Vote: Committee vote · Judiciary
Senate JudiciaryMay 19, 2026Result: passed
(18) (1) (0) (0)
Senate bill · S1557 (2025-26)
Enacts the "tenants organizing act"
Latest action May 19, 2026
New York State Senate
Same as A1535, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Enacts the "tenants organizing act"; allows tenants' groups, committees or other tenants' organizations to invite outside guests or visitors including elected officials, services providers, housing lawyers, etc. without being required to pay fees; defines "tenants' organization"; provides for activities that tenants' organizations can take part in; provides for the manner in how a tenants' organization is established.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Real Property Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
Expands section 230 of the real property law to include definitions and protected activities of tenants' organizations, a process for establish- ing and being recognized, and a requirement for good faith engagement between property owners and tenant organizations. The B-print makes technical changes.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Housing · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Judiciary · New York State Assembly, Judiciary · New York State Senate.
Cosponsors
Al Taylor, Catalina Cruz and 4 more on Agora
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Democratic6
Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.
The sponsor's argument
Why Rachel May says this is needed
Under current law, tenants can to form organizations to advocate for their rights as residents of rental properties. Across the state, these organizations have proven effective in helping improve conditions inside rentals and, just as importantly, help to foster a stronger sense of community. While the law provides a basic structure to allow the forma- tion of tenants associations, there is no formal defmition of what they are, how they are registered, what rights they may or may not have, or whether landlords must recognize or engage with such associations in their properties. This bill will firmly establish what counts as a tenants organization, the kinds of activities they can engage in, how they can be established and recognized, and the kinds of good faith engagement landlords and tenant organizations must engage in to improve the quality of life in their communities.
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.
Recorded votes
Vote: Committee vote · Judiciary
Senate JudiciaryMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(18) (0) (0) (1)
Full history
- May 19, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.60
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.60
NY Assembly
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
NY Senate
- May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NY Senate
- May 15, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.147
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.147
NY Assembly
Show full history (3 earlier events)Show less history
- May 13, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
- Jan 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HOUSING
NY Assembly
- Jan 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
NY Senate