New York Environment and Climate Change Projects Bond Measure (2020)

New York Environment and Climate Change Projects Bond Measure
Election date November 3, 2020
Topic Bond issues and Environment
Status Not on the ballot
Type Bond issue	Origin State Legislature

The New York Environment and Climate Change Projects Bond Measure was not on the ballot in New York as a legislatively referred bond question on November 3, 2020.

A "yes" vote would have supported the bond measure to issue $3.00 billion in general obligation bonds for projects related to the environment, natural resources, water infrastructure, and climate change mitigation.

A "no" vote would have opposed the bond measure to issue $3.00 billion in general obligation bonds for projects related to the environment, natural resources, water infrastructure, and climate change mitigation.

On July 30, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that the bond measure was being pulled from the ballot. "The financial situation is unstable. I don't think it would be financially prudent to do it at this time," said Gov. Cuomo. In April, as part of the state budget bill, the New York Director of the Budget was empowered to remove the bond measure from the ballot should the budget department decide that there would be an adverse effect on the state's finances. The state budget bill said that removal from the ballot would make the bond measure expired and repealed; therefore, the bond measure could not be moved to a future election date.

Overview

How would the bond revenue have been distributed?

See also: Measure design

The ballot measure would have issued $3.00 billion in general obligation bonds for projects related to the environment, natural resources, water infrastructure, and climate change, according to the bond legislation. Revenue from the bond issue would have been distributed as follows:

• not less than $1.00 billion for flood risk reduction, coastal rehabilitation, shoreline restoration, and ecological restoration projects;

• up to $700.00 million for projects designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as those related to green buildings, carbon sequestration, urban forest and habitat restoration, reduce the urban heat island effect, reduce and eliminate air pollution, and reduce and eliminate water pollution;

• up to $550.00 million for land conservation and recreation plans, programs, and projects, and fish hatcheries; and

• not less than $550.00 million for projects related to wastewater, sewage, and septic infrastructure, lead service line replacement, riparian buffers, stormwater runoff reduction, agricultural nutrient runoff reduction, and addressing harmful algal blooms.

The ballot measure would have required that the department make every effort practicable to ensure that 35 percent of the bond revenue was used to benefit environmental justice communities (EJCs). The ballot measure would have defined EJCs as "minority or low-income [communities] that may bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies."

How was the bond issue placed on the ballot?

See also: Path to the ballot

The legislation for the ballot measure referred to the bond issue as the Restore Mother Nature Bond Act and Environmental Bond Act of 2020. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) proposed the bond issue during his State of the State Address on January 8, 2020. The bond issue was included as one of 78 parts of the annual state budget bill for the fiscal year 2020-2021. Legislators voted on the budget bill as a single item. On April 1, 2020, the budget bill passed the New York State Senate by a vote of 39 to 22. On April 2, 2020, the legislation passed the New York State Assembly by a vote of 81 to 60.

Measure design

Distribution of bond revenue

The following table shows which projects would have been eligible for funding from the bond issue:

Click show to expand the bond revenue table.

New York Environment and Climate Change Projects Bond Measure (2020)
Amount	Purpose	Eligible projects
not less than $1.0 billion	flood-risk reduction and ecological restoration projects	projects identified in state and regional management and restoration programs and plans, including the Great Lakes Action Agenda, Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda, Ocean Action Plan, Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda, Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan, Peconic Estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, Delaware Action Plan, Susquehanna Action Plan, forest management framework for New York City, and New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Plan local waterfront revitalization plans not less than $100.0 million of the $1.0 billion for coastal rehabilitation and shoreline restoration projects, including nature-based solutions no more than $250.0 million of the $1.0 billion for purchasing properties identified as at-risk to flooding from willing sellers for flood-risk reduction projects relocating, repairing, and changing existing flood-prone infrastructure and roadways removal or alteration of right-size dams, bridges, and culverts ecological restoration projects, including floodplain, wetland and stream restoration, forest conservation, endangered and threatened species projects, and habitat restoration projects to support fish and wildlife
up to $700.0 million	climate change mitigation projects	not less than $350.0 million of the $700.0 million for green buildings projects on state-owned buildings and public colleges and universities projects that utilize natural and working lands to sequester carbon and mitigate methane emissions from agricultural sources, including manure storage through cover and methane reduction technology implementing municipal climate adaptation and mitigation projects (nature-based solutions to address physical climate risk, relocation or retrofit of facilities, flood-risk reduction, conservation or restoration of riparian areas and tidal marsh migration areas, greenhouse gas emission reductions outside the power sector, climate-smart communities program, and climate change adaptation planning and supporting studies) urban forestry projects, including street trees and habitat restoration projects to reduce the urban heat island effect, including green roofs, open space protection, community gardens, cool pavement projects, projects that create or upgrade community cooling centers, and the installation of reflective roofs where installation of green roofs is not possible projects to reduce or eliminate air pollution from stationary or mobile sources affecting an EJC projects to reduce or eliminate water pollution affecting an EJC
up to $550.0 million	land conservation, recreation, and fish hatcheries	not less than $200.0 million of the $550.0 million for open space land conservation projects not less than $100.0 million of the $550.0 million for purchasing conservation easements to preserve farmland recreational infrastructure projects no more than $75.0 million of the $550.0 million for creating, improving, and maintaining fish hatcheries
not less than $550.0 million	water improvement projects	not less than $200.0 million of the $550.0 million for wastewater infrastructure projects, including grants to municipalities for projects that reduce or control stormwater runoff, using green infrastructure where practicable wastewater infrastructure projects, including establishing or extending sewer lines to replace septic systems or cesspools lead service line replacement projects to reduce, avoid or eliminate point source discharges and non-point source discharges to water projects that reduce agricultural nutrient runoff and promote soil health, including nutrient management plans and non-point source abatement and control establishment of riparian buffers to provide distance between farm fields and streams or abate erosion projects that address harmful algal bloom

Terms and definitions

The ballot measure included several terms that were defined in the legislation, including:

• Environmental justice community (EJC) was defined as a "minority or low-income community that may bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies."

• Green buildings project was defined as "(i) installing, upgrading, or modifying a renewable energy source at a state-owned building or for the purpose of converting or connecting a state-owned building, or portion thereof, to a renewable energy source; (ii) reducing energy use or improving energy efficiency or occupant health at a state-owned building; (iii) installing a green roof at a state-owned building; and (iv) emission reduction projects."

• Nature-based solutions were defined as "projects that are supported or inspired by nature or natural processes and functions and that may also offer environmental, economic, and social benefits, while increasing resilience. Nature-based solutions include both green and natural infrastructure."

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title was as follows:

“

To address and combat the impact of climate change and damage to the environment, the Environmental Bond Act of 2020 "Restore Mother Nature" authorizes the sale of state bonds up to three billion dollars to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects. Shall the Environmental Bond Act of 2020 be approved?

”

Full text

The full text of the budget legislation, including the bond issue (Part QQ), is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Governor Andrew Cuomo (Fight and Deliver)

Arguments

• Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters: "In the past 10 years alone, our state has seen the detrimental effects of 15 severe storms, five major winter storms and two major floods. The Bond Act will help us restore and protect ecosystems in every corner of New York State."
• Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter: "As President Trump moves to repeal environmental safeguards during the pandemic, New York lawmakers are leading with the foresight that the public health crisis only deepens if we do not live up to our environmental and climate commitments. Projects funded through the ‘Restore Mother Nature Bond Act’ will not only protect critical habitats, restore wetlands, prevent floods, safeguard our drinking water and ultimately support public health — they will also provide thousands of New Yorkers with good climate resiliency jobs when the COVID-19 emergency finally passes."

Opposition

Ballotpedia had not identified individuals and entities opposing the bond issue.

Background

Bonds on the ballot in New York

See also: Bond issues on the ballot

Between 1990 and 2020, statewide ballots featured seven bond issues. Voters approved three (43 percent) of the bond issues. Voters rejected four (57 percent) of the bond issues.

Year	Measure	Amount	Purpose	Outcome
2014	Proposal 3	$2.00 billion	Education	a
2005	Proposal 2	$2.90 billion	Transportation	a
2000	Proposal 1	$3.80 billion	Transportation	d
1997	Proposal 3	$2.40 billion	Education	d
1996	Proposal 1	$1.75 billion	Environment	a
1992	Proposal 1	$800.00 million	Infrastructure	d
1990	Proposal 1	$1.975 billion	Environment	d

Path to the ballot

See also: Legislatively-referred state statute

The New York Constitution (Section 11 of Article VII) requires that bond issues, with exceptions, go before voters for approval or rejection. In the New York State Legislature, a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber is required to refer a bond issue. The governor's signature is needed for a bond issue to be placed on the ballot.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) proposed the bond issue during his State of the State Address on January 8, 2020. Titled the Environmental Bond Act of 2020 "Restore Mother Nature", the bond issue was a provision of the annual state budget bill for the fiscal year 2020-2021. On April 1, 2020, the budget bill passed the New York State Senate by a vote of 39 to 22. On April 2, 2020, the legislation passed the New York State Assembly by a vote of 81 to 60. Gov. Cuomo signed the budget bill on April 3, placing the bond issue on the ballot for November 3, 2020.

The following are the vote totals for the budget legislation (Senate Bill 7508), which included the bond issue and 77 other provisions:

Vote in the New York State Senate April 1, 2020
Requirement: Simple majority of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 31  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	39	22	1
Total percent	62.90%	35.49%	1.61%
Democrat	39	1	0
Republican	0	21	1

Vote in the New York State Assembly April 2, 2020
Requirement: Simple majority of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 74  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	81	60	6
Total percent	55.10%	40.82%	4.08%
Democrat	81	20	4
Republican	0	40	2

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in New York

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in New York.

How to cast a vote in New York

The information below covers regular voting policies in the state. Information may have not applied to the election on November 3, 2020, because of temporary changes in response to coronavirus. Click here to read about changes made for the 2020 elections. Poll times Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for primary and general elections. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Registration Check your voter registration status here. To vote in New York, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, city, or village for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the date of the election. People who are in prison for a felony conviction and those who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote. One cannot register to vote in New York while claiming the right to vote elsewhere. Pre-registration is available beginning at the age of 16. Registration applications are available at the county board of elections or any agency-based voter registration center. Forms are also available online, or prospective voters can request the form by mail. Completed forms returned by mail must be postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election. The form must then be received by election officials at least 10 days before the election. A registration done in person must be completed at least 10 days prior to the election. Residents may also register to vote online through the DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. These applications are forwarded to the board of elections; applicants should allow up to six weeks for processing. Automatic registration New York automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through a number of state agencies including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor, and others. Online registration See also: Online voter registration New York has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration New York does not allow same-day voter registration. Residency requirements In order to register to vote in New York, applicants must reside in the county, city, or village in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States New York does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, voter who submits false information "can be convicted and fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to four years." All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registration The New York State Board of Elections allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website. Voter ID requirements New York does not require voters to present identification while voting. However, if a voter does not provide valid identification at the time of registration, he or she must show identification at the polling place when voting for the first time Voters can present the following forms of identification: A current, valid photo ID, including but not limited to a drivers' license or a DMV-issued non-driver photo ID A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and address

See also

2020 measures

• 2020 ballot measures
• Bond issues on the ballot
• Environment on the ballot

New York

• New York ballot measures
• New York ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

Legislation

• New York Senate Budget Bill 7508 (2020)