What's happening
This bill exempts drugs, medicines, and related medical supplies for companion and farm animals from New York sales tax.
Why it matters
Reduces veterinary costs for pet owners and farmers. by removing sales tax from drugs, medicines, and related medical supplies for animals, potentially making it more affordable to care for both companion and farm animals.
Aligns animal healthcare with human healthcare tax exemptions. , recognizing the importance of animal health for families, farms, and broader public health, and potentially reducing barriers to obtaining necessary treatments.
Gives local governments flexibility. to opt in or out of the exemption, especially for large cities like New York City, allowing them to balance animal welfare needs with local budgetary concerns.
May impact state and local tax revenues. , especially in areas with significant agricultural or pet-owning populations, requiring fiscal planning to accommodate the reduced tax base from these sales.
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Who cares
Headline styles
No Tax on Pet Medicine
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to budget and revenue
- Referred to budget and revenue
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.
End Pet Medicine Sales Tax
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
833
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Budget and Revenue
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to providing an exemption for drugs and medicines for companion and farm animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 1115 of the tax law is amended by adding a new paragraph 3-c to read as follows:
(3-c) Drugs and medicines intended for use, internally or externally, in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of illnesses or diseases in companion animals, as defined by subdivision five of section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law, and farm animals, as defined by subdivision four of section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law, medical equipment (including component parts thereof) and supplies required for such use or to correct or alleviate physical incapacity.
§ 2. Subdivision (b) of section 1107 of the tax law is amended by adding a new clause 12 to read as follows:
(12) Except as otherwise provided by law, the exemption provided by paragraph three-c of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this article relating to drugs and medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals shall be applicable pursuant to a local law, ordinance or resolution adopted by a city subject to the provisions of this clause. Such city is empowered to adopt or repeal such a local law, ordinance or resolution. Such adoption or repeal shall also be deemed to amend any local law, ordinance or resolution enacted by such a city imposing taxes pursuant to the authority of subdivision (a) of section twelve hundred ten of this chapter.
§ 3. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (a) of section 1210 of the tax law, as amended by section 5 of part J of chapter 59 of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02741-01-5
the laws of 2021, is amended and a new subparagraph (iii) is added to read as follows:
(ii) Any local law, ordinance or resolution enacted by any city, county or school district, imposing the taxes authorized by this subdivision, shall omit the residential solar energy systems equipment and electricity exemption provided for in subdivision (ee) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter, the commercial solar energy systems equipment and electricity exemption provided for in subdivision (ii) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter, the commercial fuel cell electricity generating systems equipment and electricity generated by such equipment exemption provided for in subdivision (kk) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter and the clothing and footwear exemption provided for in paragraph thirty of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter, unless such city, county or school district elects otherwise as to such residential solar energy systems equipment and electricity exemption, such commercial solar energy systems equipment and electricity exemption, commercial fuel cell electricity generating systems equipment and electricity generated by such equipment exemption or such clothing and footwear exemption. (iii) Any local law, ordinance or resolution enacted by any city, county or school district, imposing the taxes authorized by this subdivision, shall omit medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals exemption provided for in paragraph three-c of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter, unless such city, county or school district elects otherwise; provided that if such a city having a population of one million or more enacts the resolution described in subdivision (p) of this section or repeals such resolution, such resolution or repeal shall also be deemed to amend any local law, ordinance or resolution enacted by such a city imposing such taxes pursuant to the authority of this subdivision, whether or not such taxes are suspended at the time such city enacts its resolution pursuant to subdivision (p) of this section or at the time of any such repeal; provided, further, that any such local law, ordinance or resolution and section eleven hundred seven of this chapter, as deemed to be amended in the event a city of one million or more enacts a resolution pursuant to the authority of subdivision (p) of this section, shall be further amended, as provided in section twelve hundred eighteen of this subpart, so that the medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals exemption in any such local law, ordinance or resolution or in such section eleven hundred seven of this chapter is the same as the medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals in paragraph three-c of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter.
§ 4. Subdivision (d) of section 1210 of the tax law, as amended by section 4 of part WW of chapter 60 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
(d) A local law, ordinance or resolution imposing any tax pursuant to this section, increasing or decreasing the rate of such tax, repealing or suspending such tax, exempting from such tax the energy sources and services described in paragraph three of subdivision (a) or of subdivision (b) of this section or changing the rate of tax imposed on such energy sources and services or providing for the credit or refund described in clause six of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred nineteen of this chapter, or electing or repealing the exemption for residential solar equipment and electricity in subdivision (ee) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this [article] chapter, or the exemption for commercial solar equipment and electricity in subdivision (ii) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this [article] chapter, or electing or repealing the exemption for commercial fuel cell electricity generating systems equipment and electricity generated by such equipment in subdivision (kk) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this [article] chapter must go into effect only on one of the following dates: March first, June first, September first or December first; provided, that a local law, ordinance or resolution providing for the exemption described in paragraph thirty of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter or repealing any such exemption or a local law, ordinance or resolution providing for a refund or credit described in subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred nineteen of this chapter or repealing such provision so provided must go into effect only on March first; provided, further, that a local law, ordinance or resolution providing for the exemption described in paragraph three-c of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter or repealing any such exemption so provided and a resolution enacted pursuant to the authority of subdivision (p) of this section providing such exemption or repealing such exemption so provided may go into effect immediately. No such local law, ordinance or resolution shall be effective unless a certified copy of such law, ordinance or resolution is mailed by registered or certified mail to the commissioner at the commissioner's office in Albany at least ninety days prior to the date it is to become effective. However, the commissioner may waive and reduce such ninety-day minimum notice requirement to a mailing of such certified copy by registered or certified mail within a period of not less than thirty days prior to such effective date if the commissioner deems such action to be consistent with the commissioner's duties under section twelve hundred fifty of this article and the commissioner acts by resolution. Where the restriction provided for in section twelve hundred twenty-three of this article as to the effective date of a tax and the notice requirement provided for therein are applicable and have not been waived, the restriction and notice requirement in section twelve hundred twentythree of this article shall also apply.
