New York A 9300: Establishes the free speech protection act and prevents the transfer of information on legal protest activities to the federal government

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A09300 Summary:

BILL NOA09300 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORCarroll R

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §837-z, Exec L

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Establishes the "free speech protection act"; prevents the transfer of information on legal protest activities to the federal government; establishes a civil right of action for violations of the act.

Go to top A09300 Actions:

BILL NOA09300 

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12/10/2025referred to governmental operations

01/07/2026referred to governmental operations

Go to topA09300 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09300 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09300 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9300

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 December 10, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. R. CARROLL -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Governmental Operations

 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the "free
 speech protection act" and preventing the transfer of information on
 legal protest activities to the federal government

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "free
 2 speech protection act".
 3 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-z to
 4 read as follows:
 5 § 837-z. Cooperation with certain federal investigations. 1. For
 6 purposes of this section, the term "protected expressive activity" means
 7 protests, demonstrations, or other actions protected by the first amend-
 8 ment to the United States constitution or sections eight and nine of
 9 article one of the New York state constitution.
 10 2. No state or local law enforcement agency shall cooperate with or
 11 provide information to the federal government or its agents regarding
 12 protected expressive activities performed in this state, or otherwise
 13 expend or use time, moneys, facilities, property, equipment, personnel,
 14 or other resources in furtherance of any federal investigation or
 15 proceeding that seeks to impose civil or criminal liability or profes-
 16 sional sanctions upon a person or entity for any protected expressive
 17 activity occurring in this state.
 18 3. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the investigation of any
 19 crime under the laws of this state which may involve protests, demon-
 20 strations, or other actions protected by the first amendment to the
 21 United States constitution or sections eight and nine of article one of
 22 the New York state constitution, provided that no information may be
 23 provided to the federal government or its agents as to the participation
 24 of specific individuals in these protected activities.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14147-01-5

 A. 9300 2

 1 4. This section shall not be construed to allow for the provision of
 2 any information to the federal government or its agents that would not
 3 otherwise be available under state law.
 4 5. (a) Any individual whose information was obtained by any federal
 5 government entity in violation of this section may institute a civil
 6 action against the state or local law enforcement agency that disclosed
 7 their information in violation of this section for any or all of the
 8 following:
 9 (i) one thousand dollars per violation or actual damages, whichever is
 10 greater;
 11 (ii) punitive damages;
 12 (iii) injunctive or declaratory relief; and
 13 (iv) any other relief the court deems proper.
 14 (b) In assessing the amount of punitive damages, the court shall
 15 consider:
 16 (i) the number of people whose rights were violated;
 17 (ii) whether the violation directly or indirectly targeted persons
 18 engaged in the exercise of activities protected by the United States
 19 constitution or the New York state constitution; and
 20 (iii) the persistence of violations by the particular government enti-
 21 ty.
 22 (c) In any action brought under this section, the court shall award
 23 reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses, and costs to a prevailing plain-
 24 tiff.
 25 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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