NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4530A

Senate Bill S4530A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Exempts military members based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, NY on active duty who reside in NYC from the payment of E-ZPass tolls associated with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 28, 2025	reported and committed to finance
May 19, 2025	print number 4530a
May 19, 2025	amend (t) and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Feb 06, 2025	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs

Votes

- May 28, 2025 - Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs Committee Vote
  S4530A
  
  7
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  2
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs Committee Vote: May 28, 2025
      
      aye (7)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Ashby
      
      Baskin
      
      Harckham
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Serrano
      
      Stec
      
      aye wr (2)
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Weik

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S4530 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §2855, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7601

2025-S4530 - Summary

Exempts military members based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, New York and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York on active duty who reside in NYC from the payment of E-ZPass tolls associated with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

2025-S4530 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4530

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to exempting
active duty military members who reside in a city with a population of
one million or more from E-ZPass tolls

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to provide toll exemptions for active duty
military personnel who often have to travel throughout New York City for
healthcare needs and military service requirements.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Section 2855 of the public authorities law, as added by
section 1 of part KK of chapter of the laws of 2006, is amended to allow
any authority to exempt all military members in active military service
of the United States, as defined by section one of the military law, who
reside in a city with a population of one million or more using a New

York customer service E-ZPass account for travel within the state from
the payment of any tolls therefor; provided, however, that such
exemption shall not apply to trips made by vehicles that are used for
commercial purposes. Application for such toll exemption shall be made
in such manner as shall be prescribed by the New York E-ZPass customer
service center or successor entity and shall contain such information as
such entity may require.

The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall also apply to
spouses and dependent children of all military members in active mili-
tary service of the United States who reside in a city with a population
of one million or more, if such family members reside in the same house-
hold as such military members.

Section 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Current New York Military Law grants free passage through bridges,
tunnels and toll booths and ferries for members belonging to branches of
the New York Military Force when they are traveling on official govern-
ment business. It includes; New York National Guard, New York Air
National Guard, New York Naval Militia & New York Guard.

Members of the New York Military Force have used government vehicles
with E-ZPass. Alternatively, use a special government pass called a "Tag
9". Prior to cashless toll implementation, the toll booth operator would
stamp it and the toll would be waived. The passes will not work with new
gantries, which will replace toll booths along the NYS Thruway by the
end of 2020.

Service members who use their own private vehicles have ended up paying
a lot more. These tolls add up. Especially if you have to go to a mili-
tary base downstate or wherever the case may be. It can add up to
hundreds of dollars.

Active military members using personal vehicles are often on their way
to military bases with orders in hand, traveling throughout New York
City seeking accessible medical and mental healthcare. This legislation
is set to assure that active military, using their own vehicles should
not be charged even if the only solution they can give them is being
reimbursed.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024; Held in Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Senate
Committee.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Yet to be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such an effective date.

2025-S4530 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4530
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on  Veterans,  Home-
   land Security and Military Affairs
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public authorities law, in relation to exempting
   active duty military members who reside in a city with a population of
   one million or more from E-ZPass tolls
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  2855  of the public authorities law, as added by
 section 1 of part KK of chapter 59 of the laws of 2006,  is  amended  to
 read as follows:
   §  2855.  Electronic  method of payment; periodic charges; EXEMPTIONS.
 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to  the  contrary,  if  any
 authority shall offer any electronic method of payment for tolls, fares,
 fees,  rentals,  or other charges, including but not limited to a system
 called E-ZPass, such authority shall not impose any periodic administra-
 tive or other charge for the privilege of using such  electronic  method
 of  payment for such charges. Nothing in this section shall be construed
 to prohibit any authority from making  any  charge  for  extra  services
 requested  by  a holder of such electronic method of payment, any charge
 for lost or damaged equipment, or for  defaults,  such  as  charges  for
 dishonored  checks.  The  authority  shall  not enter any agreement with
 bondholders that would require the imposition of administrative or other
 periodic charges relating to electronic methods of payment prohibited by
 this section.
   2. (A) ANY AUTHORITY SHALL EXEMPT ALL MILITARY MEMBERS IN ACTIVE MILI-
 TARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES, AS DEFINED  BY  SECTION  ONE  OF  THE
 MILITARY  LAW,  WHO RESIDE IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR
 MORE USING A NEW YORK CUSTOMER SERVICE E-ZPASS ACCOUNT FOR TRAVEL WITHIN
 THE STATE FROM THE PAYMENT OF ANY  TOLLS  THEREFOR;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
 THAT  SUCH  EXEMPTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO TRIPS MADE BY VEHICLES THAT ARE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08352-01-5

 S. 4530                             2
 
 USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. APPLICATION FOR SUCH TOLL EXEMPTION  SHALL
 BE  MADE  IN  SUCH MANNER AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE NEW YORK E-ZPASS
 CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OR  SUCCESSOR  ENTITY  AND  SHALL  CONTAIN  SUCH
 INFORMATION AS SUCH ENTITY MAY REQUIRE.
   (B)  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL ALSO
 APPLY TO SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT  CHILDREN  OF  ALL  MILITARY  MEMBERS  IN
 ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES WHO RESIDE IN A CITY WITH A
 POPULATION  OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, IF SUCH FAMILY MEMBERS RESIDE IN THE
 SAME HOUSEHOLD AS SUCH MILITARY MEMBERS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
 on or before such effective date.

