Enacts the CareForce first-time homebuyers act

Latest action Apr 20, 2026

Establishes the CareForce first-time homebuyers program under which certain first-time homebuyers may receive below-market mortgage financing and forgivable down payment assistance.

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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

New York State Senate

Same as A10449, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Public Authorities Law.

Committee

Corporations, Authorities and Commissions · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · New York State Senate, Housing · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This legislation directs the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) to establish a dedicated first-time homebuyer program for members of New York's care workforce, providing below-market mortgage financing and forgivable down payment assistance to improve housing stability, work- force retention, and community integration for this essential workforce.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Housing, Construction And Community Development
Senate Housing, Construction And Community DevelopmentApr 20, 2026Result: passed
(9) (2) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions
Senate Corporations, Authorities And CommissionsMar 24, 2026Result: passed
(6) (1) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Leroy Comrie and 1 more on Agora

Democratic3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

New York's care workforce-particularly direct support professionals, nursing staff, behavioral health workers, and early intervention and special education therapists-faces persistent housing affordability challenges that undermine workforce stability across the state. These workers provide essential services to older adults, individuals with disabilities, children, and people with behavioral health and substance use needs, yet are often priced out of homeownership in the very commu- nities where they are needed most. High housing costs contribute directly to turnover, staffing shortages, and service disruptions across Medicaid-funded and community-based systems. Research and workforce experience consistently show that stable housing, including homeownership near one's place of employment, improves retention, reduces recruitment costs, and strengthens community ties. This legislation addresses those challenges by leveraging existing SONY- MA infrastructure to create a targeted, fiscally responsible homeowner- ship pathway for the care workforce. The combination of modest interest rate reductions and forgivable down payment assistance lowers barriers to entry without creating an ongoing subsidy obligation, while recapture and forgiveness provisions protect public investment. By explicitly allowing coordination with local, employer-based, and federal programs, the bill ensures that the CareForce program comple- ments-not replaces-existing housing tools. In doing so, the State recog- nizes the need for this vital workforce to be supported not only through wages and benefits, but through long-term housing stability that strengthens both the workforce and the communities they serve.

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.

Full history

Apr 20, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Mar 24, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NY Senate
Mar 6, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HOUSING
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 4, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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