Requires the department of transportation to include in its existing vegetative management program the removal of invasive vines

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick

Requires NY DOT to add invasive vine removal to its standard vegetation program on state roadways, shaping budgets, contracts, and field crews.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

Overview

A.23, introduced January 8, 2025, would require the New York Department of Transportation (DOT) to include removal of invasive vines in its existing vegetative management program. The bill is currently REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION.

Sponsor: Chris Burdick (primary)

Related bill: A 10693 (prior-session)

Purpose and Intent

The bill aims to formalize the removal of invasive vines as part of DOT’s ongoing vegetation management on state roadways. By integrating invasive vine removal into the DOT’s vegetative management program, the measure seeks to address ecological and safety concerns associated with invasive plant species along rights-of-way.

Key Provisions

Requirement: DOT must incorporate the removal of invasive vines into its existing vegetative management program.

Scope (implied): The action would apply to vegetation management activities on state roadways and related rights-of-way as overseen by DOT.

Alignment: The provision would align invasive vine control with current vegetation management practices without creating a separate or standalone program, per the bill’s language.

Note: The text provided does not specify funding, implementation deadlines, or detailed operational standards. Specific requirements (e.g., frequency of removal, approved methods, reporting, or coordination with other agencies) would be determined by the bill’s final language or DOT rulemaking if enacted.

Affected Parties

Primary: New York State Department of Transportation and its contractors responsible for vegetation management along state highways.

Secondary: Potentially affected landowners or stakeholders along rights-of-way if coordination or access is required, though the bill’s text focuses on DOT’s program.

Implementation and Timeline

Status: Referred to Transportation (as of January 8, 2025).

Timeline: No explicit dates or deadlines are stated in the provided text. If enacted, DOT would need to adapt its vegetative management plan to incorporate invasive vine removal, with implementation spread over whatever timeline DOT deems appropriate or as required by further statutory or regulatory action.

Fiscal and Administrative Implications

The bill does not specify funding or appropriations. Implementing the clause would likely involve reassessment of existing budgets, contracts, and resource allocation within DOT’s vegetation program. Any incremental costs (labor, equipment, herbicide use, monitoring) would typically be addressed through DOT’s planning and funding processes.

Related Legislation

A 10693 (prior-session) is listed as related, indicating a similar or predecessor proposal in a prior legislative session.

This summary outlines the bill’s core objective, its primary provisions, and the potential impact on DOT operations and resource planning, pending further legislative action.

Bill