S3590

The New York State Senate passed legislation creating a statewide Office of Resilience and Chief Resiliency Officer to coordinate climate adaptation efforts across state agencies. Senate Print 3590, sponsored by Sen. Harckham and developed in collaboration with Sen. Mayer, passed 58-3 on a roll call vote. The bill addresses gaps in disaster preparedness exposed by recent storms including Superstorm Ida and Sandy, which killed residents and revealed poor inter-agency coordination. Supporters emphasized that the office will help smaller communities navigate recovery and federal funding while preparing the state for inevitable future climate disasters including flooding, extreme heat, and severe storms. Sen. Harckham cited a $25 million project to raise the Annsville Circle in his district due to sea level rise. Sen. Mayer, who carried similar legislation for years, called the office "long overdue" and said it will bring New York in line with better-prepared states. Senators Griffo, Ortt, and Walczyk voted against the measure. The bill takes effect 60 days after becoming law.