As we have previously reported, the legislature is moving on bills that would overhaul the state’s affordable housing laws.
The Assembly has already passed A-4 while the Senate counterpart S-50 has been second referenced to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The Assembly bill passed last month included amendments that significantly addressed many of the concerns the League identified regarding the process, legal protections, and compliance tools. A summary of these amendments is available in the PowerPoint presentation the League offered on February 9. Please note that the while summary of the bill is current, some of the information regarding possible meeting dates is no longer current.
The League supports these amendments, which represent good faith and responsive engagement and leave us optimistic that remaining matters for the successful implementation of this bill and the envisioned path forward will be resolved.
The League will remain fully engaged with legislative sponsors and the Administration to address concerns or further issues and is hopeful that the path forward results in a truly fair and workable statewide housing policy.
The Senate counterpart, S-50, was reported favorably out of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee on January 25 and second-referenced to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (SBA). The bill is subject to further amendments if, and when, it progresses in the Senate. The next meeting of the SBA is not scheduled but a meeting may still be scheduled ahead of the Senate’s next voting session on March 18. Committee agendas and session bill lists have yet to be published and it is not certain that S-50 will be considered at either the Committee hearing or by the full Senate.
As further amendments to the legislation are anticipated, it is important to contact your State Senator and Assembly representatives with any questions, comments, or concerns with this legislation.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.