Stay updated on animal protection bills in New York! This page provides a summary of key bills currently pending in the State Legislature. Remember, bills are continuously introduced and amended, so for the latest information on these and other animal-related legislation, visit www.nyassembly.gov and www.nysenate.gov.
Pending New York State Bills
- A. 637; A. 2377/S. 1307; A. 2660/S. 6387; A. 5530; S. 4223 Provides a tax credit for adopting companion animals from a shelter or humane society.
- A. 2143 Requires shelters, humane societies, and pet dealers to microchip dogs and cats before adoption and before return to owners.
- A. 4910/S. 1373 Requires dog license applications to include a space where people can donate to their municipal animal shelter or shelters under contract with their municipality to provide animal sheltering services.
- A.5721/S. 391 Requires shelters to use a dog surrender form that includes information about the dog’s aggressive tendencies and requires that such information be disclosed to prospective adopters.
- A. 8555/S. 8211 Updates animal shelter law which takes effect 12/15/25.
- S. 154 Directs the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to develop and maintain a searchable database of lost and found domestic animals.
- S. 1278 Prohibits persons who have been convicted of cruelty to animals, animal fighting, or animal abandonment from working or volunteering at an animal shelter.
- A. 107 Establishes animals as sentient beings.
- A. 165/S. 6380 and A. 630 Restricts tethering of dogs.
- A. 181 Creates task force to study animal protection laws and to make recommendations to modernize them.
- A. 546/S. 7395 Increases penalties for multiple convictions of cruelty to animals; Also A.3880/S. 5409
- A. 599 Prohibits possession of a firearm by an individual who has been convicted of aggravated animal cruelty, animal fighting, and specified other felony animal crimes.
- A. 640/S. 2296 Provides that a court may order the appointment of an advocate to represent the interests of an animal in a criminal proceeding regarding the welfare of an animal victim.
- A. 664/A. 1044 Prohibits persons convicted of aggravated animal cruelty from owning or possessing a companion animal unless authorized by court.
- A. 665 Establishes a database to include persons convicted of mistreating animals.
- A. 690/S. 3491 Increases potential term of imprisonment for felony aggravated cruelty to animals if done in the presence of a child; Also A. 3528 Provides that a person who commits aggravated cruelty to animals in the presence of a child is guilty of a class D felony (which is greater than the class E felony for violations of the law not committed in the presence of a child).
- A. 730/S. 1205 Increases penalties for animal fighting and aggravated cruelty to animals.
- A. 850 Makes it a felony to intentionally injure or kill an animal with no justifiable purpose in order to threaten, intimidate or harass a family or household member. Penalty is increased if done in the presence of a minor.
- A. 897 Criminalizes taking a child to an animal fighting exhibition.
- A. 1116; Also A. 3050/S. 197 Increases penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals (Tucker’s Law).
- A. 1291/S. 1648 Authorizes bail for people charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.
- A. 1391/S. 5544 Provides that persons charged with filing reports of suspected child abuse shall report suspected animal abuse that they see during their official duties.
- A. 1689 Requires the district attorney in each county to appoint at least one assistant district attorney to oversee the prosecution of animal crimes.
- A. 1816/S. 3158 Adds animal fighting to the definition of criminal activity for purposes of enterprise corruption crimes, thus increasing potential penalties.
- A. 1885/S. 5895 Provides for increased penalties and language changes to animal cruelty laws and transfers many of these laws from the Agriculture and Markets Law to the Penal Law.
- A. 1966/S. 250 Expands felony aggravated animal cruelty law by making it applicable to wildlife. Currently this law only applies to companion animals, while even the most heinous cruelty to wildlife is just a misdemeanor.
- A. 2019/S. 703 Removes requirement that an animal must suffer serious physical injuries for the animal abuser to be convicted of felony aggravated cruelty to animals.
- A. 2026/S. 1781 Changes definition of aggravated cruelty to animals so that more people who commit heinous acts against animals can be charged.
- A. 2194 Creates a statewide animal abuser registry. Also S. 1563.
- A. 2387/S. 6812 Establishes a hotline to accept reports of animal abuse.
