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Bill

S 6944

Establishes the offenses of phishing in the third degree, phishing in the second degree and phishing in the first degree; and relates to the time in which a prosecution of such offenses must be commenced

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Lanza

Creates three-tier phishing offenses (third, second, first degree) and sets prosecution timing, guides charges and timelines for defendants, victims, and law enforcement.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 6944

Summary: Bill S.6944 – Phishing Offenses and Prosecution Timing

Overview

Bill S.6944, introduced March 27, 2025, would establish a new three-tier framework for phishing offenses—phishing in the third degree, phishing in the second degree, and phishing in the first degree—and would address the timeline for commencing prosecutions of these offenses. The bill is currently referred to the Codes Committee in the New York State Senate.

  • Status: Referred to Codes (March 27, 2025)
  • Sponsor (primary): Andrew J. Lanza
  • Related bills (prior-session): S 8138, S 3172, S 6099, S 4633

What the bill would do (key provisions)

  • Create three degrees of phishing offenses:

    • Phishing in the third degree
    • Phishing in the second degree
    • Phishing in the first degree These designations establish a tiered offense structure to differentiate the severity of phishing conduct. The specific elements, criteria for each degree, and associated penalties are not detailed in the provided summary.

  • Set prosecution timing:

    • The bill relates to the time in which a prosecution for these phishing offenses must be commenced. This implies the creation or modification of a statute of limitations or related prosecutorial timing rules for phishing offenses. The exact timelines or conditions are not specified in the information available.

Note: The available materials do not include the bill’s exact definitions, elements of each degree, penalties, or procedural rules. The above reflects the stated intent and framework based on the bill’s title and description.

Who would be affected

  • Defendants: Individuals accused of phishing would be charged under one of the three new degrees, with penalties and procedures to be defined in the bill.
  • Victims and the public: The establishment of clearer tiers and prosecution timelines could impact deterrence, enforcement practices, and victim recourse.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors: Agencies and prosecutors would implement the new offense definitions and any associated timelines for charging and trial initiation.
  • Financial and digital service providers: Depending on the elements of the offenses, entities involved in detecting and reporting phishing may experience increased reporting obligations or coordination with law enforcement.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Introduction and referral: Introduced and referred to the Codes Committee on March 27, 2025.
  • Status trajectory: Currently in committee review; any advancement would depend on Codes Committee action and subsequent floor consideration.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the available information.

Related legislative context

  • The bill is connected to prior-session measures listed as S 8138, S 3172, S 6099, and S 4633, indicating an ongoing legislative interest in creating or refining phishing-related offenses across sessions.

If you’d like, I can compare S.6944 to the related prior-session bills to highlight differences in scope, potential penalties, or prosecutorial timelines, once the specific bill text is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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