Relates to certain leases for the exploration, development, and production of gas or oil in state forests, reforestation areas and wildlife management areas, the official text

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8836
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 8, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, relating to  certain
   leases relating to the exploration, development, and production of gas
   or  oil  in state forests, reforestation areas and wildlife management
   areas

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  23-1101 of the environmental conservation law is
 amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
   3-A. FOR ANY LEASE  RELATING  TO  THE  EXPLORATION,  DEVELOPMENT,  AND
 PRODUCTION OF GAS OR OIL IN STATE FORESTS, REFORESTATION AREAS, WILDLIFE
 MANAGEMENT  AREAS,  AND  UNIQUE  AREAS,  WHICH  WAS ENTERED INTO, ON, OR
 BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
 TY-FIVE WHICH AMENDED SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION,  ANY  ASSIGNMENT,
 TRANSFER,  OR  MODIFICATION  OF  SUCH  LEASE SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED THE
 MAKING OF A LEASE UNDER  SUCH  LAW;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  NO  SUCH
 ASSIGNMENT,  TRANSFER,  OR  MODIFICATION  SHALL ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE IN
 ACREAGE UNDER THE LEASE, THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING GAS OR OIL WELLS, THE
 DRILLING OF NEW GAS OR OIL WELLS, OR THE EXPANSION OR  BUILDING  OF  ANY
 OTHER NEW GAS OR OIL INFRASTRUCTURE OTHER THAN WELL-PLUGGING AND REMEDI-
 ATION  ACTIVITIES;  AND  PROVIDED,  FURTHER, THAT NO SUCH LEASE SHALL BE
 CONTINUED OR RENEWED UPON EXPIRATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the  same  date  and  in  the  same
 manner  as  a  chapter  of  the  laws of 2025 amending the environmental
 conservation law relating to prohibiting the  lease  of  state  forests,
 reforestation  areas, wildlife management areas and unique areas for gas
 and oil production, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.1069  and
 A.1179, takes effect.
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01648-03-6