A 3481 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action.

This bill adds a new fee for landlords filing eviction actions related to unpaid rent in New Jersey. It targets renters facing imminent homelessness due to inability to pay rent, requiring them to be New Jersey residents with income under 80% of area median income and not hiding assets. The bill also changes how mortgage-related homelessness assistance is provided, requiring it as a secured loan (not direct cash) for owner-occupied homes. Eligibility includes prioritizing vulnerable groups like seniors, disabled individuals, domestic violence victims, and families with children facing separation.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill moved from Introduced status to First Reprint after being reported by the Assembly Housing Committee on June 8, 2026 with amendments. The key substantive change adds explicit language reinforcing that the $75 eviction filing fee cannot be charged to tenants under any circumstance and cannot be treated as a cost or 'additional rent' under multiple specific statutes, closing potential loopholes for passing the fee through other legal mechanisms. The standard Statement section was removed as part of the reprint process.

REQUIREMENT

New language explicitly states that fees collected under this section shall not be charged to or payable by a tenant or former tenant under any circumstance, and shall not be considered a cost or 'additional rent' subject to payment under C.2A:42-10.16a, C.2A:18-61.66, N.J.S.2A:18-55, N.J.S.2A:42-9, or any other law, rule, or regulation. This strengthens tenant protection by closing gaps where the fee might be passed through via other statutory cost-recovery provisions.

TECHNICAL

The entire Statement section (a summary of the bill's provisions typically included in introduced versions) was removed, which is standard when a bill advances to reprint after committee report.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the General Assembly by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (55-19-4)

lower

Jun 8, 2026

Committee

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee

lower

3 primary · 5 co-sponsors