Legislator
Legislator > Britnee Timberlake
State Senator
Britnee Timberlake
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 34
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
East Orange Office
520 Main St.
Suite 1
East Orange, NJ 07018
Suite 1
East Orange, NJ 07018
Phone: 973-395-1166
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5736 | Updates certain notification requirements in "Energy Bill Watch" program. | This bill amends certain notification requirements under the "Energy Bill Watch" program. Current law requires electric and gas public utilities to implement programs that notify each smart meter customer on the 10th and 20th day of a billing cycle of the cost in dollars of the smart meter customer's electricity or gas usage and the amount in kilowatt hours or therms of the customer's electricity or gas usage in that billing cycle through text messages or if the electric or gas public utility does not possess the smart meter customer's phone number, through electronic mail messages. This bill clarifies that the "Energy Bill Watch" program pertains to residential customers whose electric or gas usage is measured using a smart meter. The bill further gives smart meter customers the choice between receiving text messages or electronic mail messages on the 10th and 20th day of a billing cycle. Finally, the bill requires the notification provided on the 10th and 20th day of the billing cycle to include the cost in dollars of a smart meter customer's usage and the amount in kilowatt hours or therms of the customer's electricity or gas usage up to the time at most two days before the notification is sent. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | 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 |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Passed |
| 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 |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Passed |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4694 | Requires Department of Banking and Insurance to examine and rate lending institutions with regards to lending, investments, and services provided to low- and moderate-income consumers. | This bill establishes a community reinvestment law for the State of New Jersey. It requires similar analysis and evaluation of banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions to determine and rate if these institutions are lending, investing, and providing financial services to low- and moderate-income consumers and communities. This includes underserved communities and populations. Under the bill, the Department of Banking and Insurance (the "department") is to review activities of the various regulated financial institutions in the State every three years. This includes reviewing various types of products and services offered by an institution including, but not limited, to: 1) retail lending, such as home and small business loans; 2) community development lending; 3) low-cost deposit accounts and other retail financial services; and 4) how an institution works with delinquent consumers. Upon the department's examination, a rating is assigned to an institution. If a rating of "low satisfactory" or lower is given to a regulated financial institution, an improvement plan is to be developed between the institution, the department, and comments from members of the public. Additionally, under the bill, the department is to develop a disparity study. This is to identify underserved counties, populations, and census tracts in the State. Data collected for this study may be shared with federal agencies. Upon completion, a report of the findings and recommendations is to be issued to the Legislature. Lastly, each regulated financial institution is to post a notice in each branch, or on its website, a notice for public consumption stating, in part, that the institution's performance is evaluated based on how it meets the needs of its community and that a copy of the evaluation is available for review. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S4361 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | In Committee |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Passed |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Crossed Over |
| SR133 | Respectfully urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject results of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s 2025/2026 Base Residual Auction and require rebid. | Respectfully urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject results of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s 2025/2026 Base Residual Auction and require rebid. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. | Passed |
| S4532 | Updates certain notification requirements in "Energy Bill Watch" program. | Updates certain notification requirements in "Energy Bill Watch" program. | In Committee |
| S2376 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Crossed Over |
| S3423 | Requires standards for organization and deployment of career fire fighters to be consistent with certain national standards. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules for the deployment of career fire fighters that are consistent with the standards promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA 1710 (2020 edition). The bill also requires the appointing authority of each career fire department to ensure the deployment of fire fighting personnel, for rescue, fire suppression, and related activities, consistently with the standards set forth in NFPA 1710 (2020 edition) and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this bill. While a municipality may have authority to determine the overall level of fire protection to provide within its jurisdiction, a municipality that has established and maintains a paid or part-paid fire department and force is to deploy fire-fighting personnel consistently with NFPA 1710, the national standard designed to enhance the safety of the employees of career fire departments. This bill will prevent local units from relaxing fire fighter safety requirements due to possible fiscal constraints or political concerns. | Crossed Over |
| S3426 | Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service firefighter applicants. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to establish and maintain a mentoring program for civil service firefighter applicants. The purpose of the mentoring program would be to assist applicants residing in a municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level through the civil service application, examination, and selection process, and to help address obstacles unique to their circumstances. The program will include a study group to help applicants in any municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level with the resources needed to compete with applicants in other communities that benefit from outside private study groups. The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. The program will be designed to provide mentoring to an applicant for the duration of the exam cycle, until the mentee completes the hiring process. The commission would develop criteria to determine eligibility in the program as a mentor and as a mentee. A mentor may be a current or former firefighter in good standing who obtained a firefighter position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed appropriate by the commission. A mentor or mentee may be removed from the mentoring program for good cause as determined by the commission. A mentee would be removed from the program upon the mentee's acceptance of an offer of employment. An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times within a 10-year period. A former mentee may be eligible to participate in the program as a mentor. No monies would be provided to a mentor to participate in the program, and no fees would be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. At least once a year, the commission would review the program for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs and purpose of the program. | Crossed Over |
| S4485 | Establishes New Jersey Innovation Authority. | Establishes New Jersey Innovation Authority. | In Committee |
| S4519 | Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities. | Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities. | In Committee |
| S4591 | Requires electric public utilities to apply to BPU for certificate of public convenience and necessity prior to undertaking transmission project. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to submit an application to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (certificate) prior to undertaking a transmission project (project) in New Jersey, which application is required to include any information deemed necessary by the board and an application fee in an amount determined by the board. After receiving a completed application, the bill requires the board to issue a board order with its decision regarding the application, its authorization for the utility to construct the project, and a manner and timeframe in which the utility is to complete the project. The board is to act on an application within 150 days and, in certain circumstances, permits the board to extend this 150-day deadline by an additional period not to exceed 75 days. To make its determination, the board is required to consider whether: (1) the project is necessary to provide adequate, reliable, and efficient service to the utility's customers and is the least-cost means of satisfying the service needs of the utility's customers or that the project will promote the development of an effectively competitive electricity market that operates efficiently, is equitable to all customers, and is the least-cost means of satisfying those objectives; (2) the utility is capable of efficiently managing and supervising the construction process and has taken sufficient action to ensure adequate and efficient construction and supervision of the construction; and (3) the utility is capable of financing the proposed construction without significant adverse financial consequences for the utility or its customers. Under the bill, "transmission project" means a project undertaken by an electric public utility to construct a new transmission line or modify an existing transmission line. This term does not include projects that have already been deemed necessary and approved by PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. through a needs assessment. | In Committee |
| S4594 | Requires commencement of State Police recruit training class at least once every six months; establishes recruitment program. | This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish and maintain a schedule for the commencement of a State Police recruit training class at least once every six months. Under the bill, the superintendent, in consultation with the Attorney General, is required to establish recruitment goals for the succeeding fiscal year no later than 30 days after enactment of the annual State budget. The bill provides that recruitment goals are to be based on the availability of funds and the projected attrition of State Police members due to retirement, resignation, or other cause. In addition, the bill requires the superintendent, in consultation with the Attorney General, to develop and implement a recruitment program to attract a sufficient number of qualified applicants who reflect the diversity of the community the agency is charged with protecting. The bill provides that the program is to set specific goals for the recruitment of females and minorities. Under the bill, recruitment strategies are to include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) conducting outreach in low-income communities; (2) partnering with applicable local community organizations and educational institutions; and (3) using modern advertising strategies, social media, and other applicable online platforms to reach potential applicants. The bill provides that the superintendent is to evaluate the program annually and take action as necessary to increase the program's effectiveness and ensure that goals regarding the recruitment of females and minorities are being met. | In Committee |
| S4595 | Establishes Office of State Police Affairs in but not of Department of Treasury. | This bill establishes the Office of State Police Affairs (OSPA). The director will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and is required to be qualified by training and experience to direct the work of the office. The director will operate independently, without supervision or control by any other State department, division, or office. Under the bill, the Director of OSPA will have the power and duty to exercise supervision over the Superintendent of State Police within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The Superintendent of State Police is to report to the director on a regular basis, in a manner and frequency prescribed by the director. Under the bill, the director is to receive and investigate allegations concerning criminal complaints or complaints of misconduct against law enforcement officers employed by the Division of State Police. To this end, the director is to provide a confidential process for submitting complaints by both the public and government employees. The director is responsible for organizing the office, hiring staff, and engaging consultants as needed, using a fair, competitive process to ensure independence and effectiveness. Under the provisions of this bill, a law enforcement officer who is under investigation for allegations concerning a criminal complaint or complaint of misconduct is prohibited from using privilege or work-product protection to withhold information from the director. The bill grants the director authority to compel testimony and request documents through subpoenas, requiring that all investigations adhere to national and professional standards. Additionally, the director can request information, resources, and assistance from any State department or agency to fulfill its duties. The director is also authorized to collaborate with other State oversight entities, such as the State Auditor, the State Commission of Investigation, the State Comptroller, and the State Inspector General, and may participate in joint investigations with these agencies. Under the bill, OSPA is to review all Division of State Police internal affairs investigations and equal employment opportunity complaints to ascertain whether the Division of State Police has complied with applicable standard operating procedures, whether the outcomes of those investigations were supported by evidence, whether any discipline imposed was appropriate and proportionate, and to make recommendations to the Governor for appropriate disciplinary or remedial action. Additionally, the OSPA is to monitor, review, and evaluate the Division of State Police's procedures for handling internal affairs investigations and equal employment opportunity complaints, specifically to ensure that these complaints do not unduly or improperly impact the eligibility of a promotion for a law enforcement officer. The OSPA is to oversee the resolution of such complaints, ensuring they are resolved in a timely manner or within the prescribed timeline of the Division of State Police. Under the bill, the director will have the power and duty to oversee the appointment, employment, promotion, and removal of law enforcement officers employed by the Division of State Police. Additionally, the bill requires exit interviews to be conducted. The director is to annually prepare and submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature, a report that provides recommendations concerning the recruitment, hiring, and promotions of law enforcement officers. The report is to also include findings from the exit interviews required under the bill. The report is to be published on OSPA's website. The bill provides the director the discretion to decline certain investigations. In the course of conducting investigations, evaluations, inspections, and other reviews, the director may also refer matters for further civil and administrative action to an appropriate authority. Whenever a criminal complaint is made against a law enforcement officer employed by the Division of State Police, the director is required to notify the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. Additionally, the director is responsible for ensuring that such criminal complaints are documented as part of the law enforcement officer's personnel file. Under the bill, all criminal complaints made against law enforcement officers employed by the Division of State Police are to be managed, investigated, and prosecuted by OSPA. Any attorney appointed by the director to prosecute a criminal complaint is to serve as a State prosecutor with the same powers and authority as a county prosecutor, including the ability to bring criminal charges, represent the State in court, and exercise all other powers and responsibilities typically granted to county prosecutors under the laws of this State. Under the provisions of the bill, the director is required to maintain detailed records of complaints and outcomes and may disclose information as needed while safeguarding the confidentiality of ongoing investigations. The director is to meet at least twice annually with other State oversight bodies to coordinate efforts, share information, and prevent duplication of work. After concluding an investigation, the director is to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, which is also to be published online for public access. | In Committee |
| S4592 | Imposes 30 percent electric public utility windfall surtax on certain taxpayers with allocated taxable net income in excess of 20 percent above five-year average income under CBT. | This bill imposes a 30 percent surtax, to be called the electric public utility windfall surtax, on the windfall income of electric public utilities. Under the bill, "windfall income" means the amount of allocated taxable net income of an electric public utility that is 20 percent greater than the average allocated taxable net income of the utility during the five immediately preceding privilege periods. The bill defines "allocated taxable net income" to mean the same as the term "taxable net income" is defined in the "Corporation Business Tax Act" for purposes of calculating a taxpayer's corporation business tax liability. The electric public utility windfall surtax is to be imposed in addition to the taxpayer's regular corporation business tax liability. No credits are to be allowed against the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for credits for installment payments, estimated payments made with a request for an extension of time for filing a return, or overpayments from prior privilege periods. All revenues collected from the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for amounts constitutionally dedicated for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, are to be annually appropriated to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for distribution to the ratepayers of each electric public utility subject to the electric public utility surtax. The bill requires the board to prescribe the method by which the funds appropriated from surtax proceeds are distributed, except that these monies are required to be distributed proportionally among all ratepayers of the electric public utility. | In Committee |
| S4470 | Revises oversight of "Community Wealth Preservation Program" and requirements for nonprofit community development corporations. | This bill revises oversight of the "Community Wealth Preservation Program" and requirements for nonprofit community development corporations. Under the bill, a nonprofit community development corporation with a written agreement to purchase a foreclosed upon residential property for the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of that foreclosed upon property will be subject to a 30-year renewable deed restriction requiring the nonprofit and any future owners to sell the property to a household earning no more than 120 percent of area median income and spending no more than 35 percent of gross monthly income on the mortgage, property taxes, interest, and home insurance of the property or, if the nonprofit or future owners decide to rent the property, rent the property to a household earning no more than 80 percent of area median income and spending no more than 35 percent of gross monthly income on rent. The bill also provides a formula for future owners that are still subject to the deed restriction to determine the future sales price of the property. Nonprofits and future owners subject to the deed restriction will additionally be subject to State affordable housing laws and regulations. Despite the deed restriction above, a nonprofit with a written agreement to purchase the property for a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant will not be subject to the deed restriction language if the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant decide to purchase the property back from the nonprofit. The bill provides that a sheriff's office will now be required to, within 90 days of the date of a sheriff's sale, deliver a fully executed deed to the successful bidder at the sale. Current law requires a sheriff's office to deliver a fully executed deed to the successful bidder of a sheriff's sale within two weeks of the date of sale. The bill additionally extends the statutory right of redemption for foreclosed upon defendants to within 90 days of the date of the sheriff's sale, instead of 10 days after the date of sale as currently provided. The bill additionally removes the right of first of refusal for tenants of the foreclosed upon property to purchase the property and removes the right of second refusal for nonprofit community development corporations that do not have a written agreement to purchase the property for the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property. The bill also requires successful individual bidders who will occupy the foreclosed upon residential property for 84 months to be subject to a deed restriction that outlines the requirements that successful individual bidders must follow. The bill provides new requirements for nonprofit community development corporations that agree in writing to purchase a foreclosed upon residential property for a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property. Nonprofits will now be required to negotiate with the foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant on a lease agreement that must include the following: (1) an affordability benchmark that will require lease payments to be set within a reasonable percentage of the occupant's verified monthly income, not to exceed 39 percent of total household income; (2) lease payments that are set at a fixed-rate or indexed to inflation, with a maximum increase of no more than two percent per year; (3) a lease schedule of a minimum of 12 months, with renewal options and clear conditions for termination; (4) eviction protection clauses for occupants who comply with lease obligations; and (5) an option to purchase the property from the corporation, which must include: (a) the purchase price, including the total sales price broken down into the monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. The total monthly housing cost must be comprised of the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, and must not exceed 39 percent of the household's total monthly income. If the offered sales price would cause monthly housing costs to exceed 39 percent, the sales price will be reduced to align with the monthly housing cost limit; (b) a timeframe, which must be no less than one year from the date in which the occupant signs the lease agreement, in which the occupant may exercise the option to purchase the property; and (c) an ownership transition process, with defined requirements for title transfer, including compliance with escrow, inspections, and financial readiness. Under the bill, a nonprofit community development corporation that decides to independently bid for a foreclosed upon residential property or purchase a foreclosed upon property on behalf of a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property will be required to be included within a list of nonprofit community development corporations established by the Department of Community Affairs before it can purchase a foreclosed upon property. To be included within the department's list, the nonprofit must be in existence for 48 months, meet the provided definition of a State community housing development organization, and submit the following materials to the department: (1) the most recent form 990 that the nonprofit community development corporation provided to the United States Internal Revenue Service; (2) letters of reference from at least three other nonprofit community development corporations; (3) a signed statement from the chief executive officer of the nonprofit community development corporation confirming that none of board members of the corporation have been found liable of a housing violation or violation pursuant to the "Consumer Fraud Act" within the past 10 years; (4) an affidavit signed by the executive director and president of the board of directors, or equivalent, of the nonprofit community development corporation that names any representatives that are authorized to bid on behalf of the corporation during the sheriff's sale. The authorized representatives may be an employee or a board member of the corporation; and (5) any other information that the department deems necessary.A nonprofit community development corporation that is not included in the department's list pursuant to this paragraph will be prohibited from entering a bid in a sheriff's sale. A corporation that is included within the list pursuant to this bill will be required to provide the materials required pursuant to this bill once each year to the department to maintain eligibility within the list. A corporation must inform the department if there are material changes to the items provided to the department. The department will be required to publish and maintain the list of eligible nonprofit community development organizations on its Internet website. The bill further provides that a nonprofit community development corporation intending to bid in a sheriff's sale for a foreclosed upon residential property will be required to provide to the sheriff on the date of sale with a watermarked certificate from the Department Community Affairs confirming that the nonprofit is on the department's list of eligible nonprofit community development corporations. Each sheriff's office will be required to consult the list of eligible nonprofit community development corporations established by the department before permitting a nonprofit to bid. The bill provides that a nonprofit community development corporation that is included on the department's list of eligible nonprofit community development corporations will be limited to purchasing one foreclosed residential property in any given county per month, with a maximum of two properties purchased within the State per month. The aforementioned limits will not apply to a nonprofit that purchased a foreclosed residential property on behalf of a foreclosed upon defendant, next of kin of the foreclosed upon defendant, or tenant of the foreclosed upon property. The bill also revises requirements for nonprofits that independently bid on foreclosed upon residential properties and revises fines and enforcement provisions for nonprofits and successful individual bidders that fail to meet the requirements of the "Community Wealth Preservation Program." The bill additionally includes new reporting requirements for sheriff's offices, revises the definition of "nonprofit community development corporation," and includes a new definition for the term "next of kin." | In Committee |
| S2347 | Concerns development of accessory dwelling units and related regulations. | Concerns development of accessory dwelling units and related regulations. | In Committee |
| S4318 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | In Committee |
| S4522 | Provides for State agency reviews and increases of income thresholds for residential customers to participate in certain utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program to, within one year of the bill's effective date, complete a review of the program, as provided for in the bill, and increase the income threshold if the department, board, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. The bill requires that a State agency request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. The bill further specifies that if an increase in income thresholds for the State's low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the BPU is required to assess if further guidance is necessary to change income thresholds in the utilities' triennium energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers are eligible for only one energy efficiency assistance program and to expand access to moderate-income programs, if appropriate. | In Committee |
| S4523 | Requires State agencies that administer utility bill payment assistance or energy efficiency programs to review, and potentially increase, income thresholds for residential customers to participate in programs. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program to, within one year of when the BPU issues a final order in the proceeding entitled "In the Matter of Addressing New Jersey Energy Affordability for Low- and Moderate-Income Households" (Docket No. QO24110853), complete a review of the program, as provided for in the bill, and increase the income threshold if the department, board, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. The bill requires that a State agency request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. The bill further specifies that if an increase in income thresholds for the State's low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the BPU is required to assess if further guidance is necessary to change income thresholds in the utilities' triennium energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers are eligible for only one energy efficiency assistance program and to expand access to moderate-income programs, if appropriate. | In Committee |
| S4120 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to businesses employing and retaining certain neurodiverse individuals. | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to businesses employing and retaining certain neurodiverse individuals. | 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 |
| S4479 | Requires BPU to prohibit electric and gas public utilities from charging residential customers certain types of payments based on certain billing practices. | Certain electric and gas public utilities offer equal payment plans that average a customer's estimated energy usage over 12 months to provide consistent billing. Customers may face lump-sum payments if actual usage exceeds the estimate. This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to require each electric public utility and gas public utility to offer an equal payment plan for residential customers. This bill prohibits electric and gas public utilities from: (1) charging lump-sum payments under equal payment plans; (2) recovering any outstanding balance due based on the difference between a residential customer's actual yearly usage and any forecasted yearly utility usage; and (3) increasing a residential customer's monthly bill under an equal payment plan except annually, based only on that customer's utility usage data. Further, separate from equal payment plans, at certain times electric and gas public utilities may charge customers using estimated meter bills, which are based on prior usage information or predictive modeling instead of the customers' actual usage. When a customer's estimated meter bill is lower than a later-obtained meter reading, the electric and gas public utility may bill the customer for the difference in a utility billing procedure known as underbilling. This bill also prohibits electric and gas public utilities from underbilling and further prohibits electric public utilities and gas public utilities from incorporating any outstanding balance due based on the difference between a customer's estimated meter bill and a later-obtained actual meter reading into that customer's future utility bills. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill provides a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill will safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. | In Committee |
| S4487 | Creates Midwifery Licensing Act; modifies regulation of midwifery. | This bill modifies current law regulating midwives. Specifically, the bill repeals the current law requiring approval for licensure of midwives by the State Board of Medical Examiners and establishes a State Board of Midwifery. Under the bill, a board of 11 members, seven of whom are to be midwives, is created to oversee the licensure of certified midwives (CMs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and certified professional midwives (CPMs). The bill: (1) delineates the responsibilities of the board, which include the approval of licensure applications, and recognition of entities accrediting midwifery certification programs and national entities issuing the certifications; (2) reviews, as deemed appropriate, the continuing education hours completed by licensees based on levels of certification; (3) requires applicants to meet certain standards to qualify for a license; and (4) authorizes the State Board of Midwifery to grant individuals currently licensed as a CM, CNM, or CPM by the State Board of Medical Examiners a license at that same level. Under the bill, the Department of Banking and Insurance is to require medical malpractice insurance providers authorized to provide insurance in New Jersey to cover certified professional midwives. Additionally, health insurance carriers authorized to provide coverage in the State are to cover home births if an individual is approved to have a home birth. The bill stipulates that licensees are to complete continuing education credits in accordance with the respective credentialing body for each level of certification, which is to include at least one hour on implicit and explicit bias, and if a licensee is authorized to prescribe drugs. The board may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing education for a licensee if the licensee can demonstrate a hardship, including, but not limited to, a disability, military service or deployment, or other good cause. Moreover, the bill reinstates a licensed midwife as a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners. | In Committee |
| S4480 | Requires electric and gas public utilities de-privatization study; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Division of the Rate Counsel (division) to engage a third party to conduct a feasibility and cost savings study on the de-privatization of electric public utilities and gas public utilities in the State. The third party is authorized to request information and reasonable assistance from any electric public utility, gas public utility, or public entity in order to conduct the study, which is to examine the feasibility of and cost savings associated with de-privatization options, including, but not limited to: (1) acquisition or operation of existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities, in part or in whole, by a public entity; and (2) joint ownership or operation of existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities, in part or in whole, between a public entity and existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities. The study is to include: (1) the short- and long-term challenges and benefits of each option examined, including, but not limited to, any anticipated environmental effect, impact on service, and cost to ratepayers; (2) the strengths and weaknesses of selecting each public entity considered for potential acquisition, ownership, or operation, in whole or in part, of electric public utilities and gas public utilities, as well as potential organizational structures; (3) an estimation of costs, including, but not limited to, financial costs, as well as the long-term financial impact on the State and any public entity involved in each option; (4) an estimation of the cost savings associated with each option examined; (5) an estimation of the amount of revenue generated by clean energy programs; and (6) any other analysis as the division directs. Any electric public utility, gas public utility, or public entity is required to promptly respond to, cooperate fully with, and provide any requested information to the third party. Within a year of the bill's effective date, the division is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing the findings from the study and providing recommendations as to the feasibility of, need for, cost savings associated with, and plan for the de-privatization of electric public utilities and gas public utilities in this State. The report is to include recommendations for legislative, executive, and other actions. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the division to implement the provisions of the bill. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. With this bill, the sponsor intends to encourage the State to explore opportunities to provide electric public utility and gas public utility services as a public good for electric public utility and gas public utility customers across New Jersey. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| S4481 | Resets electric and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for five-year period. | This bill resets electric public utility and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for a five-year period. Specifically, the bill requires an electric public utility or gas public utility that does business in the State to file with the Board of Public Utilities (board) an updated schedule of rates for approval, which schedule is to reflect utility rates equal to or less than the electric public utility's or gas public utility's rates at any point during the calendar year 2020. The bill then requires the board to approve an updated schedule of rates within 30 days of its receipt of the updated schedule. Upon the board's approval, an updated schedule of rates is to remain in effect for a period of five years. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. The bill is designed to prevent excessive rate hikes and ensure that essential energy services remain affordable and accessible. By temporarily resetting electric public utility and gas public utility rates, the bill seeks to: (1) provide financial relief for households experiencing rising expenses; (2) prevent unwarranted profit inflation by electric public utilities and gas public utilities; and (3) establish regulatory oversight to ensure fair rate adjustments that align with consumer needs. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| S4471 | Authorizes creation of special license plate honoring Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special license plates (plates) honoring both the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated under the Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta license plate program (program). The bill provides that the plates are to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring both organizations. The chief administrator is to select the design and color scheme of the plates in consultation with the International First Vice President of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the International Vice President of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, the bill imposes an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the plates. After the deduction of the cost to implement the program, any additional fee collections are required to be deposited into the special non-lapsing fund known as the "Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta License Plate Fund" (fund). To support the mission and programs of both organizations, the proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the program. The bill also requires the International First Vice President of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the International Vice President of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated to appoint one liaison to represent the two organizations in all communications with the commission regarding the program. The bill prohibits the use of either State or other public funds by the commission to cover the initial cost to implement the program. The bill requires the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated--or an individual or entity designated by the organizations--to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated to receive funds from private sources to offset the initial costs of the program. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the plates or make any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated--or the individual or entity designated by the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated--has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the program; and (2) the liaison of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the commission receives the appropriate number of applications and amount in fees required to offset the initial cost to implement the program. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after the date of enactment if the required number of applications or amount in fees to offset the initial costs is not received. | In Committee |
| S4483 | Imposes 10 percent electric public utility windfall surtax on taxpayers with allocated taxable net income in excess of $10 million under CBT. | This bill imposes a 10 percent surtax, to be called the electric public utility windfall surtax, on electric public utilities with allocated taxable net income in excess of $10 million to fund vital utility assistance programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in this State. The bill defines "allocated taxable net income" to mean the same as the term "taxable net income" is defined in the "Corporation Business Tax Act," N.J.S.A.54:10A-1 et seq. for purposes of calculating a taxpayer's corporation business tax liability. The electric public utility windfall surtax is to be imposed in addition to the taxpayer's regular corporation business tax liability. No credits are to be allowed against the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for credits for installment payments, estimated payments made with a request for an extension of time for filing a return, or overpayments from prior privilege periods. All revenues collected from the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for amounts constitutionally dedicated for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, are to be annually appropriated to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for the funding of utility assistance programs. The bill prohibits the board from approving any rate increase or charge to ratepayers that includes the cost of compliance with its provisions. The board approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. This bill is designed to ensure that excessive profits of electric public utilities are taxed and that the resulting revenues benefit utility assistance programs, without passing through the costs of compliance with the bill to ratepayers. This measure is a crucial step in addressing economic hardships and promoting fair electric public utility and gas public utility pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| S4482 | Prohibits electric generation service and gas supply service rates from exceeding basic generation service and basic gas supply service rates. | This bill requires electric power suppliers and gas suppliers to charge residential customers no more than the price of basic generation service or basic gas supply service. The Board of Public Utilities (board) approved an increase in electricity rates, which will become effective in June 2025. According to the board, this increase will raise electricity bills by approximately 17 to 20 percent, depending on a ratepayer's electric public utility. Electricity and gas are not luxuries; they are essential services powering homes, schools, medical devices, and transportation. As the cost of living continues to rise and many wages stagnate, New Jersey residents need protection from utility rate increases, which exacerbate the effects of inflation on consumers. This bill aims to safeguard ratepayers by implementing regulatory measures that promote fairness and transparency in pricing. It is the sponsor's intent to prevent excessive rate hikes and unfair or deceptive practices by electric power suppliers and gas suppliers by capping rates charged to residential consumers at the price of basic generation service. This measure is intended to address economic hardships and promote fair electric generation service and gas supply service pricing. New Jersey families, individuals, and businesses deserve reliable, affordable energy without facing undue financial strain. | In Committee |
| S4488 | Revises requirements for proceedings concerning nonrenewal of nontenured staff members of district boards of education. | This bill amends the requirements for proceedings concerning the nonrenewal of nontenured officers and employees of school district boards of education. Under current law, these proceedings, often called "Donaldson hearings," are informal appearances that provide an opportunity for nontenured staff members for whom the chief school administrator has recommended nonrenewal to convince members of the board of education to offer reemployment. The bill provides nontenured staff members, whose employment contracts are not renewed, a right to a formal hearing before the applicable board of education to convince the board members to offer reemployment. The bill requires the presence of the school board attorney at all of these hearings, requires the nontenured staff member to provide copies of all written material in support of the case to the board attorney at least three days in advance of the hearing, and requires the decision of the board of education on whether to renew the contract of a nontenured staff member to be in writing. The written decision of the board is required to include the factual background of the case, as well as the reasons for the board's decision. In the case of hearings conducted remotely, the bill prohibits deactivation of video functionality by board members except during formal break periods. The purpose of this bill is to afford greater due process than provided under current law for nontenured staff who face the prospect of nonrenewal from positions of school district employment. Specifically, under this bill, boards of education would assume a more formalized process when conducting hearings concerning the nonrenewal of an employment contract for a nontenured staff member, including the requirement that the board memorialize its findings and conclusions at the conclusion of each hearing. It is the sponsor's belief that this requirement will minimize arbitrary decision making and will provide a more substantial record in the event of appeal. | In Committee |
| S4478 | Requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to implement or maintain public utility warranty programs that cover full cost to repair or replace covered appliances. | This bill requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to implement or maintain public utility warranty programs that cover the full cost to repair or replace covered appliances. Under the bill, a "covered appliance" includes, but is not limited to: furnaces, water heaters, HVAC systems, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, grills, gas fireplaces, and space heaters. The bill also requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to advertise their public utility warranty program in a bill insert to its customers every billing cycle for one year following the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4486 | Requires health insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP to cover mammograms for women over 35 and women under 35 under certain circumstances. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and the State Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for mammograms for women age 35 or older, rather than age 40 and older as is required under current law. In addition, the bill also adds a new requirement for health benefits plans issued pursuant to the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide mammogram coverage under the same circumstances. | In Committee |
| S4308 | Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs. | This bill directs the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to enter into a memorandum of understanding with each State agency and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization that administers a financial assistance program for residential utility customers to provide a consolidated, user-friendly Internet website-based application for those programs on the DCA's Internet website. The bill also directs each State agency and Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the DCA and to assist the DCA in developing the consolidated application, including alerting the DCA of temporary programs that provide financial assistance to residential customers for utility bill payments or energy efficiency measures that the State agency or Statewide nonprofit energy assistance organization may be directed to administer, so that the DCA may integrate those temporary programs into the consolidated Internet website application. The bill directs the DCA, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to adopt rules and regulations it deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4372 | Prohibits BPU approval of electric or gas public utility rate increase resulting in total increase to average residential customer bill in excess of two percent within five-year period. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving electric or gas public utility rate increases that are projected to result in a total increase to an average residential customer bill in excess of two percent during any five-year period. | In Committee |
| S4371 | Requires public utilities de-privatization study; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to engage a third party to conduct a feasibility and cost savings study on the de-privatization of public utilities in this State. The third party is authorized to request information and reasonable assistance from any public utility or public entity in order to conduct the study, which is to examine the feasibility of and cost savings associated with de-privatization options, including, but not limited to: (1) acquisition or operation of existing public utilities, in part or in whole, by a public entity; and (2) joint ownership or operation of existing public utilities, in part or in whole, between a public entity and existing public utilities. The study is to include: (1) the short- and long-term challenges and benefits of each option examined, including, but not limited to, any anticipated environmental effect, impact on service, and cost to ratepayers; (2) the strengths and weaknesses of selecting each public entity considered for potential acquisition, ownership, or operation, in whole or in part, of public utilities, as well as potential organizational structures; (3) an estimation of costs, including, but not limited to, financial costs, as well as long-term financial impact on the State and any public entity involved in each option; (4) an estimation of the cost savings associated with each option examined; (5) an estimation of the amount of revenue generated by clean energy programs; and (6) any other analysis as the board directs. Any public utility or public entity is required to promptly respond to, cooperate fully with, and provide any requested information to the third party. Within a year of the bill's effective date, the board is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing the findings from the study and providing recommendations as to the feasibility of, need for, cost savings associated with, and plan for the de-privatization of public utilities in this State. The report is to include recommendations for legislative, executive, and other actions. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the board to implement the provisions of the bill. With this legislation, the sponsor intends to encourage the State to explore opportunities to provide utility services as a public good for utility customers across New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S4309 | Requires health insurance coverage of diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and State and School Employees' Health Benefits Program contracts) to provide coverage for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing. Under the bill, "diagnostic breast examination" means a medically necessary and appropriate, in accordance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, examination of the breast (including, but not limited to, such an examination using contrast-enhanced mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, breast ultrasound, or molecular breast imaging) that is used to evaluate an abnormality: (1) seen or suspected from a screening examination for breast cancer; or (2) detected by another means of examination. Under the bill, "supplemental breast examination" means a medically necessary and appropriate, in accordance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, examination of the breast (including, but not limited to, such an examination using contrast-enhanced mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, breast ultrasound, or molecular breast imaging) that is: (1) used to screen for breast cancer when there is no abnormality seen or suspected; and (2) based on personal or family medical history or additional factors that increase the individual's risk of breast cancer (including heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts). | In Committee |
| S3199 | Establishes New Jersey-Haiti Commission. | An Act establishing the New Jersey-Haiti Commission and supplementing chapter 18A of Title 52. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5067 | Requires appointment of alternate members of Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission. | An Act concerning the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission and amending P.L.2009, c.132. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3620 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | An Act concerning electric and gas public utilities and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2953 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | In Committee |
| S2078 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | In Committee |
| S3918 | Requires appointment of alternate members of Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission. | Requires appointment of alternate members of Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission. | In Committee |
| S4299 | Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations; appropriates $5 million. | This bill creates the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission (commission), the Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency (office), and hospital price transparency regulations. Under the bill, the purpose of the office is to provide support, staffing, infrastructure, and expertise to the commission, and to comprehensively address health care cost growth while also establishing data analytics and public reporting mechanisms to ensure healthcare affordability, informed policymaking, and access for future generations. The office is to establish guidelines for health care entities to submit necessary data for the yearly evaluation of total health care expenditures, their incremental growth, pricing information, pricing incremental growth, the formulation of the healthcare cost growth benchmark and the hospital price benchmark, and for publishing relevant data publicly. Under the bill, the purpose of the 18 member commission is to: monitor, analyze, and contain health care prices by identifying drivers of health care cost growth including hospital price growth; establishing and adopting a health care cost growth benchmark and a hospital price growth benchmark; identifying health care entities that exceed the benchmark or benchmarks; and addressing increases in excess of the benchmark or benchmarks through public transparency, opportunities for remediation, and other actions, including civil penalties. The commission is to set a cost growth benchmark for health care entities. The commission is to impose civil penalties, pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), on health care entities that either fail to respond to the commission's request to submit a corrective action plan or comply with the requirements of a corrective action plan. The bill provides that the Department of Health is to require hospitals to be in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements and provide a written warning notice to or request a corrective action plan from any hospital that is not in compliance with these federal requirements. A hospital is to be prohibited from attempting to collect a medical debt from a patient if the hospital is not, at the time of providing medical services to the patient, in compliance with the provisions of this bill. A hospital that fails to act in accordance with the provisions of this bill is to be liable to a civil penalty of $10 per day per hospital bed for each offense, pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The bill appropriates to the office such sums as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this bill, as determined by the Commissioner of Health, but in no case is this amount to exceed $5,000,000. | In Committee |
| S3457 | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. | In Committee |
| A3904 | Requires geotechnical testing and certain monitoring of transportation projects. | An Act concerning certain testing and monitoring of transportation capital projects and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1000 | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| S4108 | Requires appointment of State Dementia Services Coordinator; appropriates $150,000. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The State coordinator is to be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the position. The duties of the State coordinator is to include: 1) developing and coordinating the implementation of a master plan to address the impact of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 2) coordinating with existing State programs, services, facilities, and agencies that provide services and other assistance to persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 3) developing procedures to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between, and prevent the duplication of dementia care services provided by, State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; 4) identifying service gaps in the provision of appropriate dementia care services and other assistance by State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; and 5) increasing awareness of, and facilitating access to quality, coordinated treatment and dementia care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia. The appointed State Dementia Services Coordinator: is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the State to supply the coordinator with data and any other information necessary to discharge the coordinator's duties; and may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of the coordinator's mission. The provisions of the bill also require each department, office, division, or agency to cooperate fully with, and provide assistance to, the coordinator to perform the coordinator's duties. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1783 | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum. | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum. | In Committee |
| S3879 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects 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 environmental infrastructure projects, and amending P.L.2024, c.41. | 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 |
| S2954 | Requires geotechnical testing and certain monitoring of transportation projects. | Requires geotechnical testing and certain monitoring of transportation projects. | In Committee |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3998 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | 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 |
| S361 | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | Establishes "New Jersey Target Zero Commission." | In Committee |
| S354 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A4148 | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | An Act concerning information provided on type 1 diabetes in public schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | 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 |
| S3930 | Concerns safe operation of certain fire stations; establishes Fire Station Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code; establishes fire station, equipment, training, and maintenance fund; provides for replacement equipment for certain municipalities; and appropriates $140 million. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to develop a Fire Station Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code specifically designed to provide a safe building and structure, and sanitary environment, for this State's firefighters, fire departments, and their staff, who have been, or may become, exposed to hazardous substances during the performance of their duties outside of the fire station, or second hand, and who can significantly benefit through the provision of certain safety measures, fire station modifications, installation of certain air purification systems, and other health and safety related precautions and requirements. The bill requires the Fire Station Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code to include, but not be limited to, rules to require: (1) annual testing for asbestos or asbestos-containing material, mold, lead, and other harmful substances that can adversely affect the health of firefighters or fire department staff, and testing every six months for these substances for fire stations built prior to 1978; (2) the remediation of the harmful substances, if located in the fire station or as part of the building or structure; (3) the modification or rehabilitation of an existing fire station, or installation within a new fire station, to include a HVAC system that contains a carbon air filter and HEPA purification system; and (4) the inclusion of a steam room in all fire stations subject to the provisions of the bill. The bill also requires that paid and part-paid fire departments that serve populations greater than 300,000 retire and replace fire trucks every 10 to 15 years, as needed, perform necessary safety equipment-related maintenance, and replace and upgrade other necessary safety equipment, pursuant to criteria specified by the commissioner, for which the bill requires the commissioner to reimburse fire departments in an amount not to exceed $10 million for the costs of replacing an entire fleet every 15 years, and for other necessary costs. The bill further requires the commissioner, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature, containing a study assessing the financial need for fire departments within municipalities that serve populations of less than 300,000. . The bill establishes the Fire Station Rehabilitation and Maintenance Fund (rehabilitation fund), which is to be administered by the commissioner and located in the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to provide grants and loans, including forgivable loans, to paid and part-paid fire departments, as defined in the bill. The bill appropriates to the rehabilitation fund $110 million from the General Fund, and requires that $10 million from moneys appropriated for Firefighter Safety Grants from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, be deposited into the rehabilitation fund. The bill permits the State Treasurer to reallocate, as requested by the commissioner, such unexpended moneys as may be available from prior appropriations of moneys from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the rehabilitation fund, subject to the approval of the Director the Division of Budget and Accounting. The $110 million appropriation and $10 million deposit from moneys appropriated for Firefighter Safety Grants, is required by the bill to be allocated among the paid and part-paid fire departments in this State that serve populations greater than or equal to 300,000. Further, the bill requires that any monetary contribution by a nonprofit organization or an individual, including interest or other income earned on such monetary contributions, which is made available to the commissioner to support the provisions of the bill, is to be deposited in the rehabilitation fund. The bill also establishes a nonlapsing fund to be known as the Fire Equipment Replacement Fund (replacement fund) in the Division of Fire Safety in DCA to provide grants to applicant fire departments that serve populations greater than 300,000 and that seek reimbursement for the costs of replacing fire trucks every 10 to 15 years, performing necessary safety equipment-related maintenance, and replacing and upgrading other necessary safety equipment. The bill appropriates $30 million to the replacement fund, and provides that the replacement fund may also be credited with moneys available to the Department of Community Affairs for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of the bill concerning the replacement of fire trucks and other necessary safety equipment upgrades or maintenance. Further, a municipality or fire district that is required to comply with the provisions of the bill is permitted to impose a surcharge on all fire inspection fees for inspections conducted in the municipality, in an amount deemed necessary for the fire station to attain and maintain compliance with the bill. The bill requires the commissioner to consult with the Director of the Division of Fire Safety in DCA, the Director of the Division of Codes and Standards in DCA, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Commissioner of Health, in adopting rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. Lastly, the bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, except that the commissioner would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1097 | Requires health insurance carriers and Medicaid to provide coverage for home childbirth. | Requires health insurance carriers and Medicaid to provide coverage for planned home childbirth. | In Committee |
| S3670 | Provides for mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida. | An Act to provide mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection in response to the remnants of Hurricane Ida and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1887 | Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly. | Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly. | 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 |
| S3057 | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | In Committee |
| S507 | Concerns installation, modification, and sale of certain mufflers and exhaust systems; requires inspection of mufflers and exhaust systems. | Concerns installation, modification, and sale of certain mufflers and exhaust systems; requires inspection of mufflers and exhaust systems. | In Committee |
| S1087 | Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. | Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| S3501 | Requires certain public awareness campaigns to include information about duty of motorist to take certain action when approaching pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation (commissioner) and the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (director) to update, on an annual basis, public awareness programs and a public awareness campaign that inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching certain vehicles and the importance of taking these actions. The bill also requires the commissioner to use variable message signs at least once per year to inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching certain vehicles and the importance of taking these actions. Additionally, this bill requires the commissioner to develop, and update annually, public awareness programs and use, at least once per year, variable message signs to inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance. The bill further requires the director to establish and update annually a public awareness campaign that includes information about the importance of complying with a law that requires motorists to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance, the risks associated with failing to comply with the law, and the penalties and fines that will be imposed for violating the law. | In Committee |
| S1768 | Requires certain providers of transportation services to develop and publish route schedules. | Requires certain providers of transportation services to develop and publish route schedules. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3191 | Permits certain transportation research contracts to be awarded to private research institutions of higher education and other entities. | This bill permits the New Jersey Transportation Research Bureau within the Department of Transportation (bureau) to award research contracts to private research institutions of higher education and certain other entities. Under current law, the bureau is required to award research contracts only to New Jersey public research institutions of higher education, except when the manager of the bureau (manager) makes a written determination that additional competition in terms of quality of work product, timeliness of work product delivery, or availability of specific transportation expertise from entities other than New Jersey public research institutions will benefit the Department of Transportation (department). The bill removes a provision that authorizes the manager to allow for competitive bidding for research contracts when doing so will benefit the department. The bill requires the bureau to determine whether awarding a research contract to a public or private research institution of higher education or another entity is in the public interest and provides that the manager has a duty to establish and maintain relationships with private research institutions of higher education and other entities. Additionally, the bill changes the definition of "entities" to include entities other than non-profit organizations. | 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 |
| S3626 | Establishes minimum student to employee ratio for calculating State support for employee fringe benefit costs at four-year public institutions of higher education. | This bill establishes a minimum student to employee ratio for calculating State support for employee fringe benefit costs at four-year public institutions of higher education. The bill directs the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, when determining a four-year public institution of higher education's number of State-funded full-time employee positions for which the State pays fringe benefit costs, to ensure that the number of State-funded full-time positions does not exceed a ratio of nine full-time equivalent enrolled students for every one full-time employee position. The bill further provides that nothing in the bill's provisions is to be construed to prohibit the director from using, for any one four-year public institution of higher education, a ratio of full-time employee positions to full-time equivalent enrolled students that is less than nine-to-one when determining the number of State-funded full-time employee positions. The number of State-funded full-time employee positions at any one four-year public institution of higher education is not to exceed the number of employees at the institution. | In Committee |
| S3368 | Concerns law protecting residential tenants from lead-based paint hazards. | An Act concerning lead-based paint hazards in residential rental property, including establishing lead-based paint hazard programs, amending P.L.2021, c.182, and repealing section 1 of P.L.2007, c.251. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2607 | Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes. | An Act concerning requirements for certain private bus operators and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3532 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| A4619 | Modifies certain provisions of Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive programs. | An Act concerning the "Historic Property Reinvestment Act" and "Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act" and amending P.L.2020, c.156. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3861 | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | An Act concerning the report and collection of medical debt and supplementing P.L.1997, c.172 (C.56:11-28 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1677 | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | An Act concerning electric school buses and government aggregation of certain energy services, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | 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 |
| S3479 | Modifies certain provisions of Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive programs. | This bill revises various provisions of the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020," P.L.2020, c.156 (C.34:1B-269 et al.) concerning the Historic Property Reinvestment Program and the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program. The Historic Property Reinvestment Program The bill revises the amount of credits that may be awarded to eligible business entities under the program. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum size of tax credits awarded under the program and allows for certain facade rehabilitation projects to be eligible for a tax credit award. Under the bill, the credits awarded for the rehabilitation of a qualified property located in a qualified incentive tract or government-restricted municipality are increased to 60 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $12 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 45 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $8 million, whichever is less. The credits awarded for the rehabilitation of any other qualified property, other than a transformative project, are also increased to 50 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $8 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 40 percent of the cost of rehabilitation or $4 million, whichever is less. The bill also revises the tax credit eligibility requirement for a business to demonstrate a project financing gap to apply only to projects located outside of a government-restricted municipality that have a total rehabilitation cost or total façade rehabilitation cost of at least $5 million. The bill provides the Economic Development Authority (EDA) with the discretion to make up to 50 percent of the tax credits available for distribution in a given year to be made available for facade rehabilitation projects. The value of tax credits awarded to a facade rehabilitation project are 50 percent of the project's cost of façade rehabilitation, up to a maximum of $4 million. The bill defines "facade rehabilitation projects" to mean a project consisting of the repair or reconstruction of exterior building features, including but not limited to structural components embedded within exterior walls, masonry units and mortar, exterior siding fabric, doors, windows, exterior lighting fixtures, and decorative components, such as metalwork, terracotta units and cast stone which constitute the facades of a qualified property or transformative property. The Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program The bill revises various provisions relating to the application process for a developer and, following authority approval of the application, the subsequent redevelopment agreement between a developer and the authority. The bill also provides that the EDA would accept applications on a rolling basis, unless the EDA determines that the demand for tax credits is likely to exceed the availability of credits, in which case applications would be reviewed on a competitive basis and submitted before a date certain. Under the bill, the value of credits awarded for the remediation of a redevelopment project located in a qualified incentive tract or government-restricted municipality is increased to up to 80 percent of the actual remediation costs, 80 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $12 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 60 percent of the actual remediation costs, 60 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $8 million, whichever is less. The bill specifies the amount of tax credits that may be awarded for a redevelopment project erecting a solar panel array on the site of a closed sanitary landfill. If the project is located in a qualified incentive tract or a government-restricted municipality, the value of the tax credit would be in an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs of remediation or $12 million, whichever is less. If the project is located anywhere else in the State, the value of tax credit would be in an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs of remediation or $8 million, whichever is less. Under the bill, the value of credits awarded for the remediation of all other redevelopment projects is increased to up to 60 percent of the actual remediation costs, 60 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $8 million, whichever is less. Under current law, these credit amounts are equal to 50 percent of the actual remediation costs, 50 percent of the projected remediation costs set forth in the redevelopment agreement, or $4 million, whichever is less. | In Committee |
| S3263 | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses; permits New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units. | In Committee |
| S3452 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected health care services. | Crossed Over |
| S2806 | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act." | 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 |
| 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 |
| S3476 | Establishes grant program to provide thermal imaging and radio equipment to certain fire departments. | This bill establishes a grant program in the Division of Fire Safety to provide thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters to fire departments responsible for providing fire protection to municipalities with a population of 100,000 or more residents. Under the bill, qualifying fire departments in municipalities with a population of 100,000 to 299,000 are to receive $150,000 to be divided equally among the qualifying fire organizations every three years for the purpose of purchasing body cameras, masks, and radio repeaters. Qualifying fire departments in municipalities with a population of 300,000 or more are to receive $150,000 every three years. The bill requires the Division of Fire Safety to review the grant program every five years to verify whether qualifying fire organizations are utilizing the most up-to-date thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters and whether to make recommendations to reinitiate the grant program. The bill defines "thermal imaging body camera" as a heat-resistant, mobile audio and video recording system worn by a firefighter that is capable of recording images through smoke or heat-permeable barriers. "Thermal imaging mask" is defined as a firefighter's mask that contains a lightweight fire-resistant camera that is capable of displaying a thermal image at all times and allows the firefighter to view areas through smoke or heat-permeable barriers. A "radio repeater" is defined as a fixed or portable automatic radio-relay station that allows communication between two or more fire departments that would otherwise be unable to communicate directly with each other due to distance or physical obstructions. | In Committee |
| S3441 | Establishes survivor support liaison in Department of Treasury to assist beneficiaries of emergency responders who die in line of duty; "designated as Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's act"; appropriates $1,000,000. | This bill establishes in the Department of Treasury an Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation, which would be responsible for providing information concerning the available benefits to the beneficiaries of any emergency responder who has died in the line of duty. The bill defines "emergency responder" as a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or other person who has been trained to provide emergency medical first response services in a program recognized by the Commissioner of Health and licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of Health to provide those services The bill provides that the office would be led by a survivor support liaison and consist of at least an additional three employees, all of whom are to be beneficiaries of first responders who have died in the line of duty. The office would be responsible for providing beneficiaries with a summary of the nature and amount of benefits for which they are eligible. The bill also requires the office to maintain contact with the beneficiaries and assist with any questions or requests during the application process for available benefits. The bill is designated as the "designated as Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's act" in honor of Captains Acabou and Brooks who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty while responding to the cargo ship fire at Port Newark. The designation also honors firefighter, Marques Hudson, who died in a house fire in Plainfield, NJ. | In Committee |
| S3422 | "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act," provides certain protections for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer patients. The bill: 1. Requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for individuals diagnosed with cancer and with a prognosis that is deemed Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal (1) parenteral treatment of the cancer; (2) survivorship care plan, including follow-up appointments; and (3) any other service or item as determined by the regulators of each type of carrier or contract. Under the bill, "parenteral treatment" means the intravenous, intra-arterial, intraperitoneal, or intrathecal administration of nutrition or medication bypassing the gastrointestinal system and "survivorship care plan" means a plan for an individual with cancer from diagnosis through the end of life that focuses on the health and well-being of the individual. This includes, but is not limited to, side effects from treatment, cancer recurrence, and quality of life. Any cost-sharing or copayment or coinsurance that may be required for coverage will not apply. 2. Prohibits residential mortgage lenders from providing a notice of intention to a residential mortgage debtor undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. Under the bill, a residential mortgage lender shall ensure, before sending a notice of intention to cure a default on a mortgage debtor's residential mortgage obligation, that the residential mortgage debtor is not undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. If a mortgage debtor is undergoing treatment, the mortgage lender will be prohibited from providing a notice of intention to the mortgage debtor until the mortgage lender receives notice from the physician of the mortgage debtor that the debtor is no longer undergoing treatment. Additionally, the bill provides that any foreclosure action to take possession of a residential property will be dismissed upon submission by the residential mortgage debtor to the residential mortgage lender of a letter from the physician of the debtor certifying that the debtor is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 3. Prohibits a creditor from initiating a collection proceeding for a default on any debt against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer and who submits to the creditor a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. The bill also provides that any collection proceeding against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer is required to be dismissed upon submission by the individual of a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 4. Requires that for eviction actions based on nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or for failure to pay a rent increase, the Superior Court will authorize a stay of eviction for up to 45 days if the tenant is actively undergoing Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer treatment. To qualify for this stay, the tenant must provide a confidential certification from their treating physician, submitted under seal. Additionally, during the stay period, the tenant has the right to renew their lease upon its expiration, subject to reasonable changes proposed by the landlord. The bill also provides the right to reinstatement to equivalent employment after a period of leave applies to all periods in which TDI or FLI benefits are provided, including extending that right to FLI leave takers employed by employers with less than 30 employees, as is presently the case for TDI leave takers. Under the bill, an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either TDI or FLI benefits, may use either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of the TDI or FLI benefits, and may select the order in which they are taken, but may not receive more than one kind of paid leave benefits during any period of time. | In Committee |
| S3428 | Establishes marine firefighting training course requirements for certain firefighters; appropriates $140 million. | This bill requires the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to adopt Coast Guard approved basic, advanced, and in-service marine firefighting training courses for land-based firefighters. Under the bill, every firefighter in the State, paid and volunteer, engaged in fire suppression in a municipality within a coastal zone would be required to complete the basic, advanced, and in-service training courses. The bill provides that recruit firefighter training programs would be required to include the basic marine firefighting training course. Under the bill, a firefighter who completed a recruit firefighting training program prior to the bill's effective date would be required to complete the basic marine firefighting training course within one year. The bill provides that all firefighters would be required to complete the advanced marine firefighting training course within two years of completing the basic marine firefighting training course. Thereafter, firefighters would be required to complete in-service training every two years. Additionally, the bill requires the division to adopt a Coast Guard approved training course for qualification as an instructor of marine firefighting for land-based firefighters. A firefighter who has completed the basic and advanced training courses and is in compliance with the in-service training requirement established in the bill, or who otherwise has been certified by the division, would be eligible for marine firefighting instruction training. Upon completion of the training or other certification by the division, the bill provides that a firefighter would be qualified to provide the basic, advanced, in-service, and instruction training courses. The bill defines a coastal zone to mean a municipality included in the State's Coastal Management program, as part of its implementation of the "Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972," 16 U.S.C. s.1451 et seq. | In Committee |
| S3427 | Permits companion to receive PFRS accidental death pension when there is no surviving spouse; requires adjustment of final compensation for calculation of accidental death benefit for surviving spouse, companion, and children of PFRS members. | Under current law, the surviving spouse of a member of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRS) who died in the line of duty receives a pension of 70 percent of the member's compensation, or a minimum of $50,000 annually, during the life of that spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the pension of 70 percent of final compensation is paid to the member's surviving children. This bill requires that the amount of the compensation be adjusted for a period of time after the death of the member, thereby increasing the annual pension for surviving spouses and children. The compensation will be increased by the same percentage increase which is applied in any adjustments of the compensation schedule of active members after the member's death and before the date on which the deceased member of the retirement system would have accrued 25 years of service under an assumption of continuous service. At 25 years, the amount resulting from such increases will become fixed and be the basis for any increases for cost of living granted thereafter. Any adjustments will take effect at the same time as any adjustments in the compensation schedule of active members. The bill provides that adjustments to PFRS accidental death survivors' pension would apply to those granted prior to effective date of the bill but only for payments made on or after the effective date of the bill. In addition, this bill permits that same pension of 70 percent of compensation to be paid to a companion of a member who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2023. A companion is defined in the bill. The bill permits a companion of a member who died before the bill's effective date to file, within six months after the bill's effective date, an application for an accidental death pension, and if approved, the pension will be made retroactive to the date of the member's death. The companion of a member who died before the effective date of the bill may apply for a pension only if the deceased member did not have a surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents at the time of death, or if the member's aggregate contributions have not been paid to a beneficiary or the estate, or have been returned to the retirement system. | In Committee |
| S3386 | Codifies various centers and programs at Rutgers University - Newark; appropriates $6.5 million. | This bill codifies five centers and programs at Rutgers The State University - Newark into law and directs the Legislature to appropriate $6.5 million among all five centers to be allocated accordingly:· $1,000,000 for the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America· $1,000,000 for the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME)· $1,000,000 for the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR)· $1,000,000 for the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN)· $2,500,000 for the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP). The primary objective of the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America is to serve as a nonpartisan research center to investigate the link between race and politics in America. It aims to achieve this by functioning as a comprehensive data resource center that produces and disseminates data on race and politics across all levels of government. Additionally, the center is to facilitate various training programs in data analysis along with a paid internship program to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for careers in public service. The purpose of the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME) is to conduct collaborative public scholarship on issues of structural inequality and systemic racism. Additionally, the center provides opportunities for advanced training in areas such as data analysis, legal primers, and policy evaluation, in order to support the development of future leaders committed to social justice. The goal of the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR) is to serve as an applied research center aimed at enhancing the resilience of New Jersey's supply chain system. The center collaborates with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and community organizations to address key issues such as supply chain disruptions, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The mission of the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN) is to support justice-impacted youth. The program engages with partner organizations to provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for those participating in the program. The objective of the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP) initiative is to provide higher education courses for incarcerated students and to assist in their transition to college life upon release. Additionally, NJSTEP facilitates transition support services, including academic advisement, access to financial aid, and assistance with post-release educational plans. | In Committee |
| S3332 | Establishes "University Hospital Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act"; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a five-year "University Hospital Medical Cannabis Pilot Program" in University Hospital. The purpose of the pilot program will be to: provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients in order to evaluate its efficacy in improving patient outcomes; raise awareness about medical cannabis; and conduct clinical research on, and drive innovation in, the medical use of a cannabis. University Hospital will have the discretion to determine the scope and details of the pilot program, but at a minimum, the bill requires the pilot program to seek to: (1) establish an advisory council of patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups to solicit feedback and insights to guide the design and implementation of the pilot program; (2) establish a designated area in each hospital to conduct clinical research on the medical use of cannabis and to provide medical cannabis treatment, monitoring, and follow-up services to eligible patients; (3) collaborate and establish formal partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, technology startup companies, and other healthcare companies in order to: conduct research on the use of medical cannabis; receive clinical support for the implementation of the pilot program; and ensure rigor and credibility when evaluating program outcomes; (4) recruit, screen, verify, and enroll eligible patients to participate in the pilot program; (5) integrate the use of telehealth and telemedicine in the pilot program; (6) provide patients with access to innovative delivery methods for medical cannabis; (7) integrate the pilot program with existing healthcare services provided at each hospital; (8) ensure that patients are actively engaged in the design and implementation of the pilot program's research initiatives; (9) establish community outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness about the use of medical cannabis and address stigma; (10) ensure that robust data privacy and security measures are implemented in the pilot program in accordance with federal and State privacy laws; (11) develop a strategic plan to ensure the long-term viability and scalability of the pilot program; (12) establish a continuous quality improvement system for the pilot program. No later than 12 months after the effective date of this bill and annually thereafter, the bill requires University Hospital to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, which report will include an analysis of the impact of the pilot program and any of University Hospital's recommendations concerning the implementation of pilot program. At the conclusion of the five-year pilot program, University Hospital will submit a final report, which report will include University Hospital's recommendation on the feasibility of continuing the program. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to University Hospital such sums as are necessary to implement the provisions of this bill. This bill will take effect immediately and will expire upon the submission of University Hospital's final report. | In Committee |
| S3370 | Prohibits institution of higher education from giving preferential consideration for admission to legacy student. | This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from providing any manner of preferential consideration to an applicant for admission to the institution or an academic program of the institution, on the basis of the student's legacy status or familial relationship to any donor to the institution. As defined in the bill, "legacy status" means the familial relationship of an individual applying for admission to an institution of higher education, or a program of the institution, to an alumnus of the institution. | In Committee |
| S3301 | Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success; appropriates $4.0 million. | This bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs, which will develop strategies to promote the well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and encourage family success. The council will consist of 25 members, including the Commissioners of Children and Families, Community Affairs, Corrections, Education, Health, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or their designees, who will serve ex officio, and 17 public members, who will be representatives of certain entities that provide services to children and families, or have certain experience with receiving family services in New Jersey. The council will manage the development and implementation of a Statewide initiative concerning the social and economic well-being of infants, children, youth, and families, and the provision of holistic, age and developmentally appropriate services that support a child's development from birth to young adulthood. In order to implement the Statewide initiative, the council will: (1) advocate for a State Bill of Rights for Infants, Children, Youth, and Families, which will provide a framework for the initiative; (2) identify and develop policies, strategies, and financial priorities that promote family success; (3) recommend policies to improve the efficacy of existing State and community-based services and programs; (4) explore strategies to leverage public and private funding to provide preventive services; and (5) establish community recovery and family success councils in each county. The goal of the Statewide initiative will be to: promote positive family relationships, community connections, and preventive services to ensure financial security, quality education, health, safety, and permanency for infants, children, youth, and families through an integrated service planning and delivery system. The bill defines "distress services" to mean services to remediate circumstances that endanger the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of infants, children, and youth; and "preventative services" as those services that promote the safety, permanency, health, and well-being of the target populations and divert the need for distress services. The council will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that will include recommendations for legislative and administrative actions on the use of public and private resources to support family success initiatives and preventive services for all families. The bill appropriates $4.0 million from the General Fund to the council to implement the provisions of the bill, and provides that the council may use any unexpended appropriations in the succeeding fiscal year. | In Committee |
| S3251 | Establishes "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act." The bill establishes in the Department of Human Services (department) a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program. The purpose of this program will be to connect migrants and refugees with information and resources regarding public assistance programs for which they are eligible. The department will ensure that the information provided under the program will include, but not be limited to, information on: housing, healthcare, educational opportunities, job training, and legal services. The department will collaborate with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to facilitate access to these resources. Under the bill. the department will develop and implement an outreach campaign to inform migrants and refugees about the program. The outreach campaign will utilize multiple languages and media platforms to ensure widespread dissemination of information about the program. The department will submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, which report will: (1) detail the effectiveness of the program, including the number of migrants and refugees served and the types of assistance provided; and (2) include any recommendations for improvements to the program. | In Committee |
| S3197 | Requires DHS to establish Haitian Migrant Assistance Program. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a Haitian Migrant Assistance Program to provide social services and financial assistance to undocumented Haitian migrants who have arrived in the State at least two years prior to the effective date of the bill. As defined in the bill, "undocumented Haitian migrant" means a person of Haitian descent residing in the United States without legal immigration status, including a person who entered the United States without inspection and proper permission from the United States government in order to find work or better living conditions or to permanently relocate to the United States, and who may be subject to removal by the government. The services offered by the program are to include financial and social service assistance; educational, referral, translation, interpreter, and employment related services; and civic and community-related instruction as outlined in the bill, and the DHS is permitted to contract with community-based, faith-based, and non-profit organizations serving immigrant populations to provide such services. Labeled as one of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been battered by natural disasters, including earthquakes and hurricanes, public health emergencies, and extreme economic hardships for hundreds of years. The catastrophic earthquake in 2010 killed more than 220,000 Haitians and left several thousand injured and about 1.5 million homeless. Another earthquake in 2021 pushed the country into an even greater crisis. In addition to natural disasters, the country experienced additional upheaval because of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and, as result, many Haitians were confronted with growing violence, extreme poverty, and a government in disarray. As the security and political situation in the Caribbean nation continued to devolve after President Moïse's death, gang violence increased and continues to affect everyday life to a perilous degree. This has led to a massive exodus of Haitians to Central and Latin America and, most recently, the United States. Given the political turmoil, economic distress, public health emergencies, and natural disasters the country has faced and continues to face, Haitian migrants undergo the treacherous journey to the United States, many who have lost their lives in the attempt, in search of safety and economic opportunity. Haiti is the country with the highest rate of asylum denial in the United States, according to data from the Justice Department. This has resulted in many Haitians entering this country undocumented and without the ability to access traditional migrant services that provide them with the financial support and social networks necessary to settle in the United States and in New Jersey. It is therefore in the public interest of the State to establish an assistance program to provide social services and financial assistance to undocumented Haitian migrants who have recently arrived in the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3198 | Requires youth sports team coaches to undergo cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and other first aid training. | This bill provides that youth sports team coaches are required to be trained in the administration of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid measures. Under the bill, a person would not be permitted to serve as a coach of a youth sports team unless the person is certified by the Commissioner of Health as having received the required training and instruction. The bill requires the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations setting forth certification requirements necessary to serve as a coach of a youth sports team, which are to include, but not be limited to, first aid training and instruction in the administration of CPR. The bill further requires the commissioner to provide for the issuance of a certificate to a person who possesses or acquires the necessary training. On February 10, 2023, a 12 year-old boy named Elijah Jordan Brown-Garcia of Newark, New Jersey collapsed following a light football practice and conditioning skills training. During the practice, he was supervised by adults who did not know CPR or other life-saving first aid measures. This bill would ensure that the adults supervising children participating in sports are appropriately trained to provide CPR and other life-saving first aid measures. | 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 |
| S3196 | Requires certain motor vehicles to install rear-seat detection systems. | This bill requires all new passenger automobiles manufactured in this State to be equipped with a rear-seat detection system that detects the presence of an unattended occupant in the passenger compartment of the automobile and engages a warning to alert the driver. Under the bill, the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would be required to prescribe the functional design specifications to be included in the rear-seat detection system. However, the bill requires the rear-seat detection system to: (1) be capable of detecting the presence of an unattended occupant in the passenger compartment of the passenger automobile after the vehicle engine or motor is deactivated; (2) include auditory, visual, and haptic warnings to notify individuals inside and outside of the passenger automobile of the presence of an unattended occupant within the automobile; and (3) be unable to be disabled, overrode, reset, or recalibrated to prevent the detection or warning of the presence of an unattended occupant. The bill also permits the chief administrator to require the rear-seat detection system to include an additional warning to alert emergency response agencies in the general vicinity of the automobile and provide the geographical location of the automobile in a manner that allows for an emergency response. This bill would take effect two years after the date of enactment. Any passenger automobile manufactured before this date would not be required to install a rear-seat detection system. | In Committee |
| S2919 | Requires employer to provide certain accommodations to employee who is breast feeding. | This bill would clarify protections provided in the "Law Against Discrimination" to working mothers who are breast feeding. Specifically, the bill provides that an employer is required to accommodate a lactating employee for as long as the employee desires. Additionally, the bill clarifies that lactating employees are entitled to reasonable break time paid at the employee's regular rate of compensation, job restructuring, and a modified work schedule for the purpose of milk expression. Further, the bill requires an employer to provide a suitable room or other location with privacy, free from intrusion of other employees or customers of the employer's business, if applicable, other than a restroom, for the purpose of milk expression. | In Committee |
| S3055 | Clarifies staff training requirements at long-term care facilities regarding care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and intersex seniors and seniors living with HIV. | This bill clarifies provisions under current law, which require long-term care facilities to ensure that the administrators and staff at the facility receive training: concerning caring for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and intersex seniors and seniors living with HIV; and preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intersex status, and HIV status. Specifically, this bill amends the law to provide that the training entity selected by the long-term care facility under existing law is only required to provide in-person training to two designated employees, one which must represent management at the facility and one which must represent direct care staff at the facility. The bill further clarifies that these two designated employees are required to provide training, utilizing the information and training materials received from the selected training entity, to train the remaining administrators and staff members employed at the facility. | In Committee |
| S3056 | Clarifies that sexual harrassment and sexual assault constitute unlawful discrimination on basis of sex. | This bill clarifies that unlawful discrimination under the "Law Against Discrimination" on the basis of or because of a person's sex includes sexual harassment and sexual assault. Additionally, the bill clarifies that sexual assault is a form of sex discrimination. Specifically, the bill codifies United States Supreme Court decision Meritor Sav. Bank, FSB v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 65 (1986), which held "sexual harassment," including "[u]nwelcome . . . physical conduct of a sexual nature," constitutes sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The bill also codifies two State Supreme Court decisions: Lehmann v. Toys 'R' Us, Inc., 132 N.J. 587 (1993) ("Lehmann") and C.V. v. Waterford Twp. Bd. of Educ., 255 N.J. 289 (2023) ("C.V."). Lehmann held that "sexual touching of areas of the body linked to sexuality happens, by definition, because of sex." Further, C.V. held that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Codification of the holdings promote alignment with existing legal precedent and clarity for the public, legal practitioners, and judiciary. This clarification also supports the legislative intent of the LAD to serve as a comprehensive civil rights law. | 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 |
| A4 | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | An Act concerning affordable housing, including administration and municipal obligations, amending, supplementing, and repealing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S50 | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | Reforms municipal responsibilities concerning provision of affordable housing; abolishes COAH; appropriates $16 million. | In Committee |
| S2966 | Revises public institution of higher education annual reporting requirements. | This bill revises the annual reporting requirements of public institutions of higher education. Under current law, a public institution of higher education is required to prepare and make available to the public an annual report on the condition of the institution. Under current law, the report is to include a profile of the student body including graduation rates, SAT or other test scores, the percentage of New Jersey residents in the student body, the number of scholarship students, and the number of Educational Opportunity Fund students in attendance. This bill revises the law to require the report also include information on retention rates, the number of applicants to the institution, and acceptance rates as part of the report on the profile of the student body. Additionally, the bill requires all information included as part of the profile of the student body be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, family income, and first-generation status as available. This bill also requires a public institution of higher education to utilize the data collected on the profile of the student body for the annual report to evaluate the diversity of the institution and inform admissions policies. Finally, the bill requires each institution to use this data to improve equity initiatives and determine resource allocation that promotes diversity and inclusion. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S2955 | Requires swimming pools to offer deep water swimming tests to children 12 years of age and younger upon request. | This bill requires a swimming pool in the State to offer deep water swimming tests to any patron 12 years of age or younger, upon the request of the patron or the patron's guardian. Until such a patron has successfully completed a deep water swimming test, the patron is to be required to be accompanied by an adult, within arm's length of the patron, while swimming in the pool; except that a patron who is a member of the pool's swim team, if applicable, is to be exempt from the provisions of the bill. Confirmation of the availability of such deep water swimming tests is to be included in an inspection of the pool by a health authority and within the Checklist for Public Recreational Bathing Facilities developed by the Department of Health. For the purposes of the bill, "deep water swimming test" means a swimming skill assessment, conducted by a lifeguard employed by the swimming pool, to determine a swimmer's ability to enter water that is deeper than the swimmer's chest. At a minimum, in order to pass the deep water swimming test, the patron must be able to swim 50 meters, or two laps of the swimming pool, and tread water for 30 seconds. | In Committee |
| S2944 | Prohibits use of education, occupation, and credit score as rating factors in automobile insurance underwriting. | This bill prohibits automobile insurers from assigning an insured or prospective insured to a rating tier based upon that person's: (1) educational level; (2) employment, trade, business, occupation or profession; or (3) credit score, or any information derived from an insured's credit report. The bill also prohibits automobile insurers from inquiring of an insured or applicant for insurance, or of a third-party concerning an insured or applicant, as to these factors. | In Committee |
| S2208 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain database of Educational Opportunity Fund student admissions. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain a dat abase of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student admissions. The database will detail the number of student openings in the EOF programs of each participating institution which are available for an eligible student. The database must be made available to campus EOF directors in order to improve communication about potential placements between campus directors and eligible students. The bill provides that in the event that an eligible student has not secured a placement in an EOF program of a participating institution, the campus EOF director must provide that student with information about student openings in the EOF programs of other participating institutions. Under the bill, each participating institution must notify the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education when a student opening in an EOF program is filled. The office must update the database within one business day of receiving the notification. | In Committee |
| S2905 | Extends grace periods for rental late charges for certain tenants who receive public assistance payments. | This bill extends the grace period for rental late charges for certain persons who receive public assistance payments. Under current law, certain tenants are entitled to a grace period of five business days following the date in which rent is due and payable. During this grace period, a landlord may not impose delinquency or other late charges on unpaid rent. This law currently applies to the following tenants, to whom rent is payable on the first of each month: senior citizens receiving Social Security Old Age Pensions, Railroad Retirement Pensions, or other governmental pensions in lieu of Social Security Old Age Pensions; and recipients of Social Security Disability Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or benefits under Work First New Jersey (i.e., "qualified tenants"). This bill extends the current grace period to include the period of time before a qualified tenant receives a monthly public assistance payment. For example, if the rent of a qualified tenant is due on the first day of the month, but the tenant receives payment of public assistance on the 10th day of the month, then the landlord may only impose late charges after the fifth business day following the 10th day of the month. Under the bill, the lease agreement of a qualified tenant would be required to set forth the dates on which the qualified tenant is scheduled to receive public assistance for each month in which rent is due and payable. As used in the bill, "public assistance" is defined as payments received pursuant to Social Security Old Age Pensions, Railroad Retirement Pensions, other governmental pensions in lieu of Social Security Old Age Pensions, Social Security Disability Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or Work First New Jersey. The provisions of this bill apply to the same persons who are currently entitled to the grace period, except that the grace period would be provided for any qualified tenant, regardless of whether rent is due on the first of the month. The bill would take effect on the 90th day after enactment of the bill and would apply to any lease or other agreement that is entered into or renewed thereafter. | In Committee |
| S2903 | Establishes Safe Remote Learning Program in DOE to support provision of remote instruction facilities by public schools. | This bill establishes the Safe Remote Learning Program in the Department of Education to support the provision of remote instruction facilities by school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools that implement a partial or full-time program of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the program, the department would be required to establish guidelines concerning the establishment and maintenance of remote instruction facilities. At a minimum, these guidelines would require each facility to be: (1) used for the delivery of remote instruction to students in accordance with health and safety standards set forth by the department, in consultation with the Department of Health; (2) equipped with such online instruction equipment as is necessary for every student who attends the facility to participate in remote instruction activities; and (3) staffed by appropriately qualified persons during all hours of operation. When a school district, charter school, or renaissance school implements a partial or full-time program of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school may establish one or more remote instruction facilities, without prior approval from the department, provided that the facility complies with the department's guidelines. Under the bill, these facilities could be established by repurposing space within an existing school facility or acquiring space within a facility owned by a non-profit organization or an institution of higher education. Within the limits of available space, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that establishes a remote instruction facility would be required, upon written request from the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of a student, to permit the student to participate in remote instruction activities at the facility. The bill also provides that if a student is enrolled in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that has not established a remote instruction facility, or if a student is unable to attend a remote instruction facility due to insufficient space, then the student may attend any nearby remote instruction facility. However, if the school district, charter school, or renaissance school lacks sufficient space to allow all students to attend a remote instruction facility, the school would be required to give preference to: (1) students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program; and (2) students whose parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody is considered an essential worker by the department. The department, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, would also be required to establish eligibility criteria for persons who may staff remote instruction facilities. However, the bill provides that a student who is enrolled in an educator preparation program at a public institution of higher education in the State would be eligible to staff a remote instruction facility and receive credit for such service toward the educator preparation program. The bill also requires the State to reimburse school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools for the full costs incurred in establishing and maintaining remote instruction facilities. To the extent permitted by federal law, the department would be required to reimburse these costs from the monies allocated to the State under the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act" or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if insufficient federal funding is available to defray these costs, the State would be required to appropriate such additional amounts as are necessary to reimburse each school, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| S2902 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on menstrual health and hygiene as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires that schools include age appropriate instruction on menstrual health and hygiene for students in grades four through 12 as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under this bill, instruction on menstrual health and hygiene would include: the proper use of menstrual hygiene products; the symptoms and effects of menstrual disorders; the effects of period poverty; and when and how to seek medical advice. Parents and guardians would be notified of the topics of instruction and requirements of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education prior to the beginning of a unit of instruction in menstrual health and hygiene. | In Committee |
| S2904 | Requires Internet capable room temperature reporting device installation in certain multiple dwellings. | This bill would require the installation of Internet capable room temperature reporting devices in certain multiple dwellings in order to help prevent the deadly fires that are known break out as a result of the use of space heaters. Specifically, the bill would supplement the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," ("HMDL") N.J.S.A.55:13A-1 et seq. to require each residential rental unit of a multiple dwelling containing six or more units of dwelling space to be equipped with an Internet capable room temperature reporting device. As used in the bill, an "Internet capable room temperature reporting device" is a device capable of measuring the indoor air temperature not less than once per hour and recording the temperature, along with the date and time of the reading, for a period of no less than the preceding 90 days. The device would be capable of making such information available through an ordinary Internet connection or other means when no Internet connection is available. The bill directs Internet capable room temperature reporting devices to be installed and maintained in accordance with rules and regulations to be adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The bill requires information made available by an Internet capable room temperature reporting device to be accessible to the property owner and tenant of the unit in which the device is placed. The bill requires devices to be in operation from October 31 through May 31 of each year. The bill provides a residential tenant with the option to refuse an Internet capable room temperature reporting device from being installed in the tenant's unit. If a tenant refuses the installation, then the bill requires the owner to provide notice of this refusal to the Department of Community Affairs in accordance with the rules and regulations to be adopted by the commissioner, so that the owner may avoid any potential penalty for an HMDL violation. The bill directs the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill on or before the first day of the fifth month next following the bill's enactment. These rules and regulations would guide the appropriate provision of notice to tenants regarding installations, instructions on how to access recorded information, and the tenant's right of refusal. The rules and regulations would also guide multiple dwelling owners on the appropriate locations and methods of device installation and maintenance, and provide any other necessary guidance for the effective implementation of the bill. The bill would take effect on the first day of the thirteenth month next following enactment in order to provide the department, and property owners, sufficient time to prepare for the implementation of the bill. | In Committee |
| S2834 | Establishes Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program. Due to the nature of firefighting, with its associated risks, danger, and stress, firefighters face a high probability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. Firefighters commonly feel that disclosure of mental illness will result in negative professional consequences up to and including job loss, creating a culture in which firefighters often do not divulge mental health struggles and do not seek appropriate and necessary treatment. Family members of firefighters often face unique stressors related to their loved ones' employment and may have an elevated need for mental health services. To address these concerns, the bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program is to award grants to mental health providers to provide confidential mental health services to firefighters and members of their immediate families who are in a mental health crisis or suicidal. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services is required to develop an application by which a mental health services provider may apply for a grant for funding to provide mental health services pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The commissioner is required to establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program. The bill provides that consideration is to be given, to the greatest extent possible, to the geographical location of mental health providers and the areas where they provide services in order to facilitate patients traveling less than one hour to receive mental health services. Under the bill, the commissioner is to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program and make the application available on the department's Internet website. Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner is required to review the application and, subject to the availability of funds, award a grant to each approved grant applicant. Additionally, under the bill, the commissioner is required to publish a list of approved mental health providers on the department's Internet website. | In Committee |
| S1106 | Concerns development and use of accessory dwelling units. | This bill would authorize owners of property zoned for single-family or two-family residential use to develop an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on their property consistent with Statewide standards for the development of ADUs. The bill would permit each municipality to adopt or amend its land use regulations to be consistent with the bill's Statewide standards. Under the bill, a municipality may authorize a person to develop one or more ADUs on a lot owned by the person and located within a zone in which a single- or two-family dwelling is permitted under the municipal land use regulations. While allowing a municipality to impose some exceptions in adopting its land use regulations regarding the development of ADUs, the bill would require municipal land use regulations to provide that an ADU is a permitted use as of right on a lot if a primary dwelling exists or is being proposed on the lot, and the lot is located within a zone in which a single-family dwelling or a two-family dwelling is permitted under the municipal land use regulations. The bill defines ADU as a residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, and is either: located within a proposed or existing primary dwelling; located within a proposed or existing accessory structure; constructed in whole or part as an extension to a proposed or existing primary dwelling; or constructed as a separate detached structure on the same lot as the existing or proposed primary dwelling. The bill would require a municipality's land use regulations to provide that:· an ADU may be either located within or attached to the proposed or existing primary dwelling or to a proposed or existing garage or other accessory structure, or detached from the proposed or existing primary dwelling but located on the same lot as the proposed or existing primary dwelling. A municipality would be prohibited from requiring installation of a passageway between a primary dwelling and a detached accessory structure; · an ADU may be rented separately from the primary dwelling, but is prohibited from being sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the primary dwelling; and· a municipality is prohibited from requiring an applicant to seek approval to develop an ADU, either simultaneously with or separately from the development of a primary dwelling. The bill would require municipal land use regulations concerning ADUs to comply with the following standards:· a minimum floor area requirement of no greater than 300 square feet; · a maximum floor area requirement of no smaller than 1,200 square feet;· a maximum height requirement of no less than 20 feet;· no requirement to install fire sprinklers in an ADU if there is no requirement to install fire sprinklers in the primary dwelling;· no setback requirements for an ADU that is located within an existing structure or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure being converted to an ADU;· no more than a five-foot sideyard and rearyard setback requirement for any other ADU; · an ADU must provide direct exterior access separate from the direct exterior access from the primary dwelling; · no parking requirement for an ADU in excess of one parking space per ADU, which may be provided as tandem parking; and· no requirement to replace an offstreet parking space being removed in conjunction with the construction of, or conversion to, an ADU. If a municipality's land use regulations do not comply with the above requirements, the regulations would be void and unenforceable. The bill sets forth the following specific circumstances under which a municipal agency may deny an application to develop an ADU:· the proposed site is located within an area in which there exists insufficient public sewer or water service, and within which there exists severe constraints on the use of wells and septic tanks, which render the addition of a dwelling unit hazardous to the public health; or · the proposed site is located on a lot so small that an 800 square foot structure cannot be reasonably accommodated without violating the bill's minimum sideyard or rearyard setback requirements. The bill would allow a municipality's land use regulations to:· establish reasonable landscaping standards for detached ADUs;· impose architectural review requirements for an application proposing to develop an ADU within an area designated as a historic district, if the proposed development requires either new construction or exterior modification of an existing structure; · reduce or eliminate off-street parking requirements imposed upon the development of an ADU otherwise applicable under municipal land use regulation or Statewide site improvement standards;· provide that a municipal agency shall not approve an application to develop an ADU on a parcel of property unless the applicant is the owner-occupant of an existing or proposed primary dwelling on the property; · provide that an ADU is prohibited from being rented for a period of less than 30 days; · provide that an ADU is a permitted use in additional zoning districts; and· limit the maximum size of an ADU constructed separately from the primary dwelling to that square footage that is not in excess of 60 percent of the lot's buildable area, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that an application to develop an ADU is to be considered and approved ministerially, without public hearing, and without review beyond that necessary to determine compliance with the provisions of the bill or municipal land use regulations adopted consistent with the bill. The bill would allow a municipal agency to charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs associated with reviewing and approving an application to develop an accessory dwelling unit. The bill requires a municipal agency to provide an applicant with its decision on an application to develop an ADU within 60 days of the date the applicant submits a complete application. Unless the applicant agrees to toll this 60-day time period, if the municipal agency does not act upon the application within the 60-day time period, the application is to be deemed approved. If an application to develop an ADU is submitted together with an application to develop a new single-family dwelling on the same lot, upon the applicant's request, the appropriate municipal agency is to consider and act upon both applications as a single application. The bill would prohibit a municipal agency from imposing conditions, beyond those necessary to comply with the provisions of the bill, upon the approval of an application to develop an ADU, if the application is submitted together with an application to develop a new single-family dwelling on the same lot. Additionally, the bill would prohibit a municipality from:· interpreting and applying a provision of any other municipal ordinance, policy, or regulation so to delay or deny approval of an application to develop an ADU.· conditioning approval of an application to develop an ADU upon the correction of a nonconforming zoning condition.· requiring, for an application to develop an ADU within an existing primary dwelling or as an extension onto an existing primary dwelling, the installation of a new or separate utility connection directly between the ADU and the utility, or imposition of a related connection fee or capacity charge, unless the ADU is being constructed together with a new single-family dwelling. If an application is submitted to develop an ADU as a separate structure, not part of an existing primary dwelling, a municipal agency may require the applicant to install a new or separate utility connection directly between the ADU and the utility, subject to a connection fee or capacity charge of no more than half the fee charged for a new primary dwelling, which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of providing this service. The bill would not supersede provisions of the State Uniform Construction Code applicable to the construction of ADUs, however, the bill specifies that the provisions of the Rehabilitation Subcode of the State Uniform Construction Code is to apply to the construction of an ADU within an existing primary dwelling. Additionally, the bill would prohibit issuance of a certificate of occupancy for an ADU under the State Uniform Construction Code prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the primary dwelling. The bill would require a municipality to submit land use regulations it adopts concerning ADUs to the Department of Community Affairs within 60 days of the date of adoption of the municipal land use regulations. The department would review the municipal land use regulations concerning ADUs and notify the municipality within 60 days of the date the department receives a municipality's regulations of any provision in the regulations that does not comply with the bill's provisions. Under the bill, if the department does not notify a municipality, within 60 days of the date the department receives a municipality's land use regulations concerning ADUs, that a provision of the municipal land use regulations does not comply with the bill's provisions, the regulations are to be deemed approved. Within 90 days of the date a municipality receives notice of the department's determination that a provision of the municipality's land use regulations does not comply with the provisions of this bill, the municipality shall either: amend its regulations to conform them with the provisions and intent of the bill; or respond to the department by: asking it to approve the municipal regulations, and explaining the municipality's reasons why its regulations do not comply with the provisions and intent of this bill. In the case of the latter, the department would review the municipality's response, consider the specific conditions affecting that municipality, as well as the intent of this bill, and notify the municipality either: that the municipality may retain all or some part of its land use regulations; or that the municipality is required to amend provisions of its land use regulations to be consistent with the provisions and intent of the bill. Within 60 days of the date of receipt of the department's notice requiring it to amend its land use regulations to be consistent with the provisions and intent of the bill, the municipality is required to amend its regulations. If a municipality does not approve an application to develop an ADU, or imposes conditions on an approval of an application to develop an ADU, the applicant may appeal the decision to the Commissioner of Community Affairs. If the commissioner determines that the municipality's reasons for withholding approval or imposing conditions are inconsistent with the bill's provisions, the commissioner is required to approve the application, and levy the cost of the proceedings, including the applicant's legal expenses, if any, against the municipality. The bill also amends the law governing associations formed for the management of common elements and facilities of a planned real estate development to prohibit the adoption or enforcement of a restriction, covenant, bylaw, rule, regulation, master deed provision, or governing document provision that prohibits or unreasonably restricts the development or use of an ADU on a lot zoned for single-family residential use if the proposed ADU is consistent with the bill's requirements. Under the bill, any provisions of a planned real estate development's governing documents that either prohibit or unreasonably restrict the development or use of an ADU on a lot zoned for single-family or two-family residential use is void and unenforceable if the proposed ADU is consistent with the requirements of the bill. However, the bill specifically authorizes an association to impose design or landscaping conditions on the development of an ADU if the conditions: are not in excess of conditions generally imposed within the planned real estate development; do not unreasonably increase the cost to construct, effectively prohibit the construction of, or extinguish the ability to otherwise construct, an ADU consistent with the provisions of the bill. The bill would also amend the "Fair Housing Act," N.J.S.A.52:27D-301 et al., to require a municipality's master plan housing element to include a plan to promote the creation of ADUs that will be offered at affordable rent for low- and moderate-income households, and to clarify that amounts deposited in the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund" may be applied for the purpose of creating ADUs to be occupied by low- and moderate-income households. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | 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 |
| SCR12 | Amends State Constitution to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude. | This constitutional amendment prohibits slavery or involuntary servitude in the State of New Jersey, including as punishment for a crime. Involuntary servitude is the coerced service of one individual for the benefit of another. Currently, the State Constitution does not include any language concerning slavery or involuntary servitude. The 1776 and 1844 versions of the Constitution also did not include any mention of slavery or involuntary servitude. This amendment adds language to Article I expressly prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude. The amendment also directly prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Prisoners in New Jersey are required to engage in labor, for a minimal pay, while they are incarcerated. The State should not have the power to compel individuals to labor against their will. This amendment ensures that no prisoner in this State would be involuntarily forced into labor, even if the labor performed by the prisoner would be compensated. However, this amendment would not take away voluntary opportunities to work for individuals who have been convicted of a crime. The State recognizes that work can assist in an individual's rehabilitation, improve practical and interpersonal skills that may be useful upon their reintegration with society, and contribute to healthier and safer penal environments. | In Committee |
| S709 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas; stipulates uses of, and eligibility criteria for, funds. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion to provide Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas. The bill provides that the grants will be allocated by the Commissioner of Education for the following purposes: improving, retrofitting, and rebuilding playgrounds, public swimming pools, and other recreational infrastructure; reopening parks that have not been in operation for a long period of time; and establishing, enhancing, and procuring equipment and other materials for mentorship programs, public and nonprofit youth sports organizations and recreational programs, organized after school and summer educational programs that include computer science education, home economics education, and education concerning other life-building skills. Under the bill, grants would only be made available to municipalities that are members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA). The NJUMA is an association comprised of urban and rural municipalities that is dedicated to working with State and federal lawmakers and officials to develop appropriate and effective public policy measures that benefit the State's urban centers and to help lawmakers understand how public policy affects New Jersey's cities and municipalities. Member municipalities of the NJUMA display a disproportionate need for youth sports and educational programs. This bill would provide these municipalities, and the youth populations of the municipalities, with access to funding to improve, create, and support youth programs and facilities. Ensuring funding for the purposes described under the bill would represent a meaningful investment in the educational and social-emotional development of children in the eligible municipalities and provide them with stimulating after school and summer safe havens. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S1746 | Establishes homestead and bank account exemptions for persons in debt; increases existing exemption amounts for household goods. | This bill establishes a homestead and bank account exemption for persons in debt and increases the existing exemption amount for household goods. Under the bill, an owner can exempt an interest in the homestead from an attachment, execution, and forced sale in an amount that is the greater of: (1) the amount of the median sale price for a single-family home in that county, in the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the debtor claims the exemption, as determined by using the United States Census Bureau's most recent 1-year American Community Survey data table, B25077, Median Value, or an equivalent valuation approved by the Department of Banking and Insurance, not to exceed $600,000; or (2) $300,000. If the owner or a dependent of the owner is either 60 years of age or older, or is physically or mentally disabled and because of such disability is unable to engage in substantial gainful employment and whose disability has lasted or can be expected to last at least 12 months, or can be expected to result in death, the homestead exemption will be double the aforementioned county median. The bill provides that the homestead exemption will attach to the owner's interest in identifiable cash proceeds from the voluntary or involuntary sale of the homestead and that the exemption in identifiable cash proceeds would continue for 18 months after the date of sale for the homestead or until the owner establishes a new homestead with the proceeds, whichever period is shorter. The bill also provides that, in a bankruptcy case, the owner's exemptions shall be determined on the date the bankruptcy petition is filed or, with respect to property respect to property that becomes property of the estate after that date, the date the property becomes property of the estate. If the value of the owner's interest in homestead property on such date is less than or equal to the amount that can be exempted under the homestead law, then the owner's entire interest in the property, including the owner's right to possession and interests of no monetary value, is exempt. Any appreciation in the value of the owner's exempt interest in the property during the bankruptcy case is also exempt, even if it exceeds the statutory limit. The bill additionally increases the total value of household goods that are exempt from debt collection, from $1,000 to $15,000, and provides for an exemption from garnishment of up to $10,000 for cash held in a deposit account or other account of the debtor, or up to $15,000 if the cash amount is held in a joint account. | 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 |
| S1100 | Creates "New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act." | This bill creates various rights and employment protections for domestic workers who, under the bill, are defined as hourly and salaried employees, independent contractors, full-time and part-time individuals and temporary individuals, and any worker who: (1) works for one or more employer; and (2) is an individual who works in the residence of the employer for the purposes of caring for a child, serving as a companion or caretaker for a sick, convalescing, or elderly person, or person with a disability; housekeeping or house cleaning; cooking; providing food or butler service; parking cars; cleaning laundry; gardening; personal organizing; or for any other domestic service purpose. The bill excludes from the definition of domestic worker any individual taking care of or providing services to that individual's family member; an individual primarily engaged in house sitting, pet sitting, or dog walking; an individual working at a business operating out of a residence, such as a home daycare business; an individual whose primary work involves house repair or maintenance, such a roofer, plumber, or other similar contractor; a home health care aide while the aide is paid through public funds; an individual established as a kinship legal guardian of a child who lives in the residence, or an individual who participates in the Kinship Navigator Program, as authorized by the Department of Children and Families, as a caregiver of a child who lives in the residence and receives services provided by a kinship navigator service provider; and an individual less than 18 years of age. The bill removes the exclusion of the domestic worker from the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) and the "New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law," P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a et seq.). The bill also provides privacy rights to domestic workers, and it requires the employer to enter into a written contract with the domestic worker. The bill establishes penalties for violations of its provisions, including penalties against retaliation by the employer. The bill creates the Domestic Workers Standards and Implementation Board to monitor and review the implementation of the bill and make policy recommendations to the State regarding additional measures to be taken. | Dead |
| S1983 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| S1078 | Provides for reduction in suspended sentence, probation, or parole based on compliance with conditions of sentence; requires report on effect on recidivism. | This bill provides for a reduction in a defendant's suspended sentence, sentence of probation, or parole based on the defendant's compliance with the conditions of the sentence. The bill also requires studies and annual reports on recidivism that are required under current law to include data on the effect these reductions have on recidivism. The bill is modeled on a Missouri law which grants a sentence reduction through "earned compliance credits" to certain probationers and parolees as a reward for compliance with the terms of probation or parole. This law has resulted in an average reduction of a supervisory sentence by 14 months. It is the sponsor's intent to provide similar incentives in New Jersey for compliance with the terms of a suspended sentence or a sentence of probation or parole, and to enable a person to reenter society more quickly. Under current law, an earlier discharge from a period of probation may be granted to a defendant on application of a probation officer, the defendant, or the court's own motion. Under the bill, a defendant's term of suspension or period of probation will be reduced as a result of a defendant's compliance with the conditions of the suspension or probation. The bill provides that the period of suspension or probation will be reduced by 30 days for each full calendar month the defendant is in compliance with the conditions of suspension or probation. Currently, the Administrative Director of the Courts is required to record and analyze data concerning the recidivism of those sentenced to a period of probation, and prepare and transmit an annual report on the effectiveness of the State's rehabilitation initiatives and programs. This bill requires the Administrative Director also to consider how a reduction in the period of suspension or probation under the bill affects recidivism rates. Under current law, a parolee may be granted a complete discharge from parole prior to the expiration of the full maximum term, provided: 1) the parolee has made a satisfactory adjustment while on parole; 2) that continued supervision is not required; and 3) the parolee has made full payment of any fine or restitution required. Under the bill, a parolee who is in compliance with the terms of supervision also would be entitled to have the term of supervision reduced by 30 days for each full calendar month the parolee is in compliance. Under current law, the Commissioner of Corrections, in conjunction with the Juvenile Justice Commission and the State Parole Board, is required to record and analyze recidivism data and issue an annual report regarding the effectiveness of the State's reentry initiatives and programs. The provisions of the bill require the data and report also to include information on parolees who receive an earlier discharge under the bill. The bill provides that a person who has been sentenced to a special sentence of community supervision for life or parole supervision for life; or a parolee who has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, kidnapping pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:13-1, endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:24-4, endangering the welfare of a child pursuant to paragraph (3), (4), or subparagraph (a) of paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:24-4; luring or enticing pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1993, c.291 (C.2C:13-6); kidnapping pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-1, criminal restraint pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-2, or false imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-3 if the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim; knowingly promoting prostitution of a child pursuant to paragraphs (3) or (4) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:34-1; or an attempt to commit any of these offenses is not eligible to receive a reduction in the period of suspension, probation, or parole under the bill. With regard to a reduced term of suspension or probation under the bill, "compliance" is defined as the absence of a violation of a condition of suspension or probation as set forth in N.J.S.2C:45-1. With regard to an earlier discharge from parole under the bill, "compliance" is defined as the absence of a violation of the conditions of parole as set forth under subsection b. of section 15 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.59). The appropriate board panel shall review a parolee's compliance and eligibility to receive a reduction under this section at least once every six months. | In Committee |
| S1093 | Codifies AG directive concerning criminal investigations of law enforcement use-of-force and in-custody deaths. | This bill codifies an Attorney General Directive concerning criminal investigations of law enforcement use-of-force and in-custody deaths. Under the bill, when a law enforcement incident occurs, every State, county, and municipal law enforcement agency is required to notify the county prosecutor's office of the county in which the incident occurred, who is required to immediately notify the Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The bill defines a "law enforcement incident" as any of the following: 1) use of force by a law enforcement officer resulting in death or serious bodily injury; 2) use of deadly force, including the discharge of a firearm, by a law enforcement officer regardless of whether the force resulted in injury; 3) the death of any civilian during an encounter with a law enforcement officer; and 4) the death of any civilian while in the custody of law enforcement. The bill provides that the Director of the OPIA is required to determine which State or county law enforcement agency is to serve as the independent investigator, unless that agency has a conflict. In the case of a conflict, the director is to mitigate the conflict or seek another agency to serve as the independent investigator. The bill also sets forth certain standards for appointing an independent investigator. In addition, under the bill, prior to the Director of the OPIA appointing a law enforcement agency as the independent investigator, the office is to conduct a comprehensive inquiry to determine whether it has any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that might undermine public confidence in the impartiality and independence of the investigation. If the director becomes aware of a conflict, the director is to take certain remedial measures. Upon selection by the director, the independent investigator is required to promptly begin investigating the law enforcement incident. As part of the initial investigation, the independent investigator is required to make all reasonable efforts to preserve and obtain any video or audio recordings that depict any aspect of the law enforcement incident. To ensure the independence of the investigation, only law enforcement officers working under the direct supervision of the independent investigator may participate in the investigation or share or receive information about the investigation, with certain exceptions. The bill establishes certain personnel that may assist the independent investigator in the investigation of a law enforcement incident and with whom the independent investigator is permitted to share investigative information. Further, the bill sets forth the standards for releasing law enforcement footage. The bill defines "law enforcement footage" as recordings captured by a law enforcement officers' body-worn camera, a camera mounted in an officer's patrol car, a camera embedded in an officer's conductive energy device, a surveillance or security camera, or a camera or smartphone belonging to a witness. Under the bill, at the conclusion of the investigation, the independent investigator is to prepare a summary of their factual findings, legal analysis, and preliminary recommendations as to whether any principal of the investigation should be criminally charged for their involvement in the law enforcement incident. The findings, legal analysis, and preliminary charging recommendation are required to be submitted for an independent assessment by the independent supervisory reviewer. The bill also sets forth the cases which require the independent investigator to present evidence to the grand jury concerning the law enforcement incident and sets forth the actions required by the independent investigator. In cases where the matter is not presented to the grand jury or where the matter is presented, but the grand jury declines to criminally charge any of the principals of the investigation, the independent investigator is to prepare a statement for public dissemination which is to comply with all rules of grand jury secrecy and be reviewed by the independent supervisory reviewer prior to release. Under the bill, where a death of a person occurs while the person is in the custody of law enforcement and plausibly could be linked to the actions of the law enforcement officer, whether through the intentional use of force or a reckless indifference to human life, the OPIA is required to investigate the matter in accordance with the provisions of this bill. Where the death cannot be plausibly linked to the actions of the law enforcement officer, the office is to supervise the investigation according to procedures established in the bill. Finally, the bill requires each county prosecutor to undertake efforts to educate residents in the county about the bill's provisions and report to the Attorney General on public education efforts. | In Committee |
| S1080 | Permits reimbursement of COBRA health benefit costs of survivors of certain deceased public safety employees; appropriates $750,000. | This bill seeks to address the burdensome cost of health insurance, as provided through federal COBRA continuation coverage, by allowing the dependents of certain recently-deceased public safety employees to apply to the State Treasurer for a reimbursement of the cost of the first six months of COBRA continuation coverage. This bill addresses the concern raised by the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission that the prior version of the bill requiring employers to continue coverage for six months after the employee's death would have made dependents ineligible for COBRA coverage altogether. COBRA continuation coverage ordinarily is available for 36 months. This bill is intended to not interfere with dependents' ability to keep COBRA coverage for this full term if desired. The COBRA reimbursement permitted under this bill applies to the spouse and unmarried children of State and local public safety employees, including State and local police, full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters, State and county correctional officers, and members of first aid, emergency, ambulance or rescue squads, if the public safety employee died while on duty, or within 24 hours of going off duty. The COBRA reimbursement is only available so long as the dependents were covered by health insurance through the State Health Benefits Program, or otherwise through the public safety employee's employer, until the time of death. To obtain a COBRA reimbursement, any dependent, for whom the first six months of COBRA coverage ended during the previous calendar year, may apply to the State Treasurer by March 1. The bill appropriates $750,000 to the Department of Treasury for the purpose of funding COBRA reimbursements, and encourages the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funding in future years. If, during any year, the amount of funding dedicated to COBRA reimbursements by the annual appropriations act is less than the total amount applied for by qualifying dependents, then the State Treasurer shall allocate the COBRA reimbursement payments on a pro rata basis according to the amount for which each dependent has applied. | In Committee |
| S1082 | Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families. | This bill requires that the child abuse reporting hotline maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) provide information on resources available to the victims of child abuse or neglect and their families. DCPP regularly contracts with community-based agencies throughout the State to provide a variety of services to children and families, including counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care, and residential placement. It is critical for families to be made aware of these services so that they are empowered to break the cycle of abuse and protect the most vulnerable residents of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| SJR35 | Designates October of each year as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month." | Over one million women and hundreds of thousands of men experience some form of domestic violence by a partner or family member every year in the United States. According to the 2017 statistical report prepared by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts, more than 40,000 domestic violence complaints were made in 2017 in the State of New Jersey. Domestic violence is a serious problem affecting people of all ages as well as racial, ethnic, gender, economic, and religious backgrounds. The devastating effects of domestic violence include physical injury, psychological trauma, or in some cases even death. Domestic violence has both an immediate and long-term negative impact on the health of the victims and studies have shown a link between domestic violence and a myriad of health problems, including: smoking, diabetes, obesity, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Emotional and physical consequences of continued abuse can be severe and greater awareness may help prevent domestic violence in our communities and confirm our commitment to the protection of those who are most vulnerable. | In Committee |
| S1099 | Requires certain health care facilities to offer lactation counseling and consultations to persons who have given birth. | This bill requires every hospital that provides inpatient maternity services and every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) to offer a person who has given birth at the hospital or birthing center: (1) at least one in-person, one-on-one consultation with a lactation counselor or consultant prior to that person's discharge from the hospital or birthing center; or (2) lactation counseling or consultation with a lactation counselor or consultant conducted remotely through live voice communication, if appropriate. The counseling provided by the lactation counselor or lactation consultant is to comprise of: (1) breastfeeding education and support services, including educating the person who has given birth and the person's family about the impact of breastfeeding and human lactation on health and what to expect in the normal course of breastfeeding; (2) advocacy for breastfeeding as the norm for feeding infants and young children; (3) breastfeeding support and encouragement in order to help the person who has given birth meet their breastfeeding goals; (4) the implementation of a lactation care plan for, and the provision of lactation education to, the person who has given birth including demonstration and instruction on how to breastfeed; (5) recommendations on assistive devices, including nipple shields and supplemental nursing systems, and how to use and purchase such devices; and (6) the distribution of informational literature on breastfeeding, including, but not limited to, information on the health benefits of breastfeeding. The bill provides that a hospital that assigns a lactation consultant to lactation support duties may not reassign the consultant to non-lactation related duties during the same hospital shift. As used in the bill, "lactation consultant" means an individual or a licensed health care provider who is: qualified to use the credential "IBCLC," denoting certification as a lactation consultant as conferred by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners," and has demonstrated core competencies for the initiation and maintenance of infant feeding that are developed using evidence-based reference materials, including, but not limited to, "Implementing the Joint Commission Perinatal Care Core Measure on Exclusive Breastmilk Feeding," or any superseding standards. "Lactation counselor" means an individual or a licensed health care provider who is: (1) licensed or certified to practice lactation counseling under any law, or who is an accredited member belonging to another profession or occupation, who provides breastfeeding education and support services for which that person is licensed, regulated, accredited, or certified; (2) an individual who possesses current certification as a Certified Lactation Counselor; or (3) a community-based lactation supporter who has received at least 40 hours of specialty education in breastfeeding and lactation, and who works within a lactation counselor's scope of practice. | In Committee |
| SJR39 | Establishes the "Williams and Amenhotep New Jersey Task Force on Missing Persons." | This bill establishes the "Williams and Amenhotep New Jersey Task Force on Missing Persons" to (1) review best practices for investigating reports of missing persons; (2) examine on a Statewide basis the current law enforcement response to reports of missing children by law enforcement agencies; and (3) determine whether the practices of State and local law enforcement agencies require any changes to conform to best practices. The task force membership would include: (1) the Attorney General, ex officio, or a designee: (2) the Commissioner of Children and Families, ex officio, or a designee; (3) the Commissioner of Human Services, ex officio, or a designee; (4) one member of the Missing Person's Unit of the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, designated by the Attorney General; (5) one member of the New Jersey Human Trafficking Task Force established within the Department of Law and Public Safety, designated by the Attorney General; (6) two public members appointed by the Governor representing a local law enforcement agency, one each based upon the recommendation of the Senate President and the Senate Minority Leader; (7) one public member appointed by the Governor representing a child advocacy organization concerning missing, abducted, or exploited children, based upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly; and (8) one public member appointed by the Governor representing an organization concerning missing or trafficked persons, based upon the recommendation of the General Assembly Minority Leader. The bill provides that within 12 months after the task force's organizational meeting, it would be required to submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature. The report is to contain the task force's findings on best practices and the current law enforcement response to reports of missing persons in the State, and any recommendations for legislative or other action. Under the bill, the task force would dissolve three months after submitting the report. The task force is named in honor of two missing young people: Sanaa Amenhotep the 15 year-old daughter of a New Jersey resident who went missing in Columbia, South Carolina and whose body was found three weeks later; and Yasir Williams, a 21 year-old Rutgers University student from East Orange, New Jersey whose body was found in a park pond in Orange, New Jersey two weeks after he went missing. | In Committee |
| S1079 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on interacting with law enforcement as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. | This bill requires school districts to provide instruction on interacting with law enforcement in a manner marked by mutual cooperation and respect, and on the rights of individuals when interacting with a law enforcement official, as part of the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The instruction must provide students with information on: the role and responsibilities of a law enforcement official in providing for public safety; an individual's responsibilities to comply with a directive from a law enforcement official; and an individual's rights under law in interacting with a law enforcement official. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to appoint an advisory committee to assist in the development of a curriculum for the implementation of the instructional requirement, and details the organizations that are to serve on the advisory committee. The bill specifies that the curriculum must consist of two parts, with one part that includes age-appropriate instruction for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through four, and one part designed for the more rigorous instruction of students enrolled in grades five through 12. | In Committee |
| S1090 | Prohibits suspension of driving privileges and arrest for certain crimes and offenses. | This bill eliminates mandatory driver's license suspension as a penalty for various crimes and offenses unrelated to safely operating a motor vehicle. The bill eliminates driver's license suspension as a penalty for convictions of the following crimes and offenses: -crimes for which certain fines, assessments, or restitution are imposed and the defendant is in default without good cause (suspension until past payments are made); -failure to pay motor vehicle violation surcharges (suspension until eight percent of the outstanding surcharges is paid or an installment payment plan is established); -failure to respond to a failure to appear notice or failure to pay a parking judgment (suspension until payment is satisfied); -failure to appear in municipal court (suspension until matter is adjudicated) or failure to satisfy a condition of the sentence, such as pay an assessed fine or perform community service (suspension until condition is satisfied); -failure of an indigent defendant to comply with terms of an installment payment plan for a motor vehicle traffic violation or parking offense; -defaulting on certain financial obligations to the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund (until repaid); and -failure to pay child support upon the issuance of a child support-related warrant. The court retains discretion to suspend the person's driver's license if, after notice and a hearing, the court finds that suspension is warranted. The bill also prohibits the use of arrest as a penalty for unpaid parking tickets and requires the court to notify a defendant who has failed to pay outstanding parking tickets or failed to appear that the penalties for such actions include suspension of motor vehicle registration or the impoundment, immobilization, or possible sale of the person's motor vehicle. The bill also delays the period that a municipality may impound, immobilize, or authorize the sale of a motor vehicle for unpaid parking tickets from 30 days to 90 days. | In Committee |
| S1107 | Requires certain salary, compensation and benefit information to be included in certain job postings. | This bill requires employers to include in all job postings certain information regarding the position, specifically: (1) the minimum and maximum salary or hourly wage rate range for the position; (2) any supplemental compensation for which the position is eligible; (3) a description of the benefits provided for the position, including, but not limited to, paid leave, health care plans, and dental plans; and (4) retirement plans offered through the employer. The bill includes all public and private employers in the State with 10 or more employees, and the requirement applies to postings on platforms owned or controlled by employers or on platforms owned or controlled by third parties. Under the bill, if an employer fails to include the required information in a job posting, the employer will be liable for a civil penalty, collectible by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development in a summary proceeding. | In Committee |
| SR41 | Urges Congress to amend tax code to exclude all forms of discharged student loans from federal income tax. | This resolution urges Congress to exclude all forms of discharged student loans from the federal income tax. Federal law requires payment of the income tax on forgiven debt except in certain circumstances. For example, student loans forgiven for teachers and public service employees eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs are not subject to the income tax. Discharge of student debt on account of death or disability is also not subject to the income tax but only if the debt is discharged between December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2026. Other forms of discharged student debt, such as the forgiveness of loans in Income-Driven Repayment-Plans after the 20 or 25 year repayment period, are subject to federal income taxation. This House therefore urges Congress to make the discharge of student debt on account of death or disability exception to the income tax a permanent part of the tax code, and to permanently exclude from the income tax all other forms of discharged student loans. | In Committee |
| S1086 | Requires construction permit and inspections for certain work involving lead paint on home exterior. | This bill would require the owner of a residential building constructed, or partially constructed, prior to 1979, to obtain a construction permit before painting, or removing existing paint from, the building's exterior. This permit requirement would apply if existing paint is present in the area of the planned work. When lead builds up in the body over months or years, lead poisoning occurs. Lead exposure, even in small amounts can cause serious health problems in both children and adults. Those at most risk are children younger than six years old. As a result of lead exposure and poisoning even in small levels, mental and physical development can be compromised. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. Lead-based paint and dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources include contaminated air, old water lines and pipes, and soil. This bill is intended to help prevent the lead contamination of the air and soil that can result from working with old lead paint on existing homes. The bill would require that, prior to the issuance of a construction permit involving exterior home painting, the construction code enforcing agency would determine whether or not paint in the area of the proposed work may contain lead. This determination would be made either through an inspection, or through a review of the records on the building. If the enforcing agency determines that the paint in the area of the proposed work may contain lead, then the bill would require the enforcing agency to notify the owner that, if the owner intends to sand or scrape existing paint, the owner has to employ a contractor who is certified to conduct lead hazard control work. If the project includes the sanding or scraping of existing paint, the bill would require the enforcing agency to inspect the work site in no fewer than two unscheduled visits during the expected times of work. These inspections would ensure (1) compliance with the permit application; (2) that a properly-certified contractor is on-site while work with lead paint is ongoing; and (3) that the work is compliant with the lead safe maintenance work standards established in State law. The bill would prohibit the enforcing agency from charging a fee in excess of $50 for issuance of a construction permit required by the bill, but would allow fees for other types of permits to be raised if necessary to account for any shortfall in revenue resulting from this limitation. An owner in violation of the permit requirement established by the bill would be liable for a penalty of $150. If an owner continues unpermitted work in violation of this permit requirement despite an initial infraction, the owner would be liable for an additional penalty of $1,500. This bill would take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| SJR37 | Designates October of each year "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of October of each year as "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month." Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, commonly known as "SIDS," occurs when an infant under the age of one dies of unexplained causes while sleeping. SIDS is one of a number of infant death classifications that contribute to the infant mortality rate. While the United States and New Jersey have seen a decline in the overall infant mortality rate since the early 1990s, SIDS remains the fourth leading cause of death in infants under the age of one in the United States as of 2017. Furthermore, racial disparities continue to persist in both the occurrence of SIDS and the overall infant mortality rate, with infants born to African-American and Native American or Alaska Native women experiencing the highest rate of SIDS and infant mortality as of 2017. As information and research become available, it is important to ensure that the public is informed on both the causes of SIDS and best practices for preventing SIDS in an effort to reduce the number of infants who die as a result of SIDS. | In Committee |
| SJR36 | Designates April of each year as "Autism Awareness Month" in NJ. | This resolution designates April of each year as "Autism Awareness Month" in New Jersey to coincide with National Autism Awareness Month. Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by atypical development in socialization, communication, and behavior, symptoms that generally appear before three years of age and continue over a lifetime. People with autism face a variety of communication, socialization, safety, and financial challenges. Although there is no known cure for autism, research suggests that early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the cost of lifetime care and improve outcomes for people with autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 59 American children born today will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the nation, and the prevalence of autism in the State continues to exceed and outpace the rate of autism in other states. | In Committee |
| S1105 | Requires responding law enforcement officer to stay with dead body until medical examiner takes charge of body. | This bill requires a law enforcement officer who has responded to an incident involving a dead body to remain with the body until the medical examiner arrives to take charge of the body. Under current law, the State's medical examiner is required to conduct a medicolegal investigation of a person's death to determine the person's identity and cause and manner of death, and to resolve any issues or potential issues of public health and of legal concern in the following instances: - death where criminal violence appears to have taken place; - death by accident or unintentional injury; - death under suspicious or unusual circumstances; - death from causes that may constitute a threat to public health or safety; - death not caused by readily recognizable diseases, disability, or infirmity; - sudden death when the decedent was in apparent good health; - suicide; - death of a child under 18 years of age from any cause; - sudden or unexpected death of an infant or child under three years of age or a fetal death occurring without medical attendance; - death where suspicion of abuse of a child, family, or household member, or elderly or disabled person exists; - death within 24 hours of admission to a hospital or a nursing home; - death in custody, in a jail, correctional facility, psychiatric hospital, developmental center, or other public or private institutions for persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or brain injury; - death related to occupational illness or injury; - death due to thermal, chemical, electrical, or radiation injury; - death due to toxins, poisons, medicinal or recreational drugs; - known or suspected non-natural death; - any person found dead under unexplained circumstances; - discovery of skeletal remains; - death for which investigation is in the public interest; and - other deaths as determined by the Chief State Medical Examiner. Under this bill, if a law enforcement officer responds to an incident involving a dead body and the medical examiner is required to conduct a medicolegal investigation for any of the preceding reasons, the officer is required to remain with the dead body until the medical examiner takes charge of that body. | In Committee |
| S1094 | Requires restaurant employees to receive periodic sexual harassment training. | This bill requires restaurants that employ 15 or more people to offer sexual harassment training every five years. This training would be given to each new employee within 90 days of being hired. The training would be interactive, include practical examples, and explain how to file a sexual harassment complaint. The training would be specific to the restaurant industry and it should include separate courses for supervisors and supervisees, with appropriate topics selected for each course. The bill also requires each restaurant to adopt and promulgate a sexual harassment policy. The bill does not require restaurants to maintain documentation of each sexual harassment training course, but it does establish a rebuttable presumption that, if the restaurant cannot provide such documentation for an employee, then that employee did not receive the training. Restaurants that fail to provide the training or adopt and distribute a sexual harassment policy will be fined up to $500 for a first offense. | In Committee |
| S1110 | Prohibits banning and restricting access to books in public libraries. | This bill prohibits banning and restricting access to books in public libraries. The bill prohibits a governing body of any free public library, joint free public library, free county library, and regional library from banning or restricting access to books or other educational resource materials, except as may be required by federal law. The bill's provisions should not be construed to require a free public library to purchase, or otherwise acquire, a book or resource for inclusion in its collection. | In Committee |
| S1088 | Requires Commissioner of Human Services to establish 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline and develop hotline connection system to ensure that callers are connected to other appropriate hotlines when needed. | This bill would require the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioners of Health, Community Affairs, and Children and Families, to establish and maintain, on a 24 hour a day basis, a toll-free Mental Illness Resource telephone hotline service. The hotline would be operated separately and apart from the State's existing social services information hotline, the State's existing mental health and developmental disabilities services hotline, and any community-based suicide hotlines. The Mental Illness Resource Hotline would be used to receive and respond to calls from persons who are experiencing, or are seeking help for another individual who is experiencing, a non-emergency mental health issue or non-emergency mental health crisis. Hotline staff would be required to promptly identify, and either refer or directly connect callers to, appropriate State and local programs, services, health care and mental health care professionals, and other resources that can be accessed by the caller and used to address, mitigate, and potentially eliminate the non-emergency mental health issue or crisis. To the extent practicable, each caller is to be referred to, or connected with, programs, services, professionals, and other appropriate resources that are available in the same county or region of the State in which the person experiencing the mental health issue or crisis is a resident. If a caller to the Mental Illness Resource Hotline provides any information indicating that suicide may result from the mental health issue or crisis that is the subject of the call, hotline staff will be required to deem the call to be of an urgent and emergency nature, and will be prohibited from providing the caller with referrals to resources, as provided by the bill. Instead, hotline staff will be required to immediately effectuate a warm hand-off of the caller to staff at the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline in order to ensure that the caller is provided with direct mental health assistance on an emergency basis. A warm hand-off is to involve the use of phone conferencing technology, and the bill requires the staff member transferring the call to: 1) remain on the line and accessible to the caller during the transfer of the call; 2) formally introduce the caller to the staff member at the Suicide Prevention Hopeline who receives the transferred call; and 3) summarize, for the receiving staff member, the information that necessitated the transfer of the caller to the Suicide Prevention Hopeline. At no time during a warm hand-off may a caller be placed on hold. The bill would require the Mental Illness Crisis Resource Hotline to be staffed by licensed or certified professional counselors, psychologists, psychoanalysts, and social workers who have particular training and knowledge in the institutional and community-based programs, services, and other resources that are available throughout the State to assist persons who are experiencing a non-emergency mental health issue or crisis, and their families. The hotline is to be staffed by persons with diverse ethnic backgrounds, including persons who speak both English and Spanish. The commissioner will also be required to ensure that the hotline either employs or contracts with translators and bi- or multi-lingual health care professionals who can be made available to assist callers, upon request, or when needed. The commissioner will be required to engage in a public awareness campaign, using all available media, to inform the public about the availability and purpose of the Mental Illness Resource Hotline. The campaign is to include a component that is specifically designed to inform children and young adults in elementary school, high school, and institutions of higher education about the availability of the hotline. Posters, signs, and other promotional materials used in this component of the public awareness campaign are to employ the use of language that is understandable by, and appropriate to, children and young adults. Any promotional materials used in the public awareness campaign are to be made available in both English and Spanish. The bill would require the Departments of Human Services, Health, Children and Families, Community Affairs, Education, and Law and Public Safety to each prominently display the phone number for the Mental Illness Resource Hotline on the departments' respective Internet websites. The bill would additionally require the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation and coordination with the Commissioner of Health, to develop a system that requires and enables the staff of any health or human services-related hotline in the State (including the Mental Illness Resource Hotline established under the bill) to immediately connect callers to other appropriate State or federal hotlines, as needed to address the callers' stated needs and issues. The hotline connection system is to ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that: 1) whenever a person calls a health or human services-related hotline in the State that is inappropriate to their needs, the hotline staff will immediately and directly transfer the caller to another appropriate hotline, without ending the call; and 2) whenever a caller to any hotline provides information indicating the intention or potential for suicide, the hotline staff member receiving the call will immediately facilitate the warm hand-off of the caller to the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline, in accordance with the warm hand-off procedure outlined in the bill. The establishment of this type of hotline connection system will prevent instances where a person seeking help is denied assistance because the hotline is not appropriate for the person's needs. | In Committee |
| S1102 | Requires certain local government community benefit agreements dedicate resources for affordable housing purposes. | This bill would prohibit county and municipal governing bodies from entering into certain "community benefits agreements" for large cash payments, unless the agreement requires that 50 percent or more of that cash payment be dedicated to affordable housing purposes within the local community. Affordable housing purposes under this bill would mean the creation or rehabilitation of low or moderate income housing as those terms are defined by the "Fair Housing Act." The bill defines a community benefit agreement as a binding legal agreement involving the governing body of a municipality or county and a developer of a commercial or residential project under which the developer agrees to pay for or provide certain resources to accommodate and benefit local community interests. In exchange, for these community benefits, the governing body of the local unit and other community stakeholders agree to approve or provide support for the developer's project. Community benefits agreements can be an important and valuable tool for local government units and the communities which these local units serve. These agreements can provide funding for local services and benefits to the community, including, but not limited to, funding and other resources for infrastructure, housing, workforce training, and development. This bill would assure that when a large cash payment is realized by a local government as a result of an agreement, a substantial portion of such a monetary payment is utilized to address affordable housing needs within the community. | In Committee |
| S1104 | Establishes right to record law enforcement activity under certain circumstances. | This bill, entitled the "New Jerseyans' Right to Monitor Act," authorizes this State's citizens to record the activities of law enforcement officers. Specifically, a person who is not under arrest or in the custody of a law enforcement officer is accorded the right to record law enforcement activity. The bill defines "law enforcement activity" as any activity of a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the officer's duties. Under the bill, the person also has the right to maintain custody and control of the recording, as well as any property, instruments, or equipment used to record the activity. But the bill specifically prohibits anyone from engaging in actions that physically interfere with law enforcement activity or obstruct the administration of law or another governmental function. A claim of unlawful interference with recording a law enforcement activity is established pursuant to the bill's provisions if a person exercised or attempted to exercise the right to record law enforcement activity and a law enforcement officer commits an act that interferes with the person. Those acts include intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent that person from recording law enforcement activity; threatening the person for recording law enforcement activity; commanding that the person cease recording law enforcement activity when the person was authorized under law to record; stopping, seizing, searching, ticketing, or arresting the person for recording law enforcement activity; or unlawfully seizing property, instruments, or equipment used by the person to record law enforcement activity, unlawfully destroying or seizing a recorded image of law enforcement activity, or copying a recording of law enforcement activity without the consent of the person who recorded it or approval from the court. The bill establishes an affirmative defense under certain circumstances to a civil action if the law enforcement officer had probable cause to arrest the person recording the law enforcement activity for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function. An action for a violation of the bill's provisions may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction for damages, including punitive damages, declaratory and injunctive relief, and any other remedy the court may deem appropriate. The court may allow a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney's and expert fees, in addition to any other costs which may be recovered. This bill is modelled on a recently enacted New York State law that affirms the right to record law enforcement activity and maintain custody of the recording and related equipment. | In Committee |
| S1108 | Requires all hospitals with maternity departments to maintain Baby-Friendly and Mother-Friendly designations. | This bill requires that, commencing two years after the effective date of the bill, every hospital that provides inpatient maternity services maintain both a Baby-Friendly Hospital designation issued by Baby-Friendly USA and a Mother-Friendly Hospital designation issued by the Improving Birth Coalition as a condition of continuing to provide inpatient maternity services. | In Committee |
| S1095 | Prohibits electric, gas, or water public utility service discontinuances to residential customers during certain epidemics. | This bill prohibits an electric, gas, or water public utility (utility) from discontinuing service to a residential customer for utility bill nonpayment during an epidemic, such as during the outbreak of Coronavirus 2019, except when the utility experiences a utility emergency. A utility is to resume service, as soon as practicable, during an epidemic, to any residential customer whose service was discontinued prior to the existence of an epidemic and who is located at the same residence where the service was discontinued prior to the epidemic. This prohibition is no longer to apply once the Governor declares a public health emergency and a state of emergency due to the epidemic no longer exists. The bill provides that a residential customer who does not pay in full a utility bill on or before the date the bill is due during an epidemic is liable for any bill payment balance for service rendered by the public utility once the Governor determines that the epidemic no longer exists. The bill defines the terms "epidemic," "residential customer." and "utility emergency." | In Committee |
| S1092 | Requires OIT to establish Statewide wireless network through public-private partnership agreement. | This bill requires the Office of Information Technology (OIT) in the Department of the Treasury (department) to establish a Statewide wireless network (network) through a public-private partnership agreement with a private entity that is to assume full financial and administrative responsibility for the construction, reconstruction, repair, improvement, extension, operation, and maintenance of the network, provided that the network project is financed in whole or in part by the private entity and any owner of the land or property upon which the project is located retains full ownership of their land or property. The public-private partnership may include a leaseback agreement. The bill provides that, prior to entering into a public-private partnership, the OIT is to determine: 1) the benefits to be realized by the project; 2) the cost of project if it is developed by a State government entity supported by comparisons to comparable projects; 3) the maximum public contribution that the office will allow under the public-private partnership agreement; 4) a comparison of the financial and non-financial benefits of the public-private partnership agreement compared to other options including the public sector option; 5) a list of risks, liabilities, and responsibilities to be transferred to the private entity and those to be retained by the office; and 6) if the project has a high, medium, or low level of project delivery risk, how the public is protected from these risks. The OIT is to also hold a public hearing in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State to present information supporting the establishment and construction of the network. The OIT is to require that the private entity include, but not be limited to, the following in the private entity's proposal to construct the network: 1) at least two tiers of minimum and maximum download and upload speeds for the broadband telecommunications service provided by the network, the slowest of which is to be be offered to the public free of charge; 2) proposed rates not to exceed $10 per month that shall apply to any speed tier that is not the slowest speed tier; 3) a description and proof of effective application of all broadband telecommunications infrastructure the private entity is capable of using in constructing and operating the network; 4) a commitment from the private entity to fully cooperate with the governing body of any local unit within which the private entity is to construct or install broadband telecommunications infrastructure in any public right-of-way, under terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the governing body and the private entity; and 5) a commitment from the private entity to fully cooperate with any person owning or having the right to use any poles, street lights, posts, towers, or other structures erected along any public right-of-way, under terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the person and the private entity. The bill provides that the OIT, in consultation with the department, is to review all submitted proposals, and request additional information as is needed to make a complete assessment of the project. A public-private partnership agreement is not to be executed until approval has been granted by the office and department. The OIT is to retain the right to revoke approval of a proposal if the project has substantially deviated from the proposal. | In Committee |
| S1098 | Provides mortgage payment relief, income tax relief, consumer reporting protection, and eviction protection for residential property owners, tenants, and other consumers, economically impacted during time of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. | This bill would provide protections to certain homeowners, tenants, and landlords during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency period. Under the bill, "emergency period" means the period during which a public health emergency exists as declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, as extended, and the 60 days following the conclusion of this period. The bill provides that, during the emergency period, a creditor is required to grant a mortgage forbearance to an impacted homeowner if the impacted homeowner submits a written request to the mortgage servicer affirming the following: (1) the impacted homeowner has suffered a substantial reduction of income resulting from COVID-19 or the Public Health Emergency or State of Emergency declared in response thereto, including a financial hardship from a reduction in hours or loss of employment, or increased costs incurred in necessary child care resulting from the closure of schools or caring for family members who are ill due to COVID-19 or quarantined due to a suspected exposure to COVID-19, or for funeral costs due to COVID-19; (2) the gross household income of the homeowner does not exceed 150 percent of the area median income after hardship, unless this requirement for eligibility is waived by the mortgage lender; and (3) the impacted homeowner's bank accounts collectively contain less than six months' reserves of the impacted homeowner's gross household income for 2019. Upon receipt of a request for a mortgage forbearance from an impacted homeowner, the bill requires a creditor to provide to the impacted homeowner with a mortgage forbearance and confirmation of that forbearance in writing. The minimum initial mortgage forbearance period of an impacted homeowner is to be 90 days. An impacted homeowner may request, and is to be granted, a subsequent forbearance period of at minimum 90 days, for a total of at minimum 180 days. Fees, penalties, or interest, including attorney's fees, shall not be assessed or accrue during and as a result of a mortgage forbearance. Consistent with federal law, the bill provides that a creditor shall not furnish negative mortgage payment information to a debt collector or credit reporting agency related to mortgage payments subject to a mortgage forbearance under the bill. In response to a complaint to the Attorney General from an impacted homeowner, the Attorney General may bring an action alleging a creditor has violated this prohibition. Under the bill, the repayment period of any mortgage subject to the forbearance would be extended by the number of months the forbearance is in effect. The payments not made during the months of the forbearance would instead be due on a monthly basis during the period constituting an extension of the mortgage, unless the property owner chooses to make these payments earlier. An impacted homeowner denied a forbearance under the bill by a creditor licensed by the Department of Banking and Insurance ("DOBI"), and not a State- or nationally-chartered financial institution, may file a complaint with DOBI. The department would be required to investigate the complaint and, if appropriate, would order the creditor to grant a forbearance to the impacted homeowner. The bill also provides that, prior to the end of the emergency period, a landlord or owner of a residential property would not, for the purposes of a residential eviction for nonpayment or habitually late payment of rent, defined as a "non-essential eviction": (1) terminate a tenancy; (2) file a summary dispossess action; or (3) send any notice, including a notice to quit, requesting or demanding that a tenant of a residential property vacate the premises. The bill would further require that, upon the filing of a landlord tenant complaint, the plaintiff landlord would be required to certify that the complaint is not seeking to evict an impacted tenant of the tenant's primary residence due to nonpayment or habitually late payment of rent due during the emergency period, except where the impacted tenant has failed to repay rent due during the emergency period in accordance with a repayment plan entered in compliance with the bill. No later than 60 days following enactment of the bill, the plaintiff landlord in any landlord/tenant action pending before the court would also be required to certify that the landlord-tenant complaint is not brought to evict an impacted tenant of the impacted tenant's primary residence due to nonpayment or habitually late payment of rent due during the emergency period, unless the impacted tenant has failed to repay rent due during the emergency period in accordance with a repayment plan entered in compliance with the bill. However, rent due from a period prior to the emergency period is not to restrict a tenant from accessing the protections provided under the bill to other impacted tenants, so long as the payments has subsequently was made. Consistent with federal law, a landlord is required not to furnish rental payment data to a collection or credit reporting agency related to the non-payment of rent during the emergency period. The bill further prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to a tenant or submit the tenant's information for placement on a list for the use of other landlords because of any record or information reflecting the tenant's non-payment of rent during the emergency. Under the bill, in response to a complaint to the Attorney General from an impacted tenant, the Attorney General may bring an action alleging a landlord has violated prohibition on the furnishing of information to a collection or credit reporting agency. However, if a landlord furnishes rental payment data to a collection or credit reporting agency related to the non-payment of rent during the emergency period, but before the enactment of this bill, then the landlord would not be subject to this penalty provision, except for an order to retract of the report. Additionally, the bill provides that, in order to avoid mass evictions and widespread homelessness following the conclusion of the moratorium on evictions required under the bill, a landlord shall offer each tenant who has missed any partial or full rent payments prior to the end of the emergency period the ability to enter into an agreement, which would be an addendum to the lease agreement, for the repayment of any partial or full rent payments not made during the emergency period, provided the tenant's rent payments were current including payments held in escrow as of the effective date of Executive Order No. 106 of 2020. The bill also establishes an income tax credit for certain landlords who permanently forgive a portion of rent unpaid during the emergency period. The bill prohibits a tenant from accepting an offer from a landlord if the tenant's gross household income exceeds 100 percent of the area median income after hardship unless the landlord makes an exception; or the tenant possesses one or more bank accounts that collectively contain reserves equaling six months' or more of the tenant's gross household income for 2019. To prevent a landlord from losing their primary home in a foreclosure due to COVID-19 economic hardship, the bill would exempt owners of owner-occupied properties with four or less units from having to enter into a rent repayment plan with their impacted tenant if after the owner has completed an application for a mortgage forbearance, but is denied the forbearance. Creditors covered in this bill would be prohibited from denying a landlord of an owner-occupied property a mortgage forbearance if their tenants cannot pay rent. During the repayment period, a landlord would be prohibited from imposing any late fees or any other fees, including attorney's fees, for rent payments not made during the emergency period. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to prepare and make available on its Internet website a statement of the rights and responsibilities of impacted tenants and landlords for the repayment of missed rent payments and an explanation of, and model template for, the default repayment plans available pursuant to the bill. This statement and templates shall be printed in the English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Russian, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese languages. Under the bill, not later than 30 days after the statement is made available by the department, every landlord is required to distribute one copy of the statement and templates prepared and made available to each of their impacted tenants within 10 business days after it has been made available by the department, and landlords may not demand payment of unpaid rent until after the statement and templates have been distributed to each impacted tenant. If a landlord fails to comply with this distribution requirement, this failure may be used by the impacted tenant as an affirmative defense to an action seeking the recovery of rent, or to a landlord-tenant complaint seeking a judgment for possession against the impacted tenant, if brought by the landlord to recover rent due during the emergency period. The bill provides that, within 10 business days following the conclusion of the emergency period, a landlord is required to calculate all partial or full rent payments legally owed and not made during the emergency period by each impacted tenant liable for rent repayment pursuant to the bill. After determining the amount of the missed payments and applying all credits, if any, due to the impacted tenant, the landlord is required to provide each impacted tenant with a written notice, using the template to be prepared and made available on its website by the department, of the amount owed by the impacted tenant in a form that specifies, in detail, the amount claimed to be due and an itemization of all credits to which the impacted tenant is entitled. All amounts shall be legal and in compliance with all applicable laws, including local rent control ordinances. If the impacted tenant does not agree with the amount claimed due, the notice shall provide that the impacted tenant shall notify the landlord within 25 days after the date on which the rent and arrearage repayments are to commence; provided, however, that the impacted tenant shall still begin repayment of missed rent pursuant to the repayment agreement. If the landlord fails to demonstrate the correctness of the amount assessed of rent due and owing by the impacted tenant, then the landlord shall refund any incorrectly assessed amount paid by the tenant plus a penalty of 20 percent of such amount within 30 days. The bill would require an impacted tenant and landlord to enter into a written agreement for any unpaid rent during the emergency period. If the landlord and impacted tenant are unable to reach an agreement, or if the agreement is deemed to be unaffordable by the tenant, the bill would require any unpaid rent during the emergency period to be paid through a default repayment plan. The default repayment plan would provide an impacted tenant with six months to repay each month's-worth of rent that was unpaid during the emergency period. However, if this schedule would take over 30 months to repay, then the default repayment plan would require repayments for only 30 months, with each monthly repayment consisting of one-thirtieth of the total amount of rent left unpaid during the emergency period. that if any rent that went unpaid during the emergency period continues to be unpaid despite an impacted tenant's compliance with this repayment schedule, then that remaining unpaid rent would be due in full on the last day of the 30th month of the repayment period. A surrender of property by an impacted tenant would not relieve the impacted tenant from the obligation to pay any rent missed during the emergency period or restrict a landlord's ability to recover such rent. The bill provides that it would be unlawful discrimination in violation of the "New Jersey Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) for a creditor or landlord to discriminate in application of the bill because of an impacted homeowners' or tenant's race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, pregnancy or breastfeeding, sex, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, familial status, disability, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, nationality, or source of lawful income used for rental or mortgage payments. The bill would additionally require that, upon written request from a tenant, including electronic communication, money or other forms of security deposited would be applied to or credited towards rent payments due or to become due from the tenant during the emergency period. When a tenant applies money or other forms of security deposited or advanced to pay rent, the following additional provisions would also apply for the duration of the tenant's current contract, lease, or license agreement: (1) The landlord would be able to recoup from the tenant any monies the landlord expended that would have been reimbursable by the money or other forms of security deposited or advanced by the tenant, or interest or earnings thereon, at the time that reimbursement from such money, security, interest, or earnings would have taken place; and (2) The tenant would otherwise be without obligation to deposit or advance further money or forms of security relating to the contract, lease, or license agreement. However, if the tenant and landlord extend or renew their contract, lease, or license agreement following the effective date of the bill, then the tenant would be obligated to replenish the money or forms of security required under the contract, lease, or license agreement in full on or before the end of the emergency period, or on the date on which the current contract, lease, or license agreement is extended or renewed, whichever is later. The bill also would establish within the "New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency" (HMFA) a "COVID-19 Impact Fund." Proceeds of the fund may be used: (a) to maintain mortgage payments and related fees and escrows owed to HMFA for properties which are approved for mortgage forbearance or otherwise materially impacted by the impact of COVID-19; and (b) in cases where the value of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit has been reduced due to the impact of the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to close the financing gap caused by the pricing drop and ensure that the production of affordable housing can continue. The Executive Director of HMFA would be permitted to petition the Commissioner of Community Affairs to transfer funds from the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the COVID-19 Impact Fund. This bill would take effect immediately and would apply retroactively to rent and mortgage payments missed subsequent to March 9, 2020. | In Committee |
| S1103 | Authorizes local contracting units to establish joint venture and set-aside programs. | This bill would authorize local contracting units to establish women's, minority, and veteran business enterprise joint venture and set-aside programs. The "Local Public Contracts Law" has authorized local contracting units to establish minority and women's business enterprise set-aside programs since 1985, and veteran business enterprise set-aside programs since 2013, as a way to encourage the growth and competitiveness of minority, women's, and veteran businesses. This bill would amend the current local set-aside law to permit a local contracting unit to set aside a percentage of the dollar value of total procurements to be awarded as set-aside contracts to joint ventures which include one or more qualified women's, minority, or veteran business enterprises. This joint venture method, allowing traditionally disadvantaged women's, minority, and veteran-owned businesses to partner with more seasoned businesses into joint ventures, has been successfully employed in other places as a way to remove historic roadblocks that prevent disadvantaged businesses from competing in the public bidding process. | In Committee |
| S1089 | "New Jersey Fair Workweek Act." | This bill, the "New Jersey Fair Workweek Act," provides that employees may request a change to their work schedules without fear of retaliation or adverse action, and requires that employers consider these requests in good faith. The bill also requires employers to provide more predictable and stable schedules for employees in certain low-wage occupations. For the purposes of this bill, "employer" is defined as any employer that employees 250 or more employees. The bill requires an employee, upon hire, to provide an employer with a written request of the employee's preferred schedule; and requires the employer to provide a good-faith estimate of the employee's projected schedule. An employee may make requests for a change to the schedule, and the employer is required to work in good faith to accommodate these requests if possible. The bill requires an employer to provide, transmit, and post notice of an employee's schedule at least 14 days prior to the start of the work period that schedule covers. The employer is required to give prior notice to affected employees of any revision of the posted schedule and post the revised schedule within 24 hours. An employee is allowed to decline to work any shifts that are not posted in such a manner. The bill provides for employees to receive predictability pay for any work schedule change that occurs after the abovementioned advanced notice has been provided. Under the provisions of the bill, an employee may decline any shifts scheduled less than twelve hours after the end of the employee's most recent shift. Any shifts worked by the employee within 12 hours of their most recent shift shall be compensated with rest shortfall pay at one-and-a-half times the employee's normal rate. The bill requires an employer to increase the shifts of existing employees, within the limits of the law, before hiring new employees capable of performing the same tasks. The bill provides for an employer to keep records detailing its compliance with these requirements, and for those records to be accessible to the employees concerned. The bill makes it an unlawful employment practice for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the existence or the right to exercise, any right of an employee as set forth in the bill. Under the bill, it is unlawful for any employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, reduce work hours of, or take any other adverse employment action against any employee in retaliation for exercising the rights of an employee under the bill or opposing any practice made unlawful by the bill. The bill provides that, in respect to employees whose work requires substantially similar skills, duties, and responsibility, an employer shall not discriminate against any employee on the basis of their hours worked. The bill provides, in cases where the employee does not initiate a civil action under current law, for the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development or the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a covered employer in violation or alleged to be in violation of the bill or other State wage and hour laws. Under the bill, an employee or employee representative may, after providing the commission an opportunity to investigate the complaint, bring a civil action on behalf of the State, but the right of the employee to bring a civil action under the bill terminates if the commissioner initiates an enforcement action regarding the complaint. The bill requires an employer to pay an employee nine times the employee's regular wage, or the minimum wage, whichever is larger, in retention pay for every 7-day work period; with an employee's normal pay or paid time-off counting toward compliance with this requirement. The bill requires every employer subject to its provisions to post and keep conspicuously posted, in the establishment and location where notices or postings to employees and applicants for employment are customarily posted, a notice setting forth the pertinent provisions of the bill. The bill does not apply to collective bargaining agreements if the agreement waives specific provisions that are covered within the bill, so long as the agreement addresses the topic of employee scheduling. The bill amends P.L.1965, c.173 (C.34:11-4.10) to add certain penalties for labor violations. The bill amends P.L.2019, c.212 (C.34:11-58.2) to include this bill under prohibited retaliations against employees. The bill amends R.S.34:11-57 and P.L.2009, c.194 (C.34:1A-1.11) to include itself under the definition of "State wage and hour laws," thus allowing for penalties imposed under other state wage and hour laws to apply to violations of this bill. Finally, the bill amends R.S.43:21-5 to prevent absences caused by employer violations of its provisions from affecting employee eligibility for unemployment compensation. | In Committee |
| SJR40 | Designates October of each year as "Fire Prevention Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of October of each year as "Fire Prevention Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Fires cause significant physical and economic damage and inflict emotional scars on people who are injured or lose loved ones. A fire department has to respond to a fire somewhere in the nation every 24 seconds. In 2017, fires killed 3,400 people and injured about 14,670 people in the United States. New Jersey reported 27,409 fires in 2015, and lost 77 civilians as a result of fires. Furthermore, five firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty in New Jersey in 2015. Raising awareness about fire prevention can prevent fires and save lives. 17.5 percent of building fires that resulted in fatalities, and 11.4 percent of building fires that caused injuries, were the result of careless actions such as leaving stoves unattended or not properly disposing of cigarettes. New Jersey law requires schools hold at least one fire drill per month to prepare for a potential fire. October is a peak month for college campus dormitory fires, and October 9th is the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which started National Fire Prevention Week. In order to enhance public safety and encourage fire prevention, it is important to raise public awareness about the dangers of fires and how to prevent them. | In Committee |
| S1096 | Concerns mortgage and loan forbearance, rent suspension, and consumer reporting during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. | This bill requires the forbearance of mortgage loans for commercial and residential property owners during the period during which the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103, March 9, 2020 are in effect and concluding six months following the conclusion of the State of Emergency or Public Health Emergency, whichever is earlier. The mortgage forbearance period of a property owner is to be 90 days. A property owner may request, and is to be granted, a subsequent forbearance period of 90 days, for a total of not more than 180 days. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Community Affairs is to notify owners of the forbearance program, encourage owners to seek United States Department of Housing and Urban Development housing counseling, and post information on eligibility and the process for the forbearance on the department's Internet website no later than one month following the effective date of this act. The bill requires a mortgagee that grants a mortgage forbearance pursuant to the bill to encourage owners to seek out United States Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling and provide to the property owner confirmation of the approval of the forbearance, information concerning the process for forbearance, and information on how to request a subsequent forbearance. The bill also requires landlords to suspend rent, for a period of 90 days, upon written or electronic request to the landlord from a residential tenant or small business commercial tenant, for the period during which the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103, March 9, 2020 are in effect and concluding six months following the conclusion of the State of Emergency or Public Health Emergency, whichever is earlier. A landlord is required to notify the tenant in writing of the date on which rent payments are to resume. A tenant may request, and shall be granted, a subsequent forbearance period of 90 days, for a total of not more than 180 days. A tenant with rent suspended pursuant to the bill shall not be required to pay a fee related to the suspension or late payment or to pay the sum of the suspended rent upon the conclusion of the suspension of rent. Nothing in the bill prohibit a landlord and a tenant from establishing a payment plan for the balance of suspended rent or from applying the security deposit toward that balance. Unless otherwise stipulated by the landlord and the tenant, the payment period of any rent subject to the suspension shall be extended by the number of months the suspension is in effect. A violation of the provisions of the bill concerning rent suspension for tenants is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act. 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. Violations can also 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, this bill requires the forbearance of any commercial, student, or other consumer loan, including an extension of credit for borrowers during the period in which the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103, March 9, 2020 are in effect and concluding six months following the conclusion of the State of Emergency or Public Health Emergency, whichever is earlier. The forbearance period of a borrower is to be 180 days. No borrower requesting a forbearance is to be required to provide proof of economic hardship. In addition, the repayment period of any loan subject to forbearance is to be extended by the number of months the forbearance is in effect. During the time of the forbearance, and during the period constituting an extension of the loan, all terms and conditions of the original loan, except with regard to default and delinquency during forbearance, are to continue without modification, and there no fees may be assessed for the forbearance, or penalty for early repayment. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance is to develop separate, specific guidelines for the forbearance of student loans, extensions of credit, and other consumer loans. This bill also provides that no consumer reporting agency shall include, and no user of a consumer report shall consider, any adverse information in a consumer report that is a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with respect to an affected person who provides the agency or user notice pursuant to the bill. Under the bill, an affected person may contact any consumer reporting agency or user of a consumer report and request that the agency or user disregard any adverse information related to the person obtained by the agency or user with respect to the period beginning with the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020 and extending 90 days following the end of that public health emergency and state of emergency. The bill requires any consumer reporting agency or user of a consumer report that receives a request to respond to the affected person and the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety within five days of receiving the request. | In Committee |
| SR42 | Urges President Biden to cancel up to $50,000 per eligible borrower in federal student loan debts. | This resolution respectfully urges President Biden to support the 43 million people in the United States, which hold approximately $1.6 trillion of federal student loan debt by cancelling up to $50,000 per eligible borrower in student loan debt. This action would provide much needed assistance to the millions of Americans struggling under the burden of crushing student loan debt. Cancelling student debt would help close the racial wealth gap, provide aid to the disproportionately burdened women, minority, and low-income households, and help families and borrowers as a whole avoid default. The student debt crisis prevents a swift economic recovery from COVID-19 and further, restricts opportunity and prosperity for millions of Americans and their families. Cancelling the debt would provide consumer-driven stimulus and provide relief for those who are struggling during the pandemic and the associated recession. Student debt cancellation may result in greater home-buying rates and housing stability, expanded access to affordable financial products, higher college completion rates, higher incomes, increased geographic mobility, job creation, higher GDP, and greater small business formation. | In Committee |
| S1101 | Requires front-loading clothes washing machines and dryers to have child safety locks; requires installation of safety locks and warning for machines previously purchased without child safety locks. | This bill requires front-loading clothes washing machines and dryers to be equipped with child safety locks. The bill also requires that safety locks be installed by the vendor at the manufacturer's expense on machines previously purchased without child safety locks, and that notices and warning stickers are issued to consumers who previously purchased machines without child safety locks. Front-loading clothes washing machines and dryers can pose a potential risk of harm to young children who may play or hide inside and become trapped. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), since 2014, there have been at least three deaths, and 3,000 injuries to children five years or age and younger related to washing machines. This bill prohibits a person from selling or offering for sale in this State a front-loading clothes washing machine or front-loading clothes dryer that is not equipped with a child safety lock. A "child safety lock" is defined under the bill to mean a device or locking mechanism of a clothes washing machine or clothes dryer that: is installed in the machine during the machine's manufacture or, in accordance with the provisions of the bill, installed on a previously sold machine that was not equipped with a child safety lock; prevents the door of the machine from being opened; cannot be removed except through the use of a key, combination, or other method of access; and meets the standards established by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. Under the bill, in addition to the liability for any injury sustained because a front-loading clothes washing machine or dryer was not equipped with a child safety lock, a person who violates the provisions of the bill is to be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for the first offense; and not more than $10,000 for the second or subsequent offense. A manufacturer of front-loading washing machines and dryers sold in the State is required under the bill to provide safety locks approved by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs for installation in front-loading washing machines or dryers not equipped with a child safety lock to any vendor that sold the machines prior to the effective date of the bill. The manufacturer is required to coordinate with the vendor to ensure installation of the child safety locks, which shall be installed at the manufacturer's expense. A manufacturer also is required to prepare a notice warning of the risks the machines may pose to children, and a sticker to be adhered to the machines warning of the dangers of not using a child safety lock and provide the notice and sticker to any vendor that sold the manufacturer's machines not equipped with a child safety lock prior to the effective date of the bill. A vendor also is required under the bill to contact any consumer who purchased a front-loading clothes washing machine or front-loading clothes dryer not equipped with a child safety lock prior to the effective date of the bill to coordinate the installation of a child safety lock, which is to be installed at the manufacturer's expense. A vendor also is required to provide a warning notice and sticker to the consumer. Finally, the bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to establish standards for front-loading clothes washing machine and dryer safety locks and the notice and warning stickers required under the bill, and to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1091 | Requires landlords to provide tenants with certain notice concerning conditions that may cause damage or hazards on rental property. | This bill provides that when a landlord receives written notice from an entity responsible for work on an adjoining property clearly stating that work will be conducted on the adjoining property, including but not limited to, construction, rehabilitation, or demolition, that may cause damage or hazardous conditions to the landlord's property, the landlord would be required to provide a copy of the notice to tenants of the landlord's property. Under the bill, the landlord is required to provide tenants with notice within five business days of the landlord's receipt of the written notice. If the landlord, either directly or through an agent, intends to conduct hazardous work on a property adjoining a property occupied by the landlord's tenant, then the bill would require the landlord to provide notice to the tenant prior to the work's commencement. The bill specifies that the notice may be provided to each affected tenant by mail, by posting in at least one conspicuous area where the information is most likely to be viewed by tenants, or by electronic delivery. A landlord who fails to provide an affected tenant with the notice would be liable to a penalty of not more than $200 for each offense, recoverable by a summary proceeding under "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The Superior Court, Law Division, Special Civil Part in the county or the municipal court of the municipality in which the landlord's property is located would have jurisdiction to enforce this penalty. Under the bill, a "landlord" is defined as any person who rents or leases, for a term of at least one month, commercial space or residential dwelling units other than dwelling units in a premises containing not more than two such units and seasonal rental units, or in an owner-occupied premises of not more than three dwelling units and seasonal rental units, or in hotels, motels, or other guest houses serving transient or seasonal guests. | In Committee |
| SR40 | Urges Federal Bureau of Investigation to categorize white supremacists as domestic terrorists. | This Assembly resolution urges the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to classify as domestic terrorism those crimes committed by members of white supremacy and white nationalist groups in the United States. Prioritizing domestic terrorism cases will result in the allocation of more resources to the investigation and prosecution of these heinous crimes. White extremists have been killing citizens in this country in an array of public places at an increasingly alarming rate. Since 9/11, almost three times as many terrorist attacks in the United States have been by white supremacists and other far-right extremists than by Islamic terrorists. There is no federal crime of domestic terrorism with which these perpetrators specifically can be charged. The FBI defines domestic terrorism as the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or Puerto Rico without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives. Despite the rise in violence attributed to white supremacist and nationalist groups, the FBI often classifies these acts as hate crimes or gang-related crimes, rather than domestic terrorism. The FBI accords domestic terrorism cases higher priority than hate and gang crimes, which results in more resources, including the assignment of counterterrorism agents, being dedicated to fight domestic terrorism. When deadly hate crimes are not classified as terrorism, the crimes often are investigated and prosecuted by State and local law enforcement agencies who are less equipped and have fewer resources with which to respond. Because white supremacists and white nationalists have become the face of terrorism in the United States, the crimes they commit should be considered domestic terrorism by the FBI. | In Committee |
| SCR45 | Urges President and Congress to enact "Eviction Crisis Act of 2019" and "Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2019." | This concurrent resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact the "Eviction Crisis Act of 2019" and the "Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2019," to ensure all families can live in an affordable, stable home. In the United States, three out of every four low income households in need of housing assistance are denied federal help due to chronic underfunding of federal assistance programs. Additionally, six million families with children lack stable housing, are at risk of losing their homes, or live in unsafe or overcrowded conditions. In 2016, 2.3 million eviction filings were made in courthouses across the United States and one in 50 renters was evicted from their home. In 2017, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that more than eight million households with very low income pay more than 50 percent of their household income for housing costs, making it extremely difficult to pay for transportation, child-care, food, medical expenses, and other necessities. In 2018, over 150,000 New Jersey families faced eviction, and on average three out of four New Jersey families in poverty who rent spent at least half of their income on housing, leaving these families with little extra money for addressing unexpected expenses. The federal "Eviction Crisis Act of 2019," a bi-partisan bill introduced by United States Senators Michael Bennett (D-Colo.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), addresses the national housing crisis crippling millions of Americans by improving data and analysis on evictions, reducing preventable evictions and eviction-related consequences, and improving information on tenant screening reports. The federal "Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2019," a bi-partisan bill introduced by United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), addresses the lack of housing vouchers available throughout the nation by creating an additional 500,000 housing vouchers over five years for low-income, high-need families with young children. | In Committee |
| SJR38 | Designates October of each year as "Bullying Prevention Month." | This joint resolution designates the month of October of each year as "Bullying Prevention Month" in New Jersey. Bullying is a type of aggressive conduct in which a person intentionally causes another person discomfort or harm, and can be carried out in verbal and physical forms or through more indirect means such as social media. More than one out of every five American students report that they have been bullied. Additionally, roughly 5 to 15 percent of students are chronic victims of bullies and 7 to 12 percent of students are chronic bullies. Victims of bullies tend to be seen as different from other students, including by height or weight or if they are new to school. Bullies are typically easily angered, act aggressively towards adults, show minimal empathy towards students who they or others victimize, and needs to dominate. Parents and schools are encouraged to intervene to stop bullying if they see it, document the behavior they witnessed, and work at providing a supportive network for students who are bullied. Schools are obligated to provide safe spaces for students and send an explicit message that bullying will not be tolerated. In addition, the amount of cyberbullying has almost doubled between 2007 and 2016. Parents are encouraged to limit or monitor the use of technology by children to help combat cyberbullying. | In Committee |
| S1085 | Prohibits sale, distribution, and manufacture of jewelry containing cadmium. | This bill would prohibit the sale, distribution, import, or manufacture of jewelry that contains more than 0.03 percent cadmium by weight. Under the bill, the Director of Consumer Affairs or any manufacturer, distributor, or importer of jewelry who discovers that a type of jewelry contains more than 0.03 percent cadmium by weight would have to issue an immediate recall for that type of jewelry. Within 48 hours of receiving notice of the recall, retail mercantile establishments would be required to remove the jewelry from displays and make it unavailable for purchase. Within 14 business days, a retail mercantile establishment would be required to return all inventory of the jewelry to the manufacturer, distributor, or importer from which it was obtained, at the cost of the manufacturer, distributor, or importer. The manufacturer, distributor, or importer would then have 60 business days to dispose of the jewelry in a manner and location designed to remove it from access by the public. A violation of the provisions of the bill would be considered an unlawful practice under the "Consumer Fraud Act," P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and would be 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. Additionally, a violation of the "Consumer Fraud Act" 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. The bill would take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment. | In Committee |
| S1084 | Shortens timeframe for municipality to rehabilitate certain abandoned property. | This bill would reduce the time a municipality has to wait before acting to rehabilitate abandoned property under the "Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act," P.L.2003, c.210 (C.55:19-78 et al.). Currently, a property has to be unoccupied for six months before the municipality may designate the property abandoned and begin the process to take possession of the property under that law. This bill would reduce that timeframe to three months. The bill would help speed the rehabilitation of abandoned properties, which create a range of problems for the communities in which they are located. | In Committee |
| S1083 | "Homeless Bill of Rights." | This bill would establish the "Homeless Bill of Rights." The purpose of this Bill of Rights is to ensure that no person should suffer unnecessarily or be subject to unfair discrimination based on his or her homeless status. The bill establishes the following rights to be afforded to all persons experiencing homelessness:· the right to use and move freely in public spaces, including, but not limited to, public sidewalks, public parks, public transportation and public buildings, in the same manner as any other person, and without discrimination on the basis of the person's housing status;· the right to equal treatment by all State and municipal agencies, without discrimination on the basis of housing status;· the right not to face discrimination while seeking or maintaining employment due to the lack of permanent mailing address, or their mailing address being that of a shelter or social service provider because of the person's housing status;· the right to emergency medical care free from discrimination based on the person's housing status;· the right to vote, register to vote, and receive documentation necessary to provide identity for voting without discrimination due to the person's housing status;· the right to protection from disclosure of records and information provided to homeless shelters and service providers to State, municipal and private entities, without appropriate legal authority; and the right to confidentiality of personal records and information in accordance with all limitations and disclosure established by the federal Homeless Management Information System, the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-191, and the "Violence Against Women Act of 1994," Pub.L.103-122;· the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy in the person's personal property to the same extent as personal property in a permanent residence; and· the right to enter a homeless shelter while in the possession of a service dog as defined in the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.). The bill provides that a prevailing plaintiff in any civil action alleging a violation of the provisions of this bill may be awarded appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief, actual damages, and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. | In Committee |
| S1109 | Requires urgent care facility health care providers to possess same credentials and degrees applicable to hospital emergency room health care providers. | This bill requires that any health care provider employed by an urgent care facility in this State is to possess the same credentials or degrees that would be required of the health care provider if that health care provider was employed in an emergency room department of a general acute care hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). The bill defines "urgent care facility" to mean a health care facility that offers episodic, walk-in care for the treatment of acute, but not life-threatening, health conditions. The bill defines "health care provider" to mean an individual who provides a health care service to a patient, and includes, but is not limited to, a licensed physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, or any other health care professional acting within the scope of a valid license or certification issued pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. | In Committee |
| S1081 | Requires developers of residential housing to provide low, moderate, and middle income housing or pay fee. | This bill would require certain projects with 30 or more residential units to reserve 25 percent of the units for very low, low, moderate, and middle income housing. The bill establishes a schedule under which a developer would be required to complete a certain percentage of the very low, low, moderate, and middle income housing units upon the completion of a certain percentage of the market rate housing units. The municipality would be permitted to withhold the certificate of occupancy for market rate units, at any stage of development, if the requirements of this schedule are not satisfied. The developer would be permitted to develop the residential units reserved for very low, low, moderate, and middle income housing offsite of the project, provided that the units are developed within the municipality in which the project is located. Any residential unit reserved for very low, low, moderate, and middle income housing would have to continue to be so reserved for a period of at least 98 years, according to the current affordability standards. For a project that is not age-restricted, at least 30 percent of all the very low, low, moderate, and middle income housing units would have to be two bedroom units and at least another 20 percent of these units would have to be three bedroom units. Under the bill a municipality may, instead of requiring the construction of very low, low, moderate, and middle income housing units, require a developer to pay a development fee in an amount equal to 30 percent of the total project cost; provided, however, that the amount of that fee would be 25 percent of the total project cost if the project achieves a silver rating according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System as adopted by the United States Green Building Council. If such a fee is required, it would have to be paid prior to the issuance of a construction permit for the project. These fees would have to be placed into an affordable housing trust fund and spent on the development of very low, low, or moderate income housing within the municipality. Alternatively, half of these fees may be placed into an affordable housing trust fund and spent on the development of very low, low, or moderate income housing within the municipality, and the remaining half placed into a community center trust fund and spent on the development of community centers. Nothing in this bill would affect the obligation of a municipality to plan and zone to provide through its land use regulations a realistic opportunity for a fair share of its region's present and prospective needs for very low, low, and moderate income housing. Additionally, nothing in this bill would alter the obligations of a developer or municipality to comply with the terms of a court- or agency-approved agreement or fair share plan, or to prevent a municipality from creating or enforcing requirements beyond the minimum requirements established in this section. Also, the bill would not apply to a project that is identified by block and lot or other specific reference in a court- or agency-approved agreement or fair share plan. Lastly, the bill requires the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to adopt rules and regulations effectuating the provisions of the bill on or before the first day of the fourth month next following the effective date of the bill. | 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 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 34 | Senate | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 | |
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 34 | Assembly | Democrat | Out of Office | 01/29/2018 | 01/12/2024 |