This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the income limit for New Jersey seniors and disabled homeowners to qualify for a $250 annual property tax deduction. Currently capped at $10,000 annually (unchanged since 1983), the limit would rise to $20,000 starting in 2015, with future adjustments tied to annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes. The change would expand eligibility to more low-to-moderate-income residents who own homes, while maintaining the fixed $250 deduction amount. The amendment requires voter approval and would be implemented through subsequent legislation defining CPI adjustments.
New Jersey bill A3497 prohibits landlords from using software or services that facilitate secret price coordination to restrict competition in rental housing. The bill makes it illegal for landlords to subscribe to "coordinators" (like property management software that analyzes real-time pricing data), for coordinators to enable price-fixing agreements, or for multiple landlords to engage in "consciously parallel pricing coordination." It directly affects rental property owners using such tools, excluding single landlords managing multiple properties under their control or legitimate multiple listing services. The law enforces these rules under New Jersey's Antitrust Act, aiming to curb software-driven rent hikes that contributed to a 35% median rent increase for three-bedroom units since 2021.
ACR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the first $60,000 of the assessed value of a senior citizen's primary residence from property taxes. This would directly affect New Jersey residents aged 65 or older who own their primary home and pay property taxes. The exemption would reduce the taxable portion of their home's assessed value, lowering their annual property tax bill. The amendment requires voter approval in a statewide election to become part of the New Jersey Constitution.
This bill provides a tax credit to New Jersey veterans who are totally and permanently disabled due to service-connected injuries or illnesses (such as paralysis, blindness, or amputations). The credit equals the rent a veteran pays for their primary residence, if that rent is treated as property taxes under state law. The credit is applied against the veteran's state income tax, with any excess refunded. It also extends this credit to surviving spouses of eligible veterans under specific conditions.
This bill restricts eligibility for new affordable housing units and the state's rental assistance program to households where at least one member has either lived in New Jersey for two consecutive years or worked in the state 35+ hours per week for two consecutive years. It applies to new contractual guarantees or deed restrictions for low/moderate-income housing and updates the state rental assistance program to require these same residency or work history criteria. The key mechanism requires housing providers and the state program to verify these specific residency or employment requirements at the time of application. This affects new affordable housing developments and applicants for state rental aid, but does not change existing housing or programs.
This bill requires New Jersey counties and municipalities to dedicate at least 50% of cash payments exceeding $100,000 from community benefits agreements toward affordable housing. It directly affects local governments entering such agreements with developers for commercial or residential projects, mandating that half the payment fund low- or moderate-income housing as defined by existing law. Community benefits agreements - binding deals where developers pay for community benefits in exchange for project approvals - must now allocate these funds specifically to housing creation or rehabilitation. The bill applies to all such agreements entered after its effective date, redirecting developer payments toward addressing local housing needs. It does not create new housing programs but ensures a portion of existing developer payments supports affordable housing.
This bill caps residential rental application fees at $50 for most properties, prohibiting landlords or agents from charging more. Landlords violating this limit face a $1,500 penalty per offense, with $250 of each penalty returned to the tenant. The $50 cap automatically adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the New York-Northern New Jersey area if inflation exceeds zero, and the fee limit does not apply to single-family or two-family homes. The bill also requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to create an online system for tenants to report violations.
This bill requires property owners of new apartment buildings to clearly disclose rent control exemption status to tenants and maintain public records. It limits rent control exemptions to 30 years after construction completion (or the mortgage amortization period, whichever is shorter), and mandates owners to provide written statements with expiration dates before leasing. Owners must submit documentation - including mortgage records and certificate of occupancy - to municipalities and the state's public registry, which will be searchable online. Tenants in exempt properties will receive clear lease notices about the exemption's end date, and owners face penalties for failing to comply. The law applies specifically to newly built multiple-dwelling properties claiming exemption under existing rent control ordinances.
This bill amends New Jersey's Farmland Assessment Act to clarify that farmland owners who stop farming activities (e.g., due to retirement or disability) will not face "roll-back taxes" unless they actively convert the land to non-farming use (like building homes). Roll-back taxes are additional fees calculated as the difference between taxes paid under agricultural assessment and standard property taxes for the current year and the two prior years. The change specifically responds to a 1981 court ruling that deemed it unfair to tax owners who ceased farming without changing land use. It directly affects New Jersey farmland owners who may discontinue agricultural activity but do not develop the property.
This New Jersey bill (A-3995) establishes standards to determine if rent increases for residential properties are "unconscionable" (extremely unfair). It directly affects landlords and tenants by requiring courts to consider factors like landlord expenses, comparable rents in the area, tenant bargaining power, and property condition when reviewing hikes. Key provisions include shifting the burden of proof to landlords to justify increases, mandating transparency (e.g., proper registration), and giving tenants 10 days to request written justification for proposed increases. If a court finds an increase unconscionable, tenants can recover treble damages, a $2,000 penalty, and attorney fees. The bill excludes rent-controlled properties and those under affordable housing programs.
