New York Assembly Bill A11488

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

Caption

Relates to requiring the use of a water demand calculator in new construction and substantial renovations and establishing an advisory board to monitor such usage

Summary

This bill would amend the Executive Law to require the use of a certified water demand calculator when designing plumbing systems for covered buildings, defined as new construction or substantial renovations of single-family and multi-unit residential buildings. Plumbing system designers, architects, and builders would have to use the calculator to determine pipe and fixture sizing, and the resulting calculations would need to be included with construction permit applications. Building permit approval would be contingent on verified use of the calculator, and noncompliance could lead to design rejection or delayed permits. The bill also directs the relevant council to certify technically sound water demand calculators for use in covered buildings. In addition, it creates an advisory board appointed by the council chairperson to monitor calculator usage in new construction and substantial renovations and to keep records of any cost savings associated with the practice. The bill takes effect one year after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would add new regulatory requirements to New York’s building and permitting process for residential construction and plumbing-related renovations. It would affect architects, plumbing designers, builders, permit applicants, and local officials reviewing construction permits by making calculator-based water demand calculations a condition of approval for covered projects. It would also expand the Executive Law by adding standards for calculator use and a new advisory board function within the council structure.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears to be framed as a technical, efficiency-oriented policy intended to improve plumbing design and track cost savings, with no explicit evidence of controversy in the provided materials.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or votes. Potential areas of dispute, based on the text alone, could include the added permitting burden, the requirement that calculators be certified by the council, and whether the mandate is necessary for all covered residential projects. The bill’s narrow definition of substantial renovation may also be relevant if stakeholders disagree about which projects should be subject to the new requirements.