Provides that the assignment, transfer, or modification of leases for exploration, development, and production of gas or oil in state forests, reforestation areas and wildlife management areas shall not allow expansion or extension of such provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9511
SPONSOR: Glick TITLE OF BILL:
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
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this chapter amendment is to better clarify the limita-
tions on oil and gas production on certain state lands.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one clarifies that the assignment, transfer or modification of
any lease entered into, on, or before the effective date of Chapter 671
of the Laws of 2025 is allowed, provided that no such transfer would
result in the expansion of existing gas or oil wells or the drilling of
new wells, and that such leases cannot be continued or renewed upon
expiration.
Section two establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 671 of the Laws of 2025 prohibited the Department of Environ-
mental Conservation from issuing new leases for the exploration, devel-
opment, and production of gas and oil on state forests, reforestation
areas, wildlife management areas, and unique areas of the state. This
chapter amendment, requested by the Executive to address concerns that
well plugging could inadvertently be prohibited, would clarify that any
modifications to leases in existence prior to the 2025 law, shall not
allow for an increase in fossil fuel production, development, or infras-
tructure on the previously leased land, and that existing leases cannot
be renewed upon expiration.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
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 5.1069 and A.1179, takes
effect.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9511
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Environmental Conservation
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:
1 Section 1. Section 23-1101 of the environmental conservation law is
2 amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3 3-a. For any lease relating to the exploration, development, and
4 production of gas or oil in state forests, reforestation areas, wildlife
5 management areas, and unique areas, which was entered into, on, or
6 before the effective date of a chapter of the laws of two thousand twen-
7 ty-five which amended subdivision one of this section, any assignment,
8 transfer, or modification of such lease shall not be considered the
9 making of a lease under such law; provided, however, that no such
10 assignment, transfer, or modification shall allow for an increase in
11 acreage under the lease, the expansion of existing gas or oil wells, the
12 drilling of new gas or oil wells, or the expansion or building of any
13 other new gas or oil infrastructure other than well-plugging and remedi-
14 ation activities; and provided, further, that no such lease shall be
15 continued or renewed upon expiration.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
17 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the environmental
18 conservation law relating to prohibiting the lease of state forests,
19 reforestation areas, wildlife management areas and unique areas for gas
20 and oil production, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.1069 and
21 A.1179, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01648-03-6
