What's happening
This bill requires state office buildings in New York to meet statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits three years earlier than the general deadline.
Why it matters
Accelerates government leadership on climate action. by requiring state office buildings to comply with greenhouse gas limits earlier than the rest of New York, setting a visible public example and potentially influencing other sectors to follow suit.
Could drive faster adoption of energy efficiency and clean technologies. within state-owned properties, as agencies will need to retrofit or upgrade buildings on a tighter timeline.
May affect state budgets and operations. since compliance three years ahead of the general deadline could require upfront investments, changes to procurement practices, or reprioritization of capital projects.
Clarifies which buildings are affected. by explicitly defining "state office building," ensuring there is no ambiguity about the facilities that must meet the accelerated emissions targets.
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Who cares
State agencies operating state office buildings
The bill would require aggregate greenhouse gas emissions from those buildings to meet statewide limits three years before the statewide deadlines.
Managers of state-owned office buildings
Building operations would fall under the accelerated emissions requirement, including common facilities, related public improvements and appurtenances covered by the bill’s definition.
Climate advocates
The bill would put state office building operations on an earlier emissions-compliance schedule than the statewide schedule.
Headline styles
Cut State Building Emissions Early
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1258
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to requiring state office buildings to be in compliance with certain greenhouse gas emissions limits three years before such limits apply statewide
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 75-0109 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
e. Ensure that the aggregate emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the operation of state office buildings shall not exceed the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits established in section 75-0107 of this article, three years before such statewide greenhouse gas emissions are required by section 75-0107 of this article.
§ 2. Section 75-0101 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 16 to read as follows:
16. "State office building" means any building or group of buildings together with their common facilities, related public improvements, and appurtenances, constructed by or for the state, and owned by the state, for the primary use as state offices, departments, agencies, or otherwise for use by state employees or the public at large.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04069-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to requiring state office buildings to be in compliance with certain green- house gas emissions limits three years before such limits apply state- wide
Purpose
Requires state office buildings to be in compliance with certain green- house gas emissions limits three years before these limits will apply statewide.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Provides that the aggregate emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the operation of state office buildings cannot exceed the limits established in section 75-0107 of the Environmental Conservation law (by 2030, 60% of 1990 emissions; by 2050, 15% of 1990 emissions) three years before these emissions standards must be met on a state-wide basis.
Section 2: Provides the relevant definition for "State office building."
Section 3: Sets the effective date.
Justification
Pursuant to section 75-0107 of the Environmental Conservation law, state-wide greenhouse gas emissions will be limited to 60% of 1990 emis- sions by 2030, and to 15% of 1990 emissions by 2050.
This bill will ensure that state office buildings are meeting these standards ahead of time by requiring state-wide greenhouse gas emissions to be limited to 60% of 1990 emissions by 2027, and to 15% of 1990 emis- sions by 2047.
By setting forth these requirements, the overall objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be furthered, and the State government and its employees will demonstrate a commitment to positive action on climate change.
Fiscal impact on the state
To be determined.
Legislative history
2023-2024 - S.2069 (May)
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.