Relates to the availability of technical assistance grants in brownfield site remedial programs

Latest action Dec 12, 2025

Relates to the availability of technical assistance grants in brownfield site remedial programs; provides that the commissioner of environmental conservation shall provide grants to the New York city community board with jurisdiction over the site or to any not-for-profit corporation exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code at any site which may be affected by a brownfield site remedial program.

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Where it stands

Rejected by the executive.

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

Vetoed

New York State Senate

Same as A5714, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Environmental Conservation Law.

Committee

Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate, Ways and Means · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section one of the bill amends subdivision 6 of section 27-1405 of the environmental conservation law to change any references of "citizen" to "community." Section two of the bill amends paragraph (b) subdivision 2 of section 27-1409 of the environmental conservation law to mandate that the cost of a technical assistance grant must be covered by the participant developer. This section also amends subdivision 9 of section 27-1409 to change any references of "citizen" to "community." Section three of the bill amends subparagraph (vi) of paragraph (i) of subdivision 3 of section 27-1415 of the environmental conservation law to change any references of "citizen" to "community." Section four of the bill amends section 27-1417 of the environmental conservation law to mandate that technical assistance grants be made available to any qualifying community group or New York City community board with jurisdiction over any brownfield cleanup site. This section further requires that the participant developer pay the costs of the grant and information on the availability of technical assistance grants be included in the community participation handbook produced by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Section five of the bill sets forth the effective date.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 13, 2025Result: passed
(59) (0) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 12, 2025Result: passed
(20) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation
Senate Environmental ConservationMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Rachel May, Steven Otis and 1 more on Agora

Democratic3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Brian Kavanagh says this is needed

In New York City alone, there are over 200 brownfield cleanup sites currently active, leaving predominantly working class communities exposed to hazardous toxins. Current law provides that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) can provide a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) of $50,000 for communities to do their own research in regards to a brownfield site. This grant can be utilized to hire health and safety experts to advise affected residents on any health assessments and for the education of interested affected community members to enable them to more effectively participate in the remedy selection process. However, a TAG can only be applied for once the scope of remediation is already determined, giving the community no power to protect itself. Also, a TAG must be deemed necessary by the department. This legislation would allow communities to apply and receive Technical Assistance Grants as soon as a project is approved to the Brownfield Cleanup Program - not after the Remedial Investigation Work Plan is concluded, providing vital information to affected communities and limiting exposure to life-threatening toxins. This legislation also makes language changes to the statute changing the references of "citizen" participation to "community" participation. These changes reflect that the community participation process is open to all affected members of the community regardless of their citizenship status.

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

Dec 12, 2025
Vetoed
VETOED MEMO.113
NY Senate
Dec 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.725
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.725
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly

Show full history (10 earlier events)

Jun 13, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A5714
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1971
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1971
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
May 13, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Feb 20, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly
Feb 3, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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 22, 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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