Down to the wire: Last push for Environmental Priorities in 2026 Legislative Session

After finalizing a budget that was nearly two months late the NYS Senate and Assembly have only three days left of the 2026 Legislative session - and a huge backlog of environmental bills waiting for a vote. The Sierra Club has a long list of bills we would like to see on the Governor’s desk, especially ones that would help the state address the void created by rolling back our nation leading climate law.

While we expect some very long days and nights for lawmakers this week, there simply will not be enough time to pass every bill, and there are dozens of excellent environmental policies before them. Will you tell them to prioritize legislation to ban toxic chemicals from consumer products, mandate programs to reduce thousands of tons of packaging waste in NY, and establish environmental and ratepayer protections from the explosive growth of data centers?

Please urge passage of:

Comprehensive PFAS Ban (A.7738-A/S.9073-A): phases out carcinogenic PFAS in everyday items like non-stick cookware, dental floss, children’s products, ski wax, cleaning products, fabric treatments, rugs, paint, and household textiles.
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.1464-A/A.1749-A): requires manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging they use by 30%, improves recycling infrastructure, prohibits processes that produce toxic byproducts, bans the most toxic chemicals used in packaging, and financially supports municipal recycling programs — shifting costs to those that create excessive packaging.
Data Center Moratorium: (S.9144-A/A.10141-A): Imposes a moratorium on the issuance of permits for new data centers until the DEC and PSC can establish guardrails to protect the environment and energy costs from these emerging energy hungry and polluting industries.

It’s been a rough year for the environment, but one that has also seen great unity and action by everyday New Yorkers like you - unwilling to let big polluters and oligarchs win. Please tell the Legislature to pass these three bills with the promise of fewer cancer deaths, more affordable energy bills, and greater resources for our communities burdened with the costs of waste disposal and toxic clean ups.

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Environmental Priorities - End of Session

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Dear Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Heastie- I am a New Yorker who is deeply concerned about the safety of the air we breathe and the water we drink, and I am dismayed by the erosion of our environmental laws through the state budget process. While I fully understand the disproportionate leverage the governor has through those negotiations, I urge you to use the full powers of the legislature to help clean up the mess she has made of our environmental protections by working to pass meaningful laws to alleviate the burden of toxic forever chemicals, heavy metals and plastics from our landfills, reduce harmful emissions, stabilize energy costs, and protect our communities. Three bills in particular, which will have a significantly positive impact on New York’s environment and economy are in prime position to become law: 1) Comprehensive PFAS Ban (A.7738-A/S.9073-A): phases out carcinogenic PFAS in everyday items like non-stick cookware, dental floss, children’s products, ski wax, cleaning products, fabric treatments, rugs, paint, and household textiles. 2) Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.1464-A/A.1749-A): requires manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging they use by 30%, improves recycling infrastructure, prohibits processes that produce toxic byproducts, bans the most toxic chemicals used in packaging, and financially supports municipal recycling programs — shifting costs to those that create excessive packaging. 3) Data Center Moratorium: (S.9144-A/A.10141-A): Imposes a moratorium on the issuance of permits for new data centers until the DEC and PSC can establish guardrails to protect the environment and energy costs from these emerging energy hungry and polluting industries. These three bills can relieve a lot of misery from New York’s future — with the promise of fewer cancer deaths, lower energy costs, and greater resources for our communities burdened with the costs of waste disposal and toxic clean ups. The time to act is now. With the recent news of our Federal government rolling back drinking water protections and regulations to safeguard against exposures to toxic PFAS forever chemicals, it’s imperative that New York step up and take action. Please use your powers to act on behalf of everyday New Yorkers who rely on you to protect us all! Thank you for all you do to protect New York’s environment.

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