Housing in New Jersey | MyRepTracker

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1111: Establishes "Commission on Statewide Affordable Housing Obligations" to determine Statewide need for low and moderate income housing.

This bill establishes a new "Commission on Statewide Affordable Housing Obligations" to assess the state's current and future needs for low- and moderate-income housing. The commission, composed of four legislative appointees (one each from Senate leadership and minority), will evaluate factors like income levels, housing costs, supply, and population to develop statewide calculation methods. It must report its findings to the Governor and Legislature within six months of forming and every five years thereafter. The commission replaces an older municipal assessment process (P.L.1985, c.222) and will determine statewide housing needs, though it does not mandate specific housing construction.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1943: Directs DCA to establish online database of affordable housing settlement agreements and other declaratory judgment actions.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create a public online database tracking all affordable housing court settlements since 2015. It directly affects municipalities that have entered into these settlements to meet their regional affordable housing obligations under the Fair Housing Act. The database will include specific details like the number of affordable units (broken into categories like rehabilitation and gap need), rental vs. ownership ratios, affordable vs. market-rate unit counts, and payments made to groups like the Fair Share Housing Center. All data will be accessible to the public on the DCA website, enhancing transparency around how municipalities fulfill their housing obligations.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2670: Prohibits electric, gas, or water public utility service discontinuances to residential customers during certain epidemics.

This bill prohibits electric, gas, and water utilities from disconnecting service to residential customers (including renters in multi-unit buildings) for nonpayment during a declared epidemic. It requires utilities to resume service as soon as possible to customers disconnected before the epidemic, unless a "public utility emergency" (like a safety threat) occurs. The ban ends when the Governor officially declares the public health emergency and state of emergency no longer exist. Customers remain liable for unpaid bills once the epidemic ends, but cannot face disconnection during the emergency period.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1045: Requires State to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to obligations for development of low- and moderate-income housing units.

This bill requires New Jersey to annually pay municipalities $75,000 for each low- or moderate-income housing unit they commit to providing, as certified through their housing plans under the Fair Housing Act (P.L.1985, c.222). It directly affects municipalities that comply with state affordable housing obligations, addressing their unfunded infrastructure costs (like roads, schools, and water systems) tied to housing development. Payments are deposited into a dedicated Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund and distributed equally over 10 years per housing obligation round, starting in 2026. Funds can cover infrastructure planning, compliance costs, or operational/capital expenses for public facilities affected by affordable housing projects.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2718: Requires State agencies that administer utility bill payment assistance or energy efficiency programs to review, and potentially increase, income thresholds for residential customers to participate in programs.

S 2718 requires New Jersey state agencies (including the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Board of Public Utilities) to review and potentially raise income thresholds for utility bill assistance and energy efficiency programs within one year of a related BPU decision. The bill directs agencies to consider factors like program alignment, cost impacts, and public input when determining if higher income limits would better serve low- and moderate-income households. If thresholds increase for low-income energy efficiency programs, the BPU must adjust utility programs to ensure households qualify for only one program and expand access to moderate-income options. This directly affects residential customers seeking help with energy costs by potentially making more households eligible for assistance.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1315: Permits municipality to obtain affordable housing credit for each resident of alternative living arrangement.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to count residents in certain affordable housing settings toward their state-mandated affordable housing requirement. Specifically, a municipality earns one credit for each low- or moderate-income resident living in an "alternative living arrangement," defined as shared housing (like homeless transitional facilities, boarding homes, group homes, or residential health care) where residents share kitchens, plumbing, and common areas. The bill requires affordability controls on these arrangements to remain in place for at least 10 years. This provides municipalities with a new pathway to meet their housing obligations while expanding the types of qualifying housing units.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 58: Exempts certain transactions of residential property involving senior, blind, and disabled citizens from general purpose fee under realty transfer fee and one percent assessment on real property selling for more than $1,000,000.

This bill exempts qualifying senior citizens, blind individuals, and disabled persons from paying the general purpose fee and the state portion of the basic real estate transfer fee when selling their own one- or two-family home. It applies only if the seller (not the buyer) meets the qualifying status, owns and occupies the property, and the home is not jointly owned with someone who doesn't qualify. The exemption does not apply to properties selling for over $1 million (which are subject to a separate 1% fee), and it covers specific transfer fees under New Jersey's realty transfer tax system. This change directly affects low- to moderate-income senior, blind, or disabled homeowners selling their primary residence.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1037: Makes supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 to Division of Civil Rights.

This bill (S 1037) adds $1,000,000 in supplemental funding to the Division of Civil Rights within New Jersey’s Department of Law and Public Safety for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The funding directly supports the Division’s work enforcing state anti-discrimination laws - including protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations - under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. The provision is a budgetary measure, not a policy change, and will help the agency address civil rights complaints and conduct investigations. This appropriation applies to the Division’s existing enforcement responsibilities, with no new legal requirements or eligibility changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3031: Establishes certain notice and compensation requirements for residential tenant displaced for purpose of renovation.

S 3031 requires landlords in New Jersey to compensate residential tenants $12 times their monthly rent plus the cost of a moving truck/van if tenants are displaced for renovation or construction work. It applies when landlords: (1) give written notice for renovation, (2) file court action claiming renovation purposes, or (3) displace tenants for personal occupancy while promising renovation (or completing it within 6 months). Landlords must pay this compensation 5 days before move-out (for notice/eviction cases) or within 5 days of displacement (for occupancy cases), with 18% interest accruing if delayed. Unpaid amounts become a priority lien on the property after 30 days, recorded with the county clerk.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 222: Enhances penalties upon corporate violators of housing codes.

This bill increases penalties for corporations violating housing codes in New Jersey. It raises fines for corporations to up to three times the standard maximum (capped at $10,000), allows courts to request the Attorney General to dissolve corporations or revoke charters for repeated violations, and requires a 30-day cure period for owners facing fines over $1,250. The bill also strengthens repeat offender penalties by mandating additional fines for violations within one year of a previous fine. It directly affects corporations operating in housing, not individual residents.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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