Bill
A 7342
Establishes a New York State Equine Industry Workgroup to study the sector and deliver findings with policy, program, or funding recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.
Status & procedural history
- Bill Number: A7342; Print No. 7342D (most recent print 2025-05-22)
- Introduced: March 25, 2025
- Primary sponsor: Carrie Woerner; Cosponsors: MaryJane Shimsky, Billy Jones, Chris Tague, Jaime R. Williams, Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Marianne Buttenschon, Paula Kay, Jen Lunsford, Stephen Hawley
- Referred to: Assembly Agriculture (3/25/2025); amended and recommitted multiple times (April–May 2025); reported/referred to Ways and Means (5/20/2025)
- Companion Senate bill: S.7218
- Note: Provided version of the bill text was not legible in the materials supplied. The summary below is based on the bill title, legislative metadata, and typical structure/purpose of such measures. For exact statutory language, consult the official bill text on the New York State Assembly or Legislative Retrieval System.
Purpose / intent
- The bill’s stated purpose (by title) is to establish a “New York State Equine Industry Workgroup.” The intent is to create a formal, temporary body charged with examining and advising on matters affecting New York’s equine sector — including horse breeding, training, racing, equine-assisted services, recreation, and associated businesses and rural infrastructure.
Key components likely contained in the bill (based on common practice)
- Creation of an Equine Industry Workgroup: authorizing statute establishing the workgroup as an advisory body.
- Membership: specification of membership (for example, state agency representatives such as the Department of Agriculture & Markets; Cornell or SUNY extension/agricultural research; representatives of equine industry groups, veterinarians, breeders, racetrack/standardbred/thoroughbred interests, equine therapy providers; legislative appointees). (Exact membership must be confirmed in the bill text.)
- Duties and scope: to study the current status of the equine industry in New York, including economic impact, workforce needs, animal health and veterinary capacity, land-use and farm viability, education and training programs, marketing and tourism, and regulatory/insurance matters.
- Deliverables: requirement to produce findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature — typically a written report with proposed policy, programmatic, and funding recommendations.
- Timeline: the bill likely sets a timeframe for the workgroup’s existence and for submission of its report (e.g., within X months of first meeting).
- Administrative support: designation of a lead state agency to staff/host the workgroup (commonly Agriculture & Markets or a higher education extension service).
- No clear appropriation: unless the bill text provides funding, workgroups are often convened without a new appropriation (relying on existing agency resources).
Who would be affected
- Stakeholders in New York’s equine economy: breeders, owners, trainers, veterinarians, racetrack and harness-racing industries, agritourism operators, equine-assisted therapy programs, feed/hay suppliers, and rural communities that host equine operations.
- State agencies that regulate agriculture, animal health, racing and gambling, tourism, and workforce development.
Potential impact
- Short term: coordinated study and stakeholder engagement; clearer picture of needs and gaps across the equine sector.
- Medium/long term: if the workgroup issues recommendations that are adopted, potential policy changes, new programs or funding to support equine health, workforce training, farm viability, and industry promotion. Impacts depend on whether the Legislature or Executive acts on the workgroup’s recommendations.
Next steps / how to track
- Review the official bill text (A.7342D) on the New York State Assembly website or Legislative Retrieval System for precise membership, duties, timelines and any fiscal provisions.
- Monitor committee actions (Ways & Means) and companion Senate bill S.7218 for parallel movement.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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