Ahead of the state budget deadline, lawmakers have been ramping up support for a bill that would legalize basement and cellar apartments.

It’s been an issue that both Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have been vocal supporters of — as they work to bring more affordable housing to New York.

In last year’s budget, $85 million was invested to make these basement units safer.

The bill takes it one step further by authorizing the city to bring the currently illegal units into safety and legal compliance.

State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, whose district in Manhattan includes the neighborhoods of Lower East Side, East Village and Murray Hill, joined NY1 political reporter Bobby Cuza on “Inside City Hall” Wednesday to talk more about the necessity of legalizing basement apartments.

“What we’re trying to do is create a path forward to legalizing units that are safe and habitable and using state dollars, state capital dollars to help those homeowners struggling to do this,” Epstein said.