Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
State Legislature

Bill to Protect Pedestrians and Cyclists Clears Committee Votes in Assembly

VUannouncement.JPGAssembly Member Brian Kavanagh, speaking, with Daniel Squadron and Scott Stringer at last year's rally for Hayley and Diego's Law. To Squadron's right are Wendy Cheung, Hayley Ng's aunt, and Jon Adler, representative for the families of Ng and Diego Martinez.

Hayley and Diego's Law, a bill making its way through Albany that would give law enforcement a new tool to help protect pedestrians and cyclists, took a step forward on Monday night, receiving a unanimous favorable vote from the State Assembly's codes committee, chaired by Brooklyn rep Joe Lentol. Hayley and Diego's Law has now cleared both the codes committees and the transportation committee, chaired by Rochester's David Gantt, and can now proceed to the floor of the full Assembly.

The bill creates a new offense that prosecutors can bring against
drivers who kill or seriously injure
pedestrians or cyclists, providing law enforcement with an intermediate charge between minor
traffic infractions and heavier charges of vehicular homicide.

"It's a big step to get it through both the Assembly transportation committee and the codes committee," said Lindsey Lusher-Shute of Transportation Alternatives. Though no final vote has been scheduled yet, Lusher-Shute said she hopes to see a vote in the next two weeks.

Legislators in both chambers of the state legislature have changed the sentencing options in Hayley and Diego's Law. The bill originally stipulated that sentences would include fines and jail times. As revised, judges could include any combination of community service, traffic safety courses, fines, or jail time in their sentencing. The revision means Hayley and Diego's law hews closer to Oregon's pioneering vulnerable users law, said Lusher-Shute.

In the State Senate, Lusher-Shute said expects to see the transportation committee, chaired by Brooklyn Democrat Martin Dilan, put the bill on its agenda very soon.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey

Spend the holiday weekend with Zohran Mamdani's answers to Streetsblog's mayoral candidate questionnaire.

July 4, 2025

Friday Video: Why NYC Needs ‘Low-Traffic Neighborhoods’

London's Church Street, like so many of our business corridors, was choking on cars — until the advent of the low-traffic neighborhood.

July 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: E-Bikes in Parks … Permanently Edition

The Parks Department will permanently allow e-bikes in city parks following a two-year pilot. Plus more news.

July 4, 2025

Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway

The highly-anticipated 34th Street busway may not happen under Mayor Adams after all, sources said.

July 3, 2025

Manhattan DA Says Alleged Central Park Hit-and-Run Cyclist Didn’t Flee, Drops Charges

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old cyclist "remained on the scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive to treat the injured person."

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025
See all posts