Environment (Wildlife)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8693: Excludes certain amphibians and reptiles from the definition of small game; repealer

This bill amends New York's environmental conservation law to exclude bullfrogs from the definition of "small game" and update related regulations. It removes bullfrogs from lists of animals regulated under small game hunting rules (such as licensing requirements and permitted take methods) and clarifies that bullfrogs are no longer classified as "wild amphibians" under the law. The changes affect hunters, wildlife managers, and enforcement of fishing/hunting regulations by specifying that bullfrog harvesting follows separate department regulations rather than small game rules. The bill also repeals outdated references to other amphibians like native frogs and salamanders in the small game definition.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes bullfrogs from 'wild amphibians' classification under environmental conservation law, eliminating regulatory protections for hunting. This weakens species conservation oversight under environmental regulations.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5947: Prohibits certain wildlife and fish from being imported into the state; and relates to live animal markets

Prohibits certain wildlife and fish from being imported into the state in order to protect public health and safety, native wildlife and fish, and the agricultural interests of the state; relates to the operation of live animal markets.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits wildlife/fish imports to protect native wildlife and agricultural interests, directly advancing conservation goals per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1383: Relates to protecting wildlife and maintaining safety

Relates to protecting wildlife and maintaining safety; necessitates written notification before a nuisance wildlife control operator undertakes any control measures.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates written notification before wildlife control, directly protecting wildlife conservation as part of environmental policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1101: Limits the department of environmental conservation's ability to fix special open seasons for taking wild deer

Limits the department of environmental conservation's ability to fix special open seasons for taking wild deer to ending no later than the 3rd Sunday of December of each year; allows the department to issue regulations for special seasons for particular counties or designated wildlife management units after consultation with local governments and stakeholders.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRestricts department's flexibility in deer season management, limiting adaptive conservation measures for natural resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5512: Relates to the regulation of live restraint cable devices to take wildlife

This bill regulates the use of live restraint cable devices for capturing wildlife, primarily affecting trappers who target coyotes and other species permitted by the Department of Environmental Conservation. It requires these devices to include specific safety features: a swivel (allows animal rotation), relaxing lock (stops tightening when animal stops moving), deer stop (prevents closure beyond a size allowing deer to escape), and breakaway device (opens under force). Trappers must check devices every 24 hours and complete department-approved training on device use. The regulation expires February 16, 2028.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates safety features (deer stop, breakaway) in wildlife capture devices to prevent animal injury and allow non-target species escape, promoting wildlife conservation as a natural resource.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3381: Relates to investment of moneys in the state fish and game trust account

This bill creates a dedicated "state fish and game trust account" within the conservation fund to hold money from lifetime hunting, fishing, and trapping license sales (excluding funds going to a separate habitat account). It directs the state comptroller to invest these funds in safe financial products to maximize income while following existing investment rules. The interest earned from these investments stays in the trust account for its intended purposes, such as wildlife conservation and access programs. The bill does not change how license fees are collected or their primary uses, only clarifying the investment process for this specific fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated trust account for license revenue, directs safe investments to maximize income for wildlife conservation, promoting fiscal responsibility in fund management95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates dedicated trust account for wildlife conservation funding from license sales, directing interest to conservation purposes per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 11, 2025

S 4289: Extends DEC's authority to regulate management of crabs, and prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes

Extends DEC's authority to regulate management of crabs to 12/31/2027; prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits taking horseshoe crabs for commercial/biomedical use, directly conserving a species and strengthening DEC's regulatory authority for marine resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Senate May 28, 2025

S 5402: Protects wolves

Protects canids by requiring animals which could be coyotes or wolves be submitted for a genetic test to determine genetic makeup; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly protects wolves via genetic testing to prevent misclassification, aligning with conservation goals under environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1089: Prohibits the use of lead ammunition in the taking of wildlife on state-owned land and on land contributing surface water to the New York city water supply

Prohibits the use of lead ammunition in the taking of wildlife on wildlife management areas, state forests, forest preserves, state parks or any other state-owned land that is open for hunting and on land contributing surface water to the New York city water supply.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits lead ammunition, reducing environmental pollution in water sources and wildlife habitats, directly advancing pollution control and conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Wildlife

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 7532: Enacts the restriction of anticoagulant pesticide transactions for online and retail stores act

Enacts the restriction of anticoagulant pesticide transactions for online and retail stores act to prohibit any person from selling, offering for sale or use, or distributing within the state, any second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide; prohibits the use of either a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide or a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide within five hundred feet of a wildlife habitat area.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts harmful pesticides near wildlife habitats, reducing ecological harm and strengthening conservation protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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