A Senate bill that allows the state to move forward with the St. Regis Mohawk land settlement negotiations to bring them one step closer to completion has officially been signed into law, according to Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) who co-sponsored the bill.

“The St. Regis Mohawk land claim was first filed in 1892 and negotiations between the tribe and local and state governments had been ongoing for 41 years,” said Stec. “One of the major sticking points in these negotiations was proper compensation between the state and St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, an issue which was resolved this past summer.

Stec was an active participant in the final negotiations between the tribe, the governor’s office and Franklin and St. Lawrence County officials, working actively with all parties to bring the long-running stalemate to an end. He’s pleased that Governor Hochul has signed this bill into law and is optimistic that a final agreement between all vested parties will soon be reached.

“Working towards a deal has been one of my top priorities since becoming Senator and I was glad that I could work directly with the governor and Franklin and St. Lawrence County government to help find a solution that meets the needs of all parties,” he continued. “Now that this bill has been signed into law, I’m hopeful that the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, state government and our local counties can achieve a final settlement to the land claim issue.”