S8170

The Senate passed S8170, sponsored by Sen. Kavanagh, an act to amend the Real Property Tax Law, on a roll call vote of 55-4. Senators Ashby, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan and Walczyk voted in opposition. The bill takes effect immediately.

The New York State Senate passed S8170, an environmental conservation bill requiring annual accounting of state spending on stormwater and flooding reduction projects, by a vote of 58-0 on Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Harckham, faced two floor amendments from Republicans seeking to require studies on the financial impact of the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act on ratepayers and consumers. Both amendments were ruled nongermane by Acting President Persaud and defeated when Republicans appealed the rulings. Sen. Stec argued the state has set ambitious renewable energy goals without studying the impact on consumer electric bills, while Sen. Mattera contended bills could rise three to four times and called for a comprehensive energy plan including nuclear and green hydrogen. Sen. Harckham countered that the costs and benefits of climate implementation are fully documented in the Climate Scoping Plan, which projects 210,000 new jobs and $265 billion in prevented climate-related economic losses. He also noted that poor air quality from carbon-based fuels causes 1,500 New York deaths annually. The bill takes effect February 1.