NY S08986

Increases required continuing education hours for real estate license renewal from 22 to 24.5 hours within the two-year renewal period.

Mandates at least 2 hours of instruction on implicit bias awareness and understanding as part of the continuing education requirement, defined as attitudes or stereotypes affecting understanding and decisions in an unconscious manner.

Maintains existing requirements for at least 3 hours on fair housing/discrimination instruction and at least 1 hour on agency law (2 hours for initial salesperson licensing term).

Applies to all real estate brokers and salespersons renewing licenses, except licensed brokers engaged full-time in real estate for at least 15 consecutive years prior to July 1, 2008.

Takes effect immediately, with provisions for phased implementation aligned with chapter 392 of the 2019 laws where applicable.