New York Assembly Bill A08087

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/24/25
• Refer: 4/24/25
• Report Pass: 4/28/25
• Engrossed: 5/5/25
• Refer: 5/5/25
• Engrossed: 3/9/26
• Refer: 3/9/26

Caption

Authorizes the presentation of a New York State Cold War Commemorative Medal for active duty during the period of September 2, 1945 through December 26, 1991.

Summary

A08087 authorizes the Governor to present a new New York State Cold War Commemorative Medal, in the name of the Legislature, to eligible veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Cold War period from September 2, 1945 through December 26, 1991. To qualify, a recipient must be a New York resident, or have been a New York resident while serving, and must have been discharged under honorable conditions or otherwise meet specified veteran-status exceptions, including certain qualifying conditions and discharged LGBT veteran status, so long as the discharge was not bad conduct or dishonorable. The bill also limits recipients to one medal each and allows the medal to be presented to a designated representative if the eligible veteran dies before receiving it. The bill amends Military Law section 247, which already governs several New York military honors and commemorative awards, to add the Cold War Commemorative Medal as a new authorized award and to renumber an existing subdivision. It also clarifies that recipients of the medal do not need to have been New York residents at the time they entered military service, aligning this medal with other state military honors. The bill directs the Adjutant General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Veterans’ Services, to adopt rules and regulations for presentation and distribution, and authorizes the Division of Military and Naval Affairs to take implementation steps by the effective date. The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. It passed the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously, 19-0, and then passed the Assembly floor by a vote of 147-0, indicating broad bipartisan support and little to no opposition in the recorded votes. The measure is framed as a recognition and commemoration bill rather than a benefits-expansion or regulatory bill, which likely contributed to its positive reception. There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available materials. The main policy details are the eligibility criteria, including the inclusion of veterans with qualifying conditions and discharged LGBT veterans, and the administrative authority given to state military officials to manage the medal program. Another minor point is the clarification that residency at the time of enlistment is not required, which removes a potential barrier for eligible veterans who later became New York residents or served while residing in the state. No committee debate or recorded objections are provided.

Impact

The bill would amend New York Military Law section 247 to create a new state military decoration, the New York State Cold War Commemorative Medal, and to integrate it into the existing framework for state-issued veterans honors. It affects the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the Adjutant General, and the Department of Veterans’ Services by assigning them rulemaking and implementation responsibilities. For eligible Cold War-era veterans and, in some cases, their designated representatives, the bill creates a formal state recognition process but does not create a monetary benefit or entitlement program.

Sentiment

The recorded sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. The bill advanced unanimously in the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee and then passed the Assembly floor without any dissenting votes, suggesting broad support for honoring Cold War veterans. The available record shows no organized opposition, and the measure appears to have been treated as a ceremonial veterans’ recognition bill with consensus backing.

Contention

No major contention is evident in the available record. The only potentially notable policy issues are the scope of eligibility—especially the inclusion of veterans with qualifying conditions and discharged LGBT veterans—and the decision to waive any requirement that the recipient have been a New York resident when entering service. These provisions appear to have been accepted without recorded dispute, and no committee transcript indicates opposition or debate.