What's happening
This bill designates the bridge on State Route 22B over the Saranac River as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge."
Why it matters
Honors a Local Figure. Naming the bridge after Gordie Little serves as a public acknowledgment of his contributions or significance to the community, potentially increasing local pride and awareness of local history.
Ceremonial, Not Legal Name Change. The bill explicitly states the designation is ceremonial, meaning legal documents and maps will retain the existing bridge name, minimizing administrative or logistical complications.
Minimal Impact on Commerce and Navigation. By keeping the official bridge name unchanged, the legislation avoids potential issues for emergency services, businesses, and travelers who rely on consistent geographic identifiers.
Public Recognition through Signage. The law requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs with the memorial designation, ensuring visible recognition without altering official records.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Name Bridge for Gordie Little
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 45
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.87
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.298
- Substituted for A7220
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.705
Show 1 earlier action
- 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 Bridge for Gordie Little
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5513
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- 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 designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge"
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 the state highway system to be designated as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge". The bridge on state route twenty-two-B crossing the Saranac river, in the hamlet of Morrisonville within the town of Schuyler Falls and the town of Plattsburgh, county of Clinton, shall be designated and known as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge".
§ 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 bridge 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.
LBD10908-01-7
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 designating a portion of the state highway system as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge"
Purpose
This bill designates the bridge on state route 22-B crossing the Saranac River, in the hamlet of Morrisonville, as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge".
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill designates the bridge on state route 22-B crossing the Saranac River, in the hamlet of Morrisonville within the town of Schuyler Falls and the town of Plattsburgh, county of Clinton, as the "Gordie Little Memorial Bridge".
Justification
This bill is meant to honor Gordie Little, a north country icon. Gordie embodied the neighborly spirit of the North Country and spent his broad-ranging career making deep and lasting connections with everyone he came in contact with. In retirement, Gordie was known to many as a valuable resource for his trademark news and weather reports, his unflinching smile and optimistic demeanor, his legendary bear hugs, and the way in which he made the welfare of others a priority. Gordie could always be counted on to brighten a room or a bleak situation.
Gordie's pride in his community was unmatched; he promoted the North Country with unwavering enthusiasm and he relished sharing stories from around the region with audiences near and far through Hometown Cable specials. Through his work, which he loved so much, he created vast historical archives to be valued and treasured for generations.
Gordie's life was spent building bridges, nurturing connections within the community, and celebrating the little bits of magic that are all around us. It is appropriate to recognize Gordie Little's uniquely positive impact on his community and this bill, if enacted, will be a great tribute to Gordie.
Legislative history
New Legislation.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.