Environment

signed · New York · Assembly Aug 7, 2026

A 8515: Enacts the whale awareness act

Enacts the whale awareness act directing the department of environmental conservation to establish recommendations and educational materials for reduction of marine mammal interactions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates educational materials to reduce marine mammal interactions, directly advancing conservation efforts for protected species.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 9506: Adds Lake Oscawana and Roaring Brook Lake in Putnam county to the definition of inland waterways

This bill adds Lake Oscawana and Roaring Brook Lake in Putnam County to the official list of major inland lakes in New York State. The change updates the legal definition of inland waterways by including these two specific lakes in the state's existing list of protected water bodies. This amendment affects state environmental regulations and conservation efforts related to these lakes, ensuring they receive the same protections as other major inland lakes already covered by the law. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not create new restrictions but rather expands the scope of existing waterway protections.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands legal definition of protected inland waterways to include two lakes, strengthening environmental protections and conservation efforts for these water bodies.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 4408: 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.

Topics ✓ 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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 7532: Enacts the restriction of anticoagulant pesticide transactions for online and retail stores act

Enacts the restriction of anticoagulant pesticide transactions for online and retail stores act to prohibit any person from selling, offering for sale or use, or distributing within the state, any second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide; prohibits the use of either a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide or a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide within five hundred feet of a wildlife habitat area.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts harmful pesticides near wildlife habitats, reducing ecological harm and strengthening conservation protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 6976: Establishes the New York road salt reduction council and the New York road salt reduction advisory committee

Establishes the New York road salt reduction council and the New York road salt reduction advisory committee to provide a mechanism for interagency cooperation and coordination to implement the recommendations of the report of the Adirondack road salt reduction task force.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates council to implement road salt reduction, directly mitigating water pollution and protecting ecosystems from salt runoff impacts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 1464: Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act"

Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires companies to develop packaging reduction/recycling plans, directly reducing waste and pollution per environmental protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 98: Requires electric corporations build make-ready infrastructure

S 98 requires electric corporations to cover the costs of "make-ready" infrastructure needed to charge electric vehicles for public fleets, such as government-owned buses, police cars, and school district vehicles. It mandates that corporations include 100% of their own infrastructure costs (like transformers and wiring) and at least 50% of customer infrastructure costs (like site wiring) in their rates - increasing to 90% in disadvantaged communities - so these expenses are shared across all utility customers instead of paid directly by fleet operators. This reduces upfront financial barriers for public entities transitioning to electric fleets while ensuring infrastructure costs are recovered through standard rate structures. The bill applies specifically to state, municipal, school district, and public authority fleets, not private businesses.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates utilities cover EV charging infrastructure costs, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance in public transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates electric corporations fund EV charging infrastructure for public fleets, directly promoting clean transportation and reducing emissions from government vehicle fleets.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates infrastructure funding for EVs in public fleets, advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 2086: Increases the statewide energy storage capacity

This bill amends New York's climate law to increase the statewide target for energy storage capacity from three to six gigawatts by 2030. It directly affects utilities and energy providers (load-serving entities) by requiring them to support this higher storage target alongside existing renewable energy goals. The bill updates specific sections of the public service law and environmental conservation law to reflect the new six-gigawatt storage requirement, aligning with the state's broader climate commitments. This change is part of New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) framework, which sets renewable energy and emissions reduction targets. The policy change is a concrete adjustment to existing targets, not a new program.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyIncreases energy storage target from 3 to 6 GW by 2030, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure and climate goals per amended climate law.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases renewable energy storage target to 6GW by 2030, advancing climate goals and clean energy integration per amended climate law.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 10566: Extends provisions related to the regulation of the amount of Jonah crabs that may be taken

This bill extends the authority to regulate the number of Jonah crabs that can be caught commercially in New York for two additional years, until December 31, 2028. It directly affects commercial crab permit holders and holders of New York commercial lobster licenses by allowing the state department to set catch limits through regulation. These regulations must align with existing fishery management plans from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and federal conservation laws. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill extends regulatory authority to limit Jonah crab catches, aligning with fishery management plans and federal conservation laws to protect natural resources.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 4, 2026

S 10411: Extends provisions relating to the establishment of the mercury thermostat collection act

This bill extends the expiration date of the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. The legislation directly affects individuals and facilities involved in the collection and disposal of mercury-containing thermostats by keeping the program in place for one additional year. By amending the relevant environmental conservation law, the bill ensures that existing procedures for managing these hazardous materials remain active until the new deadline. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and does not alter the core operational requirements of the program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill extends the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act, strengthening environmental protections by ensuring continued management of hazardous materials and preventing pollution.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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