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.
- 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: 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/
Listing a bill or sponsor here does not mean they support the ARC Act.