S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9419
I N S E N A T E
March 11, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
the department of motor vehicles to accept certain documentation
issued to veterans of the military as acceptable proofs of identity
when applying for a driver license or state identification card
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic
law, as separately amended by chapters 158 and 440 of the laws of 2021,
is amended to read as follows:
1. Application for license. Application for a driver's license shall
be made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted
with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi-
ty, age, and fitness as may be required by the commissioner. With
respect to a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
does not meet federal standards for identification, in addition to the
acceptable proofs of age and identity approved by the commissioner as of
January first, two thousand nineteen, acceptable proof of identity shall
also include, but not be limited to, a valid, unexpired foreign passport
issued by the applicant's country of citizenship (which shall also be
eligible as proof of age), a valid, unexpired consular identification
document issued by a consulate from the applicant's country of citizen-
ship, [or] a valid foreign driver's license that includes a photo image
of the applicant and which is unexpired or expired for less than twen-
ty-four months of its date of expiration, A CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR
DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE (DD FORM 214), A VETERAN IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OR A VETERANS HEALTH IDEN-
TIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS, as primary forms of such proof. Nothing contained in this
subdivision shall be deemed to preclude the commissioner from approving
additional proofs of identity and age. The license shall display the
sex designation of M, F, or X as certified by the applicant, with no
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15183-01-6
S. 9419 2
additional documentation required. The applicant may amend the sex
designation of their driver's license upon request. Upon amendment of
the sex designation, the change shall be made consistent through all
affiliated records within the control of the department. The commission-
er may also provide that the application procedure shall include the
taking of a photo image or images of the applicant in accordance with
rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In addition, the
commissioner also shall require that the applicant provide such appli-
cant's social security number or, in lieu thereof, with respect to an
application for a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit
which does not meet federal standards for identification, an affidavit
signed by such applicant that they have not been issued a social securi-
ty number. The commissioner also shall provide space on the application
so that the applicant may request a notation upon such license that such
applicant is a veteran of the United States armed forces, and space on
the application so that the applicant may request a notation upon such
license that [he or she] SUCH APPLICANT is a veteran of the United
States armed forces, and space on the application so that the applicant
may register in the New York state organ and tissue donor registry under
section forty-three hundred ten of the public health law with the
following stated on the application in clear and conspicuous type:
"You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added
to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques-
tion'."
The commissioner of health shall not maintain records of any person
who checks "skip this question". Except where the application is made in
person or electronically, failure to check a box shall not impair the
validity of an application, and failure to check "yes" or checking "skip
this question" shall not be construed to imply a wish not to donate. In
the case of an applicant under eighteen years of age, checking "yes"
shall not constitute consent to make an anatomical gift or registration
in the donate life registry, except as otherwise provided pursuant to
the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section forty-
three hundred one of the public health law. Where an applicant has
previously consented to make an anatomical gift or registered in the
donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or failing to check
a box shall not impair that consent or registration. In addition, an
applicant for a commercial driver's license who will operate a commer-
cial motor vehicle in interstate commerce shall certify that such appli-
cant meets the requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle, as
set forth in public law 99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the code of
federal regulations, and all regulations promulgated by the United
States secretary of transportation under the hazardous materials trans-
portation act. In addition, an applicant for a commercial driver's
license shall submit a medical certificate at such intervals as required
by the federal motor carrier safety improvement act of 1999 and Part
383.71(h) of title 49 of the code of federal regulations relating to
medical certification and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
For purposes of this section and sections five hundred three, five
hundred ten-a, and five hundred ten-aa of this title, the terms "medical
certificate" and "medical certification" shall mean a form substantially
in compliance with the form set forth in Part 391.43(h) of title 49 of
the code of federal regulations. Upon a determination that the holder of
a commercial driver's license has made any false statement, with respect
to the application for such license, the commissioner shall revoke such
license.
