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Senate bill · S4571 (2025-26)

Establishes a floating solar incentive and education program

Latest action Jun 3, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A6577, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

Pete Harckham

State Senator, District 40 · Democratic/Working Families

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Summary

Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to establish a floating solar incentive and education program to provide information and resources including technical assistance, access to industry standards, and financing available through the authority or other public or private sector sources, to municipalities, developers, builders, design professionals, and potential owners for the construction of floating solar.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Authorities Law.

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

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To establish a floating solar incentive and education program to promote the development and adoption of floating solar technology in New York State.

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

Energy · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Energy And Telecommunications · New York State Senate, Ways and Means · New York State Assembly.

Cosponsors

James Sanders Jr., Patrick J. Carroll and 2 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)
  • Democratic4

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

The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

Floating solar technology presents a unique opportunity to expand renew- able energy generation while utilizing underutilized water surfaces such as reservoirs, lakes, and canals. This bill seeks to incentivize and educate stakeholders on floating solar projects, which offer multiple benefits, including increased solar efficiency due to the cooling effect of water, reduced land-use conflicts, and potential improvements in water conservation and algae control. By providing grants, technical assistance, and best practices for siting and maintaining floating solar installations, the program will help municipalities, developers, and other entities adopt this innovative clean energy solution. Additionally, monitoring the environmental impacts of floating solar ensures that projects are developed in an ecologically responsible manner. Establishing this program will advance New York's renewable energy goals, promote sustainable energy infras- tructure, and support the state's ongoing efforts to combat climate change.

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 SenateJun 1, 2026Result: passed

    (39) (21) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesJun 1, 2026Result: passed

    (14) (6) (0) (1)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications

    Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsMay 5, 2026Result: passed

    (6) (3) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications

    Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsFeb 25, 2025Result: passed

    (7) (2) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. Jun 3, 2026

    Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.395

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.395

    NY Assembly

  2. Jun 3, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES

    NY Assembly

  3. Jun 3, 2026

    Substituted

    SUBSTITUTED FOR A6577B

    NY Assembly

  4. Jun 1, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  5. Jun 1, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

Show full history (14 earlier events)
  1. Jun 1, 2026

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1456

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1456

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 1, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 1, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

    NY Assembly

  4. May 26, 2026

    Amend and Recommit to Finance

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  5. May 22, 2026

    Amend and Recommit to Ways and Means

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO WAYS AND MEANS

    NY Assembly

  6. May 6, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  7. Mar 17, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

    NY Assembly

  8. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY

    NY Assembly

  9. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate

  10. Mar 17, 2025

    Amend and Recommit to Energy

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY

    NY Assembly

  11. Mar 6, 2025

    Amend and Recommit to Finance

    AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  12. Mar 6, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY

    NY Assembly

  13. Feb 25, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  14. Feb 7, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

    NY Senate