Relates to the penalty for the abandonment of animals

Latest action May 5, 2026

Provides that the penalty for the abandonment of animals is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or by both.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A7950, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law.

Committee

Agriculture · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Agriculture · New York State Senate, Codes · New York State Assembly, Codes · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To establish a minimum fine for the abandonment of an animal.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 5, 2026Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Agriculture
Senate AgricultureMar 10, 2026Result: passed
(8) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 14, 2025Result: passed
(57) (0) (0) (5)
Vote: Committee vote · Agriculture
Senate AgricultureMar 18, 2025Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Andrew Hevesi, Dean Murray and 9 more on Agora

Republican7
Democratic4

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

Animals rely on their caregivers to provide the necessary conditions for their survival. Across the state, there are dozens of animal shelters, veterinarians, organizations and resources with the ability to assist in the event one is no longer able to care for an animal. Despite this, animals are continuously abandoned, left to fend for themselves at no fault of their own. In August of 2024, a mastiff named Roxi was left tied to a telephone poll along the Long Island Expressway with a note and a small amount of food. The suspect has since been charged with animal abandonment and failure to provide proper sheltering of a dog. While Roxie was medically evaluated and later adopted out to a loving home, not every dog in such a situation is as lucky. The current penalty for the abandonment of an animal is either a misde- meanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than a year, or by fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both. This bill aims to emphasize the inhumanity of knowingly abandoning an animal by requiring such fine to not be less than five hundred dollars. It is a small yet meaningful change sending a strong message that accountability and justice will ensue to ensure all animals are treated humanely and protected under the law.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

May 5, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 5, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Mar 12, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 11, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (13 earlier events)

Mar 10, 2026
1ST Report CAL.513
1ST REPORT CAL.513
NY Senate
Feb 25, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
Apr 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
Mar 20, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 19, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Mar 18, 2025
1ST Report CAL.574
1ST REPORT CAL.574
NY Senate
Jan 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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