ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 207

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 19, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  HERB CONAWAY, JR.

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Jasey

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Encourages Congress and President to enact stimulus legislation to address the emerging housing crisis.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Assembly Resolution encouraging the Congress and President of the United States to enact into law stimulus legislation to address the emerging housing crisis.

 

Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to control it have resulted in widespread unemployment and lost income to large numbers of New Jersey tenants; and

Whereas, From April through July of this year, New Jersey’s unemployment rate exceeded 14 percent and continues remain at elevated levels; and

Whereas, Unemployment and loss of income have rendered many tenants unable to pay rent in whole or in part, placing them at potential risk of eviction following the conclusion of the eviction moratorium adopted through Executive Order 106 of 2020; and

Whereas, Although Executive Order 106, and other tenant protections established during the COVID-19 pandemic appear to be preventing many evictions that might otherwise occur, the tenant protections, combined with the underlying economic circumstances of the pandemic, could result in a widespread loss of rental income, placing landlords in a financially-vulnerable situation; and

Whereas, If not addressed, sustained loss of rental income could lead many landlords to defer repairs, reduce maintenance, and potentially abandon their properties, all of which could adversely-effect landlords, families living in rental properties, as well as many neighborhoods throughout the State; and

Whereas, The federal “HEROES Act,” H.R.6800, a bill that would significantly help to address these challenges, has been passed by United States House of Representatives, but still needs to be acted on by the United States Senate and the President; and

Whereas, In order to ensure the prevention of evictions as well as property deterioration and abandonment, arising from the temporary loss of tenant and landlord income during the time of the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative that the Congress and the President swiftly enact stimulus legislation, in the form of the “HEROES Act” or through similar legislation, that may be applied towards addressing these developing emergencies; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey memorializes the Congress and President of the United States to enact into law stimulus legislation that may be applied towards addressing the emerging housing crisis faced by New Jersey and other States.

     2.    Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States and each member of Congress from this State.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution urges the Congress and President of the United States to enact into law stimulus legislation to address the emerging housing crisis in New Jersey and other states.

     The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to control it have resulted in widespread unemployment and lost income to large numbers of New Jersey tenants.  From April through July of this year, New Jersey’s unemployment rate exceeded 14 percent and continues to be elevated.  Unemployment and loss of income have rendered many tenants unable to pay rent in whole or in part, placing them at potential risk of eviction following the conclusion of the eviction moratorium adopted through Executive Order 106 of 2020. 

     Although Executive Order 106, and other tenant protections established in New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic appear to be preventing many evictions that might otherwise occur, the tenant protections, combined with the underlying economic circumstances of the pandemic, could result in a widespread loss of rental income, placing landlords in a financially-vulnerable situation.  If not addressed, sustained loss of rental income could lead many landlords to defer repairs, reduce maintenance, and potentially abandon their properties, all of which could adversely-effect landlords, families living in rental properties, as well as many neighborhoods throughout the New Jersey.  The “HEROES Act,” H.R.6800, a bill that would significantly help to address these challenges, has been passed by United States House of Representatives, but still needs to be acted on by the Senate and the President.

     In order to ensure the prevention of evictions as well as property deterioration and abandonment, arising from the temporary loss of tenant and landlord income during the time of the coronavirus pandemic, this resolution urges Congress and the President to swiftly enact stimulus legislation, in the form of the “HEROES Act” or through similar legislation, that may be applied towards addressing these developing emergencies.