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S4009
SENATE, No. 4009
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
���� �Tenant Anti-Retaliation & Anti-Harassment Act�;
establishes rebuttable presumption for complaints by tenant of illegal activity
by landlord.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning tenant complaints and supplementing
P.L.1970,
c.210 (C.2A:42-10.10 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 �Tenant Anti-Retaliation & Anti-Harassment Act.�
���� 2.� If a landlord issues a
notice to quit or makes any substantial alteration of the terms of a tenancy
against the tenant�s interests in violation of section 3 of P.L.1970, c.210 (C.2A:42-10.12),
including but not limited to, the use of illegal lockouts, utility shut offs,
threats or harassment, within six months of an action by a tenant pursuant to
any of subsections a. through d. of section 3 of P.L.1970, c.210 (C.2A:42-10.12),
then in addition to any other applicable penalties, a landlord found to have
engaged in retaliatory actions against a tenant shall be liable to a civil
penalty of $5,000 for each violation, and reasonable attorney�s fee and
expenses, recoverable by a summary proceeding under the �Penalty Enforcement
Law of 1999� P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).� The Superior Court, Law
Division, Special Civil Part in the county in which the rental premises are
located shall have jurisdiction over such proceedings.
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes a
rebuttable presumption of retaliation by a landlord if certain actions adverse
to a tenant�s interests are taken within six months of certain complaints by a
tenant.
���� Under the bill, if a landlord
issues a notice to quit or makes any substantial alteration of the terms of a
tenancy against the tenant�s interests in violation of P.L.1970, c.210 (C.2A:42-10.10
et seq.), including but not limited to, the use of illegal lockouts, utility
shut offs, threats or harassment, within six months of certain complaints or
actions by a tenant, then in addition to any other applicable penalties, a
landlord may be liable to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each violation, and
reasonable attorney�s fee and expenses.