Assembly BillIntroduced
A 6397: Expands the definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include serious physical injuries or the use of a weapon.
What A 6397 does, verified January 8, 2026
The proposed law aims to enhance penalties for individuals who intentionally cause serious harm or extreme pain to companion animals. A person will be considered guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals if they kill or cause serious physical injury to an animal without a justifiable purpose. This law defines aggravated cruelty as conduct intended to cause extreme physical pain or serious injury, done in a sadistic or depraved manner, or committed with the use of a weapon. The law will take effect immediately, increasing the penalties for those who intentionally harm or cause suffering to companion animals.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: referred to agriculture (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about A 6397
- What is the current status of A 6397?
- As of January 8, 2026, A 6397 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "referred to agriculture".
- Did A 6397 pass?
- Not yet. A 6397 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote A 6397, and where is it now?
- A 6397 was authored by Asm. Michael Tannousis. Its committee of record is Assembly Agriculture.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to agriculture |
| Mar. 04, 2025 | referred to agriculture |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, March 4, 2025 · 225 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6397 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 4, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. TANNOUSIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to enhanced penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and 2 markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to 3 read as follows: 4 1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no 5 justifiable purpose, [he or she] such person intentionally kills or 6 intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with 7 aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" 8 shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical 9 pain or serious physical injury; [or] (ii) is done or carried out in an 10 especially depraved or sadistic manner; or (iii) is committed with the 11 use of a weapon. 12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD05583-01-5
Text of A 6397 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions