A 4480 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Concerns accessibility in certain multistory buildings; provides for penalties.

This bill requires property owners of hotels and multi-unit buildings with two or more floors (excluding small owner-occupied homes) to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities during elevator outages. Specifically, owners must restore elevator service within two hours or provide alternative access (like evacuation chairs, ramps, or stairlifts) if elevators are out longer. Owners must also immediately notify residents of outages and estimated repair times. Violations carry daily penalties up to $2,500 for ongoing issues, with a grant program available to help cover costs for accessibility equipment.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The First Reprint of A4480, as reported by the Assembly Housing Committee on May 14, 2026, makes two substantive amendments: it narrows the penalty exemption for property owners to require that an elevator servicer contract specifically state a repair will be completed within two hours of an outage report (rather than any active contract), and it expands the financial assistance program from a grant-only option to include low-interest loans or both. The remaining changes are formatting and line-wrapping adjustments, plus removal of the explanatory statement section.

ENFORCEMENT

The penalty exemption in subsection e.(3) was narrowed. Previously, a property owner could avoid penalties by demonstrating any active contract with an elevator servicer. Now the contract must specifically state that an elevator repair will be completed within two hours of the report of an elevator outage.

FISCAL

Subsection 2 was expanded from requiring only a grant program to allowing the Director to establish a grant program, a low-interest loan program, or both, giving property owners more options for financing accessibility equipment purchases.

TECHNICAL

The explanatory STATEMENT section at the end of the bill was removed, which is standard when a bill is reprinted after committee action.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 14, 2026

Committee

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee

lower

3 primary · 3 co-sponsors