Skip to main content

Agora
Sign in

Senate bill · S4408 (2025-26)

Relates to agreements and easements related to renewable energy interconnection across reforestation areas

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A10483, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

Rachel May

State Senator, District 48 · Democratic/Working Families

Follow

Summary

Authorizes the department of environmental conservation to enter into agreements or easements for the sole purpose of interconnection of renewable energy installations across reforestation areas where such installations are located outside such reforestation areas; provides that such agreements or easements shall not interfere with the operation of such reforestation areas for the purposes for which they were acquired.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Environmental Conservation Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data

Follow

Following needs an Agora account. You will sign in first, then come back to this page.

Your position on this bill

Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.

Sign in or create an account to give your position

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to facilitate interconnection of renewable energy installations across reforestation areas by allowing the state to enter into agreements or leases for that purpose.

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

Where it stands

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

  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.

Cosponsors

Brian Cunningham, Jo Anne Simon and 3 more on Agora

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)
  • Democratic5

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

The sponsor's argument

Why Rachel May says this is needed

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (S6599/A8429, Ch.106 Laws of 2019) sets aggressive targets and timetables for shifting the state's energy sources from fossil fuels to clean energy sources like solar and wind. Allowing the state to enter into agreements that would assist in the interconnection of such renewable systems across certain state lands, without interfering with the use or operation of those lands, will be an important tool for reaching those targets. There are currently approximately 800,000 acres of reforestation lands in the state, according to the depaitment's website. Projects like the Canan- daigua Wind Project which experienced significant delays due to diffi- culties connecting transmission lines would benefit tibrity this bill grants the state, while continuing to protect the reforestation areas for their intended use as described in ECL 9-0501 (1) for reforesting and harvesting of wood. Until December of 2025 reforestation areas were subject to oil and gas production under an authority that is now prohibited, Chapter 671 of the Laws of 2025 (ECL § 9-0507). FISCAL IMPACT: Undetermined.

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 SenateFeb 26, 2026Result: passed

    (42) (15) (0) (6)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation

    Senate Environmental ConservationFeb 4, 2026Result: passed

    (9) (1) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 11, 2025Result: passed

    (40) (19) (0) (4)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation

    Senate Environmental ConservationMay 13, 2025Result: passed

    (10) (1) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Environmental Conservation

    Senate Environmental ConservationApr 29, 2025Result: passed

    (10) (1) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. Jun 5, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  2. Apr 1, 2026

    Amended

    AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 4408A

    NY Senate

  3. Apr 1, 2026

    Recalled From Assembly

    RECALLED FROM ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  4. Apr 1, 2026

    Returned to Senate

    RETURNED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

  5. Mar 6, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

Show full history (15 earlier events)
  1. Feb 26, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. Feb 26, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Feb 26, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  4. Feb 9, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  5. Feb 5, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  6. Feb 4, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.261

    1ST REPORT CAL.261

    NY Senate

  7. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  8. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate

  9. Jun 11, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  10. Jun 11, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  11. Jun 11, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Assembly

  12. May 1, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  13. Apr 30, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  14. Apr 29, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.769

    1ST REPORT CAL.769

    NY Senate

  15. Feb 4, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

    NY Senate