What's happening
This bill changes diesel fuel labeling requirements from displaying cetane rating to displaying the grade of diesel fuel.
Why it matters
Shifts consumer information focus. By requiring diesel labels to display the fuel’s grade instead of its cetane rating, the bill changes what information is immediately available to buyers, potentially making it easier for consumers to pick the right type of diesel for their vehicle's engine needs.
Aligns with industry standards. The move to grade-based labeling may bring New York’s rules more in line with other states and federal practices, which could reduce confusion for drivers and streamline compliance for fuel retailers operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Impacts regulatory enforcement. The change affects how state agencies verify compliance at the pump—officials will now check for grade labeling rather than cetane ratings, which may alter inspection protocols and enforcement priorities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Label Diesel Fuel Grades
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.303
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.184
- Substituted for A7690
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.913
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to agriculture
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.
Label Diesel Fuel Grades
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Angelo Santabarbara
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5756
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. METZGER -- (at request of the Department of Agriculture and Markets) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to diesel fuel grade posting requirements
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The section heading, paragraph b of subdivision 3 and paragraph b of subdivision 5 of section 192-c of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 716 of the laws of 1989, are amended to read as follows:
Motor fuel standards and labelling; [cetane rating] grade of diesel fuel; alcohol content.
b. A refiner, distributor or reseller shall not transfer, sell or dispense diesel motor fuel in this state without delivering to the purchaser a bill, invoice or other instrument evidencing the transaction which shall indicate the [cetane rating] grade of such diesel motor fuel.
b. A retailer shall not transfer, sell, dispense or offer diesel motor fuel for sale in this state unless the retail petroleum dispensing device displays a sign disclosing the [minimum cetane rating] grade.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09039-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to diesel fuel grade posting requirements
Purpose
The purpose of the bill is to replace the diesel motor fuel cetane rating requirements for sale and signage with a requirement that the grade of diesel motor fuel be specified.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill would amend Agriculture and Markets Law (AML) Section 192-c to provide that the grade of diesel motor fuel, rather than the cetane rating, must be shown on documentation provided by a refiner, distributor or reseller to a purchaser and displayed by a retailer on the sign for a retail petroleum dispensing device.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an effective date 60 days after becoming law.
Justification
AML Section 192-c currently requires the cetane rating of diesel motor fuel be shown on the documentation provided by a refiner, distributor or reseller to a purchaser and displayed by a retailer on the sign for a retail petroleum dispensing device. This bill would replace the require- ments that the cetane rating for diesel motor fuel be documented and posted with a requirement to document and post the grade of diesel fuel. The requirement to post both grade and cetane is widely viewed as redun- dant as both 1 and 2 D diesel fuel are required to have a minimum cetane of 40. As most states have removed the requirement to post cetane, this bill would make New York's documentation and signage requirement consistent with other states.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The bill would take effect 60 days after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.