Legislative Update

2020 Wins for Real Estate— Year at a Glance

In March 2020, stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, and uncertainty left real estate professionals unsure of how to proceed with their businesses during the height of the pandemic. But, the Realtors® Political Action Committee and New Jersey Realtors® were there to spring into action and advocate for the industry.

The work began on March 24 when New Jersey Realtors® President Angela Sicoli submitted a letter to the New Jersey Congressional Delegation asking for pandemic unemployment benefits for independent contractors. Before last year, independent contractors were never eligible for benefits, meaning if you were unable to work or you lost your job, you would not receive help from the government, even if you didn’t have a source of income.

Four days after the letter was submitted, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law by President Trump in response to the deteriorating economy. It included benefits for independent contractors—a win for the industry.

In mid-March, Gov. Murphy signed Executive Order 107 which called for all New Jersey residents to stay home, and all non-essential businesses had to close, but where did that leave real estate?

The Government Affairs Department contacted Gov. Murphy’s office until the governor clarified EO 107 stating, “Realtors® can operate and show houses to prospective buyers on a 1-on-1 basis or to immediate families.” In addition, NJ Realtors® Government Affairs Department contacted every municipality and numerous state and local departments to ensure real estate transactions could occur during the pandemic, following the governor’s clarification of EO 107.

New Jersey Realtors® advised members to take necessary precautions while conducting business.

In response to the clarification, New Jersey Realtors® advised members to take necessary precautions while conducting business, such as wearing gloves and masks, and a number of forms were added to New Jersey Realtors® Forms Library to ensure members were legally protected.

Other states in our region were not as lucky to have the ability to continue to conduct business. If it wasn’t for the continued efforts of RPAC you would not have been able to help your clients with critical life changes during the pandemic.

If it wasn’t for the continued efforts of RPAC you would not have been able to help your clients with critical life changes during the pandemic.

In April, New Jersey Realtors® worked with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce to host webinars to help members through the process of applying

for unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and help members keep their businesses afloat with the Paycheck Protection Program with the Small Business Administration.

The Work Doesn’t Stop

Real estate in New Jersey has been business as usual for quite some time (with added precautions of course), but the fight for the rights of Realtors® and homeownership never stops for RPAC.

Last April, New Jersey Realtors® Government Affairs Department began calling legislators non-stop to ensure and help members receive their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments. This work continues today.

The fight for the rights of Realtors® and homeownership never stops for RPAC.

They also kept the conversation going by conducting virtual Hill Visits with elected officials to discuss the issues that matter most to the real estate industry. RPAC continues to fight for you to ensure the industry is protected and transactions can continue to occur, even in times of crisis.

RPAC continues to fight for you to ensure the industry is protected and transactions can continue to occur, even in times of crisis.

NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE BILLS

A4617 – Burzichelli (D3), Wimberly (D35)/S3357 – Stack (D33), Turner (D15)

Addresses certain landlord expenses in response to COVID-19; appropriates $350 million.

New Jersey Realtors® Position: SUPPORT

We support this bill to assist landlords whose tenants were unable to make rent payments due to COVID-19 by providing additional state funding to offset lost rent payment revenues.

Bill History: 9/14/2020 – Introduced in Assembly and referred to Assembly Housing Committee 12/7/2020 – Reported out of committee with amendments and referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee 12/14/2020 – Reported out of committee with amendments, second reading in Assembly 1/12/2021 – Introduced in Senate and referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee 2/11/2021 – Transferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and reported out of committee with amendments, second reading in Senate 2/19/2021- Amended on Senate floor

A4787 – Murphy (D7), Wimberly (D35)

Expands Department of Community Affairs oversight over common interest communities; establishes trust fund, advisory council and ombudsman office.

New Jersey Realtors® Position: SUPPORT

We support this bill as it gives authority to the DCA to investigate complaints against common interest communities to ensure they comply with state laws.

Bill History: 10/8/2020 – Introduced in Assembly and referred to Assembly Housing Committee

S3082 – Singleton (D7)

Allows remote notarial acts using communication technology.

New Jersey Realtors® Position: SUPPORT

We support this bill as it makes electronic notarization of documents authorized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic permanent in New Jersey, making it easier to have documents notarized using existing technology.

Bill History: 10/29/2020 – Introduced in Senate and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee