Please join the REALTOR Party and tell your U.S. Representative to support H.R. 9, the Innovation Act, to stop patent trolls and protect the real estate industry from frivolous lawsuits. REALTORS across the country receive threatening demand letters and lawsuits alleging patent infringement based on the use of common business tools. H.R. 9 will help combat this problem and is scheduled for House floor consideration this week. For more information and to sign the petition, click here and tell Congress to pass this common-sense comprehensive patent litigation reform.

After nearly eight years of litigation and three appeals, real estate professionals were handed a win in a landmark patent infringement case. A federal circuit court of appeals affirmed a lower court ruling granting summary judgment to Move Inc., the National Association of REALTORS, and the National Association of Home Builders that they did not violate patents in the display of properties on websites. Learn more here.

In its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for the second quarter of 2015, RealtyTrac Inc. reported New York State ranked 22 of all 50 states for quarterly total foreclosure filings. New York had 16,785 total foreclosure filings in the second quarter with 5,987 of them in the month of June. Learn more here.

Recent rent control regulations, which were extended by the New York State Legislature in June, are being analyzed by tenant and landlord attorneys. Some are arguing that new language in the law may be ambiguous and could expand protections for tenants. Learn more here.

Following the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council’s approval of regulations requiring carbon monoxide (CO) detectors/alarms in all new and existing commercial buildings and restaurants, the new rule has been proposed for adoption as a permanent measure. Learn more here. 

Stay up-to-date on NYSAR Government Affairs news and events by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Today’s NYSAR Radio show will cover the topic of agency, specifically related to dual and designated agents. Tune in at 10 a.m. this morning on your PC or Mac by using the player on the NYSAR Radio page. You will need to be logged in to listen. If you have not yet created your account with the website, you will need to click on "New User" on the Member Login page and follow the prompts.

Find more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices here.

Get involved and help guide the future of your state association by signing up for 2016 committee service. You may select up to three open committees and three closed committees from the more than 25 NYSAR committees available in 2016. We only ask you to be sure that you’ll be able to attend the 2016 business meetings February 7-11 at the Desmond in Albany and September 25-28 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona before committing to serve. Committee sign up will be available online only until July 31. Sign up here.

The Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) course will be offered July 29-30 at the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS in White Plains, NY. Specialize in the 50-plus real estate market by expanding your knowledge of: current lifestyle and housing trends; how life stages impact real estate choices; and how to develop a network of resources.

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Find more information here.

Earn New York State real estate CE credit from the comfort of your home or office! NYSAR is partnering with The CE Shop to bring members engaging, interactive and entertaining online learning opportunities at affordable prices. You can save 20 percent on your real estate education today with promo code "JUL20" throughout the month of July. Learn more here.

The enrollment period for NYSAR’s dental plan is still open, and there’s never been a better time to re-evaluate your dental and vision coverage. Administered by USI Affinity and now underwritten by MetLife, the NYSAR dental plan offers: options for a range in coverage and cost; third straight year of no rate increases; coverage for individuals and families; freedom to visit any dentist, in or out-of-network; and coverage for orthodontia.

Through this new partnership with MetLife, vision coverage is now being offered as a standalone option in addition to being an optional rider on the dental policy. Visit www.MyREALTORInsurance.com/nysar or call USI Affinity’s dedicated sales representative Ned Cox at 888.834.3713 for more information. 

NYSAR’s insurance plan administrator, USI Affinity, will do the legwork for you to find the best policy to suit your needs and budget. They will shop the market for you, leverage their size and tap into their nationwide provider relationships to get you the best plans and rates possible. Plus, by bundling your auto and homeowners insurance, you can save up to 30 percent a year. Learn more here. 

Each month, two full-sized bottles (one red and one white) of hard-to-find, premium wines from award-winning, boutique wineries across the globe, will be shipped to your doorstep! Bidding closes Monday, July 27. Visit the RPAC page of NYSAR.com to learn more.

Local boards across the state remain busy hosting local RPAC events this spring and early summer. Already, local boards have raised more than $77,000 for RPAC through local events alone. From Greater Rochester’s March Madness to Greater Syracuse’s Cooking for RPAC, Columbia Greene’s wine tasting and BBQ, LIBOR’s Day at the Races, Greater Capital’s Bowling and Cruising for RPAC and Hudson Gateway’s Mr. Legs Pageant, New York Yankees game and casual mixers, REALTORS have come out to support RPAC in their communities. View a calendar of upcoming RPAC events here.