Bill > S08851

This bill amends state finance law to prohibit the state and its agencies from purchasing or using tropical hardwoods or tropical hardwood products, which are defined broadly to include various wood types from tropical forests and their derivatives like plywood and furniture, unless these materials are considered "secondary materials" (recycled or salvaged). The bill also updates the definition of "tropical forests" to encompass a wider range of forest types, including regenerating or degraded forests and areas identified for conservation like High Conservation Value (HCV) areas. While generally prohibiting these materials, exceptions exist for existing contracts, situations where no suitable non-tropical alternatives are available, or when such prohibitions conflict with federal grants. The bill includes specific, time-limited exemptions for the use of "ekki" wood by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for railroad ties and "greenheart" wood by a city ferry service and a city's department of transportation for bridges, provided these entities develop and implement transition plans to phase out their use and prioritize secondary materials. The Department of Environmental Conservation is tasked with periodically updating the list of tropical hardwood species to reflect current commercial availability and market changes.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8851