§ 5. Section 1210 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision (p) to read as follows:
(p) Notwithstanding any other provision of state or local law, ordinance or resolution to the contrary:
(1) Any city having a population of one million or more in which the taxes imposed by section eleven hundred seven of this chapter are in effect, acting through its local legislative body, is hereby authorized and empowered to elect to provide the exemption from such taxes for the same medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals exempt from state sales and compensating use taxes described in paragraph three-c of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of this chapter by enacting a resolution in the form set forth in paragraph two of this subdivision; whereupon, upon compliance with the provisions of subdivisions (d) and (e) of this section, such enactment of such resolution shall be deemed to be an amendment to such section eleven hundred seven and such section eleven hundred seven shall be deemed to incorporate such exemption as if it had been duly enacted by the state legislature and approved by the governor.
(2) The resolution described in paragraph one of this subdivision shall read as follows: Be it enacted by the (insert proper title of local legislative body) as follows:
Section one. Receipts from sales of and consideration given or contracted to be given for purchases of medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals exempt from state sales and compensating use taxes pursuant to paragraph three-c of subdivision (a) of section eleven hundred fifteen of the tax law shall also be exempt from sales and compensating use taxes imposed in this jurisdiction.
Section two. This resolution shall take effect, (insert the date) and shall apply to sales made and uses occurring on and after that date although made or occurring under a prior contract.
§ 6. The commissioner of taxation and finance is hereby authorized to implement the provisions of this act with respect to the elimination of the imposition of sales tax, additional taxes, and supplemental taxes on medicines intended for use in companion animals and farm animals and all other taxes so addressed by this act.
§ 7. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sales tax quarterly period, as described in subdivision (b) of section 1136 of the tax law, next commencing at least 90 days after this act shall have become a law and shall apply in accordance with the applicable transitional provisions of sections 1106 and 1217 of the tax law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to providing an exemption for drugs and medicines for companion and farm animals
Purpose
This bill eliminates sales tax collected on medicine for companion and farm animals at the state level while still providing local governments the option to forsake their portion of the tax, or to continue collect- ing it.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision (a) of section 1115 of the tax law by adding a new paragraph 3-c.
Section two amends subdivision (b) of section 1107 of the tax law by adding a new clause 12.
Sections three, four, and five amends Subparagraph (ii) of Subdivision (a)&(d) of section 1210 of the tax law, as amended by part J of chapter 59 of the laws of 2021, and a new subparagraph (iii) is added with a provision for a local law to adopt or repeal as it relates to a city with a population of one million or more.
Section six authorizes the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to implement the provisions of this act.
Section seven sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Less than one-half of the states in the nation tax prescription drugs and medications the same as any other retail sale. In some states, the consumer ultimately pays the tax. Other states consider the veterinarian to be the consumer who pays the taxes on prescriptions and medications.
While it would still be at the discretion of local governments to continue to collect this tax or similarly repeal it, this initiative will provide a 50% sales tax savings to pet owners even with no action taken at the local level and will ultimately benefit the health and well-being of companion and farm animals that Lave no voice. Lifesaving equipment and medications for our pets should not be taxable or deemed as miscellaneous retail items. Furthermore, humans and service dogs currently carry this exemption.
This bill would provide both clarity and uniformity to the law and send a clear message that our State values humans, service dogs, companion and farm animals alike, and will not apply sales taxes on prescription medications unequally.
Legislative history
02/02/16: S.6633 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
05/11/17: S.6258 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
01/03/18: S.6258 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
01/18/19: S.2005 REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
01/08/20: S.2005 REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
01/06/21: S.522 REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
01/05/22: S.522 REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
01/04/23: S.401 REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
01/03/24: S.401 REFERRED TO BUDGET AND REVENUE
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect on the first day of the sales tax quarterly period, as described in subdivision (b) of section 1136 of the tax law, next commencing at least 90 days after this act shall have become a law and shall apply in accordance with the applicable transitional provisions of sections 1106 and 1217 of the tax law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.