S239C

The New York State Senate passed the "New York Open Water Data Act" on a 59-3 roll call vote, with only Senators Griffo, Oberacker and O'Mara voting in opposition. Sponsored by Sen. May, the bill would consolidate water data currently scattered across multiple state and local entities—including the Department of Environmental Conservation, soil and water conservation districts, academic institutions, and citizen scientists—into a single, publicly accessible, standardized database. Sen. May argued that while New York State possesses abundant fresh water resources, the state currently lacks comprehensive information needed to adequately protect its water supplies. She cited her own district, which includes four Finger Lakes and part of Lake Ontario, as an example of the state's significant water resources. The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law.