SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1277

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 15, 2024

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1277.

      As amended, this bill requires each municipality to submit information on a quarterly basis to the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) concerning the affordable housing units and senior citizen housing units located within the municipality, in order to provide a centralized directory of affordable housing and senior citizen housing in New Jersey. 

      Under the bill, each municipality is required to submit the information required by the bill to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, which is to be published and updated on the Internet websites of DCA, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), and the New Jersey Housing Resource Center (HRC).  Additionally, municipalities that maintain Internet websites are to provide links on the municipality’s Internet websites to the Internet websites of the DCA, HMFA, and HRC, so that residents are able to access the compiled information.

      The bill requires the submitted information to include: (1) the name and address of each building, complex, or development in which an affordable housing unit or senior citizen housing unit is located; (2) the name of the landlord, manager, or other person who manages or exercises authority over the property; (3) whether applications are being accepted; (4) whether there is a waitlist; (5) instructions on how to apply for tenancy in any of the identified housing units, including a link to apply online, if applicable; and (6) any other information useful to the public, as determined by the commissioner.

      The bill also requires DCA to reimburse municipalities for costs incurred in complying with the provisions of the bill. 

      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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to require municipalities, instead of counties, to submit information on a quarterly, rather than monthly, basis to DCA concerning the affordable housing units and senior citizen housing units located within the municipality; and to require DCA to reimburse municipalities for costs incurred in complying with the provisions of the bill.