New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York S384: Establishes a right of first refusal in the state for federal public land to be transferred
Status: Chaptered, June 5, 2026
Establishes a right of first refusal in the state for federal public land to be transferred to private parties; prohibits the recording of any deeds for lands that have been transferred out of federal ownership to private ownership without giving the state the right of first refusal.
What the bill says
An act to amend the public lands law, in relation to establishing a right of first refusal in the state for federal public land to be transferred; and to amend the real property law, in relation to establishing the manner in which documents regarding federal lands shall be recorded.
From the introduced text, December 30, 2024:
AN ACT to amend the public lands law, in relation to establishing a right of first refusal in the state for federal public land to be transferred; and to amend the real property law, in relation to establishing the manner in which documents regarding federal lands shall be recorded THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The public lands law is amended by adding a new section 21-a to read as follows: § 21-A. CONVEYANCE OF FEDERAL LANDS. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS APPLY: A. "CONSERVATION PLAN" MEANS A HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SECTION 10 OF THE FEDERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973 (16 U.S.C. SEC. 1539) AND ITS IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS, AS THE FEDERAL ACT AND REGULATIONS EXIST AS OF THE FIRST OF JANUARY, TWO THOUSAND TWENTYFOUR. B. "CONVEYANCE" INCLUDES ANY METHOD, INCLUDING SALE, DONATION OR EXCHANGE, BY WHICH ALL OR A PORTION OF THE RIGHT, TITLE, AND INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES IN AND TO FEDERAL LANDS LOCATED IN THE STATE IS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ENTITY. C. "FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND" MEANS ANY LAND OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE SURFACE ESTATE, THE SUBSURFACE ESTATE, OR ANY IMPROVEMENT ON THOSE ESTATES, WHICH IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE FISH …
Sponsors
- James Skoufis (D, 42) · primary sponsor
- Andrew Gounardes (D, 26)
- Liz Krueger (D, 28)
- Rachel May (D, 48)
Latest actions
- : COMMITTED TO RULES
- : ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
- : 2ND REPORT CAL.
- : 1ST REPORT CAL.524
- : REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
- : REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
- : SIGNED CHAP.23
- : DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
- : RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
- : PASSED SENATE
Votes
- Senate Investigations And Government Operations Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (March 10, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Investigations And Government Operations Committee Vote (March 10, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Investigations And Government Operations Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (May 28, 2025): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Investigations And Government Operations Committee (May 28, 2025): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Public Lands Law
Common questions
- What is S384?
- S384 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Establishes a right of first refusal in the state for federal public land to be transferred.
- What does S384 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the public lands law, in relation to establishing a right of first refusal in the state for federal public land to be transferred; and to amend the real property law, in relation to establishing the manner in which documents regarding federal lands shall be recorded.
- What is the status of S384?
- Chaptered as of June 5, 2026. Latest action: COMMITTED TO RULES (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored S384?
- James Skoufis (D, 42), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S384?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S384
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.