Senate bill · S7951 (2025-26)

Establishes the native/pollinator planting fund, the pollinator highway program and creates a distinctive license plate relating thereto

Latest action Jun 3, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A9620, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

State Senator, District 37 · Democratic/Working Families

Summary

Establishes the native/pollinator planting fund and the pollinator highway program; creates a distinctive native plant and pollinator license plate with the goal of promoting the cultivation and maintenance of native flowering plants, grasses and shrubs on land bordering state highways and on other public lands.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the State Finance Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section 1 amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-uu which establishes a native/pollinator planting fund in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the state comptroller. The fund shall consist of revenue from appropriations, interest earned, state and federal grants for green infrastructure projects, and revenue generated from the sale of a dedicated distinctive license plate featur- ing native plant or pollinator imagery. Money from the fund shall support the establishment of the pollinator highway program. Section 2 amends the highway law by adding a new section 67 establishing the pollinator highway program to promote the cultivation and mainte- nance of native flowering plants, grasses and shrubs on land bordering state highways and on other public lands. Objectives for the program shall include: incorporating native plants into green infrastructure solutions, establishing and enhancing pollinator habitats, and utilizing native vegetation to improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce the need for emissions-intensive maintenance activities. The Department of Transportation shall consult with other state agencies including the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Department of Environ- mental Conservation and with environmental organizations to identify suitable locations for planting, develop standards for plant selection, encourage use of innovative stormwater management techniques integrating native vegetation, and shall coordinate with municipalities and regional agencies and environmental groups to implement pilot projects and commu- nity-based initiatives. The Department of Transportation shall support implementation of the program by establishing grants to municipalities and public-private partnerships to enhance outreach, and shall work with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Environmental Conservation to design and establish a distinctive license plant featur- ing native plant or pollinator imagery with the proceeds supporting the program's activities and grants. Section 3 adds a new section 404-ff to the vehicle and traffic law to direct the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue distinctive native plant or pollinator license plates upon request, for payment of an annu- al service' charge of twenty-five dollars in addition to the regular registration fee. Monies received as annual service charges under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the native/pollinator plant- ing fund. Section 4 provides that the distinctive license plates provided for in section 3 shall be designed, produced, and issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles only upon the issuance of a surety bond to the Department in the amount of six thousand dollars, unless the Department receives, prior to plate design, production, and issuance, at least two hundred orders for such distinctive plates. Section 5 provides the effective date.

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

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

Committee

Finance · New York State Senate

Also referred to Transportation · New York State Assembly, Transportation · New York State Senate.

The sponsor's argument

Why Shelley Mayer says this is needed

The New York State Pollinator Task Force, formed in 2015, was charged with developing a plan for New York to conserve and grow its pollinator population. The New York State Pollinator Protection Plan, issued in 2016, was updated in 2022.(1) The New York state efforts were preceded on the federal level by the release of Presidential Memorandum - Creat- ing a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.(2) As noted by the Office of General Services, "New York State agencies and authorities own or lease a significant percentage of the 31,106,541 acres in New York State. In a natural condition, the environment performs critical, life-supporting functions, such as cleaning the air and water, controlling floodwater, moderating temperature and wind, and providing wildlife habitat.... New York State is home TO more than 450 wild pollinator species, including bees, birds and other insects, that support not only pollination needs for commercial crops, but also the biodiversity in our environment. With insect populations on the decline all over the world, it is crucial to protect our pollinators.(3) According to the state's Pollinator Protection Plan, the Department of Transportation, which is responsible for providing safe and efficient transportation systems, has the ability to also provide suitable habitat and landscape connectivity for pollinators while maintaining rights of way. DOT owns 15,000 miles of highway outside New York City and 140 miles within New York City and since October 2012 has encouraged polli- nator-friendly planting along rights of way.(4) This bill recognizes the importance of supporting pollinator health and diversity by expanding native plant habitats along highway rights of way and on other public lands. The bill creates a dedicated funding mech- anism through the native/pollinator planting fund which will include revenues generated through the sale of a dedicated vanity license plate featuring native plant or pollinator imagery. The native/pollinator planting fund will enable the Department of Trans- portation to establish the pollinator highway program and expand upon existing efforts and partnerships with other state agencies, munici- palities, and environmental organizations to create pollinator-friendly wildlife habitats along rights of way throughout the state.

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.

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 3, 2026Result: passed
(54) (7) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesMay 28, 2026Result: passed
(21) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 3, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 3, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 3, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly
May 28, 2026
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 28, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1372
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1372
NY Senate

Show full history (6 earlier events)

May 5, 2026
Reference Changed to Transportation
REFERENCE CHANGED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
Jan 30, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Finance
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 21, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Nov 7, 2025
Amend (t) and Recommit to Finance
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO FINANCE
NY Senate