What's happening
This bill designates specific highways in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region as the "Rochester-Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail" with ceremonial signage.
Why it matters
Highlights and promotes the region’s craft beverage industry. By officially designating a "Craft Beverage Trail" along major highways, the bill aims to boost visibility and tourism for local breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries in the Rochester-Finger Lakes area, potentially increasing economic activity for small businesses.
Supports regional tourism and local economies. The ceremonial signage could encourage more visitors to explore rural and urban parts of the region, spreading economic benefits beyond city centers and helping small towns and agricultural areas connected to beverage production.
Demonstrates legislative support for the craft beverage sector. This symbolic recognition may help the industry secure further marketing opportunities or public-private partnerships in the future, as it signals state-level prioritization of the craft beverage sector.
Ensures no practical disruption to transportation or commerce. By specifying that the trail’s name is ceremonial and does not alter the official names of the highways, the bill avoids confusion for drivers, emergency services, and logistics companies, while still offering promotional benefits.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Craft Beverage Trail
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.32
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Craft Beverage Trail
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Joseph Morelle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1346
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, GALLIVAN, HELMING, ORTT, ROBACH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to the designation of the Rochester-Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-f to read as follows:
§ 344-f. Portion of state highway system to be designated as the "Rochester-Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail." All that portion of the state and local highway system constituting highway 490 from the intersection with highway 390 eastward to the intersection with interstate 90, highway 390 from the intersection with highway 104 southward to the intersection with interstate 90, highway 590 from the intersection with highway 390 northward to the intersection with highway 104, highway 19 from the intersection with highway 104 southward to the intersection with highway 31, highway 104 from the intersection with highway 390 eastward to the intersection with highway 14, highway 96 from the intersection with highway 332 eastward to the intersection with East Main street in Rochester, highway 14 from the intersection of highway 96 southward to the intersection with highway 20, highway 20 from the intersection with highway 390 eastward to the intersection with highway 14, highway 21 from the intersection with highway 20 southward to the intersection with highway 64, highway 21 from the intersection with highway 20 southward to the intersection with highway 390, highway 15-a from the intersection with highway 90 southward to the intersection with highway 20, highway 250 from the intersection with highway 96 northward to the intersection with highway 31, highway 15 from the intersection with highway 390 eastward to the intersection with highway 490, highway 252 from the intersection with highway 15A eastward to the intersection
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00928-01-7
S. 1346 2
with highway 15, and highway 250 from the intersection with highway 31 southward to the intersection with highway 96 shall be designated and known as the "Rochester-Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail."
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation is authorized to permit the installation and maintenance of signs on the state highway system as designated pursuant to section 344-f of the highway law, as added by section one of this act. However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to this act shall be one of a ceremonial nature and the official names of such highways shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to the designation of the Rochester-Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail
Summary of provisions
Creates a new section 344-E of the highway law, which creates the Rochester Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail.
Justification
Currently, the craft beverage industry in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region has had success in promoting their products via their informal creation of the Rochester Craft Beverage Trail. This has allowed local craft beverage businesses to pool their marketing efforts through cross-promotion. Though the industry has experienced success through their private ventures of promoting their businesses, it is the Government's responsibility to foster their growth and assist when possible. Therefore, the official designation of "The Rochester - Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail" under the State Highway law is an important next step in fostering our local craft beverage industry. This proposal will create greater awareness and enhance the promotion of these businesses by placing signs on designated state routes.
Official state designations have already proven successful in enhancing the business opportunities for our wineries and other businesses, and therefore, are also appropriate for the craft beverage industry.
According to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, the New York grape, grape juice and wine industry generates more than $4.8 billion in economic benefits annually for New York State. New York is home to over 1,600 family vineyards and over 400 wineries, producing more than 175,000,000 bottles of wine per year while providing $408 million in state and local taxes.
According to the New York State Brewers Association, the number of New York State breweries grew from 95 in 2012 to 207 in 2014, making them 3rd in the country with an Economic Impact of $3.5 Billion dollars. In 2012, New York State was the 6th largest beer producing state behind California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio and Oregon. New York State craft breweries increased production by 26% from 557,436 in 2011 to 859,536 barrels in 2012, while at the same time nationally, the craft beer segment only grew by 15%.
While the industry is thriving, it is important that we continue to advance growth efforts. Providing a new extension of highway designation will encourage more consumers to enjoy the benefits of the industry, while attracting additional craft breweries to open installations along the trail.
Prior legislative history
S.6370B/A.9063A of 2016; Passed Senate
Fiscal implication
None to the State.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.