New Jersey Assembly Bill A4899 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE 
 
STATEMENT TO  
 
ASSEMBLY, No. 4899  
 
with committee amendments 
 
STATE OF NEW JERSEY 
 
DATED:  OCTOBER 24, 2024 
 
 The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably and with 
committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4899. 
 As amended, this bill prohibits a landlord, or a landlord’s agent, 
from requiring an application or other similar fee, to apply to lease or 
sublease a residential rental property, which exceeds $50. The bill 
establishes a penalty for a landlord’s violation of the bill of $1,500 for 
each offense, enforceable in an action brought by the Director of the 
Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public 
Safety (director) or the Attorney General.  The bill requires $250 from 
the collected penalty to be remitted to the applicant or prospective 
tenant.  The bill also would exempt from the requirements of the bill 
dwelling units located in a one-family or two-family dwelling that are 
offered for rent. 
 This bill requires the director to adopt rules and regulations setting 
forth a mechanism for applicants or prospective tenants to report 
violations of the bill, which is required to be made available to tenants 
or prospective applicants on the Internet website of the Division of 
Consumer Affairs (division).  This bill would take effect on the first 
day of the fourth month next following enactment; the director, 
however, would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to 
effectuate the provisions of the bill. 
 As amended by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4899 is identical 
to the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Nos. 3659 and 3276. 
 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS : 
 The committee amendments make the following changes: 
 Provide that the bill prohibits an application or similar fee from 
exceeding $50; 
 Provide for a penalty of $1,500 for noncompliance with the 
bill, $250 of which is to be remitted to the applicant or 
prospective tenant; 
 Require the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to 
adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the 
bill, including rules and regulations establishing a mechanism 
to report violations, which would be available to tenants or 
prospective applicants on the Internet website of the division;   2 
 
 Clarify that, prior to the effective date, the director would be 
permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the 
provisions of the bill; and 
 Make technical changes.