Council Passes Salary Commission, Cellar Units, and Eight Rezonings

Week of March 9–15, 2026

The Council had one of its busier weeks of the young year, acting on 75 bills across public safety, housing, government operations, and land use. Twenty-four bills reached a final floor outcome, nine received committee hearings, and 42 were newly introduced. Here's what happened.

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Elected Official Pay Gets an Independent Review

The week's most closely watched vote: the Council passed a bill establishing a commission to review salaries for NYC elected officials by a 42–6–1 margin — the only significant dissent of the week. The commission would conduct an independent review of compensation for elected city officials and make recommendations to the Council.

The 42–6–1 tally stood out in a week where nearly every other floor vote was unanimous or near-unanimous.

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Housing: Cellar Units, Flatbush, and Two Queens Projects

Housing legislation moved on multiple fronts.

Cellar dwelling units cleared the Council 41–8, with the Council passing a bill allowing cellar units in new one- and two-family homes. The measure expands where below-grade living spaces can legally be created in residential buildings — a step toward adding housing supply in lower-density neighborhoods.

The 395 Flatbush Avenue project in Brooklyn received unanimous Council approval across four separate land-use votes (49–0 each). The package included a landmark redevelopment authorization, a rezoning of the Flatbush Avenue corridor, a special permit for the redevelopment, and a housing development approval. A fifth related vote also passed 49–0.

Two Queens projects also cleared the Council unanimously:

• Beach Channel Drive — The Council approved both a rezoning and a zoning text amendment for a development along Beach Channel Drive in Queens, each 49–0.
• 33-01 11th Street — Zoning changes for a Queens development at 11th Street passed in two votes, including a rezoning and related zoning changes, both 49–0.

Norgate Plaza in Brooklyn also received unanimous Council approval for a rezoning, 49–0.

In committee, the Housing Committee heard but did not advance a bill overhauling the property tax transfer program, laying it over for further review.

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Streets and Transit: Bus Lanes, Shelters, and Bike Share

Two transit-related bills passed unanimously.

The Council voted 49–0 to require clearer bus lane signage and online visibility — mandating that bus lane locations be more legible on the street and accessible in digital form. A second bill, also passing 49–0, authorizes a pilot program to clean bus shelters and bike share stations.

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Government Operations: Library and Archive Boards Merge

In a housekeeping measure with unanimous support, the Council passed a bill merging the city's archival and library advisory boards into a single body, 49–0. The consolidation streamlines oversight of the city's library and archival systems under one advisory structure.

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Committee Hearings: Immigration, Homelessness, and Schools

Nine bills received committee hearings this week without advancing to a vote.

Immigration was a recurring theme. The Immigration Committee heard a bill requiring immigration rights signage in public-facing city spaces and a bill banning city contracts with immigration enforcement contractors; both were laid over without action.

Homelessness services drew attention in the General Welfare Committee, which heard three bills: a measure requiring a data system for homeless outreach, a bill setting shelter assessment standards, and a bill requiring benefits confirmation notices. None advanced out of committee.

The Health Committee heard two bills focused on hospital discharge practices for homeless patients: a bill coordinating hospital and homeless services and a bill requiring weather emergency supplies for patients discharged into homelessness. Both were laid over.

The Education Committee heard a bill proposing bonuses for school paraprofessionals, which was postponed without a vote.

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Nine Bills Withdrawn Before Floor Vote

Nine bills that had been introduced earlier in the session were withdrawn this week before reaching a floor vote. The group spanned a range of topics — school crossing guard requirements, First Amendment policing regulations, domestic violence unit staffing, FGM training mandates, and beach hazard signage, among others. Withdrawn bills can be reintroduced in future sessions; no reasons for withdrawal were stated in the legislative record.

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Introduced This Week: 42 New Bills

Forty-two bills were introduced across the week's major topic areas. Public safety (21 introductions) and housing (20) led the way, followed by government operations (18) and land use (15). Civil rights, health, consumer protection, and workers' rights also saw new introductions. Introduced bills have not yet received hearings or votes.