A 107: Establishes that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, and fear; establishes an animal can be a victim of a crime.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 107 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, KELLES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab- lishing animals as sentient beings 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 386 to read as follows: 3 § 386. Animals as sentient beings. The Legislature finds and declares 4 that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, 5 and fear. It is the policy of New York that, in order to protect animals 6 from experiencing pain, stress, or fear at human hands, animals are to 7 be treated humanely. For that reason, animals shall be considered the 8 victims of animal cruelty crimes and shall be treated as such in a court 9 of law. 10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00662-01-5