Grants temporary parking permits for handicapped parking spaces to pregnant persons; requires certification from a physician; provides that such permit terminates at the end of the pregnancy.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10266
SPONSOR: Lavine TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to granting
temporary parking permits for handicapped parking spaces to pregnant
persons
PURPOSE:
To grant temporary parking permits for handicapped parking spaces to
people who are pregnant
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Municipalities may issue a temporary special vehicle identification
parking permit to any women who is pregnant, as certified by practition-
er. Such temporary special vehicle identification parking permit shall
be recognized statewide and shall terminate at the end of pregnancy.
JUSTIFICATION:
Pregnancy can significantly limit a person's mobility and physical
endurance, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy or when compli-
cations are present. Despite these temporary but very real physical
limitations, New York law currently provides no mechanism for pregnant
persons to access handicapped parking accommodations unless they meet
the statutory definition of permanent disability. As a result, many
pregnant individuals are forced to walk long distances, navigate unsafe
conditions, or forego essential medical appointments, work, and daily
activities.
This bill addresses that gap by authorizing the issuance of temporary
parking permits for the use of handicapped parking spaces to pregnant
persons who demonstrate a medical need. The permits would be time-limit-
ed and conditioned on appropriate documentation, ensuring that access is
granted only when warranted and without undermining the integrity of the
existing handicapped parking system. Temporary mobility limitations are
already recognized under New York law for other conditions, Such as
recovery from surgery or injury. Pregnancy particularly high-risk preg-
nancies or those involving conditions such as pelvic instability, preec-
lampsia, sciatica, or severe swelling-can impose comparable or greater
physical burdens. Extending temporary parking accommodations to preg-
nant persons reflects a commonsense and compassionate application of
existing policy principles.
Moreover, this legislation promotes public health and maternal safety by
reducing fall risk, physical strain, and stress during pregnancy. It
also supports workforce participation by allowing pregnant individuals
to continue working safely for as long as medically appropriate.
By granting local authorities the ability to issue temporary handicapped
parking permits to pregnant persons, this bill recognizes pregnancy as a
time-limited medical condition that may require reasonable accommo-
dation. It advances equity, safety, and dignity for pregnant New Yorkers
while maintaining appropriate safeguards against misuse.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A4657 (2017-2018): Referred to transportation 02/03/17; 01/03/18
A4308 (2015-2016): Referred to Transportation 01/06/2016
A2263 (2013): Referred to Transportation 01/09/2013
A2263 (2014): Referred to Transportation 01/08/2014
A2263 (2014): Enacting Clause Stricken 01/15/2014
A9277 (2014): Referred to Transportation 04/07/2014
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10266
IN ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to granting
temporary parking permits for handicapped parking spaces to pregnant
persons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1203-a-1 to read as follows:
3 § 1203-a-1. Temporary parking permits for pregnant persons. Notwith-
4 standing any provision of this chapter to the contrary, any municipality
5 may issue a temporary special vehicle identification parking permit to
6 any person who is pregnant, as certified by a physician. Such temporary
7 special vehicle identification parking permit shall be recognized state-
8 wide and shall terminate at the end of the pregnancy.
9 § 2. Section 1203-b of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by
10 chapter 203 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
11 § 1203-b. Parking spaces; handicapped. 1. Parking spaces for the hand-
12 icapped as provided for in sections one thousand two hundred three-a and
13 one thousand two hundred three-c of this [chapter] article shall also be
14 extended to a motor vehicle registered in accordance with section four
15 hundred four-a, or a temporary parking permit issued pursuant to section
16 one thousand two hundred three-a-one of this chapter. A handicapped
17 permit issued in accordance with the provisions of section one thousand
18 two hundred three-a and a temporary parking permit issued pursuant to
19 section one thousand two hundred three-a-one of this [chapter] article
20 shall entitle the driver to park in such parking spaces. Parking spaces
21 for the handicapped shall be those parking spaces accorded to a holder
22 of a handicapped parking permit provided in accordance with section one
23 thousand two hundred three-a or as provided in section four hundred
24 four-a or section one thousand two hundred three-a-one of this chapter,
25 authorizing municipalities to issue temporary parking permits to preg-
26 nant persons.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14454-02-6
A. 10266 2
1 2. It shall be a violation for any person to stop, stand or park a
2 vehicle in any area designated as a place for handicapped parking unless
3 the vehicle bears a permit issued under section one thousand two hundred
4 three-a, section one thousand two hundred three-a-one or a registration
5 issued under section four hundred four-a of this chapter and such vehi-
6 cle is being used for the transportation of a severely disabled [or],
7 handicapped or pregnant person. This subdivision shall not apply to a
8 violation of section twelve hundred three-c of this [chapter] article.
9 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
10 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
11 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
12 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
13 on or before such effective date.
