New JerseyA4535220th Legislature (2024-2025)HouseWALLET

Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000.

Sponsored By: Atkins, Reginald W., Dan Hutchison (Democratic), Paul D. Moriarty (Democratic), Raj Mukherji (Democratic), Anthony S. Verrelli (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Sober home residents face random testing

Beginning October 1, 2025, cooperative sober living homes must ban possession or use of alcohol and illicit drugs on-site. Residents must undergo random alcohol and drug testing. Homes must also encourage recovery self-help programs and sobriety activities, including on-site peer-led meetings. They must encourage residents to get off-site services considered helpful or needed to stay sober. This law does not require residents to attend those programs or receive those services.

Residents gain public housing safety reports

Beginning October 1, 2025, licensed sober homes must receive at least two unannounced inspections and record reviews each year. The Department of Community Affairs must publish a licensed sober home list with locations and contact details. It must also post rooming and boarding house inspection reports online. Serious health and safety reports, including the home's name and ownership, and license suspensions must appear within 72 hours. The department must update postings when problems are fixed or suspensions end, and promptly notify state human services and county social services agencies of serious violations or suspensions.

Sober homes must report safety incidents

Beginning October 1, 2025, sober home operators must immediately report events threatening resident or staff health, safety, or welfare. They must notify the Department of Community Affairs by email or fax using its required form. The owner or operator must submit a detailed report within five working days, with contributing factors, fixes, and timelines. Reportable events include disasters, serious injuries or deaths including overdoses, evacuations or closures lasting six hours or more, and disease outbreaks affecting multiple people. They also include suspected crimes endangering lives or operations, staff discipline, and board member or representative convictions or disciplinary sanctions since the last licensing.

State funds sober home oversight

Beginning October 1, 2025, the law provides $100,000 from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs. The money supports the law's sober home and boarding house requirements. It is agency funding, not a direct payment to residents or home operators.

Sober homes must provide overnight oversight

Beginning October 1, 2025, cooperative sober living homes must provide two operators certified under state qualifications. At least one must live there and help oversee operations and house rules. At least one must be on-site from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. when residents are present. These duties add staffing requirements while providing resident oversight. Beginning January 1, 2026, the legal definition covers boarding houses serving only people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Al Barlas
Republican • House
Linda R. Greenstein
Democratic • Senate
Shama A. Haider
Democratic • House
Michael Inganamort
Republican • House
Gordon M. Johnson
Democratic • Senate
William F. Moen Jr.
Democratic • House
William B. Sampson IV
Democratic • House
Parker Space
Republican • Senate
Brian P. Stack
Democratic • Senate
Sterley S. Stanley
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 201 • No: 25

Senate vote • 6/2/2025

CONCUR GOV REC

Yes: 35 • No: 3

House vote • 5/22/2025

CONCUR GOV REC

Yes: 70 • No: 6 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 3/24/2025

3RDG FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 33 • No: 6

House vote • 2/27/2025

3RDG FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 63 • No: 10 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

Approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.60.
6/3/2025Governor
Passed Senate, PBH — (35-3)
6/2/2025Senate
Received in Senate, 2RSG
5/29/2025Senate
Passed Assembly — (70-6-1)
5/22/2025House
2RAG
5/15/2025House
1RAG
5/15/2025House
Conditional Veto, Received in Assembly
5/8/2025House
Passed Senate, PBH — (33-6)
3/24/2025Senate
Substituted for S2952 (2R)
3/24/2025Senate
Received in Senate, SWR, 2nd Reading in Senate
3/3/2025Senate
Passed Assembly — (63-10-3)
2/27/2025House
REP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly
2/20/2025House
REP/ACA, Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
12/16/2024House
Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
6/13/2024House

Bill Text

Version PL2025
7/2/2025
HTML PDF
Version AL2025
6/6/2025
HTML PDF
5/23/25; 3R
5/23/2025
HTML PDF
Conditional Veto 3R
5/23/2025
HTML PDF
Conditional Veto
5/9/2025
HTML PDF
Assembly Appropriations (2/20/25 2R)
3/25/2025
HTML PDF
02/28/25; 2R
2/28/2025
HTML PDF
Assembly Appropriations Substitute (2/20/25 1R)
2/21/2025
HTML PDF
Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations (12/16/24 1R)
2/20/2025
HTML PDF
1/31/25; 1R
1/31/2025
HTML PDF
Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Substitute (12/16/24)
12/17/2024
HTML PDF
As Introduced
6/24/2024
HTML PDF

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