S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    55
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. EPSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation  to  adding  veterans  to
   protected classes for unlawful housing discrimination

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 296 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 2-b to read as follows:
   2-B. (A) IT SHALL BE  AN  UNLAWFUL  DISCRIMINATORY  PRACTICE  FOR  THE
 OWNER,  LESSEE,  SUB-LESSEE, ASSIGNEE, OR MANAGING AGENT OF PUBLICLY-AS-
 SISTED HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS OR OTHER PERSON HAVING THE RIGHT OF OWNER-
 SHIP OR POSSESSION OF OR THE RIGHT TO RENT OR LEASE SUCH  ACCOMMODATIONS
 TO  REFUSE  TO  SELL,  RENT OR LEASE OR OTHERWISE TO DENY TO OR WITHHOLD
 FROM ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS SUCH HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS  BECAUSE
 OF SUCH PERSON'S STATUS AS A VETERAN.
   (B)  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "VETERAN" MEANS A
 PERSON WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES OF THE UNITED
 STATES, OR IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, OR SERVICE AS
 A COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, COMMISSIONED  OFFI-
 CER  OF  THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OR ENVIRON-
 MENTAL SCIENCES SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, OR CADET  AT  A  UNITED  STATES
 ARMED  FORCES  SERVICE  ACADEMY,  AND  WHO  HAS  BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH
 SERVICE.
   § 2. Subdivision 5 of section 296 of the executive law is  amended  by
 adding a new paragraph (h) to read as follows:
   (H) (1) IT SHALL BE AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE FOR ANY PERSON
 OFFERING  OR  PROVIDING HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS, LAND OR COMMERCIAL SPACE
 AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS (A), (B), AND  (C)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  TO
 REFUSE TO SELL, RENT OR LEASE ANY HOUSING ACCOMMODATION, LAND OR COMMER-
 CIAL SPACE TO ANY PERSON BECAUSE OF SUCH PERSON'S STATUS AS A VETERAN.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD00532-01-5
 A. 55                               2
 
   (2)  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TERM "VETERAN" MEANS A
 PERSON WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES OF THE UNITED
 STATES, OR IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, OR SERVICE AS
 A COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, COMMISSIONED  OFFI-
 CER  OF  THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OR ENVIRON-
 MENTAL SCIENCES SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, OR CADET  AT  A  UNITED  STATES
 ARMED  FORCES  SERVICE  ACADEMY,  AND  WHO  HAS  BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH
 SERVICE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.