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Bill > S2554


NJ S2554

NJ S2554
Establishes Bureau of Short-Term Local Government Note Investments and requires bureau to bid on or offer to purchase certain short term obligations issued by local governments.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires the State of New Jersey to take steps to maximize its returns in short-term investments made through the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund and the State's pension and annuity funds. The bill establishes a Bureau of Short-Term Local Government Note Investments in the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury. The bureau would be supervised by a chief who would work under the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury. The bill requires the bureau to monitor the sale of short-term local government notes and allows the bureau to submit responsible bids or offers to purchase short-term notes issued by local governments the investment would generate a rate of return of at least one percent higher to United States Treasury Obligations with a similar maturity. The bill also authorizes the bureau to purchase short-term notes issued by local units that do not otherwise meet the minimum credit rating requirements established by current State regulations, if the issuers' finances and financial systems are regulated by the State of New Jersey, or another state determined by the bureau to have a similar local finance regulatory structure that protects investors in case there is a substantive default on the payment of the notes. In addition to increasing the State's investment returns, this bill is intended to spur competition for the purchase of short-term local government debt and reduce the interest rates charged to certain underserved local governments that experience high borrowing costs even through the notes issued by those local government units have proven to be extremely safe investments.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Bureau of Short-Term Local Government Note Investments within the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury to enhance the State of New Jersey's returns on short-term investments made through the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund and pension and annuity funds. The bureau, overseen by a chief, will monitor and bid on or offer to purchase short-term obligations (notes with maturities of up to 397 days) issued by local governments, provided these investments offer at least a one percent higher rate of return than comparable United States Treasury Obligations. Importantly, the bureau is authorized to purchase these short-term notes even if they don't meet standard credit rating requirements, as long as the issuing local government's finances are regulated by New Jersey or another state with a similarly protective regulatory structure for investors, aiming to spur competition for local government debt and lower borrowing costs for underserved municipalities.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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