BILL NUMBER: S8836
SPONSOR: SERRANO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, relating to certain
leases relating to the exploration, development, and production of gas
or oil in state forests, reforestation areas and wildlife management
areas
 
PURPOSE:
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to L.2025, C.671.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by adding an additional
subdivision clarifying that (1) lease transfers, assignments and modifi-
cations will not be considered new leases so long as they do not allow
for and increase in acreage, expansion of existing wells, drilling of
new wells or the expansion or building of new infrastructure other than
well plugging or remediation and (2) leases may not be continued or
renewed upon expiration.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Chapter amendment to Chapter 671 of the Laws of 2025.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a
chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the environmental conservation law
relating to prohibiting the lease of state forests, reforestation areas,
wildlife management areas and unique areas for gas and oil production,
as proposed in legislative bills numbers 5.1069 and A.1197, takes
effect.

Statutes affected:
S8836: 23-1101 environmental conservation law