Here is an update on Lobby Day and the NYS budget:
Lobby Day 2023 saw two dozen BNAR members travel to Albany on May 1st and 2nd for our annual meetings with state representatives. According to NYSAR, this was the biggest contingent of Realtors from across the state attending this important annual session, which includes other organizations such as law enforcement, fire fighters, domestic violence awareness, and, of course, our colleagues from all corners of New York State.
We were pleased to meet with several State Senators and Assemblymembers or their staffs. Because the state budget was more than a month overdue, several representatives were called away and had to be “on the floor” for debates and votes. Ultimately, the budget passed late on May 2nd.
The key issues we focused on at each of our 16 meetings were as follows (more details attached):
· Support for the increase the experience required for a broker’s license
· Opposition to Good Cause Eviction
· Support for fairness in cooperative homeownership
· Support for amending the ban on telemarketing during states of emergency
We garnered tremendous support from each legislator on our four real estate-related issues. One specific example: The Good Cause Eviction bill is not in the new state budget! That is a win. We will continue to monitor all of these issues. My thanks to all who took two days out of their schedule to attend Lobby Day, ensuring that our Association’s members stay engaged and in front of the lawmakers in Albany. It is democracy at work!
Regarding the State budget, it was finally approved late on May 2nd, a month after the deadline.
Key takeaways:
· The plan for affordable housing received much opposition and was withdrawn. Good Cause Eviction, as I stated above, is not in the budget – good news, to be sure
· New buildings are to be heated through electricity rather than fossil fuels starting in 2026for small buildings and 2029 for larger buildings.
· People can still keep their gas stoves. The budget includes expansion of the Power Authority to produce renewable energy. The new law includes several exemptions for uses that involve backup gererators, hospitals and manugacturing/industrial facilities. The final Climate Action Council proposal was less wide-ranging and keeps natural gas in the mix.
· Consensus was reached on bail law, but NY remains the only state that doesn’t allow a judge to consider dangerousness /public safety measures in determing whether to set bail or remand an individual.
· Minimum wage will increase to $16/hour by 2026.
· $34.5 billion will be used to fully fund education foundation aid, a record amount
For our next government affairs meeting, we propose May 25th at the BNAR. Time: TBD.
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