What's happening
This bill creates a task force to collaborate with local governments and stakeholders to develop best practices for incentivizing housing development in New York.
Why it matters
Brings together diverse perspectives. By including representatives from state agencies, local governments, homebuilders, labor, and real estate developers, the task force aims to balance different interests and ensure that recommendations reflect a wide range of expertise and priorities.
Focuses on actionable strategies. The task force is specifically tasked with studying tax incentives, regulatory reform, and housing for middle-income families—areas that could directly influence local policy changes and increase housing supply.
Promotes public involvement and transparency. With a mandate to hold at least one public hearing, the process allows for community input and scrutiny, making it more likely that the recommendations will address real-world needs and concerns.
Sets a clear timeline for impact. By requiring a report with legislative recommendations within one year, the bill attempts to move the conversation about housing incentives beyond discussion to potential concrete policy proposals in a relatively short time frame.
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Who cares
Mayors and county governments
Their largest advocacy groups would each appoint two task force members to help develop best practices for local housing incentives.
Homebuilders and real estate developers
Their largest trade associations would each appoint two members to a task force studying housing tax incentives and state and local regulatory reform.
Building and construction workers
Their largest trade labor association would appoint two members to help shape recommendations on encouraging housing development.
Division of Homes and Community Renewal
Its commissioner or designee would chair the task force, which would issue findings and legislative recommendations within one year of the bill’s effective date.
Headline styles
Create Housing Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
529
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sens. MARTINS, BORRELLO, CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK, RHOADS, ROLISON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT establishing the local initiatives task force on housing; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby established the local initiatives task force on housing. The purpose of such task force shall be to collaborate with local government officials, state agencies, and stakeholders to develop best practices for local governments to incentivize housing development.
§ 2. The task force shall consist of sixteen members, to be appointed as follows:
(a) the commissioner of the division of homes and community renewal, or such commissioner's designee;
(b) one member to be appointed by the governor;
(c) one member to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(d) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
(e) one member to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(f) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(g) two members to be appointed by the largest advocacy group representing mayors in New York;
(h) two members to be appointed by the largest advocacy group representing county governments in New York;
(i) two members to be appointed by the largest trade association representing homebuilders in New York;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01763-01-5
(j) two members to be appointed by the largest trade labor association representing building and construction workers; and
(k) two members to be appointed by the largest trade association representing real estate developers.
§ 3. The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner of the division of homes and community renewal or such commissioner's designee. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
§ 4. The task force shall be authorized to hold public hearings and consult with any organization, educational institution, or other government entity or person as will enable the task force to properly carry out its powers and duties pursuant to this act. The task force shall hold at least one public hearing in the state for the purpose of soliciting public comment on housing development.
§ 5. The task force may request and shall receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the state or any state public authority such assistance, information, and data as necessary to enable the task force to properly carry out its powers and duties pursuant to this act.
§ 6. The task force shall study and develop best practices for local governments within the state to incentivize housing development, including but not limited to:
(a) studying the effectiveness of tax incentives for housing;
(b) developing properties designed for homeowners whose income is less than 125% of the area median income; and
(c) analyzing state and local regulatory reform.
§ 7. The task force shall issue a report of its findings and legislative recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the largest advocacy group representing county governments in New York, and the largest advocacy group representing mayors in New York no later than one year after the effective date of this act.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act establishing the local initiatives task force on housing; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
To create a task force that will address local housing development.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Establishes the Local Initiatives Task Force on Housing.
Section 2. Sets out the composition of the task force.
Section 3. Designates the chairperson.
Section 4. Authorizes the task force to hold public hearings.
Section 5. Allows the task force to request information from other enti- tles.
Section 6. Directs the tast force's activities.
Section 7. Establishes reporting requirements.
Section 8. Sets the effective date.
Justification
Affordable homeownership is vital to the future of New York, but what that homeownership looks like varies across the state. This task force will examine what regulations can be addressed on a state level to incentivize housing development and will work with labor, industry, and local leaders to develop best practices for local governments to imple- ment if they believe it is best for their communties.
Legislative history
S.8896; Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Development.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
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.