S 685 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Authorizes existing building projects to continue when the fossil fuel ban takes effect

S 685 creates an exception to existing prohibitions on fossil fuel use in new buildings. This bill allows new building projects to continue using fossil fuels if their site plan or subdivision plat received approval from a local planning board before December 31, 2025. The measure ensures that projects with initial approvals in place before this deadline are not subject to the upcoming fossil fuel ban.

Issues: ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

S685 → S685A · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends New York's fossil fuel ban to create an exemption for existing building projects that received approval before December 31, 2025. The change expands the list of sponsors and clarifies that the exemption applies to both site plan approvals and subdivision plats, ensuring projects already in progress can continue without violating the ban.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include multiple Senate sponsors and to explicitly cover subdivision plats alongside site plans for the exemption.

ELIGIBILITY

Added additional Senate sponsors (Senators ADDABBO, ASHBY, C. RYAN, and WALCZYK) to the bill introduction.

TIMELINE

Extended the exemption deadline from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2025 for both site plans and subdivision plats.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the text to clarify that the prohibition does not apply to buildings with approved site plans or subdivision plats prior to the deadline.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 685A

upper

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors