NY S04533

Expands the Water Resources Planning Council from 15 to 17 voting members plus 8 non-voting regional members representing New York City, Long Island, Lower Hudson Valley, Capitol Region, Upper Hudson/St. Lawrence River Watershed, Central New York, Southern Tier River basins, and Great Lakes Regional Watersheds

Adds the Commissioner of Human Rights as a voting member and requires governor-appointed members to include experts in water resources planning, environmental science/engineering, and environmental justice, with terms extended from 4 to 5 years

Directs the council to make recommendations on water resource management ensuring all residents have access to adequate, affordable, safe drinking water and to help ensure fair distribution of public water resources with environmental justice considerations

Requires a comprehensive statewide water resources management strategy to be developed by January 1, 2028, and updated every five years thereafter, with annual council reviews and public hearings in each represented region

Mandates annual reports to the governor and legislature on the status and quality of state water resources, and requires completion of a statewide inventory of water supply deficiencies by July 1, 2027