Governor Hochul today signed three pieces of legislation focused on clean energy upgrades, climate education and research, and environmental protection, including one establishing an electric landscaping equipment rebate program.

“I will never stop fighting to clean up the air we breathe,” Governor Hochul said. “The rebate legislation I signed will encourage the purchase of cleaner and quieter battery-powered lawn mowers and other landscaping equipment that will benefit us all.”

Assemblymember Steven Otis said, “Thank you to Governor Hochul for supporting small businesses and institutions in transitioning to emission-free equipment that will improve air quality, public health and make purchase of new equipment more affordable for local contractors. Senator Krueger and I have worked with a broad coalition of over 100 environmental, public health, and business groups led by NYPIRG to support this rebate program that will help local businesses continue to serve their customers.”

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Albany, NY – State Senator Liz Krueger (SD-28) and Assemblymember Steve Otis (AD-91) announced their legislation to create a rebate program for the purchase of electric landscaping equipment to assist commercial landscapers, local governments, school districts and other institutions (S.1574/A.2657) has been signed into law. The legislation passed the Senate and Assembly in April.

“Addressing the climate crisis requires action on all fronts," said Senator Krueger. "Gas-powered landscaping equipment emits a stunning amount of air pollution, not to mention the noise that blights communities across the state. This new rebate program will make it easier for New York's landscaping companies and institutions to transition to cleaner, quieter equipment. It's a win for small businesses, workers, communities, and our shared environment, and I thank Governor Hochul for signing it into law today.”

Assemblyman Otis said, “New York State ranks fourth in the nation in the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions. Supporting small businesses and institutions in transitioning to emission-free equipment will improve air quality, public health, and make purchase of new equipment more affordable for local contractors. Municipalities in New York are increasingly adopting local laws restricting, in a variety of ways, the use of gas-powered equipment. The rebate program will help local businesses continue to serve their customers. Senator Krueger and I have worked with a broad coalition of over 100 environmental, public health, and business groups led by NYPIRG to support this program.”

Gas-powered landscaping equipment has a significant negative impact on workers, communities, and the environment. Electric equipment, on the other hand, is lighter, quieter, has lower maintenance costs, a significantly smaller environmental footprint, and is better for workers’ health. S.1574/A.2657 would create an Electric Landscaping Equipment Rebate Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). It would offer point-of-sale rebates to commercial landscapers and institutional users, including municipalities, who purchase battery-powered electric landscaping equipment, such as leaf blowers, weed whackers, or lawn mowers.

Gas-powered landscaping equipment emits large amounts of greenhouse gases and harmful, smog-forming pollution, including hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine particulate matter (PM). The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has reported that operating a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour creates as much smog-forming pollution as driving an average car 300 miles, the distance from New York City to Portland, ME. Operating a gas-powered leaf blower for one hour creates as much smog-forming pollution as driving a car 1,100 miles, or from New York City to Tampa, FL. According to CARB, early in this decade the total smog-forming emissions from small off-road engines, the vast majority of which are residential and commercial lawn and garden equipment, will exceed those from passenger cars in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Noise is also a significant negative impact from gas-powered lawn care equipment. According to a 2018 report in the Journal of Environmental and Toxicological Studies, sound levels at distances of 100 to 400 feet were up to 22 decibels louder for gas-powered leaf blowers than their battery-electric equivalents (the decibel scale is logarithmic, so each increase of 10 represents a noise ten times louder). The report goes on to say, "the routine use of multiple [gas-powered leaf blowers] and other noisy equipment for hours a day exposes not only workers but large numbers of people in the community to harmful levels of noise and threatens not only worker health, but public health, particularly of children, seniors, and other vulnerable populations.”

Well over 200 communities in 27 US states and the District of Columbia have enacted restrictions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. In New York State, around 70 cities, towns, and villages have bans or other restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers during certain times of year.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – State Senator Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblyman Steve Otis joined NYS Commissioner of Health James McDonald for the announcement of expanded free learn-to-swim lessons for children ages 0-12 as part of Governor Kathy Hochul's NY SWIMS initiative, which is focused on helping New York families access critical water safety education and lifesaving skills.

The program is a partnership between the New York State Department of Health, the New York State YMCA Foundation Inc., and the State University of New York (SUNY). The expansion builds on Governor Hochul's NY SWIMS initiative, launched in 2024 to increase access to swimming opportunities, strengthen water safety, and invest in communities across New York State.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim and develop lifesaving water safety skills," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "By expanding free swimming lessons, NY SWIMS is helping break down barriers and address disparities that put some children, particularly children of color, at greater risk of drowning.”

