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 directing development to regions with existing infrastructure.

Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language that clarifies the responsibilities of the Council on Affordable Housing and reinforces the need for urban municipalities to actively participate in meeting housing obligations. It specifies that urban municipalities cannot be exempted from fair share obligations based solely on their current low and moderate income housing units. The intent is to ensure a more equitable distribution of affordable housing responsibilities across municipalities, ultimately benefiting low and moderate income families and enhancing the overall housing landscape in New Jersey.

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