Bill > S03656

This bill amends the New York environmental conservation law to create a new exemption for large inland lakes from wetlands designations. Specifically, the bill exempts inland lakes that are navigable waterways and have an area of 150 acres or more from being classified as freshwater wetlands when the environmental conservation commissioner is delineating wetland boundaries. The bill explicitly excludes the Great Lakes from this exemption. By creating this exemption, the legislation aims to provide relief to landowners or developers who might otherwise face restrictions on land use near these larger inland lakes. The provision would apply when the commissioner is determining the boundaries of freshwater wetlands, effectively removing these qualifying lakes from wetland regulatory requirements. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3656