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S 4408 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to agreements and easements related to renewable energy interconnection across reforestation areas

S 4408 allows New York's state environmental department to create leases or easements for renewable energy projects (like solar and wind farms) on state-owned lands designated for reforestation. These agreements must not interfere with the reforestation purposes of the land, as defined by New York's constitution. The bill requires all such agreements to be publicly recorded and posted online. It directly affects the state department, renewable energy developers, and the management of reforestation areas.
Issues: ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly enables renewable energy projects (solar/wind) on state lands via leases/easements, requiring public transparency while safeguarding reforestation. Directly advances renewable energy development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEnables renewable energy projects on reforestation lands with mandatory safeguards to maintain reforestation purposes, promoting clean energy development within environmental protections.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Last action Jun 5, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S4408 → S4408A · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify that renewable energy agreements can now include easements, not just leases, and to specify that these projects must connect energy sources located outside of state reforestation lands. The primary goal is to facilitate renewable energy interconnection while ensuring that the reforestation areas themselves continue to function for their intended conservation purposes.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed and clarified to explicitly require that renewable energy installations be located outside of the reforestation areas, rather than on them, and to broaden the types of legal agreements allowed from just leases to include easements.
SCOPE

The title and section heading were updated to reflect 'agreements and easements' related to 'renewable energy interconnection' instead of just 'agreements' related to 'development rights'.

ELIGIBILITY

The text was revised to clarify that the renewable energy installations must be located 'outside such lands' (the reforestation areas) to ensure the land's conservation purpose is not compromised.

REQUIREMENT

The language was tightened to state that the purpose is 'solely' for aiding interconnection, and the restriction on interfering with reforestation operations was moved to apply specifically to the 'interconnection rights' rather than the general agreement.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 11, 2025

How they voted

40–19
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 63
Jun 11, 2025
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
2 Yea 19 Nay 1
86% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Jun 5, 2026
Committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 4408A
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
lower
Jun 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Rachel May
Rachel May
DDemocratic/Working Families
NY
48