Includes wildlife animals as those subject to the animal cruelty provisions

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Includes wildlife animals as those subject to the animal cruelty provisions of the agriculture and markets law.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A1966, 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

This bill expands the existing aggravated cruelty law to cover inten- tional acts of extreme cruelty to wildlife as well as companion animals.

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

Cosponsors

Amy Paulin, Andrew Hevesi and 17 more on Agora

Democratic16
Republican3

Show all 19 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Luis R. Sepúlveda says this is needed

This legislation will extend the coverage of the felony animal cruelty law to cover wildlife. Since the passage of the felony animal cruelty statute, there have been a number of egregious cases in which wild animals have been captured and tortured. This bill would a allow these cases to be prosecuted under the felony animal cruelty statute. It is important to note that in no way would this change affect the lawful- hunting or trapping licensed by the Department of Environmental Conser- vation or the exercise of activities deemed to be sound agricultural practices. The stringent standard of proof created by the "aggravating" factors contained in the felony law -- that require proof of intent to cause extreme physical pain or that the conduct was especially depraved or sadistic would remain unchanged, thereby ensuring that only the most heinous cases of the mistreatment of wild animals are treated as felony offenses.

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

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Mar 11, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
Jan 8, 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.

Your position