WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 5504

Requires supportive housing to be disbursed throughout the boroughs of certain cities in proportion to the borough population

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alicia Hyndman

The bill requires the five-member Board of Public Utilities to include at least one member from each of three New Jersey regions (northern, central, southern) to ensure geographic

REFERRED TO HOUSING
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 5504

Summary of Assembly Bill A 5504 (Introduced March 24, 2025)

Note: The material labeled as “Version Content” for A 5504 describes residency requirements for the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and amending R.S.48:2-1. The bill’s title references a different topic (supportive housing distribution). The summary below reflects the introduced version and its substantive provisions as written, and notes the apparent discrepancy between the title and the actual text.

Quick overview

  • Bill number: A 5504
  • Introduced: March 24, 2025
  • Status: Referred to Housing (Assembly). Also listed as referred to Housing on February 14, 2025.
  • Primary sponsors: Antwan L. McClellan and Alicia Hyndman
  • Major aim (as introduced): Establish regional residency requirements for members of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and amend R.S.48:2-1 to ensure geographic representation across New Jersey regions.

Important note: The introduced text focuses on BPU board residency and regional representation, not on distributing supportive housing. If you are seeking information on housing distribution, this bill as introduced does not address that topic.

What the bill would do

  • Adds a geographic representation requirement to the five-member Board of Public Utilities.
  • Specifies that at least one BPU member must reside in each of three broad regions of the state: northern, central, and southern.
  • For future appointments after the bill’s effective date, the Governor must ensure compliance with the regional representation requirement.

Key provisions and changes

  • Board composition (existing framework retained): The BPU remains a five-member body appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate. Each member serves a six-year term, and vacancies are filled for the unexpired term. No more than three members may be from the same political party.
  • New regional residency requirement (subsection b): Among the five members, at least one must reside in:
    • Northern region: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren counties
    • Central region: Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Somerset, Union counties
    • Southern region: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem counties
  • Appointment oversight (subsection d): For every appointment after the act’s effective date, the Governor must ensure compliance with the geographic representation requirement.
  • Timing: The act states an immediate take effect.

Regional definitions

  • Northern region: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren
  • Central region: Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Somerset, Union
  • Southern region: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status actions:
    • Introduced in the Assembly on March 24, 2025; referred to the Assembly Housing Committee (per the action record).
    • Also shows a February 14, 2025 referral to Housing; possible re-referral or administrative labeling in the record.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Related/companion bills: S 3656 (companion), with several prior-session related bills listed.

Potential impact

  • The bill would create a guaranteed geographic balance on the BPU by requiring regional representation in the five-seat board. This could influence appointment strategies and potential policy considerations by ensuring diverse regional perspectives are present on the board.
  • With the six-year term structure, regional representation could affect long-term governance and policy direction of the BPU.
  • Because the measure constrains appointments to meet regional quotas, it could interact with existing party-affiliation limits (no more than three members of the same party).

Accessibility and context

  • The text provided focuses on BPU residency requirements rather than housing distribution or supportive housing programs. If the intended policy aim is housing equity or distribution, a separate or amended bill would be needed to address that objective directly. Readers should monitor committee actions and any floor amendments for clarifications or changes to scope.

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

Sign in to ask a question.