Relates to exempting disabled veterans from certain fees relating to physical modification of a residence to accommodate a disability

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Stern

The bill would exempt certain fees for physically modifying a veteran’s residence to accommodate a disability, reducing costs for eligible disabled veterans.

REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS

Summary of Bill A 10921 (2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to provide an exemption from certain fees for disabled veterans related to the physical modification of a residence to accommodate a disability. In short, it aims to reduce or eliminate the costs associated with making accessibility modifications to a veteran’s home.

Key provisions and changes

Exemption scope: The bill dedicates an exemption from unspecified fees that are ordinarily charged for the process of modifying a residence to accommodate a disability. The exact procedural details (which agency or authority administers the exemption, and which specific fees are covered) are not provided in the summary, but the central aim is a financial relief measure for disabled veterans.

Eligibility: The exemption applies to veterans who have a qualifying disability, i.e., those who would need modifications to their residence to accommodate a disability. The bill text would define eligibility criteria, likely aligning with existing standards for veterans’ disability status, though those definitions are not detailed in the summary.

Administration: The action history indicates the bill has companion or administrative steps involving “amend and recommit to local governments,” suggesting local government administration or local permitting/fee structures may play a role in enforcing or delivering the exemption.

Effective date: Specific effective date is not stated in the summary. If enacted, the exemption would take effect according to the bill’s transitional provisions (often upon enactment or a specified later date).

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiaries: Disabled veterans who are undertaking physical modifications to their residences to accommodate their disability.

Potentially affected parties: Local governments, permitting offices, and agencies that collect the referenced fees, who would implement the exemption and adjust their fee collection processes accordingly.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Sponsor: Co-sponsor Steve Stern.

Action history:

Referred to Local Governments (April 8, 2026)
May 30, 2026: Amended and re-referred to Local Governments; print number updated to 10921A

Current stage: As of the latest action, the bill has been amended and re-referred within the Local Governments committee, indicating ongoing committee consideration and potential further amendments before moving to floor votes.

Potential impacts and considerations

Financial relief for veterans: By exempting certain fees, the bill could reduce out-of-pocket costs for home accessibility projects, potentially accelerating or enabling modifications.

Implementation details: Successful enactment would depend on specifying which fees are exempt, how eligibility is verified, and how the exemption is administered at the state and local levels.

Administrative burden: Local governments would need to integrate the exemption into their permitting and fee-collection processes, which may require guidelines or administrative adjustments.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact statutory language and define the specific fees once the bill text is available.