Immigration (Citizenship & Naturalization)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 675: Relates to enacting the empire state licensing act; repealer

Enacts the empire state licensing act to provide all New Yorkers with access to professional, occupational, commercial, or business licenses, permits, certificates, or related registrations regardless of an applicant's citizenship or immigration status.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves immigration status barriers for professional licensing, enabling access to services for all New Yorkers per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7248: Authorizes localities to remove citizenship requirements for police and firefighters in their jurisdictions

This bill allows cities, towns, and villages to eliminate citizenship requirements for police and firefighter positions within their jurisdictions. Local governments can remove these requirements through local laws, rules, or ordinances without needing state approval. The policy directly affects public safety hiring standards in all municipalities across the state. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, giving local leaders flexibility to adjust hiring practices.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves citizenship barriers for public safety hiring, enabling immigrant participation in community roles, aligns with immigrant integration support95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2345: Relates to verification of voter qualifications

Requires the state board of elections to participate in the systematic alien verification for entitlements (SAVE) program, administered by the United States citizenship and immigration services agency, to verify that a person who is either registered or registering to vote is a United States citizen.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates state cooperation with federal immigration verification (SAVE program) for voter eligibility, aligning with 'mandates cooperation with federal enforcement' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5418: Authorizes localities to waive citizenship requirements for certain police and firefighters in their jurisdictions

This bill (S 5418) allows New York cities, counties, towns, and fire/police districts to waive citizenship requirements for police and firefighter candidates who provide proof of an honorable military discharge from U.S. or New York military service (including National Guard or Naval Militia). It directly affects non-citizen applicants with military service history who would otherwise be ineligible due to citizenship rules. The key provision amends state law to permit local governing bodies to exempt these candidates from citizenship requirements if they submit verified military discharge documentation. This creates a pathway for qualified military veterans to serve in local emergency services roles without U.S. citizenship.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationEnables non-citizen veterans with military service to serve as police/firefighters, supporting immigrant integration by removing citizenship barriers for this group.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllows veterans with honorable military discharge to qualify for police/firefighter roles by waiving citizenship requirements, directly supporting veteran employment opportunities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs National Guard & Reserve

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 103: Enacts the "New York religious freedom act"

S 103, the "New York Religious Freedom Act," prohibits state and local agencies and law enforcement from collecting, sharing, or using personally identifiable information about individuals' religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations for government databases related to law enforcement or immigration. It specifically bans using public funds or resources to create or enforce such databases and restricts sharing religious data with federal authorities, except in limited cases like targeted criminal investigations with a clear link to the crime or for providing religious accommodations. The law also terminates existing agreements that conflict with these restrictions and clarifies that agencies may still share citizenship or immigration status information as permitted under federal law. This directly affects all New York state and local government agencies handling personal data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents law enforcement from collecting religious data, protecting civil rights in criminal justice contexts per bill's prohibition on religious data use in databases.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationS 103 prohibits state/local agencies from collecting/sharing religious data for immigration databases and restricts sharing with federal authorities, limiting enforcement.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits government collection/sharing of religious data, enhancing data privacy protections aligned with technology policy goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Data Privacy

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 30, 2026

A 1277: Allows only citizens to vote at elections

This bill proposes amending the state constitution to require that only U.S. citizens may vote in elections. It would replace the current voting eligibility language with a specific provision stating "Only citizens shall be entitled to vote," while maintaining existing requirements that voters must be at least 18 years old and residents of the state and their local area for 30 days prior to an election. The key change directly affects voting eligibility by restricting the right to vote to citizens, removing any existing non-citizen voting provisions. If passed, this would be a constitutional change, not a temporary law, requiring approval through the standard amendment process.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill A 1277 explicitly limits voting rights to citizens, directly restricting civic participation for non-citizens/immigrants at the state level.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1086: Relates to enacting the empire state licensing act; repealer

Enacts the empire state licensing act to provide all New Yorkers with access to professional, occupational, commercial, or business licenses, permits, certificates, or related registrations regardless of an applicant's citizenship or immigration status.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationThe bill provides access to professional licenses regardless of an applicant's immigration status, directly supporting immigrant integration and access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3447: Includes in false registration the attempt to register as an elector knowing that they are not qualified due to lack of U.S. citizenship

This bill amends election law to explicitly include attempting to register as a voter when not a U.S. citizen as a form of false registration. It makes such attempts a class E felony, directly affecting individuals who knowingly try to register without U.S. citizenship. The key provision expands the existing false registration definition to specifically cover lack of citizenship as a disqualifier. The law does not change voter eligibility requirements but strengthens penalties for attempting registration while knowing one lacks citizenship.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying non-citizen voter registration attempts as class E felony, increasing penalties for a non-violent offense.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill A 3447 makes it a class E felony for non-U.S. citizens to attempt to register to vote, strengthening penalties and restricting actions based on immigration status.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4507: Relates to the form of the juror qualification questionnaire

Relates to the form of the juror qualification questionnaire; provides that such questionnaire shall only require a prospective juror who is not a citizen of the United States to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they are not a citizen.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationThe bill simplifies the juror qualification questionnaire for non-citizens, requiring only certification of non-citizenship, which streamlines a process for them.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2688: Requires the board of elections to check all registered voter's citizenship and lawful permanent resident status and requires all voters to show government issued identification to vote

Requires the board of elections to check all registered voter's citizenship and lawful permanent resident status; requires all voters to show government issued identification to vote.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill requires checking voter citizenship/LPR status, limiting voting to citizens and increasing scrutiny on non-citizens, aligning with restricting immigrant access to voting.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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