S2222

Senate Print 2222, sponsored by Sen. Harckham and relating to amendments to the Environmental Conservation Law, was laid aside on the Senate floor on February 1st at the request of Sen. Lanza. The bill, which carried Calendar Number 159, did not receive debate or a vote.

The New York State Senate passed a chapter amendment to the state's 30 by '30 conservation goal on Friday, with a vote of 56-7, streamlining public hearing and reporting requirements from the original 2022 legislation. Senate Print 2222, sponsored by Sen. Harckham, reduces the requirement for multiple public hearings across the state to a single hearing and consolidates legislative reporting with existing Department of Environmental Conservation land acquisition reports. The amendment drew criticism from Sen. Walczyk, who argued the reduced public engagement contradicts the original bill's intent, noting the legislation passed both chambers in May 2022 but was not sent to the Governor until December, missing the July deadline for scheduling public hearings. Sen. Borrello raised concerns that fewer public hearings could allow the conservation funds to be diverted toward green energy projects that clear-cut forests, rather than pure land conservation. Sen. Harckham defended the amendment as reducing administrative burden and costs while maintaining robust public input through multiple channels including email and mail, and assured that local public engagement for individual land acquisitions in districts remains unchanged. Seven senators voted against the bill: Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, O'Mara, Walczyk, Weik, and Rhoads.