Field Updates

REALTORS® from LIBOR, along with LIBOR and NYSAR government affairs staff, met with NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman of Queens to discuss legislation ( Int. 1105) that would prohibit the collection of broker fees from a tenant to pay a landlord’s agent.

Last week, NYSAR’s Issues Mobilization Committee approved an application to provide funding for an economic impact study and fiscal analysis of NYSAR-supported legislation to create a NYS first-time homebuyer savings account program.

Political players of both parties expect New York State to be key to determining who controls the U.S. House of Representatives after 2024.

A law passed by the City Council in June allows City government agencies to fine commercial landlords for knowingly leasing space to unlicensed smoke shops.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) said last week that he does not expect that a special session will be called before January to take up issues such as casinos or cannabis.

In November 2021, North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena became the first Republican winner to lead the Town in decades.

A retiring Town Board member wrote an op-ed in Newsday this past weekend in defense of her LIBOR-supported bill to regulate accessory dwelling units in Huntington.

The Setauket Democrat announced Monday she is stepping down from the County Legislature to take a position as Long Island Deputy Director for the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department.

LIBOR's Government Affairs department and several LIBOR members joined NYSAR’s “NYC Issues Working Group” meeting in Lower Manhattan last week to discuss both local elections and key legislative issues.

On Tuesday, a State Supreme Court judge dismissed a pair of lawsuits brought by Airbnb against New York City over a new registration law for short-term rentals, known as  Local Law 18.

Last week while touring Columbia County, State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie discussed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing plan, which was rejected by the legislature earlier this year.

On Monday, former State Senator and Suffolk County Legislator James Gaughran announced his run for Congress representing the First District.

Councilman Robert Holden of Middle Village and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. introduced two pieces of legislation last Thursday

The White House released two announcements last week, outlining  actions to boost the housing supply, and offering guidance for multifamily properties.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that funding from the federal Inflation Reduction Act will boost nuclear power in New York and help lower the utility bills of millions living in the state.

On Wednesday, July 26, State Senator Kevin Thomas (D-Nassau)  announced that he is running for Congress in the 4th Congressional District

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that a special election will be held on Tuesday, September 12 to fill the vacant 27th Assembly District seat in Central Queens previously held by Democrat Daniel Rosenthal

On Tuesday, July  18, Gov. Kathy Hochul  announced several executive actions to promote housing growth in New York State.

According to Politico, on Thursday, July 20, the state Public Service Commission authorized an estimated $43.7 billion

On July 18, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report on the updated Division of Budget forecast of the gap between revenues and expenses, totaling $36.4 billion through fiscal year 2026-27