Increased investment in clean water infrastructure provided one of the few positive outcomes
After a budget process that dragged 57 days beyond deadline left barely a week for the Legislature to focus on passing bills, the 2026 New York legislative session concluded Friday, leaving Save the Sound concerned over significant rollbacks to existing environmental protections and the lack of new policy passed to protect Long Island Sound, our natural resources, and New Yorkers across the state.
“This session ended on a deeply frustrating note, in terms of both substance and process,” said David Ansel, vice president of the Center for Water Protection at Save the Sound.
A $25 million boost to the Clean Water Infrastructure Act topped a short list of positive outcomes, which also included the passage of bills setting stronger drinking water standards for PFAS contamination; requiring wastewater treatment plants and facilities in high-risk industries to test their water discharges for PFAS levels; and establishing a one-year moratorium on new data centers.
The 2026 session, though, was defined by the weakening of New York’s Climate Law and the State Environmental Quality Review Act through the budget and the failure to move forward legislation to improve stormwater management, better protect communities against flooding, reduce plastic packaging pollution by 30 percent over 12 years, and stop the unnecessary use of harmful toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products, from cookware and textiles to cosmetic and personal care items.
“Historically, New York has led on critical environmental and public health issues. Through the rollbacks of environmental protections and inaction on other opportunities, New York is ceding its role as a national leader at a time when such leadership is needed most,” said Ansel. “Environmental policy may not be a priority for Albany decisionmakers, but it is a priority for New Yorkers and it’s a priority for Save the Sound. We can’t wait any longer. We’ll keep pushing—alongside Sound shore residents and partners statewide—for the urgent action needed to protect our waters, our climate, and our health.”
Save the Sound leads environmental action across the Long Island Sound region to protect the Sound and its rivers, fight climate change, save endangered lands, and work with nature to restore ecosystems. More info at savethesound.org.
