NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4060

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 31, 2025	referred to finance

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A272
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add Art 43 §§930 - 935, Exec L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S6106, A6844

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the climate relocation planning and preparation act to prepare state government and regional planning councils for the possibility of increased in-migration to New York state due to climate change.

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4060

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the climate
relocation planning and preparation act

 
PURPOSE:

To help the state prepare for the potential of internal migration of
people relocating due to climate change and disruption.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: adds a new article 43 to the executive law to instruct state
agencies to convene a working group to develop a strategy to prepare for
the eventuality of increased in-migration due to climate relocation and
asks the state's regional planning councils to develop a similar frame-
work in their service areas to encourage the same kinds of preparation.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It is an indisputable fact that our planet's climate is undergoing rapid
change and disruption. We see this in the headlines about extreme
storms, droughts, wildfires, melting glaciers, and disappearing species,
and in our own daily lives, with intense heatwaves, changing growing
seasons, and more. But the effects of climate change are not evenly
distributed across the globe. While some areas will become increasingly
challenging to live in due to the factors outlined above, there is an
expectation that some areas will be seen as more welcoming and viable
options for human settlement.  Science writer David Pogue has described
Upstate New York as one of those places. In his book "How to Prepare for
Climate Change," Pogue describes several Upstate regions, including
Buffalo and Syracuse, as climate havens because of their proximity to
the Great Lakes and reduced vulnerability to other types of disasters
such as earthquakes, severe hurricanes, and wildfires. While climate
disruption remains unpredictable, it is likely that Pogue's analysis
will be accurate. As other parts of the country grow hotter, dryer, and
less hospitable, New York is likely to emerge as a desirable place to
relocate. According to Forbes, almost a third of people p lanning to
move in 2023 are citing worsening weather conditions as a reason to
relocate, and many others who have already relocated were influenced by
changing weather patterns. Drought and wildfires are substantial
contributors to this trend, a circumstance we are sadly unlikely to see
reversed any time soon. Climate relocation is already happening, and our
state should be prepared to welcome these new New Yorkers.

This legislation will encourage state and regional bodies to begin the
process of planning for such in-migration. It will operate at two
levels. First, a state-level interagency working group would be estab-
lished among the various executive agencies to develop a framework that
will address how climate relocation will interact with policy areas like
economic development, education, agriculture, public health, and our
natural resources, including what state resources may be needed. Second,
it asks the state's regional councils to undertake a similar approach
and develop a framework that is appropriate to their region. These
regional bodies are already engaged in the work of planning for issues
and needs in local areas, guided by local governments and stakeholders,
and have deep experience in and knowledge of their regions. The regional
councils will develop frameworks that consider in-migration and that
will prioritize specific projects and initiatives to develop or reacti-
vate regional infrastructure, as well as incorporate suggestions from
the state strategy as appropriate for their area. Taken together, a
state and regional framework will help the state be prepared and ready
to act as climate relocation ramps up.

 
FISCAL IMPACT:

Minimal

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-2024 - S.6106 (May) / A.6844 (Levenberg)

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4060
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 31, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting  the  climate
   relocation planning and preparation act
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 43  to
 read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 43
              CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION ACT
 SECTION 930. SHORT TITLE.
         931. DEFINITIONS.
         932.  NEW YORK STATE CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION
                WORKING GROUP.
         933. REGIONAL CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION.
         934. IMPLEMENTATION.
         935. FUNDING.
   § 930. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY  BE  CITED  AS
 THE "CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION ACT".
   §  931.    DEFINITIONS.  AS  USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1. "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
   2. "REGIONAL PLANNING  COUNCIL"  MEANS  A  REGIONAL  PLANNING  COUNCIL
 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE-H OF THE GENERAL
 MUNICIPAL LAW.
   3.  "CLIMATE  RELOCATION"  MEANS INCREASED MIGRATION AND RELOCATION OF
 INDIVIDUALS TO MORE DESIRABLE LOCATIONS DUE TO THE  IMPACTS  OF  CLIMATE
 CHANGE.
   §  932.  NEW  YORK  STATE  CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION
 WORKING GROUP. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL  ESTABLISH  AN  INTERAGENCY  "NEW
 YORK STATE CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION WORKING GROUP" TO

