The RTCNYC Coalition and statewide members of our Housing Courts Must Change! campaign are fighting for Statewide Right to Counsel legislation (A1493/S2721), introduced by Assembly Member Latoya Joyner and Senator Rachel May. This important legislation would guarantee tenants across New York State the right to a lawyer when facing an eviction – ALL tenants, ALL cases, in every part of New York. Call your electeds and New York State leadership TODAY to make sure they support these bills!

How can I contact NYS leadership and my state legislators?

Step 1:  Go to bit.ly/CallYourNYSLegislator on your phone, laptop, or other device.

Step 2: Enter your name, address, zip code, and phone number.

Step 3: Click "Call Officials", review the call script (included below), and follow the steps on the page. Don’t hang up between calls - you'll be directed to call multiple state legislators and then, with the click of a button, email them. 

Curious whether your legislators support Statewide Right to Counsel? Consult our legislative support tracker!

CALL SCRIPT

Hi, my name is [Name] and I am a New York State resident.

I am calling to urge your office to support the passage and full funding of Statewide Right to Counsel legislation (A1493/S2721) in the fiscal year 2025 budget. Statewide Right to Counsel, introduced by Assembly Member Latoya Joyner and Senator Rachel May, would guarantee ALL tenants across New York State the Right to Counsel when facing an eviction. Right to Counsel is proven to stop evictions and will keep New Yorkers in their homes. Here in New York, nearly all landlords across the state have lawyers, while the vast majority of tenants do not, which creates an imbalance of power in the courts that largely favors landlords. New York tenants need Right to Counsel, so they can fight evictions and remain safe and securely housed!

[Explain why this bill is important to you personally].

Will your office support the passage and full funding of Statewide Right to Counsel legislation in the fiscal year 2025 budget?

INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT, ENGLISH & SPANISH:

RESOURCES

Statewide Right to Counsel would guarantee ALL tenants across New York State the right to a lawyer when facing an eviction. For more materials and resources, go to www.righttocounselnyc.org/statewidertc. 

• Learn about the Housing Courts Must Change! Campaign
• Right to Counsel for ALL legislation: (May / Joyner) (S2721 / A1493)
  
• 2-pager: What is Statewide Right to Counsel (English | Español)
• Check to see whether your state legislators support our legislation.
• For organizations: endorse our legislation or become a campaign member!
• Factsheet: How would NYC tenants benefit from statewide Right to Counsel? Bilingual (English and Spanish)