NY State Senate Bill 2025-S9741A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 07, 2026	print number 9741a
Apr 07, 2026	amend and recommit to investigations and government operations
Apr 02, 2026	referred to investigations and government operations

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S9741 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3180
Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Public Buildings Law
Laws Affected:: Add §148, Pub Bldg L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7098, A7808

2025-S9741 - Summary

Enacts the "bird safe buildings act" directing the commissioner of general services to incorporate practices and strategies to reduce bird fatality resulting from collisions with certain state-owned or state-leased buildings, and for other purposes; requires the commissioner to develop a design guide that includes features, methods and strategies, and best practices for reducing bird fatalities.

2025-S9741 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9741

SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public buildings law, in relation to directing the
commissioner of general services to incorporate practices and strategies
to reduce bird fatality resulting from collisions with certain state-
owned buildings, and for other purposes

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require certain state-owned buildings to incorporate practices to
reduce bird death

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill establishes the act may be cited as the "bird safe
buildings act."

Section 2 of the bill adds a new section 146 to the public buildings law
requiring the commissioner of general services to incorporate features,

practices, and strategies to reduce bird fatality resulting from colli-
sions with state-owned buildings.

Section 3 of the bill sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Scientists estimate that between 365 million and 1 billion birds die in
collisions with buildings each year. New York City Audubon estimates
that as many as 230,000 birds are killed by buildings in New York City
alone every year, likely because migratory birds flying at night collide
with skyscrapers' glass windows. Smaller structures pose a threat too:
the American Bird Conservancy estimates that residences and low rise
buildings account for 99% of all bird deaths in the United States. These
deaths are often tied to light pollution that confuses and attracts
birds as they fly.

Luckily, there are mitigation strategies. Bird collisions can be
prevented through the adoption of bird-friendly design principles,
including properly positioned window decals and films, decorative
facades or grilles, and UV patterned, frosted, or fritted glass. A 2021
study of Chicago bird deaths found that turning some lights off in
buildings at night can reduce bird mortality by around 60 percent.  Many
of these solutions are low-cost and easy to implement, especially in the
planning phase for new construction or during planned renovations.

The Bird Safe Buildings Act would reduce bird fatalities in the state by
requiring that any new or significantly altered state building incorpo-
rate bird-friendly designs - an important first step toward reducing
unnecessary bird mortality.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.7098 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal): Passed Senate

A.7808 of 2023-2024 (Kelles): Died in Governmental Operations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S9741 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9741
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               April 2, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the public buildings law, in relation to  directing  the
   commissioner  of general services to incorporate practices and strate-
   gies to reduce bird fatality resulting from  collisions  with  certain
   state-owned buildings, and for other purposes
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the  "feathered
 lives also count act".
   §  2.  The public buildings law is amended by adding a new section 148
 to read as follows:
   § 148. USE OF BIRD-SAFE FEATURES, PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES IN  STATE-
 OWNED BUILDINGS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "STATE AGENCY" MEANS ANY STATE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, BOARD, BUREAU,
 COMMISSION, AGENCY, OR ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY  OR  PUBLIC  BENEFIT  CORPO-
 RATION AT LEAST ONE OF WHOSE MEMBERS IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
   (B)  "STATE-OWNED BUILDING" MEANS ANY BUILDING OWNED BY A STATE AGENCY
 USED FOR OFFICIAL STATE BUSINESS; AND
   (C) "STATE-LEASED BUILDING" MEANS  ANY  BUILDING  OR  PORTION  OF  ANY
 BUILDING  LEASED BY A STATE AGENCY FOR OFFICE, DEPARTMENTAL, OR RESIDEN-
 TIAL OCCUPANCY.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL SERVICES  SHALL  INCORPORATE  FEATURES,
 PRACTICES,  AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLI-
 SIONS WITH STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS AND,  WHERE  PRACTICABLE,  STATE-LEASED
 BUILDINGS.    SUCH  FEATURES, PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES SHALL BE INCORPO-
 RATED FOR EACH BUILDING:
   (A) CONSTRUCTED;
   (B) ACQUIRED; OR
   (C) OF WHICH MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE  FACADE  IS  SUBSTANTIALLY
 ALTERED, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   3.  THE  COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRON-
 MENTAL CONSERVATION, SHALL DEVELOP A  DESIGN  GUIDE  TO  CARRY  OUT  THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD00085-01-5
 S. 9741                             2
 
