NYSTA Lobby Day
Monday, March 3, 2025
9:15 am - LOB 104-A
GCSA of New York Members interested in participating in this very important day should contact Ron Stepanek 716-471-1535 or ron.stepanek@gcsaofny.org
Sunday, March 2
- Meeting in Albany at a hotel (if interested, the Chapter can cover the cost of your hotel room)
- NYSTA usually treats everyone to a nice dinner
Monday, March 3
- Meet at the Capital around 8:30
- NYSTA Leads a training/orientation session to review the topics, and key message points to stress with each of our targeted legislators
- NYSTA Breaks us up into groups, then assigned each group with a list of legislators to meet with
- The entire NYSTA group meets at the end of day to report on our efforts
- Note, each of our "groups" has a lead contact who has done this several times before, thus you really need no experience to get involved and make a supportive impact
This year, we want to focus on TESF funding first and then raise awareness about proposed legislation that could have harmful impacts on our industry. Below are the key issues we plan to discuss:
1. The “Temp Act” (A3527 - S3412)
This bill mandates temperature protection standards, training, and reporting requirements for both indoor and outdoor worksites. It places a significant burden on employers in NYS by requiring employee heat stress monitoring at 82°F.
Concerns:
- Assumes employers are negligent in providing safe working conditions.
- Imposes costly compliance and administrative requirements.
- Increases liability risks and creates operational challenges.
- The green industry already prioritizes employee well-being without excessive regulation.
2. Pesticide Ban Bills
Michael Maffei, if possible because you are the best at bill tracking, could you share an updated list of active pesticide ban bills? The most pressing one right now is A3557, which enacts the Municipal Oversight of Natural Systems by Allowing Non-Toxic Options Act.
Concerns:
- Allows municipalities to regulate pesticide use, overriding DEC authority.
- DEC has the scientific expertise and resources to govern pesticide use properly.
- Local municipalities lack this expertise, making decisions susceptible to activism rather than science-based risk assessment.
Another troubling bill is S1363, which prohibits non-emergency pesticide applications in municipal parks and state-managed lands. Sponsored by Senator José Serrano, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks, and Recreation, this bill could have serious implications. For example, if this were law, Bethpage would not be hosting the Ryder Cup. The lack of proper turf management would negatively impact state parks, golf courses, and other recreational spaces—ultimately hurting tourism.
When discussing pesticide bans, we should emphasize their role within Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Without them, the effectiveness of other IPM strategies is greatly reduced, as proven in golf course management at Bethpage.
3. Gas-Powered Equipment Bans
Currently, A3331 is the primary active bill, prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers from May 1st to September 30th. However, we expect more restrictions in alignment with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Concerns:
- Many in the industry are transitioning to battery-powered equipment, but challenges remain.
- Legislators need to understand the practical limitations and costs associated with this transition.
If Todd or Michael are aware of additional bills on this topic, please share them.
Next Steps
These are the three key topics, in addition to TESF funding, that we will address. If you have any input, please share your thoughts. We will meet in the LOB before heading to meet with legislators. Sue will be sending an updated agenda within the next week.
We need three volunteers to lead discussions on these topics:
- Temp Act – [Volunteer needed]
- Pesticide Bans – [Volunteer needed]
- Gas-Powered Equipment – [Volunteer needed]
- TESF Funding – I will handle this discussion.