Senator Fernandez said, “I’m proud to have helped secure funding to strengthen the New Rochelle YMCA and expand opportunities for families to use this important community resource. Investments like NY SWIMS help make our communities safer while giving children the opportunity to stay active and enjoy the water in a safe and healthy way.”

Assemblyman Otis said, “We were thrilled that Commissioner McDonald chose to make this announcement at the New Rochelle YMCA. NY SWIMS enhances the strong swimming programs here at the Y. Governor Hochul’s program opens doors by allowing everyone the opportunity to learn to swim.”

During the visit, Commissioner McDonald toured the facility, spoke to New Rochelle YMCA staff about the Y’s programs, and saw swim lessons in progress.

CEO of the New Rochelle YMCA Jennifer Ryan Safsel said, “We want to thank Governor Hochul for her investment in NY SWIMS that will give our YMCA the resources to invest in improvements to our pool, as well as funding to provide free swim lessons to children in our community. Learning to swim is a necessary life-saving skill and a vital step forward in the prevention of children drowning.”

New Rochelle’s State Legislative Delegation of Senators Fernandez and Shelley Mayer, and Otis and Amy Paulin in the Assembly, have helped secure state capital grants for the New Rochelle YMCA’s many improvements and upgrades to the facility, including the popular pool.

The 2026 Enacted Budget included a $5 million allocation to the Department of Health to support free learn-to-swim lessons for children ages 0-4. The 2027 Enacted Budget expanded eligibility to include children ages 0-12, allowing more families statewide to benefit from this critical water safety program.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 in the United States and remains a leading cause of death among children ages 5 to 14. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning disparities vary by race, with Black children experiencing higher drowning death rates than White children. The disparities are particularly pronounced among Black children ages 5-9, who drown at rates 2.6 times higher than White children of the same age. Black children ages 10-14 also experience higher drowning rates, including a pool drowning rate 7.6 times higher than that of White children ages 10-14. The CDC also reports that Black children and youth are more likely to drown in public pools, while White children and youth are more likely to drown in residential pools.

Access to swimming instruction is an important part of addressing these disparities. Barriers, such as the cost and availability of swimming lessons, limited access to pools and other community resources, can prevent children from developing basic swimming and water safety skills. By providing free lessons, NY SWIMS is helping ensure that more children can learn skills that can protect them in and around the water.

Since its launch, NY SWIMS has invested nearly $260 million in 79 projects across every region of New York State, representing the largest investment in public swimming infrastructure since the New Deal. As a result of NY SWIMS investments, an estimated 2.5 million New Yorkers will benefit from enhanced access to safe swimming and healthy recreational opportunities.

The initiative represents New York State's continued commitment to expanding swimming opportunities, investing in community resources, and ensuring every child has access to safe and affordable aquatic education.

The New York State Department of Health encourages parents and caregivers to make water safety a priority by enrolling children in age-appropriate swimming lessons, providing constant supervision around water, and ensure the learning of basic lifesaving skills.

Drowning Prevention and Water Safety for Children and Teens can be found here.

More Information About YMCA NY Swims Lessons can be found here.

The September 8th Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit kicked off its programming year with State Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblyman Steve Otis providing a wide-ranging update on state legislative and policy developments. The program drew a large audience of residents and elected officials, including Congressman George Latimer.

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Bishop Katrina Foster, the Lutheran Bishop of New York, speaks as clergy, elected officials and community members gather to denounce ICE and the deportation campaign it is waging for the Trump administration Sept. 3, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Park in Port Chester.

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Westchester, NY- Assemblyman Steve Otis (AD-91) and State Senator Shelley Mayer (SD-37) are pleased to announce that four municipalities in his district have received a 2026-27 Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund Grant from the New York State Archives. Assemblyman Otis has been a big supporter of the program and is always happy when local projects are selected for these grants.

The Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund was established by state law in 1989 to provide funds to help local governments establish records management programs or develop new program components.

Assemblyman Steve Otis said, “These grants help local governments on the nuts and bolts of public service. Congratulations to the Towns of Mamaroneck and Rye, the Village of Larchmont, and the Rye Neck School District upon being selected for this round of funding. These grants will help get the day to day work of these organizations accomplished.”

State Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am pleased that four Sound Shore municipalities have received funding to help modernize and strengthen their records management systems. These investments will make it easier for residents to access public records while giving municipal staff the tools they need to manage information more efficiently and effectively.”

