Assembly Bill A11508

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11508
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 28, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  COMMITTEE  ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Simon) --
   read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the public buildings law, in relation to requiring state
   properties  which  utilize  irrigation  for  landscaped  areas  to  be
   equipped with smart irrigation systems
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public buildings law is amended by adding a new section
 148 to read as follows:
   § 148. SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED FOR STATE  PROPERTY.  1.  FOR
 PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   (A) "SMART IRRIGATION  SYSTEM"  SHALL  MEAN  AN  IN-GROUND,  AUTOMATED
 WATERING SYSTEM THAT USES DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A CUSTOM MAP OF A
 PROPERTY  AND  USES REAL-TIME WEATHER DATA OR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDI-
 TIONS TO OPTIMIZE WATER USE AND LIMIT UNNECESSARY IRRIGATION.
   (B) "STATE PROPERTY" SHALL MEAN ANY REAL PROPERTY  OWNED,  LEASED,  OR
 MANAGED  BY  THE  STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BUILD-
 INGS, FACILITIES, GROUNDS, LAWNS, AND LANDSCAPED AREAS.
   2. ALL STATE PROPERTY THAT UTILIZES IRRIGATION FOR  LANDSCAPED  AREAS,
 INCLUDING  LAWNS  AND  GRASS,  SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH A SMART IRRIGATION
 SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   3. (A) ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ALL PROJECTS INVOLVING  THE  INSTALLA-
 TION OR SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ON OR AFTER THE
 EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  SECTION SHALL COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF
 THIS SECTION.
   (B) ALL EXISTING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ON STATE PROPERTY SHALL BE  RETRO-
 FITTED  OR REPLACED TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION NO LATER THAN FIVE YEARS
 AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL SERVICES  SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES  AND
 REGULATIONS  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT  THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SECTION,
 INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A) MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEMS;
   (B) WATER EFFICIENCY BENCHMARKS;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15512-03-6
 A. 11508                            2
 
   (C) INSTALLATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND
   (D) REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES.
   5. THE COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL SERVICES MAY GRANT EXEMPTIONS, IN WHOLE
 OR IN PART, FOR:
   (A)  PROPERTIES  OR AREAS WHERE IRRIGATION IS MINIMAL OR NOT REQUIRED;
 OR
   (B) ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE  OR  PROTECTED  LANDS  WHERE  IRRIGATION
 SYSTEMS WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
   6.  EACH  STATE  AGENCY WITH JURISDICTION OVER STATE PROPERTY SHALL BE
 RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH  THIS  SECTION  AND  ANY  REGU-
 LATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT THERETO.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.