S703: Relates to aggravated cruelty to animals

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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 A2019, 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

Removes the term "serious" from the "serious physical injury" language of Section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Subdivision one of Section 353-a of the agri- culture and markets law would be amended, with the term "serious" in line 3 of subdivision one struck, to read only as "...intentionally causes (serious) physical injury to a companion animal...".

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 11, 2026Result: passed
(59) (1) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Agriculture
Senate AgricultureMar 10, 2026Result: passed
(8) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 8, 2025Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Agriculture
Senate AgricultureMar 18, 2025Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Albert A. Stirpe, Andrew Hevesi and 23 more on Agora

Democratic13
Republican12

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Liz Krueger says this is needed

In June 2014 on Staten Island, Rocky, an English bulldog, was the victim of a terrible act of cruelty when a neighbor threw ammonia in his face in an attempt to quiet his barking. By the time they brought Rocky to the vet, he had ulcers in both his eyes and the vet wasn't sure if he would ever see again. Thankfully, Rocky was able to make a full recov- ery. Yet this recovery also gave the perpetrator a way out. Due to the language of the felony animal cruelty statute, a charge could not be sustained. The dog's recovery conflicted with the prosecutor's interpre- tation of "serious physical injury". This meant that because the dog survived and recovered 100's, the perpetrator would be facing a lesser penalty. This is nothing new. The Times Union reports that only 17% of those charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals end up in felony convictions (in New York State). In this case, the perpetrator was given conditional discharge after being convicted of misdemeanor animal cruel- ty charges, and forced to pay $1,000 to the ASPCA for the dog's medical treatment. Also, the perpetrator may not go near Rocky, and may never be allowed to own a dog again. It is evident the punishment does not fit the crime. Eliminating the word "serious" from the statute would fix this, so if a person's actions were intended to cause extreme physical pain or conducted in an especially depraved or sadistic manner (language from section 353-a of the Agriculture and Markets law), one would only have to prove that the animal was killed or injured. LEGISLATIVEHISTORY: 2023-2024: S.761Passed Senate/ A.776 Rosenthal -Agriculture 2021-2022: S.960Passed Senate/A.2152 Rosenthal -Agriculture 2019-2020: S.2723Died on Third Reading/A.757 Rosenthal - Agriculture 2017-2018: S4163Agriculture /A.3844 Rosenthal -Agriculture 2015-2016: S.4265Passed Senate /A.6252 Rosenthal- Agriculture

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 11, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 11, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 11, 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.512
1ST REPORT CAL.512
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Apr 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 8, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Apr 2, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
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.572
1ST REPORT CAL.572
NY Senate
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.