New Jersey lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to legislation proponents say takes a big step toward easing a critical shortage of affordable housing in one of the country’s most expensive states. Hailed as a reform, the package of bills would revamp affordable housing obligations for towns, provide protections from lawsuits that attempt to stop housing from being built, give tax exemptions for affordable housing projects and offer tax deductions for taxpayers affected by it. The legislation also gives more incentives to build housing near grocery stores and transit. Towns are also encoura…