Hochul signs laws to combat crime, including defining the removal of religious attire as serious harassment.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed three new laws aimed at reducing crime in New York State, including measures to combat hate-fueled violence, increase anti-violence education in schools, and address the issue of stolen cellphones.

“Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to using every possible tool to keep New Yorkers safe,” Hochul said. “The data is clear: New York has gotten safer since I took office in 2021, but there is more to do to stop hate and prevent violence in our communities. Signing these bills today will create three new laws to help protect New Yorkers and further reduce crime.”

The new legislations are designed to improve public safety through targeted actions. One statute improves hate crime safeguards by defining the removal or threat to remove religious apparel, such as yarmulkes or hijabs, as aggravated harassment in the second degree.

Another bill expands the Omnibus School Violence Prevention Grant program to provide anti-violence education in schools. This includes trauma assistance for at-risk youth, group counseling, and evidence-based anti-violence initiatives, which provide critical resources for addressing the fundamental causes of violence.

The third rule, dubbed “Detective Brian Simonsen’s Law,” requires telecom carriers to disable services on stolen cell phones. This legislation, named after Detective Simonsen, an NYPD officer killed in 2019 while responding to an armed robbery at a cell phone store, seeks to reduce cell phone theft and related crimes.

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