- A. 3158 Requires the court to require a mental health evaluation when a person is convicted of animal fighting or aggravated animal cruelty.
- A. 3162/S. 1664 Provides that SPCA officers after making an arrest shall have access to live scan fingerprinting system to independently complete arrest.
- A. 3166 Provides that a person convicted of cruelty to animals or animal fighting shall be prohibited from owning, harboring, possessing, adopting, fostering, or having control over a companion animal for at least five years.
- A. 3206/ S. 1159 Establishes domestic violence crimes to include harm to service animals.
- A. 3297/S. 2603 Includes use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument as an aggravated animal cruelty offense.
- A. 3616/S. 3459 Includes companion animals in the law which requires motorists to exercise care to avoid colliding with domestic animals, bicyclists and pedestrians and increases penalties for causing injury to a horse, dog, cat, or cattle while operating a motor vehicle.
- A. 3880/S. 5409 Increases penalties for committing multiple animal cruelty offenses.
- A. 4250 Increases penalties for theft of a companion animal.
- A. 4283 Provides that individuals may rescue companion animals confined in vehicles in extreme temperatures (while currently the law is only applicable to the police, peace officers, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters).
- A. 4856/S. 1568 Increases penalties for killing or injuring a police work dog or police work horse.
- A. 4894 Increases penalties for certain animal fighting crimes.
- A. 5815/ S. 4613 Expands the order of protection law to allow courts to grant exclusive custody of animals to the person seeking the order of protection and to order the respondent to stay away from, taking, harming, concealing, or disposing of the animal. Also S. 8035.
- A. 6145 Expands law on outdoor shelter requirements for dogs and limits tethering.
- A. 6373/S. 6560 Expands the aggravated cruelty to animals law to include all animals, not only companion animals.
- A. 6395 Requires a windbreak at the entrance of outdoor shelters from November through March.
- A. 6397/S. 7350 Expands aggravated cruelty to animals law to include conduct intended to cause serious physical injury and unjustifiably killing or causing serious physical injury to an animal with a weapon.
- A. 6459/ S. 3730 Expands the aggravated cruelty to animals law to also include recklessly engaging in conduct which creates a grave risk of serious physical injury or death to an animal and thereby causes such injury or death.
- A. 6556/S. 5514 Includes consideration of evidence of aggravated cruelty to animals as a factor to be considered when determining whether there are grounds for a temporary extreme risk protection order.
- A. 6687/S. 5414 Increases penalties for causing the death of an animal.
- A. 6722/S. 1648 Authorizes bail for people charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. Also A. 7723 which includes charges for animal fighting and general animal cruelty laws.
- A. 7950/S. 1741 Establishes a minimum fine for abandoning an animal.
- A. 8038/S. 6733 Requires people who are convicted of animal crimes to pay a fee to be deposited in an Animal Offenses Assistance Fund to support animal shelters for expenses incurred to rehabilitate the mistreated animals.
- S. 470 Expands the definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include harm to animals during the commission of a felony.
- S. 675 Prohibits the transportation of dogs in the back of a motor vehicle intended for a load unless certain restrictions are followed, such as the installation of means to prevent the dog from being ejected.
- S. 1507 Includes in the definition of aggravated cruelty the reckless operation of a motor vehicle resulting in the death or serious injury of a companion animal.
- S. 1568 Increases the penalty for killing a police work dog or police work horse and establishes the class E felony offense of injuring a police work dog or police work horse.
- S. 1742 Increases the penalty for violating the dog shelter law.
- S. 5654 Increases penalties for cruelty to animals and allows aggravated cruelty to animals to be considered for bail.
- S. 6880 Increases penalty for aggravated cruelty to animals committed during an incident of domestic violence.
- S. 8030 Pertains to pre-sentencing forensic psychological evaluation and counseling for people convicted of animal crimes.
- A. 740 Provides that in companion animal custody cases involving people who have resided together with the animal, courts may assign sole or joint ownership of the animal, taking into consideration the well-being of the animal.
