Week of December 1, 2025

A law requiring first responder training on domestic violence-related traumatic brain injuries took effect this week after the Mayor did not sign it. Starting in 2026, FDNY and NYPD recruits and veteran officers will receive training on recognizing TBI symptoms in domestic violence survivors, and the city will launch a public awareness campaign in multiple languages about the connection between domestic violence and brain injury.

The Mayor allowed Int 1016-A to become law this week without signing it. The bill requires the NYPD to provide graphic warning labels to people getting firearm licenses and permits, and mandates that gun dealers display these warnings in their stores. The Health Department will design the warnings to show risks like suicide, domestic violence deaths, and accidental child deaths. Dealers who fail to display warnings face fines up to $10,000.

The City Council unanimously approved a bill this week requiring all NYC public schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and child care programs to stock epinephrine devices (EpiPens) on-site. The law takes effect 120 days after the Mayor signs it. Schools must have at least one device available; child care facilities must have at least two.

The City Council overrode a mayoral veto this week to pass a bill requiring the city to study pay equity among private employees. The law mandates that the city analyze wage data reported by large employers to identify pay gaps based on gender and race, publish findings and recommendations within 6 months, and release aggregate data publicly—helping reveal whether certain industries have systemic pay discrimination.

The City Council voted to override the Mayor's veto of a pay transparency bill on December 3rd. The law requires private employers with 200+ employees to submit annual reports on employee pay broken down by job category and demographics (similar to federal EEO-1 reporting), with penalties up to $1,000 for non-compliance. The goal is to identify and address pay gaps.

The Mayor allowed a bill to become law this week without signing it, expanding NYC's newborn home visiting program. The law requires the Health Department to offer free in-person and virtual visits from nurses, social workers, and lactation professionals to new parents in their first 12 weeks postpartum—reaching 75% of high-need neighborhoods by 2028 and 100% by 2030.

The City Council overrode the Mayor's veto on Dec. 3 to pass a bill creating a new Office of Contract Services with a director who will oversee all city procurement and contracting. The office will coordinate bidding processes, audit contracts, set procurement rules for agencies, and manage digital contracting systems—centralizing functions currently spread across departments to improve efficiency and transparency.

The Mayor let this bill become law without signing it this week. The law establishes a citywide doula program that provides free doula services to pregnant people in high-need neighborhoods, trains new doulas, and helps hospitals become more doula-friendly. Doulas provide physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth.

The City Council overrode the Mayor's veto this week to pass a bill that caps how much homeless individuals and families receiving rental assistance vouchers must pay toward rent. The law limits tenant rent contributions to a percentage of their income, making vouchers more affordable for extremely low-income New Yorkers experiencing homelessness or at risk of eviction.

The Housing Committee held a hearing and proposed amendments to a bill that would require co-op boards to give detailed written reasons when they reject a buyer's application within 5 business days. The bill also requires co-ops to disclose approval/rejection rates and be sworn to truthfulness, aiming to increase transparency in co-op sales and combat potential discrimination.

The General Welfare Committee held a hearing this week on Int 1458, which would create standardized habitability inspections for apartments in the CityFHEPS rental assistance program. The bill, previously introduced, now moves forward with a committee hearing as it establishes clear inspection checklists, timelines for repairs, and an online portal where landlords can document fixes to minor issues.

The Housing committee held a hearing on this shared housing bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would allow developers to create small shared housing units—typically 100-150 square feet for one or two people—in NYC apartments starting January 2027 to expand the affordable housing supply. Shared housing suites would include private bathrooms and kitchens, with occupancy limited to two adults plus one child.

The Mayor let this bill become law without a signature this week. It requires city agencies that provide social services to collect race and ethnicity data using expanded categories that go beyond standard U.S. Census options—including detailed subgroups and transnational populations—so the city can better track which communities are being served by programs.

The Mayor allowed this bill to become law without a signature this week. It requires self-storage facilities to give customers 60 days' written notice before raising fees and prohibits facilities from terminating a customer's agreement without explaining why.

A law requiring the city to publish detailed annual reports on vacant public housing units became law this week after the Mayor allowed it to take effect unsigned. The law mandates the city disclose how many NYCHA apartments sit empty, how long they stay vacant, why they're vacant, and what efforts NYCHA is making to fill them—with the first report due by March 1, 2027.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the Buildings Department to notify all council members and community boards monthly about new sidewalk shed permits issued in their districts. Sidewalk sheds are temporary protective structures erected during construction; this law aims to increase transparency and local oversight of where they're being installed.

