NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed two key measures in a bipartisan legislative package aimed at shoring up emergency medical services in New York, signing only a bill that requires county-level EMS planning as lawmakers and providers warn of widening coverage gaps, particularly in rural areas.
The rejected bills would have allowed local governments to fund EMS outside the state property tax cap and would have exempted ambulances and fire vehicles from New York State Thruway tolls while responding to emergencies, FingerLakes 1 reported. Supporters said both proposals were intended to ease chronic underfunding and escalating operating costs that have strained EMS agencies statewide.
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In her veto message, Hochul rejected the tax cap exemption — sponsored by Sen. Rachel May and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo — citing concerns it could lead to higher property taxes for homeowners and businesses. She said the cap has helped curb local tax growth and deliver savings to taxpayers.
The governor also vetoed the toll exemption bill, which would have directed the Thruway Authority to issue permits allowing ambulances and fire vehicles to travel toll-free during emergency responses. While EMS leaders argue toll costs further squeeze already limited budgets — especially for rural agencies facing long transports — Hochul did not provide a detailed public explanation specific to the toll proposal.
Hochul did sign a third bill in the "#RescueEMS” package, requiring counties to work with municipalities and regional EMS councils to develop comprehensive EMS plans that assess service levels, identify gaps, and outline how care will be organized and funded.
Lawmakers and EMS leaders warn that without new funding options, many rural municipalities could see longer response times, reduced coverage, or even lose ambulance service, as volunteer-dependent agencies face long distances and high transport costs under the tax cap.
If you could tell state leaders one thing about EMS funding realities, what would it be?
EMS1 readers respond
“In the rural areas, EMS is not a part of the fire department and does not have the same amount of funding as they do. This is why we have failing EMS departments. In Ohio, EMS is still not considered an essential service, further complicating things.”
“They need to pull their collective heads out of the sand, they will be the ones that have to answer to the people when nobody shows up when the call 911.”
“This governor needs to go. She consistently votes against initiatives that would help EMS but claims to care about it.”
“It could be your family’s crisis.”
“The volunteer model in rural areas is unstainable and will likely cease to exist in the near future.”
“I am a volunteer EMT for 30 years. The inequities in emergency service are disgraceful. I work for free. You should walk in EMS shoes and ride an ambulance for a month. Try to support a family on their pay. It’s terrible property takes a priority over life.”
“You are losing and have lost people in the field that put thier heart and soul into EMS and saving lives. Times have changed and rural towns are struggling to keep staff. People dont have the ability to volunteer their time because they can’t afford to anymore. NY is taxing the life out of everyone and everything. And it’s the elderly and the children that suffer the most. Sad sad state of affairs. All for the love of money. It will bite you in the butt! Good luck.”
“Rural ambulance services are not recognized by the state of NY as an essential service, like fire or police, e.g. They function strictly as a voluntary agency dedicated to the public good. OK. But I think that at the very least the state would exempt the ambulances from having to pay tolls on the Thruway. Not a big item but a courtesy at least. No funding? No ambulance went you need one. And this means you, too, lawmakers.”
“Without helping cost reduction for EMS and increasing requirements for training and recertification, EMS will not survive. Then what will it cost to rebuild?”
“Remember this veto come election time.”
“EMS is in crisis mode and if sustainable funding is not provided you are going to see ambulances start to close which strains other ambulance services who have to cover their response area until they cannot cover. The domino effect is already beginning as volunteerism which has largely covered EMS response is dying. After 43 years in EMS on emergency ambulance services I retired this year and I truly fear for the future of EMS.”
“State and Federal grants and funding are almost non-existent for EMS and are mostly directed to fire departments, while EMS does the lion’s share of emergency calls. The reimbursement rate for Medicare and Medicaid is killing EMS. Without funding by local, federal and state governments and better reimbursement rates, EMS will be dealt a death blow.”
“Failure to properly fund EMS will result in more deaths than you could ever imagine. As a medic and a nurse improperly funding EMS is leading to shortages longer response times short staffing, and ultimately death for some. Now imagine all of those factors come together for one of your family members. Is it acceptable then is it a cost that you’re willing to put forward. Paramedics EMTs are tired of not getting properly paid and in the next couple of years you will see a mass Exodus in these areas for higher paying money. Can your grandmother your child or your family member having a heart attack, afford that You need to ask yourself these questions when you’re voting.”
“You get what you pay for. You don’t want to raise taxes or allow emergency cars to go free and take a shorter route. Let it be you or your loved one having an emergency. As a tax payer myself I would rather have to pay a little more in taxes to make sure my family is safe. But in doing this. It should also be that people make a living wage to compensate for the higher taxes. I don’t think non-healthcare people should make decisions on things they know nothing about. On that note you approved the committe to find these ‘gaps’ and such just to reject the ones they find and come up with a solutation for.”
“Wake up and finally realize that EMS is an essential service just like police and fire. Divert funding to EMS from nonessential funding projects that do not impact the health and wellbeing of the citizenry. EMS is a life and death service and is just as valuable as police and fire (just ask anybody who is experiencing an acute M.I. or is in the process of bleeding to death if that is not true). Anybody who has any sense realizes that you need ambulances are needed.”
