Expands the state rental registry identifying lead hazards to include all residential dwellings meeting certain conditions

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Brian Kavanagh says this is needed

According to the NYS Department of Health, "peeling and chipping lead paint and dust remain the primary source of childhood lead poisoning." Lead paint was banned in 1978, but nearly 30% of America's housing units still have lead-based paint hazards, posing particular danger to chil- dren under the age of six who are most at risk to the effects of lead poisoning, which can hinder a child's mental and physical development. In response to this hidden but widespread crisis, the Governor and the legislature established the Lead Rental Registry Program in the FY 2023-2024 Enacted Budget (Health and Mental Hygiene budget bill S4007C, Part T) to identify, inspect, and abate lead hazards in rental homes outside of New York City, with a focus on 25 communities of concern. The program excluded New York City because it already has robust lead protections in place. The enactment was coupled with $20 million in capital funding in the FY 2023-2024 budget for lead hazard remediation. An additional $20 million in capital funding was allocated each year in the FY 2024-2025 and FY 2025-2026 budgets, bringing the program's total allocated capital fund- ing to $60 million. As of the introduction of this bill, the Governor, Senate, and Assembly have all proposed another $20 million for the program in the FY 2026-2027 budget. To date, $40 million has been awarded to local not-for-profit administrators in 20 counties with jurisdiction over communities of concern to provide technical and finan- cial assistance to landlords to address lead hazards in rental proper- ties. The remaining $20 million is in the process of being allocated via an application process currently open as of May 2026. The program currently covers residential dwellings with two or more units built prior to 1980 outside of New York City. However, hazardous lead conditions are not confined to buildings with two or more units. This bill would extend coverage to single-unit homes to ensure residen- tial housing outside of New York City most at risk of hazardous lead conditions, regardless of the size of the home, would have access to lead remediation efforts under this program.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.