File #: Int 0495-2026    Version: * Name: Increasing the maximum civil penalty for unlawful discriminatory practices or acts of discriminatory harassment or violence
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Civil and Human Rights
On agenda: 1/29/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing the maximum civil penalty for unlawful discriminatory practices or acts of discriminatory harassment or violence
Sponsors: Nantasha M. Williams, Farah N. Louis, Yusef Salaam, Kamillah Hanks
Council Member Sponsors: 4
Summary: This bill would increase the maximum civil penalties the New York City Commission on Human Rights can impose on individuals or entities found to have engaged in unlawful discriminatory practices.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 495, 2. Int. No. 495, 3. January 29, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-29-26

Int. No. 495

 

By Council Members Williams, Louis, Salaam and Hanks

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing the maximum civil penalty for unlawful discriminatory practices or acts of discriminatory harassment or violence

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subdivision a of section 8-126 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 63 for the year 2018, is amended to read as follows:

a. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 13 of section 8-107, in addition to any of the remedies and penalties set forth in subdivision a of section 8-120, where the commission finds that a person has engaged in an unlawful discriminatory practice, the commission may, to vindicate the public interest, impose a civil penalty of not more than [$125,000] $250,000. Where the commission finds that an unlawful discriminatory practice was the result of the respondent's willful, wanton or malicious act or where the commission finds that an act of discriminatory harassment or violence as set forth in chapter 6 of this title has occurred, the commission may, to vindicate the public interest, impose a civil penalty of not more than [$250,000] $400,000.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 60 days after it becomes law.

 

LH

LS #19442

Int. #1323-2025

1/7/2026 4:41 PM