All Roll Calls
Yes: 201 • No: 2
New YorkA 2912025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Includes the space force as being members of the armed forces or veterans eligible for certain credits and benefits
Sponsored By: Didi Barrett (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
VETERANS' AFFAIRSWAYS AND MEANSRULESVETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Space Force service counts toward retirement
Commissioned active Space Force service counts toward New York's state retired-list allowance for qualifying officers. Officers need at least 20 years of commissioned active service and the applicable 10-year consecutive service period immediately before retirement. The annual allowance equals 75% of their highest annual military or naval pay rate paid by New York. Payments continue while the officer remains on the state retired list.
Space Force gains state benefit recognition
New York includes Space Force service in armed-forces definitions used for state benefits and economic development programs. General veteran status usually requires full-time active duty, not training duty; listed wartime civilian and maritime exceptions remain. Economic development eligibility requires an honorable or general discharge, or listed qualifying-condition or discharged-LGBT-veteran status without bad-conduct or dishonorable discharge. Military-law definitions of active U.S. military service and membership in U.S. armed forces require full-time duty. Service certificates must be provided on request and can serve as initial proof of service, dates, rank, pay, and discharge.
Paid holidays reach Space Force veterans
Qualifying state and local public employees get 24 hours of paid leave on Memorial Day and 24 hours on Veterans' Day. Eligibility includes active-duty Space Force veterans and listed wartime civilian, maritime, allied-force, and expeditionary-medal service groups. Employees need an honorable discharge or separation, or the listed qualifying-condition or discharged-LGBT-veteran status. Leave does not reduce vacation time or workdays. When holiday leave threatens public safety or the health or safety of people in state care, employers must provide another day.
More veterans qualify for property exemptions
Active Space Force service counts toward veteran status for New York's veteran property tax exemption. Veterans need qualifying wartime service or a listed expeditionary medal, plus an accepted discharge or statutory qualifying status. The law also recognizes qualifying maritime and transport crews, overseas American Field Service civilians, and Pan American workers from World War II. Reserve members who meet the section's requirements also qualify. These changes expand service eligibility; the provided text does not state an exemption amount.
Election rules recognize Space Force service
New York election law counts Space Force service as military service. It also recognizes the Space Force Academy alongside other listed military academies. Election rules that depend on these definitions now include those members and academy attendees.
Space Force drivers gain insurance protections
Auto liability insurers cannot deny applicants solely for lacking vehicle ownership or a lease during a 39-month period. Applicants must have held a valid New York license for at least 39 months and otherwise meet underwriting standards. Active Space Force members can count continuous, valid out-of-state or foreign licenses during the 39 months before applying. They must show that active service caused the different licensing history. Insurers cannot reject them solely because of that service.
Education rules recognize Space Force service
New York includes Space Force service in the military-service definition used by the amended education-law section. Space Force service counts when that section determines a person's military status. The provided text does not identify a specific payment or benefit.
Space Force employees gain return protections
New York counts qualifying Space Force service after July 1, 1940, as military duty for covered public employees. Returning employees have a 90-day window to seek reinstatement. The recognized duty period runs from separation from public employment through reinstatement. Existing limits and exclusions for voluntary service remain.
Veterans avoid state job exam fees
Qualifying veterans, including Space Force veterans, do not pay the state application fee for civil service exams for original appointment. Veteran status requires an honorable discharge or another listed discharge or qualifying-condition standard. With budget-director approval, Civil Service can waive fees for applicants certifying unemployment, primary household support responsibility, or reliance on public assistance. The law also authorized fee waivers for all exams held July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Didi Barrett
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 6/12/2025
FLOOR Vote
Yes: 57 • No: 2
House vote • 5/21/2025
Assembly floor vote
Yes: 144 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
SIGNED CHAP.611
12/5/2025HouseDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
12/1/2025HouseRETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
6/12/2025SenateREPASSED SENATE
6/12/2025Senate3RD READING CAL.737
6/12/2025SenateSUBSTITUTED FOR S243A
6/12/2025SenateREFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
5/21/2025SenateDELIVERED TO SENATE
5/21/2025HousePASSED ASSEMBLY
5/21/2025HouseORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.197
5/21/2025HouseRULES REPORT CAL.197
5/21/2025HouseREPORTED
5/21/2025HouseREPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
5/20/2025HouseREPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
4/28/2025HousePRINT NUMBER 291A
4/23/2025HouseAMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS
4/23/2025HouseREFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS
1/8/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment A
4/23/2025
Original
12/31/2024
Related Bills
S 9051, Prohibits artificial intelligence companions from using features which are considered unsafe for minors
S 10643, Relates to labor peace agreements and the cannabis industry wage board; repealer
A 5175, Requires certain security features and warning labels on baby monitors
S 8953, Establishes the Clarence Center Volunteer Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association
S 9968, Establishes the Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company Benevolent Association
A 10052, Extends the effectiveness of the authority of the town of Red Hook to impose real estate transfer taxes and to deposit revenue from such taxes into a community preservation fund