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.
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
