Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C, Elma) and members of the Senate Minority Conference have unveiled a comprehensive package of housing legislation designed to help New Yorkers buy and build homes that are more affordable. The announcement comes as a new statewide Marist Poll finds 61% of urban residents, 60% of suburban residents, and 53% of rural residents say that housing affordability is the top issue impacting their local community.

The package includes affordability incentives for first time homeowners and lowers the construction costs by removing regulatory burdens such as streamlining the environmental review process to build homes. The package aims to increase housing supply by establishing a task force composed of local government officials, state agencies, and other stakeholders to develop best practices for local governments to incentivize housing development. 

"Owning a home is a dream that is unfortunately becoming less affordable in New York,” said Senator Gallivan. “This legislation will provide tax credits to first-time homebuyers, incentivize those interested in rehabilitating older homes, and help lower construction costs by repealing the all-electric building mandate. By providing more affordable housing options for individuals and families, we can improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers."

The package includes the following proposed bills:

Homeownership Affordability

S.850 Co-sponsored by Senator Gallivan, the bill provides a first-time homebuyer tax credit for local property taxes.

S.852 Co-sponsored by Senator Gallivan, the legislation gives homebuyers who rehabilitate dilapidated properties an exemption from property tax reassessment.

S.8489 Freezes real property taxes for three years to provide relief to New York homeowners. New York has some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

Lower Construction Costs

S.1167 Co-sponsored by Senator Gallivan, the bill would repeal the All-Electric Building Act. The all-electric mandate will increase the cost of the average single-family home by about $20,000.

S.8621 Allow building developers to comply with the less costly and less burdensome 2020 Energy Codes in lieu of the 2025 Energy Code. This would result in lowering the cost of an average single-family home by approximately $7,400.

Increase Housing Supply

S.3545 Streamlines the environmental review process to make it easier to build more homes.

S.529 Establishes the local initiatives task force on housing, to collaborate with local government officials, state agencies, and stakeholders to develop best practices for local governments to incentivize housing development.

S.576 Create tax incentives for manufactured housing developers to build affordable homes in rural areas.

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