Assemblyman Anil Beephan, R-Hopewell Junction, is pictured during a legislative hearing in November.

Two Republicans are backing separate, different proposals to create a domestic violence registry in New York state.

Both bills (A.9538, S.8932) have been introduced in recent days in the Senate and Assembly. Both would create registries using different means. It’s uncertain whether either proposal will receive the needed Democratic Party support in either the Assembly or the Senate.

Assemblyman Anil Beephan, R-Hopewell Junction, introduced his legislation last week to establish an online registry for individuals convicted of a second or subsequent domestic violence offense. He proposes requiring local court clerks to send the necessary information to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, which would be required to maintain the registry and post it online. A registration fee would pay for administration.

“Domestic violence is a serious and persistent public safety issue, with repeat offenders posing a heightened risk to victims and the broader community,” Beephan wrote in his legislative justification. “While New York state has taken important steps to strengthen protections for survivors, there remains a critical gap in accountability and transparency for individuals who repeatedly commit domestic violence offenses. This bill addresses that gap by creating a narrowly tailored, publicly accessible registry focused exclusively on repeat offenders, not first-time convictions. By limiting the information displayed and excluding sensitive personal data, the bill carefully balances public safety with privacy concerns.”

The nation’s first domestic violence registry took effect on Jan. 1 in Tennessee. Savanna’s Law, named after a woman who was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend in 2022, requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to maintain a database of people who have been convicted of or who have pleaded guilty to at least two domestic violence offenses. The Tennessee database will include the offender’s name, date of birth, and a photo and location of their convictions, but not their address. The list is not retroactive; only offenses that take place after Jan. 1, 2026, can be included.

Sen. Mario Mattera, R-Smithtown, is proposing legislation in the New York Senate similar to the Tennessee bill. S.8932 also carries the title “Savanna’s Law” and would include the offender’s name, birth date, conviction date, county where the convictions took place and a current photo. Mattera proposes a $150 fee, of which $50 will be kept to administer the database and $100 of which would be sent to the Domestic Violence Awareness Fund.

Mattera also proposes removing people from the registry depending on how long they go without being convicted of a domestic violence incident and the number of prior convictions.

“Domestic violence is an ongoing and unacceptable issue that has affected many New York State residents and there is an inherent responsibility to assist in providing New Yorkers with the tools they need to actively protect themselves. In short, New York State has an obligation to protect those who are potentially vulnerable and ensure that the voices of those who were victimized are heard,” Mattera wrote in his legislative justification.