TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025 12:42 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER. GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.

IN THE ABSENCE OF CLERGY, LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF

SILENCE.

(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE

OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER LED MEMBERS

AND VISITORS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

SPEAKER. I MOVE TO DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER -- FURTHER READING OF THE

JOURNAL OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU AGAIN,

MADAM SPEAKER. I WANT TO SAY TO THE GUESTS THAT ARE IN OUR CHAMBERS

AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR MEMBERS THAT THERE WAS A QUOTE FOR YOU TODAY

COMING FROM BRIAN TRACY. HE'S A CANADIAN-AMERICAN MOTIVATIONAL

PUBLIC SPEAKER AND A SELF-DEVELOPMENT AUTHOR. HIS WORDS FOR US TODAY:

THERE ARE NO LIMITS AS TO WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH, EXCEPT THE LIMITS

YOU PLACE ON YOUR OWN THINKING. AGAIN, THESE WORDS BY A CANADIAN-

AMERICAN, BRIAN TRACY.

COLLEAGUES DO HAVE ON THEIR DESKS A MAIN CALENDAR.

BEFORE YOUR INTRODUCTIONS AND HOUSEKEEPING WE WILL BE CALLING FOR THE

FOLLOWING COMMITTEES TO MEET OFF THE FLOOR: WAYS AND MEANS

FOLLOWED BY RULES. THESE COMMITTEES ARE GONNA PRODUCE AN

A-CALENDAR. WE WILL BEGIN OUR FLOOR WORK TODAY TAKING UP RESOLUTIONS

ON PAGE 3. WE WILL THEN CONSENT 11 NEW BILLS TO THE CALENDAR,

BEGINNING WITH CALENDAR NO. 11, THAT'S ON PAGE 8. WE WILL ALSO BE

TAKING UP THE FOLLOWING BILLS ON DEBATE: RULES REPORT NO. 105 BY MS.

ROMEROI. MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED

FOR A CONFERENCE ONCE WE'VE CONCLUDED OUR FLOOR WORK TODAY, AND AS

ALWAYS, MADAM SPEAKER, WE WILL CHECK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE

OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR NEEDS MAY BE.

IF THERE IS A NEED FOR FURTHER FLOOR ACTIVITY I WILL MAKE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

-- BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER, THIS IS A GENERAL

OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TODAY. IF WE CAN BEGIN BY CALLING THE

WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU,

MAJORITY LEADER. WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S

CONFERENCE ROOM IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU'RE ON WAYS AND MEANS,

SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

WE'LL START WITH HOUSEKEEPING.

ON A MOTION BY MS. -- ON A MOTION BY MS. BARRETT,

PAGE 8, CALENDAR NO. 5, BILL NO. 1012, THE AMENDMENTS ARE RECEIVED

AND ADOPTED.

WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO INTRODUCTIONS.

MR. WIEDER FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. WIEDER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY, I RISE TODAY WITH GREAT HONOR TO

INTRODUCE MIRIM BEN AMI, THE MOTHER OF YOSEF OHANA, WHO IS HERE

WITH US TODAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE UNIMAGINABLE SUFFERING OF

HER SON AND THE MANY OTHERS STILL HELD HOSTAGE. MIRI'S COURAGEOUS

PRESENCE IS A POWERFUL, POWERFUL REMINDER NOT ONLY OF A MOTHER'S

UNYIELDING LOVE, BUT ALSO OF THE BROADER TRAGEDY THAT CONTINUE TO THIS

VERY DAY TO UNFOLD. HER SON'S ONLY CRIME -- WHAT WAS YOSEF OHANA'S

CRIME? HIS IDENTITY. HIS MISFORTUNE WAS SIMPLY BEING JEWISH. NO

ONE, NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO ENDURE THIS KIND OF PAIN. YOSEF'S

CAPTIVITY IS NOT JUST A PERSONAL FAMILY TRAGEDY, IT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS

CRISIS THAT DEMANDS OUR COLLECTIVE ACTION. AS MIRI CONTINUES TO FIGHT

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

FOR HER SON AND FOR ALL THOSE STILL HELD, LET US DO OUR PART TO AMPLIFY HER

VOICE AND THE VOICES OF THE OTHER HOSTAGES. AS WE STAND UNITED IN THIS

CAUSE, LET US PRAY FOR THE SALVATION OF YOSEF AND ALL THE HOSTAGES. MAY

GOD GRANT THEM STRENGTH, PROTECTION AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, FREEDOM.

AND MAY HE BRING THEM SAFELY BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES, ENDING THEIR

SUFFERING AND RESTORING PEACE IN THEIR LIVES.

ASSEMBLYMEMBERS, THIS IS MY PERSONAL REQUEST TO ALL

OF YOU HERE TODAY: TONIGHT AS YOU LAY YOUR HEADS DOWN TO SLEEP AND

THE SILENCE OF YOUR TORAH SURROUNDS -- SURROUNDS YOU, I ASK YOU TO

COUNT 'TIL 508, THE NUMBER OF DAYS YOSEF OHANA HAS BEEN HELD CAPTIVE

IN AN UNDERGROUND DUNGEON. IMAGINE THE DARKNESS AND COLD ISOLATION

HE FACES, THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY OF EACH EVERY SINGLE MINUTE,

TORMENTED BY HIS CAPTORS, THE HAMAS ANIMALS WHO HAVE STRIPPED HIM

OF HIS DIGNITY. PICTURE HIM STARVING, ENDURING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL

ABUSE, KNOWING ONLY PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THAT UNRELENTING PLACE. AND

CONSIDER MIRI, HIS MOTHER, LYING AWAKE EACH AND EVERY NIGHT,

TORMENTED BY THE KNOWLEDGE OF HER SON'S UNIMAGINABLE SUFFERING.

MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND TO OUR HONORED AND

COURAGEOUS GUEST THE WARMEST WELCOME AND THE COURTESIES OF THE

PEOPLE'S HOUSE. BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME NOW.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. WIEDER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, MA'AM, TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE DO HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. MCDONALD FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. MCDONALD: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I

RISE TODAY TO INTRODUCE A GROUP FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR

[SIC] RARE DISORDERS. THIS GROUP IS VISITING THE ASSEMBLY IN

RECOGNITION OF RARE DISEASE DAY, WHICH IS THIS YEAR FEBRUARY 28TH. IT

IS USUALLY NOTATED AS FEBRUARY 29TH, BUT IT'S NOT A LEAP YEAR. AND I WILL

SAY THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY APPEARING HERE IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE

ASSEMBLY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE OVER 10,000, NEARLY

10,000 DISEASES AND CONDITIONS CONSIDERED RARE, AND ONE IN TEN NEW

YORKERS ARE IMPACTED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WITH RARE DISEASE. THE

RESOLUTION WE PASSED RECENTLY, RESOLUTION 108, SERVES AS A POWERFUL

REMINDER OF THE WORK THAT STILL LIES AHEAD. THIS RESOLUTION IS A CRUCIAL

STEP IN RAISING AWARENESS AND PROMOTING THE CONTINUED PROGRESS

TOWARDS EARLY DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND, ULTIMATELY, A CURE. TODAY WE

CELEBRATE NOT ONLY ADVANCEMENTS ALREADY MADE, BUT ALSO THE CONTINUED

HOPE THAT ONE DAY NO PATIENT WILL HAVE TO WAIT YEARS FOR A DIAGNOSIS, NO

FAMILY WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT OPTIONS, AND NO RARE DISEASE WILL BE LEFT

BEHIND. WE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE MILLIONS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY RARE DISEASES.

JOINING US TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DONNA AND

ASHLEY APPEL; DONNA THE MOM, ASHLEY A RARE DISEASE PATIENT, AND ALSO

DANIEL LAFAVIO, WHO IS THE DAD OF A RARE DISEASE CHILD. AND MANY

OTHERS WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR [SIC] RARE DISORDERS.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MADAM SPEAKER, PLEASE EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

HOUSE TO THIS WELL-DESERVING ORGANIZATION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

MCDONALD, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, OUR

GUESTS FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF RARE DISEASES, TO THE

CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. WE DO HOPE YOU ENJOY

THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. ROZIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. ROZIC: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT'S NOT

EVERY DAY YOU GET TO INTRODUCE A FORMER COLLEAGUE AND, MORE

IMPORTANTLY, A FRIEND. TODAY IN OUR CHAMBER WE'RE JOINED BY FORMER

ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL ESPINAL.

RAFAEL WAS ELECTED IN 2011, TOOK OFFICE SHORTLY THEREAFTER. AND THEN I

JOINED HIM AND HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEMBERS TO WELCOME ME INTO

THIS AMAZING FAMILY THAT WE HAVE HERE. HE THEN QUICKLY LEFT US FOR THE

CITY COUNCIL AND GREENER PASTURES THREE YEARS LATER, AND NOW DOES AN

INCREDIBLE JOB AS PRESIDENT OF THE FREELANCERS UNION, WORKING WITH

WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE AND BETTERING THEIR LIVES.

SO, MADAM SPEAKER, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF,

ASSEMBLYMEMBER DILAN AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS, PLEASE EXTEND THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO OUR GREAT FORMER ASSEMBLYMEMBER RAFAEL

ESPINAL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, OF COURSE. ON

BEHALF OF MS. ROZIC, ASSEMBLYMEMBER DILAN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MEMBERS, WELCOME BACK, ASSEMBLYMEMBER. WE WELCOME YOU BACK

TO THE CHAMBER AND EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES, BUT YOU'VE HAD THEM AND

YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM. AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR

PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING BACK TO VISIT

US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. BURROUGHS FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. BURROUGHS: YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM

SPEAKER. I AM THOROUGHLY AND SUMMARILY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE

ARE -- WOULD LOVE TO EXTEND THE FLOOR FOR PURPOSES OF SOMEONE WHO HAS

EXEMPLIFIED GIVING BACK AND CHANGING THEIR LIFE OVER FOR ONE THING THAT

COULD BE LOOKED AS A NEGATIVE TO A POSITIVE. AND I'M SO HONORED TO

PRESENT SOMEONE WHO WAS AN ATHLETE, FORMER ATHLETE AS MYSELF, AND

THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS JAYSON WILLIAMS, WHO WAS A FORMER NBA PLAYER,

ALL-STAR WHO HAS HELPED HONOR THE RESILIENCE, DEDICATION TO HELPING

OTHERS. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY. JAYSON

EXCELLED IN BASKETBALL AT ST. JOHN'S, WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE HIS TEAM

TO AN NIT CHAMPIONSHIP. JAYSON LATER WENT ON TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL

NBA CAREER WITH THE NEW JERSEY JETS -- NETS AND BECAME THE LEAGUE'S

MOST DOMINANT LEAGUE REBOUNDER. HOWEVER, HIS -- HIS CAREER WAS CUT

SHORT BY INJURY AND FACED BY SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING

ADDICTION. FOLLOWING STRUGGLES, JAYSON TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND AND

FOUNDED REBOUND, A RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT INTEGRATES AD -- ADVERSITY,

ADVENTURE THERAPY TO OFFER A UNIQUE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REHABILITATION.

JAYSON'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH ADDICTION AND RECOVERY INSPIRED HIM

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT GOES BEYOND TRADITIONAL METHODS,

INCORPORATING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES LIKE SKYDIVING, PADDLING, SCUBA DIVING

AND BUILD TRUST AND RECOVERY THROUGHOUT TEAMWORK. IN ADDITION,

REBOUND -- IN ADDITION TO REBOUND, JAYSON IS LAUNCHING NASSAU

COUNTY AND NEW YORK CITY TO HELP THOSE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION TO

GAIN STABILITY. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN OBTAINING THEIR

COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE AND SECURING WELL-PAYING TRUCK DRIVING

JOBS. THESE JOBS WILL BE LOOKED AT AS CAREERS. JAYSON AND THE PROGRAM

WILL UNDERGO -- UNDERGO DRUG TESTING AND MEET OVER -- HE'S MET OVER

400 CARRIERS WITH THE PROMISE OF JOB SUCCESSFUL -- JOB SUCCESS UPON

COMPLETION. THE STARTING SALARY FOR THOSE WHO FINISH THE PROGRAM IS

$65,000 ANNUALLY, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRESH START. THIS

INITIATIVE AIMS TO KEEP INDIVIDUALS ON THE RIGHT PATH BY OFFERING THEM A

SENSE OF PURPOSE, SELF-ESTEEM AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBOUND THEIR

LIVES.

AT REBOUND, JAYSON WORKS ALONGSIDE HIS TEAM, WHO IS

CONSIDERED FAMILY, TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEYS.

HIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME AN OFFICIAL RECOVERY FAC -- FACILITY OF NBA

PLAYERS WHERE JAYSON DEDICATES HIS TIME TO BEING HANDS-ON, WORKING

WITH CLIENTS TO HELP THEM STAY HEALTHY AND SOBER. THROUGH THIS

LEADERSHIP, THE PERSONAL COMMITMENTS JAYSON HAS TRANSFORMED HIS OWN

STRUGGLES INTO A MISSION TO HELP OTHERS. JAYSON'S STORY IS ONE OF

TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY, AND HIS WORK WITH REBOUND CONTINUES TO

INSPIRE COUNTIES -- COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND DEDICATING HIS -- BY

HELPING OTHERS. COMBINED WITH THIS, HE HAS A DEEP LOVE FOR HIS ALMA

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MATER, ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY, AND HIS FAITH GUIDES HIM DAILY.

TODAY JAYSON WILLIAMS IS NOT ONLY CELEBRATED FOR HIS

BASKETBALL LEGACY, BUT ALSO FOR HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND HIM

GIVING BACK TO HELP OTHERS. AND SO FOR THAT I SAY GOD BLESS, AND ALSO

PLEASE EXTEND THE COURTESY OF THE FLOOR, MADAM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MR.

BURROUGHS. ON BEHALF OF MR. BURROUGHS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, MR. WILLIAMS, PLAYER, COACH, ADVOCATE ON

AND OFF THE COURT TO THE CHAMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY. WE EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK

YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 127, MS.

ROSENTHAL.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 24-MARCH 2, 2025 AS EATING

DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 128, MR. K.

BROWN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 17, 2025 AS RANDOM ACTS OF

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

KINDNESS DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 8, CALENDAR NO. 11, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00056, CALENDAR NO.

11, EPSTEIN, BURDICK, GALLAGHER, KELLES, GLICK, REYES, CUNNINGHAM,

RAGA, CRUZ, SEAWRIGHT, DAVILA, LEVENBERG. AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL

PROPERTY LAW AND THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, IN RELATION TO

PROHIBITING RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS FROM CHARGING TENANTS A FEE FOR A

DISHONORED RENT CHECK IN EXCESS OF THE ACTUAL COSTS OR FEES INCURRED BY

SUCH LANDLORD AS A RESULT THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00779, CALENDAR NO.

12, PHEFFER AMATO, SANTABARBARA, KAY. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL

SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE RIGHTS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATED TO

SUSPENSION OR DEMOTION UPON THE ABOLITION OR REDUCTION OF POSITIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD

YOU PLEASE CALL THE RULES COMMITTEE TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE

ROOM IMMEDIATELY?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: RULES COMMITTEE TO

THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM. FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE RULES

COMMITTEE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SPEAKER'S CONFERENCE ROOM.

ON CONSENT, PAGE 9, CALENDAR NO. 13, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01118, CALENDAR NO.

13, PAULIN, WOERNER, DINOWITZ, BRONSON, GONZ�LEZ-ROJAS, STECK,

ANDERSON, SIMON, JACOBSON, COOK, COLTON, FORREST, SANTABARBARA,

WALKER, TAYLOR, R. CARROLL, CRUZ, EPSTEIN, LUNSFORD, CLARK, BICHOTTE

HERMELYN, PEOPLES-STOKES, ROSENTHAL, REYES, FALL, KELLES, DE LOS

SANTOS, RAGA. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO

INCREASING MONETARY PENALTIES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH LAW VIOLATIONS AND

PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE NURSING HOME QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01219, CALENDAR NO.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

14, DINOWITZ, SEAWRIGHT, STIRPE, BRONSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL

PRACTICE AND [SIC] RULES, IN RELATION TO GROUNDS FOR VACATING AN

ARBITRATION AWARD ON THE BASIS OF PARTIALITY OF THE ARBITRATOR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01550, CALENDAR NO.

15, SOLAGES. AN ACT TO AMEND THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, IN

RELATION TO CERTIFICATION OF CLASS ACTIONS IN CASES INVOLVING

GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01656, CALENDAR NO.

16, ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT, RAGA, FORREST, SHRESTHA, MAMDANI. AN ACT

TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW, IN RELATION

TO PROHIBITING NAMING DEPENDENT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN

PETITIONS TO RECOVER POSSESSION OF REAL PROPERTY AND EVICTION WARRANTS

AND SEALING ANY RECORDS PERTAINING TO SUCH CHILDREN.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01867, CALENDAR NO.

17, ROSENTHAL, EPSTEIN, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, BURDICK, SEAWRIGHT. AN

ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, IN

RELATION TO REQUIREMENTS FOR A BUILDING OWNER TO REFUSE TO RENEW A

LEASE WHEN THE BUILDING IS TO BE DEMOLISHED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02123-A, CALENDAR

NO. 18, AMENDED ON THIRD READING.

ASSEMBLY NO. A02398, CALENDAR NO. 19, GALLAGHER,

ROSENTHAL, SIMON, STIRPE, K. BROWN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE JUDICIARY

LAW, THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, THE COUNTY

LAW AND THE GENERAL CITY LAW, IN RELATION TO REPLACING THE WORDS

"ADDICT" AND "ADDICTS" WITH THE WORDS "PERSON WITH SUBSTANCE USE

DISORDER" OR VARIATION THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MS. GALLAGHER TO EXPLAIN HER VOTE.

MS. GALLAGHER: I'M THRILLED THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS

MOVING THIS BILL FORWARD. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SPEAKER AND THE DRUG

AND ALCOHOL COMMITTEE [SIC], WHICH WILL NOW BE THE SUBSTANCE USE

DISORDER COMMITTEE. LANGUAGE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. IT CREATES

STIGMA, AND STIGMA CREATES FEAR. FEAR NOT ONLY FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT

FROM THE INSIDE. MANY PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO GRAPPLE WITH THE NEGATIVE

CONNOTATIONS THAT WERE BUILT AROUND THE TERM "ADDICT", AND BY

CHANGING THE NOMENCLATURE IN OUR LAWS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP

PEOPLE HEAL, FIND RECOVERY AND ALSO FIND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

FROM THEIR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE ADDICTION IS A DISEASE AND SUBSTANCE

USE DISORDER IS THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY.

SO, THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. GALLAGHER IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, THANK

YOU FOR ALLOWING ME INTERRUPT OUR PROCEEDINGS FOR THE PURPOSES OF

INTRODUCING SOME GUESTS THAT IN OUR CHAMBERS. ON BEHALF OF OUR

COLLEAGUE PHIL RAMOS, THERE ARE 45 SCHOLARS HERE WITH THEIR TEACHERS

FROM THE LONG ISLAND LATINO TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. AS YOU CAN SEE,

MADAM CHAIR -- MADAM SPEAKER, RATHER -- THESE FINE STUDENTS HAVE

TRAVELED TO ALBANY AND THEY'RE ADDING VALUE TO THE LEARNING THAT THEY

DO IN THEIR CLASSROOMS ON LONG ISLAND. AND THEY'RE WITH THE FINE

INSTRUCTORS THAT WORK WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THEY ARE FROM

THE BRENTWOOD AND THE CENTRAL ISLIP SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE WELCOME THESE SCHOLARS AND

THEIR TEACHERS TO OUR CHAMBERS AND OFFER THEM THE CORDIALITIES OF THE

FLOOR AND THE ABILITY TO BE ON OUR FLOOR. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, OF COURSE. ON

BEHALF OF THE MAJORITY LEADER, MR. RAMOS, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU YOUNG SCHOLARS TO THE CHAMBER. WE DO

HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

FLOOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. I KNOW IT WAS A LONG

TREK FOR YOU TO COME HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK

TO YOU ALL.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER,

MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESKS AN A-CALENDAR. I WOULD LIKE TO PLEASE

ADVANCE THAT CALENDAR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES, THE A-CALENDAR IS ADVANCED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF

WE CAN NOW DIRECT OUR ATTENTION RIGHT TO RULES REPORT 105.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: PAGE 3, RULES

REPORT NO. 105, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A05686, RULES REPORT

NO. 105, ROMERO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE REAL PROPERTY LAW AND THE

TAX LAW, IN RELATION TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS; AMENDS A CHAPTER OF

THE LAWS OF 2024 AMENDING THE REAL PROPERTY LAW AND THE TAX LAW

RELATING TO SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTAL OF PRIVATE DWELLINGS IN CERTAIN

MUNICIPALITIES, AS PROPOSED IN LEGISLATIVE BILLS NUMBERS S.885-C AND

A.4130-C, IN RELATION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS THEREOF; AND REPEALS CERTAIN

PROVISIONS OF THE TAX LAW AND SUCH CHAPTER RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE'RE GOING ON

DEBATE. AN EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED. IF WE COULD HAVE QUIET IN

THE CHAMBER, PLEASE.

MS. ROMERO.

ONE MOMENT, MS. ROMERO, PLEASE.

(PAUSE)

ON A MOTION BY MS. ROMERO, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE

THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED.

MS. ROMERO, AN EXPLANATION, PLEASE.

MS. ROMERO: THANK YOU. THIS LEGISLATION AIMS TO

REGULATE THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL SYSTEM. PROCEDURALLY, THIS CHAPTER

AMENDMENT DIFFERS FROM THE BILL PREVIOUSLY PASSED IN THAT THESE

CHANGES HAVE THE LEGISLATION WORK THROUGH AN OPT-OUT PROGRAM COUNTY

BY COUNTY INSTEAD OF A STATEWIDE REGISTRY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF

STATE. COUNTIES THAT DO NOT OPT OUT WILL BE ABLE TO REGULATE AND REGISTER

THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS. THIS LEGISLATION ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE

COLLECTION OF SALES TAX ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS STATEWIDE.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD FOR SOME QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROMERO: CERTAINLY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WELCOME.

I THINK THIS IS OUR -- OUR FIRST DEBATE TOGETHER. I -- I DID WANT TO KIND OF

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO YOUR INITIAL EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT THE

CHANGES IN THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT PROVIDE. SO, YOU MENTIONED FIRST

AND I THINK -- I THINK PROBABLY TO ME, MOST IMPORTANT IN THE CHAPTER IS

THAT IT REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS MUST REGISTER

WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND IT RETURNS THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP A

SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRY TO THE COUNTIES. CAN YOU -- OR DO YOU HAVE

ANY INSIGHT AS TO WHY THAT CHANGE WAS MADE?

MS. ROMERO: SO, ORIGINALLY, AS YOU MENTIONED,

THIS WAS A REGISTRY STATEWIDE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND NOW IT

IS A REQUIREMENT THAT IT IS AN OPT-OUT SYSTEM. AND THIS CHANGE FROM AN

OPT-IN TO AN OPT-OUT SYSTEM CAME OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE

EXECUTIVE AND THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MUN -- MUNICIPAL

ASSOCIATIONS. THE INTENT OF THE CHANGE IS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION

FROM THE COUNTIES WHILE ALSO RETAINING THEIR ABILITY TO CHOOSE NOT TO

CREATE A REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS.

MS. WALSH: RIGHT. SO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

ORIGINALLY WAS GONNA KIND OF BE KIND OF LIKE THE TRAFFIC COP OF THE

WHOLE PROGRAM, AND NOW THEY'RE JUST COMPLETELY OUT OF IT AND NOW IT'S

-- IT'S AN OPT-OUT SYSTEM, AS YOU SAY. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT OPT-

IN AND OPT-OUT KIND OF MEANS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, OKAY? SO, IF YOU

HAVE A TOWN THAT HAS AN EXISTING REGISTRY WITHIN A COUNTY THAT DOES NOT

AND WHICH OPTS OUT, WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION? MAY THE TOWN CONTINUE

TO COLLECT, FOR EXAMPLE, TAX MONEY?

MS. ROMERO: CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? SORRY.

IF A -- THE OPT-OUT, OPT-IN IS A LITTLE --

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MS. WALSH: NO, I UNDERSTAND. SO, WHAT IF YOU

HAVE A TOWN THAT HAS AN EXISTING REGISTRY --

MS. ROMERO: RIGHT.

MS. WALSH: -- WHICH SOME OF THEM DO THROUGHOUT

THE STATE, AND THAT TOWN LIES WITHIN A COUNTY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A

REGISTRY AND IN FACT OPTS OUT OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM. MAY THAT TOWN

CONTINUE TO COLLECT TAX?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: IN THE HYPOTHETICAL THAT YOU JUST

POSED, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE STATE TO REQUEST THE ABILITY TO

HAVE OCCUPANCY TAX IMPOSED IN THEIR OWN REGISTRY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: BECAUSE THIS BILL REQUIRES THAT ALL

REGISTRIES HAVE THE OCCUPANCY TAX ITSELF RUN THROUGH A REGISTRY THAT IS --

RUN THROUGH A REGISTRY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO -- SO, MY UNDERSTANDING

WAS THAT AIRBNB, FOR EXAMPLE, ALREADY HAD ARRANGEMENTS WITH SOME

MUNICIPALITIES TO COLLECT FOR THEM. SO HOW DOES THIS LEGISLATION AND

THIS CHAPTER IMPACT THOSE KIND OF -- I'LL CALL THEM SIDE AGREEMENTS --

BUT IMPACT THOSE SIDE AGREEMENTS?

MS. ROMERO: NOTHING IN THIS BILL SUPERCEDES THAT.

THEY CAN CONTINUE WITH THOSE AGREEMENTS ALREADY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO WHAT -- SO LET'S SAY YOU

HAVE A TOWN THAT ALREADY HAD A SIDE AGREEMENT WITH AIRBNB. ARE YOU

SAYING THAT WITH THE CHAPTER NOW THEY HAVE TO -- THE TOWN WOULD NEED

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

TO, THROUGH -- YOU KNOW, CREATE LEGISLATION, HOME RULE, BRING IT IN HERE,

HAVE IT PASSED ASSEMBLY, SENATE, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR?

MS. ROMERO: I MISSPOKE BEFORE. IT'S ACTUALLY --

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I MISSPOKE BEFORE. THE PREVIOUS

AGREEMENTS ARE EXISTING WITH THE AIRBNB, AS YOU SAID, EXISTING WITH THE

AIRBNB AND THE MUNICIPALITIES. THOSE AGREEMENTS WILL BE HONORED.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO

CLARIFY.

MS. WALSH: NO, NO, THAT'S FINE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE

DOING THIS. SO -- BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER BOOKING SERVICES

LIKE -- AND I WON'T -- YOU KNOW, LIKE, VRBO OR OTHER DIFFERENT

SERVICES. MAYBE THEY HAD NOT ENTERED INTO THAT KIND OF AN AGREEMENT

WITH A PARTICULAR TOWN -- CONTINUING WITH OUR HYPOTHETICAL. SO WILL

THERE BE A NEED TO COME IN AND ESTABLISH THAT RELATIONSHIP OR IF THAT --

YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY THEY HAD THAT AGREEMENT WITH AIRBNB BUT NOT WITH

ANYBODY ELSE. LIKE, HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH THIS?

MS. ROMERO: AND THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TALKING

ABOUT IN -- IN THE EXAMPLE THAT I -- I SAID BEFORE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO

CREATE THAT RELATIONSHIP.

MS. WALSH: THROUGH LEGISLATION?

MS. ROMERO: THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE

STATE FOR AUTHORIZATION. THAT WAS WHAT I MEANT BY MY PREVIOUS

STATEMENT.

MS. WALSH: AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

AUTHORIZATION, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE METHOD THAT WE HAVE CERTAINLY

SEEN IN THIS CHAMBER MANY TIMES WITH A REQUEST FOR AN OCCUPANCY TAX

OR A REQUEST FOR A TAX TO BE EXTENDED OR ESTABLISHED IN THAT PROCESS OR

WOULD THERE BE SOME OTHER AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURE?

MS. ROMERO: YES, IT'S WHAT YOU'RE EXACTLY TALKING

ABOUT, IT'S THE PROCEDURE THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

NOW I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA THROW A DIFFERENT

HYPOTHETICAL AT YOU NOW.

MS. ROMERO: OKAY.

MS. WALSH: ALL RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT A TOWN -- I

THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT WE'RE GONNA SEE. WHAT ABOUT A

TOWN THAT HAS AN EXISTING REGISTRY WITHIN A COUNTY THAT DOES NOT OPT OUT

SO THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BE NOW CREATING A REGISTRY. IS THERE ANYTHING

THAT -- THAT INDICATES THAT THAT TOWN THAT ALREADY HAS A REGISTRY NEEDS TO

COLLAPSE IT OR MERGE IT, OR CAN THEY JUST CONTINUE TO OPERATE SEPARATE

AND APART FROM WHAT THE COUNTY IS GONNA BE DOING?

MS. ROMERO: THEY CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE

SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE COUNTY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO IS THERE A POSSIBILITY, THEN,

OF THERE BEING A STACKING OF TAXES? SO, THE COUNTY COULD HAVE A TAX

THAT THEY'RE GONNA IMPOSE, THE TOWN'S GONNA HAVE A -- A TAX THAT THEY

ARE ALREADY IMPOSING. IS THAT POSSIBLE OR NOT?

MS. ROMERO: IF THEY'RE IN A COUNTY THAT HAS A

REGISTRATION SYSTEM, THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE TAXES THAT ARE IMPOSED. BUT

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

I'M CURIOUS AS TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE TAXES. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER --

IF YOU'D LIKE FURTHER CLARIFICATION I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER.

MS. WALSH: WELL, NO, I WANT -- I WANT TO DEAL WITH

THE FACT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A TOWN THAT ALREADY IS -- GOT -- HAS GOT A

REGISTRY ALREADY, IS ALREADY COLLECTING SOME KIND OF TAX. I MEAN, SOME

OF THEM ARE, NO? OR SOME OF THEM ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING -- OR

COLLECTING TAXES NOW, NO?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: NOTHING IN THIS -- NOTHING IN THIS

BILL, AS I SAID BEFORE, SUPERCEDES THE AGREEMENT THAT ALREADY EXISTS

BETWEEN THE LOCALITY AND THE VRBO, AIRBNB, AS -- AS I MENTIONED

BEFORE. BUT I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT THE TAXES AND THE

LAYERING OF TAXES?

MS. WALSH: YES.

MS. ROMERO: AND SO THERE CAN BE A LAYERING OF

TAXES DEPENDING ON WHAT ALREADY EXISTS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: EVERY LOCALITY WILL BE DIFFERENT

DEPENDING ON WHAT EXISTS WITH AN OCCUPANCY TAX IN THAT MUNICIPALITY

AND WHAT THE COUNTY CHOOSES TO DO, COUNTY BY COUNTY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CHAPTER

AMENDMENT OR THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES ANY KIND OF SHARING

OF INFORMATION BETWEEN A TOWN THAT ALREADY HAS AN ESTABLISHED REGISTRY

IN A COUNTY THAT -- THAT ENCOMPASSES THAT TOWN THAT NOW IS GOING TO

CREATE ONE?

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS LEGISLATION

THAT REQUIRES THE EXISTING MUNICIPALITY THAT ALREADY HAS THE REGISTRATION

SYSTEM TO SHARE THEIR INFORMATION WITH THE NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM IN

THE COUNTY, THE COUNTYWIDE REGISTRATION SYSTEM. HOWEVER --

(PAUSE)

-- THERE'S NOTHING THAT PROHIBITS THE TOWN WITH THE

EXISTING BOOKING SERVICE FROM SHARING THEIR INFORMATION WITH THE

COUNTYWIDE BOOKING SERVICE THEMSELVES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. SO, IT'S -- IT'S --

MS. ROMERO: HYPOTHETICALLY, THE AIRBNB OR ANY

OTHER BOOKING SERVICE WITH A SMALL MUNICIPALITY WITH A COUNTYWIDE

SAME BOOKING SERVICE THEMSELVES.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

MS. ROMERO: AND -- AND ONE WOULD EXPECT THEM,

HOPEFULLY, TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

MS. WALSH: RIGHT. SO IT -- BUT THIS LEGISLATION IS

KIND OF SILENT ON THAT ISSUE. IT KIND OF LEAVES IT UP TO THE STAKEHOLDERS

TO FIGURE THAT OUT?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: IT'S NOT SHARING -- IT'S NOT SILENT ON

THE COUNTY SHARING IT TO MUNICIPALITY, BUT IT IS SILENT ON THE

MUNICIPALITY TO THE COUNTY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY, UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. SO, FOR ALL

THE DATA THAT IS COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY THE BOOKING SERVICES TO THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

STATE, OKAY, WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION? AND THIS WAS --

THIS WAS SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP ON DEBATE ON THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION

AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE IS A COUNTY THAT HAS OPTED OUT, CAN THEY

GET INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS THERE MIGHT BE

IN THEIR COUNTY? BECAUSE THIS MIGHT BE IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT

WOULD BE HELPFUL TO DETERMINING IF THE COUNTY MAY LATER DECIDE TO OPT

IN.

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: SO, THE BOOKING SERVICES WILL COLLECT

THE DATA RELATED TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL GUESTS STAYS. AND I'M SURE YOU

KNOW THAT THAT BOOKING SERVICE DATA WILL REPORT THAT DATA TO THE COUNTY

AND THE COUNTY WILL SHARE THAT DATA WITH THE CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE

GOVERNMENTS AND THEY'LL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THE ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES UPON REQUEST. BUT THAT'S NOT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. BUT YOUR

QUESTION, I THINK MORE DIRECTLY, WAS WILL THE COUNTY BE ABLE TO RECEIVE

THAT INFORMATION FROM THE BOOKING AGENCY?

MS. WALSH: IF A COUNTY HAS OPTED OUT AT LEAST FOR

NOW, LIKE, MAYBE LATER THEY MIGHT OPT IN, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'VE OPTED

OUT --

MS. ROMERO: YUP.

MR. WALSH: CAN THEY GET DATA FROM THE STATE

SHOWING HOW MANY RENTAL UNITS ARE -- ARE -- SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS ARE

IN THEIR COUNTY AS INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY MIGHT WANT

TO OPT IN?

MS. ROMERO: THE BOOKING SERVICE ISN'T REQUIRED

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM COUNTIES THAT HAVE OPTED OUT. THAT'S NOT

HOW THIS LEGISLATION WORKS.

MS. WALSH: SO THEY ONLY HAVE TO -- THE BOOKING

AGEN -- THE BOOKING ENTITIES ONLY NEED TO REPORT DATA FOR COUNTIES THAT

HAVE OPTED IN THAT HAVE A REGISTRY.

MS. ROMERO: EXACTLY.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. VERY GOOD.

SO, IN THE MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION I

NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN EMPHASIS THAT WAS BEING PLACED ON THE

IMPACTS THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS MAY HAVE ON THE AVAILABILITY OF

HOUSING STOCK, AND IT DESCRIBED AND DISCUSSED ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS

IN THE STATE. HOW AT ALL WILL DATA COLLECTED BE UTILIZED BY THE STATE TO

DEVELOP HOUSING LEGISLATION, IF YOU KNOW? WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO

THAT DATA AND DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PLANS TO STUDY THIS INFORMATION?

MS. ROMERO: WELL, THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WILL

BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA. THE TOWN -- TOWNS AND VILLAGES

WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS DATA PER THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

AND SO IF YOUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS

DATA, THEY'LL ASSUMEDLY BE ABLE TO SEE THE VACANCY RATES, THEY'LL BE ABLE

TO SEE THE CHANGES IN HOUSING STOCK. AND WE LEAVE THAT UP TO THE LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS TO DECIDE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THEIR MUNICIPALITIES

AND WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE THERE.

MS. WALSH: WHO AT THE STATE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO

THAT INFORMATION?

MS. ROMERO: THE -- THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

HAVE AGGREGATE INFO, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION AS

PROVIDED TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.

MS. WALSH: AND ONLY THE -- THE DEPARTMENT OF

STATE?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: IT'S -- NOTHING PRECLUDES THE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE FROM MAKING IT PUBLIC. BUT I THINK YOUR QUESTION

WAS IS IT ONLY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE?

MS. WALSH: I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

MS. ROMERO: NOTHING PRECLUDES THE DEPARTMENT

OF STATE FROM MAKING THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC. BUT IS YOUR QUESTION IS

THE INFORMATION ONLY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE?

MS. WALSH: YEAH, I -- YEAH, THAT IS MY QUESTION.

MS. ROMERO: IT'S SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

STATE, BUT NOTHING PRECLUDES THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FROM MAKING IT

PUBLIC.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

DOES THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT MAKE ANY CHANGES

REGARDING COUNTIES BANDING TOGETHER TO JOIN OR CREATE A JOINT REGISTRY?

MS. ROMERO: COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? SORRY.

MS. WALSH: YEAH, DOES THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT

MAKE ANY CHANGES REGARDING COUNTIES BANDING TOGETHER TO CREATE A

JOINT REGISTRY?

MS. ROMERO: YEAH, IT'S ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED IN

THIS LEGISLATION. COUNTIES ARE -- ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME TOGETHER IF

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

THEY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO CREATE THEIR OWN REGISTRY. COUNTIES CAN

CREATE MULTI-COUNTY REGISTRIES THAT WOULD OPERATE JUST AS A SINGLE

COUNTY REGISTRY WOULD.

MS. WALSH: OKAY. AND ISN'T THERE ALSO A PROVISION

SOMEWHERE IN THERE THAT SAYS THAT ONCE A REGISTRY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED,

IT NEEDS TO BE PUT UP ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR THE MUNICIPALITY THAT'S

CREATING IT? IS -- IS THAT IN THERE SOMEWHERE OR DID I MISREAD THAT?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: YES, ON PAGE 8 OF THE LEGISLATION IT

DOES HAVE A PUBLIC REQUIREMENT ON THE WEBSITE, AS YOU -- AS YOU

MENTIONED, YES.

MS. WALSH: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE COST

WILL BE TO COUNTIES TO DEVELOP A REGISTRY?

MS. ROMERO: NO, IT WILL VARY -- IT'LL VARY PER

MUNICIPALITY AND THAT'S UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.

MS. WALSH: WHAT ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE? IF

-- AND -- AND I WOULD JUST TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT BEING EITHER AS

RELATING TO THE HOSTS, WHO MAYBE DIDN'T REGISTER THEIR UNIT OR AREN'T

PROPERLY COLLECTING THE TAXES THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COLLECT IF THEY'RE

NOT USING A BOOKING SERVICE. WHAT -- HOW DOES -- HOW DOES THE BILL

ENVISION HANDLING ANY ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS REGARDING THE HOSTS?

MS. ROMERO: WELL, THERE -- IN THE CHAPTER

AMENDMENT ITSELF THERE WERE MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENFORCEMENT FROM --

I'M SURE YOU SAW -- FROM "SHALL" TO "MAY" AS IT RELATES TO ENFORCEMENT

OF THE MUNICIPALITY ON THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE PENALTIES

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

BETWEEN THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE BOOKING SERVICE ITSELF. BUT AS IT

RELATES TO HOSTS AND THE CODE ENFORCEMENT TYPE STUFF, THAT'S, FRANKLY, LEFT

UP TO THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE LOCAL CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WITHIN

THOSE MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CODE ENFORCEMENT-

RELATED ISSUES THEMSELVES.

MS. WALSH: AND IS THAT A CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL

LEGISLATION WHICH HAD MORE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AS THE -- THE

ADMINISTERER OF THE PROGRAM?

MS. ROMERO: THE CODE ENFORCEMENT-RELATED

CONCEPT WAS NOT A CHANGE. THE -- THE PREVIOUSLY -- THE AFOREMENTIONED

CONCEPT OF "SHALL" TO "MAY" WAS A CHANGE IN THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT

FROM THE PREVIOUS ONE. BUT THAT, AS I SAID BEFORE, WASN'T THE CODE

ENFORCEMENT-RELATED CONCEPT, THAT WAS THE BOOKING SERVICE

ENFORCEMENT.

MS. WALSH: WELL, WHEN -- OKAY, WHEN YOU SAY

"CODE ENFORCEMENT", THAT MAKES ME THINK OF, OKAY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE

SMOKE DETECTORS, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I'M TALKING

ABOUT IF THEY -- IF THEY JUST DON'T REGISTER. LIKE, LET'S SAY IT'S MORE OF A

MONETARY PROBLEM. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT

WOULD BE HANDLING. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD ENVISION, LIKE, A

COUNTY ATTORNEY HANDLING?

MS. ROMERO: WHEN YOU SAY MONE -- CAN YOU --

CAN YOU, LIKE, CLARIFY THAT MORE? BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE BOTH TALKING

ABOUT THE SAME THING. CODE ENFORCEMENT IS THE LOCAL STUFF, AND I THINK

WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

"MAY" VERSUS "SHALL" LANGUAGE, WHICH (INAUDIBLE) --

MS. WALSH: FOR FAILING TO REGISTER OR FOR FAILING TO

COLLECT AN APPROPRIATE TAX.

MS. ROMERO: YEAH, AND THAT IS WHAT I WAS TALKING

ABOUT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: COLLEAGUES, WE'RE

ON DEBATE. COULD WE KEEP THE CHATTER DOWN, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

MS. ROMERO: THANK YOU. THAT IS A MODIFICATION

FROM THE PRIOR LEGISLATION TO THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT, WHICH IS A

"SHALL" VERSUS A "MAY" MODIFICATION. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT

IN THE PRIOR LEGISLATION IT SAID THAT THE -- IT HAD "SHALL" LANGUAGE,

MEANING THAT THE MUNICIPALITY SHALL, MEANING MUST, PUNISH THE --

PUNISH -- WHAT'S IS THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR -- THE BOOKING SERVICE IF

THERE ARE PROBLEMS. AND NOW IT'S A "MAY" LANGUAGE, MEANING THAT THEY

MAY PUNISH THE BOOKING SERVICE IF THERE ARE ISSUES. AND I CAN FIND

EXACTLY WHAT --

MS. WALSH: NO, YOU DON'T NEED TO. I -- I -- I KNOW,

AND I WELCOME THAT CHANGE GIVING MORE DISCRETION TO THE LOCALS TO

FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ASSESS AS A FINE AND WHAT THEIR

FINE OR FEE SCHEDULE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE. I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S A VERY

BENEFICIAL CHANGE IN MY -- IN MY OPINION. BUT WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IF

WE -- IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A FINE TO -- OR A PENALTY TO BE

ASSESSED, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE UNDER OUR CURRENT -- YOU KNOW,

UNDER THE CHAPTER FOR MAKING SURE THAT THAT GETS PAID? IS THAT

SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BE HANDLED AT, LIKE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY LEVEL

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

OR A DISTRICT ATTORNEY LEVEL OR HOW IS THAT GONNA GET ENFORCED?

MS. ROMERO: IT WOULD LIKELY BE THE COUNTY

ATTORNEY OR THE MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S ON

PAGE 7 IN THE LEGISLATION ABOUT THE PENALTIES ABOUT THE MAY REVOKE

REGISTRATION.

MS. WALSH: RIGHT, RIGHT.

MS. ROMERO: AND IT -- AND IT'S -- TO YOUR POINT, IT'S

A -- IT'S A -- IT'S -- IT REQUIRES LANGUAGE ABOUT VIOLATING ANY PROVISION OF

THIS ARTICLE AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN TWO CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR YEARS. SO

IT'S A VERY WIDE -- WIDE LEEWAY THERE.

MS. WALSH: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: BUT AS I SAID, MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY

ATTORNEY PER YOUR QUESTION.

MS. WALSH: YEAH, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S

IMPORTANT. I -- I LIKE THE IDEA OF THERE BEING SOME FLEXIBILITY WITH THE

LOCALS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AS I SAID. BUT I DO THINK THAT FOR -- FOR

SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT, SAY, HAVE A SEASONAL RESIDENCE OR YOU'RE --

YOU'RE A LOCAL MEMBER, AS I AM, OF A TRACK SEASON RENTAL, SOMETHING

LIKE THAT, I THINK IF YOU'RE NOT USING AIRBNB AND YOU'RE NOT USING VRBO

OR ANY OF THOSE BOOKING SERVICES AND YOU'RE JUST THROUGH

WORD-OF-MOUTH OR HOWEVER, FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, I DON'T KNOW,

HOWEVER YOU WOULD GET THE WORD OUT THAT YOU'VE GOT A UNIT THAT YOU'RE

WILLING TO OFFER UP FOR A PORTION OF THE SEASON, SAY, AND YOU -- AND YOU

DON'T REGISTER -- AND YOU DON'T REGISTER AND YOU DON'T -- YOU'RE NOT

COLLECTING ANYTHING AND YOU'RE JUST KIND OF TRYING OPERATE UNDER THE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

RADAR, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT ONCE A COUNTY OR A MUNICIPALITY ESTABLISHES A

REGISTRY, ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENFORCING THE RULES AS FAR AS REGISTERING,

PAYING THE FEE, COLLECTING THE TAXES APPROPRIATELY, ALL OF THAT STUFF IS

GONNA ALSO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY THAT'S

SETTING IT UP; IS THAT RIGHT?

MS. ROMERO: YEAH. I'D LIKE TO SAY THE LEGALITIES

ARE LEFT TO LOCALITIES IN THIS BILL, AND SO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IS GONNA

BE UNDER THE COUNTY.

MS. WALSH: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

MADAM SPEAKER, ON THE BILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MS. WALSH: SO, I THINK THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY

SUBSTANTIAL CHAPTER AMENDMENT THAT DOES MAKE MANY CHANGES IN THE

WAY THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL OPERATE. AND AS I WAS READING THROUGH THE

CHAPTER I THOUGHT THAT MOST OF THOSE CHANGES WERE OBVIOUSLY THE RESULT

OF A GOOD THREE-WAY NEGOTIATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS REALLY VOICING A LOT

OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD HEARD BACK, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR BEFORE WE

TOOK THE BILL UP. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GRATIFIED TO SEE THAT MANY OF

THESE CHANGES WERE MADE. I -- I THINK REMOVING THE DEPARTMENT OF

STATE AND LEAVING THE PROGRAM AS A OPTION FOR COUNTIES AND

MUNICIPALITIES RESTORES LOCAL CONTROL, AND IN THAT WAY IT MIGHT BE MORE

PALATABLE TO SOME MEMBERS WHO OPPOSED THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION

WHICH DID PASS BY 101 TO 40. ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME MAY NOW SEE

THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT AS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE ON COUNTIES, AND

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

SOME MIGHT NOT WANT TO IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON PRIVATE

HOMEOWNERS WHO RENT THEIR HOMES FOR BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME EACH YEAR

AS A WAY TO EARN EXTRA INCOME. SO I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT POINT

OF VIEW. HOWEVER, FOR MY PART, I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION, AS I

WAS THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION. AS I SHARED WITH MY COLLEAGUES LAST YEAR,

I OWN A SEASONAL CAMP AT THE FOOTHILL OF THE ADIRONDACKS, AND OVER THE

YEARS I'VE SEEN A GREAT CHANGE IN THE USE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE

LAKE. HOMES BEING PURCHASED TO BE USED AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS

EXCLUSIVELY RATHER THAN OCCASIONALLY. I THINK THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS

HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE THAN A SMALL COTTAGE INDUSTRY -- I KNOW THAT'S

A PUN -- THEY -- THEY HAVE BECOME BIG BUSINESS IN MANY INSTANCES.

AND SO I THINK THAT WITH THIS LEGISLATION WE RECOGNIZE THAT HOMEOWNERS

CAN STILL MAKE SOME MONEY ON THE SIDE, BUT THAT COUNTIES THAT ARE ALSO

HOSTING THESE VISITORS HAVE TO PROVIDE ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND

SERVICES TO THESE VISITORS AND THAT DOESN'T COME WITHOUT A COST.

SO I'M SATISFIED THAT THIS LEGISLATION STRIKES THE

APPROPRIATE BALANCE AMONG THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, AND AS SUCH I WILL

BE SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. GANDOLFO.

MR. GANDOLFO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, PLEASE?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MS. ROMERO: CERTAINLY.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. GANDOLFO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, I

HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AND IF SOME OF THEM SOUND A LITTLE

REDUNDANT AT FIRST, I APOLOGIZE. SO JUST FIRST, I WANT TO FOCUS ON A LEGAL

OR IMPERMITTED [SIC] SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN A SPECIFIC MUNICIPALITY.

NOW, FIRST, IF -- IF A COUNTY REMAINS OPT -- REMAINS OPTED IN AND CREATES

ITS OWN REGISTRY, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT

A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IN A TOWNSHIP THAT MIGHT NOT BE UP TO CODE? SAY

THEIR CODE DOESN'T PERMIT ANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS. IS THERE ANYTHING IN

THIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PREVENT IT FROM APPEARING ON A COUNTY

REGISTRY?

MS. ROMERO: IF -- NOTHING IN THIS LEGISLATION

PREVENTS A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY FROM BANNING SHORT-TERM RENTALS, IF THAT'S

YOUR QUESTION.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO THEY CAN BAN THE

SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT IF -- IF THE COUNTY HAS A REGISTRY AND OTHER

NEIGHBORING TOWNSHIPS ALLOW THEM, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD

PREVENT AN ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTAL FROM THAT TOWNSHIP TO APPEAR ON

THE COUNTRY REGISTRY, OR WOULD IT BE UP TO THE COUNTY TO PUT IN PLACE

MECHANISMS TO WEED THOSE OUT AND NOT ALLOW THEM?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE

QUESTION, BUT I'M SORRY. IS --

MR. GANDOLFO: I COULD REPHRASE IT. I THINK --

MS. ROMERO: SORRY.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MR. GANDOLFO: -- I ASKED IT A LITTLE CLUNKY.

MS. ROMERO: LET ME ASK --

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: -- LET ME ASK AND MAYBE WE CAN

FIGURE IT OUT. AN ILLEGAL -- ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS ONE THAT IS NOT ON

THE REGISTRY IN A COUNTY THAT HAS CHOSEN TO NOT OPT OUT. IS THAT YOUR

QUESTION?

MR. GANDOLFO: SO, LET'S SAY IN MY TOWNSHIP, PER

THE TOWN CODE THERE ARE NO PERMITTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS. PEOPLE

CANNOT OPERATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. BUT LET'S SAY THAT THE COUNTY THAT THE

TOWN IS WITHIN CREATES A REGISTRY AND THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL ATTEMPTS TO

BOOKING SERVICE. IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE LEGISLATION THAT CAN PREVENT

THAT FROM HAPPENING OR IS THAT UP TO THE LOCAL COUNTY TO POLICE?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: YES, I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. SO

THE COUNTY -- AND LET ME JUST REPEAT IT BACK TO YOU --

MR. GANDOLFO: SURE.

MS. ROMERO: -- TO MAKE SURE I GOT IT. SO, THE

COUNTY HAS NOT OPTED OUT, THE MUNICIPALITY HAS BANNED, AND THE UNIT IS

ILLEGAL BECAUSE IT'S IN THE MUNICIPALITY --

MR. GANDOLFO: YES.

MS. ROMERO: -- THAT HAS BANNED. OKAY. AND SO

WHAT'S IN THIS LEGISLATION IS THAT UNITS NEED TO BE REGISTERED, AND SO

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR -- WHAT WOULD BY DEFINITION MAKE YOUR UNIT

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ILLEGAL IS BECAUSE THAT UNIT IS NOT REGISTERED. AND SO HOW YOU WOULD

FIND OUT THAT THAT UNIT WOULD BE ILLEGAL IS BECAUSE I GUESS YOUR LOCAL

MUNICIPALITY WOULD SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME TYPE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

HAPPENING. YOU'D SEE PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OR THERE WOULD BE

SOME TYPE OF -- AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN MY --

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: -- MY LOCAL JURISDICTION. SO YOU

WOULD REPORT IT, AND SO THE WAY THAT IT WOULD BE ENFORCED IS THROUGH

LOCAL -- YOU WOULD -- YOU WOULD HANDLE IT LOCALLY THROUGH THE LOCAL

MUNICIPALITY.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO THE COUNTY FOR THE MOST PART

WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO KIND OF SET THEIR OWN REGISTRATION PROCESSES

WHERE THE COUNTY COULD ASK THE APPLICANT OR THE REGISTRANT IF THEY ARE

UP TO CODE WITH THEIR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY?

MS. ROMERO: I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED, BECAUSE IT'S IN A MUNICIPALITY THAT BANS

THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE A REGISTRATION

NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S IN THE MUNICIPALITY THAT BANS SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

SO THEY'LL BE UNABLE TO GET A VALID REGISTRATION NUMBER THROUGH THE --

THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.

MR. GANDOLFO: RIGHT. SO THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE

TO WEED THAT OUT, KIND OF, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT -- IT'S PERMITTED IN THE

-- THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.

MS. ROMERO: A HUNDRED PERCENT.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MS. ROMERO: AND COUNTIES WILL UNDERSTAND AND

BE AWARE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE -- THAT HAVE BANNED

SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: GREAT QUESTION.

MR. GANDOLFO: AND THE REASON I ASK IS WE

ACTUALLY LOCALLY HAD AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE A BED AND BREAKFAST THAT'S

OPERATING OUTSIDE OF TOWN CODE, APPLIED FOR A LIQUOR PERMIT WITH THE

STATE AND MANAGED TO GET APPROVED AND FALSELY CERTIFICATED THAT THEY

WERE UP TO CODE WITH OUR LOCAL TOWN. SO THAT -- THAT WAS A CONCERN OF

MINE. WE SEE SOME OF THOSE POPPING UP DOWN IN MY DISTRICT, SO I

APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THAT QUESTION.

AND NOW GOING FURTHER, SO THE -- THIS CHAPTER

AMENDMENT MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR A BOOKING SERVICE TO COLLECT A FEE

FOR BOOKING IF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS NOT PROPERLY REGISTERED; THAT'S

CORRECT? THEY -- THEY CAN'T COLLECT A FEE?

MS. ROMERO: CAN YOU REPEAT IT? SORRY.

MR. GANDOLFO: SURE. SO WITH THIS BILL IT'S

UNLAWFUL FOR A BOOKING SERVICE TO COLLECT A FEE FOR BOOKING A

SHORT-TERM RENTAL THAT IS NOT REGISTERED; IS THAT CORRECT?

MS. ROMERO: RIGHT.

MR. GANDOLFO: NOW, IS THAT IN RELATION TO A

SPECIFIC BOOKING FEE THAT WOULD SHOW UP ON THE INVOICE? LIKE A

CHARGE FOR BOOKING OR IS IT -- ANY FEE, IS IT TO THE -- IS IT TO THE HOST OR IS

TO THE TENANT?

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MS. ROMERO: THIS IS -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT

-- JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ON -- IN THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT, BUT IT'S

UNLAWFUL FOR THEM TO FACILITATE THAT TYPE OF TRANSACTION.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO THEY JUST CAN'T

FACILITATE THE TRANSACTION AT ALL, EVEN -- BECAUSE I -- MY READING OF IT

WAS IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL FOR THEM TO COLLECT A FEE FOR BOOKING, SO MY

CONCERN WAS THAT IF A BOOKING SERVICE HAD CHANGED THEIR FEE STRUCTURE,

MAYBE THEY WENT FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE BOOKING AND MADE MORE

MONEY ON THE AD REVENUE SIDE OR SOME KIND OF MEMBERSHIP WHERE

THERE'S NO SPECIFIC BOOKING FEE, IF THAT WOULD BE A WAY FOR COMPETITORS

TO ARISE AND KIND OF GET AROUND THAT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT OR IT

WOULD -- IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL FOR THEM TO FACILITATE THE TRANSACTION AT

ALL IF IT'S NOT REGISTERED, NOT JUST CHARGE A FEE?

MS. ROMERO: CORRECT.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY.

MS. ROMERO: IT'S ALSO JUST NOT IN THE CHAPTER

AMENDMENT, THOUGH.

MR. GANDOLFO: I THINK IT IS, BUT...

OKAY, NOW I'M JUST MOVING ON TO A LITTLE DIFFERENT

TRACK HERE. SO THERE'S DIFFERENT DEADLINES FOR THE REGISTRY CREATION AND

THE OPT OUT. IS THERE ANY CONCERN THAT THE BOOKING PLATFORMS WILL BE

UNABLE TO CREATE A VERIFICATION TECHNOLOGY BY THE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE

REGISTRIES TO BE CREATED?

MS. ROMERO: NO.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO YOU -- THEY'LL BE ABLE TO -- AND

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

WHAT IS THE -- IN THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT, WHAT IS THE NEW DEADLINE FOR

THE REGISTRIES TO BE CREATED IF THEY'RE OPTED IN? IS THAT DECEMBER 31ST?

MS. ROMERO: THE DEADLINE TO OPT OUT IS NINE

MONTHS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO THE DEADLINE TO OPT OUT

IS NINE MONTHS, OKAY. AND IF COUNTIES REMAIN OPTED IN, WHAT IS THE

DEADLINE TO HAVE A REGISTRY UP AND RUNNING?

MS. ROMERO: IT'S NOT SPECIFIED, BUT THEY'RE NOT

ABLE TO FINE PEOPLE UNTIL THE REGISTRY IS COMPLETED. THERE'S NO FINES OR

PENALTIES UNTIL THAT REGISTRY IS FULLY UP AND RUNNING.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. ARE THERE ANY FINES AND

PENALTIES ON A BOOKING SERVICE IF CERTAIN COUNTIES ARE UP AND RUNNING

WITH THEIR REGISTRY IF THEY DO NOT YET HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE TO

VERIFY THAT PARTICULAR COUNTY'S REGISTRATION SYSTEM?

MS. ROMERO: THEY HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY ALREADY.

MR. GANDOLFO: THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY --

MS. ROMERO: THEY DO THIS ALREADY IN NEW YORK

CITY. IT'S -- IT'S --

MR. GANDOLFO: RIGHT, BUT THIS IS EMPOWERING THE

COUNTIES TO CREATE THEIR OWN SYSTEMS. COULD THOSE SYSTEMS DIFFER FROM

THE SYSTEM THAT NEW YORK CITY USES? I KNOW THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION

WAS LARGELY BASED ON NEW YORK CITY, BUT IF COUNTIES ARE DOING THEIR

OWN REGISTRIES, WOULD THEY MIGHT NEED DIFFERENT PROCESSES?

