Legislation

Memos of Support and Opposition for 2025 Legislative Session

Some bill numbers have not been updated for the 2025-26 Legislative Session. These bill numbers will be updated as they become available. 

 

Water:

  • PFAS Surface Water Discharge Disclosure Act: S.4574 (May)/A.5832 (Kelles)
  • Summary: Enacts the "PFAS discharge disclosure act"; requires certain SPDES permit holders to conduct PFAS monitoring and disclose the results from such monitoring.
    Currently: S.4574: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (02/07/2025); A.5832: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (02/20/2025)
     
  • Ban on Fracking Waste Water Road Spreading: S.2706 (Hoylman-Sigal)
  • Summary: Prohibits the use of drilling fluids and flowback water from wells, pools or fields on any highway for any purpose including but not limited to de-icing or dust suppression.
    Currently: S.2706: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/22/2025)
     
  • Potable Waters: S.2438 (Gianaris)/A.3098 (Burdick)
  • Summary: Requires potable water testing at state and local parks at least once every three years and any finding of lead contamination must be abated within ninety days.
    Currently: S.2438: Referred to Senate Health Committee (01/17/2025); A.3098: Referred to Assembly Health Committee (01/23/2025)
     
  • Addressing Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): S.1833 (May)
  • Summary: Enacts the "harmful algal bloom monitoring and prevention act"; establishes the harmful algal bloom monitoring and prevention fund.
    Currently: S.1833: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/14/2025)


Energy:

  • Fossil Fuel Facilities Replacement and Redevelopment Blueprint Act:  S.5111 (Parker)
  • Summary: Enacts the "just energy transition act"; requires a study of competitive options to facilitate the phase-out, replacement and redevelopment of New York state's oldest and most-polluting fossil fueled generation facilities and their sites by the year 2030.
    Currently: S.5111: Referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee (02/19/2025)
     
  • Zero Emissions Generating Facilities: a false solution: S.1549 (Parker)
  • Summary: An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing a program for eligible zero emissions energy systems.
    Currently: S.1549: Referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee (01/10/2025)
  • More on Sierra Club's position on hydrogen: Green the Grid and Electrify Everything: Memo of Support on the Series of Bills (pdf)
     
  • Undermining Climate Accounting: Changing Global Warming Potential from 20 year to 100 year timeframe: S.2471 (Parker)
  • Summary: An act to amend the environmental conservation law and the public service law, in relation to the state greenhouse gas emission accounting system.
    Currently: S.2471: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/21/2025)
     
  • Gas Stove Labeling Bill: S.1280 (Krueger)/A.73 (Solages)
  • Summary: Prohibits the sale, attempt to sell, or offering for sale to a consumer in this state of a gas stove that is manufactured on or after January first, two thousand twenty-five, unless the stove displays certain labels and warnings; authorizes the department of state to adopt regulations regarding the placement and format of such labels; provides for penalties; authorizes the attorney general to enforce such provisions.
    Currently: S.1280: Referred to Senate Consumer Protection Committee (01/09/2025); S.73: Referred to Assembly Consumer Protections and Affairs Committee (01/08/2025)
    One Page Fact Sheet (pdf)
     
  • Solar Tax Credits: S.2626 (Harckham)/A.1373-A (Walker)
  • Summary: Increases the amount of residential solar tax credits.
    Currently: S.2626: Referred to Senate Budget & Revenue Committee (01/21/2025); A.1373-A: Amended and recommitted to Assembly Ways & Means Committee (01/27/2025)
    Support Memo 
     
  • Geothermal: Tax Credits: A.1591 (Rivera)
  • Summary: Increases the amount of geothermal energy systems tax credits.
    Currently: A.1591: Referred to Assembly Ways & Means Committee (01/10/2025)
    Support Memo


Building Electrification

  • NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act: NYHEAT: S.4158 (Krueger)/A.4870-A (Simon)
  • Summary: Aligns utility regulation with state climate justice and emission reduction targets; repeals provisions relating to continuation of gas service; repeals provisions relating to the sale of indigenous natural gas for generation of electricity.
    Currently: S.4158: Referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee (02/03/2025); A.4870-A: Amended and recommitted to Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee (02/07/2025)
    Support Memo
     
  • Energy Efficiency Equity and Jobs Act: S.1544 (Parker)
  • Summary: Relates to establishing energy efficiency measures by the public service commission and the New York state energy research and development authority including requiring utilities to hire and train employees who are from priority populations or living in areas designated as environmental justice communities.
    Currently: S.1544: Referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee (01/10/2025)


Toxics:

  • Beauty Justice Act: S.2057 (Webb)/A.2054 (Glick)
  • Summary: Relates to the regulation of ingredients in personal care products to include chemicals of concern which shall be provided on lists identified by the commissioner. 
    Currently: S.2057: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/15/2025); A.2054: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/14/2025)
    Support Memo
     
