Prohibits game taken by a firearm using lead ammunition from being donated for human consumption.
Summary
This bill, titled the “lead-free game donation act,” would prohibit game taken by a firearm using lead ammunition from being donated, distributed, or served for human consumption in New York State. It amends the Environmental Conservation Law and the Agriculture and Markets Law to create a new rule for charitable game donations: game harvested with lead ammunition would be ineligible, while game taken by archery or by firearm using non-lead ammunition would remain eligible. The bill also requires donated game to be labeled with the method used to take the game and, if applicable, the category of ammunition used.
The bill directs the Department of Environmental Conservation, in consultation with the Department of Health, to make public a list of recognized non-lead ammunition. It also preserves the existing framework for charitable donation of legally taken game, including tagging, processing, and distribution requirements, while carving out an exception for lead-ammunition harvests. The act would take effect two years after becoming law, giving agencies and affected parties time to adjust.
Impact
The bill would amend section 11-0917 of the Environmental Conservation Law and section 71-z of the Agriculture and Markets Law. Its practical effect is to make game harvested with lead ammunition ineligible for food donation programs, while allowing donations of game taken with archery equipment or non-lead ammunition. Charitable organizations, professional processors, hunters, and food donation programs would need to comply with new labeling and eligibility rules, and state agencies would need to publish guidance and update any related regulations before the effective date.
Sentiment
The bill text and findings reflect a strongly supportive public-health and wildlife-conservation rationale. The legislature frames lead as a neurotoxin with no safe exposure level and emphasizes protecting recipients of charitable food donations, especially vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant people, and low-income New Yorkers. No committee transcript or vote data is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or formal legislative sentiment beyond the bill’s stated intent.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be the restriction on donations of game taken with lead ammunition, which could affect hunters who still use lead-based rounds, processors, and charitable organizations that rely on donated game. Supporters are likely to emphasize lead exposure risks and food safety, while opponents may argue the measure imposes burdens on hunters and donation networks or is unnecessary where game is otherwise safe. The bill attempts to limit disruption by allowing archery-taken game and game taken with non-lead ammunition to remain eligible and by delaying implementation for two years.
Requires bidders on contracts to purchase firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories to submit a statement that the bidder is licensed and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations relating to the sale, transfer, storage and disposition of firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories.
Requires bidders on contracts to purchase firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories to submit a statement that the bidder is licensed and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations relating to the sale, transfer, storage and disposition of firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories.
Payment rates established for certain substance use disorder treatment services, and vendor eligibility recodified for payments from the behavioral health fund.
Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-eligible Residents Now Act or the COVER Now Act This bill establishes a demonstration program to allow local governments to provide health benefits to the Medicaid expansion population in states that have not expanded Medicaid. Under the program, local governments may provide coverage for individuals who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (i.e., the Medicaid expansion population) for a maximum of 10 years, or until their respective states expand Medicaid. The bill provides a 100% federal matching rate for the first three years of program participation. The bill prohibits states from taking certain actions against participating localities, such as withholding funding, increasing taxes, or restricting provider participation. States that violate these requirements are subject to certain funding penalties.