Environment (Water Quality)

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 1103: Establishes the New York state cooperative watershed management program

Establishes the New York state cooperative watershed management program within the department of environmental conservation under which watershed networks may apply for grants for watershed network development and watershed network professionalization, subject to appropriation of funds from the legislature.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes grant program for watershed management under DEC, directly advancing conservation of natural resources through funding and program development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

Track

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 1, 2026

S 4574: Enacts the "PFAS discharge disclosure act"

Enacts the "PFAS discharge disclosure act"; requires certain SPDES permit holders to conduct PFAS monitoring and disclose the results from such monitoring.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates PFAS monitoring/disclosure for permit holders, increasing transparency on toxic pollutants to protect water resources and public health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7834: Relates to watershed mitigation

Provides that when approving proposals to enhance the existing benefits provided by a wetland or to create and maintain new wetland benefits in order to increase the likelihood that a proposed activity will meet the applicable standard for permit issuance, the mitigation may occur within the same watershed as the proposed project.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enables watershed-based wetland mitigation to meet permit standards, supporting wetland conservation and environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8252: Permits the town of Warwick to use preservation funds for water quality improvement

This bill allows the town of Warwick to use up to 10% of its community preservation fund for water quality improvement projects, such as cleaning rivers or protecting drinking water sources. It amends existing law to explicitly include these projects as a permitted use under the fund's purpose, requiring them to align with the town's community preservation plan. Unused funds allocated for water quality projects can roll over to future years, and the bill specifies that no more than 10% of the fund may be used for this purpose. The change directly affects Warwick's budget decisions for environmental projects funded through its community preservation program.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds water quality projects (river cleaning, drinking water protection) via preservation funds, directly advancing environmental conservation and pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

passed both · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 3207: Establishes maximum contaminant levels and a hazard index in drinking water for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Establishes maximum contaminant levels in drinking water for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); sets such levels at no higher than 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and no higher than 10 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA).

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill sets strict PFAS limits (4-10 ppt) in drinking water, directly strengthening environmental protection standards for water quality and public health by reducing toxic contamination.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSets strict PFAS limits in drinking water to prevent health risks, aligning with public health protection in healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3857: Requires the installation of trash capture nets on certain point source outlets

Requires the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations requiring the department to install or cause to be installed at the outlet of any point source that empties into the waters of the state a trash capture net for purposes of collecting garbage, refuse, and other debris; defines "trash capture net" to mean a commercial grade, reusable, open-meshed material designed to capture pollutants as small as five millimeters in diameter.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates trash capture nets to prevent debris pollution in state waters, directly reducing water pollution and protecting aquatic ecosystems per environmental protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3656: Exempts certain inland lakes from wetlands designations

S 3656 exempts certain inland lakes from wetlands designations under environmental law. Specifically, it removes the requirement for wetlands classification for lakes that are used for navigation and cover at least 150 acres, excluding the Great Lakes. This change directly affects property owners and developers near qualifying lakes by eliminating wetlands-related permitting requirements for those bodies of water. The exemption applies whenever wetlands boundaries are being defined by environmental authorities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves wetlands permitting requirements for navigable lakes >150 acres, weakening environmental protections by deregulating waterway development and reducing regulatory oversight.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRemoves wetlands permitting for navigation-use lakes, easing infrastructure development for waterway transportation85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3122: Relates to shoreline resiliency infrastructure regulations and tax credits

Enacts shoreline resiliency infrastructure regulations providing for preventive measures that could be taken to mitigate the impact of future flooding and provides tax credits for twenty-five percent of the costs of such projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides 25% tax credits for shoreline resiliency infrastructure costs, constituting direct tax relief under Budget & Taxes policy framework.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill provides tax credits for shoreline resiliency infrastructure to mitigate flooding impacts, directly advancing climate adaptation and environmental protection measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1554: Declares the waters of the state to be public trust resources

Declares the waters of the state to be public trust resources; declares that the waters of the state are valuable public natural resources and the state has a duty to conserve and manage its waters effectively.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill declares state waters as public trust resources requiring state conservation and management, directly advancing environmental protection of natural resources per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Dec 1, 2025

S 4533: Relates to the water resources planning council

This bill expands New York's Water Resources Planning Council from 15 to 17 voting members, requiring the governor to appoint two members with water science expertise, two with environmental science/engineering expertise, and one with environmental justice expertise (selected from public interest groups). The council must now make recommendations on statewide water management, ensure environmental justice considerations in water decisions, review relevant state/federal laws, and develop a comprehensive water strategy by 2028. It directly affects state agencies (like environmental conservation and health departments), local water systems, and communities managing water resources, with new reporting requirements for deficiencies and financing constraints. The changes aim to improve coordination, equity, and sustainability in water planning across the state.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdds environmental science/engineering and environmental justice expertise to council; mandates environmental justice considerations in water decisions, strengthening environmental protection focus85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Environmental Justice Water Quality

Track