Authorizes a plaintiff commencing an action alleging conduct constituting a sexual offense or a civil offense involving the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus shall have the right to proceed anonymously.

New York Senate Bill S09021, introduced by Senator Peter Harckham on January 22, 2026, aimed to grant plaintiffs the right to proceed anonymously in legal actions alleging sexual offenses or civil offenses involving the transmission of HIV. The bill was referred to the Senate Codes Committee but did not progress further and died in committee on June 4, 2026. ([legiscan.com](https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/S09021/2025?utm_source=openai))

While there is no specific media coverage available for Senate Bill S09021, similar legislative efforts in other states have been met with support from advocacy groups. For instance, in 2021, New York lawmakers passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults aged 21 and over, which included provisions to expunge prior marijuana-related convictions. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2021/03/31/new-york-marijuana-recreational-legalized?utm_source=openai)) This indicates a trend toward supporting legislation that aims to protect vulnerable individuals and promote justice.

There is no specific media coverage available for Senate Bill S09021. However, similar legislative efforts in other states have faced opposition from certain groups. For example, in 2021, New York lawmakers passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults aged 21 and over, which included provisions to expunge prior marijuana-related convictions. This move faced criticism from some groups concerned about potential negative societal impacts. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2021/03/31/new-york-marijuana-recreational-legalized?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that similar bills, such as S09021, could encounter resistance from those who believe such measures may have unintended consequences.