S 1784 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to the inspection of certain vacated or abandoned properties for abandoned companion animals

This bill requires individuals or government departments inspecting abandoned or vacated properties to check for any companion animals that may have been left behind. If an animal is found during these inspections, the person or department must immediately contact animal control, police, or a humane society to retrieve or care for the pet, while explicitly stating they do not become the animal's owner. The legislation also imposes fines of up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses on anyone who fails to conduct these required inspections. Additionally, the law mandates that if a tenant is present, at least seven days of notice must be given before entry, except in cases of emergency repairs.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action May 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S1784 → S1784A · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed and expanded to include more sponsors and legislative history, indicating it has moved through the Senate and is now in the Assembly. The core policy shift moves the legal authority from the Agriculture and Markets Law to the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, changing the duty to inspect for abandoned animals from property owners/lessors to 'plaintiffs' (typically landlords or eviction agents) during specific legal proceedings. The scope of the duty was broadened to cover properties vacated due to abandonment, not just eviction or foreclosure, and the inspection requirement now applies to both landlords and state housing departments.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a narrow focus on post-eviction/foreclosure inspections by owners to a broader mandate covering abandoned properties and inspections by both private plaintiffs and state housing departments under real property law.

SCOPE

The legal basis for the inspection requirement changed from the Agriculture and Markets Law to the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law.

ELIGIBILITY

The duty to inspect now applies to properties vacated due to abandonment in addition to eviction, foreclosure, or default.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for state housing departments to inspect abandoned dwellings for animals.

New requirements were added for plaintiffs to give tenants at least seven days notice before entering to inspect for animals, unless it is an emergency.

ENFORCEMENT

The Attorney General was granted specific authority to enforce civil penalties for failing to inspect.

DEFINITION

The term 'animals' was updated to 'companion animals' in several sections to clarify the scope of the law.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

62–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 63

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic41

40 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican22

22 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 28, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO CODES

lower

May 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

REPASSED SENATE

upper

May 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 1784A

upper

May 5, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

lower

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

upper

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors