Senator Rachel May Advances Five Bills through Environmental Conservation Committee

Syracuse, NY – On Monday, Senator Rachel May (D-48th District) advanced five sponsored bills through the Environmental Conservation Committee. The bills address New York’s freshwater resources, climate goal spending, deer population, sustainable housing, and land conservation.

“To achieve New York’s ambitious climate goals, it will take a holistic approach through various efforts. The bills I advanced through the Environmental Conservation Committee are critical to our effort and will help New York continue its leadership role in caring for our planet. I’m hopeful that with the help of my colleagues in the Senate Majority, we can get these bills to Governor Hochul’s desk,” said Senator May.

S239B Enacts the "New York Open Water Data Act"

• It brings together New York’s water-related agencies to create, operate, and maintain anintegrated water data platform to ensure water resources are managed more efficiently and give water users access to the data they need to make informed decisions.

S288B Requires NYSDEC, with NYSERDA, to submit an annual agency climate expenditure report

• The bill would thoroughly account for funds allocated to meeting the state's climate goals.

S925 Enacts “Sustainable Affordable Housing and Sprawl Prevention Act”

• A pilot program for deer management, qualifications for certified nuisance wildlife specialists, and procedures for issuing and using permits for deer management plans.

S6606 Authorizes the attorney general to approve certain state land acquisitions made for land conservation

• This bill would make it easier for land trusts to conserve land

• It aims to streamline and accelerate the state’s land acquisition to meet its conservation goals by allowing the attorney general to use title insurance to review land titles.

S2630 Establishes an urban deer management pilot program

• A pilot program for deer management, qualifications for certified nuisance wildlife specialists, and procedures for issuing and using permits for deer management plans.