Requires a study on the height of overhead utility lines and communication lines as such relate to the height of agricultural equipment and other heavy duty…

Official titleShow

Requires a study on the height of overhead utility lines and communication lines as such relate to the height of agricultural equipment and other heavy duty equipment

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Requires a study on the national electric safety code line height standard for overhead utility lines and communication lines as such relate to the height of agricultural equipment and other heavy duty equipment.

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Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Amends the Public Service Law.

Committee

Energy · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Energy And Telecommunications · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to have the chairperson of the Public Service Commission conduct a study to determine whether the use of and compliance with national electric safety code line height that sets the height parameters for overhead utility lines and communication lines is compatible with the height of agricultural equipment and other heavy duty equipment that travel below such lines.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 20, 2025Result: passed
(59) (0) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications
Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsJan 28, 2025Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Lea Webb

Democratic1

Lea Webb

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Michelle Hinchey says this is needed

Currently, the National Electric Safety Code's minimum height require- ments for communications lines (cable tv, phone, fiber, etc.) and neutral tines is 15.5 ft. According the New York Farm Bureau, this height is not compatible for modern farm equipment. As a result, there have been instances, according to the Bureau, where farmers cannot access their fields without hitting lines. Farmers often see these new lines going up and try to work with utility companies to either raise the tines or bury a portion of them to provide access to their fields. Unfortunately, not every effort produces the desired result. Further- more, there are instances in which farmers do not know of lines that are constructed until after the completion of construction whereupon it is too late to work with the companies erecting the lines to address height concerns. Therefore, this bill is being introduced to determine whether the National Electric Safety Code line height standard is compatible with the increased size of agricultural equipment and other off-road heavy-duty equipment to ensure safe passage of such equipment under tines and cables.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Mar 20, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 20, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 20, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY
NY Assembly

Show full history (4 earlier events)

Feb 3, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Jan 28, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Jan 27, 2025
1ST Report CAL.190
1ST REPORT CAL.190
NY Senate
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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