Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 2, 2026Result: passed
(40) (21) (0) (2)
Senate bill · S9716 (2025-26)
Provides for including siblings of parents and children of siblings in the definition of "family member" in relation to regulations pertaining to rights of…
Official titleShow
Provides for including siblings of parents and children of siblings in the definition of "family member" in relation to regulations pertaining to rights of family members
The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.
Latest action Jun 2, 2026
New York State Senate
Summary
Provides for including siblings of parents and children of siblings in the definition of "family member" in relation to regulations pertaining to rights of family members to succeed in certain cases to the rights of certain tenants.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Public Housing Law.
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
This bill amends Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 14 of the public housing law to include uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces to the definition of "family member" for the purposes of tenant succession of rent protected housing. EXISTING LAW: Currently the law defines "family member" as a husband, wife, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, mother-in-law or father-in-law of the tenant; or any other person residing with the tenant in the housing accommodation as a primary residence who can prove emotional and finan- cial commitment, and interdependence between such person and the tenant.
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
Housing, Construction And Community Development · New York State Senate
The sponsor's argument
Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed
The traditional definition of "family" often does not reflect the dynam- ics and makeup of a modern family. It is common for nieces and/or neph- ews to live with aunts and/or uncles. However, these families run into problems when it comes to tenant succession rights since they are not included in the "family member" definition. The current law does provide for "any other person residing with the tenant in the housing accommo- dation as a primary residence who can prove emotional and financial commitment, and interdependence between such person and the tenant." However, unlike the others listed in the "family member" definition these people have the added hurdle of proving the emotional, financial and interdependence to the tenant. This extra hurdle nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles face is costly and burdensome. It is only right that these persons be included in the "family member" definition.
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 · Housing, Construction And Community Development
Senate Housing, Construction And Community DevelopmentMay 4, 2026Result: passed
(8) (3) (0) (0)
Full history
- Jun 2, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- Jun 2, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- May 6, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- May 5, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
- May 4, 2026
1ST Report CAL.894
1ST REPORT CAL.894
NY Senate
Show full history (1 earlier event)Show less history
- Apr 2, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NY Senate