Bill > A05033

This bill authorizes the City of Newburgh to collect unpaid housing, building, and fire code violation penalties by adding them to the city's annual tax levy, with several important conditions and protections. Specifically, the bill allows the city to place code violation penalties on a property's tax bill only after a court judgment has been rendered, the penalties have remained unpaid for one year, and the amount owed is at least five percent of the property's assessed value. The bill includes significant tenant protections, requiring the city to develop a program to assist tenants in finding alternative housing if a property is at risk of tax foreclosure. The law explicitly does not apply to owner-occupied residential dwellings and allows property owners to enter into payment plans or cure code violations to avoid tax foreclosure. If a property is sold at auction due to unpaid code violations, any surplus funds must be returned to the former owner, with the amount proportional to the code violation debt. The bill also provides a process for appealing code violation determinations and ensures that properties can be removed from the tax levy if violations are corrected and fees are paid. The legislation is designed to incentivize property owners to address code violations while providing safeguards to prevent unfair displacement or excessive financial penalties.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5033