 PROVISIONS  OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOW-
 ING:
   (A) FEATURES FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLISIONS WITH
 STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS  AND,  WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-LEASED BUILDINGS,
 THROUGHOUT ALL CONSTRUCTION PHASES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT  THE  NUMBER  OF
 EACH  SUCH  BIRD  FATALITY THAT OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF STATE-OWNED
 BUILDINGS AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-LEASED BUILDINGS;
   (B) METHODS AND STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY  RESULTING  FROM
 COLLISIONS  WITH  STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS  AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-
 LEASED BUILDINGS, DURING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE  OF  SUCH  BUILD-
 INGS;
   (C)  BEST  PRACTICES  FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLI-
 SIONS WITH STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS AND,  WHERE  PRACTICABLE,  STATE-LEASED
 BUILDINGS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I)   ELIMINATING   NON-ESSENTIAL  LIGHTING  DURING  SPRING  AND  FALL
 MIGRATION;
   (II) USE OF BIRD-SAFE FILM OR OTHER AFTER-MARKET PRODUCTS DESIGNED  TO
 REDUCE BIRD COLLISIONS;
   (III)  ARCHITECTURAL OR DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF COLLI-
 SIONS;
   (IV) USE OF BIRD-FRIENDLY GLASS IN  NEW  CONSTRUCTION  OR  RENOVATIONS
 THAT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS; AND
   (V) PLACEMENT OF LANDSCAPING FEATURES AND GREEN ROOFS; AND
   (D)  INFORMATION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN CITIZEN SCIENCE EFFORTS THAT
 DOCUMENT BIRD COLLISIONS IN NEW YORK STATE.
   4. TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (C) OF  SUBDIVISION  THREE
 OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR
 REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLISIONS WITH STATE-OWNED BUILD-
 INGS AND, WHERE  PRACTICABLE,  STATE-LEASED  BUILDINGS,  INCLUDING  BEST
 PRACTICES RECOMMENDED BY:
   (A)  STATE,  FEDERAL,  AND  MUNICIPAL  AGENCIES WITH EXPERTISE IN BIRD
 CONSERVATION;
   (B) NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN BIRD CONSERVATION;
 AND
   (C) REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS.
   5. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  DISSEMINATE  THE  DESIGN  GUIDE  DEVELOPED
 PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION TO ALL STATE AGENCIES WITH
 INDEPENDENT LEASING AUTHORITY FROM THE COMMISSIONER.
   6.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL, EVERY FIVE YEARS, UPDATE THE DESIGN GUIDE
 DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION WITH RESPECT  TO
 THE  PRIORITIES OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING
 FROM COLLISIONS  WITH  STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS  AND,  WHERE  PRACTICABLE,
 STATE-LEASED BUILDINGS.
   7.  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  NOT APPLY TO ANY BUILDING OR SITE LISTED, OR
 ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING, ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
   8. NOT LATER THAN OCTOBER FIRST OF EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE  COMMISSIONER
 SHALL  CERTIFY  TO  THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
 AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY THAT THE COMMISSIONER  USES  THE  DESIGN
 GUIDE DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION FOR BUILD-
 INGS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3180
Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Public Buildings Law
Laws Affected:: Add §148, Pub Bldg L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7098, A7808

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9741A

SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public buildings law, in relation to directing the
commissioner of general services to incorporate practices and strategies
to reduce bird fatality resulting from collisions with certain state-
owned buildings, and for other purposes

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require certain state-owned buildings to incorporate practices to
reduce bird death

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill establishes the act may be cited as the "bird safe
buildings act."

Section 2 of the bill adds a new section 146 to the public buildings law
requiring the commissioner of general services to incorporate features,

practices, and strategies to reduce bird fatality resulting from colli-
sions with state-owned buildings.

Section 3 of the bill sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Scientists estimate that between 365 million and 1 billion birds die in
collisions with buildings each year. New York City Audubon estimates
that as many as 230,000 birds are killed by buildings in New York City
alone every year, likely because migratory birds flying at night collide
with skyscrapers' glass windows. Smaller structures pose a threat too:
the American Bird Conservancy estimates that residences and low rise
buildings account for 99% of all bird deaths in the United States. These
deaths are often tied to light pollution that confuses and attracts
birds as they fly.

Luckily, there are mitigation strategies. Bird collisions can be
prevented through the adoption of bird-friendly design principles,
including properly positioned window decals and films, decorative
facades or grilles, and UV patterned, frosted, or fritted glass. A 2021
study of Chicago bird deaths found that turning some lights off in
buildings at night can reduce bird mortality by around 60 percent.  Many
of these solutions are low-cost and easy to implement, especially in the
planning phase for new construction or during planned renovations.

