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Sullivan County Legislature opens hearing to extend sunset dates to match state environmental law
Summary
The Sullivan County Legislature on Aug. 21 opened a public hearing on a proposed local law that would amend Local Law No. 4 of 2021 and Local Law No. 4 of 2024 by replacing local sunset dates with the expiration date of New York State Environmental Conservation Law §11-0935, currently set to expire Dec. 31, 2028.
The Sullivan County Legislature on Aug. 21 opened a public hearing in Monticello on a proposed local law to amend Local Law No. 4 of 2021 and Local Law No. 4 of 2024 by extending their sunset dates to coincide with the expiration of New York State Environmental Conservation Law §11-0935, currently set to expire Dec. 31, 2028.
The proposed amendment, introduced at the legislature's July 24, 2025 meeting, would delete language that set local expirations on Dec. 31, 2025 and replace those dates with “the expiration of section 11-0935 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law.” The notice read at the hearing specifies that “this local law shall become effective as of the date of filing with the Secretary of State.”
Supporters who spoke in the public comment period framed the change as a continuation of existing environmental protections. Heather Brown, a Smallwood resident, said she learned from “the sportsmen of this county” and offered thanks to the legislature for extending the local law: “I27m very, very, very strong support of this local law,” she said.
A resident who identified themself only as a commenter asked why the county was proposing the extension now rather than waiting until the state expiration date approaches. Legislator Brian McPhillips responded that because the measure references state law, “since it27s a New York State DEC law that the state is accepting, as long as it gets extended by the DEC, accepted by New York State, perpetually, it will be accepted here.”
The notice and proposed language were read into the record at the start of the hearing. After public comment concluded, a motion to close the public hearing was made and seconded and carried; the transcript does not provide a roll-call vote or named mover and seconder.
The public hearing record will remain part of the legislative file for the proposed local law. If enacted as drafted, the local law would remain in effect until the state provision identified in the proposal expires; the local law itself is to take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State.
The hearing was held at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello on Aug. 21, 2025 at 10:10 a.m.
