The Commons Gallery

An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law — 2024-04-09 · Calendar #336

NYS Legislature ↗ · OpenLeg API ↗

The New York State Senate voted to reconsider Senate Print 724, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law, by a vote of 61-0 on a motion by Sen. Gianaris. The bill, which had previously passed, was restored to its place on the Third Reading Calendar. Sen. Gianaris subsequently offered amendments to the legislation. The specific nature of the amendments was not detailed in the floor debate.

Reconsideration Granted Ayes: 61 · Nays: unknown

Debate Summary

Sen. Gianaris moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed. The motion to reconsider received 61 ayes. The bill was restored to its place on the Third Reading Calendar, and Sen. Gianaris offered amendments to the bill.

Amendments

Sponsor	Description	Outcome
Sen. Gianaris	Amendments to S724 offered by Sen. Gianaris	received

An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law — 2024-02-27 · Calendar #336

NYS Legislature ↗ · OpenLeg API ↗

The New York State Senate passed S724, sponsored by Sen. Serrano, an act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law, on a roll call vote of 56-2. Senators Oberacker and O'Mara voted in opposition. The bill, which carried Calendar Number 336, is set to take effect immediately upon enactment. No floor debate was recorded on the measure.

Passed Senate Ayes: 56 · Nays: 2

Debate Summary

No substantive debate is recorded in this transcript segment. The bill proceeded directly to a roll call vote.

Transcript Mentions

These votes were extracted from the floor transcript by AI. NYS Senate roll calls are read in full, but AI extraction may not capture every senator — so this list is incomplete and skews toward named dissenting votes. Use the Official API Data table above for the complete roll call.

Senator	Vote	Party
O'Mara	nay	Republican
Oberacker	nay	Republican

An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law — 2023-03-21 · Calendar #201

NYS Legislature ↗ · OpenLeg API ↗

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Serrano to amend the Environmental Conservation Law, with a vote of 59-3. The bill prevents gas exploration leases on state forestlands and aims to protect forests threatened by climate change impacts. Sen. May, speaking in favor, characterized the measure as promoting carbon sequestration through two mechanisms: keeping fossil carbon from ancient forests in the ground and protecting living forests from threats including droughts, wildfires, extreme weather, and pest migration. She noted that climate change poses immediate threats to New York's forests, including potential loss of maple trees within coming decades due to temperature changes. Only three senators—Oberacker, O'Mara, and Ortt—voted against the measure. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Passed Senate Ayes: 59 · Nays: 3

Debate Summary

Sen. May spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing its role in carbon sequestration through two mechanisms: preventing gas exploration leases on state forestlands to keep fossil carbon in the ground, and protecting living forests threatened by global warming impacts including droughts, wildfires, extreme weather, and pest migration. She argued the bill is part of a broader effort to combat climate change and reverse global warming.

Transcript Mentions

These votes were extracted from the floor transcript by AI. NYS Senate roll calls are read in full, but AI extraction may not capture every senator — so this list is incomplete and skews toward named dissenting votes. Use the Official API Data table above for the complete roll call.

Senator	Vote	Party
O'Mara	nay	Republican
Oberacker	nay	Republican
Ortt	nay	Republican