Legislator
Legislator > Raj Mukherji
State Senator
Raj Mukherji
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 32
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Jersey City Office
433 Palisade Ave.
Jersey City, NJ 07030
Jersey City, NJ 07030
Phone: 201-626-4000
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4105 | 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. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | In Committee |
| S4219 | Concerns administration of employer payroll tax and permits disclosures of certain State taxpayer information. | Concerns administration of employer payroll tax and permits disclosures of certain State taxpayer information. | In Committee |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Provides allowances for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire Program. | Crossed Over |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Passed |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Passed |
| S4361 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | In Committee |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Passed |
| S4363 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | In Committee |
| S4439 | Establishes protections for student-athletes and certain institutions of higher education concerning name, image, or likeness compensation; repeals "New Jersey Fair Play Act." | This bill establishes protections for student-athletes and certain institutions of higher education concerning name, image, or likeness compensation and repeals the "New Jersey Fair Play Act." First, this bill provides that a four-year institution of higher education is not to prohibit or prevent a student-athlete who participates in intercollegiate athletics from earning compensation as a result of the use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness. The bill permits a four-year institution of higher education or any related entity of the institution to enter into a contract with a student-athlete to directly compensate the student-athlete for use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness. However, the bill prohibits a student-athlete participating in intercollegiate athletics who is under 21 years of age from earning compensation as a result of the use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness if it is in connection with any person, company, or organization related to or associated with alcohol products; tobacco and electronic smoking products and devices; and cannabis products. The bill provides that a four-year institution of higher education is not to prevent a student-athlete participating in intercollegiate athletics from obtaining professional representation in relation to contracts or legal matters, including representation provided by athlete agents or legal representation provided by attorneys. The bill clarifies that licensed attorneys and athlete-agents are required to act in a fiduciary capacity when providing representation to a student-athlete. The bill clarifies that any contract a student-athlete enters into that provides compensation to the student-athlete for use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness is not subject to public disclosure pursuant to the State's open public records act. The bill also regulates certain athletic associations, conferences, or other groups or organizations with authority over intercollegiate athletics, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Under the bill, these organizations cannot: (1) prohibit or prevent a four-year institution of higher education from becoming a member of the organization or from participating in intercollegiate athletics as a consequence of any student-athlete earning compensation for the use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness or obtaining representation by an athlete agent or attorney in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness; (2) take any other adverse action against a four-year institution of higher education or any other related entity of an institution, for activity permitted by the bill; (3) penalize a four-year institution of higher education or a student-athlete, or prevent them from participating in intercollegiate athletics, due to a violation of the organization's rules or regulations concerning name, image, or likeness; (4) prevent a four-year institution of higher education from compensating a student-athlete for the use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness; or (5) prevent a four-year institution of higher education or any related entity of an institution from identifying, creating, negotiating, facilitating, supporting, engaging with, assisting with, or otherwise enabling a name, image, or likeness opportunity for a student-athlete. The bill provides that a four-year institution of higher education or any related entity of an institution, that is subjected to any actual or threatened complaint, investigation, penalty, or other adverse action of any organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics for engaging in activities permitted pursuant to the bill, may bring an action to recover actual damages and reasonable attorney fees and may seek injunctive relief and any other remedy available at law or in equity. In each academic year, a four-year institution of higher education that offers academic scholarships is required to make available to all student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics at the institution name, image, or likeness programing or educational materials. The programing and educational materials are to provide students with information including, financial literacy; brand management; life skills; and any other programming on skills necessary for success as a student-athlete. NCAA Division I and Division II institutions are permitted to offer athletic scholarships. The bill applies to four-year institutions of higher education that offer athletic scholarships, including Division I and Division II institutions. Finally, the bill repeals the "New Jersey Fair Play Act," which was enacted in 2020 and is first applicable in the academic year beginning in September of 2025. It is the sponsor's intent to strengthen New Jersey's name, image, or likeness law to reflect changes made at the national level since its original enactment in 2020. | Passed |
| S4620 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to assign distribution of Old Courthouse asbestos remediation funding from Hudson County to Jersey City. | The Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act currently allocates $2 million to Hudson County for asbestos remediation at the Old Courthouse. This bill amends that appropriation to distribute the funds directly to the City of Jersey City. The project addresses asbestos remediation needs at the Hudson County Administration Building, commonly known as the Old Courthouse, which is located in Jersey City. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S4618 | Modifies certain requirements and award availability under film and digital media content production tax credit program. | Modifies certain requirements and award availability under film and digital media content production tax credit program. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S2671 | Creates resume bank for certain persons with disabilities. | Creates resume bank for certain persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Passed |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | Passed |
| 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 |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| S4686 | Establishes method for appointing and electing board of education members of certain school districts. | This bill establishes methods for appointing and electing board of education members of certain school districts. Under the bill, the board of education of a school district located in a city of the first class that has adopted a "Mayor-Council Plan" of government pursuant to the "Optional Municipal Charter Law" is to consist of nine members, with three members appointed by the mayor, three members appointed by a majority of the members of the council, and three members elected by the legal voters of the district at the annual school election in the district. The bill provides for new members to be phased onto the board over a three-year period, with one member appointed by the mayor, one member appointed by the council, and one member elected by the legal voters of the district in each of the three school years following the bill's effective date. Each member is to serve a term of three years. | In Committee |
| S4687 | Enhances penalties for threats against certain public servants, establishes crime of doxxing, and enhances penalties for improper use of personal identifying information. | This bill enhances penalties related to threats and other improper influence on public officials. Under current law, it is a third degree crime if a person, directly or indirectly, threatens unlawful harm to any person with the purpose to influence a decision, opinion, vote or exercise of discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or of a public servant, party official or voter, or with the purpose to influence the person to violate official duties. Under the bill, it is a second degree crime if such acts are committed against a judicial officer, prosecutor, or the immediate family member of such. It is a first degree crime if such acts are committed against judicial officers, prosecutors, or immediate family members within 500 feet of the victim's residence. Further, the bill provides that a judgment of conviction for such crime operates as an application for a permanent restraining order limiting the contact of the defendant and the victim. The bill establishes that a person who commits the first or second degree crimes of threatening a judicial officer or prosecutor established under the bill, is barred from possessing or owning any weapons, and provides that law enforcement has the authority to seize any weapons and ammunition on the persons property and seize any firearm purchaser identification card. The seizure of such weapons and identification card are subject to judicial review. Moreover, the bill establishes the crime of doxxing. Under the bill, doxxing occurs if a person, with the purpose to subject another person to violence, stalking, physical restraining, mental anguish, or to cause a person to fear for their own safety or that of another, knowingly discloses personal identifying information without the person's consent. A crime is committed under the bill when the disclosure: (1) creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or physical harm to the person or a close relation of the person; (2) creates a substantial risk that the person or a close relation of the person would, as a result of the disclosure, be subjected to stalking; or (3) inflicts mental anguish upon the person or a close relation of the person and places the person or close relation in reasonable fear of physical harm. Doxxing is a crime of the fourth degree unless the disclosure results in any serious bodily injury, physical harm, or stalking, at which time it becomes a crime of the third degree. Finally, the bill expands N.J.S.A.2C:20-31.1, which establishes criminal penalties related to the disclosure of personal identifying information to include instances where a person takes such personal identifying information and with the purpose to harass a covered person or an immediate family member, the person knowingly (1) and repeatedly send, deliver, or cause to be delivered any items, substances, or written materials to the covered person or an immediate family member; (2) initiates or cause repeated communications to covered person's or immediately family member's home address or unpublished telephone number; or (3) engages in a pattern of conduct directed at the covered person or an immediate family member of the covered person that uses or exploits such personal identifying information to invade the covered persons or immediate family members personal privacy. A violation of this provision is a crime of the third degree. A first degree crime is punishable by up to 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, 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 |
| S4684 | Establishes certain data privacy protection requirements for consumer health data, health care providers, and patients. | This bill establishes certain data privacy protection requirements for consumer health data, health care providers, and patients. The bill defines a "regulated entity" to mean any legal entity that: conducts business in New Jersey, or produces or provides products or services that are targeted to consumers in New Jersey; and alone or jointly with others, determines the purpose and means of collecting, processing, sharing, or selling of consumer health data. "Regulated entity" does not mean a government agency, tribal nation, or contracted service provider when processing consumer health data on behalf of the government agency. Under the bill, each regulated entity in the State is to maintain a consumer health data privacy policy that details how data may be collected and shared and how consumer can exercise their rights provided by the bill concerning consumer health data. "Consumer health data" means personal information that is linked or reasonably linkable to a consumer and that identifies the consumer's past, present, or future physical or mental health status. The bill establishes certain requirements for regulated entities to collect, share, and sell consumer health data, which includes requiring consumers to provide consent or authorization in order for a regulated entity to collect, share, or sell any consumer health data. Under the bill, consumers will have certain rights concerning their consumer health data, including: confirming which data is being collected, shared, or sold; withdrawing consent for the collection, sharing, or sale of the data; or requesting the deletion of the data. The bill establishes certain requirements for regulated entities to process any requests for the deletion of a consumer's consumer health data. The bill requires a regulated entity to restrict access to consumer health data as necessary and to establish certain data security practice to protect consumer health data. The bill provides that a processer may process consumer health data only pursuant to a binding contract between the processor and the regulated entity that sets forth the processing instructions and limits the actions the processor may take with respect to the consumer health data it processes on behalf of the regulated entity. The bill prohibits any person from implementing a geofence around an entity that provides in-person health care services where such geofence would be used to: identify or track consumers seeking health care services; collect consumer health data from consumers; or send notifications, messages, or advertisements to consumers related to their consumer health data or health care services. The bill provides that any violation of bill's provisions will be considered an unlawful practice in violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) The bill outlines certain entities and types of information and data that are exempted from the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that nothing in the bill's provisions is to construed to restrict a regulated entity's or processor's ability for the collection, use, or disclosure of consumer health data to prevent, detect, protect against, or respond to security incidents, identity theft, fraud, harassment, malicious or deceptive activities, or any activity that is illegal under State law or federal law; preserve the integrity or security of systems; or investigate, report, or prosecute those responsible for any such action that is illegal under State law or federal law, except that such entity bears the burden of demonstrating that such processing qualifies for the exemption provided under the bill. | In Committee |
| S4685 | Requires residential landlord to accept rent payment by certain means; increases penalty for violating certain rent acceptance requirements. | This bill requires a residential landlord to accept a rent payment if made by a tenant or prospective tenant by cash, certified check, money order, or personal check, or through any federal, State, or local rental assistance program or bona fide charitable organization on behalf of the tenant (enumerated payment methods). Specifically, in addition to any other payment method provided by a landlord, including an electronic payment method, if a rent payment, including a renewal or an extension agreement payment, is made by a tenant on time, or up until the date when a warrant for removal is posted to the residential dwelling unit or a lockout is executed following the entry of a judgment of possession due to nonpayment of rent, the landlord is required to accept the rent payment if made by one of the enumerated payment methods. The bill establishes a penalty of $2,000 for a violation of the provisions of the bill, and permits the enforcement process to be initiated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs or the Attorney General. Additionally, a landlord who violates the bill would be subject, at the discretion of the tenant, to a separate cause of action by the tenant, who would be permitted to recover $2,000 from the landlord for each offense, in addition to reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, court costs, expenses for expert witnesses, and other expenses incurred in providing a violation of the bill. If a personal check used to make a residential rent payment is returned for insufficient funds, the bill requires the tenant to be responsible for associated fees and penalties. Following this event, the bill permits the landlord to prohibit the tenant's future rent payments from being made by personal check. | In Committee |
| S2426 | Requires solid waste management districts to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Requires solid waste management districts to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | In Committee |
| S1927 | Extends veteran's gross income tax exemption to spouses of deceased veterans. | This bill extends the veteran's gross income tax exemption to spouses of deceased veterans. Currently, veterans are allowed a $6,000 exemption, which can be taken as a deduction from their income, for purposes of calculating their State gross income tax liability. If a veteran dies during a taxable year, the spouse of the veteran is allowed the exemption for that taxable year if filing a joint return. However, the spouse is not allowed the exemption in subsequent years. Under this bill, the spouse of the deceased veteran would be allowed to continue to claim the exemption until the spouse remarries. | In Committee |
| S4640 | Establishes employee protections for certain employees of New Jersey City University in event of merger with Kean University. | This bill establishes employee protections for the faculty and staff of New Jersey City University in the event of a merger with Kean University. This bill provides that, as a condition of a merger between New Jersey City University and Kean University, no faculty member or professional staff member who is a member of a recognized collective bargaining unit at New Jersey City University is to be subject to termination, layoff, nonrenewal, involuntary reassignment, reduction in hours, or any other form of separation, diminution of employment status, or adverse action as a result of the merger for a period of three years from the date of the merger. The bill further provides that, during the three-year period following the merger, any position vacancy resulting from retirement, resignation, voluntary departure, or any other form of voluntary separation of an employee who transferred from New Jersey City University to Kean University due to the merger is to first be offered internally to other qualified employees who transferred from New Jersey City University to Kean University due to the merger before the position is advertised externally. Under the bill, each faculty and professional staff member who transferred from New Jersey City University to Kean University due to the merger is to be afforded two years to meet any new requirements for a position that is created or amended as a result of any restructuring of New Jersey City University programs during the three years following the start of the merger. The bill provides that all existing collective bargaining agreements and any other negotiated terms and conditions of employment applicable to faculty and professional staff members of a recognized collective bargaining unit at New Jersey City University are to remain in full force and effect at Kean University for a three-year period beginning on the date of the merger. Under the bill, Kean University is to honor all salary schedules, benefits, workloads, tenure and promotion pathways, grievance procedures, job security provisions, employment contracts, and any other provisions within the New Jersey City University bargaining agreements with a recognized collective bargaining unit during the three-year period beginning on the date of the merger. The bill prohibits the board of trustees of Kean University and its administrators from adopting any policies, making administrative changes, or taking any actions that undermine or negatively affect the terms or conditions of these collective bargaining agreements without the express written consent of the recognized collective bargaining unit.The bill provides that a recognized collective bargaining unit of New Jersey City University retains the right to enforce all terms of this agreement through legal means. The bill provides that any violation of the bill's provisions are to provide a recognized collective bargaining unit the right to seek immediate injunctive relief and binding arbitration to remedy any adverse employment action. The bill also provides that any disputes related to the enforcement of this act are to be expedited, and the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) is to prioritize the resolution of the dispute to ensure the rights of employees are protected in a timely manner. Under the bill, all collective bargaining units and their respective majority representatives in existence in New Jersey City University prior to the merger with Kean University are to be maintained without change, unless they are otherwise altered through an appropriate petition to the PERC for a change in representation or bargaining units. Any transfer of faculty or professional staff members from New Jersey City University to Kean University due to the merger is to ensure the transfer of seniority and accrued benefits. The bill directs Kean University to implement a clear, transparent, and proactive communication plan for all employees affected by the merger. | In Committee |
| S4641 | Requires State to adopt practices to reduce SNAP benefits theft and to replace stolen SNAP benefits under certain circumstances; upgrades criminal penalties for SNAP benefits theft; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services (the commissioner) to implement fraud prevention and electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card security options to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants from benefits fraud and theft, including the practices of card cloning and card skimming. As used in the bill, "card cloning" means making an unauthorized copy of an EBT card, while "card skimming" means the illegal installation of devices on a point-of-sale terminal to capture a cardholder's personal identification number and data stored on the EBT card's magnetic strip. The security options to be implemented include: utilizing additional magnetic strip safeguards to strengthen transaction processing security; requiring SNAP participants to utilize two-factor authentication for balance inquiries; and educating SNAP participants on the option to limit certain EBT card transactions. This information will be distributed during SNAP enrollment and recertification, and upon issuance of a participant's EBT card. Information for consumers concerning the risks of SNAP benefits theft, precautions to avoid benefits theft, the process for reporting benefits theft to the Department of Human Services (department) and local law enforcement, and the process for securing replacement SNAP benefits under the bill, will be provided on the department's website and at SNAP eligibility determination agencies. Until the department implements microchip technology in EBT cards issued Statewide, the commissioner will replace stolen SNAP benefits upon submission of a police report or other required evidence. The commissioner will establish a process for claims submissions and SNAP benefits replacement, which process will be subject to the conditions for replacing stolen SNAP benefits with federal funds under the federal "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023," or any subsequent federal law. Whenever federal funds are not available for this purpose, the commissioner will replace stolen SNAP benefits using State funds, subject to availability. The bill amends P.L.1993, c.13 to upgrade the crime of SNAP benefits theft of $150.00 or greater from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the third degree, and to upgrade the crime of SNAP benefits theft of less than $150.00 from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both, and a crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill appropriates such sums as necessary from the General Fund to the department to implement the bill's requirements. The bill's provisions become effective six months following the date of enactment; however, the commissioner may take administrative action in advance to establish the benefits claims process required under the bill. The federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the United States Department of Agriculture urges states to adopt SNAP EBT cards with embedded microchip technology in order to deter benefits theft. Chip EBT cards are a more secure payment option than cards with a magnetic strip, and are already utilized by the credit and banking industries. As of May 2025, California is the only state that has issued EBT chip cards to all SNAP participants. According to the FNS, New Jersey, Alabama, Maryland, and Oklahoma will soon issue EBT chip cards to SNAP participants. | In Committee |
| S4638 | Establishes three-year Integrated Domestic Violence Court pilot program in Camden, Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex counties. | This bill creates a three-year Integrated Domestic Violence Court pilot program in the Superior Court in Camden, Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex counties. The Integrated Domestic Violence Court model, upon which this bill is based, combines domestic violence cases, matrimonial cases, and related criminal matters into one court, has the motto "one family, one judge," and provides integrated services to families, enhances offender accountability and improves victim safety. The Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court established under the bill would hear any case involving domestic violence, pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.) that also involves: divorce, child custody, and other family court matters; crimes or offenses arising out of acts of domestic violence; juvenile offenses; and applications for and violations of restraining orders. In the view of the sponsor, a pilot program in New Jersey modeled on the Integrated Domestic Violence Court model would enhance services to victims and families. | In Committee |
| S4642 | Permits single exit stairwells in certain new residential buildings under State Uniform Construction Code. | This bill would permit the governing body of a municipality to adopt an ordinance or resolution to allow a single exit stairway to serve a residential building of less than six stories for a Group R-2 occupancy, as defined in the bill, notwithstanding any provision of the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), the State Uniform Construction Code, or any other provision of law to the contrary. The bill specifies that the first floor of such a structure may be used for a purpose other than residential use, provided that use is classified by the Commissioner of Community Affairs as a nonhazardous occupancy and served by entrances that are separate from those serving the residential floors. The requirements of the bill would only apply to new applications for development of residential structures submitted on or after the effective date of the bill. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt a regulatory guidance publication for the governing body of a municipality and publish the guidance on the Internet website of the Department of Community Affairs, which is required by the bill to include a model ordinance for the governing body of a municipality to utilize when acting pursuant to the authority granted under the bill. The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, except the Commissioner of Community Affairs would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| SJR30 | Designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." | This joint resolution designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 260 million widows around the world, and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty. In the United States, one million women become widowed each year. Seventy percent of all married women will be widowed in their lifetime. Many widows are far younger than one may guess, as the median age of a widow is 59, according to the United States Census Bureau. Widows are often unsupported by our country's social services, programs, and policies. Many widows face challenges even years after the loss of a loved one, including financial and legal difficulties, mental and physical health issues, and the loss of health insurance. It is important to draw attention to the experiences and realities of widows, including the need for increased bereavement leave, changes to Social Security regulations regarding widows, and the plight of widows in other countries. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4639 | Imposes tax on tourist flights; imposes assessment on owner or operator of helicopter, seaplane, and certain facilities used for tourist flights. | This bill imposes a tax on tourist flights departing from, or arriving at airports, heliports and helistops licensed by the State; and imposes an assessment on the gross receipts received by the owners or operators of helicopters or seaplanes that operate tourist flights, as well as on the owners of heliports and helistops from which a tourist flight departs from, or arrives at, in the State. Specifically, the bill imposes on the patron of a tourist flight a tax in an amount equal to $50 per seat or $200 per flight, whichever is greater, on a tourist flight departing from, or arriving at, any aviation facility licensed by the State including, but not limited to, airports, heliports, and helistops. However, the tax would not be imposed on flights involving the following types of helicopters or seaplanes, namely those: (1) owned or operated by a federal or military authority, the State or a political subdivision thereof, a news agency, or a licensed hospital or healthcare provider; (2) providing emergency medical transportation; (3) providing heavy-lift operations in support of construction or infrastructure maintenance; or (4) operating a flight for research, experimental, or education purposes. A tourist flight is defined as a flight on a non-essential helicopter or seaplane that operates for the purpose of providing sightseeing tours to patrons in areas including, but not limited to, the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. A non-essential helicopter or seaplane is defined as helicopter or seaplane that is not specifically excluded under the bill. Under the bill, the owner or operator of a non-essential helicopter or seaplane operating a tourist flight would be required to collect the tax imposed on the patron of the tourist flight, and separately state the tax on the retail sales receipt provided to the patron. The owner or operator of a non-essential helicopter or seaplane operating a tourist flight would have the same rights with respect to collecting the tax from a patron as if the tax were a part of the sales price and payable at the same time. The bill also requires the owner or operator of a non-essential helicopter or seaplane operating a tourist flight to provide an electronic receipt to the patron. The bill requires the owner or operator of a non-essential helicopter or seaplane operating a tourist flight to file the tax with, and pay the tax to, the State on a quarterly basis in a manner prescribed by the director. Lastly, the bill imposes an assessment in an amount equal to three percent of the gross receipts that the owner or operator of a non-essential helicopter or seaplane receives for tourist flight service operations, as well as three percent of the gross receipts that an owner or operator of a heliport or helistop licensed by the State receives from departing and arriving tourist flights. The bill requires the owner or operator of a non-essential helicopter or seaplane operating a tourist flight, and the owner of a heliport or helistop licensed by the State from which a tourist flight departs or arrives, to file the assessment with, and pay the assessment to, the State on a quarterly basis in a manner prescribed by the director. | In Committee |
| S4247 | "NJ Veterans to Local Government Employment Act;" requires DMVA provide certain information on website and at Veteran Service Offices and certain outreach events; requires DLGS provide certain information on website. | This bill, the "NJ Veterans to Local Government Employment Act," requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to include an employment information section on its website and to provide certain documents at Veteran Service Offices and certain outreach events. The DMVA, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will be required to, at a minimum, provide DMVA's Civil Service Veterans Preference Claim form and certain information and resources concerning career opportunities for veterans and the transition to civilian employment. The DMVA's website will serve as a centralized resource for veterans to access the various public employment and training opportunities available to them at the federal, State, county, and municipal government levels. The DMVA, through its regional network of Veteran Service Offices, will also provide paper copies of its Civil Service Veterans Preference Claim form and any veterans employment informational packets provided on the website at all such offices and at each "Veteran Outreach Campaign" event scheduled by the DMVA. This bill also requires the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to develop and maintain a list of all job vacancies in county and municipal government entities within the State for those entities that do not operate under the provisions of the "Civil Service Act," which must include any applicable veterans preferences for those vacancies and be made publicly available on the division's website. The division's website must also provide information and resources for individuals seeking employment with, and individuals currently employed by, these government entities, as appropriate. | In Committee |
| S4246 | Establishes Veterans Care Commission to study and address issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, Reserve components of US Armed Forces, and NJ National Guard. | This bill establishes a Veterans Care Commission in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to study and address issues facing members of the United States Armed Forces and Reserve components thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. The commission will consist of the following 11 members: the Commissioners of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Health, and Human Services, or their designees; the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee; the Adjutant General of the DMVA, or a designee; and five public members to be appointed by the Adjutant General, with at least three persons each representing a different qualified veterans' organization. The purpose of the commission is to identify and review the issues and concerns facing service members and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate. The bill requires the commission to prepare and issue an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and submit the report to the Governor, the Legislature, the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor, and the General Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor. The first annual report will be issued no later than 12 months after the commission's first organizational meeting. | In Committee |
| S3401 | Establishes eligibility requirements for State small business set-aside program. | This bill establishes requirements for eligibility when the State implements a small business set-aside program. The State currently has a small business set-aside program. This bill clarifies that only businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard established by federal regulations are required to have a certain maximum number of employees. This bill also alters the definitions of gross revenue from a standard of three years in business to a standard of five years in business. The requirements established in this bill will be in addition to any and all rules or regulations, except that these requirements will supersede the rules and regulations adopted as N.J.A.C. 17:13-2.1(a). | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S1148 | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S3429 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | In Committee |
| S3269 | Concerns false public alarms involving places of worship. | This bill establishes a second degree crime for false public alarms when the alarm involves a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, gurdwara, or other place of public worship. The bill defines "place of worship" as a building capable of seating more than 50 people used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination. Finally, the bill provides for additional penalties for false alarms as it relates to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, gurdwaras, or other places of worship. A person committing such a violation is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 or the actual costs incurred by or resulting from the emergency response to the false alarm, whichever is higher. A second degree crime is punishable by a term of 5-10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3914 | Prohibits aquaculture of any species of octopus for purpose of human consumption. | This bill prohibits the aquaculture of any species of octopus for the purpose of human consumption. In addition, this bill prohibits a business entity from selling, possessing, or transporting any species of octopus that is the result or product of aquaculture. Any violation of the bill's provisions would be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000, and each day during which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The practice of octopus aquaculture has raised ethical and environmental concerns due to the highly advanced cognitive abilities and complex behaviors exhibited by these animals. Octopus farming practices and conditions, including inadequate living environments and confinement, may subject octopus to significant stress and suffering, compromise their well-being, and lead to adverse behavioral changes. As carnivores, octopuses require a high-protein diet sourced from wild fish and shellfish which could substantially increase demand on marine resources, further depleting fish stocks and disrupting marine ecosystems. Additionally, octopus aquaculture poses further risks to the marine ecosystems due to the heightened potential for the spread of infectious pathogens, which may impact other marine species and ecosystems. | In Committee |
| S4272 | Repeals law that requires funds for legislative agents to be assessed on student tuition bills in certain manner. | This bill repeals P.L.1995, c.63 (C.18A:62-22), which requires funds for legislative agents to be assessed on student tuition bills in a certain manner. It is the sponsor's belief that this law restricts the rights of students who participate in certain student organizations at public institutions of higher education from engaging in State legislative activity, effectively silencing these students. Under P.L.1995, c.63, the governing body of a public institution of higher education is prohibited from allowing funds for legislative agents or organizations which attempt to influence legislation to be assessed on student tuition bills. However, optional fees may be assessed for nonpartisan organizations that employ legislative agents or attempt to influence legislation provided that the fee has been authorized by a majority vote in a student referendum. An optional fee is an amount payable on a student tuition bill, appearing as a separately assessed item, but not a mandatory charge or a waivable fee. Optional fees that appear on student tuition bills are currently required to be accompanied by a statement as to the nature of the item along with an explanation that the item is not a charge required to be paid by the student, the student may add the charge to the total amount due, and that the item has appeared on the bill at the request of the student body and does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the governing body of the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| S4502 | Establishes telecommunication fee to support Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care. | The bill establishes a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee in the amount of $0.40 per line per month for each resident of New Jersey who is a subscriber of commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services. The fee will not be applied to mobile service users who receive benefits under the federal Lifeline program. The fee will be collected by the mobile telecommunications company or the telecommunications company providing the applicable service to its customers upon payment of any periodic bill for such service. The fees collected pursuant to this bill will be collected monthly and reported and paid to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury and the State Treasurer will credit the fee revenue to the "9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account" established pursuant to the bill. This bill establishes in the Department of the Treasury within the General Fund a special account to be known as the"9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account." Funds credited to the "9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund Account" will be annually appropriated to pay expenses, including enhancements as needed based upon increased demand that the State is expected to incur that are reasonably attributed to: (1) ensuring the efficient and effective routing and responding to all calls, chats, and texts made to 9-8-8 Lifeline Contact Centers and personnel; (2) the provision of acute mental health, Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Teams and crisis stabilization services, including those provided at Crisis Stabilization and Receiving Centers, Crisis Diversion Homes, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics by directly responding to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline contacts; and (3) public awareness and advertising campaigns to highlight the availability and accessibly of these 9-8-8 continuum services. Money in the fund will be obligated and expended in accordance with the requirements of the "National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020," and rules adopted pursuant thereto. | In Committee |
| S4490 | Prohibits persons from installing, planting, or placing nonfunctional turf or invasive plant species on certain types of property during certain construction projects. | This bill would prohibit, beginning on January 1, 2026, persons from installing, planting, or placing, or allowing another person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf or invasive plant species on certain types of property during certain types of construction projects. Specifically, the bill would apply to the following types of property: any commercial, institutional, or industrial property, including schools and businesses; a street, right-of-way, parking lot, median, or transportation corridor; or any property owned by the State or any county, municipal, or local government unit. The projects covered under the bill would be: (1) a new construction project that requires a building or landscaping permit; or (2) a redevelopment project that requires a building or landscaping permit and involves the disturbance of at least 50 percent of the landscaped area of the property on which the project occurs. "Non-functional turf" is defined by the bill to exclude, among other things, turf that is used for recreational purposes, including playgrounds, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters, parks, and the playing areas of golf courses, such as driving ranges, chipping and putting greens, tee boxes, greens, fairways, and roughs. The bill would establish a list of the invasive species that would be covered by the bill's provisions. The bill would also direct the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture to develop a list, which may be more expansive from the list in the bill. | In Committee |
| S4432 | Establishes Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program; establishes partnership program between public institution of higher education and federal Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative; establishes Center for the study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; appropriates $3.5 million. | This bill establishes the Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) and a program in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to provide grants to a public institution of higher education for certain aviation and aircraft control related initiatives. The bill establishes the Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program. The program is to provide for the redemption of a portion of the qualifying student loan amounts of a program participant for each period of service at an airport located within the State or operated by a multi-state agency serving the State. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State; be employed as an air traffic controller at an approved site; and submit an application in a manner and form to be determined by the executive director of HESAA. Under the program, the redemption of qualifying student loan amounts is to amount to 16 percent of the program participant's qualifying student loan amounts in return for one full year of service at an approved site, an additional 26 percent for a second full year of service, an additional 28 percent for a third full year of service and an additional 30 percent for a fourth full year of service. The total amount of loan redemption under the program is not to exceed $100,000. This bill also establishes a program in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to provide grants to a public institution of higher education to: participate in the federal Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative; establish a Center for the Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; and establish non-engineering aviation degrees that include instruction in air traffic control and aviation administration. A four-year public institution of higher education seeking to participate in the program is to submit an application to the secretary in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary. The application is to include confirmation of the institution's participation in the federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative; the institution's capacity to support a Center for the Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; the institution's plan to establish non-engineering aviation degrees that include instruction in air traffic control and aviation administration; the institution's plan to participate in the federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiatives Program; and any other information the secretary deems necessary. After reviewing applications, the secretary is to select one four-year public institution of higher education to participate in the program. The secretary is to give preference to an institution of higher education located in a county of the first class. A grant recipient is to receive a grant in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000. If no four-year public institution of higher education applies for the program, the secretary is to permit a county college to submit an application to participate in the program. A county college selected as a grant recipient is required to already be a participant in the federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative and is not be required to support a Center for the Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. A county college may receive a grant in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000. The State currently has two institutions of higher education participating in the federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative, but there are currently no institutions of higher education participating in the Air-Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative, which trains air traffic controllers. The sponsor also notes that there is both a local and nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. According to the sponsor, the purpose of the programs established under the bill is to increase the number of highly trained air traffic controllers. | In Committee |
| S4427 | Prohibits tourist helicopter operations in New Jersey. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to prohibit tourist helicopter operations at aviation facilities licensed by the State. Tourist helicopter is defined to mean a helicopter that operates for the purpose of providing sightseeing tours to patrons in areas including, but not limited to, the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. Flights by helicopters owned or operated by a federal or military authority or the State government and helicopters providing emergency medical transportation are not included in the prohibition. | In Committee |
| S4428 | Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service. | Current law provides that a teaching staff member may receive up to four years of credit, in computing length of service for seniority purposes, for military service. This bill provides a similar benefit to educational support professionals. Under the bill, every educational support professional who has served in the active military of the United States and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits is to receive equivalent years of employment or seniority credit, up to four years, for that service as if the professional had been employed for the same period of time at the school district. Any military service is to be credited towards this employment or seniority credit, including service that occurred prior to the professional's employment as an educational support professional. | In Committee |
| S4429 | Establishes public awareness campaign on dangers of social media use to minors; appropriates $500,000. | This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a public awareness campaign on the dangers of social media use to minors, and makes an appropriation. The purpose of the campaign is to help the public, and in particular parents and guardians, better respond the needs of minors, and utilize current research findings, including those arising from the United States Surgeon General's May 2023 advisory on social media and youth mental health. Under the bill, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the dangers of social media use to minors through media outlets which include, but are not limited to: Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television ads, and any other media outlets deemed appropriate by the Commissioner, no later than 180 days after this bill is enacted. The public awareness campaign builds on the progress of the Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents established by law on July 24, 2023. The Commissioner of Education will report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than 24 months after the effective date of this act, on the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign. Finally, the bill appropriates, from the General Fund to the Department of Education, $500,000 to develop and implement the public awareness campaign. | In Committee |
| S3864 | Allows certain individuals eligible for family support services to set aside unused agency-after school care service hours for use during holiday and weekend hours. | Allows certain individuals eligible for family support services to set aside unused agency-after school care service hours for use during holiday and weekend hours. | In Committee |
| S3538 | Establishes "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act." | This bill establishes the "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Accesses Act." The bill provides that the reimbursement rate for prescription drug services paid to a pharmacy providing prescription drug services to a beneficiary of the Medicaid program, whether such services are provided in the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or through the Medicaid managed care delivery system, will be no less than the national average drug acquisition cost of the drug plus a Medicaid fee-for-service professional dispensing fee of $10.92. The bill provides that each Medicaid managed care contract executed in this State will include pharmacy choice as a required benefit for any enrollee as outlined under the bill. To ensure that enrollees have access to a competitive selection of providers, each Medicaid managed care organization will permit the enrollee to choose any qualified pharmacy provided that the qualified pharmacy is a contracting provider and provide that no pharmacy will be denied the right to participate as a contracting provider, under the same terms and conditions currently applicable to all other contracting pharmacies, provided that the pharmacy accepts the terms and conditions of the Medicaid managed care contract. The bill requires the State Auditor to perform an audit of pharmacy pricing practices within the Medicaid program to determine the amount of savings the State should accrue from all pharmacies as a result of the provisions of the bill. In conducting this audit, the State Auditor will audit the flow of funds in the State's Medicaid program from managed care organizations to pharmacy benefit managers to pharmacies. In recent years, drug pricing has escalated at unprecedented rates. Restrictive practices that segregate certain drug types and disadvantage patients' choice and access are contributing factors, particularly in Medicaid programs. According to evaluation data found in the Governor's Budget Recommendations, total Medicaid prescription drug spending increased by approximately $700 million, or 3.3 percent, from $2.1 billion in FY 2019 to $2.8 billion in FY 2024. It is the sponsor's belief that ensuring that Medicaid establishes the Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act will provide greater transparency and cost management within the program to reduce waste and cost increases. | In Committee |
| S4399 | Authorizes soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors. | This bill would authorize a soil conservation district to have more than five supervisors. Under the bill, the State Soil Conservation Committee would be authorized to determine the maximum number of supervisors for each district. Current law authorizes five supervisors for each district, appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee. | In Committee |
| S3183 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S2818 | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | In Committee |
| S2672 | Authorizes special Ancient Order of Hibernians license plate. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates. The chief administrator is to select the design of the license plates in consultation with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, New Jersey State Board (the organization). In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for these license plates. After deducting the cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the license plates and any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, in an amount not to exceed $150,000, the additional fees are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Ancient Order of Hibernians License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the organization. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per license plate in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates. If the average cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plates. The bill also requires the organization to appoint a liaison to represent the organization in all communications with the commission regarding the license plates. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost of producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Ancient Order of Hibernians license plate program. The bill also requires that the organization, or other individual or entity designated by the organization, contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill prohibits the commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates, or making any necessary computer programming changes, until: (1) the organization, or its designee, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Ancient Order of Hibernians license plate program; and (2) the organization's liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The organization, or any individual or entity designated by the organization, may also publicize the availability of Ancient Order of Hibernians license plates in any manner the organization deems appropriate. The provisions of the bill remain inoperative until the first day of the seventh month following the date on which the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided by the organization or its designee. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month following enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| S1895 | Permits municipalities to charge reduced or no beach fee for children ages 12 to 17; revises law concerning beach fees for veterans. | This bill would allow a municipality, by ordinance, to charge no fee or a reduced beach fee to children between the ages of 12 and 17. This bill would also provide that a municipality, by ordinance, may charge no fee or a reduced beach fee to honorably discharged veterans, regardless of length of active duty or disability. Under current law, a municipality, by ordinance, may charge no fee or a reduced fee to: (1) persons 65 or more years of age; (2) persons who meet the disability criteria for disability benefits under Title II of the federal Social Security Act; (3) persons in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and their spouse and dependent children over the age of 12 years; (4) persons who are active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training and their spouse and dependent children over the age of 12 years; (5) persons who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable and who either have served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability; and (6) persons holding a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation. This bill would expand the list of individuals who could receive no fee or a reduced beach fee to children between the ages of 12 and 17. In addition, the bill would delete language in current law limiting the exemption and reduced fee to veterans who have either served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability. | In Committee |
| S3932 | Requires NJT to establish pilot program to supply certain light rail train sets with opioid antidotes; makes appropriation of $100,000. | Requires NJT to establish pilot program to supply certain light rail train sets with opioid antidotes; makes appropriation of $100,000. | In Committee |
| S4000 | Imposes conditions on drivers approaching stationary vehicles and revises public awareness campaign. | This bill amends current law to require motor vehicle drivers to move over or reduce the speed of the motor vehicle and be prepared to stop when approaching any stationary vehicle and to do so for any stationary vehicle regardless of whether the vehicle is displaying flashing, blinking, or alternating lights; flashing hazard warning signal lights; or utilizing road flares or reflective triangles. Under the bill, "vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or low-speed electric bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, or motorized bicycles. Under current law, motor vehicle drivers are required to move over, or reduce the speed of their vehicles, and be prepared to stop when approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles, tow trucks, highway maintenance or emergency service vehicles, and sanitation vehicles displaying certain lights and for disabled vehicles flashing hazard warning signal lights or utilizing road flares or reflective triangles. This bill also requires the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety to include all stationary vehicles in a public awareness campaign to inform the general public of the importance of reducing speed and changing lanes when approaching stationary vehicles, the risks associated with the failure to do so, and any penalties and fines that are imposed by a failure to reduce speed or change lanes. | In Committee |
| S4362 | Requires DHS to reformat MyNJHelps web-based platform as centralized online resource for all State administered public assistance programs. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner), no later than 365 days after the effective date of the bill and in collaboration with all applicable State agencies, to expand the MyNJHelps web-based application platform for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Work First New Jersey Program, and the NJFamilyCare Program to include all State administered public assistance programs. In doing so, the commissioner is required to: reformat the MyNJHelps web-based application platform as the State's centralized online resource for applicants to access information about, apply for benefits to, and check the application status of all State administered public assistance programs; and design a single application, accessible on the MyNJHelps web-based application platform, through which an applicant can apply for all State administered public assistance programs. The bill defines "public assistance program" to mean a program that provides benefits to low-income New Jersey residents via a means-tested eligibility process. These types of programs provide benefits that include, but that are not limited to: healthcare, pharmaceutical, food, cash, child care, housing, and utility assistance. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to alter the administrating agency of a public assistance program. Rather, the platform established under the bill is required to provide all applicable administering agencies with access to the necessary applicant information to make eligibility determinations, as well as access to platform functions to post information regarding application status. Moreover, the bill directs the commissioner to enter into any necessary data sharing agreements with applicable State agencies to comply with the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4364 | Establishes certain State funding preferences for municipalities that enhance opportunities to develop housing. | This bill establishes a program to incentivize municipalities to amend their master plans and development regulations by incorporating therein certain housing strategies for the purpose of enhancing the development potential of property for residential purposes at greater densities. Under the bill, the governing body of a municipality that is interested in qualifying for preferential status in the distribution of State aid pursuant to the bill may direct the municipal planning board to undertake and provide for a special reexamination of the municipality's master plan and development regulations. A planning board directed to undertake and provide for a special reexamination of the municipality's master plan and development regulations is to, at a minimum, review the provisions of the municipality's existing master plan and development regulations that address areas of the municipality within which residential development is permitted, and consider recommending specific changes to the master plan and development regulations for the purpose of enhancing the potential development of the municipality for residential purposes. The bill provides that a planning board undertaking a special reexamination of the municipality's master plan and development regulations is to consider whether to include in the master plan and development regulations one or more housing strategies that may enhance the development potential of property for residential purposes at greater densities. The bill identifies the following housing strategies to be considered by a planning board conducting a special reexamination: · permit development of an accessory dwelling unit in addition to a single-unit dwelling on developable lots in areas restricted to the development of single-unit dwellings;· permit development of a two-unit dwelling on lots in areas restricted to the development of single-unit dwellings;· permit development of a three-unit dwelling on lots in areas restricted to the development of single-unit dwellings;· eliminate or reduce off-street parking requirements; · eliminate or reduce minimum lot size requirements;· permit the siting of manufactured housing or a mobile home on lots in areas restricted to the development of single-unit dwellings;· permit development of a multi-unit dwelling or a mixed-use development on lots zoned exclusively for office, retail, or commercial uses; · permit development of a multi-unit dwelling on at least 10 percent of the developable land within the municipality;· permit higher density housing near transit stops; and· eliminate or reduce minimum size requirements for dwelling units. A planning board that has undertaken a special reexamination of the municipality's master plan and development regulations is required to prepare and adopt by resolution a report on the findings of the special reexamination. If a special reexamination report recommends changes to a municipality's existing master plan, the bill requires the planning board to commence the process of amending the master plan in accordance with the requirements for amendment of a master plan under P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.). This procedure requires the planning board to hold a hearing on the proposed amendments after providing public notice of the hearing. If a planning board amends a master plan pursuant to the bill, the governing body of the municipality is required to commence the process of considering amendment of the municipality's zoning ordinance under P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.) for the purpose of making the ordinance substantially consistent with the land use plan element and the housing plan element of the municipality's master plan. The bill directs the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish a preference in the award of State aid for those municipalities that have amended their development regulations pursuant to the bill to allow for the use of additional housing strategies and have thereby increased the number of housing units permitted for development. The preference is to apply to all types of competitively-awarded financial assistance that the DCA may distribute to one or more municipalities pursuant to a program administered by the DCA, other than a program that awards funds to help a municipality fulfill its fair share housing obligation. The bill specifically identifies the Main Street New Jersey Program, established pursuant to P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-452 et seq.), and the Neighborhood Preservation Program, established pursuant to P.L.1975, c.248 (C.52:27D-142 et seq.) as State aid programs subject to the bill's provisions. Additionally, the bill directs the DCA to: research and analyze each grant or other type of competitively-awarded financial assistance awarded to municipalities by State agencies, and enter into a memorandum of understanding with each State agency that awards a grant or other type of competitively-awarded financial assistance to municipalities for the purpose of establishing a preference in the award of a grant or other type of competitively-awarded financial assistance for those municipalities that have amended their master plans and development regulations to allow for the use of additional housing strategies, and which have thereby increased the number of housing units permitted for development in the municipality. The bill directs the DCA to adopt rules and regulations it deems necessary or desirable to effectuate these provisions of the bill, and provides that the rules and regulations are to: · specify the numbers of additional housing units and the types of housing strategies appropriate for use by a municipality based upon the municipality's planning region, as identified within the most recently adopted State Development and Redevelopment Plan; · specify a range of values to be accorded to municipalities determined to be eligible for a preference in State aid under the bill based upon the number of housing units permitted for development and the types of housing strategies adopted; and· provide model ordinance provisions, in the form of templates, for the purpose of assisting municipalities opting to incorporate one or more of the housing strategies identified in the bill into their ordinances. Additionally, the bill provides that the Commissioner of Transportation, in determining the allocation of funds for municipal projects from the "Transportation Trust Fund Account" is to establish a criterion to provide, at the commissioner's discretion, priority consideration to municipalities that implement the provisions of this bill, within the schedule of all other criteria for prioritization. Current law provides that that the Commissioner of Transportation may consider several criteria in allocating monies from the Transportation Trust Fund for county and municipal transportation projects. Finally, the bill permits increases in a school district's district aid percentage for the purposes of the calculations of the State share of a school facilities project for those municipalities that implement the provisions of this bill. The bill permits increases to a school district's district aid percentage of no more than 10 percent if the school district is within a municipality that has implemented the provisions of the bill. Under the bill, a regional school district may be eligible for a district aid percentage increase if one or more constituent municipalities of the district has implemented the provisions of the bill. The increase for a regional district, however, may not exceed 10 percent, and the maximum district aid percentage increase due to any one constituent municipality's implementation of the bill is to be calculated in proportion to the constituent municipality's share of the overall resident enrollment of the regional school district. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Community Affairs to develop a uniform methodology to determine the district aid percentage increase for school districts if a municipality has implemented the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4313 | Designates overpass of Stelton Road on Interstate Highway Route 287 as "Officer Conklin-Officer Cady Memorial Overpass." | This bill designates the overpass of Stelton Road at milepost 5.88 of the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate Highway Route 287 as the "Officer Conklin-Officer Cady Memorial Overpass" to honor the memory of Richard H. Conklin and William J. Cady, two South Plainfield police officers who died in the line of duty three years apart on or near this stretch of road. Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the "Officer Conklin-Officer Cady Memorial Overpass." The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation. | In Committee |
| S4347 | The "Safeguarding Livable Units through Municipal Landlord Oversight and Regulation by DCA" or "SLUMLORD Act"; strengthens habitability protections for residential tenants; appropriates $5 million. | This bill, known as the "Safeguarding Livable Units through Municipal Landlord Oversight and Regulation by DCA" or "SLUMLORD Act," strengthens protections for residential tenants for violations of the implied warranty of habitability and other code violations that severely affect the habitability of the tenant's rental unit. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to establish a Habitability Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Program (program) in the Department of Community Affairs (department). The bill also: codifies the implied warranty of habitability; authorizes a private cause of action for residential tenants (tenants) for habitability violations and provides certain remedies; imposes personal liability and criminal penalties on certain landlords and their agents for severe habitability violations; extends a tenant's ability to recover attorney's fees and certain costs to actions arising from habitability violations; and establishes a habitability database to enhance the efficacy of the program. Specifically, the bill requires the establishment of the program to: provide information to tenants regarding habitability violations, as defined in the bill; and engage in litigation, through public-private partnerships, on behalf of tenants to enforce habitability violations. The program would consist of a Tenant Advocate Service and Affirmative Litigation Initiative, which are not to expend resources representing residential tenants in defense of an eviction action, unless for certain cases involving reprisal. The bill codifies certain elements of the implied warranty of habitability and provides that the bill would not hinder or limit case law and the development of the common law doctrine of the implied warranty of habitability. The bill requires a landlord to designate at least one principal agent, as defined in the bill, who is to be the primary agent of the landlord for the purposes of complying with the bill, receiving habitability violation complaints from tenants, directing the property management company to abate violations, and, who is to be authorized to accept service of process from the registered agent or process server, receive confidential communications, and be personally and criminally liable for severe habitability violations, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the principal agent to be, in addition to other criteria specified in the bill, a beneficial owner, which the bill defines in a manner similar to the federal "Corporate Transparency Act," pursuant to 31 U.S.C. s.5336(a)(3). The bill requires a written lease to clearly provide certain contact information of the principal agent, and the principal agent to continuously update this information as necessary. The bill provides a private cause of action and permits a tenant to bring an action alleging a habitability violation, which remains unabated following written notice to the landlord and a reasonable opportunity to cure. A tenant is not to bring an action pursuant to the bill if: (1) the tenant is in arrears on rent lawfully due and owing, unless the rent was directly withheld as a result of a habitability violation or a tenant's exercise of lawful statutory claims or defenses; (2) a landlord authorizes a tenant to withhold rent monies necessary and sufficient to repair a habitability violation; or (3) the landlord and tenant agree that rent monies withheld and used by the tenant to repair a habitability violation are sufficient to remedy the violation and in satisfaction of the rent. The bill authorizes the court to award all damages appropriate within the context of the violation, taking into account the duration and severity of the violation, and other factors the court deems relevant. The bill specifies that for habitability violations, the landlord would be subject to the penalties set forth in the bill for each violation against each tenant. The bill further provides that a habitability violation is to constitute an unlawful practice pursuant to the New Jersey consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and prescribes certain penalties depending on whether there exists a habitability violation or a severe habitability violation. If a court determines that a severe habitability violation exists, the bill requires a court to order the landlord to abate the violation in a specified time period, which, if not timely abated, would enable the program, or the municipality in which the landlord's unit is located, including a municipal enforcing agency or other similar agency of the municipality (municipality), to abate the condition giving rise to the violation, at the landlord's expense, which expense would constitute a lien against the premises. If the lien is held by the municipality, the lien is to be held and enforced in the same manner, time, and proceedings as taxes owed to the municipality pursuant to Title 54 of the Revised Statutes. The bill provides that a court may hold a principal agent personally liable for a severe habitability violation, as specified in the bill, and that such a violation is to be a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. To facilitate the efficacy of the program, the bill requires the commissioner, in coordination with the Administrative Director of the Courts, to establish and maintain a habitability database, which is required to contain certain information pertaining to habitability violations, as described in the bill. The information and violations would be classified by number, duration, and hazard level. The bill requires the information to be electronically displayed or printed; made available for the court and all litigants for litigation concerning an alleged habitability violation, subject to the redaction of identifying information for those individuals and properties not subject to the pending litigation; and that the contents are to constitute prima facie evidence of any matter stated therein. The bill amends section 2 of P.L.1974, c.50 (C.46:8-28) of the "Landlord Identity Law," to expand the information and individuals required to provide information for purposes of the certificate of registration, to include the principal agent, certain corporate officers and directors, and to facilitate the identification of a beneficial owner, as defined in the bill. Further, the bill amends P.L.2013, c.206 (C.2A:18-61.66), which permits a tenant to recover attorney's fees to the same extent as the landlord, if the residential lease permits the landlord to recover attorney's fees for actions arising out of the lease. The bill extends and modifies the tenant's ability to recover attorney's fees and certain costs to actions arising from habitability violations. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the Habitability Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Program to effectuate the provisions of the bill. The bill authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations that are necessary to effectuate and administer the provisions of the bill. The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment, except that the commissioner and the Administrative Director of the Courts would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4365 | Revises certain requirements and award availability under film and digital media content production tax credit program. | This bill revises certain provisions of the film and digital media content production tax credit program (program) administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Among other changes, the bill extends the program's availability until July 2049, ten years longer than it is available under current law. Increased Tax Credit Awards This bill increases the amount of tax credits that may be awarded to a New Jersey studio partner or New Jersey film-lease production company under the program, from 35 percent to 40 percent of the taxpayer's qualified film production expenses during a tax period, when the expenses are incurred for services performed and tangible personal property purchased for use at a sound stage or other location within the State and within a 30-mile radius of the intersection of Eighth Avenue/Central Park West, Broadway, and West 59th Street/Central Park South, New York, New York. Competitive Credit Adjustment The bill provides that if a neighboring state offers larger tax credit awards for film production purposes compared to New Jersey, then the tax credit awards issued for certain film productions are to be increased under the program. Specifically, if a state contiguous to this State offers tax credits in an amount equal to or greater than the amounts allowed under the program, as measured by the percentage of eligible expenses, then the amount of the tax credits allowed for productions that occur in one or more counties located, in whole or in part, within a 30-mile radius of the intersection of Eighth Avenue/Central Park West, Broadway, and West 59th Street/Central Park South, New York, New York would be increased to no less than 45 percent of the qualified film production expenses of the taxpayer. This amount would be five percent more than the tax credits allowed for a New Jersey studio partner or New Jersey film-lease production company. Incentive to Relocate Television Series to New Jersey This bill provides that a New Jersey studio partner or New Jersey film-lease production company is eligible for an additional tax credit in an amount equal to five percent of the taxpayer's qualified film production expenses incurred during a taxable period commencing on or after July 1, 2025 but before July 1, 2049 for a film that is a television series that relocated to New Jersey. The bill defines "television series that relocated to New Jersey" to mean a scripted television series of 22 minutes or more in length per episode, with a minimum budget production budget of $2,500,000 per episode, and for which all prior seasons of the series were filmed outside New Jersey. New Jersey Film-Lease Post-Production Company The bill defines a "New Jersey film-lease post-production company" to mean a taxpayer, including any taxpayer that is a member of combined group or any other entity in which the New Jersey film-lease post-production company has a material ownership interest and a material operational role in the production, that otherwise complies with the eligibility requirements of the program, has made a commitment to lease or otherwise occupy production space a New Jersey film-lease partner facility, and satisfies certain criteria set forth in the bill. If a New Jersey film-lease partner facility has not received a temporary or final certificate of occupancy, a New Jersey film-lease post-production company is required to have entered into a lease or sublease with the owner or developer of a New Jersey film-lease partner facility, which lease or sublease is for not less than three years of occupancy of the New Jersey film-lease partner facility and includes at least 36,000 square feet of gross rentable space. For purposes of satisfying certain provisions in the bill, a New Jersey film-lease post-production company may include in an application the qualified digital media content production expenses incurred for postproduction services, including visual effects services that are performed by any other member of a New Jersey film-lease production company's combined group.Application and Carry Forward of Credit This bill amends current law to provide an exception to the statutory minimum corporate business tax liability for the recipient of a film or digital media content production tax credit. Under the bill, a credit awarded for application against the corporate business tax may be claimed as a refundable tax credit. Under current law, a taxpayer's gross income tax liability may not be reduced to an amount less than zero by the credits awarded under the program. This bill provides that the tax liability may be reduced to less than zero, in which case the taxpayer may elect to receive a refund or carry forward the unused credit for use in a successive tax period. Additionally, the bill provides that a taxpayer, including the purchaser or assignee of a tax credit transfer certificate, may use the credit in the tax period for which it was issued, the tax period in which it was issued, or in a successive tax period after the tax period for which it was issued, without the need to amend the return for the year for which the credit was issued. Maximum Credit Availability Under current law, in fiscal year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter until the conclusion of the program, the cumulative total awards are limited to $150 million for New Jersey studio partners and $150 million for New Jersey film-lease production companies. The authority may, in its discretion, award an additional $400 million to New Jersey studio partners and an additional $250 million to New Jersey film-lease production companies. This bill amends current law so that, beginning in fiscal year 2026, the maximum cumulative total awards are increased to $300 million for New Jersey studio partners and $250 million for New Jersey film-lease production companies. In addition, the bill decreases the additional discretionary awards to $250 million for New Jersey studio partners and $150 million for New Jersey film-lease production companies. Recapture of Tax Credits and Termination Under current law, the approval of tax credits for New Jersey studio partners and New Jersey film-lease production companies is subject to award agreements with the authority detailing obligations of the awardee and outcomes relating to events of default, including, but not limited to, the recapture of tax credits. The bill provides that the recapture of tax credits may only apply to the initial recipient of the tax credits, not the purchaser or assignee of a tax credit transfer certificate. Current law also provides that if a New Jersey studio partner fails to occupy the production facility developed, purchased, or leased as a condition of designation as a New Jersey studio partner for the duration of the commitment period, the authority is required to recapture certain portions of the tax credit. This bill provides an exception for any circumstance in which the New Jersey studio partner's failure to occupy the production facility is for any reason outside the control of the New Jersey studio partner. Additionally, the bill permits the authority, rather than requires the authority, to recapture under appropriate conditions. The bill provides that if a New Jersey film-lease production company fails to occupy the production facility developed, purchased, or leased as a condition of designation as a New Jersey film lease production company for the duration of the commitment period or otherwise fails to satisfy the conditions for designation as a New Jersey film-lease production company, except not including the failure to occupy the production facility for any reason outside the control of the New Jersey film-lease production company, the authority may recapture the portion of the tax credit that was only available to the taxpayer by virtue of the taxpayer's designation as a New Jersey film-lease production company. In addition, the bill requires that all films for which an initial approval has been given, but for which the authority has not approved final documentation, terminate in this instance. New Jersey Film-Lease Production Company Supplemental Report Under current law, a New Jersey studio partner that makes deferred compensation payments based on work or services provided on a production may file a supplemental report within two years after the production concludes. This bill also permits a New Jersey film-lease production company to do the same if it satisfies the criteria required for a New Jersey film-lease production company before a temporary or final certificate of occupancy is received by the New Jersey film-lease partner facility. Expansion of Tax Credit Applicability Under current law, tax credits awarded under the program may be applied against a taxpayer's liability under the gross income tax or corporation business tax. In addition, this bill authorizes the application of these credits against a taxpayer's liability for an insurance premium tax. New Jersey Promotional Credit In addition to the amount of tax credits otherwise allowed under the program, the bill allows an additional promotional tax credit for certain film productions in an amount equal to two percent of a taxpayer's qualified film production expenses or qualified digital media content production expenses under certain conditions. Specifically, a New Jersey studio partner or New Jersey film lease production company may qualify for this additional credit by submitting, alongside an application to the authority and the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury (director), a plan outlining specific goals to New Jersey. Under the bill, a taxpayer is required to include at least two promotional criteria in the plan, and the authority and director are required to verify that the taxpayer has met the goals outlined in its plan. Specifically, a taxpayer is required to satisfy at least two of the following promotional criteria to qualify for the additional promotional credit: (1) the creation of a video at least five minutes in length of publicly accessible locations in New Jersey used for the film, with commentary on how and why each location was chosen, published on the Internet website promoting the film or in another form and manner approved by the authority. To receive credit for this promotional criterion, a taxpayer is to provide a list of locations in New Jersey used for the film and relevant footage for use by the authority for promotional purposes; (2) the creation of five public social media posts including commentary on positive experiences at accessible New Jersey locations or positive experiences filming in the State, using an official account of the taxpayer or the film, or as otherwise permitted by the authority. To receive credit for this promotional criterion, the taxpayer is to provide the Internet website on which the post is publicly visible for use by the authority for promotional purposes; (3) the placement of a New Jersey promotional logo provided by the authority for a two-second exposure, not displayed over content or on a shared card, and displayed before the below-the-line crew crawl; (4) a reference to the State in the film, which is set, at least in part, in New Jersey; and (5) any alternative criteria as the authority provides. Credit for Diversity Plan Under current law, a taxpayer who is eligible for tax credits under the program may receive an additional credit in an amount equal to two percent of the qualified film production expenses or four percent of the digital media content production expenses of the taxpayer during a tax period if: (1) the application is accompanied by a diversity plan outlining specific goals, which may include advertising and recruitment actions, for hiring minority persons and women; (2) the director and the authority have approved the plan as meeting the requirements established by the director and the authority; and (3) the director and the authority have verified that the applicant has met or made good faith efforts in achieving those goals. Current law provides that a tax credit for four percent of qualified film production expenses may be available to a taxpayer, rather than two percent, if the diversity plan includes specific goals that include hiring persons as performers in the film who are: (1) women or members of a minority group; (2) residents of New Jersey for at least 12 months preceding the beginning of filming or recording; and (3) members of a bona fide labor union representing film and television performers. This bill removes the additional requirements necessary for a taxpayer to receive a four percent tax credit, rather than two percent. Under the bill, a taxpayer may earn a credit equal to four percent of qualified film production expenses for a diversity plan meeting the same criteria required for a credit equal to four percent of digital media content production expenses. Modification of Definitions This bill amends the definition of "commitment period" for New Jersey studio partners under the program to be the period beginning with the commencement of the eligibility period and continuing for a minimum of 10 years following the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy or commencement of a lease term, as appropriate. Under current law, the commitment period expires 10 years following the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy or commencement of a lease term. The bill also amends the definition of "eligibility period," in the case of a taxpayer leasing a production facility, to mean the period beginning at the commencement of the lease term for the production facility leased as a condition of designation as a New Jersey studio partner, and extending thereafter for a term of not less than 10 years. Under current law, the term is limited to a maximum of 10 years. The bill modifies the definition of "qualified film production expenses," as it applies to New Jersey studio partners and New Jersey film-lease production companies, to include: the total script costs of any script written within New Jersey; or the product of the total script costs and the percentage of the principal photography shoot days in New Jersey relative to the total principal photography shoot days for the film. Under current law, script costs are not included in qualified film production expenses. | In Committee |
| S4069 | Requires cost-benefit analyses for long term tax exemption, and requires DCA to create database of exemptions; requires five-year tax exemption and abatement agreements to be filed with certain county officials. | Requires cost-benefit analyses for long term tax exemption, and requires DCA to create database of exemptions; requires five-year tax exemption and abatement agreements be filed with certain county officials. | In Committee |
| S275 | Reduces helicopter operations at certain aviation facilities licensed by State. | Reduces helicopter operations at certain aviation facilities licensed by State. | In Committee |
| S1192 | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | In Committee |
| S4288 | Establishes "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act." | This bill establishes the "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act." Under the bill, a virtual currency kiosk means, in part, an electronic terminal of the virtual currency kiosk operator that enables the owner or operator to facilitate the exchange of fiat currency for virtual currency or virtual currency for fiat currency or other virtual currency. The kiosk operator is to provide numerous disclosures to customers to ensure the customer is aware of the threats and possible outcomes as a result of using a virtual currency kiosk. This includes, among other items, disclosure that virtual currency is not legal tender; notice of the customer's liability for unauthorized virtual currency transactions; and the posting of a notice, at or near the kiosk, of a warning of potential scams that may lead a customer to use a kiosk. A virtual currency kiosk operator is to employ a compliance officer and a consumer protection officer to ensure the kiosk operates as required and that consumers are receiving the required disclosures. The operator is to obtain a license from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as a money transmitter to operate the kiosk. Additionally, an operator is issue quarterly reports to the Department on the locations of its virtual currency kiosks. | In Committee |
| S4287 | Requires health insurance coverage for donation of organs from individuals declared dead. | This bill requires a carrier that offers a health benefits plan in New Jersey to provide coverage, without any cost-sharing, to an insured individual for the donation of an organ after the insured individual is declared dead in accordance with the "Declaration of Death Act." The insured individual who is declared dead: (1) is to be registered as an organ donor through the organ donor registry established by the State; or (2) is to have organs donated if the decision to donate is received from a representative of the insured individual who is declared dead, to include, but not be limited to, the named insured of the health benefits plan, if not the insured individual who is declared dead; a spouse; a child who is at least 18 years of age; sibling or legal guardian. | In Committee |
| S1040 | Exempts community gardens composting on-site from certain DEP permits under certain conditions. | Exempts community gardens composting on-site from certain DEP permits under certain conditions. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AJR159 | Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | This joint resolution designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of New Jersey. Ruby Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana by parents Lucille and Abon Bridges. In the same year, the United States Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ending racial segregation in public schools. However, states across the South, including Louisiana, failed to integrate their public schools. This led to a federal court order for Louisiana to desegregate their public schools beginning on November 14, 1960. On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals to the William Frantz Elementary School where Ruby faced violent protesters. The violence of the protestors, blatant racism from parents, and forced isolation plagued Ruby Bridges' first year of attendance at William Frantz Elementary. Despite these hardships, Ruby Bridges never missed a day of school and by the end of her first year, the school decided to admit more African American children the following year. Ruby Bridges' act of bravery inspired America and led to a commemorative piece by famous artist Norman Rockwell titled "The Problem We Must All Live With." Ruby Bridges became a lifelong activist for racial equality by establishing The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, which uses educational initiatives to promote tolerance and unity among schoolchildren. Ruby Bridges has also gained numerous accolades for her life's work, including the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and the honorary title of deputy federal marshal. By setting aside November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, we can celebrate the courage of young Ruby Bridges and the impact her actions had on African American children across America. Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4259 | Exempts certain personal information collected by insurance-support organizations from certain requirements concerning notification and disclosure of personal data. | This bill exempts insurance-support organizations from the provisions of N.J.S.A.56:8-166.4 et seq., which requires certain entities to notify consumers of collection and disclosure of personal data. Under current law, insurance institutions and other entities are exempt from the requirements of N.J.S.A.56:8-166.4 et seq. | In Committee |
| S4223 | Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS. | This bill permits members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), or long term disability insurance recipients who are disabled and receiving TPAF or PERS disability insurance benefits, to be entitled to health care benefits under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) in the same manner as it is provided to retirees of the TPAF and PERS retirement systems who receive health insurance under the SEHBP and SHBP, except that such health care benefits are to be free and will not require employee contributions. The bill provides that there is no deadline for disability insurance recipients to enroll in coverage and no eligibility requirements imposed to receive coverage, other than the member being required to be a recipient of disability insurance under TPAF or PERS. The bill also specifies that health benefits are not to be considered as benefits that reduce the amount that disabled TPAF or PERS members would receive in disability benefits and, for pension purposes, the member is to be considered as if the member was in active service for the duration of the time the disability benefit is received. | In Committee |
| S4258 | Requires county welfare agency to provide financial planning services. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to require a county welfare agency located in the State to: provide financial planning services when requested by a client, free of charge and during the agency's operating hours, via a qualified staff member; in the event that the qualified staff member required under the bill is not available, to direct the client to the Department of the Treasury's free personal finance web-based platform, known as NJ FinLit, or any subsequent platform provided by that department or the State; and promote the availability of financial planning services provided at the agency, as well as the NJ FinLit platform or any subsequent platform provided by the Department of the Treasury or the State, on the agency's website and in the agency's physical office. The bill also appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums of money as are necessary to allocate to county welfare agencies in order to fulfill the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3934 | Codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for 365-day period beginning on last day of pregnancy. | This bill codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365-day period beginning on the last day of a woman's pregnancy. The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services has been mandated to provide this benefit, via budget language included in the State's Annual Appropriations Act, since FY 2022. Moreover, the division has included this policy in the NJ FamilyCare 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration, which governs the operations of significant components of New Jersey' s Medicaid program. The current demonstration is effective through June 30, 2028. The State's efforts regarding Medicaid coverage for pregnant individuals are aligned with changes at the federal level. For example, a provision in the "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" gave states a new option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months, instead of 60 days, via a state plan amendment for the purposes of improving maternal health and coverage stability, and addressing racial disparities in maternal health. This new option took effect on April 1, 2022 and was originally available for five years; however, the option was made permanent by the "Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023." This bill also clarifies that the State's existing coverage of Medicaid services for pregnant individuals is extended to those individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under the State Medicaid plan. | Crossed Over |
| S3450 | Establishes requirements for on-demand micro transit programs operating within State. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish and issue requirements for the operation of any on-demand micro transit programs operating within the State. These requirements are to provide that: (1) employees of an entity providing on-demand micro transit service are responsible for directly operating these services, with certain exceptions described in the bill; (2) on-demand micro transit drivers hold a valid commercial driver license; (3)on-demand micro transit drivers are compensated at no less than the same wages, hours, working conditions, and benefits as other drivers directly employed by the entity providing on-demand micro transit service; (4) existing employees of an entity that provides on-demand micro transit service are not adversely affected by the establishment and operation of the on-demand micro transit program; (5) each on-demand micro transit program creates additional transit service to transit deserts; and (6) the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation), in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, may establish any other rules, guidelines, or protocols. The bill also establishes the Micro Transit Oversight Committee (committee), which is required to review each on-demand micro transit plan established by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, a county transit agency, or any other entity and to certify that the plan meets all of the requirements established under the bill. The committee is to be comprised of three members: a representative from the New Jersey Transit Corporation appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the executive director of the corporation, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and a member appointed by the President of the Senate upon recommendation of the labor organization representing the plurality of employees of the corporation involved in motorbus operations. Each member is to serve a term of one year. A majority of the membership of the committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of committee business, and action may be taken at any meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the membership of the committee. An entity is prohibited from providing on-demand micro transit service until the entity receives the certification required by the bill. Under the bill, "on-demand micro transit" is defined as publicly available, technology-enabled, shared transportation provided by means of a motor vehicle to individuals selecting a pick-up and drop-off location by telephone or through a mobile application, and which transportation is provided at a time selected by the individual or as soon as possible after the individual selects pick-up and drop-off locations for such transportation. | In Committee |
| S3222 | Requires instruction on cybersecurity in grades nine through 12; requires Office of Secretary of Higher Education to develop cybersecurity model curricula; establishes loan redemption programs for individuals in certain cybersecurity occupations. | This bill requires school districts to incorporate instruction on cybersecurity in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in each of the grades nine through 12. The instruction will be based on curriculum guidelines established under the bill by the Commissioner of Education in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell. The curriculum guidelines would provide for a sequential course of study for each of the grades nine through 12 and include various introductory concepts and activities related to cybersecurity. Under the bill, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and the New Jersey Presidents' Council, would develop a cybersecurity model curriculum for use by four-year institutions of higher education in the State and a cybersecurity model curriculum for use by county colleges in the State. The model curricula developed pursuant would assist four-year institutions of higher education and county colleges in developing cybersecurity-related degree programs. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council, are required to develop and distribute to institutions of higher education cybersecurity career pathway marketing materials that provide descriptions of cybersecurity careers and the benefits of pursuing such careers. The bill also creates two student loan redemption programs for individuals seeking careers in cybersecurity-related roles. The Cybersecurity Loan Redemption Program would provide $1,000 to program participants for each year of employment in a cybersecurity occupation approved by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, up to a maximum of four years, for the redemption of a portion of eligible qualifying loan expenses. Among other requirements enumerated in the bill, a program participant is required to be graduate of an approved cybersecurity degree program at an institution of higher education located in New Jersey and be employed in an approved cybersecurity occupation with an employer located in the State. The second loan redemption program, the Cybersecurity Teacher Loan Redemption Program, would similarly provide $1,000 to program participants for each year of service as a teacher in a cybersecurity-related subject matter, as determined by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, up to a maximum of four years, for the redemption of a portion of eligible qualifying loan expenses. Among other requirements enumerated in the bill, a program participant is required to be a teacher of an approved cybersecurity-related subject matter, who is employed by a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project in the State. | 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 |
| S3047 | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | In Committee |
| S2366 | Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits. | This bill would expand eligibility for veterans' hiring preference in the civil service so that individuals who are eligible for veterans' preference in the federal civil service, but are not eligible for preference in the State civil service, would receive additional points above the individual's earned score on State civil service examinations. To receive the additional points, an individual must meet the eligibility requirements established under section 2108 of Title 5, United States Code, as may be amended and supplemented. This means that an honorable or general discharge is necessary. National Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes would not qualify. Under the bill, five points would be added to the passing examination score of an individual who is not eligible for State veterans' hiring preference, but served:· during the period December 7, 1941, to July 1, 1955; or· for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or· during the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; or· in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized, including El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia, Southwest Asia, Bosnia, and the Global War on Terrorism. Under the bill, ten points would be added to the passing examination score of an individual who is not eligible for State disabled veterans' hiring preference, but who served at any time and (1) has a present service-connected disability or (2) is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or a pension from the federal military or the Department of Veterans Affairs. This new benefit to disabled veterans who did not serve in a time of war would apply only if an amendment to the State Constitution is approved by the voters to permit such disabled veterans to receive the benefit. | In Committee |
| S3833 | "Ease of Doing Government Business Act;" requires State and local government entities to simplify procedures and expedite government transactions. | This bill establishes the "Ease of Doing Government Business Act," which requires that, within 180 days of the effective date of enactment of this act, all State and local government entities that provide direct services to the public, including but not limited to, the issuance of licenses, clearances, permits, certifications, and authorizations, undertake a review of its operations and identify steps to streamline and expedite government transactions. This bill requires that at least once each calendar year, the director, commissioner, or chief executive of each State and local government entity review all transactional services provided by the entity to determine the steps that can be taken to simplify, streamline, and expedite the delivery of government services by the entity in a manner that increases efficiency and reduces the time it takes to complete government transactions. The steps are to include, but may not be limited to, simplifying processes and procedures, reducing redundancies, eliminating waste, and increasing efficiency wherever possible, to the extent not inconsistent with the entity's obligations provided for by law. This bill requires that, wherever feasible, each State and local government entity implement online resources, automated services, or any other technologies which may make the delivery of government services more efficient and responsive to the needs of the people of this State. Any such resources, automated services, or technologies are required to utilize plain language that is easily comprehendible, with clear and concise instructions to promote ease of use and, to the extent practicable, provide users with the option to select the language in which they would prefer those services to be delivered. This bill requires that wherever possible, mechanisms are to be provided to permit individuals to provide feedback to the government entity of their transaction experience and submit suggestions for improvement of the delivery of services. Such feedback is to be reviewed by the government entity within 30 days of its submission and considered when adopting plans to increase efficiency of the delivery of services for future transactions. | In Committee |
| S3835 | Establishes Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure. | Establishes Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure. | In Committee |
| S4218 | "New Jersey Public Option Health Care Act." | This bill, the "New Jersey Public Option Health Care Act," creates the New Jersey Public Option Health Care Program in the Department of Health. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, to establish and implement the program, which will provide a comprehensive health insurance coverage option to every State resident who enrolls in the program. The health insurance coverage offered by the program shall compete in the market with insurance offered by private health insurers. The commissioner will determine when individuals may begin enrolling in the program. There shall be an implementation period, which shall begin on the date that individuals may begin enrolling in the program and shall end as determined by the commissioner. The bill creates the New Jersey Public Option Health Care Board to consider any matter to effectuate the provisions and purposes of the bill, and to advise the commissioner in that regard. The board shall be composed of the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, and the Treasurer, or their designees, as ex officio members. In addition, the board will have 11 members to be appointed by the Governor: (1) three of whom shall be representatives of health care consumer advocacy organizations which have a Statewide or regional constituency, who have been involved in activities related to health care consumer advocacy, including issues of interest to low- and moderate-income individuals; (2) one of whom shall be a representative of professional organizations representing physicians; (3) one of whom shall be a representative of professional organizations representing licensed or registered health care professionals other than physicians; (4) two of whom shall be representatives of hospitals, and of those two, one of whom shall be a representative of public hospitals; (5) one of whom shall be a representative of community health centers; (6) one of whom shall be a representative of health care organizations; (7) one of whom shall be a representative of organized labor; and (8) one of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in health care finance; and The board will also include six members appointed by the Governor; two of whom to be appointed on the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly; two of whom to be appointed on the recommendation of the President of the Senate; one of whom to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and one of whom to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate. Members will serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for their necessary and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the business of the board. Under the bill, every resident of the State will be eligible and entitled to enroll as a member under the program. The Commissioner of Health is to establish premiums for which members are responsible and other charges for enrolling in or being a member under the program. The premium shall be determined in a manner to make the program viable, but at the lowest possible cost to members. The bill provides that the program will provide comprehensive health coverage to every member. The commissioner will also determine premiums, deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance under the program. The commissioner is also required to establish and maintain procedures and standards for health care providers to be qualified to participate in the program, including but not limited to procedures and standards relating to the revocation, suspension, limitation, or annulment of qualification to participate on a determination that the health care provider is an incompetent provider of specific health care services or has exhibited a course of conduct which is either inconsistent with program standards and regulations or which exhibits an unwillingness to meet such standards and regulations, or is a potential threat to the public health or safety. Such procedures and standards shall not limit health care provider participation in the program for economic purposes and shall be consistent with good professional practice. Any health care provider who is qualified to participate under Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare or Medicare shall be deemed to be qualified to participate in the program, and any health care provider's revocation, suspension, limitation, or annulment of qualification to participate in any of those programs shall apply to the health care provider's qualification to participate in the program; provided that a health care provider qualified in this manner shall follow the procedures to become qualified under the program by the end of the implementation period. The program will engage in good faith negotiations with health care providers' representatives including, but not limited to, in relation to rates of payment and payment methodologies. Every participating provider is required to furnish to the program such information to, and permit examination of its records by, the program, as may be reasonably required for purposes of reviewing accessibility and utilization of health care services, quality assurance, and cost containment, the making of payments, and statistical or other studies of the operation of the program or for protection and promotion of public, environmental and occupational health. The bill specifies that the program will maintain the confidentiality of all data and other information collected under the program when such data would be normally considered confidential data between a patient and health care provider. Aggregate data of the program which is derived from confidential data but does not violate patient confidentiality will be public information. The bill provides that the commissioner shall seek all federal waivers and other federal approvals and arrangements and submit State plan amendments necessary to operate the program consistent with the bill and to maximize access to health care for residents of the State. The commissioner shall apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services or other appropriate federal official for all waivers of requirements, and make other arrangements, under Medicare, any federally-matched public health program, the Affordable Care Act, and any other federal programs that provide federal funds for payment for health care services, that are necessary to enable all New Jersey Public Option Health Care Program members to receive all benefits under the program through the program and to enable the State to implement the provisions of the bill and to receive and deposit all federal payments under those programs, where appropriate, including funds that may be provided in lieu of premium tax credits, cost-sharing subsidies, and small business tax credits, in the State treasury to the credit of the New Jersey Public Option Health Care Trust Fund and to use those funds for the New Jersey Public Option Health Care Program and other provisions under the bill. The Commissioner will also directly, and through contracts with not-for-profit organizations, provide: (1) consumer assistance to individuals with respect to enrolling, obtaining health care services, disenrolling, and other matters relating to the program; and (2) health care provider assistance to health care providers providing and seeking or considering whether to provide, health care services under the program, with respect to participating in a health care organization and dealing with a health care organization. The bill establishes in the Department of the Treasury a nonlapsing revolving fund to be known as the "New Jersey Public Option Health Care Trust Fund." This fund shall be the repository for monies collected under the bill and other monies received as grants or otherwise appropriated for the purposes of the program. The monies in the fund shall be used only for the purpose of supporting the activities of the program and as otherwise provided for in the bill. | In Committee |
| S4227 | Establishes "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month" in New Jersey. | Since January 2025, several federal executive orders have been signed aiming to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the federal government. Subsequently, several federal agencies have taken actions to comply with the executive orders, including the Defense Intelligence Agency, which has ordered a pause of all events related to several special observances. These special observances include Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, Juneteenth, Women's Equality Day, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month. These federal executive orders have also resulted in the removal of certain terms related to gender identity. The removal is evidenced through actions taken by the federal government, such as updated forms replacing the term "gender" with "sex," websites related to diversity, equity, and inclusion being shut down, and health resources for transgender individuals being taken down from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. In addition, since the Stonewall National Monument is funded by the National Park Service, the monument's website removed any references to transgender or queer individuals. Federally funded research projects have also been required to pause while staff at the National Science Foundation search the research projects for dozens of words that could violate the executive orders, including "women," "disability," "bias," "status," "trauma," "Black," "Hispanic," "socioeconomic," "ethnicity," and "systemic." The State of New Jersey currently celebrates commemorative days and months including, but not limited to, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Juneteenth, Women's Equality Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Disability Employment Awareness Month. It is appropriate for the State of New Jersey to acknowledge the importance of promoting the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion by additionally commemorating "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month." Therefore, this bill designates the month of June of each year as "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month" in New Jersey. LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been persecuted by discriminatory laws and policies that denied access to rights, programs, benefits, and services otherwise guaranteed to the general population. Commemorating "LGBTQIA+ Pride Month" is imperative to acknowledge the contributions LGBTQIA+ individuals, including those who identify as transgender or queer, have made and continue to make to strengthen the fabric of American society, as well as to celebrate authenticity, acceptance, inclusion, and love. | In Committee |
| S1915 | Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers. | This bill authorizes a special Support Our Veterans license plate with the proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veterans' centers, Veterans Haven, North and South. The design of the license plate would be chosen by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Division of Veterans' Services in the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (NJDMAVA). There is a $50 initial fee, in addition to the registration fees required by law, with a $10 annual fee, in addition to the renewal fees required by law. The additional fees, after the deduction of the cost of producing and publicizing the plates, will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Support Our Veterans License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Veterans Haven Council within the (NJDMAVA). The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per license plate in producing, issuing, and publicizing the Support Our Veterans license plates. If the average cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost of producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Support Our Veterans license plate program. The bill also requires that the Veterans Haven Council or other individual or entity designated by the Veterans Haven Council, contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill prohibits the commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the Veterans Haven Council, or its designee, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Support Our Veterans license plate program; and (2) the Veterans Haven Council, or its designee, has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for Support Our Veterans license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The Veterans Haven Council or any individual or entity designated by the Veterans Haven Council, may also publicize the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates in any manner the Veterans Haven Council deems appropriate. The provisions of the bill remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided by the board, and the bill expires after 12 months if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| SCR11 | Amends Constitution to prohibit construction of new fossil fuel power plants. | Amends Constitution to prohibit construction of new fossil fuel power plants. | In Committee |
| S1610 | Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. | Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. | In Committee |
| S3814 | Establishes Dog Training Licensing Board to license and regulate dog trainers. | This bill provides oversight for dog trainers. Specifically, the bill establishes the Dog Training Licensing Board and provides authorization for the board to, among other items: 1) develop educational and experiential requirements for licensure as a dog trainer; and 2) adopt rules and regulations regarding dog training. Under the bill, the board is also to establish an evidence-based, humane training code of practice that aligns with current welfare principles and incorporates scientifically-endorsed methods that preclude the use of aversive training methods. The bill stipulates that licensees are to adopt and practice the Hippocratic "First, do no harm" ethic. The board is authorized to investigate all complaints relating to the proper practice of any licensee and complaints relating to any violation of the bill. The board may also impose disciplinary measures based on a finding of a violation under a preponderance of the evidence standard. The bill includes an exemption from the educational and experiential requirements for individuals who demonstrate the provision of services as a dog trainer continuously in the State for at least one year prior to the effective date of the bill. The bill does not apply to persons who train police dogs or who train dogs intended for use by federal or State agencies to protect the public. | In Committee |
| S4131 | Provides CBT and GIT credits for completion of qualified residential housing projects at abandoned commercial building sites. | The bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for qualified construction costs incurred by a taxpayer for the completion of a qualified residential housing project at the site of an abandoned commercial building in the State. The bill defines "commercial building" as a building of at least 100,000 square feet that is used for commercial purposes. Under the bill, a "qualified residential housing project" means the construction of a new residential housing project at the demolition site of an abandoned commercial building or the conversion, rehabilitation, or repurposing of an abandoned commercial building into a residential housing project. The amount of the tax credit would be capped at the lesser of the following: (1) 25 percent of the qualified construction costs incurred by the taxpayer during the privilege period or taxable year; or (2) $1,000,000. To qualify for the tax credit, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Division of Taxation for a certification that provides: (1) that the qualified residential housing project meets the requirements of the bill; and (2) the amount of the tax credit calculated pursuant to the bill. Finally, the bill would require the Director of the Division of Taxation to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature no later than five years after the enactment of the bill a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the replacement or repurposing of abandoned commercial buildings through the completion of residential housing projects. | In Committee |
| S4129 | Establishes requirements regarding processing of requests to surrender or annuitize matured annuities. | This bill establishes requirements regarding the processing of requests to surrender or annuitize matured annuities. Under the bill, an annuity negotiated or sold to a consumer, with certain exceptions, will not be delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State unless the annuity includes a provision stating: (1) that an insurer will disburse the annuity's funds to the owner within 10 business days of receiving a request by the owner to surrender the annuity; and (2) that the owner will have 90 calendar days from the annuity's maturity date to submit a request to annuitize the annuity, if the annuity also contains a provision allowing it to automatically renew after a certain period of time. Additionally, the bill provides that an annuity negotiated or sold to a consumer, with certain exceptions, will not be delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State unless the annuity includes an option to: (1) electronically disburse funds from the annuity to the owner, if the owner submits a request to the insurer to surrender or annuitize the annuity; and (2) provide an option for the owner to submit a request to surrender or annuitize the annuity to the insurer with a signature guarantee issued by a State or federally chartered bank. Further, the bill provides that an insurer must ensure that any interest being earned on an annuity will continue to be earned after a request is received from the owner to surrender or annuitize the matured annuity. The bill also requires an insurer to provide the owner of an annuity with a phone number and email address of a representative that the owner may contact to inquire about the status of their request to surrender or annuitize their matured annuity. | In Committee |
| S4130 | Concerns inspection information distribution; provides DCA and property management entities with certain responsibility to provide and maintain contact information for owners of residential rental property and planned real estate development associations. | This bill addresses the distribution of information on inspections of certain residential properties, and provides the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and property management entities with certain responsibilities to provide and maintain contact information for owners of residential rental properties and planned real estate development associations. This bill is intended to prevent circumstances in which inspectors are unable to sufficiently communicate the existence of safety issues in residential properties. The bill defines a "property management entity" as a person or entity who, for consideration or the expectation thereof, performs management services, such as administering finances and coordinating meetings, for the association of a planned real estate development, or the owner of a residential rental property. A "planned real estate development" (development) is a term defined in the "The Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act," P.L.1977, c.419 (C.45:22A-21 et seq.) to encompass communities governed by homeowners' associations, condominiums, and cooperative communities. The bill defines a "residential rental property" as a rental property that also meets the definition of a "multiple dwelling," in the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-1 et seq.), meaning the property consists of more than two dwelling units and meets certain other criteria. The bill requires a property management entity to provide DCA with the contact information of each residential rental property owner and the executive board of each development's association, which the property management entity serves, on or before the 15th business day following the effective date of the bill. If the contact information of a residential rental property owner or executive board of a development's association, which the property management entity serves, changes following the bill's effective date, the bill requires the property management entity to provide DCA with the adjusted contact information on or before the 15th business day after the property management entity receives the adjusted information. If a property management entity fails to comply with the requirements of the bill and, as a result, a residential rental property owner, or executive board of an association, does not receive inspection information, then, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the bill directs that the property management entity is to be responsible for the payment of any penalties or fines resulting from the inspection. If a property management entity repeatedly or negligently fails to comply with the provisions of the bill, then the commissioner is to provide this information to the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, which the bill authorizes to revoke any real estate license possessed by the property management entity. The bill further directs DCA to establish and maintain a database of the contact information of each owner and association executive board, as the department determines is necessary for the purpose of facilitating the provision of inspection information. The bill directs DCA to ensure that the database is accessible to each local enforcing agency, as defined in the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), each structural inspector, as defined in P.L.2023, c.214 (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.), and any other parties that the commissioner determines may need access for the purpose of compliance with the bill's requirements for the distribution of inspection information to the owner or executive board. The bill takes effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment, except that the bill requires the commissioner to adopt the regulations necessary to effectuate the requirements of the bill on or before the first day of the fifth month following enactment. | In Committee |
| S4115 | Permits SDA districts to receive State debt service aid for eligible costs of certain school facilities projects. | This bill allows an SDA (former Abbott) school district to receive State debt service aid for school bonds issued to finance the costs of school facilities projects constructed by the district. The bill specifies that the school facilities project, for which an SDA district would be able to receive State debt service aid, is to be approved by the Commissioner of Education in accordance with procedures in current law that are applicable to school districts other than SDA districts. The SDA district may issue school bonds to finance the total costs of the project, in which case the issuance of the bonds would require voter approval pursuant to procedures laid out in current law concerning school bond referenda. The bill prohibits an SDA district from seeking debt service aid for a project that is: 1) included in the most recent educational priority ranking of SDA district school facilities projects, which ranking is developed by the Commissioner of Education under current law; or 2) identified for advancement in the most recent version of the Statewide strategic plan for SDA district school facilities projects, which plan is established by the Schools Development Authority. Current State law gives the Schools Development Authority the general responsibility of managing the new construction, modernization, and renovation of school facilities projects in SDA districts. The State is responsible for 100 percent of the eligible costs of SDA district school facilities projects. Meanwhile, school districts other than SDA districts are eligible for State debt service aid for school bonds issued to finance the total costs of a school facilities project. For districts that have issued these school bonds, current law provides that the State will provide support at a minimum of 40 percent of eligible project costs. Even though SDA districts are able to benefit from 100 percent State support for school facilities projects that are constructed by the Schools Development Authority, the districts may at times experience delays in addressing their facilities needs as the Schools Development Authority constructs other projects. While the SDA districts may currently seek voter approval to issue bonds for school facilities projects, current State law does not provide them the ability to receive State support for those bonds through debt service aid. This bill would permit SDA districts to issue the bonds, subject to voter approval, and receive debt service aid to support project costs. | In Committee |
| S4114 | Requires MVC to develop informational pamphlet concerning operation of low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters; requires certain food delivery companies to distribute pamphlet to certain individuals. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to develop and publish an informational pamphlet concerning the operation of low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters. Additionally, this bill requires a food delivery company to distribute the pamphlet to all individuals who deliver food on behalf of the company by means of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter. When developing the pamphlet, the MVC is required to include, at a minimum: (1) current laws and regulations regarding the operation of low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters; (2) penalties for failure to follow the current laws and regulations regarding the operation of low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters; and (3) a notice stating that all food delivery companies operating within this State are required to distribute the pamphlet to all individuals who deliver food on behalf of the company by means of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter. The MVC is required to update the pamphlet at least once a year with any updated laws and regulations regarding the operation of low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters. The MVC is required to publish the pamphlet on the commission's Internet website and include a translation of the pamphlet from English to at least five languages, including Spanish. The MVC is required to distribute two copies of the pamphlet to any food delivery company operating within this State within 60 days of developing the pamphlet and an updated pamphlet annually. Additionally, under this bill, any food delivery company operating within this State is required to distribute a copy of the pamphlet to all individuals who deliver food on behalf of the food delivery company by means of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter within 30 days of receiving the informational pamphlet and include a copy of the pamphlet in any paperwork given to a prospective employee during the hiring process. This bill defines "food delivery company" as any company providing food ordering and delivery services that allows a customer to place an order for delivery by telephone or online either through a mobile application or Internet website and uses a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter to deliver the food. | In Committee |
| SCR123 | Strongly condemns decision of President Trump to permit immigration enforcement actions in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. | This concurrent resolution condemns the decision of President Donald J. Trump to rescind the longstanding federal policy of prohibiting immigration enforcement officers from taking action in sensitive locations, which included: schools; places of worship; hospitals and other healthcare facilities; shelters; relief centers; and public demonstrations, like rallies and protests. These sensitive locations have long been recognized as safe havens essential for public trust and the well-being of our communities. Removing the protected status of these locations undermines this trust and prohibits vulnerable individuals from accessing critical resources and service. This resolution condemns the decision of President Donald J. Trump to rescind longstanding federal policy and reaffirms New Jersey's commitment to providing equal access to essential services. | In Committee |
| A1899 | Expands authority of pharmacy technician in administering drugs and vaccines and permits certain pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccine. | An Act concerning pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians, COVID-19 vaccines, and amending P.L.2003, c.280. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR109 | Designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. | This joint resolution designates November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of New Jersey. Ruby Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana by parents Lucille and Abon Bridges. In the same year, the United States Supreme Court issued the landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ending racial segregation in public schools. However, states across the South, including Louisiana, failed to integrate their public schools. This led to a federal court order for Louisiana to desegregate their public schools beginning on November 14, 1960. On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals to the William Frantz Elementary School where Ruby faced violent protesters. The violence of the protesters, blatant racism from parents, and forced isolation plagued Ruby Bridges' first year of attendance at William Frantz Elementary. Despite these hardships, Ruby Bridges never missed a day of school. By the end of her first year, the school decided to admit more African American children the following year. Ruby Bridges' act of bravery inspired America and led to a commemorative piece by famous artist Norman Rockwell titled "The Problem We Must All Live With." Ruby Bridges became a lifelong activist for racial equality. She established The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999, which uses educational initiatives to promote tolerance and unity among schoolchildren. Ruby Bridges has also gained numerous accolades for her life's work, including the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and the honorary title of deputy federal marshal. By setting aside November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, the citizens of New Jersey can celebrate the courage of young Ruby Bridges and the impact her actions had on African American children across America. | In Committee |
| A4968 | Modifies list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | An Act concerning the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to finance a portion of the cost of certain transportation infrastructure projects and amending P.L.2024, c.43. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S290 | Extends protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with disabilities. | This bill extends the protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with a disability pursuant to the "Senior Citizens and Disabled Protected Tenancy Act," N.J.S.A.2A:18-61.22 et al. ("act"). The bill extends the protected tenancy period to the lifetime of those tenants who are senior citizens and those tenants with a disability. The extension of the protections provided pursuant to the bill are necessary in the service of the public interest, as life expectancies have continued to increase in the United States since the initial enactment of the act, in order to protect senior citizen tenants and tenants with a disability from harmful disruptions in their living conditions later in life. These protections are especially imperative during a time when economic dislocations have sharply increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and as recent evidence has proven that relocation at older age has been related to declines of both physical and cognitive functions. | 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 |
| SR121 | Urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments regarding employee whistleblower protections. | This resolution urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments to protect employees who raise risk-related concerns. Artificial intelligence technology has the potential to provide unprecedented benefits to humanity but also poses serious risks, such as perpetuating inequalities, manipulation and misinformation, and the potential loss of control of autonomous artificial intelligence systems. Many risks associated with artificial intelligence are currently unregulated, and existing whistleblower protections are inadequate to protect employees from retaliation for publicly disclosing concerns. In the absence of government oversight, employees of artificial intelligence companies are among the few individuals capable of holding the companies accountable. However, broad confidentiality agreements prevent employees from voicing concerns beyond the company failing to address the issues. Additionally, independent evaluation is critical to identifying the risk posed by artificial intelligence systems, but is stymied by the lack of both legal and technical safe harbor, without which evaluators face legal reprisal or account suspension or termination. Legal safe harbor protects evaluators from legal reprisal, and technical safe harbor protects evaluators from account suspension or termination. The resolution urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments to mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence by adhering to the following principles: (1) The company will not enter into or enforce any agreement prohibiting disparagement or criticism of the company for risk-related concerns or retaliate for risk-related criticism by hindering any vested economic benefit; (2) The company will facilitate a verifiably anonymous process for current and former employees to raise risk-related concerns to the company board, to regulators, and to an appropriate independent organization with relevant expertise; (3) The company will support a culture of open criticism and allow current and former employees to raise risk-related concerns about its technologies to the public, to the company board, to regulators, or to an appropriate independent organization with relevant expertise, so long as trade secrets and other intellectual property interests are appropriately protected; (4) The company will provide legal and technical safe harbor for good faith system evaluation, ensuring safety from legal reprisal, account suspension, or termination, while maintaining the protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property. Safe harbor should enable independent identification of all forms of risks posed by artificial intelligence systems; (5) The company will not retaliate against current and former employees who publicly share risk-related confidential information after other processes have failed. (6) Current and former employees should retain the freedom to publicly report concerns until the creation of an adequate process for anonymously raising concerns. Efforts to report risk-related concerns should avoid releasing confidential information unnecessarily. | In Committee |
| S4002 | Prohibits sale of cosmetic products and personal care products containing 1,4-dioxane. | This bill would prohibit the sale of cosmetic products and personal care products that contain 1,4-dioxane. The prohibitions on the sale of cosmetic products and personal care products that contain 1,4-dioxane would go into effect one year after the bill's enactment. The bill would direct the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to formulate allowable trace concentrations of 1,4-dioxane in cosmetic and personal care products, and would establish certain maximum thresholds for these allowable trace concentrations. The bill would also allow a manufacturer to apply to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a waiver for a product if the manufacturer demonstrates that it has taken steps to reduce the presence of 1,4-dioxane in the product and is unable to comply with the requirements of the bill. The bill's provisions are based on Chapter 613 of the 2019 Laws of New York, which similarly prohibits the sale of cosmetic products and personal care products that contain 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-dioxane a clear liquid chemical with a faint sweet odor, which occurs as a byproduct during the manufacturing of certain ingredients in cosmetic, cleaning, and personal care products. Since the 1980s, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that manufacturers use the "vacuum stripping" technique as a way of reducing 1,4-dioxane in these products. However, the chemical is still widely found, albeit at very low concentrations, in these products. 1,4-dixoane is a hazardous substance and a potential human carcinogen. | In Committee |
| A1476 | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3988 | Allows tax credit for expenses incurred for medical insurance premiums and deductible payments for certain taxpayers under gross income tax. | This bill would allow income-eligible resident taxpayers to claim a gross income tax credit for expenses incurred for medical insurance premiums and insurance deductible medical expense payments. Specifically, the bill provides that an individual filer or married individual filing separately would be allowed to claim the credit, provided that the taxpayer has gross income not greater than $65,000 during the taxable year. The bill also provides that a married individual filing a joint return or an individual filing as head of household may claim the credit, provided that the taxpayer's combined gross income is not greater than $130,000 during the taxable year. Under the bill, the amount of the tax credit would equal the difference between: (1) the total of insurance deductible medical expenses and medical insurance premium expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, minus (2) 8.5 percent of the taxpayer's gross income for the taxable year. Under current law, taxpayer are allowed to claim gross income tax deductions for certain medical expenses, including a deduction for certain medical expenses paid in excess of two percent of the taxpayer's gross income. Self-employed individuals may also claim a deduction for amounts paid for insurance constituting medical care. This bill prohibits a taxpayer from claiming the tax credit authorized in this bill related to any expense for which one of these deductions is claimed. The bill also requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to coordinate with the Commissioner of Health to advertise the availability of the tax credits allowed under this bill. | In Committee |
| S3989 | Expands list of animals prohibited from use in traveling animal acts; limits certain exceptions to apply only at educational institutions. | This bill would amend section 1 of P.L.2018, c.141 (C.23:2A-16), known as "Nosey's Law," by expanding the list of animals covered under the law. Nosey's law prohibits the use of "wild or exotic animals" in a traveling animal act. Currently, domestic species such as cattle, bison, domestic dogs, domestic cats, domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules are excluded from the definition of "wild or exotic animals" under the law. This bill would remove the exclusions from the definition. Additionally, two new animal classifications would be added to the definition of "wild or exotic animals," lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) and rodentia (rodents). This bill would make it illegal to use these animals in a traveling animal act. Finally, the bill would limit the exceptions provided in the current law to provide that the prohibition on the use of certain animals in a traveling exhibition would not apply only when outreach programs for bona fide educational or conservation purposes are conducted at an educational institution. | In Committee |
| S3987 | Prohibits sale of certain diet pills and dietary supplements for muscle building to persons under 18 years of age under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the sale of certain diet pills and dietary supplements to minors. Specifically, the bill prohibits a person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, or other entity from selling any over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building to a minor under 18 years of age, unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian. The bill defines "dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building" to mean a class of dietary supplements that is labeled, marketed, or otherwise represented for the purpose of achieving weight loss or muscle building, but shall not include protein powders, protein drinks, or foods marketed as containing protein unless the protein powder, protein drink, or food marketed as containing protein contains an ingredient other than protein which would, considered alone, constitute a dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building. "Over-the-counter diet pill" means a class of drugs labeled, marketed, or otherwise represented for the purpose of achieving weight loss that are lawfully sold, transferred, or furnished over-the-counter, with or without a prescription, pursuant to the "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act," 21 U.S.C. s.301 et seq., or pursuant to regulations adopted thereunder. Under the bill, no person is to complete a delivery of any over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building to a residence in this State without first obtaining the signature of an individual who is at least 18 years of age and who resides in that residence. The bill establishes a defense against prosecution for a violation of this provision, as well as an exemption for postal workers. A person who violates the bill's provisions is to be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $750. The civil penalty is to be collected by and in the name of the State by the local health agency pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), in a summary proceeding before the municipal court having jurisdiction. The bill establishes criteria for a court to consider when determining whether an over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement is labeled, marketed, or otherwise represented for the purpose of achieving weight loss or muscle building. The bill's provisions do not apply to any over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building that has been prescribed by a licensed health care professional. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to impose liability on news media that accept advertising, publish advertising, or both for any over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building. | In Committee |
| S3985 | Requires DOBI to establish integrated enrollment platform for State-based health insurance exchange and NJ FamilyCare program. | This bill requires the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) to establish an integrated platform for the State-based health insurance exchange and the NJ FamilyCare program. Under current law, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to submit a proposal for available federal funding to integrate the Medicaid eligibility platform with the State-based exchange, but is not required to complete the integration. Under the bill, DOBI, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, will be required to integrate the State-based exchange with the State Medicaid program's eligibility platform to create an integrated platform that allows for individuals to determine their eligibility for health benefits plans under the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program, the New Jersey Small Employer Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCare program, which includes the State Medicaid Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, will be required to submit a proposal for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| S3984 | Establishes public-private partnerships to develop artificial intelligence job training. | This bill enables the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to establish public-private partnerships to develop and advance AI workforce training. The training will have a dual purpose of retraining workers displaced by AI and providing training in AI skills for active workers to enable the workforce to remain competitive in evolving AI technology. The public-private partnerships will enable the private entity to assume full financial and administrative responsibility for the development of training and retraining services related to AI in exchange for not being subject to certain procurement and prevailing wage criteria. The department will establish methods of publicizing the program, establish criteria for evaluating the proposals, and define the various administrative requirements. In addition, the department will establish an advisory council to provide targeted feedback on the progress of the program and insight on how that training can be improved. | In Committee |
| S3986 | Requires registration, inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfection of cooling towers to control outbreaks of Legionnaire's Disease. | This bill requires the registration, inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfection of cooling towers. Cooling towers, which use a recirculated water system, are associated with outbreaks of Legionnaire's Disease, a respiratory condition characterized by pneumonia-like symptoms which can, in severe cases, result in death. Legionnaire's Disease is caused by contamination with Legionella bacteria, which grow in water and are spread through inhalation of contaminated mist or vapor. It is the sponsor's belief that establishing requirements for the inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfection of cooling towers will help prevent future outbreaks of Legionnaire's Disease. Under the bill, the owner of a building at which a cooling tower is located will be required to register the cooling tower with the Department of Health (DOH) prior to initial operation of the cooling tower or, in the case of a currently-existing cooling tower, within 30 days of the effective date of the bill. The registration will include the owner's contact information and details concerning the cooling tower's specifications. The owner will additionally be required to meet certain requirements for inspecting, testing, cleaning, and disinfecting the cooling tower, and will be required to develop and implement a maintenance program and plan for the cooling tower consistent with the manufacturer's instructions and with the current standards and guidelines published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Specifically, the owner will be required to ensure that a cooling tower that has been shut down for more than five days is cleaned and disinfected no more than 15 days before the tower is put into use, and that each cooling tower is inspected and tested for evidence of organic material, biofilm, algae, and other visible contaminants, as well as microbial contamination, at least once every three months during any period of the year during which the cooling tower is in use. The owner will be required to certify to DOH that the inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfection requirements have been met no later than November 1 of each year. The owner will be required to maintain records of inspections, tests, cleanings, and disinfections for three years, and will be required to maintain a copy of the maintenance program and plan on the premises at all times. The records and maintenance documents will be made available for DOH inspection at any time. An owner who fails to meet the registration, inspection, testing, cleaning, disinfection, certification, or recordkeeping requirements of the bill will be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 for a first violation and not more than $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation, except that the owner will be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for any violation which leads to the serious injury or death of any person. Penalties will be recovered by and in the name of the Commissioner of Health and will be paid by the commissioner into the treasury of the State. In addition, when testing detects levels of microbes that indicate a maintenance deficiency requiring mitigation, the owner will be required to clean and disinfect the cooling tower within 48 hours; when test results indicate levels of microbes that present a serious health threat, the owner will be required to notify DOH and clean and disinfect the cooling tower within 24 hours. If an owner does not clean and disinfect the cooling tower within these time limits, the department may serve an order on the owner requiring compliance within a specified time. If the owner does not comply with the order, the department may complete the required cleaning and disinfection and may recover the costs of cleaning and disinfection from the owner. In addition, an owner who knowingly fails to comply with an order would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, up to a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill requires that the inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfection of a cooling tower, and the development of a maintenance program and plan for the cooling tower, be conducted by or under the supervision of a qualified person. The owner of a building would be permitted to designate a qualified operator to carry out the inspection, testing, cleaning, and disinfecting requirements; however, the owner would be solely liable for any civil or criminal penalties for a violation. If the owner of a building where a cooling tower is located removes or permanently discontinues use of a cooling tower, the owner will be required to notify DOH within 30 days, and include with the notice a statement that the cooling tower has been drained and sanitized. The owner will thereafter not be required to meet the requirements of the bill with respect to that cooling tower. The department will be permitted to establish reasonable fees for the registration, discontinuation of use, and annual certification of cooling towers. The commissioner will be required to annually report to the Governor and to the Legislature concerning compliance with the requirements of the bill, including the number of reported tests that found microbes at levels that present a serious health threat, the number of cases of Legionnaire's disease reported in each of the previous 10 years, and the commissioner's recommendations for further legislative action. | In Committee |
| S3839 | Modifies list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | This bill makes changes to the authorization given to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for Fiscal Year 2025. P.L.2024, c.43 was enacted into law on July 10, 2024, which authorized the NJIB to expend, for the purpose of making loans to or on behalf of local government units to finance all or a portion of the cost of construction of certain transportation infrastructure projects, up to $53,883,706 or such amounts as can be supported through the balances in the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank Fund and via direct appropriation through the State capital program. This bill amends the list of transportation infrastructure projects for which the NJIB is authorized to make loans pursuant to P.L.2024, c.43 to include new projects, remove projects, modify the priority of certain projects, and modify the allowable loan amounts for certain projects. The bill authorizes the NJIB to expend up to $61,400,000 or such amounts as can be supported through the balances in the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank Fund and via direct appropriation through the State capital program. | In Committee |
| S1981 | Expands authority of pharmacy technician in administering drugs and vaccines and permits certain pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccine. | Expands authority of pharmacy technician in administering drugs and vaccines and permits certain pharmacists and pharmacy interns, externs, and technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccine. | In Committee |
| S765 | Revises law prohibiting feeding of bears; establishes program in DEP for distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. | Revises law prohibiting feeding of bears; establishes program in DEP for distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. | In Committee |
| S361 | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | In Committee |
| S1577 | Requires maintenance of roadways surrounding State capitol complex. | Requires maintenance of roadways surrounding State capitol complex. | Crossed Over |
| SJR71 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3954 | Concerns State regulation of boarding houses, including cooperative sober living residences. | The bill amends the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979" to strengthen the State's regulation of cooperative sober living residences, as defined in the bill. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for certain licensing violations for a rooming or boarding house, including cooperative sober living residences. The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to maintain a list of licensed cooperative sober living residences on its Internet website including the location and contact information for each licensed cooperative sober living residence. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for incidents affecting the safety or welfare of cooperative sober living residence residents or staff, which includes an immediate notification to DCA and a written report of the incident within five working days of the incident. Incidents for which the bill's reporting requirements would apply include: (1) fire, flood, disaster, accident, or other unanticipated event that results in the serious injury or death of a resident or staff member, or the evacuation of residents from the cooperative sober living residence, or closure of the cooperative sober living residence for six or more hours; (2) serious injury or death of a resident of the cooperative sober living residence, including overdose; (3) outbreak of a communicable disease or other condition that adversely affects multiple residents or staff; (4) alleged or suspected crimes that endanger the life or safety of residents or staff, or which jeopardize the operations or fiscal stability of the cooperative sober living residence; (5) disciplinary actions concerning staff, including termination, resulting from inappropriate staff interaction with residents; and (6) criminal convictions or disciplinary sanctions imposed on staff or board members or representatives of the governing authority by licensing or credentialing boards since the prior application for licensure. | In Committee |
| A4047 | Revises unemployment compensation law. | An Act concerning unemployment compensation and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3545 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| S3496 | Provides for voluntary contributions for taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support reproductive health care services. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support equitable access to reproductive health care services for individuals who cannot afford them. Under the bill, the State would be required to annually appropriate the amounts deposited into the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" for distribution, in equal amounts, to the three largest providers of reproductive health care services to Medicaid patients in the State during the previous calendar year, as determined by the Commissioner of Health. The bill requires these monies to be used to provide reproductive health care services to individuals who cannot afford such services. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" to mean medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy. | In Committee |
| S3492 | Creates "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to strengthen access to reproductive health care. | This bill implements various measures to strengthen access to reproductive health care services in the State and establishes the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to address those purposes. The fund will be used for the following purposes: (1 "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program"; (2) "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program"; and (3) "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program". The purpose of the "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program" established in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety will be to protect access to reproductive health care by ensuring that there are sufficient number of health care professionals to provide reproductive health care services. For instance, the program will ensure that the coordinating organization has demonstrated experience in coordinating health care training programs for reproductive health care services and family planning services. The coordinating organization will also be responsible for administering grants to develop and sustain reproductive health care services. The bill provides that the "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program" in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness will make available grants to eligible reproductive health care facilities which the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness determines are at a high risk of being the target of unlawful activity, including acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, cyber attacks, and harassment. Grants provided under the program will be used to hire security personnel and target-hardening equipment. Further, the "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program" will award loans to eligible reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care services. Under the bill, loans awarded will be used to support establishing or renovating existing health care facilities, investments in technology to facilitate care, the recruitment and retention of staff, and other operational needs that increase reproductive health care services. The bill requires that the Department of Health conduct a Statewide needs assessment to examine the gaps in access and delivery of reproductive health care services in the State, including the impact that out-of-State restrictions have had on the need for reproductive health care services and the provider network in the State. Finally, the bill appropriates monies from the General Fund, subject to availability, to the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund." The FY 2024 Appropriations Act includes a $5 million appropriation for OBGYN Clinical Training Program to provide training to licensed members of the health care community. Another $5 million in FY 2024 is appropriated for the Reproductive Health Security Grant Program toward securing clinics. These grants support reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care with target hardening support. The FY 2024 Governor's Budget recommends language in which the Office of Homeland Security Preparedness will receive reimbursement to administer the grant. | In Committee |
| S3493 | Requires affirmative written consent for certain entities to disclose individual's medical information regarding reproductive health care services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services. | This bill requires health care providers, business associates of a covered entity, and carriers to receive affirmative written consent in order to disclose a patient's or covered person's medical information regarding reproductive health care services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services. Under the bill: "health care provider" means an individual or entity which, acting within the scope of its licensure or certification, provides a health care service; a "business associate of a covered entity" means the same as those terms are defined under federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" rules, or a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or provides services to, health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers; "carrier" means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State; and "reproductive health care services" means all medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system including, but not limited to, services relating to pregnancy, contraception, or termination of a pregnancy. Specifically, this bill prohibits a health care provider, a business associate of a covered entity, or carrier from intentionally sharing, selling, using for marketing, or otherwise disclosing any personally identifiable medical information regarding reproductive health care services for any purpose not necessary to provide, or pay benefits for, those services, without the affirmative written consent of the patient or the covered person, or an authorized legal representative. Under the bill, "Medical information" includes information that is acquired using in-person or telephone communication, submitted documentation, a mobile application, an Internet website, or a wearable device. Further, "affirmative written consent" means a freely given, specific agreement collected on a standalone form, which clearly states to the patient how records containing medical information could be used and to whom the contents of the records could be disclosed, and allows the patient to refuse consent for specific disclosures. The bill further mandates that a health care provider, a business associate of a covered entity, or carrier are required to inform a patient or a covered person, or authorized legal representative, of the right to withhold such affirmative written consent at or before the time reproductive health care services are rendered or at such time as the covered person discloses any information relating to reproductive health care services that have been previously rendered. The bill allows for disclosure without affirmative written consent under certain circumstances. These exceptions include when disclosure is: 1) to medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency; 2) to the extent that the health care provider or carrier is a covered entity and the disclosure is made to a business associate under a valid business associate agreement; 3) as required to comply with the laws of this State, federal law, or the Rules of Court; 4) pursuant to a court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State upon a showing of good cause; 5) by a health care provider or carrier against whom a claim has been made, for use in the defense of the action or proceeding; 6) to certain State entities or licensing boards for records of a patient or covered person in connection with an investigation of a complaint, if the records are related to the complaint; 7) to a federal or State agency charged with investigating known or, in good faith, suspected child abuse, abuse of an elderly individual, abuse of an individual who is incapacitated, or abuse of an individual with a physical or mental disability, if such disclosure is requested in connection with an investigation of abuse that would constitute a crime under the laws of this State and such records are related to such investigation; and 8) pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commissioners of Health and Banking and Insurance. Under the bill, if a court of competent jurisdiction finds that a health care provider or carrier has violated the provisions of this bill, the court may award damages, computed at a rate of $1,000 per violation, reasonable attorney's fees, and the costs incurred in maintaining that civil action. Finally, nothing contained in the bill is to be construed to limit, diminish, or abrogate the rights of a person under the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191 or the obligations of a health care provider or carrier under that law. | In Committee |
| S3494 | Requires four-year public institution of higher education to develop and implement reproductive health services plan; requires county college to develop referral network for reproductive health care services. | This bill requires four-year public institutions of higher education to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan. Pursuant to the bill, the plan is required to include: making available on-campus services provided by health care professionals, or referrals to off-campus services provided by health care professionals or health care facilities, for: obtaining contraception, including non-prescription and prescription emergency contraception and pharmacist authorized, self-administered hormonal contraceptives; services for preventing, testing for, and treating sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; prenatal care; and abortion. The plan is also required to include: methods to provide students with 24-hour access to over-the-counter contraception through the student health center, on-campus retail establishments, or vending machines; the provision of evidence-based reproductive health education services provided by the student health center, peer educators, or other health education programs; and the development of a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus health care services located within the county that the four-year institution of higher education is located. The bill also requires county colleges to develop a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus reproductive health care services in the county in which the county college is located in. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Human Services, to develop guidelines to assist public institutions of higher education in developing and implementing a reproductive health services plan and county colleges in developing the referral network. Finally, the bill stipulates that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require a public institution of higher education to be a direct provider of reproductive health care services, including abortion. | In Committee |
| A3446 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| S286 | Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons. | Permits certain local units and authorities to reduce water, sewer, and stormwater fees and other charges for low-income persons. | Crossed Over |
| S988 | Requires DOE and DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results. | This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish online reporting systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results. In July 2016, the State Board of Education adopted regulations requiring every school in the State to test for lead in drinking water. Shortly thereafter, in January 2017, the Department of Children and Families adopted regulations requiring each child care facility in the State to test for lead in drinking water. While lead test results were required to be submitted to the respective departments and made available to children and parents, there is currently no centralized database for, or report on, this data available to the public and policy makers. Such a centralized database would allow policy makers and the public to better understand the extent of lead contamination in schools and child care centers in the State and allow policy makers to do the necessary analysis to effectuate remedial funding and technical assistance. This bill would require the DOE and the DCF to establish online reporting systems for schools and childcare centers to report their lead testing results electronically. Under the bill, within 90 days after establishment of the databases, each school and childcare center that was required pursuant to law or regulation to test for lead would be required to submit or resubmit its test results and any other required information via the online reporting system. The DOE and DCF would be required to compile the test results on their respective Internet websites for access by the public. Finally, the bill would require both departments to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the extent of lead contamination in the drinking water of schools and child care centers, the associated need for assistance with remediation activities, and recommendations for how the State can assist schools and child care centers with remediating lead in drinking water. This bill stems from recommendations in the Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure's final report, released in January 2018. | In Committee |
| S331 | Authorizes creation of Student Movement Against Cancer license plates. | Authorizes creation of Student Movement Against Cancer license plates. | In Committee |
| S2978 | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | In Committee |
| S2852 | Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits. | Concerns eligibility for unemployment benefits. | In Committee |
| S3537 | Requires State to bear partial cost of transportation of certain homeless students to school. | This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence. Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student's parent or guardian remains homeless for that period. In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless. | In Committee |
| S3685 | Requires municipalities to accept complaints and provide certain municipal announcements by electronic means. | Requires municipalities to accept complaints and provide certain municipal announcements by electronic means. | In Committee |
| S3772 | Concerns valuation of board and lodging with respect to workers' compensation. | This bill revises the workers' compensation law to modernize its treatment of board and lodging provided by an employer when calculating the rate of benefits. Currently, board and lodging furnished by an employer are regarded as part of wages and valued at $25 per week, unless a different amount is fixed at the time of hiring. The bill provides, instead, that, unless a different amount is fixed at the time of hiring, the value of employer furnished board and lodging be its market value, except that if the claimant continues to receive board or lodging during the period of total temporary disability, the value of the board or lodging will not be included in the calculation of the workers' compensation rate for purposes of temporary total disability. | In Committee |
| S3871 | Establishes Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program and artificial intelligence apprenticeship tax credit program. | This bill establishes an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Under the bill, the program will collaborate with companies in the artificial intelligence industry to offer apprenticeship opportunities that focus on artificial intelligence technology, data analytics, and automation; facilitate partnerships between employers and educational institutions; assist employers in establishing and administering apprenticeship programs; and inform employers of the artificial intelligence apprenticeship tax credit program. The bill also establishes an artificial intelligence apprenticeship tax credit program under the gross income tax and corporation business tax. The bill gives employers with qualified artificial intelligence industry apprenticeship programs the lesser of $5,000 per apprentice or one-half of an apprentice's wages. To qualify for credit, an apprenticeship must employee an unskilled or semi-skilled person in the artificial intelligence industry, including data analytics and automation, that is employed by the taxpayer for no less than 20 calendar weeks in the privilege period as part of a term of artificial intelligence industry training not exceeding four tax years. | In Committee |
| A4447 | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | An Act concerning health care practitioner referrals and amending P.L.1989, c.19. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR46 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the many Hindu residents of this State and their rich and noteworthy history and cultural contributions to this State. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to a time between 3000-8000 BCE. Sacred texts have been passed on through generations for thousands of years, creating a strong following of 1.1 billion Hindus in the 21st century. Hindus believe in a variety of deities, each representing different concepts and values within Hinduism. Different sects of Hindus emphasize particular deities and practices over others, depending on their beliefs. Various Hindu gods and goddesses can be traced to origin points spanning several thousand years, making the traditions surrounding Hinduism and the Hindu deities rich and storied. Some deities have holidays celebrated in their honor, such as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Another well-known Hindu holiday is Holi, the Festival of Colors. It is a holiday celebrating the coming of spring, famous for colorful paste and water thrown on those celebrating. Hindus have made enormous contributions to cultural development throughout history across the globe. Significant achievements in math, science, and medicine used in the modern world can be traced to Hindus. New Jersey is lucky enough to be the state with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the United States. The Hindu community has shown others the beauty of their beliefs, including though the establishment of the largest Hindu temple in the world, now located in Robbinsville, New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR12 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S2949 | Revises unemployment compensation law. | This bill amends the State law regarding unemployment insurance (UI) to: 1. Add any disabled, unmarried adult child of a UI benefit claimant, whose disability began before the age of 22, to the dependents counted for the purpose of calculating weekly UI benefit amounts. 2. Provide that an individual otherwise eligible for UI benefits is not deemed ineligible for the benefits solely because the individual is a student in full-time attendance, or on vacation from, at an educational institution, so long as the individual remains available for work, eliminating the current benefit eligibility requirement for the individual to have earned sufficient wages while enrolled in full-time in education. 3. Shift the current provisions of the UI law that permit the payment of UI benefits to a claimant who is a participant in a department-approved training program from being an exception to the disqualification from benefits when enrolled in full-time education to being a circumstance under which a claimant is eligible, and specify that the claimant's participation in the program is required to be in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of R.S.43:21-4, which states that a claimant is not disqualified for benefits for failing or refusing to accept work while attending the program. 4. Permit a claimant to request that the department make its notification of its initial determination of the benefit claim by electronic means. 5. Provide that the current requirement that benefits paid pending an appeal be paid according to the initial determination applies only to the period before the appeal tribunal makes a decision regarding the appeal and provide that the benefits then will be paid according to the decision of the appeal tribunal, pending any appeal of the appeal tribunal decision made to the board of review. 6. Remove the requirement in the current law that in cases where an appeal made by an employer of a charge to its UI tax account results in a reduction of benefits to a claimant, any overpayment of benefits paid before the resolution of the appeal is charged to the employer's UI tax account. 7. Require the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to develop a mechanism for claimants to have electronic access to their own benefit payment status and history. 8. Remove the provision of current law that a claimant is not required to repay any of an overpayment of UI benefits if the overpayment is not caused by a knowing, fraudulent nondisclosure or misrepresentation by the claimant or representative of the claimant, and is not required to repay more than 50 percent of the overpayment if it was made because of both claimant error and department error or employer error or nondisclosure, but without knowing, fraudulent nondisclosure or misrepresentation by the claimant. Instead, the bill provides that if a claimant requests a waiver of the repayment, the department is required to provide a full waiver repayment if the claimant did not withhold or misrepresent any material fact to obtain benefits and the overpayment is due to an error of the department or an error of the employer or failure of the employers to provide information, or also if the claimant has died or become disabled, or recovery is determined to be contrary to equity and good conscience. The bill also requires the department to provide a waiver, even if the claimant makes no request, for an overpayment caused by department error, employer error, or employer failure to provide information, if the department has determined that the claimant did not misrepresent or withhold any material fact to obtain benefits. 9. Provide that the calculation of the claimant's average weekly wage used to determine a claimant's weekly benefit amount is based on wages with all base year employers, not just the wages of the most recent employer before the layoff, but with the total number of base weeks limited to 52. The bill also prevents a base-year employer's UI tax account from being charged for UI benefits paid to a claimant while the claimant continues to work for that employer but is laid off by another base year employer. 10. Remove, in the case of joint State-federal extended UI benefits, the requirement that a claimant who has been disqualified because of misconduct or failure to apply for or accept suitable work not receive benefits until the claimant is reemployed and earns at least four times the claimant's weekly benefit rate, and replace that by providing that the claimant need only complete the period of regular UI disqualification to be eligible for the extended benefits. The provisions of sections 4 and 6 of the bill apply retroactively back to July 21, 2023. Because all of the provisions of the current law which are removed by section 4 and 6 of the bill were added by P.L.2022, c.120 which went into effect on that date, having those sections apply retroactively to that date would make it as if those provisions had never been allowed to take effect. | In Committee |
| S2437 | Directs Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for certain criminal contempt violations. | Directs Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation for certain criminal contempt violations. | Crossed Over |
| S2421 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | In Committee |
| S2736 | Replaces references to "alien" and "illegal alien" in statutes with "noncitizen" and "undocumented noncitizen," respectively; prohibits use of those terms by executive branch agencies. | This bill replaces the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" in the New Jersey statutes with the terms "foreign national" and "undocumented foreign national," respectively, when referring to a person in the context of the person's legal status. This bill removes from State law the language characterizing persons who are immigrants as "aliens" or "illegal aliens" and prohibits State Executive Branch agencies from using those terms in any proposed or final rule, regulation, interpretation, publication, or other document, display, or sign issued by the agency after the effective date of this bill, except to the extent that they are used in quoting or reproducing text written by a source other than an officer or employee of the agency. | In Committee |
| S3836 | Requires DOH to develop shared decision-making tool and establish maternal health care pilot program. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to develop a shared decision-making tool for use by maternity care hospitals and licensed birthing centers. Use of the shared decision-making tool will be voluntary. The purpose of the shared decision-making tool will be to: improve knowledge of the benefits and risks of, and best practice standards for, the provision of maternity care; increase collaboration between a maternity care patient and the patient's health care provider to assist the patient in making informed decisions about the maternity care the patient receives; improve patient experiences during, and reduce adverse outcomes related to, or associated with, pregnancy; and encourage maternity care patients to create a birth plan stating the patient's preferences during the stages of labor, delivery, and postpartum. The shared decision-making tool will consist of patient decision aids including, but not limited to: electronic or printed standardized patient questionnaires designed by hospitals and birthing centers, which will be made available to maternity care patients; educational fact sheets providing information on a broad range of maternity care issues, including choosing a caregiver and hospital or birthing center, early labor support techniques, potential maternal and neonatal complications relating to pre-term labor induction, the benefits of carrying pregnancies full term, the benefits of operative vaginal deliveries, and the risks associated with cesarean section procedures; and brochures and other multimedia tools that inform and educate maternity care patients about critical maternal conditions and the available treatment options and interventions for such events, along with the advantages, disadvantages, and risks associated with each treatment option and intervention. The bill directs the commissioner to implement a three-year pilot program, under which a select number of maternity care hospitals and birthing centers may utilize and evaluate the shared decision-making tool developed pursuant to the bill. The commissioner will develop a process for hospitals and birthing centers that are interested in participating in the pilot program to request to participate. The commissioner will determine the total number of participating hospitals and birthing centers, except that, at a minimum, the commissioner will be required to select at least one hospital or birthing facility from each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The hospitals and birthing centers selected by the commissioner to participate in the pilot program will use a standardized, comprehensive evaluation process, to be designed by the commissioner, that will assess the effectiveness of the shared decision-making tool in improving maternal care and reducing adverse outcomes related to, or associated with, pregnancy by collecting and analyzing information, during the pilot program period, about maternal outcomes including. The data to be collected using the evaluation process will include, but will not be limited to, the number and percentage of maternity care patients who: underwent non-medically indicated and medically-indicated labor induction procedures; underwent non-medically indicated and medically-indicated cesarean section procedures; underwent vaginal delivery; delivered at 41 or more weeks of gestation and delivered between 34 and 41 or more weeks of gestation; and created a birth plan. The evaluation process data will additionally include any other information related to a maternity care patient's prenatal, postnatal, labor, and delivery care that the commissioner deems necessary. The bill requires the hospitals and birthing centers participating in the pilot program to prepare and submit a report to the commissioner, to the Governor, and to the Legislature, within one year after the pilot program established pursuant to the bill expires, on the effectiveness of the shared decision-making tool developed pursuant to the bill. The report would be based on the information collected as part of the evaluation process designed as part of the pilot program, and would make recommendations on improvements to the shared decision-making tool and recommendations regarding Statewide implementation of the shared decision-making tool. The bill provides that it will expire upon the submission of all of the reports required from participant hospitals and birthing centers. | In Committee |
| S3834 | Directs BPU to establish rebate program for purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment. | This bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a rebate program, for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment, using funding obtained through the societal benefits charge. In establishing the rebate program, the BPU would be directed to take into consideration the environmental benefits of reducing the use of gas-powered lawn equipment in the State. The bill would further require the BPU to determine the appropriate level of funding for the rebate program, and to additionally calculate the dollar amount of the individual rebates, issued thereunder, based on the sale price of the zero-emission lawn equipment device purchased by residents or businesses, as follows: (1) for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment costing $250 or less, the amount of the rebate is to equal 25 percent of the cost of the device or $50, whichever is less; (2) for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment costing $500 or less, the amount of the rebate is to equal 25 percent of the cost of the device or $100, whichever is less; and (3) for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment costing over $500, the amount of the rebate is to equal 25 percent of the cost of the device or $150, whichever is less. The BPU would be required to advertise the availability of rebates, being offered under the program, in the same manner in which it advertises the availability of incentives for the purchase of energy efficient appliances through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. | In Committee |
| SJR79 | Designates month of September of each year as "Emergency Preparedness Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates the month of September of each year as "Emergency Preparedness Month" in New Jersey to raise awareness of the importance of preparing ourselves and our families now and throughout the year for emergencies and disasters. Prior to declared emergencies, New Jersey residents should establish a family preparedness plan in case of an emergency or disaster which should include establishing evacuation and meeting locations, creating communication and financial plans, determining how the family could best shelter in place, and evaluating property insurance needs. Preparedness plans should consider the medical and physical needs of all family members and pets. | In Committee |
| S3460 | Requires Attorney General to conduct study tracking residential burglaries and issue guidance to law enforcement and public. | This bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Superintendent of State Police, the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, and the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, to conduct a study and prepare a written report concerning residential burglaries in the State. The bill requires the report to include, but not be limited to:· annual State residential burglary statistics beginning with calendar year 2018 through the most recently available data, itemized by county, including, but not limited to: the number of residential burglaries reported, including whether the burglary occurred during the day, night, or weekend, and whether any weapon was used; the number of residential burglaries resulting in injury or death to a resident or law enforcement officer; the number of residential burglaries that coincided with theft of a motor vehicle; the average and median dollar value of property damage or theft incurred; and the number of adults and juveniles charged with and convicted or adjudicated delinquent of burglary of a residence; · a summary of law enforcement initiatives and activities, including public awareness activities, implemented during the reporting period to address the issue of residential burglaries Statewide, and the effects of those initiatives and activities; and· recommendations to decrease the number of residential burglaries committed in the State, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be necessary to effectuate this purpose. Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to submit an initial report to the Governor and the Legislature within six months of the bill's enactment, and to submit an annual report thereafter. | In Committee |
| S3195 | Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site. | Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site. | In Committee |
| S3783 | Prohibits municipalities, school districts, and State departments and agencies from purchasing, installing, or using artificial turf. | This bill would prohibit the purchase, installation, or use of artificial turf by a municipality, school district, or State department or agency for a new or existing field. This bill permits the continued use of artificial turf fields that have been already installed. Synthetic turf contains a myriad of chemicals known to be harmful to humans, including carcinogens, neurotoxicants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, as well as microplastics, nanoplastics, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Natural grass is free of the health and environmental hazards associated with synthetic turf. While synthetic turf is often touted as cost-effective, low-maintenance, and water-saving, the environmental, health, and safety risks greatly outweigh the intended benefits. | In Committee |
| S3784 | Requires State agencies to make good faith effort to increase awarding of contracts procured without advertisement to minority- and women-owned businesses. | This bill requires State agencies, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property, and the Director of the Division of Property Management and Construction, as the case may be, to make a good faith effort to achieve a goal of increasing the awarding of goods and services contracts procured without advertisement to certified minority-owned and women-owned businesses by 30 percent in the aggregate within five years of the effective date of the bill. The State Treasurer will develop guidelines and directives for State agencies and directors that will be used toward the effort to achieve such goal. Each State agency will submit a report to the State Treasurer detailing the efforts made by that agency to achieve such goal every 30 days. The State Treasurer will submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature detailing the efforts made by all State agencies and the directors to achieve such goal every six months. | In Committee |
| S3719 | Restricts genetic testing of newborn and crime victim DNA; permits DNA information to be obtained pursuant to warrant or court order. | This bill limits the purposes for which genetic testing may be conducted on DNA samples taken from newborns and crime victims. Current law generally requires the informed consent of a person, or person's representative, in order to obtain a person's genetic information. However, this informed consent requirement does not apply to the use of a person's DNA by a State, county, municipal or federal law enforcement agency for the purposes of establishing the identity of a person in the course of a criminal investigation or prosecution, or for the purposes of newborn screening. Recent reports indicate that DNA samples of newborns, crime victims, and witnesses have been used to convict a family member of the newborn, the crime victim or witness, or a member of the victim's or witness' family. Under the bill, a DNA sample from a victim of or witness to a crime is only to be used to establish the identity of a person who is the subject of the criminal investigation or prosecution for which the sample was obtained. The provisions of the bill further provide that a DNA sample taken from a newborn may only be used for the purpose of detecting disorders or conditions for which newborn screening is explicitly authorized pursuant to the State's Newborn Screening Program in the Department of Health. The bill permits a person to obtain genetic information from an individual pursuant to a validly executed warrant or upon an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Further, a person may disclose or be compelled to disclose the identity of an individual upon whom a genetic test has been performed pursuant to a validly executed warrant. | In Committee |
| S3720 | Allows for operation of crematories at locations not situated on cemetery grounds or funeral homes properties; provides for issuance of permits for certain crematories. | This bill amends current law by allowing for the construction of crematories as stand-alone facilities separate and apart from cemeteries and funeral homes. Presently, New Jersey only allows crematories to be located on cemetery property or to operate as facilities that work in conjunction with funeral homes in existence prior to December 1, 1971. Under this bill, a governmental entity, a religious corporation or organization, or a cremation company, defined in the bill as "a person that owns, manages, operates or controls a crematory, directly or indirectly, that is a stand-alone facility located on property owned or leased by the cremation company and that is separate and apart from a cemetery and funeral home," is allowed to open and operate a crematory. The bill incorporates crematories and crematory companies into certain provisions of law that currently only apply to cemeteries. This includes provisions: 1) to allow crematories to be owned or operated only by a governmental entity, a religious corporation or organization, or a cremation company; 2) to require cremation companies to be formed as nonprofits, including cultural nonprofits, in compliance with Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes; 3) to require a crematory company to file with the New Jersey Cemetery Board the paperwork showing the name and address of the company; 4) to mandate that a crematory company print and conspicuously post its regulations and charges for services; 5) on the disposition of human remains; 6) to allow for the establishment and enlargement of a crematory in a municipality only through the consent of the municipality by resolution; 7) to require board approval if a crematory company seeks to enlarge a crematory; 8) to allow a crematory company to make initial improvements and subsequent capital improvements upon the land it owns, if approved by the board; 9) to require licensure for any natural person who is compensated to act as a crematory salesperson for goods and services provided by a crematory company; 10) to establish that a crematory may be located on cemetery property, on property owned or leased by a funeral home created prior to December 1, 1971 and on property owned or leased by a crematory company; and 11) to allow crematory companies to be included on the registry maintained by the board. New provisions in the bill require the New Jersey Cemetery Board to offer 12 permits for distribution, through an application process, for the operation of a crematory. The applications approved by the board will be for crematories exempt from current statutory requirements regarding crematories. Additionally, the bill requires a crematory company to file an annual report with the board within 120 days after the close of the company's fiscal year. Crematory companies are required to establish rules and regulations addressing the use, management, and protection of the crematory. Crematory companies are prohibited from manufacturing or selling urns or other goods used as a vessel for cremains and from being involved in the conduct of any funeral home or of the business or profession of mortuary science. Crematory companies are also required to maintain records of each cremation performed by the company, including the name of the cremated party and the party who authorized the cremation, and will be exempt from several taxes of which cemeteries are also exempt, including real estate taxes, rates or assessment on personal property taxes on lands and equipment dedicated to crematory purposes. | In Committee |
| SR113 | Urges DEP to cease funding synthetic turf field projects and prioritize investing in natural grass playing fields. | This resolution urges the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to cease investing in synthetic turf field projects and to prioritize investing in safe, non-toxic, natural grass playing fields for recreational development projects. The Green Acres Program (Green Acres) was established to meet the State's growing recreation and conservation needs. Through grants and low interest loans, Green Acres has financed hundreds of recreation development projects throughout the State. Recreational development projects play a vital role in the State's economy and create and maintain safe spaces for New Jerseyans to gather, play, and exercise. However, reports that Green Acres invested nearly $10 million in synthetic turf playing field projects in 2023 have raised serious environmental and public health concerns. Synthetic turf components contain hazardous chemicals and can break down into microplastics that contribute to environmental pollution. Synthetic turf also presents health and safety risks as the surface of synthetic turf can become much hotter than natural grass, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries, and the lack of shock absorption in synthetic turf places athletes at greater risk of suffering lower-body injuries. Due to the safety hazards and risks of dangerous heat and chemical exposures, experts recommend against installing synthetic turf playing fields. This House believes the environmental, health, and safety risks greatly outweigh the intended benefits of synthetic turf and urges DEP to prioritize funding recreational development projects that use safe, natural, and eco-conscious materials. | In Committee |
| S3722 | Implements recommendations of New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission to remove mandatory minimum sentences for certain non-violent drug crimes. | This bill would eliminate mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses. The bill incorporates the non-violent drug crimes that the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission (CSDC) recommended, in an annual report, to have the mandatory minimum terms eliminated. These include the following crimes: (1) N.J.S.A.2C:35-3 (Leader of Narcotics Trafficking Network); (2) N.J.S.A.2C:35-4 (Maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility); (3) N.J.S.A.2C:35-5 (Manufacturing, distributing or dispensing); (4) N.J.S.A.2C:35-6 (Employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme); (5) N.J.S.A.2C:35-7 (Distribution on or within 1,000 feet of school property); (6) N.J.S.A.2C:35-8 (Distribution to persons under age 18; enhanced punishment); and (7) N.J.S.A.2C:43-6 (Sentence of imprisonment for crime; ordinary terms; mandatory terms). | In Committee |
| S3016 | Prohibits certain substances in sale, distribution, and manufacture of commercial foods. | This bill adds four substances to the general prohibition on adulterated commercial food. It is unlawful for any entity in this State to distribute, sell, manufacture for sale or distribution, or possess with intent to sell or distribute, any adulterated food. It is the sponsor's understanding that the State Sanitary Code provides the enforcement and penalties for this act to be carried out by the Department of Health. Each violation of the State Sanitary Code constitutes a separate offense and is punishable by a penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000. This bill adds brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye 3 to the conditions that deem food adulterated. Each of these chemicals is prohibited from use in processed food for sale in the European Union based on scientific studies demonstrating their risk for significant public health harm, particularly to children. | In Committee |
| S2283 | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | "Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness. | In Committee |
| A2607 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | An Act concerning paratransit services. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2815 | Allows holders of disabled veteran license plates or placards and certain holders of Purple Heart license plates or placards to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disability. | Allows holders of disabled veteran license plates or placards and certain holders of Purple Heart license plates or placards to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disability. | In Committee |
| S3276 | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee. | This bill would establish a limit on an application fee a residential landlord may require. The bill imposes a limit equal to the lower of five percent of the monthly rent or $75. The bill also establishes a penalties for a landlord's violation of the bill of $1,500, plus costs and attorney's fees, enforceable in an action brought by the Commissioner of Community Affairs or Attorney General and in a separate cause of action brought by and at the discretion of the applicant for the landlord's residential property, who may recover, in addition to the $250 penalty, reasonable attorney's fees or expenses. This bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| S3242 | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | Allows certain health care practitioners referrals to pharmacies to be made in accordance with certain professional standards. | In Committee |
| S3389 | Provides certain requirements concerning railroad safety. | This bill provides certain requirements concerning railroad safety. Under the bill, the owner or operator of a dangerous hazardous train is to require at least a two-person crew on all dangerous hazardous trains. The owner or operator of a dangerous hazardous train is to further require that all dangerous hazardous trains clearly display the name of the railroad company that owns the dangerous hazardous train. The bill provides for certain exceptions to the two-person crew requirement, including: when a train is performing helper service; when a train is a tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation; when a train is a locomotive that is not attached to railcars, is located inside a rail yard, and is being moved between tracks or moved to or from a maintenance shop; and when the owner or operator has been exempted from the two-person crew requirement by the Commissioner of Transportation. However, the bill specifies that the two-person crew requirement is mandatory when a train is transporting one or more loaded freight cars containing any material poisonous by inhalation or transporting 10 or more loaded freight cars or freight cars loaded with bulk packages or containing certain hazardous materials. The bill also prohibits a railroad company, including a short line, from operating any train that exceeds 8,500 feet in length on any main line or branch line within the State. Any person or railroad company that violates this maximum length is liable for a civil penalty of at least $500 but not more than $1,000 per foot exceeding the maximum train length allowed under the bill. The maximum penalty allowed is $250,000 in instances of gross negligence or a pattern of repeated violations that cause an imminent hazard of death or injury or that have caused death or injury, regardless of train length. The owner or operator of a privately owned railroad is required to submit a copy of federally required bridge inspection reports to the Commissioner of Transportation, the Governor, and the Legislature. Under the bill, the Board of Public Utilities (board), in conjunction with Department of Transportation (DOT), is required to work with each railroad company that operates in the State to ensure that wayside detector systems are installed and are operating along railroad tracks on which the railroad company operates and to ensure that such systems meet certain standards. If a railroad company refuses to work or otherwise cooperate with the board and the DOT in good faith, the board and the DOT are required to investigate the railroad company's safety practices and standards to determine whether the company appears to be in compliance with federal railroad safety standards. If the railroad company does not appear to be in compliance, the board and the DOT are then required to make a report to the Federal Railroad Administration (administration), within 60 days after this determination, detailing the results of the investigation and recommending that the administration take enforcement action against the railroad company. The bill requires the board and the DOT to send a copy of the report to the Governor and Legislature. The bill requires that all non-profit labor organizations representing a class or craft of employees of rail carriers or rail carrier contractor officials (non-profit labor organizations) be permitted onto railroad property to assist in inspecting for safety hazards and are permitted to identify any alleged safety hazards. Finally, the bill requires the DOT to work with non-profit labor organizations and local emergency response service providers to apply for federal grants. With the exception of the maximum length provisions of the bill, this bill does not apply to certain Class III carriers as defined by the Surface Transportation Board. | In Committee |
| S3672 | Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." | This bill creates a uniform code for State and local government entities, as well as health care facilities, regarding the use of resources to aid federal immigration law enforcement, and designates the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act." Under the bill, the definition of government entities includes any of the principal departments of the executive branch of State government and any parts or creations thereof, any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency, including any public institution of higher education. The bill's definition also includes political subdivisions of the State and combinations of political subdivisions, independent authorities, commissions, instrumentalities and agencies created by a political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions. Under the bill, government entities and healthcare facilities are prohibited from collecting certain personal and identifying information unless it is strictly necessary for program or service administration. Any record resulting from that collection, whether written or oral, would not be a government record under the "Open Public Records Act" unless an election agency requires it to ascertain the eligibility of a candidate when citizenship is required for an elected office. Any record also shall not be disclosed except as required to administer benefits or services pursuant to State or federal law, or valid court order or warrant, issued by a federal Article III judge or magistrate or the State equivalent. The bill provides that the prohibition on sharing information may be waived if the subject of the record or information provides written consent in that person's preferred language. The written consent shall include the following: (1) the exact record or information to be shared; (2) the purpose for sharing the record or information; (3) a statement clarifying that consent is voluntary and declining to consent shall not result in discrimination or retaliation by the government entity; (4) a statement clarifying that consent may be revoked, but that revocation does not impact a record or information already shared via prior written consent provided pursuant to this section; and (5) the person or agency to receive the record or information. The bill requires government entities to review their confidentiality policies, guidance and recommendations to identify any changes necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and make any changes as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one year after the bill becomes effective. The bill also requires these entities to share their policies prominently on their Internet websites. This bill also requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Public Defender, to prepare a written notice explaining in plain language the provisions of section 6 of the bill. Section 6 of the bill details the prohibition of certain actions by law enforcement. The bill requires the notice and all translations to be posted to the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety and to be considered vital documents pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.). The Attorney General is also required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities in the development of standardized training and guidance for law enforcement to comply with the bill's provisions. The AG also shall provide mandatory training to all State, county and local law enforcement agencies within one year of the bill's effective date. Any newly sworn officer is required to complete this training within a year of the officer's appointment. The Department of Human Services is required to consult with stakeholders serving or representing immigrant communities to develop and lead a multilingual campaign to promote public awareness of the bill's requirements for law enforcement agencies. As part of the awareness campaign, DHS is required to publish the text of section 6 of the bill's provisions and a plain language summary and explanation of those requirements on its Internet website within 180 days of the bill's enactment. . Under the bill, the Attorney General is also required to consult with other government entities and stakeholders in the development of model policies for sensitive locations. These locations include health care facilities, public schools, public libraries, shelters, and any other locations deemed appropriate by the Attorney General to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with government entities. The model policies prohibit the request or collection of certain information regarding a person's immigration status, place of birth or taxpayer identification except to determine eligibility for services or program benefits. The model policies prohibit assistance or participation of immigration enforcement, and prohibit the permission of immigration enforcement on entity premises that are not open without restriction to the general public. The Attorney General is required to publish the model policies on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires government entities with authority to regulate sensitive places to adopt the model policies within 180 days of issuance by the Attorney General's office and encourages facilities not regulated by government entities to adopt the policies. The bill prohibits certain actions by law enforcement. Specifically, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officials shall not: (1) stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based on actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status, or actual or suspected violations of federal civil immigration law; (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or eligibility for a social security number; (3) make an arrest, detain, or prolong the detention of an individual based on civil immigration warrants; (4) use agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin; or (5) make agency or department databases available to anyone or any entity for the purpose of immigration enforcement or investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship, or national or ethnic origin. The bill nullifies any agreement, policy or practice in place that permits in conflict with this clause. Law enforcement agencies in the State are also prohibited from: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; (2) providing to federal immigration authorities any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular person; (3) providing access to any State, county, or municipal law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property; (4) providing access to a detained individual for an interview; (5) facilitating or complying with immigration detainers, notification requests, and transfer requests from federal immigration authorities; (6) continuing to detain a person past the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant; (7) entering into, modifying, renewing, or extending any agreement to exercise federal immigration authority or conduct immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g), or otherwise exercising federal civil immigration authority or conducting immigration enforcement outside of the purview of 287(g) of Title 8 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1357(g); or (8) providing or sharing funds, property, equipment, personnel, or access to facilities or real property not open to the general public for purposes of engaging in, assisting, supporting, or facilitating immigration enforcement. The bill provides that violations of the prohibitions on police conduct in the bill would be enforceable under the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143. If an agency or law enforcement official intends to comply with an immigration detainer, notification request, civil immigration warrant, or transfer request concerning a person in custody, a written explanation specifying the legal basis for that action is required to be given to the person is custody. Lastly, the bill requires each State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency to submit to the Attorney General a report that includes: (1) the number of detainer requests, transfer requests, and notification requests made by immigration authorities, and the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency. For any request that was granted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting that request; (2) the number of interviews requested and the number of interviews conducted, either in person or telephonically, by immigration authorities of people in State, county, or municipal law enforcement custody. For each interview conducted, the report shall specify any legal basis for granting the interview; (3) any other requests made by immigration authorities for the agency's participation in immigration enforcement, the responses of the State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, and the legal basis for granting the request; and (4) to the extent the law enforcement agency has knowledge, any information about State, county, and municipal databases to which immigration authorities have had access to at any time in the course of the year, including: the name of the database; an overview of information available on the database; the purpose for which immigration authorities have access to this database; the process through which immigration authorities requested access and agencies reviewed this request, if applicable; any legal basis for providing immigration authorities access to the database; and the frequency with which immigration authorities accessed the database over the course of the year. Law enforcement agencies have 180 days after the effective date of the bill to produce the first report and must then annually submit a report within 30 days of the end of the State's fiscal year. The Attorney General is initially required to publish the report on the office's website within 90 days of receipt, and then within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year thereafter. The Attorney General is also required to annually submit to the Governor and Legislature a report on each law enforcement agency's compliance with the provisions of this act. | In Committee |
| S3691 | Requires State agencies to make good faith effort towards certain goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors. | This bill requires State agencies to make a good faith effort towards goals to use certified minority and women-owned businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors in the State procurement process. In January 2024, a New Jersey Disparity Study was conducted on the availability and utilization of small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and their experience in the State procurement process. Across all types of contracts, minority and women-owned businesses received about 10 percent of prime contract dollars and about 36 percent of subcontract dollars. The study determined that minority and women-owned businesses are capable of fulfilling large State contracts if they were to be awarded the contracts and there are measurable differences for minority and women-owned businesses across all types of contracts. Under this bill, the Chief Diversity Officer is required to recommission the statewide disparity study regarding the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in State contracts. The study and its findings must be completed by August 15, 2029. Each State agency is required to structure procurement procedures for contracts made directly or indirectly to minority and women-owned businesses to attempt good faith effort towards increased utilization of minority and women-owned businesses with regard to total annual statewide procurement across all types of contracts. Each agency is also required to develop and adopt agency specific goals based on the findings of the most recent disparity study and must be consistent with the findings of the disparity study. The bill requires each contractor to develop a utilization plan on the use of minority and women-owned businesses as subcontractors during the bidding process. The bill also establishes a waiver procedure for contractors who have made a good faith effort to comply with the minority and women-owned business participation requirements. The bill establishes a complaint procedure for State agencies who have reason to believe that a good faith effort was not made by the contractor. The bill contains a sunset provision and will expire on December 31, 2029 if the required recommissioned disparity study does not indicate a measurable disparity for minority and women-owned businesses in the State contract procurement process. | In Committee |
| S3692 | Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians. | The bill provides that it is a violation of the consumer fraud act for a veterinarian to intentionally misrepresent, including through the use of euphemisms, code words, or otherwise, the information required under current law to be provided to the owner of a dead domestic companion animal undergoing testing for rabies. An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. In addition, the bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop a poster and pamphlet with information relating to rabies vaccines and quarantine and testing protocols. Veterinarians are required to display the poster in office reception areas and to distribute the pamphlets to certain customers. Lastly, the bill requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a trauma-informed mental health protection training certification program for veterinarians and staff. The program is optional, and those who complete it are to receive a certification from the division. | In Committee |
| S3526 | Changes certain Mobility and Transportation Innovation Program requirements; appropriates $20 million. | Changes certain Mobility and Transportation Innovation Program requirements; appropriates $20 million. | In Committee |
| S3659 | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | In Committee |
| S3657 | Makes use of algorithmic systems to influence price and supply of residential rental units unlawful. | This bill makes it unlawful to use algorithmic systems to influence the price and supply of residential rental units. Under the bill, it is unlawful and a violation of the "New Jersey Antitrust Act" for a rental property owner, or any agent, representative, or subcontractor thereof, to subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange any form of consideration in return for the use of services of a coordinator and for a coordinator to facilitate an agreement among rental property owners that restricts competition with respect to residential dwelling units, including by performing a coordinating function. A "coordinator" is defined in the bill to mean any person who operates a software or data analytics service that performs a coordinating function for any rental property owner, including a rental property owner performing a coordinating function for their own benefit. "Coordinating function" is defined to mean (1) collecting historical or contemporaneous prices, supply levels, or lease or rental contract termination and renewal dates of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property owners; (2) analyzing or processing of the information described in paragraph (1) through use of a system, software, or process that uses computation, including by using the information to train an algorithm; and (3) recommending rental prices, lease renewal terms, or ideal occupancy levels to a rental property owner. | In Committee |
| S3658 | Establishes Statewide limitation on rent increases. | This bill would establish a Statewide limitation on rent increases. Specifically, the bill would prohibit a residential landlord from increasing rent a dwelling unit by more than 5 percent plus inflation, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, of the lowest rental rate charged for that dwelling unit at any time during the 12 months prior to the date when the increase takes effect. The rent increase limitation established by this bill would not apply to the following: (1) Non-residential real property.(2) A dwelling unit restricted by deed, regulatory restriction contained in an agreement with a government agency, or other recorded document as affordable housing for persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income.(3) A dormitory constructed and maintained in connection with an institution of higher education for the use and occupancy of students in attendance at the institution.(4) A dwelling unit subject to a "Notice of Rent Protection Emergency," established pursuant to P.L.2002, c.133 (C.2A:18-61.62 et seq.), the application of which results in a lower permitted rent increase for the specified year than that permitted by this bill.(5) A dwelling unit that has been newly constructed, and issued a certificate of occupancy as a result of its completion, within the previous 15 years.(6) A single family dwelling unit, provided that (a) the landlord is not a real estate investment trust, as defined in the federal Internal Revenue Code, a corporation, or a limited liability company in which at least one member is a corporation; and (b) the tenant has been provided written notice that the residential real property is exempt from the requirements of this bill, if the tenancy has been established on or after the first day of the third month next following enactment.(7) A duplex in which the landlord occupies one of the units as the landlord's principal place of residence at the beginning of the tenancy. Additionally, the rent increase limitation established by this bill would not apply to a dwelling located in a municipality that enforces a local rent control, rent leveling, or rent stabilization ordinance, the application of which results in a lower permitted rent increase for a 12-month period than this bill would. Furthermore, the rent increase limitation established by this bill would not apply to a new tenancy in which no tenant from the prior tenancy remains in lawful possession of the dwelling unit. This bill would function in addition to, and not in place of, the existing statutory prohibition on unconscionable rent increases. A violation of this bill would constitute an unlawful practice pursuant to the New Jersey consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) and would subject the offending landlord to all remedies and penalties available to an aggrieved consumer, in this case the tenant, under that statute. Additionally, the bill permits a tenant to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to terminate a lease containing a provision in violation of this bill. Finally, in accordance with the Anti-Eviction Act, P.L.1974, c.49 (C.2A:18-61.1), a tenant would be authorized to assert a violation of this bill as a defense to an eviction action. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt the rules and regulations necessary to effectuate its purposes. In order to avoid the creation of an incentive for landlords to increase rents substantially prior to this bill's enactment, the bill would apply retroactively to rent increases established on or after September 1, 2024. | In Committee |
| A4534 | Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service. | An Act concerning urban enterprise zones and amending P.L.1983, c.303. | 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 |
| S3432 | Establishes Next New Jersey Program for artificial intelligence investments. | An Act concerning the development of artificial intelligence innovations, ventures, and facilities, and amending and supplementing P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4046 | Extends certain accommodations for businesses participating in State economic development programs. | An Act concerning certain State economic development programs and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3275 | Revises various provisions of film and digital media content production tax credit program. | This bill revises certain provisions of the film and digital media content production tax credit program to include eligibility for wages and salaries paid to persons who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Under the film and digital media content production tax credit program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority awards corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to eligible taxpayers based on the qualified film production expenses or qualified digital media content production expenses incurred for use within certain parts of the State. In addition to certain other eligibility requirements, at least 50 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses incurred by a taxpayer are required to be for wages and salaries paid to full-time or full-time equivalent employees in New Jersey in order to qualify for the digital media content production tax credit. Under current law, the terms "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" are defined to include, among other expenses, the wages and salaries paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are subject to the tax imposed by the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Current law also defines the term "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include persons working not less than 35 hours per week, or other standard of service accepted by custom or practice as full-time or full-time equivalent employment, and whose wages and salaries are subject to withholding as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." This bill expands the scope of qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses to include wages and salaries that are paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. The bill also provides that these expenses would include any payments made by the taxpayer to a loan out company for services performed in New Jersey by individuals who are employed by the loan out company and whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Additionally, the bill amends the definition "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include otherwise eligible persons whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Currently, the State has entered into a reciprocal income tax agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the terms of this agreement, compensation paid to Pennsylvania residents who are employed in New Jersey is not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Accordingly, the bill provides that wages and salaries paid to certain Pennsylvania residents may be included as qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses, provided that these persons are employed in the New Jersey for the purposes of the film or digital media content production. The provisions of this bill would take effect immediately and apply retroactively beginning on January 1, 2024 to any taxpayer who has not received a tax credit certificate or tax credit transfer certificate from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority before this date. However, any taxpayer that has previously received a tax credit certificate, but has not used such tax credit certificate before January 1, 2024, would be allowed to surrender the tax credit certificate to the authority and receive a new tax credit certificate in accordance with the provisions of this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4425 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance a portion of the cost of construction of environmental infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4581 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program projects for FY 2025. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance the cost of certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3439 | Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service. | Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service. | In Committee |
| A2027 | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | An Act concerning a monthly State benefit for menstrual hygiene products and diaper products under the Work First New Jersey Program, supplementing P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55), and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2330 | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | Establishes One-Year State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Pilot Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Pilot Program; appropriates $2.5 million to DHS. | In Committee |
| S3383 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $2.73 billion to provide loans to local governments and privately-owned water companies (project sponsors) for a portion of the costs of water infrastructure projects, for the purpose of implementing the State fiscal year 2025 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP). A companion bill, Senate Bill No. 3384 of this session, would appropriate certain federal and State moneys to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the purpose of partially funding the costs of the clean water and drinking water projects enumerated by the bill. The bill would authorize the NJIB to provide loans to fund the following projects: (1) in subsection a. of section 2 of the bill, a list of six projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $77.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; (2) in subsection b. of section 2 of the bill, a list of two projects to improve drinking water systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $26.5 million in estimated total loan amounts; (3) in subsection c. of section 3 of the bill, a list of four projects in the Pinelands area that are receiving funding under the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302 to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $15.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; (4) in subsection a. of section 4 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Clean Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 156 projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $1.9 billion in estimated total loan amounts; and (5) in subsection b. of section 4 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 72 projects to improve drinking water systems, representing $714.9 million in estimated total loan amounts. The bill would also appropriate to the NJIB an amount up to $1.5 billion, as necessary, to make short-term or temporary loans to project sponsors on the "Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List," which is required to be submitted to the Legislature by the DEP Commissioner. The bill would also appropriate to the NJIB the amount needed to fund project sponsors on the "Environmental Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Project Priority List," which is also required to be submitted to the Legislature by the DEP Commissioner. In addition, the bill would appropriate available funds from the "Economic Development and Infrastructure Improvement Revolving Fund" created pursuant to the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2021, P.L.2020, c.97, to provide debt service reserves or guarantees to certain local government units for the purpose of making them eligible to receive a loan from the NJIB to finance the environmental infrastructure component of a redevelopment project. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to transfer moneys between various State funds, for the purpose of funding the NJEIFP and providing the State match for federal funding provided under the federal laws, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, as detailed in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill. The bill would establish certain requirements on loans to project sponsors made by the NJIB pursuant to the bill, as enumerated in section 6 of the bill. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to decrease or increase the loan amounts it provides, subject to certain conditions enumerated in sections 7 and 8 of the bill. Finally, the bill would authorize the NJIB to utilize certain moneys to fund its annual operating expenses. | In Committee |
| S3471 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program projects for FY2025. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $7,198,045 to provide low-interest loans to local government units that undertake one of six eligible hazard mitigation and resilience projects listed in the bill. The loans represent the NJIB's implementation of the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) for fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025). The CHAMP program was established by the "Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program Revolving Loan Fund Act," P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.), in order to implement the federal "Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act" (STORM act), Pub. L. 116-284, in New Jersey. The bill would permit the NJIB to use any loan repayments received to date, and the amounts for capitalized interest and interest accrued pursuant to a loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Community Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program, in order to fund the CHAMP for FY 2025. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to utilize certain funds generated by the operation of the bank, including, but not limited to, proceeds from the sale of bonds, the revenues derived from investments, and loan repayments, to defray the NJIB's FY 2025 operating expenses. Since its creation in 2023, the NJIB, in partnership with the State Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Law and Public Safety, applied for federal STORM Act funds and received approximately $7 million to finance the construction of hazard mitigation and resilience projects with the mission of reducing the cost of financing these projects for New Jersey counties and municipalities. | In Committee |
| S3303 | Extends certain accommodations for businesses participating in State economic development programs. | Extends certain accommodations for businesses participating in State economic development programs. | 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 |
| S3505 | Modifies title and role of Chief Diversity Officer; establishes New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities. | This bill modifies the title and role of the Chief Diversity Officer and establishes the New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities. Under current law, the Chief Diversity Officer monitors the State's public contracting process for the purpose of compiling information on the awarding of contracts to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises, the total value of all contracts, and the percentage of the value of those contracts awarded to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises. This bill changes the title of Chief Diversity Officer to Chief Equity Officer and requires the Chief Equity Officer to monitor and publicly report the State's public contracting process for the purpose of compiling information on the awarding of contracts to small and diverse business enterprises, and to monitor the total value of all contracts and the percentage of the value of those contracts awarded to all small and diverse business enterprises. Each State agency will be required to submit the necessary data and information to the Chief Equity Officer. The Chief Equity Officer will be required to report directly to the State Treasurer. This bill also establishes the New Jersey Office of Supplier Diversity and Business Opportunities in the Department of the Treasury. The office will be under the immediate supervision of the Chief Equity Officer, who can, within the limits of funds appropriated by the Legislature, hire and employ staff. The office must: (1) support the Chief Equity Officer in achieving their mission; (2) review existing State procurement policies and practices; (3) expand outreach to, and develop capacity-building opportunities for, small and diverse business enterprises; (4) process and manage business certifications for minority businesses, female businesses, economically disadvantaged businesses, socially disadvantaged businesses, and disabled veterans' businesses; (5) monitor the awarding of contracts to small and diverse business enterprises, and measure progress towards lawfully established and implemented contracting and subcontracting programs; (6) provide ongoing and relevant training to State agencies to assist with the State's public procurement process; and (7) evaluate the feasibility of establishing a cloud-based data management system for all State agencies to utilize for awarding and providing payments for State contracts. Each State agency will be required to develop, and submit to the office within not less than 180 calendar days prior to the end of each State fiscal year, a plan for the following fiscal year to comply with the certification programs for small and diverse business enterprises. The office will analyze these plans and provide feedback and guidance to the State agencies as may be necessary. | In Committee |
| S3491 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| S249 | Requires BPU to establish beneficial building electrification and decarbonization program and requires electric public utilities to prepare and implement beneficial building electrification and decarbonization plans. | Requires BPU to establish beneficial building electrification and decarbonization program and requires electric public utilities to prepare and implement beneficial building electrification and decarbonization plans. | In Committee |
| S3448 | Requires NJT to continue to issue and honor rail passenger service and motorbus regular route service tickets with no expiration date. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to continue to issue: (1) one-way tickets for rail passenger service, including light-rail service, and motorbus regular route service bearing no expiration date; and (2) 10-trip tickets for rail passenger service bearing no expiration date. The bill also requires the corporation to permit individuals who previously purchased a rail passenger service, including light-rail service, or motorbus regular route service ticket bearing no expiration date to utilize the unused ticket. Within 90 days of the bill's effective date, the corporation is required to reinstate any rail passenger service, including light-rail service, or motorbus regular route service ticket issued by the corporation that bears no expiration date and that expired as a result of a corporation policy implemented by the corporation prior to the bill's effective date. | 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 |
| S2363 | Permits DMVA to receive voluntary contributions for veteran suicide prevention public service announcements. | This bill permits the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) to accept gifts, grants, donations from the public and private sectors for the purpose of public service announcements for the prevention of veteran suicide. Revenues received by the department will be deposited into a special nonlapsing fund maintained by the State Treasurer. | In Committee |
| S3100 | Requires businesses in financial essential infrastructure, and health care industries to develop cybersecurity plans and report cybersecurity incidents. | Requires businesses in financial essential infrastructure, and health care industries to develop cybersecurity plans and report cybersecurity incidents. | In Committee |
| S3433 | Expands membership of New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. | This bill increases the membership of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (authority) by six members. Under current law authority membership consists of the State Treasurer, the President of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, a member of the Hackensack Meadowlands Municipal Committee, 11 members appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. The bill would provide for six additional members, including two members to be appointed by each of the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the General Assembly. | Dead |
| S3101 | Requires businesses in financial, essential infrastructure, and health care industries to report cybersecurity incidents. | This bill would require sensitive businesses to report certain cybersecurity incidents promptly to the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC). For the purposes of this bill, a "cybersecurity incident" means an event occurring on or conducted through a computer network that jeopardizes the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of, or information residing on, computers, information systems, communications systems networks, physical or virtual infrastructure controlled by computers, or information systems. The bill would direct the NJCCIC to audit the relevant business no later than 30 days after being made aware of an incident. Cybersecurity audits would be conducted by a qualified and independent cybersecurity company at the sensitive business' expense. | In Committee |
| S301 | Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants. | Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants. | In Committee |
| S1032 | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | Requires DHS and DCF to conduct study on service provider workforce, and to evaluate rates paid to, and assess cost of living adjustments for, service providers. | In Committee |
| S330 | Requires DOH to operate mobile cancer screening program; appropriates $100,000. | Requires DOH to operate mobile cancer screening program; appropriates $100,000. | In Committee |
| S3397 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employers of certain persons with disabilities. | This bill provides corporation business and gross income tax credits to taxpayers that employ certain persons with disabilities. The credit would be for up to 15 percent of the wages paid by the taxpayer during a taxable year to a qualifying employee with a disability, not to exceed $2,000 per qualified employee. To claim the credit, a taxpayer would be required to submit an application to the Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for certification that the employee has a disability for purposes of qualifying for the credit. A copy of the certification would be included with the taxpayer's tax return. The contents of the certification would only state the fact the employee has a qualifying disability and not disclose any private or confidential health information. The bill requires the director to establish an application process and prescribe the form and manner through which a taxpayer may submit an application to obtain a certification from the director that an employee is a qualified employee with a disability for purposes of the tax credit. The bill provides that applications would be deemed approved and written authorizations are deemed issued if the director fails to make a determination regarding within 90 calendar days of the date a complete application is received or if the director fails to issue a written authorization within five calendar days of the date a determination is made. The bill defines a "qualified employee with a disability" as a person with a disability recognized under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C. s. 12102). A qualified employee is also required to be employed by the taxpayer for at least 35 hours a week and paid wages at a rate of no less than $15 per hour. A taxpayer would be unable to claim the credit for the wages paid to a person with a disability who works for the taxpayer as an independent contractor or on a consulting basis. | In Committee |
| S3329 | Establishes Office of Disordered Eating Prevention and Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Program in DOH; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the Office of Disordered Eating Prevention (office) and the Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Program within the Department of Health. Under the bill, "disorder eating" means a range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not warrant diagnosis of a specific eating disorder. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Health such amounts as are necessary, as determined by the Commissioner of Health, to implement these provisions. The office, at a minimum, is required to: 1) create, maintain, and update annually an external-facing resource that includes key information about disordered eating; 2) collaborate with other State mental health programs and offices to align work focused on disordered eating, facilitate public outreach, and increase awareness regarding disordered eating prevention; and 3) partner with the Department of Education to inform teachers, administrators, school staff, students, and parents on disorder eating prevention. Under the bill, the office may: 1) contract with a third party to conduct focus groups, interview key individuals, conduct surveys, and establish a collaborative group to discuss key issues regarding disordered eating prevention; 2) partner with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services to identify disordered eating prevention strategies; and 3) seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purpose of the bill. The bill also establishes the Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Program, which is to be administered by Office of Disordered Eating Prevention. This grant program would provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to conduct research on the root causes of disordered eating and to examine the risk factors and protective factors for disordered eating in youth, adults, and older residents. Under the bill, "eligible applicant" means an individual, nonprofit organization, or for-profit organization, that conducts research on disordered eating and prevention or that serves individuals who have disordered eating traits. The bill directs each grant recipient to submit a written report, summarizing the research made possible with the grant award, to the office. Finally, commencing one year after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the Office of Disordered Eating Prevention is required to submit to the Governor and to the Legislature, a report that summarizes the office's activities regarding the implementation of the bill, including information about the grant program and any recommendations for improving disordered eating prevention in the State. | In Committee |
| S3369 | Revises film and digital media content production tax credit program to allow certain production expenses to be eligible for tax credits. | This bill revises certain provisions of the film and digital media content production tax credit program to increase the amount of credits that may be awarded based on certain post-production costs. The bill also revises other provisions of the program, including increasing eligibility for compensation paid to persons who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Under the film and digital media content production tax credit program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) awards corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to eligible taxpayers equal to (1) 30 percent of the qualified film production expenses incurred for use within certain parts of Northern New Jersey, or 35 percent of qualified film production expenses incurred for use within all other parts of the State; and (2) 35 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses incurred through vendors located in certain counties in Southern New Jersey, or 30 percent of all other qualified digital media content production expenses incurred through vendors within the State. In addition to certain other eligibility requirements, current law also provides that to qualify for the digital media content production tax credit, at least 50 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses incurred by the taxpayer are required to be for wages and salaries paid to full-time or full-time equivalent employees in New Jersey. Increased Digital Media Content Production Tax Credits The bill increases the amount of digital media content production tax credits that may be awarded to taxpayers for qualified digital media content production expenses related to certain post-production services, including visual effects. Specifically, the tax credit would be equal to 40 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses of the taxpayer incurred during the tax period for post-production services performed at a New Jersey film-lease production facility, provided that at least $500,000 of these expenses were incurred for services performed at the New Jersey film-lease production facility. Additionally, the tax credit would be equal to 35 percent of the qualified digital media content production expenses of the taxpayer incurred during the tax period for post-production services performed by independent post-production companies, as defined in the bill. In either circumstance, if the taxpayer includes a diversity plan with their tax credit application and complies with all relevant requirements established in that plan, the taxpayer's tax credit may be increased by an additional four percent. Compensation Subject to Tax Reciprocity Agreements Under current law, the terms "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" are defined to include, among other expenses, the wages and salaries paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are subject to the tax imposed by the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Current law also defines the term "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include persons working not less than 35 hours per week, or other standard of service accepted by custom or practice as full-time or full-time equivalent employment, and whose wages and salaries are subject to withholding as provided in the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." This bill expands the scope of qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses to include wages and salaries that are paid to individuals who are employed for the purposes of the production and who are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. The bill also provides that these expenses would include any payments made by the taxpayer to a loan out company for services performed in New Jersey by individuals who are employed by the loan out company and whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Additionally, the bill amends the definition "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include otherwise eligible persons whose wages and salaries are not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act" due to the provisions of a tax reciprocity agreement with another state. Currently, the State has entered into a reciprocal income tax agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Under the terms of this agreement, compensation paid to Pennsylvania residents who are employed in New Jersey is not subject to tax under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Accordingly, the bill provides that wages and salaries paid to certain Pennsylvania residents may be included as qualified film production expenses and qualified digital media content production expenses, provided that these persons are employed in New Jersey for the purposes of the film or digital media content production. Tenants of New Jersey Film-Lease Partner Facilities The bill also provides that certain tenants of New Jersey film-lease partner facilities would be eligible for tax credits under the program. Specifically, the bill provides that any film production company that enters into a lease or sublease with the owner or developer of a designated New Jersey film-lease partner facility before receipt of the facility's temporary or final certificate of occupancy, which lease or sublease is for not less than three years and includes at least 36,000 square feet of soundstage space, and which company executes a contract to provide production services for all films produced at the New Jersey film-lease partner facility, would be eligible for the tax credit allowed for a taxpayer designated as a New Jersey film-lease production company, provided that the film production company satisfies all other eligibility requirements for New Jersey film-lease production companies. If the EDA determines that a New Jersey film-lease partner facility has failed to meet the requirements of the program, the EDA may rescind the New Jersey film-lease partner facility designation. In this circumstance, the bill provides that any tenant of the New Jersey film-lease production company that has entered into a lease for the film-lease partner facility would not be entitled to the portion of any tax credit that is only available to the New Jersey film-lease production company by virtue of the company being a tenant at a New Jersey film-lease partner facility. | In Committee |
| S3297 | Promotes trauma-informed care in State to mitigate negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (department) to develop and implement a program to promote trauma-informed care in order to mitigate the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress in this State. In implementing the program, the department will, at a minimum: a. develop a trauma-informed care toolkit of resources that provide trauma awareness and self-care education for State employees, increase recognition of signs of adverse child experience exposure, and offer effective interventions to mitigate trauma and build resilience, which toolkit is to be shared across all State agencies and organizations for use at service delivery access points; b. promote a Trauma Awareness Month in New Jersey with appropriate events to be held across the State; c. share information with State employees and community partners on educational and professional development opportunities related to adverse childhood experiences and building resilience; d. create a recognition program for individuals who work in the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum, which may include individuals, divisions within an agency, and community partners, such as schools and school districts; e. identify gaps in available services or service capacity along the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum for children and their caregivers Statewide; f. develop a comprehensive plan focused on early intervention for children and their caregivers exposed to adverse childhood experiences in order to help prevent, and remedy the impact of, abuse and neglect; and g. coordinate the collection, evaluation, and reporting of adverse childhood experience data in the State. The bill requires each State agency that provides services for children and adults to implement best practices for providing trauma-informed care, which will include, but not be limited to: offering regularly scheduled training to staff to increase their knowledge about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress on short-term and long-term health outcomes; promoting strategies to enhance staff resilience and self-care; using trauma-specific language in requests for proposals and in service contracts with providers, when appropriate; and implementing evidence-informed services to prevent and respond to toxic stress and build resilience in children, adults, and communities. | In Committee |
| S3245 | Requires certain boards of education to select minimum number of financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide tax sheltered annuity plans. | This bill requires the board of education of a school district, which offers a 403(b) plan to eligible school district employees, to select a minimum of six financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide investment services to the 403(b) plan. Under the bill, the board of education of a school district with a student enrollment of less than 1,000 students may select fewer than six financial institutions or pension management organizations to provide investment services to the 403(b) plan. A 403(b) plan, also referred to as a tax-sheltered annuity plan, is a type of defined contribution plan sponsored by public educational organizations. Under a 403(b) plan, employees may defer some of their salary, either on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, for deposit into individual accounts that can provide a source of income in retirement. In selecting financial institutions or pension management organizations under the bill, a board of education is to ensure that eligible school district employees are provided sufficient opportunities to invest in annuity contracts, which are generally investment options provided by an insurance company, or custodial accounts, in which moneys are invested in mutual funds. The board is also required to ensure that employees are offered self-directed investment options. The selection of financial institutions or pension management organizations under the bill is required to be a mandatory subject of collective negotiations between a board of education and an applicable collective bargaining unit. A financial institution or pension management organization that provides services to the 403(b) plan under the bill is required to provide certain data related to the investment of 403(b) plan funds and the fees, charges, expenses, commissions, compensation, and payments to third parties related to investments offered under the plan. The bill provides that a board of education and the majority representative of an applicable collective bargaining unit is not responsible for any investment loss or failure of an investment to earn any specific return for the services provided by the selected financial institutions or pension management organizations providing investment services to the 403(b) plan. Lastly, the bill stipulates that the ability of an eligible school district employee to deposit supplemental compensation for accumulated unused sick leave into a 403(b) plan account is to be a mandatory subject of collective negotiations. | In Committee |
| S3258 | "The Preserving Affordable Main Streets Act"; promotes equitable residential development throughout State. | This bill, entitled "The Preserving Affordable Main Streets Act," promotes equitable residential development throughout the State. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance enacted by a municipality with a transit station, as defined in the bill, is to allow, without requiring a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-70), and without requiring minimum parking requirements, mixed-use developments with at least four dwelling units, mixed-use developments with at least four live work units, as defined in the bill, and multiple dwellings with at least four dwellings units that: (1) are at a minimum density of fifteen units per acre; (2) are in at least 50 percent of the lot area served by water and sewer infrastructure; and (3) consist of a lot area at least 50 percent of which is within a one-half-mile radius of a municipality's primary transit station. The bill provides that a municipality with a transit station may dedicate, through the municipality's zoning ordinance, up to 50 percent of the types of development described in the bill within the area between a one-half-mile radius and a one-mile radius of the municipality's primary transit station, but only if the dedicated land area for these developments is located on a public right of way that directly connects to a municipality's primary transit station with adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, and other similar pedestrian facilities. If a municipality has two or more transit stations, the municipality is to designate one transit station as its primary transit station. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance enacted by a municipality without a transit station is to allow, without requiring a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-70), and without requiring minimum parking requirements, multiple dwellings: (1) in any municipality with a population of at least 500 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census or a minimum population of 7,500 in the preceding calendar year; and (2) that consist of a lot area at least 50 percent of which is within one-quarter mile distance from at least one main street corridor. If a municipality does not have a clearly identifiable main street corridor, a municipality is to permit the use of multiple dwellings through the municipal zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-62), in contiguous land encompassing an area of one-quarter square mile. The bill provides that for any development constructed pursuant to the bill, the approving authority is to make a decision on the application for the development or housing no later than 65 days after receipt of the application, except that an applicant may consent to one or more extensions of no more than an additional 65 days or may withdraw the application. The bill provides that, if a municipality fails to adopt or amend a master plan, zoning ordinance, land use ordinance, and other regulations within six months of the effective date of the bill, for the purposes of complying with the provisions of the bill, any noncompliant provision of an existing master plan, zoning ordinance, land use ordinance, or other regulation is to become null and void and a municipality shall approve or deny applications for housing developments in accordance with the requirements for regulations set forth under the provisions of the bill until the municipality adopts or amends a master plan, zoning ordinance, land use ordinance, or other regulation in compliance with the bill. Pursuant to the bill, a municipality is not to use or impose standards that burden an applicant through unreasonable costs or delays in the development of housing, and is not to condition the approval of housing described in the bill on the correction of a nonconforming use, structure, or lot. | In Committee |
| S3240 | Permits 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections for local school board. | Under current law, any person who is at least 18 years of age, who is a citizen of the United States, and who is a resident of the district in which they wish to vote, is entitled to register and vote in elections in this State. This bill permits 16 and 17-year-olds, who are U.S. citizens and residents of New Jersey, to vote only in their local school elections for school board members. The bill does not allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in any other election. The bill directs the Secretary of State to promulgate rules that: (1) create a registration form and a process to register 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, which conforms as nearly as possible to the equivalent form and process utilized for all other eligible voters; (2) establish a method of verifying the identity of registered 16 and 17-year-old voters which conforms as nearly as possible to the methods utilized for all other eligible voters; (3) provide for the design of paper ballots on which 16 and 17-year-olds may vote for school board members; and (4) ensure the provisions of this act are implemented effectively and in a manner compatible with all other elections held in this State. This bill does not require action on the part of any school board or municipality in order to implement its provisions. | In Committee |
| S3147 | "Beverage Container Deposit Act"; requires use of returnable beverage containers in NJ and establishes deposit and refund system to facilitate return of such containers to manufacturers for reuse or proper disposal. | This bill, to be known as the "Beverage Container Deposit Act," would establish a container deposit and refund system in New Jersey to facilitate the return of used and empty beverage containers to manufacturers for reuse, recycling, or proper disposal. Commencing two years after the date of the bill's enactment, every filled beverage container sold or offered for sale in the State would need to: (1) be a returnable container; (2) have a refund value of $0.10 when empty; (3) be clearly identified by a stamp, label, or other mark securely affixed to the container, bearing the name of the State, and indicating the container's refund value; and (4) if composed primarily of metal, have no part that becomes detached when opened. Any manufacturer who manufactures for sale in this State, any distributor who sells, offers for sale, or gives to a dealer in the State, and any dealer who sells, offers for sale, or gives to a consumer in this State, a filled beverage container that fails to comply with these requirements will be subject to a civil penalty of $100 to $1,000, for each day of violation, as well as the payment of restitution in an amount equal to the loss resulting from the violation. Under the container deposit and refund system established in the bill, a distributor (including a manufacturer or other person) who sells a filled beverage container to a dealer in the State will be required to originate a $0.10 refundable container deposit surcharge on that container, which is to be paid by the dealer and collected and recorded by the distributor. A dealer who sells a filled beverage container to a consumer will then be required to charge the consumer the $0.10 deposit that was originated by the distributor on the container. The bill would not require a dealer to collect a deposit from a consumer who is purchasing the beverage for on-site consumption in the dealer's sale and consumption area; however, if a dealer elects to authorize on-site beverage consumption without payment of a deposit, the dealer will nonetheless be required to collect a deposit if the consumer fails to return the container upon leaving the sale and consumption area. A distributor or dealer who fails to originate or impose the $0.10 deposit on a beverage container, as required by the bill, will be subject to a civil penalty of $100 to $1,000, for each day of violation, as well as the payment of restitution in an amount equal to the loss resulting from the violation. The bill would require a dealer to accept for return, from any person, an empty returnable container of any kind, size, and brand that is sold or offered for sale by the dealer, and to pay the container's refund value, in cash, to the person returning the container, regardless of whether that person is the original customer who purchased the filled container or whether the filled container was originally sold by the dealer. A dealer may limit, to $25, the total dollar amount of container refunds that may be daily issued to a single person. A distributor would similarly be required to accept for return, from any dealer, an empty returnable container of any kind, size, and brand that is sold or offered for sale by the distributor, and to pay the dealer the full refund value of the container, in cash. The distributor would then be required to either return the redeemed empty container to the manufacturer or, if the distributor is the manufacturer, to retain possession of the redeemed container, for reuse, recycling, or proper disposal in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The bill would prohibit any person from paying, claiming, or receiving any container deposit, refund, processing payment, or handling fee for any of the following: (1) a beverage container that the person knows, or should know, was imported from out of State; (2) a previously redeemed beverage container; (3) a previously rejected beverage container; or (4) any other vessel, cup, non-beverage container, or other material that is ineligible for redemption pursuant to this act. The bill would further prohibit any person from fraudulently: (1) redeeming or attempting to redeem an out-of-state container, a previously redeemed container, a previously rejected container, or any other ineligible container or material; (2) returning a previously redeemed container to the marketplace for redemption purposes; (3) bringing an out-of-state container, a previously rejected container, or any other ineligible container or material to the marketplace for redemption purposes; or (4) receiving, storing, transporting, distributing, or otherwise facilitating or aiding in the redemption of any such ineligible container or material. Any person who violates these provisions would be subject to the payment of restitution in an amount equal to the loss resulting from the violation. In order to facilitate the return of beverage containers under the bill, the bill would require each dealer who sells filled returnable beverage containers for off-site consumption to provide, either on the premises where sales are made or within 100 yards thereof, a reverse vending machine or other convenient means by which empty returnable containers may be returned and a cash refund issued to the person who is returning them. The bill would additionally require a dealer to post written notice, in the area where returnable containers are redeemed, notifying consumers that they may be liable for the payment of restitution in association with any improper container returns made thereby. Any dealer who fails to comply with either of these requirements would be subject to a civil penalty of $50 per day of violation. Certain manufacturers of large quantities of beverages would also be required to use returnable containers that have a designated symbol, mark, or other distinguishing characteristic, approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which is sufficient to enable a reverse vending machine to determine whether the container is returnable and is eligible for a refund. A manufacturer who does not use designated containers when required by the Department of the Treasury would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $2,000. Under the bill's provisions, if a distributor, in a single year, is an under-redeemer of beverage containers, meaning that the distributor has collected more money in container deposits than the distributor has expended in container refunds, the distributor will be required to pay, to the Department of the Treasury, the value of the unclaimed deposits, less the value of any over-redemption credit authorized under the bill. An over-redemption credit may be issued, by the Department of the Treasury, to any distributor who, in a single year, expends more money in container refunds than the distributor collects through deposits, and this credit may be carried forward for the next three years to offset any payments owed by the distributor upon becoming an under-redeemer. However, if an over-redeemer is not planning to continue making container deposits in subsequent years, the Department of the Treasury may allow the over-redeemer, on a one-time basis, to carry the value of the credit back into prior years in order to realize its value. In order to reduce the costs owed by an under-redeemer and reduce the amounts expended by an over-redeemer, the bill would authorize an under-redeemer to purchase empty redeemed containers from another distributor who is an over-redeemer in the same year. The bill would require the DEP to authorize and provide for the establishment, licensure, and operation of beverage container redemption centers, throughout the State, for the bill's purposes. Each such redemption center would be authorized to engage in the bulk collection of redeemable containers, in accordance with various requirements established in the bill, through the use of either or both an account-based bulk processing program or a bag-drop program, as such programs are defined in the bill. Except as otherwise provided by the bill, each such redemption center would be required to remain open and available to accept redeemable containers on a daily basis, seven days a week, for at least 10 hours a day from Monday through Saturday, and for at least six hours a day on Sunday. The redemption centers established and operated, pursuant to the bill, are to supplement, but not supplant, the consumer return of redeemable containers to dealers under the bill. The bill would further require each distributor of beverages, unless otherwise speci?ed in a contract executed with a dealer, to offer to provide a collection service, for redeemable containers, to each dealer or other establishment that allows for the on-site consumption of beverages in the State. Such collection service is to provide for the regular collection of all redeemable containers stored by such dealers and other establishments, in accordance with the following collection schedule: (1) if the dealer or other establishment has an on-site consumption capacity of 50 or more persons at a time, the collection system is to provide for all redeemable containers stored thereby, at least once per week; and (2) if the dealer or other establishment has an on-site consumption capacity of fewer than 50 persons at a time, the collection system is to provide for all redeemable containers stored thereby to be collected, by the distributor, at least twice per month. A distributor operating a collection system, pursuant to the bill, would be required to: (1) provide all of equipment and accessories necessary to facilitate the collection of redeemable containers under the system; (2) take appropriate and necessary steps to ensure that redeemable beverage containers are emptied and sorted on site, if possible; (3) issue appropriate refunds, for all redeemable containers collected under the system, not more than seven consecutive business days after such containers are collected; and (4) if the distributor requires the use of a digital application to facilitate the issuance of requisite refunds, assign a unique identi?cation code to each participating dealer or other establishment and require each such dealer or other establishment to attach, to each container stored thereby, a label containing that identification code. The bill would establish four new funds for the moneys that will be obtained through the implementation of the bill's provisions: (1) the Beverage Container Deposit Fund; (2) the Beverage Container Deposit Enforcement Fund; (3) the Clean-Up and Redevelopment Trust Fund; and (4) the Community Pollution Prevention Grant Fund. Moneys that are paid by under-redeemers, pursuant to the bill, are to be deposited into the Beverage Container Deposit Fund. The first $1 million in the BCD Fund is to be annually disbursed to the Beverage Container Deposit Enforcement Fund for use by the State Police in enforcing, and investigating violations of, the bill's provisions. However, if the balance in the Enforcement Fund exceeds $3 million, disbursements to that fund will be suspended until the balance falls below $2 million. Of the amounts remaining in the Deposit Fund following the requisite disbursement to the Enforcement Fund, 75 percent is to be disbursed to the Clean-Up and Redevelopment Trust Fund, and 25 percent is to be apportioned to each dealer in the State, based on the number of empty returnable containers handled by each dealer. In addition to the moneys disbursed thereto from the Beverage Container Deposit Fund, the Clean-Up and Redevelopment Trust Fund would also be credited with all penalty and restitution amounts that are imposed and collected by a court for violations of the bill's provisions. For each of the three fiscal years next following the bill's effective date, the first $15 million annually deposited in the trust fund is to be disbursed, in equal amounts, to eight different clean-up and redevelopment funds currently existing in the State and identified in the bill. Of the moneys remaining in the trust fund in those first three fiscal years, and of the total sum of moneys deposited in the trust fund in the fourth and each subsequent fiscal year following the bill's effective date, 80 percent of such moneys are to be equally disbursed, on an annual basis, to the eight different clean-up and redevelopment funds identified in the bill, and 10 percent of such moneys are to be disbursed to the Community Pollution Prevention Grant Fund, newly established pursuant to the bill. Moneys in the Community Pollution Prevention Grant Fund are to be used, by the DEP, to provide grants to local governments, local health departments, regional planning agencies, and similar entities (in amounts of up to $100,000 per year for each recipient) to finance various programs and activities related to water pollution prevention and litter clean-up, as specified in the bill. Each grant recipient would be required to provide a financial match equaling 25 to 50 percent of the grant award. Finally, this bill would repeal section 5 of P.L.2007, c.311 (C.13:1E-96.6), which currently provides for the State's existing recycling tax to become inoperable if State or federal law requires a deposit on, or establishes a refund value, for a beverage container, as this bill would do. This repeal will ensure that the State's existing recycling tax continues to remain in effect, notwithstanding this bill's enactment. | In Committee |
| S3220 | Establishes cybersecurity employment grant program for qualified businesses; appropriates $750,000. | This bill establishes a program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) for the purpose of awarding grants for the creation and establishment of cybersecurity specialist positions in small to mid-sized businesses located in New Jersey. Under the program, the DOLWD is to provide grants, in an amount as determined by the DOLWD, to one or more "qualified small to mid-sized business" to assist with the establishment and hiring of a "cybersecurity specialist position," as defined in the bill, within that business. Under the bill, the term "qualified small to mid-sized business" would include a business entity employing fewer than 500 employees that is independently owned and operated, that operates primarily within this State, and that satisfies other criteria that may be established by the DOLWD. The bill establishes eligibility requirements for business participation in the program. Additionally, the bill designates the responsibilities of both the DOLWD, such as the DOLWD's responsibility to work in conjunction with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the Department of Banking and Insurance, and the Office of the Attorney General in administering the program, and the participating small to mid-sized businesses, such as the responsibility to provide quarterly reports to the DOLWD. The bill includes an appropriation of $750,000 from the General Fund to the DOLWD to administer the program. | In Committee |
| S1183 | Requires Internet websites which deal in electronic dissemination of music or audiovisual works to disclose certain information. | This bill requires Internet websites which deal in the electronic dissemination of music or audiovisual works to disclose certain information. Under the provisions of this bill, a person who owns or operates an Internet website or online service dealing in substantial part in the electronic dissemination of third-party commercial recordings or audiovisual works, directly or indirectly, and who electronically disseminates the material to consumers in this State is required to clearly and conspicuously disclose the person's correct name, physical address, telephone number, and email address in a location readily accessible to a consumer using or visiting the Internet website or online service. The bill provides that an owner, assignee, authorized agent, or exclusive licensee of a commercial recording or audiovisual work electronically disseminated by an Internet website or online service in violation of the provisions of this bill may bring a private cause of action against a violator to obtain a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief. However, before filing an action under this section, the aggrieved party is required to make reasonable efforts to provide notice to the person alleged to be in violation of this bill in order to allow the alleged violator 14 days to cure the violation. If the alleged violator has failed to cure the violation within 14 days of receiving notice, the aggrieved party may institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief pursuant to the provisions of this bill. The prevailing party is entitled to recover necessary expenses incurred in an action under this section, including reasonable attorney's fees. A violation of the bill's provisions constitute an unlawful practice and a violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. | In Committee |
| SCR104 | Condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance. | This resolution condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance, and declares the State of New Jersey as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans. This resolution recognizes that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and which encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as "Sanatana Dharma". The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, retail trade, and so much more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions. Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred". There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country. | In Committee |
| SJR113 | Celebrates career of New Jersey resident John Sterling. | This joint resolution celebrates the long career of sports broadcasting legend John Sterling. Sterling was known for his boisterous voice and unique play-calling style for the New York Yankees. Sterling called over 5,400 games for the Yankees and saw them through some of the best runs in franchise history. John Sterling started radio broadcasting for the team in 1989, and continued uninterrupted until his retirement in the spring of 2024. Although Sterling grew up in New York, he is currently a resident of Bergen County, New Jersey. Sterling will forever be tied to the Yankees and is a beloved figure in sports broadcasting. | In Committee |
| S1774 | Concerns counseling for children who were either physically present or who may have seen or heard act of domestic violence. | Concerns counseling for children who were either physically present or who may have seen or heard act of domestic violence. | In Committee |
| SJR112 | Establishes task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. | This joint resolution establishes a task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The Centers for Disease Control has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women. Additionally, in a 2020 report by the Women's Media Center, it was reported there are approximately 64,000-75,000 missing Black women and girls across the United States. Cases involving BIPOC women and girls often are under-reported, do not receive the required level of attention by the media or law enforcement, and are categorized improperly by law enforcement officials. The systemic racism, sexism, and suppression experienced by BIPOC women and girls leads to worse health, wealth, housing, education, and employment outcomes. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive database regarding missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls. Creation of the task force on missing BIPOC women and girls will address these inequities. The task force will be responsible for: (1) developing policy recommendations to ensure first responders are culturally competent regarding the severity and impact of missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls on the communities and families affected; (2) developing training and education materials for BIPOC communities on methods of prevention and protection and social media protocols relating to missing BIPOC women and girls, and disseminating the materials in high-impact communities within the State; (3) developing strategies and recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General to collect statistics, demographics, surveys, and oral histories; conduct data analysis; and issue guidelines to ensure de-identified data is publicly available; (4) identifying traffic hubs, highways, and resource extraction sites that lead to or facilitate the abduction of BIPOC women and girls; and (5) creating a State-wide public awareness campaign. The task force will be comprised of 15 members, as follows:· the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Commissioner of the Department of Health or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Superintendent of State Police or the superintendent's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; · two members to be appointed by the President of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; · two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; · two members to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and · two members to be appointed by the Governor. | In Committee |
| S3164 | Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reparations Task Force" to study and develop reparations proposals for African-Americans in this State. The task force would consist of 11 members, comprised of four legislators and seven public members. Three members would be appointed by the Governor and eight members would be appointed by the Legislative leadership. At a minimum, four of the public members would be appointed from persons recommended by organizations concerned with the issues of civil rights, human rights, racial, social and economic justice and equality, reparations and other issues concerning the African-American community. The members of the task force will appoint a chair and a vice chair of the task force. The members of the task force would not be compensated but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. This bill, among other things, requires the task force to: (1) examine the institution of slavery within the State of New Jersey; (2) examine the extent to which the State of New Jersey and the federal government prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of former enslaved persons and their descendants who are considered United States' citizens to economically thrive upon the ending of slavery; (3) examine the lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and on society in New Jersey and the United States; (4) research methods and materials for facilitating education, community dialogue, symbolic acknowledgement, and other formal actions leading toward transformation, reparations remedies, a sense of justice, and economic justice among the descendants of enslaved African people in this State; (5) make recommendations for what remedies should be awarded, through what instrumentalities, and to whom those remedies should be awarded; and (6) address how said recommendations comport with national and international standards of remedy for wrongs and injuries caused by the State. The task force will hold at least six public meetings in different parts of the State, including Camden, Paterson, Newark, New Brunswick, Atlantic City, and Trenton. The Governor will call the first meeting of the task force to occur on or before the first day of the third month after enactment. The task force will issue an interim report of its progress to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 12 months following the initial meeting. The task force will submit its final report and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 24 months following the initial meeting. The task force will expire upon issuance of its final report. | In Committee |
| S3150 | Permits disclosure of certain State taxpayer information to certain municipalities that administer employer payroll tax. | This bill concerns the disclosure of State tax return information to municipalities that administer an employer payroll tax pursuant to the "Local Tax Authorization Act," P.L.1970, c.326 (C.40:48C-1 et seq.). Under the "Local Tax Authorization Act," a municipality with a population in excess of 200,000 residents is authorized to enact an ordinance imposing an employer payroll tax on certain employers operating within the municipality. Currently, only the cities of Newark and Jersey City have populations in excess of 200,000 residents and both have adopted an ordinance to impose an employer payroll tax. A municipality that imposes an employer payroll tax pursuant to the "Local Tax Authorization Act" is permitted to tax, at a rate of up to one percent, an amount equal to the total remuneration paid by employers to employees for certain services if those services are performed within the municipality or those services are performed outside the municipality and the place from which the services are supervised is within the municipality. Under current law, the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury is generally prohibited from disclosing State tax return information, except as otherwise permitted in statute. Currently, the director, at their discretion, is authorized to furnish certain State tax return information to a municipality authorized to impose an employer payroll tax under the "Local Tax Authorization Act." This disclosure of information is limited to employer-provided wage and tax withholding information contained in tax reports or returns filed under the New Jersey gross income tax, and the municipality may only use this information to verify the payroll information reported by employers subject to the employer payroll tax to an eligible municipality. The bill would expand the scope of State tax return information that may be disclosed to a municipality that administers an employer payroll tax. Specifically, the bill provides that the municipality may authorize the furnishing of wage and tax withholding information, or such other State tax return information as may be necessary, for the two following purposes: (1) verifying the payroll information reported by employers subject to the employer payroll tax; and (2) identifying each employer operating within the municipality that is subject to the employer payroll tax, and which did not report payroll information for a preceding calendar quarter. This would enable an eligible municipality to certify that information in the municipality's employer database is consistent with the information employers submit to the Division of Taxation. The bill also removes the provision of current law that provided that this disclosure of information would be subject to the discretion of the Director of the Division of Taxation. | In Committee |
| S3149 | Concerns municipal ordinances that impose employer payroll tax. | This bill amends the local payroll tax law to require certain employers, which employ persons within any municipality that imposes a local payroll tax, to provide additional information to assist in the administration of the local tax, as requested by the municipality collecting the tax. | In Committee |
| S3148 | Establishes Office of Professional Corporate Guardians. | This bill establishes in, but not of, the Department Human Services, the Office of Professional Corporate Guardians. The purpose of the office is to oversee the licensing requirements of, and establish standards of practice for, professional corporate guardians.As defined in the bill, a "professional corporate guardian" means a for profit or not-for-profit business entity, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or a limited liability company either duly formed or licensed to conduct business in New Jersey and which, who either by private arrangement or court appointment, has been granted the powers to exercise all assignable legal rights of an incapacitated person or ward's property. Under the provisions of the bill, the office is to: (1) adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of bill; (2) establish standards of practice for professional corporate guardians, and ensure the compliance with such standards; (3) develop the qualification criteria and amount to be charged for application and issuance fees for registrations authorized under the bill; (4) establish disciplinary measures, including, but not limited to, disqualifying, suspending, revoking and refusing to renew the registration of professional corporate guardians; (5) establish procedures for organizing and conducting hearings into allegations of misconduct by registered professional corporate guardians; (6) establish policies and procedures for addressing conflicts of interest, prohibited activities, and breach of fiduciary duties relating to professional corporate guardians; (7) develop guidelines concerning and procedures governing initial and annual guardianship reports to be filed by a registered professional guardian; and (8) develop and maintain searchable database that contains and displays information on each registered professional corporate guardian in the State. An entity may serve as a professional corporate guardian if that entity has been registered by the office as a professional corporate guardian and that entity meets the qualifications and pays all required fees and costs outlined in the bill. The office may also suspend or revoke an entity's registration as a professional corporate guardian and remove the entity from the Statewide registry if that entity does not comply with the provisions of the bill. The bill outlines the powers and duties of a professional corporate guardian including, but not limited to, designating substitute guardians to exercise all of the powers and duties of the professional corporate guardian if the professional corporate guardian is unable or unavailable to perform its duties or otherwise delegates such duties to its substitute guardian employee. The bill also outlines the procedures a registered professional corporate guardians is required to follow when designated by the heir of a disabled person, or a guardian of an incapacitated person, or a disabled or incapacitated person to serve on a pre-need basis as a family choice or personal choice guardian, as applicable. The bill delineates the circumstances under which the authority and responsibility of a professional corporate guardian terminate and the process for filling vacancies in professional corporate guardianships. | In Committee |
| S3151 | Concerns municipal use of employer payroll tax. | This bill amends the local payroll tax law to allow the municipality collecting a local payroll tax to use up to five percent of the funds collected under the local payroll tax annually to cover administrative costs associated with the collection and administrations of the local payroll tax. | In Committee |
| S2422 | Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. | Establishes occupational heat stress standard and "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" in DOLWD. | In Committee |
| S2157 | Requires NJ E-ZPass to establish and maintain user-friendly online payment process. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to establish and maintain an online payment processing system for the payment of any fees or fines allocated under the State's electronic toll collection system. The online payment processing system is required to increase the ease of use, increase accessibility for all users, minimize network errors, and include a live chat function to assist users with any issues that may arise while using the system. The bill requires the NJTA and the SJTA to maintain and upgrade the system on a regular basis. The bill also requires the NJTA and the SJTA to ensure that the payment processing system maintained by the New Jersey E-ZPass Group or contracted vendor, as applicable, complies with the requirements set forth in the bill, including conducting an annual performance audit of the system. | In Committee |
| S323 | Requires MVC to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of certain school buses. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to conduct a minimum of two annual inspections of school buses through the MVC school bus enhanced safety inspection program (program). In addition to the annual scheduled inspection of school buses required under current law, MVC is also required to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections. The bill also provides that any fine imposed pursuant to the "School Bus Enhanced Safety Inspection Act" that is collected and remitted to the MVC is required to be used for the continued administration of the program. | In Committee |
| SJR105 | Establishes "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force." | This bill establishes a "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force" to assess and make recommendations to the Executive Branch and the Legislature on how to address the growing number of cybersecurity threats in the State against New Jersey residents and businesses. The task force recommendations, at a minimum, must address the best practices and procedures to: (1) identify potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities; (2) mitigate risk and prevent cyber breaches; and (3) recover from cybersecurity threats.Under the bill, the task force shall consist of 11 members as follows: (1) the Attorney General, or a designee; (2) the supervising officer of the High Tech Crimes Unit in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or a designee from the State Police; (3) the Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, or a designee; (4) the Head of the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell; (5) the Senate President, or a designee; (6) the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; and (7) five public members, appointed by the Governor, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey League of Municipalities; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; and a faculty member from a higher education institution with expertise in information technology, data protection, and cybersecurity. The bill directs the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following its initial organizational meeting. The task force would expire upon the submission of its report. | In Committee |
| S3133 | Requires homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations to be translated into multiple languages. | This bill requires that the homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification examinations be made available in multiple languages. The bill requires that at a minimum the certification examinations will be made available in English and Spanish. | In Committee |
| S3085 | Requires public service employer to certify employment of qualifying employees under federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program; requires Secretary of Higher Education to develop materials to promote Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. | This bill requires a public service employer to certify the employment of qualifying employees under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For the purposes of certifying employment for educator employees, the employer is required to credit 3.35 hours worked for each hour of lecture or classroom time. Under the bill, this credit does not supersede any greater adjustment factor established by a collective bargaining agreement or employer policy in recognition of additional work associated with lecture or classroom time for the purpose of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The bill also provides that, in the event that the United States Department of Education permits public service employers to certify employment for past or present individual employees or groups of employees directly with the department or its agents, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a public service employer is permitted to send to the department or its agents the information necessary for employment certification. Under the bill, in the event that a public service employer does not directly certify employment with the United States Department of Education, the public service employer is required to provide notice of renewal and a copy of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness form with the employer information and employment certification sections of the form already completed to:· any employee who requests a Public Service Loan Forgiveness form;· annually for any current employee for whom the public service employer has previously certified employment; and· upon separation for any employee who is ending his or her work with the public service employer. The bill also requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Student Loan Ombudsman designated within the Department of Banking and Insurance, to develop, and update as necessary, materials designed to promote and increase awareness of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, including:· a standardized letter for public service employers to distribute to their employees that briefly summarizes the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, provides information about what eligible employees are required to do in order to benefit from the program, and recommends that eligible employees contact their student loan servicer for additional resources;· a detailed fact sheet describing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, including the official website addresses maintained by the United State Department of Education for the program and by the United States Department of the Treasury for student loan borrower resources; and· a document containing frequently asked questions about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Under the bill, each public service employer is required to annually provide to all employees the most recent available version of those materials in written or electronic form. Each public service employer is required to provide a newly hired employee with those same materials within 30 days of the employee's first day of employment by mail, by electronic mail, or during an in-person new employee orientation. | In Committee |
| S3066 | The "Healthy and Affordable Construction for Tomorrow Act." | This bill, known as the "Healthy and Affordable Construction for Tomorrow Act," requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to amend the State Uniform Construction Code (code) to prohibit the combustion of substances exceeding certain emissions levels of carbon dioxide in certain new buildings or structures. In New Jersey, the electrification of buildings and structures protects the environment, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, significantly impacts indoor air quality, protects the public health, and creates substantial savings for New Jersey residents in utility costs. Exposure to indoor air pollutants released by the combustion of natural gas and other similar substances can have severe, adverse effects on public health, including children. These potential health effects which include: premature mortality, lung and breast cancer, asthma, brain and heart toxicity, sleep disorders, birth defects, and neurological disorders. These effects are the highest for apartments due to smaller residence size, which disproportionately affects vulnerable, low-income renters in this State. Further, electrification lowers air pollution and reduces greenhouse gases, which are driving the current climate crisis. Across the country, crop yields are dropping, fires are destroying vulnerable communities, and the planet is experiencing the warmest years on record. Transitioning from natural gas and energy sources that significantly contribute to our current crisis is critical to ensure that the environment, and our communities, are protected for both present and future generations. In addition to severe health risks and crippling danger to our environment associated with the use of natural gas, electrification creates substantial savings for New Jersey residents, who could save up to 41 percent for utilities, while gas rates are expected to rise 35 percent by 2030. Further, not only is it less expensive to build homes with high energy efficiency mechanicals and appliances, across the country on clothes dryers alone, Americans could save more than $1.5 billion each year in utility costs if certain electric appliances were utilized instead of natural gas. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce New Jersey's reliance on natural gas that causes severe health effects and cripples the environment, in order to protect the public health and our planet, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create substantial savings for New Jersey residents on utility costs, and foster the electrification of new buildings and structures. The bill prohibits, in any new building or structure of less than seven stories, the combustion of any qualifying substance beginning 12 months after the bill's enactment. The bill extends this prohibition to include all new buildings or structures, regardless of height, beginning 36 months after the date of enactment. These prohibitions are subject to exceptions provided in the bill. The bill defines the term "qualifying substance" to mean a substance that, when combusted, emits 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy, as determined by the United States Energy Information Administration. Following the applicable date of the requirements set forth in the bill, the bill prohibits the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for any noncompliant building or structure. The bill requires the code to provide exemptions from the requirements of the bill for: (1) systems for emergency back-up power and standby power systems; (2) emergency management facilities; and (3) buildings or structures specifically designated for occupancy by a commercial food establishment. The code is required to limit, where an exemption is provided, the combustion of a qualifying substance to the system and areas of a building or structure for which compliance with the requirements is infeasible. The code is also to require to the fullest extent feasible, that an area or service within the building or structure, where there exists the combustion of any qualifying substance, be all-electric ready, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that financial considerations are not to constitute a sufficient basis to determine physical or technical infeasibility, and exemptions granted by the code are to be reviewed by the commissioner during each major code update cycle to determine whether the exemption remains necessary. The bill also provides that nothing in the bill is to be construed or interpreted as preempting a municipality from prohibiting infrastructure, building systems, or equipment that uses or combusts fossil fuels or any qualifying substances, or from prescribing standards that are more restrictive than the bill for infrastructure, building systems, or equipment that uses fossil fuels or any qualifying substances. The bill further requires the commissioner and the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to submit a joint report to the Governor and Legislature concerning what changes to electric rate designs, new or existing subsidy programs, statutes, rules, regulations, or policies are necessary since the date of enactment of the bill. The bill is to take effect on the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment, except the commissioner is permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3042 | The "Liberty State Park Protection Act"; establishes Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park. | This bill, to be known as the "Liberty State Park Protection Act," would preserve Liberty State Park as a public urban green open space with authority for limited privatization by establishing certain requirements concerning actions by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) related to Liberty State Park and establishing a Liberty State Park Advisory Committee (committee). The bill would prohibit the DEP from considering any proposal to commercialize, develop, or privatize Liberty State Park, except as provided in the bill. The bill would restrict the DEP from conveying, leasing, or otherwise transferring any property rights within the 235-acre natural restoration area in the interior of Liberty State Park, and at Caven Point Peninsula. The bill would require the DEP, within five years after the bill is enacted into law, and after consultation with the committee, to develop a management plan for Liberty State Park. The DEP would be required to consult the committee for review and recommendations: (1) prior to entering into any agreement for a concession, conveyance, or lease or any other transfer of property rights; and (2) prior to the extension or renewal for a term of one year or longer any lease in effect on the date the bill is enacted into law. In addition, the bill directs the DEP to develop and implement, in conjunction with the committee, a public participation process to allow public citizens and civic organizations to provide public input on any proposed changes in land use at Liberty State Park or to the management plan developed pursuant the bill, and to also, at least once each year, hold a public forum to receive input from the public concerning plans, improvements, preservation, conservation, and management of the park, in addition to any public hearings that may be required pursuant to law. The bill also directs the DEP to develop a map depicting Liberty State Park. Under the bill, the DEP would only approve an agreement for a concession, conveyance, lease, or other agreement with a private entity to provide small-scale commercial activities if the agreement enhances the experience of a visitor to Liberty State Park, such as a bicycle or kayak rental concession, food concession, temporary winter skating rink, commercial boat tour operating from an existing boat slip, and use of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal ("CRRNJ Terminal"), and other uses identified in the management plan developed pursuant to the bill. In addition, whenever the DEP proposes to enter into a concession, lease, or other agreement for a duration of one year or longer, the DEP would be required to present the proposal to the committee for review and recommendations and provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposal, including holding two public hearings at Liberty State Park, with one hearing being held on a weekday evening and one on the weekend, and providing a 30-day public comment period. In addition, the DEP would be required to take these same actions when it intends to convey lands acquired or developed by the State with Green Acres funds, or acquired or developed by the State in any other manner and administered by the department, located within or adjacent to Liberty State Park. The Liberty State Park Advisory Committee established by the bill would be charged with assisting the DEP in conserving, preserving, protecting, and improving Liberty State Park. In carrying out its responsibilities, the committee would give due consideration to the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources and the local, State, and national significance of Liberty State Park. The committee's responsibilities would include: assisting the DEP in developing the management plan required by the bill, and advising the DEP on the ecological restoration of the 235-acre interior portion of the park and means to increase public access and public enjoyment of the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources of the park; reviewing and making recommendations concerning concessions, leases, or other transfer of property rights with a duration of one year or longer; and submitting to the DEP Commissioner any recommendations the committee deems necessary to improve, protect the park. In addition, this bill would amend the "State Park and Forestry Resources Act," P.L.1983, c. 324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.), which, in part, allows the DEP to enter agreements with private entities for the construction, operation, and maintenance for private profit of any facility, utility, or device in State parks and forests as the DEP finds proper for the use and enjoyment of the lands by the public. This bill would amend the law to reflect the provisions of this bill concerning agreements related to Liberty State Park. Lastly, the bill would amend the "Hackensack Meadowlands Agency Consolidation Act" to delete the provision that provided the commission, i.e., the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which under current law is also referred to as the "Meadowlands Regional Commission," with certain authority concerning Liberty State Park. | In Committee |
| S3009 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey." | This bill establishes the "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey." Under the bill, all statutes, rules, and regulations, in this State including all local laws or ordinances related to the elective franchise must be construed liberally in favor of: (1) protecting the right of voters to have their ballot cast and counted; (2) ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote; and (3) ensuring voters of race, color, and language-minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process in registering to vote and voting. The bill prohibits the authority to prescribe or maintain voting or elections policies and practices to be so exercised as to unnecessarily deny or abridge the right to vote. The bill also prohibits a local election office or political subdivision from using a method of election that has the effect of impairing the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections, as a result of vote dilution. The bill requires that any policy and practice that burdens the right to vote must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling policy justification that must be supported by substantial evidence. The bill provides factors for determining if a violation of the bill has occurred, including if a voter's right to vote has been violated or if the voter has experienced vote dilution. Under the bill, if a violation of the provisions of the bill occurs, the bill provides a remedy process, including for apportionment and redistricting maps. The bill provides that after a New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act (NJVEA) notification letter is mailed from a prospective plaintiff to a political subdivision, the political submission may pass an NJVEA resolution reaffirming: (1) the political subdivision's intention to enact and implement a remedy for a potential violation of the bill; (2) specific steps the political subdivision will undertake to facilitate approval and implementation of such a remedy; and (3) a schedule for enacting and implementing such a remedy. The bill provides that if the governing body of a political subdivision lacks the authority under this act or applicable State law or local laws to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, or fails to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, within 90 days after the passage of the resolution, or if the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined by the bill, the governing body of the political subdivision must coordinate with the Attorney General to resolve the violation, including reaffirming that any proposal is unlikely to violate the United States Constitution, New Jersey Constitution, or any federal or State law; and is feasible to implement. Under the bill, the Attorney General is provided with certain preclearance powers. The bill provides that if certain political subdivisions that have been the subject to court order or government enforcement action based on violations of the bill; the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, or a voting-related violation of the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution, may be subject to preclearance, which is the process of obtaining prior approval from the Attorney General or a court of this State for any changes related to election procedures in that political subdivision. The bill provides assistance to language-minority groups. Under the bill, a local election office or a political subdivision that administers elections must provide language-related assistance in voting and elections to a language-minority group in a political subdivision if, based on data from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey, or data of comparable quality collected by a public office, that: (1) more than two percent, but in no instance fewer than 100 individuals, eligible voters of a political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient; or (2) more than 4,000 of eligible voters of such political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient. The bill further provides that a local election office or political subdivision required to provide language assistance to a particular language-minority group pursuant to this section must provide voting materials in the covered language of an equal quality of the corresponding English language materials, including registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other physical or online materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots. Under the bill, any aggrieved persons or organization whose membership includes aggrieved persons or members of a protected class, organization whose mission, in whole or in part, is to ensure voting access and such mission would be hindered by a violation of this bill, or the Attorney General may file an action pursuant to the bill in court. The bill provides that any action or investigation to enforce any provision of this bill, the Attorney General would have the authority to take proof and determine relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil and criminal laws of this State. The bill also establishes the "New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute," at a public university in New Jersey, to maintain and administer a database and central repository of elections and voting data available to the public from all local election offices and political subdivisions in the State of New Jersey and to foster, pursue, and sponsor research on existing laws and best practices in voting and elections. The bill also contains a severability provision. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, or other portion of the bill is for any reason held or declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or preempted by federal law, or the applicability of that portion to any person or facility is held invalid, the remainder of the bill would not thereby be deemed to be unconstitutional, preempted, or invalid. The purpose of this bill is to: (1) encourage participation in the elective franchise by all eligible voters to the maximum extent; (2) ensure that eligible voters who are members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups have an equal opportunity to participate in the political processes of this State and exercise the elective franchise; (3) improve the quality and availability of demographic and election data; and (4) protect eligible voters against intimidation and deceptive practices. This bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S2504 | Requires Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain primary and mental health care services match reimbursement rates under Medicare. | Requires Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain primary and mental health care services match reimbursement rates under Medicare. | In Committee |
| S237 | "New Jersey Clean Energy Act of 2024"; establishes 100 percent clean electricity standard and directs BPU to establish clean electricity certificate program. | "New Jersey Clean Energy Act of 2024"; establishes 100 percent clean electricity standard and directs BPU to establish clean electricity certificate program. | In Committee |
| SCR43 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | In Committee |
| S1423 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain ambulance transportation services. | This bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services, an increase of $142 from the State's existing rate of $58 per transport. In doing so, the sponsor aims to ensure that emergency ambulance transportation providers, which deliver integral medical services for those with unplanned urgent and life-threatening health conditions, are given the financial support necessary to serve the community. Currently, New Jersey has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rate for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services in the region. Surrounding states' rates range from $65.27 in Delaware to $293.90 in Connecticut. Moreover, pending legislation in Pennsylvania would increase that state's rate to $325 per transport, which would be the highest rate in the region. | In Committee |
| S258 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and implement grid modernization plans; appropriates $300 million. | Requires electric public utilities to develop and implement grid modernization plans; appropriates $300 million. | In Committee |
| S198 | Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies. | This bill, would prohibit the Director of the Division of Investment (director) from investing any assets of the State retirement funds in any of the top 200 companies that hold the largest carbon content fossil fuel reserves. Under the bill, divestment from coal companies would be required to be completed within two years, and from all other fossil fuel companies within one year. The director would be authorized to cease divestment or reinvest in previously divested companies if the director demonstrates that, as a direct result of the divestment, the State retirement funds have or will become equal to or less than 99.5 percent of their hypothetical value had no divestment occurred. Finally, the bill would require the State Investment Council and the director to report on the divestment efforts required by the bill within 120 days of the bill's effective date, and annually thereafter. | In Committee |
| S2845 | Requires rental car company to delete personal information of customer from motor vehicle computer system upon return of vehicle. | This bill requires rental car companies to delete the personal information of a renter from the motor vehicle computer system upon processing the return of any rented vehicle. When deleting a renter's personal information from a vehicle, the rental car company is required to comply with data-clearing protocols in accordance with the Guidelines for Media Sanitization developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology using techniques specified by the vehicle manufacturer to overwrite data or by using a menu option to reset the device to original factory settings. A rental car company that violates the provisions of this bill is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense, and $1,000 for any subsequent offense, to be collected and enforced by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. Under the bill, a "rental car company" means any person engaged in the business of renting motor vehicles to the general public at retail, including renting vehicles on an hourly, daily, per trip, or other short-term basis. | In Committee |
| S2833 | Requires certain notice when redirecting consumers to website for ticket resale and establishes certain requirements for websites offering tickets for resale. | This bill requires additional disclosures for ticket brokers who operate a website to resell tickets. Brokers will be required to clearly and conspicuously provide notice: (1) that the website is for the secondary sale of tickets; (2) that tickets offered through the website for secondary sale do not mean that tickets for primary sale are no longer available; (3) that the price of a ticket offered for sale may exceed the face value price or the price set by the place of entertainment; and (4) of any refund policy of the ticket broker that is in place with regard to the postponement or cancellation of an event. The broker is to require a purchaser to confirm having read the information on these notices prior to completing a transaction. A ticket broker is to also clearly and conspicuously disclose the price charged by the place of entertainment that is printed or endorsed on the face of each ticket prior to the purchaser completing any transaction. The same disclosures and requirements of a ticket broker are also made applicable to ticket resale websites in the bill. Additionally, the bill requires a website operator with a ticket website for the sale or selling tickets to inform a consumer when the ticket website is redirecting the consumer to another website for the resale of tickets. The notice to consumers is to be in a clear and conspicuous location on the ticket website and in a minimum of 12-point, boldface font and is to disclose that the redirection to a website for the resale of tickets does not mean that 1) tickets offered through the ticket website for the sale or selling of tickets are sold out or 2) the prices for tickets on the ticket website for the resale of tickets are less expensive than the face value of the ticket or than the ticket website for the sale or selling of tickets. | In Committee |
| S2339 | Establishes State Parkinson's disease registry. | Establishes State Parkinson's disease registry. | In Committee |
| S1188 | Lowers age at which minors can consent to behavioral health care treatment from age 16 to age 14. | Lowers age at which minors can consent to behavioral health care treatment from age 16 to age 14. | In Committee |
| S1294 | Requires DHS to conduct public outreach regarding noncitizen SNAP participation. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services to engage in comprehensive outreach efforts to ensure that all noncitizens are made aware of how participation in the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) affects whether a noncitizen applying for admission or adjustment of status is inadmissible to the United States, pursuant to the federal "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds" rule (84 FR 41292) also known as the "public charge rule." The bill would require the department to work in consultation and cooperation with noncitizen advocacy organizations in performing this outreach. The recent expansion to the federal "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds" rule has casted uncertainty and confusion within the noncitizen community, as to whether participation in a noncash government benefits program such as SNAP affects whether a noncitizen applying for admission or adjustment of status is inadmissible to the United States. As a result, many noncitizen families are hesitant to apply to SNAP, even if those noncitizens are eligible for SNAP and exempt from the "public charge rule." Non-citizens exempt from the "public charge rule" include refugees, asylees, Afghans and Iraqis with special immigrant visas, certain nonimmigrant trafficking and crime victims, individuals applying under the federal "Violence Against Women Act," special immigrant juveniles, and those to whom the United States Department of Homeland Security has granted a waiver of public charge inadmissibility. In order to maximize participation in SNAP, this bill helps ensure that noncitizens are fully aware of how participation in the program may or may not affect inadmissibility into the United States, pursuant to 84 FR 41292. | In Committee |
| S2754 | Prohibits harassing or taking of certain wildlife at competitive event; establishes penalties. | This bill prohibits the harassing or taking of certain wildlife (defined as "covered wildlife" in the bill) at a competitive event, except in conjunction with a field trial or field day authorized by a license issued pursuant to R.S.23:4-26. The bill also prohibits any person from organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting, or participating in a competitive event at which the participants harass or take covered wildlife, except in conjunction with such an authorized field trial or field day. "Covered wildlife" is defined as a bobcat, coyote, crow, fox, mink, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, weasel, woodchuck, or the dead body or parts thereof. A person who violates the bill's prohibitions would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and, in addition to the penalties applicable pursuant to Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, would also be subject to the suspension, for a period of five years, of: 1) any license or permit issued to the person by the Division of Fish and Wildlife; and 2) all privileges to take or possess wildlife. A disorderly persons offense is subject to a penalty of up to six months of imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000, or both. This bill requires any covered wildlife injured as a result of a competitive event to be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or State licensed veterinarian for proper treatment, or to be euthanized if necessary. The bill authorizes the Division of Fish and Wildlife to forfeit the remains of any covered wildlife killed at a competitive event held in violation of this bill or euthanized as a result of the competitive event. Forfeited remains would become property of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The bill directs municipal police officers, the State Police, and law enforcement officers in the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Division of Parks and Forestry in the Department of Environmental Protection to enforce the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S2771 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is required to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| S2665 | Establishes "New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Master Plan Study Commission." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Master Plan Study Commission" (commission) in the Department of Human Services. Under the bill, the commission is to consist of 15 members as follows: (1) the Commissioners of Health and Human Services; (2) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who are not to be of the same political party; (3) two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who are not to be of the same political party; and (4) nine members appointed by the Governor, as provided for in the bill. Under the bill, it is the duty of the commission to develop a master plan for the State to implement to address the impact of Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias. The master plan is to include measures to: (1) prepare the State to address the needs of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers; (2) educate the public to increase awareness and understanding about Alzheimer's and other related dementias utilizing identified community resources, services, and efforts; (3) improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care provided to individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; (4) ensure adequate and sustainable funding for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; (5) enable individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease to live in the most integrated, community-based setting, in accordance with their needs and preferences; (6) foster opportunities for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease to be meaningfully engaged in their communities; (7) support unpaid family caregivers who serve individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; (8) develop programs and policies for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease that impact mental and physical health, safety, and well-being; (9) develop programs and policies for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease that enable individuals to receive services at home and in community-based settings as an alternative to institutionalization; (10) develop programs and policies for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease that lift these individuals out of poverty; (11) establish benchmarks to assess and measure progress in accomplishing the master plan goals; (12) develop affordable housing options for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; and (13) prevent exploitation and abuse, including financial abuse and physical abuse, of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The commission is to submit the Master Plan to the Governor, and to the Legislature within two years of the appointment of a majority of the public members of the commission. This bill is to take effect immediately, and the commission is to expire 60 days after the submission of the plan required under the bill.0 | In Committee |
| S2700 | Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act." | This bill establishes the "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act," which provides certain staffing standards in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and unlicensed assistive personnel-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the bill's requirements by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. A registered professional nurse or other staff member, a collective bargaining agent of a staff member, or a member of the public, who believes that the hospital or facility in which the nurse or staff member is employed is in violation of the requirements established by the bill, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation. Following the completion of an investigation, in which investigation the department determines a hospital or facility to be in violation of the requirements established by the bill, the hospital or facility may be issued a civil penalty in increasing amounts for repeat violations. Any money collected by the court in payment of a civil penalty imposed will be conveyed to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Patient Protection and Staffing Fund (fund) established by the bill. Moneys in the fund will be dedicated and used only for the purposes of increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the bill, advancing nursing recruitment and retentions programs, supporting student loan forgiveness for nursing students, and increasing pay for nursing teaching staff. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| S2526 | Provides free telecommunication services for incarcerated persons at State, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities. | This bill provides that all adult and juvenile correctional facilities in the State operated by the Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Justice Commission, the counties, and private operators allow incarcerated persons to make and receive telephone calls, video calls, and electronic mail free of charge to both the sending and receiving party. Under current law, incarcerated persons may be charged for domestic telephone calls at up to 11 cents per minute using a debit, prepaid, or collect call system. Current law does not require incarcerated persons to have access to video calls or electronic mail, although such capability is already in place at certain facilities, with a fee charged to the incarcerated person. The bill makes an appropriation of such funds as may be necessary for the implementation of the bill, as certified by the Commissioner of Corrections and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission. The Department of Corrections and the Juvenile Justice Commission retain the authority to establish rules and regulations for the security of telecommunication services. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would not require any renegotiation of existing State or local contracts for telecommunication services, but would instead shift the costs associated with the contracts to the correctional facility operator. In the sponsor's view, the more incarcerated persons stay in touch with their families, the better they do when they reenter society, while those with weaker support systems due to lack of communication during incarceration are more likely to re-offend. Maintaining family and community connection while incarcerated is key to successful reentry, and thus it is in the public interest to reduce the economic burden on incarcerated persons associated with making and receiving calls and messages. The sponsor notes that New York City, Connecticut, California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Colorado have all recently adopted legislation to make telecommunication services free to incarcerated persons. The sponsor further notes that prison telecommunication services is a $1.4 billion industry that has been accused of price-gouging and profiteering from the families of incarcerated persons. According to some studies, one in three families with an incarcerated loved one goes into debt over the cost of telephone calls charged by correctional facilities. It is the sponsor's intent to ease the enormous financial burden on the families of incarcerated persons who are simply trying to maintain communication with their loved ones. | In Committee |
| S2511 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | This bill repeals the "Pet Purchase Protection Act," P.L.1999, c.336 (C.56:8-92 et seq.) and replaces it with a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits by pet shops. The bill also imposes several other requirements concerning the sale and adoption of animals. The bill provides that, without limiting the prosecution of any other practices which may be unlawful pursuant to State consumer fraud laws, it would be an unlawful practice and a violation of State consumer fraud law, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for any breeder or broker to knowingly sell a cat or dog that is unfit for purchase. The bill defines "unfit for purchase" as having any disease, deformity, injury, physical condition, illness, or defect which is congenital or hereditary and severely affects the health of the animal, and which was manifest, capable of diagnosis or likely contracted on or before the sale and delivery of the animal to the consumer. The bill specifies that the death of an animal within 14 days of its delivery to the consumer, except by death by accident or as a result of injuries sustained during that period, would be construed to mean the animal was unfit for purchase. The bill establishes a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops and establishes a $500 fine for each violation of this prohibition to be collected in a civil action under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999. The bill authorizes a pet shop to: 1) sell or offer for sale any other type of animal as may be otherwise permitted pursuant to State law or regulation, or sell or offer for sale pet supplies for any type of animal, including a cat, dog, or rabbit, if it is licensed by its municipality to do so; and 2) offer, in collaboration with an animal rescue organization, shelter, or pound, space in the pet shop to showcase cats, dogs, and rabbits that are available for adoption, provided that no payment or compensation, monetary or otherwise, is exchanged between the pet shop and animal rescue organization, shelter, or pound, for the use of the pet shop or for the adoption of any cat, dog, rabbit, or any other animal. The bill prohibits animal rescue organizations, animal rescue organization facilities, pet shops, shelters, or pounds from obtaining a cat, dog, or rabbit from a breeder or broker in exchange for any type of compensation. The bill specifies that: 1) no provision of the bill may be construed to alter, diminish, replace, or revoke the requirements for pet dealers that are not pet shops or the rights of a consumer purchasing an animal from a pet dealer that is not a pet shop, as may be provided elsewhere in law or any rule or regulation; 2) any provision of law or regulation pertaining to pet shops that does not pertain to the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits would continue to apply to pet shops; and 3) no provision of the bill may be construed to alter, diminish, replace, or revoke any recourse or remedy that is otherwise available to a consumer purchasing a cat, dog, rabbit, or any other type of animal and provided under any other law. The bill specifies that the bill's provisions may not be construed to interfere with the implementation of, or otherwise invalidate, or limit or restrict any municipality, county, local health agency, or municipal or county board of health from enacting or enforcing, any law, ordinance, rule, or regulation that places additional obligations or restrictions on pet shops, pet shop sales, pet dealers, breeders, brokers, or breeder or broker sales. | In Committee |
| S2522 | Provides certain deceptive practices in advertising of pregnancy-related services violate the consumer fraud act. | This bill provides that it is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for a crisis pregnancy center to: (1) make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio station, or via the Internet, or in any other way, an advertisement, announcement or statement containing any assertion, representation, or statement with respect to pregnancy-related services or the provision of pregnancy-related services which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading; or (2) make false or misleading statements about, or misrepresent the center's intent to provide, pregnancy-related services. As defined in the bill, "crisis pregnancy center" means a facility administered by a nonprofit organization that provides a client with peer-related counseling services related to pregnancy and childbirth, including, but not limited to, referrals to non-medical services, child-rearing resources, and adoption services, but does not provide referrals to abortion or other pregnancy-related services. A crisis pregnancy center includes a facility that presents the appearance of a licensed health care facility by: requiring staff or volunteers to wear medical attire or uniforms and to collect from a client identifiable health information; having one or more examination rooms or semi-private rooms or areas containing medical supplies or medical instruments; or sharing physical space with a physician's office or a licensed health care facility. A crisis pregnancy center does not include an ambulatory care facility, a licensed health care facility, or a birthing facility that provides family planning services and prenatal care. The bill also defines "pregnancy-related services" as any medical services or health care counseling services related to pregnancy or pregnancy prevention, including, but not limited to, ultrasound or sonogram evaluations, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, and education and counseling on contraception and unplanned pregnancy options. A crisis pregnancy center that violates the provision of the bill is subject to all remedies and penalties available pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). In addition, the bill provides that if a crisis pregnancy center is about to engage in, is continuing to engage in, or has engaged in conduct which is in violation of the bill, or if it is in the public interest, the Attorney General has the authority to seek and obtain an injunction prohibiting the crisis pregnancy center from advertising or providing peer-related counseling services, and may seek and obtain a court order requiring the center to take whatever remedial steps the court deems necessary to correct the adverse effects of the center's untrue, deceptive, false, or misleading advertising or statements on any client seeking pregnancy-related services. | In Committee |
| S2234 | Permits students at public institutions of higher education to donate unused meal plan funds to emergency meal fund for distribution to New Jersey food banks. | This bill creates a new fund in the Department of State entitled the "New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund." The bill requires public institutions of higher education that offer meal plans to allow a student to voluntarily donate any unused funds that remain in the student's meal plan at the end of a semester to the New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund. All funds donated to the New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund will be provided to the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks for the purpose of providing and distributing food to the federation's network of food banks in the State of New Jersey. The bill directs public institutions of higher education to develop policies and procedures for verifying the amount of any unused funds remaining in a student's meal plan at the end of a semester and for facilitating the transfer of unused funds that have been donated by students from their meal plans to the New Jersey Emergency Meal Fund. Under the bill, unused funds from a meal plan include direct money that remains in a student's meal plan at the end of a semester and the amount of money that equates to the value of any unused meals or unused meal points that remain in a student's meal plan at the end of a semester. | In Committee |
| S2496 | Establishes Office of New Americans in Department of Human Services. | This bill establishes the Office of New Americans in the New Jersey Department of Human Services. This bill codifies the existing Office of New Americans established in 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 74 of 2019. The commissioner will appoint the director, and the director will be the administrator and head of the office. The bill requires the office to be a centralized location for expertise and data on New Americans and to engage in programs, initiatives, and policies focused on successful integration for immigrants, refugees, and their children. The office will also provide technical assistance and training to other offices and departments in the Executive Branch on issues pertaining to effective and equitable engagement with New Americans. The bill also requires the Department of Human Services, through the Office of New Americans, to: administer services for New Americans; engage directly with immigrant and refugee communities and service providers to understand and address their concerns and the obstacles they face in accessing services and resources; and support and advise State departments and agencies, as well as other organizations, on community engagement and outreach to promote best practices and improve the accessibility of State programs and information by New Americans. Additionally, the bill requires the office to use data for informing the State's efforts only as authorized under State and federal law to advance integration for immigrants. The office will not use or share data for the use of civil immigration enforcement. | In Committee |
| S2357 | Excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings under the gross income tax. | This bill excludes from gross income taxation the elective contributions that employees of the public and non-profit sectors make toward their retirement savings, and allows a deduction for federally qualifying IRA contributions. The New Jersey gross income tax currently allows the employees of private, for profit, businesses to make tax-deferred contributions to the retirement savings plans authorized under section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Employees of the public and nonprofit sectors do not enjoy the same access to 401(k) plans as private sector employees. This bill expands the current provision to incorporate tax deferrals for the elective deferred compensation systems allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits. Charitable, educational and religious organization employees and public school employees are authorized by federal law to contribute toward their retirement savings under plans established under subsection (b) of section 403 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. State and local government and authority employers are authorized by federal law to make contributions under plans established under section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, and federal employees are authorized by the federal Internal Revenue Code to make contributions to the federal Thrift Savings Plan. This bill gives the employees of federally tax-exempt charitable, educational or religious organizations; the employees of public school systems; the employees of state and local government and federal employees similar tax incentives for retirement savings that are provided under the New Jersey gross income tax to private sector employees. This bill also allows a gross income tax deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. IRA's are a significant retirement savings vehicle for employees whose employers do not offer a pension plan. | In Committee |
| S2338 | Provides for rehabilitative release for certain incarcerated persons. | This bill provides for the rehabilitative release of certain incarcerated persons. Under the bill, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is required to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Rehabilitative Release (certificate) to any incarcerated person who: (1) is at least 60 years of age, and has served at least 20 years in custody on the sentence imposed for the offense or offenses of which the incarcerated person was convicted; or (2) if convicted of murder, is at least 62 years of age and has served at least 30 years in custody. An incarcerated person who has been issued a certificate, and has not previously sought relief under the bill, may petition the court for rehabilitative release. The Office of the Public Defender is required to represent the incarcerated person, unless the incarcerated person retains other counsel. At least 60 days prior to the date of issuance of a certificate, the DOC is required to notify the State Parole Board of its intent to issue the certificate. The superintendent or other chief executive officer of the institution in which the incarcerated person is held is required to prepare a report for any incarcerated person issued a certificate under the bill for consideration by the court at a hearing for rehabilitative release. In accordance with the provisions of the bill, a hearing on a petition for rehabilitative release is to be held in the Superior Court in the county in which the incarcerated person was originally sentenced and in accordance with the Rules of Court. In addition to other service requirements under the bill, the county prosecutor or the director, as appropriate, is required to provide a copy of the petition for rehabilitative release to any victim or family member of a victim entitled to notice relating to a parole or the consideration of a parole under current law. The victim or family member also is to be notified of their opportunity to supplement the report to be issued under the bill with a statement attached to the report, a written or videotaped statement at the hearing on the petition, or to testify to the court at the time of the hearing. Upon consideration of a petition and following a hearing, the Superior Court may modify, reduce, or suspend an incarcerated person's sentence if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that: · the incarcerated person is not a danger to the safety of any person or the community; · the incarcerated person demonstrates a readiness for reentry, which shall be demonstrated by, among other things, significant efforts to participate in educational, therapeutic, or vocational opportunities while incarcerated; and · the interests of justice warrant a sentence modification. The court is required to issue a written order stating the reasons for granting or denying modification. In determining whether the foregoing standards are met, the court is required to consider a list of factors enumerated in the bill. An incarcerated person who receives a modified sentence under the bill also is to be sentenced to a five-year term of parole supervision. An order for rehabilitative release under the bill is not to become final for 10 days in order to permit the prosecution an opportunity to appeal the court's order. A petitioner may also appeal a denied petition. | In Committee |
| S2337 | Implements child safety provisions in custody disputes. | This bill establishes a training and educational program for certain court personnel, includes child safety as a factor in court decision-making when a party raises abuse allegations or safety concerns, and implements expert evidence standards in child abuse and domestic violence proceedings. This bill requires the Administrative Director of the Courts to create a training and educational program related to child abuse that includes information concerning all aspects of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, implicit and explicit bias, trauma, neglect, maltreatment, and the impact of child abuse and domestic violence on children. The program is required to implement best practices from evidence-based and peer-reviewed research. Under the bill, a judge is prohibited from ordering a child to be removed from or restricted from contacting a parent who is competent, protective of the child, and not physically or sexually abusive, or a parent with whom the child is bonded or to whom the child is attached, solely for the purpose of improving a deficient relationship with the other parent. The court also is prohibited from ordering reunification therapy that is predicated on removing or restricting a child from a parent with whom the child is bonded or attached. Further, in making an award for custody, a court is required to consider the existence of any prior restraining order or protective order against a parent. Finally, this bill implements minimum requirements for expert evidence and evidence that may be admissible in child custody proceedings where a parent has been alleged to have committed domestic violence or child abuse. Expert evidence may be admitted only if the professional possesses demonstrated expertise and clinical experience working with domestic violence or child abuse victims. Further, in making a finding regarding any allegation of domestic violence or child abuse, evidence of past sexual or physical abuse committed by the accused parent may be considered including, but not limited to, any: (1) past or current restraining orders or protection orders against the accused parent, including sexual violence abuse protection orders; or (2) arrests or convictions of the accused parent for domestic violence, sexual violence, or child abuse. This bill implements the "Kayden's Law" provisions of the federal "Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022," enacted in March 2022. The "Kayden's Law" provisions were named for seven-year-old Kayden Mancuso of Lower Makefield, PA. In 2018, Kayden was murdered by her father during an unsupervised visitation period ordered by the court. Kayden's mother had objected to unsupervised visitation on the grounds that Kayden's father had a history of violence and was mentally unstable. | In Committee |
| S2336 | Concerns hospitality franchise agreements. | This bill creates provisions regarding hospitality franchises in the State of New Jersey, supplementing P.L.1971, c.356, the "Franchise Practices Act" (C.56:10-1 et seq.). These provisions apply to hospitality franchises where the franchisee is required to maintain a place of business within the State, or where the franchise owner, partner, member, investor, or guarantor is a resident of New Jersey and where over 20 percent of the franchisee's gross sales are derived from their New Jersey franchise. The bill also ensures that franchises, as defined in 16 CFR 436 and 437, if they are hospitality franchises, will be considered "merchandise" under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). The bill defines "hospitality franchise" as a written arrangement for a definite or indefinite period, in which a person grants to another person a license to use a trade name, trade mark, service mark, or related characteristic, and in which there is a community of interest in the marketing of goods or services at wholesale, retail, by lease, agreement, or otherwise, where the goods include any hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, tourist home, rooming house or similar establishment where sleeping accommodations are supplied for pay to transient or permanent guests. The bill contains a list of hospitality franchisor activities that will be considered a violation of the "Franchise Practices Act" (C.56:10-1 et seq.). The bill makes it a violation for a hospitality franchisor to impose a restriction on the owner, officers, or employees of a franchise that limits their employment, ownership, or participation in any business activity for more than six months following their termination, cancellation, or non-renewal at the franchise in a county other than that in which the franchise was located. The bill makes it a violation for a hospitality franchisor to require a franchisee to relocate or make any capital investment in excess of $25,000 more than once every five years, unless the franchisor can demonstrate that the franchisee will be able to recover the value of the investment over the remaining term of the franchise. The bill prohibits franchisors from receiving kickbacks, rebates, or other consideration from vendors that franchisees must patronize, unless the benefit is first disclosed to the franchisee and unless the benefit is turned over to the franchisee. The bill ensures that if the franchisee gives the hospitality franchisor a general release of claims upon renewal or transfer of the franchise, then the franchisee will receive a reciprocal release from the franchisor. The bill makes it a violation for the hospitality franchisor to require a franchisee to purchase goods or services from suppliers designated by the franchisor if goods or services meeting the franchisor's reasonable specifications and standards are available from other sources. The bill also calls for the franchisor to license a third-party supplier to use its trademarks for franchisee supplies in the case of supplies that carry the mark. The bill ensures that the hospitality franchisor will not compete with the franchisee in an exclusive or protected territory under a different name or mark. The bill prohibits the practice of unilaterally changing the material terms of the franchise agreement by implementing changes in the operations manual. This provision makes it clear that the hospitality franchisor may not materially change the contract with the franchisee by altering the manual. The bill prohibits the franchisor from imposing any new fees on the franchisee unless the fees were disclosed in a franchise disclosure document. The bill makes it a violation for a hospitality franchisor to impose a fee or charge on the franchisee as the result of a guest's published criticism of the franchisee, a franchisor's resolution of complaints related to the franchisee, or the franchisee's failure to enroll a minimum number of guests. The bill prohibits a hospitality franchisor from selling points in a loyalty program to guests to use at a franchisee's facility without compensating the franchisee for lost revenue. The bill would restrict the hospitality franchisor's ability to deny a franchisee access to necessary franchisor programs, including but not limited to property management systems, online listings, phone sales or use of approved marks. The bill prohibits a hospitality franchisor from imposing fees based on a franchisee's alleged failure to perform, including but not limited to re-inspection fees, inspection failure fees, loyalty sign-up fees, loyalty program fees, and others. Finally, the bill specifies that a violation of any of these provisions, or any of the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1971, c.356 (C.56:10-7), shall not constitute good cause for a franchisee's termination. | In Committee |
| S1190 | Establishes NJT Office of Customer Advocate and Rider Advocacy Commission. | This bill establishes a Rider Advocacy Commission (commission) in, but not of, the Department of Transportation and requires the commission to establish a New Jersey Transit Office of Customer Advocate (office). Similar to the New York City Transit Riders Council, also known as the New York City Transit Authority Advisory Council, which was created by the New York State Legislature in 1981 to represent New York City subway and bus riders, and users of the Staten Island Railway, the office is to investigate, monitor, advocate, promote, and advise on all customer-experience matters pertaining to the operation of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT). The commission is to consist of three members, one member appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. Each member is limited to a five-year term, except that of the members first appointed, the member appointed by the Governor is to be appointed for a one-year term, the member appointed by the President of the Senate is to be appointed for a two-year term, and the member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly is to be appointed for a three-year term. The commission is empowered to engage and dismiss staff as necessary, including the appointment of a Rider Advocate. The Rider Advocate is the head of the office, is required to report directly to the commission, and has the authority to carry out the purposes of the office, including, with the approval of the commission, temporarily retaining expert assistants as are necessary to protect the interests of NJT customers when exceptional circumstances arise. The responsibilities of the office include: (1) providing information and analysis to the NJT board of directors, Governor, and Legislature concerning the actual or anticipated impact of any NJT board or NJT actions on NJT's customers; (2) providing customer input and feedback to the NJT board, Governor, and Legislature, including relaying the needs and concerns of customers to the NJT board, Governor, and Legislature; and (3) representing the interests of NJT's customers as determined by the Rider Advocate. The office has the authority to conduct investigations; initiate studies; conduct research; present comments and testimony before the NJT board of directors, legislative committees, and other governmental bodies; prepare and issue reports; and undertake any other actions that further the purposes of the office. The office is also required to conduct meetings with NJT customers, which are to occur at least on a monthly basis, and would allow for a remote attendance option, for the purpose of relaying the concerns and needs of customers to the NJT board of directors and, when the Rider Advocate deems appropriate, to the executive management team of NJT. In addition, the office would also be required to allow for public input on NJT operations and experiences at any time, through the office's official Internet website and through voicemail. The office is also required to represent the interests of NJT's customers in areas such as proposed fare increases, proposed substantial curtailment of services, and any proposed expansion of service. Funds for the expenses of the commission and office are to be provided by the State Treasurer, as appropriated by the Legislature, and are to be independent of funds for the NJT. On or before March 31 of each year, the commission in consultation with the Rider Advocate is required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the activities of the commission and office for the previous calendar year, including any reports provided to the NJT board of directors. The bill repeals a provision of law requiring NJT to employ a customer advocate. | In Committee |
| S2307 | Reduces allowed diversion of funds from stormwater, water, and sewer purposes to municipal and county budgets; requires municipalities and counties to notify Division of Local Government Services of diversions. | This bill would reduce the amount of funds that counties and municipalities may divert from stormwater, water, and sewer utilities and authorities to county and municipal budgets. Under current law, municipalities may transfer available surplus revenue that was collected to fund a utility to other expenditures made by the municipality, in an amount up to five percent of the utility's annual operating costs. This bill would reduce the allowed transfer for stormwater, water, and sewer utilities to three percent of the utility's annual operating costs. Similarly, current law allows counties and municipalities to appropriate undesignated funds and unreserved retained earnings held by an authority that was created by the county or municipality, in an amount up to five percent of the authority's annual operating costs. This bill would reduce the allowed appropriation for water and sewer purposes to three percent of the authority's annual operating costs. This bill would also require counties and municipalities to notify the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs whenever the county or municipality: (1) transfers funds from a stormwater, water, or sewer utility, or (2) appropriates funds from a water or sewer authority. | In Committee |
| S2218 | Establishes requirements to screen certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for endometriosis. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person or a person who has given birth, to screen the person for endometriosis, if the person has been diagnosed with preeclampsia and later shows symptoms of endometriosis. The screening tools are to be based on industry best practices, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body designated by the commissioner. A hospital, licensed birthing center, or federally qualified health center providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant person or a person who seeks treatment within six weeks of giving birth would, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner: provide the person with information on endometriosis based on an educational program developed by the commissioner; inform the person of the benefits of being screened for endometriosis if the person has been diagnosed with preeclampsia and subsequently shows symptoms of endometriosis, and that the person is required to be screened for endometriosis unless the person provides a written refusal to be screened; and screen the person for endometriosis unless the person provides a written refusal to be screened. The person would be required to acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, federally qualified health center, physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable. The commissioner will be required to develop a standardized form to be used to acknowledge receipt of the information, which form may also be used to provide written refusal to be screened for endometriosis. The commissioner will also be required to develop, in consultation with the Endometriosis Foundation of America and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, a endometriosis educational program for pregnant individuals and individuals who have recently given birth, have been diagnosed with preeclampsia, and subsequently show symptoms of endometriosis. The educational program will include information on endometriosis and the potential warning signs and symptoms of endometriosis. Upon receipt of the results of a screening conducted pursuant to the bill, a hospital, licensed birthing center, federally qualified health center, or physician or health care practitioner, as applicable, would discuss the results with the person and, if the person screens positive for endometriosis, develop a treatment plan to minimize the person's risk from endometriosis. | In Committee |
| S1181 | Requires correctional facilities to provide voting rights information packets to inmates. | This bill requires each correctional facility in this State as well as private facilities, often referred to as halfway houses, to provide each inmate with a voter information packet upon the inmate's release. The packet is to include: 1) voter registration forms and voting instructions; and 2) a form certifying that the inmate was informed both verbally and in writing of the right to vote. Upon an inmate's release, an official employed by the correctional facility or an employee of the private facility and the inmate are required to sign a copy of the form. The bill requires each facility to maintain a copy of the form on record and provide a signed copy to the inmate. Finally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to: 1) provide a sufficient supply of voter information packets to every correctional facility and private facility; 2) provide that voter information packets be made available in English and Spanish to facilities which are located in any county in which bilingual sample ballots are required to be provided under current law; 3) inform each administrator or superintendent of a correctional facility or the operator of a private facility that they are not to seek to influence an inmate's political preference or party affiliation or display a political preference or party affiliation; and 4) conduct an annual audit to ensure the correctional facilities and private facilities are providing voter information packets to each inmate, as required by the bill. | In Committee |
| S1158 | Prohibits certain steering and marketing practices involving dispensing of prescription drugs and drug samples. | This bill prohibits certain steering and other marketing practices involving devices, kiosks, machines, and other systems for the dispensing of prescription drugs to patients, including drug samples. This bill prohibits drug manufacturers, pharmacies, wholesalers, or other medication supply intermediaries from entering into agreements with health care practitioners to dispense prescription drugs and drug samples using a device, kiosk, machine, or other system which directs or diverts patients to a specified pharmacy or pharmacist for the filling of prescriptions, or which restrains in any way a patient's choice when selecting a pharmacy or pharmacist. This practice, which is sometimes referred to as "steering," improperly restricts patient choice. If a drug manufacturer, pharmacy, wholesaler, or other medication supply intermediary violates this provision, the drug manufacturer, pharmacy, wholesaler, or other medication supply intermediary would be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $100,000 for the first violation, not less than $200,000 for the second violation, and not less than $400,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. A practitioner or designee would not be permitted to dispense prescription drugs and drug samples using a device, kiosk, machine, or other system which transmits a patient's information to a particular pharmacy or pharmacist, unless either: (1) the patient has, voluntarily and without any prompting from the practitioner, requested the information be transmitted to that pharmacy or pharmacist; or (2) the practitioner or designee provides the patient with full disclosure that the patient's information will be transmitted to the pharmacy or pharmacist, and informs the patient of the patient's right to have the patient's information transmitted to the pharmacy or pharmacist of the patient's own choosing and of the right not to have the patient's information transmitted to any pharmacy or pharmacist in connection with the dispensing of the drug. If a practitioner or designee violates the provisions of the bill, the practitioner would be liable to a civil penalty of not less than $250 for the first violation, not less than $500 for the second violation, and not less than $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation, which would be recovered by and in the name of the State by the local health agency and be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality. Nothing in the bill would be construed to expand or revise the authority of a health care practitioner to dispense prescription drugs under current law. In addition, the bill incorporates into State law certain requirements of the federal health information privacy rule authorized under the federal "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996" (HIPAA), as applicable to devices, kiosks, machines, and other systems for the dispensing of prescription drugs to patients, including drug samples. The bill would prohibit such a device, kiosk, machine, or other system from utilizing a patient's individually identifiable medical information as a marketing tool, or selling or otherwise providing a patient's individually identifiable medical information to any other entity, in an effort to promote a particular pharmacy, preferred pharmacy plan, or a particular medication whether in the form of a sample or prescription without first obtaining authorization pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s.164.508. A device, kiosk, machine, or other system would be prohibited from limiting a patient's ability to access drugs through the device, kiosk, machine, or other system based on the patient's choice not to provide authorization to use the patient's medical information. The bill also requires a device, kiosk, machine, or other system for the dispensing of prescription drugs to patients, including drug samples, to notify a patient of any charges to the patient's insurance provider that is related to the transmittal of the patient's individually identifiable medical information, or any benefits, services, or products the patient may receive by using the device, kiosk, machine, or other system. The operator of the device, kiosk, machine, or other system that is in violation of the bill would be subject to such penalties as may be applicable under State or federal law. | In Committee |
| S1162 | Requires additional surcharge on certain documents filed in certain county offices to support affordable housing in certain populous municipalities. | This bill would provide an additional source of funding for affordable housing in cities of the first class, which are cities having a population of over 150,000 persons. The bill would require the governing body of a county in which a city of the first class is located, by ordinance or resolution as appropriate, to impose a surcharge of not less than $3 nor more than $10 on documents required to be recorded that pertain to real property located in the city of the first class. The bill requires the surcharges to be returned to the business administrator of the city of the first class on a quarterly basis, and to be deposited by the business administrator into that municipality's affordable housing trust fund. Currently, Newark and Jersey City are the only cities of the first class in the State. Those cities have much in common. Besides a large population (according to 2019 data, Newark's at 281,054 and Jersey City's at 261,940), they each have they have a large amount of older housing stock, and according to 2019 data, they each have a poverty rate (Newark's at 27.4 percent, and Jersey City's at 17.2 percent), that indicates that housing affordability may be an issue for a significant portion of their respective populations. The purpose of this bill is to provide these cities, the two largest municipalities in the State, with an additional source of revenue to be used to rehabilitate or purchase existing housing to create affordable housing units, or to construct new affordable housing, so that their residents have access to safe and affordable places to live. | In Committee |
| S1167 | Confers title of Acting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on certain judges of the Superior Court, Appellate Division, temporarily assigned to the Supreme Court. | This bill would confer the title of Acting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on any judge of the Superior Court, Appellate Division, assigned by the Chief Justice to temporary service in the Supreme Court for a continuous period of at least 180 days. Under the bill, a discontinuance of service in the Supreme Court of 30 days or less, due to an absence or inability to act, for whatever reason, would not render a temporarily assigned judge's period of service non-continuous. The bill would take effect immediately and apply retroactively to January 1, 2010. | In Committee |
| S1169 | Requires posting of signs warning of presence of, and potential danger caused by, duckweed on water bodies in public parks. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), counties, and municipalities to periodically, but at least annually at the appropriate season, survey and inspect all ponds, lakes, and other water bodies located in any park they respectively own for the presence of duckweed (Lemna spp.). Duckweed is a small aquatic plant that floats on or just beneath the surface of still or slow-moving bodies of freshwater and often appears as a deceptively thick-looking mat on the water body's surface. The bill would require, whenever duckweed is detected at any pond, lake, or other water body, the DEP, county, or municipality, as the case may be, to erect a clear and conspicuous sign or signs at the pond, lake, or other water body warning of the presence of duckweed and the danger caused by its false appearance of being a solid surface to walk upon. In addition, the bill would require the DEP, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs, to: (1) develop educational materials on duckweed, including information on how to identify it, which would be distributed to every county and municipality; (2) develop the language to be used on the warning signs required by the bill, and produce an appropriate quantity of these signs for use by counties and municipalities; and (3) distribute to any requesting county or municipality a sufficient number of duckweed warning signs needed by the county or municipality to comply with the bill's posting requirement. | In Committee |
| S1640 | Requires NJT to establish guidelines for on-demand micro transit pilot programs operating within State. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT), in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, to establish and issue guidelines for the operation of any on-demand micro transit pilot programs operating within the State. These guidelines would include recommendations to: incentivize the employment of union labor; ensure the affordability of on-demand micro transit services; and specify the classifications of motor vehicles that may be used for each pilot program, which vehicles may not be limited to those for which a driver is required to obtain a commercial drivers license. Additionally, the bill requires the NJT on-demand micro transit program to increase the range of services that the program will offer. Currently, the program will serve areas of Bergen and Monmouth counties, and this bill would require the next wave of program expansion to prioritize additional services in Bergen, Mercer, and Middlesex counties. Under the bill, "on-demand micro transit" is defined as publicly available, technology-enabled, shared transportation provided by means of a motor vehicle to individuals selecting a pick-up and drop-off location by telephone or through a mobile application, and which transportation is provided at a time selected by the individual or as soon as possible after the individual selects pick-up and drop-off locations for such transportation. | In Committee |
| S289 | Designates and preserves Caven Point Peninsula in Liberty State Park as natural habitat. | This bill would designate as natural habitat and preserve the 21.5 acre Caven Point Peninsula. Caven Point Peninsula is an estuarine ecosystem for plants and animals, critical bird breeding habitat, and urban environmental education resource. The peninsula is located in Liberty State Park, in Jersey City, Hudson County, and stretches into the Upper New York Bay. | In Committee |
| S1180 | Requires DOE to develop transition checklist for students with disabilities; requires DOE to maintain information on website concerning transition resources. | This bill requires the Department of Education to develop a standardized checklist for school districts to be used in helping students with disabilities prepare for the transition from secondary school to post-secondary activities and goals. The checklist will consist of discussion topics designed to assist a student who has an individualized education program (IEP) in planning for the future in multiple areas including, but not limited to, post-secondary education and training, employment, healthcare, legal status including issues related to independence, guardianship, and power of attorney, social services including Social Security and Medicaid, community participation, and independent living. The checklist will also include timelines and current contact information for agencies and community resources that are available to assist students with disabilities in transitioning to post-secondary adult life. The bill directs a student's IEP team to review and discuss the checklist with the student and the student's parent at least twice per year, beginning with the school year when the student will turn age 16, or younger where appropriate. The IEP team would be required to consider the elements contained in the checklist, based on the individual student's needs, when developing the plan of transition services to be included in the student's IEP. Under current State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:14-3.7(e)12, the IEP for a student who is age 16 or older must include a statement of transition services intended to assist the student in preparing for post-secondary goals such as education, vocational training, employment, and independent living. In addition, the bill requires the Department of Education to make current information available on its website concerning transition resources that may assist students with disabilities in transitioning from secondary school to post-secondary activities and goals. The purpose of the information is to provide students, parents, school districts, and members of the public with easily accessible information on post-secondary requirements and opportunities, including agencies, community resources, and supports that are available to assist students with disabilities in progressing towards post-secondary goals in the areas of education, training, employment, healthcare, legal status, social services, community participation, and independent living. | In Committee |
| S1175 | "Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Behavioral Health Crisis Mobile Response Act," requires the Commissioner of Human Services (the commissioner), in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, and the Directors of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS), to establish a Statewide mobile crisis response system to provide immediate crisis response services, and ongoing stabilization management services, upon request, to adults with disabilities (i.e., with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or mental illness) who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and their families and attendant caregivers or other staff. The mobile crisis response system would be designed to prevent the hospitalization of adults in crisis to provide for the stabilization of adults in crisis in the least restrictive environment, and to allow the mobile crisis response system to access to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline in order to refer an eligible adult for crisis response services and stabilization management services in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The system would be implemented on a Statewide basis, with at least one mobile crisis response agency available to provide crisis response services and stabilization management services, and at least one temporary stabilization unit available to provide temporary crisis beds, in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Any person, group, or entity wishing to provide initial crisis response services or stabilization management services, pursuant to this bill's provisions, would need to be approved by the New Jersey Medicaid and FamilyCare programs, and by the DHS, as a mobile response agency. Each mobile crisis response agency approved under the bill would be required to employ one or more mobile crisis response teams, composed of mental health professionals, to: 1) provide mobile crisis response services in the home of a person in crisis, or at another community location where a person in crisis is located; 2) when deemed to be appropriate, transport the adult in crisis to a temporary stabilization unit established and licensed pursuant to the bill; and 3) provide ongoing stabilization management services to the adult in crisis, in the adult's home, when authorized to do so by the DHS. Mobile crisis response services and stabilization management services, which are provided by a mobile crisis response team under this bill's provisions, are to be delivered directly by, or under the supervision of, a licensed and experienced psychiatrist. Mobile crisis response services are to be provided to an eligible adult in crisis for a period of up to 72 hours per crisis episode, over the course of up to a four-day period, immediately following the initial referral or dispatch, and are to be designed to stabilize the presenting behaviors and crisis situation, with the goal of preventing a disruption of the current living arrangement, and avoiding inappropriate psychiatric hospitalization or residential placement, of the adult in crisis. Each referral to, or dispatch of, a mobile crisis response team will be registered with the DHS within 24 hours after the team receives notice thereof. Mobile crisis response services provided by a mobile crisis response team are to include, but need not be limited to: 1) mobile outreach and face-to-face contact with the adult in crisis, which face-to-face contact is to occur within 24 hours following the initial referral or dispatch, except in situations requiring an immediate response, in which case, face-to-face contact is to occur within one hour after the initial referral or dispatch, unless a delay is requested by the family of the adult in crisis, in order to meet the family's needs; 2) the immediate assessment and evaluation of the presenting crisis, including an assessment of the safety of, or danger to, the adult in crisis, other residents of the home, and members of the community, as well as an assessment of caregiver culpability and clinical and environmental factors that contributed to the crisis; 3) the immediate use of clinical and therapeutic interventions to stabilize the presenting crisis; 4) the development of an individualized crisis stabilization plan (ICSP), as provided by the bill, which plan is to include, among other things, an indication of appropriate clinical and therapeutic interventions to be used in addressing and stabilizing the presenting crisis; and a plan to ensure the stabilization and treatment of the adult in crisis in the least restrictive environment; and 5) the provision of relevant information, crisis training, and program and service referrals to the family members or caregivers of the adult in crisis. If, at any time during the initial 72-hour mobile response period, the mobile crisis response team determines that the presenting crisis can only be stabilized through the temporary placement of the adult in a temporary stabilization unit, the crisis response team will be required to transport the adult in crisis to a temporary stabilization unit, and the adult will be admitted to the unit, for a period not exceeding seven days, as necessary to facilitate the initial stabilization of the crisis. A temporary stabilization unit is to be approved and licensed by the Department of Health, and is to: 1) provide a calming, non-clinical, and non-punitive environment for the stabilization of adults in crisis; 2) be staffed by properly credentialed mental health professionals who are capable of, and have expertise in, calming and stabilizing crisis situations in adults with disabilities; 3) have a sufficient number of crisis beds to meet the behavioral health crisis needs of citizens in the region in which the unit is situated; and 4) be situated separately and apart from any other clinical or mental health care unit or facility. If the temporary stabilization unit is a part of a separately licensed health care facility or hospital, the temporary stabilization unit is to be unconnected to, and located separately from, any emergency department or other department or unit of medicine, and is to utilize an entrance that is separate from the entrance that is used by patients of, and visitors to, such other departments or units. Whenever an adult is placed in a crisis bed in a temporary stabilization unit, the need for such placement is to be reviewed and documented by the mobile crisis response team on a daily basis during such placement, and the adult is to be immediately discharged from such placement upon a determination by the team that continued placement is no longer necessary. If a crisis is not sufficiently stabilized during the initial 72-hour mobile response period, or during a related stay at a temporary stabilization unit, the mobile crisis response team will be required to provide the adult in crisis with ongoing stabilization management services, in the adult's home, following the completion of the initial crisis response period. Stabilization management services may not be provided, unless the DHS grants prior approval authorizing the provision of such services to the adult in crisis. The DHS may authorize the mobile crisis response team to provide stabilization management services for a period of up to eight weeks, as deemed by the department to be appropriate. Stabilization management services may include: 1) necessary mental or behavioral health intervention services to maintain the stabilization of the crisis and minimize or eliminate the factors that contributed to the crisis, including, but not limited to, psychiatric or psychological services, medication management services, community-based mental health rehabilitation services, such as behavioral assistance services and intensive in-community services, and any other formal or informal community-based mental health or behavioral health rehabilitation services; and 2) continued advocacy, networking, and support by the mobile crisis response team, as may be necessary to provide linkages and referrals to appropriate community-based services, and to assist the adult in crisis, and the family members or caregivers thereof, in accessing other benefits or assistance programs for which they may be eligible. During the stabilization management period, the mobile crisis response team will be required to review the ICSP on a weekly basis, in order to ensure that the services included therein are effectively addressing the presenting crisis and any factors that contributed to the crisis. Any necessary amendments to the ICSP are to be registered with the division within 24 hours after each review is concluded. Each mobile crisis response agency will be required, under the bill, to maintain an individual service record for each adult who is served thereby. Each mobile crisis response agency and temporary stabilization unit will be eligible for reimbursement, as described in the bill, for the services provided thereby under the bill's provisions. Any person seeking to deliver crisis response services or stabilization management services as a member of a mobile crisis response team, or as a staff member at a temporary stabilization unit, will be required to comply with the criminal history record background check requirements established by P.L.1999, c.358 (C.30:6D-63 et seq.), which are applicable to "community agency employees," as a condition of the person's employment. The bill also requires all direct care staff members providing services at group homes for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to successfully complete a course of training on: 1) the de-escalation and stabilization of crisis episodes in adults with disabilities; 2) behavioral analysis and management; and 3) behavioral health crisis recognition and identification. The training would also be required to inform direct care staff members of the mobile crisis response system established under the bill, and the procedures that may be used to obtain assistance from a mobile crisis response team whenever a group home resident is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The bill also requires the commissioner to, on or before July 16, 2022, designate a crisis hotline center or centers to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline from anywhere within the State 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A designated hotline center is to have an active agreement with the administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) for participation within the network. To ensure cohesive and coordinated crisis care, a designated hotline center is to utilize technology that is interoperable between and across crisis and emergency response systems used throughout the State and with the Administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The bill provides that a designated hotline center is to have the authority to deploy crisis and outgoing services, including mobile crisis teams, and coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services as appropriate and according to guidelines and best practices established by the NSPL. A designated hotline center is to coordinate access to crisis receiving and stabilization services for individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline through appropriate information sharing regarding availability of services. A designated hotline center is to be utilized by the mobile crisis response system to refer an eligible adult for mobile crisis response services and stabilization management services pursuant to the bill. The commissioner is to have primary oversight of suicide prevention and crisis service activities and essential coordination with a designated 9-8-8 hotline center. A designated hotline center is to meet the requirements set forth by NSPL for serving high risk and specialized populations as identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, including training requirements and policies for transferring such callers to an appropriate specialized center or subnetworks within or outside the NSPL network and for providing linguistically and culturally competent care. A designated hotline center is to provide follow-up services to individuals accessing the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline consistent with guidance and policies established by the NSPL. Under the bill, the commissioner is to provide onsite response services for crisis calls utilizing State or local mobile crisis teams. A mobile crisis team is to include a behavioral health team, licensed behavioral health professionals, and peers, or a behavioral health team and peers embedded within an emergency medical services entity. A mobile crisis team is to collaborate on data and crisis response protocols with local law enforcement agencies and include police as co-responders in behavioral health teams, and licensed behavioral health professionals and peers, only as needed to respond to high-risk situations that are unmanageable without law enforcement. A mobile crisis team is to be designed in partnership with community members, including people with experience utilizing crisis services. The commissioner is to establish and maintain a 9-8-8 trust fund for the purposes of creating and maintaining a Statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system pursuant to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and the Federal Communication Commission's rules adopted July 16, 2020, and national guidelines for crisis care. The fund is to consist of: monies from a Statewide 9-8-8 fee assessed on users pursuant to the bill's provisions; appropriations, if any; grants and gifts intended for deposit in the fund; interest, premiums, gains, or other earnings on the fund; and any other monies that are deposited in or transferred to the fund. Under the bill, monies in the fund: do not revert at the end of any fiscal year and remain available for the purposes of the fund in subsequent fiscal years; are not subject to transfer to any other fund or to transfer, assignment, or reassignment for any other use or purpose outside of those specified in the bill; and are continuously dedicated for the purposes of the fund. The bill provides that the commissioner, consistent with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, is to establish a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee on each resident that is a subscriber of commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services at a fixed rate that provides for the creation, operation, and maintenance of a Statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis system and the continuum of services provided pursuant to federal guidelines for crisis services. Under the bill, the 9-8-8 fee is not to be applied to mobile service users who receive benefits under the federal Lifeline program as defined in 47 CFR 54.401. | In Committee |
| S1159 | Requires Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to develop standard prior authorization form for prescription drug benefits for use by network providers. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to develop a standard prior authorization request form to be utilized by all network providers for the purpose of submitting requests for utilization review determinations for coverage of prescription drug benefits. A payer must make the standard prior authorization request form available to, and must accept it from, network providers in paper and electronic form. | In Committee |
| S1189 | Revises certain eligibility requirements under NJ Aspire Program; establishes net neutral benefits test for redevelopment projects that incur certain sustainability and resiliency costs. | This bill revises certain eligibility requirements under the New Jersey Aspire Program, which was established by the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020," P.L.2020, c.156. The program provides tax credits to encourage redevelopment programs by covering certain project financing gap costs. Under current law, for applications submitted under the program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is required to review the project cost of the redevelopment project, evaluate and validate the project financing gap estimated by the developer, and conduct a State fiscal impact analysis to ensure that the overall public assistance provided to the project will result in a net positive benefit to the State, provided that the net benefit analysis does not apply to certain projects. The bill revises these criteria to require the authority to apply a net neutral benefit analysis for projects that have a total project cost of at least $17 million, including at least $3.4 million in total sustainability and resiliency costs and not less than $1,000 for each of the sustainability and resiliency costs, as applicable, enumerated in the definition for "sustainability and resiliency costs" under the bill. | In Committee |
| S1173 | Allows craft distilleries to sell mixed drinks and mixed drink ingredients for consumption off the licensed premises; authorizes direct shipping by craft distilleries. | This bill allows craft distilleries to direct ship distilled alcoholic beverages to consumers. In addition, the bill allows craft distilleries to sell mixed drinks and mixed drink ingredients for consumption off the licensed premises. The bill expressly authorizes craft distillery licensees to ship up to 20 liters of distilled spirits per year to any New Jersey resident over 21 years of age for personal consumption and not for resale. In addition, craft distillery licensees would be permitted to ship distilled spirits to out-of-State residents over 21 years of age in amounts allowed by the State jurisdiction to which the distilled spirits are shipped. The bill provides that a copy of the original invoice is to be available for inspection at the licensed premises of the distillery for a minimum period of three years. The bill also establishes an Out-of-State craft distillery license that allows distilleries located in other states to ship up to twenty liters of distilled spirits per year to any New Jersey resident. Under the bill, only out-of-State distilleries that produce less than 20,000 gallons of distilled alcoholic beverages would be entitled to hold the license. In addition, the bill makes permanent provisions of P.L.2020, c.33, which temporarily entitles craft distillery licensees to sell for consumption off the licensed mixed drinks and mixed drink ingredients. P.L.2020, c.33 was enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and expires: 1) six months following the date on which the state of emergency has ended; or (2) the date on which the coronavirus-related occupancy or customer seating restrictions no longer apply, whichever date occurs later. Specifically, this bill allows holders of a craft distillery license to sell for consumption off the licensed premises distilled alcoholic beverages that are manufactured on the licensed premises and mixed or blended with other alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages and sold in closed and sealed containers. The containers in which these mixed drinks are sold are required to have a tamper evident seal and hold no more than 16 fluid ounces. The bill also allows craft distilleries to sell distilled alcoholic beverages in original containers accompanied by one or more nonalcoholic beverages or food stuffs that may be combined by the consumer to prepare a mixed drink. | In Committee |
| S1628 | Establishes certain protections for persons, providing, receiving, and allowing children to receive gender-affirming health care. | This bill establishes certain protections for persons who provide, receive, or allow a child to receive gender-affirming health care. As defined in the bill, "gender-affirming care" means care that focuses on a transgender person's physical, mental, and social health needs and well-being while confirming the person's gender identity, including but not limited to, psychological or psychiatric care, surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other nonsurgical treatments intended to align certain physical aspects of a person's gender identity. Specifically, the bill amends P.L.2004, c.187 (C.2A:34-53 et seq.), the "Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act" to stipulate that: 1) the presence of the child in this State for the purpose of receiving gender-affirming health care is sufficient for a State court to have jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination for a child, if the child and the child's parents, or the child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this State other than mere physical presence (section 13 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C.2A:34-65)); 2) a court of this State has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this State and the child is unable to receive gender-affirming health care in the child's home state (section 16 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C. 2A:34-68)); 3) a court of this State is the appropriate forum to exercise jurisdiction in a child custody case when the law or policy of the other state that may take jurisdiction limits the ability of a parent to obtain gender-affirming health care for a child (section 19 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C.2A:34-71)); and 4) in making a determination about whether a court in this State can decline to exercise its jurisdiction over a child custody case, the court cannot consider the taking or keeping of the child from the person who has legal or physical custody or visitation rights as a factor weighing against a petitioner in the case, if there is evidence that taking or keeping the child was so that the child could receive gender-affirming health care (section 20 of P.L.2004, c.147 (C.2A:34-72)). The bill also prohibits the Governor from extraditing a person who: is found in this State; was not in the state making the demand for extradition at the time of the commission of the alleged crime and did not flee; and is charged in the state making the demand for extradition with providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State. Under the bill's provisions, an attorney or counselor at law who practices law in the State is prohibited from responding to any subpoena issued by another state or jurisdiction if the subpoena relates to a violation of that state's or jurisdiction's law against a person providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State. The bill also prohibits a State, county, or local law enforcement agency from: 1) knowingly making an, or participating in the, arrest of a person pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant issued by another state or jurisdiction for a violation of that state's or jurisdiction's law against a person providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State; and 2) cooperating with, or responding to, an inquiry from another state or jurisdiction about a person providing, receiving, or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care that is permitted under the laws of this State. Under the bill, any law or judicial ruling of another state or jurisdiction authorizing a state agency to remove a child from the care and custody of the child's parent or guardian as a result of the parent or guardian allowing the child to receive gender-affirming health care cannot be enforced by a court of this State. The bill's provisions bar a health care facility licensed pursuant to pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:3H-2 et seq.) and a health care professional licensed pursuant to Title 45 or Title 52 of the Revised Statutes from providing the medical records of any child seeking or receiving gender-affirming health care in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding, based on another state's law, seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: 1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about, the person providing gender-affirming health care to a child that is permitted under the laws of this State; or 2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about, the person providing gender-affirming health care to a child that is permitted under the laws of this State. A health care facility or health care professional would be required to provide the medical records of any child seeking or receiving gender-affirming health care in the furtherance of an investigation or proceeding if the conduct subject to potential liability under the investigation or proceeding would be subject to liability under New Jersey law if committed in New Jersey, or if the provision of such medical records is necessary for a person to engage in conduct otherwise prohibited by the bill in order to comply with a valid order issued by a court with jurisdiction over the person, or to comply with applicable provisions of State or federal law. As defined in the bill: "person" means an individual, any State, county, or local governmental entity or instrumentality, a, partnership, an association, a limited liability company, or a corporation. | In Committee |
| S1187 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | This bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations concerning the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would also authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to incentivize the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors using moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" established pursuant to P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.). As defined by the bill, "small modular nuclear reactor" means a nuclear fission reactor that: (1) has a rated electric generating capacity of not more than 300 megawatts; (2) is capable of being construction and operated either alone or in combination with one or more similar reactors if additional reactors are or become necessary at a single site; and (3) is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill would require the BPU, whenever it considers a petition by an electric power supplier or basic generation service provider for the construction, purchase, or lease of a small modular nuclear reactor, to consider: (1) whether, and to what extent, the small modular nuclear reactor proposed by the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider will replace a loss of generating capacity in the State, resulting from the retirement or planned retirement of one or more existing electric generating facilities, which are located in New Jersey and which use coal or natural gas a fuel source; and (2) whether the small modular nuclear reactor that will replace an existing facility will be located on the same site as, or near, the existing facility and, if so, potential opportunities for the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider to make use of any land and existing infrastructure or facilities already owned or under the control of the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider, or create new employment opportunities for workers who have been, or would be, displaced as a result of the retirement of the existing facility. The bill would also establish other requirements for the operation of small modular nuclear reactors, as enumerated in subsections c. through e. of section 3 of the bill, including a requirement that a person that owns or operates a small modular nuclear reactor in the State may not store spent nuclear fuel or high level radioactive waste from the small modular nuclear reactor on the site of the small modular nuclear reactor without first meeting all applicable requirements of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | In Committee |
| S1184 | "School Property Tax Relief Trust Fund Act"; appropriates $2 billion. | This bill establishes the "School Property Tax Relief Trust Fund," which will be held separate and apart from all other funds of the State. The bill provides for a $2 billion appropriation to be deposited in the trust fund from the General Fund and, to the extent permitted by federal law, from funds received by the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," including, but not limited to, funds allocated to the State under the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," or any other federal funding provided to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Monies in the trust fund will be invested and reinvested by the State Treasurer to the same extent that other trust funds that are in the custody of the State Treasurer are invested. All monies appropriated to the trust fund, all interest accumulated or income earned on monies in the trust fund, and all cash received for the trust fund from any other source, will be deposited in the trust fund. Pending the allocation of monies in the trust fund by the Commissioner of Education for the purpose of providing grants pursuant the provisions of the bill, all monies in the trust fund will be invested or reinvested. The commissioner is prohibited from allocating monies from the trust fund for grants in any amount that diminishes the long term viability of the trust fund to provide grants in perpetuity. The bill also establishes in the Department of Education the "School Property Tax Relief Grant Program." Under the program, the department, using funds from the trust fund, will provide a one-time grant to a school district for the school district to fund capital improvement projects, hire teachers, and absorb increases in wages and benefits for school district employees. The department will establish rules and procedures for school districts to apply for grants under the program. A school district that is awarded a grant from the trust fund may choose to receive the grant as a lump sum payment in the year in which the grant is awarded or by equal payments over a period of five years. A school district that is awarded a grant from would not be eligible to apply for another grant until five years have elapsed from the year in which an award was previously granted. The department will establish rules and procedures for school districts to apply for grants under the program. The rules and procedures will include a requirement to provide preference to applications submitted: (1) by a school district, or jointly by more than one school district, with a plan to reduce overall spending over the five year grant period by engaging in a good faith effort to consolidate or enter into shared services agreements or other cost saving measures; and (2) by a school district that comprises a municipality that has satisfied its obligation, or has established and maintained a realistic opportunity, to provide a fair share of the region's present and prospective need for affordable housing as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or a designee of the court, which may include the Fair Share Housing Center. Finally, the bill provides that a school district that applies for and accepts grant monies through the grant program is prohibited from adopting a budget with an increase in its adjusted tax levy for the next five succeeding school budget years following the school budget year in which the school district receives the grant monies. In the sixth school budget year following the school budget year in which the school district accepted grant monies through the program, the school district is prohibited from adding to its adjusted tax levy an amount calculated pursuant to the provisions of subsection e. of section 4 of P.L.2007, c.62 (C.18A:7F-39). This provision of law refers to the practice commonly referred to as "cap banking." In other words, the bill provides that school districts that receive grant monies under the grant program will not be permitted to use the "cap banking" provision of law in the sixth school budget year following the school budget year in which the school district received grant monies under the program. | In Committee |
| S1319 | Establishes 14 years old as minimum age for juvenile delinquency; requires AG to establish working group to advise on implementation. | This bill sets the minimum age at which a juvenile can be adjudicated delinquent at 14 years or older. Under the New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice, "delinquency" is defined as the commission of an act by a juvenile which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime of the first through fourth degree; a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense; or a violation of any other penal statute, ordinance, or regulation, with certain exceptions. The code currently defines a "juvenile" as a person under 18 years of age. This bill changes the definition of delinquency in the code to establish the minimum age at which a juvenile could be adjudicated delinquent at 14 years of age or older. In addition, the bill requires the Attorney General to establish a Juvenile Justice working group. The purpose of the group is to advise on the implementation of this bill. The working group is to consist of members appointed by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice System and is to include, but not be limited to, the following members: a representative of the mental health community, a representative of law enforcement, three representatives of community organizations involved in civil rights and social justice; a representative of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families; the Public Defender, or a designee; a member of the faculty of a law school in this State with clinical experience in juvenile justice matters; and the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, or a designee. | In Committee |
| S1168 | Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault if committed against crossing guard or parking enforcement officer. | This bill upgrades the crime of simple assault to aggravated assault if the victim is a crossing guard or parking enforcement officer who is in uniform or engaged in official duties, or when the assault is due to the person's status as a crossing guard or parking enforcement officer. Currently, N.J.S.2C:12-1 establishes increased criminal penalties when certain victims - including law enforcement officers, school employees, and health care workers - are assaulted while performing official duties or because of their job status. This bill extends that protection to crossing guards and parking enforcement officers. Aggravated assault under paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1 is a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury; otherwise it is a crime of the fourth degree. 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. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment for not more than 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1622 | Allows ranked-choice voting options for municipal and school board elections under certain circumstances. | This bill, the "Municipal and School Board Voting Options Act," allows municipalities and school boards in this State to adopt ranked choice voting for conducting their local elections under certain circumstances. Under the bill, "ranked-choice voting" means a method of voting in which each voter gets one vote, where voters rank multiple candidates in order of their preference, the ballots are counted in rounds, and the votes are counted and transferred to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot. Under the bill, for conducting and counting ranked-choice voting elections, the instant runoff method would be used for single winner races like mayor elected at-large or council or school board member elected from wards or districts, and the single transferable vote method would be used for multiple-winner races. The bill defines the terms necessary for implementing these two ranked-choice voting methods and the manner of counting the votes and declaring elected candidates. The bill provides that all municipal governing bodies and all school boards in this State would be permitted to adopt ranked-choice voting by adopting an ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, to be submitted to the voters for approval through a referendum on the ballot. The bill also allows the voters to place a direct petition on the ballot to adopt ranked choice voting, using the petition process currently established under current law for "Faulkner Act" municipalities. The direct petition would be submitted to the municipal clerk or clerks, as the case may be, and would be required to be signed by the legal voters equal in number to at least 10 percent of the total votes cast in the municipality or municipalities, as the case may be, at the last election at which members of the General Assembly were elected. The petition would include the proposed public question and a clear and concise interpretative statement explaining ranked-choice voting. If approved by the voters of the municipality or school district, all elections for the offices of mayor or a member of a municipal governing body, or a member of an elected school board, as appropriate, other than any primary election, would be conducted using ranked-choice voting. Finally, the bill directs the Division of Elections in the Department of State to adopt the rules and regulations necessary to effectuate its provisions and provide guidelines and technical rules to assist local election officials in implementing and counting a ranked choice voting election. | In Committee |
| S1154 | Concerns residential community release programs. | This bill expands eligibility for certain inmates to participate in a residential community release program (RCRP), modifies Department of Corrections (DOC) reporting requirements concerning capacity RCRPs, and prohibits inmates in RCRPs from being returned to a correctional facility or subjected to punitive measures solely due to a medical condition or illness. In addition to other eligibility requirements established under current law, inmates in the custody of the DOC are eligible for participation in an RCRP if the inmate is scheduled to be released from custody in less than one year and the DOC determines that the inmate's participation in an RCRP is appropriate; or the inmate is scheduled to be released in greater than 12 months but less than 24 months and the DOC determines that the inmate's participation in a substance use disorder treatment program is appropriate. Under the bill, an inmate who is otherwise eligible under current law is eligible to participate in an RCRP if the inmate is scheduled to be released in less than 30 months, and the DOC determines that the inmate's participation in RCRP is appropriate; or the inmate is scheduled to be released in greater than 12 months but less than 30 months and the DOC determines that the inmate's participation in a substance use disorder treatment program is appropriate. Under current law, the DOC is required to certify on a monthly basis to the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting that all available RCRP beds in the State are filled to contract capacity with eligible State inmates who are within 18 to 24 months of release. The provisions of the bill require the DOC also to provide this monthly certification to the Legislature, and require the certification for eligible inmates who are within 30 to 36 months of release. The provisions of the bill also require the DOC to prioritize the eligibility of inmates for placement in an RCRP prior to release from a State correctional facility. In prioritizing an inmate's eligibility for placement, the DOC is required to evaluate whether an inmate is eligible to receive compliance credits or public health emergency credits that may accelerate the inmate's release. The DOC also is required to make every effort to fill RCRP vacancies as they become available and maximize the provision of services to help inmates with the transition and reentry into the community. Under the bill, an inmate, other than an inmate convicted of certain sexual offenses or arson or a related offense, who is otherwise eligible for RCRP placement is not to be deemed ineligible for participation in an RCRP solely based on the inmate's custody status. In addition, the bill provides that the administrator of an RCRP may refuse the placement of any inmate who demonstrates an undue risk to public safety. Finally, under the bill, an inmate incarcerated in an RCRP is not to be returned to a correctional facility, or be subject to restrictive privileges or other punitive measures solely due to a medical condition or illness, including the need for medical treatment or pregnancy. | In Committee |
| S1186 | Prohibits carriers from offering dental plans with dental benefit waiting periods. | This bill prohibits carriers from offering dental plans with a dental benefit waiting period. Under the bill, a carrier issuing, executing, or renewing a dental plan in this State will be prohibited from providing a plan to a covered person with a dental benefit waiting period. For the purposes of this bill, "dental benefit waiting period" means a provision within a dental plan that delays the eligibility of a covered person to receive certain covered services under the plan. | In Committee |
| S1185 | Requires instruction on voting in curriculum of students in grade 12 as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. | This bill requires that each board of education of a school district, as applicable, incorporate instruction on voting in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grade 12 as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. The instruction will provide students with information on: the importance of voting, including the role and responsibilities of citizens as voters; voter registration, including eligibility requirements, and information on the pre-registration and registration processes; and how to vote, including locating polling places or requesting an absentee ballot. School districts may collaborate with election officials to develop the instruction on voting. School districts may also collaborate with local boards of elections to assist in providing students with voter pre-registration or registration forms. | In Committee |
| S1176 | Establishes "MarcAnthony's Law;" criminalizes use of defaced or stolen firearm to injure a police officer; enhances penalties for defacing a firearm. | This bill makes it a crime to use a defaced or stolen firearm in causing serious bodily injury or bodily injury to a law enforcement officer. This new law, to be known as "MarcAnthony's Law," in honor of slain Jersey City Detective MarcAnthony DiNardo, makes it a crime of the first degree to use a defaced or stolen firearm to cause serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer and a crime of the second degree to use a defaced or stolen firearm to cause bodily injury to a law enforcement officer. The bill specifies that a firearm is deemed not to be defaced if it is refinished, rusted, or damaged from ordinary wear and tear and it has not been used in the commission of a crime. The bill also increases the penalties for defacing a firearm and for acquiring or possessing a defaced firearm. The penalty for defacing a firearm is upgraded from a crime of the third degree to a crime of the second degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between five and 10 years; a fine of not more than $150,000; or both. The penalty for acquiring or possessing a defaced firearm is upgraded from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between three and five years; a fine of not more than $15,000; or both. | In Committee |
| S1165 | Permits a marriage or civil union license to be issued and solemnized via audio-visual technology. | This bill would authorize a marriage or civil union license to be issued and solemnized by audio-visual technology. This bill permits a couple, as well as a witness, who wish to marry or enter into a civil union to appear via audio-visual technology before a licensing official in order to obtain a marriage or civil union license. Additionally, this bill will permit solemnization of the marriage or civil union by an individual, religious society, institution, or organization via audio-visual means. Current law requires that individuals who wish to marry or enter into a civil union appear personally before a licensing official and that the marriage or civil union be solemnized in the physical presence of an officiant and two witnesses. Under the bill, receiving a license and having it solemnized via audio-visual technology requires: the video conference be live and allow for interaction between the couple, the licensing official or officiant, and witnesses; members of the couple and witnesses provide valid photo identification and any other documents necessary to allow the licensing official or officiant to fulfill their statutory duty; and each member of the couple and the witnesses sign the pertinent documents and transmit the documents, once signed by all signatories, to the licensing official or officiant. | In Committee |
| S334 | Permits title of Attorney General for person who served as Acting Attorney General for 180 days. | This bill permits the use of the title Attorney General for a person who served as the Acting Attorney General for 180 days. Under the bill, after termination of service as Acting Attorney General, the official title of a person who served as Acting Attorney General for a continuous period of at least 180 days is to be for all historical purposes "Attorney General of the State of New Jersey." The bill provides that a discontinuance of service as Acting Attorney General due to travel outside of the State or inability to discharge the duties of the office because of illness will not render a period of service non-continuous. | In Committee |
| S2241 | Extends child care subsidies to families earning up to 300 percent of federal poverty level; appropriates funds. | This bill raises the annual household income limit for determining initial income eligibility under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. Currently, initial eligibility determination in the State's subsidized child care assistance program is limited to families that report a maximum annual gross family income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $55,500 for a family of four in 2022. However, according to the most recent ALICE Report by the United Ways of New Jersey, the average ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - Household Survival Budget in the State was $88,224 for a family of four in 2018. In 2018, 37 percent of New Jersey's 3.2 million households struggled to make ends meet, with 27 percent of these households categorized as ALICE households. This bill raises the maximum initial income eligibility, and subsequent redetermination income eligibility, for the State's subsidized child care assistance program to 300 percent of the FPL, which is $83,250 for a family of four in 2022. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to establish and utilize at least four tiers to determine initial income eligibility and placement on the Division of Family Development's co-payment schedule for child care services under the State's subsidized child care assistance program. The bill specifies that nothing in its provisions precludes the commissioner from establishing a child care assistance income threshold that is higher than 300 percent of the FPL. The bill additionally appropriates such sums as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill, which appropriation will be in an amount determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to approval by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| S1150 | "Chloe's Pet Access Law"; permits dogs in outdoor seating areas of restaurants under certain circumstances; codifies current requirements concerning live animals in food establishments. | This bill permits dogs in the outdoor dining areas of food establishments, provided that certain conditions are met. The bill also allows animals in food establishments under certain circumstances. The bill codifies the current requirements regarding the presence of live animals in food establishments as set forth in the New Jersey Administrative Code at N.J.A.C.8:24-6.5. The bill is designated as "Chloe's Pet Access Law," to recognize the dog belonging to the family who advocated for the measures in the bill. Specifically, the bill allows a live animal on the premises of a food establishment under limited conditions if the presence of the live animal would not result in the contamination of food, clean equipment, utensils, and linens, and unwrapped single-use articles. Live animals are allowed on the premises of a food establishment in aquariums and display tank systems, when accompanying police or security officers as patrol dogs, when used as service animals, and in common areas of group residences. The bill also includes additional specific conditions that would apply when pet dogs are allowed in outdoor dining areas. The bill also allows for the storage of live or dead fish bait on the premises of the food establishment, if the storage would not result in the contamination of food, clean equipment, utensils, and linens, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. | In Committee |
| SR43 | Urges Governor to impose moratorium on fossil fuel projects. | Global climate change is threatening present and future generations with severe economic and environmental consequences. Emerging evidence indicates that growth in greenhouse gas levels leads to climate change, with rising temperatures resulting in higher sea levels and associated coastal flooding, more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought, and an increase in the number and intensity of storms. Governor Murphy's draft Energy Master Plan sets a goal to provide 100 percent clean energy in the State of New Jersey by 2050, however, the plan does not address the existing and proposed numerous fossil fuel infrastructure projects, such as pipelines and power plants in the State. | In Committee |
| S304 | Expands Medicare health care coverage to all New Jersey residents. | This bill would expand the federal Medicare health care coverage program to every New Jersey resident, regardless of age, health, or disability status. Currently, Medicare is generally available only to people who are age 65 years or older, who have a disability, or who have certain specified health conditions. The bill defines a resident as a person domiciled in the State for a period of 30 days immediately preceding the date of application for inclusion in the Medicare program. The bill requires the State to apply to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for any waiver of federal statute or regulation necessary to effectuate this expansion of Medicare. The application would allow New Jersey to replace federal, State, and local health care programs with universal coverage through New Jersey Medicare. CMS would estimate the cost of providing Medicare for all New Jersey residents, and will deduct the estimated revenue from Medicare and Medicaid payments that New Jersey residents, the State of New Jersey, and the federal government pay to offset those costs. CMS will establish Medicare premiums for New Jersey residents accordingly. Upon the enactment of universal Medicare coverage in New Jersey, the bill would prohibit any health insurance carrier from offering a health benefits plan that includes coverage for health care services covered by Medicare. This provision would ensure full participation in the Medicare program, which would increase enrollment and thus spread the risk of insurance over a larger population to achieve greater cost efficiency in the health care sector. The purpose of this bill is to establish a universal health care coverage program in New Jersey that builds upon the long, successful history of the federal Medicare program. In contrast with most common private insurance plans, Medicare is affordable for nearly everyone, offers greater patient choice in their health care providers, and has much lower out-of-pocket costs. Medicare is more efficient than private insurance, having much lower administrative costs. As an established federal program, expanding Medicare would require no new State bureaucracy and no difficult adjustment for health care providers to a new system. Medicare could provide low-cost health care coverage with to hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents who currently lack health coverage or who may lose coverage as a result of increasingly complex, costly, and restrictive private health insurance. | In Committee |
| S1164 | Exempts certain credit unions from sales and use tax. | This bill provides that credit unions regulated pursuant to the laws of this State are exempt from paying or charging sales and use tax. Federally chartered credit unions enjoy an exemption from state sales taxes and most other state taxes pursuant to the "Federal Credit Union Act" (12 U.S.C. s.1768). The sales and use tax imposed on State-chartered credit unions creates a competitive disadvantage compared to their federal counterparts. The exemption establishes sales tax parity between State and federally chartered credit unions. The exemption in the bill expires if federally chartered credit unions lose their current exemption from state sales taxes. Additionally, the exemption does not apply if the credit union is a purchaser or user of tangible personal property for the purpose of being a lessor. | In Committee |
| S2016 | Appropriates $70 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill appropriates $70 million in federal funds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations, including for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, the EDA, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (council), would be required to award $50 million in grants to support the financial recovery, resiliency, and growth of qualifying arts and culture organizations. However, of this total, $10 million in grants would be dedicated to arts education organizations that provide programs and services for public schools or afterschool programs. Specifically, these grants may be used to offset any revenue losses that occurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or provide the cash reserves necessary to ensure continued operations in the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns. Additionally, the bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the council, to award $20 million in grants to qualifying arts and culture organizations to support the completion of placemaking projects in public spaces. Under the bill, placemaking projects would include any creative or artistic project intended to beautify or enrich public spaces, such as artistic paintings on roadways or sidewalks, landscape plantings in public areas, educational signage, and other artistic, cultural, or educational installations. The monies appropriated under the bill would be provided from the State's allocation of funds from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021". | In Committee |
| S1171 | Expands Medicaid coverage regarding assistive devices for hearing impaired under certain circumstances. | This bill requires Medicaid coverage for hearing aids and other assistive devices for hearing impaired under certain circumstances. Specifically, the bill provides that coverage under the Medicaid Program includes expenses for unilateral or bilateral hearing aids, cochlear implants, or auditory osseointegrated devices, as well as any related accessories or services, provided that the devices, accessories, and services are deemed to be medically necessary and are prescribed or recommended by a licensed physician or audiologist. Under the bill, a "hearing aid" means an ear-level or body-worn electroacoustic device for amplifying sound whose basic components are a microphone, amplifier, and receiver; a "cochlear implant" means a device that is implanted under the skin that picks up sounds and converts them to impulses transmitted to electrodes placed in the cochlea; and an "auditory osseointegrated device" means a device implanted in the skull that replaces the function of the middle ear and provides mechanical energy to the cochlea via a mechanical transducer. Furthermore, "bilateral" means relating to or involving both ears, while "unilateral" means relating to or involving one ear. Currently, the State's Medicaid Plan provides that hearing aids are a covered benefit for eligible participants of the Medicaid Program if the hearing aid is determined to be medically necessary. This bill codifies this existing provision, and expands upon the benefit to include cochlear implants and auditory osseointegrated devices, as well as any related accessories or services. | In Committee |
| S1157 | Requires 90 days' notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of stop loss insurance for small employer health benefits plans. | This bill requires that, with respect to a policy of stop loss or excess risk insurance issued relative to a small employer health benefits plan, the insurer shall provide not less than 90 days written notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy to the plan sponsor, in a form to be determined by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. "Stop loss" or "excess risk insurance," for the purposes of small employer health benefits plans regulated by the Department of Banking and Insurance, means an insurance policy designed to reimburse a self-funded arrangement of one or more small employers for catastrophic, excess or unexpected expenses, wherein neither the employees nor other individuals are third party beneficiaries under the insurance policy. In order to be considered stop loss or excess risk insurance for the purposes of P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.), the policy shall establish a per person attachment point or retention or aggregate attachment point or retention, or both, which meet the following requirements: a. If the policy establishes a per person attachment point or retention, that specific attachment point or retention shall not be less than $20,000 per covered person per plan year; and b. If the policy establishes an aggregate attachment point or retention, that aggregate attachment point or retention shall not be less than 125% of expected claims per plan year. | In Committee |
| S559 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under health benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under a health benefits plan. | In Committee |
| S1172 | Increases craft distillery production limits; eliminates tour requirement for on-premises consumption; permits sale of snacks on craft distillery premises. | This bill revises State law governing craft distillery licenses to increase production limits from 20,000 gallons to 100,000 gallons, eliminate the tour requirement for selling beverages for consumption on premises, and permit the sale or offering of snacks to consumers. Under current law, the holder of a craft distillery license is entitled to manufacture not more than 20,000 gallons of distilled alcoholic beverages to sell and distribute to wholesalers and retailers. These licensees also are authorized to sell their product at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the distillery. Additionally, under current law the holder of each craft distillery license is prohibited from selling food or operating a restaurant on the licensed premises. Under this bill, the holder of a craft distillery license no longer would be restricted to producing no more than 20,000 gallons or be required to provide a tour of the distillery to sell their products for consumption on the licensed premises. The licensee also would be permitted to sell or offer packaged crackers, chips, nuts, and similar snacks to consumers on the premises. Under the bill, licensees continue to be prohibited from operating a restaurant on the premises, consistent with current law. | In Committee |
| S1182 | Prohibits sewerage authorities, municipal authorities, and local units of government from charging interest on unpaid sewer fees and charges attributable to State or local entities, including housing authorities. | This bill would clarify that sewerage authorities, municipal authorities, and local units of government that create sewer utilities are permitted to charge interest on unpaid rates or rentals imposed for direct or indirect connection with, or the use or services of, sewerage authorities, municipal authorities, or sewerage facilities, but those entities cannot impose interest on unpaid rates or rentals attributable to the State or a local unit, or any of their agencies and authorities, including, but not limited to, a housing authority. | In Committee |
| S1170 | Permits voter to take photograph of own voted ballot and share it on Internet-based social media. | This bill allows voters to photograph their own voted ballots while in a voting booth and to share those photographs on Internet-based social media. Under current law, a voter is prohibited from showing his or her voted ballot. The law also prohibits other persons from requesting that a voter show his or her voted ballot, or from inspecting such ballot during or after voting as to reveal its contents. This bill does not remove these prohibitions. This bill provides that these provisions of current law would not be interpreted to prohibit a voter from voluntarily taking a photograph of the voter's own voted ballot and sharing it on Internet-based social media. | In Committee |
| S1151 | Requires hospitals to establish sepsis recognition and treatment protocols. | This bill requires general and special hospitals licensed in the State to establish protocols for the early recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis. Sepsis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's overwhelming immune response to infection. Sometimes known as "blood poisoning," sepsis results when the immune chemicals released into the bloodstream cause widespread inflammation, leading to blood clots, impaired blood flow, and oxygen and nutrient deprivation in the organs. Sepsis can result in permanent organ damage, cognitive impairment, physical disability, or death. It is estimated that over one million Americans suffer from sepsis every year, and that the condition is fatal in 28 to 50 percent of those cases. Sepsis is the eighth-leading cause of death in New Jersey, and one of the leading causes of death in infants under one year of age in the State after congenital defect, birth injury, and unintentional injury. The protocols required under the bill would incorporate distinct components for adult and pediatric patients, and would include processes for screening, early recognition, and treatment of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock, including specific treatment guidelines for various circumstances and procedures for screening out patients for whom treatment would be inappropriate. Hospitals will be required to ensure that appropriate staff members are periodically trained to implement the sepsis protocols. Hospitals will be required to submit proposed sepsis protocols to the Department of Health for review no later than 120 days after the effective date of the bill and implement the protocols upon receipt of department approval. Hospitals will be permitted to revise and update the protocols based on newly emerging evidence-based standards, and resubmit the protocols to the department for review no more than once every two years, unless the department identifies hospital-specific performance concerns. Hospitals will be responsible for collecting and using quality measures related to the recognition and treatment of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock for the purpose of internal quality improvement and evaluating the implementation and adherence to the protocols. Hospitals will be required to submit to the department such data as may be necessary for the department to develop risk-adjusted sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock mortality rates, along with any other data the department may require. Hospitals will be subject to audit at the department's discretion. | In Committee |
| S2045 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| S1160 | Requires DOH approval for adverse possessory action against hospitals. | This bill prohibits landlords from initiating adverse possessory actions against an operator of a hospital, or a successor to the operator, without first obtaining written approval for the action from the department. An adverse possessory action initiated without the written approval of the department will be deemed invalid. The department is to establish a process for landlords to submit requests to initiate adverse possessory actions, and will have the authority to approve requests upon finding that just cause exists for the adverse possessory action. A landlord that initiates an adverse possessory action against an operator or successor without written approval by the department will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000,000. The department shall also suspend or revoke any license or permit granted by the department to the landlord due to violation of the act. To the extent an adverse possessory action taken without department approval results in the loss of revenue to a hospital, the operator or successor, as applicable, shall be entitled to financial recovery from the landlord to the extent necessary to place the hospital in as good a position as if such adverse possessory action had not occurred, as determined by court appointed arbitration. A landlord that willfully violates this act in a manner which results in the closure of a hospital or that interferes with the transition of the maintenance, supervision, or operation of a hospital from an operator to a successor as approved by the department, shall be subject to criminal penalties imposed for disorderly persons offenses. | In Committee |
| S1153 | Revises eligibility for convicted drug offenders to receive general assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program. | This bill revises the eligibility requirements for general assistance benefits under the Work First New Jersey program for individuals convicted of an offense involving the use, possession, or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Currently, persons convicted of offenses involving the use or possession of a controlled dangerous substance may be eligible for general assistance benefits if they enroll in or complete a licensed drug treatment program, and persons convicted of an offense involving the possession of a controlled dangerous substance are permanently ineligible for benefits. Certain exceptions to the requirement to complete a drug treatment program apply if no program was available or the applicant was excused from meeting the requirement for good cause. This bill revises these restrictions to provide that anyone who is convicted of an offense involving the use, possession, or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance will be eligible for general assistance benefits under the Work First New Jersey program if the individual completes a drug treatment program or otherwise qualifies for one of the current statutory exceptions. | In Committee |
| S1155 | Requires award of Edna Mahan trauma credits to inmates incarcerated during period of investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by correctional police officers and staff. | This bill requires Edna Mahan trauma credits to be awarded to any inmate in the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women (Edna Mahan) who was incarcerated during the period of investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by correctional police officers and staff at the facility. In April of 2018, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the United States Attorney's Office District of New Jersey (U.S. Attorney) initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at Edna Mahan. In its report published in April 2020, the DOJ and U.S. Attorney concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe conditions at Edna Mahan violate the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution due to facility staff sexually abusing inmates. The report further concluded that the sexual abuse is pursuant to a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of these Eighth Amendment rights. In addition to any credits awarded under current law, this bill requires the award of Edna Mahan trauma credits (credits) to any inmate incarcerated in Edna Mahan during the period of investigation into allegations of the sexual abuse of inmates at the facility. The credits awarded under the bill are to provide further remission from both the maximum and minimum term of the inmate's sentence, including the statutory mandatory minimum term. The credits are to be awarded at the rate of 183 days for each year, or portion thereof, served by an inmate confined in Edna Mahan during the period of investigation. An inmate is not to be awarded credits under the bill in excess of 365 days of remission. Under the bill, "Edna Mahan trauma credits" refers to credits awarded to an inmate for time served by the inmate during the period of investigation into allegations of the sexual abuse of inmates by correctional police officers and staff at Edna Mahan conducted by the: Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, United States Attorney's Office District of New Jersey, Hunterdon County Prosecutor's office, office of the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, and Governor of the State of New Jersey. "Period of investigation" is defined to mean the period during which the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, the United States Attorney's Office District of New Jersey, Hunterdon County Prosecutor's office, Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, and the Governor of the State of New Jersey conducted an investigation into allegations of the sexual abuse of inmates by correctional police officers and staff at Edna Mahan. The period of investigation begins on April 26, 2018, the date the investigation was initiated by the DOJ and U.S. Attorney, and terminates on the effective date of the bill. Between 2010 and 2016, eight staff members were terminated for sexual misconduct at Edna Mahan. From October 2016 to November 2019, five Edna Mahan corrections officers and one civilian employee were convicted or pled guilty to charges related to sexual abuse of more than 10 women under their watch. According to the sentencing judge for one of the convicted officers, the "pervasive culture" at Edna Mahan allowed the corrections officer to abuse his "position of authority to indulge in [his] own sexual stimulation." Dozens of additional corrections officers have been indicted for charges related to sexual abuse of prisoners. Most recently, additional allegations of the mistreatment of inmates in Edna Mahan surfaced in 2021, involving approximately 30 staff members who were suspended and investigated for severely beating at least three inmates. One of the inmates suffered a broken eye socket and another transgender inmate was handcuffed and beaten so severely that she could not walk and was confined to a wheelchair. In April 2021, a settlement was announced between the New Jersey Department of Corrections and private plaintiffs' counsel representing current and former Edna Mahan inmates. The settlement reportedly encompasses 22 claims, including two class action complaints providing up to $20,835,600 in damages and attorneys' fees for women who were either directly impacted by sexual misconduct or who were incarcerated in the facility between 2014 and the date of court approval of the settlement. | In Committee |
| S2239 | Extends duration of law requiring certain provider subsidy payments for child care services be based on enrollment. | This bill extends the applicability of P.L.2021, c.324, which requires that subsidy payments to licensed child care providers be based on enrollment of students who are eligible for child care services, rather than on attendance, to provide that the provisions of the law continue for an additional three years, instead of expiring on June 30, 2022 as provided for in existing law. The bill provides that a licensed child care provider or registered family day care provider receiving subsidy payments based on enrollment is required to pay wages to its staff, and determine the number of hours worked by staff, based on the number of children enrolled with the provider who are eligible for child care services. At no time will the amount of wages paid to staff or the number of hours worked by staff be based on the attendance of children eligible for child care services. The bill stipulates that a licensed child care center or a registered family day care provider receiving subsidy payments based on enrollment will continue to receive such payments until the Division of Family Development (the division) in the Department of Human Services issues the report required pursuant to the bill, at which time the division may consider to extend the payment of enrollment-based subsidies to licensed child care centers and registered family day care providers in accordance with P.L.2021, c.324. The bill requires the division to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the study conducted under the provisions of P.L.2021, c.324 within three years following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1178 | Requires high schools to offer computer science course. | This bill requires a school district that includes grades 9 through 12 to offer a high school student at least one course in the field of computer science beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. The course would entail the study of computers and algorithmic processes, and include the study of computing principles, computer hardware and software design, computer applications, and the impact of computers on society. Under the bill, the course must be of high quality, and be made available in a traditional classroom setting, blended learning environment, online-based, or other technology-based format that is tailored to meet the needs of each participating student. Computer science is a transitioning industry, creating new fields of commerce, driving innovation in all fields of science, and bolstering productivity in established economic sectors. Exposing high school students to computer science education will provide those students with critical skills that will serve them throughout their lives in numerous fields and better prepare students to be knowledgeable and productive citizens in the 21st century. | In Committee |
| S2199 | Requires certain ultrasounds on pregnant women to be performed by licensed health care professionals. | This bill provides that the performance of any ultrasound on a pregnant woman in a limited service pregnancy center shall be performed by a health care professional whose scope of practice includes performing ultrasounds. The bill defines "health care professional" as a person licensed or otherwise authorized pursuant to Title 45 or Title 52 of the Revised Statutes to practice a health care profession that is regulated by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs or by one of the professional licensing boards located thereunder. "Limited service pregnancy center" is defined as an organization, including a pregnancy counseling organization or crisis pregnancy center, that for a fee or free of charge provides pregnancy counseling or information but does not perform abortions or make referrals to an abortion provider and is not licensed or certified by this State or the federal government to provide medical or health care services. "Limited service pregnancy center" shall not include a health care provider, a hospital, an abortion clinic, or a family planning clinic that performs abortions, provides contraception, or provides abortion or contraception referrals. | In Committee |
| S1152 | Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless. | This bill would require the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to allow operators of shelters for the homeless and others who place persons in homeless shelters to have access to real-time information about the occupancy status of shelter beds, as collected by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), to determine the availability of shelter beds in the vicinity. Each homeless shelter operator would be required to update information about available shelter beds not later than one hour after a bed becomes available, or an available bed has been filled. These provisions will allow operators of homeless shelters that are currently full to ascertain whether there are available beds in nearby shelters so as to enable them to direct individuals in need of emergency shelter to locations that can accommodate them. This bill also requires a shelter for the homeless to cooperate in providing any necessary information to the database, as determined by the HMFA, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Human Services, as a condition of being eligible to receive funding for the shelter from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services. The bill would not apply to shelters for victims of domestic violence. | In Committee |
| S1149 | Authorizes DCA, DEP, DOT, and municipalities, to provide priority consideration to permit applications for green building projects. | This bill, would authorize municipalities, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Department of Transportation (DOT), to give priority consideration to permit applications for green building projects. The bill authorizes the governing body of a municipality to enact an ordinance requiring a municipal agency to provide priority consideration to permit applications for green building projects. In addition, the bill authorizes the DCA, DEP, and DOT to adopt rules and regulations to give priority consideration to permit applications for green building projects. Under the bill, a project would qualify as a "green building project" if the project has documented incorporation of site, water, energy, and resource efficiency measures and demonstrable practices to promote the health and well-being of the building occupants. The bill requires an application receiving priority consideration to include a letter from a licensed architect or engineer describing how the project qualifies as a green building project. | 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 |
| S1179 | "New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act." | This bill, which is designated the "New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act," would require the fluoridation of water supplied by public community water systems. The bill would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health, to adopt rules and regulations relating to the fluoridation of public community water systems. The rules and regulations would be required to include: (1) the means by which fluoride is controlled; (2) the methods of testing the fluoride content; and (3) the records to be kept relating to fluoridation. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health, would enforce the fluoridation rules and regulations. In so doing, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection would require the fluoridation of water in all public community water systems within 12 months of the bill's effective date. However, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection could not require the fluoridation of water in any public community water system in which the water supply in the state of nature contains sufficient fluorides to conform to the fluoridation rules and regulations. | In Committee |
| S1193 | Allows voter registration at polling place on election day or at early voting site during early voting period. | This bill allows for voter registration at polling places on election day or at early voting sites during the early voting period. Under current law, a person must register to vote at least 21 days before the election. This bill allows a person who has not registered to vote by that deadline to register at a polling place on the day of the election or at an early voting site during the early voting period. This bill also allows a person to cast a provisional ballot if the person has registered to vote within the period of 21 days before the election if the person can affirm that the person has not previously voted in that election. If the county commissioner of registration is not able to verify the person's Motor Vehicle Commission New Jersey driver's license number or non-driver identification number, or the last four digits of the person's Social Security Number, the county commissioner of registration will notify the person by mail, e-mail, or telephone within 24 hours that they must provide valid identification no later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election in order for their ballot to be counted. | In Committee |
| S1177 | Directs Division of Consumer Affairs to establish public information campaign concerning real estate rental scams. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to establish and undertake a public information campaign to educate and inform consumers concerning real estate rental housing scams, including how to recognize and report them. The public information campaign would include, but not be limited to, the preparation, publication, and distribution of information through the division's website, booklets, pamphlets, or other pertinent materials. The information would be made available in English and Spanish. The bill also requires the director to provide a toll-free telephone number for consumers to obtain additional information or make an inquiry regarding a prospective rental, landlord, or real estate agent or agency. Rental scams occur when property owners or potential tenants misrepresent themselves or the terms and availability of a rental property. Some scammers "hijack" an actual rental or real estate listing by changing the email address or other contact information, and placing the modified advertisement on another site. The altered advertisement may even use the name of the person who posted the original advertisement. In other cases, scammers have hijacked the email accounts of property owners on reputable vacation rental websites. Some scammers create listings for housing that is not for rent or does not exist, and try to lure potential renters with the promise of low rent or great amenities. The goal of these scammers is to get a person's money before he or she discovers the property is a "phantom" rental. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide consumers with information to help recognize and avoid them. The FTC has developed information for consumers to learn the signs of rental listing scams, and how to report these scams. For instance, the FTC indicates that scammers may:· ask a potential renter to wire money as a deposit or payment of first and last month's rent because wiring money is like giving cash - a refund cannot be made, even if the offer was a fraud;· require a potential renter to sign the lease before seeing the rental property, and prohibit potential renters from entering the home or apartment or charge a fee to view it; and· claim to be an agent for the property owner who is too busy, out of the country, or otherwise unavailable to handle the rental. | In Committee |
| S1156 | "The Desegregate New Jersey Act'; promotes equitable residential development throughout State. | The bill, named the "Desegregate New Jersey Act," promotes equitable residential development throughout the State. This bill provides that on a developable site in an area in which a municipal zoning ordinance permits single-family residential development, the municipality would permit an accessory dwelling unit to be added to the site and no such accessory dwelling unit is to be required to be part of a municipality's affordable housing requirement set by the Council on Affordable Housing in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill provides that a municipal zoning ordinance may require a principal dwelling unit with an accessory dwelling unit to be subject to the same dimensional controls and other controls as are required for the same principal dwelling unit without the accessory dwelling unit, as long as such restrictions do not prohibit the construction of these developments. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance would be prohibited from requiring: (1) a passageway between an accessory dwelling unit and a principal dwelling unit; (2) an exterior door for an accessory dwelling unit, except as required pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.); (3) any more than one parking space for an accessory dwelling unit or fees in lieu of parking; (4) a familial, marital, or employment relationship between occupants of a principal dwelling unit and an accessory dwelling unit; (5) a minimum age requirement for occupants of an accessory dwelling unit; (6) a separate billing of utilities otherwise connected to, or used by, the principal dwelling unit; or (7) periodic renewals for permits for accessory dwelling units. Under the bill, nothing would exempt an accessory dwelling unit from: (1) applicable municipal building code requirements; (2) the ability of a municipality to require owner occupancy or to prohibit or limit the use of an accessory dwelling unit for short-term rentals or vacation stays; or (3) other sewerage system related requirements where a private sewerage system is being used, provided that approval for an accessory dwelling unit shall not be unreasonably withheld. The bill provides that the municipal agency reviewing a permit application for an accessory dwelling unit shall make a decision regarding the application no later than 65 days after receipt of such application, except that an applicant may consent to one or more extensions of no more than an additional 65 days or may withdraw the application. Under the bill, a municipal agency would not condition the approval of an accessory dwelling unit on the correction of a nonconforming use, structure or lot, or require the installation of fire sprinklers in an accessory dwelling unit if such sprinklers are not required for the principal dwelling unit located on the same developable site. The bill provides that a municipality, sewer utility, or water utility, would not consider an accessory dwelling unit to be a new residential use for the purpose of calculating connection fees or capacity charges for utilities, including water and sewer service, unless an accessory dwelling unit was constructed with a new single-family dwelling unit on the same developable site, or requires the installation of a new or separate utility connection directly to an accessory dwelling unit. A municipality, sewer utility, or water utility, would not impose a related connection fee for connection of an accessory dwelling unit. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-62) would grant permitted use, would allow without requiring a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-70), and would not require minimum parking requirements if there are mixed use developments with at least four dwelling units, mixed use developments with at least four live work units, and multifamily housing with at least four dwellings units that are: (1) at a minimum density of fifteen units per acre; and (2) in at least 50 percent of the lot area served by water and sewer infrastructure and within a one-half-mile radius of a municipality's primary transit station. Under the bill, "Live work unit" means a building, or space within a building, that may be used jointly for commercial and residential purposes by a person or persons living within such building or space and where the commercial purposes are not authorized as customary and incidental accessory home occupation use. The bill provides that a municipality may dedicate up to 50 percent of this area between a one-half-mile radius and a one-mile radius of a municipality's primary transit station only if the dedicated land area for these developments is located only a public right of way that directly connects to a municipality's primary transit station with adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, and other similar pedestrian facilities. Under the bill, a municipal zoning ordinance would grant permitted use, would not require a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-70), and would not require minimum parking requirements if there are multifamily housing or at least two types of multiple dwellings: (1) in any municipality with: (a) a population of at least 500 persons per square mile according to the latest federal decennial census; or (b) a minimum population of 7,500 in the preceding calendar. (2) in at least 50 percent of the lot area within a one-quarter-mile distance from at least one main street corridor. The bill defines "Main street corridor" to mean a portion of any public road, not less than one-quarter of a mile and not more than three-quarters of a mile in length that satisfies at least two of the following: (1) encompasses an intersection of two state routes; (2) encompasses a state route and a federal route; (3) has at least 50 percent of the frontage along such portion being used for office, retail, service, mixed use development or general commercial purposes; and (4) is served by public transportation. If a municipality does not have a clearly identifiable main street corridor, a municipality would permit the use of multifamily housing or at least two types of multiple dwellings through the municipal zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-62), in contiguous land encompassing an area of one-quarter square miles. Under the bill, any development or housing that includes 10 or more dwelling units, at least one out of every 10 newly developed dwelling units would be used to meet the affordable housing obligations of a municipality in which these dwelling units are developed. If a municipality has satisfied the total number of affordable housing units required in that municipality by the Council on Affordable Housing in the Department of Community Affairs, then there would be no additional affordable housing requirement for that municipality as required under the bill. The bill provides that for any development or housing constructed under the bill, the municipal agency reviewing such an application would make a decision on the application for the development or housing no later than 65 days after receipt of the application, except that an applicant may consent to one or more extensions of no more than an additional 65 days or may withdraw such application. | In Committee |
| S1161 | Establishes New Jersey Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Regulatory Commission. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Regulatory Commission (commission). Under the bill, the commission is to consist of the following 17 members: (1) four public members to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, with each public member having a background in the field or business of pharmaceuticals, one public member having a general background in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and at least one public member having a background in active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing; (2) two public members to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate and two public members to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, with each public member having a background in the field or business of pharmaceuticals or active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing; (3) two members of the Senate, who are not to be of the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and who are to serve as ex officio, non-voting members, and two members of the General Assembly, who are not to be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and who is to serve as ex officio, non-voting members; (4) the Commissioner of Health, ex officio, or the commissioner's representative; (5) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, ex officio, or the executive director's representative; (6) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology, ex officio, or the executive director's representative; and (7) two presidents of a State public or private research institution of higher education, who are to be appointed annually by the Governor and who are to serve as ex officio, non-voting members. In the selection of public members, a strong effort is to be made to appoint women and minorities to the commission. Under the bill, the commission is to: (1) establish standards and provide oversight of the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the State and for the quality and use of active pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured outside of the State in a manner that is consistent with federal law; (2) promote the growth of the active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing industry in this State, with a focus on the use of available federal monies and resources; (3) act as a liaison between the pharmaceutical industry and the State and federal governments as it pertains to identifying federal funding and grant opportunities for members of the industry; (4) adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) if necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act; (5) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business; (6) adopt and have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure; (7) have the authority to sue and be sued; (8) have the authority to conduct meetings and public hearings in connection with the purposes of this act; (9) receive and disburse funds from non-State sources including but not limited to federal funds; and (10) have the authority to do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers granted in this act. On February 24, 2021, the Biden administration issued an executive order requiring the review of active pharmaceutical ingredient supply chains. The executive order directs a 100-day review and strategy development process to identify and address vulnerabilities in the supply chains of four key product sectors which are: semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging, large capacity batteries, critical minerals and materials, and pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. With regards "to promot[ing] domestic growth, equity, and resilience throughout the pharmaceutical" and active pharmaceutical ingredient supply chains, the executive order prescribes "a strategic approach that includes the following three elements[:]" 1) boosting local production to foster international competition; 2) building emergency capacity; and 3) increasing information available to the Federal Drug Administration to improve its surveillance and shortage prevention and mitigation efforts. | In Committee |
| S1174 | Allows certain restaurants to advertise that patrons may consume alcohol purchased off the restaurant premises; allows restaurants to charge corkage or service fee. | This bill removes from current law the statutory provision that prohibits restaurants without a liquor license from advertising that their patrons may bring their own beer or wine ("BYOB") for consumption on the premises. The bill also clarifies that patrons may consume on the restaurant premises cider and mead in addition to wine and beer. Finally, the bill allows the restaurant owners to charge a service or corkage fee to patrons who bring their own beer, wine, cider, or mead for consumption on the restaurant premises. Under current law, a person who owns or operates a restaurant, dining room, or other public place where food or liquid refreshments are sold or served to the general public, but is not licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, may allow the consumption of wine or beer in portions of the premises that are open to the public. However, the owner or operator is prohibited from advertising this option inside or outside of the premises. An owner or operator who violates the prohibition on advertising BYOB is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. This bill removes the prohibition on advertising that a restaurant is BYOB in response to a recent decision by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, GJJM Enterprises, LLC v. City of Atlantic City, holding that the State's prohibition on BYOB advertising is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment right to free speech. | In Committee |
| S1163 | Authorizes creation of urban enterprise zone in Hoboken City. | This bill authorizes the creation of an urban enterprise zone (UEZ) in the City of Hoboken in Hudson County. The UEZ authorized under this bill establishes a total of 33 UEZs created under the UEZ program, which was first authorized in 1983. The additional UEZ authorized under the bill is to be designated within 90 days of the date the municipality submits an application and zone development plan to the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority. Qualified businesses in the additional UEZ designated under the bill are entitled the benefits under the UEZ program, including, but not limited to, the collection of sales and use taxes on retail sales at a tax rate of half of the tax imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act." | In Committee |
| S1166 | Allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children because of immigration matters to appoint standby guardians. | This bill allows a parent or legal custodian who has been separated from their child as a result of a federal immigration matter to appoint a standby guardian. Specifically, the bill amends P.L.1995, c.76 (C.3B:12-64 et seq.) to allow the parent or legal custodian to petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian of a child or to allow the other parent or legal guardian to designate in writing a standby guardian, under specific circumstances, if the parent or custodian is subject to an administrative separation. Currently, a parent or legal custodian can petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian, and the court may appoint the standby guardian, or another parent or custodian may designate in writing a standby guardian, if the triggering event requiring the appointment is death, incapacity, or debilitation and there is significant risk that the parent or custodian will die, become incapacitated, or become debilitated as a result of a progressive chronic condition or a fatal illness. As used in the bill, "administrative separation" means the separation of a parent or legal custodian from the parent's or legal custodian's child as a result of a federal immigration matter, including, but not limited to, arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal, or receipt of official communication by federal, State, or local authorities responsible for immigration enforcement which gives reasonable notice that the care and supervision of the parent's or legal custodian's child will be interrupted or cannot be provided as the result of the parent's or custodian's impending arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal. Under the provisions of the bill, the petition would state that the triggering event, an impending administrative separation, occurred to require the appointment of a standby guardian and that there is significant risk that the parent or legal custodian will be the subject of such separation. However, the parent or custodian would not be required to submit documentation of an impending administrative separation. If the court finds that that there is a significant risk that the parent or legal guardian will be subject to an administrative separation, a standby guardian would be appointed. Current law does not recognize an administrative separation as a triggering event for the appointment of a standby guardian and does not allow a parent or legal custodian to petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian, and the court to appoint such a guardian, if there is significant risk that the parent or legal custodian will be the subject to an administrative separation. As required under current law for standby guardians who are appointed due to death, incapacity, or debilitation, the bill stipulates that: if the triggering event that causes the appointment of a standby guardian is an administrative separation, the parent's or legal custodian's attorney or legal representative would provide a copy of a determination of administrative separation to the appointed standby guardian, if the guardian's identity is known to the parent's or custodian's attorney or legal representative; and the appointed standby guardian is required to petition the court, including a determination of administrative separation, within 60 days of assuming guardianship duties for confirmation of the appointment. As used in the bill, "determination of administrative separation" means a written determination by federal, state, or local authorities responsible for immigration enforcement regarding the nature, cause, and extent of the parent's or legal guardian's arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal. As mandated by the current law for standby guardians who are appointed due to death, incapacity, or debilitation, the bill also stipulates that if the consent of a child's parent or legal custodian for the execution of a power of attorney delegating another person to exercise the parent's or legal custodian's powers is not appropriate or is unavailable pursuant to N.J.S.3B:12-39, the other parent or legal custodian may execute a written statement to designate a standby guardian in the event of the designator's administrative separation. The written designation would identify the designator, the minor child, and the standby guardian. If the parent or legal custodian has been arrested, detained, incarcerated, or removed from the State as a result of an administrative separation, another person may sign the written designation on the parent's or legal custodian's behalf. | In Committee |
| S1585 | Establishes ranked-choice voting procedure for elections for Governor, State Senate, State General Assembly, United States Senate and House of Representatives, and presidential primaries and general elections for electors for United States President and Vice-President. | This bill establishes a ranked-choice voting procedure for primary and general elections to elect candidates to the offices of Governor, New Jersey Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives, and for presidential primary elections and general elections for electors of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. Ranked-choice voting is an election method in which voters rank candidates in order of their preference, the ballots are counted in rounds, and the votes or fractions of votes are distributed to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot. The bill requires the ballot to be designed to allow voters to assign a ranking order to each qualified candidate on the ballot for such offices, including write-in candidates. In the event that the voting equipment cannot feasibly accommodate a ballot containing a number of rankings equal to the number of qualified candidates, the ballot is permitted to be designed to allow a voter to rank the maximum number allowed by the voting equipment, but not less than six candidates. Under the bill, single-winner elections to the offices of Governor, New Jersey Senate, United States Senate, and United States House of Representatives, and presidential primaries and general elections for electors of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, would be tabulated in rounds. Each ballot counts as one vote for the highest-ranked candidate on that ballot. If a candidate reaches the election threshold of 50 percent of the votes plus one, that candidate is elected and the tabulation is complete. If two or fewer continuing candidates remain, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is defeated, the candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected, and the tabulation is complete. However, if more than two continuing candidates remain, the continuing candidate with the fewest number of votes is defeated, and a new round of counting begins until a candidate reaches the election threshold. For multi-winner elections to the office of member of the New Jersey General Assembly, which include two members elected from each election district, the bill establishes a tabulation procedure that involves the transfer of vote fractions. Under the bill, if in the initial tabulation the number of continuing candidates is less than or equal to two (which is the number of offices to be filled for the New Jersey General Assembly in the legislative district), then all continuing candidates are elected and the tabulation is complete. If not, a series of tabulation rounds would proceed sequentially until candidates are elected by reaching the election threshold of 33 percent of the votes plus one. If the sum of the number of elected candidates and the number of continuing candidates is equal to three (the sum of one and the number of offices to be elected), then the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, all other continuing candidates are elected, and the tabulation is complete. However, if at least one continuing candidate has more votes than the election threshold, then each such candidate is elected, and each ballot counting for an elected candidate is assigned a "transfer value" so that the candidate's surplus votes (beyond the election threshold) are distributed to the next ranked continuing candidate on those ballots. If, after these steps, no candidate is elected, then the continuing candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, and a new round of counting begins until the positions are filled as the remaining candidates reach the election threshold. The bill directs the Secretary of State to issue guidelines and promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the ranked-choice voting procedures established by the bill. The bill would take effect immediately, but would remain inoperative until the January 1st following 12 months after the Secretary of State officially certifies that all voting machines used in this State have the capability to support ranked-choice voting. However, the bill's provisions concerning elections to the office of Governor would be implemented if the voters approve an amendment to the State Constitution authorizing ranked-choice for that office. | In Committee |
| S292 | Eliminates past conviction of indictable offense as disqualifier for jury service. | This bill permits persons with past convictions of indictable offenses to serve on juries. Under current law, past convictions, whether based on violations of New Jersey law, another state's law, or federal law, are automatic disqualifiers for jury service. This bill eliminates this disqualifier, making persons with past convictions eligible for jury service. Eliminates past conviction of indictable offense as disqualifier for jury service. | In Committee |
| S1191 | Establishes requirements for fee disclosure and for fees allowed as part of sale for certain tickets. | This bill requires, as defined in current law, a person, reseller, ticket broker, ticket issuer, and ticket resale website to disclose the total cost of a ticket, including all ancillary fees, including any service charge, to be paid in order to complete the purchase of a ticket. This is to be disclosed in a clear and conspicuous manner, in dollars, to the ticket purchaser. If a ticket is sold through a website, the information required to be disclosed is to be displayed prior to the ticket being selected for purchase. The information disclosed is not to be false or misleading, and is not to be presented more prominently or in the same or larger size as the total price. Moreover, the price of a ticket sold through a website is not to increase during the purchase process, excluding reasonable fees for delivery of non-electronic tickets based on the delivery method selected by the purchaser prior to payment for the ticket. Additionally, if a price is charged for admission to a venue, a place of entertainment, or their agent, representative, employee or licensee, cannot exact, demand, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, any premium or price in excess of the set price plus lawful taxes whether designated as price, gratuity, or otherwise. However, nothing is to be construed to prohibit: (1) a reasonable service charge by the place of entertainment or an agent in charge of special services for the place of entertainment, including, but not limited to, sales away from the box office, credit card sales, or delivery; or (2) a place of entertainment or its agent from offering initial sale tickets by means of an auction. A reasonable and actual cost for the physical delivery of tickets may be charged by a seller or reseller based on the method of delivery selected by the buyer, provided, however, that no delivery fee is to be charged by a seller or reseller for tickets delivered electronically or tickets that may be printed independently by the buyer. | In Committee |
| S1469 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | This bill authorizes the use of a school bus monitoring system to enforce section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), the State law governing passing a school bus. A school bus monitoring system is defined as a system meeting certain requirements set forth in the bill and having at least one camera and computer that captures and records a digital video or image of any motor vehicle operating near a school bus. Under current law, school buses are required to exhibit flashing red lights when the bus has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any person with a developmental disability or a child. Drivers of vehicles approaching or overtaking the school bus are required to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that has activated its flashing lights. The penalty for violating this law, for a first offense, is: 1) a fine of no less than $100; 2) imprisonment for no more than 15 days or community service; or 3) both. For subsequent offenses, the penalty is: 1) a fine of no less than $250; 2) imprisonment for no less than 15 days; or 3) both. This bill provides that the penalty for violating the law, when the violation is not evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system, would be: 1) a fine of $250; 2) 15 days of community service; or 3) both, in the case of a first offense. For each subsequent offense, the penalty would be a fine of $500 and no less than 15 days of community service. Under the bill, a civil penalty of $250 would be imposed on a person who passes a school bus in violation of current law if the violation is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system. Under these circumstances, any civil penalty imposed and collected for this violation is to be forwarded to the financial officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred and used for general municipal and school district purposes, including efforts to improve the monitoring and enforcement of this law through the utilization of a school bus monitoring system and other public education safety programs. A violation that is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system would not result in penalty points or automobile insurance eligibility points being assessed on the violator. The bill authorizes a municipality or school district operating or providing Type I or Type II school buses that transport students to contract with a private vendor to provide for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a school bus monitoring system for enforcement purposes. The bill provides that a school bus monitoring system must be capable of capturing and producing a record of any occurrence that may be considered illegal passing of a school bus, and include in that recorded image: -- if the school bus is exhibiting its flashing light; -- if a motor vehicle passes a school bus; -- the license plate, make, and model of the violating vehicle; and -- the date, time, and location of the violation. The bill requires any suspected violation captured in a recorded image produced by a school bus monitoring system to be made available to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred. A law enforcement officer is to issue a summons within 90 days of determining that a suspected violation occurred. A summons may not be issued for a violation occurring more than 90 days from date of the violation. The bill provides that any recorded image or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system is not a public record under New Jersey's "Open Public Records Act," is not discoverable as a public record except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter, and is not to be offered into evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding unless directly related to illegally passing a school bus. The bill provides that recorded images or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system pertaining to a specific violation are not to be retained for more than 60 days after the collection of any civil penalty imposed, and are then to be purged. All recorded images and information collected but not resulting in the issuance of a summons are to be purged within 95 days of the recording. The bill provides that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable for a summons for illegally passing a school bus as evidenced by a recorded image captured by a school bus monitoring system. However, a lessor or owner of a motor vehicle is not liable for a summons if: -- the lessor demonstrates that the vehicle was used without the lessor's express or implied consent, and provides the name and address of the vehicle operator or registrant; -- the lessee was operating or in possession of the vehicle at the time of the violation and the lessor provides the name and address of the lessee; or -- the owner, lessor, or lessee demonstrates that the vehicle was stolen at the time the violation occurred and provides a copy of the police report regarding the vehicle theft. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including specifications and certification procedures for the school bus monitoring systems and devices that may be installed. The bill also permits the Supreme Court of New Jersey to adopt Rules of Court as appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purposes of the substitute. The bill will take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, but permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to take anticipatory administrative actions in advance of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S285 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| S1614 | Requires at least one drive-up ballot drop box in each county; requires certain information to be posted at ballot drop boxes and locations. | This bill requires the county board of elections in each county to establish at least one drive-up ballot drop box in the county and to post certain information at ballot drop boxes and locations. Under current law, each county board of elections is required to establish at least 10 ballot drop boxes at locations throughout the county following several criteria. Under this bill, at least one of those locations would be required to be a "drive-up ballot drop box," defined as a ballot drop box and location designed and evaluated to possess accessible features including, but not limited to, sufficient vehicle turning radius adjacent to the driver side, curb cuts, availability of handicap parking, and an unimpeded path to the ballot drop box from handicap parking. The bill requires the drive-up ballot drop box to be easy to locate and readily visible by voters with adequate lighting and a clear line of sight from the street and parking area. The bill would also require certain information to be posted at ballot drop boxes and drop box locations. Under the bill, all ballot drop boxes would be marked as an "Official Ballot Drop Box." In addition, in a uniform manner prescribed by the Secretary of State, the following information would be posted at drop boxes and drop box locations in all languages required under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and under current law for the county: the penalties for drop box tampering; a-toll free voter hotline; a statement indicating that no postage is necessary for depositing the ballot into the drop box; a statement indicating that the drop box is for mail-in ballots only for that county; and a statement informing the public of the applicable deadline for accepting ballots at the drop box. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of State and county boards of elections to include guidelines for county boards of elections to follow to establish an electioneering boundary of 100 feet around each ballot drop box in compliance with current law. The bill requires the posting of signs and information to notify the public of the prohibited electioneering activities within the boundary of the ballot drop box. | In Committee |
| S1413 | Requires health insurance coverage of preimplantation genetic testing with in vitro fertilization under certain conditions. | This bill requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and in vitro fertilization for covered persons who are not infertile to prevent certain serious genetic medical conditions from being passed on to offspring under certain conditions. Under the bill, health insurance carriers (which include hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, group health insurance policies, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) will be required to cover PGT with in vitro fertilization even if the covered person is not infertile, where (1) both partners are known carriers of an autosomal recessive disorder; (2) one partner is a known carrier of a single gene autosomal recessive disorder and the partners have one offspring that has been diagnosed with that recessive disorder; (3) one partner is a known carrier of a single gene autosomal disorder; (4) one partner is a known carrier of a single X-linked disorder; and (5) the genetic condition, if passed on to the covered persons' offspring, would result in significant health problems or severe disability For the purposes of this bill, "preimplantation genetic testing" is defined as a technique used to identify genetic defects in embryos created through in vitro fertilization before pregnancy. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Abstain |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 32 | Senate | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 | |
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 33 | Assembly | Democrat | Out of Office | 01/14/2014 | 01/12/2024 |