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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Assembly Bill 491 Requires Fire Barriers in Multi-Story Residential Attic Areas
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing CommitteeSponsor: Gabriel Rodriguez
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 491 requires certain residential buildings of three or more stories with two or more dwelling units to install three-hour fire-resistance-rated s in common lofts, attics, or s. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must issue implementing regulations within six months, and existing qualified buildings must complete installations within 180 days of those rules being adopted.
Property owners of multi-story residential buildings must incur the cost of installing three-hour rated s in shared attic spaces, while occupants gain enhanced fire safety protections intended to slow fire propagation and allow more evacuation time.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Property owners of qualified residential buildings
Property owners must install three-hour rated fire barriers in common attics and comply with inspection requirements within specified deadlines.
Residents of qualified residential buildings
Residents experience enhanced fire safety protections designed to slow fire spread and allow additional evacuation time.
Firefighters
Firefighters encounter limited fire scopes and slowed fire propagation when combating blazes in residential attics.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which buildings are required to install the new fire barriers?
How quickly do existing buildings need to comply after regulations are finalized?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
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Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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