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Requiring the department of education to report on student access to home internet and electronic devices.
IntroductionEnactedCommittee on Educationintroduced 2024-02-28Local Law 2026/016
Enacted as Local Law 2026/016.
Official record · Legistar
Agenda: 2024-02-28Passed: 2026-01-17Enacted: 2026-01-17
Summary
This bill would amend the administrative code, requiring the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to issue a biannual report regarding students’ access to the internet and electronic devices, and students’ use of virtual learning. The DOE would also be required to report on broken or non-functional devices. Additionally, the DOE would be required to collect and report feedback from parents regarding challenges with technology access, and provide recommendations on means to address technology access challenges.
Committee on Education — Department of Education, School Construction Authority, and charter schools.
How it compares
44% of similar bills passed
22 passed · 28 died
This bill: 658 days in committee
Similar bills: median 365 days · 179 days when passed
Compared against 50 Introduction bills in Committee on Education.
Ranked by how closely each matches this bill's topic — closest first:
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Sponsors (23)
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
Lifecycle
IntroducedIntroduced by Council
2024-02-28 · City Council
ActionReferred to Comm by Council
2024-02-28 · City Council
HeardHearing Held by Committee
2025-06-18 · Committee on Education
HeldLaid Over by Committee
2025-06-18 · Committee on Education
HeardHearing Held by Committee
2025-06-18 · Committee on Civil and Human Rights
HeldLaid Over by Committee
2025-06-18 · Committee on Civil and Human Rights
HeardHearing Held by Committee
2025-12-18 · Committee on Education
ActionAmendment Proposed by Comm
2025-12-18 · Committee on Education
ActionAmended by Committee
2025-12-18 · Committee on Education
AdvancedApproved by Committee
2025-12-18 · Committee on Education
AdvancedApproved by Council
2025-12-18 · City Council
ActionSent to Mayor by Council
2025-12-18 · City Council
AdvancedCity Charter Rule Adopted
2026-01-17 · Administration
ActionReturned Unsigned by Mayor
2026-01-20 · City Council
Votes (64)
Aye (54)
Linda LeeInna VernikovChi A. OsséSandra UngRobert F. HoldenChris BanksSelvena N. Brooks-PowersAdrienne E. AdamsTiffany L. CabánDiana I. AyalaShaun AbreuJoann Ariola Alexa AvilésErik D. BottcherJustin L. BrannanGale A. BrewerHarvey D. EpsteinAmanda C. FaríasSimcha FelderOswald J. FelizJames F. GennaroJennifer GutiérrezShahana K. HanifCrystal HudsonRita C. JosephShekar KrishnanFarah N. LouisKristy MarmoratoChristopher MarteJulie MeninFrank MoranoFrancisco P. MoyaMercedes NarcisseSandy NurseVickie PaladinoKeith Powers Lincoln RestlerKevin C. RileyYusef SalaamRafael Salamanca, Jr.Pierina Ana SanchezLynn C. SchulmanAlthea V. StevensJulie WonNantasha M. WilliamsCarmen N. De La RosaEric DinowitzRita C. JosephPierina Ana SanchezLynn C. SchulmanEric DinowitzJennifer GutiérrezAlthea V. StevensLinda Lee
Absent (8)
David M. CarrKamillah HanksSusan ZhuangJames F. GennaroKamillah HanksShekar KrishnanFarah N. LouisMercedes Narcisse
Excused (1)
Shahana K. Hanif
Heard at (7)
City Council · 2025-12-18 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee on Education · 2025-12-18 · 10:00 AM · 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 2
Committee on Civil and Human Rights · 2025-06-18 · 1:00 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee on Education · 2025-06-18 · 1:00 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee on Education · 2025-06-12 · 1:00 PM · 250 Broadway - Committee Room, 16th Floor
Committee on Civil and Human Rights · 2025-06-12 · 1:00 PM · 250 Broadway - Committee Room, 16th Floor
City Council · 2024-02-28 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall
Attachments (21)
Full text
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by redesignating chapter 40, as added by a local law amending the administrative code of the city of New York, relating to the distribution of materials on water safety in schools, as proposed in introduction number 1059-A, as chapter 41; redesignating section 21-1012 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by such local law as section 21-1013; and adding a new chapter 42 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 42
STUDENT ACCESS TO HOME INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
� 21-1014 Reporting on student access to home internet and electronic devices. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Electronic device. The term "electronic device" means a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone that can be connected to the internet.
Non-functional. The term "non-functional" means any electronic device that is unable to perform its intended function, whether due to physical damage, hardware failure, software malfunction, configuration error, lack of necessary updates, or any other condition.
Virtual learning. The term "virtual learning" means an education course that students can complete in a school building or at home using electronic devices to connect students to teachers.
b. No later than January 1, 2027, and every 2 years thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department's website a report regarding student access to home internet and electronic devices. Information required to be included in such report may be procured through any means determined by the department, including, but not limited to, surveys sent to the parents or guardians of students. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for each school district:
1. The total enrollment and number of responses;
2. The number and percentage of students who have broadband internet access at home;
3. The number and percentage of students who have access to at least 1 electronic device at home;
4. The number and percentage of students who have an electronic device and broadband internet access at home;
5. The number and percentage of students who have utilized virtual learning options offered by the department;
6. The number and percentage of students issued a department-owned electronic device; and
7. The number and percentage of electronic devices in schools that have been reported to be non-functional.
c. The report required pursuant to subdivision b of this section shall additionally include a narrative description of any feedback received from parents and guardians of students regarding challenges with technology access and recommendations on reducing the digital divide among students, including, but not limited to, identifying means of improving student access to home internet and electronic devices, and other such challenges.
d. No information that is otherwise required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state, or local law relating to the privacy of student information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise conflict with the interests of law enforcement.
� 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
Session 13
AC
LS #10183
12/10/2025 8:50 pm
Session 12
APM
LS #10183
2/7/2023
2
2