Housing (Affordable Housing) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4247: Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to investigate allegations of excessive or discriminatory rent setting on affordable housing.

This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to investigate complaints alleging that affordable housing rents are set excessively or discriminatorily. It defines excessive rent as charges that exceed legal limits, increase by more than 10 percent without justification, or conflict with approved rent schedules, and allows tenants or housing officials to report such issues. Upon receiving a complaint, the Division must investigate within 30 days and issue a determination within 90 days, while owners found guilty face escalating civil penalties and must provide restitution to affected tenants. The legislation also prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who file complaints and mandates the Division to submit an annual report on enforcement actions to state leaders.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4938: Authorizes municipality to meet affordable housing municipal obligations by developing property owned by certain public entities.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to fulfill their affordable housing requirements by partnering with public entities to build homes on land they already own. Specifically, it enables local governments to enter agreements with school districts, public universities, transportation authorities, and housing agencies to develop affordable housing on their properties. The legislation clarifies that these partnerships are intended to help towns meet specific state-mandated housing goals without restricting other existing laws regarding property transactions. By utilizing existing public land, the measure aims to provide a direct mechanism for increasing affordable housing stock within communities.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5143: Restricts purchase of single-family homes by certain institutional investors.

This bill restricts certain institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in New Jersey that are listed for sale on the market. It defines "institutional investors" as large corporations, partnerships, or trusts, while explicitly exempting small investors who own 20 or fewer homes, family trusts, and nonprofits focused on affordable housing. The law aims to prevent large investment firms from buying up residential properties, thereby keeping homes available for individual buyers and local families.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

passed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 4066: Requires State to issue biennial report of unutilized State-owned property and potential for use as affordable housing.

This bill requires the New Jersey State Department of the Treasury to create a list of unused state-owned land and buildings that are not currently generating revenue or serving a public purpose. State agencies must submit these lists every two years, after which officials will analyze each site to determine if it can be developed into low- or moderate-income housing. The final report detailing these findings will be sent to the Governor and the Legislature and made available online every two years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 4816: Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making.

This bill amends New Jersey's Administrative Procedure Act to require state agencies to prepare and publish detailed statements analyzing the socio-economic impacts of proposed rules. Specifically, agencies must include assessments of job creation or loss, effects on agriculture, housing affordability, smart growth development, and racial and ethnic community criminal justice outcomes. The legislation also mandates that these documents be made available online and distributed to the public alongside the standard notice of proposed rule-making. By formalizing these requirements, the bill aims to ensure that citizens and stakeholders receive clearer information about how new regulations might affect their communities before rules are finalized.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 4684: Establishes "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission" to assist municipalities in addressing affordable housing obligations.

This bill creates a temporary study commission to help New Jersey municipalities better understand and address their affordable housing obligations. The commission would consist of six members appointed by various state officials and the League of Municipalities, and it would operate independently within the Department of Community Affairs. Its main tasks include reviewing the history of affordable housing in the state, analyzing past guidance given to local governments, estimating future housing needs based on population growth, and holding public hearings to gather input. Within one year of starting, the commission must publish a report with recommendations for both municipalities and state agencies on how to meet housing obligations, after which the commission will automatically dissolve.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 19, 2026

A 4766: Removes exemption from fair share housing obligation for urban aid municipalities in future rounds of affordable housing obligations.

This bill removes the exemption from fair share housing obligations that currently protects certain urban aid municipalities in New Jersey from future affordable housing requirements. It directly affects municipalities that receive state aid and would previously have been exempt from calculating their share of regional housing needs. The law requires these municipalities to now calculate their fair share obligations based on specific factors including population density, income capacity, and available developable land. Municipalities meeting certain criteria such as high population density or significant housing deficits will be required to contribute to affordable housing obligations in upcoming rounds. The bill amends existing state statutes to ensure these municipalities participate in the same housing obligation calculations as other municipalities in the state.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Zoning

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 3942: Restricts purchase of single-family homes by certain institutional investors.

This bill would prohibit certain institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in New Jersey that are listed on the market and available for purchase. The law defines institutional investors as corporations, partnerships, trusts, and their affiliates, while exempting nonprofit housing developers, family trusts, and family limited liability companies. It also creates a special category for "small institutional investors" that own 20 or fewer single-family homes, which may be treated differently under the restrictions. The measure aims to limit large investment firms from buying residential properties while allowing family-owned entities and affordable housing nonprofits to continue acquiring homes.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 19, 2026

A 4767: Requires affordable housing obligations of municipalities to be based on Statewide need.

This bill requires that affordable housing obligations for municipalities in New Jersey be calculated based on statewide housing needs rather than local needs. It amends existing state laws to redefine key terms like "housing region" to mean the entire state and establishes new definitions for income levels and housing types. The legislation also updates how prospective housing needs are projected, tying future obligations to statewide methodology instead of regional assessments. These changes directly affect local governments, developers, and housing agencies involved in affordable housing planning and construction.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 19, 2026

ACR 139: Proposes constitutional amendment to require Statewide calculation of affordable housing obligation.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change how New Jersey calculates affordable housing obligations for municipalities. Currently, towns must meet housing needs based on regional calculations, but this amendment would require the Legislature to determine a single statewide number representing the total affordable housing needed across the entire state. The change would shift the basis for municipal housing requirements from regional assessments to a statewide calculation, ensuring that the constitutional obligation is met through one unified figure rather than separate regional targets.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

All housing bills