Housing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3627: Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for homeless persons.

This bill creates a statewide real-time database tracking available beds in homeless shelters across New Jersey. Homeless shelters (excluding domestic violence shelters) must update bed availability within one hour of changes, allowing shelter operators and referral services to quickly locate open beds for people needing emergency housing. Participation in the database becomes a condition for shelters to receive state funding from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services. The database aims to improve coordination between shelters to reduce wait times for individuals seeking immediate housing assistance.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates real-time database for homeless shelter beds to improve emergency housing access, directly addressing homelessness (core housing issue). Funding tied to participation ensures implementation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3516: Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan.

This bill (A3516) clarifies and updates requirements for two key elements in New Jersey municipalities' master plans: the land use plan and housing plan. It mandates that land use plans include a climate change hazard vulnerability assessment analyzing threats like flooding and sea-level rise, plus strategies for storm resiliency and environmental sustainability. The housing plan element must now evaluate existing housing stock (including affordable units), project future housing needs over 10 years, and analyze demographic trends. These requirements directly affect all New Jersey municipalities required to maintain master plans, ensuring they address climate risks and housing affordability in their planning processes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates climate hazard assessments and environmental sustainability strategies in municipal land use plans, directly advancing climate resilience and environmental protection.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates evaluation of existing affordable housing stock and future housing needs in municipal planning, advancing proactive housing development strategies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Affordable Housing Land Use Property Development

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 834: Creates home purchase grant program in HMFA for certain veterans who served in federal active duty; appropriates $2,000,000.

This bill creates a $2 million home purchase grant program for New Jersey veterans who served at least 90 days in federal active duty. It directly affects eligible veterans meeting three criteria: NJ residency, intent to buy a NJ primary residence, and proof of qualifying military service. The program provides up to $10,000 in matching grants (dollar-for-dollar) to cover closing costs, equity payments, or other home purchase expenses, with no income requirements. Veterans may also receive priority if eligible for other state homebuyer programs. The program is administered by the agency in coordination with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates $2M home purchase grants for veterans to cover closing costs/equity, directly funding affordable housing access without income requirements.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates $2M home grant program for NJ veterans with active duty service, providing up to $10k for home purchase expenses with no income requirements, directly funding veteran benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Veteran Housing

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1725: Concerns housing discrimination based on source of lawful income.

This bill adds "source of lawful income" to New Jersey's list of protected categories in housing, prohibiting discrimination by landlords or housing providers. It directly affects renters and homeowners who use lawful income sources (such as government benefits, disability payments, or child support) for housing payments. The law expands existing protections under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to explicitly cover this factor, making it illegal to refuse housing, impose different terms, or harass someone based on how they pay rent or a mortgage. The amendment clarifies that victims can seek remedies like damages for discrimination-related harms, including economic loss or emotional distress. (Note: The bill was withdrawn as redundant after similar protections were enacted as P.L.2025, c.251.)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds 'source of lawful income' to NJ's housing anti-discrimination protections, preventing landlords from refusing housing based on government benefits, disability payments, or child support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mortgages Renters

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

A 4289: Provides defendant option to disclose disability status in foreclosure proceedings.

This bill allows homeowners facing foreclosure on their primary residence to voluntarily disclose a disability and submit a physician's statement confirming the disability and its impact. It requires the court to provide this option when homeowners file their answer to a foreclosure complaint and the required case information statement. The policy change specifically applies to owner-occupied residential mortgage cases, giving disabled homeowners a formal way to request court consideration of their condition during foreclosure proceedings. This is a procedural adjustment to the foreclosure process, not a change to mortgage terms or protections.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allows disabled homeowners facing foreclosure to disclose disability, providing court consideration to protect primary residence property rights, aligning with housing topic's property rights focus.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Mortgages

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 4492: "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act"; provides certain protections to residential tenants and codifies certain warranty of habitability protections.

The "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act" (A4492) prohibits landlords in New Jersey from threatening to disclose or disclosing a tenant’s immigration or citizenship status to force them out of housing, or from using that status as a basis for eviction. It bans evictions solely or partially tied to immigration status and allows tenants to sue for up to $2,000 per violation, plus damages and legal fees. The bill also blocks courts from inquiring into a tenant’s immigration status during housing rights cases, except in limited circumstances like federal program compliance. It directly affects residential tenants (particularly immigrant communities) and landlords, while clarifying that landlords may still request standard financial or identity verification for legitimate rental purposes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits immigration-based evictions and strengthens tenant rights, preventing discrimination in housing as per bill's explicit protections.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits landlords from using immigration status for eviction, protects tenants' rights, and allows legal action for violations, directly advancing immigrant protections in housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1118: Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having service-connected permanent disability; extends eligibility to veterans suffering from mental illness; establishes eligibility of property owned by disabled veteran with surviving partner for exemption.

This bill expands New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans who have a permanent service-connected disability, including mental illness (previously excluded), and their surviving partners. The key change adds mental illness as a qualifying condition for a proportional property tax exemption based on the veteran's disability percentage (up to 100%). It also extends eligibility to surviving partners if the veteran developed a service-connected disability after death, allowing them to claim the exemption as if the veteran were still living. The exemption applies to the veteran's or surviving partner's primary residence, in addition to other existing property tax exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax exemption for disabled veterans, reducing their tax burden as fiscal relief for lower-income veterans with service-connected disabilities.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds mental illness as qualifying condition for veteran property tax exemption, directly supporting mental health access under healthcare policy by expanding eligibility for service-connected disabilities.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands property tax exemption for veterans with disabilities, directly supporting property rights as defined in the housing topic by reducing tax burden on homeowners.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands property tax exemption for veterans by adding mental illness as qualifying condition and extending eligibility to surviving partners, directly advancing benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Mental Health Property Taxes Veteran Benefits Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1228: Authorizes municipalities that petition for or receive substantive certification pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act" to make certain affordable housing units available on a preferential basis to certain eligible persons.

This bill allows New Jersey municipalities with approved affordable housing plans (under the Fair Housing Act) to prioritize certain affordable housing units for specific groups. It enables corporate employers to give priority to their low/moderate-income employees for housing units they sponsor, farm owners to prioritize migrant workers who meet income requirements, and housing owners to prioritize family members for accessory units. The bill also exempts these prioritized units from requiring "affirmative regional marketing," allowing them to count toward the municipality's housing obligation under state law. This directly affects eligible residents seeking affordable housing through employer or family-sponsored units in certified municipalities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly prioritizes affordable housing units for low/moderate-income groups (employees, migrant workers, family members), directly increasing accessible housing options per Fair Housing Act compliance.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly prioritizes housing for migrant workers, directly supporting immigrant integration through housing services as part of affordable housing policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 898: Requires DCA to collect information about State residents seeking affordable housing in State and provide that information to COAH or successor.

This bill (A 898) requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to collect data from residents seeking affordable housing. DCA must gather specific details - current residence, employment location (if applicable), and desired municipality for housing - via online forms or agency submissions. Annually, DCA will compile this data into a report categorized by municipality and send it to the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to help determine where affordable housing demand exists. The goal is to inform COAH’s allocation of housing development obligations based on actual resident demand.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCollects demand data to inform COAH's affordable housing allocation, directly supporting targeted development and meeting housing needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 350: Extends protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with disabilities.

This bill extends New Jersey's protected tenancy law to provide senior citizens (62+ years) and disabled tenants with lifelong protection from eviction when landlords convert rental buildings to condos or cooperatives. It directly affects eligible tenants who meet income requirements and have lived in the property for at least one year, preventing forced moves due to ownership changes. The key change modifies the existing law to guarantee protected tenancy "for the full lifetime" of qualifying tenants, rather than a maximum 40-year period. This ensures these tenants can remain in their homes without rent hikes or lease changes solely because of a conversion, addressing concerns about displacement during economic hardship.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends lifelong eviction protection for seniors/disabled tenants during building conversions - directly strengthens tenant protections per housing topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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