New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York S1044: Prohibits a person convicted of violating "Buster's Law" from owning or possessing a companion animal
Status: In committee, January 7, 2026
Prohibits a person convicted of "Buster's Law" from owning or possessing a companion animal unless authorized by court order, after appropriate psychiatric or psychological testing.
What the bill says
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting the ownership or possession of companion animals by persons convicted of violating "Buster's Law".
From the introduced text, January 7, 2025:
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting the ownership or possession of companion animals by persons convicted of violating "Buster's Law" THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows: 4. ON AND AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, NO PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL OWN OR POSSESS A COMPANION ANIMAL UNLESS AND UNTIL AUTHORIZED BY A COURT ORDER ISSUED BY A COUNTY COURT JUDGE OF SUCH CONVICTED PERSON'S COUNTY OF RESIDENCE. NO SUCH ORDER SHALL BE ISSUED UNTIL SUCH CONVICTED PERSON FIRST DEMONSTRATES TO THE COURT THAT SUCH CONVICTED PERSON HAS UNDERGONE PSYCHIATRIC OR PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING, THE RESULTS OF WHICH INDICATE BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF SUCH CONVICTED PERSON'S CAPABLE AND SOUND MENTAL CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO OWN AND PROPERLY CARE FOR SUCH AN ANIMAL IN A HUMANE MANNER. § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02633-02-5
Sponsors
- James Tedisco (R, 44) · primary sponsor
- Jacob Ashby (R, 43)
- Simcha Felder (D, 22)
- Mario Mattera (R, 2)
- Thomas O'Mara (R, 58)
Latest actions
- : REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
- : REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
Subjects: Agriculture and Markets Law
Common questions
- What is S1044?
- S1044 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Prohibits a person convicted of violating "Buster's Law" from owning or possessing a companion animal.
- What does S1044 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting the ownership or possession of companion animals by persons convicted of violating "Buster's Law".
- What is the status of S1044?
- In committee as of January 7, 2026. Latest action: REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE (January 7, 2026).
- Who sponsored S1044?
- James Tedisco (R, 44), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S1044?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1044
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.