The City Council unanimously approved a bill this week that requires the Department of Health to inspect buildings within 14 days of receiving rat complaints and publicly report inspection results online. The law aims to increase transparency and speed up the city's response to pest problems by making inspection data and violation details available on an interactive map.

The Mayor let this bill become law without signing it this week. The city will now create a text messaging system that automatically sends parents reminders about their children's health checkups, vaccinations, school registration deadlines, and early childhood education enrollment. Parents can sign up with just a phone number and choose to receive messages in multiple languages.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring all NYC public, private, and charter schools to stock airway clearance devices (FDA-approved choking-rescue tools) within 180 days of federal authorization and expert endorsement. The Department of Health must first train school staff on proper use. Schools will need to submit annual reports on device availability and usage.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the Parks Department to create an interactive online map showing all NYC public swimming pools, their hours, programs, and any planned maintenance or construction that might affect operations. The map must be regularly updated and accessible to the public.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to create water safety and drowning prevention materials for distribution to all NYC public school students twice a year, starting August 2026. The materials must cover swimming lessons, water safety practices, and drowning prevention techniques, and be updated annually.

The Mayor let this bill become law without signing it this week. The law requires the city Department of Small Business Services to coordinate with other agencies and provide education services to small businesses in each borough about regulatory requirements, starting by January 1, 2027. The city must report annually on what services were offered, which industries benefited, and what languages were used.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the Department of Transportation to test new high-visibility pavement markings—like retroreflective or glow-in-the-dark lines—by January 2027 to improve road safety in poor visibility conditions. If testing shows promise, the city will launch a pilot program by January 2028 in at least 5 locations per borough, prioritizing streets with histories of traffic injuries or deaths.

The City Council approved a bill this week that creates a temporary Office of the Census to help New York City residents participate in the 2030 federal census. The office will be led by a director appointed 24-30 months before each census and will focus on reaching hard-to-count populations through multilingual outreach, language assistance, and partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and cultural institutions.

A bill requiring tax preparers to disclose all charges upfront became law this week after the Mayor did not sign it. Starting in six months, tax preparers must give customers an itemized statement before providing services and a detailed receipt after payment, listing all fees including software, filing, and refund loan charges. The law aims to prevent hidden costs and surprise billing.

The Mayor returned this bill unsigned, which means it automatically becomes law this week. The bill requires the NYC Department of Health to launch an education campaign for doctors, nurses, doulas, and midwives about treating opioid addiction during pregnancy using medications like methadone and buprenorphine. It also mandates free distribution of opioid antagonists (overdose-reversal drugs like naloxone) at neighborhood health centers citywide.

A bill requiring self-storage facilities to obtain a city license has become law after the Mayor failed to sign it. The law establishes a licensing system for self-storage operators, requires them to post rate schedules before customers sign agreements, and imposes fines up to $1,000 per violation for non-compliance or operating without a license.

The City Council approved a bill requiring construction workers to complete mental health and substance-abuse training as part of their site safety certification. Starting in 120 days, all workers seeking safety training cards must complete 2 credits on mental health, suicide prevention, and alcohol/substance-misuse issues alongside existing safety requirements.

A bill requiring the city to launch an education campaign on managing chronic diseases during and after pregnancy became law this week after the Mayor returned it unsigned. The campaign will target both the public and non-obstetric healthcare providers, with materials covering healthy living, chronic disease management, medication safety, and patient-provider communication—all available in multiple languages at clinics and online.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring stronger construction standards for water tanks and fuel storage in flood-prone areas. The law mandates that tanks in stormwater flood risk zones be elevated at least 2 feet above ground and requires the Department of Buildings to display flood risk information on its property portal so New Yorkers can see if their buildings are in danger zones.

The City Council approved Int 1425-A this week, sending it to the Mayor. This bill requires the Parks Department to submit quarterly reports on urban park ranger staffing, deployment across boroughs, and enforcement activity — tracking everything from vacant positions to summonses issued at each location.

The City Council approved this bill this week, sending it to the Mayor. The law extends sign violation protections for small businesses through 2028, requires the city to educate business owners about awning and sign rules, and waives permit fees for compliant sign installations.

The City Council approved a 40-year tax exemption for a housing development at West 175th Street in Manhattan this week. The property will pay a reduced 5% tax on rental income instead of regular property taxes, as long as it operates as affordable housing under city oversight.

The City Council approved a real property tax exemption for a housing development at 3505 Broadway in Manhattan this week. The exemption allows the property to avoid most property taxes for up to 40 years in exchange for paying 5% of gross rental income, as long as it operates as affordable housing under city oversight.

The City Council approved a five-year property tax exemption for the Breaking Ground Stewart Hotel project in Manhattan this week. The exemption applies to a new housing development fund company project at Block 806, Lot 76, allowing the property to avoid real estate taxes during construction and operation, contingent on the developer maintaining affordable housing standards and complying with city agreements.

The City Council approved a 40-year property tax exemption for a housing development at 477-79 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn this week. The developer will pay a reduced 'gross rent tax' (0.6% of rental income) instead of regular property taxes, in exchange for operating the building as affordable housing under city oversight.

The City Council approved a 40-year property tax exemption for St. George Plaza, a housing development on Staten Island, on December 3rd. The exemption waives real property taxes on the building but requires the owner to pay a reduced annual tax based on tenant rents, ensuring affordable housing while maintaining some city revenue.

The City Council approved a 40-year real property tax exemption for Park Hill I, a housing development on Staten Island (Block 2922, Lot 265). The exemption, which took effect this week, allows the property to avoid most property taxes while making reduced annual payments based on tenant rents—a standard incentive to encourage affordable housing development.

The City Council approved a 40-year property tax exemption for Park Hill II, a housing development on a Staten Island lot, this week. The owner will pay a reduced tax based on contract rents rather than full property taxes, with payments capped at 17% of annual rents. The exemption requires HPD oversight and terminates if the project stops operating as affordable housing or violates its regulatory agreement.

The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing this week on a bill requiring co-op boards to disclose their financial information to buyers within 14 days of request. The bill would make it mandatory for cooperatives to share details about assets, liabilities, debt, planned capital improvements, and reserve funds—with a $500 penalty for non-compliance.

A hearing was scheduled this week on a bill that would create a property tax exemption for Cold War veterans. The exemption would cover 15% of assessed value (up to $48,000) for qualifying Cold War-era veterans, with an additional exemption up to $160,000 for those with service-connected disabilities rated by the VA.

The Committee on General Welfare held a hearing this week on a bill requiring the Department of Social Services to create online forms for benefits applications. The bill would let New Yorkers apply for city benefits and services through the internet, sign applications electronically, and conduct required interviews by phone instead of in person—while still accepting paper and in-person applications.

The General Welfare Committee held a hearing on this bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require the city to publicly report how long it takes voucher holders to find and move into apartments after receiving housing assistance, broken down by voucher type.

The General Welfare Committee held a hearing on this rental aid bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require the city to respond to CityFHEPS rental assistance applications within 15 days—approving, denying, or requesting additional information—rather than leaving applicants in limbo for months.

The General Welfare Committee held a hearing on this bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require the Department of Social Services to send applicants a written confirmation notice within 24 hours of any benefits interview (for cash assistance or food stamps), including details like confirmation number, date, time, location, and phone number if applicable.

The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a hearing this week on a resolution that would let the city extend its street furniture franchise (bus shelters, public toilets, newsstands) with JCDecaux through March 2035. The current agreement expires in 2031, and this resolution authorizes DOT to negotiate a new deal with the same company to keep street furniture operating across all five boroughs.

This bill would create a new 311 complaint category specifically for SNAP (food assistance) theft, allowing New Yorkers to report stolen EBT cards and fraudulent purchases. The city would track these complaints, share data with the Department of Social Services monthly, and connect victims to emergency food programs and resources.

This bill would create designated overnight curbside parking areas for commercial vehicles in industrial business zones, with priority zones reserved for low and zero emission vehicles (hybrids, electric, natural gas). The Department of Transportation would implement these areas where feasible, allowing 10+ hours of overnight parking (6 p.m. to 8 a.m.), with required community board notification and annual reporting on usage and impact.

This bill would create three new resources to support doulas in NYC: a doula bill of rights explaining their legal protections, a feedback system for doulas to report their hospital experiences, and a doula advisory council to study best practices. The council would include doulas, birthing people, and city health officials meeting quarterly.

This proposed bill would require the NYC Health Department to launch a public education campaign about traumatic brain injuries and concussions, targeting high-risk groups like athletes, construction workers, police, and emergency responders. The city would also develop workplace training programs, publish annual injury reports, and ensure information is available in multiple languages and across digital platforms.

