Creates a legislative task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation

Latest action Feb 10, 2026

Creates a legislative task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation that will benefit residents of New York state by fostering stewardship and conservation of the environment, and an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of natural resources as well as acknowledgment of the health benefits of time spent in nature.

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Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Committee

Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation · New York State Senate

Also referred to Governmental Operations · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill creates a task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation. This bill would assemble representatives from various organ- izations and state agencies to promote development of a framework that will ensure that New York State has an aggressive outdoor environmental education and recreation plan that focuses on creating, developing and retaining opportunities for outdoor learning. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:ò Section 1 - provides the legislative findings. Section 2 - provides the objectives of the Legislative Task Force on outdoor environmental education and recreation. Section 3 - provides the composition of the Legislative Task Force. Section 4 - authorizes the task force to report its findings, conclusion and recommendations by January 1, 2024. Section 5 - of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateFeb 10, 2026Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And RecreationFeb 4, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 11, 2025Result: passed
(61) (0) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And RecreationFeb 4, 2025Result: passed
(6) (0) (0) (1)

Cosponsors

Jeremy Cooney, Lea Webb and 5 more on Agora

Democratic5
Republican2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why José M. Serrano says this is needed

The average American boy or girl spends just four to seven minutes each day in unstructured outdoor play, and more than seven hours each day in front of an electronic screen. Visual and physical access to basic types of open space is vital for everyone, and particularly valuable to chil- dren growing up in "urban hardscapes" or areas where access to nature is limited. Outdoor play has been shown to increase fitness levels, raise levels of Vitamin D, improve distance vision and lower nearsightedness, decrease symptoms of ADHD, improve test scores and increase academic performance. The development of policies that foster stewardship of the environment, an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of natural resources and recognition of the health benefits of time spent in nature are essential to the residents of New York State. This legislation would assemble representatives from various organiza- tions and state agencies to promote the development of a framework that will ensure that New York State has an aggressive outdoor environmental education and recreation plan which focuses on creating, developing and retaining opportunities for outdoor learning.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Feb 10, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Feb 10, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Feb 10, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Feb 9, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 5, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (10 earlier events)

Feb 4, 2026
1ST Report CAL.270
1ST REPORT CAL.270
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION
NY Senate
Mar 11, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 11, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 11, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Feb 10, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 5, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2025
1ST Report CAL.280
1ST REPORT CAL.280
NY Senate
Jan 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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