What's happening
This bill declares all New York State waters as public trust resources, requiring their conservation and management for public benefit.
Why it matters
Establishes a legal framework that could support stronger protections. against pollution, overuse, or privatization by explicitly stating that all state waters are held in public trust for current and future generations.
Increases governmental responsibility and accountability. by formally designating the state as a trustee of water resources, potentially allowing citizens and advocacy groups to challenge state actions or inactions regarding water management.
Could influence future decisions on water use, permitting, and conservation. by making it clear that any activities impacting New York’s waters must be managed for public benefit, not just private or corporate gain.
Creates a legal basis for environmental advocacy and litigation. the public trust doctrine language may empower courts and citizens to demand more rigorous conservation and restoration efforts for rivers, lakes, streams, and other waters statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Public Water Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
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 State Water for All
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Rachel May
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1554
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to declaring the waters of the state as public trust resources
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 13 of section 15-0103 of the environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
13. All the waters of this state are deemed to be public trust resources. The waters of the state are valuable public natural resources and this state has a duty as trustee to conserve and manage its waters effectively for the use and enjoyment of present and future inhabitants and for the protection of the environment. It is in the best interest of the state that provision be made for the regulation and supervision of activities that deplete, defile, damage or otherwise adversely affect the waters of the state and land resources associated therewith.
§ 2. The opening paragraph of section 15-0105 of the environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
In recognition that the waters of the state are public trust resources, and in recognition of its sovereign duty to conserve and control its water resources for the benefit of all inhabitants of the state, it is hereby declared to be the public policy of the state of New York that:
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03189-01-5
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.