Legislator
Legislator > Parker Space
State Senator
Parker Space
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 24
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Sparta Office
One Wilson Drive
Suite 2B
Sparta, NJ 07871
Suite 2B
Sparta, NJ 07871
Phone: 973-300-0200
General Capitol Building Address
P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Passed |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Passed |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | This bill would strengthen the legal protections provided to farmers under the "Right to Farm Act." Specifically, the bill would allow farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the defense of bad faith complaints against commercial agricultural operations, activities or structures when a county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), as applicable: 1) finds the farmer is entitled to the irrebuttable presumption established under the "Right to Farm Act"; and 2) determines, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the complaint was brought in bad faith and all or a portion of the costs and attorney fees are reasonable. Under the "Right to Farm Act," the established irrebuttable presumption is that a commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice does not constitute a public or private nuisance, or does not otherwise invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property, if: 1) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure conforms to agricultural management practices recommended and adopted by the SADC, or the specific operation or practice of the commercial agricultural operation has been determined to constitute a generally accepted agricultural operation or practice, either by the appropriate county agriculture development board or the SADC, as applicable; and 2) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice complies with all relevant federal and State statutes and regulations, and does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety. Under the bill, a farmer seeking an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees would submit an application therefor to the county agriculture development board or the SADC as applicable, after being found entitled to the irrebuttable presumption. The county agriculture development board or the SADC would then determine, whether a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | Passed |
| S3812 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State- and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Crossed Over |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Passed |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Passed |
| S3662 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | This bill would strengthen the legal protections provided to farmers under the "Right to Farm Act." Specifically, the bill would allow farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the defense of bad faith complaints against commercial agricultural operations, activities or structures when a county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), as applicable: 1) finds the farmer is entitled to the irrebuttable presumption established under the "Right to Farm Act"; and 2) determines, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the complaint was brought in bad faith and all or a portion of the costs and attorney fees are reasonable. Under the "Right to Farm Act," the established irrebuttable presumption is that a commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice does not constitute a public or private nuisance, or does not otherwise invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property, if: 1) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure conforms to agricultural management practices recommended and adopted by the SADC, or the specific operation or practice of the commercial agricultural operation has been determined to constitute a generally accepted agricultural operation or practice, either by the appropriate county agriculture development board or the SADC, as applicable; and 2) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice complies with all relevant federal and State statutes and regulations, and does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety. Under the bill, a farmer seeking an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees would submit an application therefor to the county agriculture development board or the SADC as applicable, after being found entitled to the irrebuttable presumption. The county agriculture development board or the SADC would then determine, whether a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | In Committee |
| S4407 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | In Committee |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Passed |
| S4551 | Appropriates $3,750,990 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would appropriate $3,750,990 to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation purposes. Specifically, the bill would appropriate funds for grants to one qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, for projects at eight farms. The grants provided by the bill are for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes, or up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions approved by the SADC. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Of the total appropriated, $3,561,350 is made available due to the reallocation of previously appropriated monies. Of the total appropriated, $591,700 is to be utilized to provide grants to one qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, for projects at three farms that were previously funded in fiscal year 2024. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | Crossed Over |
| S4567 | Appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses. | This bill appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $102,679,000 would be used by the DEP to provide grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $3,000,000 would be used for a new planning grant program, and $2,320,000 would be used for the DEP's associated administrative costs. The total amount of funding allocated for local government projects listed in this bill is $102,679,000. Of this amount, $22,427,000 is for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 4 of the bill, and $80,252,000 is for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 5 of the bill. Of the sum for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $19,959,000 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $2,086,000 is allocated for open space acquisition projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; and $382,000 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan). Of the sum for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,145,000 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $11,951,000 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $6,638,000 is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); $4,247,000 is allocated for stewardship activity projects; and $28,271,000 is allocated for completely inclusive playground projects, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), otherwise known as "Jake's Law." The projects approved by the bill include projects in "urban aid" and densely or highly populated municipalities and counties. The bill defines a "densely or highly populated municipality" as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a "densely populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a "highly populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. In addition, the bill would appropriate $3 million to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to local governments to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the JBOC, to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). | Passed |
| S4531 | Appropriates $52,798,268 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and other farmland preservation funds to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill appropriates $52,798,268 from various farmland preservation funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for certain farmland preservation purposes. Of the funding provided by the bill, $21,046,028 is appropriated to the SADC to pay the cost of acquisition by the SADC of development easements on, or fee simple titles to, farmland, to provide grants to counties and municipalities for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, and to provide grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, for farmland preservation purposes for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to: the "Agricultural Retention and Development Act"; the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995"; the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act"; the "Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007"; the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009"; and the "Preserve New Jersey Act." In addition, this bill appropriates $3,452,240 from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" to the SADC for the purpose of providing stewardship grants for activities, beyond routine operation and maintenance, undertaken by landowners, or farm operators as agents for landowners, to repair, restore, or improve lands preserved for farmland preservation purposes, including but not limited to, soil and water conservation project activities and deer-fencing activities. The appropriations in this bill for the acquisition of fee simple titles and development easements to farmland and for stewardship grants have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also appropriates to the SADC such sums from any additional proceeds which may become available by the effective date of the bill due to the lease or conveyance of farmland previously acquired in fee simple by the SADC, for the purpose of providing for the cost of acquisition by the SADC of development easements and fee simple titles to farmland for farmland preservation purposes. This bill also appropriates from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" to the SADC: $25,000,000 for organizational, administrative, and other work and services, including salaries, equipment, materials, and services necessary to administer the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act"; $2,000,000 for costs associated with administering the direct easement program; $800,000 for organizational, administrative and other work and services necessary to administer the Garden State Preservation Trust; and $500,000 for the costs associated with legal advice and representation in connection with the committee's enforcement of development easements acquired for farmland preservation purposes pursuant to P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014, for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Of the funding in this bill, $51,616,360 is from these constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues. | Crossed Over |
| S4524 | Appropriates $34 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill appropriates $34 million to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for the purpose of providing planning incentive grants to counties for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act. Under the bill, five counties will each receive a "base grant" of either $1 million or $500,000, as specified in the bill. Those five counties, plus 10 other counties identified in the bill, would also be eligible to compete to receive an additional grant from the "competitive grant fund" pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of the bill, in an amount not to exceed $7.5 million. The maximum grant award a county could receive under the bill is $8.5 million (i.e., the $1 million base grant, if applicable, and a $7.5 million competitive grant). The bill also appropriates to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" moneys from the General Fund already constitutionally dedicated to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" for the purpose of making the appropriations from that fund required by this bill. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | Crossed Over |
| S4503 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | In Committee |
| S4682 | Prohibits condemnation of farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production for purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production. | This bill amends P.L.1971, c.361 to prohibit the condemnation, or taking of private property for a public purpose under the power of eminent domain pursuant to that law, of a property that is farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production and the person or entity seeking to condemn the property intends to develop that property for a purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production. New Jersey has a stated goal of preserving 500,000 acres of farmland, which it is just over halfway to achieving. To obtain this goal the State needs to have as much active farmland as possible and should not allow it to be taken through eminent domain for non-agricultural purposes. Eminent domain is a tool to be used by the government to promote public projects, such as damns, roads, and parks, not a hammer to be used to take private property for use by other private entities to make money for themselves and the government that approves it. This bill will narrow the scope of the eminent domain law and protect farms that are needed to provide food security for citizens. | In Committee |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Passed |
| S4569 | Appropriates $13,640,000 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants of certain nonprofit entities for open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $13,640,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $11,959,000 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $1,000,000 is to establish a new planning grant program, and $681,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs. Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $8,346,000 is allocated for eight acquisition projects; $2,133,000 is allocated for two park development projects; and $1,480,000 is allocated for four stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill would appropriate $1,000,000 to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. | Crossed Over |
| SR136 | Calls upon Cranbury Township Committee to reconsider proposed use of eminent domain to seize historic Henry Farm; calls for State eminent domain reform. | This resolution of the Senate calls upon Cranbury Township to reconsider the township committee's proposed use of eminent domain to condemn and take the historic Henry Farm, and thereby reduce the acreage of active farmland in the township and the State. The resolution further call upon the Governor and Legislature to limit the use of eminent domain and to reconsider State laws that solve a housing crisis by creating a food insecurity crisis. If carried to its logical conclusion, the State's "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), will replace farmland with housing creating a greater need for farmland to feed the increased population, thus solving one crisis by creating another. Andy and Christopher Henry are the current owners of their family's 21-acre farm, which has been in the family for generations since their great grandfather bought the land in 1850. The Henry brothers have invested more than $200,000 into maintaining the land since they took ownership of the farm 12 years ago. In March 2024, Cranbury Township began its process to identify sites that could help meet its affordable housing requirements, and the brothers received a letter in April 2025 stating that their property was being considered as a site to meet the township's affordable housing requirements. The brothers were further informed that if a deal could not be reached with the family to sell the property, the township could take the farm through eminent domain. The township committee unanimously approved an ordinance on May 12, 2025 authorizing and directing the township to initiate proceedings pursuant to "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), to acquire for public use, by voluntary conveyance or by condemnation, a fee simple or lesser title interest in the lands and improvements of the Henry Farm. Cranbury Township residents packed committee meetings to support the Henry family, with many echoing calls to consider other sites and questioning when the township will push back on State housing mandates. Andy Henry has said he has no intention of selling the land and plans to fight the township's plans to take it by eminent domain, and that he wishes to keep the farm with the Henry family. Andy Henry has further stated that the "farm represents exactly what [the] town prides itself on," further noting that the farm "has open space, rich history, and a farmhouse." Despite objections from dozens of residents, the Cranbury Township Committee approved the plan to acquire the Henry family farm to meet State-mandated affordable housing requirements. The issues around the use of eminent domain in this case are greater than just the acreage of the Henry farm itself, and raise broader societal implications for the preservation of agricultural heritage in the Garden State. Cranbury Township has a long farming tradition that should be respected, and its historic district, which includes buildings from the 19th Century, was originally created as a place to serve local farmers and the agriculture industry. Cranbury Township has in recent years preserved over 2,000 acres of farmland, and Cranbury Township's plan to seize the property goes against Cranbury's long-standing farmland preservation efforts. Seizing of the farm also runs contrary to the New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program's stated goal of permanently preserving 500,000 acres of farmland by 2050 This House calls upon the Township of Cranbury to reconsider its use of eminent domain to take active farmland. | In Committee |
| S4658 | Eliminates sales tax on baby necessities and sunscreen. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of certain baby products and sunscreen. The exemption provided for baby products would include baby wash or soap, baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powders; child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. A "child restraint system" is defined under the bill to mean any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant or young child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or sleeping enclosure designed to accommodate an infant or young child including bassinets and toddler beds. In addition, the bill further defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant or young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sales of sunscreen. "Sunscreen" is defined under the bill to mean a lotion, cream, spray, or gel regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration that is primarily used for purposes of absorbing, reflecting, or scattering ultraviolet radiation and preventing sunburn or any sun-related skin damage. The definition of sunscreen would not, however, include products marketed or intended for use as cosmetics or otherwise intended to be applied for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. | In Committee |
| S3319 | Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill's enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
| SJR166 | Designates first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day." | This joint resolution designates the first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day" to honor the volunteer and career firefighters who courageously made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. There are more than 35,000 men and women serving as volunteer and career firefighters in New Jersey. They play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in our State. They respond to emergency calls without reservation and with little regard for their personal safety. Between 1990 and 2024, approximately 145 on-duty firefighter fatalities were reported in this State. Annually, on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day, the United States Congress and the President of the United States honor firefighters who have lost their lives by flying the American flag on all federal buildings at half-staff. Under this joint resolution, the Governor will direct all State and local government agencies to fly the flag of the United States and the State flag at half-staff in honor of all the volunteer and career firefighters who have died in the line of duty. | In Committee |
| S4611 | "Vehicle Choice Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that restrict or prohibit sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion vehicles in State. | This bill, to be known as the "Vehicle Choice Protection Act," would prohibit State agencies from adopting any rule, regulation, policy, or executive action that has the purpose or effect of prohibiting or restricting the sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion engine vehicles in the State. | In Committee |
| S4610 | "Affordable Home Energy Protection Act"; prohibits adoption of State or local rules that restrict the use of certain fossil-fuel powered appliances or heating systems. | This bill, to be known as the "Affordable Home Energy Protection Act," would prevent State agencies and local governments from adopting any rule, regulation, ordinance or other measure that: (1) prohibits or unduly restricts the installation, connection, or use of appliances or heating systems powered by natural gas, propane, or fuel oil in residential or commercial buildings; or (2) requires a property owner to remove a functioning combustion-based appliance or heating system or replace a functioning combustion-based appliance or heating system with an electric alternative. | In Committee |
| S699 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Crossed Over |
| S1989 | Enhances criminal penalties for persons invloved in certain human trafficking activities. | Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities. | Crossed Over |
| S3902 | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Crossed Over |
| S4570 | Withdraws New Jersey's participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; repeals "Global Warming Response Act" and related sections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law. | This bill would withdraw New Jersey's involvement in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), repeal the "Global Warming Response Act," and amend various sections of statutory law related to its implementation. The bill would direct the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to issue a Notice of Withdrawal to the RGGI Memorandum of Understanding in order to formally revoke New Jersey's agreement to participate in the RGGI program. This bill would also repeal the "Global Warming Response Act," 26 P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et al.), and related sections of 27 P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.), which is commonly referred to as the RGGI implementing law. The bill would amend various sections of the statutory law in order to remove any references to the acts being repealed. The bill would retain section 13 of the RGGI implementing law, as well as subsections g. and h. of 33 P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-87), which were added to that section of law by the Global Warming Response Act, since these provisions do not relate to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, and instead provide only for the discretionary investment, funding, and adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and standards. The bill would also transfer to the General Fund all of the unencumbered moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which was established pursuant to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law. The funds are to be made available for ratepayer relief. Finally, the bill would amend the laws establishing the State's Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund, the State's Plug-in Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund, and the State's three-year "Electric School Bus Program" (which commenced in 2023), in order to remove the provisions of those laws that previously authorized the use of moneys in the Global Warming Solutions Fund. In addition, the bill would clarify that a developer operating under a redevelopment incentive grant agreement will not be eligible to receive payment, from the State Treasurer, for charges that were paid thereby, prior to this bill's effective date, in compliance with the "Global Warming Response Act." | In Committee |
| S4576 | Establishes grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students. | This bill directs the Commission of Education to establish a program to provide grants to school districts to implement a substance abuse prevention program for eighth grade students. The program is to include two components, a faculty and parent education component and a student education component. The program would be modeled on "Project Positive Choice," a successful drug and alcohol education prevention program that has been part of the eighth grade curriculum at the Copeland Middle School in Rockaway Township since the fall of 1998. The faculty and parent education component would be designed to raise the awareness levels of school staff and parents; sensitize them to issues surrounding substance abuse; and promote the success of the program by reinforcing their roles as stakeholders in the program's outcomes. This component will include workshops for the faculty and staff of the school district on various issues related to substance abuse and sessions to provide parents with the knowledge and skills needed to help reduce the risk of children developing substance abuse problems. The student education component would consist of a four-phase approach to the problem of substance abuse. In the first phase, the students would meet with teenage residents of drug rehabilitation programs who would discuss their own personal experiences with drug and alcohol abuse and the dangers of abuse. In the second phase, an individual who has personal family knowledge on the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse on young adults would address the students. This personal address would be accompanied by an appropriate video presentation that educates students on the dangers of substance abuse. The third phase would consist of minimum custody offenders from a State correctional facility having a discussion with students about the crimes committed in which drugs and alcohol played a major role, the amount of time being served in prison, and what life is like while being incarcerated. The goal of the discussion is to reduce the use of drugs and alcohol by youths and promote responsible decision-making. The final phase would consist of a person or persons with celebrity status, as positive role models, addressing the students to present an anti-drug and alcohol message. A student would not be compelled to participate in the program if the student's parent or guardian presents the school principal with a signed statement that the program is in conflict with the student's conscience or moral or religious beliefs. In order to participate in the grant program, a school district would be required to submit an application to the commissioner. The school district, as part of the application, is required to certify that the district's budget includes funds for the purpose of financing a substance abuse prevention program for eighth grade students. The funds may be: district funds; funds raised through individual, corporate, or other private sector donations; or federal funds. The commissioner is to develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants, and based upon the criteria, is to provide to each selected school district a grant in an amount determined by the commissioner. | In Committee |
| SCR133 | Urges Congress to pass "Fix Our Forests Act." | This resolution urges Congress to pass the "Fix Our Forests Act." On average, 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey's forests each year. In addition to damaging the State's forests and wildlife habitats, wildfires also threaten homes and businesses and jeopardize the health and wellbeing of people who live or recreate within or near the State's forests. The considerable number of hot, dry, or windy days that New Jersey has been experiencing increases the likelihood of wildfires. As the most densely populated state in the country, New Jersey residents are increasingly at risk of being near a wildfire. The "Fix Our Forests Act," currently pending in the United States Congress would create an interagency Fireshed Center to use data to assess and predict wildfire risk to help inform wildfire reduction activities. A data-driven approach to assessing wildfire risk could help this State make strategic decisions about land management practices and take actions that are most likely to decrease the risk of wildfires. Forest fire management techniques vary broadly and can include using prescribed fires to reduce brush that fuels wildfires, thinning the number of trees through accepted forest management practices, minimizing the spread of diseases and insects, and building resilience in at-risk communities. The "Fix Our Forests Act" would facilitate environmental reviews for accepted forest management practices, limit litigation involving fireshed management projects, promote livestock grazing in forests, require a study on pine beetle infestations, and promote strategies to strengthen the domestic seed supply. | In Committee |
| S4580 | Exempts grooming and hygiene products and certain baby products from sales and use tax. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of grooming and hygiene products, as well as the sales of certain baby products. Under current law, receipts from the sales of grooming and hygiene products designed for human use are subject to sales and use tax. A "grooming and hygiene product" would qualify for the sales and use tax exemption provided under the bill if the product is soap or cleaning solution, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, anti-perspirant, or sun tan lotion or screen, regardless of whether the item is an "over-the-counter drug" under State law. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for select baby products, namely: child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant or young child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury, and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. A "crib" is defined under the bill as a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant. Finally, the bill defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport a young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| S4579 | Requires display of estimated odds of winning on certain lottery tickets and State Lottery website. | This bill requires the State Lottery Commission to prominently display the overall estimated odds of winning a lottery prize, regardless of amount. For games other than draw games, the odds will be displayed on every such game sold. For draw games, the estimated odds of winning will be made readily available to consumers at the point of sale and on the official New Jersey Lottery website. The bill requires that the odds of winning be expressed in a standardized format in a manner to be determined by the commission. The bill defines "draw based game" to mean a game whose tickets are generated from the gaming system, the winning numbers are randomly drawn by mechanical or electronic means, and does not have a pre-determined outcome. | In Committee |
| S4583 | Establishes Office of Labor Law Enforcement. | This bill establishes, in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of Labor Law Enforcement, charged with overseeing, evaluating, and coordinating enforcement activities of the department regarding violations of State labor laws. The bill directs the Attorney General, upon a request by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, to assign one or more deputy attorneys general to represent the department in proceedings regarding State labor law violations, with the assigned deputy attorneys general co-located in department facilities with department personnel engaged in labor law enforcement. The department is required to issue and make public an annual report regarding the office which includes, for each labor law, a summary of enforcement activities, the number of deputy attorneys general and department personnel dedicated to enforcement, personnel costs, the amount of penalties and other revenues collected, and what portion of the revenues are expended on enforcement. The report shall include an analysis of, and recommendations regarding, any changes needed in the number of personnel, including the number of assigned deputy attorneys general, for the enforcement of each law. The bill requires that recommendations in the report be taken into consideration by the Governor in the development of the State budget for the following fiscal year. The bill requires that all sums collected as fines or penalties pursuant to State labor laws be applied to costs of enforcement and administration of those laws, including expenses of the Office of Labor Law Enforcement. "State labor laws" are defined as all laws administered by the department that concern standards regarding wages and other terms and conditions of employment, and the financing and provision of benefits or insurance for workers. | In Committee |
| S4578 | Establishes minimum acreage goal and schedule for prescribed burns in pinelands area and Statewide. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection, within one year of the bill's enactment, to ensure that prescribed burns are conducted annually on certain minimum acreage in the pinelands area, and elsewhere in the State. The prescribed burns are to take place on minimum acreage beginning with 25,000 acres in the pinelands area and an additional 10,000 acres Statewide and increasing over a period of six years to a final total of 50,000 acres in the pinelands area and 20,000 acres Statewide. A prescribed burn may be conducted by the State, the federal government, or a landowner or lessee with approval by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to existing law. The bill would also require all relevant State agencies involved in environmental planning and land use management to incorporate the Statewide prescribed burn goal into all plans, programs, and surveys, whether they are Statewide or local initiatives, or undertaken in conjunction with the federal government. The bill would require all prescribed burns throughout the State to occur between the months of November and March. According to the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, prescribed burns are generally conducted during late winter months to reduce the amount of smoke produced and because weather conditions tend to be more predictable for safer controlled fires. Under this bill, prescribed burns would be required to be conducted and completed prior to prime wildfire season, which is typically during the months of April and May in New Jersey. A prescribed burn is the deliberate ignition and controlled open burning of wildland fire fuels to attain resource management objectives, such as public safety, wildfire control, ecological, silvicultural, agricultural, or other natural resource management goals. | In Committee |
| S2891 | Supports activities of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. | This bill would establish a permanent new source of funding of up to $1.5 million for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc., (NJMEP) or an appropriate successor from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The NJMEP is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the profitability and competitiveness of manufacturers in this State. NJMEP helps organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. Under current law, of the total revenues dedicated to the Workforce Development Partnership Funds, 35 percent is reserved for and appropriated to the Office of Customized Training. The bill reduces this allocation by $1.5 million. | In Committee |
| S4577 | Requires DCA to conduct study on local government use of financial agreements granting tax abatements and exemptions and accepting payments in lieu of taxation for redevelopment and rehabilitation. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, to study and report on the use of financial agreements by municipalities to allow redevelopers to make scheduled payments in lieu of taxation as a tool to stimulate the redevelopment and rehabilitation of blighted and other areas. The purpose of the study and report is to identify and examine the impact of the use of the redevelopment and rehabilitation tools authorized under the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et seq.) and the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law," P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.) for the revitalization of areas in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation. The study, at a minimum, is required to examine and generate information, as provided in the bill, on:· the total number of financial agreements that municipalities have entered into; · the length of the term of each financial agreement; · the amount of tax revenue exempted or abated by each financial agreement;· the amount of revenue derived from payments in lieu of taxation for each financial agreement;· a description or summary of the proposed or completed redevelopment and rehabilitation resulting from each financial agreement; and· the list of the parties of the financial agreement for the tax abatement. The bill requires the governing body of a municipality to submit any information requested for the study to the Department of Community Affairs, in a manner and on such forms as determined by the commissioner. Under the bill, the commissioner, in consultation with the director, within one year of the effective date of the bill, in is to submit a written report to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), setting forth the results of the study and any recommendations for policy or legislative action to increase efficiency and effectiveness while preserving local autonomy to the greatest extent possible. | In Committee |
| S4312 | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | In Committee |
| A4535 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | An Act concerning State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally, amending and supplementing P.L.1979, c.496, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2527 | Subjects certain rooming and boarding houses to municipal land use regulations; requires owners and operators of cooperative sober living residences to submit certain approvals with license applications. | Subjects certain rooming and boarding houses to municipal land use regulations; requires owners and operators of cooperative sober living residences to submit certain approvals with license applications. | In Committee |
| S2332 | Allows complaint for guardianship of minor to be filed six months before minor reaches age 18 under certain circumstances; establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints. | This bill allows a complaint for guardianship of a minor who is anticipated to require a guardian upon attaining the age of 18 to be filed six months before the minor attains the age of 18. The bill also establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints in general. Under current law, once a child reaches age 18, a parent or other appropriate person may file a complaint for guardianship. However, if proceedings are delayed and a guardian is not yet appointed, the young person is left without the legal protection of a parent, other appropriate person, or appointed guardian, until such time as the guardian is actually appointed. Allowing guardianship proceedings to be initiated in advance will help avoid potential administrative or procedural delays and ensure a seamless transition as the minor turns age 18. Under the bill, an order of guardianship entered before a minor is 18 would not take effect until the day the minor turns 18. The bill additionally specifies that a complaint for adjudication of incapacity and appointment of a guardian shall not be withdrawn absent a showing that the alleged incapacitated person is deceased or has capacity. The showing of capacity does not require medical evidence but may, in the court's discretion, be satisfied by testimony of a witness with knowledge of the alleged incapacitated person's condition and circumstances. | Passed |
| S4455 | Requires age verification to prohibit minors from accessing sexually explicit material online. | This bill amends the State's obscenity law for minors to require sexually oriented online entities to perform age verifications for sexually explicit obscene material available over the Internet. Under existing law, N.J.S.A.2C:34-3, it is a crime of the third degree to sell, distribute, rent, or exhibit sexually explicit obscene material to a person under 18 years of age. However, it is an affirmative defense that: (a) the person under age 18 falsely represented in or by writing that he was age 18 or over; (b) the person's appearance was such that an individual of ordinary prudence would believe him to be age 18 or over; and (c) the sale, distribution, rental, showing, or exhibition was made in good faith relying upon such written representation and appearance and in the reasonable belief that the person was actually age 18 or over. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The obscenity law originates from a time before widespread use of the Internet, when sexually explicit material was generally available only through certain retail stores, or adult video stores, book stores, or theaters. Under the bill, the obscenity law is extended to apply to sexually oriented online entities, which are defined as persons or entities engaged in the business of exhibiting or showing obscene material through the Internet, and includes websites, social media platforms, file sharing platforms, video platforms, gaming platforms, mobile applications, bulletin board systems, and other Internet-connected networks, the primary purpose or substantial portion of which is to exhibit or show obscene material; to allow individuals to share or distribute obscene material with other individuals; or to allow individuals to generate obscene material. A sexually oriented online entity located in this State or that exhibits or shows obscene material to individuals in this State through the Internet will be required to verify that each individual that attempts to access or view the obscene material is at least 18 years of age. The bill provides that age verification may be performed through a proprietary system developed by the entity, commercial third-party services, or online driver's license checks available through the Motor Vehicle Commission, provided that certain data protections for user privacy are followed. A sexually oriented online entity that violates the age verification requirement will be subject to prosecution under the obscenity law and, if convicted, will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $50,000 in addition to any other penalty imposed. | In Committee |
| S4409 | Repeals law that requires diversity and inclusion instruction for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12. | This bill repeals current State that requires school districts to provide instruction on diversity and inclusion, P.L.2021, c.32 (C.18A:35-4.36a). The law provides that school districts incorporate the instruction in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | In Committee |
| SR132 | Urges Governor to declare energy generation emergency in New Jersey. | This Senate Resolution urges the Governor to declare an energy generation emergency in the State and take the necessary steps to prioritize increased energy transmission and generation capacity. Energy production is fundamental to the State's economic stability, security, and its citizens' quality of life. New Jersey has lost over 20 percent of it generating capacity over the last eight years and has gone from a net energy exporter to a net energy importer. The demand for reliable and efficient energy sources is accelerating across the nation. New Jersey should be ready to meet increasing demands for energy generation and energy independence. | In Committee |
| S4444 | Requires health insurance coverage for certain neurological diseases. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and State and School Employees' Health Benefits Program contracts) to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the diagnosis and treatment of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) that is prescribed or ordered by the treating physician. Coverage pursuant to the bill includes antibiotics, medication and behavioral therapies to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. | In Committee |
| SR129 | Urges Congress to support policies that examine international pollution differential and hold foreign polluters accountable for their pollution. | This resolution would urge Congress to support policies that examine the pollution differential between the United States' pollution production and that of other countries. This resolution also urges Congress to support policies that hold foreign polluters accountable to the extent of their pollution. The United States has reduced more carbon emissions than any other country in the last 15 years and has an economy that is 44 percent more carbon efficient than the world average. Manufacturers in the United States are more efficient in nearly every industry and yet are forced to compete with companies in China and other countries that face few limits on how much they pollute. In contrast, China, by far the world's largest polluter, accounts for an over 30 percent share of global carbon dioxide emissions and subsidizes its exports by not imposing or enforcing reasonable environmental and labor standard. In 2022, China emitted 12,667.4 million tons of carbon dioxide while the United States emitted 4,853.8 million tons. As the United States has made efforts to reduce its pollution production from nonrenewable sources, China's energy production from coal, gas, and oil has only increased over time. Goods produced in China and Russia generate 300 percent and 400 percent on average, respectively, more in carbon emissions compared to equivalent goods produced in the United States. United States trade policy has not taken into account carbon emissions, and as a result, has afforded foreign polluters with loose carbon standards an advantage over the United States for the past several decades. The Chinese government-owned industry is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party and strives to further increase its influence over the global economy in its trade practices. Rewarding United States firms for their environmental performance would bolster domestic manufacturing, generate well-paying jobs, and reduce dependence on imports from high-emitting producers like China and Russia. This resolution would encourage the United States Congress to support policies that investigate the pollution differential between international countries, and strategies that hold those companies accountable for their pollution through international economic and trade policy. | In Committee |
| S3905 | Requires DCA to establish online, Statewide database of local government unit legal notices. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (department) to establish and maintain a database for the purpose of providing the general public with a single, Statewide, access point for locating and viewing local government unit legal notices. Under the bill, whenever a local government unit is required by law to publish a legal notice in one or more newspapers, the local government unit may satisfy that requirement by transmitting the legal notice to the department for inclusion, without charge or fee, on the department's centralized database of local government unit legal notices. The bill affords discretion to the department to determine the manner in which it may require a local government unit to submit legal notices to the department for inclusion in the database. The bill requires the department to prominently post the database on the department's Internet website. | In Committee |
| S4370 | "Road to Tax Relief Act"; provides credit for sales tax remittances for businesses impacted by public highway projects, including Interstate 80 project; provides tax credits for certain businesses and persons impacted by same projects; makes appropriation. | This bill, designated as the "Road to Tax Relief Act," provides various forms of tax relief to certain businesses and employees who are adversely impacted by a public highway project, such as the ongoing repair of Interstate 80 in Morris County after the discovery of numerous sinkholes and voids along the roadway. Specifically, a retail business establishment that operates within an impacted construction zone would be entitled to claim a refundable credit against the remittance required under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) in the amount of taxes collected at the establishment during each month in which the public highway project remains ongoing, less the portion of the tax that is constitutionally dedicated to the Property Tax Relief Fund. To claim the credit, the retail business establishment would be required to submit an application to the Director of the Division of Taxation (director) to verify that the retail business establishment operates within an impacted construction zone. Upon approval of the application, the retail business establishment would be permitted to claim a refundable credit against the requirement to remit any tax collections for which the credit is claimed, subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose. The bill also appropriates such amounts as are necessary to defray the costs of the credits against sales tax remittances. Under the bill, an "impacted construction zone" is defined as any area immediately surrounding a public highway project within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located within the area. The bill also defines a "retail business establishment" to include any small business, with no more than 50 full-time employees, that maintains a fixed permanent location where goods are exhibited or services are offered on an appointment or walk-in basis. Additionally, the bill provides gross income tax and corporate income tax credits to retail business establishments operating within an impacted construction zone in the amount of the revenue losses experienced by the establishment as a result of the public highway project. To claim the credit, the retail business establishment would be required to apply to the director for a certification of the establishment's revenue loss for the applicable tax period. Under the bill, the retail business establishment's revenue loss would be calculated based on the difference between: (1) the "baseline receipts," which include the average sum of the actual receipts, in dollars, received in compensation for goods and services sold at the establishment during the dates comprising the applicable relief period in the four prior years; and (2) the "actual receipts," which include the sum of the actual receipts, in dollars, received in compensation for goods and services sold at a retail business establishment located within an impacted construction zone during the relief period. After approval of the certificate of revenue loss, the retail business establishment would be permitted to claim the tax credit. However, the bill also permits the retail business establishment to apply for a tax credit transfer certificate so that part or all of the credit awarded may be sold or assigned in the tax period during which the tax credit transfer certificate is received. Lastly, the bill also provides gross income tax credits to the employees of retail business establishments operating within an impacted construction zone based on the amount of lost wages experienced by the employee as a result of a modification or reduction to their work schedule due to the impacts of a public highway project. To claim the credit, the employee would be required to apply to the director for a certification of lost wages for the applicable tax period. Under the bill, the employee's lost wages would be calculated based on the difference between: (1) the "baseline wages," which include the compensation that an employee would have otherwise received during the relief period for services rendered at a business establishment had the employee's work schedule not been modified or reduced as a result of the impacts of a public highway project; and (2) the "actual wages," which include the actual compensation received by an employee during the relief period for services rendered at a business establishment. | In Committee |
| S4331 | Prohibits local government from naming its property after foreign terrorist organization. | This bill prohibits a local government from naming property under its ownership or control, including, but not limited to, a road, bridge, school, building, neighborhood, community, or park, after a group, that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government, or after land controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill requires the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (office), to develop and publish a list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands controlled by foreign terrorist organizations, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill defines a "local government" as a municipality, county, school district, or other political subdivision of the State, or any public board, commission, committee, authority, or agency which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority, or agency. The bill requires a local government to remove or dismantle signs, street pole banners, plaques, or other forms of displays of support for, or the naming of property after, a foreign terrorist organization, under the control or ownership of the local government within 30 days following the bill's enactment. Within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the bill requires a local government that has named property under its control or ownership after a foreign terrorist organization to rename the property so that it does not identify the name of as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill requires the State to reimburse local governments for both of these costs, upon application. If a local government violates the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, for each day in which the local government is in violation of the bill, is directed to deduct a portion of the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government. The daily deduction is to be in an amount equal to the result of dividing the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government by the total number of days in the fiscal year in which the State aid is allocated. The bill provides that the division, in consultation with the office, is to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4369 | "Road to Relief Act"; establishes EDA grant program to support increased transportation expenses incurred by certain commuters, employees, and businesses impacted by certain public highway projects, including ongoing Interstate 80 project; appropriates $1 million. | This bill, which is designated as the "Road to Relief Act," requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to reimburse certain commuters, full-time employees, and retail business establishments for the cost of any increased transportation expenses incurred due to a public highway project. Under the bill, the grant program is to reimburse the following persons for an increase in transportation expenses incurred during a relief period: (1) a commuter whose commute is located, in whole or in part, within an impacted construction zone, and whose commute is affected by the public highway project; (2) a full-time employee of a retail business establishment operating within a construction zone, and whose commute is affected by the public highway project; and (3) a retail business establishment operating within an impacted construction zone. The bill defines "relief period" to mean the period of time between the date on which a public highway project commences and the date on which the project concludes. "Public highway project" means any infrastructure project that involves the construction, improvement, or maintenance of a State, county, or municipal highway, road, or street, including, but not limited to, the repair or reconstruction of any highway, road, or street that has suffered serious damage as a result of a natural disaster or catastrophic failure from any external cause. "Impacted construction zone" means any area immediately surrounding a public highway project, within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located within the area. In addition to any other information or documentation that the EDA deems necessary, the bill requires an application for a grant to include: (1) evidence that an applicant is a commuter, full-time employee, or retail business establishment that is qualified under the grant program; (2) documentation of the transportation expenses regularly incurred by the applicant prior to the relief period; and (3) documentation of the increased transportation expenses incurred by the applicant during the relief period as a direct result of the public highway project. An applicant's documentation of transportation expenses prior to and during the relief period, respectively, is required to demonstrate the transportation expenses incurred by the applicant for an equal number of calendar days. The bill directs the EDA to review and approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds for the program. Upon the approval of an application, the grant issued to an approved applicant is required to be in an amount equal to the difference between: (1) the increased transportation expenses incurred by the applicant during the relief period as a direct result of the public highway project; and (2) the transportation expenses regularly incurred by the applicant prior to the relief period. These amounts are to represent the transportation expenses for an equal number of days during which an applicant incurred transportation expenses. To assist the authority in the review of applications under the program, the bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to notify the EDA of the commencement or completion of public highway projects. The Commissioner of Transportation is also required to notify the EDA of each ongoing public highway project within the State within 30 days after the bill's effective date. The bill appropriates $1 million to the EDA to support the costs of administering the grant program. | In Committee |
| S4354 | Prohibits public utilities from imposing surcharge on certain payment transactions. | This bill prohibits a public utility from imposing a surcharge on any public utility customer who has not enrolled in automatic payments through the public utility and, instead, has elected to make an alternative form of payment to the public utility for services rendered to that customer by the public utility. Alternative forms of payment are to include one-time payments made by a public utility customer via: (1) an online credit card transaction; (2) an online debit card transaction; (3) an automated telephone system; or (4) a direct withdrawal from the customer's bank account. Under the bill, "surcharge" means an additional amount imposed by a public utility at the time of a payment transaction that increases a charge to a public utility customer to recover the cost of the public utility's use of third-party payment processing services. | In Committee |
| S2594 | Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | An Act appropriating $22,431,294 from the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003," P.L.2003, c.162, and $6,239,630 from the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, to provide loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2952 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | In Committee |
| S2200 | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | Crossed Over |
| S4275 | Prohibits State contractors from distributing data to foreign adversaries. | This bill prohibits State contractors from selling, transferring, disclosing, or providing data to a foreign adversary. Pursuant to the bill, a person or entity that sells, transfers, discloses, or provides data to foreign adversaries, or entities directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary, will be placed on a list by the Department of the Treasury and will not be permitted to contract with State agencies, subcontract with State contractors, file or renew a Public Works Contractor Registration, receive an economic development subsidy from the Economic Development Authority, be awarded a municipal property tax abatement, make or enter into a payment in-lieu of property tax agreement, apply for or receive a tax clearance certificate from the Division of Taxation, be certified as an urban renewal entity for purposes of the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," or be designated as a redeveloper by a public agency for the purposes of the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." The bill also prohibits the State from banking with, having or holding stock, debt, or other equity investments of, or maintaining insurance coverage through a policy issued by a financial institution that has sold, transferred, disclosed, or provided data to a foreign adversary or an entity directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary. | In Committee |
| S4281 | Permits partnerships and joint ventures to bid on public works and prevailing wage contracts if each party to partnership or joint venture is independently registered. | This bill permits partnerships and joint ventures to bid on public works and prevailing wage contracts in certain cases. Under current law, contractors are unable to bid on any contract for public work, or for which payment of the prevailing wage is required, unless the contractor is registered. This bill allows partnerships and joint ventures to also bid on these contracts if each party in the partnership or joint venture is independently registered. | In Committee |
| S908 | Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools. | This bill would require public and nonpublic schools to ensure that at least one portable anti-choking device is made available in the cafeteria, school nurse's office, and any other similar location. The devices would be placed in an unlocked and easily accessible location during the school day and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking place. The locations of each portable anti-choking device shall have an appropriate identifying sign. A portable anti-choking device is a device that uses manually created suction to remove blockage from a person's airway during a choking emergency. These devices may only be used in schools provided they have been registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Each board of education and the governing board or chief administrator of a nonpublic school would be required to develop policies for the use of anti-choking devices by school nurses and school employees. The policies would include a requirement that all school nurses and school employees receive training in airway management and in the removal of any obstructions from the airway using a portable anti-choking device. The Commissioner of Education would ensure that annual educational opportunities are made available for school nurses and employees of both public and nonpublic schools regarding airway management and the use of portable anti-choking devices. The Department of Education would reimburse public and nonpublic schools for the costs incurred to implement the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| S2911 | Authorizes special plate for holders of "Combat Action Ribbon." | This bill amends the law authorizing a "Combat Infantryman Badge" plate so individuals who have been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon are eligible to receive the plate. Under current law, this plate is only available to the holder of a Combat Infantryman Badge. This requirement prevents Marines from obtaining the special plate, as they are awarded a Combat Action Ribbon and not a Combat Infantryman Badge. This bill amends the law so Marines are eligible to possess the plates. | In Committee |
| S3466 | Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation program; provides aid for watershed lands. | An Act concerning the preservation and protection of land in the Highlands Region, amending P.L.1999, c.152, and amending and supplementing P.L.2004, c.120. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4257 | Establishes Forest Fire Preparedness Commission in DEP. | This bill would establish a "Forest Fire Preparedness Commission" in the Department of Environmental Protection. The commission would be composed of 20 members, including the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the State Firewarden, and the Superintendent of the State Police, or their designees, and representatives of local emergency response organizations. The commission would be charged with various duties related to ensuring that the State is prepared to respond in a timely and effective manner to wildfires, including: (1) performing a comprehensive audit of the State's current protocols related to wildfire response; (2) developing a comprehensive roadmap that may be utilized by State, regional, county, and local emergency responders, including firefighters, police, and medical responders, in order to coordinate their responses to wildfires; and (3) developing standardized lines of communication among the State Forest Fire Service and State, regional, county, and municipal emergency response organizations for the purposes of wildfire response. The bill would require the commission to produce a report that produces its findings, plans, recommendations, and activities no later than two years after the bill's enactment, after which the Forest Fire Preparedness Commission would dissolve. | In Committee |
| A1672 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | An Act concerning eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement and amending P.L.1997, c.348. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S843 | Requires Adjutant General of DMVA create program for veterans to receive evaluation and treatment for PTSD, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. | This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop, in coordination with appropriate departments and agencies, a program to assist veterans in accessing evaluation and treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis related to military service. The program may include offering support and guidance, transportation, assistance filing disability compensation claims, assistance updating discharge status, health care and other services or programs available at the local, State and federal level for obtaining and addressing a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis. Under the bill, "veteran" means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S4152 | Prohibits certain financial institutions from requiring certain disabled veterans to include anticipated property tax obligations as part of mortgage applications. | This bill prohibits certain financial institutions from requiring certain disabled veterans to include anticipated property tax obligations as part of a mortgage applications. Under current law, a veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability, and meets all of the requirements for a veterans' property tax exemption, may apply to the municipality in which their principal residence is located for a property tax exemption. The surviving spouse of such a veteran is also entitled to the property tax exemption for the duration of their widowhood or widowerhood, provided that certain eligibility criteria are met. Currently, when a person, including a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse, seeks a mortgage to purchase a home, banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions generally require that the person qualify for the mortgage based on the calculated monthly mortgage payment for the mortgage loan, plus the monthly share of the annual property tax bill. Although these persons may qualify for a total property tax exemption after purchasing the property, the inclusion of property tax obligations in the mortgage application can make it significantly more difficult for these persons to obtain a mortgage, as well as increase the interest rates that may be approved for these mortgage applicants. Under the bill, when a qualified veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability, or their surviving spouse, seeks a mortgage loan from a State-chartered bank, mortgage company, or credit union for a dwelling house that is to be the person's principal residence, the bank, mortgage company, or credit union may not require the person to indicate or disclose the annual property tax obligation on that dwelling house as part of the underwriting requirements for the mortgage loan, provided that the assessor of the municipality in which the property is located determines that the veteran or surviving spouse satisfies all of the eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, other than the ownership of the property, and certifies the same to the State-chartered bank, mortgage company, or credit union on a form promulgated for this purpose by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. In the case of a mortgage refinance application, the qualified veteran or surviving spouse would be required to meet all of the eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, including ownership of the property. | In Committee |
| S4160 | Imposes criminal penalties for harboring aliens who have outstanding warrants and are unlawfully present in U.S. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:29-3, which prohibits hindering apprehension or prosecution, to impose criminal penalties for harboring an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States with knowledge that an arrest warrant or an immigration warrant has been issued for such an alien, or hindering the apprehension or deportation of such an alien. Under the bill, harboring or hindering the apprehension or deportation of an unlawful alien, with knowledge that the alien has an outstanding warrant, is a crime of the fourth degree. An unlawful alien who hinders his or her own apprehension or deportation is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. However, it is an affirmative defense that an unlawful alien was a victim of human trafficking during the time that the unlawful alien was hindering his or her own apprehension or deportation. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| SJR152 | Designates first full week of June of each year as "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week." | This joint resolution would designate the first full week of June of each year as "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week." Fishing and boating are cornerstones of the American recreational experience. In 2012, an estimated 47 million Americans participated in fishing and 46 million Americans participated in boating. In New Jersey, 766,000 anglers spent a total of 9.5 million days fishing in 2011. The State's parks and natural areas, 127 miles of coastline, hundreds of miles of bayshore, and numerous inland lakes and tributaries provide countless fishing and boating opportunities. New Jersey also offers some of the best and most diverse fishing in the country, including saltwater fishing for striped bass and flounder and stream fishing for brook trout. The State hosts a variety of boating activities, such as sailing, cruising, dining and entertaining, nature observation, and water sports. Recreational fishing and boating are excellent opportunities for families to spend time together, and for people to learn about and help conserve the natural environment. Fishing and boating are also believed by many to be significant stress-relieving activities. National Fishing and Boating Week, which often takes place at the beginning of June, highlights the importance of fishing and boating in enhancing people's quality of life and preserving the country's natural beauty. By designating New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week in June, it is hoped that this will encourage all people to participate in fishing and boating, and enjoy the natural beauty of the State in one of the best months to take it in. This joint resolution would request the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week" with appropriate activities and programs. It would also direct the Division of Fish and Wildlife to take appropriate measures each year to publicize "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week," and to coordinate at least one of the State's free fishing days, selected pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1985, c.352 (C.23:3-1b), with that week. | In Committee |
| SJR153 | Designates The Growing Stage Children's Theatre of New Jersey as New Jersey State children's theatre. | This resolution would designate The Growing Stage Children's Theatre of New Jersey as the New Jersey State children's theatre. The Growing Stage plays a unique role in the State by introducing children and families to the performing arts. The theatre has had a long history of enriching the community by presenting a variety of productions to thousands of people. The theatre actively engages communities of all economic and social backgrounds to be a part of the performing arts. | In Committee |
| SR124 | Commemorates 75th anniversary of Sport Fish Restoration Program. | The Sport Fish Restoration Program, established by the "Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act" (commonly known as the Dingell-Johnson Act), was signed into law in 1950 to provide critical funding for the management, conservation, and restoration of sportfish populations and aquatic habitats in the United States. The funding for the Sport Fish Restoration Program is derived from excise taxes on fishing and motorboat equipment, as well as excise taxes on motorboat fuels, allowing the users of these natural resources to directly contribute to their conservation. The Sport Fish Restoration Program, along with the Wildlife Restoration Program constitute the American System of Conservation Funding, and collectively are widely regarded as having funded the most successful conservation effort in American history. The Sport Fish Restoration Program has played a vital role in sustaining the health of the nation's aquatic resources, ensuring access to fishing opportunities for millions of Americans, and preserving aquatic ecosystems for future generations. New Jersey, with its diverse aquatic habitats, from the freshwater rivers and streams of the Delaware River Basin to the coastal saltwater ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean, has greatly benefited from the restoration efforts and funding provided by the Sport Fish Restoration Program. New Jersey's iconic aquatic species, including the striped bass, brook trout, and American shad, have experienced population increases and habitat improvements due to efforts supported by the Sport Fish Restoration Program. The Sport Fish Restoration Program continues to fund numerous conservation projects in New Jersey's waters, fostering collaborative partnerships with local organizations and conservationists to ensure long-term ecological balance in the State's waterways. The 75-year legacy of the Sport Fish Restoration Program stands as a testament to the dedication of countless hunters and anglers who were among the first conservationists to recognize American's natural resources were in peril and could not sustain unregulated harvest and habitat destruction, and who worked together with governmental organizations to protect and enhance the future of sportfishing and aquatic conservation in New Jersey and across the nation. | In Committee |
| S4138 | Eliminates certain requirements for nonprofit organization operating ski area. | This bill eliminates certain requirements for nonprofit organizations operating a ski area. Under current law, the operator of a ski area is required to:· establish and post a system generally identifying slopes and trails and designating the relative degrees of difficulty of the slopes and trails and make trail maps and trail reports available to skiers;· make available, either by oral or written report, information concerning the daily conditions of the slopes and trails; and· remove obvious, man-made hazards as soon as practicable. Under the bill, the operator of a ski area is not required to comply with these provisions if the ski area is operated by a nonprofit organization. The bill defines "nonprofit organization" to mean a private nonprofit corporation, society, or association that has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury to be exempt from income taxation under 26 U.S.C.s.501(c)(3). | In Committee |
| S4139 | Requires public utility to reimburse the State or local unit, in certain circumstances, for costs incurred in securing potentially dangerous condition caused by property controlled by the public utility. | This bill proposes to require a public utility, that is in control of property that may result in a potentially dangerous condition, to be responsible for reimbursing the State or a local unit of government for the costs incurred in securing the property for the purpose of protecting the safety and welfare of the general public from exposure to the potentially dangerous condition. The bill enables the State or local unit of government to seek reimbursement from the public utility, and requires the public utility to pay over to the State or local unit of government the amount of costs incurred by the State or local unit. These provisions are not to apply to the period during which the property at issue is the subject of a declared state of emergency. As a condition to the initiation of a claim seeking reimbursement from a public utility, the bill provides that the State or a local unit of government is required to:· notify the public utility of the potentially dangerous condition;· inform the public utility of its duty and obligation to secure the potentially dangerous condition; and· deploy personnel to secure the scene. The bill, however, provides public utilities with a one hour grace period within which the public utility can avoid liability for a claim, if the public utility deploys personnel sufficient to assume control over the potentially dangerous condition and to protect the general public from risk of injury or loss. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish a fee schedule to guide the State and local units of government in preparing and submitting claims for reimbursement to public utilities. The bill requires the fee schedule to be based upon: the Schedule of Equipment Rates covering costs eligible under the federal Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. s.5121, et seq.; and information regarding the use of that schedule in federal regulations. Additionally, the bill directs the Board of Public Utilities to review and verify the names and emergency contact information currently required to be filed with the board by each public utility pursuant to R.S.48:2-17, and to compile and deliver to the Commissioner of Community Affairs a list of the names and emergency contact information for the persons to contact to inform a public utility of an emergency. The bill also requires the board to inform the commissioner each time a public utility files a change of its emergency contact information with the board. The bill requires the commissioner to disseminate this information to the appropriate offices of State government and to local units of government for them to use to notify a public utility of an emergency. Finally, the bill specifies that amounts that a public utility pays over, or is required to pay over, to the State or local unit of government pursuant to this bill are not relevant to the Board of Public Utilities when considering a base rate case filed by the public utility. | In Committee |
| S116 | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | In Committee |
| S1000 | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| S4102 | Allocates $7.5 million annually of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenue for preservation of land in Highlands Region. | This bill would amend and supplement the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), to allocate $7.5 million annually of constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (council) for the preservation of land in the Highlands Region. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, which dedicates six percent of the CBT for certain environmental purposes. Under the "Preserve New Jersey Act" (act), P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), of the dedicated CBT revenues allocated for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, each year: 62 percent is allocated to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for recreation and conservation purposes; 31 percent is allocated to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation; and the remaining seven percent is allocated to the New Jersey Historic Trust for historic preservation. Under this bill, $5 million of the amount allocated each year to the DEP and $2.5 million of the amount allocated to the SADC would be deposited into the "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund," a new fund created by the bill. These moneys, totaling $7.5 million each year would be used by the council to preserve lands located in the Highlands Region. | In Committee |
| S4085 | Requires certain law enforcement entities and courts to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires every law enforcement agency to notify the appropriate federal immigration authorities when a person who is arrested and charged with any crime and certain offenses is a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in this county. The purpose of notifying federal immigration authorities is to initiate deportation proceedings. Under the bill, "federal immigration authority" is defined as any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or United States Customs and Border Protection, or any division thereof, or any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of the United States Department of Homeland Security who is charged with immigration enforcement. The bill also requires every sentencing court to immediately contact appropriate federal immigration authorities in order to initiate deportation proceedings upon convicting a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in this country of certain crimes or offenses. Finally, correctional facilities in which the convicted non-citizen is held would be required to contact appropriate federal immigration authorities for the purpose of initiating deportation proceedings. Parole or probation officers with a supervisory role over a convicted non-citizen also would be required to contact federal immigration authorities for the purpose of initiating deportation proceedings. The crimes and offenses included under the bill that would require notification are any crime of the first through fourth degree or any disorderly or petty disorderly persons offense involving the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession and use of controlled dangerous substances, theft, robbery, or any other crime or offense resulting in detention. | In Committee |
| SCR121 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations to implement "Advanced Clean Trucks" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the rule and regulations adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection in the December 20, 2021 New Jersey Register, 53 N.J.R. 2148(a), are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature. The Department of Environmental Protection would have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the rules and regulations or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| S4086 | Prohibits teaching of critical race theory in public schools; prohibits public school teachers from engaging in political, ideological, or religious advocacy in classroom. | This bill prohibits a school district from including, as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program, or allowing teachers or other employees of the school district to use supplemental instructional materials that promote concepts related to critical race theory. For purposes of the bill, "critical race theory" includes, but would not be limited to, any of the following concepts:· one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;· an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously;· an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual's race or sex;· an individual's moral character is determined by the individual's race or sex;· an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;· an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual's race or sex;· a meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist, or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex;· the State or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist;· promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the United States government;· promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people;· ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of the individual's race or sex;· the rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups;· all Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; or· governments should deny to any person within the government's jurisdiction the equal protection of the law. A school district would not be prohibited from including, as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program, or from allowing teachers in a school district to use supplemental instructional materials that include the history of an ethnic group, the impartial discussion of controversial aspects of history, the impartial instruction on the historical oppression of a particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality, religion, or geographic region, or historical documents. The Commissioner of Education would be permitted to withhold State funds from a school district that knowingly violates the provisions of this bill and would be able to continue withholding such funds until the commissioner finds that the school district is in compliance. This bill also requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules and regulations prohibiting public school teachers from engaging in political, ideological, or religious advocacy in the classroom. The State board would further be required to adopt rules and regulations requiring that a teacher provide students with materials supporting both sides of a controversial issue being addressed and to present both sides in a fair-minded and nonpartisan manner. | In Committee |
| S4123 | Upgrades offense of prostitution as patron; directs fines collected to "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund." | This bill provides for enhanced penalties for the crime of engaging in prostitution as a patron. In New Jersey, the offense of prostitution encompasses different conduct by various actors; penalties for the offense vary, depending on the unlawful conduct. This bill addresses conduct by persons who purchase sexual activity, commonly referred to as "johns." Under paragraph (1) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:34-1, a person commits this offense if the actor engages in prostitution as a patron, or one who purchases sexual activity with another person in exchange for something of economic value, or the offer or acceptance of an offer to engage in sexual activity in exchange for something of economic value. Currently, a violation of this provision is a disorderly persons offense for a first offense, punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. For a second or third violation, it is a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. For a fourth violation, it is a crime of the third degree, punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. In addition to any other disposition for the offense, N.J.S.A.2C:34-1.2 assesses additional penalties upon persons convicted of engaging in prostitution as a patron which include an assessment of $500, and can include participation in a prostitution offender program. This bill increases prostitution by a patron to a crime of the fourth degree, except that a fourth violation remains a crime of the third degree. In addition, the bill provides that any fine collected shall be forwarded to the Department of the Treasury to be deposited in the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" (the HTSAF) established by N.J.S.A.52:17B-238. It is the sponsor's view that in combatting prostitution, closely related to the crime of human trafficking, greater emphasis should be placed on eliminating the demand for persons who may be victims of sex trafficking by targeting persons who purchase sexual activity. All monies deposited in the HTSAF fund are required by the law to be used for the provision of services to victims of human trafficking, to promote awareness of human trafficking, and the development, maintenance, revision, and distribution of training courses and other educational materials, and the operation of educational or training programs. | In Committee |
| SCR122 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations known as " New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Change - Resilient Environment and Landscapes" are inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the rules and regulations proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the August 5, 2024 New Jersey Register, 56 N.J.R. 1282(a), are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature. The Department of Environmental Protection would have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the proposed rules and regulations or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| S4099 | Requires automatic voter registration to be available when applying for certain licenses and permits. | This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at an agency, office, or local police force providing certain licenses and permits. The bill requires the automatic voter registration process to be available for persons applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, all around sportsman licenses, beaver trapping, wild turkey, or deer permits under the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and firearms purchaser identification cards or permits to carry handguns at local police forces or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the respective agencies, offices, and local police forces to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). The bill also adds licenses to operate a power vessel, also known as boating licenses, under the NJMVC's current automatic voter registration process. Under the bill, any agency, office, or local police force that provides the above mentioned licenses and permits, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| A5121 | Appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs. | An Act appropriating $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3936 | Appropriates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects. | An Act appropriating $60 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the development of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3922 | Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the purpose of providing grants, as awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust, for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1411 | Requires stress testing on State's ability to provide services in various economic conditions. | This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to, once every third year, conduct and report on a stress test analysis of the State's ability to maintain services and provide necessary assistance to residents in various economic conditions. The stress test analyses required by this bill would include: (1) long- and short-term projections of major funding sources, including revenues from major taxes and funding from the federal government; (2) a comparison between projections of major funding sources and historical trends for each of those funding sources; (3) an analysis of expenditures that are likely to increase or decrease in various economic conditions; (4) an accounting of the State's reserves, including amounts deposited into the "Surplus Revenue Fund"; and (5) options that the State has to respond to, and lessen the negative impact of, economic recessions. Under the bill, the Department of the Treasury is required to make the stress test analyses publicly accessible on its website, and include it as part of the Governor's annual budget message. | Crossed Over |
| S1285 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | This bill would make disabled persons who receive disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act, (45 U.S.C. s. 231 et seq.), eligible to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement. Under current law, only disabled persons who receive monetary payments pursuant to Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.401 et seq.) are eligible to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement. | In Committee |
| S3943 | Appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs. | This bill appropriates the sum of $49.5 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for the acquisition by the State of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including for Blue Acres projects, pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. This bill appropriates moneys for State open space acquisition projects, including for Blue Acres projects. Specifically, this bill appropriates $23.725 million to the DEP to provide funding for the acquisition by the State of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. This appropriation allocates funding for the acquisition by the State of lands, for recreation and conservation purposes, located throughout the State within the 14 project categories identified in section 1 of the bill. The bill also appropriates $23.725 million to the DEP to provide funding for the acquisition by the State, for recreation and conservation purposes, of properties throughout the State that are prone to or have incurred flood or storm damage, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage, i.e., "Blue Acres" projects. In addition, section 3 of the bill appropriates $2.05 million to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Of the total funds appropriated in the bill, the sum of $7.517 million is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The "Preserve New Jersey Blue Acres Fund" was established by section 7 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." P.L.2019, c.136 amended the "Preserve New Jersey Act" to incorporate the purposes of the "Preserve New Jersey Blue Acres Fund" into the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," rather than having two separate funds, both providing moneys to the DEP for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Of the funding allocated for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes by the State, a minimum of 10 percent is to be allocated for Blue Acres projects. The projects and appropriations listed in this bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. Lastly, the bill authorizes the department to re-distribute certain other moneys made available by project cancellations or cost savings to provide additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded State projects, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. The bill provides that the additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs. | In Committee |
| S1859 | Requires clinic connected with dental school at public institution of higher education to give priority to 100 percent disabled veterans. | This bill requires a clinic that is part of the extramural network of dental clinics established by the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, or by any other dental school of a public institution of higher education, to give priority to 100 percent disabled veterans in scheduling appointments at the dental clinic. In giving priority to a 100 percent disabled veteran, a dental clinic is required to ensure that an oral health treatment appointment for the veteran is scheduled in a timely manner and that the time between the scheduling of the medical appointment and the occurrence of the appointment does not exceed 30 days. | In Committee |
| S354 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| S2814 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | In Committee |
| S2826 | Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3904 | "S2 Appropriations Rescue Act"; appropriates $106.5 million to provide Emergency Supplemental Aid to certain school districts, including districts negatively impacted by effects of P.L.2018, c.67. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $106.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to provide "Emergency Supplemental Aid" to certain school districts. The aid is to be distributed to school districts that have been allocated a total amount of State school aid in the 2024-2025 school year that is:· less than the district's adequacy budget, which under current law represents the portion of the costs that a school district is expected to incur to provide a thorough and efficient education; and · less than or equal to $19,000 per resident pupil; and· either: less than or equal to the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year; or greater than the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year by up to $200,000. The amount of Emergency Supplemental Aid provided to an eligible district pursuant to the bill is to be determined by multiplying $250 by the number of resident pupils in the district. School districts from all parts of the State have experienced negative budgetary effects over the seven years following the enactment of P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S2." The severity of these budgetary reductions have forced districts to lay off hundreds of teachers and staff, adopt half-day schedules, eliminate sports and clubs, reduce academic programming such as Advanced Placement classes, eliminate busing, and sell land and close schools just to balance their budgets. This educational funding crisis has affected hundreds of school districts representing an array of socioeconomic groups, from urban districts such as the City of East Orange, Jersey City, and Passaic City, to suburban districts such as Hillsborough Township, Freehold Regional School District, Old Bridge Township, Jackson Township, Toms River Regional School District, Brick Township, and Evesham Township, and extending to rural districts, such as Chesterfield Township, Lenape Regional School District, Estell Manor City, and Hardyston Township. This bill provides emergency restoration aid to help stabilize the budgets of these school districts, as well as 290 other districts, for the purpose of providing these children with a quality education. | In Committee |
| S3449 | Renames Blue Star Memorial Highway Council as Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council; renames Blue Star Memorial Highway system as Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system. | This bill renames the Blue Star Memorial Highway Council as the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council and the Blue Star Memorial Highway system as the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system to recognize Gold Star families. Gold Star families are immediate relatives of members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in combat or in support of certain military activities. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation, within 90 days of the bill's effective date, to update all signage throughout the State concerning the Blue Star Memorial Highway system to reflect the highway system's updated name, the "Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system." | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3852 | Modifies requirements for associations to protect structural integrity of certain buildings; expands timeframes for associations to establish adequate reserves. | This bill amends a recent enactment, P.L.2023, c.214, (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.), which imposed various requirements upon associations responsible for the management and maintenance of the common elements and facilities of residential buildings within planned real estate developments. The bill also limits applicability of the capital reserve study and funding requirements of P.L.2023, c.214, (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.) to residential condominium and cooperative buildings that are three stories or more in height. The bill further modifies current law to enable impacted associations to increase the amounts required to hold in necessary reserve funds over a longer period of time. The Legislature enacted P.L.2023, c.214 for the purpose of enhancing the structural integrity of the primary load bearing systems of residential buildings. However, language contained in the underlying enactment may be interpreted as having imposed requirements to protect against failures of common areas and capital improvements even though they do not impact a building's structural integrity. The recent enactment may also be interpreted as imposing requirements on non-residential buildings as well as residential ones. This bill modifies language from the recent enactment to address these issues and to limit applicability of P.L.2023, c.214 to residential buildings that are three stories or more in height. Additionally, the bill would double the timeframe imposed under current law within which an impacted association is required to establish and maintain a reserve fund in an adequate amount. | In Committee |
| S2962 | Requires contractor subject to prevailing wage law to provide orientation meeting to new employee on prevailing wage project. | An Act concerning the rights of employees under the prevailing wage law and amending P.L.1963, c.150. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR14 | Designates third Sunday of November of each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in NJ. | Designates third Sunday of November of each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in NJ. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3817 | Requires DEP to implement Advanced Clean Trucks regulations no earlier than January 1, 2027. | This bill would delay the implementation of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP's) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations to January 1, 2027. Under current law, N.J.A.C. 7:27-31.3, the regulations would become operative on January 1, 2025. The DEP adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in 2021. Pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the DEP is authorized to implement California's Low Emission Vehicle Program in New Jersey. The ACT regulations would require, among other things, that manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty motor vehicles sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions vehicles, capping at 40 percent to 75 percent of annual sales in 2035, depending on the type of vehicle sold. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3415 | Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program"; amends law concerning NJ infrastructure Bank; and authorizes certain energy contracts under "Public School Contracts Law" and "Local Public Contracts Law" up to 25 years. | Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program"; amends law concerning NJ Infrastructure Bank; and authorizes certain energy contracts under "Public School Contracts Law" and "Local Public Contracts Law" up to 25 years. | In Committee |
| S2015 | Concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | Concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| S2306 | "New Jersey Works Act"; permits businesses to apply for tax credits for establishing approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. | "New Jersey Works Act"; permits businesses to apply for tax credits for establishing approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. | In Committee |
| S3715 | Requires establishment and implementation, in certain circumstances, of wildlife management plans for open space and farmland, and authorizes use of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to finance activities undertaken pursuant to such plans. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), to adopt model wildlife management plans for use by local public entities that seek to acquire or develop land for recreational and conservation (open space) purposes, and it would further direct the SADC, in consultation with the DEP, to adopt model wildlife management plans for use by local public entities that are seeking funds to acquire and preserve farmland. The bill would further provide that, whenever the State or a local government unit seeks to acquire or develop lands for recreational or conservation purposes, or for farmland preservation purposes, using constitutionally dedicated moneys or Green Acres bond act moneys in whole or in part, it will be required to adopt and implement, at the subject property, one of the model wildlife management plans that have been cooperatively developed by the DEP and SADC under the bill's provisions. A local government unit would also be required to be implement the plan selected thereby at other parcels of land which have been acquired thereby, for recreational and conservation purposes, using constitutionally dedicated moneys or Green Acres bond act moneys in whole or in part. The bill would authorize a local government unit, in lieu of adopting one of the new model wildlife management plans developed under the bill, to submit to the DEP or SADC, as the case may be, a wildlife management plan that has been prepared by the local government unit prior to the bill's effective date, and to adopt and implement such pre-existing wildlife management plan, both at the subject property and at other relevant parcels of land owned thereby, upon the DEP's or SADC's approval thereof. Finally, the bill would amend the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), in order to clarify that wildlife management activities or tasks, which are undertaken on preserved open space or farmland in accordance with a wildlife management plan adopted pursuant to the bill's provisions, are to be understood to constitute a type of "stewardship activity" for which Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenues, which have been constitutionally dedicated for the stewardship of preserved open space and farmland, may be appropriated, allocated, and expended. Existing law does not currently require the owners or operators of publicly owned open space or preserved farmland to adopt or implement wildlife management plans for or on such properties; nor does it authorize the use of constitutionally dedicated CBT funds for wildlife management planning undertaken for the benefit of such parcels. | In Committee |
| SR114 | Supports work of pregnancy resource centers and condemns harassment of pregnancy resource centers by AG. | This resolution expresses support for the work of pregnancy resource centers in this State, and condemns Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin for his politically motivated harassment of pregnancy resource centers. A pregnancy resource center is typically a faith-based non-profit organization, which offers pregnant women information and care to support their pregnancy, such as alternatives to abortion, parenting education, medical treatment from licensed health care professionals, counseling, and maternal and baby goods, often at little or no cost. Pregnancy resource centers offer their services and donated goods without regard to a person's religious affiliation or ability to pay. In 2022, pregnancy resource centers in this State provided over $3.6 million in goods and services to over 23,000 people, including women, men, and youth, which included more than 8,000 free pregnancy tests, more than 6,000 free ultrasound examinations, more than 2,000 free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, more than 9,000 free packs of diapers, more than 75,000 free sets of baby clothes, 55 free car seats, 172 free strollers, 38 free cribs, and more than 1,000 free containers of formula. Despite their significant value to pregnant women and the community at large, pregnancy resource centers are under attack by the Attorney General as part of a coordinated nationwide campaign of intimidation and harassment under the guise of consumer protection. Although there have been no complaints filed by any client of a pregnancy resource center in this State, Attorney General Platkin has issued investigative subpoenas to certain pregnancy resource centers in an apparent misuse of the law enforcement powers of his office. The overbroad and unduly burdensome nature of these subpoenas appear to be a deliberate attempt to target and silence organizations that offer alternatives to abortion. | In Committee |
| S3738 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 for Main Library Alliance. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to provide grants-in-aid funding to the Main Library Alliance. The Main Library Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides services, programs, learning platforms, cost-sharing, and a technology framework to over 50 library buildings in the northwestern part of the State. The Main Library Alliance and its member libraries serve over 700,000 patrons in over 100 municipalities in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties. | In Committee |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2607 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | An Act concerning paratransit services. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3647 | Requires registered voters to present identification when voting at polling place. | This bill requires a voter to present acceptable identification before voting at a polling place at any election. Acceptable identification includes, but is not limited to a valid: (1) New Jersey driver's license; (2) New Jersey REAL ID; (3) New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission "identification only" card; (4) United States passport; (5) voter registration card; (6) a municipal, State, or employment identification card; (7) a birth certificate; (8) a United States military or veteran identification card; (9) property tax and assessment statement or card; (10) insurance or public assistance identification card; (11) high school or college identification card; or (12) medical marijuana card. Identification cannot be digital. If a resident is unable to provide any of the initial forms of identification, the resident will be required to provide two forms of identification from the following forms of approved supplemental identification before casting their vote: (1) a utility bill, with name and address present, which includes, but is not limited to: phone, internet, water, gas, sewage, electric, or television; (2) mortgage or rental statement; or (3) mail or an envelope with the voter's address visible from a governmental agency or utility company. A voter who does not present identification, or whose identification information does not appear to match the voter's information may be subject to challenge. This bill does not deny or alter a voter's opportunity to establish his or her right to vote if challenged. | In Committee |
| S3648 | Removes prohibition on police presence at ballot drop boxes and polling places. | Under current law, the presence of police officers at polling places during the conduct of an election and at ballot drop box locations in use during the conduct of an election is limited. This bill removes the prohibition on police presence at ballot drop boxes and polling places that was adopted into law in 2021 (P.L.2021, c.459). Under this bill, police are once again permitted to be within 100 feet of a ballot drop box or polling place during the conduct of an election while in an official capacity. The bill also removes the following provisions of current law:· a provision requiring a district board of elections to notify the county board of elections or superintendent of elections, as appropriate, of the dispatch of a police officer or other law enforcement officer to a polling place;· a provision requiring the county board of elections or superintendent of elections, as appropriate, to notify the Secretary of State of the dispatch of a police officer or other law enforcement officer to a polling place; and· a provision requiring the Secretary of State, county boards of elections, and superintendents of elections to maintain a record of all dispatches issued and reported to a polling place. | In Committee |
| S3652 | Allows utility task vehicles used for farm operation to travel on public roadways. | This bill allows farmers to register a utility task vehicle used for farm operation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and to operate a utility task vehicles on public highways. Under current law, utility task vehicles are prohibited from operating on a public highway at any time from sunset to sunrise, with certain exceptions. Utility task vehicles are required to operate in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. As defined in this bill, the term "utility task vehicle" means any motorized utility or off-road vehicle with four wheels designed with seating for the operator and one or more passengers, side-by-side, and a steering wheel for steering control. | In Committee |
| S3650 | Requires county clerks to send confirmation notice to vote-by-mail applicant that requests mail-in ballot at separate mailing address than address at which applicant is registered to vote. | This bill requires county clerks to send a confirmation notice to vote-by-mail applicants that requests a mail-in ballot at a separate mailing address than the address at which the applicant is registered to vote. Under current law, an applicant to vote-by-mail can request that a mail-in ballot be sent to a separate mailing address than the address at which the applicant is registered to vote. However, a notice to the applicant at the registration address confirming the address where an applicant's mail-in ballot will be sent is not required. Under the bill, county clerks will be required to send a confirmation notice to inform vote-by-mail applicants that a mail-in ballot has been requested at a separate mailing address than the applicant's voting residence. The confirmation notice will be required to contain instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials to remedy a false request or correct any other inaccurate information contained in the confirmation notice. | In Committee |
| SCR115 | Proposes constitutional amendment to broaden powers of the Council on Local Mandates. | The Council on Local Mandates was established in 1996 to rule on questions of whether State laws, rules and regulations enacted or adopted after January 17, 1996 were unfunded mandates on local governments and unenforceable. With the constant annual increases to the burden of local property taxes, it is prudent for the Legislature to take advantage of the expertise developed by the members and staff of the Council on Local Mandates to review statutes and regulations, whenever enacted or adopted, in order to recommend the repeal or modification of those laws and regulations that place an excessive burden on local units of government, and also to review bills pending before the Legislature to identify for the Legislature bills that would constitute unfunded, unenforceable mandates on school districts, counties and municipalities if enacted. This constitutional amendment would expand the authority of the Council of Local Mandates to allow it to effectively function as a study commission with respect to existing statutory laws and regulations, and bills pending before the Legislature. | In Committee |
| S3649 | Repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." | This bill repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote," adopted as part of the New Jersey statutes pursuant to P.L.2007, c.334, and amends various parts of the statutory law to remove any reference to the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, when enough states collectively possessing the majority of the electoral votes required to decide a presidential race become parties to the agreement, New Jersey's electoral votes will be required to be allocated to the presidential candidate that won the popular vote nationwide, regardless of whether that candidate won in New Jersey. This manner of allocating electoral votes is a radical departure from the current system in New Jersey which, in the winner-take-all manner, the State's electoral votes are allocated to the candidate that won the popular vote in the State. By requiring that the State's electoral votes be allocated to the national popular vote winner instead of the candidate who won in New Jersey, the national popular vote agreement disenfranchises New Jersey voters and arguably amounts to the circumvention of the United States Constitution. | In Committee |
| S3653 | Removes provisions for acceptance of mail-in ballots received after election day; increases penalties for violation of ballot messenger and bearer limits and candidate prohibition. | This bill removes the provision of current law that allows for mail-in ballots to be counted if received within 144-hours after the polls closed and are postmarked by election day. This bill also removes the provision of current law that allows for mail-in ballots to be counted if received by the county board 48-hours after the polls close. This bill increases the penalties for the violation of the ballot messenger and bearer limits and the prohibition against candidates acting as messengers or bearers. Under current law, every mail-in ballot that is postmarked by election day and that is received by the county board of elections within 144 hours after the time of the closing of the polls is considered valid and is required to be canvassed and every mail-in ballot received by the county board of elections within 48-hours after the time of the closing of the polls, whether it bears a postmark or not, is considered valid and is required to be canvassed. This bill removes both of these timeframes. Therefore, mail-in ballots received after the polls close would not be counted. Current law also provides that a person may act as a ballot messenger or a bearer for up to three voters in an election. Messengers deliver blank ballots to eligible voters, and bearers return completed ballots to election officials on behalf of eligible voters. The law prohibits candidates from serving as messengers or bearers. Under current law, a person who violates these provisions is guilty of a crime of the third degree and, upon conviction, is subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement, unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage. This bill provides that any person who knowingly violates the law by serving as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election, and any candidate serving as a messenger or bearer in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot, is guilty of a crime of the second degree and, upon conviction, is subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement, unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage. | In Committee |
| S3651 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | This bill would require voters to present certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote, beginning with the first election held after January 1, 2025. A voter, whether voting in person or through mail-in ballot, would be required to show or submit a copy of a New Jersey's driver's license, New Jersey nondriver's identification card, or other document, that includes all of the following criteria: (1) the name of the voter to whom the document was issued; (2) a photograph of the voter to whom the document was issued; (3) an expiration date, showing that the document is not expired or expired only after the date of the most recent election; and (4) was issued by the federal government or this State. For first-time voters, this documentation would be required in addition to the production of any document necessary to fulfill the proof of identity requirement mandated by the federal "Help America Vote Act of 2002," if that first-time voter had registered to vote by mail without submitting federally-acceptable identity verification with the registration. However, a first-time voter in this situation would be required to present only one document with respect to both identification requirements, if that document is able to satisfy the document criteria as applicable to each requirement. The requirement for verifying voter identity through additional documentation would not apply to any voter entitled to vote by mail-in ballot under the federal "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," or provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under the federal "Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act," or any other federal law. Additionally, because the bill's verification of identity requires the production of a document containing a photograph of the voter, it incorporates an exemption from the production of such document if the voter has a religious objection to being photographed, and this is established by a sworn affidavit from the voter. In order to administer the bill's new voter verification requirement, the bill updates the statutory provisions governing election day challenges to a person's right to vote by district board members or other authorized challengers, as appointed pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. With respect to any voter who is denied the right to vote for failing to display acceptable documentation, that voter would be provided a provisional ballot. In order for that ballot to be officially counted in an election, the voter would need to produce the required documentation by the close of business on the second day after the election to the applicable county commissioner of registration. Finally, to ensure that no one is denied the right to vote based solely on an inability to pay for a government-issued document with photograph as required under the bill for identity verification, the Motor Vehicle Commission would issue a nondriver identification card without cost to any voter requiring such document upon execution of an affidavit of indigence. | In Committee |
| S3585 | Allows expectant mothers in third trimester to receive temporary parking privileges. | This bill permits expectant mothers during their third trimester of pregnancy to be eligible to receive a temporary parking placard, authorizing the expectant mother to park overtime at metered parking spots or to use special parking places established for use by persons with disabilities in any municipality of this State. Under the bill, the chief of police in each municipality is required to issue a temporary placard of not more than three months' duration to any expectant mother who is a resident of New Jersey during her third trimester of pregnancy, as certified by certain medical and healthcare professionals. Each temporary placard is valid for a period of three months and is required to display, in a clearly visible manner, the date on which the temporary placard will become invalid. The temporary placard is required to be granted upon proof to the chief of police in each municipality of written certification by certain certified medical and healthcare professionals that the expectant mother has entered into the third trimester of pregnancy. This certification is required to be provided on a standard form to be developed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with local chiefs of police. The temporary placard is required to be displayed on the motor vehicle used by the expectant mother during her third trimester of pregnancy, and the fee for the issuance of a temporary placard is $4. | In Committee |
| SJR130 | Designates April 27th of each year as "Ulysses S. Grant Day." | This resolution designates April 27th of each year as "Ulysses S. Grant Day" to promote greater public appreciation of the invaluable contributions made by Ulysses S. Grant. Ulysses S. Grant bravely served in the United States military through two treacherous wars. As the President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant continued to fight for peace, prosperity, and equal rights. History remembers Ulysses S. Grant not only as an important political leader, but an impenetrable force against tyranny for all Americans. Ulysses S. Grant also brought attention to the Jersey Shore, as he and numerous presidents thereafter vacationed in Long Branch. It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to honor President Ulysses S. Grant for his many outstanding contributions to this State and the United States. | In Committee |
| S3550 | Establishes New Jersey Human Trafficking Criminal Registry; requires establishment of educational curricula related to human trafficking. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Human Trafficking Criminal Registry to make available to the citizens of this State, information relating to any person convicted of certain human trafficking offenses who is either incarcerated, on parole, or participating in a residential community release program in this State. The registry is to be subdivided into four categories, with each category to include the following information: (1) an incarcerated person's name, sentence imposed for the conviction, place of incarceration, parole eligibility or release date, and criminal history record information; (2) a parolee's name, term of parole supervision, address, anticipated parole discharge date, and criminal history; (3) a residential community release program participant's name, sentence, address where the person is residing while participating in the program, anticipated release date, and criminal history record; and (4) information relating to persons convicted in another jurisdiction of a similar crime who is released on parole in this State. Further, the bill requires the Attorney General to work in conjunction with the Commissioners of other New Jersey Departments to expand human trafficking law enforcement training throughout this State; expand human trafficking education for employees of health care facilities, and educators throughout this State; and establish advisories for transportation companies that operate in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A2610 | Extends annual horse racing purse subsidies through State fiscal year 2029. | An Act concerning horse racing purse subsidies and amending P.L.2019, c.36. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2435 | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | An Act concerning the "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund" and amending P.L.1992, c.143. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4360 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | An Act establishing a design professional self-certification program and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2793 | Appropriates $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4572 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to help local government units acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3473 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | This bill appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues, and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $99,286,535 would be used by the DEP to provide grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $2,410,000 would be used for the DEP's associated administrative costs. Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $24,321,885 is allocated for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes, as identified in section 4 of the bill, and $74,964,650 is allocated for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, as identified in section 5 of the bill. Of the $24,321,885 sum being appropriated for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $20,766,435 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $1,437,500 is allocated for standard open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not have an open space tax); $459,950 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan); and $1,658,000 is allocated for urban aid acquisition projects. Of the $74,964,650 sum being appropriated for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,429,150 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $7,556,770 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $3,072,700 is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); $1,758,610 is allocated for stewardship activity projects; and $33,147,420 is allocated for completely inclusive playground projects, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), otherwise known as "Jake's Law." While Green Acres funding for Jake's Law purposes has, in prior funding rounds, been made available only to eligible counties, in the current funding round, both counties and municipalities are eligible for non-competitive grant awards for completely inclusive playground projects thereunder. The bill defines a "densely or highly populated municipality" as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a "densely populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a "highly populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC), to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill, as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws. | In Committee |
| S3203 | Extends annual horse racing purse subsidies through State fiscal year 2029. | This bill provides $20 million annually to the New Jersey Racing Commission to be used for horse racing purse subsidies until State fiscal year 2029. Current law required these subsidies to be appropriated until State fiscal year 2023, and the fiscal year 2024 budget also provided $20 million for purse subsidies. This bill therefore requires the appropriation of funds for the purse subsidies in an additional five fiscal years, through fiscal year 2029. As under the current law, these amounts will be allocated by the New Jersey Racing Commission equally between the thoroughbred industry and the standardbred industry. Of the funds allocated to the thoroughbred industry, 100 percent will be allocated to Monmouth Park overnight purses. Of the funds allocated to the standardbred industry, 60 percent will be allocated to Meadowlands overnight purses; 16 percent to Freehold overnight purses; 12 percent to the New Jersey Sire Stakes purses; 6 percent to purse bonuses for New Jersey sired horses; and 6 percent for breeders awards purses. As a condition of receiving continued purse subsidies, the recipients of the funds must report to the Legislature, the Governor, and the New Jersey Racing Commission on the uses of funds appropriated in the preceding year. | In Committee |
| S3402 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | In Committee |
| S360 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | In Committee |
| S1292 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; and appropriates $100,000. | In Committee |
| S3248 | Exempts cribs, child restraint systems, nursing bottles, and strollers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts select baby products from the "Sales and Use Tax Act." Currently, the purchases of certain baby items such as cribs; child restraint systems; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers are subject to the sales and use tax. The bill would exempt these items from the tax to help reduce the costs of caring for an infant child. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant and a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| SCR81 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2025, $1,500 in tax year 2026, $2,000 in tax year 2027, and $2,500 in tax year 2028, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| SJR64 | Designates July 18 of each year as "Sergeant William Harvey Carney Day" in New Jersey. | This resolution designates July 18 of each year as "Sergeant William Harvey Carney Day" in New Jersey. William Harvey Carney was born into slavery on February 29, 1840 in Virginia, but was granted freedom after his father, who had escaped through the Underground Railroad, was able to buy his family's freedom and move them to Massachusetts. Wishing to fight in the American Civil War, Mr. Carney joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in 1863, which was one of the first African-American regiments in the United States organized during the Civil War and the first official black unit recruited to fight for the Union. During the July 18, 1863 attack on Fort Wagner in South Carolina, with the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry leading the attack in their first major combat mission, Mr. Carney witnessed his unit's color guard shot and killed. Upon seeing this, Mr. Carney grasped the flag, led the way to the parapet, and planted the colors until the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was forced to fall back, but even then he continued to carry the flag leading him to become severely wounded. Despite his severe wounds, Mr. Carney guarded the symbol of a united America with his life and kept it flying high throughout the battle, refusing to relinquish it to anyone other than a fellow 54th solider upon return to the Union barracks. Despite their contributions to the Union war efforts, with the bravery and valor of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry noted to have convinced many politicians and Army officers of the value of black soldiers and prompting the further enlistment of black soldiers, the regiment faced discrimination from their inception. In recognition of his bravery, Mr. Carney was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor in 1900. Mr. Carney was not only one of the few recipients to earn a Congressional Medal of Honor while fighting on American soil, but also the first African-American to be awarded this honor. The bravery of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, along with its individual soldiers like Mr. Carney, have been immortalized in various mediums, including the song "Boys the Old Flag Never Touched the Ground" and the 1989 film Glory. The bravery of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and Mr. Carney should be memorialized by a day that recognizes their triumphs not only on the battlefield, but also over racial discrimination and biases. | In Committee |
| S3188 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. | Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. | In Committee |
| S3084 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | This bill allows veterans with a service-connected disability to receive a property tax rebate from the State in proportion to the percentage of their service-connected disability. The bill provides property tax relief to veterans who have a disability rating of less than 100 percent total and permanent disability. Veterans who have a disability rating of 100 percent total and permanent disability are already exempt from paying property taxes. Veterans with a service-connected disability are assigned a disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. A disability rating may range from 0 percent to 100 percent. That rating will determine the percentage of property taxes paid that the veteran will be allowed as a rebate under this bill. Funding for the rebate allowed by this bill is dependent on annual appropriations by the Legislature. The bill caps the rebate at $5,000 and limits availability of the rebate to veterans with gross income of up to $200,000. | In Committee |
| S3414 | Permits sale of raw milk under certain conditions and establishes raw milk permit program. | This bill would permit the sale of raw milk by a person holding a valid raw milk permit. The bill would also require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to establish a raw milk permit program. The bill authorizes permit holders to sell, offer for sale or otherwise make available raw milk at the farm or property where the raw milk is produced. The bill also establishes standards for the quality of the raw milk that is produced by a permit holder. To protect the public health, the bill establishes certain prerequisites that must be met before a raw milk permit may be granted, including: (1) a signed affidavit by the permit applicant certifying that no growth hormones will be used in the process of producing raw milk; (2) conspicuous warning requirements stating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, including specific labeling on dispensing containers and sold containers and specific signage; (3) submission to certain inspections by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health; and (4) compliance with all applicable provisions of New Jersey's dairy laws, rules and regulations. The permit program would be funded by a permit fee estimated by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to cover the costs of administering the program. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, would be required to conduct initial testing of the cows intended to be used for the production of raw milk, with ongoing testing as necessary. The permit holder is also required to conduct tests, at the permit holder's expense, to measure the levels of certain bacteria and pathogens in the raw milk produced. Failing test results are required to be reported to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health. If the permit holder fails to meet certain standards, by failing two consecutive tests in a one year period, then the raw milk permit would be revoked. | In Committee |
| SCR109 | Honors 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh program. | This concurrent resolution honors the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program. The agricultural industry is critical to ensuring New Jersey residents have access to healthy food and plays a key role in the State's economy by helping to keep property taxes low, increase property values, and garner State revenue. In 1984, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture established the Jersey Fresh program, the first in the nation state-sponsored agricultural commodity marketing and quality grading program, to promote the State's agricultural industry. The Jersey Fresh program helps support family owned farms across New Jersey through its marketing campaigns that inform shoppers of what produce is in season and encourage consumers to shop local. The Jersey Fresh program's distinct label placed on locally harvested produce assists consumers easily differentiate fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey from other produce in the marketplace. The Jersey Fresh program encourages consumers to purchase locally grown produce through its quality and freshness guarantees. Specifically, the Jersey Fresh quality grading program requires Jersey Fresh produce to meet U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing grade or better. With this added quality assurance, the Jersey Fresh label guarantees that its produce was freshly harvested in New Jersey, has been inspected, and meets high quality standards. The Jersey Fresh program has demonstrated success in increasing New Jersey consumers' awareness of, and willingness to purchase, locally harvested produce. Consumer recognition of Jersey Fresh products has extended beyond the State to the mid-Atlantic and New England markets and, in 2020, was on par with that of other major national brands. Today, the Jersey Fresh program is recognized as a national model for other state-sponsored agricultural branding programs. The Jersey Fresh program's innovative marketing strategies have contributed to the program's longevity and popularity. New Jersey produces over 100 types of fruits and vegetables and is nationally ranked in the top 10 producers of blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, and cranberries. The Jersey Fresh program has expanded across the State and is available to New Jersey residents in every county, including at over 2,000 On-Farm Markets run by local New Jersey farmers, community farmers markets, major retail stores, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. The Jersey Fresh program's popularity and demonstrated success has also inspired related programs modeled after the Jersey Fresh program, including the Made with Jersey Fresh program, which identifies processed food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients; the Jersey Grown program, which advertises New Jersey grown plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers; the Jersey Raised program, which markets livestock raised in New Jersey; and the Jersey Seafood program, which promotes aquacultured and wild-caught fish and seafood products harvested off of New Jersey's coast. | In Committee |
| S3318 | Requires State reimbursement to local government units for first-year uncollected property tax revenue attributable to veterans' property tax exemptions. | This bill would require the State to reimburse local government units, including municipalities, counties, school districts for the assessed value of property taxes that are no longer collectible during the first year in which a person is approved for the 100 percent service-disabled veterans property tax exemption. During any tax year in which a person is approved for the property tax exemption, the tax collector of the municipality in which the person resides, would be required to provide the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury with the following documentation: a copy of the resolution approved by the governing body of the municipality granting the property tax exemption; a copy of the person's property tax bill for the tax year; and a certification of the amount of property taxes that would have been otherwise due and payable by the person for each local government unit during the remainder of the tax year following the date of approval by the governing body of the exemption. After this documentation is provided, the State Treasurer would be required to reimburse each local government unit not later than 10 calendar days following the due date of each quarterly tax bill for which property taxes are no longer owed for the property. | In Committee |
| S3336 | Establishes food rescue hotline. | This bill requires the Food Security Advocate to establish and maintain, in the Office of the Food Security Advocate, a food rescue hotline that is designed to: (1) receive and respond to requests, whether by telephone, in-person, or via electronic or other means, as authorized by the Food Security Advocate, from individuals or organizations that are seeking to donate large quantities of food; and (2) direct each such individual or organization requesting hotline assistance to an appropriate food bank, and to other appropriate community resources and organizations, in order to facilitate the delivery of the donated food to an appropriate location. The bill requires the Food Security Advocate to engage in a public awareness campaign, using all available media, including television, radio, print, the Internet, and social media, to inform the public about the availability and purpose of the food rescue hotline. | In Committee |
| S3322 | Concerns right to repair farm equipment and lawn mowers. | This bill establishes the right to repair farm equipment and lawn mowers with repair providers other than the original manufacturer. This essentially allows independent repair providers, owners, and authorized repair providers to have the same access to diagnostic repair information for farm equipment and lawn mowers. Specifically, the bill requires a manufacturer of farm equipment or lawn mowers sold, offered for sale, or used in this State to make available to any independent repair provider or owner the same diagnostic, service, or repair documentation at no charge or in the same manner and in the same timeframe as the manufacturer makes the documentation available to an authorized repair provider. The bill also requires a manufacturer to provide farm equipment, lawn mowers, or service parts for purchase by the owner, an authorized agent, or any independent repair provider. A manufacturer is not required to sell parts that are no longer available. The bill prohibits a manufacturer that sells farm equipment or lawn mower diagnostic, service, or repair documentation in a standardized format from requiring an authorized repair provider to purchase it in a proprietary format unless the proprietary format includes documentation or functionality that is not available in the standardized format. Under the bill, a manufacturer of farm equipment or lawn mowers sold, offered for sale, or used in this State is to make available for purchase by independent repair providers and owners all diagnostic repair tools incorporating the same diagnostic, repair, and remote communications capabilities that the manufacturer makes available to its own repair or engineering staff or any authorized repair provider. A manufacturer is also required to offer tools for sale to an independent repair provider or owner under fair and reasonable terms. Farm equipment or lawn mowers with security-related functions are required to include diagnostic, service, and repair documentation necessary to reset a security-related electronic function. In the alternative, the manufacturer is to provide the documentation necessary to reset an immobilizer system or security-related electronic module through the appropriate secure data release systems. The bill imposes a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation of its provisions. It is increasingly difficult to repair lawn mowers and farm equipment, such as tractors, without going directly to the manufacturer. This puts consumers at a disadvantage because fewer repair options are available and market competition is decreased. | In Committee |
| S3354 | Requires DOT to consult Department of Agriculture and County Agriculture Development Boards when developing transportation capital project list. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to consult with the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and County Agriculture Development Boards (county boards) when developing the Annual Transportation Capital Program. The bill requires the DOT to develop a methodology to account for the transportation infrstructure needs identified by the DOA and county boards, and to incorporate those needs into DOT management systems, the analytic tools used to evaluate the condition of transportation infrastructure, when identifying infrastructure projects for inclusion in the Annual Transportation Capital Program. The State has made significant investments into farmland preservation efforts. Additional investments must be made into the transportation infrastructure surrounding such farmland to preserve the productivity and viability of New Jersey farms. Investments in transportation infrastructure that benefits agriculture will help maintain farming as a viable industry in the State and provide net benefits to the economy as a whole. | In Committee |
| SJR117 | Permanently designates last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey. | This resolution permanently designates the last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about eating disorders and the work the National Eating Disorders Association does in providing services to, and advocating for early intervention and improved access to treatment for, individuals with eating disorders and encourage those suffering from eating disorders and their families to seek the support they need to overcome these life-threatening illnesses. | In Committee |
| S3000 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | In Committee |
| S3292 | "Parents' Bill of Rights Act"; requires public school and school district provide certain information to parents and guardians and obtain parental consent prior to taking certain actions. | This bill establishes the "Parents' Bill of Rights Act." The bill prohibits a public school or school district from interfering with or denying the rights of parents and guardians of enrolled students, including the right to review copies of the curricula, books, and other educational materials used by the public school or school district that are available to the student; the right to access, as permitted by law, all records generated by the public school or school district that concern the student, the names and professional qualifications of teachers, guest lecturers, and outside presenters who engage with students at the school attended by the student, the names of any outside entity that collects and transmits data concerning the student by the public school or school district, and the names of all third-party individuals and organizations that receive contracts or other funding through the public school or school district; the right to be heard at school board meetings or other governance hearings pertaining to the public school or school district; the right to be notified, as permitted by law, of certain situations affecting the safety of the student at school; and the right, as permitted by law, to visit the student at school during school hours. Under the bill, a public school is required, prior to the start of each school year, to provide the parent or guardian of an enrolled student with the class syllabi and reading list for each class for which the student is registered. The bill prohibits public schools and school districts from requiring a parent or guardian to sign a nondisclosure agreement as a condition of accessing curricular materials, books, or other educational materials. The bill also requires public schools and school districts to obtain written consent from a parent or guardian of an enrolled student prior to collecting biometric data or other sensitive personal information from the student; prior to permitting the attendance of the student at a school assembly, field trip, or other extracurricular activity; and prior to using videographic, photographic, or audio depictions of the student by the public school or school district. The bill provides that a parent or guardian who is denied one or more of the rights identified under the provisions of the bill may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief. The bill also provides the Office of the Attorney General with the authority to seek an injunction against the public school or school district if the school or district threatens or denies one or more of the rights identified in the bill. | In Committee |
| S2181 | Eliminates requirement for State residency of public school employees for period of three years. | Eliminates requirement for State residency of public school employees for period of three years. | Crossed Over |
| S1435 | Establishes Downtown Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in certain small municipalities. | Establishes Downtown Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in certain small municipalities. | In Committee |
| S1458 | Requires DMVA to develop mobile application to provide guidance on available resources to veterans and their families. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to develop a mobile application for veterans and their families. The mobile application will be a resource guide and will provide veterans and their families with information related to veterans' legal rights, medical and insurance issues, education, housing, the transition from active to civilian life. The guide should have substantially the same information as available on the DMVA website, A Resource Guide for New Jersey's Military, Veterans and Families, and New Jersey Veterans Benefits Guide. Making these resources available through a mobile application will provide veterans with an additional avenue to access DMVA resources. The content on mobile applications generally loads faster than websites, and mobile applications are easier to use than websites and will provide veterans with a better user experience. | In Committee |
| S2005 | Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state. | Under current law, United States military personnel and their dependents who are living in New Jersey and are attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey are regarded as residents of the State for the purpose of determining tuition. This bill amends that law to provide that:? the in-State tuition classification also applies to the military service member's spouse; and? in the event that the military service member is relocated out of the State due to the service member's continued military service, the service member's spouse or dependent will not lose their in-State tuition classification provided that: (1) the spouse or dependent was enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Jersey prior to the service member's relocation; and (2) the spouse or dependent maintains continuous enrollment at the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| S3279 | Requires school districts to allow students receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities in student's resident district. | This bill requires school districts to allow students receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to participate in any school-sponsored extracurricular activity including, but not limited to, clubs, musical ensembles, Statewide interscholastic sports programs, and theatrical productions in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. Under the bill, a student receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school who wishes to participate in an extracurricular activity in the resident district is required to: (1) provide proof that the student resides in the district; (2) meet the eligibility and try out criteria for participation in the activity; and (3) comply with all policies, rules, and regulations of the governing organization of the extracurricular activity. In the event that the extracurricular activity involves participation in interscholastic athletics, the student is to demonstrate to the board of education that the student did not transfer to a program providing equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school for athletic advantage. Under the bill, if the extracurricular activity requires the completion of a physical examination or medical test as a condition of participation and the school district of residence offers the examination or test to the students enrolled in the school district, then the school district is required to allow a student receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to access the examination or test and publish the dates and times of the examination or test on its website. | In Committee |
| S876 | Makes FY2024 supplemental appropriation of $17 million for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. In the 2020-2021 legislative session $10 million was appropriated to the DEP for the same purpose. | In Committee |
| S3175 | Removes registered apprenticeship program requisites of public work contractors; sets apprenticeship standards for prevailing wage projects. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" by setting a standard for apprenticeship programs if a contractor or subcontractor chooses to participate in an apprenticeship program. The bill revises "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act" by removing the requirement that a contractor participate in a registered apprenticeship program in order to be eligible for public works projects. | In Committee |
| SR95 | Urges Congress and President of United States to enact "Laken Riley Act." | This resolution urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Laken Riley Act," which requires that migrants who enter the country illegally and are accused of theft be taken into federal custody. The "Laken Riley Act" was introduced in response to the tragic murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan migrant, was charged with the crime. The death of Laken Riley is a stark example of the devastating consequences that can result from lax immigration policies. Before being taken into custody for murder, Ibarra had been arrested for shoplifting. The "Laken Riley Act" would have prevented Riley's murder by requiring that migrants who enter the country illegally and are accused of theft be taken into federal custody. The passage of the "Laken Riley Act" by the United States Congress and its enactment into law by the President would represent a significant step towards enhancing public safety across the country and the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3142 | Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires the Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6, which restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Under the directive, among other provisions, State, county, and local law enforcement are prohibited from providing certain assistance to federal immigration authorities when the sole purpose is to enforce federal civil immigration law. In addition to other restrictions, the directive prohibits law enforcement from providing notice of a detained individual's upcoming release from custody or continuing the detention of a person past the time the person would be released from custody based solely on a civil immigration detainer request, with certain exceptions. The restrictions set forth in this directive pose a danger to the citizens of this State and are a substantial threat to public safety. Therefore, it is imperative that this directive be repealed. | In Committee |
| SR93 | Opposes all proposals to change designation of Delaware Water Gap from National Recreation Area to National Park and Preserve, including proposal from Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve Alliance. | This resolution expresses opposition to all proposals to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a National Recreation Area to a National Park and Preserve and expand the current boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area ("Delaware Water Gap") is a unit of the National Park System located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that encompasses portions of Sussex and Warren Counties. The Delaware Water Gap offers numerous recreational opportunities that are enjoyed by the residents of Sussex and Warren counties, as well as residents from throughout the State and visitors from across the country. A recently proposed project titled "Delaware Water Gap: Redesignation Project" ("Redesignation Project") seeks to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a National Recreation Area to the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve, and to expand the area of the present Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The specifics and scope of the Redesignation Project and the environmental, economic, and agricultural impacts of the project, remain unknown, including if, and how, fees will be collected, and how the project will be funded. In addition, the Redesignation Project raises concerns that the rights of local property owners may be disregarded. It is possible the federal government will use eminent domain to acquire private and State property alongside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, including nearby High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, and Worthington State Forest. The conversion of private property to federal property would result in numerous economic ramifications. It would result in a reduction of tax revenue in affected municipalities, may negatively affect local school districts in the area, and may negatively affect the local economy by preventing farmers who lease land along the Delaware River from producing crops that feed livestock. The Redesignation Project may further affect the local economy by prohibiting or restricting recreational activities, including hunting. As stakeholders determined in 2016, prohibiting these recreational activities will cause local businesses in Sussex and Warren counties to suffer financially, and prevent local residents from enjoying hunting and other recreational activities locally. | In Committee |
| S3126 | Allows Right to Farm Act complaints to be filed with county agriculture development board in adjacent county under certain circumstances and creates alternate voting members on such boards. | This bill amends current law concerning membership of county agriculture development boards (CADBs) and the process for the filing of complaints under the "Right to Farm Act," P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-1 et al.). Specifically, this bill would provide a mechanism for how Right to Farm disputes may be resolved if a CADB does not have quorum due to members with conflicts of interest. Under current law, in the event of a dispute, an individual or municipality aggrieved by the operation of a commercial farm is required to file a formal complaint with the appropriate CADB, or the State Agriculture Development Committee in counties where no CADB exists, prior to filing action in court. Under this bill, if a CADB is unable to convene a quorum due to members having conflicts of interest related to the filed complaint, the complaint may be filed with the CADB located in the adjacent county located closest to the commercial farm that is the subject of the complaint. In addition, this bill amends the "Agriculture Retention and Development Act," P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-11 et seq.), by creating alternate members on CADBs who would are able to vote in the absence or disqualification of a voting member. This bill would require each CADB to have two alternate members. The alternate members would be required to be actively engaged in farming and either be a resident of the county or a member of the CADB in an adjacent county. These alternate members would each serve for a term of four years and may vote in place of an appointed voting member who is actively engaged in farming should a voting member be absent or disqualified. The alternate voting member may participate in discussions of the proceedings when not voting. The alternate members would be appointed in the same manner as the four members actively engaged in farming. | In Committee |
| S3099 | Concerns justified use of force and deadly force. | This bill revises the law concerning the justified use of force and deadly force. Under the bill, a person is justified in using or threatening to use force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other person's imminent use of unlawful force. A person who uses or threatens to use such force does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use such force. The bill provides that a person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to the person or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a crime set forth in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.126 (C.2C:43-7.1). The referenced crimes are those enumerated in the "Three Strikes" law. They include murder; aggravated manslaughter; manslaughter; kidnapping; aggravated sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated assault; burglary; and unlawful possession of a weapon. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force under the bill does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person is not engaged in the commission of a crime and is in a place where the person has a right to be. The bill repeals the current statutes concerning the use of force and deadly force, set out in N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7. | In Committee |
| S3129 | Upgrades burglary of residence to crime of the second degree. | Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. This bill further provides that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA). Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| S3103 | Clarifies crime of highway and public passage obstruction and increases penalties. | This bill creates separate crimes for recklessly and purposefully obstructing a highway or public passage in this State and increases the penalties for doing so. Under current law, it is a petty disorderly offense for a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage whether alone or with others. Further, it is a petty disorderly persons offense for a person in a gathering to refuse to obey a reasonable official request or order to move off the highway or public passage. A petty disorderly offense is punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both. Under the bill, it is a disorderly persons offense for a person who, having no legal privilege to do so, recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage. Further, it is a crime of the fourth degree for a person who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by obstructing any highway or other public passage. Finally, the bill makes it a disorderly persons offense for a person in a gathering to refuse to obey a reasonable official request or order to move off the highway or public passage. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3076 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
| S3093 | Establishes expedited ejectment proceeding to remove certain unauthorized real property occupants. | This bill establishes an expedited ejectment proceeding to remove certain unauthorized occupants of real property. In an action by a property owner in the Superior Court to obtain possession of real property from a person occupying the property without the consent of the owner, without color of title, and without making any prior payment for the occupancy, the bill requires the court to, within three business days of receiving a verified complaint, allow a hearing on the complaint to proceed. The court is required to notify the real property owner or the owner's agent of the court's determination. If the court allows a special expedited ejectment proceeding, the court is required to fix the date of the hearing, to occur on or before the fifth business day following the court's determination. In the complaint filed by the real property owner or the owner's agent, the real property owner or the owner's agent is required to certify the following:· that prior to the submission of the complaint to the court, the property occupant has been provided with written notice of the complaint or written notice has been posted prominently on the real property;· the person verifying the complaint is the property owner or the owner's agent;· the occupant of the property has never been a lawful tenant of the property, and does not lawfully own or possess the real property; · the occupant of the property has never paid rent to the property owner or the owner's agent; and · the occupant of the property has never had a written lease or other written permission from the property owner or the owner's agent, to reside on the property. In addition to any notice that the Administrative Director of the Courts may determine to be appropriate, a property occupant, who is the subject of a complaint submitted in accordance with the bill, would be provided with written notice of the date, time, and location of the special expedited ejectment proceeding within 24 hours of scheduling. If, in a special expedited ejectment proceeding, the court determines that the information certified by the owner or the owner's agent is accurate, the bill requires the court to issue a writ of possession. An officer of the court is required by the bill to remove the unauthorized occupant following the issuance of the writ of possession. The bill provides that the court would be authorized to extend the timeline requirements, if necessary in the interest of justice, in extraordinary circumstances. The bill provides that a person commits a crime of the third degree if the person knowingly forges a document for the purpose of availing oneself of, or circumventing, the special ejectment proceeding processes established in the bill. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, and a fine of up to $15,000. As a result of existing provisions of chapter 39 of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, which this bill supplements, a property owner who prevails in an action initiated pursuant to the bill, would recover all damages proximately caused by the unlawful occupancy, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Additionally, the bill provides that a prevailing property owner would be entitled to treble damages for all damages proximately caused by the unlawful entry and detainer. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment, and would apply to an action for a writ of possession initiated on or after that date. | In Committee |
