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S 7164

Authorizes seniors and persons with mobility impairment to use an ATV to enter and exit certain lands during ice fishing season

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Michelle Hinchey

Allows seniors and mobility-impaired individuals to use ATVs to access designated lands for ice fishing during the season, with safety and access rules.

COMMITTED TO RULES
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 7164

Comprehensive Summary: S 7164 – Authorizes seniors and mobility-impaired to use an ATV for ice fishing access

Bill at a glance
- Bill Number: S 7164
- Title: Authorizes seniors and persons with mobility impairment to use an ATV to enter and exit certain lands during ice fishing season
- Sponsor: Senator Michelle Hinchey (primary)
- Companion in the Assembly: A 7886
- Status: COMMITTED TO RULES (as of the latest actions)
- Introduced: April 3, 2025
- Related Actions: Referred to Transportation (April 3, 2025); progressed through reports and readings (May–June 2025)

Purpose and intent

S 7164 would authorize the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) by two eligible groups—seniors and persons with mobility impairment—to enter and exit certain lands during the ice fishing season. The core aim is to improve accessibility to ice fishing areas for individuals who may face mobility challenges, while presumably maintaining existing land-use and safety controls for ATV operations.

Key provisions and changes (as indicated by the bill’s description)

  • Eligibility for ATV use: Limited to seniors and persons with mobility impairment.
  • Geographic scope: Applies to “certain lands” specified in the bill (the exact land designations would be defined in the statutory text).
  • Timing: Limited to the ice fishing season, establishing a seasonal access window.
  • Operational framework: The bill would authorize ATV entry/exit on designated lands during the season, which implies accompanying regulatory conditions (e.g., safety requirements, access rules, and potential restrictions) would be specified in the statute or implementing regulations.

Note: The provided information does not include the full text, so specific definitions, conditions, permitting requirements, or enforcement mechanisms are not enumerated here. The actual bill text would detail these elements.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Seniors and individuals with mobility impairments seeking access to ice fishing areas.
  • Landowners and land managers: If the lands are state-owned, managed lands, there could be changes to access rules and enforcement. Private land considerations would depend on any landowner provisions included in the bill.
  • ATV operators: The target user base would expand during the ice fishing season within the defined lands, subject to any safety and compliance requirements.

Procedural and timeline context

  • April 3, 2025: Referred to the Transportation committee.
  • May 27–29, 2025: Sequential actions include 1st Report CAL.1319, 2nd Report CAL., and Advanced to Third Reading.
  • May 29, 2025 & June 13, 2025: Multiple entries show COMMITTED TO RULES, indicating ongoing committee proceedings and scheduling for floor consideration.

Next steps and considerations

  • The bill would move to the full Senate floor for debate and voting if advanced beyond Rules.
  • A companion Assembly bill (A 7886) exists, which may parallel or influence passage.
  • Potential implications to monitor include safety standards for ATV use on designated lands, overlap with land access policies, wildlife or environmental safeguards, and enforcement mechanisms.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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