New York A 8551: Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats

Bill Text

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A08551 Summary:

BILL NOA08551 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S03026

&nbsp

SPONSORDais

&nbsp

COSPNSRColton, Santabarbara, Cashman, DiPietro, Rosenthal, Hooks, Glick

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §365-a, amd §374, Ag & Mkts L

&nbsp

Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats; prohibited for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling a dog or cat.

Go to top A08551 Actions:

BILL NOA08551 

&nbsp

05/20/2025referred to agriculture

01/07/2026referred to agriculture

03/31/2026reported referred to codes

05/05/2026reported 

05/07/2026advanced to third reading cal.465

05/11/2026substituted by s3026

&nbspS03026 AMEND= GIANARIS

&nbsp01/23/2025REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

&nbsp03/18/20251ST REPORT CAL.577

&nbsp03/19/20252ND REPORT CAL.

&nbsp03/20/2025ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

&nbsp04/08/2025PASSED SENATE

&nbsp04/08/2025DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

&nbsp04/08/2025referred to agriculture

&nbsp01/07/2026died in assembly

&nbsp01/07/2026returned to senate

&nbsp01/07/2026REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

&nbsp03/10/20261ST REPORT CAL.515

&nbsp03/11/20262ND REPORT CAL.

&nbsp03/12/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

&nbsp05/05/2026PASSED SENATE

&nbsp05/05/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

&nbsp05/05/2026referred to codes

&nbsp05/11/2026substituted for a8551

&nbsp05/11/2026ordered to third reading cal.465

Go to topA08551 Committee&nbspVotes:

Committee:AGRICULTURE Chair:Lupardo 
DATE:03/31/2026AYE/NAY:21/2 Action: Favorable refer to committee Codes LupardoAyeTagueAye

RosenthalAyeBlankenbushAye

BarrettAyeHawleyAye

StirpeAyeFitzpatrickAye

WoernerNayMillerAye

WilliamsAyeLemondesAye

ButtenschonNayGiglioAye

KellesAye

SeptimoAye

ZinermanAye

CunninghamAye

RagaAye

KayAye

SchiavoniAye

CashmanAye

MorenoAye

Committee:CODES Chair:Dinowitz 
DATE:05/05/2026AYE/NAY:18/0 Action: Favorable DinowitzAyeMorinelloAye

CookExcusedReillyAye

LavineAyeMikulinExcused

WeprinAyeTannousisAye

HevesiAyeAngelinoAye

SeawrightExcusedMolitorAye

RosenthalAye

WalkerAye

VanelAye

CruzAye

BoresAbsent

ReyesAye

CunninghamAye

RomeroAye

AlvarezAye

TaylorAye

Go to topA08551 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA08551 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8551

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 May 20, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. DAIS -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Agriculture

 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to
 restricting the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on
 dogs and cats

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
 2 section 365-a to read as follows:
 3 § 365-a. Devocalization of animals. 1. No person shall perform the
 4 surgical devocalization of a dog or cat except in accordance with the
 5 provisions of this section.
 6 2. a. Surgical devocalization of a dog or cat shall be performed only
 7 by a person licensed as a veterinarian pursuant to article one hundred
 8 thirty-five of the education law.
 9 b. Surgical devocalization of a dog or cat may be performed where
 10 necessary to treat or relieve a physical illness, disease or injury or
 11 correct a congenital abnormality suffered by the animal, where such
 12 physical illness, disease, injury or congenital abnormality is causing
 13 or may reasonably cause the animal physical pain or harm. Surgical devo-
 14 calization may not be performed for reasons of convenience in keeping or
 15 handling a dog or cat.
 16 3. Any veterinarian who performs a surgical devocalization procedure
 17 on a dog or cat shall document the performance of such procedure in the
 18 treatment record of the patient, including the medical necessity justi-
 19 fying the procedure, as defined in section sixty-seven hundred fourteen
 20 of the education law.
 21 4. As used in this section, "devocalization" means a surgical proce-
 22 dure on the larynx or vocal cords of an animal intended to cause the
 23 reduction or elimination of vocal sounds produced by that animal and

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00716-02-5

 A