What's happening
This bill requires cities to keep records of notices of defects for ten years instead of five.
Why it matters
This change affects all cities across New York State. by requiring them to keep public records of notices of defects (like sidewalk or infrastructure complaints) for double the current time, which could impact local governments’ administrative practices and storage needs.
Longer retention of these records benefits individuals. who may have claims relating to injuries or property damage caused by municipal defects, giving them more time to access crucial documentation that can support lawsuits or insurance cases.
By expanding the retention period to ten years, the bill increases transparency and accountability. for city agencies, potentially making it easier to track patterns of maintenance issues, monitor city responses, and ensure better long-term recordkeeping for public safety concerns.
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Who cares
Municipal Governments and City Clerks
They are responsible for maintaining records of written notices of defects and will have to adjust their record-keeping processes to preserve such notices for ten years instead of five.
Residents and Local Property Owners
Individuals who submit notices of defects (e.g., about potholes, sidewalk hazards) may benefit from a longer preservation period, which could aid in legal claims or follow-up on unresolved issues.
Personal Injury Attorneys and Litigants
Lawyers handling cases involving municipal liability for property defects will care about the longer retention period, as it may provide greater access to historical records relevant to their claims.
Risk Management and Insurance Providers for Municipalities
Organizations managing municipal risk and liability will need to update their compliance protocols and may face changes in exposure or claims processing due to the extended record-keeping requirement.
Headline styles
Extend Notice Recordkeeping
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10355
IN SENATE
May 15, 2026
Introduced by Sen. RHOADS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to expanding the amount of time a notice of defect must be kept
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 50-g of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 783 of the laws of 1957, is amended to add as follows:
2. Where the statute, charter or local law requires that the written notice be given to a specified city officer or employee the record shall be made and kept by the person so specified. Where the statute, charter or local law requires that the written notice be given to any of several specified city officers or employees, or omits to specify the officer or employee to whom the written notice shall be given, the record shall be made and kept by an officer or employee designated for that purpose by the governing body of the city. In the absence of such designation the record shall be made and kept by the commissioner of public works of the city or, if there be no officer of that title, by an officer exercising corresponding duties. The record of notices of defects shall be a public record. The record of each notice shall be preserved for a period of [five] ten years after the date it is received.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15601-01-6
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to expanding the amount of time a notice of defect must be kept
Purpose
Expands the amount of time a notice of defect must be kept.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 5-g of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 783 of the laws of 1957, is amended to add as follows:
2. Where the statue, character or local law requires that the written notice be given to a specified city officer or employee the record shall be made and kept by the person so specified. Where the statue, charter or local law requires that the written notice be given, to any of several specified city officers or employees, or omits to specify the officer or employee to whom the written notice shall be given, the record shall be made and kept by an officer or employee designated for that purpose by the governing body of the city. In the absence of such designation the record shall be made and kept by the commissioner of public works of the city or, if there be no officer of that title, by an officer exercising corresponding duties. The record of notices of defects shall be a public record. The record of each notice shall be preserved for a period of at least ten years after the date it is received.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
It is in the public's best interest for municipalities to maintain and make available records of notes of defect. The availability of electron- ic record keeping greatly eases the burden on municipalities to maintain records for an indefinite period of time. Updating the statue to extend the times for records to be maintained increases transparency while providing no additional burden.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.