New York Overview – 2024 Session
NEW YORK
Legislative Overview – 2023-24 Session
(Adjourned on June 7, 2024)
184 pet related items were proposed during the 2023-24 legislative session, 68 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| AB 41 | Animals/Personhood: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by adding a new Section 382 to establish animals as sentient beings. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 71 | Animal Laws Taskforce: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 111/SB 1659 | Court-Appointed Advocate for Animals: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 258/SB 3570 | Pet Insurance Policy Regulation: Amends NY Insurance Law by adding a new Article 42-A to regulate the issuance of insurance policies covering veterinary expenses. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 381 | Outdoor Animal 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 399 | Statewide Animal Cruelty 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 400 | Pet Dealers – Sale of Unweaned Birds: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 416 | Education Curriculum – Humane Treatment of Animals: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 420/SB 1673 | Pet Dealers – Fire Protection Measures: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 518 | “Priority Species” Possession/Transporting Restrictions: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 756/SB 401 | Sales Tax Exemption – Companion Animal Drugs and Medicine: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 773 | Pet Products – Toxic Chemicals: Amends NY Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new section in Title 9 entitled Toxic Chemicals in Pet Products. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 981/SB 846 | Statewide Retail Pet Sale Ban Amendment – Effective Date: 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 (EFFECTIVE ON 12/15/24) |
| AB 1149/SB 4163 | Homeowner’s 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 1372 | Non-Economic Damages Awards: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 1547/SB 1414 | Sales Tax Exemption – Animal Boarding Services: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 1710/SB 5567 | Minimum Wage Requirements – Dog Groomers: 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). | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 1844 | Recodification/Consolidation of Animal Law Statute: 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). | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 2001/SB 4108 | Pet Dealer – Dog/Cat 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 2718/SB 5341 | Pet Groomer Licensing: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 2826 | Licensing/Standards – Canine Trainers: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 3669 | Pet Dealer/Broker – 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 3976/SB 4084 | Non-Economic Damages Awards: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 4058/SB 9019 | Online Pet Dealers – Financing Restrictions: Amends Article 35-D (Sale of Dogs and Cats), Section 753-e (Prohibited Contracts) of NY General Business Law to prohibit online pet dealers from leasing and financing the sale or adoption of an animal. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 4244/SB 5044 | Sales Tax Exemption – Pet Food: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 5405 | State 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 5778 | “Wildlife” Definition Amendment: Amends Article 11 (Fish & Wildlife), Title 1 (Definitions) of NY Environmental Conservation Law to exclude companion animals from the definition of wildlife. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 5809 | Statewide 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 5854 | Outdoor Dog Tethering Restrictions: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 6244/SB 4993 | Allowance for Dogs in NY State Parks: Amends Chapter 36-B (Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation), Article 3 (Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation; Commissioner) of NY Consolidated Laws to allow for the presence of dogs in State parks. | PENDING GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE |
| AB 6357 | Animal Shelter Recordkeeping/Reporting Requirements: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 6863/SB 7595 | “Pet Dealer”/”Retail Pet Shop” Definition Amendment: 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”. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 6867/SB 7416 | Insurance Contracts – Breed-Specific Dog Policy Prohibition: Amends Article 34 (Insurance Contracts-property/casualty) of NY Insurance Law by repealing and replacing Section 3421 (Homeowners’ Liability Insurance; Dogs) and adding a new Section 3421 (Dogs; coverage refusal) to prohibit certain restrictions as it relates to dog breed. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 9215/SB 8543 | Animal Cruelty – Civil Remedies: Amends Chapter 69 (NY Agriculture & Markets Law) by adding a new Article 26-D (Civil Remedy for the Protection of Companion Animals) to establish a civil remedy for the protection of companion animals denied proper care. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| AB 9592/SB 7933 | Regulated Invasive Species – Emergency Listing: Amends Article 9 (Lands & Forests), Title 17 (NY Invasive Species Council), Section 9-1709 (General Powers & Duties of the Department) of NY Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new subdivision to authorize the Department of Environmental Conservation to independently add to the lists of prohibited and regulated invasive species on an emergency basis. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 298 | Animal Welfare – Shelter/Outdoor 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 673 | Animal Cruelty – Pet Ownership Prohibition: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| 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”. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 1565 | Pet Dealer Breeder 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 4663 | Pet Groomer Registration: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 5432 | Pet Dealers – Animal Death Disclosure/Inspections: 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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 7345 | “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. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 8719 | Plastic Carryout Bag Prohibition: Amends Article 27 (Collection, Treatment and Disposal of Refuse and Other Solid Waste), Title 27 (Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse and Recycling), Sections 27-2703 (Store Operator Responsibilities), 27-2705 (Recycling Program Requirements), 27-2801 (Definitions), 27-2803 (Plastic carryout bag ban), and 27-2807 (Violations), of NY Environmental Conservation Law to eliminate the use of plastic carryout bags. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 9081 | Animal Rescues – Microchipping Mandate: Amends Article 26 (Animals) of NY Agriculture & Markets Law by creating a new Section 386 (Microchipping of Certain Animals) to require microchipping of certain animals possessed by animal protective associations and rescue organizations. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 9461 | Service Animal Accommodation: Amends Chapter 71 (NY Vehicle & Traffic Law) and Chapter 56 (NY State Finance Law) in relation to transportation accommodation for passengers with disabilities, to include accommodation of service animals. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 9629 | “Housing People and Animals Together Grant Program”: Amends Chapter 55 (Social Services Law), Article 2A (Shelter and Supported Housing Programs) and Article 6 (Domestic Violence Prevention Act) of NY Consolidated Laws by adding a new sections in relation to establishing the Housing People and Animals Together Grant Program. | DIED IN COMMITTEE (SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| ORD No. 4 | New York City Guinea Pig Sales Ban Ordinance: 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 W/O MAYOR’S SIGNATURE (EFFECTIVE ON 6/11/23) |
| ORD No. 5-2023 | Herkimer County Animal Abuser Registry Ordinance: 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 (EFFECTIVE ON 4/5/23) |
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 2024 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.