This bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of New Jersey's affordable housing framework by abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and establishing a new process for municipalities to determine their own affordable housing obligations. The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will take on the responsibility of calculating these obligations using new formulas, with the first calculations due by August 1, 2024, ahead of the fourth round of obligations starting July 1, 2025. Municipalities must adopt their obligations by January 31, 2025, to avoid builders remedy lawsuits, and they are required to create a housing element and fair share plan by June 30, 2025. The bill also introduces the Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program to address disputes regarding municipal fair share plans and housing elements.

Key changes include the removal of outdated provisions related to COAH and the introduction of new definitions and standards for affordable housing. The bill emphasizes the need for municipalities to provide realistic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families to access affordable housing, as mandated by the New Jersey Supreme Court's Mount Laurel decisions. It also allocates $16 million to support these initiatives and outlines a structured process for municipalities to determine their fair share obligations, including deadlines for adopting housing elements and fair share plans. Additionally, the bill allows for age-restricted housing to count towards a municipality's affordable housing obligations and establishes a framework for resolving disputes related to compliance with the Fair Housing Act. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the effectiveness of affordable housing policies in New Jersey while ensuring compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

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