1. a. (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, whenever a Public Health Emergency, pursuant to the “Emergency Health Powers Act,” P.L.2005, c.222 (C. 26:13-1 et seq.) has been declared by the Governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is in effect, the Governor may issue an executive order to declare that a lessee, tenant, homeowner or any other person shall not be removed from a residential property as the result of an eviction or foreclosure proceeding. This executive order shall remain in effect for no longer than two months following the end of the Public Health Emergency except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.

(2) (a) For eviction actions based upon reasons other than nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or failure to pay a rent increase, Executive Order No. 106 of 2020 shall expire upon the effective date of P.L.2021, c.188 (C. 52:27D-287.7 et al.).

(b) For eviction actions based upon nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or failure to pay a rent increase, Executive Order No. 106 of 2020 shall expire on August 31, 2021, for any lessee or tenant who is not a very low-income, low-income, or moderate-income household.

(c) For eviction actions based upon nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or failure to pay a rent increase, Executive Order No. 106 of 2020 shall expire on December 31, 2021, for any lessee or tenant who is a very low-income, low-income, or moderate-income household. Provided, however, that the protections conferred on such tenants by this section shall expire on August 31, 2021, to the extent that such tenants do not comply with the certification requirements of subsection d. of section 3 of P.L.2021, c.188 (C. 52:27D-287.9).

(d) To the extent that it prohibits the removal from a residential property as a result of a foreclosure proceeding of any homeowner, Executive Order No. 106 of 2020 shall expire on November 15, 2021.

(e) The Governor shall have the ability to revoke or modify Executive Order No. 106 of 2020 prior to December 31, 2021 in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, Executive Order No. 106 of 2020 may be extended pursuant to the procedures set forth in subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2021, c.103, if there is substantial evidence that hospitalizations and deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to recur or substantially worsen if an extension is not ordered.

b. Eviction and foreclosure proceedings may be initiated or continued during the time of an executive order issued pursuant to this section, but enforcement of all judgments for possession, warrants of removal, and writs of possession shall be stayed during this period if the Governor has issued an executive order prohibiting certain removals from residential property pursuant to subsection a. of this section, unless the court determines on its own motion or motion of the parties that enforcement is necessary in the interest of justice.

c. Sheriffs, court officers, and their agents shall refrain from acting to remove individuals from residential properties through the eviction or foreclosure processes during the time of an executive order issued by the Governor prohibiting certain removals from residential property pursuant to subsection a. of this section, unless the court determines on its own motion or motion of the parties that removal is necessary in the interest of justice.

d. As used in this section, “residential property” means any property rented or owned for residential purposes, including, but not limited to, any house, building, mobile home or land in a mobile home park, or tenement leased for residential purposes, but shall not include any hotel, motel, or other guest house, or part thereof, rented to a transient guest or seasonal tenant, or a residential health care facility.

L.2020, c.1, s.1; amended 2021, c.187, s.6.