A 6581 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Excludes amphibians and reptiles from the definition of small game; repealer

This bill updates environmental conservation law regarding amphibians and reptiles. It redefines "small game" to exclude most native frogs (except bullfrogs), native salamanders, native lizards, and native snakes (except common snapping turtles). These species are instead added to the definition of "protected wildlife," subjecting them to different conservation measures. The bill also clarifies that only bullfrogs and common snapping turtles remain under specific regulations for taking, with the department determining the methods for bullfrogs.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Assembly Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 6, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A6581 → A6581A · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends New York's environmental conservation laws to exclude amphibians and reptiles from the definition of 'small game.' It specifically redefines 'wild reptiles' and 'wild amphibians' to exclude common snapping turtles and bullfrogs, respectively, while retaining protections for other native species. The changes update hunting and fishing regulations to clarify that these specific species are no longer subject to small game hunting rules.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of 'small game' hunting to exclude amphibians and reptiles, except for common snapping turtles and bullfrogs which are explicitly carved out from the new definitions of protected wild reptiles and amphibians.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'small game' was modified to remove native frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards, and snakes from the list of animals that can be hunted as small game.

New definitions were added for 'wild reptiles' and 'wild amphibians' to clarify that common snapping turtles and bullfrogs are excluded from these categories, effectively removing them from the 'small game' classification.

REQUIREMENT

Hunting and fishing license regulations were updated to reflect that bullfrogs can be taken in a manner determined by the department, while other amphibians and reptiles are excluded from small game hunting privileges.

Provisions allowing the hunting of various amphibians and reptiles as small game were removed from the environmental conservation law.

Floor votes · Assembly May 20, 2025

How they voted

141–5

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 149

May 20, 2025

D Democratic102

100 Yea 2

98% Yea

R Republican47

41 Yea 5 Nay 1

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

upper

May 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 6581A

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors