STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8640
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 22, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WILLIAMS -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating
distinctive license plates for funeral service vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds and declares
2 that:
3 1. Recognition of essential services. Funeral service providers offer
4 critical support to families and communities during times of crisis and
5 loss.
6 2. Precedent in other states. Texas issues professional license plates
7 for categories such as emergency medical services personnel, peace offi-
8 cers, and professional firefighters, recognizing the unique nature of
9 their work.
10 3. Traffic and procession benefits. The identification of funeral
11 service vehicles can facilitate processions, allowing for greater coor-
12 dination with law enforcement and traffic control.
13 § 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
14 404-ff to read as follows:
15 § 404-ff. Distinctive plates for New York state licensed funeral homes
16 or funeral directors. 1. Any New York state funeral home or funeral
17 director licensed pursuant to title two of article thirty-four of the
18 public health law shall, upon request, be issued a license plate format-
19 ted at the discretion of the department bearing the words "funeral
20 service vehicle" or similar and a unique design in order to distinguish
21 it from standard commercial or passenger plates. Such license plates
22 shall be reserved for vehicles operating for the purpose of transporting
23 human remains. Such license plate need not contain the statue of liberty
24 logo. Application for such license plate shall be filed with the commis-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10858-01-5
A. 8640 2
1 sioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe, and
2 shall be verified annually by the applicant.
3 2. The distinctive plate authorized in subdivision one of this section
4 shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the
5 applicant is presently an owner or representative of a licensed funeral
6 home or funeral director in the state of New York.
7 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
8 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
9 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article.
10 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
11 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
12 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
13 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
14 completed on or before such effective date.
