Committees advance bill to end eviction moratorium

Committees in both chambers advanced a bill to end the state’s 13-month moratorium on evictions on Tuesday.

The measure won praise from tenant and landlord advocates, who believed it struck a balance between aiding renters impacted by the pandemic and property owners who’ve gone months — or more than a year — without receiving payments.

The bill provides $500 million in federal aid towards rental assistance for boarders earning up to 120% of the median income in their area, with another $250 million in federal money to cover utility bills. The Office of Eviction Prevention will receive $5 million, and another $2 million will go to the Eviction Prevention Program.

Under the bill, troubled renters making less than 30% of their area’s income would be required to pay no more than 30% of their household income in rent each month, regardless of the total household income. The remaining balance would be paid through a subsidy.

Renters whose income falls below 50% of their area’s median would also be only required to pay 30% of their household income in rent, but their subsidy would be capped at $800.

The same rules apply for moderate income renters, which the bill defines as ones earning between 50% and 80% of the area median income, but their subsidy is capped to $500.

The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City) and Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) in their respective chambers, would also continue to bar evictions until August, or December for lower-income renters.

It also bars landlords from informing credit reporting agencies, debt collectors and other landlords about a tenant’s failure to pay rent during the pandemic.