A New Jersey housing advocacy group is challenging the affordable housing plans of 16 towns, saying they fall short of what is required by a 2024 law that aims to add 80,000 new homes across the state.

If the nonprofit Fair Share Housing Center’s court challenge succeeds, the towns could be stripped of legal protections and affordable housing developers could sue them to force more housing to be built.

Under the 2024 state law, which went into effect in June, more than 500 municipalities are required to build a set number of affordable homes. The towns are mandated to add between 150 and 1,000 homes between now and 2035 , Gothamist reported last year. For towns that comply with the requirement, the law grants them immunity from lawsuits brought by builders and developers who want to co

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