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S 6160

Exempts farmers from commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements when operating a covered farm vehicle

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 10 co-sponsors

Exempts farmers operating a covered farm vehicle from a CDL, cutting regulatory costs and streamlining routine farm transport.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 6160

Summary of Bill S 6160 — Exempts Farmers from CDL Requirements for Covered Farm Vehicles

Overview

Bill S 6160 is a New York State Senate measure titled “Exempts farmers from commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements when operating a covered farm vehicle.” The bill seeks to relieve certain agricultural operators from the requirement to hold a commercial driver’s license when operating a vehicle classified as a “covered farm vehicle.”

Purpose and Intent

  • The primary aim is to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on farmers and farm-related operations by removing CDL requirements for specific farm-related vehicle operations.
  • The bill appears to target routine farming activities where a CDL may not be necessary for the safe, efficient transport of agricultural goods or equipment within the scope defined by the bill.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the title)

  • Exemption from CDL requirements for operators of a “covered farm vehicle.”
  • The exemption would apply to operations meeting the bill’s defined criteria for a covered farm vehicle, enabling farmers or farm workers to operate these vehicles without obtaining or maintaining a commercial driver’s license.

Note: The exact definition of “covered farm vehicle” and the precise scope of the exemption would be specified in the bill’s text. The summary below references only the general intent conveyed by the title and related parliamentary materials.

Sponsors and Legislative Status

  • Primary Sponsor: James Skoufis
  • Notable Cosponsors: Michelle Hinchey, George Borrello, Joseph A. Griffo, Dan Stec, Rachel May, Lea Webb, James Tedisco, Thomas F. O’Mara, Pamela Helming, Peter Oberacker
  • Status: Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee
  • Legislative Actions: Introduced and referred to Transportation on March 6, 2025 (listed twice in the actions)

Related Legislation

  • S 8761 (prior-session) — related bill in a prior session
  • A 6156 (companion) — Assembly counterpart
  • A 6156 (companion) — Assembly counterpart (duplicate listing)

Who Would Be Affected

  • Farmers and farm employees/operators who would operate a covered farm vehicle under the terms of the exemption.
  • Agricultural operations seeking reduced licensing burdens for routine farm transportation activities.

Potential Impacts

  • Positive: Lower compliance costs for farmers, streamlined transport of agricultural products and equipment, potential improvements in farm efficiency.
  • Safety/Regulatory Considerations: Could shift how certain farm vehicle operations are regulated, potentially raising questions about training, oversight, or safety standards for non-CDL drivers operating covered farm vehicles. Enforcement and applicability would depend on the bill’s exact definitions and provisions.
  • Broader Context: The exemption would be aligned with other agricultural exemptions in state and federal contexts, but specifics would hinge on the bill’s text and any related regulations.

Next Steps

  • If the Transportation Committee advances the bill, it would move to further floor consideration and, if approved, to the opposite chamber for consideration. The companion Assembly bill (A 6156) would parallel this process in the Assembly.

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

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