NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7550

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 22, 2025	referred to environmental conservation

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1094
Current Committee:: Senate Environmental Conservation
Law Section:: Environmental Conservation Law
Laws Affected:: Add §11-0936, En Con L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S9438, A8445

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Allows the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in tracking big game that are dead, wounded or injured.

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7550

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
allowing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to track dead, wounded or
injured big game

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To authorize the use of unmanned aerial vehicles ("UAV") in assisting
hunters to locate dead, wounded or injured big game.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Adds new section 11-0936 to the Environmental Conservation
Law authorizing the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation ("DEC")
to certify and regulate the use of UAVs to aid big game hunters.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The widespread adoption of UAVs is changing how a variety of tasks are
performed. Outdoor recreation is no different. Highly sophisticated UAVs
are available that can help hunters locate deer and other big game they
have killed or wounded. The practice is currently authorized using
trained hunting dogs.

This bill would authorize DEC to create and regulate a similar license
for UAVs. The intention is that a UAV would only be authorized to help a
hunter after it has wounded/killed the animal. It is not to be used as a
tracking method. Additionally, once located, it is still incumbent on
the hunter to locate the game using the coordinates provided by the UAV
operator.

This practice is already authorized in other states and authorizing it
in New York would create a new business opportunity for UAV operators.

It would also prevent the waste and loss of wounded big game and the
unnecessary suffering of said animal.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 days after it becomes law. Effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be
made and completed on or before such date.

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7550
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 22, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COONEY -- 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
   allowing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to track dead, wounded or
   injured big game

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by  adding  a
 new section 11-0936 to read as follows:
 § 11-0936. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES.
   NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, THE DEPARTMENT
 MAY BY REGULATION PROVIDE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHI-
 CLES AND MAY AUTHORIZE THE USE  OF  SUCH  UNMANNED  AERIAL  VEHICLES  BY
 PERSONS  LICENSED  BY  THE DEPARTMENT TO TRACK AND FIND DEAD, WOUNDED OR
 INJURED BIG GAME, AND FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF UNMANNED AERIAL  VEHICLES
 AND  MAY  AUTHORIZE  THE USE OF SUCH UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES BY PERSONS
 LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO TRACK BEAR PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE  OF
 SECTION 11-0521 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such date.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01298-01-5

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Senate Bill S7550

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

Actions

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Jeremy Cooney

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

Actions

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7550 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments