Legislator
Legislator > Jon Bramnick
State Senator
Jon Bramnick
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 21
In Office - Started: 01/11/2022
contact info
Westfield Office
251 North Ave. West
Second Floor
Westfield, NJ 07090
Second Floor
Westfield, NJ 07090
Phone: 908-232-2073
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3928 | Limits general application of certain consumer contracts. | This bill limits the general application of certain consumer contracts. Under the bill, a consumer contract for a service offered by a company must apply solely to the service offered by the company and purchased by the consumer. The consumer contract will be prohibited from containing provisions that allow or require the contract to govern the circumstances under which the consumer purchases other products or services from the contracting company, or an affiliate of the company, that are not offered pursuant to the contract. For the purpose of this bill, "consumer contract" means a written agreement in which an individual contracts for a service and is obtained for personal, family, or household purposes. "Consumer contract" does not include a written agreement involving a transaction in securities with a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or a transaction in commodities with a futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Passed |
| S3812 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3007 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | In Committee |
| S4524 | Appropriates $34 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill appropriates $34 million to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for the purpose of providing planning incentive grants to counties for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act. Under the bill, five counties will each receive a "base grant" of either $1 million or $500,000, as specified in the bill. Those five counties, plus 10 other counties identified in the bill, would also be eligible to compete to receive an additional grant from the "competitive grant fund" pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of the bill, in an amount not to exceed $7.5 million. The maximum grant award a county could receive under the bill is $8.5 million (i.e., the $1 million base grant, if applicable, and a $7.5 million competitive grant). The bill also appropriates to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" moneys from the General Fund already constitutionally dedicated to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" for the purpose of making the appropriations from that fund required by this bill. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | Crossed Over |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Passed |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Passed |
| S3818 | Requires third-party discounts and payments for individuals covered by health benefits plans to apply to copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for covered benefits. | Requires third-party discounts and payments for individuals covered by health benefits plans to apply to copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for covered benefits. | In Committee |
| S3902 | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Crossed Over |
| S1481 | Prohibits health club services contracts from limiting liability for injuries caused by negligence of health club. | This bill prohibits health club services contracts from limiting the liability of the health club to a buyer for injuries caused by or resulting from the negligence of the owner or operator, or an agent or employee of the owner or operator, of the health club. This bill is intended to codify Justice Albin's dissent in the case of Pulice v. Green Brook Sports & Fitness, 236 N.J. 1 (2018); see also Stelluti v. Casapenn, 203 N.J. 286 (2010) (Albin, J., dissenting) (arguing that a contract limiting a health club's liability from its own negligence is void as against public policy). A violation of this bill would be an unlawful practice pursuant to the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. | In Committee |
| S4499 | Requires defendants, including insurance companies named as defendants, to be properly identified in causes of action. | Requires defendants, including insurance companies named as defendants, to be properly identified in causes of action. | Crossed Over |
| S4466 | Makes juvenile eligible for waiver for certain criminal homicide offenses regardless of age. | This bill makes juveniles eligible for waiver for certain criminal homicide offenses regardless of age. Under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with certain offenses, including criminal homicide, other than death by auto, are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. Under this bill, a juvenile, regardless of age, who is charged with criminal homicide, other than death by auto, is eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. | In Committee |
| S4404 | 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 |
| S664 | Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research to $10 million; establishes dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund. | This bill increases the amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) to $10 million. The bill also establishes a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the Department of the Treasury. In doing so, the bill prioritizes funding: 1) to expand the NJCCR's capacity to fund research regarding the causes, prevention, treatment, and palliation of all cancers and to serve as a resource of information to providers and consumers of cancer care and treatment services; and 2) for cancer research grants that reduce and eliminate disparities among the various racial and ethnic populations within the State's minority and vulnerable communities by increasing access to clinical trials and high-quality cancer care and treatment. Pursuant to current statute, the NJCCR annually receives $1 million in cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues. This money is deposited into an existing lapsing Cancer Research Fund and then appropriated to the commission. In recent years, pursuant to the annual appropriations act, this money has been transferred from the Cancer Research Fund to the General Fund. The appropriations act then provides the NJCCR funding via a budget line. Despite the statutory requirement, in FY 2022, the NJCCR was appropriated $4 million in funding. Under the bill, the existing lapsing Cancer Research Fund is replaced by a non-lapsing, revolving fund. This fund is to be the repository of the $10 million in cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues deposited into the account under the bill and any other funds approved by the Department of Health or the NJCCR. Moneys deposited in the fund, and any interest earned thereon, are to be used exclusively for providing grants for cancer research projects authorized and approved by the commission, with at least $5 million to be used to fund general cancer research and at least $5 million to be used to fund pediatric cancer research. The State Treasurer will be the custodian of the fund and all disbursements from the fund are to be made by the State Treasurer upon vouchers signed by the chairperson of the NJCCR or the chairperson's designee. The monies in the fund are to be invested and reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury in the same manner as other trust funds in the custody of the State Treasurer, in the manner provided by law. Interest received on the monies in the fund are to be credited to the fund. | In Committee |
| S4331 | Prohibits local government from naming its property after foreign terrorist organization. | This bill prohibits a local government from naming property under its ownership or control, including, but not limited to, a road, bridge, school, building, neighborhood, community, or park, after a group, that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government, or after land controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill requires the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (office), to develop and publish a list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands controlled by foreign terrorist organizations, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill defines a "local government" as a municipality, county, school district, or other political subdivision of the State, or any public board, commission, committee, authority, or agency which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority, or agency. The bill requires a local government to remove or dismantle signs, street pole banners, plaques, or other forms of displays of support for, or the naming of property after, a foreign terrorist organization, under the control or ownership of the local government within 30 days following the bill's enactment. Within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the bill requires a local government that has named property under its control or ownership after a foreign terrorist organization to rename the property so that it does not identify the name of as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill requires the State to reimburse local governments for both of these costs, upon application. If a local government violates the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, for each day in which the local government is in violation of the bill, is directed to deduct a portion of the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government. The daily deduction is to be in an amount equal to the result of dividing the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government by the total number of days in the fiscal year in which the State aid is allocated. The bill provides that the division, in consultation with the office, is to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4302 | "New Jersey Laken Riley Act;" establishes law enforcement procedures for arrests of aliens unlawfully present in the U.S. charged with certain crimes. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Laken Riley Act," establishes law enforcement procedures for cases where an alien unlawfully present in the United States is arrested and charged with certain crimes. Under the bill, an alien who is confirmed by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and who is arrested for certain crimes, is presumed to require pretrial detention, notwithstanding the State's Criminal Justice Reform Law (also known as "bail reform"). The applicable crimes are any indictable crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree; any motor vehicle violation involving bodily injury to another person; or any crime defined under federal law as an aggravated felony, serious criminal offense, or crime of violence. Additionally, the bill reforms certain law enforcement practices concerning illegal immigration. First, the bill expressly authorizes and requires law enforcement officers to comply with immigration detainers requested by DHS. Second, the bill expressly authorizes law enforcement agencies to enter into voluntary agreements with federal authorities to provide immigration enforcement services. Third, the bill repeals the law banning prisons and jails in this State from serving as immigration detention facilities. Finally, the bill directs the Attorney General to rescind A.G. Directive 2018-6 v.2.0, commonly known as the "Immigrant Trust Directive," which was issued on Sept. 27, 2019. Through this bill, it is the intent of the sponsor to align State law with federal immigration law, particularly the federal Laken Riley Act, Pub.L.119-1, signed into law by the President on January 29, 2025. | In Committee |
| S4303 | "Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act." | This bill allows the act of pumping one's own gas when a consumer voluntarily chooses to do so. The bill requires gasoline stations with more than four dispensers to continue to offer full-service gasoline between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., provided that the station is open to the public during those hours. The bill also stipulates that a gasoline station may offer a discount to customers who purchase motor fuel of like grade and quality that is dispensed by self-service at the station, provided that the motor fuel shall not be sold at a price which is below the net cost of that motor fuel to the gasoline station plus all selling expenses. Furthermore, the bill states that a gasoline station shall provide service by an attendant in the dispensing of every grade of fuel offered at self-service at no additional charge, if requested to do so by a person with a disability who is operating a motor vehicle bearing a placard or wheelchair symbol license plate. The bill also provides that gasoline stations offering only self-service gasoline shall provide assistance to motorists with a disability at the self-service price. In order to enhance access for motorists, the bill gives gasoline stations the option of either outfitting at least one dispenser with a special call button or outfitting every dispenser with a sign listing a phone number that can be used to alert an employee of the gasoline station that assistance is needed. Consistent with federal law, the bill provides that a gasoline station is not required to provide refueling assistance when there is only one employee present. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3540 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | An Act establishing civil and criminal penalties for the production and dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2078 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | In Committee |
| S3533 | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | In Committee |
| S3098 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | In Committee |
| S1192 | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | Requires prescription drug coverage for serious mental illness without prior authorization or utilization management, including step therapy. | In Committee |
| S3416 | Establishes additional health insurance carrier network adequacy standards with respect to certain physician specialists. | This bill establishes additional network adequacy standards for health insurance carriers that offer a managed care plan. Current law requires regulations for those carriers to include standards for the adequacy of the provider network with respect to the scope and type of health care benefits provided by the carrier, the geographic service area covered by the provider network, and access to medical specialists. This bill requires the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to adopt regulations to ensure that covered persons have reasonable and timely access to physician specialists at in-network hospitals and facilities, including anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, emergency medicine physicians, and services under their supervision. | In Committee |
| S3153 | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S3190 | Requires certain juveniles to appear before court in county where incident giving rise to delinquency complaint allegedly occurred. | Requires certain juveniles to appear before court in county where incident giving rise to delinquency complaint allegedly occurred. | Crossed Over |
| S3558 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) and the State Medicaid program to provide coverage for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy. Whether treatment is a medical necessity is to be determined by the covered person's medical doctor. The bill requires coverage to be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth, without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, and without cost-sharing. Pursuant to the bill, "habilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living; and "rehabilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired. | In Committee |
| S1473 | Revises personal injury protection coverage for basic automobile insurance policies from $15,000 to $20,000 and requires $50,000 minimum personal injury protection coverage for standard automobile liability insurance policies. | Revises personal injury protection coverage for basic automobile insurance policies from $15,000 to $20,000 and requires $50,000 minimum personal injury protection coverage for standard automobile liability insurance policies. | In Committee |
| SCR120 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence of police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician who suffers line of duty injury. | If approved by the voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to enact a law to provide a 100 percent property tax exemption for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have been injured in the line of duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension. The exemption would be for the primary residence of the police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician. | In Committee |
| S1125 | Criminalizes failure to return erroneous person-to-person electronic payments following proper notification. | Criminalizes failure to return erroneous person-to-person electronic payments following proper notification. | In Committee |
| S2544 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | In Committee |
| S4006 | Supplemental appropriation of $50 million to Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft Systems Radar Technology Grant Program. | The bill supplements the FY 2025 appropriations act by appropriating $50 million to the Department of Law and Public Safety. This funding establishes the Law Enforcement Unmanned Aircraft Systems Radar Technology Grant Program for State and local officials to purchase radar equipment to detect and track unidentifiable sightings of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones. Due to the recent surge in unexplained mass UAS sightings and usage of UAS in national airspace, law enforcement should be equipped appropriately to reduce the potential threat to critical infrastructure. This supplemental appropriation provides necessary support to State and local law enforcement in safeguarding vital assets and ensuring strict adherence to all regulations and requirements associated with UAS ownership and operation in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| SR119 | Urges federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in NJ airspace. | This resolution urges the federal government to ensure that a rigorous and ongoing investigation is conducted into the presence of unidentified drones that have been operating in this State. These mysterious drones have been sighted and reported in a large portion of the State, across more than a dozen counties, flying near critical infrastructure, sensitive military installations, and even President-elect Trump's residence at Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County. The volume of drone sightings, nature of the areas in which they seem to fly most commonly, and manner in which the flights appear to be spreading across the State is alarming residents and causing fear and unrest. The federal government should investigate the appearance of these drones and provide relevant and necessary information to State officials in a timely way to protect the security and well-being of New Jersey residents. | In Committee |
| S4007 | Prohibits operation of drone in manner that interferes with airports or military. | This bill prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones, in a manner that interferes with airports or military activity. Under current law, it is a fourth degree crime for a person to knowingly or intentionally operate an unmanned aircraft system in a manner that interferes with a first responder who is actively engaged in response or actively engaged in air, water, vehicular, ground, or specialized transport. Under the provisions of this bill, it is also a fourth degree crime for a person to knowingly or intentionally operate a drone in a manner that interferes with the operation of any airport in this State. The bill further provides that it is a fourth degree crime for a person to knowingly or intentionally operate a drone in a manner that interferes with any military operation or activity. The bill defines "military" as the armed forces of the United States, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the National Guard and any other reserve component of the armed forces, and the merchant marine when organized under the federal law as a public military force. A fourth degree crime is punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3962 | Requires State to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to obligations for development of low- and moderate-income housing units. | This bill requires the State Treasurer to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to low- and moderate-income housing units that the municipalities commit to providing. The needs of local roads, schools, water utility services, and other infrastructure, are increasingly challenging for many municipalities as a result of the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), as revised by the recent enactment of additional legislation, P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.). These infrastructure costs, along with the costs of planning services, and other costs necessary for compliance with these statutes, may be more extensive than can fully be addressed through the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund," or municipal affordable housing trust funds. This bill is intended to respond to the extensive unfunded financial burdens that are being shouldered by municipalities. The bill directs the State Treasurer to provide $75,000 to the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund of a municipality for each unit of low- or moderate-income housing that the municipality commits to, as reflected in the municipality's housing element and fair share plan. The payment is to be provided to municipalities that have obtained certification for the current round of affordable housing obligations. The total sum of all $75,000 payments owed to a municipality for a 10-year round of affordable housing obligations, is to be divided by 10, and provided in equal amounts, each year, to each municipality's Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund beginning in the first full calendar year of a round of affordable housing obligations, meaning 2026 for the upcoming fourth round. If a municipality initially obtains compliance certification later than the first year of the 10-year round of affordable housing obligations, the bill requires that the total sum of all $75,000 payments owed to a municipality pursuant to the bill are to be concentrated and provided to a municipality in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the State Treasurer. The bill provides that a municipality that obtains compliance certification for its housing element and fair share plan, is to establish a Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund, to be kept separate from other municipal funds, for the purpose of depositing and maintaining monies received for the purposes of this bill. The bill permits a municipality to expend monies in the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund on planning services, attorney's fees, and court costs related to compliance with "Fair Housing Act." The bill also permits a municipality to expend monies in the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund on operational and capital costs for local infrastructure that may be affected by the construction of affordable housing, including school, transportation, and water infrastructure. The bill directs the State Treasurer to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. | In Committee |
| S2295 | Concerns pretrail and post-trial considerations for certain crimes involving operation of vehicles, including rebuttable presumption for pretrial detention, pretial recommendation of no release from detention, suspension or revocation of license, and vehicle forfeiture. | Concerns pretrial and post-trial considerations for certain crimes involving operation of vehicles, including rebuttable presumption for pretrial detention, pretrial recommendation of no release from detention, suspension or revocation of license, and vehicle forfeiture. | In Committee |
| S305 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| A3446 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3901 | Requires school districts to include instruction on risks associated with social media and cell phone addiction in grades 6 through 12. | This bill requires school districts to include instruction on the risks associated with social media and cell phone addiction in grades 6 through 12. Under current law, school districts are required to incorporate instruction on the responsible use of social media into the technology education curriculum of students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Technology. This bill requires school districts to incorporate instruction on the risks associated with social media and cell phone addiction for students in grades 6 through 12 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 to provide information in addition to what is required under current law concerning the potential negative impact cell phone addiction and social media use my have on a student's mental health, personal relationships, and personal development. | In Committee |
| S3857 | Exempts farm vehicles from certain commercial motor vehicle liability coverage requirements. | This bill exempts farm tractors and traction equipment used for farm operation from certain commercial motor vehicle liability coverage requirements. Under current law, the owner of a commercial motor vehicle is required to maintain motor vehicle liability coverage of at least $1.5 million to insure against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage. Under the bill, the owner of a farm tractor or traction equipment registered with the chief administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission is required to maintain commercial motor vehicle liability coverage of at least $300,000. | In Committee |
| S2421 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | In Committee |
| SCR116 | Establishes "Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force" to promote importance of civility to students in grades kindergarten through 12. | This concurrent resolution establishes the "Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force." The purpose of the task force is to promote the importance of civility to students in grades kindergarten through 12 across the State and to emphasize the importance of treating each other with respect and dignity in daily interactions and discourse. The task force is to be comprised of 12 members of the Legislature, to be appointed as follows: six members of the Senate, three of whom are to be members of the majority party appointed by the Senate President and three of whom are to be members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and six members of the General Assembly, three of whom are to be members of the majority party appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and three of whom are to be members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. In conducting its business, the task force is required to annually travel to schools across the State to, at a minimum, discuss with students:· the core values that underpin the meaning of civility and how it can be practiced in everyday life, even while in school; · the importance of engaging with others in a respectful manner and ways in which students can foster meaningful and productive dialogue with each other even when they disagree on a particular topic;· instances in which the members of the task force worked with others to resolve differences in a civil way;· cases in which the members of the task force worked with other members of the Legislature, especially those who are of different political affiliations, in order to facilitate the enactment of positive change throughout the legislative process; · examples of times in which the members of the task force did not agree with others and how the members expressed their disagreement, or otherwise resolved the disagreement, in a civil way; and· overall how to demonstrate mutual respect and consideration in language, attitudes, behaviors, and verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communications. In fulfilling the requirements of the bill, the task force is to annually travel to schools it designates and ensure that it visits a cross section of elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools located in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State, with equal consideration given to schools located in the north, central, and southern geographical regions of the State. | In Committee |
| S3780 | Provides gross income tax exclusion for distributions from individual retirement accounts to qualified charitable organizations. | This bill provides a gross income tax exclusion for distributions from a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA that are made to a qualified charitable organization. A Roth IRA is a type of tax-advantaged individual retirement account that allows account holders to contribute after-tax dollars towards retirement. Contributions made to the account grow tax-free while qualified withdrawals, also known as distributions, may be made without incurring income tax liability, provided certain conditions are met. Qualified distributions from a Roth IRA currently include amounts paid or distributed: (1) on or after the date the account holder attains 59 1/2 years of age; (2) to a beneficiary, or if a beneficiary has not be designated, to the estate of an account holder on or after their death; (3) for reasons attributable to the account holder's disability; or (4) as a qualified first time home buyer distribution. Distributions made for a non-qualified purpose are subject to taxes and penalties. A traditional IRA is another type of tax-advantaged individual retirement account that allows account holders to direct pre-tax income toward investments that can grow tax-deferred until the funds are withdrawn, at which point the money is treated as ordinary income and is subject to income tax. In limited circumstances, certain interest, dividends and other earnings credited to an IRA can be withdrawn tax-free, provided those earnings are from investments in government debt obligations, such as bonds issued by the federal government, the State, or local governments. For the purposes of the bill, a "qualified charitable organization" is a charitable organization that receives tax exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Typically, organizations that receive this exemption are those operating exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, educational, testing for public safety, or other specified purposes. Accordingly, the bill provides that distributions made from a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA to these organizations would be exempt from State income tax. | In Committee |
| S3698 | 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 |
| S3675 | Allows aggregation of value of stolen property across multiple criminal episodes or transactions within a two-year period. | This bill amends the provisions found in several of the theft statutes concerning the aggregation of the value of stolen property. Current law allows the value of stolen property to be aggregated so that a higher degree of crime can be charged if the property being aggregated was stolen pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct. The bill clarifies that "one scheme or course of conduct" can be carried out across multiple criminal episodes or transactions, against the same or several victims, or across a single county or multiple counties. Under the bill, evidence that multiple episodes or transactions constitute one scheme or course of conduct may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the acts involve the same defendant or defendants, are substantially similar in nature, and occur within a two-year period. Under the consolidated theft statute, N.J.S.A.2C:20-2, theft is a crime of the second degree if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. Theft is a crime of the third degree if the amount is more than $500 but less than $75,000. Theft is a crime of the fourth degree if the amount is between $200 and $500. Theft is a disorderly persons offense if the amount is less than $200. These same monetary amounts also apply when grading the level of offense for receiving stolen property, fencing stolen property, and shoplifting. Concerning motor vehicle theft and receiving stolen motor vehicles, these are crimes of the second degree if the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more; otherwise they are crimes of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3578 | Establishes separate disorderly persons offense for persons who wear masks with purpose to conceal identity while committing another crime or offense. | This bill prohibits wearing a mask while congregating in a public place with other masked persons with the purpose to conceal the person's identity while committing another crime or offense. A person would not be charged for a disorderly persons offense under the bill, unless the person is charged with an underlying crime or offense under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; and was wearing a mask at the time the person committed the underlying crime or offense. The bill establishes various exceptions to the general prohibition on wearing masks while congregating in a public place with other people who are also masked or disguised. These include: (1) activities related to the celebration of Halloween; (2) participants in any public parade or exhibition of an educational, religious, or historical character; (3) persons wearing a mask for protection from weather; (4) persons wearing head coverings or veils in accordance with religious beliefs or customs; or (5) persons wearing a mask for medical purposes. Finally, the bill also prohibits the merger of this crime with another for the purpose of reducing a defendant's sentence. It is a disorderly persons offense to violate the provisions of the bill. A disorderly offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3597 | Requires Internet dating services to conduct criminal record screenings upon request and consent of members. | This bill requires Internet dating services to conduct criminal record screenings upon the request of a member who is seeking to obtain information about another member for the purpose of engaging in dating, relationship, compatibility, matrimonial, or social referral. Under the bill, the Internet dating service would only conduct the criminal record screening if the member who is requested to undergo the screening gives consent to the screening. Under the "Internet Dating Safety Act", Internet dating services that do not require members to submit to a criminal record screening are required to disclose to all New Jersey members that the Internet dating service does not conduct criminal background screenings. This bill amends current law to require these Internet dating services to conduct criminal record screening upon the request of a member who is seeking criminal record information about another member provided that member gives consent to the screening. | In Committee |
| S3577 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $1,000,000 to Division of Civil Rights. | This bill appropriates $1 million to the Division of Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is the state agency charged with enforcing New Jersey's civil rights laws, including the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, and the Fair Chance in Housing Act. The mission of DCR is to protect the people of New Jersey from discrimination and bias-based harassment in employment, housing, and public accommodations. | In Committee |
| S3579 | Requires DOT, NJTA, and SJTA to construct suicide prevention barriers at certain bridges and overpasses. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to erect suicide prevention barriers, as defined in this bill, on certain bridges or overpasses that are determined to pose a significant suicide threat. Within one year of the enactment of this bill, the department, the NJTA, and the SJTA are each required to conduct and complete a study to identify any bridge or overpass carrying a State road or highway that is under its jurisdiction, is not a local or county bridge or overpass, and that poses a significant suicide threat. To determine whether a bridge or overpass poses a significant suicide threat, the department, the NJTA, and the SJTA are each to consider the height of the bridge or overpass; the location of the bridge or overpass; potential transportation hazards; and information on the occurrence of suicide at the bridge or overpass. The department, the NJTA, and the SJTA are each to consider for any bridge or overpass included in the study, the feasibility of adding a suicide prevention barrier to each, including an assessment of the structural impact of constructing a suicide prevention barrier on each. The department, the NJTA, and the SJTA are to determine the type of suicide prevention barrier for each bridge or overpass under their respective jurisdiction. In the event that erecting a suicide prevention barrier is infeasible on a bridge or overpass, the bill requires the erection of secondary suicide prevention methods, including, but not limited to: surveillance systems, emergency phones connected to crisis hotlines, increased patrols, and informational signs to direct individuals to support services. | In Committee |
| SR108 | Encourages residents of NJ to treat one another civilly amid period of increased political violence. | This Senate resolution encourages residents of New Jersey to treat one another civilly amid a period of increased political violence in this country. There are rules of civility that allow us to live peacefully within society. The Greek Philosopher Aristotle saw civility as a form of friendship and believed that humans are capable of promoting another person's interest without regard for their own. The belief in the civility of society has been challenged over recent years as political violence has increased significantly in the United States. Throughout the last two decades, multiple political figures have been attacked, with some attacks causing the injuries and deaths of other people. Data provided by the United States Capitol Police, a law enforcement agency charged with protecting members of Congress, indicates that cases related to "concerning statements and threats" have jumped from 3,939 in 2017 to 9,625 in 2021. New Jersey is not immune from the effects of national political violence. New Jersey is the only State in which all counties are classified as metropolitan areas, creating an abnormally dense population and making it easy to get frustrated, especially while waiting in line or sitting in traffic. In an effort to enrich the lives of residents in this State, impolite and antagonistic behavior should be curtailed without the implementation of new laws. Increased courtesy and respect amongst residents would reduce stress and result in a chain of goodwill that would ripple throughout the stores, streets, and neighborhoods of New Jersey. One of the strengths of our system of government is the ability to debate and disagree while allowing peace to prevail. This must be remembered, along with a charge of civility towards one another. The resolution condemns the attempted assassination of former President Trump and any other political violence, and urges elected leaders in New Jersey and around the country to set examples by treating political opponents with civility and respect. | In Committee |
| S3532 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| S3529 | Criminalizes the use of "signal jammers." | This bill would criminalize the use of "signal jammers" under State law. Such devices are already illegal under federal law. "Signal jammers," which are also known as signal blockers, GPS jammers, cell phone jammers, and text blockers, are radio frequency transmitters that are designed to block, jam, or otherwise interfere with authorized radio communications. These devices can prevent cell phones from making or receiving calls, texts, and emails; block Wi-Fi devices from connecting to the Internet; prevent a GPS from receiving correct positioning signals; and prevent a first responder from locating a person in an emergency. Under current New Jersey law, it is a crime of the fourth degree to: (1) make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission of energy in this State unless the person obtains a license, or an exemption from licensure, from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pursuant to applicable federal law or regulation, or (2) do any act to cause an unlicensed radio transmission of energy or interference with a public or commercial radio station licensed by the FCC or to enable the radio transmission of energy or interference to occur. This bill provides that it would also be a crime of the fourth degree to interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under any federal law or regulation or operated by the United States government; or, in violation of federal law or regulation, to use any scanning receiver that is capable of: (1) receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service, (2) readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or (3) being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio. The provisions of this bill are also set out in federal law, specifically in 47 U.S.C. s.301 and 47 U.S.C. s.333. | In Committee |
| S3500 | Requires automatic waiver of juvenile age 16 and older to be tried as adult for criminal matters. | This bill requires juveniles who are 16 years of age or older to be automatically waived from family court to adult court and tried as adults for criminal matters. Under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older who are charged with certain criminal offenses are eligible to be waived to criminal court to be tried as adults. Under the provisions of the bill, the court is required to automatically waive juveniles to adult court without the juvenile's consent if they were 16 years of age or older at the time of the alleged delinquent act and there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile committed a delinquent act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime, a disorderly persons offense, a petty disorderly persons offense, or a violation of any other penal statute, ordinance, or regulation. Juveniles age 15 would continue to be eligible to be waived to adult criminal court as they are under current law. | In Committee |
| S3499 | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention of defendants charged with certain crimes that indicate potential flight risk. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention of a defendant charged with certain crimes that would indicate the defendant's potential as a flight risk, including: obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function; resisting arrest, evading arrest, or eluding a law enforcement officer; hindering apprehension or prosecution; or escape or absconding from parole. 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, those crimes with which the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention applies include murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. Under the bill, that list of crimes would be expanded to include the following crimes: obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function; resisting arrest, evading arrest, or eluding a law enforcement officer; hindering apprehension or prosecution; or escape or absconding from parole. | In Committee |
| S3463 | Exempts sales of bandages and other similar products from sales and use tax. | This bill provides an exemption from the sales and use tax for sales of adhesives, bandages, dressings, gauze, and swabs, whether or not these items contain an antiseptic or bacterial control product in the pad. To qualify for the exemption, the product must be disposable and not designed for repeated use. Under current law, a bandage may be exempt from the sales and use tax if it meets the definition of an over-the-counter drug. An over-the-counter-drug must contain a label that includes a "Drug Facts" panel or a list of active ingredients. If a bandage has an active ingredient it is exempt from the sales tax; if a bandage does not have an active ingredient it is a taxable product. This bill is intended to extend the sales tax exemption to all of these commonly used medical supplies, whether or not they are over-the-counter drugs. This bill takes effect immediately, but provides for the exemption to apply to receipts from all sales made on or after the first day of the fourth month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| S1292 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; and appropriates $100,000. | In Committee |
| S2050 | "Stephanie's Law"; Requires AOC to establish publicly-accessible domestic violence registry; requires law enforcement officer to search State's domestic violence registries when conducting arrest. | This bill establishes "Stephanie's Law," to require the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), in conjunction with the Attorney General, to develop and maintain a publicly-accessible domestic violence Internet registry, and require law enforcement officers to search the State's domestic violence registries upon arresting a person. This registry established under the bill is to be separate from the domestic violence central registry maintained by the AOC pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, which is not accessible to the public. Under the bill, the public is to be able to access the registry to obtain all available information concerning any person who has been convicted of a crime or offense involving domestic violence; has had a final domestic violence restraining order issued against them; or has committed contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order. The Internet registry is to contain the following information for any person to be included in the registry: (1) the person's name and any aliases the person has used or under which the person may be or may have been known; (2) a brief description of any crime or offense involving domestic violence for which the person was convicted; the date and location of each disposition; and a general description of the person's modus operandi, if applicable; (3) the person's age, race, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair, eye color, and any distinguishing scars or tattoos; (4) a photograph of the person and the date on which the photograph was entered into the registry; (5) the make, model, color, year, and license plate number of any vehicle operated by the person; (6) and the person's last known address. A person whose name is erroneously included in the registry established under the bill may petition the AOC for removal of the person's name. The AOC is required to remove the person's name from the registry if the person has not had a final domestic violence restraining order entered against them, has not been found guilty of contempt of a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order, or has not been found guilty of a crime or offense involving domestic violence. Within five days of a change of address, a person whose name is included in the registry is required provide the AOC with the new address. On the website through which a person may search the registry established under the bill, the AOC is required to include information regarding: the manner in which a person may petition the AOC to remove their name; the circumstances under which the AOC would grant a petition to remove their name; and the manner in which a person may provide an updated address to the AOC. In addition, the provisions of the bill require a law enforcement officer to determine, upon an arrest, if there is a domestic violence restraining order entered against the person. This determination is to include a search of the central domestic violence registry maintained by the AOC established pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:25-34, as well as the publicly-accessible central registry established under the bill. This bill, designated "Stephanie's Law," is named after a domestic violence victim, Stephanie Nicole Parze, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation was created in her memory to provide support to victims of domestic violence. This bill, which is intended to provide additional protections for victims of domestic violence, is named in her honor. | In Committee |
| S3420 | Requires juvenile charged with delinquent act to be prosecuted in county where incident giving rise to complaint occurred. | This bill requires a juvenile charged with a delinquent act to be prosecuted in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint occurred. Under current New Jersey Court Rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise tothe complaint allegedly occurred. However, when the juvenile charged is domiciled in a county other than the county of the alleged occurrence, venue is to be laid in the county of the juvenile's domicile unless the court finds good cause for venue to be retained in the county where the incident occurred. Venue is the county in which an action or prosecution is brought for trial. Under the provisions of this bill, when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act, venue is to be laid in the county where the incident giving rise to the juvenile delinquency complaint allegedly occurred. | In Committee |
| S3394 | 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 protestors. | 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 |
| S2920 | Requires parity in Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain routine inpatient hospice room and board services. | Requires parity in Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain routine inpatient hospice room and board services. | In Committee |
| S2535 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, currently at $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.09 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| S585 | Authorizes creation of Mental Health Awareness license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to create and issue special Mental Health Awareness license plates. The license plate is to display the words, "Mental Health Awareness," along with the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. The design of the Mental Health Awareness license plate is to be chosen by the chief administrator, in consultation with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services (division). 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 Mental Health Awareness license plates. After deducting the cost to implement the Mental Health Awareness license plate program, the additional fees collected are required to be deposited into the "Mental Health Awareness License Plate Fund," and the funds are to be appropriated annually to the division to conduct mental health research and provide and support new and existing mental health programs and services throughout New Jersey. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per license plate in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the Mental Health Awareness license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the Mental Health Awareness license plate program. The bill also requires that the division appoint a liaison to represent the division in all communications with the commission regarding the Mental Health Awareness license plates. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost of designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Mental Health Awareness license plates or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Mental Health Awareness license plate program. The bill also requires that an individual or entity designated by the division contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Mental Health Awareness license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the division to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The bill prohibits the commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Mental Health Awareness license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the individual or entity designated by the division has provided the commission with the non-public money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Mental Health Awareness license plate program; and (2) the division's liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for Mental Health Awareness license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The division, or any individual or entity designated by the division, may also publicize the availability of Mental Health Awareness license plates in any manner the division deems appropriate. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after the date of enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| S3299 | Prohibits certain caller identification service manipulation and provides additional penalty. | This bill prohibits a telemarketer, in connection with any voice telecommunications service used within this State, to knowingly make, place, initiate, or otherwise transmit a call or text message or engage in conduct that results in the display of misleading, false, or inaccurate caller identification (ID) information on the receiving party's telephone or circumvent a caller ID service that is designed to allow the receiving party to identify caller ID information regarding the origin and nature of the call or text message with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The bill provides, consistent with federal law, several exceptions to the bill's prohibition on caller ID manipulation. Further, the bill provides that a person who knowingly manipulates a caller ID service is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3298 | Requires collection of data by health insurers regarding health insurance claims and decisions made using automated utilization management systems. | This bill modifies current law requiring the collection of certain data from health insurers. Specifically, the bill requires, on an annual basis, that a payer, or a carrier or an organized delivery system who is doing business in New Jersey and is under a contractual obligation to pay insured claims, maintain, and the Department of Banking and Insurance to make publicly available, data on health benefit plan claims regarding various matters, including the number of claims originally denied that were appealed and the number of appeals sustained and overturned and the procedures of each medical specialty for which a claim is most frequently denied. Additional data may be collected as authorized by the department. A payer who is determined to have denied, without proper justification, at least 20 percent of claims received in a year is, as a penalty, to return to a covered person a dollar amount equal to the cost paid by the covered person for the services denied for coverage by the payer. Additionally, the bill modifies current law governing utilization management by establishing certain reporting requirements for data. Specifically, the bill requires that: (1) every claim submitted for utilization management be reviewed by at least one medical director employed by or contracted with a payer; and (2) payers submit annually to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Banking and Insurance and to publicly disclose, in a clear and conspicuous location on the payer's Internet website, certain information concerning the payer's claim rejection rates each year. Pursuant to the bill, a physician or medical director reviewing claims for a payer is required to include on all denial notices the physician or medical director's claim denial rate and the average amount of time it takes for the physician or medical director to review a claim. Furthermore, a physician or medical director reviewing claims for a payer is to include instructions, on all denial notices and explanation of benefits notices, explaining how to access consumer assistance through the Department of Banking and Insurance. Health insurance carriers are also required under the bill to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous location on the carrier's Internet website: (1) whether or not the carrier uses an automated utilization management system; and (2) how many claims were reviewed using the automated utilization management system in the previous year. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Department of Banking and Insurance to audit at any time a payer's automated utilization management system and the data the payer collects in using that system. Under the bill, an "automated utilization management system" means an automated system for reviewing the appropriate and efficient allocation of health care services under a health benefits plan according to specified guidelines, in order to recommend or determine whether, or to what extent, a health care service given or proposed to be given to a covered person should or will be reimbursed, covered, paid for, or otherwise provided under the health benefits plan and which may use artificial intelligence or other type of software to automate the process of making recommendations or determinations. | In Committee |
