DSW Lobbies for Immunity in Albany

In April and May, Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) staff and allies traveled to the New York state capitol to advocate for the passage of S3967A (Sepulveda) / A01029A (Kelles). This crucial legislation would grant conditional immunity to sex workers and trafficking survivors who witness or are victims of a crime — removing a major barrier to seeking help, reporting abuse, and accessing medical care.

These Advocacy Days were built on the momentum of a successful Immunity Law Advocacy Day held in February at the capitol. April’s event focused specifically on Immunity Legislation; advocates met with 20 legislative offices and successfully secured additional sponsors for the bill.

In May, DSW returned to Albany to join Equality New York (EQNY) for its annual lobby day. EQNY named Immunity Legislation as one of its top three priorities for the session. The day included a full schedule of legislative meetings and culminated in a powerful press conference featuring remarks from advocates and the bill’s sponsors.

Thanks to these coordinated advocacy efforts, S3967A/A01029A advanced through both the Senate and Assembly Codes Committees. It passed unanimously in the Senate and with near-unanimous support in the Assembly. The bill now moves to the floor of each chamber for a full vote.