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S 4033

Relates to the disposition of certain fines and penalties

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham

Allows short-term farm worker housing (≤3 months) to meet simplified fire/ingress-egress standards under the State Uniform Construction Code, with future rule updates.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · S 4033

Summary — S4033 (New Jersey) — Short‑Term Farm Labor Housing / State Uniform Construction Code

Status: Passed Senate (6/12/2025); delivered to Assembly and referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation
Introduced: January 14, 2025 | Primary sponsor: Sen. Pete Harckham
Related: A5095; A3026; S7086 (prior session)
Latest amendment: S4033B (amended on third reading 6/6/2025)

Purpose / intent

S4033 clarifies that short‑term farm labor housing provided to seasonal agricultural workers may be used and treated as compliant with the State Uniform Construction Code (S.U.C.C.) if it meets specified, limited fire‑safety and ingress/egress measures. The bill is intended to allow seasonal housing that is temporary in nature to be deployed without requiring full compliance with all S.U.C.C. provisions applicable to permanent dwellings, while ensuring minimum life‑safety protections.

Key provisions

  • Definitions
    • “Seasonal worker”: same definition as in P.L.1945, c.71 (C.34:9A‑2).
    • “Short‑term farm labor housing”: a building with housing or sleeping places for seasonal workers for periods not to exceed three months as part of a “farm labor camp” (as defined in P.L.1945, c.71).
  • Code compliance
    • Short‑term farm labor housing that includes fire protection measures (installation of fire extinguishers and early‑warning devices such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors) and meets ingress/egress standards shall be deemed in compliance with the State Uniform Construction Code.
  • Rulemaking & implementation
    • The Commissioner of Community Affairs must adopt any rules necessary to implement the provision (section 1.b) pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
    • The Commissioner must, on or before the first day of the sixth month following enactment, adopt rules to modify the State Uniform Construction Code in accordance with the act.
    • The act takes effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment; the Commissioner may take anticipatory actions to implement the law sooner.

Who is affected

  • Farmers and agricultural employers who provide temporary/seasonal housing for workers — may more readily provide short‑term housing without full S.U.C.C. compliance if the specified safety measures are present.
  • Seasonal agricultural workers — benefit from clarified minimum life‑safety protections (extinguishers, smoke/CO detectors, ingress/egress).
  • Department of Community Affairs and local code enforcement — will adopt and enforce new rules and updated S.U.C.C. provisions to implement the law.

Potential impact / considerations

  • Lowers regulatory barriers and potentially reduces costs/time to offer temporary farm worker housing by avoiding full S.U.C.C. requirements for short stays (≤3 months), while retaining basic fire and egress safety requirements.
  • The specific scope and technical standards (e.g., placement/ratings of detectors, extinguisher types, egress dimensions) will depend on forthcoming rulemaking by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
  • Local code officials will need guidance and training to apply the modified Code provisions consistently.

Legislative history highlights

  • Introduced in Senate: 1/14/2025; referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee, then to Environmental Conservation.
  • Reported and committed to Finance (2/25/2025); print number 4033A (2/14/2025).
  • Advanced and amended on third reading as S4033B (6/4–6/6/2025).
  • Passed Senate (6/12/2025); delivered to Assembly and referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation (6/12/2025).

For implementation details, monitor rulemaking by the Department of Community Affairs following enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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