S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10259
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 12, 2026
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Introduced by M. of A. CASHMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to estab-
lishing the rural housing workforce corps to address rural housing
shortages by expanding construction capacity, training a local work-
force, and supporting the development of modest, year-round housing
units in rural New York state; providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof; and making an appropriation there-
for
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Rural
Housing Workforce Corps Act".
§ 2. The Legislature finds that:
1. Rural regions of New York State, including the North Country, face
an acute shortage of safe, affordable, year-round housing, constraining
economic growth, workforce retention, and community stability.
2. Housing shortages in rural areas are driven not only by financing
gaps, but by a lack of construction capacity, skilled labor, and entry
pathways into the building trades.
3. Workforce development programs modeled on national service initi-
atives such as AmeriCorps have demonstrated success in building skills,
fostering civic engagement, and creating career pipelines.
4. Strategic, time limited state investment can expand local housing
capacity while preparing a new generation of skilled trades workers for
permanent employment.
The purpose of this act is to create a small scale, cost efficient
pilot program that mobilizes a trained housing workforce corps to part-
ner with local developers to construct modest housing units in rural
communities.
§ 3. The private housing finance law is amended by adding a new arti-
cle 33 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 33
RURAL HOUSING WORKFORCE CORPS
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14849-01-6
A. 10259 2
SECTION 1300. DEFINITIONS.
1301. RURAL HOUSING WORKFORCE CORPS.
1302. PROGRAM DESIGN AND PARTNERSHIPS.
1303. HOUSING PRODUCTION ROLE.
1304. CORPS MEMBERS.
1305. TAX INCENTIVES.
1306. REPORTING AND EVALUATION.
§ 1300. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE:
1. "COMMISSION" SHALL MEAN THE NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON NATIONAL
AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
2. "CORPS" SHALL MEAN THE RURAL HOUSING WORKFORCE CORPS ESTABLISHED BY
THIS ARTICLE.
3. "CORPS MEMBER" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE RURAL HOUSING WORKFORCE CORPS.
4. "DEPARTMENT" SHALL MEAN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK STATE HOMES AND
COMMUNITY RENEWAL.
5. "PARTICIPATING DEVELOPER" SHALL MEAN A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, MUNICI-
PAL, OR PUBLIC BENEFIT ENTITY THAT PROVIDES LAND CONTROL, PROJECT SPON-
SORSHIP, AND LOCAL PERMITTING FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
6. "RURAL REGIONS" SHALL MEAN A MUNICIPALITY, COUNTY, OR AREA DESIG-
NATED AS RURAL BY THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO POPULATION DENSITY AND
HOUSING NEED.
§ 1301. RURAL HOUSING WORKFORCE CORPS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTAB-
LISH A RURAL HOUSING WORKFORCE CORPS WHICH SHALL OPERATE AS A PILOT
PROGRAM FOR TWO YEARS. THE CORPS SHALL OPERATE IN ONE OR MORE RURAL
REGIONS WITH PRIORITY GIVEN DURING THE TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO RURAL
REGIONS IN CLINTON, ESSEX, FRANKLIN, HAMILTON, JEFFERSON, LEWIS, AND ST.
LAWRENCE COUNTIES.
2. THE CORPS SHALL USE APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR:
(A) CORPS MEMBER LIVING ALLOWANCES;
(B) EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING STIPENDS;
(C) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION;
(D) SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHARED TOOLS; AND
(E) LIMITED INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPERVISORY COSTS.
§ 1302. PROGRAM DESIGN AND PARTNERSHIPS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT, IN COORDI-
NATION WITH THE COMMISSION ON NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, SHALL
ADMINISTER THE CORPS WITH THE COMMISSION PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON SERVICE-
YEAR STRUCTURE, MEMBER RECRUITMENT, TRAINING STANDARDS, AND POST-SERVICE
PATHWAYS, DRAWING ON BEST PRACTICES FROM STATE AND NATIONAL SERVICE
PROGRAMS.
2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONTRACT WITH OR DESIGNATE ONE OR MORE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, OR REGIONAL CONSORTIA TO ADMIN-
ISTER THE PILOT PROGRAM.
3. THE CORPS SHALL PRIORITIZE FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH: (A) THE STATE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING CAMPUSES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND
APPLIED LEARNING PROGRAMS; (B) BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES AND OTHER CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TRADE
SCHOOLS; (C) LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS; (D) NONPROFIT HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS; (E) INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES; AND (F) MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS IN PARTICIPATING RURAL REGIONS.
4. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK INSTITUTIONS MAY PROVIDE ACADEMIC
CREDIT, CERTIFICATE ALIGNMENT, OR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT FOR CORPS
MEMBERS, AS APPROPRIATE. THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK MAY ALSO
PROVIDE NO-COST ON CAMPUS HOUSING TO CORPS MEMBERS DURING THEIR TERM OF
SERVICE.
A. 10259 3
5. CORPS MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE HANDS-ON TRAINING AND SUPERVISED EXPE-
RIENCE IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, AND RELATED TRADES.
§ 1303. HOUSING PRODUCTION ROLE. 1. PARTICIPATING DEVELOPERS SHALL
RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR: (A) SITE CONTROL AND LAND ACQUISITION; (B)
PROJECT FINANCING; (C) DESIGN APPROVAL; (D) LOCAL PERMITS AND CODE
COMPLIANCE; AND (E) LONG TERM OWNERSHIP OR SALE OF COMPLETED UNITS.
2. THE CORPS SHALL PROVIDE LABOR CAPACITY AND TRAINING SUPPORT UNDER
THE SUPERVISION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.
3. THE CORPS SHALL TARGET THE CONSTRUCTION OR SUBSTANTIAL REHABILI-
TATION OF BETWEEN EIGHT AND TWELVE HOUSING UNITS OVER THE TWO-YEAR PILOT
PERIOD.
§ 1304. CORPS MEMBERS. 1. THE CORPS SHALL CONSIST OF BETWEEN EIGHT AND
TWELVE CORPS MEMBERS EACH YEAR.
2. CORPS MEMBERS:
(A) SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(B) SHALL RECEIVE A MODEST LIVING ALLOWANCE DURING THEIR TERM OF
SERVICE.
(C) UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF SERVICE, MAY RECEIVE AN EDUCATIONAL
OR TRAINING STIPEND TO BE USED FOR TUITION, CERTIFICATION, TOOLS, OR
APPRENTICESHIP COSTS.
§ 1305. TAX INCENTIVES. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW,
THE STATE SHALL WAIVE STATE SALES AND USE TAXES ON CONSTRUCTION MATERI-
ALS INCORPORATED INTO HOUSING UNITS CONSTRUCTED OR REHABILITATED BY THE
CORPS.
2. SUCH WAIVER SHALL APPLY ONLY TO MATERIALS USED DIRECTLY IN ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT. LOCAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGEN-
CIES WILL WORK WITH PARTICIPATING DEVELOPERS TO CERTIFY MATERIALS.
§ 1306. REPORTING AND EVALUATION. THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE COMMISSION AND ANY PARTICIPATING STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK INSTI-
TUTIONS, SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE WITH-
IN SIX MONTHS OF THE COMPLETION OF THE TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM. SUCH
REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
1. THE NUMBER OF CORPS MEMBERS TRAINED;
2. THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS PRODUCED;
3. POST-SERVICE EMPLOYMENT, APPRENTICESHIP PLACEMENT, OR CONTINUED
EDUCATION OUTCOMES FOR CORPS MEMBERS;
4. A COST ANALYSIS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE COST PER HOUSING
UNIT CONSTRUCTED OR REHABILITATED BY THE CORPS AND COST PER CORPS MEMBER
TRAINED; AND
5. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION OR MODIFICATION, INCLUDING
ALIGNMENT WITH EXISTING STATE AND NATIONAL SERVICE INITIATIVES.
§ 4. The sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated from any moneys in
the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the New York
state department of homes and community renewal in carrying out the
provisions of this act. Such sum shall be payable on the audit and
warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved in
the manner provided by law.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed four years after the effective date of this act.