Bill
Bill > A3842
NJ A3842
NJ A3842Provides for preservation bonus credit against affordable housing obligations to certain municipalities.
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 provides preservation bonus credits against affordable housing obligations to certain municipalities. Under the bill, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is required to designate: (1) the location of critical headwaters drinking water resources, (2) other water resources, (3) land conservation resources, (4) wildlife and habitat resources, (5) climate resilience resources, (6) historical and cultural resources, (7) community engagement and education resources, and (8) sustainable building practice resources. Under the bill, a municipality with boundaries that contain, or a municipality that sustains, such resources and that enacts regulations and commits to enforcement mechanisms to safeguard the resources, would receive preservation bonus credits towards its affordable housing requirement based on formulas developed by DCA, in consultation with DEP. The formulas developed would each include different factors, as specified in the bill. The bill requires that formula factors incorporate, as applicable, evaluations of the ecological importance, the habitat diversity and biodiversity, the rarity or uniqueness, and the broader societal, cultural, recreational, educational, and aesthetic value of individual resources. The preservation bonus credits received by a municipality, as established by the bill, are to count against the 25 percent cap, under current law, on the use of bonus credits that can be applicable to the municipality's prospective need obligation in the fourth round or any subsequent round.
AI Summary
This bill allows certain municipalities to receive "preservation bonus credits" towards their affordable housing obligations by protecting valuable natural, historical, and community resources within their borders. The Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), will identify and designate critical areas such as drinking water sources, conservation lands, wildlife habitats, climate resilience zones, historical sites, and areas promoting community engagement or sustainable building practices. Municipalities that contain or sustain these resources and implement regulations and enforcement to safeguard them will be eligible for these bonus credits, calculated using formulas developed by the DCA and DEP. These formulas will consider factors like ecological importance, biodiversity, uniqueness, and societal value. Importantly, these preservation bonus credits can be used to offset up to 25% of a municipality's affordable housing requirement for the fourth round of obligations and subsequent rounds, providing an incentive for municipalities to preserve important environmental and cultural assets while meeting their housing goals.
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/A3842 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4000/3842_I1.HTM |
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