ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2280

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 22, 2024

      The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2280.

      This bill prohibits discriminatory practices in property appraisals and requires real estate appraisers to participate in anti-bias training.

      Under the bill, a real estate appraiser will be prohibited from considering, as part of the appraisal analysis of a property, the race, color, religion, sex, actual or perceived sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, age, actual or perceived marital status, disability, familial status, or national origin of either the prospective owners or occupants of the property, present owners or occupants of the property, or the present owners or occupants of the properties in the vicinity of the property, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, State, or local law.

      Additionally, the bill requires a real estate appraiser to complete a fair housing and appraisal bias education course offered by the Appraisal Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation in order to satisfy the appraiser’s continuing education requirements.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.