Senate housing committee reports a package of tenant, veterans and building-safety bills to other panels and the floor

The Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development, chaired by State Senator Brian Kavanaugh, met in Room 512 of the Legislative Office Building and voted to report multiple housing-related bills to other committees and to the floor.

The measures address tenant protections and definitions of harassment, veteranspreferences in some housing programs, the use and data collection of smart-access systems in residential buildings, standards for reuse of deconstructed building materials, how rent reductions are calculated when services are diminished, and expanded remedies for violations of the Statefire prevention and building code.

Votes at a glance:

S.561 (sponsor: Krueger) Reported to Finance. Short description: amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York and the Real Property Tax Law to change notice procedures relating to the rent increase exemption for low-income elderly persons and persons with disabilities programs. Motion to report by Senator Jackson; second by Senator Cordell. Senator Waltzick recorded a "nay;" the committee otherwise reported the bill to Finance.

S.955 (sponsor: Kavanaugh) Reported to the Internet and Technology Committee. Short description: amends multiple dwelling and multiple residence laws regarding the use of smart-access systems and the information such systems may gather. Motion by Senator Kirkwood; second by Senator Jackson. The transcript records that the committeeminority registered a negative position; the bill advanced as reported.

S.2091 (sponsor: Kavanaugh) Reported to the floor. Short description: establishes standards for the reuse of deconstructed working materials (reuse of materials recovered through deconstruction). Motion carried with a second from Senator Martin; a recorded "AWR" was entered by Senator Helming before the bill was reported.

S.2289 (sponsor: Veil) Reported to the floor. Short description: would amend the Private Housing Finance Law to expand a veteranspreference to include veterans who did not serve during a time of war for certain housing programs. During committee discussion, Ranking Member Senator Martin asked whether the bill would make combat and noncombat veterans equivalent for preference; Chair Senator Brian Kavanaugh said, "the principal purpose of this bill is to give to extend a preference that already goes to combat veterans," indicating noncombat veterans would not receive the same preference under the bill as currently drafted. Senator Martin said he would discuss the concern with Senator Bailey. Motion to report by Senator Salazar; second by Senator Jackson.

S.2542 (sponsor: Myrie) Reported to Codes. Short description: would amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York to include illegal conversions of dwelling units in the definition of harassment. Motion by Senator Cleary; second by Senator Jackson. The committee minority registered opposition, and the bill was reported.

S.3068 (tenant sponsor; specific sponsor name not specified on the transcript) Reported to Finance. Short description: would amend the Private Housing Finance Law to subsidize closing costs for low-income tenants purchasing homes. Motion by Senator Cordell; second noted. Senators Helming and Martin were recorded as voting against advancing the committee's recommendation; the bill was reported.

S.3198 (sponsor name given as "requirement" in the transcript) Reported to the floor. Short description: would require the Division of Housing and Community Renewal to calculate periods of rent reduction from the date of actual diminution of services. Motion by Senator Jackson; second by Senator Salazar. The bill was reported.

S.3199 (sponsor: Spencer Hoylman) Reported to Cities 1. Short description: would require property owners to dedicate certain residential units to the same protected status the unit previously held following demolition and new construction or substantial renovation (affects the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 and related local rent laws). Motion by Senator Cleary; second by Senator Jackson. The bill was reported.

S.3208 (sponsor: Kavanaugh) Reported to the floor. Short description: would repeal paragraphs 3 and 4 of subdivision a of —6-405 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York related to establishing maximum base rents using the maximum gross building rental formula. Motion by Senator Brissport; second by Senator Cleary. The transcript records "AWR" from a senator and the bill was reported.

S.3406 (sponsor: Comrie) Reported to the floor. Short description: would amend the Executive Law to expand remedies for violations of the New York State uniform fire prevention and building code. Motion by Senator Cleary; second by Senator Salazar. Senator Waltzick recorded a negative vote and Senator Helming also registered a negative position; the bill was reported.

Committee procedure and next steps: Most measures were reported out either to Finance, Codes, Internet and Technology, Cities 1 or to the Senate floor for further consideration. Where the transcript records named negative or abstaining positions, those are noted above; several other members were recorded as "minority in the negative" or registered an "AWR" (adverse without recommendation) without a member-by-name roll call recorded in the excerpt.

The committee meeting opened with Chair Senator Brian Kavanaugh noting staff and that some members were submitting written vote sheets. Several bills listed in this session had been previously reported in 2023 and 2024 and were advanced again for further Senate consideration.