Quick Answer
New Jersey Assembly Bill 3467 (2024) is a proposal that did not become law as far as we could confirm. Introduced February 5, 2024 by Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy, it would have expanded Department of Community Affairs (DCA) oversight of common interest communities with more than 100 units, created an Advisory Council and an Office of the Ombudsman, set up a trust fund paid for by annual association registration fees, and required a DCA guide booklet.
We read the introduced text only. We could not read the Legislature's bill-status page, so we cannot state what committee action, if any, followed. Nothing in this page describes current New Jersey law.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Law/citation | A3467, 221st Legislature, introduced February 5, 2024; would supplement Title 46 of the Revised Statutes |
| Status | Not law. Final status not confirmed; it belonged to the 2024 session, and the Legislature now sitting is the 222nd (2026 bills carry that label) |
| Proposed effective date | "The first day of the sixth month after enactment," with the Commissioner to take administrative action immediately |
| Would apply to | "Common interest communities," defined to include condominiums, cooperatives and other developments with individually owned units and jointly owned common property; the new DCA powers would apply only to communities with over 100 units |
| Key sections | Section 2 (DCA powers and fines); section 3 (Advisory Council); section 4 (Ombudsman); section 5 (registration, trust fund, annual report); section 6 (booklet) |
| Remedy or penalty (as proposed) | Cease and desist orders, fines and removal of officers or board members after a hearing |
What the Bill Would Have Said
DCA enforcement powers (section 2)
The bill would let DCA receive and hear complaints, adopt rules, hold hearings, make findings and impose sanctions on matters including access to association records, fair board elections and voting procedures, dispute resolution between associations and owners, and conflicts of interest. It would also let DCA issue subpoenas, render advisory opinions, and enforce statutes and rules that impose duties on associations.
- DCA could order an officer, board member or property manager who violated the Condominium Act, the Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act or other applicable rules, or who "knowingly engaged in any violation of the governing documents," to cease and desist.
- After notice and a hearing, DCA could "remove from office" a board member or officer who failed to comply with a cease and desist order.
- The fine for an association that failed to comply with an order would be "the greater of $2,500 or one percent of the total annual expenditures" in the most recent budget, per order. A board member solely responsible could be fined up to $5,000.
- These powers would apply only to communities with over 100 units and would supplement existing oversight.
Advisory Council and Ombudsman (sections 3 and 4)
The bill would create a nine-member Advisory Council appointed by the Governor and an Office of the Ombudsman headed by an attorney appointed by the Commissioner. The Ombudsman would be a liaison among DCA, owners, boards and managers, monitor election and meeting disputes, monitor and mediate "repair and deduct" claims under N.J.S.A. 46:8B-16, and coordinate volunteer mediators and educational materials.
Registration, trust fund and annual report (section 5)
- Associations would register with DCA within 90 days of the effective date and annually, paying a fee set by rule not to exceed $3 per voting unit.
- An association that did not pay "shall not have the authority" to impose fines, record liens or restrict privileges until it paid in full.
- Fees would go into a "Common Interest Community Homeowners' Association Trust Fund" supporting grants to low and moderate income communities, board education at Rutgers, mediation and DCA administration.
- Associations in extreme delinquency (six months or more, or more than $2,500) could apply to the Ombudsman's office for formal arbitration to reduce charges to a judgment.
- Associations would file an annual report with officers' names, employee salaries, the latest budget and financial statement, the number and nature of complaints, and fines imposed, and distribute it to owners.
Booklet (section 6)
DCA would publish a guide booklet covering owner and board rights and duties and a list of documents buyers should obtain. Associations would give it to each owner free initially, and selling owners would give it to purchasers.
What This Means in Practice
Current law
None of these requirements is law today on the strength of this bill. We did not find that any registration fee, ombudsman office or DCA removal power like this was enacted. Boards remain subject to the existing statutes and DCA rules; see the related pages.
If something like this were enacted (our reading)
- Larger associations (over 100 units) would face a new enforcement channel at DCA, with fines tied to budget size.
- Registration and annual reporting would be new administrative tasks and costs.
- The consequence for nonpayment of the fee, loss of authority to fine or lien, would be significant for collections.
Open questions
- Whether any committee acted on A3467 or whether it was reintroduced in the current session.
- How the bill's fee and the arbitration provisions would interact with existing lien and collection law.
- Whether the 100-unit threshold would count units across sub-associations.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 5, 2024 | A3467 introduced in the General Assembly (221st Legislature) |
| Not confirmed | Any committee referral, hearing, vote or amendment |
Related New Jersey Law
- S4157 (2026): proposed board member training
- Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act overview
- N.J.A.C. 5:26 regulations overview
- N.J.S.A. 46:8B-15: association powers and fines
- New Jersey HOA laws and regulations
Board Checklist
- Treat A3467 as a proposal. Do not budget for a registration fee or announce DCA powers to owners.
- Follow current DCA rules on elections, records and disclosure, which remain in force.
- Check the Legislature's bill search for any similar bill in the current session.
- Keep records of complaints and dispute-resolution steps, which the bill would have required reporting.
- Keep minutes and financial statements current so any future annual report is easy to produce.
- Ask association counsel to monitor bills that change fines, liens or DCA authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A3467 law in New Jersey?
No. We found no sign it was enacted. We read only the introduced text and could not confirm what happened afterward.
Would it have created an HOA ombudsman?
Yes, as proposed: an Office of the Ombudsman in DCA, separate from DCA's enforcement divisions, headed by a New Jersey attorney.
Which communities would the new DCA powers have covered?
Those with more than 100 units, according to section 2(c) of the introduced bill.
How much would associations have paid?
The registration fee would be set by DCA rule but could not exceed $3 per voting unit per year, according to the introduced text.
Could DCA have removed board members?
As proposed, after notice and a hearing, for a board member or officer who failed to comply with a cease and desist order.
Why does this bill matter if it did not pass?
It shows ideas lawmakers have raised about state oversight of associations. Similar ideas could return in later sessions.
Where This Comes From
We read the introduced text of Assembly Bill 3467 (221st Legislature, introduced February 5, 2024) on the Legislature's bill-text site at pub.njleg.gov. The Legislature's bill-status page would not load for us, so we did not confirm committee action or final disposition. We did not read any amended version.
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Legal disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and associations differ. Confirm the current statute text and how it applies to your governing documents with a licensed New Jersey attorney before acting.
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