What's happening
This bill requires legislative approval for any proposed increases in fees, rentals, or charges to use the New York State Thruway system.
Why it matters
Increases public oversight and accountability. by requiring the Thruway Authority to justify fee or toll hikes in a detailed report to the legislature, rather than allowing unilateral decisions by the Authority.
Gives the state legislature veto power over proposed toll and fee increases. unless those increases are needed to meet pre-existing bond agreements—ensuring that elected representatives directly approve changes that affect drivers and businesses.
Requires transparency about the financial condition of the Thruway Authority and the necessity of any fee increases. , potentially preventing unnecessary or excessive toll hikes and increasing public trust in how infrastructure is funded.
Could slow or complicate the process of increasing tolls or fees. , making it harder to quickly adjust revenue for maintenance or new infrastructure, and potentially making the Authority more dependent on legislative priorities or political negotiations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Legislature Must OK Thruway Fee Hikes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
540
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- 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 requiring legislative approval of increases in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 354 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 2 of part TT of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision 8-a is added to read as follows:
8. Subject to agreements with noteholders or bondholders and legislative approval pursuant to subdivision eight-a of this section, to fix and collect such fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway or any part thereof necessary or convenient, with an adequate margin of safety, to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of its notes or bonds, and to establish the rights and privileges granted upon payment thereof; provided, however, that tolls may only be imposed for the passage through locks and lift bridges by vessels which are propelled in whole or in part by mechanical power; and provided further that no tolls shall be imposed or collected prior to the first day of April, two thousand twenty-five.
8-a. The authority shall submit a written report to the legislature at least one hundred eighty days prior to the date when any proposed increase in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system is scheduled to take effect. Such report shall include justification for the proposed increase, and information setting forth the current financial condition of the authority. The legislature may require any additional data or information that it deems necessary in such report. If the legislature, or the appropriate committees thereof, upon review of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02351-01-5
the report submitted to it by the authority, finds that the proposed increases are not convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation of infrastructure existing prior to any proposed increase then no proposed increase shall take effect until approved by a majority vote of each house of the legislature. Provided, however, that legislative approval shall not be required to fix and collect such fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system or any part thereof, to produce sufficient revenue to fulfill the terms of any agreements, formed prior to the effective date of this subdivision, with the holders of its notes or bonds.
§ 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 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 public authorities law, in relation to requiring legislative approval of increases in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system
Purpose
Requires the Thruway Authority to obtain Legislative approval before implementing toll increases which are greater than those required to fulfill obligations to bondholders and to provide for the maintenance and operation of the existing Thruway system.
Summary of provisions
Section. 1 adds a new subdivision 8 to section 354 of the public author- ities law, as amended by section 2 of part TT of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, setting forth conditions under which Legislative approval may be required prior to implementation of a Thruway toll increase.
Section 2 is a severability clause.
Existing law
Existing law makes no provisions for Legislative over-sight of Thruway toll increases.
Justification
Throughout the years, Thruway toll increases have drawn a firestorm of opposition from motorists and truck operators. An initial increase of 10% in 2006 was followed by 5% increases in 2009 and 2010. This means that drivers paid $370 million more in tolls. Additionally, the recently implemented cashless toll system will raise fees on motorists without E-ZPass transponders.
Increasing Thruway tolls amounts to geographic discrimination against upstate residents, who are already struggling due to the current econo- my. Toll increases may also divert commercial traffic to alternate routes, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, resulting in revenue losses to businesses such as fuel stops and restaurants.
Requiring Legislative approval for toll increases, which exceed the amount necessary to fulfill bondholder obligations will ensure a full public review of impacts on the upstate regions served by the Thruway.
Legislative history
02/03/17: S.4145 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/03/18: S.4145 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/09/19: S.352 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/08/20: S.352 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/06/21: S.173 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/05/22: S.173 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/04/23: S.105 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/03/24: S.105 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This 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.