Assembly BillIntroduced
A 6159: Increases the penalty for rape in the first degree from a class B felony to an class A-II felony.
What A 6159 does, verified January 9, 2026
The proposed law aims to increase the penalty for rape in the first degree. A person will be guilty of rape in the first degree if they engage in vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact with another person under certain circumstances. These circumstances include: * Using forcible compulsion * Taking advantage of someone who is physically helpless * Engaging in sexual contact with someone who is under 11 years old * Engaging in sexual contact with someone who is under 13 years old and the perpetrator is 18 years old or more The law will classify rape in the first degree as a class B-II felony, making it a more severe punishment. The law will take effect immediately.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: referred to codes (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about A 6159
- What is the current status of A 6159?
- As of January 9, 2026, A 6159 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "referred to codes".
- Did A 6159 pass?
- Not yet. A 6159 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote A 6159, and where is it now?
- A 6159 was authored by Asm. John Lemondes with 4 coauthors. Its committee of record is Assembly Codes.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to codes |
| Feb. 26, 2025 | referred to codes |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 26, 2025 · 366 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6159 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 26, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. LEMONDES -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to increasing the penalty for rape in the first degree The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 130.35 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 777 2 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows: 3 § 130.35 Rape in the first degree. 4 A person is guilty of rape in the first degree when: 5 1. [he or she] such person engages in vaginal sexual contact with 6 another person: 7 (a) By forcible compulsion; or 8 (b) Who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically help- 9 less; or 10 (c) Who is less than eleven years old; or 11 (d) Who is less than thirteen years old and the actor is eighteen 12 years old or more; 13 2. [he or she] such person engages in oral sexual contact with another 14 person: 15 (a) By forcible compulsion; or 16 (b) Who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically help- 17 less; or 18 (c) Who is less than eleven years old; or 19 (d) Who is less than thirteen years old and the actor is eighteen 20 years old or more; or 21 3. [he or she] such person engages in anal sexual contact with another 22 person: 23 (a) By forcible compulsion; or 24 (b) Who is incapable of consent by reason of being physically help- 25 less; or EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01127-01-5A. 6159 2 1 (c) Who is less than eleven years old; or 2 (d) Who is less than thirteen years old and the actor is eighteen 3 years old or more. 4 Rape in the first degree is a class [B] A-II felony. 5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Text of A 6159 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions