April 2022

Weekly Report for April 29, 2022

NYSAR Lobby Day is May 10 – Talking Points and registration available
NYSAR’s Lobby Day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2022, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting room 6 in Albany. Talking points on this year’s top issues can be found here. Registration is still open via the NYSAR portal here. For complete details on NYSAR’s Lobby Day including hotel room blocks, click here. Identification and proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid test within the past 48 hours is required to access the State Capitol Building.

State Court of Appeals rules newly redistricted maps unconstitutional
On Wednesday, the state’s highest court ruled that both the congressional and State Senate redistricted maps are unconstitutional, resulting in the appointment of Jonathan Cervas, a neutral “special master” to draw new district lines. As of now, a new primary election date in late-August will be scheduled for congressional and Senate districts. Statewide offices and State Assembly elections will still be held on June 28, however, that date could be combined with the late-August primary pending any additional court or legislative actions. Read more here.

New Standard Operating Procedure law now in effect (video update available)
A new law requiring real estate brokers who service residential homebuyers to create and publish “Standardized Operating Procedures” (the “SOP Law”) for their brokerage offices went into effect on April 20, 2022. This topic was covered in detail during NYSAR’s recent April Legal Update. You can view the video on the new SOP law on NYSAR’s Fair Housing webpage by clicking here.

Weekly Report for April 22, 2022

Call for Action – Oppose Good Cause Eviction
Take Action Now! The state Legislature is considering passage of “Good Cause Eviction” legislation, which would restrict the ability of a landlord to evict a tenant, even in cases where their lease has expired so long as the tenant continued to pay rent. The bill (S.3082/A.5573) would also effectively cap annual rent increases to 3% or 1.5 times the CPI for most rental properties statewide with four units or more, unless the landlord is able to prove before a judge that an increase above that threshold is necessary or reasonable. Urge your state lawmakers to oppose “Good Cause Eviction” legislation by filling out the petition here. This petition is part of NYSAR’s coalition efforts to oppose “Good Cause Eviction” as we partner with other real estate and business groups across the state. If you have already taken action, thank you, and please consider sharing the link.

Register for NYSAR’s Lobby Day, Tuesday, May 10 & RPAC event and dinner on May 9
NYSAR’s Lobby Day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting room 6 in Albany. RPAC of New York will also be hosting a “Night @ the Museum and Dinner at the Renaissance Hotel” fundraiser, scheduled for Monday, May 9 at 4 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Registration for Lobby Day and the RPAC fundraiser are now open via the NYSAR portal here. For complete details on NYSAR’s Lobby Day including hotel room blocks, click here.

Weekly Report for April 15, 2022

NYC Rent Guidelines Board report recommends up to 9% rent increase on 2-year leases
The latest New York City Rent Guidelines Board report recommends rent increases of up to 4.5 percent for one-year leases and up to 9 percent for two-year leases on the city’s rent-regulated apartments in order to keep up with rising landlord costs. The board report found owners of rent-regulated apartments saw their operating costs rise by 4.2 percent over the last year. The Rent Guidelines Board will hold a series of meetings and hearings before any final recommendation on possible rent increases with a final vote due in June. Read more here.

Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin resigns after arrest on bribery charges
New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin resigned on Tuesday following his arrest on several charges, including bribery. Benjamin was appointed Lieutenant Governor in September. Read more here.

Weekly Report for April 8, 2022

Lawmakers to pass late State Budget

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday that she and leaders of the Legislature reached an agreement on a $220 billion state budget, over a week after its statutory April 1 deadline. The Legislature began passing budget bills Thursday evening and will continue debate and passage of the remaining budget bills Friday and possibly into the weekend. Several budget bills, however, have not yet been printed at this time. The final budget is set to include the following:

A homeowner tax rebate credit for eligible taxpayers with a gross income of $250,000 or less;
$800 million in Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding;
$250 million to assist with utility arrears for residents;
$125 million for homeowners and landlords behind on mortgage payments;
Suspension of certain state gas taxes from June 1 through December 31, 2022, totaling savings of 16 cents per gallon– local governments would have the option of also suspending local gas taxes;
Changes to the state’s regulations of freshwater wetlands to include areas of at least 7.4 acres by the year 2028, which is a reduction from the current 12.4 acres;
Inclusion of a $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act proposal that will go before voters on the November general election ballot for approval. The proposed bond act would go toward helping fund climate change mitigation efforts, improving water and sewer systems, and to help fund a state mandate to electrify state school buses by 2035;
Measures to expand broadband access;
New tax credit for businesses equal to 50 percent of the costs for the conversion from grade no. 6 heating oil to biodiesel heating oil or a geothermal system .
Bail reform changes, which include modifications to discovery and permitting judges to set bail on some repeat offenders in certain gun cases, or for violating an order of protection. Certain hate crimes would become an arrestable offense instead of resulting in a ticket;
Legalization of alcohol-to-go at restaurants for 3 years;
$7 billion over four years to expand access and subsidies for child care;
$7.4 billion in funding to provide a $3/hr. pay increase for home health care workers;
$31.5 billion in school aid funding;
$600 million to help fund a new Buffalo Bills stadium;

The final state budget, at this time, does not include good cause eviction, a ban on fossil fuel emissions in all new construction, the imposition of new stricter building and appliance efficiency codes, or an extension of the 421-a tax abatement program for affordable housing development. Details on the housing portion of the budget have not been released at this time. NYSAR will continue to monitor ongoing budget developments and will report accordingly.

Registration for NYSAR’s Lobby Day on May 10^th is now open! – RPAC event and dinner on May 9^th
NYSAR’s Lobby Day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting room 6 in Albany. RPAC of New York will also be hosting a “Night @ the Museum and Dinner at the Renaissance Hotel” fundraiser, scheduled for Monday, May 9 at 4 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Registration for Lobby Day and the RPAC fundraiser are now open via the NYSAR portal here: https://www.nysar.com/nysar-portal/events-calendar/upcoming-meetings/

For complete details on NYSAR’s Lobby Day including hotel room blocks, visit:
https://www.nysar.com/advocacy/lobby-day/

Weekly Report for April 1, 2022

For complete details on NYSAR’s Lobby Day including hotel room blocks, visit:
https://www.nysar.com/advocacy/lobby-day/

Proposed gas ban in new construction remains uncertain in budget negotiations
Politico reports that a decision on whether to make New York the first state to ban fossil fuels in new construction remains uncertain as budget negotiations continue. Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a measure to require all new construction to be zero emissions no later than 2027 in her budget. Senate Democrats backed a more aggressive 2024 timeline in their proposal while the Assembly left it out as a policy item. NYSAR opposes the requirement to ban fossil fuels in new construction without a comprehensive analysis of the costs associated with such mandate. We are closely monitoring this proposal.

State budget will be late
State lawmakers left Albany Thursday with no plans on passing an on-time state budget, which is due by April 1. There have been no agreements on outstanding budget issues including criminal justice reforms, funding for a new Buffalo Bills stadium, ethics reforms, gas tax relief, new casino licenses, and environmental measures such as a fossil fuel ban on new construction and increased regulations on freshwater wetlands. A final budget agreement could be voted on as early as Monday, however further delay is possible. Read more here.