| S1299 | Requires person with an alcoholic beverage license to carry alcoholic beverage liability insurance under certain circumstances. | Requires person with an alcoholic beverage license to carry alcoholic beverage liability insurance under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3154 | Concerns venue for juveniles charged with certain acts of delinquency. | This bill concerns venue for juveniles who are charged with certain acts of delinquency. Under current New Jersey Court Rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. However, when the juvenile charged is domiciled in a county other than the county of the alleged occurrence, venue is to be laid in the county of the juvenile's domicile unless the court finds good cause for venue to be retained in the county where the incident occurred. Venue is the county in which an action or prosecution is brought for trial. Under the provisions of this bill, when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act which if committed by an adult would constitute theft of a motor vehicle, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, carjacking, or burglary with the intent to commit theft of a motor vehicle and the juvenile has previously been adjudicated delinquent for one of the offenses set forth above, there is a presumption that venue is laid in the county where the complaint was filed. | In Committee |
| S3124 | Establishes "Mass Violence Care Fund"; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the "Mass Violence Care Fund" and appropriates $10 million. Under the provisions of this bill, a Mass Violence Care Fund is established in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The fund is to be administered by the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) and be used solely to provide a sustainable source of funds to provide coverage for physical and behavioral health care expenses related to a mass violence event that are not paid for by insurance or any other source. The moneys in the fund are to be invested and reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury. All costs of administering the fund, including the necessary and proper expenses incurred by the VCCO in administering the fund, are to be paid from the fund. Under the bill, the VCCO is to make distributions from the fund in accordance with the following criteria and any rules or regulations adopted by the VCCO establishing eligibility criteria: 1) only gains, interest, dividends, and other revenue earned on the moneys in the fund and any amounts gifted to the fund may be expended; 2) payments from the fund may be made only for an eligible victim's eligible expense; 3) payments from the fund to a victim for an eligible expense may not be made sooner than three years after the applicable mass violence event; and 4) payments may not be made to satisfy a financial commitment for services or expenses that would otherwise have been paid from another public or private source, including but not limited to Medicaid or private insurance. Under the bill, the VCCO is to adopt rules and regulations establishing eligibility criteria for victims, mass violence events, and healthcare and other expenses and the VCCO is not to make any distributions from the fund prior to the adoption of the rules and regulations. Further, the bill requires the Attorney General to establish a Mass Violence Care Fund Working Group. The purpose of the working group is to identify specific options and eligibility criteria to help ensure that individuals adversely affected by a mass violence event are provided some financial relief from physical and behavioral health care costs not paid for by insurance or some other source. The bill requires the working group to consider and determine: 1) gaps in payments for physical and behavioral health care services for victims of mass violence events; 2) methods of investing the moneys in the Mass Violence Care Fund by the bill to ensure sustainable annual financial returns; 3) options for determining eligibility for distribution from the fund, including parameters for: a) who is considered a victim of a mass violence event; b) which healthcare costs are considered eligible expenses; and c) what constitutes a mass violence event; and 4) any other items the working group determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of the fund.The working group is to consist of the following members: 1) a member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 2) a member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; 3) the Attorney General or a designee; 4) the Commissioner of Health or a designee; 5) the State Treasurer or a designee; 6) the Director of the Victims of Crime Compensation Office or a designee; and 7) a representative of the VTV Family Outreach Foundation. Under the bill, the working group is to issue a report containing its recommendations for eligibility requirements and rules and any recommendations for legislation to the VCCO no later than nine months after the bill's effective date. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety $10 million for the provision of that amount to the "Mass Violence Care Fund" to be used for the purposes set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| S3077 | "Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children. | This bill directs the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a five-year pilot program to provide tax credits to taxpayers that make contributions to a selected scholarship organization that provides scholarships to certain low-income children to attend a nonpublic school or an out-of-district public school. The program would allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit against the corporate business tax or gross income tax equal to 100% of any contribution made to the scholarship organization; in the case of the gross income tax credit, a taxpayer must contribute a minimum of $100 to the scholarship organization in order to be eligible to receive the tax credit. The maximum amount of tax credits allowable in each State fiscal year would equal 120% of the total value of scholarships awarded and administrative fees collected from school districts. Tax credits would be allowed in the order in which the contributions are received. The bill creates the Opportunity Scholarship Board and directs it to select one scholarship organization to administer the program. The scholarship organization would receive contributions made to the program and award scholarships to the parents or guardians of eligible students. The maximum number of scholarships that may be awarded each year is: 2,500 in the first year, 5,000 in the second year, 7,500 in the third year, and 10,000 in the fourth and fifth years. The number of available scholarships would be allocated to each targeted district based on the number of students enrolled in the district's chronically failing school relative to the enrollment in chronically failing schools located in targeted districts. If the number of eligible students applying for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships in a targeted district, then the scholarship organization would be responsible for conducting a lottery to determine scholarship awards in that district. To be eligible to receive a scholarship, a low-income child must either: 1) attend a chronically failing school, 2) have received a scholarship in the previous school year and continue to reside in the targeted district, 3) reside in a targeted district and attend one of the district's public schools that is not a chronically failing school, or 4) in the subsequent school year, would be eligible to enroll in a chronically failing school in the lowest grade, other than preschool, operated by the school. The last category of students would include those currently enrolled in a nonpublic school. The bill defines a chronically failing school as one in which, for the past two school years: at least 40% of the school's students did not pass both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments, or at least 60% of the students did not pass either the language arts or mathematics subject areas. Additionally, the school must be located in one of eight targeted districts: Asbury Park, Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Passaic, or Perth Amboy. A child is considered low-income if the child lives in a household in which the income does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty threshold. Scholarships would be awarded to eligible students in the following order or priority: 1) low-income children either attending a chronically failing school or eligible to enroll in a chronically failing school in the next school year, and 2) children who attend a public school, other than a chronically failing school, in a targeted district. The scholarship organization selected under the bill must require that an eligible school which admits a child receiving a scholarship under the pilot program: (1) does not require a parent or guardian to make a payment in addition to the scholarship for a child's attendance at the school; (2) ensures that a child enrolled in an eligible school who received a scholarship under the program in the prior school year receives a scholarship in each school year of enrollment under the program provided that the child continues to reside in the targeted district; (3) in the event that more children apply for admission to that school under the pilot program than there are openings, selects scholarship students through a lottery; and (4) within the first 30 days of a scholarship student's enrollment in the school, and once each year thereafter, administers a grade-level appropriate assessment to all scholarship students. Further, if the eligible school is a nonpublic school, the scholarship organization must also require that the school: (1) administer the appropriate grade level State assessment to scholarship students, and make the results publicly available; (2) agree to continue enrolling a scholarship student for two school years, unless the student commits an act that threatens the health or safety of other students, faculty, or staff; and (3) obtain written acknowledgment from the parent or guardian that notification has been received that a nonpublic school may not provide the same level of special education instructional programs and support services that may be available in a public school.Additionally, if the nonpublic school is a sectarian school, it must provide a scholarship student the opportunity to opt out of any religious instruction or activity. In the case of public schools, eligible schools will be those schools designated by the board of education to accept students who participate in the program. In the case of nonpublic schools, eligible schools will include those approved by the Commissioner of Education to accept students who participate in the program. The commissioner will develop a process for providing such approval. The commissioner is required to grant approval to a nonpublic school if it: 1) has been in operation for at least five years and has an end of year financial statement for each of the previous five years; 2) was founded within the prior 12 months by an operator of an existing school that meets the first criteria; or 3) is a current member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. The commissioner may approve a school that does not meet the previous requirements if the school submits an application that includes information regarding: 1) the school's objectives and strategy for meeting those objectives; 2) a demonstration of the school's financial viability; 3) a list of faculty, including the individual's educational attainment and relevant work experience; 4) a statement regarding the adequacy of the school's facilities and equipment; 5) documentation that the school is a qualified nonprofit entity; and 6) a list of board members. The scholarship organization would have a number of program responsibilities, including managing the application process in each district, verifying applicants' eligibility to receive a scholarship, maintaining an inventory of vacancies in eligible schools, conducting any necessary lotteries to determine scholarship awards, monitoring the enrollment of scholarship students, and managing the acceptance of contributions made to the program. Additionally, the scholarship organization must prepare an annual report, to be submitted to the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Education, and the scholarship board, enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an annual audit, and commission an independent study of the pilot program. The scholarship organization may apply to the Opportunity Scholarship Board to amend programmatic procedures as necessary to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the programs. Amendments that may be considered may include, but need not be limited to, the administration of the tax credits, the need to conduct lotteries, and reporting requirements related to the independent evaluation of the pilot program. The board may not approve any amendments that would materially alter the goals and objectives of the pilot program. For each resident student who receives a scholarship, a targeted district's State aid will be reduced by an amount equal to the scholarship awarded to the student plus the scholarship organization's administrative fee. The administrative fee will equal $750 per scholarship in the first year, $400 per scholarship in the second year, $250 per scholarship in the third year, $200 per scholarship in the fourth year, and $210 per scholarship in the final year. The targeted district would also be responsible for providing transportation services to a scholarship student outside of the district on the same basis that the district provides transportation services to nonpublic school students pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1. | In Committee |
| S3076 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
| SCR43 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | In Committee |
| S2913 | Establishes Commission on Insurance Reimbursement. | This bill establishes the "Commission on Insurance Reimbursement." The commission is to review and approve or deny applications submitted by health insurance carriers approved to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey and which seek to reduce the payment rate for any Current Procedural Terminology ("CPT") code when the CPT code is appended with one or more modifiers. The application to be submitted is to include, among other items, the amount of the proposed reduction in payment rate and a full and complete justification for the reduction in payment rate. As part of the review process, the commission is to consider if the proposed reduction will interfere with the ability of residents of the State to access necessary medical care; have an adverse effect on the stability of the State's health care system; and adversely affect one or more State-licensed health care providers or one or more State-licensed health care facilities. The commission is to affirmatively solicit and consider information from parties other than the applicant, including, but not limited to, health care providers anticipating an impact by the proposed reduction to the payment rate, as to the anticipated effect of the proposed reduction. A final written determination is to be issued by the commission within 60 days of receipt of an application. Under the bill, the commission may approve in whole, approve in part and deny in part, or deny in whole an application. The applicant is to have the opportunity to be heard before the commission issues its final determination. The commission is to annually submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding this application process. The report is to include a summary of its determinations and its overall findings and activities; and recommendations for proposed changes to the current laws regarding health benefits plans. | In Committee |
| S2839 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| S2819 | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention and increases penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses; authorizes home detention for minors adjudicated delinquent for motor vehicle theft offenses; establishes Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $7 million. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention and increases penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses; authorizes the issuance of an order of home detention for minors adjudicated delinquent for motor vehicle theft offenses; and makes any crime of theft of a motor vehicle or receiving a stolen motor vehicle a crime of the second degree. In addition, the bill establishes in the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) a two-year pilot program titled the "Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program," (GUARD) and appropriates $7 million to fund the pilot program. Changes to the Criminal Justice Reform Law 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 order 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 safety of any other person or the community. This presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence. This rebuttable presumption applies under current law 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 with theft of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Under current law theft of a motor vehicle is a crime of the third degree unless the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more, or the theft involved more than one motor vehicle, in which case it is a crime of the second degree. The act of receiving a stolen motor vehicle under current law also is a crime of the third degree, unless the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more. The bill makes any crime of theft of a motor vehicle or receiving a stolen motor vehicle a crime of the second 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 second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Additional Penalties for Motor Vehicle Theft Offenses The provisions of the bill also provide that, in addition to any other disposition authorized by law, a person convicted of theft of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle is to be subject to a penalty and may be ordered to a period of license suspension or revocation. For the first offense, the person is subject to a penalty of $500, and the court may suspend, revoke, or postpone the person's driving privileges for a up to one year; for a second offense, the defendant is subject to a penalty of $750, and the court may suspend, revoke, or postpone the person's driving privileges for up to exceed two years; and for a third or subsequent offense, the defendant is subject to a penalty of $1,000, and the court may suspend, revoke, or postpone the person's driving privileges for up to 10 years. The provisions of the bill authorize a court to order the home detention of a minor who is convicted of theft of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. A minor sentenced to home detention under the bill may leave the residence to: attend in-person court appearances; attend in-person probation appointments; attend in-person attorney appointments after providing proper notice; or for any other reason authorized pursuant to a court order. The bill requires courts to hear the case of a minor within 48 hours of an arrest for theft of a motor vehicle theft, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, or the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program (GUARD) This bill establishes in the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) a two-year pilot program titled the "Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program," (GUARD) and appropriates $7 million to fund the pilot program. The purpose of the pilot program is to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle thefts in this State by providing services to juveniles intended to prevent them from engaging or re-engaging with the criminal justice system. Services are to be provided by pilot program service providers awarded grant monies pursuant to the pilot program. The services to be provided by a pilot program service provider under the bill are to include, but not be limited to:· Mental health services; · Substance use disorder treatment and recovery; · Education support; · Employment services; · Housing support; · Financial literacy and debt support services; · Life skills support services; · Social support services; and· Preventative mentoring services. Under the bill, the JJC is responsible for administering the pilot program, and is required to· Set standards and determine eligibility for pilot program grant funding;· Establish criteria and procedures for grant applications and disbursement;· Determine how best to allocate pilot program grant funds;· Set standards and procedures for grant award eligibility, and program operation, supervision, and evaluation;· Award grants;· Collect and provide information about community-based services to be implemented by pilot program service providers; · Establish suggested training standards for pilot program service providers in accordance with the provisions of this section; and· Monitor and evaluate implementation and effectiveness of the provision of services pursuant to the pilot program, particularly with regard to the impact of the program on the reduction of motor vehicle thefts in the State. The provisions of the bill also establish a non-exhaustive list of services that pilot program service providers may provide. The bill establishes within the General Fund a separate, temporary dedicated fund to be known as the "Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program Fund" to be administered and the monies in the fund distributed by the JJC. From the monies appropriated under the category of juvenile grants-in-aid for the Department of Law and Public Safety in State fiscal year 2024 and State fiscal year 2025, $3,500,000 in each fiscal year is to be credited to the fund for a total of $7,000,000. These monies, and any interest or other income earned are only to be used for purposes associated with the pilot program. The fund is to be used to provide grants to pilot program service providers selected by the JJC through a competitive process established by the commission. Grant monies may only be awarded to a service provider located in a county having a population of not less than 300,000. No more than eight percent of the monies in the fund are to be used by either the JJC pilot program service providers for administrative purposes. The pilot program established under the bill will operate for a period of two years, exclusive of the time required to implement the grant application and award process, and to initiate the pilot program. The JJC is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature at the conclusion of the two-year pilot program. The report is required to contain information on the development and implementation of the pilot program, the effectiveness of the program in reducing the incidence of motor vehicle thefts in the State and preventing juveniles from engaging or re-engaging with the criminal justice system, and the feasibility of expanding the program to other counties in the State. The report is also required to connect juveniles participating in the pilot program to licensed outpatient mental health care facilities and professionals, and services to address physical health, mental health and substance use disorders. | In Committee |
| S1237 | Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service. | Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service. | Crossed Over |
| S2649 | Requires DEP to undertake bank stabilization project under certain circumstances; appropriates $10 million. | This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to immediately conduct, or cause to be conducted, a bank stabilization project for erosion control on a waterway (1) that is experiencing, or, prior to the effective date of this act, has experienced significant erosion resulting in the loss of land or structural damage to residential property and (2) on which the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is conducting, or has conducted, a flood control project upstream of the erosion, regardless of whether the erosion is attributable to the work conducted as part of that project. The bill directs the DEP to consult with the engineer for the municipality in which the property is located and with the homeowners of affected property in designing and constructing the bank stabilization project. The bill also directs the DEP to provide expedited emergency permit authorization for a bank stabilization project conducted pursuant to the bill. Lastly, the bill appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to the DEP for the purposes of designing and constructing a bank stabilization project pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| S2549 | Establishes "Student Mental Health Task Force." | This bill establishes the "Student Mental Health Task Force," the purpose of which is to examine issues related to the mental health of students, including depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder; study and survey the resources that are available to schools and parents to address student mental health needs; and develop recommendations to ensure that students have access to mental health care programs and services in order to allow students to meet their educational goals. The task force will consist of the following 17 members: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, ex officio; the Commissioner of Health, or a designee, ex officio; the Commissioner of Children and Families, or a designee, ex officio; the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, or a designee, ex officio; the Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, or a designee, ex officio; one public member appointed by the Senate President, one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, all four of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force; and the following eight public members appointed by the Governor: one representative of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, one representative of the New Jersey School Boards Association, one representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one representative of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, one representative of the New Jersey Association of Counties, one representative of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, one member representing school district leaders, and one school mental health professional who holds a valid educational services certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners that may include, but is not limited to, a school counselor, a school social worker, or a school psychologist. The task force is responsible for examining issues related to the mental health of students, including depression, anxiety, stress, or other psychological or emotional tension, trauma, or disorder; study and survey all resources that are currently available to the schools and parents within each county in the State, and within the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, for helping a student or child who experiences mental health issues; and develop recommendations to ensure that students have access to mental health care programs and services in order to allow students to meet their educational goals. The task force is required to survey the availability of certain mental health treatment services, mental health care provider networks that offer mental health treatment, government agencies that offer funding and mental health treatment services, and partnership opportunities with institutions of higher education to address mental health needs of students. The task force is also required to study and make recommendations regarding the identification of public school students who experience mental health difficulties, the evaluation and expansion of counseling programs and services available to students experiencing mental health difficulties, the relationship of student mental health to school safety and security, the amount of funding that may be necessary for public schools to employ the appropriate staff and to establish new programs or expand existing programs necessary to address student mental health, an examination of mental health programs successfully implemented by other states, and any other proposals the task force determines would provide for increased access to high-quality mental health programs. The task force, in performing the above duties, is required to consult with parents of general education students, parents of students who receive special education and related services, and teaching staff members. The task force will issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature no later than one year after the organization of the task force that contains the results of the above survey and recommendations. The task force is required to forward a copy of the report to every school district in the State. The task force will expire 30 days after issuing its final report. | In Committee |
| S2500 | Establishes Office of Ombudsman for Children. | This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in, but not of, the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill provides that the office is to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, respond to the concerns and addressing the needs of children in the resource family care, and that children under State supervision due to child abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill requires the ombudsman to: (1) investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response to, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State, or the out-of-placement of children under the care, custody, and supervision of the State; (2) inspect and review the operations, policies, procedures, and contracts of all juvenile detention centers or facilities, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for care of abused or neglected children, homeless youth, or juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis centers, or independent living arrangements operated, licensed, or approved for payment, by the Departments of Children and Families, Community Affairs, or Health, or any other public or private setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; (3) review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services; (4) review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children due to abuse or neglect or children, as deemed necessary by the ombudsman to assess the performance of the entities; (5) intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children; (6) hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the ombudsman, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the ombudsman deems appropriate; and (7) establish and maintain a 24-hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the ombudsman, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies or contract services, protects children. The bill also provides that the ombudsman report annually to the Governor, Commissioner of Children and Families, and Legislature on: (1) the activities of the office; (2) priorities for children's services that have been identified by the ombudsman; and (3) recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities. The report is to be posted on the Office of the Attorney General's and the Department of Children and Families' websites. | In Committee |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | In Committee |
| S1190 | Establishes NJT Office of Customer Advocate and Rider Advocacy Commission. | This bill establishes a Rider Advocacy Commission (commission) in, but not of, the Department of Transportation and requires the commission to establish a New Jersey Transit Office of Customer Advocate (office). Similar to the New York City Transit Riders Council, also known as the New York City Transit Authority Advisory Council, which was created by the New York State Legislature in 1981 to represent New York City subway and bus riders, and users of the Staten Island Railway, the office is to investigate, monitor, advocate, promote, and advise on all customer-experience matters pertaining to the operation of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT). The commission is to consist of three members, one member appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. Each member is limited to a five-year term, except that of the members first appointed, the member appointed by the Governor is to be appointed for a one-year term, the member appointed by the President of the Senate is to be appointed for a two-year term, and the member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly is to be appointed for a three-year term. The commission is empowered to engage and dismiss staff as necessary, including the appointment of a Rider Advocate. The Rider Advocate is the head of the office, is required to report directly to the commission, and has the authority to carry out the purposes of the office, including, with the approval of the commission, temporarily retaining expert assistants as are necessary to protect the interests of NJT customers when exceptional circumstances arise. The responsibilities of the office include: (1) providing information and analysis to the NJT board of directors, Governor, and Legislature concerning the actual or anticipated impact of any NJT board or NJT actions on NJT's customers; (2) providing customer input and feedback to the NJT board, Governor, and Legislature, including relaying the needs and concerns of customers to the NJT board, Governor, and Legislature; and (3) representing the interests of NJT's customers as determined by the Rider Advocate. The office has the authority to conduct investigations; initiate studies; conduct research; present comments and testimony before the NJT board of directors, legislative committees, and other governmental bodies; prepare and issue reports; and undertake any other actions that further the purposes of the office. The office is also required to conduct meetings with NJT customers, which are to occur at least on a monthly basis, and would allow for a remote attendance option, for the purpose of relaying the concerns and needs of customers to the NJT board of directors and, when the Rider Advocate deems appropriate, to the executive management team of NJT. In addition, the office would also be required to allow for public input on NJT operations and experiences at any time, through the office's official Internet website and through voicemail. The office is also required to represent the interests of NJT's customers in areas such as proposed fare increases, proposed substantial curtailment of services, and any proposed expansion of service. Funds for the expenses of the commission and office are to be provided by the State Treasurer, as appropriated by the Legislature, and are to be independent of funds for the NJT. On or before March 31 of each year, the commission in consultation with the Rider Advocate is required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the activities of the commission and office for the previous calendar year, including any reports provided to the NJT board of directors. The bill repeals a provision of law requiring NJT to employ a customer advocate. | In Committee |
| S1372 | Concerns possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages or cannabis by underage persons. | This bill concerns the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages or cannabis by underage persons. Under current law, the odor of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or a cannabis item, or burnt marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or a cannabis item does not constitute reasonable articulable suspicion to initiate an investigatory stop of a person or probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person's personal property to determine if an underage person knowingly possesses or consumes any alcoholic beverage, cannabis item, marijuana, or hashish in any school, public conveyance, public place, place of public assembly, or motor vehicle. In addition, current law provides that the unconcealed possession of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item by an underage person, observed in plain sight by a law enforcement officer, does not constitute probable cause to initiate a search of a person or that person's property to determine if the person is in further violation of current law or any other provision of law. This bill provides that notwithstanding these provisions, if a person is unable to provide identification showing that the person is 21 years of age or older, upon the request of a law enforcement officer, the following would constitute probable cause for the officer to search the person or that person's personal belongings for the purpose of taking possession of any alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item from the person, and any drug or cannabis paraphernalia for use with any marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item: 1) the odor of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or cannabis item, or burnt marijuana, hashish, cannabis, or cannabis item that the law enforcement officer reasonably concludes is coming from that person; or 2) the observation by a law enforcement officer of that person consuming and subsequently concealing any alcoholic beverage, cannabis item, marijuana, or hashish. Under the bill, upon request by a law enforcement officer, the person would be required to provide one of the types of government-issued identification as set forth in section 18 of P.L.2021, c.15 (C.24:6I-35). | In Committee |
| S683 | Requires court to impose monetary bail for carjacking; requires juvenile alleged to have committed carjacking be tried as adult. | This bill would enact several provisions concerning the crime of carjacking. The bill would require the court to set monetary bail for a person charged with carjacking. Bail would be in an amount at least equal to the value of the motor vehicle involved in the alleged crime. The bill also requires that if a person is charged with both carjacking and eluding a law enforcement officer, the court would be required to set bail in an amount at least equal to twice the value of the motor vehicle involved in the alleged crimes. Finally, the bill requires that in a case where there is probable cause that a juvenile committed a delinquent act which if committed by an adult would constitute carjacking, and the juvenile is at least 15 years old, on motion of the prosecutor the court would waive jurisdiction by the Family Part to an appropriate court for adult criminal proceedings. | In Committee |
| S181 | Requires temporary detention and notification to parent or guardian of underage person who unlawfully purchases or possesses alcoholic beverages or cannabis. | This bill provides that if a person under the age of 18 violates the law by purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages or cannabis and receives a written warning from a law enforcement officer, the law enforcement officer would also be required to take the person into custody and notify the minor's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor that the underage person was taken into custody. Under the bill, the minor would be taken into temporary custody but not subject to arrest. P.L.2021, c.25 established certain consequences for persons who purchase or possess alcoholic beverages or cannabis items when under the legal age to do so. These consequences include notification to the minor's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor. However, P.L.2021, c.25 does require that the minor be temporarily detained and the minor's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor be notified of the temporary detention. This bill requires that the minor be temporarily detained but not subject to arrest. The bill preserves provisions of current law that prohibit a record of the minor's possession of alcoholic beverages or cannabis in any juvenile delinquency matter. The bill also clarifies that a law enforcement officer is required to seize from persons under 21 years of age any alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, cannabis item, or drug or cannabis paraphernalia to be destroyed or secured for use in law enforcement training or educational programs. | In Committee |
| S1193 | Allows voter registration at polling place on election day or at early voting site during early voting period. | This bill allows for voter registration at polling places on election day or at early voting sites during the early voting period. Under current law, a person must register to vote at least 21 days before the election. This bill allows a person who has not registered to vote by that deadline to register at a polling place on the day of the election or at an early voting site during the early voting period. This bill also allows a person to cast a provisional ballot if the person has registered to vote within the period of 21 days before the election if the person can affirm that the person has not previously voted in that election. If the county commissioner of registration is not able to verify the person's Motor Vehicle Commission New Jersey driver's license number or non-driver identification number, or the last four digits of the person's Social Security Number, the county commissioner of registration will notify the person by mail, e-mail, or telephone within 24 hours that they must provide valid identification no later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election in order for their ballot to be counted. | In Committee |
| S285 | Permits application for PERS accidental disability benefit for injury sustained after January 2003 while employed at State psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately prior to PERS membership. | This bill allows a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits based upon an injury sustained while employed temporarily at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility, which injury continues to be disabling after the person becomes a PERS member. Temporary public employees are not eligible for PERS membership until the employment becomes permanent or the passage of one year, whichever occurs first. Currently, persons employed temporarily at any State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility who are injured while ineligible for PERS membership are eligible for workers compensation benefits only. They are not eligible for PERS accidental disability benefits even after attaining PERS member status because the injury occurred when not a PERS member. The bill provides that, for purposes of application for a PERS accidental disability benefit, a traumatic event (1) occurring during and as a result of the performance of a State employee's regular or assigned duties as, but not limited to, a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, social worker, or correction officer caring for or guarding individuals who are permanently or temporarily incarcerated for any reason at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, any other State psychiatric institution or any State correctional facility and (2) occurring when the employee is employed temporarily and not yet eligible for membership in the retirement system will be deemed as occurring during membership, if the employee becomes a member of the retirement system without interruption in that employment. The bill's provisions would apply retroactively to January 1, 2003. In addition, the bill also adds to the duties of the Civil Service Commission a personnel orientation program that informs new employees of State psychiatric institutions and State correctional facilities of the risk of injury occurring during and as a result of the performance of their regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| S2268 | Requires consultation with insurance producer or provision of cost benefit analysis prior to sale of automobile insurance policy. | This bill prohibits an automobile insurer from issuing a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance to an individual unless the individual consults with an insurance producer about the policy prior to purchase. In addition, the bill permits an insurer to sell a policy of insurance through an internet website to an individual who has not consulted with an insurance producer if the insurer provides the individual with a cost benefit analysis prior to selling the policy of insurance. | In Committee |
| S539 | Requires insurers offering commercial general liability insurance policies to provide notification of exclusion for communicable disease. | This bill requires insurers offering commercial general liability insurance policies to provide a notification of any exclusion for communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. The bill requires authorized insurers to provide to any potential purchaser of, or any policyholder seeking renewal of, a commercial general liability insurance policy, a clear statement on a separate page and in a prominent position, as to whether the policy provides liability coverage for transmission of communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. If the policy contains an exclusion for coverage of transmission of communicable disease or an exclusion for coverage of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019, the statement is to include: (1) the cost of removing the exclusion; or (2) if the exclusion cannot be removed, a statement providing that coverage for the transmission of communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019, may be purchased from another insurer. If an insurance contract fails to include the statement required by the bill, any coverage exclusion for transmission of communicable disease or transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 is to be invalid, and the contract is deemed to provide liability coverage for transmission of communicable disease, including the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. As insurance companies adjust to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, some companies have begun to include exclusions for transmission of communicable disease in their commercial general liability policies. This bill requires that insurers provide a prominent notification of any such exclusions to potential purchasers and policyholders so that businesses can be certain of the limits of their coverage. | In Committee |
| S543 | Requires candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Senate, and General Assembly to disclose federal income tax returns. | This bill requires every candidate for the office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor and every candidate for the Senate or General Assembly to submit their federal income tax returns to the Election Law Enforcement Commission for at least the five most recent taxable years for which the candidate has filed such a return with the Internal Revenue Service. Under the bill, each candidate would also submit written consent to the commission for the public disclosure of the income tax returns. The bill requires a candidate for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Senate, or General Assembly to file the income tax returns and written consent for disclosure with the commission at the time the candidate files the financial disclosure statement required by N.J.S.A.19:44B-2. The bill requires the commission to post the income tax returns on its Internet website no later than seven days after a candidate has filed the income tax returns with the commission. The bill requires the commission, in consultation with the Attorney General, to redact any information contained in the income tax returns that the commission deems privileged or unlawful to disclose. | In Committee |
| SCR25 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide that only Legislature may determine affordable housing obligations. | This amendment to the State Constitution provides that the constitutional obligation to make available affordable housing, and the means by which this obligation may be fulfilled, can only be determined by the Legislature. The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that there is a constitutional obligation to provide a realistic opportunity for the construction of affordable housing in accordance with the present and prospective need for low and moderate income housing. Following the dissolution of the Council on Affordable Housing, the Superior Court has become responsible for determining the number of affordable housing units that are needed throughout the State. However, the New Jersey Supreme Court indicated in multiple rulings, including Southern Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 92 N.J. 158 (1983) and Hills Development Co. v. Bernards, 103 N.J. 1 (1986), that the determination of the methods for satisfying this constitutional obligation "is better left to the Legislature." Accordingly, this amendment proposes to amend the State Constitution to provide that the constitutional obligation to make available affordable housing, the means by which this obligation can be fulfilled, and the possible consequences for noncompliance, may only be determined by the Legislature through the enactment of general legislation. | In Committee |
| S534 | "Health Insurance Claim Plain Language and Simplification Act." | This bill, entitled the "Health Insurance Claim Plain Language and Simplification Act," requires health insurance carriers to provide explanation of benefits forms to covered persons which include certain information on the form in a certain format, and to use simple, plain language that is clearly understandable. The bill requires every carrier issuing health benefits plans in this State to provide a written explanation of benefits form to a covered person whenever a claim is generated under the covered person's health benefits plan. The explanation of benefits form shall contain all of the following information on the first page of the form: (1) the name of the insured, the name of the health care provider, the date of service, the amount of the claim, the amount paid by the carrier, and the amount to be paid by the covered person; (2) if a claim is paid in whole or in part, an explanation of the reasons that the claim was paid in whole or in part; (3) if a claim is denied, an explanation of the reasons that the claim is denied; and (4) instructions as to any action that the covered person is required to take with respect to the claim or any option which may be available to the covered person with respect to the determination of benefits for that claim. The bill requires this information to be the only information provided on the first page of the explanation of benefits form and requires the information to be in 12-point font. The bill also requires the information to be in simple, plain language that is clearly understandable to covered persons, in a manner consistent with the "Life and Health Insurance Policy Language Simplification Act," P.L.1979, c.167 (C.17B:17-17 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S577 | Allows military member to qualify for resident tuition rate at county college. | This bill provides that a member of the United States military or his dependent who lives in New Jersey and is attending a county college established by the county in which the member resides or is stationed must be charged the county resident tuition rate. Currently, many military members and their dependents maintain out-of-county or out-of-State addresses. As a result, these military members and their dependents do not qualify for the resident tuition rate at their local county college. In most county colleges in the State, the county resident tuition rate is significantly lower than the nonresident tuition rate. Current law at N.J.S.A.18A:62-4.1 provides that those members of the military who are enrolled in public institutions of higher education are considered State residents for the purposes of qualifying for in-State tuition. This benefit is also extended to the dependents of military members. This bill will ensure that military personnel and their dependents receive a similar in-county tuition benefit. | In Committee |
| S563 | Makes desecration of a military monument a crime of the third degree. | This bill makes purposely desecrating a military monument a crime of the third degree. As used in the bill, the term "military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle. | In Committee |
| S578 | Mandates additional requirements for anti-bullying policies of public schools, expands information provided in DOE guidance document on bullying, and requires parents be provided clear explanation of student rights in school bullying investigations. | Current law requires each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying. The law also specifies the various provisions which the policy must, at a minimum, contain. This bill requires certain additional provisions be included in the anti-bullying policy. Pursuant to the bill, the policy must include a provision stating that students involved in an alleged incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying will not be interviewed by any school personnel without the parent or guardian having been provided an opportunity to be present. The policy must also provide that after having been informed of the bullying incident and having notified the parents or guardians, the principal must use conflict resolution techniques with the students involved in the incident in order to resolve the matter. If the conflict resolution techniques are unsuccessful, the next step in the process requires the principal to make a preliminary determination as to whether a reported incident or complaint is a report of an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying as those terms are defined by law, prior to initiating an investigation. The bill provides that the investigation of the alleged harassment, intimidation, or bullying incident must be completed no later than 30 days from the date the written report of the incident is provided to the principal. Current law requires the investigation to be completed no later than 10 days from the date the written report is provided. This bill extends the time frame to allow a sufficient time period for the principal to implement conflict resolution techniques and make a preliminary determination regarding the alleged incident. Under current law, once the investigation is completed, parents or guardians are provided information in writing regarding the investigation, including the nature of the investigation, whether the district found evidence of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or whether discipline was imposed or services provided to address the incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The bill requires that the information provided to the parents or guardians must also include copies of all written records produced in regard to the investigation, including emails, letters, and text messages. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, is required by law to develop a guidance document for use by parents or guardians, students, and school districts to assist in resolving complaints concerning harassment, intimidation, or bullying. This bill requires additional items to be included in the guidance document: a clarification of the ways in which harassment, intimidation, or bullying may be deemed to have substantially disrupted or interfered with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students; and a clear explanation of the rights of the students who are the alleged victims or the alleged perpetrators of incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. A copy of the explanation of the students' rights is required to be provided by the district to the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the district. | In Committee |
| S541 | Restricts manner in which self-service storage facility owner is permitted to deny occupant access to personal property. | This bill limits the manner in which an owner of a self-service storage facility may deny an occupant access to the occupant's personal property. Under the bill, an owner is prohibited from denying an occupant access to the occupant's personal property during the times the occupant regularly is entitled to access as set forth in the rental agreement, with two exceptions: (1) if the owner is satisfying a lien on the personal property, pursuant to current law; and (2) if denial of access is due to recommendation or order of law enforcement, fire personnel, or any other government entity; or any other circumstances beyond the control of the owner. The bill provides that if the denial of access is due to the second exception, the owner would be required to restore access to the occupant as soon as is practicable. During the period of time in which access is denied, the owner would be prohibited from destroying, removing, or otherwise disposing of the personal property before the occupant is afforded access to the personal property. The bill further provides that an owner would be required to notify an occupant in writing within seven days of making the determination that the occupant's personal property has been destroyed or otherwise rendered permanently inaccessible due to fire, flood, or other peril; recommendation or order of law enforcement, fire personnel, or any other government entity; or any other circumstances beyond the control of the owner. Under the bill, the notice would be required to be delivered in person or sent by verified mail or electronic mail to the last known address of the occupant. | In Committee |
| S568 | Allows law enforcement officers to receive one-time emergency alerts on personal wireless communication devices. | This bill allows law enforcement officers to receive one-time emergency alerts on their personal wireless devices, which includes personal cell phones and laptops. The bill defines "one-time emergency alert" as an electronic message sent directly to a personal communication device that alerts law enforcement officers of an emergency event that threatens the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The information contained in the one-time emergency alert is required to be stored on an external computer server. The bill prohibits law enforcement officers from accessing the alert information on their personal communication devices after the alert has expired. In the interest of public safety, the information contained in the one-time emergency alerts would not be discoverable or admissible as evidence in any legal action or administrative proceeding. The alerts also would not be deemed a public record under the "Open Public Records Act," or the common law concerning access to public records. | In Committee |
| S560 | Authorizes Commissioner of Transportation to allow painting of blue line between double yellow centerline marking on public roads. | This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to allow, at the commissioner's discretion, the painting of a blue line in the space between a double yellow centerline on public roads in this State. | In Committee |
| S569 | Exempts certain volunteer fire companies and volunteer fire departments from open public records act. | This bill exempts volunteer fire companies and volunteer fire departments that are organized as 501(c)(3) organizations from the requirements of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), more commonly known as the open public records act. The open public records act provides for public access to government records. While the open public records act promotes the Legislature's broad policy in favor of granting access to government records, there are nevertheless exceptions when circumstances warrant exclusion from the requirements of that law. This bill recognizes that such circumstances exist in the case of brave residents of this State offering their talent and sometimes their lives to protect the safety and welfare of their neighbors on a voluntary basis. Though the bill exempts volunteer fire companies and volunteer fire departments from the open public records act, it would not exempt all documents related to those groups, such as, for example, when fire districts themselves are required to maintain the basic documents related to the internal organization and functioning of fire squads in those districts as a part of its oversight of the squads. | In Committee |
| S542 | Upgrades crime of stalking when stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of communication or location monitoring program or device on cellular phone or wireless mobile device. | This bill upgrades the crime of stalking when the stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of a communication or location monitoring program or device on the stalking victim's cellular phone or wireless mobile device. A person commits the crime of stalking when the person "purposefully or knowingly engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his safety or the safety of a third person or suffer other emotional distress." Stalking is ordinarily graded as a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under the bill, if a person's "course of conduct" in committing the stalking is carried out or assisted by means of installation or use of any communication or location monitoring program or device on the victim's cellular phone or wireless mobile device in order to intercept or acquire any form of communication or location information, the stalking would be upgraded to a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Communication and location monitoring programs or devices are often preinstalled on cellular phones or wireless mobile devices, or are widely available for download or purchase for such phones or devices, and in some instances are necessary to properly operate or enhance phone or device operations. Recognizing the wide availability and easy access to these programs and devices, this bill intends to target their improper installation or use in the context of committing acts of stalking. | In Committee |
| S352 | Requires certain wholesale pricing of motor fuels be set using formula. | This bill prohibits a distributor, refiner, wholesaler, or supplier from charging a tank wagon price to a retail dealer unless that price is set using a negotiated and agreed-upon formula. The negotiated price shall not be more than five cents per gallon above the listed price for that product at the distribution terminal at the time it was purchased. "Tank wagon price" is defined under the "Unfair Motor Fuels Practices Act" as the invoice cost of motor fuel to the retailer. The provisions of this bill do not apply if the retail dealer owns the property the station is located on or if the property is leased directly to the retail dealer by a third party who is not a distributor, refiner, wholesaler, or supplier. Additionally, this bill does not apply to consignment sales of motor fuels or contracts existing before its effective date. Contracts negotiated and entered into after the effective date must comply with the requirements of the bill. An entity that prohibits a provision of the bill is subject to a fine of $5,000 per delivery of motor fuel priced in violation of the bill. | In Committee |
| S593 | Upgrades penalties for unlawful possession of certain items by incarcerated persons and unlawful provision of certain items to incarcerated persons. | This bill concerns the penalty for incarcerated persons who possess contraband considered to be implements of escape while incarcerated and other contraband. Specifically, the bill makes possession of any implement of escape by an incarcerated person a second degree crime. This bill makes it a crime of the second degree for an incarcerated person to possess any implement of escape, regardless of whether it is a weapon or non-weapon. The bill also increases the mandatory minimum term of incarceration for a violation from three years to five years in order to make the penalty consistent with the term of incarceration that generally is imposed for a crime of the second degree. Under current law, the penalty for an incarcerated person who possesses an implement of escape that is a weapon is a crime of the second degree, subject to a mandatory term of incarceration of not less than three years. An incarcerated person who possesses a non-weapon implement of escape commits a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a fine of up to $150,000, a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, or both. This bill also makes it a crime of the third degree for a person to provide an inmate with any other contraband, besides implements of escape, which the actor knows or should know it is unlawful for the inmate to possess. Under current law relative to contraband other than implements of escape, a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if he provides an inmate with any other thing which the actor knows or should know it is unlawful for the inmate to possess. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, a term of imprisonment of three to five years, or both. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by a fine of up to $500, a term of imprisonment of up to 30 days, or both. | In Committee |
| S575 | Permits school districts to employ safe schools resource officers or Class Three special law enforcement officers for security purposes, and requires school districts to have agreement with local law enforcement governing placement of school security personnel. | This bill permits public schools to have a safe schools resource officer or a Class Three special law enforcement officer present at the school building to provide security services during the hours that school is in session. Under the bill, the State will fund the costs for a school district that elects to employ safe schools resource officers or Class Three special law enforcement officers who are hired after the bill's effective date. In addition, the bill provides that a school district that employs school security personnel will be required to enter into a written agreement with the local law enforcement agency or an entity designated by the Superintendent of the State Police, as appropriate, to stipulate the terms and conditions governing the placement of the security personnel in school buildings. The agreement will include: the chain of command; roles and responsibilities of school security personnel while on school property; work hours and conditions; required qualifications and experience; channels of communication; required training and continuing professional development; and authority to carry firearms. | In Committee |
| S833 | Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed. | This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. Burglary of a residence is upgraded to first degree burglary under the bill if the person is armed with or displays what appears to be an explosive or a deadly weapon while committing the burglary. Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill clarifies that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would not be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA), but a person who commits the upgraded first degree crime of burglarizing a residence while armed would be sentenced under NERA. Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| SJR21 | Designates Tuesday in third full week of September each year as "Food Allergy and Hunger Awareness Day." | This joint resolution permanently designates the Tuesday of the third full week of September as "Food Allergy and Hunger Awareness Day" in New Jersey. Food allergies affect roughly one out of every 10 people in New Jersey, and approximately 40 percent of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food, making it even harder for their families to find and afford safe food. These challenges compound the problem of hunger and food insecurity in the State, where at least 1.15 million residents in 2019 were identified as food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, and, at some time over the course of a year, having difficulty providing enough food for all of the members of one's family due to a lack of resources. "Food Allergy and Hunger Awareness Day" seeks to raise awareness and promote education about the complex intersection between food allergies, hunger and food insecurity. | In Committee |
| SCR27 | Amends Constitution to require each house of Legislature to convene four times annually solely to debate State issues and policies. | This proposed constitutional amendment is intended to provide opportunities for free and open debate and dialogue in the Legislature, similar to debates in parliamentary systems of government. This proposed constitutional amendment would require each House of the Legislature to convene a meeting in each quarter of each legislative year solely for the purpose of debating issues and policies relevant to the government of the State, the people of the State, and the operations of the Legislature. During the meeting, members could ask and respond to questions. The presiding officer of each House will set the agenda for each meeting, but members will be permitted to raise an issue or policy relevant to the government of the State, the people of the State, and the operations of the Legislature that is not on the agenda for that meeting. | In Committee |
| S567 | Prohibits soliciting or phishing for personal identifying information. | This bill would prohibit a practice commonly referred to as "phishing." Under the bill, it would be a disorderly persons offense to solicit, request, or take any action to induce another person to provide personal identifying information for the purpose of identity theft. The bill uses the definition of "personal identifying information" currently used in the law pertaining to theft, including identity theft. This definition includes "any name, number or other information that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual and includes, but is not limited to, the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, official State issued identification number, employer or taxpayer number, place of employment, employee identification number, demand deposit account number, savings account number, credit card number, mother's maiden name, unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image or other unique physical representation, or unique electronic identification number, address or routing code of the individual." A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S2279 | Raises minimum amount of liability coverage for commercial motor vehicles and autocabs. | This bill raises the minimum amount of liability coverage for commercial motor vehicles to $1.5 million. Specifically, the bill: (1) requires an owner or registered owner of an autocab, commonly referred to as a "taxi," to maintain motor vehicle liability insurance coverage of at least $1.5 million to insure against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage; and (2) requires an owner or registered owner of a commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds but less than 26,001 pounds to maintain motor vehicle liability insurance coverage of at least $500,000 to insure against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage. | Dead |
