Senate BillIntroduced
S 3477: Authorizes the use of benthic barriers, between July 1 and October 31, to control invasive aquatic plants around docks.
What S 3477 does, verified January 9, 2026
The bill aims to control aquatic vegetation in freshwater bodies by allowing the use of benthic barriers. A benthic barrier is a film of natural or synthetic material that is gas-permeable and anchored to the lake bottom, used to suppress invasive aquatic plants around residential docks and swimming areas. The law allows people to place temporary benthic barriers in freshwater bodies between July 1st and October 31st each year, for the purpose of controlling invasive aquatic plants. The placement of these barriers is not considered "fill" and is therefore not subject to certain regulations. The changes take effect immediately.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about S 3477
- What is the current status of S 3477?
- As of January 9, 2026, S 3477 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION".
- Did S 3477 pass?
- Not yet. S 3477 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 3477, and where is it now?
- S 3477 was authored by Sen. Pamela Helming. Its committee of record is Senate Environmental Conservation.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION |
| Jan. 27, 2025 | REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, January 27, 2025 · 286 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3477 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 27, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to control of aquatic vegetation by means of a benthic barrier The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a 2 new section 9-1712 to read as follows: 3 § 9-1712. Control of aquatic vegetation by means of a benthic barrier. 4 1. For the purposes of this section, "benthic barrier" shall mean a 5 film of natural or synthetic matter which is gas permeable and anchored 6 by means other than stone from the lake bottom, for the sole purpose of 7 controlling or suppressing aquatic vegetation around residential docks 8 or swimming areas. 9 2. No person shall be prohibited from placing temporary benthic barri- 10 ers in any freshwater body of water located in front of their property's 11 shoreline between July first and October thirty-first each year, for the 12 purpose of controlling invasive aquatic plants around, near and between 13 docks. 14 3. The placement of these temporary benthic barriers shall not be 15 considered "fill", and therefore are not subject to the provisions of 16 title five of article fifteen of this chapter or General Permit 17 GP-0-17-001. 18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD07390-01-5
Text of S 3477 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions