Legislature Extends Residential and Commercial Eviction Moratoriums

Legislature Extends Residential and Commercial Eviction Moratoriums

5.11.2021

By Cheyenne Burke

As COVID-19 cases drop, vaccination rates go up and the economy begins to open up, many New Yorkers hope for the return to normal. This past week, the Legislature passed two pieces of legislation to help individuals still reeling from the financial fallout of the pandemic transition back to normal.

The “COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act” and the “COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Business Act of 2021” provided individuals and small business owners who were struggling financially with protections from being evicted or having their properties foreclosed. Originally set to expire May 1, these provisions have now been extended to Aug. 31.The Governor signed off on the extender last week.

The legislature also passed a bill modifying the COVID-19 Emergency Protect our Small Business Act to expand eligible businesses to include those with up to 100 employees, or up to 500 employees if the business was shut down by executive order or by the Department of Health. Under current law, only small businesses of up to 50 employees were eligible.  This bill has not yet been delivered to the governor.

As the legislature enters its final month, the New York State Bar Association’s Department of Governmental Relations continues to work on a wide variety of issues on behalf of the sections and committees of the association. If you are curious about a specific proposal, please feel free to reach out to Adriel Colon-Casiano, assistant director of Governmental Relations, or Cheyenne Burke, Governmental Relations associate. For additional information and resources on the pandemic and its impact on the practice of law, please visit NYSBA’s COVID-19 resource center.