Assembly Budget Committee Approves Bill to Implement the StayNJ Property Tax Relief Program

TRENTON – The Assembly Budget Committee approved legislation, sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, to codify recommendations put forward in the recently released StayNJ Task Force report. The legislation, approved on Wednesday, would enable the state to move forward with the implementation of the newest property tax relief program to benefit New Jersey’s senior citizens. Under StayNJ, seniors will see their property taxes reduced by up to $6,500.

Bill A4706 would simplify the application process for all of New Jersey’s property tax relief programs, clarify the eligibility requirements and ensure consistency in income calculations, as recommended by the StayNJ Task Force. By making these changes, New Jersey seniors will find it easier to receive their benefits, enabling them to continue living comfortably in the communities they have called home for years.

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“I’m pleased with the progress we’re making to implement StayNJ and cut property taxes in half for most seniors and I applaud the Task Force for their work,” said Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “I was proud to sponsor the legislation creating StayNJ, which passed with a bipartisan, near-unanimous majority to become law. We made it a priority to establish a streamlined, simplified application process next year for seniors to maximize their property tax relief and we are well on our way to doing that.”

In addition to Speaker Coughlin, prime sponsors on the bill include Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald (Burlington, Camden) and Assemblyman Roy Freiman (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset), along with Assemblymembers Lisa Swain (D-Bergen), Andrea Katz (D-Atlantic, Burlington), Margie M. Donlon (D-Monmouth), Luanne M. Peterpaul (D-Monmouth), Dave Bailey, Jr. (D-Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem), Heather Simmons (D-Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem) and Mitchelle Drulis (D-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset).

The bill proposes the creation of a streamlined application process to simultaneously determine taxpayers' eligibility for the StayNJ, along with the ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze property tax relief programs. Currently, each program requires a separate application with varying submission deadlines. Under the legislation, the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury would be mandated to develop a unified application. The new process would reduce confusion for residents by consolidating the applications and establishing a consistent submission period from February 1 to October 31 each year.

Additionally, the legislation aims to clarify the age and residency requirements for eligibility. To ensure consistency, the bill amends current law to require that an eligible claimant be a resident of New Jersey as of December 31 of the year for which the benefit is sought. Furthermore, it requires that senior citizens participating in each program to be age 65 as of December 31 of the benefit year.

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“We are committed to making the StayNJ application process as simple and user-friendly as possible,” said Assembly Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald. “By consolidating the applications, we aim to streamline the process and reduce confusion for residents who rely on this critical support. It's gratifying to witness this program advancing towards implementation, poised to deliver much-needed relief to our seniors.”

“Implementing the StayNJ program will mark a significant step forward in our efforts to reduce property taxes for New Jersey’s senior citizens,” said Assemblyman Roy Freiman. “This legislation not only codifies the recommendations of the StayNJ task, force but also simplifies the eligibility requirements, ensuring that our senior citizens can more easily access the financial support they deserve to remain in their homes and in their communities.”

The bill also sets forth timelines for the Treasury Department to promulgate the unified application, program start time, application reviews, and how and when benefits would be calculated and paid out to eligible program participants.

In the first year of benefits, i.e. FY26 (July 1, 2025), benefits will be issued as a check or direct deposit. The department is tasked with meeting the StayNJ statutory requirement of moving both Senior Freeze and StayNJ into a direct property tax credit applied to one’s local property taxes.

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