Bill
A 156
A 156 would regulate smart access systems in housing, defining allowed data and usage, to protect tenants’ privacy and set rules for collection, storage, and sharing.
Overview
- Bill Number: A 156
- Title: Relates to the use of smart access systems and the information that may be gathered from such systems
- Status: REFERRED TO HOUSING
- Introduced: January 8, 2025
- Primary sponsor: Linda Rosenthal (with multiple cosponsors)
- Related actions: Both the initial and duplicate “REFERRED TO HOUSING” actions recorded for Jan 8, 2025
- Related bills: A 6788, A 706, A 48 (prior-session); S 955 (companion)
Purpose and intent (as suggested by the title)
- The bill appears to regulate how smart access systems (such as automated or “smart” locks and entry controls) are used in housing contexts.
- It likely addresses what information can be gathered from these systems and how that information may be collected, stored, shared, and used.
- The underlying aims may include enhancing tenant privacy, establishing data governance standards, and ensuring accountability for those who operate or manage smart access systems in housing.
Key provisions (not provided in the text shared)
- The exact statutory provisions are not included in the information provided. Based on the title, potential areas such bills typically cover (and that may be anticipated in the actual text) could include:
- Definitions of “smart access systems” and related data (e.g., access logs, timestamps, locations).
- Data collection limits and purposes for which such information may be used.
- Consent requirements for tenants or residents.
- Restrictions on who may access the data (e.g., landlords, property managers, third-party vendors) and under what circumstances.
- Data retention and destruction timelines.
- security standards for data storage and transmission.
- Notification and breach reporting obligations.
- Tenant rights to access, correct, or delete personal data related to smart access systems.
- Enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations.
- Exemptions (e.g., certain emergency procedures or law enforcement access).
Who would be affected
- Tenants and residents in housing units equipped with smart access systems.
- Property owners, landlords, and housing providers, including property managers and HOAs.
- Vendors and contractors involved in installing, maintaining, or servicing smart access systems.
- Local housing authorities or regulatory bodies responsible for enforcement.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduced and first referred to the Housing Committee on January 8, 2025.
- Referred to Housing appears to have been recorded more than once in the same day, indicating standard committee referral processes.
- The bill has a Senate companion (S 955), indicating parallel consideration in the Senate.
- A number of sponsors from the Assembly (primary and cosponsors) show broad legislative interest across districts.
Notes and considerations
- The actual text is not provided here; this summary focuses on the bill’s stated topic, status, sponsors, and related bills.
- For a precise understanding of specific prohibitions, requirements, and penalties, the full bill language and any amendments would need to be reviewed.
- Potential impacts to weigh include balancing tenant privacy with property security, assessing compliance costs for housing providers, and the effect on the deployment of smart access technologies.
If you’d like, I can integrate the exact bill language once you provide it, or I can monitor updates to pull in the specific provisions and summarize them in detail.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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