H.400 is a bill introduced by Representatives Galfetti and Waszazak that aims to streamline the appeals process for housing-related cases in the Environmental Division of the Superior Court. The bill mandates that the court must hear appeals regarding housing permits within 30 days of filing and issue a decision within 120 days after the hearing. To facilitate this expedited process, the bill proposes the addition of one new judge and one law clerk to the Environmental Division.

Additionally, the bill includes an appropriation of $300,000 for the fiscal year 2026 to support the hiring of these new positions. The legal language in the bill amends current law by removing the previous goal of timely hearings and decisions, replacing it with a definitive requirement for the court to act within specified timeframes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 10-8504