New Jersey A 3594: Expands domestic violence protection for adoptive parents.

Bill Text

A3594 

ASSEMBLY, No. 3594 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

SYNOPSIS

���� "New Jersey Housing Opportunity Act"; 
enhances opportunities for housing production.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning certain residential development regulations, 
designated as the �New Jersey Housing Opportunity Act,� and supplementing 
P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.).

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� 
) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be known and may be cited 
as the �New Jersey Housing Opportunity Act.�

���� 2.� a.� As used in this 
section, �accessory dwelling unit� means a residential dwelling unit that 
provides complete independent living facilities with a private entrance for one 
or more persons, consisting of provisions for living, sleeping, eating, 
sanitation, and cooking, including a stove and refrigerator, and is located 
within a proposed or existing primary dwelling, within an existing or proposed 
structure that is accessory to a dwelling on the same lot, constructed in whole 
or part as an extension to a proposed or existing primary dwelling, or 
constructed as a separate detached structure on the same lot as the existing or 
proposed primary dwelling. 

���� b.� Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, prior to the first day 
of the fourth month next following enactment of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) 
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), a municipal governing body shall 
provide for at least one of the following in the municipality�s development 
regulations:

���� (1)� set the minimum lot size 
for single-family residential development within a residential district at no 
more than one-quarter acre;

���� (2)� permit development of a 
two-unit dwelling on each lot that is located within a single-family 
residential district; or

���� (3)� permit development of an 
accessory dwelling unit on each lot that is located within a single-family 
residential district.

���� c.� If a municipality�s 
development regulations are not consistent with subsection b. of this section after 
the first day of the fourth month next following enactment of P.L.��� , c.��� 
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the municipality�s 
development regulations shall be interpreted and applied as providing for a 
minimum lot size for single-family residential development within a residential 
district at no more than one-quarter acre, consistent with paragraph (1) of 
subsection b. of this section.

���� d. �The provisions of this 
section shall not apply to:

���� (1)� a dwelling located within 
a historic district; or

���� (2)� a residential lot that is 
subject to a covenant or restriction, recorded prior to the date of enactment of 
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), 
requiring development of the lot in a different manner than set forth in 
subsection b. of this section.

���� 3.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require 
revision of municipal development regulations in order to enhance opportunities 
for the development and occupancy of housing, in appropriate locations, 
throughout the State.� The bill directs each municipality�s governing body to ensure 
that its development regulations are consistent with at least one of the bill�s 
three alternatives within four months of the bill�s enactment.� The bill would 
require each municipal governing body to provide, in its development 
regulations, for either:

� 
a minimum lot size of no more than one-quarter acre for 
single-family residential development within a residential district;

� 
development of a two-unit dwelling on each lot located within a single-family 
residential district; or

� 
permit development of an accessory dwelling unit on each lot that 
is located within a single-family residential district.

���� The bill defines the term "accessory 
dwelling unit" to mean a residential dwelling unit that provides complete 
independent living facilities with a private entrance for one or more persons, 
consisting of provisions for living, sleeping, eating, sanitation, and cooking, 
including a stove and refrigerator, and is located within a proposed or 
existing primary dwelling; within an existing or proposed structure that is 
accessory to a dwelling on the same lot; constructed in whole or part as an 
extension to a proposed or existing primary dwelling; or constructed as a 
separate detached structure on the same lot as the existing or proposed primary 
dwelling.

���� Under the bill, failure of a 
municipality to comply with one of these three alternative requirements will 
result