Provides for the continuation of a mechanic's lien which has been discharged by undertaking for a period of three years from the commencement of a foreclosure action.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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10682
IN ASSEMBLY
March 20, 2026
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Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the lien law, in relation to the extended duration of
certain mechanic's liens
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 17 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 324 of
2 the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 17. Duration of lien. 1. No lien specified in this article shall be
4 a lien for a longer period than one year after the notice of lien has
5 been filed, unless within that time an action is commenced to foreclose
6 the lien, and a notice of the pendency of such action, whether in a
7 court of record or in a court not of record, is filed with the county
8 clerk of the county in which the notice of lien is filed, containing the
9 names of the parties to the action, the object of the action, a brief
10 description of the real property affected thereby, and the time of
11 filing the notice of lien; or unless an extension to such lien, except
12 for a lien on real property improved or to be improved with a single
13 family dwelling, is filed with the county clerk of the county in which
14 the notice of lien is filed within one year from the filing of the
15 original notice of lien, continuing such lien and such lien shall be
16 redocketed as of the date of filing such extension. Such extension shall
17 contain the names of the lienor and the owner of the real property
18 against whose interest therein such lien is claimed, a brief description
19 of the real property affected by such lien, the amount of such lien, and
20 the date of filing the notice of lien. No lien shall be continued by
21 such extension for more than one year from the filing thereof. In the
22 event an action is not commenced to foreclose the lien within such
23 extended period, such lien shall be extinguished unless an order be
24 granted by a court of record or a judge or justice thereof, continuing
25 such lien, and such lien shall be redocketed as of the date of granting
26 such order and a statement made that such lien is continued by virtue of
27 such order. A lien on real property improved or to be improved with a
28 single family dwelling may only be extended by an order of a court of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15267-01-6
A. 10682 2
1 record, or a judge or justice thereof. No lien shall be continued by
2 court order for more than one year from the granting thereof, but a new
3 order and entry may be made in each of two successive years. If a lienor
4 is made a party defendant in an action to enforce another lien, and the
5 plaintiff or such defendant has filed a notice of the pendency of the
6 action within the time prescribed in this section, the lien of such
7 defendant is thereby continued. Such action shall be deemed an action to
8 enforce the lien of such defendant lienor. The failure to file a notice
9 of pendency of action shall not abate the action as to any person liable
10 for the payment of the debt specified in the notice of lien, and the
11 action may be prosecuted to judgment against such person. The provisions
12 of this section in regard to continuing liens shall apply to liens
13 discharged by deposit or by order on the filing of an undertaking. Where
14 a lien is discharged by deposit or by order, a notice of pendency of
15 action shall not be filed.
16 2. A lien, the duration of which has been extended by the filing of a
17 notice of the pendency of an action as above provided, shall neverthe-
18 less terminate as a lien after such notice has been canceled as provided
19 in section sixty-five hundred fourteen of the civil practice law and
20 rules or has ceased to be effective as constructive notice as provided
21 in section sixty-five hundred thirteen of the civil practice law and
22 rules.
23 3. Where a lien has been discharged by deposit, undertaking or order,
24 such lien shall be extended and continue in force and effect for three
25 years from the earlier of the date of commencement of (a) an action to
26 foreclose or enforce such lien, or (b) the action to foreclose or
27 enforce any other lien which names such lienor as a defendant pursuant
28 to section forty-four of this chapter; such lien shall be subject to all
29 requirements and provisions of law with respect to foreclosure or
30 enforcement of a mechanic's lien. The provision of this section in
31 regard to continuing liens shall apply to liens discharged by deposit or
32 by order on the filing of an undertaking. Such lien may be further
33 extended by court order, in accordance with all provisions of law
34 governing extension of a notice of pendency, including section sixty-
35 five hundred thirteen of the civil practice law and rules without limi-
36 tation as to the number of applications for or court orders extending
37 such lien, during the pendency of the foreclosure or enforcement action.
38 This section is hereby declared to be a remedial statute and is to be
39 construed liberally to secure the beneficial interests and purposes
40 thereof.
41 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