- A. 1344 Establishes a cause of action for the wrongful injury to or death of a companion animal and provides that a person who unjustifiably, intentionally, recklessly or negligently causes such physical injury or death shall be liable for veterinary expenses, mental distress suffered by the animal’s guardian or members of the guardian’s household, and may be liable for punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
- A. 3115 Provides that when determining damages for negligently, recklessly, or intentionally causing physical injury or death to a companion animal, the court may consider, among other factors, evidence regarding the bond between the animal and the animal’s “parent” and may also award punitive damages when the injury or death was intentionally or recklessly caused.
- A. 862 Prohibits sport killing of zoo, carnival, and circus animals, prohibits sale of these animals to hunting facilities, and prohibits hunting facilities from purchasing or otherwise accepting these animals.
- A. 1557 Prohibits calf roping, use of flank or bucking straps, electric prods, or spurs in rodeos.
- A. 1835/S. 5721 Prohibits use of primates in any exhibition, circus, or entertainment act, but does not apply to accredited zoos and sanctuaries approved by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
- A. 5850/S. 3629-A Provides that no person shall allow for the participation of certain animal species in a traveling animal act.
- A. 1645/S. 7330 Requires research facilities to make available on their websites their dog and cat adoption policy, information regarding their dogs and cats available for adoption, and statistics on the number of dogs and cats they released for adoption to animal shelters, humane organizations, and through private placement.
- A. 6871/S. 3457 Promotes alternatives to animal testing.
- A. 186 Prohibits tail docking of cattle.
- A. 633 Requires slaughterhouses to reimburse costs expended by municipalities and rescue groups for the capture, return, and rehabilitation of animals and to pay a civil penalty. Further provides that in lieu of penalty, slaughterhouse owner may relinquish ownership of an escaped animal.
- A. 652/S. 950 Requires cage-free housing for egg-laying hens.
- A. 668/S. 5683 Makes it unlawful to tether or confine calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens, and pigs during pregnancy on a farm for all or the majority of any day in a manner that prevents these animals from lying down, standing up and fully extending their limbs, and turning around freely; Also A. 891 which just applies to calves and pigs.
- A. 1639/S. 6381 Requires the establishment of a plant-based agriculture grant program.
- A. 1987/S. 558 Provides that no slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction market, or dealer shall buy, sell, or receive a downed animal or hold a downed animal without either euthanizing the animal or obtaining veterinary treatment.
- A. 2092 Requires slaughterhouses to have closed circuit camera and television system in areas with live animals and also requires inspectors to report suspected violations of animal cruelty laws to the police and other officers authorized to enforce animal cruelty laws.
- A. 2421/S. 5017 Prohibits the operation of live animal markets where animals are slaughtered for food and establishes a task force on public health risks and animal welfare concerns associated with such facilities.
- A. 3080 Provides that people who are convicted of cruelty to a farm animal and those in their households or those who aided or abetted in the unlawful acts shall not be entitled to any money generated from the sale of the abused farm animal.
- A. 6928/S. 6530 Prohibits the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing or authorizing permits to new or expanding large concentrated animal feeding operations (factory farms).
- A. 8043/S. 7421 Bans octopus farming and sale, possession, and transport of octopus that is the result of such farming.
- A. 1108 Requires animal groomers to be licensed and includes provisions for animal care, record-keeping, training, and inspections. Also S. 6963.
- A. 6985/S. 7723 Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to establish licensing and educational standards for individuals providing canine training consisting of standards that utilize non-aversive, evidence-based, and positive reinforcement techniques.
- A. 727 Prohibits the use of performance enhancing drugs in horseracing.
- A. 741 Requires the installation and use of surveillance cameras at racetracks.
- A. 822 Establishes a retirement fund for racehorses.
- A. 1888/S. 5822 Makes it unlawful to offer carriage horse rides to the public in New York City and provides for the humane disposition of horses used in the rental horse business.
- A. 1648 Requires persons or entities authorized to be on property that has been vacated because of an eviction, foreclosure, forfeiture, default, or abandonment who encounter an animal who appears abandoned on such property to notify officers so the animals can get necessary care. Also A. 5505/S. 1784 which requires owners, lessors or their designees of property that has been vacated as a result of an eviction, foreclosure, forfeiture, default, or abandonment to inspect the property not more than three days after he/she knew or should have known that the property has been vacated to check for the presence of abandoned animals and to contact authorities so the animals can get necessary care.
