Legislator
Legislator > Alex Sauickie
State Assemblymember
Alex Sauickie
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 12
In Office - Started: 09/15/2022
contact info
Cream Ridge Office
405 Route 539
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Phone: 609-758-0205
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Crossed Over |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | This bill would strengthen the legal protections provided to farmers under the "Right to Farm Act." Specifically, the bill would allow farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the defense of bad faith complaints against commercial agricultural operations, activities or structures when a county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), as applicable: 1) finds the farmer is entitled to the irrebuttable presumption established under the "Right to Farm Act"; and 2) determines, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the complaint was brought in bad faith and all or a portion of the costs and attorney fees are reasonable. Under the "Right to Farm Act," the established irrebuttable presumption is that a commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice does not constitute a public or private nuisance, or does not otherwise invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property, if: 1) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure conforms to agricultural management practices recommended and adopted by the SADC, or the specific operation or practice of the commercial agricultural operation has been determined to constitute a generally accepted agricultural operation or practice, either by the appropriate county agriculture development board or the SADC, as applicable; and 2) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice complies with all relevant federal and State statutes and regulations, and does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety. Under the bill, a farmer seeking an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees would submit an application therefor to the county agriculture development board or the SADC as applicable, after being found entitled to the irrebuttable presumption. The county agriculture development board or the SADC would then determine, whether a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | Passed |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | This omnibus bill addresses riot and certain violent crime committed during the course of riot. Presently, a person is guilty of riot if he participates with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct with an unlawful purpose, enumerated in the statute. This bill amends subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:33-1, riot, and expands the categories of riot to include aggravated riot, inciting a riot and aggravated inciting a riot. Under the bill, a person commits riot if the he participates in a violent public disturbance involving an assembly of three or more persons, acting with a common intent to assist each other in violent and disorderly conduct, resulting in (1) Injury to another person; (2) Damage to property; or (3) Imminent danger of injury to another person or damage to property. A person who commits a riot when he or any other participant, known to him, uses or plans to use a firearm or other deadly weapon is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Otherwise riot is a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. New subsection b. is added to N.J.S.2C:33-1 to provide a person commits aggravated riot if, in the course of committing a riot, he: (1) Participates with 25 or more other persons; (2) Causes serious bodily injury to a person not participating in the riot; (3) Causes property damage in excess of $5,000; (4) Displays, uses, threatens to use, or attempts to use a deadly weapon; or (5) By force, or threat of force, endangers the safe movement of a vehicle traveling on a public street, highway, or road. A person who commits aggravating riot commits a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. New subsection c. is added to N.J.S.2C:33-1 to provide a person commits inciting a riot if he willfully incites another person to participate in a riot, resulting in a riot or imminent danger of a riot. A person who commits inciting a riot commits a crime of the third degree. New subsection d. is added to N.J.S.2C:33-1 to provide a person commits aggravated inciting a riot if he (1) Incites a riot resulting in serious bodily harm to another person not participating in the riot; (2) Incites a riot resulting in property damage in excess of $5,000; or (3) Supplies a deadly weapon to another person or teaches another person to prepare a deadly weapon with intent that the deadly weapon be used in a riot for an unlawful purpose. A person who commits aggravated inciting a riot commits a crime of the second degree. Under the bill, a person arrested for a violation of N.J.S.2C:33-1 shall be held in custody until brought before the court for a pretrial detention hearing. The bill does not prohibit constitutionally protected activity such as a peaceful protest. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:33-7, obstructing highways or other passages, to provide that it shall be unlawful for a person, having no legal privilege to do so, to purposely or recklessly obstruct any highway or other public passage whether alone or with others. No person shall be deemed in violation of this subsection solely because of a gathering of persons to hear him speak or otherwise communicate, or solely because of being a member of such a gathering. The amendment leaves intact subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:33-7, which concerns refusal to obey a reasonable official request or order to move. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1, Assault. Currently, paragraph (5) of subsection b. enumerates specific circumstances when aggravated assault occurs. This bill adds that a person is guilty of aggravated assault if he attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another in the course of a riot. Aggravated assault under this circumstance is a crime of the third degree, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1 further elevates simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against certain categories of persons, including when committed against a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the officer's duties while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of authority or because of the officer's status as a law enforcement officer, and is graded as a crime of the third degree. Under the bill, if, in the course of a riot, an object is thrown at certain emergency personnel including law enforcement officers, or if the emergency personnel is struck, whether or not with an object, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a first offense of a crime of the third degree shall not apply, and a mandatory period of six months imprisonment shall apply. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:17-3, criminal mischief, to add an additional category to the offense. Under the new provision, a person is guilty of criminal mischief if he, without the consent of the owner thereof, willfully and maliciously defaces, injures, or otherwise damages by any means a memorial or historic property, and the value of the damage to the memorial or historic property is greater than $200. The bill grades this offense as a crime of the third degree where the damage is to a memorial or historic property. The bill provides that "historic property" means any building, structure, site, or object that has been officially designated or approved for inclusion, or which meets the criteria for inclusion, in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places pursuant to P.L.1970, c.268 (C.13:1B-15.128 et seq.) as a historic building, historic structure, historic site, or historic object through a federal, state, or local designation program. "Memorial" means a plaque, statue, marker, flag, banner, cenotaph, religious symbol, painting, seal, tombstone, structure name, or display that is constructed and located with the intent of being permanently displayed or perpetually maintained; is dedicated to a historical person, an entity, an event, or a series of events; and honors or recounts the military service of any past or present United States Armed Forces military personnel, or the past or present public service of a resident of the geographical area comprising the state or the United States. A court shall order any person convicted of violating this provision to pay restitution, which shall include the full cost of repair or replacement of such memorial or historic property. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:18-2, burglary, to add an additional circumstance to the grading scheme. Under the bill, burglary is a crime of the second degree if it occurs during a riot or an aggravated riot and the perpetration of the burglary is facilitated by conditions arising from the riot. The section is further amended to provide that "conditions arising from the riot," means civil unrest, power outages, curfews, or a reduction in the presence of or response time for first responders or homeland security personnel. A person arrested for committing a burglary during a riot or aggravated riot may not be released until the person appears before a judge at a pretrial detention hearing. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:20-2, theft, to add an additional circumstances to the grading scheme. Under the bill, theft is a crime of the second degree if the property stolen is law enforcement equipment, valued at $300 or more, that is taken from an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in R.S.39:1-1. "Emergency medical equipment" means mechanical or electronic apparatus used to provide emergency services and care or to treat medical emergencies. "Law enforcement equipment" means any property, device, or apparatus used by any law enforcement officer as defined in section 3 of P.L.1993, c.220, (C.52:17B-161) in the officer's official business. If the property is stolen during a riot or an aggravated riot prohibited under section N.J.S.2C:33-1 and the perpetration of the theft is facilitated by conditions arising from the riot; the theft is committed after the declaration of emergency is made, and the perpetration of the theft is facilitated by conditions arising from the emergency, the theft is a crime of the second degree. Under the bill, the term "conditions arising from the riot" means civil unrest, power outages, curfews, or a reduction in the presence of or response time for first responders or homeland security personnel and the term "conditions arising from the emergency" means civil unrest, power outages, curfews, voluntary or mandatory evacuations, or a reduction in the presence of or response time for first responders or homeland security personnel. Third degree theft is elevated to a crime of the second degree if the property is stolen during a riot or an aggravated riot prohibited under N.J.S.2C:33-1 and the perpetration of the theft is facilitated by conditions arising from the riot; the property is stolen after the declaration of emergency is made, and the perpetration of the theft is facilitated by conditions arising from the emergency. A person arrested for committing a theft during a riot crime, or other crime amended by the bill, may not be released until the person appears before a judge at a pretrial detention hearing. The bill amends N.J.S.59:2-2, concerning public entity liability to provide that a municipality has a duty to allow the municipal law enforcement agency to respond appropriately to protect persons and property during a riot or an unlawful assembly based on the availability of adequate equipment to its municipal law enforcement officers and relevant State and federal laws. The bill creates the new offenses of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication. Under the bill, mob intimidation occurs when a person, assembled with two or more other persons and acting with a common intent, to use force or threaten to use imminent force, to compel or induce, or attempt to compel or induce, another person to do or refrain from doing any act or to assume, abandon, or maintain a particular viewpoint against his or her will. A person who violates this section commits a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A person arrested for a violation of this section shall be held in custody until brought before the court for a pretrial detention hearing. Under the bill, cyber-intimidation by publication occurs when a person electronically publishes another person's personal identification information with the intent to, or with the intent that a third party will use the information to (a) Incite violence or commit a crime against the person; or (b) Threaten or harass the person, placing such person in reasonable fear of bodily harm. A person who violates this subsection commits a crime of the fourth degree. The bill establishes an affirmative defense in an action for personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage when that action arose from an injury or damage sustained by a participant acting in furtherance of a riot. The bill establishes a procedure to appeal law enforcement funding reduction proposal in local budgets. This bill is modeled closely on Florida Laws ch.6; 2021 Fla. HB 1. | In Committee |
| AR197 | Calls upon Cranbury Township Committee to reconsider proposed use of eminent domain to seize historic Henry Farm; calls for State eminent domain reform. | This resolution of the General Assembly calls upon Cranbury Township to reconsider the township committee's proposed use of eminent domain to condemn and take the historic Henry Farm, and thereby reduce the acreage of active farmland in the township and the State. The resolution further call upon the Governor and Legislature to limit the use of eminent domain and to reconsider State laws that solve a housing crisis by creating a food insecurity crisis. If carried to its logical conclusion, the State's "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), will replace farmland with housing creating a greater need for farmland to feed the increased population, thus solving one crisis by creating another. Andy and Christopher Henry are the current owners of their family's 21-acre farm, which has been in the family for generations since their great grandfather bought the land in 1850. The Henry brothers have invested more than $200,000 into maintaining the land since they took ownership of the farm 12 years ago. In March 2024, Cranbury Township began its process to identify sites that could help meet its affordable housing requirements, and the brothers received a letter in April 2025 stating that their property was being considered as a site to meet the township's affordable housing requirements. The brothers were further informed that if a deal could not be reached with the family to sell the property, the township could take the farm through eminent domain. The township committee unanimously approved an ordinance on May 12, 2025 authorizing and directing the township to initiate proceedings pursuant to "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), to acquire for public use, by voluntary conveyance or by condemnation, a fee simple or lesser title interest in the lands and improvements of the Henry Farm. Cranbury Township residents packed committee meetings to support the Henry family, with many echoing calls to consider other sites and questioning when the township will push back on State housing mandates. Andy Henry has said he has no intention of selling the land and plans to fight the township's plans to take it by eminent domain, and that he wishes to keep the farm with the Henry family. Andy Henry has further stated that the "farm represents exactly what [the] town prides itself on," further noting that the farm "has open space, rich history, and a farmhouse." Despite objections from dozens of residents, the Cranbury Township Committee approved the plan to acquire the Henry family farm to meet State-mandated affordable housing requirements. The issues around the use of eminent domain in this case are greater than just the acreage of the Henry farm itself, and raise broader societal implications for the preservation of agricultural heritage in the Garden State. Cranbury Township has a long farming tradition that should be respected, and its historic district, which includes buildings from the 19th Century, was originally created as a place to serve local farmers and the agriculture industry. Cranbury Township has in recent years preserved over 2,000 acres of farmland, and Cranbury Township's plan to seize the property goes against Cranbury's long-standing farmland preservation efforts. Seizing of the farm also runs contrary to the New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program's stated goal of permanently preserving 500,000 acres of farmland by 2050 This House calls upon the Township of Cranbury to reconsider its use of eminent domain to take active farmland. | In Committee |
| A5884 | Prohibits condemnation of farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production for purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production. | This bill amends P.L.1971, c.361 to prohibit the condemnation, or taking of private property for a public purpose under the power of eminent domain pursuant to that law, of a property that is farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production and the person or entity seeking to condemn the property intends to develop that property for a purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production. New Jersey has a stated goal of preserving 500,000 acres of farmland, which it is just over halfway to achieving. To obtain this goal the State needs to have as much active farmland as possible and should not allow it to be taken through eminent domain for non-agricultural purposes. Eminent domain is a tool to be used by the government to promote public projects, such as damns, roads, and parks, not a hammer to be used to take private property for use by other private entities to make money for themselves and the government that approves it. This bill will narrow the scope of the eminent domain law and protect farms that are needed to provide food security for citizens. | In Committee |
| A5882 | Expands "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program." | The bill expands the "New Jersey Security Grant Program" (NJNSGP) coordinated by the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP). This program supports certain nonprofits by providing grants for both security personnel and target hardening equipment. This bill expands the program to include security-related training and planning and increases the recommended funding for all grants. The bill also permits applicants to qualify for all categories of grants in a grant cycle. Currently, the "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program" (NJNSGP) provides grants from annually appropriated funds to eligible nonprofit organizations to: (1) hire certain permanent or temporary security personnel, up to $10,000; and (2) acquire target-hardening equipment, up to $50,000. The bill increases the maximum grant from $10,000 to $50,000 per approved application for personnel or security-related training or planning, and from $50,000 to $150,000 for target-hardening equipment. The bill also requires the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to annually request, as part of its annual budget proposal, a minimum of $10 million to fund the grants authorized pursuant to this section. Currently, the annual request amount in statute is $2 million. According to the sponsor, there is an increased need to protect nonprofit organizations, mostly religious nonprofits, from threats and attacks. The current law limits the number and type of grants that may be requested. It also does not take into account the impact of inflation on the cost of personnel and equipment. As tensions grow domestically and worldwide, it is imperative to expand the program. This expansion will allow more flexibility and enable a rapid response to threats to our New Jersey communities. | In Committee |
| A5874 | Provides property tax deduction up to $5,000 to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability rating less than 100 percent. | This bill would provide an annual deduction for 100 percent of the property taxes, up to $5,000, assessed to honorably discharged veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces and suffered a service-connected disability that is rated less than 100 percent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Under current law, a veteran who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been or shall be declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor to have a service-connected disability of 100 percent, is entitled to a 100 percent property tax exemption. The bill would provide that any such veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor to have a service-connected disability of less than 100 percent would receive an annual deduction for 100 percent of the property taxes assessed to the veteran in any tax year, up to $5,000. In the case of such a veteran whose annual property tax bill in any tax year is less than $5,000, that tax bill would be canceled. This property tax deduction would be in addition to the $250 veterans' property tax deduction that is currently provided for all honorably discharged veterans. The bill would also require the State Treasurer to annually reimburse taxing districts for 102 percent of the amount of the property tax deductions granted to honorably discharged veterans under the bill. | In Committee |
| A2163 | Requires DMVA notify certain veteran organizations and county officers and municipal registers of names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide a monthly report to veteran organizations, county officers, and municipal registers of the names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries the previous month. The bill also requires that a representative of the person buried or cremated in a State veteran cemetery sign a waiver before the information may be released. The department may transmit and receive the reports and waivers electronically. The monthly reports and waivers will be confidential and not subject to the law commonly referred to as the open public records act. Veteran organization means a veteran organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. | Crossed Over |
| A5841 | "Grid Reliability Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from decommissioning electric generation facilities in State under certain circumstances. | This bill, to be known as the "Grid Reliability Protection Act," would prohibit State agencies from mandating the retirement of electric generation facilities in the State under certain circumstances. Under the bill, a State agency is prohibited from mandating, incentivizing, or otherwise compelling any electric generation facility in the State connected to the State's electrical grid from deactivating unless: (1) PJM Interconnection certifies, in writing, that the facility's deactivation will not negatively impact regional grid reliability, capacity adequacy, or energy market prices; and (2) the Board of Public Utilities conducts a public rate impact analysis showing the deactivation will not materially increase costs to ratepayers. The bill also provides an exception if the electric generation facility poses a risk to public health and safety. Finally, the bill provides certain public notice requirements for any deactivation of an electric generation facility in the State connected to the electric grid serving New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A5840 | Establishes Power Generation Training Center to train workers in nuclear and non-nuclear power generation. | This bill establishes the Power Generation Training Center in, but not of, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The center is intended to serve as a centralized training and workforce development initiative focused on preparing individuals for employment in power generation industries, including nuclear and non-nuclear technologies. Under the bill, the center will operate as a public-private partnership among the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, labor unions, public and private utilities, and other relevant stakeholders. The center may utilize the facilities of public institutions of higher education or other appropriate training centers, including existing energy training facilities. The center's responsibilities include developing curricula in consultation with industry experts, educational institutions, and organized labor; providing instruction, apprenticeships, and training opportunities; supporting workforce pipelines for underserved communities and displaced workers; facilitating certification programs; and aligning educational pathways with workforce needs in the power generation industry. The center will be governed by a board consisting of nine members, as follows: the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, the Secretary of Higher Education, the President of the Board of Public Utilities, or their designees, one representative from the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, one representative from a labor or union organization with expertise in energy and utility work; two public members with relevant experience in the power generation industry to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; and two representatives with relevant experience in the power generation industry, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. The center will be headed by an executive director, who will receive compensation without regard for Title 11A of the Revised Statutes. The executive director will be responsible for the selection of properly qualified staff of the center. The bill authorizes the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to allocate funds to fulfill the provisions of the bill from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-50), the societal benefits charge P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60), and other funding sources the Legislature may appropriate. The center may also seek assistance from public or private sources or federal funding opportunities. According to the sponsor, this bill is needed because New Jersey has lost approximately 20 percent of its energy generating capacity and has become a net importer of energy. This loss of capacity has also contributed to the decline of good-paying jobs in the energy generation industry. To regain its status as an energy-generating State, New Jersey must build more energy generation infrastructure and begin training a workforce to operate it. This bill begins that process of preparing the next generation of energy producers. | In Committee |
| A5843 | Requires BPU to allow certain bidding practices during basic generation service auctions. | This bill requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (board) to expand the bidding supply periods in basic generation service (BGS) auctions for certain customers. Currently, the BGS auction for Residential Small Commercial Pricing (RSCP) customers includes a staggered three-year rolling procurement process, where a RSCP customer's bill reflects the average of three, three-year term contracts. This bill allows electric generation service providers to bid for one, two, and three-year supply periods in BGS auctions for RSCP customers and requires the selection of the most price competitive bids. It is the sponsor's belief that three-year supply periods may increase the cost of electricity , as there may be upward pressure on pricing due to a need to account for certain unknowns. It is the sponsor's belief that shortened timing for supply periods, as seen in similar auctions in certain other states, may present an opportunity to provide lower utility costs for certain New Jersey BGS customers. | In Committee |
| A5842 | Exempts individuals under 18 years of age from resident and nonresident fishing license fees. | This bill exempts individuals under 18 years of age from the fees associated with obtaining either a resident or nonresident fishing license in the State. The intent of the bill is to remove financial barriers that may prevent youth from participating in outdoor recreational activities. By waiving the fishing license fee for minors while maintaining the license requirement, this bill promotes greater access to the State's abundant natural resources and encourages young people to engage in healthy, outdoor pastimes that foster appreciation for wildlife, the environment, and State natural resources. | In Committee |
| A5771 | Requires victim notification concerning termination of sex offender's obligation to register and requires court to enter or continue restraining order for victim of sex offense under certain circumstances. | This bill requires victim notification concerning the termination of a sex offender's obligation to register and requires the court to enter or continue a restraining order for a victim of a sex offense under certain circumstances. The sponsor believes that victims of sex offenses should have the right to be informed of a potential change in the status of the offender when that offender requests to be removed from the registry of sex offenders. Those victims should also be guaranteed the opportunity to appear at any hearing on the matter and to address the court at that time. Should the court grant the offender's request to be removed, the victim should be informed of that as well. Additional protections through restraining orders should also be provided. Under current law, with certain exceptions, a person required to register under Megan's Law may make an application to the Superior Court to terminate the obligation to register upon proof that the person has not committed an offense within 15 years following conviction or release from imprisonment, whichever is later, and is not likely to pose a threat to the safety of others. Under the provisions of this bill, upon receipt of an application to terminate the obligation to register as a sex offender, the court is required to notify the victim of the sex offense for which the person is required to register of the filing of the application and the date, time, and location of any hearing on the application. The bill provides that the victim has the right to appear at the hearing and make a statement to the court regarding the victim's position on the application. The court also is required to notify the victim if the application is granted and the person's obligation to register is terminated. In addition, current law provides that when a defendant charged with a sex offense is released from custody before trial on bail or personal recognizance, the court authorizing the release may, as a condition of release, issue an order prohibiting the defendant from having any contact with the victim. Under the provisions of this bill, the court is required to issue an order prohibiting the defendant from having any contact with the victim if the victim consents to the order being entered. Current law also provides that when a defendant is found guilty of a sex offense, the court may, at the time of sentencing, order the continuation of a prior order or condition of bail that restricts the defendant's contact with the victim, or enter an order imposing these restrictions at the time of sentencing. Under the provisions of this bill, the court is required, at the time of sentencing, to order the continuation of a prior order restricting the defendant's contact with the victim or enter an order imposing these restrictions if the victim consents to the continuation or entering of the order. Further, the bill provides that an order entered under this provision is to remain in effect until modified or terminated by further order of the court. The court is not to modify or terminate an order without the consent of the victim. The bill provides that this provision is to apply to any orders in effect on the bill's effective date and any orders entered on or after the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| A5770 | Prohibits application of State aid growth limit on certain school districts in 2025-2026 school year. | This bill prohibits the application of any State aid growth limit to the amount of uncapped fiscal year (FY) 2026 State school aid calculated for a school district that experienced a net decrease in actual State school aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. Under the FY 2026 State aid notices, the Department of Education calculated the amount of uncapped equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security aid, and transportation aid for which a school district would be eligible in the 2025-2026 school year. The department then determined that no school district would be eligible for an increase in the sum of these aid categories of greater than six percent when compared to the amount of State school aid the district received in these aid categories, plus any adjustment aid the district may have received, in the 2024-2025 school year. If the increase in the district's FY 2026 uncapped State school aid total in these categories is greater than six percent, the department reduced the sum of the district's State aid entitlement in these categories through the application of a State aid growth limit so that the increase is no greater than six percent. This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Education from applying any State aid growth limit to increases in a school district's uncapped State school aid for the 2025-2026 school year if the school district experienced a net decrease in the amount of State school aid received between the 2017-2018 school year and the 2024-2025 school year. | In Committee |
| A4799 | Establishes "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program" in EDA. | Establishes "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program" in EDA. | In Committee |
| A5726 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain SPRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of the SPRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, this bill serves as an initial step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of the SPRS, the State will begin this process with retired State police to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among retirees of the SPRS expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of the SPRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of the SPRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by SPRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of SPRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through resolutions or through changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| A5727 | Requires legislative approval of funding for certain BPU plans, programs, and projects. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utility (board), prior to undertaking a plan, program, or project with a cost exceeding $1 million that has not already been included in the board's approved annual budget for the fiscal year, to submit to the Legislature a written, detailed explanation of the proposed plan, program, or project, including, but not limited to: (1) an outline of the plan, program, or project; (2) the cost estimate of the plan, program, or project; (3) the objectives and expected outcomes of the plan, program, or project; and (4) a justification for additional funding outside the approved annual budget. The Legislature is required to adopt a concurrent resolution to approve or disapprove funding for the plan, program, or project. Under the bill, emergency plans, programs, or projects implemented in response to a federally-declared emergency are exempt from the legislative approval requirements under the bill. Instead, the board is to report emergency plans, programs, or projects to the Legislature within 30 days of implementation. | In Committee |
| AR190 | Expresses no confidence in BPU. | This resolution expresses no confidence in the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The BPU is charged with regulating the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy in New Jersey, and it is required to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in the State. However, the price of electricity in New Jersey is over 27 percent higher than the national average, and the average monthly electric bill in New Jersey is expected to increase approximately 17 to 20 percent in June 2025 following the Basic Generation Service auction, the results of which were certified by the BPU. A BPU commissioner has been quoted encouraging ratepayers to reduce consumption, and saying that dissenting views within the BPU are often "dismissed and marginalized." Because of the foregoing reasons, the General Assembly no longer has confidence that the BPU will ensure energy is provided to New Jersey ratepayers at an affordable and reasonable rate, and no longer has confidence that the board can successfully mitigate the impacts of rising energy costs for New Jerseyans. | In Committee |
| S3353 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | An Act concerning housing for resident farm employees on commercial farms, and amending and supplementing P.L.1983, c.31. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1825 | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | An Act concerning step therapy protocols and supplementing Titles 30 and 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5659 | Establishes "New Jersey Commission to Reform the Assessment and Taxation of Residential Real Property." | This bill establishes a commission in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, to be known as the "New Jersey Commission to Reform the Assessment and Taxation of Residential Real Property," to examine the property tax system in New Jersey in its entirety and identify ways in which the system can be revised and improved in order to reduce the property tax burden on New Jersey residents who own residential real property. The bill directs the commission to recommend such amendments to the New Jersey Constitution and revisions to statutory law as may be necessary to: eliminate inequities in the current system of property taxation regarding the assessment of residential real property; ensure greater uniformity in the application of property taxes on residential real property; reduce residential property taxes as an overall share of local revenue; lessen the dependence of local government on residential property taxes; and establish alternative sources of revenue to permanently and reliably fund local government services, including education funding. The commission would include 11 voting members, appointed as follows: (1) the State Treasurer, ex officio, or the State Treasurer's designee; (2) one public member appointed by the President of the Senate; (3) one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; (4) one public member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; (5) one public member appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; and (6) six public members appointed by the Governor, of whom at least two members reside in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and at least one member resides in an urban area, suburban area, and rural area of the State, respectively. The bill requires each public member to have knowledge, expertise, and practical experience in county and municipal government, economic analysis, governmental finance and fiscal management, real property assessment and valuation, and the implementation, practice, administration, and regulation of property tax policy. A public member may not be a nominee for, or hold, an elective office. The bill requires the commission to issue a final report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations no later than 18 months following its organization, and provides that the commission would expire 30 days following the date of the issuance of that report. The report is to be made available to the public electronically, through a link prominently displayed on the official website of the Department of the Treasury. | In Committee |
| ACR163 | Recognizes role of natural gas in New Jersey's energy policy goals and declares natural gas clean fuel. | This concurrent resolution recognizes the role of natural gas in New Jersey's energy policy goals and declares natural gas a clean fuel. New Jersey has long been committed to improving the environment and reducing the overall carbon footprint of New Jersey's energy sector. Natural gas is a vital component of New Jersey's energy mix, providing reliable and affordable energy for homes, businesses, and industries across the State. Natural gas is recognized as one of the cleanest available sources of energy compared to other conventional fuels such as coal and oil, with a significantly lower carbon dioxide emission per unit of energy produced according to the Energy Information Administration. Natural gas usage in transportation, electricity generation, and residential and commercial heating results in a reduction in harmful emission compared to other conventional fuels, making natural gas an essential part of New Jersey's strategy for achieving its greenhouse gas reduction targets. Natural gas is a fuel that plays a critical role in the State's broader energy policy to reduce air pollution and invest in energy efficiency. | In Committee |
| A5650 | Requires BPU to publish third-party energy supplier information on its Internet website; establishes public awareness campaign on retail choice. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to examine the Internet websites of public utility regulatory bodies in other states with deregulated energy sectors to determine which state has the most helpful and user-friendly information for electric public utility customers and gas public utility customers looking to exercise their right to retail choice. No later than 90 days after making this determination, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the board is to publish information on its Internet website concerning electric power suppliers and gas suppliers that do business in the State, which information is required to: (1) be modeled off the information published on the website of the state selected by the board under the bill; (2) educate the public in plain language on the benefits of exercising retail choice through an electric power supplier or gas supplier; and (3) be published in a user-friendly manner. In addition, the bill requires the board to establish a public awareness campaign to educate electric public utility and gas public utility customers on: (1) the benefits of exercising retail choice; and (2) how to utilize the information pertaining to electric power suppliers and gas suppliers, as updated pursuant to the bill's provisions, on the board's Internet website. In New Jersey, since the enactment of the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" in 1999, electric public utility and gas public utility customers have had the ability to exercise retail choice by selecting their own electric power supplier or gas supplier. However, according to the board's Internet website, as of February 2025, only 6.2 percent of the State's residential electric public utility customers and 2.5 percent of the State's residential gas public utility customers obtain their energy supply through an electric power supplier or gas supplier. With this bill, the sponsor intends to better educate the public on its right to exercise retail choice. | In Committee |
| A5652 | Prohibits BPU from authorizing rate increases for electric and gas public utilities that charge inclining block rates for residential customers. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities (board) from authorizing any rate increase by an electric public utility or a gas public utility where the utility assesses a charge that includes an inclining block rate for residential customers. Utilities have historically utilized inclining block rates to encourage energy conservation by charging higher rates once a customer's usage exceeds a certain threshold. However, according to the December 9, 2024 report prepared for the board titled, "An Assessment of Energy Affordability in New Jersey and Alternative Policy and Rate Options," inclining block rates are outdated and are not cost-reflective, meaning that the rates do not reflect the actual cost of generating that power. It is the sponsor's intent to eliminate this rate structure, which is expected to reduce electricity rates for residential customers during the summer months. | In Committee |
| A5654 | Requires legislative approval for energy master plan to become State policy. | This bill would require that the State's energy master plan (EMP), and each 3-year revision of the EMP, would only be considered State policy if the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution approving the EMP within six months after its adoption. | In Committee |
| A5656 | Establishes Office of Energy Generation Ombudsman in Department of Treasury; requires State agencies to prioritize permit review and approval process for projects that result in increased electricity production. | This bill would establish the Office of the Energy Generation Ombudsman in the Department of the Treasury. The purpose of the Office of the Energy Generation Ombudsman would be to: serve as a resource to provide informational and support services to energy producers in the State regarding rules and regulations governing energy generation, provide dispute resolution services between State agencies and applicants of energy generation permits, and develop best practices for the permitting of energy generation throughout the State. Under the bill, the duties of the Energy Generation Ombudsman would include, but not be limited to: (1) serving as a source of information and assistance for energy producers in the State to navigate local, State, and federal laws and regulations governing energy generation; (2) providing advice and assistance on the process of obtaining and renewing permits of any kind relating to energy generation; (3) acting as a liaison between the permitting offices for State agencies and local government units; (4) overseeing State agencies to ensure prioritization of energy generation projects; (5) gathering information from energy producers and prospective energy producers on impediments to energy generation in the State; (6) identifying patterns of complaints that emerge regarding the permitting processes related to energy generation facilities; (7) assisting the Department of the Treasury in developing and disseminating information to acquaint and educate energy producers and prospective energy producers about the services offered by the Office of Energy Generation Ombudsman; and (8) serving as a resource for energy generation-related information and referral to other available programs and services for energy producers and prospective energy producers in the State. This bill would require State agencies to prioritize the review and approval process for permits and other authorizations for projects that would result in an increased amount of electric energy produced and made available to the electricity transmission and distribution system in the State. The bill would apply broadly to any approval or permit granted by a State agency, and would explicitly include a variety of environmental permits and permits issued by the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to the State's Uniform Construction Code. Additionally, the bill would require the Office of Energy Generation Ombudsman to make an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature that would include a summary of the services the ombudsman provided during the year, recommendations on changes to the existing laws, rules, regulations, programs, policies, and initiatives of the Department of the Treasury, Department of Environmental Protection, Board of Public Utilities, and any other department or agency of State government or any local organization, as appropriate, that concern energy generation that will promote energy efficiency projects or that will promote the expansion of energy generation Statewide, and any other specific recommendations the ombudsman deems appropriate and necessary. | In Committee |
| A5636 | Revises definition of child abuse or neglect to include persons between 18 and 21 years of age in certain settings. | This bill revises the definition of child abuse or neglect to include persons between 18 and 21 years of age in certain settings. Specifically, the bill amends the definition of "child" in section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21) to mean any (1) person less than 18 years of age alleged to have been abused or neglected, or (2) any person less than 21 years of age alleged to have been abused or neglected, or subject to exploitation by a teacher, employee, contractor, or volunteer, whether compensated or uncompensated, of an institution responsible for the care or supervision of that person, as regulated by the Department of Children and Families (department), including employees of day schools. The bill also amends the definition of "abused or neglected child" in section 1 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21), so that the term will also apply to persons between 18 and 21 years of age. Although the department regulates and funds services for individuals with disabilities under the age of 21, the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) in the Department of Human Services currently conducts investigations involving persons between the age 18 and 21 in department-regulated facilities on behalf of the department and forwards all investigatory materials and findings to the department. This bill will transfer full investigatory responsibility to the department for the populations served and settings regulated by the department, which is accomplished by revising definitions and other provisions in the statute pertaining to the department and child abuse to reflect the full range of ages under the department's jurisdiction for persons up to 21 years of age in regulated facilities. The bill also updates section 3 of P.L.2010, c.5 (C.30:6D-75) to eliminate conflicting and superfluous references to the department, since the statute applies to individuals receiving services from the Department of Human Services. | In Committee |
| A5653 | Requires electric public utilities to develop service restoration plans for certain communities on well water or septic systems. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to require an electric public utility to identify each private well water and septic community within the utility's service territory and to develop a priority service restoration plan for each community in the event of a sustained interruption of an electrical public utility's service following a major event. The bill further requires the priority service restoration plans to include at least one watering station, at least one water tanker truck, and any other water resource in accordance with the community's needs. The bill also requires each electric public utility to provide all priority service restoration plans within one year of the effective date of this bill. Finally, this bill requires the board to post all priority service restoration plans upon the Internet website of the board. The purpose of this bill is for these communities to receive the same service restoration as other facilities, which is essential to the general public welfare. Because private well water and septic communities are exceptionally susceptible to negative health outcomes in the event of a disruption, it is the sponsor's intent that these communities' needs are addressed in a timely manner. | In Committee |
| A5638 | Establishes "Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee" in DHS; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a temporary "Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee" (advisory committee) in the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS). The purpose of the advisory committee will be to: (1) critically review select cases of adults over the age of 18 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who were survivors of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have passed away; (2) evaluate government systems' responses to cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who resided in a variety of settings including private homes, congregate settings, and State-funded placement; (3) identify areas for improvement in preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation against adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; explore methods to enhance accountability concerning cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation among State-funded disability services providers; and (4) suggest measures to fortify the reporting and investigatory process concerning cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to improve the investigatory experience for disability services clients and their families. The advisory committee will be composed of 13 members to be appointed by the Commissioner of Human Services, as follows: a licensed physician with experience providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; a representative from the Bureau of Guardianship Services; a representative from Adult Protective Services; an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability; two family members of an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability; a representative from the Division of Developmental Disabilities; a representative from the Department of Children and Families; a professional with experience in child abuse investigations in New Jersey; a representative from the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability; a representative from a Department of Children and Families-contracted or funded residential provider agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who 18 years of age or older; a representative from a Division of Developmental Disabilities-licensed residential provider agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are 21 years of age or older; and a representative from Disability Rights New Jersey. The advisory committee will have the duty and responsibility to: (1) develop and implement protocols and procedures that allow the advisory committee to operate in accordance with applicable State and federal laws; (2) identify, and conduct a thorough review of, select cases of deceased adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are survivors of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; (3) collect, analyze, and interpret data and information obtained from the selected cases reviewed under the bill; (4) assess the effectiveness of government systems in responding to, and identifying, instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities while receiving services from State-funded or State-licensed agencies, and identify practices that help maintain the health and safety of individuals with disabilities; (5) assess the effectiveness of government systems in responding to and assessing instances of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and (6) submit the advisory committee's findings and recommendations to the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families. The Department of Human Services may contract with a consultant to support the committee with project management, research, and technical expertise to assist the advisory committee in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities under the bill. The bill authorizes the DHS and the Department of Children and Families to provide confidential client information and records to the advisory committee. The bill establishes certain recordkeeping and confidentiality requirements and protections for the advisory committee, its members, and its activities. No later than 27 months after the effective date of this bill, the Commissioner of Human Services will review the advisory committee's findings and recommendations and prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. This report is required to: summarize the advisory committee's findings and recommendations; detail the strengths of current procedures concerning the provision of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the State; and compare the State's current process for providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with other states in the country. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services such sums as are necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. The provisions of the bill will take effect 90 days after the date of enactment, except that the Commissioners of Human Services and Children and Families may take any necessary anticipatory administrative action in advance. This provisions of the bill will expire upon submission of the report required under the bill. | In Committee |
| A5648 | Extends for five years date of certain greenhouse gas emissions and clean energy goals. | This bill delays for five years, from 2050 to 2055, the date the State is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels, as required pursuant to the "Global Warming Response Act," P.L.2007, c.112 (26:2C-37 et seq.). The bill also delays for five years, from 2030 to 2035, the date that 35 percent of the kilowatt hours sold in the State by each electric power supplier and each basic generation service provider is required to be from Class I renewable sources. Finally, the bill would also delay, from 2030 to 2035, the date by which the State is required to achieve the goal of 2,000 megawatts of energy storage, pursuant to P.L.2018, c.17 (C.48:3-87.8 et al.). The deadlines mandated by current law are unattainable given the current energy production and use status in the State. To attempt to comply will lead to either harmful life-altering decreases in energy use or equally harmful increases in energy prices. New Jersey residents are beginning to feel the impact of 20 percent increases in energy costs due in part to these pending deadlines. The rationing of energy by price on our citizens is not the proper solution and care must be taken to regain the balance of energy production, use, and conservation that is needed to keep costs affordable. This bill gives the State time to achieve this balance. | In Committee |
| A5661 | Requires public utilities to send certain information concerning rate increases to customers. | This bill requires public utilities to inform customers about potential rate increases and how customers can express their support or opposition. The bill requires a public utility that has filed a petition with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to increase an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof, to notify its affected customers of the filing. The notice is to be provided with each customer's first utility bill following the date of the filing and is required to include, at a minimum: (1) a summary of the contents of the public utility's filing; (2) the reasoning for the filing; (3) a statement of the filing's impact on affected customers; (4) information about any public hearings concerning the filing; and (5) how affected customers can testify in support of or in opposition to the filing. The bill also requires public utilities to allow customers to opt in to receive email notifications containing information about hearings related to petitions filed by the public utility with the board to increase an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof. With this bill, the sponsor intends to help the public better know the actions taken by utilities and the BPU, the impacts of actions taken by these entities, and how to communicate the customer's views of the actions with those entities. | In Committee |
| A5658 | Requires State to bear costs of interconnection of net-metered, residential, Class I renewable energy systems. | This bill would require the State to bear the reasonable costs of the interconnection of all new net-metered, residential, Class I renewable energy systems to the grid, beginning six months after the bill's enactment. The bill would also require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a grant program to distribute funds to electric public utilities or their customers, in order to cover the interconnection costs. The bill would authorize the BPU to utilize moneys collected through the societal benefits charge to fund the grant program. | In Committee |
| A5662 | Establishes Energy Facilities Siting Commission. | This bill establishes the Energy Facilities Siting Commission (Commission), in but not of the Department of the Treasury. The purpose of the commission is to prepare and publish to its Internet website criteria for the siting of new or expanded energy facilities; propose and adopt site designations for the number, location, and type of new or expanded energy facilities needed in the State; deny or grant applications to construct energy facilities at designated sites and promote energy production in New Jersey by minimizing the amount of restrictions placed on where energy facilities can be located throughout the State. The commission will consist of five members, with at least one member that resides in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Three will be experts in the energy industry, one will have experience in engineering, and one will have experience in commercial land use and planning. The bill authorizes the commission, amongst other things, to: hold public meetings or hearings within this State on any matter related to the location and operation of an energy facility; to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill; and to authorize energy facilities to be constructed and operated in a manner that is exempt from State and local land-use regulations. The bill directs the commission, within one year of the effective date of the bill, to prepare and publish to its Internet website criteria for the siting of new energy facilities. The bill directs the commission to design the criteria to promote energy production throughout the State by reducing the limitations on where energy facilities are sited. The bill directs the commission, by various dates established in the bill, to: (1) prepare and make available to all interested persons preliminary criteria for the siting of new energy facilities; (2) conduct public meetings on the preliminary criteria in the several geographic areas of the State; (3) consider and evaluate any comments made at the public meetings, make revisions to the preliminary criteria as it deems necessary or appropriate, and schedule a public hearing on the revised criteria and hold public hearing on the revised criteria; (4) evaluate comments made at the public hearing, make such changes to the revised criteria as it deems necessary or appropriate, and adopt and publish to its Internet website final criteria for the siting of new energy facilities. Additionally, the bill directs the commission to propose and adopt site designations for the location, number and type of new energy facilities. The bill outlines the process by which sites are to be proposed and adopted and guidelines for how the commission will determine suitable proposed sites. Under the bill, all new or expanded energy facilities cannot commence construction without site certification. The commission is to review all applications for site certification which will be prescribed by commission. The bill establishes the review process by which all applications for site certification are to occur. Furthermore, the bill allows for the commission to construct and operate an energy facility at a site designated by the commission, in the event there are no applications for site construction by a private owner or operator of an energy facility. The bill exempts construction and operation of the facility on a site designated by the commission from all State and local land-use laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations. The bill allows an owner or operator of an energy facility which has received site certification to construct and operate that facility without regard to any local zoning ordinance or approval of a local zoning board. Under the bill, the commission may designate additional or alternative sites by request of anyone in the energy industry and at the request of an affected municipality or on its own, repeal or withdraw any adopted site for a new energy facility. The bill is to supersede and preempt any municipal or county rule, regulation, code, or ordinance concerning the regulation of siting energy facilities. The bill allows the commission to adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary for the performance of their respective responsibilities. Under the bill, the owner or operator of an energy facility located at a site which was adopted by the commission pursuant this bill is be eligible for any applicable State funding or grant programs. Finally, the bill amends State law regarding the siting of any energy facility in any part of New Jersey to reflect the board's control over siting along with the process of siting energy facilities as established by this bill. | In Committee |
| AR188 | Urges Governor to declare energy generation emergency in New Jersey. | This Assembly Resolution urges the Governor to declare an energy generation emergency in the State and take the necessary steps to prioritize increased energy transmission and generation capacity. Energy production is fundamental to the State's economic stability, security, and its citizens' quality of life. New Jersey has lost over 20 percent of it generating capacity over the last eight years and has gone from a net energy exporter to a net energy importer. The demand for reliable and efficient energy sources is accelerating across the nation. New Jersey should be ready to meet increasing demands for energy generation and energy independence. | In Committee |
| A5663 | Provides CBT and gross income tax credits for certain energy infrastructure upgrades. | This bill establishes tax incentives for taxpayers whose upgrades to existing energy infrastructure creates an increase in electricity to the grid. Specifically, the bill provides a tax credit against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax based on the costs of upgrades which result in an increase of at least five percent in energy generation that is transmitted to the State's electrical grid. The tax credit is available to anyone who is a generator and demonstrates a five percent increase in electric energy. The bill defines generator as person owning, controlling, or operating a facility that produces electric energy for sale. The amount of the credit is equal to the lesser of: 75 percent of the total costs of upgrades made after the bill's effective date or $5,000,000. Under the bill, the taxpayer is required to provide the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) a certification that shows: 1) the upgrades made to the existing energy production infrastructure owned and operated by the taxpayer; 2) the amount, in kilowatt hours, of energy produced as a result of upgrades along with the amount, in kilowatt hours, of energy produced prior to the upgrades; and 3) the amount of the tax credit. The application to BPU should demonstrate how exactly the upgrades were able to create an increase, of at least five percent, in electricity transmitted to the grid. These upgrades may include, but are not limited to: improving energy efficiency, enhancing equipment technologies, integration of distributed energy and storage resources, and increased integration of renewable energy sources and storage systems. Additionally, the application should include receipts and documentation identifying the type and cost of each upgrade necessary to increase power production and any other information determined relevant by the board. The bill requires BPU to transmit a copy of any certification issued to the taxpayer and the Director of the Division of Taxation in Department of the Treasury (director). The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $100 million. The bill would require, no later than five years after the bill's effective date, the division to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing upgrades to existing energy generation infrastructure. Finally, the bill directs BPU, in consultation with the director, to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the act. | In Committee |
| ACR164 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit annual increase in assessment of real property. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require the Legislature to enact laws to limit annual increases to the assessed value of real property for property tax purposes. The laws would first require real property to be assessed as of the October 1 next following the date in which the amendment is approved by voters. Afterwards, the laws would limit annual assessment increases to no more than two percent of the real property's assessed value from the prior year. However, after a change of ownership for any property or a change in use of farmland property, the laws would also require that the property be assessed as of the October 1 of the year next following the ownership change. Thereafter, the property would be subject to the two percent limitation on annual assessment increases. The assessment limitation would apply until the next time the property changes ownership. | In Committee |
| A5660 | Requires BPU to publish plain language summary of its final decision on rate increase filings. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities to include in a board order with the board's final decision regarding a public utility's petition to increase the utility's individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule a plain language summary of the board order. Under the bill, the summary is to include: (1) a summary of the contents of the utility's petition; (2) a justification for the board's final decision on the petition; (3) a statement of the petition's impact on affected customers, if any; (4) the utility's current individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule, the new individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule, and the total amount of increase; (5) the utility's rate of return; (6) if the increase is implemented to recover the costs of infrastructure or other investments, an expected period of time by which the utility plans to recover those costs; (7) when the new individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule will take effect; and (8) any other information, as determined by the board. With this bill, the sponsor intends to ensure that consumers know what decisions are being made and how those decisions impact their utility rates and payments, especially at a time when utility rates are increasing. Language currently used in board orders makes it difficult for many consumers to fully understand the board orders' impact. | In Committee |
| A5553 | Requires BPU to establish best practices and to assess electric public utilities' compliance with BPU best practices during BPU's review of rate increase. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to establish best practices for electric public utilities and to consider a utility's compliance with such standards when reviewing an application for a rate increase. Under the bill, the board is required to identify and establish best practices for electric public utilities based on national, State, and industry standards concerning: (1) electric generation; (2) electric transmission; (3) operations and maintenance, including emergency preparedness and response and vegetation maintenance; (4) consumer education; (5) business management; and (6) affordability and cost containment. The board is required to establish objective benchmarks by which to assess an electric public utility's compliance with the board's best practices. The board is to determine what constitutes an electric public utility's adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks. While reviewing an electric public utility's request to increase its rates, the board is required to assess the utility's efforts to comply, and actual compliance, with the board's best practices. While conducting its assessment, the board is to consider, at a minimum: (1) the utility's progress towards, or actual satisfaction of, the benchmarks established pursuant to the bill; and (2) how the utility's compliance with the board's best practices compares to that of other utilities in New Jersey. Under the bill, the board is prohibited from approving a request to increase any component of an electric rate for an electric public utility that fails to demonstrate at least adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks, as assessed by the board at the time of the electric public utility's base rate case filing. In the event the board denies an electric public utility's petition for a rate increase for failing to demonstrate adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks, the board is required to provide the electric public utility a copy of its best practices benchmark compliance assessment, including remedial action steps for the electric public utility to take to demonstrate adequate progress. The board is required to make periodic revisions to the best practices as necessary to reflect the current national, State, and industry standards and to publish the best practices on its Internet website. | In Committee |
| A5555 | Provides for allocation of $100 million from available balances collected from societal benefits charge revenues for construction of new nuclear power plant. | This bill provides that in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) would, from available balances accumulated in accounts of the BPU from funds collected through the societal benefits charge imposed under current law, allocate $100 million to fund the construction of a new nuclear power plant in the State. | In Committee |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4501 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing resident farm employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | In Committee |
| A941 | Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran. | This bill provides that the total property tax exemption extended to totally disabled veterans is to be retroactive to the effective date of the determination of the veteran's total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill also requires that the governing body of each municipality return all taxes collected on the veteran's property after the effective date of the determination of total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the amount of such property taxes returned to a totally disabled veteran pursuant to the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5480 | Permits certain winery license holders to sell Department of Agriculture "Secretary Select" wine under certain circumstances. | This bill permits the holder of a plenary or farm winery license to sell New Jersey Department of Agriculture "Secretary Select" wine at retail to consumers for consumption on or off the licensed premises of the winery and to offer samples for sampling purposes only, provided that no less than 50 percent of the wine sold by the licensee each year has been produced on the licensed premises. To bring public attention to wines produced in this State and promote the State's wine industry, the secretary announced that he would begin selecting certain New Jersey wines to be introduced to consumers as "Secretary Select" wines. The sponsor intends for the bill to further bring public attention to New Jersey produced wine by permitting the State's licensed wineries to sell "Secretary Select" wine to consumers. The sponsor believes this bill will benefit the State's wine industry by providing consumers with additional purchase options when visiting a winery and spreading awareness about the many high-quality, New Jersey-produced wines available for purchase in this State. | In Committee |
| A5483 | Authorizes shared service agreements to facilitate provision of affordable housing. | This bill authorizes the use of shared service agreements by municipalities to meet affordable housing needs established by the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.). The bill authorizes a municipality to enter into a shared service agreement with any other municipality or municipalities in the State to transfer a portion of the fair share affordable housing obligation of one or more sending municipalities to one or more receiving municipalities. The bill provides that a shared service agreement between one or more sending and receiving municipalities is to be permissible regardless of whether the sending and receiving municipalities are in the same housing region. The bill prohibits a municipality from entering a shared service agreement to transfer more than 50 percent of its obligation to any one receiving municipality. The bill requires a shared service agreement to be approved by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). After approval of a shared service proposal by DCA, an approval determination signed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner), would be submitted, along with the shared service proposal, to the Attorney General and the Division of Local Government Services in DCA. The bill also requires the Attorney General to also review the proposal to ensure that the inclusionary requirements established by the Supreme Court in its Mount Laurel decisions are not violated. The bill would require payments associated with shared service agreements to be submitted by the sending municipality to DCA. Before the department forwards a payment to the receiving municipality, the payment details would be reviewed and approved by the Attorney General. | In Committee |
| A5485 | Prohibits public utilities from recovering cost of legal penalties. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving a public utility's request to recover the cost of legal penalties through the public utility rates charged to ratepayers after the bill's effective date. The bill defines "legal penalties" to mean any payment made by a public utility for legal wrongdoing or otherwise improper action committed by the public utility or its affiliate. | In Committee |
| A5482 | Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of purchasing and installing whole house backup electrical generator or home backup battery system for resident taxpayer's principal residence. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction from a resident taxpayer's gross income for the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for the purchase and installation of a whole house backup electrical generator or home backup battery system installed at the taxpayer's primary residence. Under the bill, a whole house backup electrical generator is defined as a natural gas or liquid gas propane fuel powered generator that is permanently connected to the electrical system of a one or two-family residential structure and only operates in the event of a power outage in order to provide backup electrical power to the residential structure. The bill also defines a home backup battery system as a system of batteries and similar devices that accept, store, and release electricity on demand, using chemical properties or other technologies, including but not limited to lithium-ion, lead-acid, sodium-ion, and flow batteries, with a capacity of three kilowatt-hours or greater, that is permanently connected to the electrical system of a one or two-family residential structure and provide backup electrical power to the residential structure. To qualify for the deduction, the generator also is required to have been installed, inspected, located, and permitted according to any applicable State and local governing unit laws, regulations, code, or ordinance requirements. The function of the generator or home backup battery system is to provide back-up electrical power for the entire residence when electric power from the local electric utility is interrupted. The tax deduction allowed in this bill will encourage New Jersey homeowners to take steps to ensure their own power supplies and reduce their reliance on electricity supply grids that are vulnerable to blackouts caused by circumstances such as extreme weather, flooding, and drought. Back-up electrical power can protect anyone in the home who depends on a medical device, oxygen tank, CPAP machine, humidifier, air conditioning, or another appliance or device that requires electricity. Keeping home medical devices functioning through a whole house generator or backup battery system would reduce demand on emergency medical services and police during outages. A homeowner may also avoid an indoor flood caused by a burst pipe or inoperable sump pump during an interruption of their electricity supply during severe winter weather. A homeowner may also avoid the loss of well water supply that relies upon an electric-powered well pump. | In Committee |
| A3169 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | In Committee |
| A5430 | Repeals certain energy reduction and reporting requirements for electric and natural gas usage. | In 2018, New Jersey enacted P.L.2018, c.17 (C.48:3-87.8 et. al.), commonly known as the Clean Energy Act of 2018 or CEA, which, in part, directed the Board of Public Utilities (board) to require each electric and gas public utility to develop energy efficiency (EE) and peak demand reduction (PDR) measures. In doing so, the CEA directed the board to require each electric public utility to achieve a two percent annual usage reduction of the average annual usage in the prior three years within five years of implementing an EE program. Simultaneously, the CEA directed the board to require each gas public utility to achieve a 0.75 percent annual usage reduction of the average annual usage in the prior three years within five years of implementing an EE program. The CEA further authorized the board to conduct certain studies on energy usage reduction and implement their findings, allowing for future higher annual usage reduction requirements. In 2020, the board issued an order setting the current annual usage reduction requirements of 2.15 percent and 1.10 percent for electric and gas utilities, respectively. Under the CEA, electric and gas public utilities are presently required to submit annual petitions demonstrating compliance with the EE and PDR requirements, and are eligible for cost recovery of the EE programs. The board is authorized through the CEA to evaluate these petitions based on a series of metrics, including quantitative performance indicators (QPRs), and then assess certain penalties or incentives against or for the public utilities. This bill repeals the requirement for a two percent and .75 percent reduction in average annual electric and natural gas usage, respectively. The bill further repeals the authority for the board to conduct certain studies on energy usage reduction and implement their findings, which has resulted in the current annual usage reduction requirements of 2.15 percent and 1.10 percent for electric and gas utilities, respectively. The bill also repeals the authority for the board to: (1) create QPIs; (2) assess performance incentives or penalties based on the utilities' compliance with the requirements set by the board; and (3) establish a stakeholder process to evaluate the economical achievability of these programs. In addition, the bill repeals the requirement for gas and electric public utilities to submit annual petitions demonstrating compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements. The bill further repeals the energy efficiency cost recovery procedure, which electric and gas public utilities currently are allowed to file in addition to their base rate case filing. It is the sponsor's belief that the CEA's energy usage reduction requirements are no longer in line with the current administration's objectives, which include promoting increased electrification of vehicles and certain appliances, as well as the development of an artificial intelligence hub in New Jersey. Achieving these objectives will likely require additional generation from public utilities regulated by the State. If left in place, the CEA's energy usage reduction requirements may lead to an increase in the cost of electricity and natural gas. It is the sponsor's intent to realign New Jersey's clean energy goals with the State's primary responsibility of ensuring New Jersey residents have access to affordable energy. | In Committee |
| AJR219 | Designates September of each year as "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month" in NJ. | This bill designates September of each year as "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscular degenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of muscle tissue and function. DMD is caused by genetic mutations on the X chromosome, which affects approximately 1 out of every 3,500 male infants. Symptoms of DMD generally present between ages two and three and rapidly progress, with many individuals with DMD requiring wheelchair assistance between ages 10 and 12 and a breathing ventilator by age 20. Individuals with DMD may also experience paralysis and cardiopulmonary complications, including difficulty breathing or heart failure. DMD is a fatal disease with an average life expectancy of 25 years. While there is no cure for DMD, non-profit organizations across the country and in New Jersey are dedicated to raising awareness of DMD, advocating for improved care and access to treatment, and funding research to cure this devastating disease. Efforts to improve patients' access to treatment are critical as research indicates that optimal care can help to significantly increase the life expectancy for individuals with DMD. In addition, increasing awareness of DMD may help promote empathy and understanding, foster a sense of community, strengthen advocacy efforts, and encourage social and emotional support for the young people and families affected by DMD. To join and support ongoing public awareness and advocacy efforts, September of each year is designated as "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation annually to recognize September of each year as "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month" and call upon relevant State agencies, organizations, and citizens of the State to observe the month with appropriate awareness activities and programs. | In Committee |
| AJR218 | Recognizes importance of nuclear energy in NJ. | This joint resolution recognizes the importance of developing nuclear energy as source of reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity in the State. Currently, there are three nuclear power plants in New Jersey which account for 42 percent of the electricity consumed in the State. Not only do these nuclear power plants provide jobs for hundreds of individuals, but are the key to diversifying the available energy sources in New Jersey. Developing nuclear power plants will foster alternative sources of energy which is critical to maintaining stable and reliable electricity generation Statewide. | In Committee |
| A5405 | Makes FY2025 supplemental appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund to Department of Environmental Protection for avian carcass removal and disposal. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations act to make an appropriation of $100,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection to remove and dispose of bird carcasses including for such activities by local governments, including retroactive reimbursements therefor. The funds may also be disbursed as grants to local governments for the same purpose. These funds would support the Division of Fish and Wildlife's efforts to remove contaminated bird carcasses from public environments, in response to the 2025 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. | In Committee |
| A5397 | Requires Commissioner of Education approval for publicly funded out-of-State travel by school district employees and board of education members of certain school districts. | This bill requires the prior written approval of the Commissioner of Education for publicly funded out-of-State travel by school district employees and board of education members of certain school districts. The bill applies to school districts that according to the most recently available information derive 70 percent or more of the district's total revenue from State aid revenue sources. Under the bill, the superintendent of schools is to obtain the prior written approval of the commissioner in order for any school district employee to attend a publicly funded out-of-State travel event, provided that the superintendent has approved the travel pursuant to current law. The superintendent of schools is to obtain the commissioner's approval before seeking approval by a majority of the full voting membership of the board of education pursuant to current law. The bill also requires the board of education of a school district to obtain prior written approval of the commissioner in order for any board of education member to attend a publicly funded out-of-State travel event. The board is to obtain the commissioner's approval prior to obtaining the approval of a majority of the full voting membership of the board pursuant to current law. | In Committee |
| A5401 | Requires public utilities to provide Energy Star-rated product and appliance rebates at time of sale. | This bill requires a public utility that offers a rebate program for the purchase of residential products and appliances bearing the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label as part of its energy efficiency program or peak demand reduction program, as approved by the Board of Public Utilities, to provide the purchaser the option to have the rebate amount deducted from the final sale price of an eligible Energy Star-rated product or appliance at the time of sale. The public utility is required to determine the eligibility requirements for the rebate on a purchase of an Energy Star-rated product or appliance. The intention of this bill is to make receiving certain Energy Star-rated appliance rebates easier for the consumer. If a consumer is able to deduct the rebate amount from the final sale price of a product or appliance, the consumer may be more likely to purchase the Energy Star-rated product or appliance, therefore increasing the conservation of energy. This bill seeks to assist public utilities in being more proactive in the promotion of Energy Star-rated appliances and products. | In Committee |
| A5399 | Requires BPU to impose penalties during audits. | This bill provides the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) additional means to ensure the compliance of public utilities with the BPU's audit procedure. The bill requires the BPU to assess a civil penalty of $500 for every day after a public utility is put on notice that the public utility has failed to provide sufficient information for the BPU to complete an audit of that public utility. Currently, when the BPU determines that an audit of a public utility is necessary or desirable, the BPU may initiate an audit and request information such as accounting and personnel records from that public utility in order to complete the audit. The New Jersey Division of the Rate Counsel has indicated that certain audits of public utilities have gone uncompleted due to a lack of cooperation from the entities being audited. It is the sponsor's intent to ensure that when the BPU determines that an audit of a utility is necessary or desirable, the entity under audit provides sufficient information to complete the audit in a timely manner. | In Committee |
| A5403 | Authorizes State Agriculture Development Committee to develop and maintain region-specific list or dedicated pool, or both, of tax and estate planners to facilitate development of installment purchase agreements for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would amend the State's farmland preservation laws to authorize the State Agriculture Development Committee (committee) to establish and maintain a list of tax and estate planners located in the region, or to hire a dedicated pool of tax and estate planners, or both, in order to facilitate the acquisition of farmland, for preservation purposes, on an installment purchase basis. The bill would require the committee to include, in its list or dedicated pool of tax and estate planners, only those tax and estate planners who are located in the region and are appropriately licensed, certified, or otherwise qualified to provide tax and estate-related guidance, advice, and assistance to landowners in the State, in association with the development of agreements authorizing the acquisition of farmland on an installment basis. The bill would further authorize the committee, as well as any local board or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization which is authorized to engage in the acquisition of farmland, and any landowner who is offering or considering offering farmland for sale for preservation purposes, to select and utilize any tax or estate planner identified on the committee's list or included as a member of the committee's dedicated pool, in order to: 1) determine whether, and the extent to which, it is feasible and in the parties' best interests to proceed with the transfer of the development easement or fee simple title on an installment purchase basis, taking into consideration all of the potential and actual federal, State, and local tax and estate-related concerns and implications associated therewith, as identified by the planner and parties; and 2) if the transfer of such easement or title, on an installment purchase basis, is determined to be feasible and appropriate, identify and recommend, for inclusion in the final and negotiated installment purchase agreement, the specific contractual terms and provisions necessary to address all relevant tax and estate-related concerns and issues, and provide other advice and assistance necessary to facilitate and ensure the effective structuring of the final and negotiated installment purchase agreement, for tax and estate purposes. | In Committee |
| A5400 | Re-locates certain energy incentive and all utility assistance programs to new Office of Energy Management; establishes common application platform for utility assistance programs. | This bill establishes the Office of Energy Management (office) in the Department of the Treasury and directs the State Treasurer to appoint a Director of the Office of Energy Management to oversee the office's operations. Under the bill, the office is required to: (1) administer all energy incentive programs formerly administered by the Board of Public Utilities (board) and all utility assistance programs formerly administered by the board, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Human Services that exist at the time of the bill's effective date as well as all new energy incentive and utility assistance programs that are established after the bill's effective date; (2) develop and update, as necessary, a common application platform for all utility assistance programs; (3) provide technical and information assistance to persons applying for energy incentive and utility assistance programs; and (4) coordinate with other State and federal agencies, as necessary, to facilitate the transfer of responsibilities for the administration of energy incentive and utility assistance programs from other State agencies to the office. Under the bill, the common application platform is required to allow an applicant to: (1) identify all utility assistance programs available to New Jersey residents; (2) determine eligibility for each utility assistance program; (3) input any information or documentation that may be required by a State or federal agency as part of the application for each utility assistance program; (4) simultaneously submit applications for utility assistance programs; and (5) monitor the status of all applications for utility assistance programs submitted through the platform. The bill defines "energy incentive program" as any State program that primarily promotes energy efficiency among residential, commercial, or industrial entities. In addition, the bill defines "utility assistance program" as any State program that offers financial assistance for utility services to residential customers or otherwise establishes utility protections for residential customers. With this legislation, the sponsor intends to centralize the administration of the State's energy incentive and utility assistance programs and provide one common application process for utility assistance programs. By housing these programs in one office, New Jersey can reduce duplicative administrative costs and provide better energy and utility services to the public. In addition, the relocation of these programs will allow the board more time to focus on its role as the regulatory entity for public utilities, thereby ensuring that utility customers within the State receive affordable utility service. | In Committee |
| A5402 | Creates offense of impersonating first responder; grades offense one degree higher than underlying offense. | This bill creates the new offense of impersonating a first responder for the purpose of aiding the commission of a crime or offense. This bill is similar to N.J.S.A.2C:28-8 which makes it a crime to impersonate a public servant or law enforcement officer with purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, or to otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. A person who commits the new offense is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, the offense is classified one degree higher than the underlying offense, except that where the underlying crime is a crime of the first degree, the offense is a first-degree. Under the bill, the offense is committed if a person impersonates or dresses as a first responder, assumes a false identity as a first responder, or makes a false or misleading statement regarding their own identity as a first responder for the purpose of committing a crime or offense and commits a crime or offense in such assumed character or false identity. Under the bill, the offense is graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, a crime under this bill is classified one degree higher than the underlying offense. This bill is based upon reported instances in California of individuals impersonating first responders, specifically fire fighters battling wildfires, for the purpose of committing various crimes amid the chaos and turmoil. The November 2024 drought warning status declared by Governor Murphy and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections Commissioner LaTourette remains in effect for New Jersey. With that status, the risk for wildfires and other public health risks requiring the assistance and presence of fire and first responder personnel persists. It is the sponsors' view that taking advantage of a crisis situation to commit criminal acts warrants enhanced penalties. | In Committee |
| A5396 | Appropriates $100,000 to Department of Agriculture to promote "Secretary Select" wines. | This bill would appropriate $100,000 to the Department of Agriculture for a program to promote "Secretary Select" wines. The funds would be used to establish a program in the Department of Agriculture to promote New Jersey wines selected by the Secretary of Agriculture. "Secretary Select" wines would be identified by the Secretary of Agriculture to promote New Jersey wines and the State wine industry. The "Secretary Select" program would highlight wines that are under-appreciated in the State, and would encourage growth in an evolving industry. The selected wines would be updated regularly to acknowledge the State's variety of wine types, flavors, and purposes. | In Committee |
| A5404 | Requires school district receiving 70 percent or more of revenue from State aid to post certain information concerning out-of-State travel expenditures on Internet website. | This bill requires the boards of education of certain school districts to post on their Internet websites information on out-of-State travel expenditures. A school district would be subject to the provisions of the bill if the most recently available information indicates it derives 70 percent or more of its total revenue from State aid revenue sources. Pursuant to the bill, the district is required to post: (1) travel vouchers; (2) itemized expenses for transportation, meals, lodging, and registration or other conference fees; (3) the total number of school district employees and board of education members who received reimbursement for travel expenditures to attend out-of-State travel events during the school year; (4) the title, date, and a summary of any out-of-State travel event attended by a school district employee or board of education member; and (5) any other information deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Education. | In Committee |
| A5398 | Prohibits electric public utility residential rate increases during summer and gas public utility residential rate increases during winter. | This bill prohibits residential rate increases for electric public utilities during the summer and gas public utilities during the winter when natural gas and electric usage peaks among utility customers. Specifically, under the bill, no electric public utility rate increase for residential ratepayers is authorized to go into effect during the summer season from June 1 through August 31 (summer) and no gas public utility rate increase for residential ratepayers is authorized to go into effect during the winter season from January 1 through March 31 (winter). During the last year, the Board of Public Utilities (board) authorized electric and gas rate increases just before the peak cooling and heating seasons. Such rate increases have caused rate shock among consumers and forced many to prioritize their spending. It is the sponsor's intent to make the board aware of the impact that the timing of rate increases have on residential ratepayers and to encourage the board to work with the public to stabilize consumer energy bills. | In Committee |
| A5375 | Adds fusion to types of Class I renewable energies as defined for purposes of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act." | This bill revises the provisions of the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act," P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-51 et al.) to include fusion within the definition of Class I renewable energy. | In Committee |
| A5374 | Establishes "State Government Employee-Driven Efficiency Initiative." | This bill establishes the "State Government Employee-Driven Efficiency Initiative." The purpose of this bill is to draw upon the experience and expertise of State employees for the benefit of taxpayers and recipients of State services. While responsible government stewardship of taxpayer dollars should always be a priority, it is a particularly acute need now that the State is grappling with a multi-billion dollar structural deficit, meaning the budget is billions short of revenue to pay for its level of spending. This bill was written only months after the administration issued directives to State departments to cut spending by five percent, and to freeze discretionary pay raises and hiring, in preparation for the next State budget. With the continuation of full pension payments and the upcoming need to fully fund the Stay NJ property tax relief program for seniors, reductions and efficiencies in other State spending must be addressed to ensure such priorities can be maintained. The Office of the State Comptroller will develop, establish, and oversee the "State Government Employee-Driven Efficiency Initiative." The initiative will allow employees of any State department, board, commission, agency, authority, or instrumentality to report to the State Comptroller instances of perceived waste, fraud, or inefficiencies found in the course of their employment. The State Comptroller may investigate a report to determine the validity of the claim. If the reported claim is found to be valid, the State Comptroller will collaborate with the head of the State entity to develop a plan to correct the waste, fraud, or inefficiency. The State Comptroller and the head of the appropriate State entity may request assistance from the employee who submitted the report in order to better resolve the issue. Once the plan to correct the waste, fraud, or inefficiency is in place, the head of the State entity will determine the amount of money saved in the first full fiscal year after the plan is adopted or as a one-time savings. The initiative will provide an incentive payment in an amount equal to five percent of any savings generated in the first full fiscal year of adoption or five percent of the one-time savings, with a minimum of $500, to the employee who reported the claim of waste, fraud, or inefficiency. The State Comptroller will establish an electronic and printable form with which an employee of a State entity may submit a claim reporting perceived waste, fraud, or inefficiencies in State government. The form will require, at a minimum, identification of the employee, a detailed explanation of the perceived waste, fraud, or inefficiency, and an option for the employee to remain anonymous to any State entity employees and supervisors outside of the Office of the State Comptroller. Personal identifying information on submitted forms will not be subject to disclosure under the law commonly known as the open public records act. The home page of the Internet site for each department, board, commission, agency, authority, and instrumentality of this State will include a prominently located and clearly labeled link to the form. The form may be submitted electronically or mailed to the Office of the State Comptroller. The establishment of this form codifies a fraud, waste, and abuse complaint form displayed on the Office of the State Comptroller website. | In Committee |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A4755 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | In Committee |
| A2145 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | This bill establishes employment protections for paid first responders who are diagnosed with certain cases of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the bill, an employer would be prohibited from discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee, or threatening to do so, with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, duties, or privileges of employment on the basis that the employee took or requested any leave related to a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD. The bill provides that if an employer violates its provisions, an employee or former employee would be authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief. All remedies available in common law tort actions would be available to a prevailing plaintiff. Additionally, the bill provides that a court would be authorized to order any or all of the following relief: (1) an assessment of a civil fine of $5,000 and $10,000 for each subsequent violation; (2) an injunction to restrain the continued violation of any of the provisions of the bill; (3) reinstatement of the employee to the same position or to a position equivalent to that which the employee held prior to unlawful discharge or retaliatory action; (4) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights; (5) compensation for any lost wages, benefits and other remuneration; (6) payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees. | In Committee |
| A5338 | Repeals law prohibiting sale or distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. | This bill repeals the law establishing a ban on single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. The bill also amends a portion of the law which established a $500,000 appropriation, from the Clean Communities Fund, for a public information and education program regarding free reusable carryout bags. The amendments would remove that appropriation. Current law prohibits stores and food service business from providing or selling single-use plastic carryout bags to customers, and prohibits grocery stores from providing or selling single-use paper carryout bags to customers. The law also prohibits distribution of polystyrene foam food service products. A Plastics Advisory Council monitors the implementation of the law, and fees collected from establishments, in violation of the law, currently accrue to the Clean Communities Program Fund. It is the sponsor's intention to eliminate this law in its entirety, as it has resulted in an increased volume of waste in the State through the production and accumulation of unused bags, straws, and other disposable products. Research indicates that plastic bag bans have been associated with increased purchasing of alternative bags and containers and a resultant increase in manufacturing-related pollution. New Jersey stores and food service businesses have noticed a three-fold increase in plastic consumption since the implementation of this law, attributed to the non-recyclable material used in alternative bags. Carryout grocery bag regulations have also been associated with a 127-pound monthly average increase in the number of purchased plastics. This bill would take effect on the 60th day after the date of enactment to allow business and stores two months to restore available supplies of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. | In Committee |
| A5298 | Requires DEP and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas. | This bill would requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas. The DEP and the I-Bank finance the State's Water Bank program, which provides financing, in the form of low-interest loans, often with a certain amount of principal forgiveness, in support of wastewater and drinking water projects throughout the State. | In Committee |
| A5279 | Requires Departments of Agriculture and Education to cooperatively implement new "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative to promote and facilitate increased procurement and use of local and regional foods for school meals program purposes. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education, working in cooperation and consultation with one another, to establish and implement a "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, not more than 180 days after the bill's effective date. The purpose and goals of the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative would be to promote and facilitate the increased and expanded procurement and use, by school food authorities, and by associated food service management corporations and other third-party food vendors, for school meals program purposes, and the increased selection by students, for daily consumption under the State's school meals programs, of locally and regionally produced foods, food products, and ingredients, particularly, those produced by farmers, ranchers, and other food producers or production systems in New Jersey. This legislation is intended both to increase student awareness regarding the availability and benefits of procuring and consuming foods that are grown and produced, from the land, by individual farmers, ranchers, and other food producers in the local and regional area, and to encourage the increased purchasing and consumption, by students, of these types of locally and regionally produced, land-derived foods, as an alternative to other types of foods commonly sold by supermarkets, corner stores, and drive-through establishments. By putting a local face to the food students are eating, the State can more directly show students the benefits of eating locally and regionally grown foods, and can better demonstrate how the use of money to purchase goods produced by such local and regional farmers, ranchers, and other, similar land-based food producers can ultimately help local communities thrive. | In Committee |
| A5258 | Permits certain wineries to sell their products by the glass for consumption in licensed salesrooms. | This bill permits plenary winery license holders, out-of-State winery license holders, and farm winery license holders to sell their products by the glass for consumption in their licensed salesrooms. Under the bill, "by the glass" is defined as the selling of an individual portion of wine, or wine mixed with non-alcoholic beverages, in an open container. The sponsor intends for this bill to provide additional purchase options for consumers and increase revenue for winery license holders. | In Committee |
| A5259 | Permits certain winery license holders to sell wine produced by other winery licensees under certain circumstances; establishes supplemental wine production facility license. | This bill permits plenary and farm winery license holders who produce not more than 250,000 gallons per year to sell the wine they produce to any other plenary or farm winery license holder in this State for purposes of sale by the purchaser on the licensed premises of the winery or to sell wine to any winery outside of this State in accordance with the laws of the purchaser's state. Under the bill, wine sold to another winery is not to be considered towards the calculation of the amount of wine produced by the seller but is to be considered towards the total number of gallons produced per year by the purchasing winery. The bill provides that no less than 50 percent of the wine sold per year is required to be produced on the license holder's premises. In addition, this bill establishes a supplemental wine production facility sublicense. The holder of a plenary winery license or a farm winery license engaged in the production of wine on the licensed premises of the winery who holds a supplemental wine production facility sublicense would be entitled to produce wine at the supplemental wine production facility owned and leased by the license holder. Under the bill, the holder of this sublicense is additionally entitled, subject to rules and regulations, to transfer wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility to the licensed premises of the winery or salesroom for sale at retail to consumers and to otherwise sell and distribute wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility pursuant to the laws of the place of sale and distribution. The bill provides that any wine produced at the supplemental production facility that is not sold to another winery license holder is to be considered when calculating the total gallons per year of wine produced by the licensee for purposes of determining any fees, limitations, and eligibility for privileges that may pertain to the holder of a plenary winery license or farm winery license. The bill prohibits the sale of wine at retail to consumers on the premises of the supplemental wine production facility. Under the bill, the fee for the sublicense is $750. | In Committee |
| A5301 | Expands available protections against fraudulent recording of quitclaim deed. | This bill enhances protections against fraudulent recordings of quitclaim deeds by expressly authorizing a property owner to request notification and a delay in the recording, any time a quitclaim deed is submitted for recording on the owner's property. If a property owner submits this request, the bill requires the county recording officer (officer) to notify the property owner any time a person submits a request to record a quitclaim deed on the owner's property, and to wait to record the quitclaim deed until no less than 10 business days, and not more than 12 business days, have passed following the day when the officer sends the notification. To facilitate the notification requirement, the bill directs the officer to accept and retain a submission from a property owner of the owner's preferred mailing address or e-mail address, or both. A "county recording officer" is also known as the "register of deeds and mortgages" in some counties, and the "county clerk" in the others. A "quitclaim deed" is a form of a deed through which a grantor makes no promises concerning the extent of the present ownership of the property at issue, and no future promises concerning the property at issue, but conveys whatever estate or interest the grantor purports to have in the real property at issue. The bill allows the officer to collect a fee from property owners submitting notification requests to offset the cost of the notification requirement. The bill takes effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment in order to allow recording offices to adjust fees. | In Committee |
| A5299 | Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers. | This bill prohibits any electric public utility from increasing the rate charged to ratepayers after the bill's enactment for the purpose of recovering the cost of installing smart meters. Beginning on the date 30 days prior to, and until 30 days after, the effective date of any electric public utility rate increase, the bill requires an electric public utility to publish the following information on its Internet website and in any customer communication, including, but not limited to, a paper or electronic bill: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) information on how ratepayers can provide feedback on the impact of or file a complaint concerning the rate increase. The Board of Public Utilities (board) is authorized to impose a fine of up to $10,000 if the board finds that an electric public utility violated this requirement. An electric public utility is required to report to the federal Department of Energy any rate increase expected to result in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills, no less than 60 days prior to the effective date of the rate increase. Within its report to the Department of Energy, an electric public utility is required to include the following information: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) any measures the electric public utility may take to mitigate the rate increase's impact on ratepayer bills. An electric public utility is also required to provide to the federal Department of Energy an annual report on: (1) any trends in the duration, location, and cause of an electric public utility's electric service interruptions, including, but not limited to, a summary of electric service interruptions during the preceding calendar year; and (2) any trends in overdue bills from an electric public utility's ratepayers during the preceding calendar year. The bill prohibits an electric public utility from disconnecting electric service to or assessing a late fee for bill nonpayment to any ratepayer affected by a rate increase resulting in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills within six months following that rate increase. | In Committee |
| A2803 | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| S684 | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients's admission to long-term care facility. | An Act allowing for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients' admission to certain long-term care facilities and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5244 | Authorizes development to enhance energy production through solar panel orientation. | This bill authorizes that a municipal land use ordinance, site plan ordinance, and a municipality's master plan contain provisions ensuring authorization for the design, development, orientation, and construction of developments and other structures, in a manner that is most beneficial to the installation, use, and efficacy of an operational solar photovoltaic or solar thermal system, in a manner that maximizes solar gain. This legislation would save homeowners and developers time and money in trying to align solar systems to the sun after construction by building this alignment into the structures at the time of conception. | In Committee |
| AJR213 | Establishes New Jersey Delegation on Government Efficiency. | This bill establishes a New Jersey Delegation on Government Efficiency (DOGE). The DOGE will examine various aspects of State government to determine how to better save public funds and how to implement greater efficiencies in government functions, including, but not limited to, the elimination of any agency or government function. The bill is intended to create a State-level version of the "Department of Government Efficiency" program initiated by the current federal administration. The bill structures the hiring and supervision of DOGE members to be as nonpartisan and independent as possible. While responsible government stewardship of taxpayer dollars should always be a priority, it is a particularly acute need now that the State is grappling with a multi-billion dollar structural deficit, meaning the budget is billions short of revenue to pay for its level of spending. With the continuation of full pension payments and the upcoming need to fund the Stay NJ property tax relief program for seniors, reductions and efficiencies in other State spending must be addressed to ensure such priorities can be maintained. The DOGE will consist of the State Auditor, or a designee, who will serve as chairperson, and up to 20 members of the public who will be selected and appointed by the Delegation on Government Efficiency Selection Committee. The selection committee will include the following members: (1) the Governor, or a designee; (2) the President of the Senate, or a designee; (3) the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; (4) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or a designee; and (5) the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, or a designee. The selection committee will select and appoint public members of the DOGE from among qualified persons who submit applications to the selection committee for membership on the DOGE. An applicant will require the approval of at least four members of the selection committee to be selected and appointed to the DOGE. This ensures bipartisan agreement. The selection committee will issue a public notice on the Internet sites of each principal department in the Executive Branch of State government, the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and the Legislature soliciting applications for public membership. The public notice will include, at a minimum, instructions on how to apply to be a public member of the DOGE, details of the position requirements and approval process, and a description of the duties of a public DOGE member. The position requirements will be developed and approved by at least four members of the selection committee to ensure bipartisan agreement, and will include, at a minimum, appropriate and relevant experience of the applicant in presiding over, managing, or conducting performance audits on any large public or private enterprise, and a statement of potential conflicts of interest from the applicant. The chairperson of the DOGE may dismiss a public DOGE member for any reason, including upon the discovery of unreported conflicts of interest. Vacancies among the public membership of the DOGE due to dismissal or voluntary leave will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The selection committee may set an hourly or per diem rate to be paid to the approved public members for the duration of their tenure on the DOGE. The chairperson of the DOGE may recommend to the selection committee changes to the hourly or per diem rate established by the selection committee as the chairperson deems appropriate to attract and retain public members of the DOGE. The establishment of and any changes to the hourly or per diem rate will be subject to the approval of at least four members of the selection committee. The chairperson of the DOGE will develop a procedure by which members of the public may suggest actions or areas of review that may assist the DOGE in determining how to better save public funds and how to implement greater efficiencies in government functions. The DOGE will meet at the call of the chairperson at the times and in the places necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities. Within 20 months after the its first meeting, the DOGE will issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and recommendations upon the conclusion of its work. The report will be publicly available on the Department of the Treasury's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A5235 | Requires monthly health and fire safety inspections for mobile retail food establishments. | This bill requires monthly health and fire safety inspections for mobile retail food establishments in this State, replacing the current onerous system that often requires multiple health and fire safety inspections in a single day. The bill includes legislative findings setting forth the need for this approach and the model upon which it is based. The "South Jersey Mobile Unit Task Force" is a program developed by the Cumberland County Department of Health's Environmental Unit in conjunction with surrounding county health departments to form a Regional Mobile Food Vendor Task Force, in which participating mobile retail food establishments ("food trucks") can move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction without having to re-apply for approvals in each jurisdiction. The findings note that in 2015, the National Association of County and City Health Officials selected the "South Jersey Mobile Unit Task Force" as a model practice demonstrating exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need. The findings also state that implementation of this model practice has resulted in a more efficient and standardized regulatory process for government agencies and food trucks, and the promotion of improved food safety practices. Under the bill, each mobile retail food establishment in the State will be inspected once a month for compliance with the State Sanitary Code and the Uniform Fire Code at the location of the mobile retail food establishment's base of operation. Inspections will be conducted in accordance with standards established by the Commissioners of Health and Community Affairs. Additional health and fire safety inspections of a mobile retail food establishment may be conducted each month, provided that the mobile retail food establishment is not subject to more than one health inspection and one fire safety inspection per week and not subject to any inspection fees for the additional inspections. The governing body of a municipality that conducts a health or fire safety inspection required pursuant to this bill may establish an inspection fee in an amount equal to the cost of conducting the inspection, or equal to any inspection fee applicable to non-mobile retail food establishments, whichever amount is lower. Any entity that conducts a health or fire safety inspection pursuant to this bill will be required to report any failed inspections to the Department of Community Affairs. The Department of Community Affairs will make such information publicly available on the department's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A5234 | Authorizes State Agriculture Development Committee to maintain and use its own list of property appraisers, or to employ dedicated pool of property appraisers, or both, to facilitate valuation of land for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would authorize the State Agriculture Development Committee (committee) to establish and maintain a list of approved property appraisers, or to hire a dedicated pool of property appraisers, or both, who are members of recognized organizations of real estate appraisers, for the purposes of facilitating the prompt and accurate valuation of agricultural lands for farmland preservation purposes. The bill would further authorize any State, local, or nonprofit entity that is proposing to acquire fee simple title to, or a development easement on, farmland for preservation purposes, to select and utilize, for farmland valuation purposes, any property appraiser who is identified on the committee's list or is included as a member of the committee's dedicated pool. The committee is currently in the process of implementing recent law that establishes a formula-based appraisal process for preserving farmland. It is anticipated that this new system will stimulate greater interest in saving farmland. Currently, the committee uses a list of property appraisers maintained by the Department of Environmental Protection; however, this list does not specifically include appraisers who specialize in farmland preservation and is updated infrequently. In order to respond to the growing list of farmers who are interested in preserving their farmland, it is necessary to provide the committee with the ability to develop its own list or pool of qualified appraisers for farmland preservation purposes. | In Committee |
| A5216 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from placing time limit on coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. | This bill prohibits health insurance carriers from placing a time limit on the coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. Under the bill, a carrier (including an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in the State) will be prohibited from limiting coverage based on the amount of time in which anesthesia services are used before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. For the purpose of this bill, "anesthesia services" means the same as the prevailing medical coding standards found within the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology code for anesthesia, including anesthesia modifier codes. | In Committee |
| A3864 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain educator common application and web portal. | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five. | In Committee |
| A3899 | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | In Committee |
| A5201 | Directs DEP to develop and implement water quality, flood control, and stream restoration pilot program. | This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and implement a water quality, flood control, and stream restoration pilot program to assist counties and municipalities with projects that restore the environment, improve water quality, reduce flooding, and contribute to the storing of carbon in natural areas. The bill establishes that, under the pilot program, the DEP would provide grants for three projects, one each in the southern, central, and northern areas of the State. Projects that may be funded under the program would include stream cleaning, clearing, and desnagging, stream bank stabilization, stream dredging, restoration of historic stream beds, plans for the release of water from detention basins, dams, or other water bodies, farm practices to retain soil moisture, design and installation of pervious surfaces, restoration of historic flood plains, promotion of public use of flood plains that reduces flooding, installation of native plantings, and residential installation of flood control methods such as rain gardens, cisterns, and buried downspouts. The bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection one year after the bill's effective date, to issue a written report to the Legislature summarizing the projects undertaken and completed under the pilot program and including: 1) a description of each of the projects undertaken under the pilot program, with a description of the nature of the project, the water quality, flood control, or carbon storage objectives of the projects, and identification of the municipality and county in which the project occurred; 2) the cost of each project undertaken; and 3) any recommendations for any administrative or legislative actions that the commissioner deems appropriate and necessary to assist counties and municipalities in addressing. Finally, the bill directs DEP to allocate $1 million for the pilot program established in the bill from the moneys in the Global Warming Solutions Fund allocated for programs that enhance the stewardship and restoration of the State's streams, water quality and flood plains The bill amends current law concerning use of moneys in the Global Warming Solutions Fund to specify that stream, water quality, and flood plain projects are included in the stewardship and restoration programs authorized to receive grants from the fund. | In Committee |
| A5200 | Authorizes construction, installation, and operation of solar energy generating facilities, structures, and equipment on preserved farmland, in certain cases, pursuant to lease agreement executed between landowner and solar developer. | This bill would amend the law that authorizes the construction, installation, and operation of solar, biomass, and wind energy generating facilities, structures, and equipment on preserved farmland in certain cases, in order to specify that solar energy generating facilities, structures, and equipment may be installed or constructed, and used for solar energy generating purposes, on preserved farmland, even if the solar energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment are not owned by the landowner. When this law was first adopted, in 2009, the leasing of solar panels was not a popular solution to facilitate the provision of solar power. However, as the solar industry has matured over the years, leasing has become a viable option for landowners. This bill would update the law to reflect, and to ensure consistency with, current practices in this area. Under the bill's provisions, the owner of a preserved farm would be authorized to construct, install, and operate solar energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment on the preserved farm, so long as those facilities, structures, and equipment: 1) are owned by the landowner; 2) will be owned by the landowner upon the conclusion of the term of an agreement with the installer of the biomass, solar, or wind energy generation facilities, structures, or equipment by which the landowner uses the income or credits realized from the biomass, solar, or wind energy generation to purchase the facilities, structures, or equipment; or 3) are owned by, and will remain subject to the ownership of, the solar energy developer who installs or constructs the facilities, structures, or equipment on the land, in accordance with the terms of a valid lease agreement executed between the landowner and solar developer, which agreement includes provisions clearly identifying the boundaries and size of the land being leased for solar energy generation purposes, the duration of the lease and the options for renewal and termination thereof, the amount of rent to be paid under the lease, as well as the rent payment schedule and any adjustments required to account for inflation, the responsibilities of each party with respect to the ongoing maintenance of the solar energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment constructed or installed pursuant to the lease, the consequences of default on the lease, and the means and methods that are required to be employed, and the performance and land quality standards that are required to be satisfied, by each party, to ensure the proper and full restoration of the land, and the return of the land to its original state, following the termination of, or default on, the lease. | In Committee |
| A5202 | Prohibits electric public utilities from imposing reconciliation charge on customers. | This bill prohibits an electric public utility (utility) from imposing a reconciliation charge on its customers. Under the bill, a "reconciliation charge" means a positive dollar amount charged to utility customers by an electric public utility to help the utility recover the difference between estimated and actual costs to provide electricity service to utility customers, which costs are eligible for rate recovery and include, but are not limited to: basic generation service costs and associated administrative costs; fees; credits; taxes; and interest. It is the sponsor's intent to encourage utilities to engage in long-term financial planning and become less dependent on ratepayers to help utilities recover financial losses due to the utilities' own business decisions. | In Committee |
| A5177 | Modifies cost thresholds for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; requires State to bear full cost of nonpublic school transportation for certain school districts. | This bill modifies the cost thresholds for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs and requires the State to bear the full cost of nonpublic school transportation for certain school districts. Pursuant to current law, a school district is reimbursed for certain special education costs in the form of extraordinary special education aid. Eligible costs are: 90 percent of costs in excess of $40,000 for students educated in an in-district public school program with non-disabled peers; 75 percent of costs in excess of $40,000 for students educated in a separate public school program for students with disabilities; and 75 percent of tuition costs in excess of $55,000 for students educated in a separate private school for students with disabilities. The bill decreases the cost threshold from $40,000 to $35,000 for students educated in public school programs that are integrated into the classroom. The bill also provides for a gradual phase-in of full funding of extraordinary special education aid over the span of five years. Current law requires a school district to provide transportation services to public school students who live remote from school. "Remote" for school transportation purposes means residing more than two miles from the school of attendance for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through eight and more than two and one-half miles for students enrolled in high school. If a school district provides mandatory busing services to public school students, then it is also required to provide transportation to nonpublic school students who live remote, but no more than 20 miles, from school. The required transportation services for nonpublic school students, however, are to be provided by school districts within a maximum per pupil limit that is established on an annual basis. If a school district is unable to provide the services within the maximum per pupil limit, then the district provides students' parents with an aid-in-lieu-of transportation payment equal to that maximum amount. The State reimburses districts for nonpublic school student transportation costs above $710 per pupil and up to the maximum per pupil amount. Instead of the current reimbursement structure, this bill requires the State to cover the full costs, up to the maximum per pupil amount, to certain eligible school districts providing required transportation to eligible nonpublic school students. As defined in the bill, an eligible school district is one that is required to provide transportation to more than 5,000 students and in which 25 percent or more of the total number of students requiring transportation is comprised of nonpublic school students. It is the sponsor's intent to support school districts that experience an undue burden from providing transportation services to an extraordinary number of public school and nonpublic school students. Eligible school districts pursuant to this bill will benefit from the additional financial relief and will better enable them to provide the nonpublic school student transportation services as required by State law. | In Committee |
| A5178 | Permits blind or physically disabled voters to move to front of line at polling place. | Not all physically disabled voters want to vote by mail, and many prefer to cast their vote in a community setting. However, the need to stand and wait in long lines can make doing so difficult. This bill permits blind or physically disabled voters to move to the front of any line that may be present at any polling location in this State and be granted priority to cast their ballot or otherwise be permitted the ability to cast their ballot in an expedient manner. The bill directs the Secretary of State to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act. | In Committee |
| A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| A5176 | Authorizes creation of "250th Anniversary Revolutionary War" license plates. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue 250th Anniversary Revolutionary War license plates. The design of the license plate is to be chosen by the chief administrator, in consultation with the New Jersey Historical Commission (historical commission) in the Department of State. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees collected are to be deposited into the "250th Anniversary Revolutionary War License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be appropriated annually to support and preserve Revolutionary War sites throughout New Jersey. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the Chair of the New Jersey Historical Commission appoint a liaison to represent the historical commission in all communications with the MVC regarding the license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds may not be used by the MVC for the initial cost to implement the license plate program. The bill requires the historical commission, or an individual or entity designated by the historical commission, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for any computer programming necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the historical commission to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The MVC is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, or make any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the historical commission, or an individual or entity designated by the historical commission, has provided the MVC with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the historical commission has provided the MVC with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month following the date when the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC are provided by the historical commission or its designee. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month following the bill's enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A5179 | Requires appointment of State monitor to school districts that receive 70 percent or more of revenue from State aid. | This bill requires a State monitor to be appointed in a school district if the percentage of the school district's revenue derived from State aid is 70 percent or greater of total revenue according to the most recent information reported in the Department of Education's Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending. A monitor appointed pursuant to the bill's provisions is to have direct oversight of a board of education's business operations and personnel matters and generally have the same powers as a State monitor appointed pursuant to current State law known as the "School District Fiscal Accountability Act." According to the 2024 version of the Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending, the following school districts received 70 percent or more of their total revenue from State sources in the 2022-2023 school year: District NameCountyRevenue: State %Trenton Public School DistrictMercer86.3%Plainfield CityUnion84.7%Union CityHudson84.6%City Of Orange Twp.Essex83.3%Camden CityCamden82.8%Bridgeton CityCumberland82.0%Elizabeth CityUnion81.5%Pleasantville CityAtlantic81.1%Gloucester CityCamden80.8%Irvington TownshipEssex80.8%Keansburg BoroMonmouth80.2%East OrangeEssex79.9%Vineland CityCumberland79.7%New Brunswick CityMiddlesex79.7%Newark CityEssex79.2%Paterson CityPassaic78.7%Pemberton Twp.Burlington78.3%Folsom BoroAtlantic78.1%Perth Amboy CityMiddlesex78.1%Lindenwold BoroCamden75.6%Fairfield Twp.Cumberland75.4%Lakehurst BoroOcean75.4%West New York SchoolsHudson74.8%Cumberland Co. VocationalCumberland74.5%Passaic CityPassaic73.9%Millville CityCumberland73.2%Salem CitySalem71.4%Garfield CityBergen71.2%Penns Grove-Carneys Point RegionalSalem70.0% | In Committee |
| ACR149 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption of 50 percent of assessed value for primary residence of police officer or firefighter who suffers a line of duty injury that qualifies for accidental disability pension. | This proposed amendment to the New Jersey Constitution would require the Legislature to enact a law providing a partial property tax exemption for the primary residence of a police officer or firefighter who suffers an injury in the line of duty and qualifies for an accidental disability pension. The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence of the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. The value of the property tax exemption could not exceed $6,500 in the first tax year in which the exemption takes effect. Thereafter, this amount would be increased annually based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, as defined by law, in the prior tax year. A police officer or firefighter with income over $500,000 in the prior tax year would not be eligible claim the exemption. This income eligibility limit is based on the amount set forth under the Stay NJ property tax credit program, which permits homeowners who are 65 years or older to claim a Stay NJ property tax credit so long as their annual income does not exceed $500,000. The proposed amendment requires the State to annually reimburse municipalities for the total amount of the property tax exemption. The State reimbursement would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have otherwise been due on each property that receives the exemption. A municipality would be required to reimburse any county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to tax property in the municipality. The reimbursement to each entity would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have been owed to each entity from each exempt property. | In Committee |
| ACR138 | Honors 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh program. | This concurrent resolution honors the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program. The agricultural industry is critical to ensuring New Jersey residents have access to healthy food and plays a key role in the State's economy by helping to keep property taxes low, increase property values, and garner State revenue. In 1984, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture established the Jersey Fresh program, the first in the nation state-sponsored agricultural commodity marketing and quality grading program, to promote the State's agricultural industry. The Jersey Fresh program helps support family owned farms across New Jersey through its marketing campaigns that inform shoppers of what produce is in season and encourage consumers to shop local. The Jersey Fresh program's distinct label placed on locally harvested produce assists consumers easily differentiate fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey from other produce in the marketplace. The Jersey Fresh program encourages consumers to purchase locally grown produce through its quality and freshness guarantees. Specifically, the Jersey Fresh quality grading program requires Jersey Fresh produce to meet U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing grade or better. With this added quality assurance, the Jersey Fresh label guarantees that its produce was freshly harvested in New Jersey, has been inspected, and meets high quality standards. The Jersey Fresh program has demonstrated success in increasing New Jersey consumers' awareness of, and willingness to purchase, locally harvested produce. Consumer recognition of Jersey Fresh products has extended beyond the State to the mid-Atlantic and New England markets and, in 2020, was on par with that of other major national brands. Today, the Jersey Fresh program is recognized as a national model for other state-sponsored agricultural branding programs. The Jersey Fresh program's innovative marketing strategies have contributed to the program's longevity and popularity. New Jersey produces over 100 types of fruits and vegetables and is nationally ranked in the top 10 producers of blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, and cranberries. The Jersey Fresh program has expanded across the State and is available to New Jersey residents in every county, including at over 2,000 On-Farm Markets run by local New Jersey farmers, community farmers markets, major retail stores, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. The Jersey Fresh program's popularity and demonstrated success has also inspired related programs modeled after the Jersey Fresh program, including the Made with Jersey Fresh program, which identifies processed food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients; the Jersey Grown program, which advertises New Jersey grown plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers; the Jersey Raised program, which markets livestock raised in New Jersey; and the Jersey Seafood program, which promotes aquacultured and wild-caught fish and seafood products harvested off of New Jersey's coast. | Crossed Over |
| A4229 | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | Crossed Over |
| A2334 | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. | In Committee |
| A5186 | Makes various changes to school funding and budgeting laws; eliminates use of census-based funding for special education aid; establishes reimbursement program for school district fuel costs. | This bill makes various changes to State school aid and budgeting laws, including special education categorical aid, establishes a State school aid reduction cap, and provides for the reimbursement of school district fuel costs. Under the bill, the Department of Education would be required to provide school districts with a preliminary notice of State school aid amounts no later than the first week of January. Under current law, the first notice of State school aid is required to be sent to school districts no later than two days following the delivery of the Governor's budget address. The bill also increases the amount of undesignated general fund balance that a school district is permitted to maintain. Under current law, a district, other than a county vocational district, is required to appropriate any funds in excess of two percent of the budgeted general fund for the prebudget year or $250,000, whichever is greater, for the subsequent year's budget. The bill would increase this limit to six percent of the first $100 million and in excess of three percent of the amount which exceeds $100 million. The bill does not modify current law governing the allowable undesignated general fund balances of county vocational school districts. The bill also changes how special education aid to school districts is calculated. Under the provisions of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," the State provides special education aid to school districts using the census-based funding method. Under this method, districts receive funding for special education based on the assumption that a fixed percent of the total student population requires special education services, rather than using the actual number of special education students in a school district to determine the amount of State aid the district receives. The bill eliminates the use of the census-based methodology, and calculates State aid for special education based on the actual number of special education students included in the district's resident enrollment. Additionally, the bill establishes certain municipal overburden protections to prevent a school district from receiving a reduction in State aid. Pursuant to the bill, a school district would not be subject to a reduction in State school aid if the district is located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average equalized total tax rate for the most recently available calendar year and the district is spending below adequacy. Similarly, the bill provides that a regional school district would not be subject to a reduction in State school aid if the average of the equalized total tax rates for each constituent district or municipality of the regional school district is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average equalized total tax rate for the most recent available calendar year and the regional school district is spending below adequacy. The bill also establishes a State school aid reduction cap to ensure that the amount of State school aid provided to a school district is not to be decreased by more than two percent of the amount of State school aid received by the district in the prebudget year. Additionally, the bill provides that a school district may apply to the Commissioner of Education to receive stabilization aid, in addition to any other State school aid, if the school district experiences a reduction in State school aid compared to the prior school year or otherwise confronts a structural budgetary imbalance. To receive stabilization aid, a school district is required to submit an application to the commissioner, in a manner and form to be prescribed by the commissioner, including a written plan explaining how the district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the district does not receive stabilization aid or similar supplemental State school aid. Finally, the bill provides that the State is to reimburse school districts for actual fuel costs incurred to provide student transportation services. A district seeking reimbursement is to submit to the Department of Education a written invoice, along with any other documentation or verification of costs as the department may require, no later than the submission deadline determined by the department. The department is required to make the reimbursement available to the district within 30 days of the submission deadline. The funds to support the reimbursement program are to be appropriated by the Legislature from the Property Tax Relief Fund. | In Committee |
| A5142 | Requires school bus personnel members working with students with disabilities to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features. | This bill requires school bus drivers, school bus aides, and any other individual who works, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities to call the 911 emergency telephone service for assistance in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on the school bus. A school bus personnel member is required to report that call to the Office of Special Education in the Department of Education. Under the bill, a board of education, or a school bus contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education, that employs a school bus personnel member, as well as the office, is to maintain a record of the calls. A board of education, or a school bus contractor as applicable, is required to ensure that certain training related to school bus safety and interacting with students with disabilities are provided to each school bus personnel member who works on a school bus transporting students with disabilities. Pursuant to current law, these training programs are required to be administered to school bus drivers and school bus aides. The bill expands these programs to cover all other school bus personnel members who work, and are responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities. A board of education or school bus contractor that does not properly administer these training programs is to be subject to applicable penalties established under current law. Pursuant to the bill, the parent or guardian of a student with disabilities, who believes that a school bus personnel member did not properly call the 911 emergency telephone service in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency, may file a complaint with the Office of Special Education within the Department of Education. A school bus personnel member who is found by the office to have violated the provisions concerning 911 emergency notification and follow-up reporting requirements is to be liable for certain civil penalties. The bill also requires a school bus that transports one or more students with disabilities to be equipped with: 1) a video camera on the interior of the school bus to monitor student safety while the students are being transported; 2) a global positioning system that provides information about the location and speed of each school bus in real time; and 3) two-way communications equipment, which may include, but not be limited to, a cellular or other wireless telephone. Under the bill, any video footage collected from a video camera and any data collected from a global positioning system is to be retained for not less than 180 days from the date it was recorded. Finally, the bill requires that each in-terminal school bus inspection conducted by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is to provide for the inspection of the equipment required to be installed on school buses pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| A5148 | Permits excused absence for student enlisted or planning to enlist Armed Forces of United States or National Guard. | This bill permits excused absences for students enlisted or planning to enlist in the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard. The bill requires a student enrolled in grade 12 who enlists, or plans to enlist, in the Armed Forces of the United States and who is absent from school to complete a military enlistment activity to receive a State-excused absence for that purpose. The absence is not to be included on a student's transcript, application, employment form, or any similar form requested. The absence is also not to be considered when determining if a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year. Under the bill, a military enlistment activity means any activity required by the Armed Forces of the United States to be eligible to enlist including, but not limited to, any testing, medical or physical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting. | In Committee |
| A5113 | Requires BPU to adjust societal benefits charge if excess funds are collected and provides that excess funds may only be spent on measures to reduce electric and natural gas usage. | This bill would provide that, if the amount of the societal benefits charge (SBC) is in excess of the amount needed to recover the costs of the activities enumerated in section 12 of the "Energy Discount and Energy Competition Act," P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60) during an energy year, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) would be required to either: (1) adjust downward the authorized amount of the charge to be collected during the subsequent energy year accordingly; or (2) expend, or authorize a utility to expend, as applicable, the excess funds only for the purposes of carrying out measures which will reduce electric or natural gas usage by ratepayers. The sponsor is introducing the legislation in response to the testimony given by the President of the BPU at a recent Legislative hearing on the causes of the electric bill increases during the summer of 2024. In that hearing, the BPU president stated that the BPU had diverted excess SBC funds to provide a one-time check of $175 to over 278,000 low-income homeowners or renters, a total expenditure of more than $48.6 million. While this measure was carried out under the guise of helping low-income ratepayers, it really only served to assist the utilities and their shareholders. The one-time check did nothing to solve the underlying problem of finding ways to reduce the usage of power during periods of either high heat or extreme cold. Without such solutions, the events of the summer of 2024 are going to be repeated. This legislation would force the BPU to seriously work with low-income residents on real solutions to their energy usage instead of promoting stop-gap, feel-good measures that squander the public's hard earned money with nothing to show for the investment in the end. | In Committee |
| A5111 | Allows shared services agreement for certain warehouse developments specify size and sharing of costs and revenues associated with warehouse development. | This bill amends the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 through C.40A:65-35) to allow local units entering into or renewing a shared services agreement for the development of a warehouse within their shared territories, pursuant to law, to specify terms and conditions related to sharing the costs and revenues of the warehouse development. The bill also requires that the agreement include information on the square footage of the warehouse. It is the sponsor's intent to give municipalities another tool to prevent the overdevelopment or underutilization of warehouses. Some municipalities are promised increased property tax revenue from warehouse developments, only to find that the pledge leaves them with many empty or under-used facilities and less property taxes than promised. | In Committee |
| A5112 | Creates Ethnic Produce Task Force. | The bill would create a nine-member "Ethnic Produce Task Force" within the Department of Agriculture. New Jersey is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the nation. With this diversity comes the potential for farmers to grow and sell new varieties of produce to consumers if they know and understand the demand. This legislation is intended to help growers learn of the market demands of all consumers and improve the viability of farms in the State. The membership of the task force would be as follows: (1) Five members would be appointed by the Governor: two representing the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association; one representing the New Jersey Farm Bureau; one representing the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; and one person active in the food processing industry; and (2) The remaining four members would be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly. The two members appointed by the President of the Senate would be required to include a farmer actively engaged in agricultural or horticultural production, selected from a list of three candidates proposed by the State Board of Agriculture, and a representative of retail grocery stores. The two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly would be required to include a farmer actively engaged in agricultural or horticultural production, selected from a list of three candidates proposed by the State Board of Agriculture, and a representative of retail grocery stores. The Secretary of Agriculture would appoint a chairperson of the task force from among its members and the task force would appoint a vice-chairperson from among its members. The Ethnic Produce Task Force would be required to, within one year after the appointment of a majority of its members: (1) study and analyze economic data relating to demand for ethnic produce in New Jersey; (2) determine which types of ethnic produce can be grown and harvested in New Jersey; (3) identify businesses that need locally grown ethnic produce; (4) publicize the advantages of using fresh locally grown ethnic produce to ethnic food preparers; (5) develop recommendations on strategies to increase sales and consumption of ethnic produce; (6) examine, consider, and make recommendations to New Jersey farmers to grow and harvest certain ethnic produce; and (7) submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a report with any recommendations to farmers regarding the demand to grow and harvest certain ethnic produce in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A5114 | Prohibits public utilities from being eligible for rate treatment or other incentive or rate mechanisms that provide additional revenue to utilities in certain circumstances. | This bill provides that an electric public utility or a gas public utility (collectively, "utility") is not permitted to impose or collect any rate adjustment mechanism that provides additional revenue to the utility to account for lost revenue from the decrease in energy usage due to customer participation in certain energy efficiency, peak demand reduction, conservation, or renewable energy programs. Under current law, a utility may provide and invest in energy efficiency, peak demand reduction, conservation and renewable energy programs in its service territory on a regulated basis and may, if approved by the Board of Public Utilities (board), be permitted to impose and collect rate adjustment mechanisms that provide additional revenue to the utility to offset a decrease in consumption for customers participating in certain programs. It is the sponsor's intent to prohibit a utility from implementing a conservation incentive program rate adjustment in response to the testimony provided by the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel during the October 2, 2024 Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee meeting. The Division of Rate Counsel testified that a conservation incentive program rate adjustment enables a utility to make up for a portion of revenues lost due to customer participation in energy efficiency efforts by charging that loss back to all consumers. It is the sponsor's belief that the board needs to work harder for the consumer and less for the utility company. There is no logical reason why ratepayers should work to reduce their power consumption through conservation measures, such as purchasing Energy Star appliances, increasing weatherization, installing light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, using smart meters and thermostats, wearing warming clothing or siting in the dark, only to have these hard fought savings reduced or eliminated through rate increases to make up for the utility companies loss of revenue. | In Committee |
| A3161 | Broadens eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve component thereof. The benefits in the bill are (1) a civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A3561 | Establishes crime of doxxing. | This bill establishes the crime of doxxing. Under the bill, doxxing occurs if a person, with the purpose to subject another person to violence, stalking, physical restraining, mental anguish, or to cause a person to fear for their own safety or that of another, knowingly discloses personal identifying information without the person's consent. A crime is committed under the bill when the disclosure: (1) creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or physical harm to the person or a close relation of the person; (2) creates a substantial risk that the person or a close relation of the person is subjected to stalking; or (3) inflicts mental anguish upon the person or a close relation of the person and places the person or close relation in reasonable fear of physical harm. Under the bill, "close relation" is defined as a spouse; domestic partner; partner in a civil union couple; former spouse, former domestic partner; former partner in a civil union; parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, or grandchild, whether related by blood or by law; any person who is a present household member, or who was, within the prior six months, a household member; or any person with a significant personal or professional relationship. The crime of doxxing does not occur if the disclosure was made: (1) in good faith to inform any member of the public of conduct by the person that the actor reasonably believed to be unlawful; (2) in good faith to inform law enforcement of conduct committed by the person that the actor reasonably believed to constitute a crime; or (3) while cooperating in an official investigation or prosecution of a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:33-4.1, cyber harassment. The bill also establishes a rebuttable presumption that the actor did not act with the purpose established under the bill if the personal identifying information of another person was disclosed for the primary purpose of: (a) publishing, disseminating, or reporting in good faith conduct by an elected public official or law enforcement officer acting in their official capacity that the actor reasonably believe to be unlawful or an abuse of authority; or (b) engaging in lawful and constitutionally protected activity as it pertains to speech, assembly, press, or petition. Doxxing is a crime of the fourth degree unless the disclosure results in any serious bodily injury, physical harm, or stalking, at which time it becomes a crime of the third degree. 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 third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. | In Committee |
| SJR71 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5056 | Specifies that prior SADC approval is not required in order to authorize construction, installation, or operation of biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment on farmland preservation exception areas. | This bill would amend the law pertaining to the construction, installation, and operation of biomass, solar, and wind energy generation systems on preserved farms. Existing law requires the State Agriculture Development Committee (the committee) to review, and to approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve, landowner applications seeking to construct, install, or operate biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment on farmland, regardless of whether those facilities, structures, and equipment are proposed to be constructed, installed, or operated on a preserved portion of the farm or on a portion of the farm (known as a "farmland preservation exception area") which has been formally excluded from preservation. This bill would clarify that a landowner is required to submit, and that the committee is required to review and approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve, an application for the construction, installation, or operation of a biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facility, structure, or equipment on a preserved farm, as provided by existing law, only when the landowner is proposing to construct, install, or operate such facility, structure, or equipment on a preserved portion of the farm, and not when the landowner is proposing to construct, install, or operate such facility, structure, or equipment on a farmland preservation exception area. The bill would additionally clarify, however, that a landowner will still be required to obtain the prior approval of the Department of Agriculture, as provided by existing law, in order to construct, install, or operate any biomass facility, structure, or equipment on any portion of a preserved farm, regardless of whether that portion of the farm is actually preserved or is excluded from preservation. | In Committee |
| A5062 | Dedicates certain winery licensing fees for winery industry grant projects. | This bill provides that annual licensing fees for farm and plenary wineries, wine blending licensees, instructional winemaking facilities, and out-of-State wineries would be dedicated for a period of five years to the New Jersey Wine Promotion account, established in current law. Under the bill, the monies deposited in the account would be appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for use by the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council to award grants for wine industry projects that address research, development, and promotion of the New Jersey wine industry. In fiscal year 2024, the total revenue collected from winery fees by the State was nearly $680,000. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill's temporary reallocation of this revenue to funding winery marketing will grow the industry in New Jersey, allowing the State to collect more revenue in the future from increased sales of winery products. | In Committee |
| A5064 | Establishes Watershed Council in DEP. | This bill establishes a Watershed Council within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The purpose of the council is to analyze flooding and other environmental issues affecting the State's watersheds. The council is directed to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the DEP's programs for planning, permitting, mitigation, and restoration of impacts to New Jersey's watersheds, analyze the programs' effectiveness in preserving plant and animal life, protecting residents for flooding risks, preserving and enhancing water quality, and managing stormwater runoff, and make recommendations. Under the bill, the council is to consist of 21 members, each member representing one of the State's watershed management areas, with expertise in environmental issues, flooding, or land use. The Governor, in consultation with the Watershed Institute and other state-wide environmental groups, is required to appoint each of the members for a term of three years, with the exception of the initial members who are to have staggered terms. Within 12 months of the council's organizational meeting, and annually thereafter, the council is required to prepare and submit a report to the DEP commissioner, the Governor, and the Legislature with recommendations for legislative or regulatory action, to improve, promote, and protect the health and well-being of the State's residents, and to improve and increase the preservation of water quality, and plant and animal life. | In Committee |
| A5058 | Requires electric public utilities to submit transmission project proposal to BPU for approval. | This bill requires an electric public utility to submit a transmission project proposal (proposal) to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for approval prior to undertaking a transmission project. The proposal is required to, at a minimum: (1) identify the project's potential impact on the environment, scenic sights, historic sites, and public safety; (2) document all costs associated with undertaking the project; (3) indicate whether the project meets a demonstrated need, which need may be established by the project's provision of certain public benefits; and (4) identify alternative project ideas, if any, that meet the same demonstrated need but for a lower total project cost. Within 90 days of the board's receipt of a proposal, the board is required to determine if the proposal is reasonable, within the public interest, and cost effective. In addition, the board is required to approve the proposal if the board determines that the proposal is reasonable, within the public interest, and cost effective. Under the bill, a "transmission project" is defined to mean a project undertaken by an electric public utility to construct a new transmission line or modify an existing transmission line. It is the sponsor's intent to require an electric public utility to receive approval from the board prior to undertaking a transmission project in response to the testimony provided by the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel (director) during the October 2, 2024 Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee meeting. The director indicated in his testimony that requiring board review of transmission projects prior to their start could reduce transmission costs by ensuring that each transmission project is needed and is the lowest cost solution. | In Committee |
| A5057 | Prohibits public utility from recovering certain administrative costs. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving the request of a public utility to recover administrative costs through the public utility rates charged to ratepayers after the bill's effective date. The bill defines "administrative costs" to mean any payment made by a public utility in furtherance of utility service that is not recovered by the public utility as a capital expense. "Administrative costs" includes, but is not limited to, the cost of personnel salaries, information technology, office supplies, and legal expenses. | In Committee |
| A5059 | Extends eligibility for homestead rebates to residents making payments in lieu of taxes. | This bill would extend eligibility for rebates under the "Homestead Property Tax Credit Act," P.L.1990, c.61, to State residents who make payments in lieu of taxes ("PILOTs") to a municipality for their homestead. Under the act, State residents with incomes not over $250,000 are eligible for a rebate or credit equal to a percentage of property taxes, or rent constituting property taxes, paid on their homestead, up to $10,000. A resident is eligible for a rebate regardless of whether property taxes are paid directly to their municipality or indirectly through the payment of rent. For purposes of determining the amount of the rebate for eligible tenants, the portion of rent that is deemed to constitute property taxes is 18 percent of rent paid during the tax year. The act defines "property tax" as payments made to a municipality based upon an ad valorem assessment of a parcel of real property, not including any PILOT payments made to a municipality. An ad valorem assessment is an assessment based on a property's fair market value. The bill would amend the definition of "property tax" under the Homestead Property Tax Credit Act to include PILOTs made to a municipality for an eligible homestead. By making this change, the bill would allow State residents to qualify for a homestead rebate regardless of whether the resident pays property taxes based on an ad valorem assessment of their homestead or makes payments in lieu of property taxes. Given that the Homestead Property Tax Credit Act currently serves as the basis under which "Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters Rebates," more commonly referred to as "ANCHOR rebates," are authorized by the annual appropriations act, this bill would ensure that both types of taxpayer are eligible for these rebates each year. | In Committee |
| A5063 | Establishes New Jersey Wine and Grape Institute; appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Wine and Grape Institute (institute) to advance promotion and research of the State winemaking industry. The bill appropriates $500,000 for the purposes of the institute. The institute would be directed to conduct research, promote businesses, and organize a campaign in order to strengthen the New Jersey wine and grape industry's position in the marketplace, local, domestic, and national markets, and to disseminate information on the use of grapes and wine. Through a marketing campaign, the institute would conduct advertising efforts, attend conferences, participate in seminars, and develop other educational and promotional opportunities to centralize the industry. The bill also establishes the New Jersey Wine and Grape Fund to receive State appropriations from the General Fund and disburse financial support for the institute. Under the provisions of this bill, the institute would be funded by both State appropriations and partnerships with private donors. The seven public members of the institute, appointed by the Governor, would deliberate, decide upon, and initiate all research, marketing, education, and community organizing efforts by the institute. The bill appropriates $500,000 to the New Jersey Wine and Grape Fund, for distribution to the institute, and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to include with the annual budget request for the department, a request for funds for the institute, sufficient to carry out the purposes and intent of the bill. The institute would be required to prepare and submit an annual report on its activities to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A5060 | Requires BPU to discontinue Infrastructure Investment Program. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to discontinue the Infrastructure Investment Program (IIP) established by the board pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board and published in the New Jersey Administrative Code. The board is prohibited from accepting any new IIP petition or approving any IIP petition pending on the bill's effective date without conducting a full rate review for the public utility whose petition is pending. Under the bill, the board is to require any public utility with a pending IIP petition on the bill's effective date to either: (1) include the public utility's investment proposal, formerly included in the pending petition, in the public utility's next base rate case; or (2) provide all information necessary for a full rate review, in order for the board to process the public utility's IIP petition, within 90 days of a board order to this effect. In the event that a public utility fails to provide the required information within 90 days of a board order, the petition is to be deemed retracted by the public utility. Alternatively, the board may, in its discretion, authorize a new deadline for the public utility to provide all information necessary for a full rate review. In the event that a public utility fails to provide the required information prior to a subsequent deadline set by the board, the petition is to be deemed retracted by the public utility and will no longer be eligible for consideration independently from the public utility's base rate case. It is the sponsor's intent that the board be required to discontinue the IIP in response to the testimony provided by the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel during the October 2, 2024 Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee meeting. The Division of Rate Counsel (division) opposes the use of the IIP, a single-issue ratemaking mechanism, because there is no opportunity to look at the overall health of a utility seeking approval on an IIP project. The division also testified that by allowing utilities to earn an accelerated return on capital investments outside a base rate case, the IIP creates more expense for ratepayers than projects done within the normal course of a utility's business. | In Committee |
| A5061 | Requires BPU to respond in writing to written concerns of Division of Rate Counsel during certain proceedings. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board), when considering any proceeding that may affect the rates that are charged to customers of an electric public utility for which the Division of Rate Counsel (division) has submitted written concerns, to respond, in writing, to each concern raised by the division. The board is prohibited from taking any action concerning the proceeding until the board has responded to each of the division's concerns in writing. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require the board to follow any recommendations by the division or to make any decisions regarding a proceeding based on the division's written concerns. | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5014 | Concerns certain county and municipal farm roadway improvement projects; establishes "Local Farm Roadway Improvement Fund." | This bill provides that a county or municipality may apply to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for financial assistance to support the costs of any transportation project that qualifies as a farm roadway improvement. The bill also amends existing law to establish the "Local Farm Roadway Improvement Fund" (fund) and authorizes the DOT to offer financial assistance to approved applicants of a farm roadway improvement project in the form of grants or loans using monies from the fund. Under the bill, a farm roadway improvement includes a transportation project that is: (1) designed to relieve traffic congestion in a community with farms, including, but not limited to, the expansion of a roadway's shoulder or the creation of an area for slow moving vehicles to pull over when traffic traveling in the same direction approaches; and (2) located on a portion of roadway that is used frequently by slow moving vehicles, which vehicles unduly disrupt the normal flow of traffic. The DOT is required to determine the requirements for frequency of use by slow moving vehicles. | In Committee |
| A5012 | Revises "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to provide enforcement and penalty provisions. | This bill revises the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to provide enforcement and penalty provisions. The bill provides that the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts or the Department of Environmental Protection, upon a violation of the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act," may: (1) issue an order requiring any person in violation of the law to comply; (2) bring a civil action in accordance with the provisions of the bill; (3) levy a civil administrative penalty in accordance with the provisions of the bill; or (4) bring an action for a civil penalty in accordance with the provisions of the bill. Recourse to one remedy available under the bill will not preclude recourse to any of the other remedies prescribed in the bill or by any other applicable law. The bill provides that whenever the board finds a person in violation of any provision of the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act," or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant hereto, the board may issue an order: (1) specifying the provision or provisions of the law, rule, regulation, permit, approval, or authorization of which the person is in violation; (2) citing the action which constituted the violation; (3) requiring compliance with the provision or provisions violated; (4) denying, suspending, or revoking a license or business registration; and (5) providing notice to the person of the right to a hearing on the matters contained in the order. The bill provides that the board or the Commissioner of Environmental Protection is authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court or municipal court for appropriate relief from any violation of the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act," or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto. The relief may include, singly or in combination: (1) a temporary or permanent injunction; (2) assessment of the violator for the costs of any investigation, inspection, or monitoring survey which led to the establishment of the violation, and for the reasonable costs of preparing and bringing the legal action under the provisions of the bill; (3) assessment of the violator for any costs incurred by the State in removing, correcting, or terminating the adverse effects resulting from any unauthorized regulated activity for which legal action under the provisions of the bill may have been brought; (4) assessment against the violator for compensatory damages for any loss or destruction of natural resources and for any other actual damages caused by an unauthorized regulated activity; or (5) a requirement that the violator restore the site of the violation to the maximum extent practicable and feasible. The bill authorizes the board to assess a civil administrative penalty of $1,000 for each violation of the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act," or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant hereto, or $2,500 for a second or subsequent violation. Each day during which the violation continues will constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. No assessment will be levied pursuant to the bill until after the alleged violator has been notified by certified mail or personal service. The bill requires that the notice: (1) identify the section of the law, rule, regulation, license, or registration violated; (2) recite the facts alleged to constitute a violation; (3) state the amount of the civil administrative penalties to be imposed; and (4) affirm the rights of the alleged violator to a hearing. The bill provides that the ordered party will have 20 days from receipt of the notice within which to deliver to the board a written request for a hearing. After the hearing and upon finding that a violation has occurred, the board may issue a final order after assessing the amount of the fine specified in the notice. If no hearing is requested, the notice will become a final order after the expiration of the 20-day period. Payment of the civil administrative penalty will be due when a final order is issued or the notice becomes a final order. A person who violates any provision of the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act," will be subject, upon order of a court, to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $2,500 for a second or subsequent violation. Each day during which the violation continues will constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The bill repeals a separate section of "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" that provides for the levying of fines for violations. | In Committee |
| A5040 | Permits individuals eligible to receive SNAP or WIC to enroll in courses on family and consumer science at public institutions of higher education without paying tuition. | The bill requires public institutions of higher education to permit individuals who are eligible for assistance under the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC, to enroll tuition-free in courses in the area of family and consumer science. The bill further provides that enrollment will only be allowed if available classroom space permits and tuition-paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. Academic credit is not to be awarded to a person who completes a family and consumer course pursuant to the provisions of the bill. Individuals who take college level family and consumer science courses are likely to increase their purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables, thus contributing to the viability and success of the State's agricultural industry. | In Committee |
| A5010 | Requires SADC and any local board acquiring farmland for preservation purposes to provide partial payment to landowner, in advance of settlement, to demonstrate good faith intent to proceed with settlement and acquisition. | This bill would amend and supplement the State's farmland preservation laws in order to require State and local purchasers of farmland development easements and fee simple titles to tentatively provide applicant landowners, in advance of settlement, with a portion of the total funds that are to be paid by the State or local purchaser for acquisition of the development easement or fee simple title. Specifically, the bill would provide that, whenever the State Agriculture Development Committee (committee) or a county agriculture development board or subregional agricultural retention board (board) receives a landowner's completed application seeking to sell thereto a development easement on, or fee simple title to, farmland for farmland preservation purposes, and prior to settlement on the proposed acquisition, the committee or board, as the case may be, will be required to award and disburse an advance payment, to the applicant landowner, demonstrating the committee or board's good faith intention to proceed with settlement and to, thereby, effectuate the State or local acquisition of the development easement or fee simple title at the final negotiated purchase price, as determined pursuant to subsection e. of section 8 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), in compliance with all of the agreed-upon terms, contingencies, and conditions set forth in the final, negotiated purchase agreement. An advance payment awarded under the bill would be disbursed to the landowner: 1) in a single lump-sum payment; and 2) in an amount that is equal to 20 percent of the appraised fair market value of the development easement or the fee simple title, or, to the extent that a final purchase price has been negotiated and agreed-upon, in an amount that is equal to 20 percent of the higher of the appraised fair market value or the final negotiated purchase price of the development easement or the fee simple title, as the case may be. Any sum of moneys which is distributed to a landowner, through a good faith advance payment awarded under the bill: 1) is to be deducted from the final negotiated purchase price required to be paid, by the committee or the board, at the time of settlement on the State or local farmland acquisition project; or 2) if the purchase agreement is voided, cancelled, or otherwise abandoned by either party prior to settlement, or if settlement otherwise does not occur, is to be fully repaid by the landowner to, and recouped by, the committee or board, and dedicated for use in financing other State and local farmland acquisition projects. The bill would further provide, moreover, that any advance payment funds which are owed by a landowner and are due to be repaid to the committee or board, as a result of the voiding, cancellation, abandonment, or other negation of a settlement agreement for the acquisition of a farmland development easement or fee simple title, will constitute a debt of the landowner to the State or locality, as the case may be, which may be recovered, from the landowner, by the respective committee or board to which the debt is owed. All owners of the subject property, at the time of incurrence of the debt thereon (i.e., at the time of settlement default), would be jointly and severally liable for all recoverable debt-related costs, as set forth in the bill. Under the bill's provisions, any moneys that are due to the committee or board and owed by a landowner, as a result of the voiding, cancellation, abandonment, or other negation of settlement on the acquisition of a farmland development easement or fee simple title, would constitute a debt of the landowner to the State or locality, as the case may be, which debt may be recovered, from the landowner, by the respective committee or board to which the debt is owed. An advance payment debt owed by a landowner, under the bill's provisions, would constitute a lien on all property owned by the landowner. The lien would attach whenever a notice of lien, incorporating the name of the landowner, and both a description of the subject property of the landowner for which the debt was incurred, and an identification of the amount of advance payment funds disbursed to the landowner, as well as any related costs expended by the committee or the board, is duly filed with the county register of deeds and mortgages or other county clerk (county recording officer), as applicable. Upon receipt of a notice of lien filed pursuant to this paragraph, the county recording officer would be required to promptly record, in the public records of the county in which the relevant property is located, a claim of lien stating the description of the property, the name and primary address of the owner of record, the amount due, and the date when due, as set forth in the notice of lien filed by the committee or board. Such lien, in the amount committed by the committee or board for advance payment and related costs, would be understood to attach to the revenues and all real and personal property of the landowner, whether or not the landowner is insolvent. The bill would provide that any notice of lien, filed and entered under the bill and affecting the property that is the subject of settlement default establishing the debt, would create a lien having priority over all other claims or liens which are or have been filed against such subject property. However, any such notice of lien that affects any property of the landowner, other than the property that is the subject of settlement default establishing the debt, would create a lien that has priority, from the day of the filing of the notice of the lien, over all other claims and liens filed against the property, but which would not affect any valid lien, right, or interest in such property that has been filed, in accordance with established procedure, prior to the filing of a notice of lien under the bill's provisions. A lien entered under the bill would be enforceable, through the sale of the subject property, in the same manner provided for the enforcement of municipal liens pursuant to the State's existing "tax sale law," R.S.54:5-1 et seq., and In Rem Tax Foreclosure Act (1948), P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.), as appropriate. | In Committee |
| A5041 | "S2 Appropriations Rescue Act"; appropriates $106.5 million to provide Emergency Supplemental Aid to certain school districts, including districts negatively impacted by effects of P.L.2018, c.67. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $106.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to provide "Emergency Supplemental Aid" to certain school districts. The aid is to be distributed to school districts that have been allocated a total amount of State school aid in the 2024-2025 school year that is:· less than the district's adequacy budget, which under current law represents the portion of the costs that a school district is expected to incur to provide a thorough and efficient education; and · less than or equal to $19,000 per resident pupil; and· either: less than or equal to the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year; or greater than the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year by up to $200,000. The amount of Emergency Supplemental Aid provided to an eligible district pursuant to the bill is to be determined by multiplying $250 by the number of resident pupils in the district. School districts from all parts of the State have experienced negative budgetary effects over the seven years following the enactment of P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S2." The severity of these budgetary reductions have forced districts to lay off hundreds of teachers and staff, adopt half-day schedules, eliminate sports and clubs, reduce academic programming such as Advanced Placement classes, eliminate busing, and sell land and close schools just to balance their budgets. This educational funding crisis has affected hundreds of school districts representing an array of socioeconomic groups, from urban districts such as the City of East Orange, Jersey City, and Passaic City, to suburban districts such as Hillsborough Township, Freehold Regional School District, Old Bridge Township, Jackson Township, Toms River Regional School District, Brick Township, and Evesham Township, and extending to rural districts, such as Chesterfield Township, Lenape Regional School District, Estell Manor City, and Hardyston Township. This bill provides emergency restoration aid to help stabilize the budgets of these school districts, as well as 290 other districts, for the purpose of providing these children with a quality education. | In Committee |
| A5013 | Establishes 90-day State tax amnesty period ending no later than January 15, 2026; dedicates revenues collected during tax amnesty period for Stabilization Aid to school districts; appropriates up to $15 million. | The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to establish a 90-day State tax amnesty period, to end no later January 15, 2026. The amnesty period would apply only to State tax liabilities for tax returns due on and after September 1, 2017 and before January 1, 2025. During the amnesty period, a taxpayer who has failed to pay a State tax can pay the amount of unpaid tax and one-half of the balance of interest that is due as of November 1, 2024, without the imposition of the remaining one-half of the balance of interest that is due as of November 1, 2024, recovery fees, civil penalties, and criminal penalties arising out of the late payment. The amnesty would not be available to a taxpayer who, at the time of payment, is under criminal investigation or charge for any State tax matter. If a taxpayer eligible for the amnesty fails during the amnesty period to pay taxes owed, the bill subjects that taxpayer to a five percent penalty, which the director may not waive or abate. The five percent penalty would be in addition to all other penalties, interest, or collection costs otherwise authorized by law. If a person is notified by the Office of Criminal Investigation in the Division of Taxation that the person is under criminal investigation for a State tax matter, they would not be eligible for amnesty under the program unless the Office of Criminal Investigation certifies to the director that the State tax matter involving that person was resolved. Further, a taxpayer would not be eligible for amnesty under the bill unless that taxpayer pays the full amount of the tax, reduced interest, and applicable penalty, if any, in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the director. The bill establishes a dedicated account in the Department of Education to be known as the Stabilization Aid Account and requires all of the moneys collected by the State through the tax amnesty program, excluding certain revenues dedicated for specific purposes by the State Constitution, to be deposited into the special account for the purpose of providing Stabilization Aid to school districts that experience a reduction in State aid compared to the prior school year. To receive Stabilization Aid, a school district would be required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. The bill requires that the application include, at a minimum, a written plan explaining how the school district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the school district does not receive Stabilization Aid or similar supplemental State school aid. The bill appropriates a sum not to exceed $15 million from the proceeds collected through the amnesty period for the costs incurred to carry out and administer the program. The bill requires a contract for advertising services for the State tax amnesty program to be procured in an expedited manner. | In Committee |
| A4866 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | In Committee |
| A5002 | Requires use of prior military service to extend maximum age for appointment to State Police. | This bill extends the maximum age for appointment to the New Jersey State Police for applicants who have served in the military. Under current law, no person over the age of 35 may be appointed to the State Police. This bill provides that the maximum age of 35 years is to be extended by one year for each year of active duty military service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, with a maximum extension of six years. The sponsor states that veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States gain valuable experience from their military service which make them uniquely qualified for public service employment. The sponsor intends for this bill to increase opportunities for veterans by extending the age limit for appointment to the State Police. This will enhance the ability of the State Police to recruit qualified and skilled candidates, which will benefit both veterans and the State. | In Committee |
| AJR25 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. | In Committee |
| A4998 | Exempts sales of energy-saving products and services from sales and use tax. | This bill provides an exemption from the sales and use tax for the retail sale of energy-saving products and services, including, but not limited to, insulation, LED light bulbs, window caulk, furnace filters, weather stripping, light colored roof shingles, reflective roofing tar or paint, window and door insulation kits, ductwork sealing and repair products, heating and cooling system tune-up services, and tankless water heaters. Under the bill, the term "energy-saving products and services" is defined as products or services that are primarily designed and marketed to reduce energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings. The bill also provides specific definitions for items that are considered energy-saving products or services for purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4997 | Makes FY2025 supplemental appropriation of $2 million from General Fund to Department of Agriculture in support of Northeast Organic Farming Association for certain programs. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Act to make an additional appropriation of $2 million from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, to be distributed to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA NJ). NOFA NJ is a Statewide organization serving organic, regenerative, beginning, and underserved farmers in New Jersey, with programming and services that meet the community's needs. NOFA NJ's work supports all farmers and participants in the food system, increasing opportunities for collaboration and engagement between a wide variety of stakeholders and producers. The $2 million supplemental appropriation is required to be used for the following programs in the designated amounts: · $750,000 for mini-grants for critical on-farm infrastructure and farm viability projects to continue a mini-grant program established in February 2024;· $350,000 for an on-farm processing and equipment lending program;· $300,000 for value-added processing education and technical assistance programs to provide comprehensive education and services such as product development, marketing, labeling, profitability studies, food handling hazard analysis, and miscellaneous technical support services;· $300,000 for a Statewide bulk supplies purchasing program;· $150,000 to provide technical support to organic, regenerative, beginning and underserved farmers;· $100,000 for grant writing education and technical assistance; and· $50,000 to support Hispanic farming communities in the State. | In Committee |
| A4950 | Mandates Division of Developmental Disabilities service providers to complete workforce survey. | Under this bill, in any year the Division of Developmental Disabilities participates in the National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Survey or a similar survey, the division would also be required to distribute the survey to each of the division's eligible provider of services for developmental disabilities. The eligible provider would be required to complete the workforce study or be subject to a fine of $5,000 per year of non-compliance. | In Committee |
| A4525 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to provide written notice of toll violations and process for remedying violations prior to issuing administrative fee. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide a written notice of an alleged toll violation and a process for remedying the toll violation before issuing or collecting any administrative fee. Specifically, the bill requires the NJTA and SJTA to provide a written notice within 60 days of a toll violation to the owner of the vehicle by regular mail, providing the owner with the opportunity to resolve the matter prior to the issuance of a summons and complaint that charges a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations and any administrative fee that is associated with a violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations. The written notice is required to contain sufficient information to inform the owner of the nature, date, time, and location of the alleged violation, as well as information pertaining to a process by which the owner may elect to remedy the alleged violation within 30 days of the date the written notice was sent to avoid the issuance of an administrative fee. The NJTA and SJTA are required to include within the written notice, a notification that, if the alleged violation is not remedied within the required time period, the owner will be required to pay a reasonable administrative fee. The bill prohibits the NJTA or SJTA from issuing any administrative fee to, or collecting any administrative fee from, the owner for an alleged violation of the toll collection monitoring system regulations unless the written notice has been provided and the time period to remedy the alleged violation has expired. Current law requires the NJTA or SJTA to provide an advisory and payment request within 60 days of a toll violation. The advisory and payment request requires that the owner of the vehicle pay the proper toll and a reasonable administrative fee. | In Committee |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1131 | Requires DMVA provide central registry of unclaimed cremains of veterans, spouses, and dependents; requires funeral director report to DMVA possession of unclaimed veteran, spouse, and dependent cremains. | Requires DMVA provide central registry of unclaimed cremains of veterans, spouses, and dependents; requires funeral director report to DMVA possession of unclaimed veteran, spouse, and dependent cremains. | Crossed Over |
| A2717 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for costs of exemption. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| A2378 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | In Committee |
| A4843 | Requires electric public utilities to provide industrial portable power stations accessible to customers during certain power outages. | This bill requires electric public utilities to provide industrial portable power stations during power outages that last six or more hours to the customers affected by the power outage. The electric public utility responsible for providing the interrupted service is required to provide the industrial portable power stations by the end of the sixth hour of the power outage. The electric public utility is required to provide one industrial portable power station for every 20 square miles affected by the power outage. The industrial portable power stations are required to be provided in central locations that are accessible to customers affected by the power outage. The bill requires the location of each industrial portable power station to be published on the electric public utility's Internet website within one hour of placement. | In Committee |
| A4832 | Permits winery salesrooms to be held jointly. | This bill permits the holders of plenary, farm, and Out-of-State winery licenses to operate salesrooms jointly. Current law permits plenary, farm, and Out-of-State winery licensees to operate salesrooms off the winery premises for consumption on or off-site. Plenary and farm licensees may have 15 salesrooms in addition to the winery premises and Out-of-State winery licensees are permitted to have 16 salesrooms as they do not have a winery premises within the State. Under the current law, salesrooms are not permitted to be jointly held by licensees. This bill provides that the holders of plenary, farm, and Out-of-State winery licenses may jointly hold salesrooms so that a salesroom may sell a variety of wines at a single location. | In Committee |
| A4831 | Directs president of Rutgers, The State University to appoint chief viticulturist and chief enologist. | This bill directs the president of Rutgers, The State University to appoint a chief viticulturist and a chief enologist at the university. Under the bill, the president of Rutgers, The State University is required to appoint a chief viticulturist to the university. The chief viticulturist is to lead research in grape science and production in the State. The chief viticulturist is to report directly to the president of the university. The bill also requires the president of Rutgers to appoint a chief enologist at the Food Innovation Center of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The chief enologist is to apply a combination of scientific knowledge and winemaking knowledge to assist wineries in the State in developing new wines and improving the quality of wine produced in the State. The chief enologist is to report directly to the director of the Food Innovation Center. State support for wine industries is particularly vigorous in Virginia, Washington, New York, and Oregon. In 1984, the Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia Wine Board (then called the Virginia Winegrowers Advisory Board) and created staff positions, including a state enologist and state viticulturist at Virginia Tech, to promote the development of the wine industry. In Washington, the Washington State Wine Commission is a state government agency established by the state legislature in 1987 and funded by assessments on state grape and wine sales. The commission is responsible for promoting, raising awareness of, and demand for, Washington wines both domestically and internationally through educational programs, marketing and communications, and viticulture and enology research. In collaboration with Washington State University, a total of $1.12 million in funding was provided by the commission and the university for research programs in viticulture, enology, and agricultural economics from 2021 to 2022. The New York Wine and Grape Foundation is a state government agency established by state statute in 1985, and funded by state appropriations. The purpose of the foundation is to promote New York grapes and wines to benefit farmers, producers, and consumers through marketing, research, communication, and advocacy. Like the Washington State Wine Commission and New York Wine and Grape Foundation, the Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent state agency established in Oregon statute. Among its numerous duties are funding viticulture and enology research. | In Committee |
| A4801 | Directs DOLWD to establish regional farm wage; provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to farm employers paying certain farm worker wages. | This bill provides corporation business tax (CBT) credits and gross income tax (GIT) credits to farm employers in an amount equal to the qualified compensation paid to employees of the farm employer during the taxable period. Under the bill, "qualified compensation" would be calculated as the difference between the amount of compensation paid to each employee above the farm wage, and less the amount of compensation that would have been paid to each employee had the employee received the regional farm wage. However, the bill provides that the amount of the tax credit may not be less than zero. Any amount of the tax credit that cannot be applied against a farm employer's CBT liability for a privilege period can be carried forward to the four privilege periods following the privilege period for which a portion of the tax credit was allowed. If the GIT credit exceeds farm employer's liability, the amount of the tax credit for the taxable year can be carried forward to the four taxable years following the taxable year for which the tax credit was allowed. The bill also requires the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to determine the regional farm wage by averaging the most recent agricultural wage data from Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. The commissioner will annually transmit the regional farm wage to the Director of the Division of Taxation. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to determine the form and manner by which a taxpayer can apply for the tax credit. | In Committee |
| A4785 | Requires electric public utilities to pre-place repair equipment in areas with frequent power outages. | This bill requires electric public utilities (utilities) operating within the State to pre-place any equipment that is commonly required to remedy a power outage and restore electric service in services areas with frequent power outages due to high-risk events within 12 to 24 hours before a high-risk event. A utility is to consult with the Board of Public Utilities (board) to determine which service areas within its jurisdiction require the pre-placement of repair equipment. The bill also requires utilities to ensure that the pre-placed repair equipment is regularly maintained, technologically updated, and otherwise functionally reliable to assist with power restoration in a timely manner. Under the bill, the board is required to issue rules and regulations to establish guidelines to inform utilities of: (1) the kinds of repair equipment that should be pre-placed in areas with frequent power outages; and (2) best practices in terms of the logistics and procedure for pre-placing repair equipment prior to high-risk events. The bill defines "high-risk event" to mean an event that is likely to cause a power outage and includes, but is not limited to, excessive heat waves, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, high winds, tropical cyclones, and winter storms such as a blizzard.. | In Committee |
| A4777 | Prohibits municipal agency from approving applications for development of certain warehouses unless certificate of need is issued by Office of Local Planning Services in DCA. | This bill prohibits a municipal agency from approving an application for development to construct or expand a warehouse, as defined in the bill, unless the Office of Local Planning Services (office) in the Department of Community Affairs has issued a certificate of need for the project, pursuant to the bill. A developer is to notify, in a form and manner determined by the office, a municipal agency of the developer's intent to submit an application for development to construct or expand a warehouse prior to applying for a certificate of need. A developer is to secure a certificate of need prior to submitting the application for development and is to include it with that application. The office is required to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill by establishing standards and criteria meriting the issuance of a certificate of need for a proposed warehouse project, including a requirement that the developer provide proof prior to development that: at least 90 percent of the proposed warehouse space is leased, or otherwise committed to active warehouse use, if the warehouse is to house multiple businesses; or 100 percent of the proposed warehouse space is leased, or otherwise committed to active warehouse use, if the warehouse is to house a single business. There are many large warehouses across this State that have been vacant for years, oftentimes located in close proximity to one another, creating a cycle of ruinous competition. This bill's intent is to ensure that new warehouses are guaranteed to be occupied with businesses, demonstrating the community's need for the warehouse. | In Committee |
| A4797 | Establishes Artisan Bread Council in Department of Agriculture. | This bill establishes a five member New Jersey Artisan Bread Council in the Department of Agriculture. The council's purpose is to publicize local artisan breads, enhance the connection between farmers and artisan bread makers, assess the economic landscape of the artisan bread industry, and develop recommendations to promote artisan bakeries throughout the State. The bill assigns several responsibilities to the five-person council, including monitoring the needs of the State artisan bread industry, developing a report on economic and legal trends affecting the artisan bread industry, and identifying grant opportunities for the proliferation of artisan breads. The written report, submitted to the Governor and the Legislature, would inform farmers, artisan bread makers, and legislators of any changes which might help artisan bread makers in the State anticipate, recognize, and respond to changing market conditions, and to establish a firm economic foundation for and improve the economic viability and vitality of the artisan bread industry. | In Committee |
| A4788 | Exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts from the State sales and use tax the retail sales of natural gas and electrical services for residential customers. Public utilities that provide natural gas and electric services would be required, at the conclusion of each monthly billing cycle, to deduct from each customer's bill the amount that represents the sales and use tax. By exempting the purchase of natural gas and electrical services from the sales and use tax, residents will be able to find some measure of relief in the face of rising costs. | In Committee |
| A4780 | Establishes Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program in DHS. | This bill directs the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services (division) to establish the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program, a rebranding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that promotes the program, and provides program benefits, exclusively to veterans. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households. The bill defines "veteran" to mean any enlisted person or officer who was discharged or otherwise released from active service in the United States Armed Forces, or any reserve component thereof, or the organized militia of New Jersey under conditions other than dishonorable, or as otherwise provided in State law. Nationwide, according to recent research, 7.5 percent of veterans do not have enough food, but less than 5 percent of those veterans are enrolled in SNAP. It is the sponsor's goal to increase veterans' utilization of the food assistance benefits they have earned and deserve by rebranding SNAP specifically for veterans. In order to implement the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program, the division is required to: 1) design, and distribute to eligibility determination agencies of SNAP, promotional materials, applications, and any other documents associated with SNAP with the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program name and branding; 2) design and issue to eligible beneficiaries electronic benefits transfer cards that bear the name and branding of the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program; 3) develop a website, separate and distinct from the State's SNAP website, with the name and branding of the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program; and 4) collaborate with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to ensure that information regarding the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program is distributed to each county Veteran Service Office in the State and posted on the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' webpage. The bill explicitly states that that its provisions are not to be construed to: 1) alter eligibility, benefits, funding, or any federal requirement of SNAP, as it exists upon the effective date of the bill or as it is rebranded to establish the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program; 2) discontinue or alter any existing promotional materials, program documents, or websites associated with SNAP, as they exist upon the effective date of the bill; or 3) replace SNAP with the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program. | In Committee |
| A4776 | Exempts sales of tangible personal property made from 100 percent post-recycled waste and recycled materials from sales and use tax. | This bill provides an exemption from the sales and use tax for the retail sale of tangible personal property made from 100 percent post-recycled waste or recycled materials, including, but not limited to, recycled bricks, asphalt, and crushed concrete. Under the bill, the term "post-recycled waste" is defined as any materials that have been salvaged or separated from general waste, and which have been processed for use as a raw material in the manufacturing of new products. The bill also defines "recycled materials" as any item or commodity which is manufactured or produced in whole or in part from post-consumer waste material. | In Committee |
| A4787 | Requires electric public utilities to conduct wellness checks in age-restricted communities during power outages. | This bill requires, in the event of a power outage, the electric public utility (utility) responsible for providing the electric service interrupted by the power outage to conduct or cause to be conducted a wellness check on persons with powered medical devices in affected age-restricted communities in collaboration with county officials, if applicable, until the resolution of the power outage. Under the bill, utilities, in coordination with county officials if applicable, are required to identify and maintain a confidential registry of residents in age-restricted communities who rely on powered medical devices. This registry is required to be updated at least annually. Additionally, within one hour of the onset of a power outage, the utility is required to prioritize the restoration of power to those individuals on the registry created pursuant to the bill. If restoration of power is not possible within four hours, the utility is required to: (1) conduct or cause to be conducted a wellness check on individuals listed in the registry to ensure the individuals have access to backup power or alternative accommodations; and (2) if after conducting a wellness check, the utility knows that a person listed in the registry does not have access to backup power or alternative accommodations, the utility is required to provide backup power supplies, such as portable generators or battery packs, or assist in relocating individuals to facilities with power if necessary. The bill requires utilities to collaborate with county officials, local emergency services, healthcare providers, and community organizations to ensure the wellness checks meet the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A4791 | Requires municipal planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment to incorporate recommendations from certain local environmental commissions on applications for development. | This bill would require each municipal planning board or board of adjustment to review and consider recommendations that are submitted, by the local environmental commission, on any application for development pending before the respective board, and, to the extent possible, to incorporate those environmental recommendations into the board's decision on the relevant application. While existing law already authorizes a local environmental commission to submit such recommendations to these local boards, in association with each such board's review of development applications submitted thereto, the law does not currently require either type of board to review or consider, or to use, those recommendations in any way. In addition, this bill would require the planning board and the board of adjustment to provide a copy, rather than an informational copy, of every application for development to the environmental commission. The bill would also change the current law to provide that a failure of the planning board or the board of adjustment to provide a copy of the application for development to the environmental commission would invalidate any hearing or proceeding. Current law provides that the failure to provide a copy of application for development would not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. | In Committee |
| A4806 | Provides grants to nonprofit organizations that provide financial literacy classes; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to establish a program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that provide financial literacy classes. Many citizens have limited knowledge in the concepts of personal budgeting, investing, and managing debt. This lack of knowledge can hinder their abilities to secure credit for major purchases and save for retirement. The bill addresses the lack of opportunities for education in personal finance by creating a grant program for financial nonprofits to develop and provide personal finance courses, with the goal of broadening the reach of financial education. Individual grants under the program are capped at $5,000. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund. | In Committee |
| A4793 | Requires State Agricultural Development Committee to develop educational materials for owners or operators of commercial farms regarding benefits of participating in farmland preservation program. | This bill would require the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to develop educational materials in the form of handouts and pamphlets for owners or operators of commercial farms regarding the benefits of participating in New Jersey's farmland preservation program. This bill further requires the SADC to provide copies of the educational materials to each municipality, and the municipal tax collector or the municipal tax assessor is required to provide a copy of the educational materials to the owner or operator of a commercial farm upon submission of an application for farmland assessment. In addition, this bill would require local municipalities to make copies of the educational material widely available at publicly accessible municipal buildings. | In Committee |
| A4781 | Prohibits ownership of certain protected land adjacent to military facilities in State by certain foreign governments and persons. | This bill prohibits sanctioned foreign governments and certain foreign persons from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any protected land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. Under the bill, protected land includes certain parcels of land located within 10 miles of a military facility. The bill permits impacted foreign governments and foreign persons that already own or hold an interest in protected land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the protected land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity. The bill provides the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of protected land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire protected land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not prohibited from owning protected land; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to protected land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on protected land taken for the purposes of security. Finally, the bill provides that any provision of the bill that is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. | In Committee |
| A4783 | Requires electric public utilities to provide portable emergency power generators to affected area during certain power outages. | This bill requires electric public utilities to provide portable emergency power generators to affected areas during power outages that last for six hours or more. The electric public utility is required to provide portable emergency power generators by the end of the sixth hour in an amount necessary to restore temporary power to the affected area until the end of the power outage. The electric public utility is required to determine the amount of portable emergency power generators necessary to restore temporary power to the affected area from the end of the sixth hour through the remaining duration of the power outage. | In Committee |
| A4795 | Requires advertising for NJ wine growing regions on tourist directional signs. | This bill requires advertising for New Jersey's wine growing regions on tourist directional signs. Under current law, the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture, implements a marketing and advertising campaign to attract the State's residents and visitors to wineries and viticulture attractions in the State through the erection of outdoor displays or advertising on real property within public view. The advertising of this State's wine growing regions and wineries within each of the wine growing regions on tourist directional signs will be implemented as part of this campaign. The four wine growing regions, each an official American Viticultural Area (AVA), include Central Delaware Valley AVA, located in Central NJ and shared with southeastern Pennsylvania along the Delaware River just north of Philadelphia; Warren Hills AVA, located entirely in Warren County along NJ's hillier northwestern edge bordering Pennsylvania; Outer Coastal Plain AVA, which includes all of Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean Counties; and Cape May Peninsula AVA, which includes part of Cape May and Cumberland Counties. | In Committee |
| A4784 | Requires public utilities to provide Energy Star-rated product and appliance rebates of no less than 20 percent of total cost of product or appliance. | This bill requires a public utility that offers a rebate program for the purchase of residential products and appliances bearing the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label as part of its energy efficiency program or peak demand reduction program, as approved by the Board of Public Utilities, to provide a rebate of no less than 20 percent of the total cost of the product or appliance. | In Committee |
| A4786 | Prohibits public utilities from charging smart meter opt-out fees. | This bill prohibits public utilities in this State from charging or collecting an opt-out fee to persons that have chosen not to have a smart meter installed in their places of residence. Under the bill, a "smart meter" is defined as a metering device that employs smart meter technology to measure, record, and transmit utility usage data to both a public utility and a customer for billing and other purposes. "Smart meter" includes a basic hourly interval meter, a meter with one-way communication, and a real-time meter with built-in, two-way communication capable of recording and transmitting instantaneous utility usage data. It is the sponsor's intent to help utility customers control their utility costs by exempting them from the fee charged by utilities for opting out of smart meter installation. Currently, residential customers are required to either agree to install a smart meter or pay a monthly fee to keep their analog meter. Utility customers have been experiencing larger and larger bills as companies save money by reducing employee costs. It is the sponsor's intent that that this legislation will promote choice in selecting a meter and save ratepayers money if they choose to keep an analog meter. | In Committee |
| A4798 | Establishes "Jersey Spirits Program" in Department in Agriculture. | This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the State Board of Agriculture, to develop and implement a "Jersey Spirits Program" to encourage, advertise, and promote the sale of spirits produced in the State. Spirits or liquors are produced through a distillation process in which grains, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other ingredients are concentrated by heating fermented liquid to increase alcohol content. Unlike other alcoholic beverages, liquors include ethanol. The "Jersey Spirits Program" would increase consumer awareness of the New Jersey liquor industry. The program would organize advertising campaigns and create marketing programs to promote spirits produced in the State, and disseminate information about the variety and availability of liquors distilled in the State. The program is also required to distribute information about certain distilleries, and liquor-producing products cultivated in the State, and create a labeling program (similar to the "Jersey Fresh" program) to identify spirits produced in the State as "Jersey Spirits" liquors. | In Committee |
| A4792 | Authorizes EDA to provide grants from "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to finance replacement of inefficient agricultural irrigation equipment. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants to farmers, using moneys from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-50), to finance the replacement of inefficient irrigation equipment with more energy efficient, water conservation equipment, including, but not limited to, drip irrigation systems, irrigation controllers, soil moisture sensors, rain sensors, rainfall shutoff devices, pump automation systems and sensors, drones, efficient sprinkler heads, such as rotary spray heads, and efficient pumps and pipes. Under current law, the EDA is authorized to use moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to: (1) support end-use energy efficiency projects and new, efficient electric generation facilities that are state of the art; (2) develop combined heat and power production and other high efficiency electric generation facilities; (3) stimulate or reward investment in the development of innovative carbon emissions abatement technologies with significant carbon emissions reduction or avoidance potential (4) develop qualified offshore wind projects; and (5) provide financial assistance to manufacturers of equipment associated with qualified offshore wind projects. This bill would add agricultural entities to the types of entities eligible to receive funding, and would add the replacement of inefficient irrigation equipment with more energy efficient, water conservation equipment to the list of the types of projects authorized to receive funding. As provided under current law, the EDA, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), would be authorized to determine the process by which the grants would be applied for and awarded. However, the bill would require the application process for a grant to finance the replacement of agricultural equipment to require the applicant to demonstrate at the completion of the project, that the old equipment has been dismantled or otherwise permanently decommissioned. The "Global Warming Solutions Fund" serves as the repository for funds generated from the sale of greenhouse gas emissions allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The EDA receives 60 percent of moneys appropriated by the Legislature from the fund each year, while the BPU and the DEP each receive 20 percent. | In Committee |
| A4796 | Establishes Cheese Promotion Council in Department of Agriculture. | This bill establishes a five member Cheese Promotion Council in the Department of Agriculture. The council's purpose is to advertise locally produced cheeses and develop recommendations to develop, promote, and support collaboration throughout the dairy and cheese production chains. The bill assigns several responsibilities to the council, including: (1) serving as an information and advisory resource for data and information on local cheeses; (2) reviewing State laws, rules, regulations, programs, policies, and initiatives that may affect dairy farmers and cheese producers; (3) coordinating the receipt and distribution of grants to small businesses to encourage local cheese production; (4) drafting a report on economic conditions of the cheese and dairy industry; and (5) organizing a State convention to promote cheese. Finally, the bill requires the council to report annually to the Governor and Legislature on the activities of the Council and its findings and recommendations regarding the coordination and effectiveness of the State cheese industry. The dairy industry in New Jersey contributes $22 million to the economy annually, producing 120 million pounds of milk. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Census, 69 farms across New Jersey distributed, stored, or sold milk or cheese products in 2017. New Jersey's farms are the fourth-smallest in the United States, averaging 76 acres. These farms may produce cheese made from a variety of livestock - including goats, sheep, buffalo, yak, and cows. A labor-intensive process, cheese making requires 10 pounds of milk in order to yield only one pound of cheese. | In Committee |
| A4779 | Provides gross income tax credits for portion of homeowners' association payments used in fund infrastructure improvements within common interest communities. | This bill would provide a refundable gross income tax credit to resident taxpayers for a portion of homeowners' association assessments that are paid by taxpayers for primary residences within any common interest community, and which are used by the homeowners' association to support infrastructure improvements within the community. A taxpayer would be eligible for the credit regardless of whether the primary residence is subject to property taxes or an agreement for payments in lieu of taxes ("PILOT payments"). Specifically, the homeowners' association infrastructure improvement tax credit would equal the amount of "homeowners' association assessments constituting infrastructure improvements" paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year. The bill defines "homeowners' association assessments constituting infrastructure improvements" to include 18 percent of the total homeowners' association assessments paid by a taxpayer during a taxable year. When filing a tax return that includes a claim for the credit, a taxpayer would be required to submit a copy of a certification, issued upon application by the taxpayer to their homeowners' association, that calculates the amount of the homeowners' association assessments constituting infrastructure improvements paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed. | In Committee |
| A4790 | Requires electric public utilities to report certain information concerning power outages on their Internet website and to BPU. | This bill requires electric public utilities to publish certain information about power outages on the electric public utility's Internet website and to report the information to the Board of Public Utilities (board). In the event that there is a power outage, the electric public utility responsible for providing the service affected by the power outage is required to publish information on the electric public utility's Internet website about the power outage, including but not limited to: the geographic area affected by the power outage; the start time of the power outage; the number of customers affected by the power outage; the number of current ongoing power outages in the State; the estimated time until service restoration; and the cause of the power outage. Under this bill, the electric public utility is also required to ensure the information provided on the utility's Internet website is updated regularly until service is restored. Additionally, the electric public utility is required to report the same information provided on its Internet website to the board within 30 days of restoration of electric service after a power outage. Currently, much of this information is already provided on electric public utility websites. However, there is no requirement in the law that they do so. Without this requirement, this valuable information can be removed at will. | In Committee |
| A4789 | Requires electric public utilities to develop vegetation management plan. | This bill requires electric public utilities to develop and submit to the Board of Public Utilities (board) a vegetation management plan within six months of the bill's enactment. The plan is required to, at a minimum: (1) identify on a map those areas in need of vegetation management; (2) describe the type of vegetation management required at each of the identified areas; and (3) provide a timeframe for when vegetation management action will be taken at each of the identified areas. In addition, the bill requires an electric public utility to annually maintain and submit its vegetation management plan to the board. Under the bill, the board is required determine criteria for "dangerous vegetation," which is required to, at a minimum, include a tree, shrub, plant, or any other vegetation growing in, near, or adjacent to an electric public utility's right of way, and the electric distribution and transmission system, but not including a service line to an individual customer, which may include an electric distribution line, as determined by the electric public utility or local government entity that controls the right of way. The board is also required to establish criteria for a vegetation management plan, approve or reject a plan within 60 days of its submission to the board, and establish an appeal process for electric public utilities whose plans have been rejected by the board. Additionally, the bill defines "vegetation management" as the clearing, moving, cutting, or destroying to remove, replace as reasonable and necessary, or maintain dangerous vegetation. | In Committee |
| A4800 | Establishes Winery Co-marketing Grant Program; appropriates $500,000. | This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a Winery Co-marketing Grant Program to reimburse wineries in the State for eligible costs related to certain marketing campaigns. The purpose of the program is to encourage and enhance the ability of New Jersey wineries to engage in co-marketing campaigns that promote agricultural tourism and local businesses. Under the bill, the department is authorized to award a grant under the program to an applicant who is the holder of a plenary or farm winery license who incurred eligible costs in accordance with the bill. Eligible costs are include those that were directly incurred and paid by the grant applicant for marketing campaigns or other advertising that promote the winery owned or operated by the applicant and a winery owned or operated by another holder of a plenary or farm winery license; a restaurant located within the State; an inn, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, or other similar place of public accommodation located within the State; a roadside market that sells "Jersey Fresh" designated products or agricultural tourism at a farm located within the State. An applicant may apply for a grant under the program once annually. The bill provides that the department would award grants of up to $25,000 pursuant to the following schedule: 25 percent of the eligible costs incurred marketing campaign or other advertising included one other entity; 35 percent if the marketing campaign or other advertising included two other entities; or 45 percent if the marketing campaign or other advertising included three or more other entities. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Each annual report submitted is required at a minimum to: (1) identify the total number and dollar amount of grant awards issued during the reporting period; (2) include a recommendation as to whether the grant program should be continued in future years; and (3) identify the amount of previously appropriated funds that remains unexpended and available to finance future grant awards under the program, and, to the extent that the report recommends continuation of the program, recommend additional appropriations, as deemed by the secretary to be necessary to ensure the program's continued operation and ongoing success. | In Committee |
| A4794 | Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to establish campaign that displays certain tourism advertisements through plastic wrapping of certain utility boxes located at intersections. | This bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State (division) to establish a campaign to promote the use of plastic wrapping on utility boxes located at intersections throughout the State to display tourism advertisements. The tourism advertisements are required to be of Statewide or local importance. The bill defines "plastic wrapping" to mean panels of vinyl or other flexible substrates that are used to wrap a surface or object and that may include digital large format printing technology to display a color or design. In establishing the campaign, the division is required to: (1) coordinate with the Department of Transportation to develop a list of intersections within the State that have a utility box; (2) seek permission from, and coordinate with, the entities that own and maintain the utility boxes; (3) develop eligibility criteria for utility boxes that are permitted to display tourism advertisements via plastic wrapping and a process for selecting which utility boxes are to be plastic wrapped; (4) develop a process for selecting tourism advertisements to be displayed via plastic wrapping on utility boxes, which process may include, but not be limited to, an application process for private persons, businesses, and local government entities to submit State and local tourism advertisements to the division and a process for the division to develop and select State and local tourism advertisements; and (5) contract with third party entities to provide plastic wrapping services to display the selected advertisements. The bill requires the division to ensure that the campaign complies with all applicable State and federal laws and any applicable municipal ordinances related to signage. The bill also requires the division to publish information related to the campaign on the division's Internet website, including information concerning the processes of selecting the utility boxes to be plastic wrapped and the advertisements to be displayed on the utility boxes. Finally, the bill requires the division to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the campaign in promoting State and local tourism through the use of plastic wrapping on utility boxes located at intersections throughout the State. | In Committee |
| A4782 | Requires electric public utilities to take certain actions in event of outages in age-restricted communities. | This bill requires that, in the event of an extended power outage, the electric public utility that is responsible for providing the service affected by the extended power outage is required to, until the restoration of electric service, provide the following in every affected age-restricted community: (1) access to potable water by setting up temporary water distribution stations; (2) cooling stations equipped with air conditioning and adequate seating to accommodate residents or heating stations equipped with heating capabilities and adequate seating; and (3) charging stations for electronic devices. The bill defines "extended power outage" to mean a disruption in service provided by an electric public utility that lasts more than 24 consecutive hours and "age-restricted community" to mean a planned real estate development consisting of dwelling units governed by a common set of rules, regulations, or restrictions intended and operated for persons 55 years of age or older. | In Committee |
| A4530 | Allows sentencing to extended term for repeat convictions of receipt of stolen property. | This bill provides that a person may be sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment for repeat convictions of receiving stolen property. Under the bill, a person is a persistent offender if the person has previously been convicted on two or more prior and separate occasions of receiving stolen property in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:20-7, regardless of the dates of the convictions. A persistent offender may be sentenced to an extended term, upon motion of the prosecutor, if the prior conviction is for a crime committed on a separate occasion and the crime for which the person is being sentenced was either: (1) within 10 years of the date of the defendant's last release from confinement for the commission of any crime; or (2) within 10 years of the date of the commission of the most recent violation of N.J.S.2C:20-7 for which the defendant has a prior conviction. | Crossed Over |
| A1432 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | In Committee |
| A4715 | Requires NJTA and SJTA to ensure toll collection monitoring system is functioning properly prior to issuing advisory and payment request and administrative fee. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to ensure that the toll collection monitoring system is functioning properly without any technical or mechanical errors prior to sending an advisory and payment request and issuing any administrative fee for an alleged violation of the toll collection monitoring system. In the event the NJTA or SJTA determines the toll collection monitoring system is not functioning properly, the NJTA or SJTA is required to take the necessary steps to restore the functionality of the toll collection monitoring system and is prohibited from sending any advisory and payment requests or issuing any administrative fees for alleged violations of the toll collection monitoring system until the toll collection monitoring system has been fixed and is determined to be functioning properly. The NJTA and SJTA are required to determine the manner and frequency in which each toll collection monitoring system will be evaluated for functionality prior to sending an advisory and payment request and issuing any administrative fee for an alleged violation of the respective toll collection monitoring system. | In Committee |
| A2610 | Extends annual horse racing purse subsidies through State fiscal year 2029. | An Act concerning horse racing purse subsidies and amending P.L.2019, c.36. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S721 | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and certain investment coins from sales and use tax. | An Act exempting the sale of certain investment metal bullion and coins from the sales and use tax and amending P.L.1980, c.105. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2884 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System for certain service and amending P.L.1991, c.153. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1669 | Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. | An Act concerning teacher certification, supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.2023, c.180. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2812 | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales and use tax. | Exempts sales of investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales and use tax. | In Committee |
| A4650 | Increases penalties for juvenile adjudicated delinquent for certain acts related to motor vehicles. | This bill provides a mandatory period of incarceration for juveniles who commit a third or subsequent violation of motor vehicle theft or eluding. Under current law, the court is required to order a juvenile to perform 60 days of community service if the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of theft of a catalytic converter, theft of a motor vehicle, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, or eluding law enforcement while operating a motor vehicle. This bill provides that in the case of a juvenile who has been adjudicated delinquent for a third or subsequent act, which if committed by an adult, would constitute one of these crimes, the court is required to enter an order to incarcerate the juvenile for a term of one year. | In Committee |
| A4629 | Allows exclusion of certain small business income from taxation under gross income tax and corporation business tax. | This bill excludes up to $50,000 of the income earned by qualified small businesses from taxation under the corporation business tax and the gross income tax. The provisions of this bill would apply to tax periods beginning after December 31, 2024. Under the bill, a ²qualified small business² is defined to include a business entity that: (1) is independently owned and operated, with management owning at least a 51 percent ownership interest in the corporation and being responsible for both its daily and long-term operations; (2) has its principal business operations located in the State; (3) is registered to do business in this State with the Director of the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services; (4) earned gross revenues not more than $2 million during the applicable tax period; and (5) employed not more than 20 full-time or part-time employees during the taxable year, not including certain seasonal employees, except that a majority of the employees are required to be residents of this State. | In Committee |
| A4649 | Provides access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters through SHBP physicians and other providers. | This bill requires access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters serving in fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, without cost-sharing. Under the bill, physicians who participate in the State Health Benefits Program network will be required to offer these periodic examinations to volunteer firefighters and then a physician or other provider may request payment from the State for the provision of services not to exceed $1,250 in the aggregate per three-year period for each firefighter. According to the bill, fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, which relies on services from volunteer firefighters must maintain adequate records to facilitate the payment. Current law entitles paid firefighters enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program and paid firefighters eligible for enrollment in the State Health Benefits Program to periodic cancer screening examinations every three years without cost-sharing. By law, the State will reimburse public employers in an amount not to exceed $1,250 per three-year period for each firefighter. This bill extends the reimbursement provisions available to paid firefighters under current law to unpaid firefighters serving in any fire district with a volunteer fire department or wherein there exists one or more incorporated volunteer fire companies affording fire protection to the fire district, or any fire department, unit, or company of or in the State or a political subdivision of this State. | In Committee |
| A3908 | Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill's enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
| A3034 | Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $100,000 appropriation; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote aquaculture products as part of the Jersey Fresh Program. The Jersey Fresh Program is the marketing and quality grading program that is currently used, by the department, to advertise and promote the availability of fruit and vegetable agricultural commodities that have been produced in the State and graded for quality. This bill would expand the Jersey Fresh Program to additionally include marketing for fish and shellfish that are produced in the State, or in State waters, through means of aquaculture, and the quality of which complies with standards adopted by the department and is verified thereby through the use of an appropriate quality grading system. The bill would require the department to develop and implement a quality grading system that is specific to the grading of aquaculture products, as distinguished from wild-caught seafood products, which system is to be consistent with, and similar to, the quality grading system that is used, by the department, to grade the quality of other agricultural commodities for the purposes of the Jersey Fresh Program. The bill provides an initial appropriation of $100,000 for the bill's purposes, and it additionally provides for an annual appropriation of $100,000 to be made in each fiscal year after the bill's effective date, in order to facilitate the ongoing marketing and promotion of aquaculture products under the Jersey Fresh Program. The monies made available under the bill would be in addition to any other monies that may be appropriated or allocated to the Jersey Fresh Program. | In Committee |
| A3301 | Creates crime of victimization of persons with disabilities and senior citizens. | This bill creates the separate crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability, which would be graded one degree higher than the offense that was committed. A person would be guilty of victimization if the person commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit or threatens the immediate commission of an offense specified in chapters 11 through 18 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes (criminal homicide; assault, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats; kidnapping and related offenses, coercion; sexual offenses; robbery; bias intimidation; arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction; and burglary and other criminal intrusion) against a senior citizen or a person with a disability. If the victim of an underlying offense is a senior citizen or a person with a disability, the actor would be strictly liable for the victimization offense and it would not be a defense that the actor did not know that the victim was a senior citizen or a person with a disability. Under the provisions of the bill, victimization is a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, it is a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime, except that when the underlying crime is a crime of the first degree, victimization is a first degree crime and the defendant, upon conviction thereof, may be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 10 years and 30 years, with a presumptive term of 20 years. The bill also provides that when the underlying crime was solely a third degree violation of N.J.S.A.2C:18-2 (burglary), it is an affirmative defense that the property entered was an unoccupied motor vehicle or other unoccupied structure. In a prosecution when the underlying crime was solely a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:17-3 (criminal mischief), it is an affirmative defense that no person other than the actor was present at the time the offense was committed. In addition, a conviction of victimization would not merge with a conviction of any of the underlying offenses. The court would impose separate sentences upon a conviction for victimization and a conviction of any underlying offense. A "person with a disability" is defined as a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. A "senior citizen" is defined as a person 60 years of age or older. | In Committee |
| A4610 | Broadens offenses of riot and disorderly conduct; enhances penalties for public monument destruction; addresses riot victim assaults; creates crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. | In light of the exponentially greater risk of injury and damage caused by crowd-based destructive behavior, this omnibus bill addresses certain crimes committed during the course of riot or crowd-based behavior. Presently, under N.J.S.A.2C:33-1, a person is guilty of riot if he participates with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct with an unlawful purpose, enumerated in the statute. This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:33-1 to expand the categories of unlawful purposes to include when the actor, with six or more others, causes damage to property or injury to another. Riot under these circumstances is a crime of the fourth degree punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:33-2, Disorderly Conduct, which currently provides that a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if he commits certain prohibited acts. This bill creates a new subsection c. to provide that a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, during a riot, he engages in disorderly conduct in a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement. Under the bill, "Place of public accommodation, resort or amusement" includes any inn, tavern, road house or hotel, whether for entertainment of transient guests or accommodation of those seeking health, recreation or rest; any restaurant, eating house, or place where food is sold for consumption on the premises; any place maintained for sale of ice cream, ice and fruit preparations or their derivatives, soda water or confections, or where any beverages of any kind are retailed for consumption on the premises; any garage, any public conveyance operated on land or water, and stations and terminals thereof; any public bathhouse, public boardwalk, public seashore accommodation; any theater, or other place of public amusement, motion-picture house, airdrome, music hall, roof garden, skating rink, amusement and recreation park, fair, bowling alley, gymnasium, shooting gallery, billiard and pool parlor; any dispensary, clinic, hospital, public library, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the regents of the State of New Jersey. Under these circumstances, the offense is a crime of the fourth degree. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:33-7, Obstructing highways and other public passages, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage in the course of committing riot or disorderly conduct. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:33-9, Desecration of venerated objects, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if the desecration occurs during a riot. The term desecrate is clarified to include conduct such as actual destruction or the toppling of a monument. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1, Assault. Currently, the statute enumerates the circumstances when aggravated assault occurs; this bill adds the additional circumstance. Under the bill, a person is guilty of aggravated assault if he attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another in the course of a riot. Aggravated assault under this circumstance is a crime of the third degree, punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Additionally, paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:12-1 elevates simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against certain categories of persons, including when committed against a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the officer's duties while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of authority or because of the officer's status as a law enforcement officer, and is graded as a crime of the third degree. Under the bill, if, in the course of a riot, an object is thrown at a law enforcement officer, or if the law enforcement officer is struck, whether or not with an object, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a first offense of a crime of the third degree shall not apply, and a mandatory period of six months imprisonment shall apply. The bill creates the new crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. A person promotes violent, disorderly assembly if he conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager to commit any crime specified in chapters 11 through 18, 20, 33, 35, or 37 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; N.J.S.2C:34-1; N.J.S.2C:39-3; N.J.S.2C:39-4; section 1 of P.L.1998, c.26 (C.2C:39-4.1); N.J.S.2C:39-5; or N.J.S.2C:39-9 in the course of a riot or at the site of a peaceable assembly. Promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a crime of one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime referred to in subsection a. of this section, except that where the underlying offense is a crime of the first degree, promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a first degree crime and the defendant, upon conviction, and notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a of N.J.S.2C:43-6, shall be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 15 and 30 years. This bill is based upon a legislation concept entitled, "Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act," articulated in the media concerning an announcement made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. | In Committee |
| A4608 | Provides that school districts with unpaid balances on certain borrowed funds are not subject to State school aid reductions; requires use of surplus funds to repay borrowed funds. | This bill provides that a school district, which has an unpaid balance on certain borrowed funds from the State, is not subject to a State school aid reduction. A school district exempt from a State school aid reduction under the bill, however, is required to apply the full amount of its undesignated general fund balance (i.e., surplus funds) to the repayment of the borrowed funds. One of the types of borrowed funds referenced in the bill is advance State aid payments that are authorized under current law. Under current law, the commissioner may recommend to the State Treasurer whether an advance State aid payment should be made to a school district experiencing certain budgetary deficiencies. The advance State aid payment is required to be repaid by the school district through automatic reductions in State aid in subsequent years. Instead of the automatic reductions in State aid required under current law, this bill requires certain districts to appropriate their undesignated general fund balances to the repayment of the advance State aid payments. This requirement applies to a district that has an outstanding balance on an advance State aid payment and is otherwise supposed to experience a reduction in State school aid pursuant to the school funding formula law. The bill also references emergency aid provided to a school district. Recent appropriations acts have authorized the appropriation of funds for emergency aid to school districts, following a district needs assessment conducted by the Department of Education. In providing for emergency aid, the commissioner is authorized to determine the repayment terms, if any, that will be assessed to a school district. The commissioner may also appoint a State monitor to a school district receiving emergency aid. Under the bill, a district, which has an unpaid balance on emergency aid funds and is otherwise subject to a reduction in State school aid pursuant to the school funding law, is required to appropriate its undesignated general fund balance to repayment of the funds. Certain school districts have been forced into financial hardship due to state aid cuts through the implementation of P.L.2018, c.67, commonly known as "S2." One school district represented by the sponsor has applied to the Department of Education for an advance State aid payment, and the sponsor is aware of at least one other school district that has outstanding debt to the department. Still others have considered applying for such loans. The district represented by the sponsor has had state aid reduced by more than $22 million during implementation of S2. That district was forced to cut over 200 employees and to eliminate advanced placement courses, sports teams and more. For the 2024-2025 school year, the district faces a $25 million shortfall that cannot be effectively addressed by any reasonable program cuts, property tax increases, or combination thereof. Even raising the property tax levy to the maximum amount permitted under P.L.2024, c.13 would not close the gap. As a condition of the district's application, the Commissioner of Education appointed a state fiscal monitor to the district. After reviewing the district's finances, the monitor stated that the district does not have a spending problem, but rather a revenue problem. The sponsor, among many other observers, finds it clear that the greatest source of this revenue problem is the enormous reduction of state aid over the years. As the need for this borrowing has arisen due to the State's actions, the sponsor believes it is appropriate that the State hold affected districts harmless from additional aid reductions while they have unpaid balances on any borrowed funds from the State. | In Committee |
| A4550 | Authorizes forgiveness of portion of certain funds owed to State by school districts. | This bill requires the State to forgive up to $10 million in funds owed to the State for eligible school districts. Any public school district that has an outstanding balance in loans from the State or advances in State school aid would be eligible for forgiveness. In the case of a school district that has applied to borrow funds prior to the date of enactment, the Commissioner of Education and the State Treasurer, as appropriate, are to issue the amount in full upon approval of the application and forgive up to $10 million of the borrowed funds. Certain school districts have been forced into financial hardship due to state aid cuts through the implementation of P.L.2018, c.67, the law known as S2. One school district represented by the sponsor has applied to the Department of Education for a loan, known as an advance of state aid, and the sponsor is aware of at least one other school district that has outstanding debt to the department. Still others have considered applying for such loans. The district represented by the sponsor has had state aid reduced by more than $22 million during implementation of S2. That district was forced to cut over 200 employees and to eliminate advanced placement courses, sports teams and more. For the 2024-2025 school year, the district faces a $25 million shortfall that cannot be effectively addressed by any reasonable program cuts, property tax increases, or combination thereof. Even raising the property tax levy to the maximum amount permitted under P.L.2024, c.13 would not close the gap. As a condition of the district's application, the Commissioner of Education appointed a state fiscal monitor to the district. After reviewing the district's finances, the monitor stated that the district does not have a spending problem, but rather a revenue problem. The sponsor, among many other observers, finds it clear that the greatest source of this revenue problem is the enormous reduction of state aid over the years. As the need for this borrowing has arisen due to the state's actions, the sponsor believes it is appropriate that the state forgive any such debt while the Legislature works on a permanent solution to the school funding issue. | In Committee |
| A4514 | Directs State Treasurer to debit from State operating aid allocated to public research university amount equal to costs incurred by institution in implementing agreements reached with certain student protesters. | This bill directs the State Treasurer to debit from a public research university's State operating aid an amount equal to the costs incurred by the institution in implementing any agreements reached with students protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict that began on October 7, 2023. Under the bill, aid is to be reduced by the costs associated with: (1) the institution's acceptance of, and any institutional aid provided for, displaced Gazan students; (2) establishing an Arab Cultural Center; (3) establishing an educational and collaborative partnership with Birzeit University; (4) hiring senior administrators with cultural competency and knowledge about Arabs, Palestinians, Muslims, anti-Palestinian racism, and Islamophobia; 5) hiring additional professors specializing in Palestine studies and Middle East studies; (6) establishing a center for Palestinian studies and the departmentalization of Middle East studies; (7) displaying the flags of a country or territory that is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the United States Secretary of State; and (8) providing amnesty to students, student groups, faculty, and staff involved in anti-Semitic protests on the campus of the institution. This bill is in response to encampments on the lawns of Voorhees Mall at Rutgers University-New Brunswick by students demanding various actions from the institution in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The sponsor notes that Rutgers negotiated with the trespassing students and came to agreements with students supporting a terrorist organization. The sponsor also notes that, if implemented, the agreements will require the spending of taxpayer dollars. | In Committee |
| A4502 | Authorizes State, local, and nonprofit acquisition of fee simple titles to, and development easements on, farmland, in certain cases, for negotiated purchase prices exceeding appraised value thereof. | This bill would establish certain limited purchase and pricing exemptions within the context of the State's existing farmland preservation laws. As a general rule, and as clarified in the bill, any farmland development easement that is proposed to be acquired by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), or by a local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization, for farmland preservation purposes, is to be purchased for a price that is equal to, or less than, the easement's appraised value, as determined in accordance with the appraisal procedures set forth in existing law, at subsection c. of section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50). The bill would establish certain exceptions to this general rule. Specifically, the bill would authorize State, local, or nonprofit purchasers of fee simple title to, or of a development easement on, farmland to pay a final, negotiated purchase price therefor which is in excess of the title or easement's appraised value, based on a determination that the title or easement is located on lands that are uniquely situated or are otherwise unique in character or quality, including, but not limited to, lands situated within a designated preservation area of the Pinelands or Highlands Regions of the State. Specifically, in any case where a local government unit is proposing to acquire fee simple title to, or a development easement on, farmland using constitutionally dedicated moneys in whole or in part, for a negotiated purchase price exceeding the appraised value thereof, the local government unit would be required, under the bill, to submit a copy of the proposed agreement of sale, to the governing body of the county in which the development easement is located, before the agreement is finalized and executed. The governing body would then be required, within 30 days after receipt of such proposed agreement, to adopt an ordinance approving or disapproving the execution thereof and the acquisition of the title or easement, pursuant thereto, at the enhanced and negotiated price set forth therein. Whenever the governing body of a county adopts an ordinance approving the execution of such agreement, the ordinance would be required to contain certain findings of fact, including, but not limited to, findings related to the location, size, and appraised value and proposed purchase price of the fee simple title or easement interests to be acquired, and findings identifying the unique characteristics, qualities, or location of the land on which the fee simple title or development easement is proposed to be acquired, including, but not limited to, its location within a designated preservation area, which the governing body of the county deems sufficient to justify and warrant the local government unit's acquisition of the fee simple title or development easement, pursuant to the bill's local purchase and pricing exception, at a final, negotiated purchase price exceeding the appraised value thereof. In any case where the State Agriculture Development Committee (committee) or a qualified tax exempt nonprofit organization is proposing to acquire fee simple title to, or a development easement on, farmland using constitutionally dedicated moneys in whole or in part, for a negotiated purchase price exceeding the appraised value thereof, the committee or nonprofit would be authorized to proceed with such transaction, provided that the county agriculture development board or subregional agricultural retention board having jurisdiction over the relevant farmland, as appropriate, has first held a hearing on the matter, in compliance with all public hearing and comment requirements applicable thereto. Within 30 days after the conclusion of any such hearing, the hearing board would be required to issue a hearing report identifying certain findings of fact, including, but not limited to, findings related to the location, size, and appraised value and proposed purchase price of the fee simple title or easement interests to be acquired, and findings identifying the unique characteristics, qualities, or location of such land, including, but not limited to, its location within a designated preservation area, which have been cited by the proposed State or nonprofit purchaser, and by other members of the public, as sufficient basis upon which to justify and warrant the committee's or nonprofit's acquisition of the fee simple title or development easement at a final, negotiated purchase price exceeding the appraised value thereof. The bill would specify that, at the conclusion of each such requisite hearing, the proposed State or nonprofit purchaser will be immediately and statutorily authorized to execute a finalized agreement of sale effectuating the acquisition, thereby, of such title or easement at a purchase price exceeding the appraised value thereof. The authorization provided by the bill, in this regard, would be applicable regardless of whether the hearing board has issued its findings of facts on the matter, as required by the bill's provisions. Within 30 days after the execution of any such final, negotiated sales agreement, the State or nonprofit purchaser would be required to provide a copy of the signed agreement of sale to the governing body of the county in which the farmland is situated. However, nothing in the bill's provisions would be deemed to require such State or nonprofit purchaser to obtain the approval of a hearing board, or the approval of the governing body of the county, in order to finalize and execute such an agreement of sale following the conclusion of the hearing required by the bill. In addition to the foregoing changes, the bill would also amend section 8 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), which identifies the various alternative appraisal and valuation methods that may be used by State, local, and nonprofit purchasers to determine the fair market value of fee simple title to, or a development easement on, farmland that is proposed to be acquired thereby with farmland preservation moneys, in order to clarify the first optional valuation method that is authorized to be undertaken, for such purposes, thereunder. This first valuation method currently includes the authorized use, for such purposes, of the valuation process, established at section 24 of P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-31), which is applicable in cases where farmland development easements are proposed to be acquired by county agriculture development boards. The provisions of section 8 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), however, do not similarly authorize, or in any other way reference, the appraisal process previously established at section 39 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-39), which is applicable to the acquisition, by qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations, of fee simple titles to, or development easements on, farmland. Accordingly, the bill would amend the law to clarify that either such pre-existing valuation method, respectively codified at C.4:1C-31 or at C.13:8C-39, as appropriate, may be used as the first alternative means of land valuation for the purposes of the multi-pronged appraisal process that is required to be undertaken, pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), to determine the fair market value of fee simple and lesser interests in farmland proposed to be acquired, in whole or in part, with funds dedicated for farmland preservation purposes. It is the sponsor's intent to allow the State, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to negotiate a purchase price above the appraisal for the purchase of a development easement or fee simple title for farmland preservation purposes. In many areas of the State, due to low appraisals, the loss of farmland to development has occurred because government entities cannot compete with offers by developers. This bill will level the playing field for certain farmland preservation purchases while providing the public a transparent process. | In Committee |
| A4515 | Expands implied consent law to include blood testing; establishes per se standard for driving under influence of marijuana and certain controlled dangerous substances. | This bill expands the implied consent law to include blood testing. In addition, the bill establishes a per se standard for driving under the influence of marijuana and certain controlled dangerous substances. Under current law, any person who operates a motor vehicle on a public road in this State is deemed to have given consent to a breath test for the purpose of determining the person's blood alcohol content. The provisions of the bill extend this implied consent law to include blood testing for the purpose of determining the content of any narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug in the person's blood. A person who refuses to consent to the blood test would be subject to the same penalties as a person who is convicted of refusing a breath test in relation to a drunk driving charge under current law. In addition, the bill establishes a per se standard for driving under the influence of marijuana and certain controlled dangerous substances. Under current law, a person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug. This bill provides that a person is deemed to be under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug if his or her blood contains three nanograms or more of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per milliliter of blood. In addition, under the bill, except for tetrahydrocannabinols, a person is deemed to be under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug if his or her blood contains any amount of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance or one of its metabolites or analogs, or any amount of a Schedule II or III controlled dangerous substance or one of its metabolites or analogs, which has not been medically prescribed. | In Committee |
| A4452 | Dedicates sales tax revenues collected on retail sales of locally produced wine for promotion of New Jersey wine. | This bill dedicates a portion of the State sales tax revenues collected on the retail sales of wine to support the promotion of New Jersey wines. The tax revenue annually collected from the sales and use tax collected on certain retail sales of wine produced at a winery in this State, including wine sold in bottles or other containers and sold in the ordinary course of business for consumption by the glass on a vendor's business premises, will be credited to the "New Jersey Wine Promotion Account" in the Department of Agriculture. The annual appropriation of this revenue will be used by the Secretary of Agriculture for research and development concerning the viticultural and wine-making processes in the State and for the promotion of New Jersey wine, consistent with the recommendations of the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council. The dedication and separate record keeping requirements for New Jersey produced wine will not apply to the sales tax on sales of wine by any vendor that regularly and principally provides meals to its customers through kitchen and dining facilities. | In Committee |
| A4450 | Establishes "Jersey Vines Program" in Department of Agriculture. | This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the State Board of Agriculture, to develop and implement a "Jersey Vines Program" to encourage, advertise, and promote the sale of wine produced in the State by plenary winery and farm winery licensees. The wines promoted by the program would be produced using grapes, fruits, and other ingredients that are cultivated and grown in New Jersey. The Jersey Vines Program would increase consumer awareness of the New Jersey wine industry, organize advertising campaigns and create marketing programs to promote wine produced in the State, disseminate information about the variety and availability of wine produced in the State, disseminate information about certain wineries, vineyards, and farms in the State, and create a labeling program (similar to the "Jersey Fresh" program) to identify wine produced in the State as "Jersey Vines" wine. | In Committee |
| A4449 | Provides supplemental appropriation to ensure certain school districts receive additional amounts of special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and transportation aid. | This bill provides additional aid to certain school districts that have allocations of special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, or transportation aid that are less than those provided under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008." To be eligible for the aid provided by the bill, a school district is required to have experienced a State school formula aid reduction in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years and be spending below adequacy. Under current law, a school district is spending below adequacy if its prior year spending (defined as the sum of equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and the local general fund tax levy) is less than its projected adequacy spending for the budget year (defined as the sum of the adequacy budget, special education categorical aid, and security categorical aid). P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to as "S2") was enacted to realign the amount of State aid provided to school districts with current needs and to move toward fully implementing the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 as originally enacted. In doing so, S2 established a schedule for the reallocation of State aid from school districts deemed "overfunded" under that law to those deemed "underfunded." This schedule primarily applies to State school aid allocated from the 2019-2020 school year through the 2024-2025 school year. In realigning State aid over this time period, however, S2 resulted in many school districts receiving allocations of individual aid categories that are less than those calculated under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. This bill would provide additional aid in the 2024-2025 school year to ensure that eligible school districts receive the amount of special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, or transportation aid as calculated under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. It is the sponsor's intent to provide reasonable, temporary assistance to allow certain school districts spending below adequacy to avoid catastrophic budget cuts due to the loss of State aid for the 2024-2025 school year. The sponsor believes a permanent solution to State school aid inequities, and the resulting harm to students' education, is necessary but not within reach in time for the next school year. The adequacy budget is determined by law to be the amount necessary to ensure a constitutionally required thorough and efficient education, and this bill applies to school districts that are otherwise spending below the sum of that amount and the district's amount of categorical aids for special education and security. The sponsor therefore believes this bill is necessary to avoid detrimental effects on students' educational quality that could result in depriving students of their constitutional rights. Twice in the past two years, the Legislature has implicitly recognized the inadequacy of the existing State school aid system by passing legislation to provide some form of relief to school districts facing massive State aid reductions. This legislation includes P.L.2024, c.13, which appropriates $44.7 million to establish a Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore 45 percent of State school aid reductions and permits certain school districts to exceed the tax levy growth limitation in the 2024-2025 school year. The Legislature also enacted P.L.2023, c.32, which provided additional State school aid to certain school districts and appropriated $103.0 million. That law restored two-thirds of the proposed State aid reductions to school districts. The sponsor believes this bill is consistent with the intentions of these enactments. | In Committee |
| A3532 | Provides gross income tax credit to active members of volunteer emergency service organizations for use of personal motor vehicle in performance of active duty. | This bill establishes a refundable gross income tax credit to provide reimbursement to active members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads for the use of their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The amount of the credit is determined by multiplying the business standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service for transportation or travel expenses by the number of miles the taxpayer actually and necessarily traveled by the taxpayer in the tax year using their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The maximum amount of the credit would be $500. If married individuals filing a joint return both qualify, they would be allowed a joint credit of up to $1,000. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer would, in the taxable year for which the credit was claimed, have to: (1) have been an unpaid member in good standing of the organization; and (2) have completed "qualifying service" with the organization. The bill defines "qualifying service" as: (a) for a volunteer who does not have duty hours, (i) active participation in at least 60 percent of the regular alarms or other calls to active duty to which the organization responds during the taxable year, (ii) recorded attendance at not less than 60 percent of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, (iii) participation in all of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, and (iv) performance during the year of not less than 60 percent of any other miscellaneous duty required by the organization; or (b) for a volunteer who does have duty hours, performance of at least 400 duty hours during the year, of which no more than 50 percent could be for drills or other training classes or exercises. The bill requires each volunteer emergency services organization to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, on or before January 15 of each year, a list of the active members of the organization during the prior tax year. The certification will assist the Division of Taxation in verifying a taxpayer's eligibility for a gross income tax credit under the bill. | In Committee |
| A500 | Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 72 hours. | Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 72 hours. | In Committee |
| A3032 | Creates gallery space on State House grounds for display of certain art works. | Creates gallery space on State House grounds for display of certain art works. | In Committee |
| A4418 | Makes FY 2024 supplemental appropriation of $500,000 from General Fund to Department of Agriculture for Jersey Fresh marketing and promotion activities. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations act to make an additional appropriation of $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture to increase funding to the Jersey Fresh program. Jersey Fresh is an advertising and marketing program that helps farmers inform consumers about the availability of locally grown produce. The program began in 1984 as a $50,000 campaign before accruing appropriations of over $1 million per year; funding has since been limited to $100,000 as the campaign approaches its 40th anniversary. Under the fiscal year 2024 appropriations act, Jersey Fresh programs received $100,000 for the purpose of marketing and promoting locally grown produce. This bill increases the funding for FY 2025 by $500,000. The sponsor intends this appropriation to replace the use of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crops Block Grant for the Jersey Fresh program. As a result of the supplemental appropriation, the amount of federal money available to farmers and organizations from this needed federal grant program will be increased, as up to 50 percent of the federal grant funds are used to fund the Jersey Fresh program. This bill would rebalance the funding of the Jersey Fresh program and the amount available for USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant awards so that both benefit the State's farmers to the fullest. | In Committee |
| A4412 | Establishes certification process for non-physicians to perform laser tattoo removal. | This bill directs the Board of Medical Examiners to establish requirements to allow a non-physician to obtain certification to perform laser tattoo removal. The requirements are to include qualifications of a non-physician to provide tattoo removal services, development or approval of testing, and continuing education for certification renewal. Under the bill, a non-physician is required to obtain certification before offering laser tattoo removal services. A certification in tattoo removal services is to be renewed on a biennial basis with the board. | In Committee |
| A4407 | Increases daily compensation for election workers and increases additional compensation rate for election workers managing signature copy registers. | This bill increases the daily compensation for election workers from $300 per day to $400 per day. It also increases the additional compensation rate for election workers who obtain and return signature copy registers. Under current law, if one election worker obtains or returns the signature copy registers, the additional compensation is $12.50. If two election workers share the responsibility, each receives an additional $6.25. This bill will increase the compensation rate to $20 and $10, respectively. Under current law, election workers are paid $300 per day each time the primary election, general election, or any special election is held. The State reimburses $225 of the payment to the election workers while the counties account for the rest. This bill increases the State's reimbursement to $325 while keeping the counties sum at $75. | In Committee |
| A4410 | Requires green building standards and impact studies for carbon, traffic, storm water, and schools for certain affordable housing development. | This bill requires newly-built affordable housing inclusionary developments of 10 units or more to report the results of a traffic impact study, school impact study, and storm water impact study to the municipality in which the development is to be located. A newly-built inclusionary development requiring the clearing of more than one acre of land would also be required to report the results of a carbon impact study. The bill also requires newly-built inclusionary developments to be designed, constructed, and certified to at least LEED silver standards, or equivalent green building system standards, if the development consists of 10 or more units or four or more floors. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations by the first day of the eighth month following enactment. This bill takes effect on the first day of the thirteenth month next following enactment, and would not apply to developments for which an application for development is submitted prior to that date. | In Committee |
| A4161 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | An Act concerning school district finances and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4356 | "Zero-Based Budget Act;" requires State Treasurer to develop and integrate certain zero-based budgeting practices and procedures in preparation and submission of Governor's annual budget message. | The "Zero-Based Budget Act" requires the State Treasurer to develop and integrate certain zero-based budgeting practices and procedures in the preparation and submission of the Governor's annual budget message. Under the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, is required to design and develop a zero-based budget process on or before July 1, 2019 for State fiscal years commencing on and after July 1, 2020. While the bill grants the Treasurer considerable latitude in creating a budget process tailored to meet the individual needs of various departments and divisions, bureaus and agencies within each branch of State government, the budget process developed in accordance with this bill requires State spending agencies to justify their request for appropriation or permission to spend, in whole or in part, utilizing the practices and procedures of a zero-based budget. As defined by the bill, a zero based-budget process is a process of budgeting in which a spending agency's request for appropriation or permission to spend is evaluated and justified, in whole or in part, based upon the cost-effective achievement of the tasks, goals, and objectives of a particular spending agency without regard to prior appropriations or spending permissions, adjusted for inflation or otherwise. To facilitate the evaluation and justification of each spending request, the bill stipulates that, at a minimum, State spending agencies must submit to the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting: (1) a statement outlining the goals and objectives intended to be accomplished as a result of the spending agency's request; (2) a statement delineating each of the various activities, programs, and services to be performed as a result of the request; (3) a compilation of the statutory and regulatory provisions which comprise the spending agency's legal authority, if any, to perform each activity, program, or service; (4) a description of the methodology and approach used to carry out each activity, program, or service; (5) an itemized estimate of spending required to maintain each activity, program, or service at its current level of performance, together with an evaluation of the quality and quantity of services provided; (6) a projected estimate of spending required to maintain each activity, program, or service at the minimum level of service required by statutory or regulatory authority, together with an evaluation of the quality and quantity of services required at that level; (7) a statement identifying each group, stakeholder, or community affected or intended to be affected by each activity, program, or service, and a quantitative estimate of any potential consequences that may result if the spending agency's activities, programs, and services are eliminated;(8) a statement detailing any other State, federal, or local units of government which administer a similar activity, program, or service and an outline describing the interaction, if any, among such departments and agencies; (9) a statement prioritizing by numerical ranking, the activities, programs, or services carried-out by a spending agency with respect to each activity's, program's, or service's capacity to fulfill the spending agency's stated goals and objectives during the current and ensuing fiscal years; and (10) any additional data or information deemed necessary or appropriate by the State Treasurer or the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting to justify a spending agency's request for appropriation or permission to spend. Under the bill, any zero-based budget data and information submitted as part of a spending agency's request for appropriations or permissions to spend is required to be incorporated into the final request transmitted to the Governor and submitted to the Legislature as part of the Governor annual budget message. As part of the budget message, the zero-based budget data and information would become part of the public document and would be available to assist the Legislature and ultimately the residents of the State of New Jersey in reviewing and scrutinizing the Governor's spending plan for the ensuing fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A4345 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to establish Wine and Grape Education Grant Program; appropriates $1.5 million. | This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to establish a four-year Wine and Grape Education Grant Program. The program is to provide grants to four-year public institutions of higher education to establish or expand degree-granting or certificate programs in wine and grape science including grape growing, wine making, and business operations. To be eligible for consideration of a grant award, a four-year public institution of higher education is required to submit an application to the Secretary of Higher Education in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary. A grant application is required to include: the institution's plan for the establishment or expansion of wine and grape education programs; the institution's plan to ensure students attain real-world knowledge and experience in the wine and grape industry including, but not limited to, the availability of partnerships with nonprofit organizations and local wineries; the number of students able to be supported by the grant program and the number of students expected to participate; and any other information the secretary deems necessary. Under the bill, the secretary is to select three four-year public institutions of higher education, including one institution in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State, for participation in the grant program. An institution selected to participate is to receive a grant in an amount not to exceed $500,000. The provisions of the bill stipulate that a four-year public institution of higher education that receives a grant under the program may permit a student who is under the age of 21 to enroll in a degree-granting or certificate program in wine and grape science provided that the student is not to be permitted to enroll in any coursework or attend any event where alcoholic beverages are to be consumed or where the student would otherwise be required to be 21 years of age in accordance with any other law, rule, or regulation. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary to submit a report on the grant program to the Governor and the Legislature no later than six months prior to the conclusion of the program. | In Committee |
| A4294 | Permits school districts to receive loans from State to support operating budget under certain circumstances. | This bill permits school districts to receive loans from the State to support the district's operating budget if the district is anticipating a significant budgetary shortfall. The bill establishes the School District Budget Relief Loan Account for the purpose of providing loans to school districts that have significant budgetary shortfalls that would otherwise require the elimination of multiple nonmandatory programs including: advanced placement courses and other specialized instructional programs; kindergarten; sports teams; student clubs and other programs, such as honor societies; musical programs, including bands; and student body government programs. A school district that has submitted an application for a loan would be allowed to delay submission of a proposed budget, the holding of public hearings on the proposed budget, the date for the notification of nontenured staff, and any additional budgeting deadlines that the Commissioner of Education deems appropriate until a decision has been made to approve or deny the loan application and the school district has been notified of the decision. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, a school district is to be able to apply for a loan after the district has received its State school aid notice following the State budget message by the Governor. Within 30 days of enactment, the commissioner is to develop a process by which districts are able to apply for the loans. The loan application is to include the following information: (1) the nature and amount of the budgetary shortfall, including an explanation as to why the district is unable to make sufficient changes to its budget through personnel and program reductions or general fund tax levy increases; (2) an analysis of the impact of the budgetary shortfall on the district's ability to provide a thorough and efficient education, which may include a description of the impact of the budgetary shortfall on student learning and participation in extracurricular activities, and which is required to include a demonstration that the district spent below adequacy in the year prior to the budget year for which the district is applying for the loan; (3) information about the district's general fund tax levy, including a demonstration that, in each of the five years preceding the budget year for which the district is applying for the loan, the district increased its general fund tax levy by at least two percent; and (4) information concerning the district's capital reserve fund balance and capital outlay budget. Prior to submitting the application for a loan to the department, a district is required to first submit its application and a preliminary budget to the executive county superintended and, if a State monitor has been appointed to the district, the district's State monitor. The executive county superintendent and, if applicable, the State monitor are to review the information provided and indicate to the commissioner whether they recommend that the commissioner approve the loan to the district. When making a decision regarding a district's loan application, the commissioner is to consider whether the loan is necessary to ensure the provision of a thorough and efficient education. For any district for which a State monitor has been appointed, the commissioner is required to approve the loan application if the State monitor has indicated that viable budget reductions and general fund tax levy increases are not sufficient to meet the budgetary shortfall. If the commissioner denies a district's loan application, the commissioner shall provide written documentation to the superintendent of the district which shall explain the reasons why the commissioner has determined that the quality of education in the district is better served by denial of the application than by approval. | In Committee |
| A3173 | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | In Committee |
| A3143 | Removing requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations, thereby broadening eligibility for certain veterans' benefits. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires a veteran to serve for at least 90 days, exclusive of certain types of initial training, in order to be eligible for any of the veterans' benefits identified in the bill. The bill also requires a veteran of a Reserve Component of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, to serve the entire period to which called to federal active service, exclusive of training, in order to be eligible for the veterans' benefits. A veteran who is discharged as the result of a service-connected disability will be eligible even if the veteran has not completed the 90 day service period or the period to which called to federal active service. The benefits that an eligible veteran could apply for are (1) a civil service hiring preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF and PERS. In addition, the surviving spouse of a veteran or of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve Component thereof killed while in active service is eligible in certain instances for a civil service preference. The bill also provides that an active service member of the United States Armed Forces or a member of a Reserve Component thereof, including the National Guard, who has not been discharged from service is eligible for the civil service hiring preference provided that the member otherwise qualifies as a veteran. Eligibility for civil service hiring preference is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A3160 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator in DMVA. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| A2165 | Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state. | Under current law, United States military personnel and their dependents who are living in New Jersey and are attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey are regarded as residents of the State for the purpose of determining tuition. This bill amends that law to provide that:? the in-State tuition classification also applies to the military service member's spouse; and? in the event that the military service member is relocated out of the State due to the service member's continued military service, the service member's spouse or dependent will not lose their in-State tuition classification provided that: (1) the spouse or dependent was enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Jersey prior to the service member's relocation; and (2) the spouse or dependent maintains continuous enrollment at the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| A4231 | Requires DCA to establish online, Statewide database of local government unit legal notices. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (department) to establish and maintain a database for the purpose of providing the general public with a single, Statewide, access point for locating and viewing local government unit legal notices. Under the bill, whenever a local government unit is required by law to publish a legal notice in one or more newspapers, the local government unit may satisfy that requirement by transmitting the legal notice to the department for inclusion, without charge or fee, on the department's centralized database of local government unit legal notices. The bill affords discretion to the department to determine the manner in which it may require a local government unit to submit legal notices to the department for inclusion in the database. The bill requires the department to prominently post the database on the department's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A4256 | Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires the Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6, which restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Under the directive, among other provisions, State, county, and local law enforcement are prohibited from providing certain assistance to federal immigration authorities when the sole purpose is to enforce federal civil immigration law. In addition to other restrictions, the directive prohibits law enforcement from providing notice of a detained individual's upcoming release from custody or continuing the detention of a person past the time the person would be released from custody based solely on a civil immigration detainer request, with certain exceptions. The restrictions set forth in this directive pose a danger to the citizens of this State and are a substantial threat to public safety. Therefore, it is imperative that this directive be repealed. | In Committee |
| A4230 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
| A4257 | Concerns applicability of sales tax to certain horse-boarding charges in New Jersey. | This bill clarifies the sales tax collection responsibilities of horse-boarding businesses in New Jersey by providing an exemption from tax for the lease or rental of certain stable stalls and charges for horse boarding and certain other relate services. Under the bill, the taxable service of "furnishing space for storage" is redefined to exclude from tax charges for the lease or rental of certain stable stalls. The bill provides that the service of "furnishing space for storage" does not include, and the taxable service therefore does not apply to, charges for the lease or rental of a stall in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility for the boarding or stabling or for the keeping or holding of a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny. The bill exempts from tax certain charges for boarding a horse. The bill provides that charges for storing a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility by a person engaged in the business of boarding or stabling or otherwise keeping or holding horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies are exempt from the sales tax. The bill also exempts from tax certain services provided for the care of horses boarded by persons engaged in the business of boarding horses. The bill provides that charges for maintaining or servicing a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny that is boarded or stabled or that is kept or held in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility by a person engaged in the business of boarding or stabling or otherwise keeping or holding horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies are exempt from the sales tax. This bill provides that the tax exemptions established by the bill would apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the bill's date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A4249 | Provides limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. | This bill would provide limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. An agritourism activity is an interactive or passive activity, carried out without or without payment to an agritourism host on a farm, related to agriculture, food production, historic tradition, or nature watching, and which is conducted by an agritourism host for the education, entertainment, or recreation of participants. Agritourism activities include farming activities, the viewing of cultural, historic, or natural attractions, pick-your-own activities, nature watching, and activities involving an animal exhibition at an agricultural fair. It would not include roadside farm stands or operations exclusively devoted to the sale of merchandise or food at retail. Under the bill, an agritourism host would not have a legal duty to protect a participant from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, and would not be liable for injury to or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, provided the host gives proper warning as required in section 3 of the bill. Proper warning, as specified in the bill, is the posting of a warning notice on certain signs and contracts. That warning notice would read: "WARNING: Under New Jersey law, an agritourism host is not liable for the injury or death of a participant in an agritourism activity resulting from the inherent risk of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks include without limitation the risk of animals, weather, land conditions, and the potential for you as a participant to act in a negligent way that may contribute to your own injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity." Failure to follow the warning requirements would result in the agritourism host's loss of limited liability protections. The limitation on liability also would not extend to any agritourism host who: (1) commits an act or omission of gross negligence concerning the safety of a participant that proximately causes injury or death to the participant; (2) has actual knowledge of a dangerous condition on the land, facilities, or equipment used in the activity or the dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in the activity that proximately causes injury or death to the participant and does not make that danger known to the participant; (3) intentionally injures a participant; or (4) commits any other act, error, or omission that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct, gross negligence, or criminal conduct that proximately causes injury or death to the participant. The limitation on liability provided by the bill would be in addition to any other limitation on liability provided by law, including, but not limited to, the limitations on liability for outdoor sports and recreational activities and equine animal activities. Finally, the bill would repeal P.L.1997, c.378 (C.2A:42A-9 et seq.) concerning farmer immunity for "pick-your-own" operations. The protections in that law would be included in this bill, and are expanded to include agritourism activities generally. This bill is modeled substantially on legislation from Arkansas. | In Committee |
| A2320 | Requires Department of Agriculture to take various actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in New Jersey. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to take certain actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in the State. "Community supported agriculture" is a method of on-the-farm direct sales and marketing in which the retail sale, to a consumer, of a share of the agricultural output of a commercial farm is effectuated through a paid subscription service. "Community supported agriculture program" or "CSA program" is defined by the bill to mean a farm product retail sales and marketing program in which participating consumers agree to pay a seasonal or annual subscription fee to a farm in exchange for the consumers' regular and ongoing receipt of weekly shares of the farm's seasonal agricultural output. The bill would provide, in particular, that within 180 days after the bill's effective date, the Secretary of Agriculture is to develop and implement a publicity and marketing program to promote community supported agriculture in the State. As part of the program, the department would be required to: (1) establish and regularly update, on its Internet website, a webpage that is dedicated to community supported agriculture, which webpage, at a minimum, is to include a searchable list of all CSA programs in the State and the farms participating therein, and provide hyperlinks, or use another simple methodology, to enable members of the public to subscribe to CSA programs in their local area; (2) use all available means, including, but not limited to, print media, television, radio, road and other signage, the Internet, and social media to advertise and publicize: the availability of, and the benefits of participating in, community supported agriculture in the State; the names and locations of farms that participate in CSA programs; and the availability of the community supported agriculture webpage, established pursuant to the bill; and (3) develop, print, and distribute distinct promotional and marketing labels that may be used by farmers to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the operator of a farm, after first consulting with the DOA, from creating the farm's own promotional labels and using those labels to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold by the farm through community supported agriculture. The bill would also require the DOA, acting in cooperation with the Department of Education and in coordination with farmers, public, private, and charter schools and their food services, the New Jersey Farm to School Network or its successor entity, and other interested and relevant organizations and groups, as determined by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to be appropriate, to establish and annually observe a week of promotional events to be known as "Community Supported Agriculture Week." "Community Supported Agriculture Week" would be intended to highlight and promote the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both as a means by which farming operations can better ensure their ongoing productivity, success, and financial stability, and as a means by which individuals, families, and businesses in the State can obtain fresh, seasonal, and easily accessible farm-to-table foods, throughout the year, while developing closer, more supportive, and reciprocal relationships with local farmers and becoming more invested in, and aware of the factors affecting, the seasonal and long-term success, stability, and viability of farming operations. The week would be celebrated on an annual basis, throughout the State, during the last full week in February, and would be observed through the holding of relevant promotional events. The bill would further require the DOA, through the State's existing "Farm to School Program," to encourage schools in the State to obtain fresh, locally grown or produced agricultural products for school meals by subscribing to, and becoming participants in, a community supported agriculture program, and to work in cooperation with the Department of Education to ensure that school curriculum addresses the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both to farmers and to the community as a whole, and the ways in which students and their families can become active participants in community supported agriculture. In addition, the bill would require the State's existing "Farm to School" website to: (1) provide opportunities for the execution of community supported agriculture subscription agreements between and among farmers, distributors, and schools or school districts; (2) facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events in association with "Community Supported Agriculture Week"; and (3) include a copy of any community supported agriculture subscription agreement that has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State. The bill would also require the existing State website that serves as a clearinghouse for farmers, and that currently provides a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that have a need for produce or dairy products, to additionally provide a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that are interested in participating as subscribers in a community supported agriculture program. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and receive funds, either as direct contributions, or from the sale of labels or the right to use labels authorized by the DOA, or from any other source, for the purposes of advertising and promoting the value and importance of community supported agriculture in the State, as provided by the bill. This authority would be supplemental to the secretary's existing authority to solicit and receive funds for the purpose of advertising and promoting the sale of NJ farm products and the "Jersey Fresh" program. Any monies received for the purposes of the bill are to be deposited in the State's existing "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund." The bill would clarify that, in addition to the existing purposes for which monies in the "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund" may be used, such monies may be used to publicize the value and importance of community supported agriculture; to cover the expenses of printing and distributing labels used in identifying products being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture; and to cover any other expenses that are incident to the implementation of this bill. | Crossed Over |
| A4165 | Clarifies sales tax collection responsibilities of horse boarding businesses in New Jersey. | This bill clarifies the sales tax collection responsibilities of horse boarding businesses in New Jersey by providing an exemption from the sales and use tax for the lease or rental of stable stalls and charges for horse boarding and other related services. Under the bill, the taxable service of "furnishing space for storage" is redefined to exclude from tax charges for the lease or rental of stable stalls. The bill provides that the service of "furnishing space for storage" does not include, and the taxable service therefore does not apply to, charges for the lease or rental of a stall in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility for the boarding or stabling or for the keeping or holding of a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny. The bill similarly exempts from tax charges for boarding a horse. The bill provides that charges for storing a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility by a person engaged in the business of boarding or stabling or otherwise keeping or holding horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies are exempt from the sales tax. In addition, the bill exempts from tax services that are provided for the care of horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies boarded by persons engaged in the business of boarding horses. The bill provides that charges for maintaining or servicing a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny that is boarded or stabled or that is kept or held in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility by a person engaged in the business of boarding or stabling or otherwise keeping or holding horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies are exempt from the sales tax. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to lease and rental agreements entered into, and to charges for services rendered, on or after the first day of the first month of the first calendar quarter beginning at least 90 calendar days after the date of enactment. The bill provides transitional rules that apply to agreements covering periods beginning and ending before and on or after the date the exemptions provided by the bill first apply. The purpose of this bill is to clarify the tax collection responsibilities of horse boarding businesses, and to provide for a more equitable treatment of livestock kept under the care of farmers in this State. The Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury has failed to provide clear and consistent guidance on the taxability of boarding and other services provided to horses that are boarded for a variety of different purposes by different types of boarding businesses, and has adopted rules and regulations that have led to differences in the tax treatment of boarding horses in comparison to other livestock that receive more favorable treatment as farm animals. These actions have created confusion within the agricultural community and increased the cost of doing businesses for horse boarding and other farm businesses attempting to maintain compliance with current law. The actions have also placed New Jersey horse boarding and other farm businesses at a competitive disadvantage with similar businesses in surrounding states that do not require businesses to collect tax on charges for boarding horses. By providing an exemption for all horse boarding and related services, this bill eliminates the confusion and reduces the overall cost of doing business within this State. Moreover, by providing an exemption, the bill levels the playing field for New Jersey horse boarding businesses and their out-of-State counterparts, and provides for a more equitable treatment of all livestock kept under the care of farmers. | In Committee |
| AR107 | Urges U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. | This resolution urges the United State Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. Approximately five million veterans in the United States have a service-connected disability, and about 53,000 of those veterans live in New Jersey. The VA operates two medical centers in New Jersey, with one in East Orange and one in Lyons. Service-connected disabilities can adversely impact veterans' abilities to access necessary medical care at these facilities. Currently, the VA provides transportation service via the Veterans Transportation Service, but this service has limitations that can result in the reduced efficiency of transporting disabled veterans to and from medical appointments. Disabled American Veterans and other veterans' service organizations also provide free van transportation to and from VA medical centers in New Jersey, but these non-profit organizations should not shoulder the responsibility to provide properly coordinated VA-funded patient transport for deserving veterans and qualified family members. It has also been reported by numerous New Jersey veterans that the transportation service provided to these VA facilities is deficient, with veterans being left at facilities for hours, overnight, and in adverse weather conditions. Both New Jersey counties and non-profit social service organizations have existing paratransit transportation for use by senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These high quality county and non-profit paratransit providers may be able to expand their coverage to meet the transportation needs of veterans traveling to and from VA facilities if provided funding to cover the cost of such an expansion. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR163 | Designates March 15 of each year as Jewish War Veterans Day in NJ. | Jewish men and women serve in the United States Armed Forces. They have faced antisemitism both at home and in service, yet proudly served, and fought in the United States military. Jewish War Veterans of the USA traces its history back to March 15, 1896 when 63 Civil War veterans gathered for the first meeting of the Hebrew Union Veterans Association, the group's original name, in New York City. That meeting was called to counter false claims of a lack of service by Jewish Americans in the Civil War. Jewish War Veterans of the USA is the longest continuously serving veterans group in the United States, with 128 years of service as of March 15, 2024. It received its congressional charter in 1984. The Jewish War Veterans, Department of New Jersey, is at the forefront of efforts to educate and inform federal and State legislators on issues of particular concern to all veterans including funding, services, and benefits. They are also involved in support of local veterans' activities such as parades, memorial events, picnics, and flag retirement services. Jewish war veterans continue to live up to the mission to preserve the Jewish-American military legacy to protect veteran rights, to spread Americanism, and to promote community. It is fitting and proper to recognize the Jewish war veterans and their contributions on the battlefields and to the cause of freedom and justice for all veterans. | In Committee |
| A3041 | Establishes sales and events privileges for certain alcoholic beverage manufacturers. | This bill allows craft alcoholic beverage manufacturers to hold certain events. Under the bill, a craft alcoholic beverage manufacturer is defined as a limited brewery license, cidery and meadery license, and craft distillery license. Specifically, the bill allows these craft alcoholic beverage manufacturers to hold not more than 25 off-premises special events and an unlimited number of on-premises special events and private parties. In addition, these license holders would be entitled to hold not more than 25 social affair events hosted by the holder of a social affair permit. Under the bill, a craft alcoholic beverage manufacturer would be entitled to sell and serve customers tableside utilizing servers or wait staff employed by the license holder. The license holder also would be entitled to serve the licensee's products for on-premises consumption in outdoor spaces approved by the municipality. A license holder that serves alcoholic beverages in outdoor spaces would be entitled to utilize a permanent or portable tap system located in the approved outdoor space. Pourers and servers employed by a craft manufacturer's license holder are to be certified by an industry-recognized server training program. The bill also allows the holder of a craft manufacturer's license to offer for sale or make the gratuitous offering of de minimis food items including, but not limited to, packaged crackers, chips, nuts, and similar snacks to consumers. The license holder also would be entitled to sell non-alcoholic beverages. Under the bill, a license holder also may coordinate with a food vendor, including food trucks and restaurants, for the provision of food on the licensed premises and provide menus to consumers for the sale of food. The bill prohibits a craft manufacturer's license holder from owning the food vendor. In addition, a craft manufacturer's licensed premises that is adjoining a food vendor's premises would be required to have its own entrance and exit way to and from the licensed premises and would be prohibited from having a doorway that allows direct access and egress to the food vendor's premises. Under the bill, the holder of a craft manufacturer's license would be entitled to offer discounts for promotional purposes, provide targeted discounts, and establish membership programs that offer discounts. A craft manufacturer licensee also would be entitled to show or display any televised program on televisions or other screening devices of any number or size on the licensed premises. The license holder would not be required to provide notice to or obtain a permit from the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control prior to showing or displaying any televised event. The bill also removes from current law the tour requirement for limited brewery and craft distillery license holders. Under current law, these licensees are authorized to sell their products at retail to consumers on the licensed premises for on-site consumption, but only in connection with a tour of the brewery or distillery. Under the bill, consumers would not be required to take a tour of the brewery or distillery to purchase beverages for on-site consumption. Finally, the bill increases from 10,000 to 300,000 the number of barrels that the holder of a restricted brewery license may manufacture per year. Under current law, a restricted brewery license is only issued to a person who also holds a Class C consumption license, which is generally issued to bars and restaurants. The restricted brewery license allows the licensee to brew the beer, while the Class C license allows the licensee to sell that beer directly to restaurant patrons. This bill allows the holder of restricted brewery license to manufacture more beer per year. These license holders also would be entitled to directly sell and distribute to retailers 50 percent of the beer that is produced on premises in each year. | Dead |
| A4052 | "Electricity Bill Transparency Act"; requires electric utilities to separately list amounts of certain charges. | This bill is to be known as the "Electricity Bill Transparency Act." This bill requires electric public utilities to separately list the amount of tax imposed by the "Sales and Use Tax Act," the amount of the societal benefits charge, and the amount of clean energy charges on each customer's electricity bill. Additionally, the bill requires electric public utilities to itemize the amount of the societal benefits charge that is provided to each societal benefits program on the customer's electricity bill. This bill is intended to provide notice to customers of electricity service, on their bills, about the types and amount of charges that are imposed but are not directly related to the cost of providing electricity to the customer. Many customers are unaware of these non-utility related charges and that these charges fund programs that these customers may not use. | In Committee |
| A4041 | Establishes program for acquisition, by local government units and nonprofit organizations, of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | This bill directs the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to establish a program to provide grants to local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for the acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. The purpose of the program would be the preservation and stewardship of lands for agricultural, silvicultural, or horticultural use and production. The use of such funding, for the bill's purposes, is to be consistent with the provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) and the State Constitution. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the new development easement program established pursuant to the bill, a woodland would be required to: (1) be at least five acres in size; (2) be devoted to the production for sale of tree or forest products, other than Christmas trees, or be appurtenant woodlands to land so devoted; (3) be managed by the landowner in accordance with a forest stewardship plan approved pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-31), a woodland management plan approved pursuant to section 3 of the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.3), or a plan approved pursuant to the federal Forest Stewardship Program administered by the United States Forest Service; (4) not be a property targeted for acquisition or preservation by the Department of Environmental Protection or the Garden State Preservation Trust, as certified by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee; (5) be supportive of, or include, an existing parcel of farmland; and (6) be located in an agricultural development area designated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-11 et al.). The appraisal process for development easements under the program would be the same as that for farmland under the provisions of subsection e. of section 8 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), which were recently revised by P.L.2023, c.245. Under the program, the SADC would use constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues in order to provide grants to local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to fund the acquisition of development easements. The bill would stipulate that up to 15 percent of the annual appropriations of moneys from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" by the SADC could be used for the program. The grants distributed by the SADC would be authorized to cover up to 80 percent of the costs of acquisition of a development easement by a local government unit, and up to 50 percent of the costs of acquisition of a development easement by a nonprofit organization. The bill would also require that those moneys in the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" that are used to provide grants to local government units and nonprofit organizations to acquire development easements on farmland and woodlands be awarded on the condition that grant awardees will expend the funds with first priority given to the preservation of farmland, second priority given to the preservation of farmland with appurtenant woodlands, and third priority given to the preservation of woodlands that are supportive of, or include, existing farmland under the program established pursuant to this bill. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to establish a program that is different from the Green Acres program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection in the following ways. First, properties in the program would remain in private hands. Although the Green Acres program has the ability to obtain development easements, rather than acquiring land outright, it has in recent years chosen to focus exclusively on land acquisition. This program, by contrast, would not involve the acquisition of land by the State. Secondly, properties that participate in this program would remain subject to property taxes, thus not depriving municipalities of needed revenue. Third, the bill would allow for small properties to participate in the program, as opposed to the larger properties that are prioritized by the Green Acres program. Fourth, this program would encourage the effective protection and management of woodlands by the property owners themselves, who are in the best position to do so. Finally, the program would allow small farms with large tracts of supportive woodlands, which may not qualify for preservation under current farmland preservation program rules, to qualify for funding. | In Committee |
| A4040 | Requires long-term care facilities to develop person-centered care plans for residents and establishes right to certain forms of visitation for long-term care residents. | This bill regulates visitation for long-term care residents. The bill defines "essential caregiver" to mean a person selected by a resident of a long-term care facility, or by the resident's guardian or legal representative, which person will have the right of access to and the right to visit with the resident during a state of emergency or an outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic of an infectious disease. An essential caregiver may be, but shall not be limited to, a family member, friend, or guardian of the resident, a person who is qualified to administer moral, religious, or spiritual guidance, or any other person the resident or resident's legal representative designates. There are not to be any requirements or criteria for the designation of an essential caregiver. Under the bill, a long-term care facility is to permit a resident or resident's guardian or legal representative to designate at least two essential caregivers, who are to be authorized to visit in person with the resident during any declared emergency or during an outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic of an infectious disease affecting or likely to affect a long-term care facility. The designated essential caregivers are to be documented in the resident's plan of care. Essential caregiver visits are to be for periods of time that are at least equal to the time afforded by federal and State law to residents of long-term care facilities for in-person visitation under normal circumstances. Under the bill, the following information is to be posted on the Internet website of each long-term care facility, and is to be transmitted by each long-term care facility, in writing, to residents or residents' guardians or legal representatives: the rights of residents to designate at least two essential caregivers in the event of a declared emergency or during an outbreak, epidemic, or a pandemic of an infectious disease affecting or likely to affect a long-term care facility; the process by which essential caregivers may be designated; and any associated requirements. The bill provides that a long-term care facility may require an essential caregiver to agree in writing to the long-term care facility's visitation policies and procedures. A long-term care facility may restrict or revoke visitation for an essential caregiver who violates the long-term care facility's visitation policies and procedures. An essential caregiver, who acts in accordance with the long-term care facility's visitation policies and procedures, is not to have visitation restricted or revoked. In addition, a long-term care facility is not to impose on essential caregivers any protocols that are stricter than the infection control and prevention protocols that are imposed on the facility's employees. Under the bill, the Department of Health is to take such actions as are necessary to identify, investigate, and ensure long-term care facilities are in compliance with the bill's provisions. It is the sponsor's belief that this bill is necessary to protect long-term care residents, as visitation restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in social isolation and other detrimental effects on the health and well-being of long-term care residents. | In Committee |
| A4039 | Provides gross income tax deduction for senior citizens for certain medical expenses for in-home care or care in assisted living and long-term care facilities and funeral expenses. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction for senior citizens and for blind and disabled individuals for certain unreimbursed qualified long-term care expenses, not to exceed $50,000, paid by the taxpayer for the care of the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or dependent who is also a senior or blind or disabled individual. This bill addresses a financial concern for senior citizens and others who have to pay gross income tax on income that they receive from long-established savings and investments that are then expended to pay for their residence-based medical care, nursing care, and maintenance or personal care. Qualified long-term care expenses are defined the same as for purposes of the federal medical expenses deduction, and include services provided for in-home care and care provided in assisted living and long-term care facilities for chronically ill and disabled individuals. They include a variety of services provided through a variety of service providers that are necessary diagnostic, therapeutic, curing, treating, mitigating, rehabilitating, and maintenance and personal care services required by such an individual and are provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner. This deduction will allow these taxpayers to avoid tax on the income they pay for their own medical care that is delivered in their home or in an assisted living and long-term care facility. The medical expenses allowed for this deduction may not be claimed also under the existing statutory gross income tax deduction for medical expenses. This bill also provides a gross income tax deduction for senior citizens, blind individuals, and disabled individuals for unreimbursed funeral expenses, not to exceed $50,000, paid by the taxpayer for the funeral of the taxpayer's spouse or the taxpayer's dependents, if those individuals were 62 years of age or over, blind, or disabled at the time of death. This deduction addresses the financial concern of elderly and disabled taxpayers who are faced with using income from life-long savings and investments to pay for the funeral expenses of close family members. | In Committee |
| A4013 | Upgrades assault on victims who are elderly or disabled. | This bill would upgrade the offense of assault in situations where the victim is disabled or elderly. Under the bill, a person who causes bodily injury to a person with a disability or to a senior citizen who is 60 years of age or older would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and would be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment of three years. Under the bill, a "person with a disability" means a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. This bill was prompted in part by the brutal assault and mugging of Joey Damiano, a Trenton man with an intellectual disability. According to Trenton police, Joey was beaten and blinded in one eye by an unknown assailant, or group of assailants, as he was taking his daily walk on Washington Street and Roebling Avenue in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. Further, the bill was prompted by recent assaults involving elderly victims. One instance involved an assault and restraint involving a 92 year old woman during a home invasion in Ewing. Another involved the carjacking and robbery of a 78 year old woman at a shopping center in Lawrence. | In Committee |
| A3917 | Requires EDA administer small business loan program to provide loans to small businesses owned or controlled by certain veterans. | This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), to the greatest extent practicable, to administer an existing small business loan program in a manner to provide that at least 12 percent of all moneys directly loaned under the program in any calendar year are loaned to eligible small businesses that are owned or controlled by one or more veterans, with priority given to businesses owned or controlled by veterans who have been declared as having a service-connected disability. | In Committee |
| A3925 | Expands eligibility for pension and retirement income exclusion to taxpayers with incomes exceeding $150,000, and increases amount of exclusion that qualifying taxpayers may claim. | This bill (1) expands eligibility for the partial gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income to certain taxpayers with gross incomes exceeding $150,000, and (2) increases the amount of the exclusion that qualifying taxpayers may claim. Under current law, qualifying taxpayers with $150,000 or less in gross income who are at least 62 years old or disabled may exclude certain pension and retirement income from taxable gross income, up to a certain amount, depending on filing status. The bill expands eligibility for the exclusion to qualifying taxpayers with incomes in excess of $150,000, so that all qualifying taxpayers may claim a full or partial exclusion, regardless of income. The bill also increases the amount of the pension and retirement and income exclusion by allowing qualifying taxpayers to exempt the first $150,000 of pension payments and other retirement income as well as 50 percent of any payments exceeding $150,000 up to $300,000 during a taxable year. A taxpayer would not be permitted to claim an exemption for any payments exceeding $300,000. Under current law, a qualifying taxpayer with an annual income of $100,000 or less is allowed an exclusion as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointlyUp to $100,000Married filing separatelyUp to $50,000SingleUp to $75,000 For a qualifying taxpayer whose income exceeds $100,000 but is less than or equal to $125,000, current law allows the taxpayer to claim an exclusion from gross income as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointly50 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeMarried filing separately25 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeSingle37.5 percent of pension payments and other retirement income For a qualifying taxpayer whose income exceeds $125,000 but is less than or equal to $150,000, current law allows the taxpayer to claim an exclusion from gross income as follows: Filer TypeAmount of ExclusionMarried filing jointly25 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeMarried filing separately12.5 percent of pension payments and other retirement incomeSingle18.75 percent of pension payments and other retirement income | In Committee |
| A3942 | "Santiago/Ramos/Liu Police Protection Act"; requires certain law enforcement vehicles to have tinted windows. | This bill, to be known and cited as the "Santiago/Ramos/Liu Police Protection Act," requires any law enforcement agency in this State purchasing and using a new motor vehicle to have tinted windows which permit only the minimum light transmittance required pursuant to federal law, rule, or regulation. The bill applies only to vehicles clearly and conspicuously marked as those used for law enforcement purposes. The window tinting requirement would apply to law enforcement vehicles purchased on or after the first day of the fourth month following the date of the bill's enactment. The title of the bill honors New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, as well as Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago, all of whom were murdered in 2014. | In Committee |
| A3924 | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention of defendant charged with aggravated assault of law enforcement officer. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention of a defendant charged with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the "Criminal Justice Reform Law" (CJR), courts are authorized to order: the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or the pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. For certain crimes, the CJR establishes a rebuttable presumption that a defendant is to be detained pending trial because no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or combination thereof would reasonably assure the defendant's appearance in court, the safety of any other person or the community, and that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. Under current law, the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention applies when a prosecutor files a motion for the pretrial detention of a defendant charged with murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. Under the bill, the rebuttable presumption also would apply when a prosecutor files a motion for pretrial detention of a defendant charged aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| A3919 | Prohibits common interest communities from penalizing members who place unit into living, revocable trust fund or classifying placement as title transfer. | This bill would provide that the placement of the unit, or in the case of a cooperative, shares or proprietary lease, and assets, of an association member of a homeowners' association, condominium association, cooperative, or other planned real estate development (association), into a living, revocable trust fund would not constitute a title transfer for the associations' purposes. Under current State law, the governing documents of some associations could enable the association to derive a financial benefit when an association member sells or transfers a unit, assets, or shares or proprietary lease, including placing their unit into a living, revocable trust. This bill would protect association members and senior citizens living in an association by prohibiting the association from charging any fees due on transfer of ownership by placing the property in a living, revocable trust fund. The bill would permit an association to charge a fee that is reasonably related to the costs incurred by the association in connection with a transfer of ownership. | In Committee |
| A3928 | Makes $500,000 supplemental from General Fund to DEP for dredging and restoration of Passaic River. | The bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to be provided as State Aid to the Township of Fairfield in Essex County for the dredging and restoration of the Passaic River. A portion of the Passaic River flows through the Township of Fairfield in Essex County. The bill requires the supplemental appropriation to be allocated to that municipality. The bill directs the municipality to file a plan with the commissioner, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, including such information as the commissioner may deem necessary. The bill further provides that: 1) The Township of Fairfield (Essex County) Passaic River Dredging and Restoration Project would include the dredging, restoration, cleaning, desnagging, and any other purpose or activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Passaic River, and provided for in the municipality's plan submitted to the commissioner; and 2) the DEP would be required to waive any permit fee for any activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Passaic River, and provided for in the municipality's plan submitted to the commissioner. | In Committee |
| A3958 | Establishes program in New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing for support of residency programs at veterans' memorial homes in New Jersey; appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes a program through which veterans' memorial homes in New Jersey may apply to receive financial, material, and technical support from the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing ("NJCCN") to implement a residency program for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses, or one of these professions. To manage the operations of the program, the bill appropriates $500,000 to NJCCN. Data on the residency programs is to be collected for review by the Governor and Legislature. | In Committee |
| A3948 | Allows each county to create central registry and provide emergency supply kits to distribute to senior residents during emergencies. | This bill allows each county in the State to establish a central registry that allows senior residents, 65 years of age or older, to voluntarily register to receive additional assistance during an emergency. A county that creates a central registry is to conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the general public of the importance of registration by senior residents so that appropriate preparations may be made to ensure that these individuals receive necessary assistance. Each county in the State may prepare and provide emergency supply kits for senior residents, who have registered to receive additional assistance. The items within these emergency supply kits would be determined by each county office of emergency management in accordance with section 20 of P.L.1989, c.222 (C.App.A:9-43.3). | In Committee |
| A3927 | Makes $500,000 supplemental appropriation from General Fund to DEP for dredging and restoration of Peckman River. | This bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. The Peckman River is a tributary of the Passaic River that flows through the Townships of Cedar Grove and Verona in Essex County, and the Township of Little Falls and the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County. The bill requires the supplemental appropriation to be allocated among the aforementioned municipalities. The bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to establish an application process to determine the amount of funding provided to each municipality. The application shall include such information as the commissioner may deem necessary to determine the amount of funding allocated to each applicant, including, but not limited to, the municipalities' joint plan for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. The bill further provides that: 1) the Peckman River Dredging and Restoration Project would include the dredging, restoration, cleaning, desnagging, and any other purpose or activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities' joint plan submitted to the commissioner; and 2) the Department of Environmental Protection would waive any permit fee for any activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities' joint plan submitted to the commissioner. | In Committee |
| A3955 | Directs DCA to establish online database of affordable housing settlement agreements and other declaratory judgment actions. | This bill would direct the Department of Community Affairs to produce a database that details each affordable housing declaratory judgment action, including each settlement agreement entered by a municipality in order to comply with the "Fair Housing Act," ("FHA") P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.) since the beginning of 2015. The database would be based on information submitted by the parties to each action, the courts, and other sources. Upon request by the department, the bill requires the courts, each municipality, and each other party to the action, to provide the information necessary. The database would be accessible to the public on the department's website. The database would contain: (1) a list of the municipalities that have completed a declaratory judgment action; (2) the number of affordable housing units that, under the completed action, represent the municipality's fair share of the regional need for affordable housing, commonly referred to as its fair share obligation; (3) the ratio of rental units to ownership units amongst affordable housing in the municipality, and, as applicable, among the units within the municipality's fair share obligation that have not yet been constructed; (4) the ratio of affordable units to market-rate units and total number of affordable units and market-rate units mandated pursuant to any declaratory judgment action amongst housing in the municipality, and among the developments that may be constructed under the completed declaratory judgment action in furtherance of the municipality's fair share obligation; and (5) a list of the payments made by each municipality to each other party to a declaratory judgment action, including but not limited to the Fair Share Housing Center, for expenses associated with a settlement agreement. In 2015, having concluded that Council on Affordable Housing was not capable of functioning as intended by the FHA, the New Jersey Supreme Court, through a decision in 2015, designated "Mount Laurel judges" in the Superior Court vicinages to both establish affordable housing obligations for New Jersey's municipalities and certify municipal plans to meet those obligations through declaratory judgment actions. These actions were primarily resolved through settlement agreements between the municipalities and the Fair Share Housing Center, an affordable housing advocacy organization based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. This bill is meant to enhance the transparency of these actions. | In Committee |
| A518 | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | In Committee |
| A1803 | Directs State Board of Education to authorize issuance of new endorsements in certain fields. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of new endorsements in the areas of special education, elementary and middle school education, and bilingual and bicultural education. The bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement authorizes the holder to teach students with disabilities, with the exception of students who are blind or visually impaired or deaf or hard of hearing, in all public schools and in all grade levels. Under the bill, the holder of a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement may provide consultative services and supportive resource programs to students with disabilities in general education programs. The bill further provides that the holder of a current students with disabilities endorsement issued administratively prior to the bill's effective date may be granted the new endorsement upon application to the board. Under current law, special education teachers may teach students classified with disabilities in only the grade levels specified on their other endorsements. The bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize the issuance of a Kindergarten through Grade 8 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement will permit the holder to teach: · students in all public schools in grades kindergarten through six; and · the specialty subjects on the face of the certificate to students in grades seven and eight in all public schools. Under current law, numerous endorsements limit the holder to teaching either only to students in elementary level grades or only to students in middle school grades. Finally, the bill authorizes the State Board of Education to issue a Bilingual and Bicultural Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement to the instructional certificate. The endorsement will authorize the holder to teach bilingual and bicultural education in all public schools and in all grade levels. Under the bill, a candidate for the endorsement is required to demonstrate oral and writing competence in English and the target language; complete an approved bilingual and bicultural education program; and meet any other requirements established by the board. Under current law, candidates for the Bilingual and Bicultural endorsement are required to have an additional endorsement for subject or grade level to be taught. | In Committee |
| A2362 | Establishes New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to reduce financial barriers to teacher certification. Under the bill, the program is to provide scholarships to students completing required clinical practice through a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program at an institution of higher education in the State. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $7,200 for each semester of full-time clinical practice completed in a school in the State. To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State; be enrolled full-time in an approved program of study; and complete any steps required by the approved program of study to be eligible to apply for clinical practice. The bill requires the authority to establish an application process for the program. The authority, in coordination with the Department of Education, may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program. Additionally, the authority, in coordination with the department, is to annually collect data on the program. Finally, the bill details reasons for which a student's scholarship may be terminated. The bill also stipulates that the scholarship is to be terminated if the student is dismissed from the institution of education preparation program for academic or disciplinary reasons or withdraws due to illness. Under the bill, the student would not be required to repay the scholarship in either situation. | In Committee |
| A3909 | "Max's Law"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | This bill, to be known as "Max's Law," requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under the bill, the instruction is required to include information on: (1) fentanyl and xylazine abuse prevention; (2) fentanyl and xylazine poisoning awareness; (3) the dangers of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl or any substituted derivative of fentanyl, xylazine, and counterfeit drugs; (4) recognizing the symptoms of fentanyl and xylazine poisoning; (5) how to respond to a fentanyl or xylazine poisoning emergency; and (6) laws that provide immunity or other protections for persons who report drug or alcohol use, or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol poisoning or overdoses for themselves or others. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate resources designed to implement the requirements established under the bill. The information is required to utilize information and resources provided by: (1) the National Institutes of Health; (2) the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; (3) the United States Department of Health and Human Services; (4) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or (5) any State, county, or municipal department or agency. The bill requires the Department of Education to post and maintain on its Internet website: (1) information for instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine provided to school districts; (2) informational materials containing awareness and safety information for school staff, students, and parents, on opioid poisoning prevention; (3) information on outreach organizations with resources concerning opioid awareness and opioid poisoning prevention; and (4) preventative mental health resources available from applicable federal, state, county, or municipal departments and agencies. Xylazine, commonly referred to as "tranq," is a non-opioid sedatitve, or tranquilizer. While xylazine is not considered a controlled substance in the United States, it is not approved for use in people. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that xylazine and fentanyl mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz of Woodcliff Lake, a beloved son, brother, and friend, and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl or xylazine poisoning. | In Committee |
| A3863 | Makes various revisions to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. | This bill makes various revisions to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. The Victims' Rights Amendment to the New Jersey Constitution, enacted by the voters in 1991 as paragraph 22 of Article I, makes crime victims' rights a constitutional mandate and specifically provides that victims "shall be entitled to those rights and remedies as may be provided by the Legislature." Under the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, crime victims and witnesses are to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse by any person including the defendant or any other person acting in support of or on behalf of the defendant, due to the involvement of the victim or witness in the criminal justice process. This bill expands the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights by expanding the process for plea agreements. Under current law, victims and witnesses have the opportunity to consult with the prosecuting authority prior to the conclusion of plea negotiations. The bill grants victims and witnesses the opportunity to communicate with the prosecuting authority any perspective the victim may have on considerations related to plea negotiations with the defendant prior to the beginning of any plea negotiations, to consult with the prosecuting authority prior to the conclusion of any plea negotiations, and to have the prosecutor advise the court of the consultation and the victim's position regarding the plea. The bill requires the prosecutor to advise the court of the victim's position unless the victim affirmatively requests otherwise. The bill also allows a court to establish a procedure by which judges in criminal cases may ascertain whether a victim has been afforded an adequate opportunity to communicate and consult with the prosecuting authority on a plea agreement, including whether the prosecuting authority made sufficient efforts to contact the victim in matters in which contact did not occur. In addition, the bill requires law enforcement agencies to furnish, upon request, incident reports to a victim or the victim's attorney when there is a pending application for a domestic violence restraining order or pending application for a sexual assault restraining order within 24 hours or as soon as practicable but in no event more than five days after the date the report is requested. The bill also expands the definition of victim to include the parent or legal guardian of a minor victim acting on behalf of the minor victim. Finally, the bill clarifies that the Victim Witness and Advocacy Fund is to award grants to legal support services. The bill also removes enumerated organizations eligible for grants under current law and provides that organizations eligible to receive grants are to include service providers and county-based programs throughout the State which serve victims of violence. | In Committee |
| A3862 | Provides police officers may be present at senior residential center or school being used as polling place under certain circumstances; requires school to establish election day security plan. | This bill provides that one or more police officers may be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place or school if there is a request by the center or school. This bill clarifies that the officers must be in plain clothes in both senior residential centers and schools. Under current law, police officers are permitted to be present at a senior residential center being used as a polling place. The provision of current law that prohibits any such officer from interfering with any person present at the location for the purpose of voting will remain in place. This bill also requires the center notify the district board if the center requests a police officer, the district board then will notify the county board of elections or superintendent of elections who will notify the Secretary of State. This bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Secretary of State to notify schools of the new mandate as soon as the bill becomes law. | In Committee |
| A3769 | Establishes one-time tax credits for certain organic farmers. | This bill would provide one-time corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to certain State-certified organic farmers who are required in 2022 to obtain certification for organic agricultural products from an accredited certifying agent outside of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. In a notice dated January 11, 2022, the department informed currently certified organic farmers within the State that department certification for organic agricultural products would be surrendered effective May 30, 2022 and that the department would no longer certify or inspect organic operations. Organic farmers that are certified with the department would be required to, within 60 of days of the date of the department's notice, apply to another Accredited Certification Agency for an organic certification. For the privilege period and taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2022, but before January 1, 2023, a qualified taxpayer who meets the requirements of the bill would be allowed a credit against the corporation business tax or gross income tax in an amount equal to the difference between: the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from an accredited certifying agent certification for organic agricultural products for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; and the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from the department certification for organic agricultural products pursuant to P.L.2003, c.176 (C.4:10-79) for that same period. To qualify for a credit, a taxpayer would have to apply for a certification from the Department of Agriculture that certifies: the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from an accredited certifying agent certification for organic agricultural products for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from the department certification for organic agricultural products pursuant to P.L.2003, c.176 (C.4:10-79) for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; and the amount of the tax credit to which the qualified taxpayer is entitled. The application would include such information as the department determines relevant. When filing a tax return that includes a claim for a credit pursuant to this bill, the taxpayer would have to include a copy of the certification issued by the department. Under the bill, if a qualified taxpayer incurs fees to obtain from the department or other accredited certifying agent annual certification for organic agricultural products, the department is required to calculate the tax credit by: (1) prorating the fees incurred by the taxpayer to reflect the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; and (2) subtracting (a) the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain certification from the department for that period from (b) the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain certification from an accredited certifying agent during that period. Under the bill, a "qualified taxpayer" means any person or entity: who produces and sells organic agricultural products in adherence to applicable federal standards for such products; who was certified by the department pursuant to P.L.2003, c.176 (C.4:10-79) on January 11, 2022; who paid fees to the department in connection with certification for organic agricultural products for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; who was certified by an accredited certifying agent during the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022, and who paid fees to the accredited certifying agent in connection with that certification; and whose fees for certification by an accredited certifying agent during the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022 exceeded the qualified taxpayer's fees for certification by the department during that same period. The bill defines "accredited certifying agent" as a person or entity that operates as an accredited certifying agent under the National Organic Program. | In Committee |
| A3825 | Requires Department of Agriculture to establish program to make grants available to certain non-profit organizations for seafood gleaning operations; appropriates $250,000. | This bill would direct the Department of Agriculture ("department") to establish a program, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, to provide grants to support seafood gleaning programs operated by eligible non-profit organizations in the State. A nonprofit organization would be eligible for a grant under the program, in a maximum amount of up to $250,000 per program year, if the organization operates a seafood gleaning program, pursuant to which, gleaned seafood received from commercial fishermen, are donated, by the receiving nonprofit organization, to emergency feeding organizations and local distribution agencies for further distribution, thereby, to food insecure and low-income individuals and families in the State. In order to effectuate the grant program, the bill would require the department to: establish criteria, supplemental to, but consistent with, the basic eligibility criteria set forth in the bill, to be used in qualifying an eligible non-profit organization for a program grant award; adopt guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications; establish criteria for the evaluation and prioritization of program grant applications; identify the seafood gleaning-related project costs eligible for grant funding and the specific factors that will be considered, by the department, in determining the appropriate dollar amount of each grant award issued under the program; and identify the terms and conditions for the awarding and use of program grant funds, including, at a minimum, conditions requiring a grant recipient to report relevant information, to the department, regarding the recipient's expenditure of awarded grant funds. The bill would also require the department to submit a written report, to the Governor and the Legislature, identifying the name of each nonprofit organization awarded a program grant in the annual reporting period and providing, for each such grant recipient, a description of the organization's seafood gleaning program and identify the total amount of seafood donated, per year, through the gleaning program, the total number of employees and volunteers participating in the seafood gleaning program, and the total number, and location, of recipients of seafood that has been donated, under the gleaning program, during the reporting period. The bill would appropriate $250,000 from the General Fund, to the Department of Agriculture, to finance initial program grants and administrative costs. The bill would additionally require the Secretary of Agriculture to annually request additional appropriations, as part of the department's yearly budget proposal, as may be necessary to fund the grant program on an ongoing basis. | In Committee |
| A3833 | Requires Office of Planning Advocacy to publish certain information concerning warehouses over 100,000 square feet on its Internet website. | This bill requires the Office of Planning Advocacy (office) to compile and publish on the office's Internet website a bi-annual listing of each warehouse over 100,000 square feet in this State. The bill requires that the bi-annual listing is to include certain information enumerated in the bill. Related to compilation of this information, current law requires that the office assist the State Planning Commission (commission), and sections 9 and 10 of P.L.1985,c.398 (C.52:18A-204 and C.52:18A-205) entitle the commission to call on governmental entities for assistance in performance of its duties and requires those entities to make certain relevant data available to the commission. This bill is intended to require the State to provide local boards and the public with useful warehouse information that can be used by them during an application process. This educational tool will better prepare individuals for the choices they are making and provide them with non-industry data. It is part of a series of bills by the sponsor to empower local governments and the people they serve to better understand the planning decisions they are making and how it impacts their daily lives. | In Committee |
| A3831 | Expands definition of "qualifying land" to include certain deeds of easement excluding certain portions of farm from preservation. | This bill amends the definition of "qualifying land" under P.L.2005, c.314 (C.4:1C-32.1 et seq.) to include farms on which a portion of the farm was excluded from preservation in the deed of easement due to encroachment of neighboring property or an area of clouded title, or for the purposes or benefit of a third party other than the landowner, including purposes or benefits such as a road right-of-way, or utility easement. For example, if a portion of a preserved farm is excluded from preservation because the farm behind the preserved farm requires the deed of easement to have an access road through the preserved farm, which the owner of the preserved farm does not require, the owner of the portion of the preserved farm on which the deed of easement is imposed for this reason should not be disqualified from applying for a special permit for a rural microenterprise activity. A rural microenterprise, by definition under the law, is a small-scale business or activity that: (1) is fully compatible with agricultural use and production on the premises; (2) does not, at any time, detract from, diminish, or interfere with the agricultural use of the premises; and (3) is incidental to the agricultural use of the premises. Being able to operate a rural microenterprise is crucial for many farmers who are struggling to keep their farming operations viable in a challenging economy. | In Committee |
| A3850 | Revises elements of offense of agricultural trespass, expands number and type of activities constituting agricultural trespass, and expands definition of "lands" susceptible to agricultural trespass. | This bill would revise the law pertaining to the offense of agricultural trespass. Current law provides that a person commits the crime of agricultural trespass if the person either: (1) knowingly or recklessly operates a motorized vehicle or rides horseback upon the lands of another without obtaining and possessing the written permission of the owner, occupant, lessee, or licensee of the lands; or (2) knowingly or recklessly damages or injures any tangible property, including any fence, building, feedstocks, crops, trees, or domestic animals, located on the lands of another. Current law also provides for the imposition of a civil penalty in cases where a person knowingly or recklessly engages in these activities. This bill would eliminate the law's provisions requiring knowledge or recklessness to be established as an element of the offense of agricultural trespass, and it would additionally expand the types of activities that will be deemed to constitute such offense. Specifically, under the bill's provisions, a person would be deemed to have committed the crime of agricultural trespass, and would additionally be subject to a civil penalty for agricultural trespass, if the person: (1) encroaches upon the lands of another by entering or remaining on such lands, whether on foot, while riding horseback, while using a motorized or non-motorized vehicle, while operating motorized or non-motorized equipment, or otherwise, without obtaining and being in possession of the written permission of the owner, occupant, lessee, or licensee of the lands; or (2) damages or injures any tangible property, including, any fence, building, equipment, feedstock, crop, tree, or domestic animal, which is located on the lands of another. The bill would further clarify that nothing in the law will relieve the owners of agricultural or horticultural lands from the obligation to post conspicuous notice prohibiting trespass on the waters, or on the banks along or around any waters, which are listed for stocking with fish in the current State Fish and Game Code, adopted pursuant to section 32 of P.L.1948, c.448 (C.13:1B-30), before a trespass violation may be found to have occurred on such banks or in or on such waters. Under the bill's provisions, and consistent with existing law, any person who trespasses upon the agricultural or horticultural lands of another would be subject to a civil penalty of at least $100, and any person who operates a motorized vehicle, operates motorized equipment, or rides horseback upon the lands of another without obtaining and being in possession of the written permission of the owner, occupant, lessee, or licensee thereof, or who damages or injures any tangible property located on the lands of another, including, but not limited to, any fence, building, equipment, feedstock, crop, tree, or domestic animal, would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and the payment of attorneys' fees, which penalties would be in addition to any other fines, penalties, or restitution that may be imposed pursuant to the law. Finally, the bill would amend the existing statutory definitions of "lands" that are subject to agricultural trespass, in order to clarify those definitions, facilitate ease of reading, and expand the definitions to include the following types of land: (1) appurtenant woodland, which is contiguous to, a part of, or beneficial to, another tract of land to which the woodland is supportive and subordinate, which other tract of land has at least five acres devoted to agricultural or horticultural uses including the production, for sale, of Christmas trees, but excluding the production, for sale, of other trees or forest products; and (2) land that is appurtenant to the above-described appurtenant woodland or to any other types of lands already susceptible to agricultural trespass under the applicable statutory definitions, provided that such appurtenant land is used for the maintenance or storage of agricultural equipment. | In Committee |
| A3829 | Permits unpaid leave of absence for public employees to assist military or civilian government in Israel during Hamas War. | This bill permits public employees a leave of absence without pay to assist the military or civilian government in Israel during the Hamas War. Such leave is contingent upon the employer's approval of the employee's documentation from an authorized representative of the Israeli defense forces or Israeli government. Upon the expiration of the leave, the employee will have the right to return to the former title and receive all of the rights, privileges, and benefits of that title as if the employee had remained in that title. This bill is necessitated by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the terror group Hamas, which killed over 1,100 Israelis and foreign nationals and took over 200 hostages. To many in the United States, this horrific event was reminiscent of the 9/11 attack that killed many New Jersey residents. Since then, many Americans have left their family, friends, and jobs behind to volunteer in the defense of the State of Israel. This spirit of volunteerism is commended and should be supported. This legislation is a step in that support. | In Committee |
| ACR124 | Urges New Jersey State Park Service to establish visitor's center at Princeton Battlefield State Park. | This concurrent resolution urges the New Jersey State Park Service to establish a visitor's center at Princeton Battlefield State Park. Princeton Battlefield State Park preserves a critically important piece of American and New Jersey history. Important leaders in the early history of the United States of America, including General George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Charles Willson Peale, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, were present at the Princeton Battlefield. It was also the hallowed ground where several important military leaders gave their lives, notably, General Hugh Mercer of Virginia, Colonel John Haslet of Delaware and Captain William Shippin of Pennsylvania, the first United States Marine to fall in land combat. The Battle of Princeton ended ten long days of battle between the Continental Army, the hired Germanic auxiliary troops, and the British military forces, beginning with the famous Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River by General George Washington and his Continental Army. Victory for the Continental Army at the Battle of Princeton was a major turning point in the war for America's independence. Preserving the Princeton Battlefield is crucial. The site memorializes the sacrifice of those who defended the United States in its first war, and is a tribute to those who still defend the nation almost 250 years later. The battlefield's status as a State Park is not enough. Establishing a visitor's center will highlight its importance in New Jersey and in American history by providing a permanent place in which visitors can learn about the Battle of Princeton and the American Revolutionary War. Without a visitor's center to welcome and educate the public, the physical site of the Princeton Battlefield is at risk and its story could become lost. Private donations would help the State Park Service in developing the best possible visitor's center. | In Committee |
| A3846 | Exempts cribs, child restraint systems, nursing bottles, and strollers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts select baby products from the "Sales and Use Tax Act." Currently, the purchases of certain baby items such as cribs; child restraint systems; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers are subject to the sales and use tax. The bill would exempt these items from the tax to help reduce the costs of caring for an infant child. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant and a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| A3691 | Increases personal needs allowance to $100 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill would increase the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) to $100 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. Currently, the following states provide a higher PNA than New Jersey's existing $50 monthly amount: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. According to budget language in the FY 2022 Appropriations Act, despite existing statutory provisions, the minimum monthly PNA provided to persons residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers, who are eligible for Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, is $50. This bill would double the PNA to $100 per month. For Medicaid recipients, the PNA is the monthly sum of money that residents may retain from their personal income. Any income above the allowance is applied toward the cost of their care. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $70 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
| A3685 | Establishes pilot program in Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for certain expenditures concerning warehouse development; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes a pilot program in the Office of Planning Advocacy (office) for the purpose of reimbursing a municipality for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in reexamining and updating municipal zoning ordinances, and conducting certain mitigation studies, concerning warehouse development. The bill defines "warehouse" to mean any site, building, room, structure, or facility used primarily for the storage of goods intended for sale or distribution. The pilot program is to offer grant funding to reimburse a municipality for: 1) a reexamination of the municipality's master plan and adoption a warehouse-specific zoning ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill; or 2) a mitigation study on the potential effects of pending warehouse development site plan applications and, regardless of the results of the mitigation study, adoption of a warehouse-specific zoning ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a municipality may submit to the office an application, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for a funding reimbursement grant for expenses incurred consistent with the provisions of the bill. The application is to require a municipality to demonstrate that the municipality has enacted an ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill as a condition of receiving a reimbursement grant. The office is to develop criteria to prioritize reimbursement grant applications from municipalities that are in most need of financial assistance. The bill provides that the office is to promulgate one or more model zoning ordinances detailing different regulatory options for the siting of warehouses that may impose a negative impact on land use, traffic volume, infrastructure, storm water runoff, public health, or any other impact category determined by the office, and direct development towards areas ideally suited to handle warehousing impacts. The bill further provides that the office, upon the exhaustion of funds allocated to the pilot program, is to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, detailing the expenditure of the appropriated funds, and making any recommendations on the feasibility of implementing the pilot program on a permanent basis. The bill appropriates from the General Fund the sum of $1,000,000 to the Office of Planning Advocacy for the purposes of the pilot program. The pilot program is to expire upon the submission of the report required by the bill. | In Committee |
| ACR119 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, and make the State the trustee of all public natural resources. Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment would provide that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment. The amendment provides that the State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction. The amendment would also provide that the State's public natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all of the people, including both present and future generations. The State would serve as trustee of these resources and have a duty to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people. Finally, the amendment would provide that the rights established in the amendment are self-executing, and are in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law. | In Committee |
| A3589 | Provides that salary and other costs associated with Commissioner of Education's appointment of State monitor and other staff under "School District Fiscal Accountability Act" will be paid by State. | This bill provides that the salary and other costs associated with a State monitor and any additional staff appointed by the Commissioner of Education under the provisions of the "School District Fiscal Accountability Act," P.L.2006, c.15 (C.18A:7A-54 et seq.), to provide direct oversight of a board of education's business operations and personnel matters will be paid by the State. Under current law, these costs are assumed by the school district. It is the sponsor's contention that the current State policy requiring school districts to assume the costs of a State appointed monitor can result in a perfect "Catch 22" for districts experiencing fiscal distress, forcing them to spend scarce resources to prove that they have scarce resources. A perfect example is that of the Jackson Township, New Jersey school district. Prior to the enactment of the State law that currently dictates school funding, commonly known as "S2," the district had no serious fiscal issues. Now, six years later, the district has lost approximately $20 million in State aid, resulting in the elimination of 215 positions, including both teachers and non-instructional staff. The district has had to request a $13.9 million loan from the State to balance its 2023-2024 budget. According to the sponsor, it is blatantly obvious to even a casual observer that the Jackson Township school district is experiencing dire fiscal stress, and the State's requirement that the district pay for a monitor hired by the State to prove this only compounds this problem. This bill squarely places the burden of payment for the monitor where it truly belongs, on the State. | In Committee |
| A3560 | Concerns false public alarms involving places of worship. | This bill establishes a second degree crime for false public alarms when the alarm involves a church, synagogue, temple, or other place of public worship. The bill defines "place of worship" as a building capable of seating more than 50 people used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination. Finally, the bill provides for additional penalties for false alarms as it relates to churches, synagogues, temples, or other places of worship. A person committing such a violation is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 or the actual costs incurred by or resulting from the emergency response to the false alarm, whichever is higher. A second degree crime is punishable by a term of 5-10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A3494 | Establishes State as purchaser of last resort for produce; directs Department of Agriculture to establish program. | The bill establishes the State as a buyer of last resort of unsold produce. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish and implement, in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), a program for the purchase by the State of unsold produce from farmers and the distribution of the purchased produce to food banks, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, adult day care centers, veterans organizations, and any other appropriate nonprofit recipients that provide food or meals to the public. The DOA would purchase the produce for a reasonable market price, as determined by the department, from a participating farmer who has been unable to sell the produce in a timely manner to any other outlet or purchaser, and provide for its distribution to recipients participating in the program. The DOA would ensure compliance with any DOH rules, regulations, or guidelines concerning the purchase and distribution of food which the DOH determines to be relevant for the program. Finally, the DOA is required to adopt any regulations necessary to implement the program and to include in its annual budget request a request for funds sufficient to implement the program and provide for the purchases and distribution thereof through the program. | In Committee |
| A3493 | Expands duties of Food Security Advocate. | This bill amends section 5 of P.L.2021, c.242 (C.52:27J-5) to expand the duties of the Food Security Advocate to include meeting at least once on a quarterly basis, either in person or through electronic means, with representatives of every food bank and other food distribution centers located in the State. Current law requires the Office of the Food Security Advocate to coordinate communication with and between food banks but does not require that the Food Security Advocate meet quarterly, either in person or through electronic means, with representatives of food banks across the State. | In Committee |
| A3410 | Provides supplemental appropriation of $500,000 for Farm Viability Study at Agricultural Experiment Station. | This bill supplements the fiscal year 2024 appropriations act to provide a $500,000 appropriation for a Farm Viability Study at the Agricultural Experiment Station. Farm viability refers to the strength and long-term existence and growth of agricultural entities within the State, and includes sustainable agricultural production, diversified farming systems, climate resilience, feasibility analysis, farm management, business decision-making, and marketing strategies. New Jersey is home to 9,900 farms that occupy 750,000 acres of land across the State. These farms are responsible for producing a wide variety of crops and livestock. New Jersey is one of the top ten states for producing numerous fruits and vegetables, including ranking among the top five for producing cranberries, blueberries, peaches, and bell peppers. | In Committee |
| A3408 | Directs DEP to designate areas in each State park and forest for construction of bat houses. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection to designate at least one area in each State park and forest in which a bat house would be constructed and maintained. New Jersey is home to nine species of bats, all of which are protected by "The Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act." Six species, including the Indiana bat - designated as a State and federal endangered species - are year-round residents, and three species are migratory. Bats are important indicators of a healthy environment. Since they are particularly vulnerable to pollution and pesticides, the presence or absence of bats can provide scientists with information on the overall health of the local environment. New Jersey's bat species are insectivorous and can consume thousands of insects in a single night, helping to reduce agricultural crop pests, mosquitos, and the use of pesticides. Accordingly, the State should do as much as possible to facilitate increases in the populations of all bat species in the State. Building bat houses on State lands is one such way. | In Committee |
| A3407 | Directs Department of Agriculture to establish "Farm to Food Bank Pilot Program." | The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish, in consultation with the Department of Health, the "Farm to Food Bank Pilot Program" for farmers to contract with food banks for the timely distribution of produce and other agricultural food products. The program would operate for three years after the bill is enacted into law, terminating 90 days after the submission of the report to the Governor and Legislature required under the bill, except that the bill provides that farmers and food banks would continue to honor the terms and conditions of any contract in effect after the termination date until the conclusion of the contract. The bill authorizes the DOA, within the limits of appropriations for the program, to provide a farmer with a grant to cover all or part of the farmer's production costs, up to a reasonable market price for the produce or agricultural food product, as determined by the DOA. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to request annually, as part of the DOA's budget proposal, an appropriation as may be necessary to fund the program and provide grants to farmers under the program. | In Committee |
| A3448 | Establishes Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program in Department of Agriculture; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program (program) in the Department of Agriculture (department). The purpose of the program will be to award grants to food recovery organizations to support food recovery organizations and assist with the purchase of the equipment that is necessary to safely recover and store food obtained from food donors. The bill requires the department to administer the program and make grants available to food recovery organizations in this State to assist with the: costs of providing salaries, wages, or compensation to the organization's employees; overhead and general administrative costs of the organization; and costs of purchasing eligible equipment necessary to safely recover and store food obtained from food donors. The bill requires the department, in consultation with Office of the Food Security Advocate, to develop an application by which a food recovery organization may apply for a grant, and criteria by which to evaluate the applications received by the department, and to select grant awardees from those applications. The department will provide notice of the availability of funding under the grant program and make the application available on the department's Internet website. A food recovery organization seeking to participate in the grant program will be required to submit an application in a form and manner determined by the department. A grant awarded pursuant to the bill will be in an amount determined by the department, not to exceed $50,000 and subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. The bill authorizes the department to utilize any combination of available funding from various sources to provide grants under the program. In awarding grants under the program, the department will expend any available forms of non-State financial assistance before expending State funds. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture such sums as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In 2022, food banks in New Jersey distributed over 125 million pounds of food and provided over 100 million meals through various feeding agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters. Each year the New Jersey Food Distribution Program provides more than 40 million pounds of United States Department of Agriculture-donated food commodities to over 1,000 recipient agencies and feeding programs. It is the sponsor's belief that ensuring the proper storage and preservation of food throughout the food recovery supply chain will result in the distribution of fresher and more nutritious food to people in this State who are food insecure. | In Committee |
| A3447 | Requires BPU to conduct inventory of lead-covered cables and develop plan for removal. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to conduct an inventory of lead-covered cables in the State. Following completion of the inventory, the BPU would be required to develop and implement a plan for their removal. The use of lead alloys in telecommunications cables began in the 1880s as a way to sheath and protect copper wires from exposure to the elements. The industry began to discontinue the use of new lead-covered cables in the 1950s, after developing a new type of sheathing. Some legacy lead-covered cables remain in service today, providing customer voice and data services, including 911 and other emergency services. This issue was recently highlighted in an investigation reported in the Wall Street Journal in July 2023 asserting that lead-sheathed cables present an environmental and public health hazard due to the release of lead in the environment. According to sampling conducted for the Wall Street Journal investigation, more than 350 bus stops in New Jersey are next to or beneath aerial lead-covered cables, based on an analysis of NJ Transit data, and there are 64 schools in the State where aerial lead cables have been identified. | In Committee |
| A3409 | Authorizes creation of temporary Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary commemorative license plate. | This bill authorizes the creation of temporary Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary commemorative license plates and establishes a public contest to select the design of these commemorative license plates. Specifically, the bill requires the New Jersey Historical Commission, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, to establish a license plate design contest in which participants can submit one or more designs for a Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate that represents the State of New Jersey and commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. In establishing the contest, the New Jersey Historical Commission is required to, at a minimum: (1) develop an application process for participants to submit one or more designs to the New Jersey Historical Commission for the commemorative license plate; (2) review the applications received and select a license plate design; and (3) advertise the opportunity to participate in the license plate design contest. The bill also authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to create and issue a commemorative temporary Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate using the license plate design selected by the New Jersey Historical Commission. Only one commemorative license plate will be issued per motor vehicle, and the license plate will serve as a decorative license plate, without the inclusion of a registration number. The bill requires the chief administrator to authorize the displaying of the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate on the front of a motor vehicle in place of an alternate license plate for a period of two years beginning on January 1, 2026. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate. After deducting the cost to implement the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate program, the additional fees collected are required to be deposited into the "Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary License Plate Fund," and the funds are to be appropriated annually to the New Jersey Historical Commission to be used to support and preserve Revolutionary War sites throughout New Jersey. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per commemorative license plate in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate. The bill also requires that the New Jersey Historical Commission appoint a liaison to represent the New Jersey Historical Commission in all communications with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission regarding the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate. The bill provides that, in addition to any non-public monies contributed by the individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, State or other public funds may be used by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for the initial cost of designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate program. The bill also provides that an individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission may contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the New Jersey Historical Commission to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate, or making any necessary programming changes, until the New Jersey Historical Commission's liaison has provided the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the commemorative license plates on the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission's website. Except for the establishment of the license plate design contest, the provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the appropriate number of applications are provided to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after the date of enactment if sufficient applications are not received by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. | In Committee |
| AR96 | Condemns Hamas for its attacks on Israel and supports Israel's right to exist. | This House strongly condemns Hamas for its terroristic attacks against Israel and the atrocities perpetrated against innocent people. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a massive, unprovoked war on Israel by air, land, and sea. Hamas terrorists crossed the land border and began killing Israelis, abducting people as hostages, slaughtering ordinary civilians and entire families, including babies and elderly people, setting houses on fire, and raping women. Since October 7, 2023, Hamas has launched over 4,500 rockets into southern and central Israel, at least 1,400 people have been confirmed dead in Israel, of whom 30 were American citizens, and another 3,400 have been injured. Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization, designated as such by the United States and the European Union, for its history of suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Jewish people and the State of Israel. Israel is a non-NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States, and the United States has declared its commitment to Israel, reaffirming our 75-year partnership with Israel and the Jewish people in the advancement of our shared democratic values and cultural ties. The Israeli people and its government have shown unwavering bravery in response to the unprovoked act of terrorism by Hamas. The State of New Jersey is proud of its strong relationship with Israel and its citizens, and reaffirms its commitment to Israel in the face of these terrorist attacks. New Jersey condemns the terrorist acts of Hamas against Israel and supports Israel as it defends its right to exist. | In Committee |
| ACR98 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to allow the Legislature to enact a law to extend the preference given to veterans for hiring for civil service positions. The law would determine the eligibility of veterans for the purpose of hiring preferences for civil service positions. Currently, only veterans who served in time of war receive a hiring preference when applying for civil service positions. This amendment would allow veterans who did not serve in time of war also to receive a hiring preference for civil service positions. | In Committee |
| AR37 | Urges Governor and Attorney General to provide assistance to municipalities in response to unpermitted mass gatherings and "pop-up parties" in New Jersey. | This resolution urges the Governor and the Attorney General to take necessary measures to bolster municipalities' responses to unpermitted mass gatherings and "pop-up parties" across the State. Municipalities require special event permits for activities such as block parties, festivals, flea markets, carnivals, concerts, and non-spontaneous public demonstrations. The permitting process may require up to several months' notice to municipalities so they can effectively predict and adequately prepare the resources and personnel necessary to manage large crowds at particular events. Additionally, the permitting process allows municipalities to deny the permit application if such an event does not seem practical. Local communities in New Jersey, primarily near beaches and other hubs of community activity, have experienced a major increase in spontaneous, unpermitted mass gatherings that bring along disorderly and dangerous conduct. So called "pop-up parties" present a great risk of destructive, crowd-driven behavior and dangers that cannot be foreseen. Local law enforcement and municipal officials have worked together to prevent these unpermitted mass gatherings from taking place with varying degrees of success. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities passed a resolution at its 2022 Conference calling for State assistance and solutions to the myriad issues posed by unpermitted mass gatherings. State assistance may allow municipalities to better anticipate potential unpermitted mass gatherings, hold organizers and attendees who incite hazards accountable for their misdeeds, and dissuade future pop-up gatherings. | In Committee |
| A1301 | Requires State Planning Commission to adopt model buffer ordinances detailing different regulatory options for siting warehouses; allows conforming updates to municipal master plans and zoning ordinances. | This bill requires the State Planning Commission to prepare and adopt model buffer ordinances to be applicable to lots on or near the boundaries between different zoning districts detailing different regulatory options for the siting of warehouses, including design and setbacks. The bill also allows municipal master plans and zoning ordinances to be consistent and compatible with one or more of those model buffer ordinances. The bill also defines "warehouse" to mean a building that stores cargo, goods, or products of any type on a short-term or long-term basis for later distribution to wholesale or retail customers, and includes, but is not limited to, a distribution center, flex-warehouse, or any other type of warehouse. | In Committee |
| A496 | Prohibits modification of mufflers and exhaust systems to produce audible sounds; increases penalties for violations. | This bill prohibits the installation or modification of the muffler or exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which amplifies or increases the noise emitted by the muffler or exhaust system of the motor vehicle above that emitted by the muffler or exhaust system originally installed on the vehicle. Under current law, the penalty for the unauthorized installation of a device that causes the exhaust system to emit an audible sound and the failure to have muffler good working to prevent excessive or usual sound is $25. The penalty for violating the provisions of the bill is a fine not exceeding $500, or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both. | In Committee |
| A3349 | Limits speculative development of warehouses until 500,000 acres of farmland are preserved under farmland preservation programs. | This bill limits speculative development of warehouses until the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) catalogs 500,000 acres of preserved farmland under farmland preservation programs (programs). An application for the speculative development of a warehouse on active farmland may be considered by an approving authority if the applicant commits to the approving authority and to the SADC to preserve an area of farmland in the State equal in size to the number of acres proposed for development in the application. The SADC is to report to the Governor and to the Legislature when the SADC catalogs 500,000 acres of preserved farmland under these programs. The bill is to expire upon the submission of that report. In 1998, the Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors issued a report recommending that at least 500,000 acres of farmland should be preserved to maintain a critical mass of land for agricultural production and to assure the future success of farming in this State. As of January 9, 2023, the SADC has accounted for 248,009 acres of preserved farmland under these programs. | In Committee |
| A1297 | Requires DMVA establish veterans facility in Ocean or Monmouth County. | Ocean and Monmouth County have two of the highest veteran populated counties in the State, with approximately 30,051 and 23,148 veterans respectively. This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of the Treasury, to initiate the purchase of property for use as a veterans memorial home in Ocean or Monmouth County. The memorial home will be named the Ronald S. Dancer Veterans Memorial Home after former Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer. Currently, there are three veterans memorial homes, located in Menlo Park, Vineland, and Paramus. The home will be no more than one mile from an acute care facility. As defined in the bill, "acute care facility" means any public general hospital operated and licensed by the State that provides hospital services such as medical and surgical, cardiac, psychiatric, and intensive and critical care; comprehensive rehabilitation; magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography, lithotripsy; and renal dialysis. The departments will have suitable and appropriate improvements made to the property to operate as a veterans memorial home. As defined in the bill, "improvements" includes any actual or proposed physical changes to real property resulting from the provision of work, services, or material by a contractor, or subcontractor. An amount to be determined by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of the Treasury, will be appropriated annually from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the purchase of the real property and for the improvements thereto. The veterans' facility must be fully operational within five years following the effective date of the bill, and will provide transportation to and from the acute care facility for hospital services as deemed necessary and appropriate by the administrator or assistant administrator. The Adjutant General and the State Treasurer will prepare and submit periodic reports a least once every six months to the Legislature on the progress of the facility. The bill also updates various sections of law to add the veteran home established by the bill to the other sections of law that concern the veteran memorial homes, including the supervision and operation of the homes, advisory councils, and reporting requirements. | In Committee |
| A1265 | Clarifies spitting in law enforcement officer's food or drink constitutes aggravated assault; requires certain sanctions on restaurant employees who commit this crime. | This bill clarifies that spitting on the food or into the beverage of a law enforcement officer constitutes aggravated assault. The bill also requires restaurants to impose certain sanctions on an employee who engages in this conduct. Under current law, a person who throws a bodily fluid at a law enforcement officer while in the performance of the person's duties or otherwise purposely subjects the officer to contact with a bodily fluid commits aggravated assault. It is a crime of the third degree if the officer suffers bodily injury. Otherwise, it is a crime of the fourth degree. A third degree crime generally is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of $10,000, or both. This bill clarifies that subjecting a law enforcement officer to contact with a bodily fluid includes spitting on an officer's food or into the officer's beverage and that this is a crime of the third degree. In addition to the three to five year term of imprisonment, the bill provides for a mandatory fine of $15,000. The bill also requires a restaurant employer to suspend an employee who is charged with aggravated assault for spitting in an officer's food or drink and fire the employee if convicted of the crime. A restaurant employer who violates this provision is to be civilly fined up to $500 for the first violation and up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation. The bill defines a restaurant as "any facility or part thereof in which food is prepared and provided or served for consumption on the premises, but shall not include mobile food establishments or any temporary food establishment which operates at a fixed location for a limited period of time in connection with a fair, carnival, public exhibition or similar transitory gathering or charitable fund raising event." | In Committee |
| A1232 | Provides $1 million in funding to NJ Racing Commission for five-year grant program for purpose of supporting certain organizations that care for retired horses. | This bill requires the NJ Racing Commission to establish a five-year grant program for the purpose of providing funds to assist with the care of retired horses. Under the bill, to be considered for the grants, an applicant must be a nonprofit organization operating under 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and be fully accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA), Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), or Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement (Second Call). The requirements for the evaluation of each applicant must include, but need not be limited to: a statement of need; a demonstration of financial stability and operational transparency; evidence of qualified and experienced horsepersons attending to each horse's needs; and documentation of well-developed screening policies to ensure proper placement of horses; evidence that the applicant maintains national standards of best practices for the industry, which may include the Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities promulgated by the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and a written commitment to ensure funds provided through this program will only be used for the care of New Jersey-bred horses, or horses with a parent being a New Jersey-bred broodmare or New Jersey-bred stallion, or both. The bill also requires the NJ Racing Commission to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program, including notifying the STA, SRF, and Second Call of the program, and make the application available on the commission's website. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the NJ Racing Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to establish and implement the grant program. The NJ Racing Commission would provide $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Standardbred horses and $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Thoroughbred horses each year for the next five years, which totals $1,000,000 over a five-year period. Under the bill, after considering the applicants, if the New Jersey Racing Commission determines that the applicants in a given year do not meet the requirements under the bill, the available funding for that year may be distributed in equal shares as determined by the commission to promote the care of retired Standardbred horses and the care of Thoroughbred horses. Following the expiration of the five-year grant program established by the bill, any unexpended funds would be returned to the General Fund. | In Committee |
| A1246 | Extends eligibility for property tax benefits to veterans, 100 percent service-disabled veterans, and senior citizens and persons with disabilities who pay payments in lieu of property taxes. | This bill would extend eligibility for the property tax exemption provided to veterans who have suffered a 100 percent service-connected disability, the $250 veterans property tax deduction, and the $250 property tax deduction for senior citizens and persons with disabilities to those persons who pay payments in lieu of property taxes, as required pursuant to a contract between a municipality and an urban renewal entity pursuant to the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et al.), instead of property taxes, on their homes. | In Committee |
| A944 | 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 |
| AR21 | Recognizes strong relationship between New Jersey and Israel; recognizes contributions of Israeli-American Community. | The State of Israel is a sovereign country and Israeli-Americans have enriched the quality of life of New Jerseyans as well as Americans in general. The special relationship between the United States and Israel is rooted in shared national security interests and shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The strong bond between the State of New Jersey and Israel is represented by cultural, economic, academic, and research and development exchanges that contribute materially to all New Jerseyans. This special bond was recognized in 1989 with the creation of the New Jersey-Israel Commission, whose mission it is to further and foster economic, scientific, educational, and cultural ties with Israel. New Jersey is a leading destination for Israeli companies seeking to establish operations in the United States, leading to local investment in manufacturing facilities that create jobs for New Jerseyans and helping to drive the technological advancement of our State. The United States is a nation of immigrants, and Israeli-Americans contribute invaluable innovations and skills that enhance our quality of life and promote the economic prosperity of our State and country. | In Committee |
| A1222 | Requires DOT to consult Department of Agriculture and County Agriculture Development Boards when developing transportation capital project list. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to consult with the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and County Agriculture Development Boards (county boards) when developing the Annual Transportation Capital Program. The bill requires the DOT to develop a methodology to account for the transportation infrastructure needs identified by the DOA and county boards, and to incorporate those needs into DOT management systems, the analytic tools used to evaluate the condition of transportation infrastructure, when identifying infrastructure projects for inclusion in the Annual Transportation Capital Program. The State has made significant investments into farmland preservation efforts. Additional investments must be made into the transportation infrastructure surrounding such farmland to preserve the productivity and viability of New Jersey farms. Investments in transportation infrastructure that benefits agriculture will help maintain farming as a viable industry in the State and provide net benefits to the economy as a whole. | In Committee |
| A1373 | Establishes crime of knowingly filing false report against law enforcement officers. | This bill establishes a third degree crime of filing a false report or giving false information to law enforcement authorities with the purpose to implicate a law enforcement officer in a crime, offense, or professional infraction that would warrant disciplinary action against the law enforcement officer. Under current law, a person who knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law enforcement officer in order to implicate another commits false incrimination, a crime of the third degree, or a crime of the second degree if the victim was implicated in a first or second degree crime. In addition, it is a crime of the fourth degree to report to law enforcement authorities an offense or other incident that did not occur, or pretend to furnish the authorities with information relating to an arrest or incident for which the person has no information. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. This bill establishes a separate crime of the third degree of falsely implicating a law enforcement officer in a crime, offense, or professional infraction that would warrant disciplinary action. Under the bill, the crime of falsely implicating a law enforcement officer would not merge with the crimes of falsely incriminating another or giving a false report. | In Committee |
| A1245 | Requires cultural competency training for certain State, county, or municipal public employees who routinely interact with public. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to develop or identify and adopt a cultural competency training course that is required to be taken by officers and employees of the State who routinely interact with members of the general public during the course of their employment as a requirement of the position they hold. Local government agencies are required to develop or identify and adopt a cultural competency training course that is either adopted by the Civil Service Commission or is substantially similar. The bill requires the courses to include instruction and exercises designed to promote positive interaction with the various racial, ethnic, and religious communities who may approach officers and employees of State departments, authorities, commissions, offices, divisions, bureaus, boards, authorities, or instrumentalities of the Executive Branch and officers and employees of each local government agency. The bill requires the Civil Service Commission to periodically assess the training course materials and online tutorials developed or identified and update them where the commission finds appropriate. Local government agencies are required to assess and modify the course they select in order to keep the courses at the State and local level substantially similar. Each officer and employee who is required to participate in this training will do so as part of in-service training. This bill does not apply to an officer or employee of a law enforcement entity who is required to undergo cultural diversity training established in law. | In Committee |
| A1227 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing certain full-time employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | This bill amends and supplements the "Right to Farm Act," P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-1 et seq.), to allow housing for resident farm employees on a commercial farm to be a permissible activity and eligible for Right to Farm protections. The bill directs the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to adopt an agricultural management practice (AMP) that permits the housing of resident farm employees. The AMP would: (1) authorize, notwithstanding any local health code or zoning ordinance to the contrary, the construction, installation, and provision of housing for a resident farm employee; (2) specify the requirements of allowable housing and provide that the housing may be on a permanent or nonpermanent foundation; and (3) identify the types of farm animals that require the presence of a farm employee on a full-time, year-round basis, thereby requiring a resident farm employee. The bill defines "resident farm employee" as a person employed by the owner or operator of a commercial farm on a full-time, year-round basis to provide proper care and ensure the safety of farm animals on the commercial farm. The term does not include a migrant, seasonal, or temporary employee, or a full-time, year-round equine-related farm employee. | In Committee |
| ACR31 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Assembly concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| A1253 | Prohibits planting of non-native species in landscaping at State parks and forests; establishes grant program to support use of native plants at local parks and forests; appropriates $250,000. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from planting non-native plant species as part of the landscaping of a State park or forest. The bill would also direct the DEP to establish a grant program to provide funds to local governments that seek to plant native plants at local parks and forests. As used in the bill, "native plant" means a plant species that occurs naturally in New Jersey or the greater Mid-Atlantic region, either because it evolved here or because it established itself here without human assistance. The injunction on the use of non-native plants would take effect three months after the bill's enactment, in order to allow the DEP to utilize any remaining nursery stock it has acquired or contracted for. Each grant awarded under the grant program would be for a maximum of $5,000, although a local government could apply for more than one grant per year. Under the bill, the DEP would determine the eligibility conditions, priority ranking of projects, and application procedures for the program. The bill would require the DEP to report to Governor and the Legislature on the progress of the program in achieving its goals, and would require the DEP Commissioner to request sufficient funds in the DEP's annual budget request to execute the program. | In Committee |
| A1279 | Allows choice districts to increase enrollment in interdistrict public school choice program to offset certain reductions in State school aid. | This bill allows choice districts to increase enrollment in Interdistrict Public School Choice Programs to offset certain reductions in State school aid. Under the bill, if a choice district experiences a reduction in State school aid due to the provisions of P.L.2018, c.67, commonly known as "S-2," then notwithstanding any limitation established by the Commissioner of Education, the choice district may increase enrollment in its choice program. Thereafter, the choice district would be required to receive school choice aid for each additional student that enrolls in the choice program as a result of the bill. However, the bill provides that the enrollment increase could not exceed the number of students necessary to generate an increase in school choice aid sufficient to offset the reductions in State school aid that resulted from S-2. | In Committee |
| A716 | Allows farm operators to accelerate depreciation of certain expenditures under corporation business and gross income taxes. | This bill allows farm operators to accelerate certain tax deductions for business expenses for purposes of calculating State corporation business tax and gross income tax, matching two provisions of the federal tax code. Specifically, the bill would allow the accelerated depreciation of assets to the extent allowed under section 168 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, and the immediate deduction of certain capital expenses to the extent allowed under section 179 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Generally, under section 167 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, taxpayers are allowed to deduct a reasonable allowance for the wear and tear, or depreciation, of an asset used in trade or business. Sections 168 and 179 allow an accelerated depreciation if certain conditions are met. New Jersey, however, decoupled its tax law from those provisions following changes to those provisions in the early 2000s. Instead of allowing depreciation as allowed under current federal law, the State allows depreciation as federal law allowed it in 2002 for section 179 and in 2001 for sections 167 and 168. Since that time, further modifications were made to sections 168 and 179. Under current section 179, a taxpayer may deduct up to $1 million of qualified assets purchased and placed in service in the tax year. The deduction cannot exceed taxable income, and the deduction is phased out if a company's total qualified assets placed in service during the year exceed $2.5 million. The limits and thresholds for the section 179 deduction are scheduled to be indexed for inflation in future years. Under current section 168, a taxpayer may depreciate an additional 100% of the adjusted cost of eligible property. This "bonus" depreciation is scheduled to decrease by 20% in 2023 and every year thereafter until it reaches 0% in 2027. | In Committee |
| A2815 | Establishes nonpublic school transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing. | This bill establishes a nonpublic school consortium transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for participating school districts' mandated nonpublic school busing for those students. Under the program, a participating school district will disburse to the consortium an amount equal to the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount (currently set at $1,022) for each nonpublic school pupil who is attending a nonpublic school which is a part of the consortium and who is required by law to be transported by a school district. The consortium is to assume the responsibilities of transporting the pupils for whom it receives the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount. The bill provides that if the per pupil cost of the lowest bid received exceeds the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount, the parent or guardian of the student will be eligible to receive the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount from the consortium for that school year. In addition to providing transportation for students who are mandated to be transported, the consortium may provide non-mandated busing to students attending the nonpublic schools that are a part of the consortium, provided that the parents or guardians of those students pay all of the costs of that transportation. At the end of the school year, the consortium will refund to individual participating school districts a portion of the aid-in-lieu-of amount the district provided to the consortium for a nonpublic school student who did not receive transportation for the entire school year. If any unexpended funds remain, the bill requires the consortium to allocate that amount among the school districts in proportion to the number of nonpublic school pupils for whom the school district distributed funds to the consortium. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a committee to oversee the operations of each consortium in implementing the program. The oversight committee will consist of five members appointed by the commissioner, one of whom must represent a nonpublic school that is part of the consortium, and one of whom must represent a school district that is participating in the program. Under the provisions of the bill, the consortium is required to annually enter into a contract with an independent entity to audit the implementation of the program and the audit is required to be submitted to the commissioner no later than December 1 of each year. The bill provides that nothing in the bill is to be construed as altering the amount paid by the State for nonpublic school transportation costs pursuant to N.J.S.A.18A:39-1a for any school district that participates in the program. The bill takes effect immediately and provides that the program will first be applicable in the 2023-2024 school year. | Dead |
| A1302 | Requires certain warehouses to obtain air pollution control permit from DEP. | This bill would require certain warehouses to obtain a permit under the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.) before being allowed to operate in the State. Specifically, the bill would apply to warehouses that are 100,000 square feet or larger and generate 500 or more vehicle trips per working day. The vehicle trips would include employees commuting to and from work, in addition to truck traffic. However, the vehicle trips would exclude trips made by zero-emission vehicles. Under the permit program, the owner or operator of a regulated warehouse would be required to demonstrate to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that the warehouse generates no more than 100 tons of greenhouse gases per year. The owner or operator could purchase carbon credits to offset the warehouse's emissions, provided that DEP deems the credits to be legitimate. The requirement to obtain a permit would begin 18 months after the date the bill is enacted into law. The permit requirement would apply to any existing or newly constructed warehouse that is covered under the bill. The bill would provide that the DEP has the same powers to administer and enforce the permit program as it has under the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," and a violation of the bill's provisions would constitute a violation of the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)." Persons who violate the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)" may be liable to a civil administrative penalty of not more than $10,000 for the first offense, not more than $25,000 for the second offense, and not more than $50,000 for the third and each subsequent offense. | In Committee |
| A1273 | Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program. | This bill requires every employer, before hiring an employee, to verify the employment eligibility of the employee through the E-Verify program. E-Verify is an electronic verification of work authorization program jointly operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The bill provides for employers who employ 100 or more employees to comply with the E-Verify requirement by December 31, 2020. Employers who employ less than 100 employees must comply with the E-Verify requirement by December 31, 2020. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to develop a Statewide random auditing program to inspect private employers for compliance with the E-Verify requirement. The commissioner is also directed, upon receipt of a written and signed complaint against an employer, or upon an investigation initiated by the commissioner for good cause, to institute an investigation if the commissioner finds reasonable grounds exist that an employer allegedly violated the E-Verify requirement. The bill provides for the assessment of a civil penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $1000 on employers found to be in violation of the E-Verify requirement. For a first occurrence involving a violation, if, upon notification by the commissioner, the employer complies within seventy-two hours, the employer shall not be assessed a penalty. Any subsequent occurrence involving a violation by the employer results in the assessment of a civil penalty by the commissioner. However, if the employer has not committed a violation of the E-Verify requirement within the previous five years, a subsequent occurrence shall be treated as a first occurrence. The bill also prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens. It imposes penalties on employers who knowingly or intentionally employ unauthorized aliens. For the first violation where an employer knowingly hired unauthorized aliens, a court shall order the employer to terminate such employment, to be subject to a three year probationary period during which the employer shall submit quarterly reports for each new hire, to file a sworn affidavit within three business days after the order has been issued or face the suspension of any business license held by the employer until such time a signed sworn affidavit is filed. In addition, a court may consider a number of factors surrounding the violation and order the suspension of any business license for a period not to exceed ten business days. For the first violation where an employer intentionally hired unauthorized aliens, a court shall order the employer to terminate such employment; a five year probationary period during which the employer shall submit quarterly reports for each new hire; the suspension of any business license for a minimum ten days after considering all factors surrounding the violation; and the employer to file a sworn affidavit until which all licenses shall remain suspended. For any second violation of knowingly or intentionally employing an unauthorized alien, a court shall order the permanent revocation of any and all of the employers' business licenses issued by the State or any political subdivisions of the State. | In Committee |
| A1241 | Establishes matching grant program in DCA to support community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts. | This bill establishes the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program in the Department of Community Affairs (department) to provide matching grants to nonprofit community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts. To be eligible for a matching grant award a community-based nonprofit organization is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner), in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner. A grant application is required to relate to an underlying grant from a county or municipality received by the community-based nonprofit organization not more than 12 months prior to the date of application, and include information determined necessary by the commissioner, and at a minimum include information related to: (1) the identity, finances, and operations of the community based organization; (2) the amount and distribution date of the grant to the community based organization; and (3) plans for the proposed uses for the grant and the matching grant. The department is required to award matching grants based on review and analytical criteria adopted by the department. The department is further required to award matching grants to community-based nonprofit organizations in the order in which qualifying applications are received. The department is required to maintain a record of underlying grants provided by each county and municipality, and is prohibited from providing a matching grant for an application if an award of the amount requested would result in the department awarding matching grants in an amount exceeding $50,000, in that calendar year, for applications related to underlying grants provided by a particular county or municipality. The bill also authorizes the department to require a community-based nonprofit organization to verify award or receipt of an underlying grant from a county or municipality in an amount equal to the requested matching grant amount. The bill also specifically prohibits the department from establishing or enforcing a cap on the total number of matching grants or the total amount that any individual community-based nonprofit organization may receive from the department as matching grants. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of the matching grant program in addressing the needs of individual communities, homeless persons, and at-risk persons, and any recommendations concerning continuing or expanding the matching grant program. | In Committee |
| A1219 | Requires NJ Clean Energy Program incentives be made available to commercial farms. | The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to be eligible to apply for, and receive, any applicable incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP). In addition, the bill would require the BPU, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to establish a program to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms to conduct energy audits to identify the current energy use of buildings and equipment and identify energy conservation measures that can be implemented in order to realize and maximize energy savings and energy efficiency. The bill defines "energy audit" as an assessment of all energy-using systems to determine the consumption characteristics of a commercial farm which shall (1) identify the type, size, and rate of energy consumption of a commercial farm; (2) identify appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures; and (3) indicate the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures. The bill would also require the BPU to publish on its Internet website any incentives or programs that are available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP and information concerning the program established by the BPU, pursuant to the bill, to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms in conducting energy audits. Currently, commercial farms do not fit clearly into the incentive programs offered by the NJCEP, which is divided into categories for residential, commercial, industrial, local government, and multifamily. A farmhouse or residential dwelling on farmland would be eligible for incentives offered in the residential category of the NJCEP since the farmhouse or dwelling qualifies as a residence, however, there are no additional incentives or programs specifically available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP. The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to participate in the NJCEP and receive applicable incentives under the program while improving the energy efficiency of their farms. | In Committee |
| A1663 | Establishes teacher certification route for candidates with Montessori teaching credentials. | This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize a route to teacher certification for candidates who possess a Montessori teaching credential. To be eligible for this route to teacher certification, a candidate must, at minimum: (1) hold a Montessori teaching credential issued by the American Montessori Society, the Association of Montessori International, or an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education; (2) hold a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution of higher education; and (3) meet the applicable test requirements for a certificate of eligibility.Candidates who meet the requirements for eligibility set forth in this bill will not be required to complete a State approved educator preparation program prior to certification. Also under the bill, upon completion of the certification requirements, a candidate will be issued a certificate of eligibility by the Board of Examiners. This bill defines "certificate of eligibility" as a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and applicable test requirements for teacher certification. | In Committee |
| A110 | Revises criteria to establish base year for homestead property tax reimbursement after relocation. | This bill would revise criteria to establish the base year for the homestead property tax reimbursement. Under current law, when an eligible claimant moves from one home to another, the base year changes to the first full tax year during which the person resides in the new homestead, and then a claimant must wait an additional tax year in order to be deemed "eligible" for the homestead property tax reimbursement. This bill would allow the claimant to retain eligibility following a move to another New Jersey homestead. Thus, such a claimant would be able to qualify as an eligible claimant immediately following such a move and would not be required to wait an additional tax year in order to claim a reimbursement. In this case, the homestead reimbursement payment would be based on the property taxes assessed on the current homestead for the tax year prior to which the claimant resides in the current homestead. However, if the new homestead is "new construction," which is defined as any homestead that first became taxable during the year in which the eligible claimant initially takes residence in the homestead or the year prior thereto, the base year would be the first full tax year following the construction's completion. | In Committee |
| A1276 | Prohibits ownership of agricultural land in State by foreign governments and persons. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural land taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever a land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with a foreign government or person's acquisition of land pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural use. Finally, the bill provides that any provision thereof which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. This bill establishes prohibitions on foreign ownership of agricultural land similar to those established in Iowa law and provisions in other state laws that restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land. Nine states have laws restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Iowa has imposed restrictions on the foreign ownership of land since the 19th century. Since the 1970s when Iowa's law became a near-complete ban on foreign ownership, Iowa's law is regarded as one of the strictest in the nation. | In Committee |
| ACR97 | Urges Governor to develop plan for applying to VA State Home Construction Grant Program. | This resolution respectfully urges the Governor to develop a plan for applying to the State Home Construction Grant Program under the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 1866, New Jersey Governor Marcus L. Ward introduced the concept of veterans homes in the United States after having concern for the wounded and sick soldiers of the Civil War. There are currently 162 state veterans homes across the United States, with the following three located in New Jersey: (1) Veterans Memorial Home-Paramus; (2) Veterans Memorial Home-Menlo Park; and (3) Veterans Memorial Home-Vineland. These New Jersey state veterans homes provide around-the-clock care and supply a crucial need for veterans with low incomes and veterans seeking care as they grow older. With over half of the adult veteran population being age 65 and older, it is imperative that New Jersey provide for these deserving individuals. The current State veterans homes provide services for 948 residents, but this covers just a small portion of the over 350,000 veterans in New Jersey. The VA State Home Construction Grant Program assists with construction, renovation, or repair of State-owned and operated nursing homes, domiciliaries, and adult day health care facilities by providing federal grants of up to 65 percent of the total cost. It is important that New Jersey strive to offer increased availability of these essential services for veterans who have served the United States. | In Committee |
| A1247 | Amends Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to extend ANCHOR benefits to certain individuals who make payments in lieu of property taxes. | This bill amends the Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to extend ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program eligibility to residences on which a homestead owner or tenant made one or more payments in lieu of property taxes to the municipality in which the residence is located. With respect to State Fiscal Year 2024, the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program provides property tax relief to New Jersey residents who owned or rented their principal residence on October 1, 2020 and met certain income limits. Currently, homestead owners and tenants who made payments in lieu of taxes on their residences are ineligible for the property tax benefit under the program. | In Committee |
| A1294 | Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns to fund burial of indigent veterans. | This bill establishes the "Indigent Veterans' Burial Services Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund. The bill requires the Legislature to annually appropriate all monies deposited into the fund for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for expenses incurred in connection to the burial or cremation of indigent veterans. Under current law, if a veteran dies without leaving means sufficient to defray funeral expenses, the veteran's county of residence is responsible for burial, up to a cost of $250, and subject to appropriation, the State provides additional funding for burial expenses exceeding $250, up to $1,250. This bill provides an additional avenue for funding the burial or cremation of indigent veterans, including homeless veterans and veterans whose remains have been abandoned. | In Committee |
| A3346 | Requires State Planning Commission to adopt model ordinance for siting certain warehouses and permits conforming updates to municipal master plans and zoning ordinances and establishes fund in DCA; appropriates $5 million. | This bill requires the State Planning Commission to prepare and adopt model ordinances detailing different regulatory options for the siting of warehouses and permits municipal master plans and zoning ordinances to be consistent and compatible with one or more of those model ordinance's provisions. Innovation within the warehousing sector of the economy has led to the development of very large warehousing facilities on sites that were zoned for smaller, traditional types of warehouses. While these types of developments are of Statewide economic importance, the unanticipated development of large-scale regional warehousing facilities has, at times, resulted in significant negative regional impacts. In order to better inform municipal governments and local planning officials of this problem and possible solutions, the State Planning Commission prepared a warehouse guidance document in September 2022. The State Planning Commission should be commended for preparing and circulating the warehouse guidance document. The guidance notes that municipalities in New Jersey are finding that their communities are particularly vulnerable to poorly sited and scaled warehousing projects after having previously zoned large areas of their communities for "light industrial" land uses, especially with respect to farmland in rural areas. The guidance also notes that public outcry over approved warehouse projects has occurred in instances where the projects largely conform to existing zoning standards. The guidance proposes that in order to systematically address warehouse development, communities should proactively plan for warehouse projects to prevent land-use conflicts that harm residents, other communities, and the environment before they materialize. Proactive planning, as described in the guidance, could allow municipalities to locate large warehouses away from residential neighborhoods, downtown commercial areas and main streets, schools, daycare centers, places of worship, hospitals, overburdened communities, scenic corridors, historic districts, important public and civic outdoor spaces, and recreational facilities. However, in order for a local government to benefit from the State Planning Commission warehouse guidance, the local government should reconsider and revise its master plan and zoning ordinances before it receives a complete application to develop a warehouse. Preparation, adoption, and dissemination of model ordinances will better enable a local government to select the model ordinance, or aspects of several ordinances, most appropriate for the individual community, and enable a local government to quickly update its land use documents to be prepared for receipt of an application to develop a warehouse. This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to establish within the Office of Local Planning Services a fund for the purpose of reimbursing a municipality for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in updating the municipality's zoning ordinances pursuant to the bill. A municipality may submit to the commissioner an application, in a form and manner to be determined by the commissioner, for a grant of up to $50,000 for reimbursement. This bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs the sum of $5 million for the purposes of administering this fund. | In Committee |
| A1306 | Provides CBT and GIT credits for completion of qualified construction projects at abandoned commercial building sites. | The bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for any qualified construction costs incurred by a taxpayer for the completion of a qualified construction project at the site of an abandoned commercial building in the State. The bill defines "commercial building" as a building of at least 100,000 square feet that is used for commercial purposes. Under the bill, a "qualified construction project" includes any of the following: the demolition of an abandoned commercial building; the construction of a new commercial building at the demolition site of an abandoned commercial building; the removal of debris from the demolition site of an abandoned commercial building; the remediation of a demolition site; or the repurposing of an abandoned commercial building. The amount of the tax credit is capped at the lesser of the following: (1) 25 percent of the qualified construction costs incurred by the taxpayer during the privilege period or taxable year; or (2) $1,000,000. To qualify for the tax credit allowed under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury for a certification that provides: (1) that the qualified construction project meets the requirements of the bill; and (2) the amount of the tax credit calculated pursuant to the bill. The bill requires the division to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill's provisions. The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $5 million. Finally, the bill would require, no later than one year after the expiration of the tax credits provided pursuant to the bill, the division to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the replacement of abandoned commercial buildings with newly constructed commercial buildings. Construction of commercial buildings throughout the State has increased exponentially during recent years. Many commercial buildings have been constructed on the State's farmland, which has adversely impacted the State's farming sector. Construction of commercial buildings on farmland decreases the amount of land in the State that is able to be used for farming purposes and, in many cases, destroys prime soil, which is limited to areas where the soil naturally occurs and, once destroyed, cannot be recreated. Farmland is an important economic and environmental resource for New Jersey and, for this reason, it is important take steps to ensure farmland is used for farming purposes and not converted into commercial buildings. Lands currently used for commercial purposes should continue to be used for commercial purposes. For this reason, abandoned commercial buildings should be replaced with newly constructed commercial buildings at the same location. This bill would encourage the development of commercial buildings throughout the State while also protecting the State's farmland. | In Committee |
| ACR59 | Proposes constitutional amendment to allow veterans, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities who make payments in lieu of property taxes to receive certain property tax benefits. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would allow veterans, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities to receive property tax benefits authorized in the Constitution if they pay "in lieu of tax payments" instead of property taxes. In lieu of tax payments are payments negotiated by a developer and a town under a financial agreement related to a construction project under some State laws. The constitution allows certain exemptions on property taxation for the development or redevelopment of blighted areas. Owners who purchase property in these developments pay an in lieu of tax payment instead of property taxes. A homeowner who is an honorably discharged veteran would receive a $250 deduction from the payment in lieu of taxes. An honorably discharged veteran homeowner who is totally disabled due to military service would not have to pay any in lieu of tax payment. A senior citizen homeowner or a homeowner with a disability would receive a $250 deduction from the payment in lieu of taxes. | In Committee |
| A1284 | Establishes Stabilization Aid for certain school districts experiencing reductions in State school aid or other budgetary imbalances; establishes Education Rescue Grants for certain school districts experiencing reductions in teaching staff. | This bill codifies in the permanent statutes two categories of State school aid, namely Stabilization Aid and Education Rescue Grants. These categories of aid would be provided to certain school districts in addition to aid provided under P.L.2007, c.260, also referred to as the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" or the SFRA. The SFRA was amended by P.L.2018, c.67, which established a mechanism for allocating State school aid from the 2019-2020 through 2024-2025 school years. Since its enactment, P.L.2018, c.67 has resulted in often steep reductions in State aid to certain school districts across New Jersey, including several in the sponsor's legislative district. Under the bill, Stabilization Aid may be available to a school district that experiences a reduction in State school aid compared to the prior school year or that otherwise confronts a structural budgetary imbalance. To receive Stabilization Aid, a school district is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. The bill requires that the application include a written plan explaining how the district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the district does not receive Stabilization Aid or similar supplemental State school aid. The bill also authorizes the distribution of Education Rescue Grants. A school district may receive an Education Rescue Grant to support the costs of rehiring or retraining a teaching staff member, or if such a person is not able to be rehired, the costs of hiring a similarly qualified teaching staff member. The proceeds of each grant would be dedicated to the salaries, not including the fringe benefits or other non-monetary compensation, payable to the teaching staff members by the recipient school district. To be eligible for an Education Rescue Grant, a school district is required to have experienced a reduction in teaching staff compared to the most recent prior school year. A school district seeking an Education Rescue Grant is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. It is the belief of the sponsor that this bill is an appropriate measure to ease the future financial impact of P.L.2018, c.67 on school districts until such time as the State school funding formula can be reformed. | In Committee |
| A1269 | Establishes offense of fostering stolen property. | This bill establishes the offense of fostering the sale of stolen property. The offense is a disorderly persons offense. A person commits an offense under the bill when: (1) the person hosts, advertises, or otherwise assists the sale of stolen goods, including on an Internet website; and (2) the person knows or reasonably should know that the property was stolen. The requisite knowledge is presumed in the case of a person who undertook a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the persons actions would result in the sale of stolen property. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A1236 | Establishes "New Jersey Right to Try-Plus Act" permitting terminally ill patients access to certain investigational and off-label treatments. | This bill would establish the "New Jersey Right to Try-Plus Act," pursuant to which patients who are terminally ill would be permitted to request access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices that have not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as to off-label treatments using FDA-approved drugs, biological products, and devices. The sponsor believes that any person suffering from a terminal illness deserves the right to try any medicine or other treatment that the person believes may be able to save his or her life. The sponsor holds that no person or entity should be able to deny a terminal patient the ability to exercise his or her own judgement on the matter, with the advice of the patient's physician and with the patient's informed consent. In such a case, no person or entity should be subject to any legal liability for the patient's decision, except in cases of gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct. To request the use of an investigational drug, biological product, or device, the patient will be required to: have a medical condition that results in a life expectancy of less than 12 months; have consulted with a physician and considered all other treatment options currently approved by the FDA; have received a prescription or recommendation for the investigational drug, biological product, or device from a physician licensed and in good standing in New Jersey; and give informed, written consent to use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The physician authorizing the patient for the investigational drug, biological product, or device will be required to document that the patient has met these requirements. The bill requires that the investigational drug, biological product, or device has successfully completed phase one of an FDA-approved clinical trial and remains under investigation in an FDA-approved clinical trial. Nothing in the bill would compel a manufacturer to make an investigational drug, biological product, or device available to a patient; however, if the manufacturer chooses to make the drug, biological product, or device available, the manufacturer will be permitted to either provide the drug, biological product, or device without compensation or require the patient pay the costs associated with its manufacture. Government medical assistance programs and private health insurers would not be required to provide coverage for the cost of an investigational drug, biological product, or device, but private insurers would be permitted to provide coverage if they so choose. Except in the case of gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, a physician who assists a patient with a request for, or who treats a patient using, an investigational drug, biological product, or device pursuant to the bill will not be liable in any criminal or civil action or subject to adverse licensure or other administrative disciplinary action for adverse consequences resulting from acts or omissions taken by the physician consistent with the bill. With regard to off-label uses of FDA-approved drugs, biological products, and devices, the bill would require a hospital to provide and administer to a patient, upon request, any FDA-approved drug, biological product, or device, regardless of whether the drug, biological product, or device has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of the patient's disease, illness, or condition, and regardless of whether the drug, biological product, or device is part of the hospital's treatment protocols for the patient's disease, illness, or condition. A patient will be eligible for the off-label use of a drug, biological product, or device under the bill if the patient has: (1) a medical condition that results in a life expectancy of less than 12 months; (2) provided a written attestation to having received and reviewed the patient package insert, medication guide, instructions for use, or comparable patient-oriented labeling required by the FDA; (3) received a prescription or recommendation for the drug, biological product, or device from a physician licensed and in good standing in New Jersey, which physician need not be employed by, under contract with, or affiliated with the hospital; and (4) given informed, written consent for the off-label use of the drug, biological product, or device. The patient will be required to submit documentation to the hospital that these requirements are met along with the request for the off-label use of the drug, biological product, or device. The physician providing the prescription or recommendation for the drug, biological product, or device may provide the patient with additional informational materials concerning treatment using the drug, biological product, or device that the physician determines to be relevant, which informational materials may be based on or incorporate informational materials available from a national or global health authority. Any additional informational materials provided to the patient are to be included in the documentation submitted to the hospital. Except in the case of gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, a hospital, a health care practitioner or staff member providing services at or through the hospital, and any physician unaffiliated with the hospital, who assists a patient with a request for, or who furnishes or administers, a drug, biological product, or device to a patient for an off-label use pursuant to the bill, will not be liable in any criminal or civil action or subject to adverse licensure or other administrative disciplinary action for adverse consequences resulting from acts or omissions taken by the hospital, health care practitioner, staff member, or physician consistent with the provisions of the bill. Any official, employee, or agent of a State or local government who blocks or attempts to block an eligible patient's access to an investigational or off-label use of a drug, biological product, or device would be a disorderly person, which offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a $1,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| A1228 | Directs Dept. of Agriculture to post certain information to assist distressed farmers on its Internet website. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture (department) to conspicuously post on the homepage of its Internet website, and update as appropriate, links to resources available to aid distressed farmers. The department would be required to post a text link or icon on its homepage, in capital and bold letters, that includes the phrase "Suicide Prevention Hotline" and the phone number to the "New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline." Also, the department would be required to post an icon on its homepage, in an easily distinguishable color and font, that hyperlinks to an Internet webpage which would include a list of additional resources available to aid distressed farmers, including assistance for suicide prevention, mental health resources, disaster assistance, legal assistance, and financial assistance. Mental health illnesses and disorders, such as anxiety and depression, have increased significantly in farmers and other agricultural workers since the 1980's due to factors such as profit losses caused by the shrinking price of commodities, increased debt caused by high interest rates, tariffs, and trade barriers, and isolation. The CDC found that farmers and ranchers were, on average, 3.5 times that of the general population to die from suicide. | In Committee |
| A1274 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A1231 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt agricultural management practice for housing full-time, year-round employees on commercial farms, and establishes such housing as eligible for "Right to Farm" protection. | This bill amends and supplements the "Right to Farm Act," P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-1 et seq.), to allow housing for full-time, year-round farm employees on a commercial farm to be a permissible activity and eligible for Right to Farm protections. The bill directs the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to adopt an agricultural management practice (AMP) that permits the housing of full-time, year-round farm employees. The AMP would: (1) authorize, notwithstanding any local health code or zoning ordinance to the contrary, the construction, installation, and provision of housing for a full-time, year-round farm employee; (2) specify the requirements of allowable housing and provide that the housing may be on a permanent or nonpermanent foundation; and (3) identify the agricultural or horticultural production operations, or the types of farm animals that require the presence of farm employees on a full-time, year-round basis. The bill defines "full-time, year-round farm employee" as a person employed by the owner or operator of a commercial farm, whose presence is required on a full-time, year-round basis to conduct and maintain the agricultural or horticultural production operations of the commercial farm, including, but not limited to, providing proper care for, and ensuring the safety of, farm animals on the commercial farm. The definition provides that the term "full-time, year-round farm employee" would not include a migrant, seasonal, or temporary employee or a full-time, year-round equine-related farm employee. | In Committee |
| A1218 | Provides loan redemption for certain veterinarians who work at approved site for five years; annually appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes a Veterinary Medicine Loan Redemption Program to address the current large animal veterinarian shortage in this State. The program would be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). Specifically, the bill provides for redemption of eligible qualifying loan expenses for veterinarians who work for no less than five years at an approved site. The bill defines "approved site" as a site located within a State designated veterinary underserved area or within five miles of a State designated veterinary underserved area. The bill defines "State designated veterinary underserved area" as a geographic area designated in the State by the Secretary of Agriculture on the basis of a large animal veterinarian shortage affecting the area. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the New Jersey Horse Council, the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners, and the New Jersey Farm Bureau, to annually establish a list of State designated veterinary underserved areas and transmit that list to HESAA. Program participants would be required to: (1) be State residents; (2) have graduated from a veterinary school approved by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for the purpose of licensure and receive a recommendation from the school's veterinary medicine staff concerning participation in the loan redemption program; (3) be a veterinarian licensed to practice in this State; and (4) agree to practice at an approved site. In return for this commitment, the program participant's eligible qualifying loan expenses would be reimbursed. The maximum loan redemption under the bill is established at 100 percent of the eligible qualifying loan expenses for full-time service and 50 percent of the eligible qualifying loan expenses for half-time service in return for five years of service at an approved site, except that the amount of qualifying loans which may be redeemed for a participant under the program cannot not exceed $20,000 in any year for full-time service or $10,000 in any year for half-time service. No amount of eligible qualifying loan expenses would be redeemed for services performed for less than a full year. The loan principal and interest would be reimbursed as follows with respect to full-time service: (1) first year of service, 12 percent of principal and interest; (2) second year of service, 20 percent of principal and interest; (3) third year of service, 20 percent of principal and interest; (4) fourth year of service, 24 percent of principal and interest; and (5) fifth year of service, 24 percent of principal and interest. The loan principal and interest would be reimbursed as follows with respect to half-time service: (1) first year of service, six percent of principal and interest; (2) second year of service, 10 percent of principal and interest; (3) third year of service, 10 percent of principal and interest; (4) fourth year of service, 12 percent of principal and interest; and (5) fifth year of service, 12 percent of principal and interest. The bill provides that in the case of a program participant's death or total and permanent disability, HESAA would nullify the service obligation of the program participant. The nullification would also terminate HESAA's obligations under the loan redemption contract. In the event of a program participant's death or total and permanent disability, HESAA would not require repayment of the prior redeemed portion of indebtedness. The bill provides that in Fiscal Year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, $500,000 would be appropriated from the General Fund to HESAA for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Redemption Program. | In Committee |
| A2641 | Requires school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities in the student's resident district. | This bill requires school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in any school-sponsored extracurricular activity including, but not limited to, clubs, musical ensembles, Statewide interscholastic sports programs, and theatrical productions in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. Under the bill, a home-schooled student who wishes to participate in an extracurricular activity in his resident district must: (1) provide proof that he resides in the district; (2) meet the eligibility and try out criteria for participation in the activity; and (3) comply with all policies, rules, and regulations of the governing organization of the extracurricular activity. In the event that the extracurricular activity involves participation in interscholastic athletics, the student must demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to a home-school program for athletic advantage. Under the bill, if the extracurricular activity requires the completion of a physical examination or medical test as a condition of participation and the school district of residence offers the examination or test to the students enrolled in the school district, then the school district is required to allow a home-schooled student to access the examination or test and must publish the dates and times of the examination or test on its website. | In Committee |
| A1293 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| A265 | Revises requirements for signage indicating accessible facilities for people with disabilities. | This bill would phase in the use of revised symbols and words on all signs, placards, license plates, and other devices used to identify for the general public accessible features designed or designated for the use of persons with disabilities, such as restrooms, access ramps, and parking spaces. The bill would additionally require that all such signs, placards, license plates, and other devices use the word "accessible" in place of the word "handicapped." This legislation would be part of a growing national and international movement to replace the current international symbol of access, which some advocates suggest conveys a sense of passivity and emphasizes the wheelchair over the person, with a new symbol of access that emphasizes the person in a dynamic posture suggesting mobility, action, and determination. The bill is based on legislation enacted by New York State and Connecticut adopting the phased-in use of the revised symbol of access. The revised symbol has been additionally adopted by hundreds of towns and cities, public and private organizations, governmental agencies, and individual citizens across the world. The Accessible Icon Project has taken a leading role in promoting and supporting the adoption of the revised symbol of access, an example of which can be found on the Project's website. In place of the wheelchair symbol currently used as the international symbol of access, accessibility signs, placards, license plates, and other markers would use a logo depicting a dynamic character leaning forward with a sense of movement. The bill would require this logo to be readily identifiable, simply designed with no secondary meaning, and provide for equivalent facilitation and accessibility as the wheelchair symbol currently in use. This bill would apply to signs, placards, license plates, and other markers being replaced or newly installed on or after the effective date of the bill, which would be the 60th day after the date of enactment. The bill expressly provides that it is not to be construed to require the replacement of a sign, placard, license plate, or other marker if replacement is not otherwise necessary or appropriate. Because it would only apply to signs, placards, license plates, and other devices that are newly-installed or that are being replaced, this bill will not impose any new or additional costs on the State above those it would normally incur installing new and replacement signs, placards, license plates, and other devices. | In Committee |
| A1281 | Requires school districts to receive written permission from parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys. | This bill would require school districts to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain health surveys to students. Under current law, a school district that sends prior written notification to a parent or legal guardian may administer an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment or evaluation to the student which reveals information concerning any of the following issues: · use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping;· sexual behavior and attitudes;· behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or· physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. Written notification provided to a parent or legal guardian is required to be delivered by regular mail, electronic mail, or a written acknowledgement form to be delivered by the student at least two weeks prior to administration of the survey, assessment, analysis, or evaluation. Information obtained through the survey is also required to be submitted to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and may be used to develop public health initiatives and prevention programs. This bill would amend current law to require a school district to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian, rather than providing notification, prior to administering an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation to a student concerning the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping; sexual behavior and attitudes; behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. | In Committee |
| A1264 | Establishes crime of gang shoplifting. | This bill establishes the crime of gang shoplifting as a crime of the third degree. A person commits the crime of gang shoplifting if, in concert or participation with one or more other persons, the person enters the premises of a store or retail mercantile establishment and in an open and conspicuous manner: (1) purposely or knowingly takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred, any item displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of the item or converting the item to the use of the person without paying to the merchant the full retail value thereof; or (2) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly tampers with tangible property within or on the premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment so as to endanger any person, or the property or premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment, including the damaging or destroying of any item on the premises of the store or retail mercantile establishment. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A person who commits gang shoplifting is required to minimum term of imprisonment of not less than one year, during which time the person is not eligible for parole. It is the intent of the sponsor to address the rise in flash mobs which organize the looting of stores in an open and conspicuous manner. | In Committee |
| A1225 | Directs State Agriculture Development Committee to identify farmland ineligible for county farmland preservation programs, notify owners of State requirements, and invite applications for farmland preservation under State program. | This bill directs the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), within two years after the effective date of the bill, to survey and identify for each county, the farms eligible for differential property taxation pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.) (i.e., farmland assessment) in the county that do not meet the minimum acreage requirement for eligibility for farmland preservation as established by the county in which the farm is located. The bill further requires the SADC, upon completing the survey to: (1) notify the owner of the farmland, in writing, of the minimum eligibility criteria for preserving land for farmland preservation purposes, other than income requirements, established by the committee pursuant to N.J.A.C.2:76-6.20; and (2) invite the owner of the farmland to apply to the SADC to preserve the land for farmland preservation purposes. The bill also provides that for the purposes of the bill and the owner's application, if the income requirements to qualify for farmland assessment are satisfied by the farm, the SADC would not apply any income requirements established pursuant to the regulations to the application. The bill provides that the SADC may complete the survey and identification process for each county in the order it determines appropriate, provided that all farmland in a county is identified and all owners of the farmland have been notified pursuant to the bill before the committee initiates a survey in a subsequent county. The bill provides that the SADC would approve applications in the order they are submitted, consistent with the priority system established by the SADC for the preservation of farmland, to the extent that funding is available and the farm meets eligibility criteria for farmland preservation purposes. Finally, the bill requires the SADC to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than one year after the date upon which the SADC has completed the survey for each county in the State: (1) the number of properties in each county that are eligible for farmland assessment in the county that do not meet the minimum standard for farmland preservation set by the county in which the farm is located; and (2) the number of applications for farmland preservation received for farmland identified in the survey and the status of each application. This bill seeks to balance the needs of owners of smaller farms who wish to preserve their farms and the State's interest in preserving more farmland acreage. A number of county agriculture development boards have developed minimum acreage requirements to qualify for farmland preservation under the county program. The county acreage requirements may limit the ability of a farmer with a small farm to qualify for farmland preservation under a local program. The SADC offers a program in which a small farm may qualify for farmland preservation, but includes income requirements that are higher than those established for eligibility for farmland assessment. Thus, the owner of a small farm may be ineligible for preservation funding under the State program as well. This bill addresses this problem by directing the SADC to identify those small farms ineligible due to size for farmland preservation in each county, and requires the SADC to accept applications for farmland preservation from the owners of small farms excluded from a county program as long as the farm is eligible for differential property taxation pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A1123 | Amends Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to require expedited payment of property tax benefit under ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program. | This bill amends the Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations act to provide that, for a completed application submitted under the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program by an eligible homestead owner or resident whose homestead is a unit of residential real property, the 2020 property tax benefit is to be paid as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after the enactment of the bill or 30 days after the date on which the application is received, whichever is later, as a rebate to the eligible homestead owner or resident, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program provides property tax relief to New Jersey residents who owned or rented their principal residence on October 1, 2020 and met certain income limits. Current law requires the 2020 property tax benefit to be paid to eligible recipients as soon as possible, but no later than May 2024. | In Committee |
| AJR55 | Designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. Service dogs play an important role in assisting veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder. It is estimated that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience PTSD, and 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience TBI. New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000. However, despite federal law to expand the availability of service dogs to veterans, the training and placement of service dogs falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro. The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is not covered by insurance or other veterans' benefits. Designating "Paws Healing Heroes Day" will promote greater awareness of the unique role of service dogs in assisting veterans. | In Committee |
| A478 | Provides supplemental appropriation from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to provide additional State aid to certain school districts. | The bill provides a supplemental appropriation from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to provide additional State school aid to: 1) Old Bridge Township School District; 2) Freehold Regional School District; 3) Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District; 4) Millstone Township School District; and 5) a school district in which the school district's equalized property valuation per pupil is less than the State average equalized property valuation per pupil or the school district's income per pupil is less than the State average income per pupil. There are over 100 school districts that are estimated to qualify for additional aid under subsection e. of the bill, including: the New Hanover Township School District, the Roosevelt Boro School District, the Upper Freehold Regional School District, the Jackson Township School District, and the Plumsted Township School District. The intent is to ensure that these school districts receive the same amount of total State aid in the 2021-2022 school year as they received in the 2017-2018 school year. | In Committee |
| A1254 | Requires DOLWD to process unemployment claims within two weeks of filing. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to process claims for unemployment benefits within two weeks of filing by a claimant. Current law provides that the department is required to process claims within three weeks. The bill requires the department to establish and maintain a telephone hotline available, at a minimum, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. through which members of the public and claimants may request general or individualized information that the department is required to provide pursuant to the "unemployment compensation law" (R.S.43:21-1 et seq.). Under the bill, the department is required to display the phone number prominently for the hotline on its webpage. Under the bill, the department is required sufficiently staff the hotline so that a caller will not, on average, wait more than approximately 30 minutes before speaking with a representative, and an automated system will inform a caller of the number of calls ahead of the caller. The bill requires the representatives employed by the hotline to be trained to knowledgeably: (1) Address general inquiries regarding the program and benefits; and (2) Assist with specific claim questions, issues, concerns, and troubleshooting, including but not limited to: assessing whether an individual is likely to qualify for unemployment compensation; providing instructions on how to file an unemployment compensation claim and assistance in obtaining and interpreting information on the 1099 tax form; and providing information on an individual's pending unemployment claim, including but not limited to, the status of the claim, potential solutions and troubleshooting of any issues regarding an individual's eligibility or other barriers to the individual collecting unemployment compensation benefits. The bill requires the department to employ any personnel in addition to its existing workforce that is necessary to process claims to maintain compliance with the claim processing requirements of the bill. Within the sponsor's district, many individuals have had to wait months, and in some cases over a year, for a claim resolution. It is the sponsor's hope that this bill will improve the processing of claims for unemployment benefits. | In Committee |
| A1263 | Upgrades penalty for assault on law enforcement to second degree crime under certain circumstances. | This bill upgrades the penalty for assault upon a law enforcement officer. Under current law, it is a crime of the third degree to assault a person identifiable as law enforcement if the victim suffers bodily injury; otherwise, it is a crime of the fourth degree. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both; a fourth degree crime is punishable by a term of imprisonment no longer than 18 months, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. This bill increases the offense of assaulting a person identifiable as law enforcement to a crime of the second degree if the victim is injured. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of five to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $150,000, or both. If the victim is uninjured, the assault is a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by three to five years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000 or both. In the view of the sponsor, it is necessary to elevate the penalty for assault on law enforcement as a deterrent in light of recent increases in anti-police rhetoric and behavior. | In Committee |
| AJR79 | Designates September 22nd of each year as "Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Day." | This joint resolution designates September 22nd of each year as "Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Day" in New Jersey. By having an annual observance, we elevate the public health challenge of the increased suicide rates of veterans and active duty military personnel into the public consciousness and raise our continued awareness to this challenge. This continued awareness facilitates discussion about Veteran/Military suicide, thereby taking away the societal stigma associated with mental health treatment. By normalizing the subject of mental health among Veterans and Active Military, we will allow them to receive necessary treatment without fear of judgment while simultaneously showing that we care as a State and nation, about preventing living Veterans and Active Military from dying by suicide. The joint resolution calls on the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling on the people of this State to mark this day with appropriate activities and programs. Individuals who have served in the United States military made significant sacrifices to defend the United States and its people. Members of the military are often deployed to remote locations far from family and friends and may not have regular contact with their loved ones. During their deployments these individuals can miss important milestones including the birth of a child, family birthdays, or the funeral of a loved one. Members of the military engaged in combat operations face added stresses including situations where they may witness the death of their fellow service members and living in constant fear of their own injury or death. These stress factors contribute to a sharp increase in the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress among service members and United States military and veterans. Since 2010 more than 65,000 veterans and active military have died by suicide, more than the total number of American combat deaths from the Vietnam War and the post-9/11 conflicts combined. The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, and various nonprofit entities provide resources to veterans and active military who are at risk of suicide including telephone hotlines and mental health workshops. Increasing public awareness about the increased risk of suicide amongst veterans and military can help inform veterans, their families, and the public about the resources available to these veterans and military and help eliminate the stigma associated with mental health treatments. Designating September 22nd of each year as "Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Day" will raise our continued awareness to this critical threat to the health and safety of individuals who have sacrificed so much for their fellow Americans in service of our beloved country. This annual observance originated with Kevin W. Hertell, a U.S. Air Force Veteran who lost his cousin to suicide in 2016, Senior Airman Robert McRae Dean, U.S. Air Force. Mr. Hertell established this observance to recognize and forever remember the life and death of Senior Airman Robert McRae Dean and all other Veterans and Active Military members who have died by suicide. | In Committee |
| A1772 | Authorizes municipalities to establish dredging control reserve fund. | This bill authorizes a municipality to establish a dredging control reserve fund (reserve). Unexpended balances budgeted annually for dredging may be lapsed into the reserve. Upon passage of a resolution of the municipality's governing body, funds in the reserve may be used by the municipality after current budget appropriations for any purpose related to dredging, including, but not limited to: the removal of sand, silt, mud, clay, rock, or other material from the bottom of a waterway in order to maintain or deepen navigation channels and berths; related infrastructure development of the project; the management of the dredged material through decontamination; acceptable placement or beneficial use; and the potential funding of the projects, as necessary, to support New Jersey's or the municipality's maritime, recreation, or tourism industries. Any reimbursement of these expenditures shall be deposited back into the reserve. Unexpended balances budgeted annually for expenses relating to dredging control may be lapsed into the reserve. The bill authorizes the Local Finance Board to adopt rules and regulations in order to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1256 | Requires DOLWD to track and maintain information on job loss due to automation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to track and maintain records on job loss due to automation or other technological advances that eliminated the need for a person to perform the duties required of the position. The department will require applicants for unemployment benefits to note on the application whether the job loss was due to automation or other technological advances that eliminated the need for a person to perform the position. The information collected from the unemployment application will be maintained without personal identifying information: (1) to identify industries and positions that are vulnerable to job loss; (2) to provide resources for individuals at risk for job loss and who may be qualified for alternative positions with or without training, education, or other experience; and (3) for any other purpose that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development deems appropriate to address employment concerns within the State. The department will make the records available to any State department or agency, upon that department or agency's request. On a semi-annual basis, the department will submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature that addresses employment trends, areas of concern, or any other issues that the commissioner deems appropriate based on the information contained in those records. According to a 2020 ALICE report from United Way of New Jersey, 84 percent of jobs paying less than $20 per hour and 42 percent of jobs paying more than $20 per hour in the State are at high risk of becoming automated, based on data from 2018. | In Committee |
| ACR58 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2024, $1,500 in tax year 2025, $2,000 in tax year 2026, and $2,500 in tax year 2027, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| A806 | Increases penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. | This bill would increase the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. Fentanyl is an anesthetic and analgesic, first synthesized in the 1950's, that in recent years has become a drug of abuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and is potentially lethal even at very low doses. Under current law, set out in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:35-5 and section 6 of P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-6), unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both. Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both. However, the fine imposed for the third degree offense involving fentanyl is increased to up to $75,000. Under the bill, the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl would match the penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing heroin or cocaine under current law. The bill provides that unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of five ounces or more would be a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both. Under the bill the defendant would be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant would be ineligible for parole. The defendant would also be sentenced to pay an increased fine of up to $500,000. The bill provides that if the quantity of fentanyl unlawfully manufactured, distributed, or dispensed is one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the quantity is less than one-half ounce, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the third degree with an increased fine of up to $75,000. | In Committee |
| A3348 | Concerns regulatory guidance for local approving authorities on approval of warehouse development. | This bill directs the State Planning Commission (commission) to adopt rules and regulations, or publish a regulatory guidance document to assist municipal planning boards and other agencies acting pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.), in considering applications for the development of warehouses, as defined in the bill. The bill directs the commission to produce the guidance publication in a concise, plain-language format, incorporating examples of questions and reports that would customarily be asked of, or requested from, a warehouse development applicant prior to the issuance of development approvals. These model questions and report requests are to address potential community concerns, including but not limited to, traffic volumes, road safety, and environmental considerations. The bill directs the commission to make the guidance publication available to the public on its Internet website. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner) to incorporate the guidance document into the course offered to officials with responsibilities to enforce the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.). The commission would be required to notify the commissioner upon completion of the guidance document, and upon any updates. Due to the rise of e-commerce, warehouse development has increased significantly in recent years, leading to concerns over the impacts of these facilities on nearby neighborhoods. This bill intends to enhance the ability of local approving authorities to sufficiently scrutinize warehouse developers prior to authorizing further warehouse construction in New Jersey communities. This bill would take effect immediately, and would require the commission to produce the guidance publication by the first day of the third month following enactment. | In Committee |
| A1220 | Prohibits State Agriculture Development Committee from imposing new or revised agricultural rules, regulations, or standards on previously preserved farmland or owners thereof, without owner consent. | This bill would require the State Agriculture Development Committee (committee), when adopting new or revised rules, regulations, or standards applicable to preserved farmland, the owners thereof, the execution or content of farmland preservation agreements, or the nature or scope of farmland preservation development easements, to exempt from those new or revised rules, regulations, or standards, any previously preserved farmland, owner thereof, or pre-existing agreement or development easement pursuant to which the farmland was preserved, unless the owner of the previously preserved farmland provides written consent expressly agreeing to be bound by the new or revised rules, regulations, or standards. "Previously preserved farmland" is defined to mean any farmland that was preserved prior to the committee's adoption of new or revised rules, regulations, or standards applicable to such farmland, the owners thereof, or the agreements or development easements pursuant to which the farmland land was originally preserved. Specifically, before the committee implements or enforces a new or revised rule, regulation, or standard on previously preserved farmland, on the owners thereof, or on a pre-existing agreement or development easement pursuant to which the farmland was preserved, the committee will be required to provide written notice, to each owner of previously preserved farmland, identifying the need for, the subject matter being addressed by, and the content and import of, the new or revised rule, regulation, or standard, and requesting that each owner agree to be bound by the new or revised rule, regulation, or standard. The notice may be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the State or may be sent, by certified mail, to each owner of previously preserved farmland, or both. If the owner of previously preserved farmland provides the committee with written consent indicating the owner's agreement to be bound by the new or revised rules, regulations, or standards set forth in the notice of rules change, those new or revised rules, regulations, or standards will be deemed to be incorporated, by reference, into the owner's pre-existing farmland preservation agreement, and the owner, and any future owner of the land, will be subject to compliance with the new or revised rules, regulations, or standards. The bill would exempt from compliance with any new or revised committee rules, regulations, or standards, any owner of previously preserved farmland who does not consent, in writing, to be bound by the new or revised rules, regulations, or standards. Any prospective owner of previously preserved farmland would be required, upon the transfer of such land thereto, to agree to be bound by all laws, rules, regulations, and standards applicable to preserved farmland, the owners thereof, the execution or content of farmland preservation agreements, and the nature or scope of farmland preservation development easements, which are in effect on the date of transfer, regardless of whether the land being transferred was previously exempt from compliance with certain new or revised rules, regulations, and standards, as provided by the bill. The bill would require the committee to annually report, to the Governor and the Legislature, the new or revised rules, regulations, and standards adopted thereby over the prior year, and the location and owner of each parcel of previously preserved farmland that is exempted from the new or revised rules, regulations, or standards. | In Committee |
| A1436 | Increases days of paid leave of absence for public employees who serve in United States Reserves. | Under current law, a public employer provides a paid leave of absence for federal active duty to public employees who are members of the Reserves of the United States military, including the National Guard of other states. Current law requires the employer to provide paid leave for 30 work days per year. Leave after 30 work days is provided without pay. This bill entitles a public employee who is a member of the Reserves of the United States military, including the National Guard of other states, to 90 work days of paid leave for federal active duty. Leave after 90 work days will be provided without pay. | In Committee |
| A1213 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $15 million to DMVA for New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for facilities expansion. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $15 million from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for the purpose of providing financial assistance to complete facilities expansion, consisting of an additional 11,850 square feet for the Vietnam Era Museum. The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation commemorates New Jersey service members who served in Vietnam and their families through storytelling that enhances public understanding of the Vietnam War Era. The Foundation serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually. The expansion would help the Foundation obtain critical accreditation and recognition from national bodies and public audiences, acquire State-of-the-art equipment to care for museum artifacts, and deliver a premier educational experience that would attract volunteers, tourists, and revenues to the museum and the State. | In Committee |
| A1267 | Restricts pretrial release of certain defendants; sets conditions for pretrial release of certain first-time offenders; requires revocation of pretrial release under certain circumstances. | This bill restricts the pretrial release of certain defendants charged with a crime of the first degree and certain repeat offenders, and provides conditions for pretrial release of certain first-time offenders charged with lower-level crimes. It is the sponsor's intent to ensure more uniform application of the State's criminal laws, and reduce the number of defendants charged with violent crimes being released pending trial. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the "Criminal Justice Reform Law" or "bail reform," criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Pretrial detention determinations are based on a risk assessment conducted by the Pretrial Services Program, which assesses each eligible defendant detained on a complaint-warrant and makes recommendations to the court as to an appropriate pretrial release decision. Under current law, there is a rebuttable presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with murder or a crime for which the eligible defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. This bill establishes a strict standard that must be met in order for a court to order the pretrial release of these defendants, as well as certain repeat offenders. The bill would also set conditions for the pretrial release of first-time offenders charged with less serious crimes. Under the bill, upon motion of the prosecutor: · a defendant charged with any crime of the first degree; or a crime of the second degree if the defendant has previously been convicted on one or more prior and separate occasions of an indictable offense, are to be detained pending trial unless the court finds evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or a combination of monetary bail and conditions would reasonably assure the eligible defendant's appearance in court when required, the protection of the safety of any other person or the community, and that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process;· a defendant charged with a crime of the second degree who has not previously been convicted on one or more prior and separate occasions of an indictable offense; or a crime of the third or fourth degree who has previously been convicted on two or more prior and separate occasions of an indictable offense is to be detained pending trial unless the court finds clear and convincing evidence that monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or a combination of monetary bail and conditions would reasonably assure the eligible defendant's appearance in court when required, the protection of the safety of any other person or the community, and that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process; and· an eligible defendant charged with a crime of the third or fourth degree who has not previously been convicted on one or more prior and separate occasions of an indictable offense is to be released pending trial unless the court finds clear and convincing evidence that no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or a combination of monetary bail and conditions would reasonably assure the eligible defendant's appearance in court when required, the protection of the safety of any other person or the community, and that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process; Current law also provides that a court may revoke a defendant's pretrial release and order detention pending trial if the defendant violates a condition of release or commits a new crime while on release, but only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that no monetary bail or conditions of release would reasonably assure the defendant's appearance in court and the public's safety, or that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process. Under current law, the lowest level distribution offenses involving marijuana or hashish, and possession of marijuana or hashish, are not to be considered a violation of the terms of pretrial release. This bill, instead, provides that if a defendant violates any condition of pretrial release, or commits any crime while on release, the court is required to revoke the pretrial release and order the defendant to be detained pending trial, unless it finds by clear and convincing evidence that monetary bail or conditions of release would reasonably assure the defendant's appearance in court and the public's safety, or that the eligible defendant will not obstruct or attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process. | In Committee |
| A1288 | Prohibits institution of higher education from authorizing, funding, or supporting hate speech or antisemitic events and organizations. | This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from authorizing, facilitating, providing funding for, or otherwise supporting any event or organization promoting antisemitism or hate speech on campus. The bill defines "antisemitism" as the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016. According to the alliance, antisemitism "is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." | In Committee |
| A1581 | Provides gross income tax credit for certain expenses paid or incurred for care and support of qualifying senior family member; designated as Caregiver's Assistance Act. | This bill, designated as the Caregiver's Assistance Act, provides a gross income tax credit to qualified caregivers, including resident taxpayers and resident individuals, who pay or incur qualified care expenses for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member. The bill provides that to be allowed a credit qualified caregivers who pay or incur qualified care expenses must have gross income that does not exceed an annual income limitation. The bill specifies that qualified caregivers must have gross income that does not exceed $100,000, or does not exceed $50,000 if married or a civil union partner filing separately or if unmarried, not a partner in a civil union, and not filing or eligible to file as head of household or as a surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes, to be allowed the credit. The bill provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 22.5 percent of the qualified care expenses paid or incurred by the qualified caregiver during the taxable year for the care and support of a qualifying senior family member that are not in excess of $3,000. The bill provides that if multiple qualified caregivers are allowed a credit for qualified care expenses of the same qualifying senior family member, the credit allowed will be allocated in equal amounts unless a different allocation is established by agreement. The bill provides that the credit is in addition to the benefit of the dependent deduction that may be received by the qualified caregiver for claiming the qualifying senior family member as a dependent on the caregiver's gross income tax return. The bill provides that the credit is refundable: the amount of any credit that reduces the qualified caregiver's tax liability to an amount less than zero is required to be refunded to the caregiver as an overpayment of tax. The bill provides that a qualified caregiver is eligible to receive the benefits of the credit, even if the caregiver has gross income below the statutory minimum subject to tax. The bill defines a qualifying senior family member as an individual who: (1) is 60 years of age or older and a relative of the qualified caregiver, or is 50 years of age or older, is a relative of the qualified caregiver, and qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, and (2) has gross income for the taxable year not in excess of the New Jersey Elder Index, as reported by the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.2015, c.53 (C.44:15-1 et seq.) for the most recent calendar year. The bill generally defines qualified care expenses as the expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year for the purchase, lease, or rental of tangible personal property and services that are necessary to allow the qualifying senior family member to be maintained within or at the qualified caregiver's or the qualifying senior family member's permanent place of abode in this State. | In Committee |
| A1270 | Elevates disorderly persons theft to crime of fourth degree upon second conviction within two years. | This bill addresses repeat convictions for disorderly persons theft. Ordinarily, theft offenses are graded by the value of the property or amount taken. Theft is graded as a disorderly persons offense if the amount involved was less than $200, or the property stolen is an electronic vehicle identification system transponder. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000, or both. This bill provides that if the person has been previously convicted within the past two years of a theft offense under paragraph (4) of subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:20-2, the current conviction shall be graded as a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is ordinarily punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill would not prohibit a higher degree theft charge if the value of the property stolen for the current crime exceeds the value for a fourth degree charge. Theft is a crime of the fourth degree if the amount is at least $200 and not more than $500. This bill is consistent with pending legislation in New York which would elevate petit larceny, a misdemeanor, to grand larceny, a low level felony, if the person was convicted for petit larceny conviction within the previous two years. | In Committee |
| A1285 | Requires schools to be used as polling places only if other public, private, or commercial locations are not available. | This bill requires that school buildings be selected by the county boards of elections as polling places only when no public, private, or commercial building is available and accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly. In doing so, this bill promotes the safety and security of all staff and students who attend school in New Jersey, and limits disruptions to the learning environment that occur when schools are opened to large numbers of people for use as a polling place. | In Committee |
| A3065 | Establishes pilot program in Division of Taxation to provide income tax credits for the opening of certain homesteads to hunting activities in areas with high number of wildlife incidents. | This bill establishes a five year pilot program, administered by the Division of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, to allow resident taxpayers who own eligible homesteads to apply for gross income tax credits to promote the opening of a limited number of eligible homesteads for lawful hunting activities. The amount of the credit would be equal to $1,500 for the first 10 acres of huntable property opened for hunting, with an additional $200 credit for each additional acre of huntable property that is opened for hunting. The bill defines an "eligible homestead" as a dwelling house and the land on which that dwelling house is located which is at least 10 acres of huntable property, constitutes the place of the taxpayer's domicile, and is owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's principal residence. Homesteads with an existing deed restriction or easement requiring public access would be excluded from the program. In order to participate in the pilot program, a taxpayer would be required to submit an application with the following information:· location of the eligible homestead;· proof of the taxpayer's ownership of the eligible homestead and the total amount of huntable property;· a map of the eligible homestead to be opened up to hunting that identifies: (1) the boundaries of the homestead; (2) how the boundaries of the homestead are to be marked, whether through fencing, signs, painted trees, or other similar markings; and (3) a description of the homestead, including the kind of terrain, principal use of the property, and the locations of nearby highways, rivers, streams, and population centers;· the types of wildlife that can be hunted on the homestead;· the maximum number of individuals who can hunt at the homestead at any given time;· recommendations as to the ways the pilot program can be improved and whether the program should be continued on a permanent basis; and· any other information the director and the commissioner deem necessary. The director, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, would then be required to select no more than 12 eligible taxpayers who may claim tax credits under the pilot program. In selecting taxpayers to participate in the program, the director and the commissioner preference would be given to homesteads in areas with high incidents of wildlife fatalities on roadways, property damage caused by wildlife, and injuries to local residents as a result of a wildlife encounter. As a condition of receiving credits under the pilot program each year, a taxpayer would be required to permit hunting at the homestead a minimum of two days per week from 9:00 A.M. through 5:00 P.M. and allow the hunting of wildlife in accordance with hunting seasons prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code. A taxpayer selected for the program would be allowed to claim the tax credit for any taxable year of the program upon approval of an annual tax credit application each year. As part of the annual application, the taxpayer would submit a log of each hunt held on the eligible homestead during the taxable year containing the date and time of the hunt, an inventory of wildlife successfully hunted and taken from the homestead, and the signatures of the taxpayer and each individual who participated in the hunt. On or before the first day of the tenth month after the conclusion of the pilot program, the director, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the administration of the program, along with recommendations as to the ways the pilot program can be improved and whether the program should be continued on a permanent basis. | In Committee |
| A1271 | Increases penalties for assault of retail worker. | This bill establishes assault of a retail worker as aggravated assault. Under current law, an assault committed against certain persons is upgraded to aggravated assault. This bill adds an employee of a retail mercantile establishment to the list of these enumerated persons. The bill defines "employee of a retail mercantile establishment" as any person engaged in the sale, display, or offering for sale of consumer commodities and who is employed by any place of business where merchandise is displayed, held, stored, or sold or offered at retail to members of the consuming public. Aggravated assault of a retail worker would become a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury; otherwise it would be a crime of a fourth degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, up to a $10,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| A1238 | Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of purchasing and installing whole house backup electrical generator for resident taxpayer's principal residence. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction from a resident taxpayer's gross income for the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for the purchase and installation of a whole house backup electrical generator installed at the taxpayer's primary residence. A whole house backup electrical generator is a natural gas or liquid gas propane fuel powered generator that is permanently connected to the electrical system of a one or two-family residential structure and only operates in the event of a power outage in order to provide backup power to the residential structure. To qualify for the deduction the generator also must have been installed, inspected, located and permitted according to any applicable State and local governing unit laws, regulations, code, or ordinance requirements. The function of the generator is to provide back-up electrical power for the entire residence when electric power from the local electric utility is interrupted. The tax deduction allowed in this bill will encourage New Jersey homeowners to take steps to ensure their own power supplies and reduce their reliance on electricity supply grids that are vulnerable to blackouts caused by circumstances such as extreme weather, flooding, and drought. Back-up electrical power can protect anyone in the home who depends on a medical device, oxygen tank, CPAP machine, humidifier, air conditioning, or another appliance or device that requires electricity. Keeping home medical devices functioning through a whole house generator would reduce demand on emergency medical services and police during outages. A home owner may also avoid an indoor flood caused by a burst pipe or inoperable sump pump during an interruption of their electricity supply during severe winter weather. A home owner may also avoid the loss of well water supply that relies upon an electric-powered well pump. | In Committee |
| A2991 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| A1035 | Protects equity accrued by property owner in tax sale foreclosure. | This bill would revise the process governing an action filed in Superior Court by the holder of a tax lien on certain parcels of real property when that person institutes an action to foreclose the right of redemption of the tax lien. The right of redemption of a tax lien is the right of the owner of the property on which the tax lien exists to pay the holder of the tax lien and remove the lien from the property. Currently, under R.S.54:5-86, for persons who do not acquire a tax sale certificate from a municipality, an action to foreclose the right of redemption may be instituted at any time after the expiration of the term of two years from the date of sale of the tax sale certificate. Once an action to foreclose the right to redeem has been filed by a tax lien holder, the right to redeem continues to exist until barred by the judgment of the Superior Court. However, upon the action by the judge to bar the right of redemption and foreclose all liens other than municipal liens, the judge grants the holder of the tax sale certificate the title to the property, and that person becomes the owner of the property. At this point, the previous owner's rights to the property are permanently extinguished and the previous owner also loses any value, commonly referred to as equity, built up in the property through appreciation, or the payoff of a mortgage. For a property taxpayer who has paid down a mortgage, who has equity in a property, or whose property has considerably appreciated over time, the loss of the property in a tax lien foreclosure, and all of the equity in the property as well, could lead to homelessness or other hardship, as there are no funds with which to rent, or to purchase, another property. The provisions of this bill are intended to address the unfairness of the loss of that equity to property owners who lose property in a tax lien foreclosure. Under the bill, in the case of a parcel of real property that is the subject of a tax lien foreclosure action filed in Superior Court, upon the approval of the action to foreclose the right of redemption by the Court, the Court would not grant the plaintiff (the tax lien holder) ownership of the property. Instead, the Court would order that all of the property taxes paid by the plaintiff, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption that were paid by the plaintiff, would be the first priority lien on the property, paramount to any other lien, including any outstanding municipal lien, and would order the sheriff of the county in which the parcel of real property is located to hold an Internet auction of the property. Once the Internet auction is over and the property has been sold, not later than 14 days following receipt by the sheriff of the moneys paid by the winning bidder at the auction, the sheriff must forward to the tax lien holder plaintiff the sum of all property taxes paid by the plaintiff, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption. The sheriff must also pay to the municipality the amount of any other municipal liens on the property plus any interest due and owing thereon, and retain for the sheriff's office sufficient funds to cover the costs of the auction. Once those payments are made, the sheriff would then forward any remaining moneys collected from the winning bidder of the auction to the defendant. This allows the defendant to retain funds to either purchase, or rent, another property. Property equity is a valuable asset to property owners that should be retained by the property owners. It provides a property owner with opportunities to turn the equity to cash to purchase or rent another property, or to pay for items like living expenses in retirement, a child's college savings, or the health care of a loved one. Equity theft happens when government uses the property to settle an unpaid tax debt and allow someone other than the property owner collect the excess revenue. Like other assets, home equity should be protected from unjust government seizure. The State is part of a small number of states that do not provide property owners the remaining equity following a tax sale foreclosure. | In Committee |
| A816 | Requires DOE to release to school district upon request data and software program algorithms used to calculate State school aid. | This bill requires the Department of Education to provide to any school district that requests the information, the data for all school districts used to calculate State school aid, including the data necessary to calculate and reconcile all school districts' adequacy budgets, equalization aid, and local shares, and the detaisl of any adjustments made when the calculated local share exceeds the adequacy budget for every such district in the State, and the software program algorithms used by the department to calculate State school aid. The department would be required to provide the software program regardless of whether or not the department considers the software program to be proprietary. Under the bill's provisions, the department would also be required to provide a reconciliation, broken down by district, that demonstrates that total local share plus total equalization aid equals the total of all adequacy budgets Statewide in accordance with sections 10 and 11 of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA), P.L.2007, c.260. As some school districts grapple with reductions in State school aid under the provisions of P.L.2018 c.67 (C.18A:7F-67 et al.), commonly referred to as S-2, it is only fair that increased transparency on the State school aid calculations be provided to school districts. These school districts need to have the information required for them to determine that the State school aid formula has been calculated correctly and in accordance with the law for all school districts in the State. | In Committee |
| A2892 | Increases personal needs allowance to $50 for recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income who are veterans or spouses of veterans and provides for annual cost-of-living increase in allowance. | This bill increases the personal needs allowance for veterans and their spouses who are recipients of Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and reside in a nursing home or developmental center, or are patients in a psychiatric hospital. This allowance is used to purchase personal items, such as clothing, grooming aids, newspapers, and other items not regularly provided by the facility in which the recipients reside. The bill provides that the monthly personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $35 to $50, and that the monthly personal needs allowance for recipients of SSI who are veterans or the spouses of veterans is to increase from $40 to $50. The bill further provides that these amounts will be increased annually, on January 1 of each year, by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits that year. In the case of SSI recipients, the bill provides that the Commissioner of Human Services shall administer the $10 increase provided in the bill if the federal government, which provides the basic allowance, cannot administer the increase. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to apply to the federal government for such Medicaid State plan amendments as may be necessary to increase the personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients, and to seek federal government approval for the commissioner's administrative plan to implement the increase for SSI recipients. The respective increases provided for in the bill will not be operative until such time as the commissioner receives federal approval for the Medicaid State plan amendment and the commissioner's SSI administrative plan. | In Committee |
| A1061 | Permits conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | This bill permits raffle licensees to conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. Under current law, municipalities where voters have approved a referendum to allow raffle games may license eligible organizations to conduct these games. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety regulates the conduct of these games. Under Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2, subparagraph B of the State Constitution, and under the Raffles Licensing Law, eligible organizations may apply for a license to conduct raffles. Bona fide organizations or associations of veterans; churches or religious congregations and religious organizations; charitable, educational, and fraternal organizations; civic and service clubs; senior citizen associations and clubs; officially recognized volunteer fire companies; and officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads are eligible to apply for a license. This bill permits eligible organizations to conduct Queen of Hearts raffle games. A "Queen of Hearts raffle" means a raffle game utilizing a Queen of Hearts raffle board onto which 54 thoroughly shuffled playing cards are placed facedown, side-by-side. Raffle tickets are placed into a ticket drum or other receptacle and a winning ticket is drawn at random. The participant holding the winning raffle ticket is entitled to "Search for the Queen of Hearts" by selecting one of the facedown playing cards. When the playing card selected is not the Queen of Hearts, the card is placed out of play, and the person is awarded a cash prize valued according to a certain schedule. The raffle drawings are conducted weekly until a person selects the Queen of Hearts. When a person selects the Queen of Hearts, that person will be awarded 50 percent of the prize, and the remainder of the prize will be retained by the licensee as proceeds from conducting the raffle. The bill directs the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | In Committee |
| A2143 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act," P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-55 et seq.), to prohibit smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Current law prohibits smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces, with certain exceptions, including indoor public places and workplaces which are within the perimeter of casinos and casino simulcasting facilities and accessible to the public for wagering. This bill would eliminate these exceptions from the smoking ban. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that casino workers are at greater risk for lung and heart disease because of secondhand smoke, and a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that the air in casinos can have up to 50 times more cancer-causing particles than the air on rush-hour highways. This bill would protect all workers in New Jersey from the hazards of second hand smoke by requiring that casinos and casino simulcasting facilities be smoke-free workplaces. | In Committee |
| A642 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| A1419 | Establishes "VETeach Pilot Program" in DOE to facilitate teacher certification of veterans. | This bill establishes the "VETeach Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is to address the shortage of certified public school teachers by taking advantage of the qualified workforce represented by the State's veterans. Under the pilot program, Rowan University will enroll, in a 36-month teacher preparation program, veterans who served in the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001. The program will lead to a baccalaureate degree and completion of the requirements necessary to apply to the State Board of Examiners for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, which will authorize the veteran to seek employment as a teacher in grades kindergarten through eight, and in certain secondary education fields. The "VETeach Pilot Program" will provide veterans with a path to education and employment. Veterans will be able to obtain higher education and employment opportunities, while filling a critical shortage in the teaching profession. The program may also serve to attract a greater number of men and minorities, groups which are currently underrepresented in the teaching profession. | Dead |
| A1259 | Increases PFRS accidental disability and accidental death pension when disability or death is caused by weapon. | This bill increases the accidental disability pension and the accidental death pension provided in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) when the disability or death is caused on or after the effective date of this bill by a weapon. If a PFRS member is injured in the line of duty by a weapon and permanently disabled, the pension for the retiree will increase from 66 percent of final compensation to 100 percent of final compensation. When the retiree attains mandatory retirement age, the pension thereafter will be 80 percent of the final compensation. If a PFRS member dies in the line of duty and the death is caused by a weapon, the pension for the surviving spouse or surviving children will increase from 70 percent of final compensation to 75 percent of final compensation. In addition, the final compensation used to determine the disability pension or the death pension will continue to increase until the member would have attained the age of 65 under the assumption of continuous service. The final compensation will increase by the same percentage increase which is applied in any adjustments of the compensation schedule of active members after the member's retirement or death but before the date on which the retired or deceased member would have attained the age of 65. | In Committee |
| A379 | Repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." | This bill repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote," adopted as part of the New Jersey statutes pursuant to P.L.2007, c.334, and amends various parts of the statutory law to remove any reference to the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, when enough states collectively possessing the majority of the electoral votes required to decide a presidential race become parties to the agreement, New Jersey's electoral votes will be required to be allocated to the presidential candidate that won the popular vote nationwide, regardless of whether that candidate won in New Jersey. This manner of allocating electoral votes is a radical departure from the current system in New Jersey which, in the winner-take-all manner, the State's electoral votes are allocated to the candidate that won the popular vote in the State. By requiring that the State's electoral votes be allocated to the national popular vote winner instead of the candidate who won in New Jersey, the national popular vote agreement disenfranchises New Jersey voters and arguably amounts to the circumvention of the United States Constitution. | In Committee |
| A1305 | Requires DCA to establish optional certification courses for planning professionals on development of warehouses and high-density buildings. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish certification courses for planning professionals on the development of warehouses and high-density buildings. The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to develop and offer optional certification courses for planning professionals on current topics and issues relating to the development of warehouses and high density buildings. The courses are to be developed in conjunction with institutions of higher education, the State Planning Commission, and non-profit organizations representing planning associations and include modules specifically on warehouse development and high-density development. Additionally, the bill specifies that these optional courses offered to planning professionals do not meet the land use law and planning course requirement for planning board and zoning board members required pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law." Local planners are crucial in leading a community in its development and implementation of the Master Plan. It is the sponsor's intent to give planners additional tools to provide leadership to their communities. Warehouse construction has become a leading concern among both the public and local government officials. Many communities feel overwhelmed by the size and consequences of high-density development. Providing planning professionals with greater and up to date information will better allow them to serve their communities and local officials. | In Committee |
| AJR49 | Recognizes 75th anniversary of establishment of State of Israel. | April 25, 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. New Jersey commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between New Jersey and Israel for more than seven decades. New Jersey recommits to working with Israel in its quest for peace with its neighbors and the countries in the region. | Dead |
| A1248 | Includes payments in lieu of property taxes eligible as property taxes under the homestead property tax reimbursement program. | This bill would make a property owner who pays a payment in lieu of property taxes (PILOT) to the municipality in which the property owner's real property is located eligible for homestead property tax reimbursement (colloquially, "senior freeze"). Under current law, only property owners who pay property taxes are eligible for homestead property tax reimbursement payments. | In Committee |
| A1300 | Provides CBT credit for construction or retrofitting of warehouse to meet certain green building standards. | This bill provides a corporation business tax credit to taxpayers who construct a green warehouse or retrofit a warehouse to qualify as a green warehouse pursuant to the requirements of the bill. The tax credit would be administered by the Department of Community Affairs and the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The bill defines a "green warehouse" as a warehouse that is a high performance green building. The bill defines "high performance green building" as a solar-ready building that is designed and constructed in a manner that achieves at least: 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; a two globe rating according to the Green Globes Program as adopted by the Green Building Initiative; or a comparable numeric rating according to a nationally recognized, accepted, and appropriate numeric sustainable development rating system, guideline, or standard as the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Board of Public Utilities, may designate by regulation. | In Committee |
| A977 | Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill indexes for inflation the taxable income brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. This adds to the State personal income tax a common-sense taxpayer protection called inflation indexing that has been provided under the federal income tax since the 1980s. Inflation indexing means that tax brackets are revised annually to reflect nominal price and wage increases that result from inflation. When tax brackets are not indexed for inflation it results in what is called "bracket creep," which is an increase in effective tax rates caused by inflation. Higher income can bump a taxpayer into the next tax bracket, even if that higher income is merely keeping pace with inflation. A lack of inflation adjustment can also push more of a taxpayer's income into the highest bracket for which they qualify. The final result is a tax increase that occurs without any legislation being passed. Indexing addresses this by altering each bracket level each year by the level of annual inflation. Under this bill the inflation adjustment for taxable income brackets is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This is the same measure of inflation that is used for indexing the taxable income brackets under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill compares an annual inflation measure from the year prior to the one for which taxes will be imposed to a base year measure from the year prior to the one in which the bill is enacted. This delay allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the adjusted amounts when the tax year begins. | In Committee |
| A1082 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY 2024 environmental infrastructure funding program. | This bill would amend P.L.2023, c.120 to amend the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the Legislature has appropriated funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for State fiscal year 2024. In July 2023, P.L.2023, c.120 was enacted into law, which appropriated funds to the DEP for the purpose of financing approximately $1.78 billion in Storm Sandy and other environmental infrastructure projects through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) in FY 2024. This bill would amend the lists of environmental infrastructure projects for which the DEP is appropriated funds pursuant to P.L.2023, c.120 to include new projects, remove projects, modify the priority of certain projects, and modify the loan amounts for certain projects, as enumerated in subsections a. and b. of section 3 of the bill. As amended by the bill, P.L.2023, c.120 would appropriate to the DEP up to $3.08 billion, and any unexpended balances from previous authorizations, to provide loans to project sponsors for a total of 223 eligible environmental infrastructure projects for FY 2024. This would include 137 projects on the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Clean Water Project Eligibility List" and 70 projects on the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List." The bill would also give the DEP the explicit authority to use funds in the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 14 of the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302, for drinking water projects. The bill would require such drinking water projects to be funded in accordance with the regulations applicable to the financing of wastewater projects by the Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund, unless and until regulations specific to the financing of drinking water projects are promulgated. | Dead |
| A2706 | Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations. | This bill provides that any order, rule, or regulation issued by the Governor pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act" will terminate on the 15th day after issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of concurrent resolution. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to the bill for the same emergency. The bill does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act"; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act." | In Committee |
| AR52 | Recognizes 75th anniversary of establishment of State of Israel. | April 25, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. This House commends the people of Israel for their remarkable achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East and reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation which have existed between New Jersey and Israel for seven decades. This House recommits to working with Israel in its quest for peace with its neighbors and the countries in the region. | In Committee |
| A1257 | Requires public institutions of higher education to enroll certain students impacted by automation in job training courses without payment of tuition. | This bill requires public institutions of higher education to enroll certain students impacted by automation in job training courses without payment of tuition. Under current law, each public institution of higher education is required to permit a person who has been in the labor market for at least two years and is unemployed or has received a layoff notice as a result of a factory or plant closing to enroll without payment of tuition in a job training course, provided that the person is not eligible for any available State or federal student financial aid and that available classroom space permits and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. This bill extends this benefit to individuals who lost employment due to automation. According to a 2020 ALICE report from United Way of New Jersey, 84 percent of jobs paying less than $20 per hour and 42 percent of jobs paying more than $20 per hour in the State are at high risk of becoming automated, based on data from 2018. The sponsor notes that Ocean County is among the State's counties with the highest rates of these types of jobs, leaving many of the county's residents and families vulnerable to the impact of job loss due to automation. | In Committee |
| A1754 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | This bill permits eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members to take an additional $2,000 exemption as a deduction from gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax. The bill specifically sets forth eligibility requirements for persons who want to claim the additional personal exemption. Fire company members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 60 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified. First aid and rescue squad members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 10 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. Volunteers that have duty hours would be eligible if they serve at least 400 duty hours during any calendar year, with no more than 50 percent as drills. The bill requires the Director of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Commissioner of Health, to promulgate rules or regulations to effect certain provisions of the bill. The official in charge of each fire department or force or first aid or rescue squad is required to submit annually to the appropriate State agency a list of members who have met the committee substitute requirements. | In Committee |
| A262 | Allows gross income tax credit for volunteer firefighters. | This bill allows a gross income tax credit for volunteer firefighters who have actively been volunteering for three years. The amount of the credit is $500. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer must be an active member of a volunteer fire company or an active volunteer member of a part-paid fire department for three years. | In Committee |
| A116 | Requires State department, agency, authority, or instrumentality thereof to provide link on its website for members of public to submit complaints. | This bill requires each State government department, agency, authority, or instrumentality thereof to make available on a prominent location on its Internet site a link to allow any member of the public to submit a complaint to the State entity. Under the bill, the complaints could be concerning that entity's performance, customer service, or similar matter of interest to the entity. The head of the State entity would periodically review the complaints received through the website, and would be required to assess in what manner appropriate actions may be taken to remedy matters that caused the complaint. | In Committee |
| A197 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | This bill provides for a gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers in exchange for their sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. The New Jersey gross income tax provides a deduction for a charitable, qualified conservation contribution of real property interests for land preservation purposes modeled on the similar federal income tax deduction which covers full land interest sales and restricted land use easements. But land interest sales in New Jersey to various conservation programs for which a purchase price is paid to the New Jersey taxpayer can result in taxable gains for those New Jersey sellers who need to garner some investment income from these sales. To allow a deduction for these transfers with preservation or conservation restrictions on the real estate can prevent developers from buying up environmentally valuable land in this State and benefit both the taxpayer and the residents of the State at large. The bill will allow the deductions for both parts of some mixed transfers referred to as bargain sales in which there is both a charitable donation aspect and a cash purchase payment for less than the land's fair market value (FMV). The donation value is the difference between the FMV and the cash payment. In a bargain sale, a real estate owner is both a seller (for the cash portion) and a donor (for the donated portion) of the real estate interest. The bill will also allow a deduction for full market value sales to conservation organization which include certain governmental programs and non-profit run preservation programs. These programs will include but not be limited to those run by a governmental unit, charitable trust, foundation or charitable non-profit organization that participates in a Green Acres program, Blue Acres program, farmland preservation program, historic preservation program, the Highlands Transfer Development Rights Program, a park or forestry or an open space and recreation space preservation or conservation program or a wildlife, hunting or fishing conservation and restoration program. | In Committee |
| A813 | Requires electric public utility to submit proposal to BPU detailing utility's plan to harden its electric distribution substations to protect against criminal attacks. | This bill requires each electric public utility (utility) in the State having ownership or control of an electric distribution substation to submit a proposal to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for approval detailing the utility's plan to harden its electric distribution substation to protect against criminal attacks. Within 180 days of receipt of a utility's submission of the plan, the board is to determine whether the plan is feasible and whether the plan is to be implemented with or without recommendations. Upon a determination that the plan is feasible and is to be implemented, the board is to order the utility to implement and complete the plan within one calendar year from the date of the order. | In Committee |
| A320 | Expands NJT Access Link paratransit service area to include certain veterans health care facilities; appropriates $1 million. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to expand its Access Link paratransit service area to include every health care facility operated by the United States Veterans Health Administration in the State (i.e., veterans health care facility). Under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," any public entity that operates a fixed route, public transportation system is required to provide complementary, origin-to-destination paratransit service for persons with a disability. In compliance with this requirement, NJ Transit currently makes available Access Link paratransit service. As required under federal law, Access Link service is generally made available for origins and destinations that are located within a three-quarter mile radius of NJ Transit's existing bus routes and light rail stations. Notably, this bill requires NJ Transit to make available Access Link paratransit service to and from every veterans health care facility, regardless of whether the facility is located within the minimum paratransit service area required under federal law. Specifically, the bill requires NJ Transit to expand the Access Link service area to include any origins and destinations within: (1) a radius of 1.5 miles around each veterans health care facility; and (2) a width of 1.5 miles on each side of the most direct route connecting each veterans health care facility to NJ Transit's closest existing fixed bus route or light rail station. However, this expanded service area would not include any origins or destinations in which NJ Transit does not have the legal authority to operate paratransit service. Under the bill, NJ Transit would also be prohibited from entering into any contract, or exercising any option to extend an existing contract, concerning the provision of Access Link service by a paratransit service provider unless the contract or option complies with the requirements of this bill. The bill also appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to NJ Transit to defray any costs incurred in the implementation of this bill. | In Committee |
| A3285 | Allows person on police officer or firefighter eligible list who is unable to complete requirements for employment due to certain military service to have name placed on subsequent eligible list. | The purpose of this bill is to offer a second opportunity for employment to a member of the National Guard or the Reserves who could not accept a position as a police officer or firefighter because of service to the nation. It allows a person who previously passed or subsequently passes a civil service examination for the position of police officer or firefighter, but who was unable or is unable to complete any other requirements for employment because of active duty in the National Guard or the Reserves, to have the person's name placed in order by score on a subsequent eligible list (designated by the person) for the same type of position. This privilege would be available to Guardsmen and Reservists called to at least 30 days of continuous active duty after September 11, 2001 and prior to the termination of operation "Enduring Freedom." Any such person who met the maximum age requirement for a position at the announced closing date of the civil service examination on which the first list of eligibles is based will be deemed to have met such maximum age requirement on the date that the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list. | In Committee |
| A534 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| A1304 | Establishes Office of Citizen Involvement, Land Use, and Planning Advocate and transfers basic course in land use law and Office of Planning Advocacy to newly established office. | This bill establishes the Office of Citizen Involvement, Land Use, and Planning Advocate in the Department of State to provide information, guidance, and training to members of the public concerning land use law and planning, to: (1) increase public awareness of the impact that land use and zoning matters, including developments of regional impact, warehouses, and other similar projects, have on the lives of citizens of this State; (2) promote accountability, transparency, and advocacy in the State and local planning process; and (3) develop innovative ways to assist individuals and local government units with certain projects, including developments of regional impact and warehouses. The bill abolishes the Office of Planning Advocacy in the Department of State, and transfers the State programs and personnel, obligations, and duties pertaining to the Office of Planning Advocacy to the Office of Citizen Involvement, Land Use, and Planning Advocate (office). The bill requires the Secretary of State to appoint a Director of the office (director), who is required to: (1) create and maintain a database for, and provide information pertaining to, the planning, siting, construction, and maintenance of developments of regional impact, warehouses, and other similar projects, which would serve as a consolidated and centralized public information resource. The bill requires the director to advertise the information and resources provided by the office on the office's Internet website; (2) consult with the New Jersey Planning Officials related to the preparation and offering of the basic course in land use law and planning, keep records of the persons that have taken and have passed the required course; and provide for the removal of individuals from the local planning board and zoning board of adjustment who did not satisfy the requirements of the course, and for the notification of the governing body of the municipality of the names of the members on the local planning board or zoning board of adjustment that did not satisfy the requirements of the course; (3) maintain a list of the State personnel that review plans for the siting, construction, and maintenance of developments of regional impact, warehouses, and other similar projects; (4) create and maintain a list of information and questions that the public State and local officials are advised to ask developers to provide prior to the planning, siting, construction, and maintenance of developments of regional impact, warehouses, and other similar projects; (5) provide plain language guidance materials concerning the development process for members of the public; and (6) proactively assist communications and coordination between local officials and State offices concerning land use and zoning matters, developments of regional impact, warehouses, and other similar projects. The bill also requires the transfer of the funds available for the Office of Planning Advocacy to be transferred to the Office of Citizen Involvement, Land Use, and Planning Advocate, and requires the director, instead of the Commissioner of Community Affairs, to prepare and establish standards for the curriculum and administration of the basic course in land use law and planning. This bill is to take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, except that the Secretary of State is to be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1226 | Authorizes counties and certain boards to acquire unpreserved lands in agricultural development areas for use by agricultural support businesses, and to sell or lease county-owned lands in such areas to such businesses at reduced price. | This bill would authorize a county governing body, or the appropriate county or subregional agriculture development board (board), as directed by the county governing body, to acquire fee simple title to, and to sell or lease, certain lands situated in an agricultural development area for use by an agricultural support business. "Agricultural support business" is defined, by the bill, to mean a for-profit or not-for-profit business or enterprise, including, but not limited to, one operated cooperatively by a collective group of farmers, which supplies needed equipment, supplies, or services to the surrounding agricultural community and, thereby, has a direct and positive impact on agriculture. The term would include, but not be limited to, the following types of businesses or enterprises: a veterinary practice and any other type of practice, shop, store, or facility that supplies necessary food, temporary shelter, or medical care or support for farm animals; any shop, store, or other facility that supplies seeds, fertilizers, agricultural tools or equipment, or agricultural vehicles or machinery to the surrounding agricultural community; any practice, shop, store, garage, or other facility that engages in the repair or servicing of tractors or other agricultural vehicles, equipment, tools, or machinery; any tack shop, store, or other facility that sells equestrian supplies, apparel, equipment, horse care products, grooming supplies, horse blankets and sheets, model horses, or equine-related books, magazines, and videos; any shop, store, or other facility that sells or provides storage for natural or synthetic agricultural chemicals or other substances that are used to protect, or promote the growth of, plants or animals, including, but not limited to, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators, animal feed supplements, urea, animal vaccines or antibiotics, or raw materials used in agriculture-related chemical processes; and any auction house or other facility that is used to temporarily house, showcase, or sell produce or livestock being offered for sale at auction. Under the bill's provisions, a county would be authorized to acquire unpreserved land in an agricultural development area, for use by an agricultural support business, so long as the land so acquired does not constitute preserved farmland (i.e., is not subject to a development easement conveyed, or to agricultural deed restrictions imposed, for farmland preservation purposes), and the governing body of the county, or the appropriate board, determines that the use of such land by an agricultural support business would benefit and promote the long-term viability of agricultural operations being undertaken in the agriculture development area, including on preserved farmlands situated therein, and would, thereby, facilitate and enhance the preferred use of the area for agriculture. The acquisition of land, by a county, for these purposes, may not be effectuated through the exercise of eminent domain, or through condemnation proceedings, but is to be effectuated through purchase, gift, devise, exchange, or other appropriate means, as authorized by resolution of the governing body, adopted pursuant to the "Local Lands and Buildings Law," P.L.1971, c.199 (C.40A:12-1 et seq.). The bill would authorize a county governing body or board to establish one or more agricultural support working groups, composed of farmers, agricultural support business owners or operators, and appropriate agricultural and environmental experts, to advise the governing body or board regarding the appropriateness of land acquisitions being considered, proposed, or effectuated pursuant to the bill. Any such agricultural support working group may be authorized to: (1) study, and provide the governing body or board with its findings and recommendations regarding, the feasibility, need for, and appropriateness of acquiring land in an agriculture development area for use by an agricultural support business; (2) identify particular parcels of land in an agriculture development area, the use of which by an agricultural support business would be most consistent with, and would best facilitate, current and future agricultural activities being undertaken in the agriculture development area; and (3) undertake any other reviews, or engage in other investigatory and deliberative actions, as may be necessary to facilitate the requisite determinations being made by the governing body or board with respect to the acquisition of land under the bill. The bill would further provide that, whenever a county acquires unpreserved land in an agriculture development area, for the bill's purposes, or whenever the governing body determines that unpreserved land currently owned by the county in an agriculture development area, with or without improvements, is no longer needed for county purposes, the county may, by resolution, authorize the private sale and conveyance of such unpreserved land, or any part thereof, to an agriculture support business for such consideration as may be mutually agreed upon, including for consideration that is less than the fair market value of the land, provided that the agreement of sale contains express restrictions, which are recorded in the deed, and which: (1) require the land, and any improvements thereon, to be used exclusively, by the buyer, for purposes of the agricultural support business; (2) provide for the fee simple title to revert to the county upon any violation of the agreement's use restrictions by the buyer and following the provision of written notice thereof to the buyer and any associated hearing on the matter, which may be requested by the buyer within 30 days after receipt of the written notice of violation; and (3) specify that, in any case involving the future sale of the property, the county is to have the right of first refusal to adopt and accept the terms and conditions of the proposed purchase agreement. The bill would also enable a county, by resolution, to authorize the lease of such unpreserved land, or any part thereof, to an agriculture support business for such period, consideration, and other terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon, including for consideration that is less than the going lease rate for similarly situated properties, provided that the lease agreement contains express restrictions that: (1) require the land, and any improvements thereon, to be used, by the lessee, exclusively for purposes of the agricultural support business; (2) provide for the lease agreement to be subject to immediate termination, for any violation of the lease's use restrictions, following the provision of written notice of the violation to the lessee and any associated hearing on the matter, which may be requested by the lessee within 30 days after receipt of the written notice of violation; and (3) prohibit the lessee from assigning or transferring the lease to any other person without the prior consent and approval of the lessor county or board. The acquisition, sale, or lease of unpreserved land in an agriculture development area, which is undertaken for the bill's purposes, may be effectuated either by the county governing body or by the appropriate board, on the governing body's behalf, as directed by the governing body. Each board would additionally be required to make appropriate recommendations to the governing body of the county regarding the county's acquisition, resale, and lease of unpreserved land in an agricultural development area, and undertake appropriate action to monitor and enforce the compliance of agricultural support businesses with the deed or lease restrictions that are imposed, pursuant to the bill, in association with their purchase or lease of unpreserved land in an agricultural development area. The availability and accessibility of agricultural support businesses is essential and integral to ensuring the ongoing viability and success of agricultural operations occurring in the State, and the siting and operation of such businesses in agriculture development areas, in accordance with the restrictions imposed by the bill, would effectively compliment, and be fully consistent with, the preferred, but non-exclusive, use of such areas for agriculture. | In Committee |
| A1237 | Requires immediate public reporting of bias incident; facilitates receipt of information from public for purposes of prosecuting bias incident. | This bill requires the immediate public reporting of any bias incident in this State and facilitates the receipt of information from the public for the purposes of investigating and prosecuting a bias incident. Bias incidents have increased throughout the State and the nation, causing fear, tension, and uncertainty in our communities. New Jersey experienced a 29 percent increase in bias incidents between 2020 and 2021. According to data released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), anti-Semitic incidents in 2021 rose by 25 percent in New Jersey reaching 370 total incidents, which is the highest number ever recorded by the ADL in the State and the second-highest number recorded in any state in the country. According to State data regarding bias intimidation crimes, anti-Black bias remained the number-one motivating factor in reported incidents in both 2020 and 2021, with anti-Semitic bias being the second-largest contributor. New Jersey's LGBTQ+ community experienced a significant increase in bias incidents over that same period, and anti-Asian incidents rose sharply from 69 in 2020 to 129 in 2021. Two bias incidents were recently reported in the State against the Jewish community in April 2022. A man was accused of attacking several members of the Orthodox Jewish community in both Lakewood and Jackson, and is now facing federal hate crime charges. In addition, an historically Jewish fraternity at Rutgers University was the target of multiple cases of anti-Semitic harassment, prompting an increase in campus security. Under current law, municipal and county law enforcement agencies are required to submit quarterly reports to the Attorney General, which include information regarding crimes committed within their respective jurisdictions. These reports are required to include information relating to a bias incident, which is defined under current law to mean any suspected or confirmed offense directed against a person or group or their property, by reason of their race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity. The Attorney General is required to issue an annual report containing the results of the information reflected in these quarterly reports. Under the bill, information is required to be made public within 24 hours of the bias incident. Specifically, the bill requires the Attorney General to make available to the public on the Department of Law and Public Safety website, and to direct the prosecutor of the county in which the incident occurred to make available on the county prosecutor's website, information regarding: the suspected bias incident, including relevant facts and circumstances related to the incident in order to obtain assistance from the public to investigate and prosecute the incident; and how the public may contact the Attorney General's Office, the county prosecutor's office, or the local law enforcement agency to provide information related to the incident. The bill also requires the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the bias incident occurred, or the Superintendent of State Police if the incident occurred in a municipality that does not have a full-time police department, to make this information available to the public within 24 hours of being notified of the bias incident. In addition, the bill requires the Attorney General, county prosecutor, and chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police, as appropriate, to provide updated information regarding the final disposition of the bias incident investigation. | In Committee |
| A1261 | Clarifies that law enforcement officers employed by educational institutions may possess firearms on campus. | This bill clarifies that campus law enforcement officers are permitted to carry a firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of a school, college, university or other educational institution in the course of the officer's employment or traveling to or from the officer's place of employment. The bill defines "law enforcement officer" as a person empowered to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law and who has successfully completed a firearms training course administered by the Police Training Commission. | In Committee |
| A281 | Exempts parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability from meters or fees. | This bill would exempt parking spaces designated for persons with a disability from meters or similar user fees. Under the provisions of this bill, the State, a county, or a municipality is prohibited from installing a parking meter or charging a fee for the use of a properly designated parking space reserved for a person with a disability. If a meter has already been installed, the State, a county, or a municipality would be required to indicate that no payment is necessary for the use of the spot. | In Committee |
| A3345 | "Warehouse Development Control Bond Act," authorizes bonds for $150 million, and appropriates $5,000. | This bill, entitled the "Warehouse Development Control Bond Act," authorizes the issuance of $150 million in State general obligation bonds to be used to provide matching grants to municipalities to pay for the cost of purchasing the development rights of proposed warehouse sites. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would establish procedures for the review and approval of, and eligibility criteria for, the grants, pursuant to section 5 of the bill. Grants would be issued according to a priority system to be developed by the DEP. The bill would establish certain conditions on the purchase of development rights, as enumerated in section 5 of the bill. For example, a municipality would be required to acquire the development rights of the property in the form of an easement that: (a) is recorded on the title of that property; (b) permanently restricts the development of the property, and provides that any subdivision of a property in agricultural use ensures that the resulting parcels are not lesser in size than the minimum size required for qualification for farmland assessment pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.) plus one acre, and that the resulting parcels remain in agricultural use; and (c) authorizes the landowner to retain all other rights and responsibilities associated with the property, including the ability to sell the property, provided that the terms of the sale are consistent with the easement, and, if the property is a farm, to farm the land without restriction and in the same manner as a farm that retains its development rights and to construct or maintain one single-family home on the farm or any subdivision thereof. The intent of allowing the subdivision of farmland for which an easement against future development has been sold is to allow smaller farms to be created with single-family housing to promote new or young farmers purchasing land that otherwise would require too much capital. The bill provides that the bond act is to be submitted to the people for approval at the general election to be held at least 70 days after enactment and appropriates $5,000 to the Department of State for expenses in connection with the publication of the public question. The development of warehouses within a host municipality often results in land use, traffic, environmental, economic, fiscal, and social equity effects in the host municipality, and may adversely impact the overall region in which the warehouse is being proposed for development. Municipalities are often faced with a choice between the development of housing, which results in a higher demand for schools and other government services without an equivalent increase in property taxes, and warehouse development, which may negatively impact the character of the municipality, as well as affecting the farming areas, open space, recreation areas, and areas of historic and cultural significance in the municipality. Frequently, this choice represents a Hobson's choice, with warehouse development representing the only option that is fiscally viable for the municipality. Thus, it is the intent of this bill to offer municipalities a program through which the municipality can purchase the development rights of a proposed warehouse site, preserving the positive fiscal benefit of the real property to the municipality, providing compensation to the landowner, and avoiding the negative consequences associated with warehouse development. | In Committee |
| A1289 | Makes $19.45 million supplemental appropriation for increased nonpublic school security aid; modifies budget language to increase per pupil amount. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $19.45 million from the General Fund to the Department of Education for Nonpublic Security Aid, for nonpublic schools in New Jersey. This bill also modifies budget language to adjust the per pupil Nonpublic Security Aid amount from $205 to $338 to account for the $19.45 million increase. In total this supplemental appropriation would increase the amount of funding for Nonpublic Security Aid from $30.55 million to $50 million. The demand for this increase is driven, in part, by inflationary pressures resulting in higher costs for essential security equipment for nonpublic schools. Moreover, many religious-based private schools are grappling with an increase in hate crimes across the country. Additionally, the growing number of private schools opening in New Jersey further contributes to the necessity of increased nonpublic security funding. Nonpublic Security Aid is provided pursuant to N.J.S.A.18:A58-37.8 in order to support Boards of Education in providing security services, equipment, and technology to enhance the protection of nonpublic school pupils. | In Committee |
| A272 | Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecution of human trafficking crimes. | This bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecution for the crime of human trafficking. Currently, under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-6 there is no statute of limitations for prosecutions for the following crimes: murder; manslaughter; sexual assault; and criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental statutes concerning widespread injury or damage. Prosecution for other crimes, such as human trafficking, must be commenced within five years, except for certain crimes enumerated in the statute such as: (1) bribery and official misconduct offenses which must be commenced within seven years; (2) criminal sexual contact or endangering the welfare of a minor which must be commenced within five years after the victim attains the age of 18 or two years after discovery, whichever is later. Prosecutions for disorderly persons offenses must be commenced within one year after they are committed. By eliminating the statute of limitations for human trafficking crimes, the prosecution for these crimes may be commenced at any time rather than within five years after it is committed. | In Committee |
| A1303 | Requires DEP to evaluate cumulative impact of stormwater when reviewing applications associated with warehouse and other high-density development projects. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to evaluate the cumulative impact of stormwater when reviewing applications for permits, authorizations, or other approvals for applications that, if approved, would result in the construction of a warehouse or other high-density development project. The DEP would be required to consider the stormwater impacts that would result from the development on property located within the municipality in which the development would be located, any adjoining municipalities, and the watershed in which the property is located. The DEP would also be required to ensure that stormwater be managed to, at a minimum: (a) induce water recharge into the ground where practical; (b) minimize offsite stormwater runoff in order to not impact property located in an adjacent municipality; (c) maintain the integrity of stream channels for their biological functions, as well as for drainage; and (d) prevent, to the greatest extent feasible, an increase in nonpoint pollution in the watershed in which the proposed development would occur. The development of warehouses, and other high-density development, often results in environmental, land use, traffic, economic, fiscal, and social equity effects in municipalities adjacent to the one in which the development is located. The construction of such development facilities has, at times, resulted in significant negative regional impacts. This bill is intended to ensure that any stormwater resulting from intense development is carefully scrutinized, not only for its impacts on the municipality in which the development is located, but also adjoining municipalities and the watershed as a whole. | In Committee |
| A3238 | Qualifies certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees. | This bill qualifies certain disabled veterans for toll rate exemptions and exemptions from motor vehicle registration fees. The bill expands the motor vehicle registration fee exemption from disabled veterans, who had taken part in World War II, the Korean Conflict between 1950 and 1953, and the Vietnam Conflict between 1960 and 1974, and who receive compensation as result of the loss of use of one or more limbs as result of military service, to include disabled veterans, who have completed a VA 21-4502 form and have been approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to receive an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to not charge a toll to any customer with an account with the electronic toll collection system, commonly known as E-ZPass, and who is exempt from the payment of motor vehicle registration fees, on the State's three toll roads, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway. | In Committee |
| A573 | Establishes Loan Redemption Program for Teachers of Agriculture in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Loan Redemption Program for Teachers of Agriculture within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The purpose of the program is to provide an incentive for individuals to begin a career in agricultural education. The program will provide for the redemption of a portion of the eligible student loan expenses of program participants for each year of full-time employment in a school district as a certified teacher in a career and technical education program in agriculture approved by the Department of Education. Under the bill, HESAA will offer loan redemption for up to a total of ten participants in each program year. Loan redemption for each participant is capped at $10,000 a year, with a maximum five year loan redemption value of $50,000. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant must: be a resident of the State and maintain domicile in the State during participation in the program; have successfully completed an approved course of study within a five-year period prior to applying for the program; have an outstanding balance with a State or federal student loan program and not be in default on any student loan; and be a certified teacher who holds an endorsement issued by the State Board of Examiners that authorizes the holder to teach agriculture. A program participant will enter into a written contract with HESAA to participate in the program. The contract will specify the duration of the applicant's required employment by a school district as a teacher of agriculture, which will be no less than five years, and the total amount of eligible student loan expenses to be redeemed by the State in return for service. | In Committee |
| A1280 | Establishes School Funding Commission to study school funding formula and prepare report that will serve as basis of new formula. | This bill establishes the School Funding Commission to study issues related to school funding and issue a report with its findings and recommendations that will be the basis of a new school funding formula in the State. The commission will be composed of 26 members including the Commissioner of Education, nine members appointed by the Governor, five members appointed each by the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly, and three members appointed each by the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The members will include persons with knowledge and experience in school finance or State budgeting or finance and members who have been recommended for appointment by various educational organizations in the State. The Commissioner of Education will serve as the chairperson of the commission and staff and related support services for the commission will be provided by the Department Education. The bill provides that it will be the duty of the commission to study:· New Jersey's current school funding formula, the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), and the various aid categories under the formula, including: preschool aid; transportation aid with a focus on the aid used to provide transportation to students attending charter schools and nonpublic schools; security aid; and special education aid with a focus on the effects of census based funding under the current formula and the feasibility of utilizing a tiered funding system; · the effects of the current funding formula on the education of at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency;· the school funding formulas of the states surrounding New Jersey in order to identify the positive and negatives aspects of each of these funding formulas;· the ability of municipalities in the State to raise adequate taxes for the support of public schools;· the allocation of property taxes for school purposes;· the impact of identified State policies and how they may affect school funding in each county and municipality;· the impact of the use of payments in lieu of taxes and other tax incentive programs on the ability of municipalities to support public schools; and· the benefits of a reorganization of the Department of Education in regard to the implementation of the State's school funding formula. The commission is required to issue a final report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature no later than one year after the organizational meeting of the commission. The report will be posted prominently on the Department of Education's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A287 | Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, a report that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| AR46 | Condemns anti-police rhetoric and violence. | This resolution strongly condemns speech and rhetoric that threatens law enforcement personnel and incites violence against them. Recent news reports include accounts of individuals' statements and group demonstrations demonizing police as murderers. Law enforcement officers in New Jersey and throughout the nation serve the public honorably, protecting all people regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, or socio-economic status, and risk their own lives every day in pursuit of this duty despite the inherent dangers and risks associated with this profession. Law enforcement officials are properly subject to scrutiny of their actions and are held responsible for them. While a number of instances have given rise to questions concerning the judgment exercised by certain officers, the disruptive and violent actions of some individuals and groups are provoking unwarranted violence against law enforcement. There is no justification for targeting and, at worst, assassinating members of the force, who deserve respect and gratitude for the selfless acts they perform to serve and protect all people. Outside of their law enforcement roles, officers are private citizens with families, friends, and neighbors who deserve the same freedoms and protections to live their lives as any other person in New Jersey and this country. | In Committee |
| A1272 | Requires State Auditor to prepare annual performance audit on certain court projects; appropriates from General Fund. | This bill requires the State Auditor to conduct an annual performance audit and submit it to the Governor and the Legislaturedescribing the Judiciary's progress regarding the development, maintenance, and administration of the Statewide Pretrial Services Program and the Statewide digital e-court information system, and the provision to the poor of legal assistance in civil matters by Legal Services of New Jersey and its affiliates. All of the information used or compiled by the Administrative Director of the Courts in preparation for the director's annual report will be made available to the State Auditor. In 2014, a law commonly referred to as "criminal justice reform" or "bail reform" was enacted to (1) establish statutory speedy trial deadlines for persons being detained in jail, both pre-and post-indictment; (2) reform the manner in which determinations for bail and other forms of criminal pretrial release are made; (3) provide courts with the authority to deny pretrial release and instead order pretrial detention; and (4) authorize the Judiciary to revise and supplement fees to help fund a pretrial risk assessment and monitoring program, and other court-related programs and services. That law also requires the Administrative Director of the Courts to issue an annual report on the Judiciary's use of funding provided under the law, and the Judiciary's progress toward the development, maintenance, and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system. It is the sponsor's intent to have an unbiased and reputable third-party review the same information that the director reviewed and conduct an independent performance audit that may or may not be entirely consistent with the director's report. The purpose is to ensure public confidence in the evaluation of the Judiciary's performance by providing for a third-party audit that the public will have no cause to believe may be subject to the possible inherent bias of a judicial official's evaluation of the Judiciary. This bill appropriates monies from the General Fund to the State Auditor as determined to be necessary for the implementation of its provisions. | In Committee |
| AR38 | Condemns terror attacks by Hamas against Israel and reaffirms our commitment and support of Israel and Jewish people. | This resolution condemns the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel and reaffirms the State of New Jersey's commitment and support of Israel and the Jewish people. On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the Islamist militant group Hamas carried out a vicious terrorist attack against the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The attack began in the early morning of that Saturday, with Hamas launching thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip that reached as far as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem, and then infiltrating 22 Israeli towns and army bases in the south, including a gathering of young people at a music festival, the armed terrorists arriving in boats, paragliders, motorcycles, and other vehicles. News reports, survivor accounts, images, and videos from the scenes of this horrific attack show that Hamas terrorists slaughtered ordinary civilians and entire families, including babies and elderly people, set houses on fire, raped women, and took hostages. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, at least 1,400 people were confirmed dead in Israel, of whom 30 were American citizens, and another 3,400 were injured. In addition, Israeli authorities indicate that Hamas has taken at least 199 people hostage from Israel into Gaza, with an undetermined number of American citizens among them. Hamas is a terrorist organization, designated as such by the United States and the European Union, for its history of suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Jewish people and the State of Israel. In fact, since issuing its charter in 1988, Hamas has called for the destruction of the State of Israel as an inherent principle of the group. In response to the Hamas terrorist attack, Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8, 2023 and launched "Operation Swords of Iron," calling to duty over 300,000 reservists in the first 48 hours, which according to the Israeli Defense Forces is the largest military mobilization since the 400,000 reservists called to serve in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The United States has declared its unwavering commitment to Israel as the country responds to this terrorist attack, reaffirming our 75-year partnership with Israel and the Jewish people in the advancement of our shared democratic values and cultural ties. The State of New Jersey is proud of its long and strong relationship with Israel and its citizens, and reaffirms its commitment to Israel and the Jewish people in the face of this terrorist attack. | In Committee |
| A1298 | Establishes grant program in Department of State for preservation of certain Revolutionary War sites; appropriates funds. | This bill would require the Department of State to establish a program to provide grants to local government units and qualifying tax exempt not for profit entities to support the preservation, expansion, and management of Revolutionary War Battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites in New Jersey that are endangered due to development. Under the bill, the department is to develop criteria for evaluating applications and award grants to applicants who submit specific plans and objectives for the preservation, expansion, or management of Revolutionary War Battlefields, encampments, or skirmish sites in New Jersey that are endangered due to development. The bill also appropriates $50 million from the General Fund to the Department of State to implement the provisions of the bill. According to the United States' National Park Service, New Jersey hosted more battles and skirmishes during the American Revolution than any of the other 13 original states. New Jersey's Revolutionary War heritage is a source of pride for its residents and the nation. The State's Revolutionary War Era battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites deserve every protection possible so that future generations may continue to celebrate and gain inspiration from our history. | In Committee |
| A1243 | Establishes Emergency Medical Services Provider Safety Grant Program in DOH; appropriates $10 million. | The bill establishes the EMS Provider Safety Grant Program in the Department of Health to award one-time, competitive grants to emergency medical services (EMS) providers to offset the costs of purchasing safety equipment. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to protect the health and safety of these essential first responders by ensuring that EMS providers have sufficient funding for crucial safety equipment. Under the bill, EMS providers will be eligible to apply for grands through the EMS Provider Safety Grant Program. Expenditures eligible for reimbursement under the grant program include those for the purchase of: personal protective equipment, such as N-95 masks and disposable gloves; protective clothing, such as footwear or safety eyewear; advanced cleaning equipment; and any other virus protection equipment as may be determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Health. Grant awards and amounts will be dependent upon the availability of State fiscal resources. The grant program, additionally, will expire once the funding has been expended. Pursuant to the bill, the commissioner is required to develop an online application and a process by which EMS providers may apply for grants through the program. As part of the grant application, EMS providers are required to include: 1) a description of the applicant's intended use of the grant funding; and 2) a list of the personnel or outside consultants, if any, who will be responsible for managing the grant funds and the purchase of safety equipment. The bill also provides that the Commissioner of Health will establish procedures and criteria for reviewing and awarding EMS Provider Safety Grants, and will give preference to applicants based upon: (1) the scope of provider need, as documented by the annual number of service calls handled by the EMS provider, the number of active EMS personnel, and service area population; (2) the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the EMS provider, based on the burden of illness among the provider's personnel and the local community served by the provider; and (3) the strength of the applicant's proposed plan of use for the grant funds. One year after the bill's effective date, the commissioner will report to the Governor and the Legislature on the number of grants awarded and the number of safety items procured through the EMS Provider Safety Grant Program. The bill, finally, appropriates $10 million from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" allocation, available to the State under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to the Department of Health to establish the EMS Provider Safety Grant Program. | In Committee |
| AJR88 | Establishes working definition of antisemitism in NJ. | This joint resolution adopts a working definition of antisemitism for the State of New Jersey.Antisemitism, as well as discrimination, harassment, bias, and bigotry against those who are or who are perceived to be Jewish or have Jewish heritage remains prevalent throughout the world, including throughout the United States and in New Jersey and has both historical and contemporary contexts. According to data compiled by the New Jersey State Police, as of April 2022, anti-Jewish bias was cited as a motivation for 298 reported bias incidents in 2020 and 347 reported bias incidents in 2021. According to the Anti-Defamation League, one in four Jews in the United States reported having been impacted by antisemitism in 2021. In recent months, the country has witnessed a disturbing trend of public figures making comments, supporting viewpoints, and meeting with individuals that are widely regarded as antisemitic.Antisemitism is closely linked to other forms of bigotry and hatred. New Jersey law criminalizes acts of bias intimidation, defined as certain offenses committed with the purpose to intimidate or with the knowledge that the offense would intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of, among other protected characteristics, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. New Jersey law prohibits discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation on the basis of, among other protected characteristics, actual or perceived religion, ethnicity, ancestry, or national origin. Despite these prohibitions, many acts and occurrences of bias and bigotry go unreported or unaddressed. It is the responsibility of the State of New Jersey to reject and speak out against bias and bigotry, including condemning antisemitism in all its forms. A critical component of combatting antisemitism is understanding what antisemitism is. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance ("IHRA") is a thirty five-member intergovernmental organization created to focus on antisemitism and Holocaust-related issues. The IHRA has adopted a non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism, illuminated by useful examples, illustrations, and distinctions, to help guide and empower governments to understand and address the rise in hate and discrimination against Jews and those with Jewish heritage. The working definition of antisemitism may be used as an education and training tool for public officials, law enforcement offices, educators, and other public and private employees so that they may effectively raise awareness of and call out antisemitism and understand its impact. 38 countries including the United States have adopted or endorsed the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, as have several state and local governments.The working definition, as adopted by the IHRA on May 26, 2016, reads: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities". The IHRA also notes, in the context of defining the concept of antisemitism, that criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.This working definition of antisemitism is intended as an analytical and educational tool and is not legally binding, and thus is not intended to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A1252 | Provides supplemental appropriation of $250,000 for Deer-Resistant Native Species Propagation at Agricultural Experiment Station. | This bill supplements the fiscal year 2024 appropriations act to provide a $250,000 appropriation for Deer-Resistant Native Species Propagation at the Agricultural Experiment Station. This project will entail collecting cuttings and seeds of specific plants and woody shrubs, and developing propagation protocols for each plant. The project will involve plant specimens from various regions of the State with traits that may aid in reducing damage from deer to nurseries and other landscapes. New Jersey is home to an estimated 125,000 deer, however unchecked deer populations can pose numerous problems, including increased deer-vehicle collisions and damage to gardens, agricultural crops, and the natural forest ecosystem. While New Jersey allows limited hunting of deer to manage the population, the project funded by this appropriation would explore nonlethal, environmentally-friendly means of mitigating deer-related damage to the State's ecosystem. | In Committee |
| A1262 | Requires retired law enforcement officers to qualify in use of firearm once a year. | This bill would require retired law enforcement officers to qualify in the use of a firearm once per year rather than every six months. Under current law, a person who has retired in good standing after serving as a regularly employed, full-time law enforcement officer may carry a firearm provided the person: (1) is 75 years of age or younger; (2) is not subject to any of the disabilities which would disqualify the retired officer from possessing or carrying a firearm; and (3) semi-annually qualifies in the use of a firearm. This bill would require the retired law enforcement officer to qualify in the use of a firearm once per year rather than semi-annually. | In Committee |
| A3231 | Creates alternate voting members on county agriculture development boards. | This bill amends the "Agriculture Retention and Development Act" by creating alternate members on County Agriculture Development Boards (CADB) who are able to vote in the absence or disqualification of a voting member. This bill would require each CADB to have two alternate members, one of whom represents the general public and one of whom is actively engaged in farming. These alternate members would each serve for a term of four years and may vote in place of an appointed voting member of their respective appointment background, should a voting member be absent or disqualified. The alternate voting member may participate in discussions of the proceedings when not voting. The alternate member with a farming background would be appointed in the same manner as the four members actively engaged in farming, and the alternate member representing the general public would be appointed in the same manner as the three members representing the general public. | In Committee |
| AJR43 | Designates third full week of May of each year as "Clinical Trials Awareness Week" and May 20 of each year as "Clinical Trials Volunteers Appreciation Day" in NJ. | This resolution designates the third full week of May of each year as "Clinical Trials Awareness Week" in New Jersey and May 20 of each year as "Clinical Trials Volunteers Appreciation Day" in New Jersey to promote awareness and understanding of the important role that clinical trials play in modern medicine. May 20, 1747, is widely recognized as the day that British naval surgeon, James Lind, started the first randomized clinical trial. James Lind recruited 12 seamen to compare the effects of citrus fruits on patients with scurvy against five alternative remedies. His recommendation that fresh citrus fruit and lemon juice be included in the diet of seamen eventually resulted in the eradication of scurvy from the British Navy. Since James Lind's first randomized clinical trial, clinical trials have improved a great deal. Today, clinical trials are an essential element of medical research and an important step in discovering new treatments for cancer and other diseases, as well as new ways to detect, diagnose, and reduce the risk of disease. Without clinical trials, diseases such as polio and measles would still be a danger to people today. Both the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Cooper Research Institute conduct a wide variety of clinical trials to provide the most cutting edge treatment options for patients. As one of the National Cancer Institute's designated cancer centers, the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is able to provide patients with access to clinical trials not available at other hospitals, clinics, or doctor's offices, as well as access to some of the most advanced, targeted treatments and medicines available to cancer patients. The Cooper Institute, along with the various other Cooper Health System entities, provide unprecedented healthcare services to the residents of South Jersey, including conducting 168 clinical trials in 2018. According to the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, of the 1,120 new cancer drugs currently in development, New Jersey has 357 cancer drugs in development which ranks second, nationally, to California's 388 cancer drugs in development. In New Jersey, pharmaceutical research companies in collaboration with clinical research centers and hospitals have conducted 4,967 clinical trials of new medicines since 2004, including 1,234 in 2013 with the participation of 25,126 New Jersey residents. In 2017, New Jersey hosted 792 clinical trials and had an estimated total economic impact of $880 million. Clinical trials have been critical to the progress made in the fight against COVID-19 and directly aided in the development of several effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines. The selfless volunteers who have participated in these clinical trials have helped scientists develop reliable vaccines against COVID-19, such as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations. The State of New Jersey should recognize and celebrate clinical trials to help further public awareness and better understanding of clinical trials and their beneficial use for the people of New Jersey, and to show gratitude for the selfless volunteers. | In Committee |
| A3130 | Provides for retained eligibility for members of NJ National Guard or reserve component called to active federal military service who met fire department maximum age requirement at closing date of civil service examination. | This bill provides that any member of the New Jersey National Guard or of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces who is placed on a civil service active open competitive employment list, and who is called to active federal military service prior to the expiration of the list, would be deemed to have met that maximum age requirement on the date on which the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list if the person met the maximum age requirement for appointment as a member of the fire department in a municipality at the announced closing date of the civil service examination from which the first list of eligibles is or was compiled. This same provision already applies to members and officers of the police department. | In Committee |
| A1234 | Establishes certain exceptions for emergency personnel operating personal watercraft while providing rescue services. | This bill affords emergency personnel certain exceptions under the law while operating a personal water craft, often referred to as a jet ski, in performance of official duties. Under current law, jet ski operators are prohibited from exceeding minimum headway speed within 100 feet of the shoreline, buoys or signs that mark the boundaries of a swimming area, any person in the water, or residential dwelling units. Jet ski operators are also prohibited from operating the vessel in manner that makes it airborne within 100 feet of another vessel. This bill waives these requirements for any law enforcement officer, a member of a fire department, a member of a State, county or municipal beach patrol, or emergency medical services personnel who are operating a jet ski while in actual performance of their official duties. | In Committee |
| AR48 | Urges Congress and President to reallocate certain funds from "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" to increase active military basic pay. | This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Prioritizing Troops Over Tax Collectors Act of 2023," H.R.161 of the 2023-2024 session, to reallocate funds from the Internal Revenue Service to the Department of Defense to increase the pay of certain members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty. The Internal Revenue Service audits taxpayers earning under $25,000 annually at a rate five times taxpayers who earn a higher salary. The House of Representatives passed the "Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act," H.B.23 of the 2023-2024 session, which rescinds funds allocated by the "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," Pub.L.117-169, to the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, the "Prioritizing Troops Over Tax Collectors Act of 2023" reallocates these funds to the Department of Defense for the primary purpose of increasing basic pay for all active military service members to at least $31,200 annually, equivalent to a $15 hourly wage. Currently, approximately 23,000 active duty service members rely on food stamps in the United States, and some rely on other forms of public assistance. New Jersey is home to several military bases, as well as many active duty military members and their families. This resolution urges Congress and the President to move forward with the enactment of the "Prioritizing Troops Over Tax Collectors Act of 2023" to alleviate financial difficulty for active duty service members receiving basic pay and encourage continued service in the United States military. | In Committee |
| A1125 | "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act"; repeals certain sections of law; requires additional aid to lower property taxes commensurate with residents' ability to support schools; appropriates $2.9 billion. | The bill is to be known as the "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act." The bill requires that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, State school aid will be provided to school districts at levels consistent with the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) up to their adequacy budget, and prevents future cuts to State aid. It also requires a school district to reduce its tax levy in an amount equal to any increase in State school aid above the prior budget year under certain circumstances, allowing the district to subsequently increase its levy from a lower level than the prior budget year. It is the sponsors' intent to bring equity to New Jersey's school system by increasing State aid contributions to SFRA adequacy budget levels in a manner consistent with the "thorough and efficient" education clause in the State Constitution (N.J. Const. art. VIII, sec. 4, par.1). Providing school aid in this manner will reduce property taxes based on the ability of each school district's residents to support schools. The bill repeals certain sections of law enacted as part of P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to "S2") that resulted in loss of aid and higher property taxes in certain school districts. The bill requires the State to provide aid to school districts equal to the greatest amount of:· aid according to the SFRA; · aid according to the SFRA and, if applicable, additional aid to provided to school districts that lost funding as a result of the implementation of S2; or· State school aid received in any of the school years between and including the 2017-2018 school year and the 2022-2023 school year. Under the bill, a district may petition the Commissioner of Education and State Treasurer for additional aid if it demonstrates a willingness to reduce its adjusted tax levy by an amount equal to any additional aid received. The bill requires a school district to reduce its school tax levy by the same amount of their State school aid increase above the prior year if the total tax levy of the municipality or municipalities comprising the district is more than five percent of school district income. After lowering its levy commensurate with a State aid increase, a school district may increase its levy by an amount necessary to cover an increase in per pupil administrative costs and deferred revenue. The bill requires a district to submit a proposal to voters of the district if it wishes to exceed this limitation. If the voters do not approve the proposal, a school district may add to its adjusted tax levy the difference between the maximum amount to be raised by taxation for the current budget year and the actual amount to be raised by taxation for the current school year if the amount of State school aid and the adjusted tax levy is below the adequacy budget in the next three succeeding budget years. Lastly, the bill appropriates $2,946,618,000 for the purposes of providing additional aid under the bill. The bill stipulates that any unexpended balances are appropriated to the Schools Development Authority for the purposes of supporting school facilities projects and supporting emergent needs and capital maintenance in school districts. | In Committee |
| A676 | Designates portion of State Highway Route 71 as "John Tarantino Highway." | This bill designates a portion of State Highway Route 71 in the Borough of Spring Lake Heights as the "John Tarantino Highway" to honor patriotism of World War II veteran Angelo John Tarantino. The Legislature honors Mr. Tarantino for his service to the people of the United States and the State of New Jersey both during World War II and in the years after. Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the "John Tarantino Highway." The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation. | Dead |
| A1250 | Requires MVC to issue license plate decals for identification of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) and licensed motor vehicle dealers to issue two green removable, transferable, highly visible, reflective decals for the identification of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles, owned or leased and registered in this State. The bill defines "electric vehicle" as any passenger automobile or other motor vehicle that is propelled solely by one or more electric motors or energy storage device and "plug-in hybrid vehicle" as any passenger automobile or other motor vehicle that can be charged from a source of electricity external to the vehicle through an electric plug, but which is not solely powered by electricity. Under the bill, the decals are to be designed by the chief administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety (director). There is to be no fee for the issuance of the decals. The decals are required to be displayed in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator, in consultation with the director, and be clearly visible to law enforcement officers and first responders. The decals are required to be removed and returned to the commission within 30 days of the date that the ownership or leasehold period of the vehicle has ended. The bill requires the chief administrator, after consultation with the director, to adopt regulations specifying the size, placement, issuance by licensed motor vehicle dealers, and other formal requirements or additional safeguards as the chief administrator deems necessary for issuance and display of the decals. | In Committee |
| A2878 | Establishes "Revolutionary War Park Study Commission." | This bill would establish the "Revolutionary War Park Study Commission" to evaluate the feasibility of forming a National Historical Park that would include the existing Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton Battle Monument, and Princeton Battlefield State Park. The commission would consist of nine members: the Commissioner of Environmental Protection; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; the Executive Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission; and three public members appointed by the Governor, all of whom would be required to have expertise in a field essential to preserving historical resources. The commission would evaluate: (1) the feasibility of establishing a National Historical Park; (2) the impact, advantages, and disadvantages of creating a National Historical Park; and (3) solutions to mitigate any potential issues arising from the establishment of a National Historical Park. The commission would issue a final report of its findings and conclusions to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following the first meeting of the commission. The commission would expire upon the submission of the commission's report. | In Committee |
| A3228 | Extends time period required for public notice of certain land use applications. | The bill extends the time period required for public notice of certain land use applications from 10 days to 21 days. Currently, section 7.1 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-12) requires a developer to give written notice of a public hearing concerning certain applications for property development at least 10 days prior to the scheduled public hearing to owners of all real property within 200 feet in all directions of the property for which the public hearing is being held in addition to the following people and entities in certain circumstances: the clerk of any municipality located within 200 feet of the subject property; the County Planning Board; the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation; the State Planning Commission; and public utilities, cable television companies, or local utilities. The bill amends section 7.1 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-12) to require that notice of public hearings be given at least 21 days before the scheduled public hearing. | In Committee |
| A1230 | Establishes "Farm Mental Health and Financial Services Task Force." | The bill establishes a task force to be known as the "Farm Mental Health and Financial Services Task Force." The purpose of the task force would be to develop and maintain a list of mental health and financial assistance services for farm owners and operators, farm supervisors, and farm laborers to bolster the mental and psychological well-being of farmers and persons who own, operate, or work on farms and provide financial services to enable these persons to navigate the business and financial challenges of farm life that may contribute to stress and deteriorating mental and psychological well-being. The 5-member task force would consist of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Health, and three public members, appointed by the Governor, including: 1) a representative of a farmer advocacy group; 2) a representative of a Statewide banking association active in agricultural communities, who has experience in providing financial services, or has a firm understanding of the financial services available, to farmers and other persons working on farms; and 3) a representative of a Statewide mental health advocacy group, who is familiar with the mental health providers and services that are available to provide counseling and other mental health assistance to farmers and other persons working on farms in the State. The task force would be required to develop and publicize a list of mental health and financial assistance services that are available to farm owners and operators, farm supervisors, and farm laborers in the State, and provide associated information on the types and nature of available services and the manner in which such services may be accessed. The task force would be required to post the list of available services on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health websites, and thereafter, maintain and update the list every 180 days to ensure that it contains the most up-to-date information. After the online publication of the list the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health would be required to broadcast periodic public service announcements, each year, to alert the public to the availability of the list. The task force would be required to issue a report, to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than three years after the task force's initial organizational meeting, and at least every three years thereafter, summarizing the work undertaken by the task force during the reporting period, describing the impact the task force has had on the mental, psychological, and financial well-being of farmers and persons who own, operate, or work on farms, providing recommendations for the continuation of task force operations in future years, and providing recommendations for executive, legislative, and other actions that are deemed by the task force to be beneficial to, or appropriate to support, the mental and psychological well-being of farmers and persons who own, operate, or work on farms in the State. The rate of suicide among farmers is three and a half times higher than among the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association. Suicide rates in rural communities increased by 48 percent between the years 2000 and 2018, compared with 34 percent in urban areas. | In Committee |
| AR57 | Urges immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of marine life off the coast of New Jersey. | This resolution urges the State and federal governments to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of whales and dolphins off the coast of New Jersey. Since December 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recorded at least twelve whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey, eight of which have been humpback whales. In addition, there were also five deaths of dolphins recorded in February 2023 alone. Most of these deaths remain unexplained, but have occurred in or near areas of offshore wind energy development. Given the unprecedented number of these recent deaths, their occurrence in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants State and federal investigation. A possible cause of these deaths is the increased use of sonar and other underwater mapping technologies for the development of offshore wind energy projects, which may interfere with marine mammals' ability to hear, communicate, and navigate underwater. Therefore, an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects' impact on marine life can be conducted. | In Committee |
| A1275 | Concerning noncitizens voting in local elections and conduct in office by local government officers. | This bill concerns conduct by local government officers while in office by declaring the actions of any local unit to authorize or permit individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections of the local unit to be against public policy and declare any such policies null and void. The bill maintains that, pursuant to Article II, Section I, paragraph 3 of the New Jersey Constitution and Title 19 of the New Jersey Statutes, only individuals who are citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in elections held in the State, and specifically prohibits elected local government officers from voting or acting to approve any ordinance or resolution which would allow individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections of the local unit. At least 14 municipalities in various states allow noncitizens to participate in certain elections. The bill also amends the "Local Government Ethics Law" to include violations of an elected local governmentofficer's oath of office by a local government officer as a violation under the "Local Government Ethics Law," and subject to potential fine. | In Committee |
| A1277 | Delays fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, until July 1, 2028. | This bill would delay the start of the fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, set to commence in 2025, to July 1, 2028. For decades, New Jersey municipalities have expended significant taxpayer money to comply with affordable housing obligations. The State Supreme Court has recognized affordable housing policy is best left to the Legislature. Compounding the burden of litigation expenses, the COVID-19 pandemic led the Governor and Legislature to take drastic action, which shut down the State economy, causing severe economic difficulties for municipalities. These difficulties, and others, have presented and continue to present severe hardship for municipalities seeking to satisfy their affordable housing obligations. Reliance on data from the third round, therefore, will be even more critical in establishing fourth round present and prospective regional needs and affordable housing obligations. It is therefore necessary to delay the start of the fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, to July 1, 2028. This bill would not impair or affect any settlement or judgment concerning the obligation of a municipality that was issued or executed prior to the end of the third round of affordable housing obligations on July 1, 2025. The bill would expire on June 30, 2028. | In Committee |
| AR47 | Urges Congress and President to enact "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023." | This resolution urges Congress and the President to enact the "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023," currently pending as H.R.895 and S.140. Organized retail crime occurs when a group of people commit large-scale theft with the intention of reselling the items in person or online for financial gain. Organized retail crime continues to increase in severity in regard to economic damages. In 2023, it is estimated that organized retail crime will cost U.S. retailers $100 billion, or an average of $720,000 per $1 billion of merchandise sold. These numbers indicate a 50 percent increase in costs from 2015 due to organized retail crime. Consumers are often forced to bear the brunt of the economic damages caused as retailers raise prices to offset the loss in profits. Organized retail crime also leads to an increase in violence in retail environments, creating safety risks for consumers and retail employees. A majority of retailers report that they have experienced an organized retail crime subject verbally and/or physically assault a sales associate, while forty percent of retailers report that an organized retail crime subject has used a weapon to harm a sales associate. The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023" aims to address the rampant issue of organized retail crime by ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary tools to combat the liable criminal organizations, such as strengthening the federal money laundering statutes and allowing federal judges to order criminal forfeiture after convictions related to organized retail theft. The bill also establishes the Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime within the Department of Homeland Security to collaborate with retailers in addressing the issue, as well as to provide reporting on organized retail crime activity and enforcement. | In Committee |
| A1251 | Requires electric vehicle battery facilities to affix sign developed and produced by DEP to all facility entrances as notification that electric vehicle batteries are on-site. | This bill would require, no later than one year after the bill's effective date, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to: (1) develop and produce an electric vehicle battery sign to be affixed to all entrance points of an electric vehicle battery facility that has electric vehicle batteries on-site; and (2) develop a procedure for the distribution of the signs to electric vehicle battery facilities throughout the State. The purpose of the sign developed by the DEP pursuant to the bill is to notify first responders, upon entry into an electric vehicle battery facility, of the presence of electric vehicle batteries on-site and the potential dangers associated with electric vehicle batteries. As defined in the bill, "electric vehicle battery facility" means a facility that is used to produce, manufacture, assemble, store, repurpose, or recycle electric vehicle batteries and "electric vehicle battery" means a rechargeable battery that is used to power the electric motor of an electric vehicle. "Electric vehicle battery" includes, but is not limited to, lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lead-acid batteries. The sign developed by the DEP pursuant to the bill would be required to include the following information, at a minimum: (1) a symbol to represent the presence of electric vehicle batteries on-site, to be developed by the DEP; (2) a statement that reads: "WARNING - ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY;" (3) any symbols that demonstrate the potential dangers or hazards associated with electric vehicle batteries, as determined by the DEP; (4) formatting that ensures the sign is legible and easy to understand; and (5) any other information the DEP deems necessary. The bill would require, beginning 18 months after the bill's effective date, the owner or operator of an electric vehicle battery facility to affix the sign developed by the DEP pursuant to the bill to each entrance point of the facility in a manner determined by the DEP. Beginning 18 months after the bill's effective date, an owner or operator of an electric vehicle battery facility who violates the bill's provisions by failing to affix the required sign to each facility entrance would be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $250 for each offense. In the case of a continuing violation, each day during which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The bill authorizes State and local law enforcement agencies to have the exclusive authority of enforcing the bill's provisions. The bill also incentivizes the enforcement of the bill's provisions by permitting any penalty recovered to be retained by the enforcing government entity. Electric vehicle batteries can be hazardous and dangerous, especially if mishandled or if the batteries are damaged. Electric vehicle batteries, under certain circumstances, can cause fires, explosions, electrocutions, and chemical leaks. For this reason, it is crucial for the DEP to develop a sign to notify first responders of the presence of electric vehicle batteries at an electric vehicle battery facility and of the potential dangers associated with electric vehicle batteries. This sign will serve as a protective warning for first responders and help first responders proceed with caution when responding to an emergency in an electric vehicle battery facility. | In Committee |
| A1221 | Revises method for appraisals of farmland to be acquired for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would establish a new process for the determination of the value of farmland, and development easements on farmland, to be acquired for farmland preservation purposes by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), a local government unit, or a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization using, in whole or in part, constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax monies deposited into the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund, the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, or any other State monies provided for farmland preservation purposes. This process would be used in addition to the appraisal processes in current law. Under this bill, the committee would adopt a formula, to be known as the "Statewide Farmland Preservation Formula," that includes: (1) conducting or analyzing a sufficient number of fair market value appraisals of agricultural lands within the municipality in which the land is located, or the surrounding market area, or both; (2) considering farmland and development easement values in counties and municipalities reasonably contiguous to, but outside of, the municipality in which the land to be acquired is located; (3) considering the importance of preserving agricultural lands in the municipality and county in which the land is located; (4) considering the status and value of natural resources in the municipality and county in which the land is located, and in counties and municipalities that are reasonably contiguous to, but outside of, the municipality and county in which the land is located; (5) considering such other relevant factors as may be necessary to increase participation in the farmland preservation program by owners of agricultural lands located in the municipality and county in which the land is located, including, but not limited to, the rate of inflation, the quality of the agricultural soils, the size of the agricultural lands to be acquired, and the risk of conversion of the land from productive agriculture to nonagricultural use; and (6) providing additional value for the proximity of agricultural lands located adjacent to preserved agricultural lands, lands preserved for recreation and conservation purposes, aquifer recharge areas, lands subject to development or conservation easements, and lands whose conversion to nonagricultural use would lead to conflicting land uses, including, but not limited to, utility and roadway rights-of-way, military bases, and airports and associated airspace. The SADC would adopt rules and regulations to establish the "Statewide Farmland Preservation Formula," notwithstanding the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act." These rules and regulations would remain in effect for a period not to exceed three years after the date of the filing and thereafter be adopted, amended, or readopted in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act." In addition, the bill would amend current law concerning how value is to be calculated when the value of the farmland to be acquired is determined based upon the value of any pinelands development credits allocated to the parcel pursuant to P.L.1979, c.111 (C.13:18A-1 et seq.) and the pinelands comprehensive management plan adopted pursuant thereto. Under this bill, that value would include consideration of the rate of inflation. A landowner would be provided with the values determined pursuant to these different methods and the higher of the values would be used as the basis for negotiation with the landowner with respect to the acquisition price. | Dead |
| A535 | Prohibits any foreign company created under laws of foreign adversary from participating in critical infrastructure. | This bill prohibits any foreign company created under the laws of a foreign adversary from participating in critical infrastructure in this State. The bill defines "foreign adversary" to mean any foreign government determined by the United States Secretary of Commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons. Under the bill, the State of New Jersey, and all agencies or political subdivisions thereof, are prohibited from allowing a foreign company created under the laws of a foreign adversary to participate in the construction, maintenance, or control of any critical infrastructure in this State. Critical infrastructure includes communication networks, electric generation, gas distribution systems, water pipelines, and related support facilities, such as buildings, offices, lines, poles, pipes, structures, and equipment. The State's safety, security, and stability depend on protecting critical infrastructure from foreign adversaries. The disruption of these key services would significantly disrupt the well-being of the people of this State and the functioning of the economy. The involvement of a foreign company created under the laws of a foreign adversary raises substantial security threats, such as cyber-attacks or the intentional disruption of services. Accordingly, to protect against risks posed by foreign adversaries, it is crucial to ensure that only trusted entities control the State's critical infrastructure. | In Committee |
| A1242 | Exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax during coldest months of year. | This bill exempts from the State sales and use tax the retail sales of natural gas and electrical services for residential customers from December 1 of each year through April 15 of the succeeding calendar year. Public utilities that provide natural gas and electric services would be required, at the conclusion of each monthly billing cycle, to deduct from each customer's bill the amount that represents the sales and use tax. The State of New Jersey finds itself in the midst of a worsening affordability crisis. Inflation has made it harder to afford basic goods and services while disruptions brought on by the war in Ukraine have sent global energy costs soaring. Locally, this had led to an increase in residential energy costs with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently approving double-digit rate increases for the State's four largest gas providers. These rate hikes ranged from 15 percent to 25 percent and, if implemented fully by gas providers, would represent an increase to the average household's energy bill of approximately $300 annually. With the regular occurrence of harsh winters in our area, it is imperative for the State to find ways to help ease this financial burden. By exempting the purchase of natural gas and electrical services from the sales and use tax for the duration of each winter season, residents will be able to find some measure of relief in the face of rising costs. | In Committee |
| A1296 | Permits fair share affordable housing bonus credit for certain transitional housing reserved for occupancy by veterans. | This bill would authorize certain transitional housing reserved for veterans to count for bonus credit against the fair share affordable housing obligation of a municipality. The bill would allow a municipality to obtain one credit and one bonus credit for each bedroom within transitional housing that is occupied, or restricted for occupancy for at least 10 years, by a low or moderate income veteran. As used in the bill, "transitional housing" refers to housing with on-site or off-site supportive services that facilitate the movement of individuals and families, who are homeless or lack stable housing to permanent housing, within a fixed amount of time. In order to count for bonus credits, transitional housing would have to be restricted to occupancy by veterans who are citizens and residents of New Jersey, who have been discharged from full-time active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, including every form of separation from active, full-time duty with military or naval pay and allowances, other than those marked "by sentence of general court martial," or "by sentence of summary court martial." This bill would take effect immediately upon enactment. | In Committee |
| A1331 | Gradually reduces CBT rate. | This bill gradually reduces the corporation business tax rate from 9 percent to 2.5 percent of income. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, the rate will be 7 percent. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the rate will be 5 percent. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the rate will be 3 percent. For privilege periods ending after December 31, 2023, the rate will 2.5 percent. For a taxpayer with less than $100,000 of income, the rate of tax will be reduced faster. Currently, the rate is 7.5 percent for taxpayers with income between $50,000 and $100,000, and 6.5 percent for taxpayers with less than $50,000 of income. Pursuant to this bill, the rate will be 3.5 percent for taxpayers with less than $100,000 of income for privilege periods ending between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. For privilege periods ending after December 31, 2021, the rate will be 2.5 percent. A "privilege period" is the 12 month accounting period for which tax is due for the privilege of doing business in the State. | In Committee |
| A2810 | Requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided to victims of domestic violence upon request. | This bill requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided, upon request, to victims of domestic violence. Under the bill, a domestic violence victim, or the victim's legal representative, may request copies of certain records from the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a domestic violence complaint. If the release of the records would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, the records are required to either be redacted so that release to the victim does not jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of any person, or released pursuant to a protective order. A person who disseminates a copy of a law enforcement record in violation of a protective order issued under the bill may be subject to criminal prosecution.The following records may be requested:· photographs taken by a law enforcement officer;· law enforcement officer body worn camera or dashboard camera footage;· 9-1-1 transcript or recording; or · contents of the police report. The bill clarifies that the right to access records provided under the bill is in addition to the right of a victim to obtain records under current law pursuant to the open public records act (OPRA) or the Rules of Court. The records are to be provided at no charge within 10 calendar days of the request. If the law enforcement agency is unable to produce a copy of a requested record within the 10-day period, the law enforcement agency may request additional time from the court. If granted additional time, the law enforcement agency is to provide a copy of the records to the victim or victim's legal representative within 24 hours after the record becomes available. A record is to be provided in accordance with the request of the victim or victim's representative. A victim of domestic violence who is seeking to access law enforcement agency records under the bill, but who is not seeking other relief in the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court may enforce their right of access pursuant to OPRA on an expedited basis. The victim shall not be required to complete a formal OPRA request form to access the records. Under current law, a hearing is to be held in the family part within 10 days of the filing of a domestic violence complaint. If a plaintiff has requested records pursuant to the provisions of the bill but has not received the records as of the date of the original or rescheduled hearing, the law enforcement agency's failure to provide the requested records is to be noted on the record prior to the court making a final determination on the request for restraints. The absence of law enforcement records is not to be a basis to deny relief. The bill also provides that a party to a domestic violence complaint may request the release or unsealing of expunged records. The records may be provided to either party, the county prosecutor, Criminal Division of the Superior Court, or Attorney General, in relation to a domestic violence temporary or final restraining order, weapons forfeiture complaint, or a temporary or final extreme risk protective order. Under the bill, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding brought pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" would estop the defendant from denying the same conduct in any proceeding brought under the bill. | Dead |
| A3347 | Requires basic course in land use law and planning offered to certain officials to include module on warehouse development and high-density development. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to prepare and offer a module on warehouse development and high-density development as a part of the commissioner's basic course in land use law and planning. The basic course is offered to current and prospective members, and alternate members, of: local planning boards; zoning boards of adjustment; supplemental zoning boards of adjustment; and combined boards. Innovation within the warehousing sector of the economy has led to the development of very large warehousing facilities on sites that were zoned for smaller, traditional types of warehouses. While these types of developments are of Statewide economic importance, the unanticipated development of large-scale regional warehousing facilities has, at times, resulted in significant negative regional impacts. In order to better inform municipal governments and local planning officials of this problem and possible solutions, the State Planning Commission prepared a warehouse guidance document in September 2022. By including a module on warehouse development and high-density development as a part of the basic course in land use law and planning, local officials will be better prepared to consider and address these important issues. | In Committee |
| A1268 | Establishes Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Unit in DLPS. | This bill establishes an Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to address the unprecedented levels of organized retail theft experienced by retailers in New Jersey. The bill defines "retail theft" to mean a crime of shoplifting pursuant to N.J.S.2C:20-11; leader of organized retail theft enterprise pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2006, c.56 (C.2C:20-11.2); or theft as defined in Chapter 20 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes that involves the stealing of merchandise. In September 2023, the Loss Prevention Research Council and National Retail Federation released the 2023 National Retail Security Survey, in which 177 retail brands and more than 97,000 retail locations were surveyed. The survey indicated a significant nationwide increase in organized retail crime, with retail theft losses totaling $122.1 billion in 2022, a 19 percent increase from 2021. In addition to severe economic consequences, the survey indicates that two-thirds of respondents experienced an increase in violence and aggression from organized retail theft perpetrators. The United States Chamber of Commerce reports that organized retail theft has resulted in the loss of nearly 700,000 jobs nationwide due to over $125 billion in economic losses. In a March 2022 letter to federal and state officials, the Chamber declared organized retail crime to be a national crisis, and called upon policymakers to take specific actions to help businesses fight crime. Under the bill, the Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Unit would consist of one or more assistant or deputy attorneys general. The unit would be overseen by an assistant or deputy attorney general who is to be designated an Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Coordinator. The duties of the Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Unit are: to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute cases concerning acts of retail theft; and assist county prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of acts of retail theft. The provisions of the bill provide that, pursuant to notification procedures established by the Attorney General, a county prosecutor, law enforcement officer, special officer, or merchant may notify the Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Coordinator of allegations that a crime of retail theft was committed. However, a county prosecutor is required to notify the coordinator that a crime of retail theft was allegedly committed by a defendant: if there is probable cause that the defendant has committed two or more criminal acts of retail theft in the State; if there is probable cause that the defendant has committed one or more acts of retail theft in this State and one or more acts of retail theft in another state; or if the defendant has previously been convicted of retail theft in this State or another state. The provisions of the bill also require the Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Coordinator to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the duties of the Organized Retail Theft Prosecution Unit. The report also is required to include information concerning the number of criminal charges, prosecutions, and convictions for acts of retail theft, as well as any recommendations for legislative changes or improvements deemed appropriate to reduce crimes of retail theft in this State. This bill is modeled on a similar bill in Pennsylvania, which passed the state Senate on November 15, 2023 and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. | In Committee |
| A1229 | Expands eligibility for deer fencing grants to farmers leasing farmland. | This bill establishes the eligibility of lessees of farmland to apply for deer fencing grants pursuant to the State Agriculture Development Committee's farmland stewardship deer fencing grant program, established pursuant to P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), and the Department of Agriculture's matching grant program, established pursuant to P.L.2021, c.451 (C.4:20-6.1). In order to be eligible for a grant, the bill would require a lessee of farmland to obtain written approval from the land owner. The bill also revises P.L.2021, c.451 to specify that the agreement required between the owner, operator, or lessee of the farm and the Department of Agriculture is not required to be filed as a deed restriction with the municipal tax assessor and recorded with the county clerk in the same manner as a deed. In addition, the bill provides for the repayment of an awarded grant, or portion thereof, if the owner, operator, or lessee of a farm awarded a grant either does not retain the land in agricultural or horticultural production, or the owner sells the land, prior to the expiration of the eight-year period established in the agreement with the Department of Agriculture. | Dead |
| A1287 | Creates nonpublic school transportation program; requires consortiums of nonpublic schools to assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing. | This bill establishes a nonpublic school consortium transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that are to assume responsibility for participating school districts' mandated nonpublic school busing for those students. Under the program, a participating school district is to disburse to the consortium an amount equal to the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount (currently set at $1,022) for each nonpublic school pupil who is attending a nonpublic school which is a part of the consortium and who is required by law to be transported by a school district. The bill requires the State to bear the full cost of providing the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount of $1,022. The consortium is to assume the responsibilities of transporting the pupils for whom it receives the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount. The bill provides that if the per pupil cost of the lowest bid received exceeds the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount, the parent or guardian of the student is to be eligible to receive the aid in-lieu-of transportation amount from the consortium for that school year. In addition to providing transportation for students who are mandated to be transported, the consortium may provide non-mandated busing to students attending the nonpublic schools that are a part of the consortium, provided that the parents or guardians of those students pay all of the costs of that transportation. At the end of the school year, the consortium is required to refund annually the Department of Education any unexpended funds received. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a committee to oversee the operations of each consortium in implementing the program. The committee is to consist of five members appointed by the commissioner, one of whom is to represent a nonpublic school that is part of the consortium, and one of whom is to represent a school district that is participating in the program. Under the provisions of the bill, the consortium is required to annually enter into a contract with an independent entity to audit the implementation of the program and the audit is required to be submitted to the commissioner no later than December 1 of each year. The bill's provisions are not to be construed as altering the amount paid by the State for nonpublic school transportation costs pursuant to N.J.S.A.18A:39-1a for any school district that participates in the program. | In Committee |
| A1244 | Requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to develop model land use ordinance for eruvin. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner), in consultation with appropriate religious experts and land use law experts, as determined by the commissioner, to develop and publish one or more model land use ordinances concerning the use of eruvin in municipalities, which shall include, but not be limited to, provisions concerning establishing, constructing, and maintaining eruvin, for the purpose of assisting municipalities in the regulation of eruvin. The commissioner may advise municipalities that draft land use ordinances based on a model ordinance developed pursuant to this bill concerning certain issues enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that a governing body may adopt a model ordinance, modified version of a model ordinance, or other ordinance regulating eruvin, developed in accordance with this bill. Eruvin are boundaries within which adherents of certain interpretations of the tenets of Jewish religious tradition are able to conduct certain activities that are otherwise prohibited on the Sabbath. Often, eruvin are defined by certain markers on utility poles or other structures within a municipality, demarcating the boundary of the eruvin. Case law has held that an eruv is not a religious symbol nor do the boundary markers have any religious significance. Further, courts have noted that a municipality accommodating the religious customs of one group by permitting the creation of an eruv does not necessarily advance any one religion in violation of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution. Municipalities have the right to promulgate land use ordinances to regulate structures, visual appearances, and land uses to ensure public safety and to maintain the community's aesthetics. Therefore, the Legislature determines that it is appropriate for the Commissioner of Community Affairs to developmodel land use ordinances concerning eruvin and, in developing the model ordinance, the commissioner is to consider the case law permitting eruvin regulation. | In Committee |
| A2374 | Establishes NJ State Parks and Open Space Foundation. | This bill establishes a nonprofit, educational, and charitable organization to be known as the "New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation" (foundation). The foundation would be devoted to the raising of funds for: (1) improvements to natural or artificial assets, including the planning, design, construction, installation, renovation, repair, or restoration thereof, which are designed to expand and enhance the utilization of State, county, and municipal parks and open space for recreation and conservation purposes and the equitable access thereto; and (2) activities, beyond the routine operations of State, county, or municipal parks and open space, which are intended to enhance public programming and recreational and educational offerings, restore or maintain public accessibility to the natural resources of the State, or support operation and maintenance activities attendant thereto. The foundation would be incorporated as a New Jersey nonprofit corporation pursuant to N.J.S.15A:1-1 et seq. and would be organized and operated so that it would be eligible, under applicable federal law, for tax-exempt status and for the receipt of tax-deductible contributions. The New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation would be governed by a board of directors, consisting of 12 members, as follows: the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Secretary of State, and State Treasurer, or their designees, who would serve as nonvoting, ex officio members; the chairperson of the Garden State Preservation Trust established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-4), or the chairperson's designee, who would serve as an ex officio member; one member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate; one member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and six members of the public, to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The public members are to have expertise in open space preservation, recreational development, natural lands management, or fundraising. Of the public members, at least three members would represent nonprofit organizations having open space preservation or environmental education as their corporate purpose, and two members would have experience advancing the causes of equity or environmental justice. The DEP Commissioner would serve as the chairperson of the board of directors. The foundation would have the power to solicit and collect monetary donations and receive gifts, grants, devises, bequests, legacies, endowments, personal property, or services from and public or private sources to be used for the purposes of the foundation. Under the bill, all funds received by the foundation, other than those necessary to pay for the expenses of the foundation, would be used exclusively for: (1) improvements to natural or artificial assets, including the planning, design, construction, installation, renovation, repair, or restoration thereof, which are designed to expand and enhance the utilization of State, county, and municipal parks and open space for recreation and conservation purposes and the equitable access thereto; and (2) activities, beyond the routine operations of State, county, or municipal parks and open space, which are intended to enhance public programming and recreational and educational offerings, restore or maintain public accessibility to the natural resources of the State, or support operation and maintenance activities attendant thereto. | Dead |
| A499 | Requires detailed disclosure of information concerning required payments in lieu of property taxes to be provided to purchaser of real property constructed pursuant to financial agreement containing long term tax exemption. | This bill would require that each new vehicle purchased by the State be a hybrid electric vehicle or electric vehicle, or a vehicle powered by fuel other than conventional fuel such as compressed natural gas, fuel cells, biodiesel, ultra low sulfur fuel, or any other motor vehicle fuel approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, unless no such mass produced or commonly available vehicle exists in the vehicle class being purchased. The bill notes that the vehicle purchase requirements will not apply to trains purchased by the State. The bill defines "hybrid electric vehicle" as a motor vehicle propelled by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor or energy storage device, and "electric vehicle" as a motor vehicle propelled solely by an electric motor or energy storage device. | In Committee |
| A1235 | Creates searchable website for certain records available through open public records request. | This bill creates a single, searchable website for government records of a political subdivision of the State that are available through a request submitted under the law commonly known as the open public records act. The website will only include records that are of a one-time or periodic nature. The website will be administered by the Department of Community Affairs. The bill does not modify the requirements of the open public records act beyond adding an additional requirement for public agencies that are political subdivisions of the State to upload to the website the specified records. A records custodian may direct a requestor to the website as a proper fulfillment of a request if the record had previously been uploaded to the website, unless the requestor explicitly informs the agency that they do not have access to a computer to access an electronic version of the record. The website will provide potential cost savings to county and local governments and taxpayers, as well as time savings for records custodians as they would have to redact, scan, copy, or upload the document only once, rather than for multiple requests. The website also promotes transparency and provides the public with beneficial access to government documents. The bill includes a six-month testing period in order to ensure the viability and capability of the website. After the six-month testing period, the Department of Community Affairs must create a schedule so that all impacted public agencies are uploading the eligible government records within two years of the effective date of the bill. This bill includes a delayed effective date in order to provide the opportunity to create the website and train the necessary professionals to maintain and upload to the website. | In Committee |
| A1290 | Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential or commercial customer for cost of certain spoiled items resulting from service outage more than 48 hours after end of storm. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to reimburse a residential or commercial customer who experiences a sustained interruption in electric service lasting more than 48 hours for the cost of spoiled food, prescription medicine, or perishable goods, as applicable pursuant to the bill, due to lack of refrigeration caused by the sustained interruption. Under the bill, a residential customer whose food or prescription medicine spoils due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $540 for the cost of the spoiled food or prescription medicine. A residential utility customer would be required to submit to the utility an itemized list of losses, and proof of loss, as specified in the bill. A commercial customer whose perishable goods have spoiled due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained interruption shall be entitled to a reimbursement for up to $10,700 of the cost of the perishable goods. A commercial customer would be required to submit to the utility an itemized list of losses, and proof of loss, as specified in the bill. No later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, each utility in the State is required to develop and implement a system for customers of the utility to apply for a reimbursement online via the utility's Internet website. Applications for a reimbursement is to be made in a form and manner as determined by the Board of Public Utilities. Under the bill, each electric public utility is to provide ice and water, free of charge at a centralized location, to a residential or commercial customer who experiences a sustained interruption in electrical service to mitigate loss of food, prescription drugs, or perishable goods, as applicable pursuant to the bill. An electric public utility is not to include in its rate base or otherwise recover from ratepayers the amount of the reimbursement or ice and water cost due to a customer pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| A1240 | Requires limited liability company disclose certain information when recording deed concerning residential rental property. | This bill would require a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company disclose information pertaining to the company's registered agent when that company is the grantee of a deed for residential real property and such property is intended to be used for residential rental purposes. The disclosure of this information would be made at the time when the company files the deed for recording. In addition, if the registered agent is not a member of the company, an affidavit identifying at least one member of the company shall be appended to the deed. The disclosures called for in this bill would be required regardless of the number of rental dwelling units contained on the property. | In Committee |
| A1255 | Establishes program in DOLWD to address jobs lost due to automation. | This bill will dedicate workforce development funds for a New Jersey Automation Job Loss Prevention Program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The program will be designed by the department in consultation with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The program will fund job training and career development programs, administered by the department, which focus on connecting employers located throughout the State with workers whose jobs have been lost or are endangered by automation as identified pursuant to the bill. The job training and career development programs will be hosted by employers at any place of business located in this State or at an institution of higher education located in this State and shall focus on career development as well as any specialized training that prepares at risk employees or those who have lost jobs for immediate employment with a host employer upon completion of a job training and career development program. The programs funded by the bill will provide employers the ability to train workers at no cost to the employer. The job training and career development programs funded pursuant to the bill are to connect participants with, and provide at least partial funding for, wrap around services to encourage participation in the programs. The wrap around services include, but are not limited to, transportation, child care, mental health services, and training on personal finance. The bill requires the department to identify jobs that have been or are in danger of being lost due to an increase in automation in that industry, and provide that information to the program. The bill also requires the department to conduct an evaluation of the program five years after approval of the first job training and career development program to determine the effectiveness of the program overall. | In Committee |
| A1223 | Authorizes EDA to provide grants from "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to finance replacement of certain agricultural equipment. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants to farmers, using moneys from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-50), to finance the replacement of inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting equipment. Under current law, the EDA is authorized to use moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to: (1) support end-use energy efficiency projects and new, efficient electric generation facilities that are state of the art; (2) develop combined heat and power production and other high efficiency electric generation facilities; (3) stimulate or reward investment in the development of innovative carbon emissions abatement technologies with significant carbon emissions reduction or avoidance potential (4) develop qualified offshore wind projects; and (5) provide financial assistance to manufacturers of equipment associated with qualified offshore wind projects. This bill would add agricultural entities to the types of entities eligible to receive funding, and would add the replacement of inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting equipment to the list of the types of projects authorized to receive funding. As provided under current law, the EDA, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), would be authorized to determine the process by which the grants would be applied for and awarded. However, the bill would require the application process for a grant to finance the replacement of agricultural equipment to require the applicant to demonstrate that the old equipment has been dismantled or otherwise permanently decommissioned. The "Global Warming Solutions Fund" serves as the repository for funds generated from the sale of greenhouse gas emissions allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The EDA receives 60 percent of moneys appropriated by the Legislature from the fund each year, while the BPU and the DEP each receive 20 percent. | In Committee |
| A1266 | Permits surviving spouse of retired member of PFRS to be enrolled in SHBP and to continue to receive pension benefit after remarriage in certain circumstances. | Under this bill, certain surviving spouses of retired members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) will receive State-paid health care benefits through the State Health Benefits Program and a continuation of pension benefits after remarriage. The surviving spouse of a retired member of the PFRS who died prior to, on, or after the effective date of this bill and who was receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance at the time of death will be eligible to enroll for health care benefits coverage in the State Health Benefits Program after the effective date of this bill and the annual premiums for such coverage for the surviving spouse and any dependent children will be paid in full by the State. Such a surviving spouse will also be eligible to continue to receive upon remarriage the pension benefit provided by current law to surviving spouses of deceased retired members. The State will be responsible for any increase in contributions to the retirement system required of employers other than the State due to the continuation of the payment of the pension benefit after remarriage. This bill will only apply if the surviving spouse provides documentation, approved by the Board of Trustees of the PFRS, demonstrating that the injury that caused the disability, the complications from that disability, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused by the disability was a significant contributing factor in the retired member's death. An eligible surviving spouse whose pension was terminated due to remarriage prior to the effective date of this bill may apply to the board to have the pension benefit reinstated and payable again commencing from the date of application. | In Committee |
| A1299 | Establishes State Agriculture Development Committee program preserving farmland in danger of being developed for warehouse purposes or other high-density development projects; appropriates $50 million from Global Warming Solutions Fund. | This bill establishes a farmland preservation program under which the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) would purchase and acquire, in the name of the State, fee simple titles to, or development easements on, agricultural or horticultural land, i.e., farmland, that is in danger of development for warehouse purposes or any other high-density development project. The bill would require a landowner who wishes to sell, for warehouse development or for any other high-density development project, agricultural or horticultural land, or if such land has been sold for such development but construction has not commenced on the land as of the effective date of the bill, to provide written notice, by certified mail, to the SADC that a purchase offer for the land has been made or a contract of sale has been executed. The SADC would be required, within time periods specified in the bill, to: 1) determine if the land is suitable for preservation and in need of protection from development; and 2) if so determined, offer to the landowner to match the landowner's terms or make a counter-offer, based on the committee's valuation of the land and its development rights, whichever is greater. Factors to be considered by the SADC when making the determination and valuation are specified in section 4 of the bill and include the regional significance of the land as agricultural or horticultural land, the impact that the loss of the land as agricultural or horticultural land would have on the quality of life of nearby residents and the State's agricultural industry, and the value of avoiding the negative impacts of the proposed development on the agricultural community and residents of the municipality and county in which the land is located, and that of adjacent municipalities. The bill provides that any land acquired by the SADC would be held in the name of the State and offered for sale by the SADC with agricultural deed restrictions for farmland preservation purposes. When the development rights on the land have been acquired by the SADC, the bill provides that a development easement would be recorded with the title for the land establishing the agricultural deed restrictions for farmland preservation purposes, a permanent restriction from nonagricultural development, a restriction that any subdivision of the land would result in parcels not lesser in size than the minimum size required for qualification for farmland assessment. In either case, the land could be sold in the future, provided that the terms of the sale and use of the land are consistent with the development easement or any agricultural deed restrictions placed on the land. All agricultural deed restrictions for farmland preservation purposes and development easements would be filed and recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the land is located in the same manner as a deed. The bill appropriates $50 million from moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of P.L. 2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-50), for the program established by the bill. These moneys would be deposited into a new fund, created by the bill, called the "Protection of Farmland from Development Fund." | In Committee |
| A3344 | Enhances notice requirements prior to development of large warehouse or high-density development. | This bill enhances certain notice requirements under the "Municipal Land Use Law," P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-1 et seq.) and under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.) in cases involving development proposals for large warehouses and high-density developments. Innovation within the warehousing sector has led to the development of much larger warehouses than the types of warehouses built back when many current master plans and zoning ordinances were adopted. Because of their size and scope of operation, development of these new types of warehouses have resulted in the imposition of significant regional negative impacts throughout New Jersey. The bill provisions would also become applicable to "high-density development" proposals. The bill defines the term "high-density development" to mean development proposed at a greater concentration of density or intensity of land use than authorized within the area, section, or sections, under the current master plan and development regulations. In order to enhance the dialogue among potential warehouse and high-density developers and existing community members, the bill will require developers to provide notice of a hearing on an application proposing the development of a warehouse greater than 100,000 square feet or a high-density development to be given at least 20 days prior to the hearing by the municipal clerk to: · the owners of real property located within the municipality which is the site of the proposed development; and· if the proposed development of a warehouse or high-density development is located within 300 feet of a municipal boundary, to the owners of all real property located within a municipality that is adjacent to the municipality that is the site of the proposed development, and· if the proposed development of a warehouse or high-density development is located within an area designated pursuant to P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et seq.) as Planning Area 4A (Rural Planning Area) and within and within 1,000 feet of the municipal boundary, to the owners of all real property located within a municipality that is adjacent to the municipality that is the site of the proposed development. Additionally, the bill provides that if a redevelopment plan or subsequent amendments thereof authorizes the development of a warehouse greater than 100,000 square feet or a high-density development, notice is to be given at least 20 days prior to the hearing by the municipal clerk to: the owners of all real property located within the municipality; and if the proposed development is located within 300 feet of a municipal boundary, to the owners of all real property located within a municipality that is adjacent to the municipality that is the site of the proposed development; and if the proposed development of a warehouse or high-density development is located within an area designated pursuant to P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et seq.) as Planning Area 4A (Rural Planning Area) and within 300 feet of the municipal boundary, to the owners of all real property located within 1,000 feet of the site of the proposed development Under the bill, a municipality or designated redevelopment entity, which provides notice to the owners of real property within the municipality of the hearing on or adoption of a redevelopment plan, or subsequent amendments thereof, authorizing the development of a warehouse greater than 100,000 square feet or a high-density development, may negotiate and collect revenue from a redeveloper to recover the costs of providing such notice. | In Committee |
| A3121 | Requires Commissioner of Education to establish matching grant program for certain school districts and schools using federal funds to increase instructional time and accelerate learning. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a matching grant program to support school districts that use a portion of their eligible funds to increase student instructional time and accelerate student learning. Eligible funds as defined in the bill are moneys under a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project's local educational agency subgrant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act ESSER Fund, excluding any amount required by the provisions of the ARP Act to be spent on evidence-based learning loss interventions. A district or school would be eligible to apply for funds under the grant program only if the percentage of students in the district or school who are not meeting or partially meeting grade-level expectation increased compared to the 2018-2019 school year. The aggregate amount of funds provided to school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects under the bill would not exceed $200 million. Under the bill, the program would be funded from the monies received by the State under the federal ARP Act. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project seeking funds under the program is required to submit an application to the commissioner that is to include certain information enumerated in the bill. If the commissioner approves the application, the school district will receive a matching grant equal to 50 percent of the amount of the district's local educational agency federal allotment under the ARP Act that is dedicated to the intervention or program to increase student instructional time and accelerate student learning which has been specified in its application. | In Committee |
| A1258 | Provides corporation business and gross income tax credit for employment of persons who have experienced job loss due to automation. | This bill would provide a corporation business and gross income tax credit for businesses with a headquarters in New Jersey for employment of persons who have experienced job loss due to automation. According to a 2020 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report from United Way of New Jersey analyzing living conditions for households with incomes above the Federal Poverty Level but below the basic cost of living found that 84 percent of jobs paying less than $20 per hour and 42 percent of jobs paying more than $20 per hour in the State are at high risk of becoming automated. The sponsor notes that Ocean County is among the State's counties with the highest rates of these types of jobs, leaving many of the county's residents and families vulnerable to the impact of job loss due to automation. The amount of the credit would be equal to 10 percent of the salary and wages paid to each person employed by the taxpayer whose previous employment with another taxpayer was terminated as a result of automation during the immediately preceding privilege period or taxable year, as the case may be. In order to qualify for the credit, the taxpayer would be required to employ the person for at least seven months of the privilege period or taxable year for which the taxpayer claims the credit. The amount of the credit would not exceed $2,500 per employee per privilege period or taxable year. The bill defines "automation" as a device, process, or system that replaces human labor and functions without continuous input from an operator. | In Committee |
| A1291 | Permits certain entities to operate unmanned aircraft systems to inspect damage to critical infrastructure. | This bill directs the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities and Department of Environmental Protection, to adopt rules and regulations permitting public utilities (utilities), cable television (CATV) companies, and telecommunications service providers to operate unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, in this State. The operation of the drones is to be used to assess, inspect, operate, or otherwise maintain the critical infrastructure of the utilities, CATV companies, and telecommunications service providers within this State. The use of drones is to help facilitate the quick identification of damaged infrastructure to efficiently restore the associated service in a timely manner. The bill provides that the utilities, CATV companies, and telecommunications service providers are to operate the drones in a manner consistent with applicable federal law and regulations. The utilities, CATV companies, and telecommunications service providers may contract with a third party to operate unmanned aircraft systems pursuant to the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and any regulations of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to conduct the inspections provided for under the bill. Nothing in this bill is to be construed to affect federal preemption of State law governing aviation. | In Committee |
| A1295 | Requires DMVA establish Veterans Outdoor Recovery Task Force. | Research has shown that being outdoors has restorative powers, helping to inspire people and heal their bodies and spirits. Research has also shown that outdoor recreation can be an effective form of treatment, rehabilitation, and healing for veterans. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and 12 percent of veterans who served in Operation Desert Storm have post-traumatic stress disorder in a given year, and 30 percent of veterans who served in Vietnam will have had post-traumatic stress disorder in their lifetime. Veterans have given so much for this State and country that an effort to eliminate barriers and provide more public outdoor space for use by veterans is necessary and appropriate. The task force will: identify opportunities to formalize coordination between the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, public land agencies, and organizations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans; identify barriers that exist to providing veterans with opportunities for medical treatment and therapy through the use of outdoor recreation on public lands or other outdoor spaces; and develop recommendations to better facilitate the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for preventative care, medical treatment, and therapy for veterans. The task force may make recommendations for legislation or such other action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating the use of public lands and outdoor spaces to assist veterans with their healing and recovery. Under the bill, the term veteran means any person discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the National Guard, under conditions other than dishonorable. The task force will report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor within eighteen months of its initial organizational meeting. The report will be publicly available and posted on the websites of the Department of Military and Veterans and the Department of Environmental Protection. The task force will expire after the submission of its report. This bill is modeled on the federal Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act which was signed into law in December, 2020. | In Committee |
| A1286 | Provides additional State pupil transportation aid to school districts that meet certain criteria. | This bill provides additional pupil transportation aid for any school district in which:· the number of students who qualified for nonpublic school transportation or aid-in-lieu of transportation payments in the school district increased by over 100 percent in the five-year period prior to the 2023-2024 school year;· in a single school year the costs for nonpublic school transportation or aid-in-lieu of transportation increased by over 20 percent; and· at least 20 percent of the school district's transportation budget was allocated for nonpublic school transportation costs in the 2023-2024 school year. A district that meets these criteria is to receive 100 percent of pupil transportation costs for regular education nonpublic school pupils. The sponsor believes that the State school funding law as revised under P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to as "S2") is faulty and, if its implementation continues, will reduce the educational and extracurricular opportunities available to students and cause potentially irreversible damage to many school districts across the State. The formula for providing transportation aid fails to take into account unforeseen developments and therefore unreasonably creates additional stress on certain school district budgets that may be inconsistent with the State's constitutional responsibility to provide for a thorough and efficient education for all students. It is the sponsor's intent through the provisions of this bill to provide additional State aid to certain school districts that are experiencing exceptional demographic changes. In the recent New Jersey Appellate Division case of Alcantara v. Allen-McMillan, Docket No. A-3693-20, the court reviewed a decision by the Commissioner of Education in regard to the contention of parents of Lakewood School District students that the district was not providing a thorough and efficient education and this was due to a failure to adequately fund the district. The court reversed the commissioner's decision that the district was in fact providing a thorough and efficient education and remanded the case for consideration of the State school funding law and its constitutionality as applied to Lakewood. The court's decision was based in large part on the demographic trends in the district. The provisions of this bill recognize the fact that other districts, in addition to Lakewood, are experiencing unique demographic shifts that make the provision of a constitutionally adequate thorough and efficient education impossible without additional State aid. | In Committee |
| A1283 | Directs State Board of Education to rescind New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education and directs boards of education to establish Parental Advisory Committees and adopt standards for health instruction. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to rescind the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, which were most recently adopted by the board on June 3, 2020. Under the bill, the board will be prohibited from adopting any future Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education or from mandating any similar curriculum requirements or standards in the subjects of health and physical education. The bill directs each local board of education to establish a Parental Advisory Committee to work with the board and school district personnel in the development of curriculum standards for the instruction of students in the subjects of health and physical education. Under the bill, committee membership is required to be reflective of the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the district. The bill requires any meeting of the committee to be open to members of the public and requires that the committee's recommendations are posted on the school district's website for public inspection. The bill directs local boards of education to, within 180 days of the bill's enactment, adopt curriculum standards for the instruction of students in the subjects of health and physical education. The bill amends numerous sections of law that pertain to the development of, or requirements within, the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill maintains these instruction requirements, but provides that the instruction will be given as part of a local school district's implementation of the curriculum standards in health and physical education adopted by the local board pursuant to the bill's provisions. These sections of law require public school instruction on the topics of: suicide prevention; organ donation; sexual abuse and assault; dating violence; gang violence; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; sexting; consent for physical contact and sexual activity; mental health; the "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act"; breast self-examination; and substance abuse. The bill removes any provisions within these sections of law that require the Department of Education to provide sample learning activities, resources, or materials to local school districts on these topics. | In Committee |
| A1282 | Provides for full funding of extraordinary special education State aid. | This bill provides that, in the first full school year following the date of enactment and in each school year thereafter, the State will fund extraordinary special education aid at 100 percent of the amount calculated under current law. Under current law, districts may apply for reimbursement for certain costs of educating students with disabilities when the costs exceed $40,000 (if the student is educated in a public school program) or $55,000 (if the student attends a private school for students with disabilities). The reimbursement rates included in the State school funding law are 90 percent of the expenditures above the threshold for students educated in a public school program with other students who do not have disabilities and 75 percent for other students. In recent years, the annual appropriations act has not provided sufficient funding to reimburse school districts for 100 percent of the extraordinary special education costs calculated under current law. In fiscal year 2023, the $420 million appropriation for extraordinary special education aid funded approximately 83.9 percent of total eligible costs incurred by school districts in the 2021-2022 school year. | In Committee |
| A1130 | Excludes veterans' benefits from calculation of financial obligation for care at psychiatric facility. | This bill amends R.S.30:4-60 to exclude veterans' benefits from income for the purpose of calculating the financial obligation for care in a psychiatric facility, which is defined as a State psychiatric hospital listed in R.S.30:1-7, county psychiatric hospital, or psychiatric unit of a county hospital. Currently, subsection c. of R.S.30:4-60, which was added by P.L.2005, c.55, provides that the financial obligation of an adult with mental illness, after taking a credit for all available third party insurance or medical assistance program payments, is based on the sliding scale fee schedule established for charity care under section 10 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.60). Under the bill, veterans' benefits the person receives would be excluded from income when calculating the adult's obligation for psychiatric care using the sliding scale fee for charity care. | In Committee |
| A264 | Eliminates registration fee for wheelchair trailers. | This bill prohibits the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from charging a fee for the registration of a wheelchair trailer and provides that a wheelchair trailer is to comply with the maximum dimensions applicable to trailers as provided in current law. The bill defines "wheelchair trailer" as a vehicle without motive power that has a gross load not in excess of 2,000 pounds, is designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle, is designed and used to carry only a wheelchair, and is not used for commercial purposes or for hire. | In Committee |
| A1233 | Requires limited liability company to disclose ownership information when submitting deed for recording. | This bill would require a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company that is the grantee of a deed for residential real property containing one or two dwelling units and intended for rental purposes to disclose the registered agent of the company when it files a deed for recording. If the registered agent is not a member of the company, the company would be required to also append to the deed an affidavit identifying at least one member of the company. | In Committee |
| A1260 | Restores the death penalty for certain murders. | P.L.2007, c.204, enacted on December 17, 2007, repealed the death penalty in this State and replaced it with life without parole. This bill would restore the death penalty for persons convicted of certain murders. Under the bill, a person who committed the homicidal act by his own conduct, or, as an accomplice procured the commission of the offense by payment or promise of payment of anything of pecuniary value, could be sentenced to death if: (1) the victim was a law enforcement officer or correction officer and was murdered while performing his official duties or was murdered because of his status as a law enforcement officer or correction officer; (2) the victim was less than 18 years old; or (3) the murder occurred during the commission of the crime of terrorism. Under the bill, as under prior law, a defendant found guilty of capital murder could be sentenced to death only after a second proceeding concerning sentencing. During the sentencing proceeding, the jury or the court would weigh the aggravating factors of the case against the mitigating factors in order to determine whether the defendant would receive a sentence of death. The aggravating factors would consist of the following: (a) The defendant has been convicted, at any time, of another murder; (b) In the commission of the murder, the defendant purposely or knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person in addition to the victim; (c) The murder was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind, or an aggravated assault to the victim; (d) The defendant committed the murder as consideration for the receipt, or in expectation of the receipt of anything of pecuniary value; (e) The defendant procured the commission of the murder by payment or promise of payment of anything of pecuniary value; (f) The murder was committed for the purpose of escaping detection, apprehension, trial, punishment or confinement for another offense committed by the defendant or another; (g) The murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking or the crime of contempt in violation of the N.J.S.A.2C:29-9 b. (concerning domestic violence); (h) The defendant murdered a public servant while the victim was engaged in the performance of his official duties, or because of the victim's status as a public servant; (i) The defendant: (i) as a leader of a narcotics trafficking network and in furtherance of a conspiracy committed, commanded or by threat or promise solicited the commission of the murder or (ii) committed the murder at the direction of a leader of a narcotics trafficking network in furtherance of a conspiracy; (j) The homicidal act that the defendant committed or procured was in violation of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:17-2 (causing widespread injury or damage); (k) The victim was less than 14 years old; or (l) The murder was committed during the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, terrorism. As under prior law, the mitigating factors would consist of the following: (a) The defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance insufficient to constitute a defense to prosecution; (b) The victim solicited, participated in or consented to the conduct which resulted in his death; (c) The age of the defendant at the time of the murder; (d) The defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was significantly impaired as the result of mental disease or defect or intoxication, but not to a degree sufficient to constitute a defense to prosecution; (e) The defendant was under unusual and substantial duress insufficient to constitute a defense to prosecution; (f) The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal activity; (g) The defendant rendered substantial assistance to the State in the prosecution of another person for the crime of murder; or (h) Any other factor which is relevant to the defendant's character or record or to the circumstances of the offense. | In Committee |
| ACR80 | Commemorates 126th anniversary of Jewish War Veterans of United States of America. | This resolution commemorates the 126th anniversary of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV). The JWV was founded on March 15, 1896 when 63 Jewish Civil War veterans gathered in New York City with the goal of combatting anti-Semitism. The result was the creation of the Hebrew Union Veterans Association, now known as the JWV. The JWV is the oldest continually active veterans' organization in the country, and has played prominent roles in the wartime efforts of the United States of America during the past 126 years. In addition to providing wartime support to the country, the JWV advocates for the rights of Jewish military members and has a history of achievements including lobbying successfully in 1913 for service leave for Yom Kippur and supporting legislation to ensure that the graves of service members who died in World War I in France were marked with a Star of David. New Jersey is proudly home to 20 Jewish War Veterans posts: Augenblick-Marcus Post 669; Bayonne Post 18; Clearbrook Post 395; Dan Michelson-Livingston Post 740; David Blick Post 63; Essex-Preiskel-Miller-Glassberg Post 47; Furer-Barag-Wolf Post 126; Jersey Shore Post 125; Kaufman Harris Cone Wayne Post 695; Lt. Garr-Greenstein-Friedenberg Post 39; Lt. James I. Platt Post 651; Lt. Seth Dvorin Post 972; Memorial Post 601; Monroe Township Post 609; N. Hudson-J. George Fredman Post 76; Ocean County Post 178; Oglensky Jackson Post 359; Sanford L. Kahn Post 538; Sgt. Sheldon Sheinfine Post 311; and Spc. Mark Seiden-Ben Kaufman Post 444. The JWV continues to offer services to veterans and members of the military, and offers a number of programs, as well as providing grant funding through their Jewish War Veterans of the USA Foundation. | In Committee |
| A1292 | Requires electric public utilities to obtain written consent and provide written disclosure prior to installing smart meters. | This bill prohibits an electric public utility (utility) from installing a smart meter unless the utility obtains the customer's written consent and provides the customer with a written disclosure detailing the type of data that will be transmitted from the customer's smart meter to the utility, how the data will be used, and any potential disclosure of the data to a third-party. Under the bill, a smart meter means an electrical meter that identifies a customer's electric power consumption in greater detail than a conventional meter. A smart meter provides a customer with real-time usage information and pricing data on at least an hourly basis, records, and stores hourly usage data, reports the status of the electric power supply for a customer's premises to a utility, and turns electric power to a customer's premises on or off through remote disconnection or connection of service. Across the country, utilities are installing smart meter technology. This technology has raised privacy concerns because the information gathered from smart meters includes unencrypted data that can reveal when a homeowner is away from their residence for long periods of time. The information gathered from smart meters can also decipher what type of activities a customer is engaged in, such as watching television, using a computer, or how long someone spends cooking. In response to privacy concerns, Oklahoma has enacted legislation concerning smart meters and customer privacy which limits the sharing of smart meter data. In addition, the Vermont affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union has proposed certain guidelines regarding smart meters, including requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant prior to accessing smart meter data. The purpose of this bill is for customers to be informed of the privacy issues that may arise from smart meter technology. Since the use of smart meters raises a number of privacy concerns, electric utilities should inform customers of privacy issues prior to installing a smart meter. | In Committee |
| A1239 | Requires generator, shower facilities, and kitchen in newly-constructed clubhouse in age-restricted housing development. | This bill would require a newly-constructed clubhouse in an age-restricted development to be equipped with an emergency power generator, shower facilities, and a kitchen, to be available for use by the residents in the event of an emergency. The availability of these basic facilities is vital in the event of an emergency. Without the availability of the facilities required by this bill, many medically frail seniors would have to be transported during or just after an emergency, a time when emergency personnel may be required to respond to demands for services elsewhere. The provisions of this bill would enable more senior citizens to shelter in place through an emergency. The bill defines an "age-restricted development" as a planned real estate development that complies with the "housing for older persons" exception from the federal "Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988." The bill defines a "clubhouse" as a meeting space or other indoor area, consisting of a floor area of 1,000 square feet or more, intended to function primarily for social activities, and that is served by plumbing facilities. The requirements of the bill would not apply to the construction of a new clubhouse in an age-restricted development that already contains a clubhouse equipped with a generator, shower facilities, and a kitchen, available for use by the residents in the event of an emergency. If a site plan or subdivision provides for the construction of more than one clubhouse in an age-restricted development, then the requirements of the bill would only apply to one of the clubhouses. | In Committee |
| A2581 | Requires State Board of Education meetings to be accessible virtually and in person. | This bill requires all public meetings of the State Board of Education to be accessible to the public both in person and virtually. The bill also requires that a link providing virtual access to meetings be publicly available on the State Board of Education's website. Finally, for any meeting in which the State Board of Education accepts public comment, the bill stipulates that members of the public will be able to provide comments by means of remote communication. | In Committee |
| A1278 | Clarifies scope of affordable housing obligations. | Although the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), clearly states that the State Constitution's affordable housing obligation is comprised of the "present and prospective need" for affordable housing only, some courts have misunderstood the intent of the Legislature behind the "Fair Housing Act," and imposed a retroactive obligation for the so-called gap period. The purpose of this bill is to eliminate any possible misconception with respect to the Legislature's intent to ensure that determinations of a municipality's fair share of affordable housing will be based upon the present and prospective need for affordable housing, as clearly set forth in the "Fair Housing Act," and that a fair share obligation will not include retrospective need that may have arisen during any "gap period" between housing cycles. The New Jersey Supreme Court, through its rulings in South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 67 N.J. 151 (1975) and South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 92 N.J. 158 (1983), determined that every municipality in a growth area has a constitutional obligation to provide through its land use regulations a realistic opportunity for a fair share of its region's present and prospective needs for housing for low and moderate income families. By enacting the "Fair Housing Act," the Legislature accepted the Supreme Court's request that the Legislature occupy the field of affordable housing and defined the constitutional obligation to include the present and prospective needs for affordable housing only. The Legislature directed each municipality to comply with its constitutional obligation to address its obligations with respect to the present and prospective need by: including in the housing element of its master plan a determination of the municipality's present and prospective fair share for low and moderate income housing and a determination of the municipality's capacity to accommodate its present and prospective housing needs, including its fair share for low and moderate income housing as the present and prospective need; and adopting or revising land use and other relevant ordinances consistent with the provisions for low and moderate income housing in its housing element. The courts and the Legislature of this State require municipalities to allow low and moderate income families a chance to find housing based upon the present need and the prospective need for affordable housing in each municipality and region of the State. This requirement has always been about planning and zoning; municipalities may not limit opportunities for affordable housing through exclusionary zoning. Differences of opinion between the judicial and executive branches of government over how to calculate each municipality's "fair share" of affordable housing have resulted in a "gap period" of over 15 years, which is still going on, during which the State provided municipalities no clear guidelines on how to zone to satisfy their obligation to allow for a fair share of affordable housing. Now that the courts have assumed control over municipal compliance with affordable housing obligations, it is possible that municipalities may be obligated to allow for the production of affordable housing based upon the speculated need for affordable housing which arose during the gap period. While laudable, such a result is contrary to current law, which confines municipal fair share determinations to a present and prospective need for affordable housing, and would impose an unrealistic and excessive burden upon the residential communities of our State. Requiring fair share obligations to include the need developed through a long regulatory gap period would result in an unreasonable burden, the resolution of which would force municipalities to allow rapid, unsettling changes to the physical and demographic nature of their communities. This bill eliminates any possible misconception of what the Legislature intended the fair share obligation to include so as to preclude the imposition of a fair share obligation based upon a concept of retrospective need during the gap period. | In Committee |
| A2461 | Allows gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses of certain veterans. | This bill provides an annual exemption under the New Jersey gross income tax, in the amount of $3,000, to a taxpayer who is the surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran of active duty military service. Under current law, a taxpayer who is a veteran honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the United States Armed Forces or a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of New Jersey in a federal active duty status, may be eligible to receive a gross income tax exemption in the amount of $6,000 for each taxable year in which the veteran qualifies. This bill extends this veterans' exemption to the surviving spouse of a veteran who has: (1) died while on active duty; (2) was honorably discharged from active duty; or (3) was released from active duty under honorable circumstances. If a surviving spouse remarries, he or she becomes no longer eligible to receive the exemption. The following terms are defined elsewhere in the statutes and are incorporated by reference: "active duty" means duty in the active military service; and "armed forces" means the land, air, and sea forces established by State or federal laws, as applicable. This bill extends the veterans' gross income tax exemption to surviving spouses in order to acknowledge the burdens borne by the widows and widowers of our veterans. Tax relief of this nature is a means to further boost the economic security of those individuals who sacrificed to safeguard our security and freedom. | In Committee |
| A1224 | Authorizes counties to establish mentoring programs for, and resell preserved farmland at reduced price to, beginning farmers. | This bill would authorize county agriculture development boards (CADBs) to establish mentoring programs for beginning farmers and authorize counties and CADBs to resell preserved farmland to beginning farmers at a price below what the county paid for the land. The bill would expand the powers of CADBs by authorizing them to establish beginning farmer mentoring programs by which experienced farmers provide guidance, advice, and other appropriate assistance to beginning farmers. In addition, the bill would specify that a county or CADB may resell or lease preserved farmland, acquired in fee simple by a county, to a beginning farmer, as defined in the bill, for an amount less than that originally paid by the county or CADB, as applicable. Under the bill, the land would be subject to agricultural deed restrictions as required by current law. However, the bill provides that for any sale or lease of land for farmland preservation purposes to a beginning farmer pursuant to the bill, the State's pro rata share of the proceeds may be reduced to reflect the reduction in price paid by the beginning farmer. Under current law, the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) provides grants to counties to pay up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland from willing sellers for farmland preservation purposes. Current law, and SADC rules and regulations, require that such land be offered for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions and that the proceeds received be dedicated for farmland preservation purposes, with the SADC's pro rate share of the proceeds deposited into the applicable farmland preservation fund. Current funding for farmland preservation is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." New Jersey has long committed to preserving farmland, however New Jersey cannot rest on the success of land preservation. The State needs to do much more to preserve farming and take further action to preserve its farmers as well. This bill is intended to provide an incentive for, and encouragement to, people who take up the vital and historic role of farmer. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. | In Committee |
| A1249 | Establishes "Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Task Force" to study ways to safely store, reuse, recycle, and dispose of used electric vehicle batteries. | This bill establishes in the Department of Environmental Protection the "Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Task Force" to study ways to store, collect, reuse, recycle, and properly dispose of used electric vehicle batteries using environmentally sound management practices. The task force would be required to, at a minimum: (1) examine current data and research related to the storage, collection, reuse, recycling, and proper disposal of used electric vehicle batteries; (2) analyze programs and policies implemented in other countries to store, collect, reuse, recycle, and properly dispose of used electric vehicle batteries including, but not limited to, countries with extended producer responsibility requirements; (3) compile data on current recycling facilities within the State and region, including whether or not any of the facilities currently recycle electric vehicle batteries, or can be modified to accept electric vehicle batteries for recycling; (4) develop a strategy for the development of recycling infrastructure to support the recycling of electric vehicle batteries; (5) examine ways to improve the safety and cost-effectiveness of recycling electric vehicle batteries; (6) examine ways to reuse used electric vehicle batteries for other second-life purposes after the used electric vehicle batteries are no longer able to power an electric vehicle; (7) provide information and educational materials to the public, government, and industry about the importance of storing and recycling electric vehicle batteries safely; and (8) develop recommendations including legislation, programs, and policies to improve the State's recycling of electric vehicle batteries. The task force would consist of 11 members, including, the President of the Board of Public Utilities, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Transportation, and eight public members to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Of the eight public members: two members would represent electric vehicle manufacturers; two members would represent recycling facilities, with expertise in the handling or recycling of electric vehicle batteries if applicable; two members would be from the academic community with expertise in electric vehicle battery technology; and two members would have environmental expertise. The members of the task force are to be appointed, and the task force is to organize, no later than 30 days after the effective date of the bill. The bill provides that vacancies in task force membership would be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The members of the task force would serve without compensation. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to provide professional and clerical staff to the task force as necessary. No later than two years after the organization of the task force, the task force is to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the task force's findings and recommendations. Millions of electric vehicles have been sold in the United States during recent years. This recent increase in electric vehicle use, while positive for the fight against climate change, has presented new environmental challenges, such as where and how to properly dispose of used electric vehicle batteries. Consumers of electric vehicles and residents of this State do not have ready access to an efficient, environmentally sound, and cost-effective collection method for the recycling or disposal of used electric vehicle batteries. In addition, lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries, which are the most commonly used electric vehicle batteries today, contain toxic chemicals that should not be placed into landfills, since they could be hazardous, cause pollution, contaminate nearby soil and water, and potentially explode if mishandled. Many used electric vehicle batteries also still retain up to 70 percent of their battery capacity when they are no longer able to power a vehicle effectively. For this reason, it is cost-effective for these used electric vehicle batteries to be reused for alternate purposes, such as home energy storage, power for streetlights, power to back-up elevators, and solar energy storage, until they are fully expired of their battery life prior to recycling or disposal. In 2019, Chinese chemical companies accounted for 80 percent of the world's total output of raw materials for advanced batteries. China, a country with a dubious human rights and environmental record, controls the processing of almost all of the critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, and graphite. As the use of electric vehicles continue to rise, it is increasingly important to study ways to maximize the efficiency and longevity of electric vehicle batteries and develop safe, cost-effective, and environmentally sound ways to recycle and dispose of used electric vehicle batteries at end-of-life. | In Committee |
| A1420 | Establishes "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" to support repurposing, remanufacturing, and recycling of electric vehicle batteries; dedicates amounts based on certain sales of electric vehicles. | This bill establishes in the General Fund a dedicated account entitled the "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" that will be credited each State fiscal year with an amount equal to $500 for each retail sale of an electronic vehicle in this State during the prior fiscal year. The amounts credited to the fund shall be appropriated exclusively to support repurposing, remanufacturing, and recycling of electric vehicle batteries in an environmentally sound manner. There are approximately 100,000 electric vehicles on the road in New Jersey, and that number may increase dramatically in the near future. Eventually, the electric vehicle batteries in these vehicles will come to the end of their useful life for powering the electric motors in electric vehicles. However, reused or "second-life" electric vehicle batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, still have a lot of energy storage capacity left in them, and may be reused in limited stationary applications such as for home energy projects, off the grid energy storage and to power street lighting. The reuse of electric vehicle batteries under environmentally safe conditions will prevent the contamination of landfills with the toxic chemicals such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite found in these used batteries. The "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" will support efforts to repurpose, remanufacture, and recycle electric vehicle batteries in an environmentally sound manner. | In Committee |
| ACR33 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities, by ordinance, to provide partial property tax exemption on primary residence of certain volunteer first responders. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would authorize a municipality, by ordinance, to provide a partial property tax exemption on the primary residence of volunteer first responders serving in the municipality. The exemption would mean the volunteer first responder would not pay property taxes on part of the home's assessed value. An eligible first responder would be an active member of a volunteer fire department or a volunteer first aid or ambulance squad who owns a home in the municipality in which the volunteer serves, and the home must be the volunteer's primary residence. The municipality would decide the percentage amount of the exemption, which cannot exceed 10 percent of the assessed value. The State would not be required to reimburse municipalities for the cost of the exemption. | In Committee |
| A4778 | Grants discretion to court in expungement of records related to domestic violence arrests not resulting in conviction. | Grants discretion to court in expungement of records related to domestic violence arrests not resulting in conviction. | Introduced |
| AR198 | Establishes the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation." | Establishes the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation." | Introduced |
| A5939 | Requires Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of on-farm dairy processing activities. | Requires Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of on-farm dairy processing activities. | Introduced |
| A5950 | Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from implementing certain customer charges. | Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from implementing certain customer charges. | Introduced |
| A5910 | Modifies definition of Class I renewable energy to include nuclear fission; provides CBT tax credit for production of clean baseload power. | Modifies definition of Class I renewable energy to include nuclear fission; provides CBT tax credit for production of clean baseload power. | Introduced |
| ACR171 | Proposes constitutional amendment to prevent condemnation of certain farmland. | Proposes constitutional amendment to prevent condemnation of certain farmland. | Introduced |
| ACR172 | Amends State Constitution to decrease acreage required for farmland assessment with certain requirements for valuing farmland under five acres in area. | Amends State Constitution to decrease acreage required for farmland assessment with certain requirements for valuing farmland under five acres in area. | Introduced |
| A5949 | Requires owners or operators of certain solar energy facilities to inspect facility's infrastructure for presence of remote-access devices. | Requires owners or operators of certain solar energy facilities to inspect facility's infrastructure for presence of remote-access devices. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 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." | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly 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. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 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. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 12 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 09/15/2022 |