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00346-01-5

 S. 4060                             2
 
 DEVELOP  A  STATE  STRATEGY  TO  HELP  PREPARE  FOR  THE  POSSIBILITY OF
 INCREASED IN-MIGRATION DUE TO CLIMATE RELOCATION.
   2.  THE  STATE STRATEGY DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL, AT A MINI-
 MUM:
   (A) CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS  OF  STATE  GOVERNMENT,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT
 LIMITED  TO,  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION,
 PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WATER RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT;
   (B)  IDENTIFY  POTENTIAL  IMPACTS  OF  CLIMATE  RELOCATION  ON   STATE
 RESOURCES AND SERVICES; AND
   (C)  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS  OF  ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY STATE AND LOCAL
 GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE FOR SUCH IMPACTS.
   3. THE WORKING GROUP CREATED BY SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION  SHALL
 PROVIDE  THE STATE STRATEGY DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SECTION TO THE REGIONAL
 PLANNING COUNCILS BY NO LATER THAN THE FIRST OF  JANUARY,  TWO  THOUSAND
 TWENTY-SEVEN.
   §  933.  REGIONAL  CLIMATE RELOCATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION. 1. THE
 REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS SHALL DEVELOP  REGIONAL  FRAMEWORKS  TO  HELP
 PREPARE  FOR  THE  IMPLEMENTATION  OF THE STATE STRATEGY DEVELOPED UNDER
 SECTION NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO  OF  THIS  ARTICLE  AND  ANY  ADDITIONAL
 REGIONAL STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED BY SUCH REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS.
   2.  THE  REGIONAL  FRAMEWORKS DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL, AT A
 MINIMUM:
   (A) CONSIDER REGIONAL STRENGTHS  AND  AREAS  OF  IMPROVEMENT  TO  HELP
 PREPARE  FOR  THE  POSSIBILITY  OF INCREASED IN-MIGRATION DUE TO CLIMATE
 RELOCATION;
   (B) IDENTIFY POTENTIAL  IMPACTS  OF  CLIMATE  RELOCATION  ON  REGIONAL
 RESOURCES AND SERVICES;
   (C) IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES TO REAC-
 TIVATE  OR  DEVELOP REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS HOUSING, SEWER, AND
 OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY EXISTING IN  AREAS  THAT  HAVE  EXPERIENCED
 DECLINING POPULATION; AND
   (D)  INCORPORATE  THE  STATE  STRATEGY  DEVELOPED  UNDER  SECTION NINE
 HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, AS APPROPRIATE FOR EACH REGION.
   3. THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS SHALL COMPLETE THE  REGIONAL  FRAME-
 WORKS  DEVELOPED  UNDER THIS SECTION BY NO LATER THAN THE FIRST OF JANU-
 ARY, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT.
   § 934. IMPLEMENTATION. THE DEPARTMENT AND REGIONAL  PLANNING  COUNCILS
 SHALL TAKE SUCH ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE
 STATE  STRATEGY  AND  REGIONAL  FRAMEWORKS  REQUIRED UNDER SECTIONS NINE
 HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO AND NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 935. FUNDING. THE DEPARTMENT  AND  REGIONAL  PLANNING  COUNCILS  ARE
 AUTHORIZED  TO  SEEK  AND  ACCEPT  GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND OTHER FORMS OF
 FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATE STRA-
 TEGY AND REGIONAL FRAMEWORKS REQUIRED UNDER SECTIONS NINE HUNDRED  THIR-
 TY-TWO AND NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S4060

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4060

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Sponsored By

Rachel May

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4060 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments