Senator Biaggi and the Senate Majority Pass Groundbreaking Environmental Legislation

ALBANY, NY – This week Senator Biaggi and the Senate Democratic Majority advanced legislation in honor of Earth Day to continue protecting the state’s environment. This legislative package builds on the successes in the SFY 2021-2022 budget to put New York State at the forefront of protecting and preserving New York’s natural resources. This package furthers renewable energy initiatives to meet goals set in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The bills reduce plastic pollution, increase enforcement of the state’s environmental laws, protect state forests, decrease greenhouse emissions, increase the use of state-operated electric vehicles, bolster the state’s solar production, expand electric vehicle recharging, provide protections for Native nations and tribes, and combat biodiversity and climate crises on state land. 

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester) issued the following statement:

“There has never been a more urgent time for New York State to deliver bold solutions to protect our environment and combat climate change. We have an opportunity to lead and enact legislation that will drastically reduce plastic pollution and green-house gas emissions, and protect our communities most impacted by the climate crisis. Now is our chance to transform our state and safeguard our environment.”

The legislation passed by Senator Biaggi and the Senate Democratic Majority includes: 

• Reducing Plastic Pollution At Hotels: This bill, S.543, sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky and co-sponsored by Senator Biaggi, reduces plastic pollution by converting hotels from using individual small bottles to refillable bulk dispensers for hospitality personal care products.
• Expands Environmental Enforcement: This bill, S.1237, sponsored by Senator Michael Gianaris, amends the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) to provide injunctive relief for ECL violations for which there is no specifically stated penalty in law.
• Prohibits Leasing of Certain State-Owned Lands For Gas Production: This bill, S.1421, sponsored by Senator Jose M. Serrano, prohibits the lease of state forests, wildlife management areas and unique areas for the purpose of gas production. 
• Decreases Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Transportation Sector: This bill, S.2758, sponsored by Senator Pete Harckham and co-sponsored by Senator Biaggi, sets a goal of 100 percent of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks being zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035, and for 100 percent of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle sales to be ZEVs by 2045.
• State Purchase of Zero Emission Vehicles: This bill, S.2838A, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, requires preparation of a state fleet procurement plan to ensure that zero emission vehicles will be purchased for state agencies.
• Expands the Market for the State’s Solar Production: This bill, S.3521A, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker and co-sponsored by Senator Biaggi, directs the Public Service Commission to create a system to allow solar energy credits to be transferred between utility territories, making it easier for consumers to access renewable energy. 
• Electric Vehicle Recharging: This bill, S.3929, sponsored by Senator Tim Kennedy,  requires utilities to file an electric vehicle charging tariff with the Public Service Commission that allows a customer to purchase electricity for the purpose of recharging an electric vehicle.
• Protects Native American Hunting and Fishing Rights: This bill, S.5266, sponsored by Senator Rachel May, protects Native Americans from being ticketed for violating fish and game laws when they are exercising hunting and fishing rights protected by treaty.
• Makes “30 by 30” Part of the State’s Land Acquisition Policy: This bill, S.6191, sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky, combats the biodiversity and climate crises by setting a goal to conserve at least 30 percent of New York's land by 2030.
• Pollinator Friendly Roadways: This bill, S.660, sponsored by Senator Rachel May, encourages the redevelopment and rehabilitation of medians along state highways and other roadways into pollinator friendly zones through new planting practices, mowing routines, and expansion of adopt-a-highway programs.

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