MS. ROMERO: YEAH. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE THINK --

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I THINK THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS LIKE ARE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

THERE GOING TO BE FINES AND PENALTIES AND HARSHITIES, LIKE, ON PEOPLE

WITHIN A STRICT TIMELINE AND THE ANSWER IS NO, IS THAT THERE'S GONNA BE

TIME GIVEN TO THE MUNICIPALITIES TO FIGURE OUT THEIR REGISTRIES AND FIGURE

OUT ALL THE -- THE INTENSITIES OF THIS BILL. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TIME FOR

THE COUNTIES TO FIGURE OUT THIS REGISTRY UNTIL -- AND THEN ONCE THEY

FIGURE OUT THIS REGISTRY THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE FINES AND FEES AND

WHATEVER FIGURED OUT AFTER THAT. THERE'S GONNA BE LEEWAY WITH THE

COUNTIES, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT THIS REGISTRY. I HEAR YOUR

CONCERN.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO -- SO WOULD THERE BE

SOME TYPE OF, I GUESS, GRACE PERIOD FOR A BOOKING SERVICE IF A COUNTY

HAS A REGISTRY THAT MIGHT DIFFER FROM OTHERS AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARD

TIME CREATING THAT VERIFICATION SYSTEM FOR THAT PARTICULAR COUNTY?

MS. ROMERO: ONCE THE REGISTRY IS UP AND RUNNING,

IT WILL BE UP AND RUNNING. I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE -- IT'S NOT WRITTEN

INTO THE BILL AT THIS MOMENT, THE -- THE TIMELINE THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT ONCE THE REGISTRY IS UP IN RUNNING, IT'S UP AND

RUNNING.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND BACK -- AND THESE QUESTIONS MIGHT BE REDUNDANT,

AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE.

MS. ROMANO: OH, THAT'S OKAY.

MR. GANDOLFO: SO NOW IF A COUNTY OPTS OUT, A

TOWNSHIP CAN STILL OPT IN AND MAKE THEIR OWN REGISTRY.

MS. ROMANO: YES.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MR. GANDOLFO: AND IF A COUNTY OPTS IN, THE TOWN

CAN STILL OPT IN AND HAVE A SEPARATE REGISTRY FROM THE COUNTY THEY'RE

WITHIN.

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT OPT OUT --

REPEAT YOUR QUESTION.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO, IF -- IF THE COUNTY DOES

-- IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT OPT OUT, STAYS OPTED IN, CAN A LOCAL TOWNSHIP

WITHIN THAT COUNTY ALSO CREATE THEIR OWN REGISTRY?

MS. ROMERO: NO.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO IT WOULD -- IT WOULD

SUPERCEDE TO THE COUNTY ONLY.

MS. ROMERO: YES.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. OKAY. AND IF A TOWNSHIP

CURRENTLY HAS SOME FORM OF REGISTRY AND NOW THEIR COUNTY REMAINS

OPTED IN, CAN THEY MAINTAIN THAT REGISTRY THAT'S ALREADY CREATED OR DO

THEY HAVE TO SHELF IT AND DEFER IT TO THE COUNTY?

MS. ROMERO: THEY ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR

REGISTRY.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. FOR INDEFINITELY? DO THEY

HAVE TO PHASE IT OUT OR THEY CAN JUST...

MS. ROMERO: I MEAN, YEAH, INDEFINITELY.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. SO THEY COULD -- THEY

COULD KEEP IT GOING FOREVER ALONG WITH THE -- THE -- THEIR COUNTY.

MS. ROMERO: YEAH.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. OKAY. AND IN THAT

INSTANCE, WHAT WOULD THE SPLIT OF THE HOTEL AND OCCUPANCY TAX LOOK

LIKE? WOULD THAT HAVE TO BE DECIDED IN LOCAL LEGISLATION?

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: SO, EVERY LOCALITY IS DIFFERENT. AND

THE DISTRIBUTION, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IN THAT EVERY

LOCALITY HAS A DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTION OF -- OF TAXES.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. BECAUSE I'M ASKING, LIKE,

SAY A TOWNSHIP ALREADY HAS AN OCCUPANCY TAX AND NOW A COUNTY THAT

DOESN'T DECIDES, WE'RE GONNA STAY OPTED IN, WE'RE GONNA CREATE A

REGISTRY AND NOW WE WANT SOME OF THAT ACTION. WE WANT SOME OF THAT

MONEY. IF THEY NOW PASS A COMPETING OCCUPANCY TAX, WOULD BOTH STAY

AT THEIR FULL AMOUNT UNDER THE STATUE OR...

(PAUSE)

MS. ROMERO: HYPOTHETICALLY, IF BOTH THE LOCAL

MUNICIPALITY AND THE COUNTY WANTED TO, BOTH COULD ISSUE AN OCCUPANCY

TAX PER YOUR QUESTION.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. AND THEY'D EACH HAVE

THEIR OWN OCCUPANCY TAX, ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

OKAY, AND MY FINAL QUESTION HERE, TO OPT OUT THE

COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO PASS A LOCAL LAW BY DECEMBER 31ST. IS THAT JUST

-- IS THAT LIKE A HOME RULE REQUEST OR IS THAT JUST A LOCAL RESOLUTION BY

THE COUNTY DECLARING THEIR INTENTION OR WOULD THEY HAVE TO DELIVER A

HOME RULE OF SORTS UP HERE?

MS. ROMERO: JUST A LOCAL LAW.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I

HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH; THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. JENSEN.

MR. JENSEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR --

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JENSEN: -- A FEW QUESTIONS?

MS. ROMERO: CERTAINLY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. JENSEN: I -- I THANK THE SPONSOR FOR YIELDING. I

JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON MR. GANDOLFO'S LAST COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I

LIVE IN A TOWN THAT CURRENTLY HAS ITS OWN REGISTRY. IT HAS ITS OWN ZONING

ENFORCEMENT TO DEAL WITH SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES. IF THE COUNTY

THAT I RESIDE IN CHOOSES TO STAY IN AND NOT OPT OUT AND CREATE THEIR OWN

COUNTYWIDE REGISTRY, WOULD THE MUNICIPALITY BE -- ARE THEY FORCED TO

SHARE THEIR REGISTRY DATA WITH --

MS. ROMERO: CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION

ALREADY? I'M SORRY, THE DOOR OPENED AND I, LIKE, COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

SORRY.

MR. JENSEN: YEAH, NO PROBLEM. SO, I LIVE IN A

TOWN THAT HAS A REGISTRY CURRENTLY. THEY ALREADY HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON

THE NUMBER OF PERMITTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND -- SHORT-TERM RENTALS

AND --

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: COLLEAGUES IN THE

BACK, CAN WE KEEP IT DOWN, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

MR. JENSEN: SHORT-TERM RENTALS, HOW MANY CAN BE

APPROVED IN TOWN, THEY HAVE ZONING RESTRICTIONS, THEY HAVE THEIR LIST. IF

THE COUNTY THAT I RESIDE IN CHOOSES TO STAY IN AND CREATE THEIR OWN

REGISTRY, WOULD THE MUNICIPALITY THAT ALREADY HAS A REGISTRY BE FORCED TO

SHARE THEIR DOCUMENTATION AND THEIR LIST WITH THE COUNTY FOR THEIR

DOCUMENTATION?

MS. ROMERO: NO, THEY WOULD NOT.

MR. JENSEN: OKAY. WOULD THE HOST COMPANY,

AIRBNB, VRBO -- #NOFREEADS -- WOULD THEY BE FORCED TO SHARE ANY

DOCUMENTATION FOR APPROVED CLIENTS THAT HAVE PAID OUT WITH THE

MUNICIPALITY THAT MAY HAVE NOT OPTED IN. SO IF THE TOWN THAT I LIVE IN

DOES NOT SHARE THEIR LIST WITH THE COUNTY, COULD THE COUNTY REQUEST FROM

THE VENDOR THE DATA TO COLLECT SALES TAX?

MS. ROMERO: COULD THE COUNTY REQUEST FROM THE --

MR. JENSEN: YEP, SO THERE'S -- THE TOWN OF JOSH

HAS NOT SHARED THEIR -- THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTAL LIST WITH THE COUNTY OF

JENSEN. COULD THE COUNTY OF JENSEN REQUEST OF AIRBNB THE LIST OF ALL

COUNTY-BASED RENTALS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE COLLECTION OF SALES TAX

PURPOSES?

MS. ROMERO: HAS THE COUNTY -- IS THE COUNTY

OPTED IN OR OPTED OUT?

MR. JENSEN: THEY ARE IN.

MS. ROMERO: THEY'RE OPTED IN?

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MR. JENSEN: YES. BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LIST OF

APPROVED OR LICENSED SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES IN EVERY

MUNICIPALITY. THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE

VENDOR ABOUT POINT-OF-SALE FOR A SET PERIOD OF TIME.

MS. ROMERO: OKAY. SO THE -- AND LET ME SEE IF

THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

MR. JENSEN: YEP.

MS. ROMERO: IF IT DOESN'T, BRING -- BRING IT BACK TO

ME. THE BOOKING SERVICES MUST COLLECT DATA RELATED TO ALL OF THE

SHORT-TERM RENTAL GUESTS STAYS, AND THAT INCLUDES THE DATES OF STAY,

NUMBERS OF GUESTS, COST PER STAY, PHYSICAL ADDRESS, THE COST OF STAY

INCLUDING -- AND THIS IS YOUR -- I THINK TO YOUR POINT -- ITEMIZATION OF

SALES TAX AND HOTELS AND MOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTED, BUT ALSO

PHYSICAL ADDRESS. AND THEN THE BOOKING SERVICE WILL REPORT THE DATA TO

EACH COUNTY AND THE COUNTY WILL SHARE THE DATE WITH ALL CITY, TOWN AND

VILLAGE GOVERNMENTS AND THEY'LL MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES UPON REQUEST.

MR. JENSEN: YEAH. SO, AND THAT'S THE -- IF THERE'S

NOT -- AND MY INTERPRETATION OF -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M

MISUNDERSTANDING -- BUT I TAKE THAT AS LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES DO NOT

ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN PERMITTING PROCESS AND REGISTRY LIST. IF THEY

ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEM FOR DOING THIS, COULD THE COUNTY COLLECT

SALES TAX WITHOUT HAVING A FULL LIST OF LICENSED AND APPROVED

PROPERTIES?

MS. ROMERO: SO, THE STATE COLLECTS SALES TAX AND

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

REDISTRIBUTES IT TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.

MR. JENSEN: SO COULD THAT -- WOULD THEY BE ABLE --

THE STATE BE ABLE TO COLLECT SALES TAX, THEN, FOR -- SO THEY WOULD. SO

COUNTIES WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE SALES TAX REVENUE FOR PERMITTED

SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ON A

REGISTERED DATABASE THAT THE COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO?

MS. ROMERO: YES, ASSEMBLYMEMBER, AND THAT'S

THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS BILL.

MR. JENSEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK NO

FURTHER QUESTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF I LEFT ENOUGH BREADCRUMBS FOR ME TO

FIND MY NEXT QUESTIONS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU,

MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

A PARTY VOTE HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MINORITY CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS CHAPTER

AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH IF THERE ARE MEMBERS, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE

SOME, WHO WISH TO BE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THEY MAY VOTE ACCORDINGLY AT

THEIR DESKS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THOSE WHO

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

WISH TO VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE CAN DO SO NOW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. MOLITOR TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. MOLITOR: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I'M

VOTING YES ON THIS BILL BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES THE PREVIOUS BILL A LOT

BETTER, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT IT GIVES COUNTIES THE OPTION TO OPT

OUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THE REGISTRY.

SO I WILL VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. MR.

MOLITOR IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MS. ROMERO, CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS YOUR VERY FIRST

BILL AND IT'S A DEBATE BILL.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUE MS. TAPIA, WE WOULD LIKE TO

WELCOME TO OUR CHAMBERS THE NORTH MANHATTAN IMPROVEMENT

CORPORATION. THEY HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR OVER --

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

(APPLAUSE/CHEERING)

-- FOUR DECADES. THEY WERE FOUNDED IN 1979 WITH JUST

TWO STAFF MEMBERS, AND IT HAS GROWN TO BECOME AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE

TO THE BRONX AS SOME SECTIONS OF MANHATTAN. THEY -- ALSO, THEY HAVE

WITH THEM TODAY THEIR DIRECTOR OF -- WELL, SHE STARTED OUT AS EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR FOR SOCIAL SERVICES. SHE IS NOW THE DIRECTOR -- EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. SO WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME

MISS MARIA LIZARDO AND HER COHORTS AS THEY ARE JOINING US HERE IN THE

CHAMBERS ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUE MS. TAPIA.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES. ON BEHALF OF

THE MAJORITY LEADER, MS. TAPIA, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE

WELCOME YOU, THE NORTH MANHATTAN IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, TO THE

CHAMBER. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR AND HOPE YOU ENJOY

THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY, AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TRAVELING TO

JOIN US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. GANDOLFO FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. GANDOLFO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT

IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TODAY TO WELCOME GINA CALABRESE, PROFESSOR OF

CLINICAL EDUCATION AT ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW. SHE IS ALSO

THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE CONSUMER JUSTICE FOR THE ELDERLY

LITIGATION CLINIC AND THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER.

SHE'S HERE TODAY ADVOCATING FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUES, SOME OF

WHICH I DON'T SUPPORT, BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE SHE'S ALSO MY AUNT AND MY

GODMOTHER, AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO JOIN US HERE

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

TODAY IN ALBANY. AND I -- I DID HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO HER A COUPLE OF

YEARS AGO WHEN I VOTED AGAINST A BILL THAT SHE WORKED VERY HARD ON, BUT

THERE'S NO LOVE LOST AT OUR HOLIDAY DINNERS.

SO MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE EXTEND ALL THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO GINA CALABRESE, MY BELOVED AUNT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, OF COURSE. ON

BEHALF OF MR. GANDOLFO, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, PROFESSOR

AND AUNTIE, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF

THE FLOOR. APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AT AWARD-

WINNING ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY, AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING

US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU

HAVE FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES, MA'AM. WE

HAVE A FEW RESOLUTIONS.

RESOLUTION BY MR. MIKULIN, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 106, MR.

MIKULIN.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MOURNING THE DEATH OF NORMA

LUCIA GONSALVES, DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AND DEVOTED MEMBER OF HER

COMMUNITY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. MIKULIN ON THE

RESOLUTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

MR. MIKULIN: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION. NORMA GONSALVES WAS A

TRAILBLAZER WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SHE LIVED IN EAST MEADOW WITH HER

HUSBAND JOHN FOR MANY YEARS. SHE WAS A TEACHER, AND WHEN SHE

RETIRED FROM THE TEACHER [SIC] SHE DECIDED TO BE A PERSON THAT WAS

INVOLVED IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. SHE BECAME INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL

COMMUNITY, AND EVENTUALLY SHE BECAME THE NASSAU COUNTY PRESIDING

OFFICER OF THE LEGISLATURE. SHE WAS A WONDERFUL LADY, SHE WAS A DEAR

FRIEND. SHE KNEW MY WIFE'S GRANDFATHER VERY, VERY WELL. SHE ALWAYS

SUPPORTED ME. AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, SHE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL

THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU WERE WITH, IF SHE LIKED YOU, SHE

SUPPORTED YOU AND I WAS ALWAYS VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER SUPPORT AT

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. IN -- IN HER 80'S SHE EVEN WALKED DOOR TO DOOR

WITH ME. SHE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON. SHE ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR THE

HOSPITAL. EVEN AFTER HER RETIREMENT SHE ADVOCATED FOR NASSAU

UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH I SAY THAT IT IS A GREAT THING THAT

WE'RE DOING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY BECAUSE NUMC WAS UP HERE

ADVOCATING FOR RESOURCES FOR THEMSELVES. AND ONE OF THE LAST

CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH HER WAS, JOHN, WE HAVE TO SAVE THE HOSPITAL.

SHE ALSO SENT ME A GIFT WHEN MY SON WAS BORN LAST JULY. SO SHE WAS A

VERY DEAR FRIEND, DEVOTED MEMBER TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WILL ALL

MISS HER. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THE LIFE OF

NORMA GONSALVES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

A RESOLUTION BY MS. WOERNER, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 132, MS.

WOERNER.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 100TH

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREDERICK ALLEN ELKS LODGE NO. 609 AND THE MARY

A. CARTER TEMPLE NO. 362 OF SARATOGA SPRINGS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. WOERNER ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. WOERNER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER AND

MY COLLEAGUES. IT IS -- IT IS TRULY A PLEASURE IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY

MONTH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO JOIN WITH YOU IN COMMEMORATING THE 100TH

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREDERICK ALLEN LODGE NO. 609 AND THE MARY A.

CARTER TEMPLE NO. 362 OF SARATOGA SPRINGS.

ON AUGUST 6, 1929, THE FREDERICK ALLEN ELKS LODGE

NO. 609 RECEIVED ITS CHARTER FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THE

IMPROVED BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS OF THE WORLD, THE

LARGEST INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION WITH

MORE THAN 1,500 LODGES AND 500,000 MEMBERS.

THE MARY A. CARTER TEMPLE NO. 362, WHICH IS THE

WOMEN'S AUXILIARY OF THE FREDERICK ALLEN LODGE, GOT ITS -- ITS --

RECEIVED ITS CHARTER SIX WEEKS LATER ON SEPTEMBER 17,1925. AND THEY,

TOO, ARE CELEBRATING THEIR CENTENNIAL.

FOR TEN DECADES, THE FREDERICK ALLEN ELKS LODGE AND

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

THE MARY A. CARTER TEMPLE HAVE WORKED TO CULTIVATE CHARITY, JUSTICE,

FIDELITY, PATRIOTISM AND BROTHERLY AND SISTERLY LOVE, AND THIS IS A

MISSION THAT THEY HAVE SHARED WITH THE IBPOE OF W.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION 100 YEARS AGO, MULTIPLE

GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF COLOR HAVE

GATHERED IN FELLOWSHIP AT THE FREDERICK ALLEN LODGE, WHICH PRIOR TO

URBAN RENEWAL OF THE LATE 1960S WAS A THRIVING ENTERTAINMENT, SOCIAL

AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR SARATOGA'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

TODAY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ACROSS SARATOGA COUNTY AND THE

REGION FLOCK TO THE FREDERICK ALLEN LODGE FOR ITS ANNUAL SOLD-OUT JAZZ

BARBECUE, HOLIDAY POP-UP MARKET WHICH HIGHLIGHTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN

ARTISANS AND SMALL BUSINESSES, AND MANY MUSICAL EVENTS THAT THEY HOST

YEAR-ROUND.

AND SO IT IS TRULY A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY AS

WE COMMEMORATE 100 YEARS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE STEEPED

IN A PROUD AND DISTINGUISHED HISTORY FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN

SARATOGA SPRINGS AND SARATOGA COUNTY. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR

THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS TODAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MS.

WOERNER.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS BEFORE

THE HOUSE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN UP

TOGETHER.

NYS ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 25, 2025

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 129-131

WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.)

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD

YOU CALL ON MS. CLARK FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. CLARK FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MS. CLARK: I AM ANNOUNCING THAT WE WILL -- THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL HAVE CONFERENCE AFTER -- IMMEDIATELY

FOLLOWING SESSION IN HEARING ROOM C.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

IMMEDIATE MAJORITY CONFERENCE IN HEARING ROOM C FOLLOWING THE

ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE

ASSEMBLY STAND ADJOURNED AND THAT WE WILL RECONVENE AT 10:30 A.M.,

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 26TH, TOMORROW IS A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MRS. PEOPLES-

STOKES' MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 2:27 P.M., THE HOUSE STOOD ADJOURNED

UNTIL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH AT 10:30 A.M., THAT BEING A SESSION

DAY.)