S 1399 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes the vacant rental improvement program

This bill creates the Vacant Rental Improvement Program, providing grants of up to $75,000 per unit to owners of small rental buildings (five or fewer units) located outside New York City. It requires renovated units to be leased at affordable rates - defined as 80% of area median income - for a 10-year period, with new owners inheriting the affordability requirement. The program prioritizes vacant units or those with code violations and establishes a dedicated "rental improvement fund" for financing. Owners who violate the lease terms risk full repayment of grants.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Jun 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S1399 → S1399A · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the program name from 'Rental Improvement Fund Pilot Program' to 'Vacant Rental Improvement Program' and to shift the administering agency from the Division of Housing and Community Renewal to the Housing Trust Fund Corporation. The amendment also broadens eligibility to include buildings with five or fewer units located outside cities with one million or more residents, and adds specific requirements that renovated units be leased at affordable rates to households earning no more than 80% of area median income.

Scope change

The program now targets vacant rental units in smaller communities (outside cities with one million+ population) rather than focusing on specific cities like Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. The administering agency changed from the Division of Housing and Community Renewal to the Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

SCOPE

Program name changed from 'Rental Improvement Fund Pilot Program' to 'Vacant Rental Improvement Program' to reflect focus on vacant units.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility expanded from specific cities (Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse) to buildings with five or fewer units located outside cities with a population of one million or more.

Added priority for funding units that are currently vacant or have outstanding code violations.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific affordability requirement that renovated units must be leased to persons earning no more than 80% of area median income.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provision that rental restrictions do not expire if the unit is transferred or sold to a new owner.

DEFINITION

Administrative authority changed from Division of Housing and Community Renewal to Housing Trust Fund Corporation.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 6, 2025

How they voted

52–1

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 63

Jun 6, 2025

D Democratic41

34 Yea 7

82% Yea

R Republican22

18 Yea 1 Nay 3

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 6, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO HOUSING

lower

Jun 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED SENATE

upper

May 29, 2025

Committee

COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

upper

May 12, 2025

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 1399A

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

upper

Jan 9, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor