(ALBANY) -  Today, in honor of Earth Day, Senator Lea Webb joined the Senate Democratic Majority in advancing legislation to protect New Yorkers and the state’s natural environment. The bills in this package further demonstrate our commitment to conserving New York’s natural resources, investing in electrification and solar infrastructure, reducing waste and emissions, and removing harmful substances from our environment. 

This package includes legislation that would streamline the replacement process for lead service lines, facilitate the replacement and redevelopment of the state’s fossil fuel facilities, establish an electric landscaping rebate program, prohibit harmful substances in products such as cosmetics and wipes, and monitor and prevent harmful algal blooms in the state’s water resources.

Senator Lea Webb said, “Right now, with no label or warning, New Yorkers are purchasing personal care products such as soap, shampoo, makeup, and other items containing toxic chemicals linked to serious health risks. The Beauty Justice Act is a long-overdue step towards protecting our health and advancing environmental justice efforts in New York. I am thankful to Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and my colleagues for including the Beauty Justice Act in this year's Earth Day package. People can’t protect themselves from what they can’t see. My bill would end the silent harm caused by chemicals in products marketed to us that we use every day by requiring companies to disclose their full ingredients.”

The legislation being passed by the Senate Democratic Majority includes:

• Authorizes a Delivered Fuels Replacement Program: This bill, S.1668, sponsored by Senator Harckham, would authorize the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to administer a program that would provide grants, loans, and other assistance in order to help residences to switch from propane or fuel-oil heating systems to electric heat pumps.
• Prohibits Grade Number Four Fuel Oil Statewide: This bill, S.4046, sponsored by Senator Harckham, would prohibit the use of grade number four fuel oil in any building or facility in New York State after July 1, 2030.
• Amends the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act: This bill, S.6765A, sponsored by Senator Harckham, would extend and enhance the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act. Among other measures, it would require manufacturers and producer responsibility organizations to submit a mercury collection plan and create a cash incentive to turn in old mercury thermostats for proper and safe disposal.
• The Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act: This bill, S.6570A, sponsored by Senator Harckham, would set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity, revive the NY-SUN program, and direct the Public Service Commission to advance reforms to the utility interconnection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration of new small-scale solar energy projects. 
• Prohibits Anti-Fogging Sprays or Wipes Containing PFAS: This bill, S.9268A, sponsored by Senator Fahy, would prohibit and penalize the sale and distribution of anti-fogging sprays or wipes containing PFAS.
• Establishes a Producer Responsibility Mattress Collection Program: This bill, S.1463A, sponsored by Senator Kavanagh, would require mattress producers to establish convenient, cost-effective plans for the re-use, recycling and proper disposal of mattresses. 
• Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program: This bill, S.1574A, sponsored by Senator Krueger, would promote the adoption of zero emission electric landscaping equipment through an electric landscaping equipment rebate program aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality, and reduce noise pollution. 
• The Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act: This bill, S.8512B, sponsored by Senator Krueger, would allow the use of small plug-in and portable solar generation devices in residential and commercial buildings after national certification of the devices is complete and they are recognized in the state building code. 
• Enacts the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Prevention Act: This bill, S.1833A, sponsored by Senator May, would direct the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish coordinated initiatives to monitor, evaluate, prevent, and mitigate harmful algal blooms, and would create a Harmful Algal Bloom Prevention and Mitigation Program fund.
• Enacts the Just Energy Transition Act: This bill, S.5111A, sponsored by Senator Parker, would direct the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to prepare a study offering options to replace and redevelop New York State’s heaviest polluting fossil fuel facilities and their sites by 2030.
• Facilitates Lead Service Line Inspections: This bill, S.3581, sponsored by Senator Rivera, would require property owners to respond within a 30-day time frame to a request by a covered water system to conduct a free service line inspection on their property to determine the presence of a lead service line. 
• Requires State Agencies to Establish Composting Programs: This bill, S.7809A, sponsored by Senator Salazar, would require state agencies to establish composting programs in all utilized buildings. 
• Enacts the Beauty Justice Act: This bill, S.2057B, sponsored by Senator Webb, restricts the sale of personal care products containing harmful and toxic chemicals like PFAS and heavy metals. 

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