Advocacy
In Your Corner: Legal Clarity, Legislative Strength
The New York State Legislature is preparing to finalize drafting and voting on State Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget legislation the week after Memorial Day. This marks the latest state budget since 2010 and leaves the legislature with only two weeks of the scheduled session remaining. Below are some highlights and progress updates on legislation NYSVMS has been tracking.
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★ Lead Story Devocalization✓ Passed Senate 2026 ● On Assembly Calendar Devocalization legislation has passed in the Senate a few times over the past several years but has not historically moved in the Assembly. As drafted, the bill makes clear that only a licensed veterinarian can perform a devocalization procedure and can only do so where necessary to treat or relieve a physical illness, disease or injury or to correct a congenital abnormality where the issue is causing or may reasonably cause the animal physical pain or harm. The bill prohibits the performance of devocalization for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling a dog or cat, and requires that a veterinarian performing the procedure document it in the treatment record with a note regarding the medical necessity. Any veterinarian who knowingly performs or causes to be performed a devocalization in violation of the law would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and any professional discipline as provided for in the Education Law. This bill has passed the Senate in 2026 and is on the calendar in the Assembly; being on the calendar means that the bill can be taken up for a vote at any time before the legislature adjourns. Over the years NYSVMS has offered several amendments to the original bill, resulting in changes from the original bill which would have banned the procedure entirely to a bill that allows a veterinarian to perform medically appropriate treatment while prohibiting the practice by anyone not licensed as a veterinarian. |
Sentient BeingsNo Movement · No NYSVMS Position Yet Newly introduced legislation in New York would establish that companion animals are sentient beings for the purpose of being considered victims under the penal law in New York and being treated as such in court. To date, this bill has not moved in either house of the legislature. NYSVMS has not yet taken a formal position on this legislation. |
Breeder RegulationIn Process · Amended With NYSVMS Input Legislation relating to the regulation of pet dealers originally included a new definition of pet breeder that would include anyone who breeds and offers for sale more than 9 animals per year born and raised on the persons’ premises. This definition would have significantly expanded the number of breeders being regulated and would have required annual visits to the premises by a veterinarian for an inspection. This bill, which has not yet passed either house but is working its way through the process, has been amended so that the breeder threshold is not triggered until a person breeds and offers for sale more than 25 animals per year born and raised on the premises. NYSVMS worked with stakeholders to request this change, which we believe better reflects the number of animals constituting a breeder situation. |
Shelter StandardsVet-Supervised Provision Removed · Work Continues Chapter 683 of the Laws of 2022 established comprehensive standards of care for animal shelters in New York State. Since its enactment, the Department of Agriculture and Markets convened a working group to discuss and evaluate the law and that group’s work has resulted in legislation that would make some changes to ensure the language of the law is aligned with its original intent. As part of this legislation, NYSVMS was able to work with stakeholders to add a provision that would allow, under the supervision of a veterinarian, an unlicensed individual to provide treatment such as vaccinations to animals surrendered to shelters. In addition, a standalone piece of legislation allowing for the same was introduced. Unfortunately, as negotiations on the shelter standards bill progressed, the sponsors removed the provisions regarding veterinary-supervised tasks performed by unlicensed individuals because they would be unable to pass the legislation if it was included. While the standalone legislation is unlikely to pass this session, the sponsor has committed to continuing to work on the issue of understaffed animal shelters needing additional flexibility to ensure animals receive appropriate care to protect them, other animals in the shelter, and public health. |
Legislative Update – with 2 weeks to go to end of 26 session
With only two weeks left in the session, NYSVMS is tracking several bills of importance to veterinarians. Get the latest on devocalization, which has reached the Assembly calendar, plus updates on breeder regulation, animal shelter...
2025 Legislative Wrap Up
None of the bills opposed by NYSVMS advanced this session, including proposals to restrict antimicrobial use, reclassify xylazine, or create animal guardianship rights. NYSVMS continues to educate legislators on the risks these measures pose to...
Non-economic damages lawsuit – Brooklyn
Court rules some non-economic damages for loss of pet In June 2025, the NY State Supreme Court in Brooklyn released a ruling that provided for non-economic damages for a family pet. This was not a...
Xylazine, VCPR and Non-complete Updates
Here are some updates on non-competes, xylazine, telehealth and hurdles to licensing
Advocacy programs
How we make sure that your voice is heard
Lobby Day
On Lobby Day NYSVMS leadership visit New York State legislators at the NYS Capitol in Albany or over Zoom. We focus on legislators who chair the committees that are responsible for veterinary issues, or who have a particular interest in issues on our Legislative Agenda.
The day starts with a a short briefing followed by meetings in the morning and early afternoon. We are guided in these meetings by our legislative counsel.
This is a great opportunity for these legislators to hear from veterinarians about these issues.
Meeting legislators during fundraisers
The NY State Veterinary Political Education Committee (VPEC) is a fund that enables members to meet legislators during their fundraisers. It is a great way of building long-term relationships. It also shows our support for the legislators who show an interest in issues related to veterinary medicine.
We invite members to contribute during our annual renewal campaign and those funds pay the contributions that enable us to mix and mingle socially with legislators.
Grassroots Legislative Network
The Grassroots Legislative Network is an informal group of veterinarians who are willing to contact their State Senators and Assembly members about specific issues when we send out the call.
Mobilizing a coordinated grassroots call for action is a powerful tool, but only when used sparingly and at the right time. Once or twice during a legislative session you might see us send out a call for you to participate in our Grassroots Legislative Network and provide specific information to support you.
What we do to make your voice heard
A quick guide to how we are working to ensure laws and regulations provide the most effective environment for veterinary medicine
Top level legislative representation
Emily E. Whalen is our legislative representative in Albany. She is with Brown & Weinraub who consistently rank at the top of the list among New York lobbyists.
Emily is very well known among both legislators and staffers in the New York legislature. This enables her to be extremely well informed whenever there is movement or discussion around bills that might affect us.
Ms. Whalen’s reputation for highly-effective lobbying and wise counsel has been developed through her work with hospital systems, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and professional associations, with a particular focus on health care, professional licensing, and cannabis.
Strong Legislative Agenda
The New York legislative session runs from January to June each year. In the fall the NYSVMS Government Relations Committee meets to put together a legislative agenda as a guide to how we will respond to specific bills that we know will be proposed for the next session. We also develop positions on issues that we want to move forward.
This agenda is distributed to the office of every elected legislator, and we also present it during one-on-one meetings with individual legislators.
Active Government Relations Committee
Our members are at the heart of our Government Relations work. The Government Relations Committee puts together the Legislative Agenda and guides our legislative representative through the session.
At times during the legislative session the Committee leadership will become very active, especially if our legislative representative is involved in negotiations around the language of a bill, or we are actively working with legislators to provide data that supports our position.