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NY A10451

Bill

Status

Introduced

3/6/2026

Primary Sponsor

Phara Souffrant Forrest

Click for details

Origin

Assembly

2025-2026 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Establishes 11 protected rights for unhoused persons including free movement in public spaces, medical and dental care access, occupying legally parked vehicles, soliciting donations, voting without a permanent address, and protection from discrimination in housing and employment

  • Prohibits harassment, citations, fines, or arrests by law enforcement, security personnel, public employees, or private citizens when unhoused individuals exercise these enumerated rights

  • Guarantees two specific benefits: free provision of a postal address and access to legal services to protect against rights violations

  • Requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to create and distribute a rights pamphlet in English and the eight most common non-English languages spoken in New York, available online and through shelters, drop-in centers, and transitional housing

  • Authorizes aggrieved persons to bring legal action seeking damages, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees for violations, with oversight by the Division of Human Rights

Legislative Description

Establishes a bill of rights for the unhoused; provides that no person shall be denied certain rights because of a state of homelessness nor shall such persons be harassed, cited, fined, or arrested by law enforcement, security personnel, public employees, or private citizens for the exercise of certain rights; describes rights; provides for a bill of benefits of the unhoused for the free provision of a postal address and the right to juridical services to ensure protection from the violation of their protected rights; requires the office of temporary and disability assistance to create a pamphlet of such rights; makes related provisions.

Last Action

referred to governmental operations

3/6/2026

Committee Referrals

Governmental Operations3/6/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available