Legislative Update – July/August
State legislative session concludes for the year
The State legislative session concluded on Friday, June 3rd with both the Senate and Assembly wrapping up scheduled activities for the year. Lawmakers approved more than 1,000 bills this session, which will be sent to Governor Kathy Hochul for consideration. It’s the highest number of bills to be approved in both chambers in almost three decades. Several bills that NYSAR opposed did not pass, including good cause eviction, the “all-electric building act” and a bill that would prohibit landlords’ agents from collecting broker fees from tenants. Visit nysar.com to read a full summary of real-estate-related legislation from this year’s session.
Reasonable Modification and Accommodation Law now in effect
The NYS Division of Human Rights published final regulations on May 18, 2022, adding 9 NYCRR 466.15 that provides guidance for compliance for licensees and landlords. The regulations include definitions, examples of reasonable modifications and accommodations as well as a sample copy of the notice. The law and regulation also require real estate licensees and landlords to provide a notice that sets forth the rights a disabled individual has with regard to requesting reasonable modifications or accommodations to or in the “housing accommodation.” The notice must be provided at “first substantive contact” with a prospective tenant (Note: The same as the Agency Disclosure Form and the Housing and Anti-Discrimination Disclosure Form.) Brokers are also responsible for posting of the notice conspicuously at all real estate offices and on their websites. NYSAR has developed two notices where the managing agent information is known and where the managing agent information is unknown. Visit nysar.com for more information and to access sample notices.
Final NY electoral maps released by the court
A court-appointed special master has issued the final New York Congressional and State Senate maps. The Capital Region’s new 20th District will include all of Schenectady, Albany, and Saratoga Counties, as well as a portion of Rensselaer County that includes the Cities of Troy and Rensselaer.
The neighboring 21st District will expand to include all or parts of 15 upstate counties, including the City of Amsterdam in Montgomery County, the hometown of current Democratic 20th District Representative Paul Tonko.
Tonko has stated he intends to run in the new 20th District, which favors Democrats.
Current 21st District Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, a Saratoga County resident, plans to run in the new 21st which gives the GOP the advantage.
