Ny Protected Classes Updates

NY Protected Classes Updates ## Why This Matters on the Exam Fair housing questions appear consistently in the NY state section of the exam, and the recently expanded protected classes under both the NY Human Rights Law and NYC law are prime targets for test writers who want to reward candidates who stayed current. Knowing which classes are federal-only versus NY-added versus NYC-only is essential. --- ## The Three-Layer Framework New York fair housing protections work in three layers, each adding classes on top of the one below. | Layer | Governing Law | Protected Classes | |---|---|---| | Federal | Fair Housing Act (1968) | Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Disability, Familial Status | | New York State | NY Human Rights Law (Executive Law Art. 15) | All 7 federal + Creed, Age (18+), Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Marital Status, Military Status, Citizenship/Immigration Status | | New York City | NYC Administrative Code | All state classes + Source of Income, Partnership Status, Criminal History (with limits) | > Exam tip: The federal act has 7 protected classes. New York State adds 7 more on top. New York City adds additional protections beyond the state level. --- ## New York State Additions — What's New The NY Human Rights Law has long covered more classes than the federal act, but the citizenship/immigration status protection was added in December 2022, making it a frequent exam topic because it is recent. ### The NY-Added Classes in Plain English - Creed — Similar to religion but broader; covers deeply held moral or ethical beliefs. - Age (18+) — Protects adults from age-based discrimination. Note: the federal act protects families…