S 3631 allows New York cities and counties to create their own local anti-discrimination laws and establish human rights commissions to enforce them. These local laws can address discrimination occurring within a city or county, and also cover discrimination by New York residents or businesses operating in the state, even if the discriminatory act happened outside the local area. The bill requires human rights commissions to include diverse members and handle complaints about discrimination based on factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. It also ensures that local anti-discrimination laws can be enforced by anyone, including non-residents, when the discriminatory conduct occurred within the local jurisdiction.
Provides that a default judgment against a defendant in a foreclosure action does not need to be vacated in order for the defense of lack of standing or expiration of the statute of limitations to be raised by the defendant.
Senate Bill S 7656 requires real estate appraisers to complete implicit bias training as part of their continuing education for license renewal. The bill mandates that, out of the 28 hours of instruction required every two years for recertification or license renewal, at least four hours must be dedicated to implicit bias awareness and understanding. It defines "implicit bias" as unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect an individual's understanding, actions, and decisions. This training requirement directly affects all licensed real estate appraisers.
Requires landlords to notify tenants if common areas or amenities in their building will be out of service for more than seven consecutive days; provides for a $1,000 civil penalty for violation.
Allocates fines imposed on real estate appraisers to the anti-discrimination in housing fund; provides that a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars may be imposed on real estate appraisers for certain acts or omissions.
Enacts the "homeowner fraud protection and property alert act"; relates to establishing a statewide electronic property recording alert system to allow property owners to receive notification when an instrument affecting their property is recorded in the official records of any county; establishes the county recording modernization fund.
This bill limits the real property tax exemption for unimproved land owned by certain nonprofit organizations to a 7-year period. Nonprofits must either begin development or have plans in place within 7 years of acquiring the land (with a special start date for pre-existing land), or lose the exemption. Exceptions apply for children's camps (as defined in public health law) and conservation organizations (as defined in environmental law). The law requires nonprofits to actively develop land within this timeframe to maintain the tax benefit.
This bill amends New York's executive law to explicitly include veterans in the legal definition of "military status." It expands the existing definition to cover individuals who have been released from military service, ensuring veterans receive the same anti-discrimination protections as active military personnel. The change directly affects veterans in New York who may face discrimination in employment, housing, or other areas governed by laws prohibiting military status discrimination. The key mechanism is a textual update to the definition, adding "a person's participation in the military service... if such person has been released from such service." This creates a clear, concrete policy change without altering existing enforcement mechanisms.
Establishes the power authority of the state of New York shall make low cost hydropower available to hospitals and municipal housing authorities located within Niagara county.
Authorizes the town of Chester to establish community preservation funds; establishes a real estate transfer tax with revenues therefrom to be deposited in said community preservation fund.
