At 30th Governor’s Housing Conference, Sherrill says N.J. needs 350,000+ homes this decade and doubles state-land build plan

ATLANTIC CITY — In a live keynote and X broadcast Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2026, Gov. Mikie Sherrill told the 30th Annual Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development that New Jersey must build more than 350,000 homes over the next decade and unveiled results of her Housing Governing Council’s work under Executive Order 17. The same-day official Strategy package (housingcouncil.nj.gov/strategy/) organizes that agenda around five pillars — state land and transit-oriented development, permitting speed (“speed to shovel”), municipal partnership, expanded homeownership/access, and renter and homelessness protections. On audio she referred to “the final pillar of my strategy” and closed “New Jersey, let’s build something” — she did not enumerate all five pillars or utter the exact slogan “Let’s Build, New Jersey!” on mic.

Remarks below separate what Sherrill said on the conference audio / X broadcast from what Hudson TV has matched against primary official documents.

Housing Governing Council / EO 17

Sherrill said: In her first 100 days she signed an executive order creating the state’s first Housing Governing Council and gave members 150 days to explore major housing policy questions; today she would present the council’s results — input from 47 agencies and authorities and hundreds of leaders — with details at housingcouncil.nj.gov.

Verified: EO No. 17 was signed April 27, 2026; it convenes the Housing Governing Council with initial recommendations due within 150 days (by about Sep. 24, 2026, timed to the housing conference). Primary: EO-17 PDF; Gov press release 4/27/2026; same-day strategy hub housingcouncil.nj.gov.

Not yet independently verified: Exact claim of “47 agencies and authorities” submitting input — stated on audio and echoed in strategy framing; not separately enumerated in the EO text itself.

350,000+ new homes next decade

Sherrill said: “New Jersey will need more than 350,000 new homes in the next decade to fill our current gaps and make room for the next generation.”

Verified: Housing Governing Council data brief / Strategy & Progress Report state N.J. would need between 350,500 and 406,500 new homes over the next 10 years. Primary: EO17 Housing Data Brief; Housing Strategy & Progress Report. Audio’s “more than 350,000” matches the official floor.

NJ Transit LAND — Woodbridge and Hoboken

Sherrill said: Last year NJ Transit launched the LAND plan, which will deliver up to 20,000 new homes on its properties; “Shovels are already in the ground in Woodbridge and Hoboken.”

Verified: LAND Plan (Leveraging Assets for Non-farebox Dollars) projects roughly 14,000–20,000 housing units on NJ Transit properties; Strategy Report confirms shovels in Woodbridge and Hoboken; NJ Transit TOD profiles list Metropark (Woodbridge) and Hoboken Connect under construction. Primary: Strategy Report; NJ Transit TOD under construction.

Hudson County angle: Hoboken is the only Hudson locality named in the broadcast for LAND shovel-ready work (Hoboken Connect). Hudson TV is not expanding Hudson beyond that without further sourcing.

State land inventory — doubled goal

Sherrill said: After inventorying state land, “we found enough property for another 20,000 homes doubling our original goal.”

Verified (with nuance): Official Strategy Report / Executive Summary: the administration doubled the plan to build housing on state-owned land; estimate that state land can deliver between 37,200 and 42,800 homes (LAND 14k–20k plus additional state portfolio). Primary: Strategy Summary PDF; full Strategy Report. Audio’s round “another 20,000” simplifies the official total range.

HMFA tax credit auctions — $40M spring; $60M fall

Sherrill said: This spring HMFA hosted its first tax credit auction, selling $40 million in unused tax credits; this fall they will put another $60 million up for grabs.

Verified: NJHMFA July 27, 2026 release: sold $40 million in the spring auction; announced a fall auction of approximately $60 million (Oct. 16–Nov. 30, 2026). Primary: NJHMFA 7/27/2026.

Permitting dashboard, DOT backlog, DEP −72%, shot clocks

Sherrill said: A summer pilot permitting dashboard includes six housing projects; the DOT backlog was eliminated for one permit to build housing near state roads; DEP cut the backlog for a key housing permit by 72%; next is a “shot clock” so applicants know when to expect a decision.

