What's happening
This bill prohibits the taking, sale, or donation of animals from zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, or circuses for hunting or similar purposes.
Why it matters
Closes a loophole. that previously allowed animals from zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, or circuses to be sold, donated, or transferred for hunting or similar purposes, potentially reducing the risk of these animals ending up in "canned hunts" or being killed for sport.
Increases accountability. for both organizations and individuals by making it illegal to knowingly accept, purchase, or receive such animals for any facility that allows hunting, and by applying penalties to violators, which may discourage unethical transfers.
Supports stronger local protections. by explicitly allowing cities, towns, or other municipalities to pass even stricter rules, meaning communities can tailor protections for animals beyond the state baseline.
Aligns with broader animal welfare standards. by tying compliance to federal exhibitor licensing under the Animal Welfare Act, reinforcing a higher bar for humane treatment and ethical disposition of captive animals.
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Who cares
Zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, circuses and federally licensed animal exhibitors
The bill would prohibit them from selling, offering for sale, distributing, bartering or donating animals where the animals may be intentionally taken.
Operators of hunting facilities, including those harboring non-native big game mammals
They could not acquire animals they know or have reason to know are currently or were formerly part of a zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus.
Hunters
Taking an animal they know or have reason to know is or was part of one of these attractions would carry a fine of $500 to $2,000.
Municipal governments
The bill would preserve their authority to adopt more restrictive rules governing animals in zoos, petting zoos, carnivals and circuses.
Headline styles
Ban Hunting Former Zoo Animals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
862
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, COLTON, ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, OTIS, GONZA- LEZ-ROJAS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the taking of zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 11-1908 to read as follows: § 11-1908. Prohibits the taking of zoo, petting zoo, carnival or circus
animals.
1. No person shall take, as defined in subdivision thirteen of section 11-0103 of this article, an animal that such person knows or has reason to know is presently or was formerly a part of a zoo, petting zoo, carnival, or circus.
2. No zoo, petting zoo, carnival, or circus or any person licensed or required to be licensed as an exhibitor under the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC section 2131 et seq., shall sell, offer for sale, distribute, barter or donate any animal wherein such animal may be intentionally taken.
3. No person who owns, operates, or manages a facility including, but not limited to a facility that harbors non-native big game mammals, or any other facility that permits the taking of animals shall purchase, accept or receive any animal such person knows or has reason to know is presently or was formerly a part of a zoo, petting zoo, carnival, or circus.
4. Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars.
5. Nothing in this section shall preempt a municipal corporation from enacting more restrictive laws, ordinances or regulations governing animals in zoos, petting zoos, carnivals, or circuses.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03048-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.