Committee on Small Business Votes on Bill to Coordinate Inspections for New Businesses – July 16, 2026
Committee on Small Business Votes on Bill to Coordinate Inspections for New Businesses – July 16, 2026
The New York City Council Committee on Small Business, chaired by Councilmember Shanel Thomas-Henry, met on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10:45 AM to vote on Proposed Introduction No. 955-A, a bill aimed at accelerating the opening of new businesses by coordinating required inspections and plan reviews. The committee unanimously approved the legislation.
Discussion Items
- Proposed Int. No. 955-A (Council Member Zwang): Chair Thomas-Henry explained that the bill would require the mayor to establish a program to coordinate inspections and plan reviews, reducing the time it takes to open and operate a new business. She noted that current processes often involve uncoordinated inspections in a specific sequence unknown to many small business owners, causing delays. The bill aims to fix this inefficiency by ensuring inspections happen around the same time or shortly thereafter.
- Councilmember Frank Morano expressed support and stated he was honored to be a prime sponsor of the legislation.
Key Outcomes
- Vote: The committee voted on the motion to approve Proposed Int. No. 955-A. The initial roll call showed 6 affirmative votes (Chair Thomas-Henry, Councilmembers Hanif, Maloney, Morano, Salaam, and Santosuosso) and 0 negative. The roll was held open, and Councilmember Brooks-Powers later voted aye, resulting in a final vote of 7 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative, with no abstentions. The bill was adopted by the committee.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to New York City Council vote on some more business. At this time, we're asking please put all electronic device on silent. And at this time, please no one up push it, D yes. Sure, you may begin. This hearing is called to order. Good morning, everyone. I am Councilmember Chanel Thomas Henry, Chair of the Committee on Small Business. Thank you to my colleagues, Councilmember Moreno, Councilmember Maloney, Councilmember Salam. And Councilmembers Hanieth and Santa Swoso online. Today we are voting on proposed introduction nine fifty-five A from Council Member Zwang. This will this bill would require the mayor to establish a program to coordinate inspections and plan reviews to cut down on the time it takes to open and operate a new business. Unfortunately, it is not easy getting a new business up and running. Before a new business can open, the site must undergo a series of inspections and plan reviews that often happen at different times. There is often a specific sequence for when each of these inspections and reviews need to be done. A sequence that is often unknown to many of our would-be small business owners. While SBS NYC best team does provide much needed compliance assistance, the issue of uncoordinated inspections and plan reviews remain unresolved. Proposed introduction nine five five A is an attempt to fix the underlying issue at the heart of all this. Ensuring that these inspections and reviews happen around the same time or shortly thereafter means that our entrepreneurs are not losing out due to government inefficiency. Thank you. Good morning, William Martin, committee clerk, roll call vote committee on small business. Proposed introduction nine five five A. Chair Thomas Henry. Brooks Powers. I'm sorry, Council Rodin here. I vote aye. Thank you very much. Morano. I and I'm honored to be a prime sponsor of this legislation as well. Thank you. With a vote of six in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and no abstentions. Item has been adopted by the committee, and the role will be held open by request of the chair. Continuation roll call, Committee on Small Business, Councilmember Brooks Powers. I vote aye. Final vote is now seven in the affirmative, zero in the negative, no abstentions. Madam Chair, that is a full committee. Thank you. This meeting is closed.
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