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S 5402

Protects wolves

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nathalia Fernández and 8 co-sponsors

Designates wolves as a protected species in New York, restricting killing/harm and directing DEC to adopt recovery plans, enforcement, and livestock-compensation measures.

PRINT NUMBER 5402B
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Bill Summary · S 5402

Summary — S 5402: "Protects wolves"

Status: PRINT NUMBER 5402B
Introduced: February 21, 2025
Primary sponsor: Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Cosponsors: Nathalia Fernandez; José M. Serrano; Robert Jackson; Monica Martinez; Brian Kavanagh; Lea Webb; James Skoufis; Pete Harckham
Referred to: Senate Environmental Conservation Committee
Related/companion bill: A1229 (Assembly)
Prior-session related bill: S7927

Purpose and intent

Based on the bill title, S 5402 is intended to establish or strengthen legal protections for wolves in New York State. The legislation aims to change how wolves are managed, conserved, and legally treated — likely shifting policy toward greater protection and conservation of wolf populations. (No full bill text was provided with the legislative history; the precise statutory changes are not included here.)

Procedural timeline / actions (key dates)

  • 2025-02-21: Referred to Environmental Conservation Committee
  • 2025-05-14: Amended and recommitted to Environmental Conservation; printed as 5402A
  • 2025-05-28: Further amended and recommitted to Environmental Conservation; printed as 5402B

Two rounds of amendments and two print numbers (5402A then 5402B) indicate active revision in committee.

Likely key provisions (based on title and common legislative approaches)

Because the bill text was not provided, the following are typical measures such a bill may include. Readers should consult the official bill text for specifics.

  • Legal protection/classification: designates wolves as a protected species under state wildlife law, or elevates their conservation status.
  • Prohibitions: restricts or bans hunting, trapping, possession, killing, relocation, or commercial trade of wolves except under narrow exceptions.
  • Management authority: directs the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to adopt regulations, recovery plans, or non-lethal management protocols.
  • Compensation & mitigation: establishes livestock owner compensation, promotion of non-lethal deterrents, or grants for coexistence measures.
  • Enforcement & penalties: sets civil or criminal penalties for prohibited actions and outlines enforcement mechanisms.
  • Consultation & studies: requires population monitoring, scientific studies, or stakeholder consultation (e.g., with tribal nations, farmers, conservation organizations).
  • Funding: authorizes appropriations or grant programs to implement protections and mitigation.

Who would be affected

  • Wildlife: wolves in New York and their populations/habitats.
  • State agencies: DEC would likely gain responsibilities for regulation, monitoring, and enforcement.
  • Hunters/trappers: may face new restrictions or prohibitions.
  • Livestock producers and rural communities: could be affected by depredation management changes and compensation programs.
  • Conservation and animal welfare groups: likely supportive; may be involved in implementation.
  • Tribes and municipalities: may be stakeholders in consultation processes.

Potential impacts

  • Ecological: improved wolf population stability and ecosystem effects (trophic cascades).
  • Economic: changes in hunting-related activities; potential costs for compensation programs or funding of non-lethal control measures.
  • Social and legal: shifts in human–wildlife conflict management; potential litigation or enforcement actions depending on scope.

What to do next / where to find the details

  • Read the full text of S 5402B and companion A1229 for exact statutory language and specific provisions.
  • Monitor the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee for further amendments, hearings, and votes.
  • Compare to prior-session S7927 to see continuity or changes in policy approach.

If you’d like, I can: (1) retrieve and summarize the bill text (if you provide it), (2) compare S 5402B to A1229, or (3) draft a one-page explainer for stakeholders (hunters, livestock owners, conservation groups).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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