NY Assembly Passes Revised Police Radio Access Bill (2026)

The New York State Assembly has passed a revised bill (S10079) that would give credentialed journalists real-time access to encrypted police radio transmissions across the state — with one major carve-out: it does not cover the NYPD (Bushwick Daily, first reported by AMNY). The Aug. 25, 2026 vote is the legislature's second run at the idea after Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a broader version last December, and it sets up the clearest national test yet of whether states will legislate a press path back into encrypted police radio.

What the Revised Bill Would Do

Under the revised legislation, any law enforcement agency in New York that encrypts its radio would be required to let those channels be monitored in real time by professional journalists, newscasters, and emergency-services employees. Sensitive information, undercover operations, and the movements of government officials would stay encrypted, and media outlets would be required to carry liability insurance.

If the Senate passes the bill and Hochul signs it by December, police departments across the state would have 180 days to come into compliance.

The NYPD Carve-Out

The biggest exception is New York City. The NYPD is governed instead by a separate city law — Intro 1460-2025, sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer — that requires the department to produce a media-access plan by July 16. In practice, the department running the most-watched encrypted police radio system in the country would not be covered by the state bill at all.

A Second Run After the Governor's Veto

The bill is a direct response to Hochul's veto of a broader police radio transparency bill last December. The sponsor says the new version directly addresses the governor's stated concerns.

We addressed all the concerns of the governor and we outlined that with the governor's memo…

— Assemblywoman Reyes, bill sponsor

What Happens Next in Albany

With the Assembly vote done, attention shifts to the state Senate. Press groups — including the New York Press Photographers Association (NYPPA), the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the New York News Publishers Association (NYNPA), and the Deadline Club — are urging the Senate to move next. We tracked the earlier stages of this fight in New York Police Radio Transparency Act Heads to Hochul and NYPD Delayed Feed Plan Draws Fire.

What This Means for Scanner Listeners

For the average scanner listener, this is not a public-feed measure — it is a press-access bill. Credentialed newsrooms would get real-time encrypted channels; the general public would not. But it still matters to listeners: it creates an independent press monitor of agency activity, and New York's outcome is likely to shape similar fights in other states — Illinois is already pushing its own media-access bills.

In the meantime, much of New York outside the biggest departments is not yet fully encrypted, and a pre-programmed police scanner remains the fastest way to hear the traffic that is still broadcast in the clear.

FAQ

What does the NY Assembly's revised police radio bill (S10079) do?

It would require any law enforcement agency in New York that encrypts its radio to let credentialed journalists, newscasters, and emergency-services employees monitor those channels in real time, with exceptions for sensitive information, undercover operations, and official movements.

Why is the NYPD carved out?

The NYPD is covered instead by a separate city law (Intro 1460-2025) that requires the department to produce a media-access plan by July 16. As a result, the state bill does not directly govern the NYPD.

What happens next for the bill?

The Assembly has passed it. If the state Senate passes the same language and Gov. Kathy Hochul signs it by December, police departments would have 180 days to comply.

Will regular scanner listeners get to hear encrypted NYPD channels?

No. The bill is a press-access measure — access would go to credentialed journalists and newscasters, not the general public.

Which other states are working on press access to encrypted radio?

Illinois has its own media-access bills moving through the legislature; we covered them in Illinois Bills Force Media Access When Police Encrypt Scanners.

What can I listen to in New York right now?

Much of the state outside the largest departments still broadcasts in the clear. Check our step-by-step guide to finding local police scanner frequencies and start with whichever jurisdictions are still on the air near you.

Bottom line: New York's Assembly has revived the police radio transparency fight with a revised bill that would hand credentialed journalists real-time encrypted feeds — but leaves the NYPD to a separate city plan. The Senate's next move will tell us whether the state is serious about putting the press back on the air.