A9711

Assembly Bill 9711, sponsored by Assemblymember Zebrowski and amending the State Finance Law, was laid aside during Senate floor consideration. Sen. Lanza requested the procedural motion, which was granted by Acting President Persaud, effectively removing the measure from immediate consideration.

The New York State Senate passed Assembly Bill 9711, which restricts state purchases of tropical hardwood products and goods from deforested rainforest areas, on a 38-20 roll call vote. The measure, sponsored by Assemblywoman Zebrowski and championed by Sen. Krueger, requires state contractors to verify their supply chains do not include tropical hardwoods or products from rainforests defined by geographic and ecological standards. The bill takes effect 90 days after becoming law, with implementation delayed until 2027 to allow businesses time to comply. Krueger argued the bill addresses an environmental crisis—18 million acres of tropical rainforest are lost annually—while supporting New York businesses through OGS assistance programs and a 10 percent bidding preference for state-based small businesses. The revised version addressed prior gubernatorial veto concerns by reducing certification burdens on suppliers and expanding state support. Opponents, led by Sen. O'Mara, contended the bill places unfair compliance costs on small suppliers and lacks geographic specificity, arguing the state should verify products rather than contractors. Sen. Borrello criticized the measure as hypocritical, noting it ignores environmental destruction from rare earth metal mining for renewable energy. The bill makes New York the first state to implement such restrictions, aligning with European Union standards.