S 3530 — "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act"; provides certain protections to residential tenants and codifies certain warranty of habitability protections.

S3530 1R2R [First[Second Reprint] SENATE, No.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reportedamended by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee on March 5,23, 2026,2026. with amendments.

       1.  (New section)  This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Immigrant Tenant Protection Act.”             2.  2.    (New section)  a.  (1)  A landlord shall not threaten to disclose, or actually disclose, information relating to the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, occupant, or other person known to the landlord to be associated with a tenant or occupant, for the purpose of influencing the person to vacate a dwelling unit.

          (2) (2)   A landlord shall not bring an action to recover possession of a dwelling unit based solely or partially on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant.

          (3) (3)   A landlord shall not cause a tenant or occupant to quit involuntarily, or bring an action to recover possession,possession, because because of the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, occupant, or other person known to the landlord to be associated with a tenant or occupant, unless the landlord’s action is in compliance with a legal obligation under a federal government program that provides for rent limitations or rental assistance to a qualified tenant.

          b.  b.    If a landlord violates subsection a.

          (1) (1)   actual damages, as reasonably determined by the court, for injury or loss suffered;

          (2) (2)   a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $2,000 for each violation, payable to the tenant;

          (3) (3)   reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs;

and           (4) (4)   other 1[equitable]1 relief as the court may deem appropriate and just.

          c.  c.     The immigration or citizenship status of a person shall not be relevant to any issue of liability or remedy in a civil action involving a tenant’s housing rights.  In proceedings or discovery undertaken in a civil action involving a tenant’s housing rights, no inquiry shall be permitted into the tenant’s immigration or citizenship status, unless:

          (1) (1)   the tenant’s claims or defenses raised place a person’s immigration or citizenship status directly in contention;

or           (2) (2)   the person seeking to make the inquiry demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the inquiry is necessary in order to comply with federal law.

          d.  d.    The assertion of an affirmative defense to an eviction action shall not constitute cause for discovery or other inquiry into a person’s immigration or citizenship status.

          e.  e.     As2Nothing used in thisP.L.    section,, "immigrationc.    or(C.        citizenship) status"(pending includesbefore athe perceptionLegislature thatas athis personbill) hasshall abe particularconstrued immigrationto statuslimit oran citizenshipindividual’s status,rights or thatremedies aunder personthe is"Law associatedAgainst withDiscrimination," aP.L.1945, personc.169 who(C.10:5-1 has,et orseq.). is perceived to have, a particular immigration status or citizenship status.

     f.2   As used in this section, "immigration or citizenship status" includes a perception that a person has a particular immigration status or citizenship status, or that a person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, a particular immigration status or citizenship status.

P.L.1986, c.138, s.5)             1[6.] 1[6.] 7.1 7.1 Section Section 1 of P.L.1970, c.210 (C.2A:42-10.10) is amended to read as follows:

     1. 1.    No landlord of premises or units to which [this act] P.L.1970, c.210 (C.2A:42-10.10 et seq.) is applicable shall serve a notice to quit upon any tenant or institute any action against a tenant to recover possession of premises, whether by summary dispossess proceedings, civil action for the possession of land, or otherwise:

     a. a.     As a reprisal for the tenant's efforts to secure or enforce any rights under the lease or contract, or under the laws of the State of New Jersey or its governmental subdivisions, or of the United States;

or      b. b.    As a reprisal for the tenant's good faith complaint to a governmental authority of the landlord's alleged violation of any health or safety law, regulation, code or ordinance, or State law or regulation which has as its objective the regulation of premises used for dwelling purposes;

or      c. c.     (1)  As a reprisal for the tenant's being an organizer of, a member of, or involved in any activities of, any lawful organization;

or      (2) (2)   As a reprisal for or on the basis of the tenant’s immigration or citizenship status;

or      d. d.    On account of the tenant's failure or refusal to comply with the terms of the tenancy as altered by the landlord, if the landlord shall have altered substantially the terms of the tenancy as a reprisal for any actions of the tenant set forth in subsection a,a b,2.2, b 2.2, and c 2.2  of this section [1 of this act].

Substantial Substantial alteration shall include the refusal to renew a lease or to continue a tenancy of the tenant without cause.

     Under subsection b 2.2 of this section the tenant shall originally bring his2[his] the tenant’s2 good faith complaint to the attention of the landlord or his2[his agentagent] property manager2 and give the landlord a reasonable time to correct the violation before complaining to a governmental authority.

P.L.1970, c.210, s.1)        1[7.] 28.   8.1 Section Thisof actP.L.1970, shallc.210 take(C.2A:42-10.13) effectis immediately.amended to read as follows:

     This act shall apply to all rental premises or units used for dwelling purposes except owner-occupied premises with not more than two rental units, except that the provisions of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall apply to all rental premises or units used for dwelling purposes including all owner-occupied premises.  Mobile home spaces and mobile homes shall constitute rental premises under this act.2 (cf:

P.L.1975, c.124, s.1)        1[7.] 2[8.1] 9.2  This act shall take effect immediately.