Senate BillIntroduced
S 5479: Relates to unauthorized use of a smart phone or mobile device or any data contained therein.
What S 5479 does, verified January 9, 2026
The bill aims to amend the penal law to define and penalize the unauthorized use of a smartphone or mobile device, or any data contained therein. A "computer" is defined as a device or group of devices that can automatically perform operations with or on computer data, including smartphones and mobile devices. A "smartphone or mobile device" is specifically defined as a portable computing device with certain characteristics, such as a small form factor, local data storage, and a self-contained power source. The bill 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 S 5479
- What is the current status of S 5479?
- As of January 9, 2026, S 5479 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 S 5479 pass?
- Not yet. S 5479 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 5479, and where is it now?
- S 5479 was authored by Sen. Leroy Comrie. Its committee of record is Senate 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. 21, 2025 | REFERRED TO CODES |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 21, 2025 · 315 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5479 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to unauthorized use of a smart phone or mobile device or any data contained therein The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 156.00 of the penal law, as 2 amended by chapter 558 of the laws of 2006, is amended and a new 3 subdivision 10 is added to read as follows: 4 1. "Computer" means a device or group of devices which, by manipu- 5 lation of electronic, magnetic, optical or electrochemical impulses, 6 pursuant to a computer program, can automatically perform arithmetic, 7 logical, storage or retrieval operations with or on computer data, and 8 includes any connected or directly related device, equipment or facility 9 which enables such computer to store, retrieve or communicate to or from 10 a person, another computer or another device the results of computer 11 operations, computer programs or computer data. For the purposes of 12 this article, a smart phone or mobile device shall be considered a 13 computer. 14 10. "Smart phone or mobile device" means a portable computing device 15 that: (a) has a small form factor such that it can easily be carried by 16 a single individual; (b) is designed to operate without a physical 17 connection; (c) possesses local, non-removable or removable data stor- 18 age; and (d) includes a self-contained power source. 19 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD09716-01-5
Text of S 5479 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions