New York Overview – 2023 Session
NEW YORK
Legislative Overview – 2023-24 Session
(Adjourned on June 21, 2023)
161 pet related items were proposed during the 1st year of the 2023-24 legislative session, 54of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| AB 41 | Animal Personhood: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 382 to establish animals as sentient beings. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 71 | Animal Law Task Force: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 381 (Task Force on Animal Laws) to establish a task force on animal laws and to provide for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 111/SB 1659 | Courtroom Animal Advocates: Amends NY Judiciary Law by adding a new Article 22-B (Special Advocates for Animal Welfare Program) which would allow for the appointment of a special advocate to represent the interests of justice in a court proceeding involving the welfare of an animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 258/SB 3570 | Insurance/Coverage of Veterinary Expenses: Amends NY Insurance Law by adding a new Article 42-A to regulate the issuance of insurance policies covering veterinary expenses. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 381 | Dog Tethering Restrictions: Amends Article 26 (Animals), by adding a new Section 353-g (Tethering, restraining, caging, or penning of dogs or animals) to prohibit tethering, restraining, caging, or penning of dogs or animals between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 399 | Animal Cruelty Conviction Database: Amends Article 835 (Division of Criminal Justice Services) of NY Executive Law by adding a new Section 837-w (Animal Cruelty Database) relating to the creation of a crime database of all convictions in New York state of animal cruelty, fighting, neglect, abandonment, and mistreatment. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 400 | Unweaned Bird Sales Restrictions: Amends Article 26-A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers), Section 402 (Records of Purchase and Sale) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law to restrict the sale of unweaned birds by pet dealers. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 416 | Animal Welfare Education/Secondary School Curriculum: Amends Title 1 (General Provisions), Article 17 (Instruction in Certain Subject), Section 809 (Instruction in the Humane Treatment of Animals) of NY Education Law to expand the requirements for teaching humane education to secondary school students and provides for the verification of compliance of such instruction. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 420/SB 1673 | Pet Dealer Fire Protection Requirements: Amends Article 26A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law creating a new Section 407 (Fire protection requirements for pet stores) providing that all pet dealers shall provide fire protection measures for every premises at which the dealer houses animals. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 433/SB 294 | Animal Cruelty/Pet Ownership Prohibition: Amends Article 26 (Animals), Section 353-a (Aggravated cruelty to animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law to prohibit a person convicted of violating “Buster’s Law” from owning or possessing a companion animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 518 | “Priority Species” Possession/Transport Prohibition: An Act prohibiting the possession and transport of “priority species” at airports and port facilities owned or operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 756/SB 401 | Companion Animal Medicine Sales Tax Exemption: Amends Article 28 (Sales & Compensating Use Taxes), of New York Tax Law to provide an exemption for drugs and medicines for companion and farm animals. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 773 | Pet Product/Chemical Reporting Requirement: Amends NY Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new section in Title 9 entitled Toxic Chemicals in Pet Products. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 981/SB 846 | Statewide Pet Sale Ban Effective Date Adjustment: Amends Article 35-D (Sale of Dogs and Cats), Section 753-F (Sale of dogs, cats and rabbits prohibited) of NY General Business Law to: 1) Allow reasonable rental fees to be charged by a retail pet shop for showcasing dogs, cats, or rabbits for adoption; and 2) Adjust the effective date on the prohibition of the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits from pet shops. | ENACTED |
| AB 1149/SB 4163 | Homeowner’s/Rental Insurance Breed-Specific Dog Policy Prohibition: Amends Article 34 (Insurance Contracts-Property/Casualty) of NY Insurance Law, Section 3421 (Homeowner’s Liability Insurance; Dogs) to add rental insurance policies to existing provisions which prohibit insurers from refusing to issue or renew, canceling, or charging or imposing an increased premium for homeowners’ insurance policies based solely on the breed of dog owned. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 1372 | Non-Economic Damages/Death of a Companion Animal: Amends Article (Obligations to Make Compensation or Restitution), Title 1 (Compensation) of NY General Obligations Law by adding a new Section 1108 (Compensation for injury or death of a companion animal) to provide for compensation to an owner for the unjustifiable injury or death of a companion animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 1547/SB 1414 | Animal Boarding Services Sales Tax Exemption: Amends Article 28 (Sales and Compensating Use Taxes), Part 3 (Exemptions), Section 1115 (Exemption from Sales and Use Tax) of NY Tax Law by adding a new subdivision to exempt certain animal boarding services from state sales and use tax. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 1710/SB 5567 | “Miscellaneous Industry Worker” Minimum Wage Requirement: Amends Article 19 (Minimum Wage Act), Section 651 (Definitions) of NY Labor Law by adding a new subdivision to provide minimum wage requirements and a definition for “miscellaneous industry workers” (includes dog groomers). | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 1844 | Animal Cruelty Law Repeal/Consolidation: Amends the Consolidated Laws of NY by repealing certain animal cruelty provisions and penalties of Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law and recodifying/consolidating them into a new section of NY Penal Law to be known as Title Q , Article 280 (Offenses Against Animals). | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 2001/SB 4108 | Pet Dealer Breeder Sourcing Restrictions: Amends NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Article 26-C (Care of Animals by Breeders) to provide for the registration and regulation of dog and cat breeders. Also amends Article 26-A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers), Section 401 (Minimum Standards of Animal Care) to provide that pet dealers shall only sell pets obtained from licensed breeders pursuant to the new Article 26-C. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 2718/SB 5341 | Pet Groomer Licensing/Regulation: Amends NY General Business Law by adding a new Article 29-CCC (Licensing & Regulation of Pet Groomers) to provide for the licensing and regulation of pet groomers. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 2826 | Canine Training – Licensing/Educational Standards: Amends Article 7 (Licensing, Control & Identification of Dogs) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 113-a (Obedience Training) to require the Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets to establish licensing and educational standards for individuals providing canine training for non-service and non-police dogs. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 3669 | Pet Dealer Dog and Cat Sourcing Restrictions: Amends Article 26-A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 409 (Licensed pet breeders and brokers) to provide for pet dealer dog and cat sourcing restrictions. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 3976/SB 4084 | Non-Economic Damages – Wrongful Death/Injury to Companion Animal: Amends Article 11 (Obligations to make compensation or restitution) of NY General Obligations Law by adding a new section 11-108 (Wrongful injury or death of a companion animal) to provide for recovery of “non-economic” damages. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 4058 | Online Pet Dealer Financing/Leasing Prohibition: Amends Article 35-D (Sale of Dogs and Cats) of NY General Business Law by adding a new Section 753-g (Prohibition of leasing or financing the sale or adoption of an animal) to prohibit online pet dealers from leasing and financing the sale or adoption of an animal. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 4244/SB 5044 | Pet Food Sales Tax Exemption: Amends Article 28 (Sales & Compensating Use Taxes), Section 1115 (Exemptions from Sales & Use Taxes) of NY Tax Law to add pet food to the list of products exempt from sales tax. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 5405 | Animal Abuse Hotline: Amends Article 5 (Department of Law) of NY Executive Law by adding a new Section 63-e (Animal Abuse Hotline) to establish a state animal abuse hotline. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 5778 | “Wildlife” Definition Amendment: Amends Article 11 (Fish & Wildlife), Title 1 (Definitions) of NY Environmental Conservation Law to exclude certain animals from the definition of wildlife. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 5809 | Animal Abuser Registry: Amends Article 26 (Animals), of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 353-g to establish an animal abuser statewide registry. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 5854 | Unlawful Dog Tethering: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 352 (Unlawful tethering of dogs) to provide certain tethering restrictions and proper outdoor shelter for dogs. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 6357 | Shelter Reporting Requirements – Intake/Disposition: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 374-a to require certain animal shelters to prepare annual reports on the number of intakes and dispositions. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| AB 6863 | “Pet Dealer” Definition Amendment/Online Dog, Cat, Rabbit Sales Regulations: Amends: (1) Article 26-A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 409 to further regulate the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by pet dealers located in this state or sold online; and (2) Article 35-D (Sale of Dogs and Cats), Section 752 (Definitions) of NY General Business Law to amend the definition of “pet dealer”. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 298 | Appropriate Shelter Requirements – Companion Animals: Amends Article 26 (Animals), Section 353-b (Appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law to make the failure to provide food, water or appropriate shelter to a companion animal left outside a felony. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 673 | Animal Cruelty – Pet Ownership Prohibition: Amends Article 26 (Animals), Section 353-a (Aggravated cruelty to animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law to limit ownership or possession of companion animals by persons convicted of “Buster’s Law”. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 907 | Public Animal Cruelty Register: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 352 (Public Animal Cruelty Register) for persons convicted of violating “Buster’s Law”. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 1565 | Pet Dealer Breeder Sourcing/Health Disclosure Requirement: “Byron’s Law” amends Article 26-A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers), Section 402 (Records of Purchase and Sale) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law and Title 17 (Health), Chapter 17 (Pet Shops), Section 1704 (Pet Shops) of New York City Administrative Code to require pet dealers and pet shops to provide certain breeder and health information to purchasers of animals. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 4663 | Pet Groomer Licensing/Regulation: Amends NY General Business Law by adding a new Article 29-CCC (Licensing & Regulation of Pet Groomers) to provide for the registration and regulation of pet groomers. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 5432 | Pet Dealer Inspection/Disclosure Requirements: Amends Title 8 (Professions), Article 135 (Veterinary Medicine & Animal Health Technology), Section 6714 (Treatment Records) of NY Education Law and Article 26-A (Care of Animals by Pet Dealers), Section 405 (Inspection of Pet Dealers) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law in relation to: 1) Disclosure of the cause of death of certain companion animals; and 2) Authorizing the inspection of pet dealers’ facilities upon certain deaths of companion animals. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| SB 7345 | Single-Use Plastic Bag Prohibition: The “NY Plastic Free Act” amends Article 27 (Collection, Treatment and Disposal of Refuse and other Solid Waste) of NY Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new Title 34 (NY Plastic Free Act) to ban the purchase of certain single-use plastics. | HELD OVER TO 2024 SESSION |
| ORD NO. 4 | Pet Shop Guinea Pig Sales Ban: Ordinance Int. No. 4 amends Title 17 (Health), Chapter 17 (Pet Shops), Section 17-1702 (Sales) and Chapter 3 (Licenses & Permits), Section 17-371 (Definitions) of New York City, NY Administrative Code to prohibit the sale of guinea pigs as pets and to clarify the definition of the term “pet shop”. | ADOPTED |
| LL NO. 5-2023 | Herkimer County Animal Abuse Registry: Local Law No. 5-2023 establishes an Animal Abuser Registry in Herkimer County, NY for registering any person residing in Herkimer County convicted of an animal abuse crime. | ADOPTED |
View ALL New York legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.