S8861

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. May to amend the Public Authorities Law and expand the authority of wastewater management agencies to address growing flood emergencies across the state. The bill, which received a 60-0 vote, would grant the Cayuga County Water Authority and similar local officials expanded latitude to manage stormwater in addition to sewage systems. Sen. May argued that every county in New York has experienced significant flood events in the past decade, with sewage backing up into basements and overflowing into waterways when stormwater overwhelms existing systems. The legislation would incentivize municipalities to shift from impermeable surfaces to green infrastructure solutions including retention basins, rain gardens, green roofs, and permeable pavement to capture rainfall before it enters sewage systems. May said these approaches would help municipalities avoid extremely costly investments in new wastewater treatment infrastructure while also improving neighborhood aesthetics. The senator credited municipal leaders from Buffalo to Brooklyn and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for supporting the measure.