NYC Council passes law phasing out horse-drawn carriages by 2028

The New York City Council approved Romanch’s Law on Oct. 22, 2026, setting up a citywide end to horse-drawn carriages by June 2028. Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to sign the bill, which follows more than a decade of advocacy and came after two horse-related deaths this summer intensified pressure on City Hall.

Why it matters: - The law sets a deadline to end horse-drawn carriage operations in New York City by June 2028. - The measure also aims to prevent horses from being sold for slaughter or transferred into another carriage business. - The bill includes a workforce transition program for carriage drivers.

What happened: - The New York City Council passed Romanch’s Law, also known as Intro 943, on Oct. 22, 2026. - Council Member Christopher Marte sponsored the bipartisan bill. - Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Speaker Julie Menin reached an agreement on the legislation earlier this month, clearing the way for passage. - Mamdani is expected to sign the bill into law.

The details: - The law is named for Romanch Mahajan, who was killed on June 17, 2026, in an incident involving a carriage horse named Samson. - Another carriage horse, Deniz, collapsed and died on June 9, 2026. - Those two incidents pushed the Council to act on an issue that had stalled at City Hall for more than a decade. - The Council’s Health Committee held a nearly 10-hour hearing on July 15. - New Yorkers, including volunteers and supporters from Voters For Animal Rights, lined up to testify at the hearing. - Intro 943 had 29 co-sponsors before the vote, above the 26 needed for passage.

Between the lines: - The bill’s momentum shows how quickly a long-stalled issue moved once the political leadership aligned. - Julie Cappiello, president of Voters For Animal Rights, said the result reflected close to 15 years of advocacy, member-by-member lobbying, and a political window that finally opened. - Cappiello also credited Council Member Marte, the Council’s Animal Welfare Caucus, Speaker Menin and Mayor Mamdani for helping build the majority. - Mian Osumi, policy and advocacy manager at Voters For Animal Rights, said the vote reflected pressure from thousands of New Yorkers who called, emailed and showed up at City Hall. - Voters For Animal Rights says more than 300,000 advocates took action on the issue through petitions, emails, calls and meetings.

What’s next: - Mayor Mamdani is expected to sign the legislation. - The phaseout clock will then run toward the June 2028 end date. - Voters For Animal Rights said the win comes just days before the group marks its 10th anniversary on Oct. 31.

The bottom line: - New York City is on track to end horse-drawn carriages after years of deadlock, with a signed law likely to follow a Council vote driven by animal welfare advocates, elected leaders and public pressure.