What's happening
This bill expands eligibility for Gold Star family license plates and eliminates associated registration fees in New York.
Why it matters
Broader recognition for Gold Star families. By expanding eligibility beyond mothers to include fathers, spouses, children, siblings, step-relatives, and grandparents of fallen service members, the bill acknowledges the broader impact of military loss on families, offering greater recognition and support.
Removes financial barriers. Eliminating registration and service fees for these license plates ensures that families of fallen service members can access this recognition without facing additional costs, which can be especially meaningful for those on fixed or limited incomes.
Public awareness and respect. More family members displaying Gold Star plates can increase public awareness about the sacrifices made by military families, fostering greater community respect and empathy for their loss.
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Who cares
Gold star mothers and their spouses
The bill would eliminate the regular registration fee for their distinctive plates while retaining the ban on service charges.
Gold star parents and their spouses
The bill would extend eligibility for distinctive plates to these relatives and provide “gold star family” plates without registration fees or service charges.
Surviving spouses, children, stepchildren, siblings, stepsiblings and grandparents of fallen service members
The bill would make these New York residents eligible for fee-free “gold star family” plates, including additional plates for vehicles registered in their names.
Department of Motor Vehicles
The bill would require the agency to administer expanded plate eligibility and verify applicants’ qualifying family relationships.
Headline styles
End Gold Star Plate Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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
1512
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
Introduced by Sens. ASHBY, GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing distinctive license plates for gold star family members and eliminating the registration fee for gold star mother and gold star family member distinctive license plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 404-i of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 277 of the laws of 1991 and renumbered by chapter 108 of the laws of 1994, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 732 of the laws of 2004 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 486 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
§ 404-i. Distinctive plates for gold star mothers and gold star families. 1. Any gold star mother or the spouse of a gold star mother or any gold star parent or the spouse of a gold star parent, or the surviving spouse of a fallen service member, or any child, step-child, sibling, step-sibling, or grandparent of a fallen service member residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "gold star mother" or "gold star family", respectively. If a distinctive plate is issued to a gold star mother or gold star family member pursuant to this section, additional distinctive plates may be issued for every vehicle registered in the name of the gold star mother recipient residing in this state or the spouse of such gold star mother, or the gold star family member. Application for said license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.
2. The distinctive plate authorized herein shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is a gold star mother or the applicant is any gold star parent or the spouse of a gold star parent, or the surviving spouse of a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01813-02-5
fallen service member, or any child, step-child, sibling, step-sibling, or grandparent of a fallen service member.
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates [upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article], provided, however, that no registration fee or service charge shall be charged for such plate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing distinctive license plates for gold star family members and eliminating the registration fee for gold star mother and gold star family member distinctive license plates
Purpose or general idea of bill
To create a "Gold Star Family" license plate for widows, widowers, Gold Star fathers and their spouses, children, step-children, brothers, sisters, step-brothers, step-sisters, grandparents of a fallen service members. Also, removes the registration fee for "Gold Star Mother" or "Gold Star family" license plates.
Summary of provisions
:
Section 1 establishes a "Gold Star family" license plate and removes the registration fee for "Gold Star Mother" and "Gold Star Family" license plates.
Section 2 contains effective date.
Justification
When Adam DeMarsico moved to NY, he assumed it would be an easy applica- tion to get a custom Gold Star Family license plate for his truck in honor of his older brother, Army Spc. Michael DeMarsico, who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012. Instead, Adam was left shocked and dismayed that no such plate was available to apply for.
The families of those who have died for our freedom deserve every effort we can possibly make on their behalf. Giving them an opportunity to honor their loved one with a custom Gold Star Family license plate will serve as a powerful reminder to everyone that we will never forget the sacrifice and valor of all our service men and women.
Prior legislative history
2023-24 S.1835 (Griffo)/A.2062 (Hawley)-sat in committee
2021-22 S.3824 (Griffo)/A.5020 (Hawley)-sat in committee
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
90th day after it becomes law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.