Int 1017-2026
Requiring analyses of cooling towers associated with Legionnaires’ disease clusters.
IntroductionLaid OverCommittee on Healthintroduced 2026-08-13
Laid over — postponed to a later committee meeting.
Official record · Legistar
Agenda: 2026-08-13
Summary
This bill would require that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), in consultation with the Department of Buildings (DOB), conduct an analysis to identify the common characteristics of cooling towers associated with each Legionnaires’ disease cluster and to issue recommendations to prevent cooling towers from causing future Legionnaires’ disease clusters.
Committee on Health — Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and EMS (health-related issues).
Outlook
34% of similar bills passed
17 passed · 33 died
This bill: 22 days in committee
Similar bills: median 461 days · 172 days when passed
Compared against 50 Introduction bills in Committee on Health.
Ranked by how closely each matches this bill's topic — closest first:
Int 1390-2025
Cooling tower inspections and testing.
28dEnacted
Int 1166-2018
Assessment of potential determinants of Legionnaires’ disease in the city.
160dEnacted
Int 1164-2018
Reporting the results of cooling tower inspections and to repeal certain provisions of Local Law 77 for the year 2015, relating to cooling towers.
160dEnacted
Int 1385-2019
Posting signs notifying the public of microbes discovered in cooling towers.
1071dFiled
Int 0166-2024
Requiring building owners to provide shower hoses and informational materials on Legionnaires’ disease to tenants.
671dFiled
Int 0821-2022
Requiring building owners to provide shower hoses and informational materials on Legionnaires’ disease to tenants.
404dFiled
+ 44 more comparable bills
Sponsors (5)
Lifecycle
IntroducedIntroduced by Council
2026-08-13 · City Council
ActionReferred to Comm by Council
2026-08-13 · City Council
HeardHearing Held by Committee
2026-09-02 · Committee on Health
HeldLaid Over by Committee
2026-09-02 · Committee on Health
Heard at (2)
Committee on Health · 2026-09-02 · 10:00 AM · Council Chambers - City Hall
City Council · 2026-08-13 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall
Attachments (8)
- Summary of Int. No. 1017
- Int. No. 1017
- Memorandum in Support
- August 13, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda
- Committee Report 9/2/26
- Committee Report 9/2/26
- Committee Report 9/2/26
- Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council
Full text
Int. No. 1017
By Council Members Thomas-Henry, Epstein, Abreu, Maloney and Narcisse
..Title
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring analyses of cooling towers associated with Legionnaires’ disease clusters
..Body
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Section 17-194.1 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision n to read as follows:
n. Cooling tower analysis. 1. Within 3 months after the department determines that a Legionnaires’ disease cluster has ended, the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of buildings, shall conduct an analysis to identify the common characteristics of cooling towers associated with the Legionnaires’ disease cluster. The analysis shall, at a minimum, consider:
(a) Each cooling tower’s manufacturer, commission date, design, construction, condition, placement on roof, and proximity to vents;
(b) Maintenance, cleaning and disinfection practices and adherence to the building’s maintenance program and plan, as set forth in subdivision c of this section;
(c) The height of each building associated with the disease cluster; and
(d) Other factors that may contribute to the growth or dispersion of legionella bacteria.
2. Within 30 days of completing each cooling tower analysis, the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of buildings, shall issue, and post on the department’s website, a report outlining the department’s findings and recommendations for preventing cooling towers from causing future Legionnaires’ disease clusters, which may include changes to:
(a) Cooling tower design, construction, and placement practices and requirements;
(b) Cooling tower maintenance, inspection, and testing practices and requirements; and
(c) The New York city building code, New York city mechanical code, New York city health code, and other relevant New York city codes or local laws.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
NY
LS #25030/25713
8/6/2026 1:00 PM