What's happening
This bill exempts certain old-growth forests in New York from property taxation if they are protected from logging and only minimally managed.
Why it matters
Encourages preservation of rare ecosystems. By exempting old-growth forests from property taxes if left largely untouched, the bill creates a direct financial incentive for landowners to conserve some of New York’s most ecologically valuable and irreplaceable habitats.
Limits human intervention and commercial exploitation. The law strictly prohibits logging or construction in these forests, except for actions needed to protect against invasive species or disease. This helps maintain their unique ecological character and biodiversity, which can be lost even with light disturbance.
Empowers private landowners to declare and protect old-growth. The bill allows landowners to voluntarily designate eligible tracts as old-growth, empowering private conservation while potentially increasing the total acreage of protected forest in the state.
Supports passive recreation and public benefit. By permitting only minimal management and passive recreational use (like hiking or birdwatching), the bill ensures these forests remain accessible for low-impact public enjoyment and scientific study, fostering a broader appreciation of natural heritage.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Owners of old-growth forests
The bill would offer a path under the forest tax exemption program for qualifying tracts whose owners elect old-growth status and adopt a protection plan.
Forestry and logging businesses
Approved old-growth tracts would prohibit commercial tree removal and allow cutting only to protect against invasive species or disease.
Forest conservation advocates
Required plans would protect old-growth forests with minimal management or disturbance, allowing only passive recreation and no construction.
Forest health managers
The bill would allow protection against invasive species and disease while otherwise barring cutting on approved old-growth tracts.
Headline styles
Protect Old Growth Forests
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to real property taxation
- Referred to real property taxation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Old Growth Forests
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
149
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. D'URSO, ORTIZ, DICKENS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Real Property Taxation
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to exempting certain old-growth forests from taxation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 480-a of the real property tax law, as amended by chapter 396 of the laws of 2008, is amended and a new subparagraph (iii) is added to read as follows:
(ii) participation in a forest certification program (such as Forest Stewardship Council certification, Sustainable Forestry Initiative; American Tree Farm Program, etc.) recognized in the regulations of the department[.]; or
(iii) as to an "old-growth" eligible tract, a plan that includes provisions that the old-growth forest be protected with minimum management or disturbance that only considers passive recreational opportunities with no construction or commercial removal of trees. In those provisions, the protection of the old-growth forest from invasive species and diseases may be considered.
§ 2. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 1 of section 480-a of the real property tax law is relettered paragraph (i) and a new paragraph (h) is added to read as follows:
(h) "Old-growth eligible tract" shall mean a tract that conforms with the definition of "old-growth forest" contained in subdivision six of section 45-0105 of the environmental conservation law and that the owner of such tract has elected to declare as an "old growth" tract.
§ 3. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 5 of section 480-a of the real property tax law is relettered paragraph (e) and a new paragraph (d) is added to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00687-01-9
A. 149 2
(d) No cutting of forest crop shall be permitted in any approved old growth eligible tract except to protect the old growth forest from invasive species or disease.
§ 4. Subdivision 6 of section 480-a of the real property tax law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) No cutting of forest crop shall be mandated or permitted in any approved old growth eligible tract except to protect the old growth forest from invasive species or disease.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.