February 2024

Weekly Report for February 23, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court rejects remaining rent law challenges
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected two more petitions to review the state’s rent stabilization law, a decision that comes more than four months after the court declined to consider a challenge brought by the Rent Stabilization Association and Community Housing Improvement Program. Justice Clarence Thomas, however, alluded to the possibility of future challenges to the law saying, “I assume at some point in the future there will be a more specifically-brought case, perhaps rather than challenging all of the HSTPA, challenging specific portions of it.” Read more here.

New York’s All-Electric Buildings Act takes effect in 2026: Are we ready for the switch?
The All-Electric Buildings Act – the first statewide law of its kind in the nation – was approved in the spring of 2023. It will prohibit natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups in all new houses and buildings with fewer than seven stories beginning January 1, 2026, and in all new construction by 2029 with limited exceptions. Developers and consumers remain concerned about construction delays, rising costs and utility bill increases, which could exacerbate the current housing inventory shortage. Read more here.

NYC Council joins lawsuit against Mayor Adams over housing vouchers
The New York City Council announced on Wednesday that it filed court papers to join a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for allegedly failing to implement a series of laws that would expand the city’s housing voucher plan. Mayor Adams’ administration reiterated its claims that the legislation violates state law and would cost the city an additional $17 billion. Read more here.

3 Assemblymembers announce they will not seek reelection
Western New York Assemblymember Andy Goodell, Republican minority leader pro tempore, announced he will not run for reelection in 2024. This is the latest retirement announcement from the State Legislature in the last week. Republican Assemblymember Joe Giglio, and Democratic Assemblymember Aileen Gunther also announced that they will not seek another term. Read more here.

Weekly Report for February 16, 2024

NYSAR Lobby Day Registration now open
NYSAR’s annual Lobby Day in Albany is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27 at the Albany Empire State Plaza, Meeting room 6. Join your fellow REALTORS^® from across the state to advocate in front of your lawmakers and discuss real estate related priorities. Lobby Day is a free event and travel reimbursement is available.

RPAC of New York will also be hosting a “Lobby Day Pre-Game” fundraiser on Tuesday, March 26 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at Apex Sports & Entertainment at Crossgates Mall in Albany. The event costs $200 and attendees will enjoy dinner in a private room and two drink coupons per person. Proceeds from the event will benefit RPAC and the deadline to register is March 15.

Registration for the RPAC fundraiser is available when you register for NYSAR Lobby Day. Register now!

Democrat Tom Suozzi wins special election for Congress
On Tuesday in a special election, Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip, flipping the Long Island Congressional seat formerly held by ousted Republican Rep. George Santos. Unofficial election results showed Suozzi with 54 percent of the vote. In another special election in the Bronx, Democrat Landon Dais defeated Republican Norman McGill to replace former Assemblymember Latoya Joyner. Read more here.

Special Election to replace Rep. Higgins announced
On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the special election to replace Rep. Brian Higgins in New York’s 26^th Congressional District will take place on Tuesday, April 30. State Senator Tim Kennedy is the Democratic designated candidate to run for the seat. Republicans have not yet chosen their candidate. The Congressional District encompasses parts of Erie and Niagara counties. Read more here.

State redistricting commission approves new Congressional maps
A bipartisan state redistricting commission approved a new set of district lines for Congressional seats in New York that would make minor adjustments to help Democrats in some battleground races, but not aggressive changes that could create new legal challenges. The new maps would be more favorable to Hudson Valley incumbent Reps. Pat Ryan (Democrat) and Marc Molinaro (Republican) while also providing a 4-point shift in favor of Democrats in the Central NY seat currently held by Republican Rep. Brandon Williams. The new maps would still need to be approved by the State Legislature. Read more here.

Weekly Report for February 9, 2024

Registration for the RPAC fundraiser is available when you register for NYSAR Lobby Day. Register now!

Municipalities begin applying for Governor Hochul’s “pro-housing” designation program
Governor Kathy Hochul held a roundtable on Wednesday with local municipal leaders to announce the first 20 “pro-housing communities” approved to receive priority access when applying for certain state grant funding from a pool of $650 million. More than 80 municipalities have sent letters of intent to participate in the program. Currently, those communities that affirm their commitment to building more housing or prove that they hit growth benchmarks in the past will get preference in grant distribution. The governor proposed this year to require the “pro-housing” designation for localities in order to qualify for such grant funding. Read more here.

State lawmakers introduce “social housing” bill
State Sen. Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher introduced a bill to create the Social Housing Development Authority, which would finance and develop housing directly instead of relying on private developers. Sponsors of the proposal say it is a progressive alternative to providing tax abatement programs such as the expired 421-a program New York City for housing developers. The program is estimated to cost an initial $5 billion with annual spending at $75 million. Read more here.

Early voting underway in special election for 3^rd Congressional District
Early voting began last week for the February 13 special election to fill the seat in the 3^rd Congressional District following the expulsion of George Santos. Democrat and former Congressman Tom Suozzi and Republican Mazi Pilip are vying for the seat which includes parts of Queens and Nassau County. Read more here.

Weekly Report for February 2, 2024

Attend NYSAR’s Legislative Policy Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 9 a.m.
All REALTORS^® attending the NYSAR Mid-Winter Business Meetings are invited to attend the Legislative Policy Forum on Tuesday, February 6 in the Fort Orange Ballroom at 9 a.m. This year’s guest speaker will be Senator Jeremy Cooney (Rochester) who is the prime-sponsor of NYSAR-supported legislation to establish a New York first-time homebuyer savings account program. Additionally, NAR Senior Political Representative Densay Sengsoulavong and NYSAR Director of Government Affairs Mike Kelly will be providing federal and state legislative updates.

Gov. Hochul makes second attempt to replace 421-a tax incentive for housing
Governor Kathy Hochul is making a second attempt to resurrect and restructure an expired state property tax abatement program for housing developers in New York City, known as 421-a. Governor Hochul is proposing a similar tax incentive program called 485-x, however, she is leaving details of the program’s possible applicability and implementation up to the real estate industry, labor unions, and city officials to work out. Wage standards and increased tenant protections are also being injected into the discussion, making it more difficult for state lawmakers to come to an agreement on a new program. Read more here.

State Sen. Neil Breslin won’t seek reelection
State Senator Neil Breslin (Albany) announced this week that he will not be seeking reelection this fall. Sen. Breslin was first elected in 1996. The district covers all of Montgomery County as well as parts of Albany and Schenectady counties. Last week, State Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski (Rockland) announced he would not be seeking reelection. Read more here.