This bill allows courts to award reasonable legal fees and costs to the winning side in discrimination lawsuits under New York's Human Rights Law. It directly affects people suing for discrimination (plaintiffs) and those defending such claims (defendants), with defendants only eligible for fees if the case was deemed "frivolous" (brought in bad faith or without reasonable basis). Courts must determine frivolity in writing before awarding fees to defendants, and the Division of Human Rights is excluded from fee awards except when acting as an employer. The law does not alter existing remedies but adds this cost-shifting mechanism to encourage meritorious cases and deter baseless litigation.
Authorizes the dormitory authority to provide financing to the Dutchess Community College Association, Inc. for the construction of facilities for the purpose of financing or refinancing the acquisition, design, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, furnishing and equipping of, or otherwise providing for residential housing located on the campus of Dutchess Community College.
Requires a landlord to return to a tenant the full security deposit within thirty days of the surrender of the premises by such tenant unless the landlord provides such tenant with a written statement listing the reasons for the retention of any portion of the deposit; sets forth particular situations for which the landlord may retain such security deposit; renders the landlord liable for treble damages for any violation.
Prohibits utility companies from certain replevin actions; provides that the continued provision of all or any part of gas, electric and steam service to all residential and commercial customers without unreasonable qualifications or lengthy delays is necessary for the preservation of the health and general welfare and is in the public interest; establishes the seizure of electric, gas, or steam meters is against the public interest.
This bill gives tenants the right to sign leases and rental agreements electronically instead of on paper. It applies to all new leases, renewals, and related documents like notices, making electronic versions legally equivalent to paper copies. Tenants can choose this option when entering or renewing a lease, and landlords must accept it. The law does not cover court documents or legal notices in lawsuits. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary committee.
Relates to providing residents of municipal public housing in the state with free basic cable and high-speed internet service, and reimbursing internet service providers and cable television companies for providing such service.
S 3755 authorizes New York's Empire State Development Corporation to create compensation funds for communities harmed by land use plans, such as when development causes small businesses to close, rents to rise, or residents to be displaced. The bill allows the corporation to establish these funds without needing new state approvals or legislative action. It specifically defines "harm" to include economic and housing disruptions from development projects. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Allows tenants to appeal judgments or orders issued against them without first being required to pay any portion of such judgment or order; postpones such payment until the end of the stay triggered by service upon the landlord of the notice of appeal or affidavit of intention to move for permission to appeal such judgment or order or pay an undertaking.
This bill eliminates late fees for residential utility customers in New York. It prohibits utility companies and municipalities from charging residential customers (homeowners and renters) any late payment fees, penalties, or interest for overdue gas or electric bills. The law directly affects all residential utility customers by removing this common charge, while small businesses remain subject to different late fee rules. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill increases penalties for landlords who overcharge tenants in rent-regulated housing. If a landlord is found to have willfully overcharged, they must pay five times the overcharge amount (up from three times). Landlords can avoid the higher penalty by proving the overcharge was unintentional and not due to negligence, in which case they pay only the overcharge plus interest. The bill also clarifies that voluntary rent refunds after a complaint is filed cannot be used as evidence the overcharge was not willful.
