Issue · Environment

Environment (Public Lands)

Every environment bill, vote, and legislator stance in New York, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
17
2025 Regular Session
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Showing 1–10 of 17 bills

All environment bills

in committee · New York · Assembly May 15, 2026

A 11407: Provides that priority shall be given to certain sites when developing renewable energy generating projects

This bill updates the Public Authorities Law to give priority to specific underutilized locations, such as brownfields, parking lots, and former industrial sites, when planning new renewable energy projects. It also formally defines "agrivoltaics" as a dual-use system where solar panels are installed alongside agricultural activities like crop farming or livestock grazing to maximize land efficiency. By establishing these definitions and site preferences, the legislation aims to streamline the development of solar energy while protecting existing farming operations and repurposing vacant urban spaces.
in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 21, 2026

A 9670: Relates to the creation of an ATV recreation fund and the use of ATVs

This bill creates an ATV Recreation Fund to support environmentally sustainable trails across state, municipal, and private lands. It requires ATV registration for public land use, mandates owner liability for negligence, and directs fees to fund trail maintenance (45%), motorized access for people with disabilities (45%), and enforcement/education (10%). The fund also establishes rules for trail design, signage, and minimizing environmental impact while preserving existing trails. It directly affects ATV owners, land managers, and disability access programs through new registration rules and dedicated funding.
in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 21, 2026

A 9620: Establishes the native/pollinator planting fund, the pollinator highway program and creates a distinctive license plate relating thereto

Establishes the native/pollinator planting fund and the pollinator highway program; creates a distinctive native plant and pollinator license plate with the goal of promoting the cultivation and maintenance of native flowering plants, grasses and shrubs on land bordering state highways and on other public lands.
Sub-Topics Public Lands
in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 13, 2025

A 3628: Relates to the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County

This bill implements a constitutional amendment allowing the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex to operate on forest preserve land in Essex County's Adirondacks. It requires the state to acquire at least 2,500 acres of additional forest preserve land within the Adirondack Park as an offset for using existing forest preserve land for the complex. The bill limits development on the complex site to 322.26 acres for Nordic skiing, biathlon trails, and necessary facilities (like parking and lodges), while prohibiting unrelated amenities like hotels or zip lines. All development must follow the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan and require a unit management plan approval.
in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3540: Authorizes the county of Cattaraugus to discontinue as reforested lands certain reforested lands in the town of Perrysburg

This bill authorizes Cattaraugus County to stop using specific reforested lands (totaling 63.73 acres) in Perrysburg for reforestation purposes. The county may repurpose these currently vacant lands for dam rehabilitation and future development, but only after acquiring equivalent or greater-value land for reforestation elsewhere. The bill requires the county to dedicate replacement land or funds for reforestation before discontinuing use, and mandates restoration if the land is later used for non-reforestation purposes. It directly affects Cattaraugus County's land management decisions for these parcels.
Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands
passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 25, 2025

A 7454: Relates to the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County

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.
Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands
in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4374: Relates to prohibiting illegal dumping on public property

This bill prohibits illegal dumping of refuse, trash, or harmful substances on public property like streets, parks, and waterways. It imposes fines of $500 for a first offense (increasing to $1,000 for repeat offenses) and requires offenders to cover cleanup costs. The bill also creates a reward system where witnesses providing evidence (e.g., video or license plate photos) may receive a discretionary reward if their tip leads to a fine. The bill is currently referred to the Environmental Conservation committee and directly affects individuals who dump waste on public land.
in committee · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 8399: Relates to the creation of an ATV recreation fund and the use of ATVs

This bill creates an ATV Recreation Fund managed by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to support a statewide network of ATV trails. It requires ATV registration and insurance for use on public lands, with fees deposited into the fund. The fund allocates 45% of its money to motorized access programs for people with disabilities and 45% to enforcement and public education about ATV rules. It also establishes regulations to balance ATV recreation with environmental protection and safety on designated trails. The bill directly affects ATV users operating on public lands, trail managers, and people seeking accessible recreation opportunities.
in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 5240: Authorizes the town of Brookhaven, county of Suffolk to amend a conservation easement

This bill authorizes the town of Brookhaven to adjust a conservation easement by removing a specific parcel of land (to enable rail access) and adding another parcel to the easement to maintain conservation of natural resources and open space. The town must remove the designated land for rail infrastructure while adding new land to preserve environmental assets, ensuring the total conserved area remains unchanged. This amendment modifies the easement boundaries without altering the conservation purpose or overall land protection. The bill directly affects Brookhaven's land management and rail service planning within the conserved area.
signed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 1069: Prohibits the lease of state forests, reforestation areas, wildlife management areas and unique areas for the purpose of gas and oil production

S 1069 prohibits the leasing of state-owned forests, reforestation areas, wildlife management areas, and unique natural areas for gas and oil production. The bill amends environmental conservation law to specifically ban these leases, protecting these lands from energy extraction. It directly affects state land management decisions and energy companies seeking to drill on these protected properties. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.
Showing 1 to 10 of 17 bills
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