SULLIVAN COUNTY — A bill that would give Sullivan County municipalities access to a new farmland and open space preservation tool has passed both houses of the State Legislature and now awaits action by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywoman Paula Elaine Kay and State Sen. Peter Oberacker, would add Sullivan County to the list of “designated communities” eligible to establish community preservation funds under state law.

If signed by Hochul, the bill would not automatically impose a new fee. Instead, it would allow towns and villages in Sullivan County to use the existing community preservation fund framework, which lets local governments create preservation plans and ask voters whether to authorize a real estate transfer fee to fund them.

Supporters say the measure would help Sullivan County protect working farms, open space and rural character at a time when development pressure continues across the region.

“This bill will give our municipalities the freedom to create their own farmland preservation plans through the establishment of a community preservation fund, as is already the case in many of our neighboring counties,” Kay said. “I echo those who are shouting, ‘No Farms, No Food,’ because in Sullivan County, we recognize every day just how true that is.”

Kay said Sullivan County farms are among the state’s “most valuable treasures,” adding that local farmers and municipalities are best positioned to understand what agricultural land needs.

Oberacker said the bill is intended to keep land-use preservation decisions close to the communities most affected by them.

“Sullivan County’s farms are the backbone of our rural communities, and this legislation ensures that the people closest to the land have the tools and the authority to preserve it for generations to come,” Oberacker said. “State government works best when it empowers local communities to make their own decisions, and that’s exactly what our legislation does.”

Community preservation funds have been used in parts of Long Island and the Hudson Valley to raise dedicated local revenue for land conservation. The Sullivan County bill would add the county to the existing state framework by amending sections of the General Municipal Law and Tax Law related to community preservation funds.

Under that framework, a participating municipality would first create a community preservation plan identifying local priorities, such as farmland, open space, natural resources or historic resources. Voters would then decide by referendum whether to create the fund and authorize the transfer fee.

Orange County Land Trust Community Liaison Michael Sweeton said the bill would give towns in Sullivan County a way to protect farmland and preserve the region’s local food supply.

“Passage of this legislation will allow towns in Sullivan County to preserve critical farmland and protect the source of local food for the Hudson Valley,” Sweeton said. “The Orange County Land Trust is proud to have been a partner in helping to secure the future of farming in Sullivan County.”

Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz thanked Kay and Oberacker for advancing the bill.

“This will help preserve valuable farmland across Sullivan County and pay dividends for our constituents for generations to come,” Rajsz said.

Sullivan County Legislator Matt McPhillips said the effort began with a proposal from the Sullivan County Agriculture Board and later received unanimous support from the County Legislature. McPhillips, who chairs the Legislature’s Planning Committee, called the bill “a shining example of bipartisan cooperation across all levels of government.”

“I look forward to Governor Hochul signing this bill into law so that participating municipalities will have an important new tool to help preserve agricultural land, protect environmentally significant areas, and encourage smart, sustainable growth throughout Sullivan County,” McPhillips said.

The bill passed the Senate and Assembly with broad support. If signed by the governor, it would take effect immediately, leaving individual towns and villages to decide whether to pursue local preservation plans and voter referendums.