Bill

S 5573

Provides that rape in the first degree shall be a class A-I felony

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Lanza and 2 co-sponsors

Rape in the first degree would be reclassified as a Class A-I felony, boosting penalties and affecting charging, sentencing, and victims under the state's harshest felony tier.

REFERRED TO CODES

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · S 5573

Summary of S 5573: Rape in the First Degree Classified as Class A-I Felony

Overview

S 5573 proposes to classify rape in the first degree as a Class A-I felony. The measure is in the early stage of the legislative process, with the primary intent of increasing the seriousness of the offense within the state’s felony structure. The bill was introduced on February 25, 2025 and has been referred to the Codes committee.

Purpose and Intent

To elevate the offense of rape in the first degree to the highest tier of felony classification (Class A-I).
The intended effect is to align the penalties for rape in the first degree with the state’s most serious felony category, reinforcing the accountability and severity of this crime.

Key Provisions

The central amendment is a reclassification: rape in the first degree would be designated as a Class A-I felony.
No other substantive provisions are listed in the available bill summary beyond this reclassification.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Defendants charged with rape in the first degree would fall under Class A-I felony penalties if the bill becomes law.
Prosecutors, defense counsel, and judges would reference the Class A-I framework for charging, adjudicating, and sentencing.
Victims of rape could experience changes in case handling, potential sentencing severity, and post-conviction considerations consistent with higher-level felony status.
The broader criminal justice and corrections systems could feel impacts related to sentencing length, parole/clemency considerations, and workload tied to higher-severity felonies.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Referred to Codes (the committee responsible for criminal law and related provisions).
Introduced: February 25, 2025.
Legislative actions recorded: Referred to Codes on February 25, 2025 (listed twice in the provided summary).
Next steps (typical in this process): The bill would advance through the Codes committee for potential amendments and a floor vote, then proceed to other legislative stages as applicable.

Related Legislation

Several related or prior-session bills are listed, indicating ongoing legislative interest in the topic:
- S 4504, S 2144, S 3543, S 479, S 5709, S 6151, S 1784, S 4635, S 4110 (all prior sessions)

Notes

The summary reflects the information available: the key change is the reclassification of rape in the first degree to Class A-I felony, with no other substantive provisions specified.
As the bill is in a early stage (referred to Codes), substantive improvements, amendments, or fiscal impacts may be introduced during committee review.

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