The New York State Department of Financial Services published an update on Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State plan to scale up New York’s environmental protection and climate resilience initiatives, including proposed record funding for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and a multi-year commitment to water infrastructure. Key proposals include USD 425 million for the EPF and a five-year USD 3.75 billion programme to modernize water systems, providing USD 750 million annually and introducing a new Smart Growth Water Grant Program to fund sewer and water infrastructure needed to support new housing. The plan also includes additional funding opportunities to identify and replace lead service lines, classifies school water filter replacements as reimbursable expenses, and sets out new regulations requiring landfills to treat leachate containing heavy metals and PFAS before discharge to municipal plants or drinking water sources. Resilience measures include another round of Green Resiliency Grants, the FloodSafe NY initiative to align watershed studies, implementation grants and stream monitoring and expand the stream gauge network, and a Department of Environmental Conservation online Adaptation and Resilience Network to consolidate cross-agency guidance and resources. Further elements include new rounds of coastal resiliency grants and support for implementing Local Waterfront Revitalization Plans, a competitive grant programme for community-based organizations in environmental justice and disadvantaged communities to develop Community Resiliency Hubs and obtain response equipment, and State Parks initiatives including expanded programming and a State Parks Trades Corps pilot beginning with restoration work at Camp Baker in Harriman State Park.

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