| S3023 | Prohibits State from imposing mileage-based user fee; prohibits use of State funding for any program, study, or pilot program related to imposition of mileage-based user fee. | This bill prohibits the State from imposing a mileage-based user fee within the State. The bill defines "mileage-based user fee" as any fee imposed on the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, which fee is calculated based on the number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle during a designated period of time. In addition, the bill prohibits the use of State funding to implement any programs or pilot programs or conduct any studies related to the imposition of a mileage-based user fee within the State. | In Committee |
| S3024 | Removes statutory limitation on number of permits that may be issued by Division of Fish and Wildlife for the taking of beaver. | This bill would grant the Division of Fish and Wildlife full authority to issue permits as is necessary and appropriate to manage the beaver resource in the State. In particular, the bill would remove the current statutory restriction, which limits to 200 the number of beaver trapping permits that may be issued by the division in any one year. The authority granted by this bill is consistent with the division's existing authority to issue as many permits as it deems appropriate in relation to the management of various other game species. | In Committee |
| S2983 | Requires forest stewardship plan for certain lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes. | This bill would require the preparation and implementation of a forest stewardship plan for certain lands acquired for recreation and conservation purposes by the State, local government units, or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations with funding provided through the State's open space preservation program, commonly referred to as the "Green Acres Program." The bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to prepare and implement a forest stewardship plan when it acquires lands for recreation and conservation purposes that contain 25 acres or more of forested area. This plan would be required within two years after the date the DEP acquires the property. In addition, the bill would require the DEP, within five years after the date the bill is enacted into law, to prepare and implement a forest stewardship plan for all lands that contain 25 acres or more of forested area owned in fee simple by the State for recreation and conservation purposes on the date the bill is enacted into law. The bill would also require local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to prepare and implement forest stewardship plans when they acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes that contain 25 acres or more of forested area. Local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations would be required to submit their plans to the DEP for review and approval. The DEP would be required to approve, approve with changes, or disapprove the plan within 30 days after receipt. If the DEP disapproves a plan, the local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization would be required to work with the DEP to develop a mutually acceptable plan. A forest stewardship plan prepared and implemented pursuant to the bill would be required to conform with the DEP's rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-36) designed to ensure the sustainability of forest lands. Lastly, the bill directs the DEP, when prioritizing applications submitted by local government units or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for funding for the acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, to give a higher weight to any application submitted by a local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization, as applicable, that implements a forest stewardship plan on lands owned for recreation and conservation purposes by that entity for which a forest stewardship plan is not required pursuant to the bill. This additional weight would be in addition to any other criteria and ranking procedures established by the DEP pursuant to law. | In Committee |
| S2982 | Exempts certain veterans from field or live-fire range portion of hunter gun safety course. | The bill exempts a veteran from completing the field or live-fire range portion of the required course in gun safety. The bill also allows the Division of Fish and Wildlife to require the veteran to provide proof of service and honorable discharge prior to the division's authorization of the exemption. The bill defines "veteran" as any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, or reserves component thereof, or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits. | In Committee |
| S2958 | Establishes Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission. | This bill creates the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. Under the bill, the commission would be comprised of nine members, consisting of representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of State government, who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The bill requires each department, office, division, or agency of the State to cooperate with the commission and furnish it with any information, personnel, and assistance it needs to accomplish its duties. The commission's findings would be advisory and cannot be used as a basis for any legal challenges based upon the action or inaction of any department, office, division, or agency of the State. The bill requires the commission to: (1) review all proposed and adopted rules and regulations and operative Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments; (2) call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply the commission with data and other information, personnel, or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties; (3) solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, and environmental organizations, businesses, workers, and other affected persons or entities as the commission deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) provide annually a written report to the Governor and the Legislature in which the commission must provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. | In Committee |
| SR83 | Creates Senate Task Force on Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review. | This resolution creates the Senate Task Force on Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review to assess the effect that statutes, rules and regulations, and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any statutes, rules and regulations, or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments. Under the resolution, the bi-partisan task force would be comprised of six members of the Senate. The Senate President would appoint three members and the Minority Leader of the Senate would appoint three members. The Senate President would appoint two co-chairs, who would not be members of the same political party. The Senate President, with the advice of the co-chairs, may appoint additional members of the public to the task force. The members would be representatives who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The resolution requires the task force to: (1) review statutes, rules and regulations, and Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any statutes, rules and regulations, or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments; (2) request data and other information or assistance it deems necessary from any department, office, division, or agency of this State; (3) solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, business and environmental organizations, workers, school districts, and other affected persons or entities as the task force deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; (4) hold one public hearing within 60 days following the adoption of this resolution; (5) provide an initial report of findings and recommendations to the Senate one year following the adoption of this resolution; and (6) provide annually a written report to the Senate, in which the task force will provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any statutes, rules and regulations, or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, school districts, and local governments. | In Committee |
| S2957 | "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act"; requires independent audit of NJT. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act," requires that the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) hire an independent firm to conduct an audit of the financial management practices and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 and prepare and issue a report on the independent firm's findings and recommendations, which report is to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 resulted in the issuance of the Comprehensive Strategic, Financial & Operational Assessment of NJ Transit on October 5, 2018. Among the issues identified in the assessment is that, for eight years preceding its publication and despite increasing operation and maintenance costs, the corporation had been forced to transfer much needed capital funds for capital maintenance due to dramatically reduced State Operating Assistance. Through its requirement of an independent audit, this bill is intended to shed light on the financial needs and practices of the corporation since the issuance of the 2018 assessment, including the diversion of capital funds for operations. The report for which the corporation is required to hire an independent firm under this bill is to: (1) include findings on the financial management and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018; (2) summarize the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the demand for the corporation's services and on the financial and practical needs of the corporation to meet current and projected long-term demand; (3) evaluate the corporation's current sources of funding and their adequacy in relation to demand for the corporation's services; and (4) recommend policies and best practices for the corporation to adopt based upon the findings of the independent firm, including, but not limited to, recommendations on the decision-making process, corporate governance, personnel hiring and protocols, and improvement of the customer experience. Within six months of the issuance of the report, the corporation is required to adopt any individual policies and best practices recommended in the report. Under the bill, the corporation is permitted to opt not to adopt an individual policy or best practice, provided that the corporation provides a detailed explanation of why the adoption of that policy or practice is not in the best interest of the corporation within six months of the issuance of the report issued by the independent firm. This bill does not affect any obligation of the corporation to conduct, or hire an independent firm to complete, an audit or study under existing law. | In Committee |
| S2910 | Prohibits DEP from requiring person under 16 years of age to obtain horseback riding permit to ride in State wildlife management areas. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring a person under 16 years of age to obtain a permit from the Division of Fish and Wildlife to engage in horseback riding in a State wildlife management area. The bill further prohibits the DEP from charging a person under 16 years of age a $2.00 nonrefundable permit application fee. | In Committee |
| SCR95 | Urges Congress and President of US to enact legislation addressing interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition. | This concurrent resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R.225, which addresses interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition. In amending the "Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986," this bill provides increased legal protection for a person who transports a licensed firearm to and from a state where it may be legally possessed, provided that the firearm remains unloaded and stored in a locked container. In particular, the bill broadens the definition of "transport" to offer legal protection for traveling gun owners during overnight stays; medical emergencies; food, fuel, and vehicle maintenance stops; as well as any activity incidental to transport. Under current law, a law-abiding gun owner may face imprisonment for choosing to exercise their constitutional right to transport legal firearms through a state with strict gun laws. For example, despite his every attempt to comply with federal guidelines, Greg Revell was jailed for 10 days in New Jersey after attempting to travel through the State in 2005 with his licensed firearm. Moreover, the chances of unnecessary legal complications are increased when unpredictable events, such as delayed or missed flights, disrupt a traveler's itinerary, as was the case with Mr. Revell. This criminalization of law-abiding citizens is an injustice that requires remedial federal action in the form of H.R.225. | In Committee |
| SR80 | Urges Congress and US President to enact "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act." | This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," which is pending before the House of Representatives as H.R. 38. H.R. 38 authorizes a person possessing a valid identification document containing the person's photograph to carry a concealed handgun, other than a machine gun or destructive device, in any state, so long as the individual is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law or from carrying a concealed firearm in the individual's state of residence. This legislation also requires the person to first obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm before traveling with a firearm into other states, and respects states' rights by requiring the traveler to comply with restrictions of the state to which the individual is traveling when present in that state. States may currently decline to recognize concealed carry permits lawfully issued in other states, leaving citizens traveling in those states without the ability to protect themselves and their families. The resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to move forward with the enactment of H.R. 38 to: 1) safeguard our citizens' constitutionally protected Second Amendment rights, and 2) allow our citizens to engage in interstate travel without fear of sacrificing their Second Amendment rights or the ability to protect themselves and their families. | In Committee |
| S2923 | Permits certain municipalities to appoint persons separate from civil service eligible list under certain circumstances. | Currently, when a municipality requests an eligible list of hires from the Civil Service Commission to fill a vacancy, it may take several months to receive the eligible list, and in the meantime, positions go unfilled. In addition, there are times when the list is received and either there are no suitable persons, or the persons on the list do not accept the position. Under this bill, when a municipality having no police department and a population less than 12,000 requests a certified eligible list from the commission, the commission must provide the list within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request. If the commission fails to respond to the request within the 30 days, or an appointment does not result from the list, the municipality may hire a qualified person. The municipality will sign a waiver designed and authorized by the Civil Service Commission exempting the candidate from the civil service hiring process. Upon accepting appointment, the candidate must satisfactorily complete the working test period to be considered by the commission as qualified for the position and to have civil service status. The Civil Service Commission will not require the municipality to replace the candidate upon issuance of a certified eligible list. This bill will help reduce the number of unfilled positons in certain municipalities. | In Committee |
| S2889 | Makes $10.5 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $10.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to increase the State funding for Per Capita Library Aid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The purpose of the bill is to better enable libraries to serve the public with access to information and cultural enrichment. | In Committee |
| S2839 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| S744 | Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community network. | This bill removes a requirement of law that limits the types of broadband telecommunications services, also known as wireless Internet service, that may be provided by a local unit. Specifically, the bill provides that local units would no longer be required to provide broadband telecommunications service through a wireless community network. Under current law, the governing body of a local unit, including counties, municipalities, and other local entities, is permitted to: (1) establish a related competitive business segment to: (i) construct, own, and operate broadband telecommunications infrastructure for the provision of broadband telecommunications service via a wireless community network; or (ii) provide broadband telecommunications service via a wireless community network; or (2) enter into a contract with a private entity to: (i) provide broadband telecommunications service via a wireless community network; or (ii) construct, own, use, acquire, deliver, grant, operate, maintain, sell, purchase, lease, or equip broadband telecommunications infrastructure for the provision of broadband telecommunications service via a wireless community network. These local units are also permitted to issue revenues bonds, pursuant to the "Local Bond Law" (N.J.S. 40A:2-1 et seq.), to pay for all or part of the costs of the infrastructure used for these purposes. By removing the requirement for broadband telecommunications service to be provided via wireless community networks, this bill would authorize a local unit to provide broadband telecommunications service in any manner that the local unit deems necessary, provided that the local unit otherwise complies with the requirements of State and federal law. | In Committee |
| S2724 | Establishes "Invasive Species Task Force." | This bill establishes an "Invasive Species Task Force" which would be comprised of five ex officio members or their designees, including: (1) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; (2) the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) the Commissioner of Health; (4) the State Forester; and (5) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, the State University. This bill would make the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of Agriculture, or their respective designees, co-chairpersons of the Invasive Species Task Force. The Invasive Species Task Force would: (1) study the most efficient means of controlling invasive species; (2) develop uniform policies and a coordinated response to the threat posed by invasive species to the State's native and agricultural vegetation, and ecological, cultural, historical, or infrastructure resources; (3) develop a plan to prevent new invasive species from entering the State, and limit the continuing spread of invasive species that are already present; (4) develop a plan to control infestations that currently exist; (5) develop a plan to restore ecosystems to their natural condition, and to repair damage caused by invasive species; (6) identify regulatory and statutory obstacles and inefficiencies at the federal, State, and local levels impeding the development or implementation of prevention, control, and restoration efforts; (7) evaluate the 2009 New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species, prepared by the New Jersey Invasive Species Council pursuant to Executive Order No. 97 of 2004; (8) explore and develop alternatives in addition to those discussed in the 2009 New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species, to control the entry and spread of new invasive species into the State; (9) prepare a comprehensive invasive species management plan for the State that would include an estimate of the resources necessary for its implementation; and (10) prepare recommendations for legislative action necessary to implement the report. The bill directs the task force to prepare and submit a report of its findings, plans, and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature no later than one year after the task force organizes. | In Committee |
| SJR88 | Designates March 20th of each year as "New Jersey Agriculture Day." | This joint resolution, as amended, designates March 20th of each year as "New Jersey Agriculture Day," to recognize the vital role that agriculture plays in the State. The joint resolution, as amended, also requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "New Jersey Agriculture Day" with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| SR73 | Condemns People's Republic of China's treatment of Uyghurs. | This Senate Resolution condemns the People's Republic of China's treatment of the Uyghur ethnic group. The People's Republic of China is reportedly repressing, mistreating, and interning over one million Uyghurs because the Uyghur ethnic group is predominately Muslim. This Senate Resolution demonstrates the Senate's commitment to freedom and popular self-determination both at home and around the world. | In Committee |
| S2659 | "Made in New Jersey Tax Credit Act"; provides CBT tax credits to taxpayers that purchase "New Jersey made" products. | This bill, designated the "Made in New Jersey Tax Credit Act," provides tax credits under the corporation business tax to taxpayers who produce purchase New Jersey made products for the purposes of retail sales, manufacturing, or a manufacturing production process. The tax credit is equal to 25 percent multiplied by the ratio between the costs incurred in the purchase of the New Jersey made products and the taxpayer's total costs incurred in the purchase of products for the purposes of retail sales or manufacturing. The total costs exclude any costs for products that the taxpayer can demonstrate could not have been substituted with a similar made in New Jersey product. However, if two-thirds or more of a taxpayer's total costs incurred are excluded, then the taxpayer is ineligible for the credit. When this credit is combined with other credits, it cannot exceed the tax liability otherwise due and cannot reduce the tax liability below the statutory minimum. The credit can be carried forward up to seven privilege periods after the privilege period for which the credit is allowed. "New Jersey made" means that all or virtually all the significant parts, processing, and labor that produce that product originate or are sourced in the State of New Jersey, and that the products do not contain or contain only negligible out of state content. | In Committee |
| S2677 | Clarifies that BB guns are not firearms under New Jersey law. | This bill revises the definition of "firearm" to clarify that BB guns are not firearms and, therefore, are not subject to New Jersey's strict firearms licensing and permitting statutes. | In Committee |
| S2678 | Increases penalty for certain acts of trespass and vandalism on agricultural and horticultural lands. | This bill would amend current law concerning penalties for trespass and vandalism on agricultural and horticultural lands. Specifically, this bill would increase the penalty for trespass and vandalism on agricultural and horticultural lands when the damage incurred by the landowner exceeds $10,000. Under current law, it is a criminal offense to knowingly or recklessly damage or injure any tangible property, including, but not limited to, any fence, building, feedstocks, crops, live trees, or any domestic animals located on agricultural or horticultural lands. In addition, current law provides a civil penalty of at least $1,000 for a person who engages in such an offense. Under this bill, the minimum civil penalty would be increased from $1,000 to $2,500 if the court determines that the damages sustained from trespass upon the agricultural or horticultural land exceed $10,000. This increased civil penalty would be in addition to any other applicable fines, penalties, or restitution that may be assessed pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1983, c.522 (C.2C:18-6) or any other law. This bill is in response to Resolution No. 26 approved at the 105th State Agricultural Convention, held in February 2020. | In Committee |
| S2560 | Prohibits municipal ordinance to create sanctuary city; establishes State and local employee ethics violation upon noncompliance with federal immigration enforcement request. | This bill is intended to make certain that State and local officials in New Jersey cooperate with federal authorities with respect to immigration and customs enforcement requests. The bill prohibits counties and municipalities from establishing formal or informal policies of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Several jurisdictions, such as California, have established a formal prohibition on cooperation with federal authorities on immigration issues. In San Francisco, a young woman named Kate Steinle was brutally murdered by an individual who intentionally committed the crime in San Francisco because it had designated itself a sanctuary city. Other jurisdictions, such as certain municipalities in New Jersey, have an informal practice of not cooperating with requests from the federal government regarding immigration matters. This bill is intended to prevent the State, municipalities, or any subdivision thereof, from establishing a formal or informal "sanctuary city" policy, which has led to recent violent crimes around the country. Under this bill, a State or local official who fails to cooperate with federal authorities with respect to immigration enforcement will be committing an ethics violation. The regular process for the disposition of ethics violations at the State or local level will be applicable to these situations. The bill also creates a civil fine for any member of a municipal or county governing body which votes in favor of a sanctuary city ordinance after the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2631 | Requires legislative approval of State Board of Education rules and regulations; repeals equity regulations. | This bill requires legislative approval for all rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education and repeals the entirety of the "Managing for Equity in Education" regulations found within chapter 7 of Title 6A of the New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.6A:7). Under the bill, the State Board of Education is required to obtain legislative approval prior to adopting any new rule; amending a rule, readopting an expiring rule; or readopting a rule without changes, with technical changes, or with substantial changes. This legislative approval is to be in the form of the passage of a concurrent resolution. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the rule or readoption, the rule is required to be adopted in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act." If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the rule or readoption, it cannot be adopted. Additionally, the bill provides that the State board is required to include the concurrent resolution when filing for a notice of proposal or notice of adoption with the Office of Administrative Law. Finally, this bill repeals the State board's "Managing for Equity in Education" regulations recently adopted and found within N.J.A.C.6A:7. | In Committee |
| S2638 | Allows individuals that have undergone certain background checks, including individuals with certain commercial driver license endorsements, to renew license online or by mail. | This bill permits individuals with a valid driver license and commercial driver license who also have either: 1) a federal Transportation Worker Identification Credential issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); or 2) an endorsement to transport hazardous materials with a required TSA fingerprinting and background check, to renew their licenses as REAL-ID compliant versions by mail or the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Internet website, and not in-person at an MVC agency. These individuals have already met federal REAL ID requirements as a result of having acquired certain federal TSA documents with requirements that are equal to or greater than REAL ID standards. As a result, it is reasonable to allow these individuals to renew their licenses as REAL ID versions without having to do so in person, given the lengthy wait times for in-person appointments to conduct REAL ID license transactions at this moment in time. | In Committee |
| S2568 | Expands eligibility for pension and retirement income exclusion to taxpayers with incomes exceeding $150,000, and increases amount of exclusion that qualifying taxpayers may claim. | This bill (1) expands eligibility for the partial gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income to certain taxpayers with gross incomes exceeding $150,000, and (2) increases the amount of the exclusion that qualifying taxpayers may claim. Under current law, qualifying taxpayers with $150,000 or less in gross income who are at least 62 years old or disabled may exclude certain pension and retirement income from taxable gross income, up to a certain amount, depending on filing status. The bill expands eligibility for the exclusion to qualifying taxpayers with incomes in excess of $150,000, so that all qualifying taxpayers may claim a full or partial exclusion, regardless of income. The bill also increases the amount of the pension and retirement and income exclusion by allowing qualifying taxpayers to exempt the first $150,000 of pension payments and other retirement income as well as 50 percent of any payments exceeding $150,000 up to $300,000 during a taxable year. A taxpayer would not be permitted to claim an exemption for any payments exceeding $300,000. Under current law, a qualifying taxpayer with an annual income of $100,000 or less is allowed an exclusion as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointlyUp to $100,000Married filing separatelyUp to $50,000SingleUp to $75,000 For a qualifying taxpayer whose income exceeds $100,000 but is less than or equal to $125,000, current law allows the taxpayer to claim an exclusion from gross income as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointly50 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeMarried filing separately25 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeSingle37.5 percent of pension payments and other retirement income For a qualifying taxpayer whose income exceeds $125,000 but is less than or equal to $150,000, current law allows the taxpayer to claim an exclusion from gross income as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointly25 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeMarried filing separately12.5 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeSingle18.75 percent of pension payments and other retirement income | In Committee |
| S2561 | Concerning noncitizens voting in local elections and conduct in office by local government officers. | This bill concerns conduct by local government officers while in office by declaring the actions of any local unit to authorize or permit individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections of the local unit to be against public policy and declare any such policies null and void. The bill maintains that, pursuant to Article II, Section I, paragraph 3 of the New Jersey Constitution and Title 19 of the New Jersey Statutes, only individuals who are citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in elections held in the State, and specifically prohibits elected local government officers from voting or acting to approve any ordinance or resolution which would allow individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections of the local unit. At least 14 municipalities in various states allow noncitizens to participate in certain elections. The bill also amends the "Local Government Ethics Law" to include violations of an elected local governmentofficer's oath of office by a local government officer as a violation under the "Local Government Ethics Law," and subject to potential fine. | In Committee |
| SR68 | Urges Congress and President to enact immigration policies that better serve national interest. | This resolution urges Congress and the President to enact immigration policies that better serve the national interest. Each nation has the sovereign right to determine its own immigration policies, and the United States government has a responsibility to its citizens to end illegal immigration. According to United States Customs and Border Protection, in fiscal year 2023, there was a record-breaking number of 3.2 million encounters with illegal immigrants at our borders nationwide, surpassing the previous record-breaking number of 2.7 million encounters in fiscal year 2022. Illegal immigration into the United States is threatening America's foundation, and Congress as well as the President should immediately enact immigration policies that better serve the national interest. | In Committee |
| S82 | Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses paying a salary differential to National Guard members or reservists on active duty. | This bill provides for corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses that have employees who are also members of the National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States and receive mobilization orders for active duty service. The amount of credit shall be equal to the amount of salary paid by the business that makes up the difference between the employee's regular pay and the employee's military pay. | In Committee |
| S1069 | Establishes county veteran transportation grant program; removes certain restrictions to the current veterans transportation assistance program; appropriates $2 million. | Establishes county veteran transportation grant program; removes certain restrictions to the current veterans transportation assistance program; appropriates $2 million. | In Committee |
| S2445 | Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to conduct study to identify composition of current health care workforce, estimate future gaps, and recommend solutions to address gaps. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the Departments of Health and Human Services, to conduct a study of the current and future needs for the health care workforce in New Jersey. The study would consist of research on (1) vacancy rates; (2) configuration of the workforce by race, ethnicity and gender, occupation or specialty, educational level, and size of the health care workforce in each region of the State; (3) patient care needs addressed by the health care workforce in each region of the State; (4) a cross analysis of the identified data to identify common themes and differences across categories; (5) an estimate of the future pipeline of the health care workforce; and (6) identification of any gaps between supply and demand, with recommendations on addressing the gaps. The commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Legislature setting forth the results of the study within one year of the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2500 | Establishes Office of Ombudsman for Children. | This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in, but not of, the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill provides that the office is to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, respond to the concerns and addressing the needs of children in the resource family care, and that children under State supervision due to child abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill requires the ombudsman to: (1) investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response to, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State, or the out-of-placement of children under the care, custody, and supervision of the State; (2) inspect and review the operations, policies, procedures, and contracts of all juvenile detention centers or facilities, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for care of abused or neglected children, homeless youth, or juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis centers, or independent living arrangements operated, licensed, or approved for payment, by the Departments of Children and Families, Community Affairs, or Health, or any other public or private setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; (3) review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services; (4) review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children due to abuse or neglect or children, as deemed necessary by the ombudsman to assess the performance of the entities; (5) intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children; (6) hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the ombudsman, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the ombudsman deems appropriate; and (7) establish and maintain a 24-hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the ombudsman, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies or contract services, protects children. The bill also provides that the ombudsman report annually to the Governor, Commissioner of Children and Families, and Legislature on: (1) the activities of the office; (2) priorities for children's services that have been identified by the ombudsman; and (3) recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities. The report is to be posted on the Office of the Attorney General's and the Department of Children and Families' websites. | In Committee |
| S2369 | Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds. | This bill expands Megan's Law to require that members of municipal governing bodies be notified when a sex offender moves into a municipality and restricts sex offenders from residing in areas frequented by children. Under the provisions of the bill, when a sex offender listed on the Internet registry maintained by the Superintendent of the State Police registers with the chief law enforcement officer of a municipality, the officer is to forward the name and address of the sex offender to the members of the governing body of the municipality. If the sex offender is required to register with the Superintendent of State Police because he is moving to a municipality that does not have a police force, then the Superintendent of State Police is to forward the sex offender's name and address to the members of the governing body of the municipality in which the sex offender intends to reside. Under the provisions of the bill, it is unlawful for a person who is subject to the Megan's Law registration requirements for a sex offense against an individual under the age of 18 to reside within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground or child care center. The residential ban would not cover a sex offender who: resides at a prison or mental health facility; resides at a residence established before the bill's enactment; has a school, playground or child care center established or built within 500 feet of his or her existing residence; was granted a needs based exception by the parole board; or was discharged from a psychiatric facility by a court and was granted an exemption by a court. | In Committee |
| S2351 | Permits persons at horse racetracks and off-track wagering facilities to place wagers on previously-recorded live horse races. | This bill would permit wagering at racetracks and off track wagering facilities in this State on previously-recorded live running or harness horse races that do not identify the actual race. Pari-mutuel wagers of the same pool type would be placed using an electronic pari-mutuel wagering. The bill provides that the "takeout" or that portion of a wager which is deducted from or not included in the parimutuel pool, and which is distributed other than to persons placing wagers, will not be more than 20 percent, and will be 20 percent in the absence of an agreement prescribing a lesser takeout percentage. The takeout rate amount for previously-recorded live wagering conducted at an off-track wagering facility or at a racetrack will be distributed as follows: 15 percent to purses; 1 percent to breeder awards and 4 percent to Sire Stakes or State-bred awards; 15 percent to race technology fees; 3 percent to simulcasting fees; and 62 percent to the permit holder, who shall be responsible for operating expenses, marketing, and awards. Under the bill, previously-recorded live race wagers may be commingled into interstate common pools for previously-recorded live race wagering. The bill also imposes a tax at a rate of 1.5 percent of money wagered on previously-recorded live races during the State fiscal year. A portion of these revenues will be dedicated to pay for public employee retirement benefits, New Jersey Racing Commission expenses, support of the Equine Science at Rutgers University, equine programs at public institutions of higher education, and equine drug testing. The bill further provides that a portion of the amounts dedicated for purses to the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey or to a standardbred permit holder, and to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association or to a thoroughbred permit holder, may be expended for other purposes that benefit the racing and breeding industries in this State, pursuant to an agreement between the respective permit holder and association, and subject to reporting in the annual financial reports required to be submitted to the commission. The distributions established in the bill would not be construed as to abrogate any contractual agreement among permit holders in this State providing for previously-recorded live racing revenue sharing. Under the bill, the New Jersey Racing Commission would promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S1022 | Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans. | Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans. | In Committee |
| S1877 | Requires voter who wishes to vote by mail to complete application for mail-in ballot each calendar year; repeals automatic vote-by-mail designation. | This bill requires a voter who wishes to vote by mail to complete an application for a mail-in ballot each calendar year. The bill also repeals a provision of current law which required each county clerk to designate each voter who voted by mail in 2016, 2017, and 2018 as automatic vote-by-mail voters in all future elections. Under current law, a voter may apply to vote by mail in all future elections or in any single election. A voter who indicates a desire to vote by mail in all future elections is not required to reapply for a mail-in ballot each year, but may notify the county clerk that he or she no longer wishes to vote by mail. This bill would require voters who want to vote by mail to complete a mail-in ballot application each calendar year. The application would offer the voter the opportunity to either vote by mail in all elections held in that calendar year, or in any single election held in that calendar year. This bill also repeals a provision of law that made voters who voted by mail in 2016, 2017, and 2018 be designated as automatic vote-by-mail voters in all future elections, unless they opted out at the time of the law's implementation. The bill requires the county clerk in each county, within 30 days of the implementation date, to transmit to each voter who is designated in the Statewide Voter Registration System as receiving a mail-in ballot for all future elections, a notice informing the voter that he or she is required to complete an application to vote by mail each calendar year. The bill would take effect immediately, but would be implemented on the first day following the November general election occurring after that effective date. | In Committee |
| S1862 | Prohibits State contracts for technology with Chinese government-owned or affiliated companies. | This bill provides that any company owned or operated by, or affiliated with, the Government of China will be ineligible to bid or submit a proposal for a technology contract with any State agency. This bill also requires companies that submit a bid or proposal with respect to a contract for technology goods and services to certify that the company is eligible to bid or submit a proposal. This bill establishes that, if the Division of Purchase and Property determines that a company has submitted a false certification, the company will be liable for a civil penalty in an amount that is equal to the greater of $250,000 or twice the amount of the contract for which a bid or proposal was submitted and the State agency, or the Division of Purchase and Property, will terminate the contract with the company. | In Committee |
| SR60 | Urges Attorney General and Department of Education to regularly update "Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1" and "School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices Guidelines." | This resolution urges the Department of Education to regularly review and revise the "School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices Guidelines" in order to ensure that school personnel are equipped with the most current information on best practices for school safety and security. In addition, the resolution urges the New Jersey Attorney General to regularly review and revise "Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1" and the model policies that were distributed to law enforcement agencies to assist them in implementing the directive. These documents have not been subject to significant review or revision since 2007. Given the vital importance of school safety and security in today's age, the documents should reflect the most current information on best practices in school safety and security for both school personnel and law enforcement. | In Committee |
| SCR78 | Declares Division of State Lottery's new rule concerning online lottery sales inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the final rule adopted by the Division of State Lottery on August 17, 2023 at N.J.A.C. 17:20-1.5, permitting the direct internet sale of lottery tickets by the Division of State Lottery, is not consistent with the legislative intent of the "State Lottery Act". The Division of State Lottery shall have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the rule or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rule in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| SCR69 | Proposes Constitutional amendment to limit exercise of eminent domain to acquisition of land for essential public purposes. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the eminent domain power of State and local government to the acquisition of private property only for purposes considered to be "essential public purposes." The proposed amendment would define "essential public purposes" to include and be limited to the establishment of utility and transportation corridors, educational facilities, airports, correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, landfills, sewage treatment facilities, storm water management facilities, in-patient health facilities, and recreational facilities. Currently, the State Constitution establishes the clearance, replanning, development or redevelopment of blighted areas as a public purpose and public use for which government may take or acquire private property. This amendment would specifically prohibit government from acquiring private property for these purposes, although it would permit government to continue to grant tax exemptions to private corporations in order to promote the redevelopment of blighted areas. It is the sponsor's belief that as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005) which upheld a municipality's right to condemn private residences for private redevelopment, New Jersey homeowners and business owners are now more vulnerable to overreaching government action which impairs private property rights. Accordingly, this constitutional amendment represents an attempt to protect New Jersey residents from the effects of this decision. | In Committee |
| S1868 | Allows county sheriffs to issue firearms identification cards and permits to purchase handguns; authorizes county sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns. | This bill provides county sheriffs with the authority to issue firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase handguns, and provides them with authority to accept applications for permits to carry handguns. Under current law, a State resident applying for a firearms purchaser identification card or a permit to purchase a handgun must make such application to the chief law enforcement officer of an organized full-time police department of the municipality where the applicant resides or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have a full-time police force. Out-of-State residents must make application to the superintendent. The chief law enforcement officer, or superintendent, as the case may be, is tasked with taking fingerprints and initiating a criminal history records check on the applicant. Upon completion of the background investigation, the applicant is issued the identification card or permit by the chief law enforcement officer or superintendent. Under the provisions of this bill, county sheriffs are granted the same authority for State residents. In the instance of an application for a permit to carry a handgun, the initial application process is similar under current law. An applicant must make application to the chief law enforcement officer of an organized full-time police department of the municipality where the applicant resides or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have a full-time police force. Out-of-State residents and employees of armored trucks must make application to the superintendent. Upon approval of the application by the chief law enforcement officer, or superintendent, the Superior Court issues the permit. The bill provides county sheriffs with the authority to accept, investigate and approve or deny permit to carry applications for State residents. | In Committee |
| S892 | Upgrades burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree; requires mandatory period of parole ineligibility if residence was occupied at time of offense. | This bill would upgrade burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree and provide that an offender is not eligible for early release if a person was present in the residence at the time of the offense. Currently, all burglary offenses are crimes of the third degree unless the offender purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on someone or if the offender is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon, in which case it is a crime of the second degree. This bill would provide that it is also a crime of the second degree to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Additionally, the bill would provide that, if a person was present in the dwelling at the time of the burglary, the offender would be subject to the provisions of subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117 (C.2C:43-7.2), commonly known as the "No Early Release Act (NERA)," which requires that certain offenders must serve a minimum 85% of the sentence of imprisonment imposed for the offense. A crime of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, up to a $150,000 fine, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, up to a $15,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| SCR36 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide registered voters with right to cast ballot in person at polling place on election day; requires mail-in ballot request before voter receives mail-in ballot. | This constitutional amendment would ensure that registered voters in this State, who are qualified to vote, have the right to cast a ballot in person on the day of any election in this State, and would permit mail-in ballots to be distributed only to voters who submit a written request for a mail-in ballot. This amendment would bar the Legislature from passing laws, and the Governor from issuing executive orders, that would: (1) limit or deny in-person voting for a registered voter who wishes to vote in person, or (2) automatically distribute mail-in ballots to all voters. | In Committee |
| S1844 | Exempts contaminated and industrially-zoned sites from affordable housing rules. | This bill would prohibit the Council on Affordable Housing to the calculate fair share affordable housing obligation for a municipality on the basis of any development of contaminated sites or industrial sites within its borders. In addition, the bill directs that a municipality shall not charge fees to a developer pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), upon the developer's remediation of a contaminated site or application for development of an industrially-zoned site. Developers and others expend significant resources to turn land which has been contaminated with toxins into useful, developable land. In addition, the development of a certain amount of land within a municipality for industry is not only desirable, but necessary to support the residential housing in the community. Under the council's formula for the fair share housing obligation, promulgated pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," a municipality could be faced with an increase of its affordable housing obligation upon a contaminated remediation, or upon the development of any industrially zoned land. In addition, the developer of the such land may be charged fees by the municipality if all of the land will not be used for affordable housing construction. This results in a great disincentive to remediate contaminated and for industry to locate to a municipality. Some experts estimate that New Jersey is quickly running out of developable land, and therefore incentives to remediate contaminated land should be provided, rather than policies which serve as disincentives to such remediation. The economic necessity of attracting business and industry to New Jersey speaks for itself. Since industrial zones are permitted under current land use statutes, development of such zones should not be discouraged. | In Committee |
| S1990 | Requires transportation network company drivers to complete anti-human trafficking training course. | This bill requires transportation network company (TNC) drivers and applicants to complete an anti-human trafficking training course, which is to be approved by the Attorney General. A TNC is required to provide the anti-human trafficking course prior to the approval of an applicant and to current TNC drivers within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The anti-human trafficking training course may be provided via web based video or digital format and is required to include: (1) an overview of human trafficking, including how human trafficking is defined; (2) guidance on the role TNC drivers play in reporting and responding to human trafficking; and (3) information on how to report suspected human trafficking. Upon completion of the anti-human trafficking training course, a TNC driver is required to certify to any TNC whose digital network the driver uses that the driver completed an anti-human trafficking training course. If a driver fails to provide a TNC with the required certification, the TNC is required to prohibit the driver from utilizing the TNC's digital network to provide rides until the driver submits the required certification. The bill also requires each TNC to create a list of drivers who did not provide the required certification. Completion or failure to complete the anti-human trafficking training course will be noted in the individual record of each TNC driver and maintained by the TNC. | In Committee |
| S1331 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | This bill requires that participation in school-sanctioned sports be based on biological sex at birth. It provides that public and nonpublic schools, as well as institutions of higher education, designate athletic or sports teams on the basis of biological sex. The bill also prohibits any athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls from being open to males. In the event the sex of a student is disputed, the student will establish sex by presenting a signed physician's statement that indicates the student's sex based solely on (1) the student's internal and external reproductive anatomy; (2) the student's normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone; and (3) an analysis of the student's genetic makeup. A school or institution of higher education would not be subject to investigation or any adverse action for maintaining separate athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex. Students who are deprived of athletic opportunities or suffer any harm as a result of a violation of the provisions of this bill would have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, or other legal remedy permitted by law against the school or institution of higher education. A student subject to retaliation or any adverse action by his or her school, institution of higher education, or athletic association or organization for reporting a violation of the bill would also have a private right of action against the school, institution of higher education, or athletic association or organization. A school or institution of higher education that suffers any harm as a result of a violation of this bill would likewise have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, or other legal remedy permitted by law. Any student, school, or institution of higher education able to bring suit under this bill would be required to bring their claims within two years after the harm occurred. Students or organizations that prevail on any claim brought pursuant to this bill would be entitled to monetary damages, including damages for any psychological, emotional, and physical harm suffered, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief. | In Committee |
| S1872 | Provides "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" exemption, and clarifies municipal planning or zoning authority, for certain development along commercial corridors in Highlands Region. | This bill amends the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-1 et al.), to (1) clarify municipal planning or zoning authority, and (2) provide an exemption from the Highlands permitting review program for certain development along commercial corridors in the Highlands Region. Specifically, this bill provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," or any regional master plan, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a municipality or county would not be denied conformance approval or be deemed to have taken an action inconsistent with the regional master plan if the municipality or county is exercising its planning or zoning authority for property located within a commercial corridor in a manner inconsistent with the regional master plan. In addition, the bill amends the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" to add a new exemption for the construction or reconstruction of commercial or industrial development within a commercial corridor. This construction or reconstruction would be exempt from the provisions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," the regional master plan, any rules or regulations adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant thereto, or any amendments to a master plan, development regulations, or other regulations adopted by a local government unit to specifically conform them with the regional master plan. The bill defines a "commercial corridor" as the land area with frontage on a State, county, or rail thoroughfare in the Highlands Region zoned for commercial or industrial use as of August 10, 2004, i.e., the effective date of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," or, subsequent to that date, the land area along such a thoroughfare that is deemed by a municipal planning board and governing body of a municipality to be necessary for commercial or industrial use for the economic viability of that municipality. This bill is meant to encourage reasonable and necessary economic growth in the Highlands Region as set forth in the findings and declarations section of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" that "it is important to ensure the economic viability of communities throughout the New Jersey Highlands; and that residential, commercial, and industrial development, redevelopment, and economic growth in certain appropriate areas of the New Jersey Highlands are also in the best interests of all the citizens of the State, providing innumerable social, cultural, and economic benefits and opportunities." This bill would further these findings and declarations by providing that commercial corridors along well-traveled thoroughfares are appropriate areas for economic development in the Highlands Region. | In Committee |
| S2128 | Exempts local utilities from certain reporting requirements. | This bill excludes local utilities and local utility authorities from certain reporting requirements. Under N.J.S.A.48:2-29.57 et seq., both public utilities and local utilities are required to report information on the effects of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on utilities and certain other information, including utility supply, demand, revenues, and expenses, the average amount billed to customers' accounts, infrastructure projects the utilities' planned to undertake that were canceled or for which the start date was delayed for certain reasons, and other additional information. Under this bill, only public utilities would be required to submit this information. Because these reporting requirements would no longer apply to local utilities and local utility authorities, the bill also provides that the BPU would no longer be required to consult with the Department of Community Affairs when implementing the provisions of N.J.S.A.48:2-29.57 et seq. | In Committee |
| S431 | Reauthorizes use of regional contribution agreements related to affordable housing obligations; establishes approval role of DCA and Attorney General. | This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to re-authorize the use of regional contribution agreements (RCAs) by municipalities to meet affordable housing needs, and establishes a role in the approval process for the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Commissioner or Community Affairs (commissioner), and the Attorney General. Since July 17, 2008, the effective date of P.L.2008, c.46, municipalities have been prohibited from using RCAs to address fair share housing obligations. This bill would re-authorize a municipality to propose transferring up to 50% of its fair share housing obligation to another municipality within its housing region through an RCA. This matches the portion of a fair share housing obligation that had been transferrable prior to 2008. The bill would shift the role in approving RCAs that has previously been provided to the Council on Affordable Housing, giving this role instead to DCA. After approval of an RCA proposal by DCA, an approval determination signed by the commissioner, would be submitted, along with the RCA proposal, to the Attorney General. The bill requires the Attorney General to also review the proposal to ensure that the inclusionary requirements established by the Supreme Court in its Mount Laurel decisions are not violated. The bill would also require payments associated with RCA agreements to be submitted by the sending municipality to DCA. Before the department forwards a payment to the receiving municipality, the payment details would be reviewed and approved by the Attorney General. | In Committee |
| SR59 | Urges Division of Travel and Tourism to produce map of scenic motorcycle routes. | This resolution urges the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State to produce a map of scenic routes and attractions for motorcyclists. The map could be available online, printed, or both, and should be produced in a manner that is as reasonably cost effective as possible. The division should consider the use of advertisements to defray any cost associated with the production of the map. New Jersey has many scenic routes and landscapes which would be of interest to motorcyclists, many of whom enjoy the immersive experience with their surroundings while riding. Moreover, motorcyclists riding for pleasure seek out unique and interesting attractions and routes to ride their motorcycles. As part of the riding experience, motorcyclists often patronize local establishments along and near their routes, promoting local tourism and contributing to the local economy. New Jersey should promote its various unique experiences, and it is the sponsor's belief that a map providing for scenic motorcycle routes would benefit the State. Therefore, this resolution urges the Division of Travel and Tourism to create such a map. | In Committee |
| S1860 | Requires legislative approval of changes to core curriculum content standards and Statewide assessments. | Under current law, the State Board of Education is directed to review and update the core curriculum content standards every five years. This bill provides that any update or revision made to the core curriculum content standards following the bill's effective date will require the approval of the Legislature. The State board must forward the update or revision to the Legislature, and the Legislature must adopt a concurrent resolution within 45 days of submission to approve or disapprove the update or revision. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the update or revision, it may be implemented. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the update or revision, it may not be implemented. Similarly, the bill requires that any revision made to a Statewide assessment or the adoption of a new Statewide assessment will also require the approval of the Legislature through the adoption of a concurrent resolution. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the revised or new Statewide assessment, it may be implemented. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the new or revised Statewide assessment, it may not be implemented. | In Committee |
| S382 | "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"; bans abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization. | This bill, designated as the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," provides that an abortion is not to be performed or attempted if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater, with certain exceptions noted below. It is to be unlawful for a person to perform an abortion or attempt to do so, unless the person is a physician who has first made a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child or has reasonably relied upon this determination made by another physician. In making the determination, a physician is to make inquiries of the pregnant woman and perform any medical examinations or tests necessary to accurately determine post-fertilization age. The bill provides an exception to the above provisions if: (1) the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant women whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by, or arising from, the pregnancy itself; (2) the pregnancy is the result of rape, if reported to a law enforcement agency prior to the abortion; or (3) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest against a minor, if reported to a law enforcement agency or to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families prior to the abortion. In terminating or attempting to terminate a pregnancy under these circumstances, the physician may do so only in a manner which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless the termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of death of the pregnant woman or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The bill also: outlines the procedures that a physician who performs or attempts an abortion must follow, consistent with the federal "Born Alive Infant Protection Act", if an exception provided in the bill exists and the pain-capable unborn child survives the abortion or attempted abortion; outlines the documentation from a law enforcement agency, Department of Defense victim assistance personnel, or DCCP, that a physician is required to file proving a pregnant woman or minor seeking an abortion has been raped or is a victim of incest; requires the woman seeking the abortion, the physician performing or attempting to perform the abortion, and a witness to sign an informed consent authorization form; and requires any physician who performs or attempts an abortion pursuant to the bill to annually submit a summary of all such abortions to the National Center for Health Statistics as provided by the conditions outlined in the bill. A person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion in violation of the bill's requirements is to be guilty of a crime of the third degree (punishable by three to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to $15,000, or both); however, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed is to be immune from civil or criminal liability. A woman or the parent of a minor upon whom an abortion is performed in violation of the provisions of the the bill may, in a civil action against any person who committed the violation, obtain appropriate relief the conditions delineated in the bill. The bill, which is modeled on H.R.36 of the 114th Congress, is intended to address the concern that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain by 20 weeks after fertilization, if not earlier. Surgeons in the field of maternal and fetal medicine have found it necessary to sedate an unborn child to prevent the unborn child from engaging in vigorous movement in reaction to invasive surgery. It is the purpose of this Legislature to assert a compelling governmental interest in protecting the lives of unborn children from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates they are capable of feeling pain. | In Committee |
| S1038 | Establishes certain requirements if purchasing and reselling same single-family home within one year of receiving certificate of occupancy. | This bill establishes requirements to be followed by short-term resellers, as defined in the bill, to ensure necessary precautions are taken if work is performed on houses intended to be resold within a year of purchase. After the sale of a single-family home by a short-term reseller to the buyer, the reseller is to be required to retain the greater of five percent of the sale price or $10,000 in escrow, for four months following the sale, which would be used to reimburse the buyer for damages arising from certain alterations not performed in accordance with the requirements of the UCC. The bill requires a short-term reseller to complete a property condition disclosure statement to inform a potential buyer of the condition of a single-family home prior to the sale of the home, and attest that the short-term reseller occupied the single-family home as the short-term reseller's primary residence while the work was being performed. This provision is to apply to any short-term reseller who performs plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services on a single-family home, for which a permit is taken under a certification in lieu of oath pursuant to the UCC. In addition to any other penalties provided by law, if it is determined that the certification in lieu of oath was falsely attested to, the short-term reseller would be subject to the penalties provided by subsection e. of section 12 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-25). Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to develop and undertake a public education program designed to inform New Jersey residents of the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1864 | Establishes priority for certain firearm-related background checks when applicant has obtained domestic violence restraining order. | This bill requires the background investigation of an applicant for a firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, or permit to carry a handgun to take precedence over the investigation of other applicants if there is a restraining order in effect that was obtained by the applicant against a domestic violence offender pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" (PVDA). The bill requires the standard application form for an identification card or either type of permit to set forth whether a restraining order obtained by the applicant against a domestic violence offender pursuant to the PVDA is in effect, in order to alert law enforcement that the application should take precedence. The sponsor's intent is to accelerate the process of victims of domestic violence obtaining identification cards or permits in order to allow them to protect themselves. | In Committee |
| S1683 | Provides that school district may not prohibit active or retired law enforcement officer or registered security officer from carrying firearm in performance of school security duties if authorized under State law to carry. | This bill provides that if a school district enters into an agreement for the provision of school security services with an active or retired law enforcement officer, including a safe schools resource officer or a Class Three special law enforcement officer, or with a security officer registered under the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.), the school district may not prohibit that officer from carrying a firearm in school buildings or on school grounds in the performance of his school security duties if that officer is authorized under State law to carry such a firearm. In the wake of the recent school shooting tragedy, many communities have sought the assignment of active or retired law enforcement officers or armed security officers in the public schools. However, some boards of education have prohibited these officers from actually carrying a firearm in the performance of their school security duties. This prohibition does not reflect the desire of many of the residents of these communities who seek the level of protection that an armed officer would provide. This bill would prohibit a school district from imposing such a restriction. | In Committee |
| S380 | Requires entities to accept confirmation of prior COVID-19 infection or protective immune response against COVID-19 when proof of vaccination is required. | This bill requires any entity that requires proof of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 as a condition of employment with the entity, as a condition of receiving services from or through the entity, as a condition of admission to the entity's premises, or as a condition of participating in an activity sponsored by the entity, to accept any individual's confirmation of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or a protective immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in lieu of providing proof of vaccination against COVID-19. This confirmation will be accepted as equal to any proof of vaccination required by an entity. Confirmation of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or a protective immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is to only be provided voluntarily. An entity may accept an individual's confirmation verbally. An individual providing such confirmation is to have the same terms of employment and be provided with the same level of access to the premises, services, and activities of the entity, as the entity provides to an individual who submits proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Nothing in this bill is to be construed to conflict with any federal law, rule, regulation, or executive order concerning COVID-19. The provisions of the bill will apply to facilities that include, but are not limited to, preschool programs, elementary or secondary schools, colleges, universities, or any other institutions of education. It is the sponsor's intent that this legislation will prevent individuals, who have recovered from a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and developed a natural immunity to COVID-19, from being compelled to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and discriminated against in workplaces and public venues based on vaccination status. This legislation is not to be construed as promoting the establishment of a vaccine passport system. However, in order to conform to existing State and federal policy, proof of vaccination status may be required under certain circumstances. The sponsors prefer that, when such proof is required, simple verbal acknowledgment of natural immunity be sufficient to satisfy proof of vaccine requirements. | In Committee |
| S855 | Permits police officers to travel to and from and remain within police station located within 100 feet of polling place; permits Class Three special law enforcement officers to be assigned to certain polling places. | Under current law, the presence of police officers at polling places during the conduct of an election and at ballot drop box locations in use during the conduct of an election is limited. This bill provides that nothing in the current law is to prevent a police officer or law enforcement officer from traveling to and from, or remaining within, a police station in their official capacity for employment related activities if that police station is within 100 feet of a polling place or ballot drop box. This bill also amends current law to permit a district board, superintendent of elections, or a county clerk to request the assignment of a Class Three special law enforcement officer to a polling place located at a public school to maintain order and provide security at the school during the conduct of the election. | In Committee |
| S316 | Revises law concerning partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. | This bill makes various revisions to the laws governing partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. The revisions permit partnerships and limited partnerships to convert to and from other business entities and clarify indemnification standards, address notice issues, and make certain other changes to the "Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act." The bill provides that, pursuant to a plan of conversion, a partnership or limited partnership may convert into another business entity formed or organized under the laws of this State or any other state of the United States or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction, as provided in the plan of conversion. The bill also provides that, pursuant to a plan of conversion, another business entity formed or organized under the laws of this State or any other state of the United States or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction may convert into a domestic partnership or limited partnership, as provided in the plan of conversion. Under the bill, "other business entity" means a business corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or a limited liability company. The bill provides that, in order for a limited liability company to use a name that is similar to that of another entity, a limited liability company must submit to the filing office a signed record of consent from the entity currently using the name in a form satisfactory to the filing office. The bill eliminates the requirement that a limited liability company must have a member before it may be formed. Instead, a limited liability company is formed when the filing office has filed the certificate of formation, unless the certificate states a delayed effective date. Under the bill, a limited liability company shall indemnify a company agent against any debt, obligation, expense or other liability incurred by that company agent in the course of the company agent's activities on behalf of the limited liability company or another enterprise at the request of the limited liability company, if, in making the payment or incurring the debt, obligation, expense or other liability, the company agent: (1) is a member of a member-managed limited liability company or a manager of a manager-managed limited liability company and complied with certain duties or (2) is other than a member of a member-managed limited liability company or a manager of a manager-managed limited liability company and acted in good faith and in a manner the company agent reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the limited liability company. The bill provides that a member of a member-managed limited liability company and a manager of a manager-managed limited liability company shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon certain information and records of the limited liability company. This protection extends to claims that the applicable member or manager breached duty of care required of that member or manager. The bill shortens the time following the newspaper publication of notice of the dissolution of a limited liability company in which a claim against the limited liability company must be brought before the claim is barred, currently five years. Under the bill, the claim must be received not less than six months following newspaper publication of notice. | In Committee |
| S943 | Permits county clerk to remove voters from vote-by-mail lists under certain circumstances. | The bill permits the clerk of each county to remove a voter from lists of qualified voters receiving mail-in ballots if the following circumstances apply: (1) the United States Postal Service returned mail of a ballot, sample ballot, or any other official county election mail sent directly to the named voter; (2) the voter has not used a mail-in ballot for any election in a two-year period; or (3) the United States Postal Service National Change of Address System indicates the voter's recipient address has changed or is undeliverable. Prior to removing a voter from the list the county clerk is required to notify the voter in writing and indicate the reasons for the removal and instruct the voter on the necessary steps to continue to vote by mail. If the voter does not respond to the notice within 30 days of mailing, the county clerk would remove that voter from the list of voters receiving mail-in ballots and send that voter a notice of removal along with an application to re-apply to vote by mail. | In Committee |
| S1853 | Expands authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside normal territorial jurisdictions. | This bill expands the authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside their normal territorial jurisdictions. Under the bill's provisions, any municipal emergency management coordinator is authorized to request assistance from the chief executive officer or his or her designee of any volunteer first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad; chief or other head of the fire department and force or fire company; or chief or other head of the police department and force located in and serving another municipality. The bill also provides emergency management personnel with the same statutory protections afforded to members of police forces, fire departments and forces, and volunteer fire companies in the event of injury or death while rendering assistance outside of their normal operating jurisdiction. If an individual were to suffer any injury or death, the individual or the individual's designee or legal representative would be entitled to the salary, pension rights, workers' compensation or other benefits as would be available if the injury or death occurred in the territorial jurisdiction in which the individual normally performed his or her duties. | In Committee |
| S1870 | "Zero-Based Budget Act;" requires State Treasurer to develop and integrate certain zero-based budgeting practices and procedures in preparation and submission of Governor's annual budget message. | The "Zero-Based Budget Act" requires the State Treasurer to develop and integrate certain zero-based budgeting practices and procedures in the preparation and submission of the Governor's annual budget message. Under the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, is required to design and develop a zero-based budget process on or before July 1, 2011 for State fiscal years commencing on and after July 1, 2012. While the bill grants the Treasurer considerable latitude in creating a budget process tailored to meet the individual needs of various departments and divisions, bureaus and agencies within each branch of State government, the budget process developed in accordance with this bill requires State spending agencies to justify their request for appropriation or permission to spend, in whole or in part, utilizing the practices and procedures of a zero-based budget. As defined by the bill, a zero based-budget process is a process of budgeting in which a spending agency's request for appropriation or permission to spend is evaluated and justified, in whole or in part, based upon the cost-effective achievement of the tasks, goals, and objectives of a particular spending agency without regard to prior appropriations or spending permissions, adjusted for inflation or otherwise. To facilitate the evaluation and justification of each spending request, the bill stipulates that, at a minimum, State spending agencies must submit to the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting: (1) a statement outlining the goals and objectives intended to be accomplished as a result of the spending agency's request; (2) a statement delineating each of the various activities, programs, and services to be performed as a result of the request; (3) a compilation of the statutory and regulatory provisions which comprise the spending agency's legal authority, if any, to perform each activity, program, or service; (4) a description of the methodology and approach used to carry out each activity, program, or service; (5) an itemized estimate of spending required to maintain each activity, program, or service at its current level of performance, together with an evaluation of the quality and quantity of services provided; (6) a projected estimate of spending required to maintain each activity, program, or service at the minimum level of service required by statutory or regulatory authority, together with an evaluation of the quality and quantity of services required at that level; (7) a statement identifying each group, stakeholder, or community affected or intended to be affected by each activity, program, or service, and a quantitative estimate of any potential consequences that may result if the spending agency's activities, programs, and services are eliminated;(8) a statement detailing any other State, federal, or local units of government which administer a similar activity, program, or service and an outline describing the interaction, if any, among such departments and agencies; (9) a statement prioritizing by numerical ranking, the activities, programs, or services carried-out by a spending agency with respect to each activity's, program's, or service's capacity to fulfill the spending agency's stated goals and objectives during the current and ensuing fiscal years; and (10) any additional data or information deemed necessary or appropriate by the State Treasurer or the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting to justify a spending agency's request for appropriation or permission to spend. Under the bill, any zero-based budget data and information submitted as part of a spending agency's request for appropriations or permissions to spend is required to be incorporated into the final request transmitted to the Governor and submitted to the Legislature as part of the Governor's annual budget message. As part of the budget message, the zero-based budget data and information would become part of the public document and would be available to assist the Legislature and ultimately the residents of the State of New Jersey in reviewing and scrutinizing the Governor's spending plan for the ensuing fiscal year. | In Committee |
| S463 | Revises distribution of monies from Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund to municipalities. | This bill revises the distribution of monies from the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund (AEREF) to municipalities for the purpose of maintaining their municipal courts. The bill provides specifically as follows: · Beginning January 15, 2023, and each year thereafter, each municipality in the State is to report to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) the number of drunk driving arrests made in its municipality during the preceding calendar year.· The AOC is to certify the number of arrests reported for the preceding calendar year by each municipality.· Beginning for calendar year 2022, the amount of funding to be allocated to each reporting municipality from the AEREF is to be calculated as follows: --The total amount of funding received by the municipality from the AEREF in the preceding year is to be multiplied by 50 percent, and the resulting figure will then be divided by the total number of drunk driving arrests in the municipality for the same calendar year to determine the unit dollar value for each arrest. --The total amount of funding received by the municipality from the AEREF in the preceding year is to be multiplied by 50 percent, and the resulting figure will then be divided by the average number of yearly drunk driving arrests in the municipality for the preceding five calendar years to determine a five-year unit dollar value for each arrest. --The two figures calculated above are to be added together, and the resulting figure will determine the total unit dollar value for each arrest. --The amount to be allocated to each reporting municipality will be the proportion of its total unit dollar value to the total amount of funds available for allocation from the "Municipal Court Administration Reimbursement Fund." | In Committee |
| S2162 | Authorizes certain large food waste generators to send food waste to sanitary landfill facilities for purpose of generating Class I renewable energy. | This bill would authorize certain large food waste generators to send their food waste to sanitary landfill facilities for the purpose of generating Class I renewable energy. Under current law, beginning in October 2021, large food waste generators were required to source separate their food waste and send the food waste to an authorized food waste recycling facility, with certain exceptions. This bill provides that a large food waste generator is deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of P.L.2020, c.24 if, as of the effective date of that law, April 14, 2020, the large food waste generator sent its food waste for final disposal to a sanitary landfill facility that collects and delivers landfill gas to a gas-to-energy facility as fuel for the generation of Class I renewable energy. The exemption would apply only so long as the large food waste generator continues to dispose of its food waste in this manner. Under section 3 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-51), "Class I renewable energy" is defined to include electric energy produced from methane gas from landfills. | In Committee |
| S1856 | Authorizes creation of vertical motorcycle license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue license plates for motorcycles, which are to be displayed in a vertical position (vertical motorcycle license plates). The vertical motorcycle license plates are to contain the identification mark or marks, which are furnished by the commission, arranged in a vertical alignment. There is an application fee of $20 for the vertical motorcycle license plates, which is to be in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motorcycle. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per set of vertical motorcycle license plates incurred in the immediately preceding year by the commission in producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the vertical motorcycle license plates. The chief administrator is to notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain vertical motorcycle license plates by publicizing the availability of the vertical motorcycle license plates on the website of the commission. Under the bill, vertical motorcycle license plates are to only be displayed in a vertical position and are not to be displayed in a horizontal position. A license plate for a motorcycle that contains an identification mark or identification marks arranged in a horizontal alignment are to only be displayed in a horizontal position and are not to be displayed in a vertical position. | In Committee |
| S58 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| S1880 | Expands function of Commission on Human Trafficking to include promoting coordinated response by law enforcement to human trafficking. | This bill requires the Commission on Human Trafficking to promote a coordinated response among State and local law enforcement agencies to facilitate investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases. The Commission on Human Trafficking was established by P.L.2013, c.31, and is directed, by the enabling statute, N.J.S.A.52:17B-237, to evaluate the existing law concerning human trafficking and the enforcement thereof, and to make recommendations for legislation. The commission, established in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety Human Trafficking Task Force is specifically charged with reviewing existing victim assistance programs, and promoting a coordinated response by public and private resources for victims of human trafficking. This bill would expand the function of the commission to include promoting a coordinated intergovernmental law enforcement response to human trafficking. Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding may be available for other New Jersey-based task force coordination efforts, such as coordinating an intergovernmental law enforcement response to human trafficking as set forth in the bill. It is the sponsor's view that a coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies, including qualifying for federal resources, will strengthen the law enforcement resources available to combat human trafficking. | In Committee |
| S1875 | Allows appointment of challengers to any election district within congressional or legislative district where challenger resides. | Under current law, a person cannot be appointed to serve as a challenger in an election district unless that person is a registered voter in the county in which the election district is located. This bill would allow a person to be appointed to serve as a challenger in any election district located within a congressional or legislative district where the person resides. Under the bill, in the case of a congressional or legislative district, a person who is a registered voter in any county or part thereof located within the congressional or legislative district may be appointed as a challenger in any election district in any county or part thereof located within the congressional or legislative district. | In Committee |
| SR57 | Opposes President Biden's revocation of Presidential Permit for Keystone XL pipeline. | This resolution expresses the Assembly's opposition to the revocation of the Presidential Permit granted to TC Energy for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a proposed project that would have added up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day to the United States oil supply. The resolution asks President Biden to reconsider his decision and to reverse course in the best interest of American energy security, economic interests, and environmental impacts. If President Biden fails to reinstate the Presidential Permit, this resolution then calls on the United States Congress to overturn President Biden's decision to revoke the permit. Based on analyses performed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Fraser Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, the Keystone XL pipeline would likely reduce the transportation costs, incidence of oil spills, and frequency of safety incidents that are involved with the transportation of oil from the remote Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Canada currently holds the third largest proven oil reserves worldwide. Promoting a mutually beneficial trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada by constructing the Keystone XL Pipeline is in America's best interest with respect to energy security and economic, safety, and environmental concerns. | In Committee |
| S1863 | Prohibits use of private funds and personnel in governmental offices and procedures pertaining to administration of elections; establishes crimes and penalties for violations. | This bill prohibits the use of private funds and personnel in governmental offices and procedures regarding election administration and establishes crimes and penalties for violations. Under current law, election administration expenses are funded by counties, municipalities, school districts, and the State from their respective budgets and appropriations. This bill would make it unlawful for the State, a county, municipality, school district, fire district, or any other government entity or employee to accept or expend any funds from any person, corporation, non-governmental organization, business entity, political party, or any other private entity to be used in preparing, administering, or conducting elections, including registering voters. This provision would not be interpreted to prohibit the State or government entity or employee from receiving or expending any funds allocated to the government entity from the State or federal government. Any person who violates these provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Under current law, designated election officials, including members of the district boards of elections, county boards of elections, boards of county canvassers, board of state canvassers, and any other officer, official, employee, or judge in their respective capacities, are authorized to process and canvass ballots in an election. This bill would make it unlawful for any private person to self-appoint or be employed or appointed in a supervisory capacity to provide direction to any employee or have any role in determining the eligibility of any ballots to be counted or disqualified, unless such employment or appointment is authorized and governed by the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. Any person who violates these provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. This bill is based on legislation enacted in the 11 states of Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas, which limits or prohibits the use of private or philanthropic funding to governmental offices to administer elections. It is the sponsor's belief that the use of private funding for historically publicly-funded governmental election administration activities raises questions among the public about the integrity of governmental election procedures. Specifically, the use of private funding for these governmental purposes raises questions about the intent, expectations and actions of the private funder and any allied organizations or individuals distributing the funding, implementing the private funder's plans, or receiving payment from the private funds. The reported and apparently unprecedented injection of hundreds of millions of private dollars into governmental election agencies in 2020 by a billionaire chief executive officer of a social media company has raised such questions. Further related reports of private individuals giving directions to public employees, including deciding which ballots would be counted and which would not, contribute to such questions, as do reports of private funds being used by public agencies for activities resembling "get out the vote" efforts normally funded by partisan political candidates and parties. | In Committee |
| S1836 | Establishes motor vehicle registration for street rods and custom motor vehicles. | This bill creates a new motor vehicle registration for street rods and custom motor vehicles. The bill defines a street rod as a motor vehicle that was manufactured prior to 1948, or after 1948 but was manufactured in a manner to resemble a vehicle manufactured prior to 1949; and has been altered from the manufacturer's original design, or the body of the motor vehicle has been constructed from non-original parts. Custom motor vehicles are defined under the bill as a motor vehicle that: 1) is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948, or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; and 2) has been altered from the manufacturer original design, or the body of the motor vehicle has been constructed from non-original parts. Under the provisions of the bill, an applicant for a custom motor vehicle is required to certify in writing that the vehicle will not be used for general transportation, but may be used for activities, including but not limited to, occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, and tours. The bill also provides that the chief administrator of the motor vehicle commission is to certify, authorize, and issue a certificate of ownership to the owner of a custom motor vehicle or street rod, provided that the owner submits proof that the vehicle qualifies as a street rod or custom motor vehicle. Under the bill, the year of manufacture and model year stated on the certificate of ownership is to be the year of manufacture and model year that the street rod or custom motor vehicle resembles. The bill requires that the phrase "Replica-Custom Motor Vehicle" or "Replica-Street Rod" be conspicuously printed at the top of the certificate of ownership. The bill further requires the chief administrator to issue special license plates for street rods and custom motor vehicles. The chief administrator, in consultation with representatives from the National Street Rod Association, is to choose the design, including an emblem and a color scheme of the license plates. The bill provides that the application for a license plate shall be accompanied by a fee of $50, payable to the motor vehicle commission. The owner of a street rod or custom motor vehicle is required to pay $10 annually for the use of the special license plate. In addition, the provisions of the bill provide that a street rod or custom motor vehicle is exempt from regular inspections under the law. These vehicles also would be exempt from having specific equipment added or affixed to the vehicle that was not required under State law following the year of manufacture listed on the vehicle's certificate of ownership. Finally, the bill provides that a street rod or custom vehicle may be equipped with a "blue dot tail light" as a rear reflector, turn signal or stop lamp. The bill defines "blue dot tail light" as a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter. | In Committee |
| S1879 | Requires NJEDA to establish "Value-added Agriculture Loan Program" to assist farmers in developing value-added products. | This bill would require the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("EDA"), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to develop and administer a value-added agricultural product loan program, which would be called the "Value-added Agriculture Loan Program," to help farmers enter into activities directly related to the processing or marketing of value-added products. Each loan would be in an amount between $5,000 and $10,000. The goal of the program would be to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Under the bill, a "value-added product" means a change in the physical state or form of the food or other agricultural product; the production of food or other agricultural product in a manner that enhances its value; or the physical segregation of an agricultural commodity, food, or other agricultural product in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of that commodity, food, or agricultural product. To qualify for a loan under the program, a farmer would need to: 1) be a resident of the State; 2) use the loan for a farm located within the state of New Jersey; 3) use the loan for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to the production and marketing of a value-added agricultural product, which planning activities may include the conducting of feasibility studies and the development of business plans, and which working capital expenses may include processing costs, marketing and advertising expenses, and some inventory and salary expenses; 4) materially and substantially participate in farming; and 5) satisfy any other criteria established in the EDA's rules and regulations. The bill would require an EDA-approved loan to a farmer to be made pursuant to a loan agreement with the authority, to bear interest at rates and terms deemed appropriate by the EDA, and to contain other terms and conditions considered appropriate by the EDA that are consistent with the purposes of the bill and the EDA's regulations. The EDA may require a farmer who receives a loan under the program to submit an audited financial statement to the EDA in order to ensure the farmer's continued viability, and may, either by regulation or through the terms of the loan agreement, establish terms governing the incidence of default by a farmer who receives a loan under the program. The EDA would have the authority to participate in programs of the United States Department of Agriculture Consolidated Farm Service Agency, the Federal Land Bank, or any other federal or State agency in the administration of this program. The purpose of this bill is to develop and administer a farmer loan program to facilitate the economic sustainability of commercial farming. Direct marketing and value-added products are two of the best strategies farmers can employ to improve net profitability. Value-added products can open new markets, enhance the public's appreciation for the farm, and extend the marketing season. | In Committee |
| S1352 | Requires school districts to receive written permission from parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys. | This bill would require school districts to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain health surveys to students. Under current law, a school district that sends prior written notification to a parent or legal guardian may administer an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment or evaluation to the student which reveals information concerning any of the following issues: · use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping;· sexual behavior and attitudes;· behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or· physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. Written notification provided to a parent or legal guardian is required to be delivered by regular mail, electronic mail, or a written acknowledgement form to be delivered by the student at least two weeks prior to administration of the survey, assessment, analysis, or evaluation. Information obtained through the survey is also required to be submitted to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and may be used to develop public health initiatives and prevention programs. This bill would amend current law to require a school district to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian, rather than providing notification, prior to administering an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation to a student concerning the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping; sexual behavior and attitudes; behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. | In Committee |
| S1969 | Establishes Office of Child Advocate. | This bill establishes the Office of the Child Advocate in, but notof, the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The bill provides that the child advocate would seek to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, and that children under State supervision due to abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Child Advocate would be deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill allows the Child Advocate to: investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response on, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State; inspect and review the operations, policies, and procedures of juvenile detention centers, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for the care of abused or neglected children, shelters for the care of juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis cases, shelters for the care of homeless youth, or independent living arrangements; and any other public or private residential setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, or children who receive child protective or permanency services; review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children at risk of abuse or neglect by conducting research audits or other studies of case records, policies, procedures, and protocols, as deemed necessary by the child advocate to assess the performance of the entities; receive, investigate, and make referrals to other agencies or take other appropriate actions with respect to a complaint received by the office regarding the actions of a State, county or municipal agency, or a State-funded private entity providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect; hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the office, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the child advocate deems appropriate; establish and maintain a 24 hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the child advocate, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies and contract services, protect children; and intervene in or institute litigation, or intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children. The bill provides that the Child Advocate would seek to ensure the protection of children who are in an institution or resource family home by reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring the operation and activities of the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit in DCF. The bill also provides that the Child Advocate would report annually to the Governor, Commissioner of Children and Families, and Legislature on: the activities of the office; priorities for children's services that have been identified by the child advocate; and recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, and are in State or institutional custody, or receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities, and make the annual report available to the public and post the report on DCF's website. | In Committee |
| S1983 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| S1703 | Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance. | This bill adds $2.35 billion from the General Fund to the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund," and appropriates a total of $4.32 billion from the fund to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of providing funds to each municipality and county in the State to be used by the municipality or county to retire and defease local debt or to fund capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than issuing additional local debt. The total amount of funds appropriated by the bill includes $1.97 billion in currently unallocated balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. Under the bill, $3.0 billion would be allocated to each municipality on an equal per capita basis wherein each municipality receives the same dollar amount per resident. The remaining $1.32 billion appropriated by the bill would be allocated to each county on an equal per capita basis. The bill requires that all funds appropriated by the bill be distributed to each municipality and each county within 30 days of enactment. The State budget has recently benefited from debt reduction and avoidance from prior appropriations to the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention account, though typically only after funds have remained in the account for inordinately long periods of time while inflation destroys its value. Local governments can frequently have significant debt which can be equally or more expensive for taxpayers than State debt. Local governments have compelling infrastructure and capital needs that include, but are not limited to: water, sewer, parks, flooding, storm water, public safety, emergency medical services, community development, and traffic improvements. The State's budgeting process has frequently provided only small and symbolic amounts of assistance towards local infrastructure and capital improvements and only after burdensome, inefficient, and politicized processes that chose winners and losers based on favoritism. The sponsor believes it is sound public policy to quickly and efficiently direct remaining balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund towards debt reduction and avoidance that benefits property taxpayers and all residents of the State through a fair and reasonable allocation process. | In Committee |
| S944 | Requires Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform audit of voter registration records in Statewide Voter Registration System. | This bill requires the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform an audit of the voter registration records in the Statewide Voter Registration System within 90 days of its effective date. The purpose of the audit is to identify (1) any voter registration records of persons who are ineligible to vote who successfully registered to vote; (2) whether any person who is ineligible to vote attempted to register to vote, even if that attempt was not successful; and (3) whether the procedures to ensure that a reasonable effort is made to remove registrants who are ineligible to vote pursuant to federal or State law are effective, as required under current law. The bill directs the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to jointly develop the audit methodology, processes, and procedures to apply uniformly in each county. Within 30 days of completing the audit, the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration are directed to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature containing the results of the audit, their findings, and recommendations. | In Committee |
| S1846 | Exempts public institutions of higher education from motor vehicle registration fee. | This bill exempts public institutions of higher education from paying the registration fee for motor vehicles not used for pleasure or hire. Current law defines a public institution of higher education as the six State colleges, the county colleges, the public junior colleges, the New Jersey college of medicine and dentistry, the college of aeronautical and airspace science established in Atlantic County, the industrial schools, Newark college of engineering, Rutgers, the State University, and any other public universities, colleges, county colleges, and junior colleges established or authorized by law. Under current law, certain State and local government entities and civic organizations are exempted from paying a motor vehicle registration fee. This bill extends that exemption to public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| S1840 | Decreases Alcoholic Beverage Tax rate paid on certain liquors. | This bill decreases the Alcoholic Beverage Tax (ABT) rate paid on certain liquors. Currently, the ABT rate is $5.50 a gallon of liquor. This bill revises the ABT rate to provide that liquor which is manufactured in a distillery producing no more than 20,000 gallons of distilled alcoholic beverages per year shall be taxed at the rate of $2.75 a gallon; the ABT rate for liquor manufactured in distilleries producing more than 20,000 gallons remains $5.50 a gallon. The form in which the taxpayers must file the ABT rate will be prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation in accordance with the Director's rule making authority. By decreasing the tax burden imposed on distilleries producing less than 20,000 gallons, the sponsor's intent is to encourage the start-up of additional distilleries in this State. Additionally, a lower ABT rate for small distilleries will allow these distilleries to become competitive with larger distilleries, which have a scale of economies by virtue of their size. Currently, a taxpayer in this State must file an ABT return bimonthly. Accordingly, this bill will become effective immediately and apply to all sales and deliveries made on the first day of the bimonthly reporting period next following enactment of this bill into law. | In Committee |
| SCR63 | Amends Constitution to require that State tax bills pass both Houses of Legislature by three-fifths majority vote. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require that any bill or joint resolution levying a new State tax or proposing to increase an existing State tax shall be passed by the Legislature only by a three-fifths majority vote of the members of each House of the Legislature, instead of by a majority vote as with other bills and resolutions. | In Committee |
| S1873 | Establishes "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program." | This bill would establish the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" in the Department of Agriculture. The bill requires the department to adopt regulations that: (1) provide encouragement for public institutions of higher education that provide meal programs to expand or improve their kitchen facilities to allow for the daily production of meals that incorporate more fresh, locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products; (2) establish a bidding matrix that provides for public institutions of higher education to purchase New Jersey grown food and allows them to adopt price preferences for local agricultural and farm products; (3) in conjunction with the Secretary of Higher Education, develop ways in which public institutions of higher education can increase the procurement of locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products for use in meals; and (4) create a public directory for New Jersey farmers with contact information of purchasing agents at public institutions of higher education, and another public directory for purchasers with information about qualified New Jersey farmers and distributors. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" website that provides information on the program, and includes a copy of any public contract or other written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to students, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by a public institution of higher education. Finally, the bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and accept contributions from private and public sources for the purpose of providing support to help fund the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program," which encourages public institutions of higher education to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate in meals throughout the growing season, and to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students. | In Committee |
| S1876 | Prohibits mail-in ballot outer envelope from containing political affiliation or designation visible to public. | This bill prohibits any mail-in ballot outer envelope from containing a political affiliation or designation visible to the public. Under current law, the county clerk in each county mails a mail-in ballot to each voter who votes by mail. The mail-in ballot envelope contains the blank ballot, an outer envelope, and an inner envelope. When the voter completes the ballot, the voter places the voted ballot inside the inner envelope, and places the inner envelope inside the outer envelope, which is addressed to the appropriate county board of elections for mailing. This bill requires each county clerk to ensure that the outer envelope and the envelope that is used to mail the blank ballot, outer envelope, and inner envelope to each voter do not contain any political affiliation or designation visible to the public on the envelope's exterior. This bill also requires each county clerk to ensure that any political affiliation or designation on the inner envelope is not visible to the public on the outer envelope's exterior. | In Committee |
| SCR40 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase to $500 veterans' property tax deduction. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to: $300 in calendar year 2023, $350 in calendar year 2024, $400 in calendar year 2025, $450 in calendar year 2026 and $500 in calendar year 2027 and for each year thereafter. The veterans' property tax deduction provided for in the State Constitution was last increased in 1999, when the amount of the annual deduction was raised from $50 to $250 over four years. | In Committee |
| S1858 | Authorizes Sunday firearm and bow hunting for deer on certain lands. | This bill would authorize Sunday hunting for deer with a firearm on State wildlife management areas and private property. The bill also would authorize Sunday hunting with a firearm or bow and arrow on federal military land, subject to approval by the appropriate federal military installation, and on the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, subject to proper approval by the administrative authority of the technical center. Under current State law, hunting is prohibited on Sundays, with certain limited exceptions. Although federal agencies may permit hunting on their lands, these agencies are subject to both State and federal laws regarding hunting. Thus, an individual may not hunt on federal military installations in the State or on the William J. Hughes Technical Center on Sundays. This bill would amend current law to authorize Sunday hunting of deer with a firearm on State wildlife management areas and private property. Also, the bill would authorize firearm and bow and arrow hunting of deer on Sundays on federal military lands and on the William J. Hughes Technical Center, a Federal Aviation Administration facility, during any bow and arrow or firearm hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code. Under the bill, the person hunting is required to possess a valid firearm license, valid bow and arrow license, or a valid "All Around Sportsman License," issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and abide by all applicable provisions of the State Fish and Game Code. | In Committee |
| S1867 | Authorizes creation of Second Amendment license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Second Amendment license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Second Amendment license plate is to display a militiaman along with the words "Protect the Second Amendment" at the bottom of the license plate. In consultation with the Fish and Game Council (council), the chief administrator will select the design and color scheme of the Second Amendment license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Second Amendment license plates. After deducting the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Second Amendment License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund will be annually appropriated to the council and will be used to provide funding to support State-owned gun ranges. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires the council to appoint a liaison to represent the council in all communications with the commission regarding the Second Amendment license plates. The bill prohibits the commission from using State or other public funds to cover the initial cost of implementing the Second Amendment license plate program. The bill requires an individual or entity designated by the council to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the council to receive funds from private sources to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates until: (1) the individual or entity designated by the council has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the council liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| S1327 | Expands EDA small business loan program to include certain broadband telecommunications service providers. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), to offer loans to broadband telecommunications service providers providing broadband telecommunications service to rural areas under an existing small business loan program administered by the EDA. The bill defines a "broadband telecommunications service provider" as a person, business, for-profit or nonprofit corporation, unincorporated association, or partnership, including, but not limited to, a rural electric cooperative, which is certified by the BPU to offer broadband telecommunications service within a rural area of this State. The bill also defines the terms "broadband telecommunications service" and "rural area." The bill requires that an EDA-approved loan under the program is to be made pursuant to a loan agreement, bear interest at rates and terms deemed appropriate by the EDA, and contain other terms and conditions considered appropriate by the EDA that are consistent with the purposes of the bill and with regulations adopted by the EDA to implement the bill. The bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the BPU, to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill repeals a duplicative provision added by section 3 of P.L.2019, c.240. | In Committee |
| S2014 | Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, a report that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| SCR13 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by Governor to 14 days. | This constitutional amendment provides that certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by the Governor during a period of a state of emergency will terminate on the 15th day following the date of issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of a concurrent resolution. The constitutional amendment prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially the same effect as the one terminated pursuant to the amendment for the same emergency. The constitutional amendment does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute. | In Committee |
| S1387 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| S1675 | Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits. | This bill requires the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission, which was established pursuant to P.L.2003, c.193 (C.17B:27D-1 et seq.), to periodically, on an ongoing basis, analyze and review the financial impact of all mandated health benefits enacted by the Legislature. The analysis and review of each mandated health benefit shall include:· the impact of the mandated health benefit on total costs to purchasers and benefit costs; · the extent to which the mandated health benefit has increased the appropriate use of the treatment or service; and· the extent to which the mandated health benefit resulted in any savings to the health care system through increased access to preventive care. The bill further provides that: ? two years after the effective date of the bill and every three years thereafter, the commission shall issue reports to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and make any recommendations it deems appropriate, including whether any of the mandated health benefits should be repealed and offered, instead, as a rider to health benefits coverage; and ? the commission may issue such interim reports to the Governor and Legislature on specific mandates, as it deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S973 | Requires school districts to let nonpublic school students participate in district high school interscholastic athletics. | This bill requires school districts to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence. The nonpublic school student is required to provide proof of residence in the district, and to meet the sports participation requirements established by the district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examination, insurance, fees, age, and academic requirements. The nonpublic school student is also to comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad. A board of education may charge a nonpublic school student, other than a student with financial hardship, a fee no greater than the actual cost per pupil of participating in the sport. | In Committee |
| S1834 | Allows for exclusion of certain properties from Highlands preservation area. | This bill would allow, beginning on August 10, 2009, an owner of property located in the Highlands preservation area to request that the property be excluded from the preservation area under certain circumstances. Specifically, this bill would provide that when an owner of property located within the preservation area offers that property for sale to the State and the State rejects the offer due to the lack of available funding to purchase the property at an amount equal to a fair market value appraisal of the value of the lands as of August 9, 2004 (the day before the date of enactment of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120), that property owner may request that the property be removed from the preservation area. Under the bill, upon written request by the property owner to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Chair of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council containing documentation from the State that the State does not have funds available to purchase the property at a price equal to the value of the lands as of August 9, 2004, the property would be exempt from the provisions of sections 30 through 43 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-28 et al.) and would be regulated by the State and the local government unit in the same manner as property located in the planning area. The bill would apply to lands the owners of which at the time of the proposed sale to the State is the same person who owned the lands on the date of enactment of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" and who has owned the lands continuously since then, or is an immediate family member of that person. The bill would require that the property be excluded from the preservation area and would require this exclusion to be recorded on the deed of the property. The bill would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Chair of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to take all appropriate action to note the exclusion of such a property on all maps and descriptions of the preservation area prepared or published by the Department of Environmental Protection or the council. | In Committee |
| S1839 | Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping. | This bill clarifies existing law that the Fish and Game Council is empowered as the sole State governmental entity responsible for determining whether or not any species of fresh water fish, game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal may be fished, hunted, or trapped, and in determining what circumstances, when and in what localities, by what means and in what amounts and numbers those species may be fished, hunted, or trapped. The bill also clarifies existing law to require the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the division director, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to implement the State Fish and Game Code as adopted by the council and any comprehensive policies concerned therewith as formulated by the council, all as directed by the council. The bill further emphasizes the autonomy of the council pertaining to matters of fresh water fishing, hunting, and trapping by removing the council from the division and instead locating it in, but not of, the division and the DEP. This bill is necessary to correct the clearly erroneous interpretation of the statutory law given recently by the New Jersey Supreme Court in the case of U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In its February 28, 2005 decision in that case, the Court reversed a well-reasoned, unanimous three-judge Appellate Division opinion and thereby stopped the black bear hunt scheduled for December 2004 until certain specified conditions were met. In doing so, the Supreme Court found that the Fish and Game Council and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection have "shared responsibility" regarding the formulation of comprehensive policies pertaining to game animals, including black bears. The effect of this decision was to give the commissioner veto authority over any action taken by the council, thereby transforming the council into a mere advisory body. This result is clearly contrary to the statutory law establishing the Fish and Game Council as a fully capable regulatory body, providing for adoption of the State Fish and Game Code by the council only, and establishing the State Fish and Game Code as the only mechanism by which fresh water fishing, hunting, and trapping is regulated in the State. The Court's decision wrongly upset an established statutory framework, over 50 years of precedent, and the designed and mutually accepted working relationship established by the council with the Division of Fish and Wildlife over that time period since the council was created by law. Section 16 of this bill also provides that lands under the administration, ownership, management, or control of the Division of Fish and Wildlife or the DEP which were acquired in whole or in part with monies from the "hunters' and anglers' license fund," from the New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp Account, or with federal aid for fish and wildlife purposes, shall not be closed to the taking of any species of freshwater fish or wildlife in accordance with the State Fish and Game Code by the action of any State agency or official without the approval of the Fish and Game Council. This section responds in part to an Appellate Division opinion issued November 24, 2004 in the case of Safari Club International v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in which the court interpreted the current statutory law in support of affirming the notice recently issued by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection closing all lands owned, managed or controlled by the DEP to bear hunting. | In Committee |
| S1851 | Prohibits for 10 years applicability of new State and local rules and regulations to certain manufacturing facilities. | This bill places a moratorium on the adoption of any new rules or regulations, or amendments to any existing rules or regulations, by any State agency or local entity, unless required by federal law, for a period of 10 years to a manufacturing facility. A manufacturing facility may elect to waive its exemption during the 10-year exemption period on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development is to establish criteria for a manufacturing facility to be eligible for the certificate of exemption and the manner in which a manufacturing facility may apply for the certificate of exemption. | In Committee |
| S1351 | Makes various changes to civil service; permits institution of temporary layoffs; permits government entities to opt-out of civil service; requires civil service examinations be offered on continual basis. | This bill makes various changes to the laws concerning civil service in this State. The bill provides that:· civil service examinations be announced and administered on a continual basis, where practicable.· applications for such examinations be available using the Internet for completion and for submission, and payments of applicable fees for such examinations also be accepted online.· an employee will be removed from a special reemployment list when the employee has turned down a reemployment opportunity in a position that is one with the same or substantially similar job duties as, the same title and series as, the same or substantially similar hours of work as, and a location within a 25 mile radius of, the position from which the employee was laid off or demoted in lieu of layoff.· seasonal positions may be established for a period aggregating not more than nine months in a 12 month period.· working test period for local public employees be extended to 6 months from 3 months. The bill also provides that local units of government in the civil service may negotiate with the majority representative of its employees for the procedure for the appointing authority's review before a disciplinary action is taken against a permanent employee in the career service or a person serving in a working test period, and for the procedure for the appeal of a disciplinary action. Current civil service law permits the State to negotiate such matters with employee representatives. In addition, a provision in a collective negotiations agreement will be the exclusive procedure for review or appeal. Concerning shared service agreements, the bill provides that any employee terminated for reasons of economy or efficiency by the local unit providing the service under the agreement, at the option of the local unit or pursuant to a collective negotiations agreement between the local unit and a majority representative, may give a terminal leave payment of not less than one month for each 5 year period of past service as an employee of the local unit, or other enhanced benefit that may be provided or negotiated. Current law requires that such payment or benefit must be provided. The bill permits an appointing authority in State or local civil service to institute a temporary layoff for economy, efficiency or other related reasons by closure of an entire layoff unit for one or more work days over a defined period, or a staggered layoff of each employee in a layoff unit for one or more work days over a defined period. A temporary layoff plan must be submitted to the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission at least 15 days prior to the issuance of temporary layoff notices or as permitted by the chairperson. The temporary layoff is considered a single layoff action even though it takes place on different days during the defined period. The maximum period to stagger one day off may not exceed 45 days. Limited exemptions to temporary layoffs are permitted, with the approval of the chairperson, when necessary to ensure continued public health and safety. The temporary layoff days will be unpaid and will not affect accrual of leave time, anniversary dates, paid holidays, and seniority or a leave under the federal family and Medical Leave Act or other medical or family leave. An alternate work week program may be suspended for pay periods during a temporary layoff. Seniority, job location, lateral and demotional title rights, and special reemployment rights will not be applicable to a temporary layoff. The bill amends the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act, specifically N.J.S.34:13A-5.3, to provide that in the case of temporary layoffs, the public employer must consult with the majority representative of public employees, but that failure to reach an agreement will not prohibit the public employer, whether in or not in civil service, from instituting temporary layoffs. The imposition of such layoffs will not be a violation of the law. Finally, the bill provides that a county, municipality or school district may opt out of civil service. The local governmental unit may rescind the adoption of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes (civil service) by the county or municipal clerk submitting the question to the voters of the county or municipality upon the filing of a petition with the clerk requesting the rescission. The petition must be signed by at least 15% of the registered voters who voted in the county or municipality at the last preceding general election. Within 10 days from the date of the filing of the petition, the clerk must certify the petition in conjunction with the county commissioner of registration. Thereafter, the question will be submitted at the next general election or next municipal election, as appropriate, on or after 60 days following the issuance of the certificate, and thereafter printed on the ballots. The clerk must give appropriate public notice, including publication in the county or municipality's official newspaper. If the clerk fails to comply, a registered voter of the county or municipality may apply to a Superior Court judge for an order compelling submission of the question, and a hearing will be held summarily. A noncompliant clerk or public official or other employee will be guilty of a fourth degree crime. When the result of the election is for rescission, the result must be certified by the governing body of the county, municipality or school district to the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, and the rescission will take effect on a date set by the chairperson no less than six months and no greater than one year following the election. If a majority of the votes cast are against rescission, no new election on the same question may be held before the second general election or municipal election, as appropriate, following the rescission election. A fire district or districts within a municipality that has rescinded civil service is deemed to have rescinded civil service. The commission is directed to adopt regulations providing for an orderly transition in any local governmental unit that has rescinded civil service, that will require the unit to submit to the commission for approval its ordinance, resolution or manual setting forth personnel policies and procedures to be followed after rescission of civil service. At a minimum, the unit must provide for the terms and conditions of employment not otherwise covered by a collective negotiations agreement. The policies and procedures must include an anti-discrimination policy and a local government ethics policy. The unit may enter into a contract with the commission for testing, classification, compensation, or other technical personnel services. Upon rescission of civil service, a local governmental unit will not be permitted to readopt civil service for at least 10 years from the effective date of the rescission and may readopt only once. An employee with permanent status in a title on the effective date of the rescission retains only those rights to a commission hearing available to career service employees upon disciplinary removal or to challenge the good faith of a layoff. The provisions of the bill requiring the offering of civil service examinations, and the availability of the examination application and payment of fees online, will take effect 180 days after enactment. | In Committee |
| S454 | Prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received COVID-19 vaccine. | This bill prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. Under the bill, it is to be unlawful to ask any individual if the individual has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, to require any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or to require any individual to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of or as a prerequisite to: (1) the exercise of any privilege or right granted under State or federal law; (2) conducting any business or commerce; (3) travelling to, outside, or within the State; (4) obtaining or maintaining an internship, obtaining or maintaining employment, or receiving a promotion from an employer; (5) participation in any governmental or political activity; (6) admission or enrollment into any child or adult day care program; (7) admission in, enrollment in, or graduation from a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (8) participation in any activity, internship, opportunity, program, or sport offered by a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (9) receiving adequate dental care or health care; (10) maintaining, receiving, or renewing a professional certification or license; (11) obtaining or renewing membership in any professional organization; (12) entrance into or service from any place of business, including, but not limited to, any market, restaurant, or store; (13) entrance into and service from any public building, office, or structure; (14) entrance into and use of any public park or beach; or (15) admission into or service from any amusement park, concert venue, theater, or sporting event. The bill provides that it is to be unlawful to discriminate against or to take any adverse action against any individual who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who does not disclose whether the individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine. An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is to, in addition to any other relief authorized by law, be liable for civil damages to the victim in the amount of $25,000 in an action brought in the Superior Court in the county where the offense occurred. In addition to an award of civil damages, the court is to order the defendant to pay such attorney's fees or expenses, or both, that are actually and reasonably incurred by the victim who is the successful party in the action. | In Committee |
| SCR30 | Proposes constitutional amendment prohibiting any student from being compelled to attend public school other than one nearest to student's residence. | This constitutional amendment would prohibit compelling any student to attend a public school other than the public school nearest to the student's residence and which is located within the school district in which the student resides, provided the public school provides the course of study which the student is pursuing. | In Committee |
| S1854 | Permits corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer epinephrine auto-injector device. | This bill clarifies existing law to expressly permit corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device. Under the bill, any person, including a county or State corrections officer, firefighter, or police officer, who has successfully completed an educational program approved by the Commissioner of Health to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device is to be issued a certificate of completion, which is to authorize the person to administer, maintain, and dispose of an epinephrine auto-injector device. The bill defines "firefighter" to mean a firefighter who is employed by or who volunteers for a public fire department. "Police officer" means a State, county, or municipal police officer. | In Committee |
| S1845 | Requires Type II school district without board of school estimate holding its school election in November to receive voter approval of base budget. | Pursuant to P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1 et al.), procedures were established whereby the annual school election in a Type II school district could be moved from April to the date of the general election. A school election held in November is only for the purpose of electing the district's board members and for voting on any proposal for additional funds above the school district's tax levy cap. For a school district which holds its annual school election in November, no voter approval is required for the base budget. This bill will return to voters residing in school districts in which the annual school election has been moved to November the right to approve or disapprove the district's base budget. Under the provisions of this bill, a voter at the November school election will have the right to vote on the same matters that are presented to a voter at an April school election. Under the provisions of this bill, a school district with a November school election will continue to submit its budget to the commissioner by March 20, except that this budget will be a temporary budget for the upcoming school year. As current law provides, the secretary of the board of education by May 19 will certify the amount fixed and determined by the school board to the county board of taxation and the amount certified will be included in the taxes levied and collected in the municipality or municipalities comprising the district. If the voters approve the budget at the November school election, the temporary budget will be the final budget for the district for that school year. If the voters disapprove the budget, the budget will be submitted to the governing body of each of the municipalities included within the district for determination of the amount that should be expended notwithstanding voter rejection, as is the process under current law for defeated school budgets. If under this process the general fund tax levy of the district is reduced, or if the voters in November fail to approve any separate proposal on the ballot to spend above cap, then the secretary of the board of education will re-certify to the county board of taxation the sum or sums to be raised for that school year. | In Committee |
| S1655 | Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate. | This bill prohibits a bill that that has been certified for a fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate from being released from committee unless and until the fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate is complete. | In Committee |
| SJR63 | Designates fourth Saturday of September each year as "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day." | This joint resolution would designate the fourth Saturday of September each year as "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day." Hunting and fishing are cornerstones of the American recreational experience. In 2011, an estimated 94,000 hunters took a combined 2.6 million hunting trips, and 766,000 anglers took 8.4 million fishing trips, generating billions of dollars in economic activity in the State. More than 750,000 acres of public lands in New Jersey are open to hunters, and provide an exceptional diversity of habitat and harbor numerous game species. Additionally, New Jersey's 127 miles of coastline, hundreds of miles of bay shore, and numerous inland lakes and tributaries provide some of the best and most diverse fishing in the country. Hunting and fishing are excellent opportunities for families to spend time together, and for children to learn more about wildlife and the environment. Hunting and fishing are also believed by many to be significant stress-relieving activities. People who hunt and fish are also more likely to value and help conserve the environment, and funds from hunting and fishing licenses, and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery, and angling equipment, in New Jersey and across the country go toward wildlife conservation programs. By designating "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day," it is hoped that this will encourage more residents to participate in hunting and fishing. The joint resolution would request the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day" with appropriate activities and programs. It would also direct the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection to take appropriate measures each year to publicize "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day," and to coordinate at least one of the State's free fishing days, selected pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1985, c.352 (C.23:3-1b), with that day. | In Committee |
| S1669 | Eliminates requirement for State residency for public officers and employees with limited historic exceptions. | This bill eliminates the requirement that all public officers and employees, with certain exceptions, have their principal residence in this State. This requirement was imposed in 2011. Prior to imposing the requirement on all public officers and employees, R.S.52:14-7 required State residency for the Governor, each member of the Legislature, the head of each principal department of the Executive Branch of State government, and every Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Superior Court, and judge of any inferior court established under the laws of this State. This bill retains the residency requirement for persons holding these positions, but eliminates it for all other public officers and employees covered by R.S.52:14-7. | In Committee |
| S1852 | Provides dedicated funding for promotion of apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs from Workforce Development Partnership Fund. | This bill dedicates funding from the State's Workforce Development Partnership Fund to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development which shall disperse those funds to One Stop Career Centers for the promotion of apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs in the State accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor. It requires that at least five percent of the 25 percent of training funds dedicated for displaced workers be reserved for the promotion of apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs. | In Committee |
| S1848 | Provides that no more than four of the seven public members appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council may be of the same political party. | This bill provides that of the seven residents of the State appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council by the Governor, not more than four of these members may be of the same political party. | In Committee |
| S898 | Requires commissioner of registration to move voters with undeliverable mail-in ballots to inactive file; removes such inactive voters from Statewide voter registration system following failure to vote in two consecutive federal general elections. | This bill requires the commissioner of registration to move voters with undeliverable mail-in ballots to the inactive file and remove such inactive voters from the Statewide voter registration system following failure to vote in two consecutive federal general elections. Under current law, any mail-in ballot returned for any reason is forwarded to the commissioner of registration, who notes the return in the voter record of that voter. This bill requires that a mail-in ballot returned as undeliverable to the county be forwarded to the commissioner of registration and noted in the Statewide voter registration system. The commissioner will compile a list of the voters and place those voters in the inactive file. If a voter in the inactive file fails to vote in two consecutive federal general elections, the commissioner will take the necessary steps to begin the process for the removal of the voter from the Statewide voter registration system and transfer to the deleted file. The commissioner would be required to send notice to a mail-in ballot voter following the voter's placement in the inactive file due to a mail-in ballot returned as undeliverable, the decision of the commissioner to begin the process for removal from the Statewide voter registration system, and the removal of the voter from the Statewide voter registration system and transfer to the deleted file. | In Committee |
| SCR65 | Provides for special session of Legislature to consider property tax relief and reform. | This concurrent resolution provides for the convening of a special session of the Legislature for the purpose of considering property tax relief and reform. | In Committee |
| S1869 | Establishes minimum dollar amount required in Maintenance and Preservation Funds of cemetery companies established before December 1, 1971. | This bill sets the minimum dollar amount a cemetery company must retain in its Maintenance and Preservation Fund at $37,500 if that company was established before December 1, 1971. Current law requires such cemetery companies to transfer into their Maintenance and Preservation Funds any funds established for the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery and any additional amount set by the New Jersey Cemetery Board. However, current law does not set a minimum dollar amount these cemeteries are required to retain in their Maintenance and Preservation Funds, as it does for cemetery companies established after December 1, 1971. Additionally, the bill requires that any funds exceeding the $37,500 minimum must be applied towards the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery. | In Committee |
| SCR66 | Proposes constitutional amendment to preserve right of people to fish, hunt, trap and harvest fish and wildlife. | Fishing, hunting, trapping and the harvesting of fish and wildlife are a valued part of the State's heritage. This constitutional amendment would preserve the right of the people to fish, hunt, trap and harvest fish and wildlife. The amendment would also require that fish and wildlife be managed by laws and regulations that provide persons with the continued opportunity to take, by traditional means and methods, species traditionally pursued by fishermen, hunters and trappers. Fish and wildlife management would be required to be consistent with both the State's duty to protect its sporting heritage and its duty to conserve fish and wildlife. The amendment would also require that fishing, hunting, trapping and the harvesting of fish and wildlife, by traditional means and methods, be a preferred and available way of controlling all invasive or overpopulated species. This amendment would serve as a Bill of Rights for fishermen, hunters and trappers and would preserve the right to fish, hunt, trap and harvest fish and wildlife. | In Committee |
| S1375 | Requires legislative approval of updates or revisions to core curriculum content. | This bill requires legislative approval of updates or revisions to core curriculum content standards. Under current law, the State Board of Education is directed to review and update the core curriculum content standards every five years. This bill provides that any update or revision made to the core curriculum content standards following the bill's effective date will require the approval of the Legislature. The State board is required to submit the update or revision to the Legislature, and the Legislature is required to adopt a concurrent resolution within 45 days of submission to approve or disapprove the update or revision. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the update or revision, it is required to be implemented. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the update or revision, it may not be implemented. | In Committee |
| S1861 | Bans foreign ownership of agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands in State. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural or horticultural use or be maintained as agricultural woodlands, as applicable. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural or horticultural use or be maintained as agricultural woodlands, as applicable; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with the acquisition of land by a foreign government or foreign person pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural or horticultural use or maintained as agricultural woodlands, as applicable. The bill provides that any provision of the bill which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, no more than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to report to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) the total acreage of agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands in the State that is owned by foreign governments or foreign persons; 2) the percentage change in the amount of in-State agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands acreage owned by foreign governments or foreign persons, per year, over the preceding 10 years; 3) the top 10 nationalities of foreign governments or foreign persons owning agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in the State, by total amount of acreage owned; and 4) the purposes for which agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands owned by foreign governments or foreign persons has been used in the preceding five years, and any significant changes or trends in the use of such land. The bill authorizes the secretary to base the requisite data on: reports that are submitted, to the Department of Agriculture, by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to federal law; or any other relevant information available to the department. The bill also directs the State Agriculture Development Committee and other State agencies and departments, as well as county boards of agriculture and other local agencies, boards, or political subdivisions in the State, to provide the secretary with any relevant information available concerning the data required to be compiled and reported by the bill. | In Committee |
| S609 | Excludes farmland from definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" in "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." | This bill would amend the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.), to specify that farmland is not a redevelopment area or an area in need of redevelopment under that law. Specifically, this bill amends the definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" used in the law to specifically exclude any land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use that is valued, assessed, and taxed pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.). The classification of productive farmland as an area in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law" is detrimental to the State's agricultural economy. Retaining productive farmland is critically important to New Jersey, nicknamed "The Garden State," as agriculture is one of the State's largest industries. | In Committee |
| S1865 | Exempts sales of certain baby products from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts the sales of certain baby products from the sales and use tax. Under current law, baby food, formula, wipes, clothing, and diapers are currently exempt from the sales and use tax. However, there are other items of equal importance in caring for a baby that are currently taxable such as cribs, strollers, child restraint systems, baby bath soaps, shampoos, lotions, and powders, and nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain a child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines "crib" to mean a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant and "stroller" to mean a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport a young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or a full-size stroller. By exempting these items from the sales and use tax, the State can continue to provide assistance to families by reducing the costs of raising a child. | In Committee |
| S856 | Indexes various thresholds and qualifications under New Jersey gross income tax for inflation. | This bill indexes for inflation various gross income thresholds and qualifications under the New Jersey gross income tax. Under the gross income tax, many provisions are structured so that the provisions apply only to those with particular amounts of income. This bill adjusts those provisions so that income levels are annually adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In particular, the bill adjusts for inflation: - the minimum taxable income threshold to be subject to the gross income tax, and the minimum taxable income threshold to file a gross income tax return. The minimum taxable income threshold for both is currently $10,000 for individuals who are single or married filing separately and $20,000 for married filing jointly. Those amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the three deductions allowed pursuant to the "New Jersey College Affordability Act." Each deduction is currently limited to those with gross income of $200,000 or less. That amount will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the credit allowed pursuant to the "Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act." That credit is currently limited to those with gross income not exceeding $50,000 or $100,000 if filing jointly. Those amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the credit for expenses for household and dependent care services. That credit is equal to a percentage that the taxpayer is allowed under the federal income tax, but is reduced and phased out as the taxpayer's income increases to $150,000. The phase out will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitations on the pension exclusion and other retirement income exclusion. Those exclusions are reduced and phased out as the taxpayer's income increases to $150,000. The phase out for each deduction will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - for those required to make estimated income tax payments, the income threshold for additional estimated payments to avoid incurring underpayment penalties. Because of the complexity of exactly estimating tax payments, an alternative amount of payment is allowed to be paid without incurring penalties for underpayment of estimated tax. If a taxpayer makes payments equal to 100 percent of the taxpayer's tax liability for the previous year, or 110 percent for taxpayers with taxable income for the preceding taxable year exceeding $75,000 or $150,000 for those filing jointly, then the taxpayer will not incur penalties for underpayment of estimated tax. The income criteria for the 110 percent payment requirement will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income limitation on the rebate allowed for those with a dependent child. That rebate is currently limited to those with gross income not exceeding $75,000 or $150,000 if filing jointly. Those amounts will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022. - the income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket under the optional pass-through business alternative income tax. These income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket are currently structured to approximate tax liability under the gross income tax. The income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning with tax year 2022 to conform with the changes to the gross income tax brackets and tax amounts per bracket proposed in Senate Bill No. 676 of the 2022-2023 session. | In Committee |
| S1855 | Requires electric public utilities to establish toll-free telephone number to be used by public for reporting damaged equipment and dangerous vegetation. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number that may be used by the public to report to the utility the existence of broken or otherwise damaged "distribution infrastructure" of the utility or the presence or threat of "dangerous vegetation" to the utility's distribution infrastructure, as those terms are defined in the bill. The utility is to publish the toll-free telephone number and an explanation of the purpose of the toll-free telephone number on every periodic bill sent to each customer of the utility and in a prominent location on the homepage of the utility's Internet website. | In Committee |
| S1847 | "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act"; requires verification of employment. | This bill, the "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act," requires that all employers use the federal "E-verify" system to check the employment eligibility of each new hire, within ninety days of the date of hire. The bill establishes a graduated penalty system against any employer who knowingly employs unauthorized aliens. The penalty for the first offense will be a $10,000 fine for each unauthorized alien and three years of monitored probation. During the probationary period the employer is required to file quarterly reports with the county prosecutor. The reports must include, but shall not be limited to, documentation of the E-verify confirmation of each new employee who is hired by the employer at the location where the unauthorized alien performed work. The penalty for a second offense will be a $20,000 fine for each unauthorized alien and an additional five years of monitored probation. The penalty for a third offense will be a $30,000 fine for each unauthorized alien. Under the bill, proof that the employee's eligibility to work was confirmed through the E-verify program creates a rebuttable presumption that the employer did not intentionally or knowingly employ an unauthorized alien. E-verify is an Internet-based system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. It provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. It is currently available to employers without charge. | In Committee |
| S1866 | Prohibits use of new merchant category code by credit card companies for purchases of firearms and ammunitions. | This bill prohibits the use of a new merchant category code to designate when consumers purchase a firearm or ammunition. The bill defines "merchant category code" to mean a specific identification number established by the International Organization for Standardization that is used to identify a specific good or service provided by a merchant. Under the bill, a payment settlement entity, merchant acquiring entity, or third party settlement organization, as those terms are defined pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, are prohibited from assigning a merchant category code to, or otherwise classifying, a merchant that is a seller of firearms or ammunition separately from general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Additionally, an entity involved in facilitating or processing a payment card transaction, including, but not limited to, a financial institution, an acquirer, a payment card network, or a payment card issuer, is not to assign to or require a merchant to use a merchant category code that classifies the merchant as a firearms or ammunition retailer or places the merchant as a similar classification. A merchant of firearms or ammunition is to be assigned or is to use a merchant category code for general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Any agreement or contractual provision between an entity required to comply with the bill and a merchant that is contrary to the bill's provisions is to be considered void. Lastly, the Department of Law and Public Safety is charged with investigating allegations of violations of the bill. The department is to bring, upon a finding of a violation, an administrative action to impose an administrative fine of not more than $10,000 for each violation of the bill. | In Committee |
| S833 | Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed. | This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Burglary of a residence is upgraded to first degree burglary under the bill if the person is armed with or displays what appears to be an explosive or a deadly weapon while committing the burglary. Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill clarifies that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would not be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), but a person who commits the upgraded first degree crime of burglarizing a residence while armed would be sentenced under NERA. Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| S1326 | Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities. | This bill is intended to ensure that persons who are unlawfully present in the United States and have been incarcerated in prisons, jails, youth detention, or other correctional facilities in this State are not released back into the general population upon their release, but rather are remanded solely to the custody of federal immigration officials. The bill requires the administrator, superintendent, warden or other person responsible for the operation of a prison, jail, youth detention or other correctional facility to determine the nationality of every inmate incarcerated in the facility. If an inmate is not a United States citizen, the facility's administrator is required to determine whether the inmate is lawfully present in the United States. When this cannot be determined, the inmate is to be deemed not lawfully present in the United States. The bill prohibits the release of an inmate if the inmate is not a United States citizen or is not lawfully present in the United States except to the custody of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officials. Administrators, superintendents, wardens or other operators of correctional facilities who violate the bill's provisions are liable to a civil fine as specified by the Commissioner of Corrections. | In Committee |
| S390 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-owned lakes; appropriates $1 million. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct, cause to be constructed, or enter into long-term contracts with the owners of private marinas to provide for, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed. Any contract entered into with an owner of a private marina would be subject to a public bidding process. If the DEP is unable to construct, or cause to be constructed, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed, the commissioner would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature identifying the lakes at which public boat access is unable to be provided and the reasons therefor. If the reason is due to a lack of sufficient funds for the purpose, the report would be required to detail the necessary funding required. The bill would appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to the DEP in order to provide for the public boat access required by the bill. | In Committee |
| S455 | Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses. | This bill provides that a student attending a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school would not be required to wear a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending. A student would also not be required to wear a face mask while present on a school bus. The bill would not prohibit a student from voluntarily wearing a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending or while the student is present on a school bus. | In Committee |
| S1881 | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | This bill would require the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("EDA"), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to develop and administer a beginning farmer loan program to facilitate the acquisition of agricultural land, agricultural improvements, or depreciable agricultural property by beginning farmers. Under the bill, a "beginning farmer" is defined as any person with a low or moderate net worth, as determined by the department, who engages in farming or wishes to engage in farming. An "agricultural improvement" is defined as any improvement, building, structure, or fixture suitable for use in farming which is located on agricultural land. "Depreciable agricultural property" is defined as personal property suitable for use in farming for which an income tax deduction for depreciation is allowable under federal law, such as farm machinery and trucks. To qualify for a loan under the program, a beginning farmer would have to meet the following requirements: 1) the beginning farmer must be a resident of the State; 2) the agricultural land, agricultural improvements, or depreciable agricultural property the beginning farmer proposes to purchase must be located in the State; 3) the beginning farmer must have sufficient education, training, or experience in the type of farming for which the beginning farmer requests the loan; 4) if the loan is for the acquisition of agricultural land, the beginning farmer must have access to adequate working capital, farm equipment, machinery, or livestock; 5) if the loan is for the acquisition of depreciable agricultural property, the beginning farmer must have access to adequate working capital or agricultural land; 6) the beginning farmer must materially and substantially participate in farming; 7) the agricultural land and agricultural improvements must only be used for farming by, or under the direction of, the beginning farmer; and 8) any other criteria established by the authority pursuant to regulation. The bill provides that an EDA-approved loan to a beginning farmer is to be made pursuant to a loan agreement with the authority, is to bear interest at rates and terms deemed appropriate by the EDA, and is to contain other terms and conditions considered appropriate by the EDA that are consistent with the purposes of the bill and the regulations adopted by the EDA. The authority could require a beginning farmer that receives a loan under the program to submit an audited financial statement to the authority in order to ensure the beginning farmer's continued viability, and may, either by regulation or through the terms of the loan agreement, establish terms governing the incidence of default by a beginning farmer who receives a loan under the program. The EDA would have the authority to participate in programs of the United States Department of Agriculture Consolidated Farm Service Agency, Federal Land Bank, or any other federal or State agency in the administration of this program. The purpose of this bill is to develop and administer a beginning farmer loan program to facilitate the acquisition of agricultural land, agricultural improvements, or depreciable agricultural property by beginning farmers. New Jersey cannot rest on the success of land preservation, but must take further action to preserve its farmers as well. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. The Statewide average age has increased more drastically at 2.72 percent annually since 2002, on average. | In Committee |
| S899 | Requires AG to create voting fraud task force. | This bill requires the Attorney General to create a voting fraud task force in the Division of Criminal Justice, Specialized Crimes Bureau. The purpose of the task force is to investigate and prosecute crimes involving voting fraud. Under the bill, the task force is to be comprised of members of State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, as determined by the Attorney General, and is to utilize a coordinated law enforcement strategy to address voting fraud in this State. | In Committee |
| S1842 | Requires Dept. of Agriculture to provide for electronic submittal of milk dealer license applications. | Currently, the Department of Agriculture does not provide on its Internet website for the electronic submittal of milk dealer license applications to the department. Instead, an applicant must print the form out from the Department of Agriculture's website, fill it out, and mail it to the department. By providing for electronic application submittals, this bill will streamline the application process for both the applicant and the department. | In Committee |
| S313 | Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran. | This bill provides that the total property tax exemption extended to totally disabled veterans is to be retroactive to the effective date of the determination of the veteran's total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill also requires that the governing body of each municipality return all taxes collected on the veteran's property after the effective date of the determination of total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the amount of such property taxes returned to a totally disabled veteran pursuant to the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| SCR70 | Proposes constitutional amendment to establish a 2 percent cap on annual appropriations increases for certain State government spending. | This constitutional amendment limits the amount that the State can appropriate for certain State government spending in a fiscal year to not more than 2.0 percent above the amount of those appropriations in the prior fiscal year. The exceptions are appropriations: (1) for State aid to school districts, municipalities and counties, (2) of federal funds, (3) for State government payments that may be required to be made by another provision of this Constitution to pension systems that provide for retirement benefits, (4) for State capital construction projects, (5) to pay debt service on voter-approved State bonds and certain appropriation contract bonds, (6) required for purposes of war, to repel invasion, or to suppress insurrection, or to meet extraordinary emergencies caused by disasters or acts of God, and (7) from the Property Tax Relief Fund. This limit will not apply to unused limit amounts from the three previous fiscal years, which may be banked to be appropriated in the next fiscal year. This limit will also not apply to unspent appropriations from the immediately preceding fiscal year, originally appropriated under an annual limit and then reappropriated by law. The annual State appropriations limit may only be exceeded by passage of a fiscal emergency measure by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the authorized membership of each house of the Legislature. | In Committee |
| SR56 | Condemns publication and distribution of images inciting, glorifying, or justifying violence against law enforcement officers. | This resolution strongly condemns the publication and distribution of images inciting, glorifying, or justifying violence against law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers are essential to the safety and well-being of this nation and all United States citizens. Recently, disturbing images have been circulated illustrating the beheading of American law enforcement officers, including one of a graphic image of a masked person slitting the throat of a police officer, published on social media by a National Football League player. While the player removed this image shortly thereafter and posted an apology, the initial post served to perpetuate recent violence against law enforcement officers and an apology does not protect the officers who are targeted. This image portrayed the graphic nature of beheadings used by the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which is a form of cruel and unusual punishment as well as a crime against humanity. While the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects offensive images and commentary, these images are intolerable and there is no justification for targeting or assassinating law enforcement officers, who selflessly serve and protect all people. All law enforcement officers deserve the same freedoms and protections to live their lives as any other citizen of New Jersey and this nation. Under the Constitution of the United States of America, speech is protected; however, it is incumbent upon citizens to combat disturbing and offensive speech with more speech to counter it. | In Committee |
| SCR64 | Urges BPU to investigate broadband Internet and landline telephone services in State's rural communities; urges State Board of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture to explore ways these services can be brought to State's rural communities. | This concurrent resolution urges the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to conduct an investigation of the status of high-speed broadband Internet and landline telephone services in New Jersey's rural communities. Further, the concurrent resolution urges the State Board of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture to continue exploring ways in which adequate and reliable high-speed broadband Internet and landline telephone services can be brought to New Jersey's rural communities, so that the State's farmers, residents, students, businesses, and governmental entities who reside or are located in rural areas will be better positioned to maximize the overall use of technology to improve the efficiency and viability of their farms and communities while increasing economic development opportunities. | In Committee |
| S903 | Requires Secretary of State to establish voter list maintenance and crosscheck program and to include certain voter registration data in annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with each commissioner of registration, to establish and update, as appropriate, a voter list maintenance and crosscheck program. The purpose of the program would be to maintain and keep up-to-date a secure and accurate Statewide voter registration system. Under the bill, the program, at a minimum, must provide for the crosschecking of information in the Statewide database with information obtained via voter registration information agreements entered into by the secretary under current law and must provide for the sharing of voter information among each county clerk and commissioner of registration. The secretary, in consultation with each commissioner of registration, is required to establish uniform standards and procedures for voter list maintenance and crosschecking. At a minimum, the program must permit a county commissioner of registration to verify a new voter registration applicant's information, update information in the Statewide voter registration system, and remove duplicate, non-resident, or ineligible voters from the Statewide voter registration system. The bill also requires the annual report on the voter registration system to the Governor and the Legislature to be submitted no later than 90 days following the date of the November general election. Under the bill and in addition to the requirements in current law, the report is required to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of any voter registration information agreements entered into by the Secretary of State; (2) list the number of inactive and active voters in the State by county, the number of registrants transferred to the death file by county, and the number of registrants removed from the Statewide voter registration system by county; and (3) list the counties that are not compliant with the standards and procedures for voter list maintenance and crosschecking established by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| S901 | Requires Secretary of State create website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots; establishes "Vote by Mail Study Commission." | This bill requires the Secretary of State to create a website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots they receive. The bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission." Under the bill, the secretary would establish on the Division of Elections website a link for voters to report irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot received by the voter. The link would enable the voter to complete a form containing the voter's name, address, and contact information, and sufficient space for the voter to describe the issues with the mail-in ballot. The form may also include choices for the voter to select from among possible irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot, such as when the intended recipient of the ballot does not reside at that address or is deceased. The website would automatically forward each form to the appropriate county clerk, county board of elections, and county superintendent of elections, as the case may be, for follow-up. The bill also requires the secretary to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than January 15 of each year, a summary of the forms received through the website for the previous calendar year. This bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission," consisting of the following nine members: (1) the Secretary of State or a designee, who would serve as chairperson; (2) two county clerks, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Officers Association - Clerk Section; (3) one member representing the county boards of elections and one member representing the superintendents of elections, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Election Officials Association; (4) two members of the Senate to be appointed, one each, by the President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader; and (5) two members of the General Assembly to be appointed, one each, by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The bill directs the commission to investigate, research, and evaluate irregularities pertaining to the implementation, accuracy, and integrity of the vote-by-mail process and systems established in this State. The commission would hold at least three public hearings, one each in the Northern, Central, and Southern parts of the State, to receive testimony from the public and elections experts on matters concerning voting by mail. The commission's inquiries would include, but may not be limited to: (1) procedures to prevent the mailing of more than one mail-in ballot to the same person; (2) measures that may be implemented to prevent the mailing of mail-in ballots to inactive, deceased, and non-resident voters; (3) maintenance activities that may be implemented to enhance the accuracy of the voter rolls and the mail-in voter designation in the Statewide Voter Registration System; and (4) any other matter concerning voting by mail the commission deems appropriate. The bill directs the commission to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following its first meeting. The commission would expire upon the submission of its report. | In Committee |
| S723 | Restricts all ownership of agricultural land in State by foreign governments and persons. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural land taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with the acquisition of land by a foreign government or foreign person pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill provides that any provision of the bill which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, no more than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to report to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) the total acreage of agricultural land in the State that is owned by foreign governments or foreign persons; 2) the percentage change in the amount of in-State agricultural land acreage owned by foreign governments or foreign persons, per year, over the preceding 10 years; 3) the top 10 nationalities of foreign governments or foreign persons owning agricultural land in the State, by total amount of acreage owned; and 4) the purposes for which agricultural land owned by foreign governments or foreign persons has been used in the preceding five years, and any significant changes or trends in the use of such land. The bill authorizes the secretary to base the requisite data on reports that are submitted to the Department of Agriculture, by the United States Department of Agriculture, pursuant to federal law, or based on any other relevant information available to the department. The bill also directs the State Agriculture Development Committee and other State agencies and departments, as well as county boards of agriculture and other local agencies, boards, or political subdivisions in the State, to provide the secretary with any relevant information available concerning the data required to be compiled and reported by the bill. | In Committee |
| S1673 | The "School Safety and Security Act"; establishes penalties for certain criminal acts committed on school property. | This bill, the "School Safety and Security Act," would establish penalties for certain criminal activity related to school safety and security. Under current law, certain criminal acts committed on school property, or committed against a school official or employee are penalized and in some cases are subject to enhanced penalties. However, there is presently no provision in Title 2C, the Criminal Code, which establishes penalties solely for criminal activity related to school safety and security. The bill would establish certain acts related to school safety and security as crimes of the fourth degree. Under subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, an actor would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly enters or remains on school property after having been advised by written or verbal communication, a posting, or other reasonable efforts have been made by the school district or non-public school or any other authorized person to notify the actor that he is not licensed or privileged to do so; or having entered school property, provides false information, name, or identification to any authorized person requesting such information; or assists another to enter school property by ignoring, circumventing, or bypassing any direction, policy, or device specifically designed to identify, authorize or otherwise screen visitors entering the school property after having been advised by written or verbal communication, posting, or other reasonable efforts to advise the actor of such direction, policy, or device; or assists another to enter school property by defeating any security measure or device specifically designed to prevent unauthorized access. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under subsection b. of section 3 of the bill if he purposely or knowingly activates, uses, or tampers with any device utilized, designed, or intended to announce or communicate a crime or emergency, or to initiate a school safety and security plan, non-fire evacuation, lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related response knowing that there is no such crime or emergency and that it is likely to initiate a school safety and security plan, a lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related plan or emergency response. Under subsection c. of section 3 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly damages or tampers with any device, instrument, sign, or system used to monitor or manage the security of a school. Under subsection d. of section 3 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly interferes with, obstructs, or impedes implementation of an activated school safety and security plan or any security protocol, function or drill, intended to provide an emergency response from the school district or non-public school, employee, administrator, or any other authorized person, or to notify and elicit a response from security personnel or law enforcement. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under subsection e. of section 3 of the bill if, with purpose to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he engages in criminal, alarming or threatening behavior; and causes any school district or non-public school, employee, administrator, law enforcement officer, or any other authorized person to initiate, activate, communicate, or otherwise begin protocol pursuant to a school safety and security plan, non-fire evacuation, drill, lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related plan or emergency response, or to notify and elicit a response from security personnel or law enforcement. Pursuant to section 4 of the bill, all information related to plans, locations, diagrams, procedures, drills, or other activity that is part of an established school safety and security plan or other security- related plan or emergency response intended to be used to ensure the safety and security of a school would not be made available to any individual or institution except law enforcement officials; school board members; employees of the school district or non-public school; and any other person or entity otherwise provided by law. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly, without the express written permission of the superintendent of schools of the school district or the chief school administrator of the non-public school, or the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the school is located or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police, films, records, or otherwise documents procedures, drills, or activity that is part of an established school safety and security plan, or other security-related plan or emergency response; or posts any information, video, or procedures on the Internet, social media, or makes public any plans, locations, diagrams, or procedures pursuant to an established school safety and security plan, or other security-related plan or emergency response, intended to be used to ensure the safety and security of the school. The chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police would be required to notify the appropriate superintendent of schools of the school district or the chief school administrator of the non-public school if written permission is granted. This subsection would not apply to law enforcement activities associated with the operation of, or planning or training for, school safety and security or emergency responsiveness, or to news coverage of an emergency. Under subsection a. of section 5 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly stops, impedes, redirects, or otherwise interferes with an established route, operation, or function of a school bus, van, or transportation vehicle engaged in the transportation of children to or from school or a school-sponsored event. Pursuant to subsection b. of section 5 of the bill, a person who, knowing he is not licensed or privileged to do so, enters an occupied school bus without the consent of the school bus driver or authorized school representative would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. This section would not apply to the actions of law enforcement or other established emergency road or utility repair crews in response to emergency traffic conditions. The bill provides that nothing in the bill would preclude an indictment and conviction for any other offense defined by the laws of this State. For the purposes of the bill "school district" would mean any local or regional school district established pursuant to chapter 8 or chapter 13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. "School safety and security plan" would mean the comprehensive plans, procedures, and mechanisms developed by each school district that provide for safety and security in the school district's public elementary and secondary schools and which provide for, at a minimum, the protection of the health, safety, security and welfare of the school population; the prevention of, intervention in, response to and recovery from emergency and crisis situations. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S1420 | Establishes "VETeach Pilot Program" in DOE to facilitate teacher certification of veterans. | This bill establishes the "VETeach Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is to address the shortage of certified public school teachers by taking advantage of the qualified workforce represented by the State's veterans. Under the pilot program, a participating four-year public institution of higher education will enroll, in a 36-month teacher preparation program, veterans who served in the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001. The program will lead to a baccalaureate degree and completion of the requirements necessary to apply to the State Board of Examiners for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, which will authorize the veteran to seek employment as a teacher in grades kindergarten through eight, and in certain secondary education fields. Under the bill, a four-year public institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the pilot program is to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a form prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner is to select up to four institutions to participate in the pilot program. | Dead |
| S875 | Indexes amount of veterans' income tax exemption for inflation. | This bill would index the amount of the veterans' gross income tax exemption, which is currently $6,000, for inflation. The bill would require that, beginning in tax year 2023, the amount of the exemption would be adjusted annually based on the percentage change in the Chained Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending August 31 of the previous tax year. The C-CPI-U is the index currently used by the federal government to adjust federal income tax brackets for inflation. If there is no increase in that index, the amount of the exemption would remain unchanged for the applicable tax year. | In Committee |
| S2159 | Prohibits internet sale of lottery tickets by State Lottery Commission. | On September 19, 2022, a rule proposal was published by the State Lottery Commission to allow the Division of State Lottery to directly sell tickets to consumers in New Jersey through its Internet website and mobile applications. This proposal has been adopted and internet sales by the State Lottery Commission are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024. This bill prohibits the State Lottery Commission, any entity of the State Lottery Commission, or any entity contracted by the State Lottery Commission from directly selling lottery tickets via the Internet. This bill does not affect the rights of registered courier services from selling lottery tickets via the internet. | In Committee |
| S1986 | Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study, evaluate, and assess the provision of State school aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA). The task force will consist of seven members, including: the Commissioner of Education or a designee; and six public members, each of whom shall have educational experience and expertise in education and municipal finance and school budgeting. Two of the members will be appointed by the Senate President, two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly will each appoint one member. Under the bill, the duty of the task force is to study the effectiveness of, and provide recommendations on potentially improving, various aspects of the SFRA including, but not limited to:? the manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated;? the current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency and the impact on the educational outcomes of those students; ? the weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; ? the current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment;? the formula's use of the census-based funding methodology for determining the amount of State aid a school district receives to educate its special education population and the effects of potentially employing different methodologies; ? the provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; ? the methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid; and ? the impact that the reallocation of State school aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S-2," had on school districts' finances. The bill requires that the task force will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report will be posted in a prominent location on the Internet website of the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| S418 | Makes FY2023 supplemental appropriation of $17 million to DEP for grants for certain lake management activities. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. | In Committee |
| S626 | Establishes "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program" to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers. | This bill establishes in the Department of Agriculture the "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program," to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers investing in diversification of their farming operations and innovations for the sustainability of those operations. The bill defines "beginning farmer" as a person who desires to engage in farming and has never farmed before, who has engaged in farming in the State for 10 years or less as of the effective date of the bill, or who qualifies as a first time farmer pursuant to federal law at 26 U.S.C. s.147(c)(2). To date, the State of New Jersey has spent $1.148 billion to preserve farmland in the Garden State. New Jersey cannot rely only on the success of land preservation to preserve farming. The State must take further action to preserve its farmers as well. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. The State-wide average age has increased more drastically at 2.72 percent annually since 2002, on average. | In Committee |
| SCR71 | Amends Constitution to limit use of nonrecurring revenue in State budget except in certain times of crisis and limits State budget growth. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to require that the State budget be balanced only with regularly collected recurring revenue, not one-time collections or nonrecurring revenue. In times of crisis or disaster, the Legislature may override this constraint by a two-thirds vote in each house. This concurrent resolution also limits the amount by which the budget may grow. Specifically, no State budget may exceed the previous budget by more than the growth in the Consumer Price Index for the same time period. Any recurring revenue not spent by the State budget is allocated to the Surplus Revenue Fund, which is more commonly referred to as the "rainy day fund." The purpose of this constitutional amendment is to rein-in the practice of using nonrecurring revenues to balance the State budget. This amendment is also meant to contain the growth of the State budget at a rate linked to the growth in the economy. While promoting greater fiscal responsibility in the process of crafting State budgets, this constitutional amendment is also offered to alleviate potential financial burdens in the future. The amendment directs that recurring revenues which go unspent, be deposited into the "rainy day fund." Overall, this proposed amendment to the New Jersey Constitution aims to provide New Jersey with greater long-term financial security by constraining the Legislature's ability to undertake short-sighted budgeting practices. | In Committee |
| S412 | Requires public schools to post curriculum plans online; requires school districts to make textbooks or other materials used in implementing curriculum plans available for inspection by parents and legal guardians. | This bill requires school districts to post curriculum plans for each course offered to students in each grade level at least 30 days prior to the beginning of a school year. Specifically, a school district would be required to post information concerning each unit of study, student learning objectives, and information concerning textbooks and other materials to be used in implementing the district's curriculum plans. School districts would be required to update their Internet websites each time a curriculum plan is updated or revised. The bill also requires school districts to post information concerning when and where textbooks and other materials used as part of the district's implementation of the district's curriculum plans will be available for review by the parents or legal guardians of students in the district. Parents and legal guardians would be given the opportunity to review these materials prior to the time in which they will be incorporated into classroom instruction. By requiring that school districts post their curriculum plans online and providing parents and legal guardians with the opportunity to review textbooks and other materials used as part of the curriculum, the State can ensure greater transparency and collaboration between school officials and the families they serve. | In Committee |
| S1329 | Provides that public school parent who objects to learning material or activity that parent considers harmful may receive voucher from school district to enroll student in nonpublic school. | This bill provides that in the event that the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district objects to a learning material or activity that is part of the curriculum, on the basis that the material or activity is harmful, withdraws his child from the school district and enrolls the child in a nonpublic school, the resident school district is required to provide the parent or guardian with a voucher to support the tuition and fees of the nonpublic school. The voucher will equal 75 percent of the resident school district's annual spending per pupil prorated based upon the number of days remaining in the school year. An objection to a learning material or activity on the basis that it is harmful includes, but is not limited to, an objection that the material or activity questions, violates, or conflicts with the parent or guardian's belief or practice regarding sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, conscience, ethics, morality, or religion. | In Committee |
| S1849 | Establishes bipartisan task force to study response to COVID-19 in New Jersey. | This bill establishes a bipartisan task force to study the response to COVID-19 in New Jersey. The bill establishes a bipartisan task force, to be known as the "New Jersey COVID-19 Response Task Force," (task force) to consist of eight members. The President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly are to each appoint two members to the task force. The members of the task force are to be appointed and are to hold their initial organizational meeting within 45 days following the bill's effective date. It is to be the duty of the task force to study New Jersey's general response to COVID-19. In addition, the task force is to: 1) examine the effectiveness of the communication and coordination between governmental entities during the State's response to COVID-19; 2) review the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on nursing homes and nursing home residents; 3) assess the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on the education, physical and mental health, and socialization of children in the State; 4) examine the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on crime rates, physical and mental health, poverty rates, and rates of suicide; 5) analyze the financial impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on businesses, residents, and the State; 6) compare the number of positive COVID-19 cases and the number of COVID-19 deaths in this State to states which took less restrictive, comparable, and more restrictive COVID-19 response measures as compared to New Jersey's COVID-19 response measures; 7) review the healthcare system's response to COVID-19 and determine which government actions and provisions of law either aided or hindered the ability of the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19; and 8) consider other matters as the members of the task force may deem appropriate. Under the bill, the task force is to make recommendations for legislation or other action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating a response to a Statewide or national medical emergency. The bill provides that the task force is to expire after it submits its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| S1850 | Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making. | This bill revises the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) (APA) to add specific requirements for the socio-economic impact statement required as part of the rule-making process. The APA, enacted in 1968, establishes the procedures that agencies in the Executive branch of State government must follow when exercising their authority to adopt rules and regulations. This bill expands the requirements for the description of the expected socio-economic impact of a proposed rule-making by requiring State agencies to obtain, for inclusion in the publication of the rule proposal in the New Jersey Register, a socio-economic impact description of the proposed rule from the regulated community. Under this bill, a State agency, prior to submitting a proposed rule to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for publication in the New Jersey Register, would be required to contact one representative of the segment of the public proposed to be regulated by the rule (i.e., the regulated community), provide that representative with a written copy of the proposed rule, and provide the opportunity for the representative to prepare a description of the socio-economic impact of the proposed rule. The agency would select the regulated community representative from among those interested persons associated with the segment of the public proposed to be regulated by the rule who have provided substantial written submissions to the agency on previous rules proposals on similar subject matter. Upon receipt of the socio-economic impact description of the proposed rule, the agency would be required to include, in full, that description in the proposed rule submitted to the OAL for publication in the New Jersey Register. The bill provides that the OAL may require payment by the regulated community representative preparing the socio-economic impact description in an amount sufficient to cover the proportional costs of printing and distributing the New Jersey Register attributable to the publication of that description. An agency would not be required to include a socio-economic impact description prepared by a representative of the regulated community if the agency finds that the proposed rule would impose an insignificant impact, either because the scope of the regulation is minimal, or there is an extreme unlikelihood that the regulation would evoke a socio-economic impact. In this case, the agency's finding and an indication of the basis for its finding are required to be included in the notice of a proposed rule published by OAL. | In Committee |
| SCR15 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Senate concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| SCR67 | Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to describe the manner in which the Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools. | This proposed amendment would require the enactment of laws prescribing the components of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools. While these laws would also be required to provide for the funding of a system of free public schools, this proposed amendment specifies that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring any minimum or establishing any maximum amount of funds to be provided by the State, or as in any way restricting, limiting, or otherwise affecting the right of the Legislature to regulate the funding of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools in the manner and to the extent the Legislature determines to be appropriate. | In Committee |
| S492 | Prohibits the imposition of affordable housing need and related fees upon the local transfer or move of a business. | This bill prohibits the Council on Affordable Housing from adopting a regulation which would generate affordable housing need for a municipality upon the event of a commercial or industrial entity moving or relocating within the municipality, or within the same housing region of the municipality, or within a 50 mile radius extending in all directions from the initial location of the entity. Municipalities are prohibited from imposing a fee for affordable housing purposes upon a developer meeting the criteria set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| S1671 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S1835 | Expands scope of review of Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission. | The purpose of this bill is to require the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission to review all legislation relating to the pension and health care plans or programs for State and other public employees. Currently, most, but not all, pension and health care legislation concerning public employees is reviewed by the commission. Legislation that affects the financing, procedures, or operations of pension or health care plans or programs, including all defined benefit retirement plans or systems, defined contribution retirement plans or programs, or deferred compensation or other individual retirement account-type plans, or that mandates or permits public entities to pay for employee health care benefits in active service or in retirement, are not certified for review by the commission. | In Committee |
| S970 | Qualifies certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees. | This bill qualifies certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees. The bill expands the motor vehicle registration fee exemption from disabled veterans, who had taken part in World War II, the Korean Conflict between 1950 and 1953, and the Vietnam Conflict between 1960 and 1974, and who receive compensation as result of the loss of use of one or more limbs as result of military service, to include disabled veterans, who have completed a VA 21-4502 form and have been approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to receive an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to not charge a toll to any customer with an account with the electronic toll collection system, commonly known as E-ZPass, and who is exempt from the payment of motor vehicle registration fees, on the State's three toll roads, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway. | In Committee |
| S1662 | Revises Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program; requires all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. | This bill revises the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief ("ETR") Aid Program by requiring all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. Historically, energy providers and public utility companies were required to pay gross receipts and franchise taxes based on their use of public lands. For many decades, these taxes were paid directly to municipalities as a means of compensation for hosting such facilities. In the 1980s, the State began to collect these taxes on behalf of municipalities, distribute a portion of the proceeds to municipalities as State aid, and retain the remaining revenues for other State purposes. In the late 1990s, this practice was continued when the State established the ETR Aid program after reforming the taxation of energy providers and public utility companies. Under current law, the State is required to annually deposit a statutorily determined amount of monies into the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund" and distribute those monies to municipalities as ETR Aid. Every year, the total distribution of ETR Aid is required to increase based on inflation. During any year in which the State fails to provide this aid, the State is required to forego the collections of certain taxes on energy providers and public utilities (e.g., sales tax collections for energy services, corporation business tax collections from certain public utility companies, etc.), hereinafter referred to as "energy taxes." Under this bill, the ETR Aid program would be restructured to reflect the original design of the gross receipts and franchise taxes, wherein all energy taxes were paid directly to municipalities. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, and during each year thereafter, the bill requires the State Treasurer to: (1) determine the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided Statewide; (2) determine the amounts provided to each municipality; (3) direct each energy taxpayer to make direct payment of energy taxes to one or more municipalities; and (4) advise each municipality of the name of each energy taxpayer that would make direct payment of energy taxes to the municipality, the amounts owed therefrom, and the dates on which each payment would be provided. The State Treasurer would also be required to establish additional requirements concerning the payment of ETR Aid, including but not limited to dates on which each payment would be provided. The bill provides that whenever an energy tax payment is made directly to a municipality, the amount of the payment may be taken as a credit against the tax liability of the energy taxpayer, as prescribed by the State Treasurer. Additionally, the bill provides that beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided during any fiscal year is required to equal the greater of: (1) the total amount that would have been otherwise provided under current law; or (2) the total amount of energy taxes due and payable during that fiscal year. Consequently, the bill would prevent the State from retaining any portion of these energy tax collections for other State purposes. Under the bill, if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year exceed the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the difference would be distributed amongst all municipalities in proportion to the equalized assessed valuation of real and personal property owned by all energy taxpayers located within each municipality, as determined by the State Treasurer. Alternatively, the bill also provides that if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year is less than the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the State Treasurer is required to make such additional payments as are necessary, from the Property Tax Relief Fund, to ensure that each municipality receives the amount owed. During any fiscal year in which the State fails to comply with the requirements of this bill, the State would be required to forego the collection of all energy taxes. | In Committee |
| S1838 | Provides for no net loss of DEP lands for fishing, hunting, and trapping purposes. | This bill would protect fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities by providing for no net loss of certain State lands made available for the purposes of public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping. This bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to recognize fishing, hunting, and trapping as primary uses of the lands and to exercise management authority in order to promote and enhance public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities. The commissioner would not be required to give preference to fishing, hunting, or trapping over other primary uses of State park and forest land or other priorities established by law. The commissioner would be required to make land management decisions that do not result in any net loss of acreage available for public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities and would provide for the expeditious replacement of acreage to compensate for any closures of existing land for such uses. By providing for no net loss of acreage, the department would be prohibited from reducing the amount of acreage of land, administered by the department, available for public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities in the State, on or after the date of enactment of this bill into law. Acreage dedicated to State wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds, and recreational areas, managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, would not be reduced except due to environmental or biological reasons for the protection of wildlife or fisheries or their associated habitat, or as a result of a land exchange wherein the department receives property of equal or greater value. State parks and forests would be accessible for the purposes of recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping unless restricted for reasons of public safety or homeland security, as limited by the commissioner in consultation with the State Police. The commissioner would further be required to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee including information regarding: the acreage managed or owned by the department that had been available for public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping during the previous year, and the reasons for such closures; the amount of acreage opened to public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping to compensate for the acreage closed; and the reasons why any newly acquired State public park and forest land, wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds, and recreational areas were not open to public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping. A number of states are considering legislation similar to this bill and a growing number of states have passed laws protecting public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping land by preventing the net loss of acreage for such uses. Similar legislation has also been introduced in Congress to prevent the net loss of Federal public land for the purposes of fishing, hunting, and trapping. | In Committee |
| S1843 | Establishes "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. | This bill directs the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, in conjunction with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, to establish a 24-hour, toll-free "New Jersey Fire and EMS Crisis Intervention Services" telephone hotline. The division and university are to consult with representatives of certain fire and emergency services organizations when establishing the hotline. The hotline would be available to fire and emergency services personnel experiencing personal or job-related depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, pressure, or disorder. When necessary and appropriate, hotline operators would refer callers to further debriefing and counseling services. The division, after consultation with the university, is to establish guidelines for tracking any fire or emergency services caller exhibiting a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition that may result in harm to the caller or others. The division and the university are to train the hotline operators. To the greatest extent possible, these operators are to be: (1) familiar with post trauma disorders and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties unique to fire and emergency services personnel; or (2) trained and able to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions that may adversely affect the personal and professional well-being of New Jersey's fire and emergency services personnel. The bill also directs the division, after consultation with the university, to prepare a list of licensed or certified psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers; qualified counselors; and experienced former fire and emergency services personnel who are willing to accept referrals and provide debriefing and counseling services. | In Committee |
| S1987 | Permits victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television; permits judge to make motion to seek closed circuit testimony. | This bill would permit all victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television. Under current law, victims and witnesses of human trafficking involving sexual activity, among others, are permitted to testify via closed circuit television. Also under current law, the victim or witness, the prosecutor, or the defendant or their counsel may make a motion seeking closed circuit testimony. The bill would also permit a trial judge to make a motion. | In Committee |
| S2103 | Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities. | This bill would revise the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), to prohibit any categorical affordable housing obligation exemption for municipalities that are eligible for the Municipal (Urban) Aid Program. Prior rules of the Council on Affordable Housing excluded these municipalities from providing any contribution toward a region's affordable housing need. Those exemptions, however, can lead to undue development burdens on the other municipalities in the region. Additionally, directing more affordable housing development to urban municipalities would help minimize urban sprawl and would direct development to areas that already have extensive infrastructure in place, allowing for more cost-effective accommodation of new development. | In Committee |
| S413 | Provides for agreement between Secretary of State and AOC to match information in Statewide voter registration system with certain jury records in order to identify and remove ineligible non-citizen voter registrants from system. | This bill would require the Secretary of State, as the chief State election official, to enter into an agreement with the Judiciary's Administrative Office of the Courts to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with the juror records kept pursuant to N.J.S.2B:20-9 concerning all requests for excuses and deferrals of jury duty. The purpose of matching up such information would be to identify those persons summoned for jury service who indicate non-citizenship as the basis for being excused and remove them from the voter database as ineligible registrants in accordance with applicable law. The agreement would apply retroactively to all available juror records maintained since the 1994 "motor-voter" enactment permitting a person to register to vote while applying for a motor vehicle driver's license. See sections 23 and 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:3-10m and 39:2-3.2). | In Committee |
| S829 | Allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes. | This bill allows gross income tax refunds to be credited against a taxpayer's delinquent local property taxes in the same manner as is currently allowed for homestead property tax rebates and credits claimed by delinquent property tax taxpayers. | In Committee |
| S1303 | Allows NJ gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory. | This bill allows gross income tax deductions for charitable contributions of food made to and accepted by an organization in the tax year from business inventory, as allowed under paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of section 170 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The deduction mirrors the federal income tax deduction for contributions of food made from business inventory and is allowed regardless of whether the federal itemized deduction is taken by the taxpayer. The deduction is an itemized deduction for charitable contributions of food, where "food" is "apparently wholesome food." Under federal law, "apparently wholesome food" means "food that meets all quality and labeling standards imposed by Federal, State, and local laws and regulations even though the food may not be readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, or other conditions." The contribution is required to be made to an organization that is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be an organization eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. | In Committee |
| S902 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| S1988 | Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecution of human trafficking crimes. | This bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecution for the crime of human trafficking. Currently, under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-6 there is no statute of limitations for prosecutions for the following crimes: murder; manslaughter; sexual assault; and criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental statutes concerning widespread injury or damage. Prosecution for other crimes, such as human trafficking, must be commenced within five years, except for certain crimes enumerated in the statute such as: (1) bribery and official misconduct offenses which must be commenced within seven years; (2) criminal sexual contact or endangering the welfare of a minor which must be commenced within five years after the victim attains the age of 18 or two years after discovery, whichever is later. Prosecutions for disorderly persons offenses must be commenced within one year after they are committed. By eliminating the statute of limitations for human trafficking crimes, the prosecution for these crimes may be commenced at any time rather than within five years after it is committed. | In Committee |
| S1857 | Revises definition of "landlord" to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility. | This bill would revise the definition of "landlord" for purposes of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12n et seq.) in order to include owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. This would authorize a municipality to adopt ordinances to enforce standards of responsible conduct in a community with respect to these houses. Section 3 of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12p) grants a municipality the authority to adopt an ordinance to curb and discourage occasional excesses arising from irresponsible rentals in an effort to protect a community's interest in preserving peace and tranquility. Currently, only smaller, non-professionally managed rental properties of less than four units and owners of mobile home units may be the subject of such an ordinance. This bill extends the definition of "landlord" in section 2 of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12o) to include owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. Specifically, this revision would authorize the governing body of a municipality to adopt an ordinance holding owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses to the same standards of responsibility as may be required of smaller, non-professionally managed rental properties of less than four units and mobile home owners. This revision would not impact the applicability of any existing municipal ordinance. If a municipality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12p), another ordinance would have to be adopted with respect to owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. | In Committee |
| S383 | Requires physicians to provide patients opportunity to undergo obstetrical ultrasound or sonogram within 48 hours of performing abortion. | This bill requires a physician to provide a patient with an opportunity to undergo an ultrasound or sonogram and view an ultrasound or sonogram image of the embryo or fetus within 48 hours of a referral for an abortion, or at least 48 hours prior to an abortion procedure being performed, whichever is later. Any health irregularity that may endanger the health or safety of the patient disclosed by the ultrasound or sonogram must be communicated to the patient at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled abortion procedure. If a "medical emergency" exists with respect to the patient, the physician is not required to comply with the ultrasound or sonogram requirements of this bill, but must certify the specific medical condition that exists and include the certification in the patient's medical file. A "medical emergency," as defined by this bill, means a condition which, in the reasonable medical judgment made by a responsible licensed physician who is knowledgeable about the patient's medical condition and her treatment options, and by virtue of the physician's knowledge and experience, establishes that a delay in commencing an abortion procedure would create a serious risk or cause grave and irreversible physical harm entailing substantial impairment of a major bodily function, not including any psychological or emotional condition or function. Pursuant to the bill, the Department of Health is required to develop and distribute a form for physicians to use to verify in writing, within 14 workdays of the procedure or referral for the procedure, that the patient was offered an opportunity to undergo an ultrasound or sonogram and view the ultrasound or sonogram image prior to the abortion procedure being performed. Under the bill, a physician who knowingly fails or refuses to offer a patient desiring an abortion the opportunity undergo an ultrasound or sonogram and view the ultrasound or sonogram image prior to performing the abortion procedure shall be subject to civil penalties. Upon a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that a respondent in an action commenced under this bill has knowingly violated a provision thereof, the court shall notify the State Board of Medical Examiners, and assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount of no less than $10,000, but not to exceed $100,000. Upon a second or subsequent offense, the court shall notify the State Board of Medical Examiners, and access a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount of no less than $25,000, but not to exceed $250,000. A patient who has had an abortion in violation of the provisions of this bill, or a parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who has had an abortion in violation of the provisions of this bill, may commence a civil action against the physician for any willful violation thereof and seek actual and punitive damages. This bill takes effect on the 90th day after enactment, but the Commissioner of Health may take anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof in order to implement the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| S732 | Establishes Rural Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program in EDA; appropriates $2.5 million in federal funds. | This bill establishes the "Rural Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program" (grant program) within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) for the purpose of providing grants to qualified applicants for the expansion and improvement of broadband telecommunications infrastructure and the provision of broadband telecommunications service in rural areas of the State. The bill requires the authority, in conjunction with the Board of Public Utilities (board) to establish and administer the grant program. In order to qualify for the grant program, a qualified applicant is required to submit certain information to the authority and demonstrate to the authority that certain criteria is met. As defined by the bill, "qualified applicant" means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, business entity, non-profit organization, political subdivision, or any other entity in the State that is authorized to construct or repair broadband telecommunications infrastructure or provide broadband telecommunications service within the State. Under the grant program, the authority may approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds. However, the authority would be required to prioritize applications that address unserved areas. As defined by the bill, "unserved area" means an area in which customers are without broadband service at speeds of at least 25 megabits per second download and 3 megabits per second upload. Upon approval of an application, the authority would provide a grant, in the amount determined by the authority, to the qualified applicant to support the expansion and improvement of broadband telecommunications infrastructure and the provision of broadband telecommunications service in rural areas of the State. The grants provided under the grant program would be made to a qualified applicant in an amount not to exceed $75,000 per project, provided the qualified applicant would be required to contribute private capital, in an amount not less than 25 percent of the value of the grant, to finance the proposed project. To the extent permitted under federal law, a qualified applicant may use any monies received from the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," to support the required contribution of private capital. Specifically, the bill requires these grants to be utilized for the acquisition, construction, equipment, and site-preparation costs associated with the deployment of broadband telecommunications infrastructure, as well as any other purpose related to the provision of broadband telecommunications service in rural areas of the State. The bill requires the authority to prepare and submit a report on the "Rural Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program" to the Governor and the Legislature within 12 months of the approval of the program's first qualified applicant and to make the report available on the authority's Internet website. The report would be required to include the number of qualified applicants that applied for the grant program, the number and names of the qualified applicants approved for the grant program, the total number of grants distributed, the amount received per qualified applicant, and any other information the authority determines necessary to evaluate the progress of the grant program. The bill also requires the authority to establish and maintain a non-lapsing revolving fund, which would be known as the "Rural Broadband Infrastructure Grant Fund." The revolving fund would serve as the repository of all monies used to support the grant program. Finally, the bill appropriates $2.5 million in federal funds to the authority for deposit into the "Rural Broadband Infrastructure Grant Fund." Specifically, this appropriation would be supported by certain federal monies provided to the State pursuant to the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." | In Committee |
| S1878 | Transfers Division of Elections from Department of State to Department of Law and Public Safety; designates Attorney General as chief election official and requires two bipartisan co-directors. | This bill transfers the Division of Elections from the Department of State to Department of Law and Public Safety and designates the Attorney General as the chief election official in this State. The bill also requires the division to be administered by two bipartisan co-directors. Under the bill, each co-director would be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One co-director would be of the same political party as the Governor, and would be appointed upon the recommendation of the State party chairperson of that political party, the leader of that political party in the Senate, and the leader of that political party in the General Assembly. The second co-director would be of the political party that received the second largest number of votes at the most recent election for the office of Governor, and would be appointed upon the recommendation of the State party chairperson of that political party, the leader of that political party in the Senate, and the leader of that political party in the General Assembly. The co-directors would serve for a four-year term, to expire upon the expiration of the Governor's term of office. A co-director may be reappointed for future four-year terms. Any vacancy in the office of co-director would be filled for the remaining of the term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The bill would take effect on January 1 next following the date of enactment, but the Secretary of State and the Attorney General may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for its implementation. | In Committee |
| SCR68 | Proposes constitutional amendment to restore the death penalty under certain circumstances. | This constitutional amendment would restore the death penalty, which was abolished in 2007 by the enactment of P.L.2007, c.204. The amendment provides that the Legislature shall by law provide for the imposition of the death penalty on persons convicted of certain murders. The law would heighten the burden of proof as a safeguard against the possibility that an innocent person might receive the death penalty. Under the law, a person would be sentenced to death only if the jury or, if there is no jury, the court, finds with no doubt that all of the aggravating factors of the case outweigh all of the mitigating factors. Aggravating and mitigating factors are relevant circumstances concerning the murder and the defendant's character and history. The law would also provide that if any juror or the court has a residual or lingering doubt the defendant shall not be sentenced to death. Under the prior death penalty statute, a defendant could be sentenced to death upon the lesser finding of "beyond a reasonable doubt." The amendment also establishes deadlines to shorten the time period for death penalty appeals. Under the amendment, in all cases in which a sentence of death is imposed the appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court and any proportionality review shall be decided and an opinion reaching the merits filed within 150 days of the certification of the entire record by the sentencing court. A proportionality review is a review to determine whether a defendant's death sentence is disproportionate to the sentences of other defendants convicted of factually similar crimes. The amendment also provides that in all cases in which a sentence of death is imposed and the New Jersey Supreme Court affirms the defendant's conviction and sentence, no application for post-conviction relief may be filed in the courts of this State after one year from the date of the denial of certiorari or other final action by the United States Supreme Court in respect of defendant's direct appeal. However, the amendment would not prohibit a defendant from applying for a new trial on the grounds that he is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. The amendment also includes a provision stating that a failure to comply with the time requirements shall not be grounds for precluding the ultimate imposition of the death penalty. If approved, the amendment would apply only to persons convicted and sentenced for crimes committed on or after noon on the first day of January next following approval of the amendment by the voters. The sponsor is naming the proposed amendment the "Respect for the Majority of New Jersey Voters Amendment" in recognition of the fact that opinion polls at the time of the abolition of the death penalty showed that the majority of New Jersey voters supported the death penalty and opposed its abolition. According to a December 2007 Quinnipiac University poll, 78% of New Jersey voters supported keeping the death penalty for "the most violent cases." | In Committee |
| S792 | Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill indexes for inflation the taxable income brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. This adds to the State personal income tax a common-sense taxpayer protection called inflation indexing that has been provided under the federal income tax since the 1980s. Inflation indexing means that tax brackets are revised annually to reflect nominal price and wage increases that result from inflation. When tax brackets are not indexed for inflation it results in what is called "bracket creep," which is an increase in effective tax rates caused by inflation. Higher income can bump a taxpayer into the next tax bracket, even if that higher income is merely keeping pace with inflation. A lack of inflation adjustment can also push more of a taxpayer's income into the highest bracket for which they qualify. The final result is a tax increase that occurs without any legislation being passed. Indexing addresses this by altering each bracket level each year by the level of annual inflation. Under this bill the inflation adjustment for taxable income brackets is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This is the same measure of inflation that is used for indexing the taxable income brackets under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill compares an annual inflation measure from the year prior to the one for which taxes will be imposed to a base year measure from the year prior to the one in which the bill is enacted. This delay allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the adjusted amounts when the tax year begins. | In Committee |
| S1678 | Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation. | This bill permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes, due and paid in a calendar year on the taxpayer's principal residence, from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. Under current law, a taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of property taxes due and paid in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. If the taxpayer is a renter, the taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of the amount of "rent constituting property tax," which is defined in P.L.1996, c.60, s.2 (C.54A:3A-16) to mean 18 percent of rent, due and paid in the calendar year from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. This bill eliminates these $15,000 maximum allowable deductions, thereby permitting a taxpayer to deduct the full amount of property taxes, or rent constituting property taxes, due and paid by the taxpayer in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence. | In Committee |
| S1841 | Restricts Commissioner of Education's authority to reject school district's budget proposal. | Prior to adopting a budget or presenting it to voters for approval, as may be applicable, a school district must submit the budget proposal to the Commissioner of Education for review and approval. The commissioner may reject the proposal and direct modifications if the commissioner, among other things, is not satisfied that the budget proposal is sufficient to satisfy the thoroughness and efficiency standards that have been established. This bill eliminates that statutory authority and specifies that the commissioner may not reject a budget proposal based on the fact that the proposal includes a general fund tax levy or total general fund budget that is less than the amount included in the prior budget year. | In Committee |
| SR58 | Urges Federal Bureau of Investigation to include in Uniform Crime Report September 11, 2001 terror attack victims in hate crime statistics. | This resolution urges the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) the September 11, 2001 terror attack victims as victims of hate-motivated murder. The attack on the United States perpetrated by international terrorists on September 11, 2001 was one of the most vicious crimes ever inflicted upon this great nation. This deplorable attack resulted in the death of almost 3,000 people, including almost 400 police, fire, and rescue personnel. In response to the passage of the federal Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990, the FBI began to collect and publish data on crimes motivated by race, religion, ethnicity and national origin, gender preference, and disability. In 2001, the UCR's hate crime statistics provided that 9,730 bias-motivated incidents were reported by law enforcement agencies nationwide. Additionally, the FBI reported that there were 10 hate-motivated murders in 2001. Despite the thousands of victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attack, the FBI reported that 649 murders occurred in New York City in 2001, which marked a 3.6 percent decline from the previous year, the largest decline of any major city in the Northeast. The FBI included data on the September 11, 2001 terror attack victims in a special report within the UCR and did not include the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attack in the UCR as murder victims or victims of hate-motivated murder. In order for the term "hate-motivated murder" to retain its proper meaning, the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attack should be included in the data for hate-motivated murder in the UCR's hate crime statistics. | In Committee |
| S2086 | Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations. | This bill would establish additional specific factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment for a municipality's fair share affordable housing obligation. The bill also caps the number of units a municipality may have allocated as its affordable housing obligation with regard to the size of the municipal population. The additional factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment are as follows: (a) population of the municipality; (b) water supply and sewerage capacity in the municipality; (c) school class sizes and school services in the municipality; (d) public safety services in the municipality; and (e) public transportation and traffic in the municipality. The bill requires a municipal adjustment if maintaining approximately the same school class sizes would be a significant cost or if adequate school, public safety, and public transportation resources are not available or would be a significant cost to provide. A municipal adjustment would also have to be made if present traffic conditions would be substantially disrupted. The additional municipal adjustment factors required by the bill would require a more holistic examination of the actual state of affairs in a municipality, as well as of the potential impacts of additional development, in calculating its fair share affordable housing obligation. This will help ensure that reasonable numbers are arrived at that will not be disruptive to the quality of life and provision of local government services in a municipality. The bill's population cap would protect those municipalities that may face dramatic municipal population increases if mandated to add a large amount of additional affordable housing. Current law provides that no municipality shall be required to address a fair share of affordable housing units beyond 1,000 low and moderate income units within 10 years from the grant of substantive certification; except that a municipality may be allocated more than 1,000 units, if based upon an evidentiary hearing, it is found likely that the municipality through its zoning powers could create a realistic opportunity for more than 1,000 low and moderate income units within that 10-year period. In order to prevent the disparate impact such a potentially large affordable housing mandate can create for municipalities with small populations, this bill provides that an allocation of units to a municipality as its fair share shall not exceed an amount that would result in an increase of the municipal population by more than five percent. | In Committee |
| S76 | Provides limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. | This bill would provide limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. An agritourism activity is an interactive or passive activity, carried out without or without payment to an agritourism host on a farm, related to agriculture, food production, historic tradition, or nature watching, and which is conducted by an agritourism host for the education, entertainment, or recreation of participants. Agritourism activities include farming activities, the viewing of cultural, historic, or natural attractions, pick-your-own activities, nature watching, and activities involving an animal exhibition at an agricultural fair. It would not include roadside farm stands or operations exclusively devoted to the sale of merchandise or food at retail. Under the bill, an agritourism host would not have a legal duty to protect a participant from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, and would not be liable for injury to or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, provided the host gives proper warning as required in section 3 of the bill. Proper warning, as specified in the bill, is the posting of a warning notice on certain signs and contracts. That warning notice would read: "WARNING: Under New Jersey law, an agritourism host is not liable for the injury or death of a participant in an agritourism activity resulting from the inherent risk of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks include without limitation the risk of animals, weather, land conditions, and the potential for you as a participant to act in a negligent way that may contribute to your own injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity." Failure to follow the warning requirements would result in the agritourism host's loss of limited liability protections. The limitation on liability also would not extend to any agritourism host who: (1) commits an act or omission of gross negligence concerning the safety of a participant that proximately causes injury or death to the participant; (2) has actual knowledge of a dangerous condition on the land, facilities, or equipment used in the activity or the dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in the activity that proximately causes injury or death to the participant and does not make that danger known to the participant; (3) intentionally injures a participant; or (4) commits any other act, error, or omission that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct, gross negligence, or criminal conduct that proximately causes injury or death to the participant. The limitation on liability provided by the bill would be in addition to any other limitation on liability provided by law, including, but not limited to, the limitations on liability for outdoor sports and recreational activities and equine animal activities. Finally, the bill would repeal P.L.1997, c.378 (C.2A:42A-9 et seq.) concerning farmer immunity for "pick-your-own" operations. The protections in that law would be included in this bill, and are expanded to include agritourism activities generally. This bill is modeled substantially on legislation from Arkansas. | In Committee |
| SCR28 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit assessment of homestead real property, and allow exemption on up to $50,000 of home's value. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to place a limit on annual assessment increases for homestead real property. Homestead real property, which is the principal residence of the owners of the property, would be assessed at true value as of the January 1 next following the approval by the voters of this proposed amendment, and would then be reassessed annually on each succeeding January 1. Any annual increase in the property's assessment would be limited to 3% or the Consumer Price Index rate, whichever is lower. When a homestead real property changes ownership, the property would be assessed at true value as of January 1 of the year following the change of ownership. Thereafter, any limitations in the annual increase in the assessed value of the property would once again apply until the next time the property changes ownership. The limitations on assessment increases established by this amendment would not apply to an added assessment that results from an improvement. Additionally, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption on up to $50,000 of assessed value. Specifically, this exemption would consist of (1) a full property tax exemption on the first $25,000 of value assessed to a homestead property, and (2) an exemption from all non-school district property taxes on the third $25,000 of value assessed to a homestead property, meaning value assessed between $50,000 and $75,000. | In Committee |
| S1874 | The "New Jersey Right to Home Defense Law." | This bill, the "New Jersey Right to Home Defense Law," authorizes a person to use force, including deadly force, in those instances where the person reasonably fears imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm from an intruder or attacker in his home or residence. The bill sets forth the circumstances under which a person is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm. Those circumstance include instances where a individual: (1) is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering a home or residence; (2) has unlawfully and forcibly entered a home or residence; or (3) has removed, or is attempting to unlawfully remove another, against that person's will, from a home or residence; or (4) when the actor knows or reasonably believes that an unlawful and forcible entry is occurring or has occurred; or (5) when the actor knows or reasonably believes that an unlawful and forcible act is occurring or has occurred. The bill clarifies that a person presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm to himself or another in his home or residence has no duty to retreat and is justified in using force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or serious bodily harm to himself or another. Finally, the bill provides immunity, both criminal and civil, for any person who is justified in using force. Under the bill, the court is authorized to award reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income and all expenses incurred by a defendant who is wrongly subject to a civil action. | In Committee |
| S1335 | Provides a corporation business tax credit for investment in certain manufacturing equipment, facility renovation, modernization, and expansion. | This bill allows a corporation business tax credit for 20 percent of the costs of certain manufacturing equipment installed at a manufacturing facility in this State and 20 percent of the costs of improvements or additions that result in the renovation, modernization, or expansion of a manufacturing facility in this State. The bill provides that expenditures for certain manufacturing equipment, facility renovation, modernization, and expansion for which a credit is allowed under this bill are not to be considered expenditures for which a credit is allowed under the New Jobs Investment Tax Credit, the Manufacturing and Employment Investment Tax Credit, the Research and Development Credit, or the Effluent Treatment and Conveyance Equipment Credit. The bill defines "manufacturing equipment" as machinery, apparatus or equipment, including, but not limited to, any machinery, apparatus, or equipment employing an advanced technological process, used in the production of tangible personal property that is eligible for the sales tax exemption for manufacturing equipment. The bill defines a "manufacturing facility" as a business location, including, but not limited to, a factory, mill, or plant, at which more than 50 percent of the business personal property that is housed in the facility is manufacturing equipment. | In Committee |
| SCR50 | Amends Constitution to dedicate money credited to the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" to maintain 9-1-1 system and emergency response. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution prohibiting money from being drawn from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" for any purpose or in any manner other than as established under current law.Under current law, money from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" is used for funding the State's capital equipment, facilities, and operating expenses that arise from emergency response, emergency response training, operating the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services, operating the Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission, implementing the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission concerning 9-1-1 service, planning, designing, or implementing automatic location identification technology, and planning, designing, or acquiring replacement equipment or systems related to enhanced 9-1-1 network service. In the past, money from the trust fund account has been used for other purposes.This amendment to the State Constitution prohibits money in the trust fund account from being used for any other purpose other than those established under current law. | In Committee |
| S1871 | Suspends "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" until certain conditions are met. | This bill would suspend the provisions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-1 et al.) until a dedicated source of funding has been established by the State for the acquisition from willing sellers of lands located within the preservation area for recreation and conservation purposes or farmland preservation purposes, provided that the owner of any such lands at the time of proposed acquisition is the same person who owned the lands on the date of enactment of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" (i.e., August 10, 2004) and who has owned the lands continuously since that date, or is an immediate family member of that person. Further, the bill provides that acquisitions from the dedicated source of funding would be based on an appraisal or appraisals of the value of the lands made using (1) the land use zoning of the lands, and any State environmental laws or Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rules and regulations that may affect the value of the lands, subject to the appraisal and in effect at the time of proposed acquisition, and (2) the land use zoning of the lands, and any State environmental laws or DEP rules and regulations that may affect the value of the lands, subject to the appraisal and in effect on August 9, 2004, and with both values provided to the landowner. If the latter appraisal (i.e., the "pre-Highlands act" value) is the higher of these two values, the bill would require that it be utilized as the basis for negotiation with the landowner with respect to the acquisition price for the lands. Upon establishment of a dedicated source of funding and compliance with the provisions of the bill, the suspension would cease and the provisions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" would again be in effect. Property owners in the preservation area bear the burden of the development restrictions imposed by, and the impact on their property values resulting from, the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act." It is only fitting that the State should establish a dedicated source of funding to compensate these landowners. | In Committee |
| SCR72 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to invalidate certain court decisions. | For many years, courts in general, and the New Jersey Courts in particular, have assumed the authority to impose policy determinations upon an unwilling populace under the guise of "interpreting" the Constitution. Too often, these determinations, on matters such as land use and school funding, lack even a hint of true constitutional authority. The right of the people to avail themselves of their elected officials is the most basic feature of a republican form of government. When an unelected judiciary usurps the policymaking power of the Legislative branch, this right is significantly diminished. The people, in establishing and amending the Constitution, did not intend to disenfranchise themselves. This amendment seeks to ensure their right of participation. This constitutional amendment provides that the Court shall, when considering constitutional challenges to actions by government, interpret the provisions of the constitution consistently with the intention of the people adopting them. The proposed amendment makes it clear that it is the people, not the courts, who establish the appropriate scope of constitutional provisions. Judges are not, simply by virtue of the office they hold, endowed with the authority to second guess the people, to "fill gaps" that the people might have left, to establish new rights, or to circumscribe old ones. To the extent that a particular provision of the Constitution may not be sufficient for modern circumstances, it is for the people, not the courts, to address that change. In the school funding cases, the courts have commandeered the uniquely legislative authority to determine what to spend and where to spend it. The people have never delegated this authority to an unelected judiciary. This amendment ensures that the courts are deprived of any jurisdiction to limit the authority of the Legislature to spend as it sees fit. At the same time, it preserves the ability of the court to act in such cases as the Legislature permits it to act, such as in tort claims cases, etc. This constitutional amendment provides that if the Legislature determines that any decision violates the provisions of this constitutional amendment or is otherwise inconsistent with the intent of the Legislature, the Legislature may invalidate the decision, in whole or in part, by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the authorized membership of each House in favor of a concurrent resolution providing for invalidation. | In Committee |
| S725 | Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings. | This bill would criminalize unlawful occupancy of a dwelling, also known as "squatting." Currently, squatting is not a criminal act. In order to lawfully evict a squatter, the owner of the property must apply to the court for a writ of possession. This bill would create three criminal offenses: housebreaking, unlawful occupancy, and unlawful reentry. They would be crimes of the fourth degree. Housebreaking. Under the bill, a person who forcibly enters an uninhabited or vacant dwelling knowing or having reason to believe that such entry is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner, with the intent to take up residence or provide a residency to another therein, would be guilty of housebreaking. The bill provides that a person is presumed to know that an entry is without the permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Occupancy. The bill provides that a person who takes up residence in an uninhabited or vacant dwelling and knows or has reason to believe that such residency is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner is guilty of unlawful occupancy. A person is presumed to know that the residency is without the permission of the owner or an authorized representative unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner, and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Reentry. The bill provides that a person commits unlawful reentry if an owner of real property has recovered possession of the property from the person pursuant to a court order and, without the authority of the court or permission of the owner, the person reenters the property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S940 | Establishes "Parents Bill of Rights Act"; prohibits school district from interfering with fundamental right of parent or guardian to engage in and direct student's education; permits opt-out of school district curriculum. | This bill establishes the "Parents Bill of Rights Act." The bill provides that a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school in the State has a fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education. Under the bill, the parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education includes, but is not limited to, the right to (1) a summary of the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (2) review the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (3) review a list of the media services, textbooks, and books that are used in the classroom and that are available to a student through the school district; and (4) opt their child out of any curriculum that the parent or guardian believes is in conflict with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. No penalties as to credit or graduation are permitted as a result of a parent or guardian's decision to opt their child out of the curriculum under the provisions of the bill. The bill prohibits a school or school district from interfering with a parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education or denying a request by a parent or guardian for information made pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S425 | Prohibits adoption of State and local rules that prohibit use of fossil fuel-powered kitchen appliances. | This bill would prohibit the adoption of State rules and regulations, and county and municipal ordinances, which prohibit the installation or use of a fossil fuel-powered appliance in a residential or commercial kitchen in the State, including, but not limited to, a natural gas-powered oven or stove. The bill would not prohibit the use of voluntary incentive programs to encourage the use of electric kitchen appliances. | In Committee |
| S2106 | Increases maximum municipal percentage of affordable fair share housing satisfied by age-restricted units to 50 percent. | This bill would establish the maximum percentage of a municipality's affordable fair share housing obligation which may be met by age-restricted units in a municipality at 50 percent. The Council on Affordable Housing adopted its third-round regulations, since partially invalidated by the courts, that reduced the percentage from 50 percent to 25 percent. | In Committee |
| S880 | Clarifies scope of affordable housing obligations. | Although the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), clearly states that the State Constitution's affordable housing obligation is comprised of the "present and prospective need" for affordable housing only, some courts have misunderstood the intent of the Legislature behind the "Fair Housing Act," and imposed a retroactive obligation for the so-called gap period. The purpose of this bill is to eliminate any possible misconception with respect to the Legislature's intent to ensure that determinations of a municipality's fair share of affordable housing will be based upon the present and prospective need for affordable housing, as clearly set forth in the "Fair Housing Act," and that a fair share obligation will not include retrospective need that may have arisen during any "gap period" between housing cycles. The New Jersey Supreme Court, through its rulings in South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 67 N.J. 151 (1975) and South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 92 N.J. 158 (1983), determined that every municipality in a growth area has a constitutional obligation to provide through its land use regulations a realistic opportunity for a fair share of its region's present and prospective needs for housing for low and moderate income families. By enacting the "Fair Housing Act," the Legislature accepted the Supreme Court's request that the Legislature occupy the field of affordable housing and defined the constitutional obligation to include the present and prospective needs for affordable housing only. The Legislature directed each municipality to comply with its constitutional obligation to address its obligations with respect to the present and prospective need by: including in the housing element of its master plan a determination of the municipality's present and prospective fair share for low and moderate income housing and a determination of the municipality's capacity to accommodate its present and prospective housing needs, including its fair share for low and moderate income housing as the present and prospective need; and adopting or revising land use and other relevant ordinances consistent with the provisions for low and moderate income housing in its housing element. The courts and the Legislature of this State require municipalities to allow low and moderate income families a chance to find housing based upon the present need and the prospective need for affordable housing in each municipality and region of the State. This requirement has always been about planning and zoning; municipalities may not limit opportunities for affordable housing through exclusionary zoning. Differences of opinion between the judicial and executive branches of government over how to calculate each municipality's "fair share" of affordable housing have resulted in a "gap period" of over 15 years, which is still going on, during which the State provided municipalities no clear guidelines on how to zone to satisfy their obligation to allow for a fair share of affordable housing. Now that the courts have assumed control over municipal compliance with affordable housing obligations, it is possible that municipalities may be obligated to allow for the production of affordable housing based upon the speculated need for affordable housing which arose during the gap period. While laudable, such a result is contrary to current law, which confines municipal fair share determinations to a present and prospective need for affordable housing, and would impose an unrealistic and excessive burden upon the residential communities of our State. Requiring fair share obligations to include the need developed through a long regulatory gap period would result in an unreasonable burden, the resolution of which would force municipalities to allow rapid, unsettling changes to the physical and demographic nature of their communities. This bill eliminates any possible misconception of what the Legislature intended the fair share obligation to include so as to preclude the imposition of a fair share obligation based upon a concept of retrospective need during the gap period. | In Committee |
| S1837 | Requires eligibility checklist and audit for enrollment in PERS of certain public employees who provide professional services; imposes fine on certifying officer or supervisor for ineligible enrollments. | This bill requires the completion of specific certifications by certifying officers of public employers who enroll certain public officers and employees in the Public Employee's Retirement System (PERS). For each enrollment in the PERS of a public officer or employee whose position requires that the officer or employee render professional services as an attorney, engineer, accountant, auditor, physician, or architect, the certifying officer must complete, sign, and submit at the time of enrollment a certification that requires the certifying officer to answer a series of questions for the purpose of verifying that the status of the public officer or employee being enrolled is that of an employee and not an independent contractor. The questions will be based, to the extent appropriate, on the employee test utilized by the federal Internal Revenue Service. The certifying officer must also submit with the certification a copy of the resolution or ordinance adopted by the employer to create the position, the resolution adopted by the employer to appoint the individual to the position, and a copy of the oath of office taken by the individual. The bill also requires this certification to be completed by all certifying officers for all applicable public officers and employees who were enrolled prior to the bill's effective date. The bill prohibits a certifying officer from seeking advice or relying upon representations of the individual who is the subject of the enrollment when completing the certification or when making any decision with regard to the eligibility for enrollment. The certifying officer must seek advice and rely upon representations only from an impartial individual or an employee of the Division of Pensions and Benefits. The bill requires the board of trustees of the PERS to establish an audit program through which it will conduct a continuous review of the various public employers participating in the system for the purpose of ensuring that only eligible officers and employees who render professional services are enrolled in the retirement system. The audit program must be initiated within 60 days following the bill's effective date and the primary focus of the program for the first 12 months must be to verify the eligibility of public officers and employees enrolled prior to the effective date. The provisions of this bill described above are based on the recommendations of the Office of the State Comptroller as set forth in its report of July 17, 2012 entitled "Improper Participation by Professional Service Providers in the State Pension System." In addition, the bill provides for the imposition of civil penalties against a certifying officer or the officer's immediate supervisor who knowingly and willfully violate any provision of law or regulation concerning the enrollment of a public officer or employee in a State-administered retirement system that results in the enrollment or continued enrollment of a public officer, employee, or other person who is ineligible for such enrollment. The penalty will be a fine of $1,000 for an initial violation, $2,500 for a second violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation, and $5,000 for a third violation or subsequent violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation. The penalty will be collected and enforced in proceedings in accordance with the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and the rules of court governing actions for the collection of civil penalties. | In Committee |
| S4710 | Requires mental health evaluations for school bus drivers. | Requires mental health evaluations for school bus drivers. | Introduced |
| S4711 | Requires Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of on-farm dairy processing activities. | Requires Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of on-farm dairy processing activities. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 24 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2024 | |
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 24 | Assembly | Republican | Out of Office | 03/21/2013 | 01/12/2024 |