New York State Senator Pete Harckham has wrapped up 2023 with a record-breaking year in terms of legislation he introduced being passed and signed into law. A total of 25 of his bills received signatures from the Governor, a notable increase from 23 in the previous year and 16 in 2021.
In addition to this legislative success, Harckham played a significant role in shepherding 31 bills into law as the chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee during his first year in that role.
Senator Harckham’s legislative agenda aimed to address critical issues facing New York residents and business owners. This included measures to combat climate change, safeguard public health, and support municipalities. His efforts ranged from streamlining clean energy projects to protecting infrastructure from storm damage and honoring veterans.
One of the noteworthy bills enacted this year was S.6893, known as the “Save the Hudson Act,” which prevents the dumping of radioactive wastewater from the decommissioned Indian Point nuclear power facility into the Hudson River, safeguarding the region’s economic vitality.
Another significant law, S.6604, reformed regulations for geothermal heating and cooling systems, allowing deeper boreholes for geothermal wells, particularly benefiting densely populated areas seeking to adopt this green energy innovation.
Additionally, Senator Harckham’s work on substance abuse issues led to the enactment of S.2099C, known as “Matthew’s Law,” enabling pharmacists to dispense testing kits to detect drug adulterants like fentanyl.
Residents across the state also welcomed the passage of S.2988A, a bill requiring utilities and cable television companies to maintain utility poles by trimming overgrown vines, reducing the risk of power and service outages.
Environmental protection was a focal point, with S.3365 now mandating the disclosure of insurance information on permit applications for pipeline construction in freshwater wetlands, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Senator Harckham’s dedication to veterans was reflected in bills like S.5372A and S.5394A, which authorized the presentation of commemorative medals to servicemembers, and S.4085A, which designated a portion of Route 121 as the “John Jay High School Veterans Memorial Highway.”
The legislation also extended protections for minors, with S.2702 raising the age limit for operating all-terrain vehicles to 14, S.6538 continuing efforts to prevent alcohol sales to minors, and S.6063 requiring non-regulated children’s camps to check employee/volunteer status against the sex offender registry.
Several bills targeted municipalities, including S.3594, which reduced the number of petitioners required to call for increased library funding, and S.5541, naming a road in honor of Captain Kenneth Sgroi, a dedicated police officer.
In conclusion, Senator Pete Harckham’s 2023 legislative accomplishments spanned a wide range of issues, from environmental protection to veterans’ recognition and the well-being of New York residents and communities. For a comprehensive overview of all the legislation sponsored by Senator Harckham, please visit www.nysenate.gov/senators/pete-harckham/legislation.