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Bill > S3737
NJ S3737
NJ S3737Requires municipalities to accept complaints and provide certain municipal announcements by electronic means.
summary
Introduced
03/05/2026
03/05/2026
In Committee
03/05/2026
03/05/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires municipalities to have electronic systems in place to receive complaints and to provide certain municipal announcements. The complaint system required by the bill would allow an individual to fill out and transmit a complaint form on the Internet website of the municipality. The notification system would allow an individual to sign up to receive electronic announcements of certain municipal information through e-mail, text messages, social media, or other electronic means. While many municipalities already have such systems in place, many do not. This bill would require all municipalities to have these systems in order to ensure that all residents of the State receive the benefits of these transparency measures. In light of the unfunded mandate provisions of the State Constitution, under which a State law may be declared unconstitutional if it does not authorize resources other than the property tax to offset the additional direct expenditures required for its implementation, this bill would only require the implementation of these electronic systems if funding is made available for those purposes through State appropriations, grants, or otherwise. Further, any action undertaken pursuant to the provisions of the bill would not be deemed to be an exercise of a government function and not be subject to the provisions of the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq.
AI Summary
This bill requires municipalities to establish electronic systems for residents to submit complaints and receive important announcements, aiming to increase transparency and accessibility. Specifically, municipalities must provide an online form on their website for submitting complaints, and if a municipality lacks a website, the Department of Community Affairs will host a form for them. Additionally, municipalities must set up a system for residents to sign up for electronic notifications, such as emails or text messages, about various municipal matters including public meeting notices, budgets, emergencies, and traffic changes, with "municipal announcement" defined as information relevant to the municipality. Crucially, the implementation of these electronic systems is contingent upon funding being made available through state appropriations or grants, and any actions taken under this bill will not be considered a government function, thus exempting them from the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," which governs lawsuits against government entities.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 03/05/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3737 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S4000/3737_I1.HTM |
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