Verified:

• Dashboard pilot: 10 projects total; six housing projects (~3,713 potential homes) — Gov 6/18/2026; Strategy Report.
• NJDOT Minor Access permit backlog eliminated (needed for many housing projects next to state roadways) — Strategy Report.
• DEP Freshwater Wetlands LOI backlog reduced 72% (LOIs framed as a key early step for housing/development) — Strategy Report. Audio said “key housing permit” without naming LOI; official docs specify LOI.
• Shot clocks: EO 5 / Strategy Report describe development/implementation of permit “shot clocks” — not confirmed as fully live for all housing permits.

NJ HOMES (DCA) — capacity tripled

Sherrill said: DCA launched NJ Homes; “We just tripled the program’s capacity, reaching 30 more towns in the newest cohort.”

Verified (softened): Strategy Report confirms tripled capacity in NJ HOMES — it does not hard-code “30 more towns.” DCA July 16, 2026 lists the first NJ HOMES ABC cohort as 31 municipalities. A June 24 Gov release separately described a second-cohort application round with 30 municipalities to be selected. Verified voice: “tripled capacity” / “newest cohort (DCA lists 31 ABC towns)” — keep audio’s “30 more” under Sherrill said only. Primary: DCA 7/16/2026; Gov 6/24/2026; Strategy Report.

Law prioritizing grants for pro-housing towns

Sherrill said: She signed a law to prioritize state grants to towns that update their regulations to welcome new housing.

Verified: A3877 / companion S2960 enacted as P.L.2026, c.78 (signed Aug. 27, 2026 per legislative trackers); Strategy Report describes the newly enacted law (sponsors Speaker Coughlin, Sen. Mukherji) requiring DCA/NJDOT/DOE to prioritize funding for municipalities that enact pro-housing land-use reforms.

Down payment assistance — 3,000 more buyers

Sherrill said: The first budget expanded down payment assistance; it will help 3,000 more first-time homebuyers.

Verified: Strategy Summary/Report: increased Down Payment Assistance funding to help 3,000 first-time and first-generation homebuyers; FY2027 Appropriations Act notes a DPA allocation increase. Primary: Strategy documents; FY2027 Appropriations signing 6/30/2026.

Common application for affordable renters

Sherrill said: For renters, “we intend to build a common application” to make applying for affordable housing faster and easier.

Verified as plan only: Strategy Report: updated Housing Resource Center and “launched a plan to build towards a common application” for affordable housing — not described as live statewide yet. Treat as intent/plan, not a live statewide portal.

FAIR Act — rental algorithms

Sherrill said: She marked six months in office by signing the FAIR Act, further regulating rental algorithms used by apartment owners to illegally collude and increase housing costs.

Verified: Forbidding the Algorithmic Inflation of Rent (FAIR) Act signed July 20, 2026 (A3497; reported as P.L.2026, c.43). Primary: Gov 7/20/2026.

$35M rapid rehousing “firewall”

Sherrill said: The administration sued over Continuum of Care program cuts/conditions; the budget invested $35 million to expand rapid rehousing for those on the verge of homelessness as a “firewall.”

Verified: FY2027 Appropriations Act includes $35 million for DCA Homelessness Response / rapid re-housing expansion; Strategy Report same; AG/coalition lawsuit against HUD Continuum of Care funding conditions referenced on housingcouncil news and Strategy Report. Primary: Gov 6/30/2026. Case caption/docket outcome as of Sep. 29 still needs court/HUD follow-up for final copy.

Hudson TV asks: Should Hoboken prioritize NJ Transit LAND denser housing near the terminal, or slow growth until more parking/schools?

Share your take in the comments — and tell us which option you’d pick and why.

React: reply LAND or SLOW (or OTHER + your idea).

Primary sources: X broadcast https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1rxmqpYknkZxy / post GovSherrillNJ status; same-day official package nj.gov/housingcouncil/strategy/ and linked Strategy PDFs; EO-17; NJHMFA, DCA, and Governor newsroom releases cited above. Conference venue: Atlantic City (Harrah’s Resort per DCA June 12 conference announcement). Accuracy note (PASS WITH FIXES): five-pillar / slogan attributed to Strategy package (audio close only); DEP −72% named as Freshwater Wetlands LOI in verified copy; NJ HOMES softened to Strategy “tripled” + DCA ABC 31; competitor outlets stripped. Still open: 47 agencies count nuance; P.L.2026 c.78 chapter PDF; CoC docket; optional DEP primary 72% URL.