What's happening
This bill requires New York to set stricter standards for lead in soil, dust, and air to better protect public health.
Why it matters
Aims to close health protection gaps. by ensuring New York’s lead standards are not just updated, but strong enough to prevent children and others from being harmed by even low levels of lead exposure—acknowledging that current rules are not sufficient.
Leverages latest science and federal guidance. by requiring state agencies to consider recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and to ensure new standards are at least as strict as recent federal regulations, pushing New York to keep pace with or exceed national best practices.
Targets multiple sources of exposure. (soil, dust, air, floors, and window sills), addressing how lead can enter homes and affect vulnerable populations, especially children who are most at risk from contaminated environments.
Imposes a rapid timeline for action. by mandating that new or updated standards be adopted within 180 days, signaling urgency and prioritizing public health improvements in the short term.
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Who cares
Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health
The agencies would have 180 days after the effective date to adopt new lead standards and update existing standards as appropriate for dust, soil and ambient air.
Families with small children
The bill calls for standards fully protective of children's health against lead exposure, including lead dust and contamination on floors and window sills.
Lead-poisoning prevention advocates
The standards would have to consider Centers for Disease Control recommendations and be no less stringent than the federal standards in 40 CFR Part 745 as of January 13, 2025.
Headline styles
Set Lead Safety Standards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by S122A
- Ordered to third reading cal.115
- Amended on third reading (t) 3682a
- Advanced to third reading cal.21
- Reported
- 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.
Limit Lead in Soil, Air
Passed Assembly · Sponsor Cordell Cleare
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3682--A Cal. No. 21
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES, SCHIAVONI, LASHER, COLTON, TORRES, LEE, OTIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT directing the departments of environmental conservation and health to establish environmental standards for ambient lead and lead contamination in soils; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares that there is a present need to establish New York standards with respect to levels of ambient lead and levels of lead contamination in soils and on floors and window sills. The legislature finds that the current regulatory standards are inadequate to protect the general public and particularly small children from the harmful effects of ingesting or inhaling lead dust, often resulting from lead paint, and coming into contact with lead on exposed surfaces. The legislature declares that it shall be the responsibility of the commissioner of environmental conservation, in consultation with the commissioner of health, to adopt standards for ambient lead and lead contamination of soil and windows and floors, in a manner that would be fully protective of children's health, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the environmental conservation law.
§ 2. No later than one hundred eighty days from the effective date of this act, the departments of environmental conservation and health shall adopt and promulgate new standards, and update any existing standards as appropriate, for dust lead hazards, soil-lead hazards and ambient air quality standards for the level of lead in various media that will result in blood lead levels that are no higher than a target that is
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00259-03-5
fully protective of human health and which at a minimum include consideration of recommendations from the centers for disease control, which shall in no event be less stringent than the standards set forth in 40 CFR Part 745, as of January 13, 2025.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire one year after such effective date when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be repealed. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
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.