A 5156 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to creating the Great Lakes and state waters bill of rights

Summary

Creates a Great Lakes and state waters bill of rights that declares the right of the Great Lakes and state waters to exist, flourish and naturally evolve.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A5156 → A5156A · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from protecting only the Great Lakes ecosystem to also protecting state watersheds and ecosystems throughout New York. The amended version adds new rights for local ecosystems and clarifies enforcement mechanisms for municipalities and counties.

Scope change

Expanded from Great Lakes only to include all state watersheds and ecosystems throughout New York

SCOPE

Title renamed from 'Great Lakes Bill of Rights' to 'Great Lakes and State Waters Bill of Rights' to include state-wide protection

Added rights for watersheds and ecosystems throughout New York state, not just Great Lakes watersheds

DEFINITION

Added 'aquifers' to the definition of the Great Lakes ecosystem

ENFORCEMENT

Added provision allowing municipalities and counties to assert rights for their local ecosystems

Modified enforcement section to clarify commissioner enforcement includes local laws adopted under the bill

REQUIREMENT

Added new subdivision protecting local laws that assert ecosystem rights from state preemption

Added exemption for treaty-reserved hunting, fishing, and gathering rights from enforcement actions

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 5156A

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors