NY: New York
Summary: New York has the most active bill pipeline of these states: a police canine vest fund (S189/A2517), several retired-K9 lifetime vet care bills (S2041, A7779-A/S10422, A10793, A11117/S9531) and a penalty increase (S1568/A4856). None has passed. Current law allows only EMS transport of an injured police dog (GML § 122-c), and killing a police work dog or horse is a Class E felony.
Body armor
- S189 (Martinez; cosponsors Addabbo, Murray, Scarcella-Spanton) / A2517 (Colton, plus about 22 cosponsors). Creates a "police canine vest fund" (new St. Fin. L. § 97-bbbbb) to buy, maintain, repair and replace soft body armor and other protective gear for state and municipal police canines, and to buy and train canines. Status: S189 in Senate Finance (re referred Jan 7, 2026); A2517 in Ways and Means (re referred Jan 7, 2026).
Medical & insurance
- Gen. Mun. Law § 122-c. A paramedic or EMT may transport a police work dog injured in the line of duty to a vet when no person needs care or transport. It allows transport only, not treatment.
Retirement & service limits
- No statute on handler adoption or service caps was found.
Post retirement care (all pending; none enacted)
- S2041 (Murray; cosponsor Martinez). Adds Exec. L. § 844: DCJS program covering lifetime vet care for retired law enforcement dogs. Referred to Codes in 2025 and 2026, then on May 13, 2026, "recommit, enacting clause stricken", so it's dead.
- A7779-A (Stern, plus 21 cosponsors) / S10422 (Martinez; cosponsors Bynoe, Murray). DCJS vet care program for retired law enforcement dogs and retired fire investigation dogs. A7779 was reported from Codes to Ways and Means on May 20, 2025, then amended and recommitted to Ways and Means on May 26, 2026 (now A7779-A). S10422 was referred to Codes on May 15, 2026.
- A10793 (Ra). "Veterinary care of retired law enforcement and fire service canines act" (Exec. L. § 844, St. Fin. L. § 99-uu). Referred to Codes on April 1, 2026.
- A11117 (Stern) / S9531 (Martins). Same act name; reimbursement for certain vet costs (Exec. L. § 236, St. Fin. L. § 99-uu). A11117 is in Governmental Operations (Apr. 24, 2026); S9531 in Finance (Mar. 20, 2026).
Penalties for harming police animals
- Penal Law § 195.06, Killing or injuring a police animal: Class A misdemeanor. § 195.06-a, Aggravated harassment/killing of a police work dog or horse: intentionally killing one that is performing duties under police supervision is a Class E felony.
Pending or failed bills
- S1568 (Tedisco; cosponsor Borrello) / A4856 (Brabenec). Would raise killing a police work dog or horse to a Class D felony and create a new Class E felony (§ 195.06-b) for intentionally causing serious physical injury. S1568 is in Codes; A4856 was held for consideration in Codes on Apr. 21, 2026.
- Plus the vest and retired care bills above. The 2025 to 26 session ends Dec. 31, 2026, and bills not passed die.
Sources
- NY Assembly bill pages (Summary and Actions), pattern https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=<BILL>&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y, read for S02041, A07779, S10422, A10793, A11117, S09531, S00189, A02517, S01415, S01568, A04856
- Senate pages: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S189 , https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2517 , https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2041 , https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1568
- A10793 text: http://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2025/A10793 and A11117 text: http://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2025/A11117
- Penal Law § 195.06-a: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/195.06-A and § 195.06: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/195.06
- GML § 122-c: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ny-police-dog-%C2%A7-122-c-transport-police-work-dogs-injured-line-duty
- Humane Society of NY legislation tracker: https://humanesocietyny.org/humane-education/nys-legislation/