This bill aims to enhance the oversight and enforcement of municipal rent control and rent leveling ordinances in New Jersey. It mandates that municipalities with such ordinances establish reasonable procedures for investigating complaints and adhere to mandatory timelines for responding to and completing investigations. If a municipality fails to comply, there will be a rebuttable presumption of non-enforcement. Additionally, tenants adversely affected by non-enforcement can bring actions in Superior Court after a specified period of inaction, with the court empowered to order compliance, award damages, and impose civil penalties. The bill also allows tenant associations to act on behalf of groups of tenants in these legal actions.

To further support enforcement, the bill establishes a Rent Control Ombudsman within the Department of Community Affairs, appointed by the Commissioner. This Ombudsman will handle complaints of non-enforcement and can refer cases to the Attorney General, who is authorized to take legal action against municipalities exhibiting patterns of willful non-enforcement. The bill includes provisions for a group of tenants to petition the Attorney General for investigations and requires a response within 60 days. It also tolls any statute of limitations related to violations if landlords fail to provide necessary documentation. The bill appropriates $4 million from the General Fund to support these initiatives, with equal funding allocated to the Attorney General's office and the Department of Community Affairs.