This bill would require NYC agencies to use email as the default method for sending official notices—like permit approvals, fines, hearing dates, and benefit determinations—to residents who have provided an email address. Agencies would need to ask for email addresses during applications and sign-ups, and those without email on file could still receive notices by mail.

This proposed law would require businesses to label all shopping carts with their name and contact info, and install devices or barriers to prevent carts from leaving the premises. The city would remove abandoned carts and charge businesses $100 per unlabeled or unsecured cart, plus $100 if they don't retrieve removed carts within 48 hours. The goal is to reduce shopping carts cluttering NYC streets.

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution this week urging the state Education Department to allow lifeguard certification to count as a physical education credit for high school seniors age 17+. The goal is to incentivize young New Yorkers to become certified lifeguards and help address NYC's chronic shortage of pool and beach lifeguards.

The City Council approved a resolution this week urging the NYC Department of Education and New York State Education Department to work together to train more teachers qualified to teach English Language Learners (ELLs) and improve ELL education quality. NYC has over 147,000 ELLs in public schools, but fewer than 3,000 bilingual-certified teachers—creating a ratio of roughly one teacher per 47 ELL students—and research shows bilingual programs work better than the English-focused programs most ELLs currently receive.

The City Council approved a resolution this week recognizing May 15 as International Water Safety Day. The resolution is non-binding but highlights drowning as a serious public health issue in NYC, calls attention to racial disparities in water safety, and encourages swimming education and lifeguard training to reduce deaths.

The City Council approved a non-binding resolution this week calling on the MTA to share real-time GPS data from all city buses with NYPD and FDNY. The goal is to help first responders reach emergencies and crimes on buses faster and more accurately, addressing safety concerns among transit workers and riders.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring Parks and Recreation to study whether more high school students can be trained and hired as lifeguards at city beaches and pools. The study—due by November 2026—will examine current training capacity, staffing needs, partnerships with nonprofits, and how other cities recruit teen lifeguards.

The City Council approved a resolution this week calling on New York State to allow Mitchell-Lama affordable housing developments to adjust tenant rents and cooperative carrying charges annually based on inflation (Consumer Price Index). The resolution aims to prevent the sudden, large rent increases like the 49% hike at Jamie Towers in the Bronx by spreading cost increases gradually and ensuring developments have funds for building repairs and maintenance.

The City Council approved a resolution this week calling on the New York State Legislature to pass a bill that would create a student fare program for MTA trains and buses. The resolution urges the state to allow students to use discounted fares (three rides per weekday) on all MTA services, including express buses that currently cost $7 per ride—a major cost burden that some students paid $2,700 annually for.

The City Council approved a resolution this week calling on New York State to pass legislation requiring state education and child welfare agencies to create posters and pamphlets informing foster youth about financial aid for college. The resolution aims to increase awareness of funding opportunities that many former and current foster youth don't know exist, potentially boosting college enrollment and graduation rates among this vulnerable group.

The City Council approved a resolution this week designating July 26 as Haitian Konpa Day each year. The resolution celebrates Konpa music and dance—a genre created in Haiti in 1955 that blends African, Caribbean, and Latin influences—and honors the significant Haitian diaspora in New York City, where about 163,000 Haitian immigrants live.

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling on the State Legislature to require 60 days' notice before rent increases in Mitchell-Lama affordable housing developments, up from the current 30 days for renters and 5 days for co-op residents. The resolution highlights mismanagement at developments like Jamie Towers in the Bronx, where residents—many elderly and on fixed incomes—have faced repeated steep carrying charge increases despite hazardous conditions.

The City Council approved a resolution this week designating November 12 annually as Sigma Gamma Rho Day in New York City. The resolution honors the historically Black sorority's community service work in education, health, and youth development, and recognizes the contributions of its members across entertainment, sports, journalism, and government.

This bill would update how city officials and employees report their financial interests by raising the dollar thresholds used to categorize asset values. Instead of using fixed amounts like $32,000 and $60,000, the bill would allow the Conflicts of Interest Board to set these thresholds, and increases several reporting brackets (e.g., from $60,000 to $150,000, and $500,000 to $1 million). The change aims to modernize disclosure rules that haven't been substantially updated since 2012.

This resolution urges New York State's Governor to sign legislation creating an independent State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to represent residential customers in rate-setting decisions. NYC residents currently pay 54% above the national average for electricity, and over 1 million New Yorkers are behind on utility bills—a problem this new office could help address by advocating solely for consumers' interests.