Prohibits default approvals of certain municipal land use applications, and permits municipal agencies to not hold certain required meetings, under emergency circumstances.

This bill (S 497) suspends automatic approvals for certain municipal land use applications and allows municipalities to skip required meetings during declared emergencies. It applies when a public health emergency or state of emergency is in effect (as declared by the Governor), including for 60 days after the emergency ends. The bill directly affects municipal agencies handling land use permits, preventing default approvals they would otherwise receive under New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law during these emergencies. It also permits agencies to forgo regular meetings or hearings while emergencies are active, retroactively covering the period starting March 9, 2020.