The 2026 Legislative Session is Over, but Sportsmen Should Always Stay Vigilant
Earlier this month, the 2026 New York legislature adjourned for the year. This means the legislature has concluded its work for the year without scheduling a date to return, thereby halting further debate on bills and officially defeating any remaining bills that did not complete the legislative process during this two-year cycle.
A plethora of pro- and anti-sportsmen bills were introduced. Here is how the legislative session ended:
Anti-Sportsmen Bills That Failed:
Wildlife & Hunting Restrictions
- S5014 (Big Five African Trophies Act): This high-profile wildlife protection measure aimed to ban the importation, transportation, and possession of certain African wildlife species’ trophies.
- A1089 / A1898: Prohibitions on using toxic or lead ammunition in the taking of wildlife on state-owned lands.
- A1109 / S3542: Prohibitions on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to assist or aid in hunting.
Sporting Dog & Kennel Restrictions
- A165 (Outdoor Restraint Restrictions): This bill sought to implement restrictive statewide bans on tethering dogs, including mandatory temperature cutoffs (below 35°F or above 80°F) and night-tethering bans between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This would have severely disrupted traditional night hunts, field trials, and working sporting dogs.
- A6145: A companion effort to enforce rigid, expensive, and hyper-engineered structural mandates for outdoor shelters and kennels, failing to account for working breeds acclimated to outdoor conditions and lacking common-sense exemptions for sporting dogs.
Firearm Waiting Periods & Sales Mandates
- S9338: This Senate bill attempted to establish a mandatory waiting period before a firearm, shotgun, or rifle could legally be delivered to a buyer, mirroring the failed Assembly bills A 1210 and A 3233.
- A360 / S3981: Additional strict administrative and verification requirements to purchase any firearm, rifle, or shotgun.
- A1774: Rationing measures limiting individuals to the purchase of no more than one firearm within any given 30-day window.
- A3376 / A5611: Proposals requiring all firearm, rifle, and shotgun owners to obtain and maintain private liability insurance.
Review a complete list of monitored bills via the Interactive Legislative Map.
The Fight Never Stops: Stay Vigilant!
Even though the legislative session has wrapped up for the year, our work to safeguard New York’s rich outdoor traditions is far from over. Anti-hunting organizations never take a break. They are always seeking ways to bypass the legislature or use administrative rule changes that threaten our traditions and way of life.
We’ve seen it in states across the country: the moment we look away, they strike. We need you to stay vigilant, keep your boots on the ground, and be ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice.
Defending New York’s Sportsmen Heritage
Share this message with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen, and urge them to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in protecting and defending our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage in the Empire State.
