New York Assembly Bill A08474

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/16/25
• Refer: 5/16/25
• Report Pass: 5/20/25
• Refer: 5/20/25
• Report Pass: 6/4/25
• Refer: 6/4/25

Caption

Establishes the small business environmental support office.

Impact

The establishment of this office is expected to have significant implications for small businesses. It aims to streamline the interaction these businesses have with environmental regulations, providing them with necessary tools and information to understand and comply with existing laws. This support office will specifically work to solicit input from small businesses regarding their needs and challenges related to environmental regulations, thereby creating an interactive platform for communication between the state and the business community.

Summary

A08474 is a bill aimed at establishing a Small Business Environmental Support Office in New York. This office will be embedded within the Department of Environmental Conservation and will serve as a resource for small businesses to gain assistance with pollution prevention strategies and compliance with environmental laws. The initiative is part of the state's broader goals to support small businesses while ensuring environmental regulations are met.

Reporting

Furthermore, A08474 mandates the office to submit annual reports to the state government. This will include statistics on the number of businesses that sought assistance from the office and a regional breakdown of these businesses. Such reporting could bring transparency and accountability to the operations of the office, allowing for continuous assessment of its effectiveness in supporting small businesses while also protecting the environment.

Contention

While the bill is largely aimed at providing support to small businesses, there could be contention surrounding the implications of this office on existing regulatory frameworks. Critics may argue that creating a dedicated office for small business support might dilute the enforcement of strict environmental regulations, as the focus shifts towards aiding compliance rather than enforcing penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the potential concern about whether this office might prioritize certain businesses or types of pollution prevention practices over others may arise, leading to debates on equal access to state resources.