S 7970 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the Mohawk River Basin management act

Summary

Establishes a Mohawk River Basin district and Mohawk River Basin management program for management of such district to preserve, protect, restore and enhance the environmental quality of the Mohawk River.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced May 15, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2026

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What changed between versions

S7970 → S7970A · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to streamline the legislative process by removing redundant committee steps and clarifying the bill's title. Substantive changes include tightening the definition of the river basin to exclude general lands, shifting the management program's focus from 'conserve' to 'preserve and enhance,' and updating the deadline for the management strategy from 2027 to 2028.

Scope change

The scope of the defined basin was narrowed by removing references to 'all tributaries and lands that drain' to the river, and the management goals were updated to emphasize preservation and enhancement over simple conservation.

DEFINITION

The definition of the Mohawk River Basin district was narrowed by removing the phrase 'and lands that drain to the Mohawk River, and any adjacent areas on which the integrity of the basin depends.'

REQUIREMENT

The management program's objectives were updated from 'conserve, protect and restore' to 'preserve, protect, restore and enhance' the environmental quality.

A requirement was added for the aquatic invasive species plan to be posted on the department's website.

The specific requirement to create a new 'Mohawk watershed coordinator' position was removed, though the role is now described as being maintained within the department.

The advisory committee composition was clarified to require 'not less than eleven members' representing specific interests.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the department to publish the management strategy was moved from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 3, 2026

Committee

COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

upper

May 5, 2026

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 7970A

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

upper

May 15, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor