An executive order by Gov. Phil Murphy that allowed struggling residential renters to pay rent using their security deposit during the pandemic was upheld by the Appellate Division on Tuesday.

The panel issued the 48-page decision in Kravitz v. Murphy on July 20 where the court rejected arguments set forth by several mom-and-pop housing providers that claimed Murphy exceeded his statutory authority and acted unconstitutionally when he issued Executive Order 128 on April 24, 2020.