Sign Up
S 7677 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

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 existing community preservation fund for water quality improvement projects, such as cleaning rivers or protecting drinking water sources. Previously, these funds could only be used for preserving community character (e.g., land conservation). The change explicitly adds water quality projects to the fund's permitted uses while maintaining the 10% spending limit. It does not create new funding but reallocates existing resources for environmental protection.
Issues: ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly permits use of preservation funds for water quality projects (river cleaning, drinking water protection), directly advancing environmental protection by reallocating existing resources toward conservation goals.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 29, 2025 Last action Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S7677 → S7677A · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill was amended to simplify the definition of water quality improvement projects and adjust how preservation funds can be used. The original version allowed funds for multiple project types including aquatic habitat restoration, pollution prevention, and stormwater systems, but the amended version narrows the focus to just water quality improvement projects. Additionally, the percentage limits on fund usage were modified to better prioritize water quality improvements while maintaining flexibility for management programs.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed from covering multiple environmental project types to focusing exclusively on water quality improvement projects.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'water quality improvement project' was simplified from a detailed list of specific project types to a general definition covering projects designed to improve drinking and surface water quality.

SCOPE

Removed provisions allowing funds to be used for aquatic habitat restoration projects, pollution prevention projects, and stormwater collecting systems.

FISCAL

Changed the percentage limit for water quality improvement projects from a maximum of ten percent to a maximum of ten percent that can be carried forward to future budgets, while increasing the management and stewardship program limit to thirty percent.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 12, 2025

How they voted

59–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 63
Jun 12, 2025
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
21 Yea 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
upper
Jun 12, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
lower
Jun 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 7677A
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of James Skoufis
James Skoufis
DDemocratic
NY
42