What's happening
This bill extends the law allowing rifle hunting of big game in Tompkins County until 2028.
Why it matters
Directly impacts hunters, landowners, and outdoor recreation businesses in Tompkins County by maintaining the ability to use rifles for big game hunting for two additional years.
Represents a continuation, not a permanent change, so the practice will still be subject to future legislative review and could be reassessed or discontinued after 2028.
May influence local wildlife management strategies, public safety considerations, and economic activity tied to hunting seasons in this specific upstate New York county.
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Who cares
Hunters and Hunting Organizations
Individuals and groups interested in hunting big game with rifles in Tompkins County care, as this bill extends their ability to do so for two more years.
Tompkins County Residents
Local residents may have concerns or support related to public safety, noise, wildlife management, and environmental impacts stemming from extended rifle hunting.
Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Groups
Organizations focused on animal welfare and ecosystem balance will care about the continued impact of rifle hunting on local wildlife populations and habitats.
Local Government and Law Enforcement
These stakeholders are responsible for enforcing hunting regulations and ensuring public safety, so any extension of rifle hunting provisions directly affects their operations.
Headline styles
Extend Rifle Hunting in Tompkins
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.289
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.437
- Substituted for A11481
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–2
- Ordered to third reading cal.1596
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Extend Rifle Hunting in Tompkins
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Anna Kelles
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10583
IN SENATE
May 27, 2026
Introduced by Sen. WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend chapter 152 of the laws of 2020 amending the environmental conservation law relating to authorizing hunting big game by rifle in the county of Tompkins, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision d of section 5 of chapter 152 of the laws of 2020 amending the environmental conservation law relating to authorizing hunting big game by rifle in the county of Tompkins, as amended by chapter 289 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows:
d. nothing contained in this act shall be construed so as to extend the provisions of this act beyond October 1, [2026] 2028, when upon such date this act shall expire and the provisions contained herein shall be deemed repealed.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15983-01-6
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 152 of the laws of 2020 amending the environ- mental conservation law relating to authorizing hunting big game by rifle in the county of Tompkins, in relation to extending the effective- ness thereof
Purpose
This bill extends Tompkins County's authorization to hunt big game with a rifle through October 1, 2028.
Summary of provisions
Sections 1 of the bill amends subdivision d of section 5 of Chapter 152 of the Laws of 2020 amending the Environmental Conservation Law to extend rifle hunting provisions authorizing the hunting of deer and bear with a pistol, shotgun, crossbow, muzzle-loading firearm, rifle or long- bow in Tompkins County between the first Saturday after November 15th and the first Sunday after December 7th through October 1, 2028
Section 2 of the bill sets the effective date.
Justification
In 2020 Tompkins County requested to be added to the list of counties where sportsmen and women are able to hunt big game with rifles. Since 2005, several counties in the Finger Lakes Region, Central New York and the Southern Tier have permitted to hunt big game with rifles with very few reported incidents or problems. This bill extends these provisions for an additional two-year period ending on October 1, 2028. This time limit allows for a pause to evaluate how the new law has been working in this county before considering making it permanent.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Local fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.