What's happening
This bill makes it a class C felony to damage or steal monuments or property commemorating historically or culturally significant figures.
Why it matters
Expands criminal penalties. This bill creates a specific felony offense for damaging or stealing property—such as monuments, markers, or street signs—that commemorates anyone considered historically or culturally significant, going beyond general vandalism or theft laws.
Broadens what’s protected. The law covers not just monuments, but any type of real or personal property tied to a significant figure, living or dead. This means a wide range of commemorative property, from plaques to street signs, now receives enhanced legal protection.
Imposes severe consequences. By making desecration of these items a class C felony, the bill significantly raises the potential prison time and criminal record implications for offenders, which may deter politically or ideologically motivated acts of vandalism.
Reflects ongoing cultural debates. The legislation may influence contentious public discussions about monuments and memorials—especially those involving figures with complex or controversial legacies—by making it riskier to engage in protest or removal through unauthorized means.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Historical Monuments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Held for consideration in codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Felony for Defacing Monuments
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Patrick M. Gallivan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4976
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to desecration of property commemorating a historical figure
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 145.75 to read as follows: § 145.75 Desecration of property commemorating a historical figure.
A person is guilty of desecration of property commemorating a historical figure when with intent to damage property of another person, and having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he has such right, he:
(a) damages any real or personal property, including but not limited to any commemorative monument, marker or street sign, relating to any person, living or dead, who has historical or cultural significance; or
(b) with intent to steal personal property, he steals personal property, including but not limited to any commemorative monument, marker or street sign, relating to any person, living or dead, who has historical or cultural significance.
Desecration of property commemorating a historical figure is a class C felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02953-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.