2025-S4530A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §2855, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7601

2025-S4530A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4530A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4530A

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to exempting
active duty military members based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY and
Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York who reside in a city with a
population of one million or more from E-ZPass tolls associated with the
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to provide toll exemptions for active duty.
military personnel who are based at Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth who
often must travel throughout New York City for healthcare needs and
military service requirements.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Section 2855 of the public authorities law, as added by
section 1 of part KK of chapter of the laws of 2006, is amended to allow

any authority to exempt all military members in active military service
of the United States, as defined by section one of the military law, who
are based in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island
using a New York customer service E-ZPass account for travel within the
state from the payment of any tolls therefor; provided, however, that
such exemption shall not apply to trips made by vehicles that are used
for commercial purposes.

Application for such toll exemption shall be made in such manner as
shall be prescribed by the New York E-ZPass customer service center or
successor entity and shall contain such information as such entity may
require.

The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall also apply to
spouses and dependent children of all military members in active mili-
tary service of the United States who are affiliated with Fort Hamilton
and Fort Wadsworth if such family members reside in the same household
as such military members.

Section 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it
shall have become law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendments
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Current New York Military Law grants free passage through bridges,
tunnels and toll booths and ferries for members belonging to branches of
the New York Military Force when they are traveling on official govern-
ment business. It includes the New York National Guard, New York Air
National Guard, New York Naval Militia & New York Guard.

Members of the New York Military Force have used government vehicles
with E-ZPass. Alternatively, use a special government pass called
"Tag9". Prior to cashless toll implementation, the toll booth operator
would stamp it, and the toll would be waived. The passes will not work
with new gantries, which will replace toll booths along the NYS Thruway
by the end of 2020.

Service members who use their own private vehicles end up paying a tot
more. These tolls add up. Especially if you must go to a military base
downstate or wherever the case may be. It can add up to hundreds of
dollars.

Active military members using personal vehicles are often on their way
to military bases with orders in hand, traveling throughout New York
City seeking accessible medical and mental healthcare. This legislation
is set to ensure that active military, using their own vehicles, should
not be charged even if the only solution they can give them is being
reimbursed.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024; Held in Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Senate
Committee.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Yet to be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal
of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or
before such an effective date.

2025-S4530A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4530--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on  Veterans,  Home-
   land  Security  and  Military  Affairs  --  committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee

 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public authorities law, in relation to exempting
   active duty military members based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY  and
   Fort  Wadsworth,  Staten  Island, New York who reside in a city with a
   population of one million or more from E-ZPass tolls  associated  with
   the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 2855 of the public authorities  law,  as  added  by
 section  1  of  part KK of chapter 59 of the laws of 2006, is amended to
 read as follows:
   § 2855. Electronic method of payment;  periodic  charges;  EXEMPTIONS.
 1.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of any law to the contrary, if any
 authority shall offer any electronic method of payment for tolls, fares,
 fees, rentals, or other charges, including but not limited to  a  system
 called E-ZPass, such authority shall not impose any periodic administra-
 tive  or  other charge for the privilege of using such electronic method
 of payment for such charges. Nothing in this section shall be  construed
 to  prohibit  any  authority  from  making any charge for extra services
 requested by a holder of such electronic method of payment,  any  charge
 for  lost  or  damaged  equipment,  or for defaults, such as charges for
 dishonored checks. The authority shall  not  enter  any  agreement  with
 bondholders that would require the imposition of administrative or other
 periodic charges relating to electronic methods of payment prohibited by
 this section.
   2.  (A) ANY AUTHORITY SHALL EXEMPT ALL MEMBERS BASED ON FORT WADSWORTH
 AND FORT HAMILTON MILITARY MEMBERS IN ACTIVE  MILITARY  SERVICE  OF  THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08352-02-5

 S. 4530--A                          2
 
 UNITED  STATES,  FROM  TOLLS AND CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERRAZZANO-
 NARROWS BRIDGE, AS DEFINED BY SECTION  ONE  OF  THE  MILITARY  LAW,  WHO
 RESIDE  IN  A  CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE USING A NEW
 YORK  CUSTOMER  SERVICE E-ZPASS ACCOUNT FOR TRAVEL WITHIN THE STATE FROM
 THE  PAYMENT  OF  ANY  TOLLS  THEREFOR;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  SUCH
 EXEMPTION  SHALL  NOT  APPLY TO TRIPS MADE BY VEHICLES THAT ARE USED FOR
 COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. APPLICATION FOR SUCH TOLL EXEMPTION SHALL  BE  MADE
 IN  SUCH  MANNER AS SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE NEW YORK E-ZPASS CUSTOMER
 SERVICE CENTER OR SUCCESSOR ENTITY AND SHALL CONTAIN SUCH INFORMATION AS
 SUCH ENTITY MAY REQUIRE.
   (B) THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL  ALSO
 APPLY  TO  SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF ALL FORT WADSWORTH AND FORT
 HAMILTON MILITARY MEMBERS IN  ACTIVE  MILITARY  SERVICE  OF  THE  UNITED
 STATES WHO RESIDE IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, IF
 SUCH  FAMILY  MEMBERS  RESIDE  IN  THE  SAME  HOUSEHOLD AS SUCH MILITARY
 MEMBERS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
 on or before such effective date.

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