The four municipalities and their respective projects are:

• Town of Rye: $7,660 to complete a files management project to expand shelving and storage capacity to secure marriage and death records as well as meeting books to better meet storage needs and result in a more efficient and accessible workflow.
• Town of Mamaroneck: $22,000 to complete an inactive records project to do a comprehensive records inventory, retention analysis, and program development project for the police department's paper record
• Rye Neck UFSD: $73, 872 to complete a document conversion and access project to convert microfilm containing long-term inactive payroll records to digital images to be stored in an Electronic Content Management System
• Village of Larchmont: $74, 400 are to complete an inactive records project and conduct a comprehensive inventory, organization, and assessment of municipal paper records maintained across village offices and storage locations

Town of Rye Supervisor Gary Zuckerman said, “The Town of Rye is pleased and grateful to have received this award, and we thank New York State Archives and our local State Representatives, Assemblyman Steve Otis and Senator Shelley Mayer, for supporting our application.

These funds will be used to complete a file management project to expand shelving and

storage capacity for securing marriage and death records, as well as our meeting books. We will also be able to better meet our storage needs, resulting in a more efficient and accessible workflow.

Town of Mamaroneck Supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney said, “We want to thank State Senator Mayer and Assemblyman Otis for this important grant and for their continued and unwavering support. This grant from New York State will give the Town of Mamaroneck the opportunity to modernize decades of Police Department records so information can be located more efficiently, retained appropriately, and made accessible when the public needs it. It is another step toward our goal of making our Town government more responsive, transparent, and efficient.

Rye Neck UFSD Superintendent Michael Burke said, “Rye Neck is thrilled to have been awarded a grant through the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund. This funding will allow the district to modernize access to critical payroll records, making it faster, more efficient, and more secure to retrieve information when needed. We truly thank the New York State Archives for the support of district.”

Village of Larchmont Mayor Brigid Brennan said, “This funding will strengthen the way we preserve, manage, and provide access to the Village’s records, ensuring that these important public resources are protected for future generations. We appreciate the New York State Archives’ investment in Larchmont and its continued partnership in helping local governments modernize records management.”

To find further information about the program and resources, please visit Information for Government Leaders.

State lawmakers backed the largest single state investment in ArtsWestchester's history for its White Plains home.

WHITE PLAINS, NY — An arts scene that is unique to Westchester just got a historic boost from the state.

ArtsWestchester in White Plains is set to receive a $5 million New York State budget allocation to modernize its landmarked headquarters and enhance cultural programming. The organization described it as the largest single state investment in ArtsWestchester's history.

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After being passed over last year, the Village of Mamaroneck has now secured a major NY State grant to upgrade and improve the playground at Harbor Island Park. Mamaroneck was one of ten communities benefitting in this second round of grants from the Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) Program; and only one of four getting the maximum $900K.

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Westchester, NY- Assemblyman Steve Otis (AD-91) is hosting his annual Clean Water Infrastructure Grant Workshop on Thursday, June 25^th at 10am at the Jay Heritage Center in Rye.  Officials from the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as well as the Department of State and the Department of Health will provide municipal and school district officials and staff with the latest information on the 2026 round of grants and the details regarding this year’s application process. Representatives from municipalities across Westchester are encouraged to attend.

The annual workshop will cover the current round of applications for the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) and the Intermunicipal Grant (IMG) programs. The 2026 application window is now open for those programs with submissions due on July 31st. The workshop will also cover several other clean water and environmental programs administered by NYS, including EFC’s Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP), and local government efficiency grants offered by the NYS Department of State. WIIA and IMG drinking water grants are administered in cooperation with the NYS Department of Health (DOH), which was also represented at the workshop.

Assemblyman Otis said, “We are very appreciative of the NYS EFC, DEC, DOH, and DOS for again meeting with our local applicants about these valuable funding opportunities. The workshops help bring grant money to Westchester.”

The program also included discussion of Technical Assistance and Planning Grants and EFC’s Community Assistance Teams, which assist local governments in matching local projects with state grant opportunities. There will also be a presentation regarding federal funding through the Sea Grant program.

Assemblyman Otis has sponsored the annual workshop for all Westchester communities since the WIIA program was created in 2015. The workshop provides an excellent opportunity for municipal officials, staff, consultants, and not-for-profits to learn about current grant opportunities and discuss their individual projects with state agency staff.

The workshop is sponsored by the following local and regional organizations: SeaGrant NY, Save The Sound, Federated Conservationists of Westchester, Westchester Municipal Officials Association, Riverkeeper, the Construction Industry Council and the Jay Heritage Center.

Registration is available here.

Senator Shelley B. Mayer (SD-37) and Assemblyman Steve Otis (AD-91) announce that Governor Hochul has signed legislation they sponsored (S.9763/A.9991) regarding village referenda, as part of a package of bills to strengthen voting rights.  The bill corrects a conflict between two provisions in state law that made it impossible for a village to place a referendum on the ballot on the regular November election date because there was no way to comply with the conflicting timetable requirements of the two sections of law.

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