Environment

passed · New York · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 4369: Provides for memorial land facilities

This bill establishes a new permit requirement for "memorial lands facilities," which are areas primarily used for the respectful disposition of cremated and naturally organically reduced human remains. Operators of these facilities must be not-for-profit corporations and obtain a permit from the cemetery board. To receive a permit, they must file an operation plan that includes evidence of a perpetual conservation easement or that the lands are cemetery lands, and commit to not constructing crematories or columbariums on the site. The bill ensures these facilities conform to local zoning and are subject to regulatory oversight by the cemetery board.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates perpetual conservation easements for memorial land facilities, directly requiring land preservation and conservation, aligning with environmental protection and natural resource conservation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed · New York · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 4995: Designates water development representatives for each environmental region of the state

Directs DEC to designate a representative for each environmental conservation region of the state to serve as the point of contact for municipalities to aid in the acquisition of resources and funding for water projects.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill designates DEC representatives to aid municipalities in securing resources/funding for water projects within environmental conservation regions, facilitating environmental resource management and conservation efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 2292: Enacts the whale awareness act

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

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directs environmental department to reduce marine mammal interactions via education, directly advancing conservation of protected species per environmental protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 4403: Authorizes the attorney general to approve certain state land acquisitions made for the purposes of land conservation

Authorizes the attorney general to approve certain state land acquisitions made for the purposes of land conservation, and to accept a title policy from a commercial insurer to cover any title defects that would otherwise render the title unmarketable.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly authorizes land acquisitions for conservation, directly advancing natural resource protection and land conservation efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 6221: Relates to building aid for incremental zero-emission school bus infrastructure costs

Bill S 6221 establishes additional state building aid for school districts to help cover specific infrastructure costs associated with transitioning to zero-emission school buses. This aid applies to "incremental zero-emission school bus storage costs," such as facility modifications for wider doors, specialized lifts, and charge management systems. It also covers "incremental customer-owned make-ready costs" for infrastructure needed to install electric vehicle chargers. This financial support is available for approved expenditures through the 2034-2035 school year, provided they are not reimbursed by other state, federal, or electric utility funding sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides state funding for school district infrastructure costs related to zero-emission buses, increasing government spending on public service infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state building aid for school district infrastructure costs related to zero-emission school buses, directly funding educational transportation infrastructure improvements.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill funds infrastructure for zero-emission school buses and EV chargers, directly advancing clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence in transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds infrastructure for zero-emission school buses, directly reducing emissions and promoting clean transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds infrastructure for zero-emission school buses, promoting sustainable transportation through state building aid for facility modifications and EV charger infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 1529: Establishes a carbon farming tax credit for farmers

Establishes the carbon farming certification committee for the purpose of developing a certification framework, determining qualified carbon removal practices eligible for the carbon farming tax credit, and promulgating certification standards for qualified carbon removal practices; provides for the development of educational materials to encourage carbon farming by promoting farming practices which reduce, sequester and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions on land used in support of a farm operation; establishes carbon farming tax credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit for carbon farming, providing direct tax relief to farmers, explicitly impacting state tax policy and revenue.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill provides tax credit for carbon farming to increase sequestration, directly reducing emissions and advancing climate goals through agricultural practices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 6307: Relates to the prevention and mitigation of marine and coastal debris

Relates to the prevention and mitigation of marine and coastal debris; defines terms; requires the department of environmental conservation to prepare and annually update a marine and coastal debris action plan.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates an action plan to prevent/mitigate marine debris, directly reducing pollution and protecting coastal ecosystems per environmental conservation goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · New York · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 1733: Creates a program to assist municipalities with water quality improvement of water bodies within the municipality managed by lake associations

Bill S 1733 creates a new program to help municipalities improve water quality in water bodies managed by lake associations within their jurisdiction. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will establish this program to identify water quality concerns, determine effective remediation strategies, and assist with best practices for maintaining water quality. Additionally, the DEC will create a grant program to provide financial assistance to municipalities for remedial actions. The department is authorized to develop rules and regulations to implement these provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates DEC grant program for municipal water quality remediation, directly funding state budget allocation for environmental programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates DEC program with grants to improve municipal water quality through remediation strategies, directly advancing environmental protection of water bodies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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signed · New York · Senate Feb 13, 2026

S 8832: Relates to rechargeable battery recycling

This bill amends New York's environmental conservation law to establish requirements for recycling rechargeable batteries. It directly affects battery manufacturers (who must create approved recycling plans), retailers (who must accept used batteries), and consumers (who must return batteries instead of discarding them). Key provisions require retailers to accept up to 10 batteries daily (5 for e-scooter/bike batteries), display clear signage about battery recycling, and provide return options for online purchases. Manufacturers must operate under commissioner-approved collection and recycling plans, which retailers must verify before selling batteries. The law aims to keep batteries out of landfills by creating a structured take-back system.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRecycling rechargeable batteries supports sustainable energy infrastructure by enabling material reuse critical for renewable energy storage systems like EVs and grid storage.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates battery recycling requirements for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers to prevent hazardous waste pollution, directly protecting environment through waste reduction and pollution control.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · New York · Assembly Feb 13, 2026

A 9436: Relates to finding alternatives to the use of pesticides in the monarch preservation plan

Relates to finding alternatives to the use of pesticides in the monarch preservation plan and allowing agricultural lands that are not in active production be used to enhance the monarch butterfly habitat.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill seeks pesticide alternatives to protect monarch habitat, reducing chemical use and enhancing conservation efforts per its title and summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment