This bill creates a New Jersey tax credit for first-time homebuyers purchasing eligible homes during specific periods. It provides a credit equal to 5% of the home price (up to $15,000) for homes used as a principal residence for 36 consecutive months. The program has a total funding cap of $100 million, allocated across four terms with separate limits for new homes and previously occupied homes. The credit is applied over three tax years, and applicants must pre-qualify through the state director's office before purchase.
This bill requires the New Jersey State to cover transportation costs for certain homeless students that exceed a district's average per-pupil transportation expense. It directly affects homeless students temporarily living in a district different from their school district of residence (e.g., due to shelter or displacement) and those displaced by terrorism or natural disasters. The key provision mandates the State pay for transportation costs above the district's standard average, rather than the district covering all excess costs. This applies when students attend school in their district of residence while temporarily residing elsewhere, or when students displaced by disasters remain in their original district for up to two years. The policy change clarifies state responsibility for a portion of transportation expenses, reducing financial burden on local school districts.
This bill requires New Jersey residential landlords to accept rent payments made by cash, certified checks, money orders, personal checks, or through rental assistance programs. Landlords cannot force tenants to use electronic funds transfers for rent payments. Violating these requirements results in a $2,000 penalty per offense for landlords, and tenants may also sue for an additional $2,000 plus legal fees. The law applies directly to landlords and tenants in residential leases across New Jersey.
This bill prohibits landlords in New Jersey from charging tenants or applicants additional fees, rent, or security deposits for keeping pets in residential rental units. Landlords may not require pet-related fees in leases or applications and may only charge a single, refundable pet security deposit of up to $500 (included within the existing security deposit limit). Tenants who face violations can seek court termination of the lease or sue for $1,000 per violation plus attorney fees. The law applies to all residential rentals (excluding hotels/motels) and directly affects renters, applicants, and landlords.
This bill establishes clear standards for courts to determine if a rent increase is "unconscionable" (extremely unfair), considering factors like the rent amount, landlord expenses (e.g., maintenance, insurance), local market rates, tenant bargaining power, and property condition. Landlords must prove their increase isn't unconscionable, shifting the burden of proof from tenants. It also requires courts to keep eviction case records private if tenants win, unless landlords secure a possession judgment. The law excludes rent-controlled areas and regulated affordable housing programs from these standards. The main provisions take effect immediately, while the record privacy rule starts six months after enactment.
This bill, S 2889 ("The Desegregate New Jersey Act"), requires New Jersey municipalities to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary living spaces on single-family lots - and mixed-use developments (combining residential and commercial spaces) in areas currently zoned only for single-family homes. It directly affects municipalities (by changing zoning rules) and homeowners (by allowing ADUs without triggering affordable housing quotas). Key provisions ban restrictions like mandatory passageways between units, parking fees for ADUs, or age requirements for occupants, and set a 65-day deadline for permit decisions. Municipalities failing to update zoning by June 2022 must follow these rules until compliance, removing barriers to denser, more diverse housing options.
This bill directs 50% of revenue from fees and taxes on real property transfers exceeding $1 million (applied to sellers of residential, commercial, and certain other high-value properties) to the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Instead of depositing these funds into the General Fund as current law requires, the bill mandates they support affordable housing programs. The change takes effect July 1 following enactment, with the Trust Fund managing these dedicated resources for housing initiatives.
This New Jersey bill (S 1842) requires landlords to provide tenants with specific eviction prevention resources. Landlords must distribute a bilingual (English/Spanish) statement and separate eviction avoidance materials within 30 days of availability, to all current tenants and new tenants at lease signing or renewal, with tenants signing an acknowledgment. The materials must include the New Jersey Eviction Guide, contact information for the Office of Eviction Prevention, Eviction Prevention Program details, and local court resources. Landlords who fail to comply face a $1,000 penalty per violation, enforceable through court proceedings.
S 3097, the "Protection of Homeownership and Limiting Institutional Investor Acquisition Act," would limit institutional investors' acquisition of single-family homes by imposing tax disincentives (such as higher taxes) on such purchases while creating tax incentives and down payment assistance for individual homebuyers seeking starter homes. The bill also reduces regulatory barriers to building new single-family homes and offers tax incentives to developers for constructing these properties. These provisions directly affect institutional real estate investors and individual homebuyers in New Jersey, aiming to increase housing availability for average residents. The policy changes focus on making homeownership more accessible by countering institutional market dominance without specifying expected outcomes.
S 1105 provides an additional $600,000 in state funding to Joseph's House of Camden, a shelter in Camden, New Jersey. This supplemental appropriation directly supports the organization's existing services for people experiencing homelessness, including shelter and related programs. The funding comes from the General Fund under the Social Services Programs budget category (specifically line item 05-8050). The bill does not create new programs but allocates existing state resources to strengthen current homeless services at this specific shelter.
