NYC Council Introduction 849

intro.nyc/0849-2026 2026-2029 Legislative Session Mayor's Desk for Signature
Requiring a designated agency to develop and implement a cultural passport program encouraging visitation to participating sites in each borough.
Sponsored by Nantasha M. Williams
Introduced: April 16, 2026

This bill would require an agency designated by the mayor, or a city tourism and conventions entity designated by the mayor, to develop and implement a cultural passport program in consultation with the Department of Small Business Services, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and a city tourism and conventions entity. The program would be required to include identification of at least five participating sites selected for a minimum period of one year in each borough. The program would be designed to encourage public engagement with and visitation to participating sites in each borough.

Approved by Committee May 13, 2026

Committee on Economic Development Votes 7:0:0
Virginia Maloney (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Affirmative)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Shanel Thomas-Henry (Affirmative)

Approved by Council May 14, 2026

Votes 48:0:0
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Shaun Abreu (Affirmative)
Shirley Aldebol (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Affirmative)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Affirmative)
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Affirmative)
David M. Carr (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Elsie Encarnación (Affirmative)
Harvey D. Epstein (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Simcha Felder (Affirmative)
Oswald J. Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Shahana K. Hanif (Affirmative)
Ty Hankerson (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Affirmative)
Crystal Hudson (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Absent)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Virginia Maloney (Affirmative)
Christopher Marte (Affirmative)
Darlene Mealy (Absent)
Frank Morano (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Sandy Nurse (Affirmative)
Chi A. Ossé (Affirmative)
Vickie Paladino (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Yusef Salaam (Affirmative)
Pierina Ana Sanchez (Affirmative)
Justin E. Sanchez (Affirmative)
Kayla Santosuosso (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Affirmative)
Shanel Thomas-Henry (Affirmative)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Absent)
Nantasha M. Williams (Affirmative)
Carl Wilson (Affirmative)
Julie Won (Affirmative)
Phil Wong (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)

Sponsors: 7