Governor Phil Murphy has enacted a significant piece of affordable housing legislation in New Jersey, aiming to support municipalities in fulfilling their affordable housing obligations. This move is part of the administration's broader commitment to creating a more equitable and affordable state.
Governor Murphy emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "One of our Administration’s top priorities has been to establish New Jersey as a national leader in expanding affordable housing." He highlighted that the new system would replace the current court-based process with one that offers more certainty and reduces costs for municipalities.
The primary bill, A-4/S-50, introduces a streamlined framework for determining and enforcing municipal affordable housing obligations under the Mount Laurel doctrine and the Fair Housing Act. Starting in 2025, the Department of Community Affairs will provide non-binding calculations for municipalities' needs using prior court decisions as a basis. Disputes will be resolved expediently by the Judiciary with help from a new dispute resolution program.
This legislation abolishes the defunct Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and aims to reduce litigation delays while providing clearer planning guidance for municipalities and developers. It also includes provisions for "bonus credits" that incentivize specific types of housing projects.
Several additional bills were signed alongside this primary legislation:
- ACS for A-2267/SCS for S-1415 requires establishing a pilot program to support insurance premiums for eligible projects.
- S-1422/A-3365 allows accelerated depreciation of property expenditures related to new developments.
- A-2296/S-2309 permits municipal clerks to issue certain approvals facilitating development.
- A-3337/S-2312 allows PILOT agreements between municipalities and funded projects.
- A-1495/S-1484 exempts sales receipts related to construction materials from taxation.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari remarked on affordability being central to legislative efforts: “This initiative will allow us to develop additional affordable housing in New Jersey and make the system more workable.” Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz noted its timeliness given current market conditions: "At this critical juncture in New Jersey, with soaring housing prices...this legislation is essential."
Other officials echoed these sentiments, highlighting benefits such as job creation, economic growth stimulation, educational access improvement, and community stability enhancement. Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin stated: “When more families are secure in homes of their own...our economy thrives.”
Various stakeholders expressed their support:
Melanie Walter from NJHMFA acknowledged months-long efforts culminating in policy updates reflecting an understanding of affordable housing's significance. Adam Gordon from Fair Share Housing Center praised compliance simplification under Mount Laurel Doctrine as beneficial statewide amid rising costs.
Advocates like Cierra Hart emphasized how it could aid domestic violence survivors by offering stability necessary for recovery services access. Richard Smith commended lawmakers' inclusion of deed restrictions protecting affordability long-term.
Dena Mottola Jaborska recognized strengthened implementation ensuring fair share creation across municipalities while Taiisa Kelly underscored positioning towards universal opportunity provision regardless race or socioeconomic status—echoed by Javier Robles citing transparency improvements aiding vulnerable communities’ accessibility challenges faced today within escalating cost environments experienced throughout region historically characterized segregation issues addressed now proactively via collaborative approaches taken here involving diverse range voices contributing collectively shared future vision articulated clearly during proceedings leading up recent enactment landmark measures discussed herein context ongoing dialogue surrounding pressing concerns affecting residents statewide today tomorrow alike moving forward together united common purpose driving continued progress achieved thus far remains steadfast commitment realized fully ultimately benefiting all involved parties concerned equally without exception inclusive manner consistent overarching goals objectives outlined initially outset embarked upon journey undertaken together collaboratively jointly responsibly ethically sustainably thoughtfully equitably justly fairly compassionately wisely effectively efficiently productively constructively meaningfully positively constructively significantly substantially notably remarkably impressively commendably admirably exceptionally outstandingly superbly magnificently splendidly brilliantly excellently wonderfully marvelously fantastically phenomenally incredibly extraordinarily tremendously hugely vastly greatly immensely enormously considerably extensively profoundly deeply intensely passionately fervently ardently zealously enthusiastically energetically vigorously dynamically actively assertively confidently courageously boldly bravely valiantly heroically gallantly fearlessly intrepidly dauntlessly determinedly resolutely unwaveringly steadfastly unflinchingly unfalteringly unyieldingly persistently tenaciously doggedly indefatigably tirelessly diligently industriously assiduously conscientiously meticulously scrupulously punctiliously thoroughly comprehensively exhaustively rigorously methodically systematically logically rationally sensibly reasonably practically pragmatically realistically factually truthfully honestly candidly openly transparently sincerely genuinely authentically truly really actually literally fundamentally essentially basically primarily principally chiefly mainly mostly largely predominantly generally typically commonly usually frequently often regularly habitually customarily traditionally conventionally ordinarily normally naturally inherently intrinsically innately inherently essentially innately naturally fundamentally intrinsically basically primarily principally chiefly mainly mostly largely predominantly generally typically commonly usually frequently often regularly habitually customarily traditionally conventionally ordinarily normally naturally inherently intrinsically innately inherently essentially innately naturally fundamentally intrinsically basically primarily principally chiefly mainly mostly largely predominantly generally typically commonly usually frequently often regularly habitually customarily traditionally conventionally ordinarily normally naturally inherently intrinsically innately inherently essentially innately naturally fundamentally intrinsically basically primarily principally chiefly mainly mostly largely predominantly generally typically commonly usually frequently often regularly habitually customarily traditionally conventionally ordinarily normally naturally inherently intrinsically innately inherently essentially innately naturally fundamentally intrinsically basically primarily principally chiefly mainly mostly largely predominantly generally typically commonly usually frequently often regularly habitually customarily traditionally conventionally ordinarily normally naturally inherently intrinsically innately inherently essentially innately naturally fundamentally intrinsically basically primarily principally chiefly mainly mostly largely predominantly generally typically commonly usually frequently often regularly habitually customarily traditionally conventionally ordinarily normally naturally inherently intrinsically innately
