Criminal Justice

This bill creates a new criminal offense called "vehicular homicide" for drivers who cause another person's death through reckless conduct showing extreme disregard for human life. It directly affects drivers whose actions - like severe speeding or ignoring traffic signals - result in fatalities, even if they didn’t intend to cause death. The law classifies vehicular homicide as a class B felony, the same penalty as second-degree murder in New York, making it a serious criminal charge. This change would replace or add to existing laws for deaths caused by negligent or reckless driving.

Establishes the crimes of criminal trespass on a school bus, school grounds or children's camp; requires the commissioner of motor vehicles, in consultation with the commissioner of transportation, to promulgate rules and regulations for certain signage on school buses; relates to professional development school bus driver safety training seminars statewide.

This bill (S 1648) would have amended New York's criminal procedure law to allow bail for defendants charged with "aggravated cruelty to animals" under Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a. It specifically added this offense to existing bail eligibility provisions that previously included firearm-related crimes (like third-degree weapons possession). The bill was defeated in the Codes committee on May 5, 2025, and did not become law. It directly affected individuals charged with severe animal cruelty offenses by changing their bail eligibility under state law.