View Comments New Jerseyans leaving prison may have a better chance of finding and securing a place to live after the state Senate and Assembly on Thursday passed the Fair Chance in Housing Act and sent it to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk, after months of negotiation with housing and civil rights groups and the state landlords association. Murphy is expected to sign the bill. The "ban the box" bill (A1919/S250) would bar potential landlords from asking about an applicant's criminal history before making a conditional offer to rent, removing a barrier that would otherwise likely exclude them from being considered.