Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 391: Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action.

This bill revises New Jersey's Homelessness Prevention Program to add a new requirement: landlords must pay a fee when filing eviction cases related to unpaid rent. It sets strict eligibility rules for assistance, requiring applicants to be New Jersey residents facing imminent homelessness due to eviction, foreclosure, or inability to pay rent/mortgage, with income capped at 80% of area median income. The program prioritizes vulnerable groups like seniors (62+), people with disabilities, domestic violence survivors, and families with children facing separation. Assistance for mortgage issues must be for owner-occupied homes owned for at least one year, and applicants must exhaust other financial resources before qualifying. The bill does not change existing program funding but establishes new administrative criteria for aid distribution.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes Homelessness Prevention Program with strict eligibility for eviction-related assistance, prioritizing vulnerable groups to prevent homelessness. Landlord fee for eviction filings protects tenants and addresses housing instability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Homeownership Tenant Rights

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2835: Establishes consumer-facing portal for elevator maintenance for owners of certain buildings to provide information on elevator servicer; requires certain signage; requires DCA to establish senior housing elevator maintenance loan program.

This bill requires building owners to register elevator devices with New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and display specific signage. It mandates the DCA to create a public portal showing elevator inspection status, safety reports, and maintenance history for consumers. Additionally, the DCA must establish a loan program to help senior housing owners cover elevator maintenance costs. The law directly affects building owners, elevator maintenance firms, and residents in buildings with registered elevators.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes DCA loan program for senior housing elevator maintenance, directly funding housing upkeep in senior residences to ensure safety and accessibility.85% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1923: Suspends sales and use tax and societal benefits charge on electric and gas public utility bills during four-month period.

This bill suspends two specific charges on residential electric and gas utility bills in New Jersey for four months (June 1-September 30, 2025). It eliminates the state sales and use tax (under the Sales and Use Tax Act) and the societal benefits charge (under P.L.1999, c.23) that typically appear on customer bills. The suspension directly affects residential utility customers by reducing their monthly bills during a period when electricity rates are projected to increase 17.2-20.2%. The goal is to provide immediate relief from anticipated higher costs, as the state Board of Public Utilities announced upcoming rate hikes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSuspends state sales tax and societal benefits charge on residential utility bills, providing direct tax relief during projected rate increases for middle-income households.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill suspends taxes on residential utility bills, reducing costs for consumers during projected rate hikes. Directly protects utility consumers, an indicator of support for energy affordability policy.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill reduces residential utility costs (electric/gas), directly lowering housing expenses and supporting affordability for homeowners and renters.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 961: Reforms procedures concerning provision of affordable housing; repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act."

This bill abolishes New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing and transfers its authority, duties, and funding to the Department of Community Affairs. It also repeals the "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act," removing a specific fee structure. The changes directly affect municipalities, housing developers, and local planning processes by centralizing affordable housing oversight under the Department of Community Affairs and eliminating the repealed fee. The bill focuses on procedural reforms to streamline housing development regulations without specifying new housing targets or financial incentives.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill centralizes affordable housing oversight under Department of Community Affairs and repeals fee act to streamline housing development processes, directly advancing affordable housing provision.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3101: Prohibits certain public utilities from charging residents of multi-unit dwellings meter-reading fees in certain circumstances.

This bill (S 3101) prohibits electric and gas public utilities in New Jersey from charging residential customers in apartment buildings or multi-unit dwellings more for manual meter readings than the actual cost of their electricity or gas usage for that billing cycle. It specifically targets "meter-reading fees" charged to customers who opt out of smart meter installation, capping these fees at the cost of the customer's usage. The law directly affects renters in multi-unit properties who choose not to have smart meters installed. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents utilities from charging excessive meter-reading fees to renters in multi-unit housing, directly reducing costs for tenants and supporting affordability in rental housing.92% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1784: Prohibits sewerage authority from imposing connection fee in certain circumstances.

This bill prohibits New Jersey sewerage authorities from charging new connection or tapping fees to property owners redeveloping land that was connected to the sewer system for 20+ years, regardless of whether the property was actively used after initial connection. Exceptions apply if the redevelopment involves adding structures, changing the property's use, or modifying existing sewer connections. The bill also requires authorities to reimburse property owners who paid such fees under protest before the law took effect. It directly affects property owners and developers redeveloping older connected properties in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves connection fees for redevelopment, lowering costs for housing projects and encouraging development per bill's focus on redeveloping long-connected properties.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1948: Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities.

This bill prohibits municipalities receiving urban aid funding from being exempted from affordable housing requirements under New Jersey law. It directly affects urban municipalities that qualify for state urban aid by requiring them to meet their fair share obligation for low and moderate income housing without exemptions. The key mechanism amends existing law to eliminate the ability of these municipalities to transfer housing obligations to other areas or use certain exemptions, instead mandating they address housing needs within their own borders. This change aligns with New Jersey's Mount Laurel doctrine, which requires all municipalities to provide a realistic opportunity for affordable housing through their land use regulations.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves exemptions for urban municipalities, enforcing affordable housing requirements for low/moderate income housing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Land Use

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 1756: Establishes New Jersey First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program; provides gross income tax benefits for certain contributions to and earnings on assets maintained in accounts established under program.

This bill creates a New Jersey program that allows certified first-time home buyers to open special savings accounts at participating banks or credit unions. Account holders can contribute up to $15,000 per year (with a lifetime limit of $75,000) and earn tax-free growth on those funds, with the account balance capped at $150,000 annually. Funds can only be withdrawn to cover down payments and closing costs for a primary residence purchase, and withdrawals for other purposes require tax reporting. The program is administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to encourage home ownership through tax-advantaged savings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax-free growth on contributions for first-time homebuyers, offering tax relief aligned with support indicators for middle-income tax benefits.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates tax-advantaged savings for first-time homebuyers, directly reducing down payment barriers and increasing housing affordability through state-funded incentives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Homeownership Housing Finance Mortgages

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 452: Establishes Statewide limitation on rent increases.

S 452 would limit annual rent increases to 5% plus the local cost-of-living change (or 10% maximum) for most rental units in New Jersey. It affects landlords and tenants in standard residential leases, but excludes affordable housing units, new constructions (within 15 years), single-family homes owned by individuals (not corporations), and duplexes where the landlord resides. The cap applies only to future rent increases, not current rates, and tenants could challenge violations through existing tenant protection laws. The bill does not alter current rent levels or apply to exempt properties like dormitories or government-subsidized housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill limits rent increases to 5% + COLA (max 10%) for standard leases, directly protecting tenants from excessive hikes, excluding already protected units like affordable housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 675: Revises New Jersey Aspire Program to clarify that certain incentive awards may not be prorated.

This bill clarifies that certain residential redevelopment projects under New Jersey's Aspire Program will not have their tax credit incentives prorated (reduced proportionally) during any year of the project's eligibility period. It specifically applies to projects approved under the November 2021 rules or submitted within 121 days after July 6, 2023, which previously faced proration requirements. The key change removes the proration requirement for these qualifying projects, ensuring developers receive the full tax credit amount annually. This directly affects developers of residential projects providing housing for low- and moderate-income households. The bill retroactively applies to projects already approved under the affected rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes proration of tax credits for qualifying projects, preserving full incentive amounts under Aspire Program, directly supporting tax credit structure and fiscal incentives.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves proration of tax credits for residential redevelopment projects, ensuring full incentives to advance housing development under Aspire Program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Community Development

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