New york bill would ban mouse and rat glue traps in all state-owned and leased buildings

ALBANY, NY – Lawmakers in New York are advancing legislation to ban the use of adhesive-based rodent traps in all state-owned and state-leased buildings, citing health, safety, and humane concerns.

Assembly Bill A54B, sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Epstein and co-sponsored by more than a dozen legislators, would add Section 148 to the state’s Public Buildings Law, prohibiting the setting or use of any adhesive-based trap—including glue boards and similar devices—beginning one year after enactment. The bill mirrors Senate Bill S3046-B in the upper chamber.

Supporters argue that glue traps are unsanitary and ineffective compared to other pest control methods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against their use because trapped rodents can urinate, defecate, or bleed, increasing the risk of spreading diseases such as hantavirus and leptospirosis to humans.

Ban would cover all state-owned and leased properties across New York
Lawmakers cite CDC guidance warning of potential health hazards
Alternatives like snap traps found to be more effective and sanitary

Advocates note that numerous government agencies and private companies—including the NYPD, State University of New York campuses, and major retailers such as Home Depot and GAP—have already discontinued glue trap use. Research from the University of Nebraska found that snap traps captured more than six times as many mice as glue traps in comparative testing.

Assemblyman Epstein said the bill aligns with public health best practices and modern pest control standards. Fiscal impacts are still being evaluated, but the legislation would take effect 90 days after being signed into law, with full compliance required one year later.

Lawmakers say the measure reflects a growing movement toward safer, more humane pest management practices across the state.

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