New York Senate Bill S05915

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/4/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires that regular dredging of navigable waterways is scheduled in order to plan and finance to ensure the safe navigability and reliability of waterways in this state; requires a scheduled plan to be filed with DEC.

Summary

S05915, the “DREDGE Act,” would require the state and any municipality with jurisdiction over a navigable waterway to develop and maintain a regular dredging schedule for that waterway. Those schedules would have to be filed with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), updated at least annually, and posted on the DEC website. The bill also requires coordinated agreements when multiple levels of government share responsibility for a waterway or when local/state work is needed to support a federal dredging project. The bill’s stated purpose is to improve public safety, environmental conditions, and economic reliability by ensuring waterways are dredged on a predictable basis. It specifically addresses planning and financing gaps that can delay dredging for years, citing the Browns River in Islip as an example of a waterway that has gone far longer than the suggested dredging interval. The bill preserves emergency dredging work by making clear that urgent projects are not limited by the filed schedule.

Impact

The bill would amend the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new section requiring formal dredging plans for navigable waters under state or municipal control. It would create a new administrative planning and reporting obligation for affected governments, including annual updates and public posting of schedules, and would require intergovernmental agreements where responsibility is shared. The measure could affect municipalities, state agencies, and any federal-waterway projects that depend on state or local preliminary work such as spoil site availability.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the overall sentiment appears supportive and problem-solving in tone, with the legislation framed as a practical planning measure rather than a controversial policy shift. The sponsor’s findings emphasize safety, environmental protection, and economic benefits, suggesting the bill is intended to address a recognized maintenance backlog in waterways. No committee transcript or vote data is available, so there is no recorded opposition or support beyond the bill’s stated rationale.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are administrative burden, cost, and intergovernmental coordination. Local governments and state agencies may object to being required to create, update, and publicly post dredging schedules, especially where funding or permitting is uncertain. Another possible issue is the bill’s reach into projects involving federal waterways, where state or municipal preliminary work may be necessary before federal dredging can proceed, requiring agreements over responsibilities and timing. The bill does not appear to change dredging standards themselves, but rather imposes planning requirements that could be debated by affected agencies and municipalities.