S9658

The New York State Senate passed legislation amending the Transportation Law addressing road salt impacts on inland waterways, with a vote of 48-12. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Harckham and designated as Calendar Number 1868, Senate Print 9658, drew opposition from 12 Republican senators who argued the measure lacked balanced input from the Minority Conference. Sen. Borrello, voting against the bill, expressed concern that the legislation failed to adequately represent districts with inland lakes stressed by road salt contamination and did not sufficiently balance environmental protection with public safety considerations. Borrello noted that many of the most impacted lakes would lack representation from Republican colleagues and that some lake advocacy groups in his district did not support the balanced approach he deemed necessary for such consequential policy decisions. Despite the Republican opposition, the bill advanced with strong Democratic support.