New York counties will now be able to create a new short-term rental registry after a bill, created by state Sen. Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul

The bill hopes to increase accountability and communication between short-term rentals and the communities they operate in.

“A state level authority to bring in the attorney general to help with enforcement, should they need it, and to have a statewide law that says we're watching this landscape now," Hinchey said. "We're here to support our counties and the towns, have the information that they need to actually make the best decisions for them.

Grassroots group For the Many lauded the registry as a good first step in regulating an industry that has increased over the last few years.

For the Many Political Coordinator Daniel Atonna says the next part is making sure that vacation rentals — short-term rentals that buy up real estate to use for short-term purposes — are not affecting the housing stock in Hudson Valley communities.

“There's actually studies that show that the more short-term rentals there are, it can actually drive up rents in the community," Atonna said. "It's taking housing off of the market and I think that's what really influenced the state level bill.”