TRENTON, NJ—In an effort to combat discrimination in property appraisals, New Jersey Senators Nellie Pou and M. Teresa Ruiz have introduced Bill S1311, which mandates anti-bias training for real estate appraisers. The legislation aims to supplement and amend existing laws to enforce a prohibition on discriminatory practices in the appraisal process.
The bill, pre-filed for the 2024 legislative session, was sponsored by Senator Pou of District 35, covering Bergen and Passaic counties, and Senator Ruiz from District 29, which includes Essex and Hudson counties. Additional sponsorship comes from Senators Singleton, Johnson, and McKnight.
According to the proposed legislation, no licensed appraiser shall consider the race, color, religion, sex, or any other discriminatory category in their appraisal analysis. This includes biases against both current and prospective owners or occupants, as well as those residing in neighboring properties.
Bill S1311 requires that, to renew their licenses, real estate appraisers must prove they have completed the continuing education requirements, which now includes a fair housing and appraisal bias education course approved by the Appraisal Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation.
The act is scheduled to take effect on the 180th day following its enactment. This legislative move represents a significant step toward ensuring equity in real estate practices, reinforcing New Jersey’s commitment to fairness in housing.