  • Comprehensive PFAS Ban: S.187-A (Hoylman-Sigal)
  • Summary: Prohibits the sale of certain products that contain intentionally added PFAS on and after January 1, 2027; requires manufacturers of products containing PFAS to provide notice of such fact to persons that offer the products for sale or distribution; provides penalties for violations.
    Currently: S.187-A: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/08/2025)
    Support Memo
     
  • Ban on PFAS and other Toxic Chemicals in Menstrual Products: S.1548 (Fernandez)/A.1502 (Rosenthal)
  • Summary: Relates to the regulation of ingredients in menstrual products.
    Currently: S.1548: PASSED the Senate (01/21/2025); A.1502: Ordered to Third Reading Calendar (02/10/2025)
    Support Memo
     
  • Biosolids Land Application Prohibition: (2024 Bill Numbers: A.8317 (Kelles))
  • Summary: Prohibits the sale or land application of biosolids from wastewater treatment facilities unless such biosolids are treated and tested to not exceed the maximum contaminant levels established in the public health law.
    Currently: 
     
  • Toxic Air Contaminants and the Community Benefit Fund: S.4030 (Fernandez)
  • Summary: Directs the department of environmental conservation to promulgate air quality standards for emissions of certain toxic air contaminants; establishes the community benefit fund.
    Currently: S.4030: Advanced to Third Reading (02/24/2025)
    Support Memo 
     
  • Updating Coal Tar Ban: S.3179 (Sanders)/A.1388 (Rosenthal))
  • Summary: Directs the department of environmental conservation to promulgate air quality standards for emissions of certain toxic air contaminants; establishes the community benefit fund.
    Currently: S.3179: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/24/2025); A.1388: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/09/2025)
     
  • Codifying EO22 - Green Procurement: (2024 Bill Numbers: S.5180-A (Harckham)/A.4931-A (Epstein))
  • Summary: Directs state agencies to adopt a sustainability and decarbonization program; establishes a GreenNY council which will develop sustainable procurement specifications, issue operational directives and guidance for construction, issue a waste diversion plan template for agencies and provide agencies with information on reducing use of toxic substances; requires agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
    Currently: 


Environmental Law:

  • Environmental Justice Requirements: S.4513 (Ramos)/A.2417 (Gallagher)
  • Summary: Relates to compliance with environmental justice requirements; the department of environmental conservation shall not accept as complete a draft environmental impact statement unless the applicant has prepared an enhanced public participation plan as required by the commissioner's policy twenty-nine, environmental justice and permitting.
    Currently: S.4513: First Report Calendar (02/25/2025); A.2417: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/16/2025)
     
  • Fixing SEQRA Standing: S.3206 (Kavanagh)
  • Summary: Prevents individuals from being denied standing in private actions alleging violations of the environmental quality review provisions of the environmental conservation law solely on the basis that the injury alleged by such individual does not differ in kind or degree from the injury that would be suffered by the public at large.
    Currently: S3206: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/24/2025)
     
  • Citizen Suits: S.3345 (Parker)
  • Summary: An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to granting private citizens the right to initiate civil enforcement actions for violations of such law.
    Currently: S.3345: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/27/2025)


Plastic Pollution/Zero Waste:

  • Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act: S.1464 (Harckham)/A.1749 (Glick))
  • Summary: Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act" to require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to reduce consumer packaging, improve recycling and recycling infrastructure, including supporting reusable and refill infrastructure, financially support municipal recycling programs, reduce toxins in packaging and require producers of products to bear the onus for end of life solutions to product packaging
    Currently: S1464: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/10/25); A.1749: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/14/25)
     
  • Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act: S.4558-A (Hoylman-Sigal)
  • Summary: Requires fashion sellers to be accountable to standardized environmental due diligence policies; establishes a fashion remediation fund.
    Currently: S.4558-A: Amended and Recommitted to Senate Consumer Protections Committee (02/20/2025)
     
  • Rechargeable Battery Recycling : S.73 (Kavanagh)
  • Summary: Relates to rechargeable battery recycling; adds a battery used as the principal electric power source for an electric scooter or bicycle with electric assist to the definition of "rechargeable battery"; allows a city with a population of one million or more to enforce through its own agencies.
    Currently: S.73: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/08/2025)


Transportation:

  • Electric Planes, Trains, & Ferries: S.1456 (Kavanagh)/A.1331 (Simon)
  • Summary: Requires certain watercraft, aircrafts, and trains to be zero emission; requires the study of certain clean energy sources; requires certain monetary incentives for clean energy vehicles.
    Currently: S.1456: Referred to Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee (01/10/2025); S.1331: Assembly Environmental Conservation (01/09/2025)
    - White Paper: Electrifying Commuter Rail in New York State (March 1, 2024)
    - White Paper: Electrifying Ferries in New York State (March 1, 2024)
    - White Paper: Electrifying Aircraft in New York State (March 1, 2024)
    - White Paper: Electrifying Consumer Watercraft in New York State (March 1, 2024)
     
  • Green Transit Green Jobs: (2024 Bill Numbers: S.6089 (Kennedy)/A.6414 (Dinowitz))
  • Summary: Relates to the purchase of zero-emission buses and the procurement of electric-powered buses, vehicles or other related equipment and infrastructure; requires public utilities to have infrastructure, capacity, facilities, and transmission and distribution systems needed to supply power for the charging of zero-emission buses and provides a tariff for charging of electric buses.
    Currently: 
     
  • Ride Clean Rebate: S.1047 (Salazar)/A.281 (Carroll)
  • Summary: Directs the New York state energy and development authority to establish a ride clean rebate program for electric assist bicycles and electric scooters.
    Currently: S.1047: Referred to Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee (01/08/2025); A.281: Referred to Assembly Energy Committee (01/08/2025)
     
  • Clean Deliveries Act: S.1180 (Gianaris)/A.3575 (Mitaynes)
  • Summary: Establishes an indirect source review for heavy distribution warehouse operations; requires the department of environmental conservation to conduct a study regarding zero-emissions zones.
    Currently: S.1180: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (01/08/2025); A.3575: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/28/2025)
    Support Memo
     

Wilderness/Wildlife/Parks:

  • Wolf Protection: S.5402 (Hoylman-Sigal)/A.1229 (Carroll)
  • Summary: Protects wolves by requiring animals which could be wolves be submitted for a DNA test and, when determined to be wolves, requiring the department take action to protect wolves from being taken in the future.
    Currently: S.5402: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (02/21/2025); A.1229: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/09/2025)
     
  • Big Five African Trophy Ban: S.5014 (Sepulveda)/A.1616 (Rosenthal))
  • Summary: Enacts the "Big Five African Trophies Act" relating to banning the importation, transportation and possession of certain African wildlife species and products.
    Currently: S.5014: First Report Calendar (02/25/2025); A.1616:  Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/10/2025)
     
  • Preserving the Nightitme Sky: S.5007 (Hoylman-Sigal)/A.4615 (Glick)* (*not currently same as))
  • Summary: Regulates outdoor night lighting to preserve and enhance the state's dark sky.
    Currently: S.5007: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (02/18/2025); A.4615: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (02/04/2025)
     
  • Solar Car Ports in Parks/Parkland Alienation: (2024 Bill Numbers: S.9547-A (Harckham)/A.10226-A (Levenberg))
  • Summary: Provides an exemption from requirements for the alienation of parkland for renewable energy generating projects in the county of Westchester with a generating capacity not exceeding two megawatts and which are located above real property that was established and used for vehicle parking.
    Currently: 
     
  • Title Insurance: S.4403 (May)
  • Summary: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.
    Currently: S4403: Referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (02/04/2025)
     

Democracy/Voting Rights

  • The Voting Integrity and Verification Act of New York: (2024 Bill Numbers: S.6169-C (Cleare)/A.5934-C (Cunningham))
  • Summary: Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it privately and independently.
    Currently: 
     
  • "Count Every Vote Act of NY": CEVA NY: S.417 (Gianaris)
  • Summary: Enacts the "Count Every Vote Act of New York" which amends the procedure for the recanvass of vote in election districts; defines margin of victory for the purpose of triggering a hand recount of ballots.
    Currently: S.417: Referred to Senate Elections Committee (01/08/2025)
     

Additional Bills:

  • Fuel Oil: S.4046 (Harckham)/A.1183 (Paulin)
  • Summary: would prohibit the use of #4 fuel oil after July 1, 2029.
  • Currently: S.4046: Advanced to Third Reading (02/24/2025); A.1183: Referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (01/09/2025)
    Support Memo
     
  • Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate: S.1574 (Krueger)/A.2657 (Otis)
  • Summary: Establishes the electric landscaping equipment rebate program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce noise pollution by promoting the adoption of quieter, zero-emission landscaping equipment; provides for rebates at the point of sale for applicants purchasing or leasing certain equipment; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
  • Currently:  S.1574: Referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee (01/10/2025); A.2657: Referred to Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee (01/21/2025)
    Support Memo

 

Politics & Elections

Links to information about the endorsements by the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and Sierra Club

Atlantic Chapter Lobby Toolkit

The strength of the Sierra Club is our grassroots power and the thousands of members willing to act on behalf of New York’s environment. While Albany is the focus of attention during the legislative session, we often have the most influence over...