What's happening
This bill amends the lien law to clarify disclosure requirements when a lien involves property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling.
Why it matters
Improves transparency for homeowners and buyers. By clarifying whether a lien relates to a single-family dwelling, the bill helps buyers, homeowners, and lenders better understand if a property could be affected by construction liens—important for making informed financial decisions.
Reduces legal ambiguity in lien filings. The new language streamlines and simplifies the required disclosure, potentially reducing errors or omissions that could lead to costly legal disputes or delays in real estate transactions.
Protects single-family homeowners. Since single-family homes are often owned by individuals or families, the clarification ensures that these property owners receive clear notice if their property is subject to a lien, supporting their ability to respond or contest it if necessary.
Aligns with recent legislative changes. This amendment coordinates with prior updates to the lien law, ensuring consistency and up-to-date requirements for how liens on improved or to-be-improved single-family dwellings are disclosed.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Disclose Single-Family Lien Status
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.84
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.451
- Substituted for A9786
- Referred to judiciary
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.115
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Disclose Single-Family Lien Status
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7191
IN SENATE
January 10, 2020
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the lien law, in relation to disclosing if the property subject to lien is real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 9 of the lien law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the lien law relating to disclosing if the property subject to lien is real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5491 and A. 4766-B, is amended to read as follows:
7. The property subject to the lien, with a description thereof sufficient for identification; and if in a city or village, its location by street and number, if known; whether the property subject to the lien is [(a)] real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling or [(b)] not [real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling]. A failure to state the name of the true owner or contractor, or a misdescription of the true owner, shall not affect the validity of the lien. The notice must be verified by the lienor or his agent, to the effect that the statements therein contained are true to his knowledge except as to the matters therein stated to be alleged on information and belief, and that as to those matters he believes it to be true.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the lien law relating to disclosing if the property subject to lien is real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5491 and A. 4766-B, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06722-05-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the lien law, in relation to disclosing if the property subject to lien is real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to provisions of L.2019, c.538.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by fixing grammatical errors.
Justification
Pursuant to approval memo 18 of 2019, the Executive expressed concerns over the clarity of the underlying legislation's grammar while support- ing its goals. This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter that addresses those concerns.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 538 of the Laws of 2019.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the lien law relating to disclos- ing if the property subject to lien is real property improved or to be improved with a single family dwelling, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5491 and A.4766-B, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.