S. 9419 3
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by chapter 597 of the laws of 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Application for license. Application for a driver's license shall
be made to the commissioner. The fee prescribed by law may be submitted
with such application. The applicant shall furnish such proof of identi-
ty, age, and fitness as may be required by the commissioner. With
respect to a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit which
does not meet federal standards for identification, in addition to the
acceptable proofs of age and identity approved by the commissioner as of
January first, two thousand nineteen, acceptable proof of identity shall
also include, but not be limited to, a valid, unexpired foreign passport
issued by the applicant's country of citizenship (which shall also be
eligible as proof of age), a valid, unexpired consular identification
document issued by a consulate from the applicant's country of citizen-
ship, [or] a valid foreign driver's license that includes a photo image
of the applicant and which is unexpired or expired for less than twen-
ty-four months of its date of expiration, A CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR
DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE (DD FORM 214), A VETERAN IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OR A VETERANS HEALTH IDEN-
TIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS, as primary forms of such proof. Nothing contained in this
subdivision shall be deemed to preclude the commissioner from approving
additional proofs of identity and age. The license shall display the
sex designation of M, F, or X as certified by the applicant, with no
additional documentation required. The applicant may amend the sex
designation of their driver's license upon request. Upon amendment of
the sex designation, the change shall be made consistent through all
affiliated records within the control of the department. The commission-
er may also provide that the application procedure shall include the
taking of a photo image or images of the applicant in accordance with
rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. In addition, the
commissioner also shall require that the applicant provide such appli-
cant's social security number or, in lieu thereof, with respect to an
application for a non-commercial driver's license or learner's permit
which does not meet federal standards for identification, an affidavit
signed by such applicant that they have not been issued a social securi-
ty number. The commissioner also shall provide space on the application
so that the applicant may request a notation upon such license that such
applicant is a veteran of the United States armed forces, and space on
the application so that the applicant may request a notation upon such
license that such person is a veteran of the United States armed forces,
and space on the application so that the applicant may register in the
New York state organ and tissue donor registry under section forty-three
hundred ten of the public health law with the following stated on the
application in clear and conspicuous type:
"You must fill out the following section: Would you like to be added
to the Donate Life Registry? Check box for 'yes' or 'skip this ques-
tion'."
The commissioner of health shall not maintain records of any person
who checks "skip this question". Except where the application is made in
person or electronically, failure to check a box shall not impair the
validity of an application, and failure to check "yes" or checking "skip
this question" shall not be construed to imply a wish not to donate. In
the case of an applicant under eighteen years of age, checking "yes"
S. 9419 4
shall not constitute consent to make an anatomical gift or registration
in the donate life registry, except as otherwise provided pursuant to
the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section forty-
three hundred one of the public health law. Where an applicant has
previously consented to make an anatomical gift or registered in the
donate life registry, checking "skip this question" or failing to check
a box shall not impair that consent or registration. Additionally, the
commissioner shall ensure that space is provided on the application for
a driver's license or renewal thereof to advise applicants of the exist-
ence of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program established in
42 U.S.C. Section 274k or the national marrow donor program ("registry
operator") and to allow for applicants to consent to sharing their
information with the registry operator for the purposes of receiving
information from the registry operator about enrolling as a potential
volunteer bone marrow or blood cell donor on the national registry. Such
information related to the consenting applicant shared with the registry
operator shall be limited to first and last name, date of birth, email
address, and physical address. In addition, an applicant for a commer-
cial driver's license who will operate a commercial motor vehicle in
interstate commerce shall certify that such applicant meets the require-
ments to operate a commercial motor vehicle, as set forth in public law
99-570, title XII, and title 49 of the code of federal regulations, and
all regulations promulgated by the United States secretary of transpor-
tation under the hazardous materials transportation act. In addition, an
applicant for a commercial driver's license shall submit a medical
certificate at such intervals as required by the federal motor carrier
safety improvement act of 1999 and Part 383.71(h) of title 49 of the
code of federal regulations relating to medical certification and in a
manner prescribed by the commissioner. For purposes of this section and
sections five hundred three, five hundred ten-a, and five hundred ten-aa
of this title, the terms "medical certificate" and "medical certif-
ication" shall mean a form substantially in compliance with the form set
forth in Part 391.43(h) of title 49 of the code of federal regulations.
Upon a determination that the holder of a commercial driver's license
has made any false statement, with respect to the application for such
license, the commissioner shall revoke such license.
§ 3. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 490
of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 487 of the laws of
2012, is amended to read as follows:
(i) The commissioner shall upon submission of an appropriate applica-
tion, upon payment of the prescribed fee, and upon being satisfied that
the person described is the applicant and that such applicant meets the
requirements set forth in subdivision two of this section, issue to such
applicant a nontransferable identification card. In addition, the
commissioner also shall require that an applicant for an identification
card or renewal thereof provide [his or her] SUCH APPLICANT'S social
security number. The commissioner shall provide space so that an appli-
cant may request a notation upon such identification card that [he or
she] SUCH APPLICANT is a veteran of the United States armed forces. FOR
PURPOSES OF VERIFYING THAT THE PERSON DESCRIBED IS THE APPLICANT PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ACCEPT FROM AN APPLICANT
A CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY ISSUED BY THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DD FORM 214), A VETERAN IDENTIFICA-
TION CARD ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OR
A VETERANS HEALTH IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
S. 9419 5
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law; provided, however, that section two of this act shall
take effect on the same date and in the same manner as section 2 of
chapter 597 of the laws of 2025, takes effect. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
