Permits municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for first responders.

This bill permits New Jersey municipalities to establish a preference for first responders in affordable housing projects. It allows municipalities to agree with developers to reserve up to 50% of affordable units for low- and moderate-income first responders who have served at least two years, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. First responders must apply within the first 90 days of a project’s 120-day marketing period to receive priority, with remaining units opening to the general public after that window. The preference does not require municipalities to implement it but gives them the option to do so through agreements with developers. This change specifically affects first responders meeting the service and income criteria, without altering existing housing requirements.