RPAC and What it has Done for You
HGAR participates actively in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC). The Realtors® Political Action Committee makes legislative advocacy possible. Formed in 1969, RPAC works to elect pro-Realtor® candidates at the local, state and federal levels. RPAC is supported by voluntary contributions from Realtors® across the nation. RPAC is committed to supporting candidates and issues important to your profession and your livelihood.
WATCH! Learn how HGAR with NYSAR, powered by RPAC, delivers real results for REALTORS® from stopping harmful legislation to opening doors for new businesses. See how your investment protects your livelihood, strengthens our industry, and empowers clients to achieve homeownership.
Advocacy in Action
2026 New York City Advocacy Highlights
Passage of Intro 1120 (Co-op Application Timelines)
Sponsored by Councilmember Amanda Farías, this legislation establishes clear and transparent timelines for cooperative boards to process purchase applications — a long-standing concern for buyers, sellers, and agents. Key provisions include:
- Cooperative boards must acknowledge receipt of an application within 10 days, or the application is deemed complete.
- Boards must issue a decision (approval or denial) within 45 days of receiving the completed application.
- A 14-day extension may be granted if additional time is needed, provided the applicant is formally notified.
Legislation Opposed – NYC Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) – Intro 902-B
We also recommend noting our opposition to COPA, which sought to give qualified nonprofits the first opportunity to purchase distressed multifamily buildings. This bill did not pass, and its outcome is important context for our members and stakeholders.
2026 New York State Advocacy Highlights
REALTORS® Co-op priority bill enacted into law by NYC Council
On January 29, 2026 the New York City Council voted to override former Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of Intro. 1120-B which will require cooperatives to respond to applicants within certain timelines. Specifically, the new law requires coop boards in New York City to acknowledge receipt of application materials within 15 days and provide notice of whether it has consented to or rejected the sale within 45 days after the application is complete. Final approval of this legislation is a culmination of years of advocacy work from REALTORS® in support of coop transparency. The effort to enact the bill into law was led by Council Member Amanda Farias of the Bronx in conjunction with NYSAR and local REALTOR® boards representing all five boroughs.
2025 New York City Advocacy Highlights
Issue Mobilization Funding & Ballot Proposal 3 Support
Secured nearly $400,000 in issue mobilization funds to run a public awareness and advocacy campaign in support of Ballot Proposal 3 – Simplify Review of Modest Housing & Infrastructure Projects.
- Proposal 3 streamlines the city’s land use review process (ULURP) for modest housing and infrastructure projects.
- Applies to small-scale housing developments and infrastructure improvements.
- Removes unnecessary delays and administrative red tape that often add years and additional costs to projects.
- Maintains community input while creating a faster and more equitable review process.
2025 New York State Advocacy Highlights
NYSAR Lobby Day priority signed into Law to limit long-term listing agreements
On December 12, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law NYSAR-supported legislation (A.5886-C/S.6361-B) that will limit the use of real estate service and listing agreements for residential real property to no longer than two years. In recent years, reports have surfaced of entities locking consumers into long-term listing agreements that restrict the ability of a seller to use any brokerage other than the brokerage that is party to the listing agreement. At times, these longer-term listing agreements have lasted upwards of forty years, thereby restricting the ability of a seller to choose a different brokerage for the duration of that agreement.
Successful REALTOR® campaign in support of NYC housing ballot proposal
On November 4, New York City voters approved a ballot proposal to create a faster, more streamlined review process for the approval and construction of modest housing and infrastructure projects in order to create more housing opportunities in New York City. NYSAR, along with four of its New York City area local boards (Long Island Board of REALTORS®, Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS®, Staten Island Board of REALTORS®, and the Brooklyn Board of REALTORS®) conducted a well-funded public campaign in support of the ballot proposal following REALTOR® approval through the NYSAR and NAR Committee processes. The successful REALTOR® campaign reinforces the public perspective that more must be done to increase housing in New York City. In total, voters approved all four ballot proposals intended to increase the development of more housing in the city.
New York State delays all-electric buildings mandate pending appeals court ruling
On November 12, New York State agreed in a filing in U.S. District Court to delay implementation of the All-Electric Buildings Act until the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals makes a ruling on the matter. NYSAR supports the recent agreement to delay implementation of the statewide mandate requiring new building construction to be all-electric beginning January 1, 2026. NYSAR will continue to monitor the issue and work with state lawmakers to fight this law pending the outcome of the appeals court ruling.
State awards $26 million to help create 750 new housing units on Long Island
On September 25, Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $26 million in awards through the Long Island Investment Fund (LIIF) to further the state’s efforts to increase the housing supply. The funding will support five transformative housing projects across Nassau and Suffolk counties, creating nearly 750 new housing units and representing a total investment of $467 million.
NYS invests $1 billion in housing, will create 3,000 new homes across NYS
On June 26, Governor Kathy Hochul announced nearly 3,000 affordable, modern, energy-efficient homes will be created or preserved in communities throughout New York State as a result of $1 billion in housing bonds and subsidies to help increase the state’s housing supply. When coupled with additional private funding and resources, the projects receiving funding are expected to generate $1.5 billion in overall investment. The 15 projects located in different regions of the state receiving funding are part of the Governor’s five-year, $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York State.
2025 Federal Tax Reform Highlights
The 2025 tax reform, often referred to within NAR reports as the "Big Beautiful" tax bill, focuses on making permanent many provisions set to expire, while significantly boosting real estate and small business deductions. Key changes include raising the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for 2025-2029, enhancing the QBI deduction to 23%, and protecting 1031 exchanges.
Key NAR-Backed 2025 Tax Reform Highlights
- SALT Deduction Cap Increase: The state and local tax (SALT) deduction limit is increased to $40,000 from the previous $10,000, starting in 2025 for households making under $500,000.
- Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction: The Section 199A deduction is made permanent and increased to 23% (up from 20%), directly benefiting many real estate professionals.
- Individual Tax Rates & Mortgage Interest: Lower individual tax rates and the mortgage interest deduction are made permanent.
- 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: These are preserved, allowing tax-deferred reinvestment in business and investment real estate.
- Bonus Depreciation: 100% depreciation for qualifying property is restored for items placed in service between 2025 and 2031.
- 529 Plans: Expanded to cover costs for professional credentials, including real estate licenses.
These changes aim to bolster housing affordability and provide tax relief for independent contractors and small business owners in real estate.
What has RPAC done for you lately?
“RPAC supports federal candidates, I’m more interested in State and Local candidates.”
Response: Only 30% of your contribution goes to support candidates at the national level. The other 70% stays in the state for use in supporting candidates here at home. Up to 25% of every dollar collected is returned to the local board for use in the LRS program. By contributing to RPAC, you can help support candidates at all levels of government.
Here is what RPAC has done for you:
- Fought for a study to enact a First-time Home Buyer Savings Account (NY First Home) in New York State
- Through RPAC, HGAR fought for STAR savings for New York State’s homeowners, a two percent tax cap, lower closing costs, and limits on flood-insurance rate increases
- RPAC defeated a proposal requiring a 20 percent down payment on a home purchase
- RPAC fought and won a co-op transparency law in Westchester County
- RPAC fought and won an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program without which closings on many homes would not have happened
- Fought for reinstatement of the SALT deduction to keep New York affordable
For the first time in 2020 RPAC won:
- Pandemic unemployment insurance for Realtors which has never happened before.
- We stopped a "Good Cause" eviction bill that would have prevented landlords from being able to raise rents to keep up with inflation and would have taken right of landlords to set the terms of their lease away from them.
- We stopped an independent contractor status bill, that would have made Realtors employees instead of independent contractors which would have devastating impacts on the real estate profession.
- We also stopped a tax on Pied-a-terre homes, that would have added an additional property tax on homes in New York City.
These are meaningful accomplishments that have a profound effect on homebuyers and sellers in the Hudson Valley and New York State
RPAC protects the real estate industry and for the public’s ability to own and maintain a home. HGAR and RPAC work every day to keep the American Dream of home ownership alive and well. It’s an insurance policy for you — and your clients.
HGAR is proud to support RPAC, because our mission is to protect and serve homebuyers and sellers.
RPAC Mission Statement
RPAC’s mission is to protect and preserve property ownership rights to the benefit of all citizens throughout the United States.
RPAC Purpose
The purpose of RPAC is clear: REALTORS® raise and spend money to elect candidates who understand and support their interests. The money to accomplish this comes from voluntary contributions made by REALTORS® RPAC works to overturn laws that hurt property owners. RPAC only supports lawmakers who vote to help the hard-working people of this nation.
