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Bill > S2332


NJ S2332

NJ S2332
Excludes environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from designation as vacant or available for purposes of affordable housing construction.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would require environmentally sensitive or flood-prone lands, where development is prohibited or substantially constrained by environmental laws or by any State or federal agency, to be excluded from counting as available land for the construction of affordable housing as a part of the fair share affordable housing obligation of a municipality, established pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.). Currently, State statutes only establish this requirement if development is prohibited on the land by a State or federal agency.

AI Summary

This bill expands the types of land that municipalities can exclude from being considered available for affordable housing construction when calculating their "fair share" obligation under the Fair Housing Act, which is a state law designed to ensure municipalities provide a range of housing options. Specifically, it adds "flood-prone" lands to the existing exclusion for "environmentally sensitive" lands, and clarifies that this exclusion applies if development is prohibited or significantly restricted by environmental laws or any state or federal agency, not just if development is prohibited by a state or federal agency as was previously the case. This change aims to prevent municipalities from being required to use land that is unsuitable for development due to environmental concerns or flood risks for affordable housing projects.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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