S
tate lawmakers may not be as eager to tackle housing policy this session, having made significant progress last year. The state budget included measures such as replacing a lucrative property tax break, new eviction protections, and lifting a rule hindering residential construction in the city. Despite these accomplishments, other pressing issues are vying for attention.

    Assembly member Linda Rosenthal is pushing for a state-run housing voucher program, which has garnered support from both chambers and tenant and landlord groups, but faces resistance from the governor. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is also monitoring several bills, including one that would limit ground lease rent increases at residential co-ops, which REBNY claims is unconstitutional.

    Other federal and state lawmakers have proposed legislation targeting software used by companies like RealPage, following a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against the company. Additionally, REBNY is watching efforts to change rules around dual agency in residential brokerage.

    Landlord groups will focus on changing rent stabilized apartments, but are backing off a bill that would allow one-time rent resets in certain vacated apartments. Instead, they're pursuing a new bill allowing some owners of vacant rent-stabilized units to rent them to Section 8 voucher holders and collect the full voucher amount.

    Housing Justice for All will prioritize the Social Housing Authority bill, which would create a state-developing entity that builds and owns affordable housing. The group also supports a state-based housing voucher program and the Tenants Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which gives tenants first dibs on buying their buildings if they're put up for sale.

    Other priorities include reforming the city's Rent Guidelines Board, expanding eviction prevention funds to communities outside the city, and offering more cash to programs that help owners pay for repairs needed to bring vacant apartments online.