What's happening
This bill designates certain highways in Northern New York as the "North Country Craft Beer Trails" for ceremonial purposes.
Why it matters
Promotes regional tourism and local businesses. by highlighting and celebrating the craft beer industry in Northern New York, potentially driving more visitors to area breweries and related attractions.
Creates a sense of regional identity. around the "North Country" area, helping to market the region as a destination for craft beverage enthusiasts without altering existing highway names or logistics.
Involves state support for signage and awareness. , which can increase visibility for small businesses along the designated route, potentially boosting economic activity for rural communities.
Ensures minimal disruption to residents and travelers. by specifying the designation is ceremonial, so official maps and addresses will remain unchanged, reducing confusion while still providing recognition.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Name Highway Beer Trail
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1210
- Print number 1914a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
Show 6 earlier actions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.536
- 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.
Name Beer Trails Highway
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1914--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system as the "North Country Craft Beer Trails"
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-h to read as follows:
§ 344-h. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as the "North Country Craft Beer Trails". All that portion of the state highway system constituting route 3 from country road 75 in Sackets Harbor, I-81 in Watertown until exit 48, I-781 until exit 4, and US 11 until NY-68 in Canton, shall be designated and known as the "North Country Craft Beer Trails".
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as designated pursuant to section one of this act. However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such highway shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07452-02-8
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 desig- nating a portion of the state highway system as the "North Country Craft Beer Trails"
Purpose
To designate specific craft beer trails in various craft beer regions throughout the state.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the Highway Law by adding a new subdivision. The subdi- vision creates the "North Country Craft Beer Trails" in the listing of craft beer trails. Section 2 authorizes the commissioner of transporta- tion to install and maintain ceremonial signs on the state highway system pursuant to the designation of this act. Section 3 provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Read the full memo (643 words)
Justification
With over 140 craft breweries in New York State, New York craft beer is ranked third in the country with an economic impact of $2.2 billion dollars. Craft brewery production in New York is increasing faster than the national average and grew 26% from 2011 to 2012, while the national craft beer segment grew only 15% during the same period. In 2012 New York State was the 6th largest beer producing state in nation.
The popularity of craft breweries may be attributed to the farm-to-table movement. In New York the movement has been fostered by new legislation amending the alcoholic beverage control law to broaden the licenses and permits relating to the manufacture of alcoholic beverages. The law, enacted on November 13, 2014, removes and reduces fees and regulations to the benefit of small brewers by providing them with greater opportu- nities to market their products by expanding the activities that they can conduct at their facilities, including selling their product "by the bottle" and "by the glass." The act also successfully reduces costs for these small manufacturers by permitting them to produce more of their product at lower fees and making their wares more available to consum- ers.
Craft brewers want the public to see what they are doing, and symbioti- cally, consumers want to observe the production process. The liberali- zation of craft brewing will continue to strengthen the craft beer industry in New York and result in more breweries. This in turn will create a need for more local malt houses and hops farms to supply area breweries as the industry continues to fill in. The craft beer industry will certainly be strengthened but the local economies housing these breweries will also thrive as residents and tourists seek out the readi- ly available assortment of locally produced beer.
As craft breweries gain notoriety the organization of these destinations becomes increasingly important. While wine trails already exist in many parts of the state, there currently are no craft beer trails. Like wine trails, craft beer trails will serve as a conduit of the farm-to-table movement and stimulate regional economies by increasing tourism and promoting the sale of local products. By designating specific craft beer trails in various craft beer districts throughout New York State, this bill will continue to bolster New York's craft beer industry and provide a mechanism for the advertisement and sponsorship of these goods.
Specifically, the creation of the "North Country Craft Beer Trail" will provide a unique attraction for residents and visitors to the North Country. By highlighting the craft breweries in the North Country atten- tion will be drawn to the many other local products available in this region. Visiting the craft breweries along the trail will become another exciting activity the North Country has to offer. Thus, the enactment of this bill will invigorate and strengthen the craft brewing industry in this region and throughout New York State. It is therefore imperative that the bill creating the "North Country Craft Beer Trail" is ratified.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.518-A Passed the Senate/A.6526-A 2017: S.1914 - Passed the Senate
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.