S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5340
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. RAGA -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Ways and Means
 
 AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to creating a  tax  credit  for
   certain household pet expenses
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Section 606 of the tax law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subsection (qqq) to read as follows:
   (QQQ) CREDIT FOR CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD PET EXPENSES. (1) GENERAL. AN INDI-
 VIDUAL TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING ON
 OR  AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED
 BY THIS ARTICLE FOR THE COST OF OWNING HOUSEHOLD PETS. THE AMOUNT OF THE
 CREDIT SHALL BE FOR THE ACTUAL COST OF  PET  OWNERSHIP  FOR  UP  TO  TWO
 HOUSEHOLD  PETS,  BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM CREDIT OF ONE HUNDRED
 FIFTY DOLLARS FOR  EVERYDAY  EXPENSES  AND  THREE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR
 MEDICAL  OR VETERINARY EXPENSES PER HOUSEHOLD PET PER TAXABLE YEAR FOR A
 MAXIMUM TOTAL OF NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER TAXABLE YEAR.
   (2) DEFINITIONS. THE TERMS:
   (A) "HOUSEHOLD PET" SHALL MEAN ANY DOG OR CAT  KEPT  FOR  THE  PRIMARY
 PURPOSE  OF  COMPANIONSHIP  THAT  IS  NORMALLY MAINTAINED IN OR NEAR THE
 HOUSEHOLD OF THE OWNER OR PERSON WHO CARES FOR SUCH DOMESTICATED ANIMAL,
 PROVIDED THAT KEEPING SUCH ANIMAL IS NOT IN VIOLATION OF ANY  APPLICABLE
 PROVISIONS  OF  FEDERAL,  STATE  OR  LOCAL LAW. THE TERM "HOUSEHOLD PET"
 SHALL NOT MEAN:
   (I) ANY DOG OR CAT CONFINED TO THE PREMISES OF ANY PUBLIC  OR  PRIVATE
 HOSPITAL DEVOTED SOLELY TO THE TREATMENT OF SICK ANIMALS.
   (II) ANY DOG OR CAT CONFINED FOR THE PURPOSES OF RESEARCH TO THE PREM-
 ISES OF ANY COLLEGE OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL OR RESEARCH INSTITUTION.
   (III)  ANY  DOG OR CAT CONFINED TO THE PREMISES OF ANY PERSON, FIRM OR
 CORPORATION ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF  BREEDING  OR  RAISING  DOGS  FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04132-01-5
 A. 5340                             2
              

 
 PROFIT  AND  LICENSED  AS  A CLASS A DEALER UNDER THE FEDERAL LABORATORY
 ANIMAL WELFARE ACT.
   (IV)  ANY  "POLICE  WORK  DOG"  OR  "DETECTION  DOG" AS SUCH TERMS ARE
 DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW.
   (B) "ACTUAL COST OF PET OWNERSHIP" SHALL MEAN:
   (I) MEDICAL AND VETERINARY EXPENSES, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED  TO,  ANNUAL  EXAMS,  MEDICATIONS,  EMERGENCY CARE, AND TESTS AS
 DEEMED NECESSARY BY VETERINARIANS; AND
   (II) EVERYDAY EXPENSES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO,
 FOOD, CRATE, LEASHES, LITTER BOXES, LITTER, HARNESSES, COLLARS, GROOMING
 SUPPLIES, TOYS, AND OTHER ITEMS DEEMED ESSENTIAL FOR PET CARE-TAKING.
   (3)  PROOF OF CLAIM. THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUIRE A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER
 TO FURNISH PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF THE HOUSEHOLD PETS  AND  PROOF  OF  THE
 ACTUAL  COST OF PET OWNERSHIP IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CLAIM FOR CREDIT UNDER
 THIS SUBSECTION.
   (4) WHEN CREDIT ALLOWED. THE CREDIT PROVIDED FOR  IN  THIS  SUBSECTION
 SHALL  BE  ALLOWED  WITH  RESPECT  TO THE TAXABLE YEAR, COMMENCING AFTER
 JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, IN WHICH THE PET IS OWNED.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and  shall  apply  to  pet
 adoptions in taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2026.