The NYC Council advanced multiple bills this week addressing public safety oversight, occupational health, and regulatory updates.
Several measures related to firefighter safety moved through committee, including bills requiring PFAS screening and testing of firehouse water supplies, as well as a requirement for departments to phase out PFAS-containing firefighter gear.
Separately, a civilian police oversight board bill progressed after a committee hearing on expanding direct body camera access.
The Council also heard from the Committee on Governmental Operations on protecting the city from federal overreach, while other oversight hearings covered educational access in juvenile detention facilities, nursing workforce issues, and the status of the city's M/WBE certification program.
Police radio access bill advances: Committee hearing held, next steps pending
The Public Safety Committee held a hearing on Int 1460-A this week and laid the bill over for further consideration. The bill would require the NYPD to adopt a written policy making most police radio communications accessible in real-time to the public and to credentialed journalists, while keeping sensitive information (confidential sources, investigative techniques) encrypted. The department would have one year to implement the final policy after a public comment period.
Actions this week
Civilian police oversight board moves closer to direct body camera access after committee hearing
A committee hearing was held this week on a bill that would require the NYPD to give the Civilian Complaint Review Board direct access to body camera footage for investigating police misconduct. The bill, which was laid over after the hearing, would let the civilian oversight board search and review footage the same way the NYPD's internal affairs bureau does, with limited exceptions for legally protected information.
Actions this week
PFAS firefighter gear bill gets committee hearing, advances to next stage
The Committee on Fire and Emergency Management held a hearing on Int 1452 this week and laid the bill over for further consideration. The bill would require the FDNY to notify firefighters when their gear contains PFAS (toxic 'forever chemicals') and phase out such equipment by 2028, with the department listing compliance failures in personnel orders.
Actions this week
Educational Access in NYC’s Juvenile Detention Centers.
The State of Nursing.
Status of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification Program.
Censorship in the Arts and Cultural Sector.
Protecting New York City from Federal Overreach.
PFAS screening bill for firefighters survives committee hearing, moves forward
After a hearing this week, the Fire and Emergency Management Committee laid over the bill, keeping it alive for future action. The proposal would require the city to establish a voluntary screening program for active and retired firefighters to detect exposure to PFAS chemicals—forever-chemicals linked to health problems—through annual blood tests, cancer screenings, and organ function tests.
Actions this week
Committee hears bill requiring FDNY to swap out firefighter gear containing toxic PFAS chemicals
The Fire and Emergency Management Committee held a hearing this week on a bill requiring the FDNY to collect and exchange firefighting gear containing PFAS chemicals—toxic compounds linked to health risks. Starting January 2028, firefighters would be able to turn in contaminated equipment and receive safer replacements, with annual reporting required on the program's progress.
Actions this week
PFAS in firehouse water: committee hears bill requiring FDNY testing and filtration
The Committee on Fire and Emergency Management held a hearing this week on a bill requiring FDNY to test firehouse drinking water quarterly for PFAS chemicals and install filters if contamination exceeds safe levels. The bill, which has bipartisan support, would mandate testing at every drinking fixture in every firehouse and quarterly public reporting of results.
Actions this week
The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing this week on Int 1422, a bill updating NYC's construction codes. The bill removes outdated references to the 1968 building code and clarifies inspection requirements for electrical and elevator work across the city's building, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical codes.
Actions this week
A committee hearing was held this week on a bill that extends sign violation protections for small businesses and requires the city to educate business owners about proper awning and sign installation. The bill lengthens the grace period for existing accessory signs from 6 to 9 years (through February 2028), expands fee waivers for sign permits, and mandates that the Department of Buildings and Department of Small Business Services conduct annual education outreach in multiple languages.
Actions this week
NYC energy code update clears committee hearing, now awaits vote
The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing this week on a bill that would update NYC's energy code to match New York State's 2025 energy standards, while keeping New York City's stricter local requirements. The bill aligns building energy efficiency rules across state and city, affecting how new construction and renovations must meet energy performance standards.
Actions this week