The bill amends New Jersey's laws regarding municipal calculations of fair share affordable housing obligations by introducing new criteria for municipalities to consider, particularly focusing on land availability and local conditions. It requires municipalities that receive adjustments due to a lack of vacant land to identify redevelopment parcels that can meet at least 25% of their adjusted obligations. The bill also specifies types of land that can be excluded from being designated as vacant, such as public lands, conservation areas, and lands with limited development potential due to population or infrastructure constraints.

Additionally, the bill abolishes the Council on Affordable Housing, shifting the responsibility for determining housing obligations directly to municipalities, which must adopt a housing element and fair share plan by June 30, 2025. It caps the number of affordable housing units a municipality can be required to provide at a five percent increase in population over a ten-year period, replacing the previous cap of 20 percent of total households. The legislation aims to create a clearer framework for municipalities to meet their affordable housing responsibilities while considering local land use and infrastructure capabilities, and it outlines compliance deadlines and processes for retaining immunity from exclusionary zoning litigation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27D-310.1, 52:27D-304.1