New York A 9397: Relates to the registration of surplus military vehicles

Bill Text

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A09397 Summary:

BILL NOA09397 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORBrown E

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COSPNSRAngelino, Brook-Krasny, Blumencranz, Hawley, Brown K

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §401-c, V & T L

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Requires the registration of surplus military vehicles previously owned by the United States department of defense or any federal agency, sold or transferred through an authorized federal surplus property program.

Go to top A09397 Actions:

BILL NOA09397 

&nbsp

12/19/2025referred to transportation

01/07/2026referred to transportation

Go to topA09397 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09397 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09397 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9397

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 December 19, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. E. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
 tee on Transportation

 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the regis-
 tration and titling of surplus military vehicles purchased from the
 federal government

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby
 2 finds and declares that:
 3 1. New York residents legally purchase surplus United States Depart-
 4 ment of Defense vehicles through authorized federal surplus property
 5 programs and auctions, including but not limited to GovPlanet, GSA
 6 Auctions, and other federal contractors.
 7 2. Such surplus vehicles are routinely accompanied by federal documen-
 8 tation including Standard Form 97 (U.S. Government Certificate to Obtain
 9 Title), U.S. Department of Justice titles, or other official federal
 10 transfer documents used by states throughout the nation to issue lawful
 11 titles and registrations.
 12 3. Under federal disposal rules, "surplus" vehicles differ signif-
 13 icantly from "decommissioned" military vehicles. Surplus vehicles do not
 14 contain active offensive or defensive military capabilities and are not
 15 required to be demilitarized or destroyed.
 16 4. New York residents who purchase such surplus vehicles and subse-
 17 quently install department of transportation-compliant glass, lighting,
 18 tires, mirrors, and other safety equipment--and who pass an official New
 19 York State safety and emissions inspection--should not be prohibited
 20 from titling, registering, or operating said vehicles on public high-
 21 ways.
 22 5. The current absence of statutory clarity has resulted in the
 23 department of motor vehicles refusing to title or register federally

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14230-01-5

 A. 9397 2

 1 documented surplus vehicles, causing substantial financial loss to resi-
 2 dents and contradicting federal intent for surplus property utilization.
 3 Therefore, the purpose of this act is to establish a clear, uniform,
 4 and lawful pathway for the titling and registration of surplus military
 5 vehicles in New York State once they are made road-legal and pass
 6 inspection.
 7 § 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
 8 401-c to read as follows:
 9 § 401-c. Registration of surplus military vehicles. 1. For purposes of
 10 this section, "surplus military vehicle" shall mean a vehicle previously
 11 owned by the United States department of defense or any federal agency,
 12 sold or transferred through an authorized federal surplus property
 13 program, and accompanied by one or more of the following documents:
 14 a. Standard Form 97;
 15 b. a U.S. Department of Justice title; or
 16 c. any other federal certificate of release or transfer used to obtain
 17 state-issued title.
 18 2. The department shall issue a New York state certificate of title
 19 and registration for any surplus military vehicle that meets all of the
 20 following conditions:
 21 a. the applicant presents valid federal surplus transfer documentation
 22 as defined in subdivision one of this section;
 23 b. the vehicle has been equipped with DOT-compliant safety glass,
 24 lighting, tires, and other equipment required under New York state law;
 25 c. the vehicle