This bill proposes significant reforms to New Jersey's affordable housing framework by abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and transferring the responsibility of determining municipal affordable housing obligations to individual municipalities. The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will calculate and publish these obligations ahead of the fourth round of requirements starting July 1, 2025. Municipalities must adopt their fair share plans and housing elements by specific deadlines to maintain immunity from builders remedy litigation. The bill also introduces an Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program to facilitate challenges to municipal plans, overseen by appointed judges or qualified experts, ensuring compliance with the new regulations.

Key amendments include the establishment of a structured process for municipalities to determine their fair share obligations, the introduction of minimum deed restrictions for low- and moderate-income units, and the requirement for municipalities to reserve a minimum of 20% of newly constructed residential units for low- and moderate-income households. The bill emphasizes transparency by mandating public access to housing plans and resolutions, and it allows municipalities to request grace periods for compliance due to unforeseen circumstances. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline the affordable housing process, enhance accountability, and provide municipalities with the necessary tools to meet their housing obligations effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27D-302, 52:27D-304, 52:27D-313, 2A:50-56, 5:18-2, 13:20-23, 17:11C-55, 39:4-10.2, 40:55D-8.2, 40:55D-8.3, 40:55D-8.4, 40:55D-8.5, 40:55D-8.7, 40:55D-8.8, 40:55D-40.3, 40A:12A-3, 40A:12A-16, 52:27D-310, 52:27D-310.1, 52:27D-311, 52:27D-320, 52:27D-321, 52:27D-321.1, 52:27D-329.1, 52:27D-329.2, 52:27D-329.4, 52:27D-329.9, 55:14K-56, 55:14K-60, 55:14K-74