S9652: Relates to artist preferences in housing

Summary

Relates to artist preferences in housing; provides that giving occupancy preference to individuals who are involved in artistic activities is not an unlawful discriminatory practice provided that such preference is implemented or authorized by an agency or the state of New York.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 23, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The bill addresses a "technicality" in the city's human rights law that currently restricts, or makes it unclear, whether housing developments can offer an artist preference.

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

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

Committee

Cities 1 · New York State Senate

Also referred to Housing · New York State Assembly.

Cosponsors

Al Taylor, Alex Bores and 16 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate

Democratic18

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Show the full list (18 names)

The sponsor's argument

Why Erik Bottcher says this is needed

Affordable housing has become increasingly out of reach for artists and the city has failed to meaningfully deliver on housing for artists. This conies as other cities across the nation - even others across New York State - are building housing for artists and helping them succeed, New York City has become an unfortunate outlier in this pattern. One reason is because of the New York City human rights law that prevents housing from being built for artists. The human rights law prevents discrimination on the basis of occupation, which prevents the city's Department of Housing Preservation and-Development (HAD) and non-profit affordable housing developers from creating housing for artists. Despite best intentions, the city's human rights law is having a nega- tive effect on our ability to create housing for artists in the city. This legislation makes clear that housing programs that give preference to artists would not violate the human rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of occupation.

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: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 2, 2026Result: passed
(40) (21) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 2, 2026Result: passed
(18) (2) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Cities 1
Senate Cities 1May 14, 2026Result: passed
(6) (1) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 2, 2026
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 2, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 2, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1565
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1565
NY Senate
Jun 2, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 14, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NY Senate

Show full history (2 earlier events)

Mar 31, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CITIES 1
NY Senate
Mar 6, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HOUSING
NY Assembly