A bill meant to make it easier to sue oil and gas companies for their role in climate change is picking up steam in the state Legislature with the backing of Assemblymember Michaelle Solages backing the measure in her chamber, it was announced on Friday.

Solages and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie have jointly introduced the measure in their respective houses, which is modeled after a controversial anti-abortion law in Texas.

"If you need evidence of climate change, just take a look out your window this week," Myrie said. "The climate emergency is here, whether big polluters are ready to acknowledge it or not. I am grateful to Assemblymember Solages for joining this important fight to give ordinary people a chance to hold bad actors in the fossil fuel industry accountable for decades of negligence and denial."

Myrie first announced the details the bill in December, which is meant to expand civil suit eligibility against companies by defining "climate negligence" as knowingly or recklessly endangering the health or safety of the public. Under the proposal, any member of the public who can claim harm would be able to recover civil damages in court.

Lawmakers in New York also want to block companies from engaging in false or deceptive advertising.

"The climate crisis affects all of us, but lower-income families and communities of color are especially vulnerable," said Solages, who is chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. "Big polluters have long known the damage they do to our environment, and it's past time we hold them accountable for their actions. I look forward to fighting for this bill this session."