summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill prohibits landlords from performing, or causing to be performed, hard credit inquiries on prospective tenants who apply for low- or moderate-income housing, defined in the bill as "affordable housing applicants." Landlords may, however, perform soft credit inquiries on affordable housing applicants. Hard credit inquiries can lower an individual's credit score while soft inquiries are conducted with consent of the applicant, and are meant to have no impact on one's credit score. Landlords who violate the provisions of the bill would be subject to a penalty of not more than $100 for the first offense in a one-year period, and up to $200 more for subsequent offenses in a one-year period. This bill also requires a consumer reporting agency that receives multiple hard credit inquiries, concerning the same individual, for the purpose of rental housing applications over a one-month period, to consider those inquiries to be one hard inquiry for purposes a consumer report concerning the individual. This bill requires the Director of the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs, within six months of the bill's enactment, to make information available on its Internet website concerning certain requirements of the bill.
AI Summary
This bill aims to protect individuals applying for affordable housing, defined as low- or moderate-income households, by preventing landlords from conducting "hard credit inquiries" which can negatively impact a person's credit score. Instead, landlords are permitted to perform "soft credit inquiries," which are done with the applicant's consent and do not affect their credit score. Violating landlords face penalties, starting at $100 for a first offense within a year and increasing for subsequent offenses. Additionally, consumer reporting agencies will now count multiple hard credit inquiries for rental applications within a one-month period as a single inquiry to minimize negative effects on an applicant's credit report. The Director of the Division of Housing and Community Resources will also be required to provide information on its website about these new requirements.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A2618 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3000/2618_I1.HTM |
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