- A. 1693/S. 673 Establishes a grant program to expand access for co-sheltering people experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence with their companion animals.
- A. 4884 Provides that no person in public housing shall be denied occupancy or evicted for having a dog of a specific breed, weight, or size.
- A. 6364 Provides that no person 62 years of age or older shall be denied occupancy or evicted from a multiple dwelling for keeping a common household pet or pets.
- A. 8375/S. 7612 Requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to establish a toolkit on best practices, resources, case studies, and other information to encourage housing people and their companion animals together.
- A. 140 Prohibits school districts, school principals, administrators, or teachers from requiring, permitting, or conducting a lesson or experimental study using an animal in a hatching project.
- A. 798/S. 4952 Requires humane education be taught in secondary schools and that the Education Commissioner maintain records verifying school compliance. Currently, humane education is only required to be taught in elementary schools.
- A. 871 Prohibits vivisection at higher education schools when a scientifically and educationally satisfactory method or strategy exists.
- A. 547 Changes definition of pet dealer to include more breeders within the scope of the pet dealer laws which include animal care and other requirements.
- A. 732 Limits the retail sale of birds who are not weaned.
- A. 1672/S. 6822 Adds rabbits to law which prohibits repossession of dogs and cats in purchase contracts, including online and other sales.
- A. 8327 Prohibits retail pet shops from selling certain birds.
- A. 138/S. 473 Provides a tax credit for spaying and neutering.
- A. 3122 Provides for funding of NYC’s Animal Population Control Fund.
- A. 3184/S. 3297 Creates the rescued animals spay and neuter fund and authorizes the Department of Taxation and Finance to place a check-off box on income tax returns for taxpayers to contribute to the fund.
- A. 631/S. 832 Establishes a tax credit for the cost of veterinary services. Also A. 5340 which provides a tax credit for animal care and veterinary expenses.
- A. 796 Prohibits the declawing and de-scenting of ferrets.
- A. 858/S. 833 Eliminates sales tax collected on medicine for companion and farm animals but gives localities the option to collect or forsake their portion.
- A. 1132 Provides veterinarians with lawful access to medical marihuana to treat animals.
- A. 1782 Permits the delivery of telehealth services by veterinarians with certain limitations.
- A. 1945/S. 6821 Allows veterinarians who provide free veterinary services to animals of individuals who are getting temporary housing to receive continuing education credit.
- A. 8551/S. 3026 Prohibits devocalization of dogs and cats except when necessary to treat or relieve a physical illness, disease, or injury or to correct a congenital abnormality which is causing or may reasonably cause the animal physical pain or harm.
- S. 1802 Prohibits ear clipping and tail docking of dogs unless deemed medically necessary to protect the life or health of the dog.
- A. 54/S. 3046 Provides that no adhesive based animal traps shall be shipped into this state nor be accepted, sold, offered for sale, or possessed and prohibits the use of adhesive glue insect traps in an outdoor environment where such devices may capture birds or other animals.
- A. 667/S. 1182 Bans use of leg-gripping traps (with limited exceptions).
- A. 710 Removes language in current law which allows landowners and other authorized persons to kill “nuisance” wildlife in any manner.
- A. 775 Establishes a tax exemption for buildings with bird friendly design.
- A. 859/S. 562 Prohibits the hunting of non-native big game mammals in a fenced or other area from which they cannot escape (canned hunts).
- A. 888 Prohibits the state’s participation in artificial pheasant propagation which involves pheasants being bred to be hunted and closes the state’s pheasant production facility.
- A. 1089/S. 4954 Prohibits the use of lead ammunition in hunting wildlife on state-owned land and on land contributing surface water to the NYC water supply.
- A. 1109 Prohibits hunting or taking wildlife with the aid of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
- A. 1383/S. 6152 Requires nuisance wildlife control operators to use non-lethal methods unless contrary to public health and safety or otherwise prohibited by law.
