What has been accomplished….
In less than three months, our grass roots campaign has grown from a handful of concerned home owners to thousands of owners, renters and businesses across New Jersey. Together we have all picked up a single bill from the state assembly, added a matching Senate bill, and garnered TWENTY THREE* co-sponsors across both houses. That kind of legislative support is simply unheard of. These are things that NJ shore rental owners should all be proud of and we need to recognize that what we have all accomplished in such a short time is fantastic. This is a long, slow journey, but we are on the right course.
Along the way, The Coalition has set lofty, nearly impossible goals for this legislation. Trying to move legislation as quickly as we are is like trying to push a freight train. We see the frustration when these bills don’t get put on the agenda, and perhaps we’ve set everyone’s expectations too high. As a group of shore rental owners we are literally shooting for the stars and thus should not be disappointed if we fall short. The Coalition will continue to push hard to get this legislation moving as quickly as possible. We just hope that everyone understands that when meeting dates come and go without our legislation being addressed, that hope isn’t lost and as concerned rental owners our efforts haven’t “failed”.
We know that many of you want to see these bills put on the committee agendas and get voted on ASAP, and we do too. While it may seem like nothing is happening on the surface, all of the countless emails and phone calls have had an effect. We now have the attention of Speaker Coughlin who controls legislation in the Assembly. He has now stated publicly that they are “working on legislation” but that he has concerns with the “constitutionality” of the bills. Legislators do NOT like to pass laws that risk being challenged in court and they do not send bills to committee until they are comfortable that the language is finalized. As such, our state legislators and their staff are working on the wording of this bill so that they are comfortable that the legislation won’t face any legal challenges. The Coalition believes that the Speaker’s primary concern is that the tax be applied uniformly across New Jersey, which means crafting language that exempts ALL direct-by-owner rentals from the tax. We at NJSRC support legislation that goes further than what was originally proposed, and we imagine a broader exemption would have even more legislative and public support.
As of right now, the legislation is being re-written so as to comply with constitutional law. In addition, other similar legislation that has been proposed, may be combined and the correction may become statewide. The Coalition hopes to participate in that process, helping to craft the bill that will continue to garner support and successfully continue through the process of committee hearings and full vote.
From time to time we will call upon our fellow shore rental owners to reach out to the elected officials as the bills are reintroduced. The NJSRC is committed to success and pledge to keep you informed every step of the way.
– The NJ Shore Rentals Coalition
* Our sponsor count keeps climbing! 23 total Sponsors and Co-sponsors between the bills.
Assembly Bill A-4520
Primary Sponsors
McKeon, John F.
DeAngelo, Wayne P.
Pinkin, Nancy J.
Co-sponsors
Handlin, Amy H.
Bucco, Anthony M.
McGuckin, Gregory P.
Wolfe, David W.
DePhillips, Christopher P.
Danielsen, Joe
Dancer, Ronald S.
Peterson, Erik
Land, R. Bruce
Andrzejczak, Bob
Carter, Linda S.
Rumpf, Brian E.
Gove, DiAnne C
Vainieri Huttle, Valerie
Peters, Ryan E.
Senate Bill S-3133
Primary Sponsors
Andrzejczak, Bob
Pennacchio, Joseph
Co-Sponsors
Van Drew, Jeff
Holzapfel, James W.
Doherty, Michael J.
Turner, Shirley K.
This additional cost will be the reason our family and others we know will look for another state to vacation in. This year it would cost us an additional $800 to come back to LBI. After 38 years we say hello to Pennsylvania.
Our families in NJ are not feeling this is going in a positive way for homeowners or families vacationing at NJ shore communities. They also are wondering why realtors are exempt. Either way they feel it is adding additional cost to tenants.
This is our feedback from our families. I have provided legislators contact information and all indicated they would share with other family members and friends. I am surprised at the low concern of our homeowners, 217 contributors is disappointing, but is representative of a national trend by Americans…who cares, let someone else take issue, I’m not going to make a difference and on and on. Thank you for all your work and effort, I am assuming 1/17 date will not have this issue on its agenda? Frustrating.
By exempting real estate agencies and targeting only individual owners, is it possible a lawsuit can be brought against this law for illegal discrimination?
Being 73, my husband and I move out of our Ocean City, NJ
Home for 8 weeks to get, needed income to pay for NJ
Property taxes and insurances to vacation rentals. Over the years we
Have many repeats guests, who the new tax is way to high to pass on
In 1 year, so I’m paying the tax myself with only a 100.00 increase to guests. Better profit to me then renting through a realtor at 15% commission fee, a loss to us either way. Please elimate tax or lower.
Haven’t heard where the millions of dollars of revenue will be going.
Can’ afford to live in our childhood state of NJ much longer!
It is only January and I have already lost 2 previous renters to DE.
The tax money was the amount these two family normally spend on the boardwalk….people save all year for this one week and now NJ has made this out of reach for many…..we are not hotels….we do not have Staff…we worked hard to acquire a property to rent and enjoy ourselves and now we are going to face a financial dilemma if our summer weeks are not fully booked. Repeal this unnecessary tax for the state and keep the money in the communities where it belongs. Thank you
It’s no wonder people are moving out of New Jersey. Our legislators only know how to create new taxes instead of cutting wasteful spending. Every year I rent my condo in Wildwood to vacationers, I pay a Mercantile License to the City of Wildwood, a fee to my condo association, federal income tax, state income tax and a fee to VRBO, if the rental is generated there. That’s five hands in my pocket. Now the state wants to put another hand in to double tax the same income. I didn’t even mention the ridiculous property tax I pay. They really know how to chase people out of NJ. I hope they are all voted out of office.
Hi I am a home owner are in Bradley Beach and I know I’m kind a late to join the party here but it seems to me that we now have to pay tax if we rent our place directly on sites like Zillow and craigslist so not quite sure how we are moving forward in a positive direction. So frustrated. It seems like the only winners are the government and realtors.
For the past 20 years, I have only one renter who rents 8 weeks during the summer. I just …after 5 years…last year raised his rent $50 a week. Here are my choices….forget renting which I hate to do since income is used for taxes etc. …..list my property with a realtor and pay them a commission which I have not done in 20 years (Hurrah for realtors!!!!!)…..or have my renter pay even more than he expects to pay….Then I assume I have to get a tax id…collect the tax….remit the tax…Hey, I am too old for all this.
The City of Sea isle City will lose revenue if I decide not to rent, my renter will go elsewhere !!!!