New York S 6621: Prohibits the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and exportation of red-eared slider turtles

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S06621 Summary:

BILL NOS06621 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A01685

&nbsp

SPONSORHARCKHAM

&nbsp

COSPNSRSALAZAR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §11-0541, En Con L

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Prohibits the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and exportation of red-eared slider turtles in the state; exempts certain entities and organizations.

Go to top S06621 Actions:

BILL NOS06621 

&nbsp

03/18/2025REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

05/20/20261ST REPORT CAL.1305

05/21/20262ND REPORT CAL.

05/26/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

06/02/2026PASSED SENATE

06/02/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

06/02/2026referred to environmental conservation

Go to topS06621 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS06621 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS06621 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6621

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 18, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation

 AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
 prohibiting the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and
 exportation of red-eared slider turtles

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

 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. 1. New York is a significant partic-
 2 ipant in the global marketplace for the red-eared slider turtle, one of
 3 the world's 100 most invasive species, according to the International
 4 Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
 5 2. Though native only in U.S. southern states, the red-eared slider is
 6 now considered invasive on every continent except Antarctica due to the
 7 global pet trade.
 8 3. Because red-eared sliders can live up to 40 years in captivity and
 9 will continue to grow during that time, pet owners often release them
 10 into the wild, or the turtles escape enclosures, which has led to the
 11 national and international proliferation of the species.
 12 4. Due to their long life, resistance to disease, and voracious forag-
 13 ing, red-eared sliders outcompete other species, disrupt habitats and
 14 pose a grave threat to biodiversity wherever they reside outside their
 15 natural range.
 16 5. Although it is illegal for a pet owner to release a red-eared
 17 slider into the wild in New York, the regulation is unenforceable, and
 18 the commerce in red-eared sliders is unabated, resulting in the continu-
 19 ing spread of red-eared sliders in waters ranging from Buffalo to New
 20 York City's parks.
 21 6. New York's participation in the international marketplace for red-
 22 eared slider turtles has made the state and its people unwitting partic-
 23 ipants in the global spread of one of the most invasive species on the
 24 planet.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04240-01-5

 S. 6621 2

 1 7. It is in the best interest of the state that the breeding, sale,
 2 trade, purchase, importation, and exportation of red-eared slider
 3 turtles be prohibited, and that the state use its authority to assist in
 4 all efforts to prevent further introduction of red-eared slider turtles
 5 statewide, nationally, and internationally.
 6 § 2. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new
 7 section 11-0541 to read as follows:
 8 § 11-0541. Breeding and sale of red-eared slider turtles prohibited.
 9 1. For the purposes of this section, "red-eared slider turtles" shall
 10 mean the species trachemys scripta elegans.
 11 2. No person, firm, partnership, corporation, or government entity
 12 shall knowingly breed, sell, purchase, import, export, distribute,
 13 transport or otherwise trade red-eared slider turtles.
 14 3. This section shall not apply to:
 15 (a) zoological parks and aquariums accredited by the association of
 16 zoos and aquariums;
 17 (b) wildlife sanctuaries, as defined by subdivision thirty-two of
 18 section 11-0103 of this article;
 19 (c) research facilities, as defined by the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC.
 20 Section 2132(e), licensed by the United States secretary of agriculture;
 21 (d) licensed vete