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S8836

An act to amend the Environmental Conservation Law — 2026-02-04 · Calendar #157

NYS Legislature ↗ · OpenLeg API ↗ Signed ✓ — Signed by Governor
The Senate passed S8836, a chapter amendment to the Environmental Conservation Law, by a vote of 58-4 on Calendar Number 157. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Serrano, amends S1069, which was enacted last year to prohibit gas and oil drilling on state forests, reforestation areas, and wildlife management areas. However, S8836 allows existing drilling leases in those areas to continue and be transferred to other parties. Sen. Martins, voting against the measure, criticized the amendment as contradicting the original bill's intent and suggested it was a requirement imposed by the Governor to sign S1069 into law. Martins argued that consistency demanded voting against allowing the very activity the prior legislation banned. Senators Oberacker, O'Mara, and Ortt joined Martins in opposition. The amendment passed with overwhelming support from the remaining membership.
Passed Senate Ayes: 58 · Nays: 4

Debate Summary

Sen. Martins opposed the bill as a chapter amendment to S1069, which originally prohibited gas and oil drilling on state forests, reforestation areas, and wildlife management areas. Martins argued that S8836 contradicts the original bill by allowing existing leases to continue and be transferred, effectively permitting the very activity the prior legislation banned. He characterized the amendment as a requirement imposed by the Governor to sign the original bill into law.

Roll Call — Official API Data

Full roll call from the Open Legislation API. Every senator's recorded vote is shown.

Senator Vote Party District
ADDABBO AYE
ASHBY AYE
BAILEY AYE
BASKIN AYE
BORRELLO AYE
BOTTCHER AYE
BRISPORT AYE
BYNOE AYE
CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK AYE
CHAN AYE
CLEARE AYE
COMRIE AYE
COONEY AYE
FAHY AYE
FERNANDEZ AYE
GALLIVAN AYE
GIANARIS AYE
GONZALEZ AYE
GOUNARDES AYE
GRIFFO AYE
HARCKHAM AYE
HELMING AYE
HINCHEY AYE
JACKSON AYE
KAVANAGH AYE
KRUEGER AYE
LANZA AYE
LIU AYE
MARTINEZ AYE
MATTERA AYE
MAY AYE
MAYER AYE
MURRAY AYE
MYRIE AYE
PALUMBO AYE
PARKER AYE
PERSAUD AYE
RAMOS AYE
RHOADS AYE
RIVERA AYE
ROLISON AYE
RYAN C AYE
SALAZAR AYE
SANDERS AYE
SCARCELLA-SPANTON AYE
SEPULVEDA AYE
SERRANO AYE
SKOUFIS AYE
STAVISKY AYE
STEC AYE
STEWART-COUSINS AYE
SUTTON AYE
TEDISCO AYE
WALCZYK AYE
WEBB AYE
WEBER AYE
WEIK AYE
ZELLNER AYE
BROUK EXC
MARTINS NAY
O'MARA NAY
OBERACKER NAY
ORTT NAY

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
Martins nay Republican
O'Mara nay Republican
Oberacker nay Republican
Ortt nay Republican