When the FY27 State Budget – already substantially delayed – finally wraps up, lawmakers will have just over two weeks remaining in the legislative session. Although that leaves little time to advance major policy priorities, several of New York’s most important environmental and public health measures are on the table and ready for action.
Earlier this year, NYLCV and Environmental Advocates NY (EANY) announced the following slate of “Superbills” – priority legislation and a major clean energy investment that will receive additional weight in each organization’s annual environmental scorecards and that the groups, alongside a broad coalition of advocates, are aggressively pushing to pass this year.
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The 2026 Superbills include:
Lead Pipe Replacement Act (S6892/A7878)
New York State is estimated to still have at least 285,000 lead service lines in use, silently contaminating drinking water and putting families at risk. Under a new federal mandate, all water systems must submit plans by November 2027 to replace lead service lines within 10 years. New York is not yet prepared to meet that challenge.
The Lead Pipe Replacement Act, sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, would create a “gold standard” plan for lead pipe removal that ensures the materials and labor used by public water systems statewide are of the highest quality, and that the process for replacement is quick, efficient, equitable, and cost-effective across every zip code.
“All New Yorkers who have a lead pipe are in the same boat and deserve safe passage to its removal,” said NYLCV Senior Vice President Joshua Klainberg. “Given the fast-approaching federal mandate that all water systems submit their lead pipe removal plans to the state by November 2027, now is the time for the Legislature to act.”
Ban on PFAS in Consumer Products (S9073A/A7738A) and the Beauty Justice Act (S2057B/A2054B).
Together, these two measures – both of which passed the State Senate – represent a major step forward in protecting public health, worker safety, and the environment from toxic chemicals.
The Beauty Justice Act, sponsored by Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, would ban the use of harmful chemicals including formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, PFAS, lead, mercury, and other dangerous substances from personal care and beauty products. Many of these chemicals have been linked to infertility, asthma, cancer, and other serious health impacts.
Meanwhile, the Ban on PFAS in Consumer Products, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, would phase out harmful “forever chemicals” from a wide range of everyday products including cookware, textiles, cleaning supplies, dental floss, fabric treatments, paints, and more. Research continues to show PFAS exposure is linked to reproductive harm, endocrine disruption, cancer, and other health risks.
“There is simply no reason New Yorkers should have to tolerate the use of toxic forever chemicals in our products – especially in the ones we put on our bodies or use to cook food for our families,” said NYLCV Legislative Advocate Alisha Deen-Steindler. “The good news is, these two Superbills would begin to address the problem and both are ready for action in the Assembly.”
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) (S1464A/A1749A).
Waste accounts for roughly 12% of New York’s greenhouse gas emissions, and packaging waste has exploded alongside the rise of the delivery economy. PRRIA, sponsored by Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, is designed to significantly reduce packaging waste and single-use plastics by requiring producers to reduce overall packaging use, improve recyclability, invest in recycling infrastructure, support municipal recycling programs, and eliminate toxic substances from packaging materials.
“To achieve our goal of zero waste, New York State must adopt policies to create a circular economy that prioritizes recycled and recyclable materials and incentivizes the use of less packaging in the first place, and that is exactly what the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act does,” said NYLCV Policy Director Patrick McClellan.
In addition to these legislative priorities, NYLCV and EANY are also continuing to push for a major clean energy investment through the state budget process.
Budget Priority: $1 Billion for the Sustainable Future Fund
With reports that budget negotiations are in their final stages, we are continuing to push lawmakers to include a $1 billion appropriation for the Sustainable Future Fund in the FY27 Final Budget, along with strong reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability for how the funding is spent.
From heat pumps that make homes more energy efficient, to zero-emission buses, to renewable energy investments, last year’s Sustainable Future Fund delivered tangible benefits for New Yorkers, and continuing that support is critical as the state works to lower energy costs, improve air quality, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
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“Our annual scorecards are meant to give New Yorkers a clear picture of who is truly leading — and who is falling behind — when it comes to protecting our environment and public health,” said McClellan. “By giving these Superbills greater weight, we’re underscoring that progress on these priorities isn’t optional. These are the actions New Yorkers expect, and they are essential to safeguarding our communities, water, and air.”