Bill > S07436

This bill requires counties and cities to establish plans for providing legal representation to individuals facing eviction, ejectment, or foreclosure proceedings who cannot afford an attorney. An "eligible person" is defined as someone with a gross individual income at or below 125% of the federal poverty line. The bill outlines several ways counties can provide this legal representation, including using public defenders, creating bar association rotation plans, or assigning attorneys on a case-by-case basis. The legal counsel would be provided at no cost to eligible individuals and would cover all stages of the legal proceeding. Importantly, the state will match dollar-for-dollar the amount counties spend on these legal representation plans. Attorneys assigned to these cases will receive compensation at specified rates (60-75 dollars per hour depending on the type of proceeding) and can also be reimbursed for reasonable expenses. The bill requires annual reporting on these legal representation efforts and takes effect 180 days after becoming law, with the goal of ensuring low-income individuals have access to legal representation in housing-related legal proceedings.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7436