NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCAL LAW
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there has been presented to the County Executive of the County of Orange on April 13, 2026, a Local Law, a summary of which reads as follows:
Local Law Introductory No. 4 of 2026 is a local law that amends and restates Local Law number 2 of 2015 which is known as “Rocky’s Law” and the “Animal Abuser Registry Law”.
The purpose of this Local Law is to amend language within Local Law number 2 of 2015 to more clearly define the term “possess” relative to the ownership and exercise of dominion over animals. Furthermore, the Local Law clarifies the Legislative intent that an individual who is registered as an Animal Abuse offender within the Animal Abuse Registry shall not obtain or possess an animal, with the exception of Farm Animals for farmers and Service Animals for people with disabilities.
This Local Law shall take effect as provided by the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law and upon completion of the requisite filings and procedures.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, the County Executive of the County of Orange will hold a public hearing on the aforesaid Local Law at 255 Main Street, County Executive’s Office, 3rd Floor, Goshen, New York, on the 30th day of April 2026, at 11 o’clock in the morning of that day, at which time all persons interested therein will be heard.
A true copy of said local law is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the Orange County Legislature, 255 Main Street, Goshen, New York, 10924.
Dated: April 13, 2026
Steven M. Neuhaus
County Executive
Goshen, New York 10924