Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Victims and Survivors of Violence and Exploitation

Governor Kathy Hochul signed three pieces of legislation to strengthen protections for victims and survivors of violence and exploitation across New York. The new laws will strengthen privacy protections for victims whose intimate images have been nonconsensually shared, create penalties for hotels and motels that do not display required information on services for human trafficking survivors and ensure domestic violence survivors are notified before the confidentiality protections on their voter registration records expires.

"Protecting victims of domestic violence has always been deeply personal to me," Governor Hochul said. "Every New Yorker deserves to live a life free from fear, and these new laws will help to protect that right. As Governor, I will never stop fighting to support survivors and to ensure they have the tools they need to rebuild their lives."

Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, "New York has long been a leader in protecting the rights of all victims and survivors of crime. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, we continue to expand access to services, support and compensation to help ensure that individuals can obtain the help they need to be safe, heal and thrive."

Office of Victim Services Executive Director Kelli Nicholas Owens said, "Governor Hochul is once again taking action to protect and empower survivors across New York State. By expanding the Address Confidentiality Program to victims of nonconsensual intimate image sharing, enforcing human trafficking awareness in lodging facilities, and ensuring survivors are proactively notified before their voter privacy protections expire, New York is reinforcing its safety net for those who need it most. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her steadfast commitment to keeping survivors safe and championing policies that are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. These measures will make a meaningful difference in the everyday lives of New York survivors."

S.5041/A.6338 protects people whose intimate photos or videos have been illegally, nonconsensually shared by allowing them to participate in New York State's Address Confidentiality Program. This program helps people who have moved keep their new home address private by allowing them to use a substitute mailing address.

State Senator Luis Sepúlveda said, "This legislation is an important step toward ensuring that victims of revenge porn and the unlawful dissemination of their intimate images have access to the protections and support they deserve. No one should have to choose between seeking justice and protecting their personal safety and privacy. By expanding eligibility for New York's Address Confidentiality Program, we are helping ensure that survivors can navigate the legal process without fear that their location will be exposed.I want to thank Governor Hochul for passing this bill and committing to protecting survivors, holding individuals accountable, and ensuring that every New Yorker can seek help with greater confidence and security."

Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, "Thank you to my colleagues and to Gov. Hochul for their support of my bill (A.6338), which allows people who find themselves in Family Court to participate in New York State's Address Confidentiality Program. This will allow people to keep their new home addresses private and help to prevent further abuse or victimization. The bills signed into law today also provide critical protections to victims of human trafficking, and to domestic violence survivors who want to safely participate in the electoral process."

S.9341A/A.8939A strengthens enforcement of existing requirements for hotels, motels and other lodging facilities to display information about services available to victims of human trafficking. This legislation establishes civil penalties for locations that fail to comply with these requirements.

State Senator Jessica Scarella-Spanton said, "As legislators, we have a duty to ensure that New York State's laws prioritize and heighten the safety of victims and survivors of violence. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry that profits off the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable people, and too often hotels and motels serve as hubs for this activity. Although New York State mandates that hotels post information on services for these victims, not every establishment is in compliance with this mandate. This legislation places penalties on these facilities that are in noncompliance with this law, to ensure that this information is as accessible to people who need it as possible. Help and resources are available, and hotels must make this information known. I am grateful to have worked with Assemblywoman Paulin on this, and I am glad that the Governor is signing it into law."

Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, "Human trafficking festers in the shadows, and every opportunity we have to connect victims with life-saving resources is vital. These information cards, strategically placed in the rooms of lodging facilities, empower victims by providing them with the essential information they need to seek help and escape exploitation. This legislation ensures that lodging facilities comply with the law's requirements and actively contribute to the fight against human trafficking. I extend my gratitude to Governor Hochul for her signature on this legislation and her unwavering leadership in safeguarding survivors of exploitation throughout New York."

S.9671A/A.10960A requires the New York State Board of Elections (BOE) to notify domestic violence survivors that their voter registration information confidentiality is about to expire. Under existing law, eligible survivors can request that their voter registration information be kept private for four years to prevent an abuser from using public records to locate them. Under the new law, BOE must mail survivors a notice at least six months before those protections expire, including instructions for how to renew them. This builds on previous legislation Governor Hochul signed in 2021, allowing domestic violence survivors to request confidentiality for their voter registration records directly from BOE instead of a formerly mandated court order.

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, "We must use every tool possible to ensure that survivors of domestic violence remain safe and can feel secure in their lives. Requiring the State Board of Elections to notify survivors six months before their confidential voter registration status expires will help prevent a lapse in this critical layer of protection. I'm proud to sponsor legislation to strengthen this important safeguard, and I thank Governor Hochul for signing it into law."

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, "Confidentiality is paramount for survivors escaping domestic violence. An abuser's threatening tactics often do not end when a person leaves, and in too many cases, survivors continue to be subjected to stalking and harassment long after they have fled. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this bill into law, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to help survivors keep their address information confidential. By filing a simple request with their local Board of Elections, survivors will now be able to continue to protect their privacy and their safety."

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has advanced significant measures to protect victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The Governor signed legislation prohibiting discrimination against domestic violence survivors in housing and other areas of daily life, expanded access to orders of protection for family and household members through Melanie's Law and strengthened efforts to connect human trafficking victims with services.

The Governor's record investments in this work also includes $100 million in state funding to support victim assistance programs, and a $23 million investment in the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative to strengthen the law enforcement response to domestic violence and expand services for survivors.

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Connie Neal said, "Survivors of domestic violence deserve policies that promote safety, dignity, and access to support. These bills represent meaningful progress for survivors and reflect an important commitment to strengthening protections for those impacted by domestic violence. We applaud the Governor's decision to sign this legislation and recognize the difference it will make in the lives of countless New Yorkers."

New York Cyber Abuse Task Force Co-Chair Lindsey Song, Esq said, "Survivors of image-based abuse often face ongoing threats, harassment, and even physical confrontations and assaults from current or former abusers or those who have seen their nonconsensual content online. We commend the passage of S. 5041/ A. 6338 which will provide much-needed address protection for survivors of image-based abuse so they may retain privacy and safety in their home address information."

Sanctuary for Families CEO Hon. Judy Harris Kluger said, "No survivor should be put at risk because their address is exposed, a privacy protection expires without warning, or information about available help is missing when they need it most. Survivors already shoulder the immense burden of escaping abuse and rebuilding their lives. Our institutions have a responsibility to remove barriers to safety and uphold the protections survivors rely on. Sanctuary for Families thanks Governor Hochul and the legislative sponsors for advancing that responsibility through concrete action."

New Yorkers can visit OVS Connect to locate a victim assistance program or access the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline 24/7 by calling 800-942-6906, texting 844-997-2121, or chatting online at opdv.ny.gov.