Week of January 18, 2026

This bill became law this week after the Mayor didn't sign it. It requires the NYPD to give journalists and the public access to unencrypted police radio communications about critical incidents in real-time, while keeping sensitive information like confidential sources and investigative techniques private. The NYPD has until mid-2026 to develop a policy and one year to implement it.

Mayor Adams did not sign this bill, so it became law automatically this week. The law requires developers receiving $1.5M+ in city assistance for housing projects to hire local workers and pay them prevailing wages with benefits like health insurance and retirement accounts.

A new cooling law took effect this week after the mayor didn't sign it. Starting June 2030, landlords must provide air conditioning capable of keeping apartments at 78°F or cooler in tenant-occupied buildings, with specific equipment standards and temperature monitoring requirements.

The mayor didn't veto Int. 1237, so it automatically became law this week. The bill requires the NYPD to publish detailed data on all criminal complaints and arrests since 2007 on its website every six months, including information about suspects, victims, locations, and whether complaints led to arrests.

The Mayor let this bill become law this week without signing it. The law protects app-based delivery workers (like those for food delivery services) from being wrongfully deactivated or kicked off platforms. Companies must now have good cause to deactivate workers and face penalties of $500-$1,000 per violation, with deactivated workers eligible for reinstatement and lost earnings compensation.

Mayor Adams allowed this bill to become law this week without his signature. It requires the FDNY to notify firefighters when their gear contains PFAS chemicals (toxic compounds used in firefighting equipment) and to switch to PFAS-free gear whenever possible. The law aims to protect firefighters from long-term health risks linked to these chemicals.

The Mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires the Department of Transportation to plant trees and vegetation on new medians that separate bike lanes from car traffic, prioritizing trees while considering safety, infrastructure impacts, and maintenance plans.

The Mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires borough presidents to provide annual equal employment opportunity trainings—including anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training—to all community board members and staff starting April 1, 2026. Training must be offered in both daytime and evening sessions, and participants must complete it upon appointment and yearly thereafter.

The mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires NYC schools to report every two years on how many students have home internet and devices, breaking down data by school district and including student feedback on technology barriers. Schools will survey families to gather this information starting January 2027.

A bill requiring faster catch basin cleanups became law this week after the mayor didn't sign it. Starting July 2026, the city must inspect catch basins based on flood risk and complaint history, then clear any clogs within 8 business days. The city will also report annually on which basins aren't being cleaned on time.

The Mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires the city to study whether Wards Island—currently home to parks, recreation areas, and other city facilities—could be redeveloped to include affordable housing, with a report due by July 2027.

The Mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law prohibits mobile syringe service programs (vans and buses that distribute needles) from operating within playgrounds, within 50 feet of playgrounds, on school grounds, or on sidewalks directly next to schools.

A for-hire vehicle parking pilot program became law this week after the Mayor did not sign it within the required timeframe. The program allows Uber, Lyft, and similar vehicles to park in commercial metered zones (typically reserved for delivery trucks and business vehicles) for up to 3 hours if they pay the meter, starting within 6 months. The city will study how this affects traffic, delivery efficiency, and driver conditions before deciding whether to make it permanent.

The Mayor allowed a bill to become law this week without signing it, expanding reduced ferry fares to all middle school students. Previously, only high school students qualified for discounted city ferry service; this law now includes grades 6-8, making water transit more affordable for younger students citywide.

The mayor allowed a language accessibility bill for NYC ferries to become law without signing it this week. Starting January 2027, the Whitehall (Manhattan) and St. George (Staten Island) ferry terminals must post notices and schedules in multiple languages, including the city's designated languages and Spanish, with QR codes linking to full information online.

This bill became law this week after the Mayor didn't sign it. It requires the Fire Department to publish an annual report on every firehouse and EMS station's vehicles and equipment, including their age, condition, and maintenance dates—giving New Yorkers transparency into the readiness of their local fire and emergency services.

A bill to improve needle and syringe disposal became law this week after the Mayor let it pass unsigned. The law requires syringe service programs to give participants safe disposal containers and information about where to dispose of needles, and mandates the health department report every six months on collection efforts in public spaces.

The mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires the Department of Transportation to study NYC's commuter van industry every 4 years, starting by July 2027, examining how many vans operate (licensed and unlicensed), their routes, passenger counts, and impacts on streets and pedestrians.

A bill requiring the Department of Education to report on manifestation determination reviews became law this week after the mayor didn't sign it. The law establishes reporting requirements and defines key terms around reviews that determine whether a student with a disability's misconduct is connected to their disability—a critical protection under federal special education law.

The mayor let this bill become law this week without signing it. The law requires the NYPD to create and distribute information about youth programs it offers, making details available in multiple languages to schools, council members, and on the police department's website by July 2026.

The mayor let this small business bill become law this week without signing it. The law requires NYC to provide small businesses with detailed resources to prepare for loans, including guidance on local community development financial institutions (CDFIs), typical fees and interest rates, and help with business plans and financial documents.

Mayor Eric Adams allowed this bill to become law without signing it this week. The law lets NYC require companies bidding for city contracts over a certain threshold to voluntarily disclose their efforts to prevent child labor, forced labor, wage theft, and unsafe conditions in their operations and supply chains. Failure to submit the disclosure won't disqualify a bidder.

The mayor allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires the FDNY to collect old firefighting gear containing PFAS chemicals (toxic 'forever chemicals' linked to health problems) starting January 2028, and swap it with safer equipment. The FDNY must also report annually on how much gear is collected and disposed of.

Mayor Adams allowed this bill to become law this week without signing it. The law requires NYC's finance department to notify condominium boards when tax liens on their properties are about to be sold, giving boards a chance to pay the debt and prevent the sale. Currently, only individual property owners receive notice.

The Coney Island Business Improvement District officially became law this week after the Mayor did not sign it (automatic passage). The law establishes a BID in Coney Island, Brooklyn—a special district where property owners pay extra fees to fund local improvements like street cleaning, security, and business promotion.

The Mayor's budget extender bill became law this week after the Mayor didn't sign it—meaning it automatically passed. The law delays the 2027 budget submission deadlines by about 2-3 weeks due to recent charter changes voters approved in November, giving the city more time to prepare budget documents and allowing community boards, borough officials, and other agencies to submit their input on the new timeline.

The City Council's street naming bill became law this week after the Mayor didn't sign it. The legislation officially names 77 streets, intersections, and public places across all five boroughs after community leaders, firefighters, police officers, cultural figures, and local heroes—including Marie Curie Way in Manhattan and Harry Belafonte Way in Manhattan.