NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3534
SPONSOR: Santabarbara TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to suspending
fees for REAL ID cards; and providing for the repeal of certain
provisions upon the expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill aims to suspend fees for REAL ID drivers licenses and non-dri-
ver identification cards as New Yorkers transition to federal REAL ID
requirements that will be mandatory by M\y 7. 2025 to board a commercial
flight or enter federal buildings.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
A new subdivision 3-a is added to section 503 of the vehicle and traffic
law which states that no fees shall be charged for the application,
processing or issuance of a renewal of a driver's license or non-driver
identification card that is REAL ID compliant with federal law under
United States Public Law 109-13.
JUSTIFICATION:
Starting May 5, 2025 a REAL ID will be required for every person who is
a passenger on a commercial flight or seeking entrance into a federal
building. This bill aims to make this transition, which is mandated by
new requirements by the federal government, more affordable by removing
burdensome fees for residents of New York.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section
one of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after Decem-
ber 31, 2025.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3534
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to suspending
fees for REAL ID cards; and providing for the repeal of certain
provisions upon the expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 503 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3 3-a. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no fees
4 shall be charged for the application, processing or issuance, including
5 photo image fees, for a renewal of a driver's license or non-driver
6 identification card that is REAL ID compliant with federal law under
7 United States Public Law 109-13.
8 § 2. The commissioner of motor vehicles shall refund any fees paid
9 since January 1, 2017 for a REAL ID driver's license or non-driver iden-
10 tification card which was issued to any person with an existing license
11 or non-driver identification card prior to the expiration period for
12 such license or card.
13 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
14 section one of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after
15 December 31, 2027.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06688-01-5
