Week of February 8, 2026

The Housing Committee held a hearing on this bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would create a new category of "shared housing" units starting January 1, 2027, allowing smaller rooming units (100-150 sq ft) for up to two people in apartment buildings. These units would have shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, stricter fire safety rules, and couldn't be used for short-term rentals.

This bill requires NYC agencies to preserve biological evidence (like DNA samples and sexual assault kits) from criminal and juvenile cases until all convicted individuals are released from prison or 100 years pass, whichever comes first. Agencies must notify defendants and prosecutors before destroying evidence and allow 180 days for objections, ensuring evidence remains available for future DNA testing that could prove innocence.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the city to create a searchable online portal showing details about government contracts. The portal will display information about upcoming procurements, bids, awarded contracts, and spending—helping New Yorkers and businesses see where city money goes and how contracts are awarded.

The City Council approved a pilot program this week to use power washing machines to clean sidewalks in commercial neighborhoods across NYC. The Department of Sanitation will launch the program by April 2027 in at least one location per borough—targeting busy commercial strips with high foot traffic—and must report back by December 2027 on whether to expand it citywide.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the Department of Health to create clear, step-by-step guidance for people applying for child care program permits. The guidance must include a visual flowchart, list all required licenses and approvals, explain the order to obtain them, and be posted online in multiple languages—making it easier for parents and operators to navigate a confusing permitting process.

The NYC Council unanimously approved a bill this week that increases criminal penalties for contractors and subcontractors who lie on city bids—fines jump from $100-$1,000 to $1,000-$25,000, and jail time can reach 6 months. The law also requires contractors to disclose detailed information about subcontractors, including their owners, addresses, alternate business names, and whether they're minority-owned or women-owned businesses.

The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing on this bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require construction companies with sidewalk shed and scaffolding permits to repair or replace any city-owned trees they damage within six months, currently with no such requirement.

A committee hearing was held this week on a bill to create a task force studying how to make NYC streets safer for the growing number of e-bike users and reduce e-bike collisions. The task force would examine street design changes, review collision data, look at what other cities have done, and recommend new laws or policies within 9 months.

The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing on this bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to send staff to buildings under vacate orders to inform displaced tenants about relocation assistance, provide materials in their preferred language, and help them access their personal belongings.

The Transportation Committee held a hearing this week on a bill requiring the city to clearly mark and publicize bus lane restrictions. Currently, drivers often don't know which streets have bus lanes or when they're active, making it hard to follow the rules. This bill would require signs on every block with restrictions and a searchable online database.

The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing this week on a bill that would allow cellars in one- and two-family homes to be used as rental units if they meet building code standards and get official approval. Currently, NYC law prohibits sleeping, eating, or cooking in cellars of these buildings, effectively banning basement rentals. This bill would carve out an exception for legally approved accessory dwelling units in cellars.

The Housing and Buildings Committee held a hearing this week on a bill that would require the city's housing portal to notify affordable housing applicants when vacant units matching their preferences become available. Currently, the city can consider applicants for these vacancies however it chooses—this bill would ensure everyone applying through the portal gets equal notice and a fair shot at the units.

The Housing Committee held a hearing this week on a bill requiring HPD to set up free in-person help centers where New Yorkers can apply for affordable housing. The program would operate at libraries, community centers, and recreation centers citywide—at least one per neighborhood—with staff helping people fill out applications, upload documents, and understand the process. The bill was laid over for further consideration.

This bill requires NYC to create standard contract and invoice templates for all city agencies to use when hiring contractors. The goal is to make the contracting process simpler and more consistent across city government, reducing confusion for small businesses and vendors dealing with multiple agencies.

The city would study whether renewable diesel—a fuel made from plants and waste rather than petroleum—could replace regular heating oil in NYC buildings. The study would examine benefits, barriers like equipment compatibility and costs, and whether it helps the city meet climate goals, with a report due within one year.

This bill updates NYC's requirements for diesel fuel used in city vehicles, shifting from biodiesel blends to renewable diesel starting July 2026. Renewable diesel produces at least 60% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard diesel and will reduce the city's carbon footprint from its vehicle fleet.

This bill reforms how NYC decides where industrial manufacturing zones can be located by requiring stronger oversight, transparency, and stricter voting rules. It adds City Council and Public Advocate representatives to the commission, bans members with real estate conflicts of interest, requires online meeting access, and makes it harder to change existing industrial zones (now needing a two-thirds vote instead of a simple majority).

This bill makes it easier for New Yorkers with disabilities to get handicapped parking permits by creating an online application system, allowing medical certifications from nurse practitioners and physician assistants (not just doctors), and issuing free temporary permits while applications are being reviewed. It also requires at least one health office in each borough to handle certifications.

This bill requires the city to study how language barriers and geography affect which young children get into gifted and talented programs in NYC schools. The research will look at whether non-English speaking families and kids in certain neighborhoods are being left out of these accelerated kindergarten-through-3rd-grade programs.

This bill requires NYC's Department of Transportation to annually review parking signs near schools, hospitals, and government buildings to remove outdated restrictions when facilities close or move. It also mandates a study every 5 years of commercial parking zones and truck loading areas to determine if restrictions should be relaxed due to low usage, with public reports on findings.

This bill requires the NYC Department of Buildings to conduct final inspections of major solar energy projects (25+ kilowatts capacity) rather than allowing private inspectors to do it. Currently, most building projects use approved private agencies for final inspections, but solar projects would now require city inspectors to verify the work is safe and compliant before projects are completed.

This bill would create a new Office of Restaurant Recovery to help NYC restaurants rebuild after COVID-19 pandemic losses. The office would coordinate recovery efforts, access to aid programs, and support services for restaurants struggling with pandemic-related financial damage.

The Transportation Committee held a hearing this week on a bill tightening newsrack (newspaper box) rules and enforcement. The bill requires newsrack owners to provide email addresses, submit annual reports electronically, and repair or remove damaged racks within 7 days of notice—down from a vaguer timeline—or face removal and fines.

The City Council held a hearing this week on a resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, 2026. The resolution, sponsored by Speaker Julie Menin, recognizes the historical significance of the Declaration of Independence and encourages NYC to participate in anniversary celebrations including parades, festivals, fireworks, museum exhibitions, and cultural programs.

The Cultural Affairs Committee held a hearing this week on a resolution to make July 2 an annual "Freedom Day" in NYC, commemorating when the Continental Congress voted for independence in 1776—two days before the Declaration of Independence was finalized on July 4. The resolution was then laid over (postponed), meaning the committee did not vote it forward.