A 8515 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the whale awareness act

Summary

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

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Assembly Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced May 20, 2025 Signed Aug 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A8515 → A8515A · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the agencies consulted when creating marine mammal safety guidelines and to update the legal definition of harmful interactions to include specific behaviors like migration and feeding. Additionally, the distribution of these safety materials was modified to be posted online immediately and provided to specific boat operators now, while delaying the requirement to provide them to general vessel registrants until December 31, 2028.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new state agencies (Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation) in consultations and added a specific definition for marine mammal interactions. The applicability of material distribution was split into immediate requirements for certain groups and a delayed requirement for others.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'marine mammal interaction' from a general legal term to a specific list of behaviors including pursuit, torment, annoyance, migration, and breeding.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the list of agencies the department must consult to include the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Added a new requirement to publicly post the recommendations and educational materials on the department's website.

TIMELINE

Split the timeline for distributing safety materials: posting online and providing to specific boat operators is immediate, while providing to general vessel registrants is delayed until December 31, 2028.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · Assembly Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

59–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 63

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic41

37 Yea 4

90% Yea

R Republican22

22 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 7, 2026

Signed into law

SIGNED CHAP.208

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 8515A

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

May 20, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

lower

1 primary · 16 co-sponsors