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S 8444

Prohibits discrimination based upon housing status

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits housing-status discrimination in New York, protecting renters, homeowners, and unhoused people from biased housing decisions by lenders, landlords, and service providers.

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Bill Summary · S 8444

Summary of S 8444 – Prohibits discrimination based upon housing status

Overview

S 8444 is a bill introduced in the New York State Senate on June 18, 2025, with the stated aim of prohibiting discrimination based on an individual's housing status. The bill is currently in the Rules committee stage.

Purpose and intent

  • The primary aim is to protect individuals from discrimination because of their housing status. This could include status such as homelessness, temporary housing, renting, ownership, or other housing-related conditions, depending on how the bill defines “housing status” in its text.
  • By prohibiting housing-status discrimination, the bill seeks to ensure equal access to housing-related opportunities and services and to reduce barriers faced by people based on where or how they live or do not have stable housing.

Key provisions (as described)

  • The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of housing status. Specifics such as the exact protected contexts (e.g., rental housing applications, housing services, lending, or employment related to housing) and enforcement mechanisms would be defined in the full text.
  • The present information does not provide the exact definitions, prohibited practices, or penalties; those details would be contained in the bill’s text if enacted.

Who is affected

  • Potentially affected groups include individuals who are without stable housing, renters, homeowners, and others whose housing status could be used as a basis for discriminatory treatment.
  • Housing providers, landlords, lenders, and service providers could be subject to new obligations if the bill’s provisions apply to them, depending on the final language.

Procedural and timeline context

  • Introduced: June 18, 2025.
  • Current status: Referred to Rules (in the Senate).
  • There is a companion bill in the Assembly: A 8913 (listed as a companion).
  • Legislative actions show the same referral date twice, indicating standard committee referral processes rather than final enactment steps.

Sponsor and related measures

  • Primary sponsor: Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda.
  • Related bill: Assembly companion A 8913 (listed as companion in the provided information).

Potential impact and next steps

  • If enacted, the bill would add housing status to the grounds on which discrimination is prohibited, potentially shaping housing transactions, services, and related protections.
  • Next steps would involve committee consideration, potential amendments, floor votes in the Senate and Assembly, and the eventual governor’s signature or veto. The exact scope, definitions, and enforcement mechanisms will be determined by the bill’s finalized text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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