SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1659

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 11, 2026

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1659.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires an application for a construction permit to disclose information sufficient to identify the anticipated amounts and sources of funding of the proposed construction project.  Additionally, the bill directs construction code enforcing agencies, as a condition of issuance of a certificate of occupancy, to require a construction permit applicant to either: certify that previously submitted funding information is still accurate; or to disclose updated, accurate construction project funding information.  The bill requires an applicant to certify under penalty of perjury that a disclosure provided pursuant to the bill is true and accurate at the time of submission of an application and specifies that false or missing information provided in a disclosure is the sole responsibility of the applicant.

      The requirements of the bill do not apply to: (1) a single-family home; (2) renovations or repairs of dwelling units, as defined in the bill; or (3) alterations or reconstruction of certain structures and buildings, including the alterations or reconstruction of an individual dwelling unit.

      The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill within 180 days following the date of enactment.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 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 that an applicant certify under penalty of perjury that the disclosure required pursuant to the bill is true and accurate; and to specify that false information provided in a disclosure is the sole responsibility of the applicant.