D Sen. Christopher Ryan

The sponsor explained the bill closes a dangerous gap in law by ensuring accountability when reckless drivers take innocent lives. He detailed the case of Kyriakoula Gasparis, killed by a driver on a suspended license who faced no criminal charges, and emphasized the bill targets knowingly illegal conduct—such as driving with suspended licenses, speeding in pedestrian zones, and running red lights—not honest mistakes.

Thanked Sen. Cooney for the bill and stated the amendments make a good bill better, noting work with municipalities to encourage school districts, towns and villages to cooperate on child safety measures.

The bill establishes an online regulatory hub for small businesses to access rules, forms, and help in one place, cutting red tape and breaking down bureaucratic barriers that currently force business owners to hunt down regulations.

Ryan argued the bill addresses a dangerous trend of false weapon reports ('swatting') that divert emergency services and cause trauma. He stated current laws inadequately address the severity of these actions and that the legislation will deter future incidents while holding perpetrators accountable.

Ryan argued the bill addresses critical safety issues for volunteer first responders who must cross busy roads to reach emergency vehicles. He emphasized that delays in response put lives at risk and that the bill provides necessary protections through traffic control devices and enhanced penalties for failure-to-yield violations.