure of firearms when victims affirmatively respond to threats or lethality assessment questions on standardized domestic incident reports, or when officers reasonably believe removal is necessary for safety.

TIMELINE

Increased the required waiting period before returning seized weapons from 48 hours to 120 hours, allowing more time for court orders or criminal charges to be processed.

Floor votes · Senate May 13, 2025 · Assembly Jun 11, 2025

How they voted

37–20

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 62

May 13, 2025

D Democratic40

36 Yea 4

90% Yea

R Republican22

1 Yea 20 Nay 1

90% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Oct 16, 2025

Signed into law

SIGNED CHAP.466

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

lower

Jun 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

REPASSED SENATE

upper

May 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMENDED ON THIRD READING 1985A

upper

May 13, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

lower

May 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors