New York Assembly Bill A00951

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Creates a distinctive license plate for veterans honoring Borinqueneers; defines "veteran" as a person who is a resident of this state, who served in the armed forces of the United States, and was honorably discharged from the armed forces, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.

Summary

Bill A00951 proposes to amend the vehicle and traffic law to establish a distinctive license plate for veterans honoring the Borinqueneers, a term referring to Puerto Rican soldiers who served in the U.S. military. The bill allows any veteran or their spouse to request this special license plate, contingent upon proof of veteran status. The bill defines a veteran as a resident of New York who has served in the armed forces and meets specific discharge criteria, including honorably discharged veterans and those with qualifying conditions as defined by veterans' services law.

Impact

If enacted, this bill will create a new category of license plates specifically for veterans, which will serve to honor the Borinqueneers. It will require the Department of Motor Vehicles to design and produce these plates, contingent upon receiving a sufficient number of orders to cover production costs. The bill also establishes a service charge for the plates, which will contribute to a fund for the development of distinctive license plates.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding Bill A00951 appears to be positive, as it seeks to honor a specific group of veterans. However, there is no recorded voting history or committee discussion available to provide deeper insights into the sentiments expressed by lawmakers or the public.

Contention

One potential point of contention could arise from the requirement that a surety bond be provided unless a minimum number of orders for the plates is met. This could lead to concerns about the feasibility of the program and whether it will attract enough interest from veterans to cover the costs of production.