Environment

This bill creates a state fund to reimburse property owners and installers for enhanced septic system projects. It defines "enhanced" systems as those reducing nitrogen to 19 mg/l or significantly cutting phosphorus/PFAS pollution in wastewater. Reimbursement covers 75% of costs (up to $25,000 per property) for enhanced systems versus 50% (up to $10,000) for standard systems. The program applies only to projects with county participation agreements after the bill’s effective date. The bill was signed into law on July 23, 2025 (Chapter 188).

This bill proposes amending New York's constitution to clarify state forest preserve land management, not specifically related to the Mount Van Hoevenberg complex as the title suggests. It allows limited land exchanges and infrastructure projects while preserving the forest preserve's core purpose, including: conveying specific parcels to towns for public uses (like airport extensions, cemeteries, or water wells) in exchange for equivalent forest land; permitting up to 25 miles of ski trails on designated mountains; and allowing highway maintenance within strict acreage limits. These provisions require legislative approval before land transfers and mandate that exchanged lands must be equal in value. The bill does not create new facilities at Mount Van Hoevenberg but modifies constitutional language governing forest preserve land use statewide.

This bill requires all New York state agencies (including departments, public authorities, SUNY, and CUNY) to create and implement waste reduction plans. Agencies must decrease landfill waste by 10% every five years, starting from 2018-2019 baseline levels, aiming for a 75% overall reduction by 2034. Plans must detail strategies for reducing single-use plastics, diverting organics and recyclables, conducting waste audits, and transitioning to dual-stream recycling where feasible. The GreenNY Council will oversee implementation, review progress, and require updated plans every five years. All plans must be publicly posted on the environmental department's website.

Prohibits the department of environmental conservation from charging any application fee or any other fee for activities undertaken pursuant to a lake program.

Establishes a native plant and seed supply, development and enhancement program; requires the commissioners of the departments of agriculture and markets, environmental conservation and economic development to develop a list of plants and seeds eligible for consideration in such program; makes related provisions.