What's happening
This bill requires New York to provide milk dealers with free EZ Pass devices and cover their thruway toll costs.
Why it matters
Reduces operational costs for dairy transporters. , potentially lowering expenses for New York's milk dealers by eliminating both EZ Pass device fees and Thruway tolls, which could improve their competitiveness or profit margins.
Targets only trucks used exclusively for milk-related activities. , meaning only vehicles fully dedicated to the purchasing, handling, and selling of milk are eligible, potentially encouraging clear separation of milk transport from other types of freight.
Requires new administrative rules and oversight. , as the authority must create regulations and verification processes to ensure only qualifying trucks and businesses benefit, involving documentation and increased regulatory involvement.
Could impact milk prices and supply chain efficiency. , as reduced transportation costs may help stabilize or lower consumer milk prices and support more reliable delivery, especially for rural producers and buyers reliant on the state’s Thruway system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Tolls for Milk Trucks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- 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.
Free Toll Devices for Milk Trucks
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Kenneth Blankenbush
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
39
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. WALCZYK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing milk dealers with electronic toll collection devices free of charge
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 378-b to read as follows:
§ 378-b. Milk dealer EZ pass. 1. The authority shall establish and issue electronic toll collection devices for single unit trucks and trucks having two or more axles which are owned and operated by a person or entity engaged in the purchasing, handling or selling of milk, or who bargains for the purchase or sale of milk, as defined in subdivision four of section two hundred fifty-three of the agriculture and markets law, when such trucks are used exclusively to further the purchasing, handling, and selling of milk throughout the state. The use of such electronic collection devices shall be at no cost to such persons or entities, and the authority shall be responsible for the cost of the toll imposed for the use of the thruway system, or any portion thereof, by the truck to which this device is affixed.
2. The authority shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section, including establishing the type of documentation or other proof required to prove that a truck is exclusively used to further the purchasing, handling, and selling of milk throughout the state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth 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 effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00093-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing milk dealers with electronic toll collection devices free of charge
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow milk truckers to transport their products free of charge while using New York State thruways.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends section 378-b of the public authorities law in relation to issuing electronic toll collection devices for single unit trucks and trucks having two or more axles which are owned and operated by a person or entity engaged in the purchasing, handling, or selling of milk.
Section 2: Outlines the responsibilities and actions that need to be taken by the authority once signed into law.
Justification
Milk truckers are vitally important to the delivery and distribution of milk across the state of New York. In addition, when coupled with the current milk market and the impact low milk checks have had on the bottom lines of dairy farms, it's never been more important to give New York farmers a helping hand.
This legislation would allow milk trucks to travel the New York State thruway system free of charge, giving farmers the opportunity to take the money that they would have paid to the tolls and reinvest in their respective operations.
With the costs of doing business and transportation constantly going up, we want to make sure that these dairy farmers can still afford to deliver their products to where they need to go, while at the same time providing an opportunity to grow.
Prior legislative history
A8467/S6590 (2019): Referred to Transportation
A4743 (2021)
Referred to Transportation
A2027/s2671 (2023)
Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined
Effective date
The 120th day after being signed into law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.