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Senate Bill S8927

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to divorce and the consideration by the court of companion animals

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

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2025-S8927 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Law Section:
Domestic Relations Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §236, Dom Rel L

2025-S8927 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the court to consider whether the companion animal was acquired prior to or during the marriage; the basic daily needs of the companion animal; the party who generally facilitates veterinary care for the companion animal; the party who generally provides the companion animal with social interaction

2025-S8927 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8927 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8927
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COONEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
 
 AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law,  in  relation  to  companion
   animals
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subparagraph 15 of paragraph d of subdivision 5 of  part  B
 of  section 236 of the domestic relations law, as amended by chapter 509
 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   (15) (I) in awarding the possession of a companion animal,  the  court
 shall  consider  the  best  interest  of such animal, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 LIMITED TO:
   (A) WHETHER THE COMPANION ANIMAL WAS ACQUIRED PRIOR TO OR  DURING  THE
 MARRIAGE;
   (B) THE BASIC DAILY NEEDS OF THE COMPANION ANIMAL;
   (C)  THE  PARTY  WHO  GENERALLY  FACILITATES  VETERINARY  CARE FOR THE
 COMPANION ANIMAL;
   (D) THE PARTY WHO GENERALLY PROVIDES THE COMPANION ANIMAL WITH  SOCIAL
 INTERACTION;
   (E)  THE  PARTY  WHO GENERALLY ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL
 REGULATIONS REGARDING THE COMPANION ANIMAL; AND
   (F) THE PARTY WHO PROVIDES THE GREATER ABILITY TO FINANCIALLY  SUPPORT
 THE COMPANION ANIMAL.
   (II)  "Companion animal", as used in this subparagraph, shall have the
 same meaning as in subdivision five of section three  hundred  fifty  of
 the agriculture and markets law; and
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14173-01-5

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