S 9057 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Adds the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad scenic byway into the state scenic byways system

This bill designates specific segments of state and county highways across multiple counties as the "Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway." It details a continuous route from Auburn through Geneva, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, including portions of routes 5, 20, 38, 14, 31, 78, and others. The bill requires transportation officials to install ceremonial signage identifying the byway but explicitly states this is non-binding - official highway names remain unchanged. The dedication is purely symbolic, with no alteration to road designations or traffic operations.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed Jun 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S9057 → S9057A · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add multiple sponsors and update its title to reflect adding a scenic byway rather than dedicating a specific portion of the highway system. The route description was significantly revised to correct the starting point in Seneca County and update the path through Rochester, while the legal mechanism changed from creating a new section to amending an existing one.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded by adding seven new sponsors and the route definition was substantially modified to include a corrected path through Rochester and a different starting location in Seneca County.

ELIGIBILITY

Seven new sponsors (Sens. May, Cleare, Comrie, Martinez, Parker, Scalia-Spanton, and Sepulveda) were added to the bill's introduction.

DEFINITION

The bill's title was changed from dedicating a portion of the highway system to adding the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad scenic byway to the state scenic byways system.

REQUIREMENT

The legal mechanism was changed from adding a new section to amending subdivision 1 of section 349-dd of the highway law by adding a new paragraph (j-15).

The route description was updated to start at the Seneca County line in the town of Tyre instead of Auburn, and the path through Rochester was altered to include Chestnut Street South and Broad Street East.

The requirement for the commissioner of transportation to install and maintain signage stating 'Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway' was removed.

The provision limiting the dedication to a ceremonial nature and prohibiting an official name change was removed.

TIMELINE

The act's effective date section was shortened, removing the specific instruction for the commissioner regarding signage installation.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 4, 2026 · Assembly Jun 4, 2026

How they voted

60–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 63

Jun 4, 2026

D Democratic41

38 Yea 3

92% 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 12, 2026

Signed into law

SIGNED CHAP.132

upper

Jun 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED ASSEMBLY

lower

Jun 4, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

lower

Jun 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

Jun 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 9057A

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

upper

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors