What's happening
This bill prohibits confining pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal in a way that prevents natural movement, with certain exceptions, making violations a misdemeanor.
Why it matters
Promotes animal welfare. By requiring that pregnant pigs and veal calves have enough space to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs, and turn around freely, the bill establishes a legal baseline for humane treatment and addresses longstanding animal welfare concerns associated with restrictive confinement methods like gestation and veal crates.
Shifts industry practices. Producers who confine pregnant pigs or veal calves in restrictive enclosures would need to invest in new facilities or change management practices, potentially increasing costs but also aligning with evolving consumer preferences for ethically sourced animal products.
Empowers local action and enforcement. The bill explicitly allows local governments to enact stricter animal welfare standards, as long as they do not conflict with the state law, and grants both law enforcement and animal cruelty prevention officers authority to enforce the law, which could lead to increased oversight and accountability.
Sets clear penalties and exceptions. By making violations a class A misdemeanor (up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine) and outlining specific exceptions (such as for veterinary care, transportation, and the week before a pig gives birth), the bill balances animal welfare goals with practical farming and veterinary realities, providing clarity for both producers and regulators.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Animal Confinement Crates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
891
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK, HEVESI, SIMON, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the confinement of certain animals for food producing purposes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 353-g to read as follows:
§ 353-g. Confinement of animals for food producing purposes. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Calf raised for veal" means any calf of the bovine species kept for the purpose of producing the food product described as veal.
(b) "Covered animals" means any pig during pregnancy or a calf raised for veal.
(c) "Enclosure" means any cage, crate, or other structure (including what is commonly described as a "gestation crate" for pigs or a "veal crate" for calves, used to confine a covered animal.
(d) "Farm" means the land, buildings, support facilities, and other equipment that are wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products used for food or fiber, and does not include live animal markets.
(e) "Fully extending its limbs" means fully extending all limbs without touching the side of an enclosure.
(f) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity.
(g) "Pig during pregnancy" means any pregnant pig of the porcine species kept for the primary purpose of breeding.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02953-01-5
(h) "Turning around freely" means turning in a complete circle without any impediment, including a tether, and without touching the side of an enclosure.
2. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether or confine any covered animal, as defined in subdivision one of this section, on a farm for all or the majority of any day, in a manner that prevents such animal from lying down, standing up and fully extending its limbs and turning around freely.
3. This section shall not apply during the following lawfully performed activities:
(a) Transportation,
(b) Exhibitions at rodeos, fairs, youth programs, and similar exhibitions,
(c) Slaughtering process,
(d) Scientific or agricultural research,
(e) Examination, testing, individual treatment or operation for veterinary purposes,
(f) To a pig during the seven-day period prior to the pig's expected date of giving birth.
4. A violation of the provisions of this section is a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
5. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent any town, city, village or county in New York state from enacting a local law or ordinance to provide for the humane treatment of and prevention of cruelty to farm animals, provided, however, that no such law shall conflict with the provisions of this section.
6. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to reduce the protection afforded to farm animals under any other section of this article or any other law or regulation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or restrict agents or officers of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals or the police from enforcing the other provisions of this article or any other law or regulation relating to the humane treatment of or cruelty to animals.
7. This section shall be enforced by the department, and any agent and officer of any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals may issue an appearance ticket pursuant to section 150.20 of the criminal procedure law, summons or arrest, and bring before a court or magistrate having jurisdiction, any person offending against any of the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect twenty-four months after it shall have become a law.
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.