What's happening
This bill designates a detailed route in northern New York as the "North Country Craft Beer Trail" with ceremonial signage.
Why it matters
Boosts regional tourism and small business visibility. By officially designating and signing the "North Country Craft Beer Trail," the bill aims to draw attention to local breweries and related attractions, potentially increasing visitation and economic activity in the region.
Promotes local craft beverage industry. The detailed route connects multiple breweries, encouraging residents and visitors to explore local products, which can support small manufacturers and create opportunities for collaborations and events.
State-backed recognition without logistical disruption. The designation is explicitly ceremonial, meaning the official names of highways remain unchanged and commercial transport routes are unaffected, minimizing confusion for drivers and businesses while still providing promotional benefits.
Empowers local municipalities in implementation. The bill gives local governments authority over the placement of signage, allowing communities to tailor the trail’s visibility to their unique needs and preferences, fostering local engagement and pride.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Name Craft Beer Trail
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1438
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, GRIFFO, 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 "North Country Craft Beer 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-i to read as follows:
§ 344-i. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as the "North Country Craft Beer Trail". All that portion of the state and local highway system constituting Public Square at Boots Brewing Company, westward continuing on highway 12F toward Salmon Run Mall to Skewed Brewing, northeast to highway 3 westward continuing westward on highway 75, southward on North Broad street, westward on West Main street to Sackets Harbor Brewing Company, highway 75 eastward to highway 3 eastward to highway 180 northward to the intersection at Fox Corners, northward at the intersection of highway 12 northward, westward at State street, northward at Alexandria street, eastward on Mary street to Wood Boat Brewery, northeast to the intersection at James street eastward to highway 12 southward, eastward on highway 181 to highway 180 southward, eastward to Theresa street, continuing to 411 eastward/Plank road, continuing to highway 26 southward, eastward on Commercial street, continuing to Mill street to the intersection with Oxbow road northward, continuing to highway 22, southward onto highway 25, continuing on highway 12/highway 52, to westward on West Main street to Adirondack Toboggan Company Microbrewery, northward on United States highway 11/West Main street toward Hailesboro street, following United States highway 11 northwards continuing on Maple street, westward on Swan street, southward to Sandstone drive to Blueline Brewery, eastward on Sandstone drive to southward on Swan street to westward on Maple street, continue north-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03311-02-9
S. 1438 2
ward onto Pine street, continuing on highway 345 northward/Madrid avenue, to highway 14 to In-Laws Brewery, northward on Mein road to highway 37 eastward, southward onto Amherst road to eastward on West Hatfield street, southward to highway 420 southward/South Main street, westward onto highway 11C westward/highway 420 southward, eastward to highway 420 southward/Maple street, to United States highway 11 northward, eastward onto Peru road, to highway 11B northward to Township 7 Brewery to northeast on highway 11B northward, westward onto Finney Blvd, continuing to the first cross street onto United States highway 11 northward/West Main street, eastward onto highway 24, to highway 190 eastward, northward to highway 3 eastward/Cornelia street, southward onto Consumer Square, following westward to continue on Cornelia street to Plattsburgh Brewing Company, westward to highway 3 westward/Cornelia street to interstate highway 87 southward, to highway 9 westward to highway 86 westward to exit 34 and turning southward on highway 9N southward/Main Street, following highway 86 westward to Searle lane to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, southeast on Searle lane, southwest on Morningside drive, continuing onto South Main street/Sentinel drive, to highway 73 eastward/Cascade road to Big Slide Brewery & Public House, southeast on highway 73 eastward to the Adirondack Park Preserve, to highway 910M, northward onto Old Military road, westward to highway 86 westward to Blue Line Brewery Pizza & Pub, northwest on Lake Flower avenue, southwest onto River street, continuing onto highway 3 westward to Park street, northward onto Cliff street to Big Tupper Brewing, northwest onto Cliff avenue toward Lake street, continuing onto Main street, southwest onto Balsam street to Raquette River Brewing shall be designated and known as the "North Country Craft Beer Trail".
§ 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. The use and placement of such signs shall be determined by the local municipality. 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.
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 "North Country Craft Beer Trail"
Purpose
To designate a specific craft beer trail along a designated route in New York's North Country.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the highway law to add section 344-h, which creates the "North Country Craft Beer Trail" and specifies the specific route the craft beer trail will follow.
Section 2 directs the commissioner of transportation to provide for installation and maintenance of adequate signing along the state highway system as designated by new section 344-h.
Section 3 provides an immediate effective date.
Justification
New York craft beer has exponentially grown in recent years, even faster than the national rate. Craft beer production grew roughly 26% between 2011 and 2012 in New York alone, while national craft beverage production grew only 15% in the same period. With more than 140 craft breweries in New York State, the craft beer industry represents an important economic driver for our state. As consumers continue to favor more locally sourced products, New York craft breweries will continue to grow.
One of the driving forces for craft breweries in the state has been the enactment of legislation in 2014 to benefit small breweries, providing them with greater opportunities to market their products by expanding the activities they can conduct at their facilities, including selling their products "by the bottle" or "by the glass," among other activ- ities.
As craft breweries gain popularity, the organization of these craft beverage destinations become increasingly important. State designations of craft beverage trails have already been successful in promoting and enhancing business opportunities for the industry. In areas of the state where the craft breweries are prevalent, the state has an opportunity to promote local craft beer, generating revenue for our localities and for our state as a whole.
To that end, this bill creates the "North Country Craft Beer Trail" to attract residents and visitors of the North Country alike to the region's many craft breweries. Visiting each of the craft breweries along the trail will provide another exciting activity the North Country has to offer. Enacting this bill will continue the proven trend of strengthening the state's craft beer industry, while generating revenue for localities and New York State.
Legislative history
2018: S.8734AJA.11229.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
The 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.