NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10171A
SPONSOR: Durso TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law and chapter 398 of the laws of 2025
amending the highway law relating to dedicating a portion of the state
highway system to "Port Authority Detective Thomas Inman", in relation
to changing the dedication of the bridge dedicated to Detective Thomas
M. Inman
PURPOSE:
Dedicates a portion of the state highway system to Detective Thomas M.
Inman.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Section 344-r of the highway law, as added by chapter 398 of
the laws of 2025, is amended to read as follows: 344-r. Portion of the
state highway system to be dedicated to Detective Thomas M. Inman. The
bridge over the eastbound and westbound lanes of the Southern State
Parkway on state route two hundred thirty-one in the town of Babylon,
county of Suffolk, shall be dedicated to Detective Thomas M. Inman.
§2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installa-
tion and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as
dedicated pursuant to section one of this act, provided that such sign-
ing shall state "Bridge Dedicated to Detective Thomas M. Inman". Howev-
er, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce,
the dedication called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be
one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such bridge shall not
be changed as a result of this act.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill seeks to honor Port Authority Detective Thomas M. Inman by
renaming a bridge in the community which loved him dearly. Tom was a
9/11 first responder and tragically died of a related cancer in 2020.
Since the age of 17, Tom served his country, first in the Army in Viet-
nam, and then here at home for 32 years as a decorated member of the New
York and New Jersey Port Authority Police Department, earning the rank
of Detective. Prior to Tom's retirement as a detective in 2003, he spent
15 months at Ground Zero and the morgue helping to try to give families
closure in the face of such tragedy.
Thomas M. Inman is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 50
years Diane, 9 nieces and nephews, 10 great nieces and nephews, 3 great-
great nieces and nephews, as well as many friends and colleagues. Dedi-
cating a bridge in the community Tom called home will memorialize his
life of dedicated and selfless service forever.
PRIOR HISTORY:
A.10171
SAME AS:
S.8864 (Martinez)
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10171--A
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DURSO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the highway law and chapter 398 of the laws of 2025
amending the highway law relating to dedicating a portion of the state
highway system to "Port Authority Detective Thomas Inman", in relation
to changing the dedication of the bridge dedicated to Detective Thomas
M. Inman
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 344-r of the highway law, as added by chapter 398
2 of the laws of 2025, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 344-r. Portion of the state highway system to be dedicated to Detec-
4 tive Thomas M. Inman. The bridge over the eastbound and westbound lanes
5 of the Southern State Parkway on state route two hundred thirty-one in
6 the town of Babylon, county of Suffolk, shall be dedicated to Detective
7 Thomas M. Inman.
8 § 2. Section 2 of chapter 398 of the laws of 2025 amending the highway
9 law relating to dedicating a portion of the state highway system to
10 "Port Authority Detective Thomas Inman", is amended to read as follows:
11 § 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the instal-
12 lation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system
13 as dedicated pursuant to section one of this act, provided that such
14 signing shall state "Bridge Dedicated to Detective Thomas M Inman".
15 However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of
16 commerce, the dedication called for pursuant to section one of this act
17 shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such bridge
18 shall not be changed as a result of this act.
19 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14329-03-6
