Establishes the agrivoltaics viability pilot program to provide grants to identify the best practices and strategies for agrivoltaics and dual-use solar energy projects that protect soil health during construction and decommissioning of solar arrays, utilize sustainable agricultural production practices, monitor any benefits solar energy may have on farms and to the state, track economic viability, study the commercialization of dual-use solar energy projects, and encourage equitable engagement of stakeholders.
Defines therapeutic agriculture for the purposes of community gardens as the use of agricultural activities as a means of promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being, rehabilitation and therapy for certain individuals.
Establishes the position of Catskill park coordinator within the department of environmental conservation to build partnerships between the department and other state agencies, municipal governments, businesses and nonprofit entities that will develop a community-based tourism strategy for the forest preserve to help fortify the regional economy and to coordinate implementation of the public access plan and other approved or adopted Catskill park-wide plans.
Prohibits electric corporations, gas corporations and utilities from passing along costs or increasing charges to ratepayers for electricity and natural gas, or any associated goods and services, as a result of increased costs incurred by such corporation due to tariffs placed by the government of the United States on the importation of goods, services or materials from countries outside the United States or due to tariffs placed by the governments of countries or their political subdivisions on the exportation of goods, services, or materials to the United States.
Directs the New York state thruway authority to establish an electronic toll collection device for motor vehicles used by farms which grants a discount for use of the thruway.
Requires municipal employees to attempt to identify and notify the owners of a deceased dog or cat recovered on public roads by such municipal employees.
Establishes a blue ribbon commission on fair competition in the outdoor recreation industry to examine, evaluate and make recommendations regarding methods to promote fair competition in the outdoor recreation industry; provides such commission shall consist of eleven appointed members; requires a report to the governor and legislature on or before December 31, 2026.
Relates to employee petitions to participate in a shared work program and to employer responses to such petitions; requires such petitions to be submitted to the commissioner of labor and to be made available for public access on the department of labor website.
Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.
Clarifies provisions regarding the use of crossbows for hunting, allowing the department of environmental conservation to allow the use of crossbows for the taking of big game in any area long bows are permitted.
Enacts the accelerate solar for affordable power (ASAP) act to set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity and direct the public service commission to advance reforms to the utility interconnection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration of new distributed energy resources.