This bill amends the "Fair Housing Act" to eliminate exemptions for affordable housing obligations specifically for municipalities that qualify for the Municipal (Urban) Aid Program. Previously, these urban municipalities were allowed to avoid contributing to the regional affordable housing needs, which created an imbalance and placed undue burdens on other municipalities. The bill emphasizes that urban municipalities must now be allocated a minimum fair share obligation that reflects their appropriate portion of the regional need for low and moderate income housing. This change aims to promote the construction, conversion, and rehabilitation of housing in urban areas, thereby minimizing urban sprawl and utilizing existing infrastructure more effectively.

Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language that clarifies the responsibilities of the Council on Affordable Housing, ensuring that urban municipalities cannot be exempted from their fair share obligations based solely on their current low and moderate income housing units. The bill also defines "urban municipality" and reinforces the need for a comprehensive approach to affordable housing that includes the participation of all municipalities, particularly those with existing infrastructure capable of supporting new development. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a more equitable distribution of affordable housing responsibilities across municipalities in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27D-302, 52:27D-304, 52:27D-307