A 3223 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Allows veterans to fish for free in state parks

This bill (A 3223) would allow eligible veterans to fish for free in all state parks managed by state agencies. It specifically covers veterans who served on active duty with an honorable discharge, including those with qualifying conditions or specific LGBT veteran status as defined in existing law. The state office responsible for parks would need to create rules to implement this free access, with the policy taking effect 90 days after enactment. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet become law.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A3223 → A3223A · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand eligibility for free fishing in state parks to include specific categories of veterans previously not explicitly covered, such as those with qualifying conditions or LGBT veterans with non-dishonorable discharges. The committee also discharged the bill, amended it, and recommitted it for further review. These changes ensure a broader range of veterans can access this benefit.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general provision for 'veterans of the armed forces' to a specific list of veteran categories defined by the Veterans' Services Law.

ELIGIBILITY

Replaced the general term 'veterans of the armed forces' with a detailed list including those who served on active duty with other-than-dishonorable discharges, those with qualifying conditions, and LGBT veterans with non-dishonorable discharges.

PROCESS

Added status updates indicating the bill was discharged from committee, amended, and recommitted.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 2, 2026 · Assembly May 14, 2026

How they voted

61–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 63

Jun 2, 2026

D Democratic41

39 Yea 2

95% Yea

R Republican22

22 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

May 14, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION

upper

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

May 12, 2026

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES

lower

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

May 29, 2025

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3223A

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO TOURISM, PARKS, ARTS AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

lower

1 primary · 35 co-sponsors