Requires that every lease signature package provided to a tenant by a landlord or the landlord's agent shall include a New York State Voter Registration Form for each tenant over the age of eighteen years and information directing the tenant or tenants to the board of elections website.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7263
SPONSOR: Bichotte Hermelyn TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property law, in relation to requiring land-
lords to include voter registration update forms in lease signature
packages
PURPOSE:
This bill aims to facilitate voter registration and ensure all eligible
tenants have easy access to voter registration forms at the time of
leasing a property.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the real property law by adding a new section 235-j,
which mandates that every lease signature package provided to tenants by
landlords or their agents must include a New York State Voter Registra-
tion Form for each tenant over the age of eighteen and direct tenants to
the board of elections website for further information.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date of the act.
JUSTIFICATION:
Enhancing voter registration accessibility is crucial for fostering
civic engagement and ensuring that all eligible voters have the opportu-
nity to participate in elections. By integrating voter registration
forms into the lease signing process, this bill removes barriers to
registration, potentially increasing voter turnout and strengthening
democracy, as well as ensuring that tenants are reminded to change their
registration while moving.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
SOCIETAL IMPACT:
Promotes greater community involvement and civic engagement.
ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT IMPACT:
Minimal.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPACT:
Minimal.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
05/21/24 referred to housing
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7263
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to requiring land-
lords to include voter registration update forms in lease signature
packages
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section
2 235-k to read as follows:
3 § 235-k. Voter registration update forms. Every lease signature pack-
4 age provided to a tenant by a landlord or the landlord's agent shall
5 include a New York State Voter Registration Form for each tenant over
6 the age of eighteen years and information directing the tenant or
7 tenants to the board of elections website.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
9 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10995-01-5
