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NYC Council approves horse-drawn carriage ban for June 2028
New York City lawmakers approved legislation to end horse-drawn carriage operations in June 2028, with a transition plan required in 2027.
The New York City Council voted Thursday to approve a bill ending horse-drawn carriage operations in June 2028. The legislation requires a transition plan for workers and owners in 2027 and calls for humane placement of the animals.
The bill now goes to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his signature. His office said he would sign it and that the administration was working to provide the strongest possible protections for the industry's owners and workers.
Named Romanch's Law, the measure honors Romanch Mahajan, 18, who died in a carriage accident in Central Park in June. Council Speaker Julie Menin said the ban was necessary to protect animals and public safety, citing crowded conditions and accidents involving horses breaking free.
Carriage owners and their families protested outside City Hall, arguing that the transition plan did not go far enough. The Transport Workers Union said it was prepared to challenge the ban in federal court. Union lawyer Ben Kallos argued that the required economic impact analysis was blank.