A 3938 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the Alexander John Smullen Traffic Safety Memorial Law

Summary

Authorizes the department of transportation to establish and implement a state memorial sign program to memorialize persons who died due to injuries sustained in a fatal motor vehicle crash on state highways.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Dec 2025

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed Dec 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A3938A → A3938B · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift from the Highway Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law to the Transportation Law, updating the legal framework for memorial signs. The revised version adds stricter eligibility requirements, including a ban on signs for drivers who died while intoxicated and causing serious injury or death to others, and introduces a family objection process that can prevent sign placement. The program now applies only to fatal crashes reportable to federal databases on state highways, with clearer rules on sign design, placement, and removal timelines.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from all highways to state-maintained highways reportable to federal databases, and the legal authority shifted from the Highway Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law to the Transportation Law.

SCOPE

Changed legal authority from Highway Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law to Transportation Law, Section 14, subdivision 29-a

ELIGIBILITY

Added prohibition on memorial signs for persons who died while intoxicated and caused serious injury or death to another person

Added family objection process that prevents sign placement if immediate family objects

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that signs differ from highway or bridge dedication signs

Added specific placement guidelines including prohibition in front of residences or businesses

Added requirement for public website information about the memorial sign program

TIMELINE

Changed sign duration from two years with release option to mandatory two-year removal with replacement provisions

Floor votes · Senate Jun 11, 2025 · Assembly Jun 11, 2025

How they voted

59–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 63

Jun 11, 2025

D Democratic41

38 Yea 3

92% Yea

R Republican22

21 Yea 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 12, 2025

Signed into law

SIGNED CHAP.624

lower

Jun 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO RULES

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

Jun 4, 2025

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES

lower

May 28, 2025

Committee

REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

May 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3938B

lower

May 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 3938A

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

lower

1 primary · 79 co-sponsors