The Bird Safe Buildings Act would reduce bird fatalities in the state by
requiring that any new or significantly altered state building incorpo-
rate bird-friendly designs - an important first step toward reducing
unnecessary bird mortality.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.3658 of 2024-2025 (Hoylman-Sigal): Referred to Investigations and
Government Operations

A.3180 of 2024-2025 (Kelles): Referred to Government Operations
S.7098 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal): Passed Senate

A.7808 of 2023-2024 (Kelles): Died in Governmental Operations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  9741--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               April 2, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment  Operations  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,   ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the public buildings law, in relation to directing the
   commissioner of general services to incorporate practices and  strate-
   gies  to  reduce  bird fatality resulting from collisions with certain
   state-owned buildings, and for other purposes
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "bird safe buildings act".
   § 2. The public buildings law is amended by adding a new  section  148
 to read as follows:
   §  148. USE OF BIRD-SAFE FEATURES, PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES IN STATE-
 OWNED BUILDINGS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   (A) "STATE AGENCY" MEANS ANY STATE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, BOARD,  BUREAU,
 COMMISSION,  AGENCY,  OR  ANY  PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPO-
 RATION AT LEAST ONE OF WHOSE MEMBERS IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
   (B) "STATE-OWNED BUILDING" MEANS ANY BUILDING OWNED BY A STATE  AGENCY
 USED FOR OFFICIAL STATE BUSINESS; AND
   (C)  "STATE-LEASED  BUILDING"  MEANS  ANY  BUILDING  OR PORTION OF ANY
 BUILDING LEASED BY A STATE AGENCY FOR OFFICE, DEPARTMENTAL, OR  RESIDEN-
 TIAL OCCUPANCY.
   2.  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF GENERAL SERVICES SHALL INCORPORATE FEATURES,
 PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM  COLLI-
 SIONS  WITH  STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-LEASED
 BUILDINGS.  SUCH FEATURES, PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES  SHALL  BE  INCORPO-
 RATED FOR EACH BUILDING:
   (A) CONSTRUCTED;
   (B) ACQUIRED; OR
   (C)  OF  WHICH  MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE FACADE IS SUBSTANTIALLY
 ALTERED, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00085-02-6

 S. 9741--A                          2
 
   3. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRON-
 MENTAL  CONSERVATION,  SHALL  DEVELOP  A  DESIGN  GUIDE TO CARRY OUT THE
 PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THAT INCLUDES THE  FOLLOW-
 ING:
   (A) FEATURES FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLISIONS WITH
 STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS  AND,  WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-LEASED BUILDINGS,
 THROUGHOUT ALL CONSTRUCTION PHASES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT  THE  NUMBER  OF
 EACH  SUCH  BIRD  FATALITY THAT OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF STATE-OWNED
 BUILDINGS AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-LEASED BUILDINGS;
   (B) METHODS AND STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY  RESULTING  FROM
 COLLISIONS  WITH  STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS  AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, STATE-
 LEASED BUILDINGS, DURING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE  OF  SUCH  BUILD-
 INGS;
   (C)  BEST  PRACTICES  FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLI-
 SIONS WITH STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS AND,  WHERE  PRACTICABLE,  STATE-LEASED
 BUILDINGS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I)   ELIMINATING   NON-ESSENTIAL  LIGHTING  DURING  SPRING  AND  FALL
 MIGRATION;
   (II) USE OF BIRD-SAFE FILM OR OTHER AFTER-MARKET PRODUCTS DESIGNED  TO
 REDUCE BIRD COLLISIONS;
   (III)  ARCHITECTURAL OR DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF COLLI-
 SIONS;
   (IV) USE OF BIRD-FRIENDLY GLASS IN  NEW  CONSTRUCTION  OR  RENOVATIONS
 THAT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS; AND
   (V) PLACEMENT OF LANDSCAPING FEATURES AND GREEN ROOFS; AND
   (D)  INFORMATION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN CITIZEN SCIENCE EFFORTS THAT
 DOCUMENT BIRD COLLISIONS IN NEW YORK STATE.
   4. TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (C) OF  SUBDIVISION  THREE
 OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR
 REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING FROM COLLISIONS WITH STATE-OWNED BUILD-
 INGS AND, WHERE  PRACTICABLE,  STATE-LEASED  BUILDINGS,  INCLUDING  BEST
 PRACTICES RECOMMENDED BY:
   (A)  STATE,  FEDERAL,  AND  MUNICIPAL  AGENCIES WITH EXPERTISE IN BIRD
 CONSERVATION;
   (B) NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN BIRD CONSERVATION;
 AND
   (C) REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS.
   5. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  DISSEMINATE  THE  DESIGN  GUIDE  DEVELOPED
 PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION TO ALL STATE AGENCIES WITH
 INDEPENDENT LEASING AUTHORITY FROM THE COMMISSIONER.
   6.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL, EVERY FIVE YEARS, UPDATE THE DESIGN GUIDE
 DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION WITH RESPECT  TO
 THE  PRIORITIES OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR REDUCING BIRD FATALITY RESULTING
 FROM COLLISIONS  WITH  STATE-OWNED  BUILDINGS  AND,  WHERE  PRACTICABLE,
 STATE-LEASED BUILDINGS.
   7.  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  NOT APPLY TO ANY BUILDING OR SITE LISTED, OR
 ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING, ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S9741A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S9741 - Details

2025-S9741 - Summary

2025-S9741 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9741 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Senate Bill S9741A

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Sponsored By

Brian Kavanagh

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S9741 - Details

2025-S9741 - Summary

2025-S9741 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9741 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S9741A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments