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A34Assembly2025-2026 SessionSame asS31

No Thruway Tolls for Responders

Official title

“Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles for toll exemptions”

Sponsor Christopher EachusAD-99+48 co-sponsorsAffects Economy
Status
Vetoed
Impact
4/10
Low
Outcome
Vetoed

Bill progress

Vetoed

What's happening

This bill requires the New York State Thruway Authority to exempt ambulances and fire vehicles from tolls during emergencies and issue refunds while permit applications are pending.

Why it matters

  1. Ensures Immediate Financial Relief for Emergency Responders. By mandating refunds of tolls incurred while emergency services permit applications are pending, the bill prevents out-of-pocket costs for ambulance and fire agencies during the approval process, supporting their uninterrupted response capabilities.

  2. Standardizes and Formalizes Toll Exemption Process. The requirement for the Thruway Authority to create clear rules and regulations for permit applications will lead to a more predictable and transparent process for emergency vehicle operators, reducing confusion and administrative delays.

  3. Reduces Administrative Burden on Local Governments and Nonprofits. Automatic toll exemptions and streamlined refunds mean local fire departments, ambulance services, and nonprofit emergency providers won’t need to navigate complex reimbursement processes or absorb unexpected toll expenses during emergencies.

  4. Prioritizes Public Safety Over Revenue Collection. By removing financial barriers for emergency vehicles on state highways during urgent situations, the bill reinforces the principle that emergency response should not be hindered by toll costs, ultimately benefiting public safety and response times.

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Who cares

Headline styles

No Thruway Tolls for Responders

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Christopher Eachus

Assembly Member · Assembly District 99

History

  1. Tabled
  2. Vetoed memo.55
  3. Delivered to governor
  4. Returned to assembly
  5. Passed senateVote 60–0
  6. 3rd reading cal.1455
  7. Substituted for S31
  8. Referred to transportation
  9. Delivered to senate
  10. Passed assembly
  11. Ordered to third reading rules cal.136
  12. Rules report cal.136
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Reported
  2. Reported referred to rules
  3. Reported referred to ways and means
  4. Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions

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.

S31Senate

No Tolls for Emergency Vehicles

Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Leroy Comrie

Impact 4 · Low38% to pass

Full text

2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

34

2025-2026 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)

January 8, 2025

Introduced by M. of A. EACHUS, LUPARDO, BUTTENSCHON, SHIMSKY, LEVENBERG, SIMON, OTIS, LUNSFORD, DE LOS SANTOS, ZACCARO, JACOBSON, BLANKENBUSH, GALLAHAN, TAGUE, BRABENEC, MAHER, DeSTEFANO, ANGELINO, BERGER, PAULIN, WILLIAMS, BLUMENCRANZ, REYES, GANDOLFO, BEEPHAN, MANKTELOW, JENSEN, GIBBS, SEAWRIGHT, LUCAS, SIMPSON, SANTABARBARA, TAYLOR, LEMONDES, STIRPE, BARRETT, COOK, SAYEGH, WOERNER, WALSH, COLTON, EICHENSTEIN, KELLES, STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the issuance of permits to exempt ambulances and fire vehicles from paying tolls on the New York state thruway when engaged in an emergency operation

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 378-a of the public authorities law, as added by chapter 23 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:

1. The authority is hereby authorized and directed to [issue refunds for tolls incurred by ambulances or fire vehicles engaged in an emergency operation, or, at the option of the authority, to] issue emergency services permits for use by ambulances and fire vehicles which shall provide for travel at no charge between interchanges and barriers while such vehicles are engaged in an emergency operation, provided that the authority is authorized and directed to issue refunds for tolls incurred by such ambulances and fire vehicles engaged in an emergency operation while the applicable application for emergency services permits is pending. The authority shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing the process by which such ambulances and fire vehicles can apply for emergency services permits. For purposes of this section, the term "ambulance" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by section one hundred-b of the vehicle and traffic law, the term "fire

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD00222-01-5

vehicle" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by section one hundred fifteen-a of the vehicle and traffic law, and the term "emergency operation" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by section one hundred fourteen-b of the vehicle and traffic law. In any rules and regulations promulgated for the implementation of this section, the authority may establish the type of documentation or other proof satisfactory to the authority that an ambulance or fire vehicle was engaged in an emergency operation at the time a toll was incurred.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.