- A. 1420/S. 1676 Requires nuisance wildlife control operators to disclose to clients that caught animals may be euthanized.
- A. 1616/S. 5014 Bans import, export, transport, sale, purchase, barter, distribution, or possession of any part or product of the skin or body of the African Elephant, African Leopard, African Lion, Black Rhino, and White Rhino.
- A. 1630 Adds sexual conduct with an animal to cruelty to animals laws.
- A. 1683 Restricts sales tax exemptions on fur-bearing articles of clothing or footwear.
- A. 1685/S. 6621 Bans the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and exportation of red-eared slider turtles.
- A. 1804/S. 252 Expand list of wild animals who cannot be sold as pets.
- A. 1923 Limits sale of fur products.
- A. 1980 Specifically states that dogs and cats are not included in the definition of wildlife, thus providing them with greater protection.
- A. 3046/S. 1362 Provides that nuisance wildlife control operators who use lethal methods must be more transparent by requiring them to document why non-lethal methods were not used.
- A. 3065 Provides that local governments have the right to prohibit trade in real fur products.
- A. 3150/S. 5709 Prohibits the importation, possession, or sale of any part or product of the skin or body of a kangaroo for commercial purposes.
- A. 663/S. 1294 Establishes a canine officer health monitoring fund which allows applicants to request reimbursement for health costs related to health or injury of canine officers.
- A. 791 Allows employees to receive paid sick leave to care for sick pets.
- A. 1087 Requires schools to offer plant-based food option among other options. Also A. 1834/S. 2689.
- A. 1101/S. 75 Restricts the release of balloons.
- A. 1523 Designates rescue cats as the official state cat.
- A. 1593 Requires the Department of Social Services to provide assistance to individuals who are eligible for low-income assistance programs for the purchase of food and veterinary expenses for guide, hearing, and service dogs.
- A. 1612/S. 3970; Also S. 6946 Authorizes emergency medical care personnel to provide first aid to dogs and cats when responding to an emergency and limits liability for doing so.
- A. 1698/S. 6573 Requires state or municipal officers who recover a deceased dog or cat killed on a public road to make efforts to notify the animal’s owner or animal management service.
- A. 1976 Regulates toxic chemicals in pet products.
- A. 3192/S. 2370 Establishes a credit against income tax for the care of service dogs.
- A. 4380/S. 3089 Addresses right of witnesses to have courthouse facility dogs during judicial proceedings.
- A. 5080 Authorizes the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide financial assistance to veterans for purchasing, training, and upkeep of service dogs and emotional support dogs.
- A. 6388/S. 896 Includes animal shelters, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and veterinary services when establishing local emergency management plans which shall incorporate the identification of temporary animal friendly housing.
- S. 2041 Requires the establishment of a program to cover the cost of veterinary care for retired law enforcement dogs for the lifetime of the dogs.
- S. 3510 Provides that hospitals and healthcare facilities that provide emergency services shall develop a plan to provide a reasonable accommodation for service animals brought into the facility during an emergency or any time that a patient needs medical treatment and such service animal cannot be with the patient.
Take Action
Help secure a brighter future for animals in New York! These animal protection bills hold the key to positive change. Take action with just a few clicks or calls. Reach your local lawmakers and Senate leaders with the information below and let them know you stand with animals.
- Easily find your representatives and their contact information at www.nyassembly.gov and www.nysenate.gov by entering your address. Make sure to mention you’re a constituent in your message!
2. Contact Senate Leadership:
- Name: Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader
Phone: (518)455-2585
Email: scousins@nysenate.gov
Fax: (518)426-6811;
Address: Room 907, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
3. Contact Assembly Leadership:
- Name: Carl E. Heastie, Assembly Speaker
Phone: (518)455-3791
Email: speaker@nyassembly.gov
Fax: (518)455-4812
Address: Room 932, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
Remember:
- Be polite and respectful in your communication.
- Briefly state your concerns or support for specific bills.
- Share personal stories or experiences to personalize your message.
- Mention that you are a constituent, this reminds the official that you’re a voter in their district or state.
By taking these simple steps, you can play an active role in shaping animal protection policies in New York State. Let your voice be heard!