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Senate bill · S2292 (2025-26)

Enacts the whale awareness act

New York State Senate

Same as A8515, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Aug 7, 2026

Passed as A8515, the matching Assembly bill.

Sponsor: Pete Harckham (State Senator, District 40, Democratic/Working Families)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Summary

Enacts the whale awareness act directing the department of environmental conservation to establish recommendations and educational materials for reduction of marine mammal interactions.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Environmental Conservation Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to reduce harmful interactions between marine mammals and vessels in the state.

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

Where it stands

Signed into law.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate.

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Cosponsors

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)
  • Democratic20
  • Republican6

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Show the full list (26 names)

The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

The growing frequency of whale fatalities along New York's coastlines signals an urgent need for action. Vessel strikes have become one of the leading causes of injury and death among marine mammals, particularly whales, undermining both ecological stability and species conservation efforts. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration, approximately 40 percent of necropsied humpback whales were found to have died from either vessel collisions or fishing gear entan- glements. Endangered populations like the North Atlantic Right Whale, with fewer than 350 individuals remaining, are especially at risk. Between December 2023 and February 2024, twenty-three dead whales were reported, including twelve off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. New York ranks among the highest states for whale mortality linked to vessel strikes. This legislation addresses the issue by directing the development and distribution of educational materials to reduce marine mammal interactions and by incorporating this guidance into existing boater safety programs. Raising awareness among vessel operators promotes safer practices that help prevent unintentional harm to whales and other marine mammals. Beyond the ecological urgency, there is a clear economic rationale. Whale watching generates significant tourism revenue in states like Massachusetts, and New York is well positioned to expand its own marine tourism industry. Protecting whale populations supports sustainable economic growth and reduces the risk of costly vessel damage resulting from collisions. This legislation provides a practical solution that promotes both conservation and economic resilience.

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.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMar 5, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A8515, the matching Assembly bill.

    (59) (0) (0) (4)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation

    Senate Environmental ConservationFeb 24, 2026Result: passed

    (11) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMay 21, 2025Result: passed

    (58) (1) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation

    Senate Environmental ConservationMay 13, 2025Result: passed

    (11) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation

    Senate Environmental ConservationApr 29, 2025Result: passed

    (11) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. Aug 7, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR

    NY Assembly

  2. Aug 7, 2026

    Signed

    SIGNED CHAP.208

    NY Assembly

  3. Mar 5, 2026

    3RD Reading CAL.376

    3RD READING CAL.376

    NY Senate

  4. Mar 5, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  5. Mar 5, 2026

    Substituted

    SUBSTITUTED BY A8515A

    NY Senate

Show full history (22 earlier events)
  1. Feb 26, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  2. Feb 25, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  3. Feb 24, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.376

    1ST REPORT CAL.376

    NY Senate

  4. Feb 24, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

  5. Feb 24, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  6. Feb 24, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate

  7. Feb 12, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading CAL.259

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.259

    NY Assembly

  8. Feb 10, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED

    NY Assembly

  9. Feb 5, 2026

    Amend and Recommit to Environmental Conservation

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate

  10. Feb 5, 2026

    Amend and Recommit to Environmental Conservation

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  11. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  12. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate

  13. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  14. May 22, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  15. May 21, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  16. May 21, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  17. May 20, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  18. May 1, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  19. Apr 30, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  20. Apr 29, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.767

    1ST REPORT CAL.767

    NY Senate

  21. Apr 24, 2025

    Amend (t) and Recommit to Environmental Conservation

    AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate

  22. Jan 16, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate

Read the record