| SR28 | Urges Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders to name County Route 18 bridge in Monmouth County in honor of Jeffrey Mahon and Jeffrey Hoens. | This resolution urges the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders to name the bridge on County Route 18 in Monmouth County, commonly known as Ocean Avenue, between the Borough of Belmar and the Borough of Avon-by-the-Sea in honor of Jeffrey Mahon, who tragically passed away in a motor vehicle accident and was the brother of the Avon-by-the-Sea Chief of Police, and Jeffrey Hoens, who tragically passed away on Jeffrey Mahon's birthday while free diving near the bridge. | In Committee |
| S2259 | Eliminates certain personal injury protection options available under standard automobile insurance policies; requires $250,000 of medical expense benefits under standard and basic automobile insurance policies. | This bill requires all standard and basic automobile insurance policies to provide $250,000 of personal injury protection for medical expense benefits. Under current law, the standard automobile policy provides a number of different coverage options and the opportunity to buy additional protection. One option allows drivers to purchase medical expense benefits in the amounts of $250,000, $150,000, $75,000, $50,000 or $15,000 per person per accident. This bill eliminates the option to purchase medical expense benefits in those amounts, and instead provides that all standard policies will include $250,000 of medical expense benefits. This bill provides that all basic policies must include $250,000 of personal injury protection per person per accident for medical expense benefits. Under current law, basic policies must provide $15,000 per person per accident, except that, medical expense benefits shall be paid in an amount not to exceed $250,000 under certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| S522 | Requires ballot question on approval of State bond issue to disclose total amount of debt of State or other entity, debt service on which is funded through annual State appropriation. | This bill provides that whenever a law authorizing the issuance of State general obligation debt is submitted to the people for their approval, as required by the State Constitution, the interpretive statement appearing on the ballot with that public question shall include a recitation of the total amount of debts and liabilities outstanding of the State, any State agency or instrumentality, and any other entity, to which is pledged an annual State appropriation as the ways and means to pay the interest on and discharge the principal of such debts or liabilities. This recitation of the amount of outstanding debts and liabilities is required to be current as of June 30 of the year preceding the year in which the public question is submitted. | In Committee |
| S881 | 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 |
| S532 | Reforms procedures concerning provision of affordable housing; repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act." | The bill reforms the State's affordable housing laws, and simplifies the mechanisms for determining compliance with the "Fair Housing Act," ("FHA") P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.). This legislation codifies the dissolution of the Council on Affordable Housing ("COAH"), established pursuant to the FHA, and transfers responsibility for FHA administration to the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA"). The bill advances the conclusion of the 2010 Housing Opportunity Task Force that simply requiring 10 percent of prospective residential growth to be affordable would be more effective in producing affordable units than the more complex current system. The bill also repeals the "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act," enacted as sections 32 through 38 of P.L.2008, c.46 (C.40:55D-8.1 through C.40:55D-8.7). The bill directs municipalities to apply to DCA to determine inclusionary status. The bill directs DCA to designate municipalities as inclusionary if: (1) at least 7.5 percent of its total present housing stock is price-restricted; (2) at least one-third of its housing stock can be categorized as either single-family attached, mobile homes, multiple dwellings, or other housing units that are affordable to low and moderate income households; or (3) the municipality adopts zoning ordinances or incorporates new standards into its master plan that contain an analysis of existing housing stock, and an affordable housing plan, consisting of 10 percent set-aside requirements for certain new residential developments, or alternative requirements. For municipalities that choose to address their affordable housing obligation through a 10 percent set-aside requirement, the bill enables those municipalities to address that obligation through alternate means, consisting of:(1) permitting inclusionary units to be newly constructed off-site; (2) permitting the required inclusionary units to be provided off-site by rehabilitation of existing substandard units;(3) permitting a developer to pay a fee into the municipal or State affordable housing trust fund, equating to the current average cost of providing one tenant-based State rental assistance subsidy in the same housing region, multiplied by twenty years, in lieu of each inclusionary unit that would otherwise be required;(4) requiring a developer to construct or contribute to the construction of a 100 percent affordable development;(5) permitting construction of elder cottage housing opportunity units;(6) permitting the construction of off-site accessory apartment units affordable to low- and moderate-income households;(7) permitting the purchase and subsidization of units that are subsequently sold or rented to low- and moderate-income households at affordable sale prices or rents; (8) requiring a developer to construct or contribute to the construction of an assisted living residence in which all or a designated number of units are restricted to low- or moderate-income households; (9) permitting the construction of off-site special needs housing;(10) allowing very low income housing and special needs housing units to apply twice as much weight against a set-aside requirement as other affordable units; and (11) other innovative means to provide for a variety and choice of housing opportunities for low and moderate income residents, so long as the municipality is able to demonstrate a source of funding. In municipalities that have not obtained inclusionary status, proposed developments that satisfy the 10 percent set-aside requirement may be deemed inherently beneficial for the purposes of obtaining a zoning variance. Under the bill, municipalities that received substantive certification or the equivalent under prior COAH rules will be considered inclusionary until the end of their approved certification periods. The bill also permits units already transferred through regional contribution agreements ("RCAs") to be credited to the sending municipality for the purposes of determining inclusionary status. Finally, this bill repeals the "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act". This fee has been charged by all municipalities for non-residential construction or improvements, at a rate of two and one-half percent of the equalized assessed value of land and improvements for all new non-residential construction on unimproved lots. The fee also has been charged at a rate of two and one-half percent of the increase in equalized assessed value for additions to existing structures to be used for non-residential purposes. | In Committee |
| S554 | Allows credit against gross income tax for certain eligible taxpayers pursuing education and employment in State. | This bill provides a nonrefundable gross income tax credit in the amount of $1,500 to resident New Jersey taxpayers who graduate from a New Jersey public or private high school and a New Jersey institute of higher education with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and who are employed as full time employees working more than 25 hours per week for a New Jersey employer within two years following graduation from a New Jersey institution of higher education. The bill's gross income tax credit is intended to create an incentive for individuals who graduate from a New Jersey high school to pursue their undergraduate degree in New Jersey and subsequently remain in the State and contribute to the New Jersey economy. The bill provides that an institute of higher education in New Jersey is any public or private not for profit university. Additionally, to graduate from a New Jersey institution of higher graduation means to receive an undergraduate degree. Finally, the taxpayer is eligible to claim this credit during the first five consecutive tax years so long as the employee fulfills the requirements of this bill in each of the tax years that the credit is claimed. | In Committee |
| S562 | Permits municipal police officers to make arrests for any disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense outside the territorial limits of their municipality. | This bill would permit municipal police officers to make arrests for any disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense outside the territorial limits of their municipality. Currently, such officers are only expressly authorized to make arrests for these types of offenses within the territorial limits of their municipality. See N.J.S.40A:14-152. | In Committee |
| S976 | Prohibits deepfake pornography and imposes criminal and civil penalties for non-consensual disclosure. | This bill prohibits the emerging technological phenomenon of sexually "deceptive audio or visual media," commonly known as "deepfakes." Unlike older forms of audio or visual manipulation, the creator of a deepfake uses newer technology such as artificial intelligence with the intent of making it appear, as realistically as possible, that the person being depicted has engaged in activity that did not actually occur. Deepfakes have been intentionally used to embarrass or harass a person, or to cast that person in a false light. When the person being depicted is a child, deepfake technology has the potential to create realistic pornography involving the child. The penalty for non-consensual disclosure of deceptive audio or visual media is the same as for non-consensual disclosure of so-called "revenge porn" under the invasion of privacy statute, which under current law is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The penalty for deceptive audio or visual media depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child is the same as for distributing, possessing, or storing child pornography, which under current law is a crime of the second degree for less than 1,000 items and a crime of the first degree for 1,000 or more items. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. The person depicted in the non-consensual disclosure may also bring a civil action in the Superior Court for invasion of privacy. | In Committee |
| S552 | Permits board of education to accept donations for purpose of providing property tax relief. | This bill authorizes the board of education of any school district to establish a school property tax relief trust fund by resolution. Any trust fund established pursuant to this bill must be used solely for the purpose of reducing or offsetting the amount of property taxes to be collected by the municipalities comprising the school district. The board of education by a majority vote must select a trustee to serve as the fiduciary agent of the trust fund. The trustee has the responsibility of remitting to the tax collector the amount of funding being made available for any school year for the purpose of reducing the amount to be collected in local property taxes. The Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury will provide advice, counsel, and any assistance to any school board in establishing a school property tax relief trust fund. | In Committee |
| SCR61 | Constitutes special committee of Senate and General Assembly entitled "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." | This concurrent resolution constitutes a special committee of the Legislature entitled the "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." The creation of this committee is in response to several news articles highlighting the recommended increase in premiums and periodic charges for the State health care programs and allegations the Governor's Office may have intervened during contract disputes with the State's contractor, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. The committee will review and investigate the recommended increases in the premiums of the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will also investigate allegations that the Governor's Office may have pressured staff at the Department of the Treasury to halt the contract dispute with Horizon and the effort by the department to recoup the $34 million from the contract. Additionally, the committee will review the implementation, if any, of P.L.2019, c.143, which created subaccounts in the State Health Benefits Program Fund and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Fund and also required the State to procure a professional services contract for a third-party medical claims reviewer for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will make recommendations that address this subject. | In Committee |
| S553 | Provides retirement income exclusion under gross income tax for certain persons with income over $3,000 from part-time employment. | This bill provides a retirement income exclusion under the gross income tax for certain persons with income over $3,000 from part-time employment. Under current law, a taxpayer with income not more than $150,000 may exclude certain pension and annuity income from gross income for State tax purposes. In addition, if the taxpayer is over 62 years of age and earned not more than $3,000 in wage or business income, then the taxpayer may also claim an exclusion for other retirement income. For taxpayers with income not more than $100,000, the amount of each exclusion varies based on the taxpayer's filing status, as follows: $100,000 for a married couple filing jointly; $50,000 for a married person filing separately; and $75,000 for an individual filing as a single taxpayer. However, if a taxpayer claims both exclusions, the total value of the combined exclusions may not exceed the amounts otherwise allowable for each separate exclusion (e.g., $100,000, $75,000, or $50,000). Under the bill, a person who otherwise qualifies for the other retirement income exclusion (i.e., a person aged 62 years or older and with gross income not more than $150,000), but earned income over $3,000 from part-time wages, may also receive an exclusion for other retirement income under the gross income tax. The amount of the exclusion would equal: (1) the amount of the exclusion otherwise allowed for other retirement income, as determined based on the taxpayer's filing status (e.g., $100,000, $75,000, or $50,000); minus (2) the product of 2,000 times the minimum hourly wage rate established for the taxable year (e.g., $12 in taxable year 2021); and minus (3) the amount of the pension and annuity income exclusion claimed by the taxpayer for the taxable year, if applicable. For example, a single taxpayer who is 65 years old, earns income less than $100,000, works fewer than 30 hours a week, and does not collect pension income would be allowed an exclusion from gross income of $26,000 in taxable year 2021 (i.e., $50,000 minus $24,000 minus $0 equals $26,000). Consequently, the bill requires the amount of the exclusion to annually decrease as the State's minimum hourly wage increases. The bill also parallels existing law by providing that the exclusion would complement, but not exceed, the amount of the pension and annuity income exclusion that a taxpayer may claim for the taxable year. | In Committee |
| S594 | Prohibits downcoding in health insurance claims. | This bill prohibits a health insurance claims payer from using downcoding in a manner that prevents a health care provider from submitting a health benefits claim for the actual service performed and collecting reimbursement from the payer for that service. The bill applies to health insurance carriers, organized delivery systems, or any agents of a health insurance carrier or organized delivery system doing business in New Jersey. Downcoding refers to the practice of adjusting health benefits claims submitted to a payer to a less complex or lower cost service than the service actually performed so the payer can reimburse a lower amount to the health care provider that submitted the claim. Downcoding may occur where a payer disputes a specific service or contends that the diagnosis did not require the specific service code submitted by the health care provider. Excessive or routine downcoding can significantly reduce revenue for health care providers. Health care providers are already subject to robust State laws concerning fraud relating to health benefits claims. These laws, including the "New Jersey False Claims Act," the "New Jersey Health Care Claims Fraud Act," and the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," penalize health care providers that submit fraudulent claims to a payer. | In Committee |
| SCR26 | Proposes constitutional amendment to require that legislative districts be established in manner that promotes competition between political parties. | This constitutional amendment would provide that, in establishing legislative districts, the Apportionment Commission, while giving due consideration to all other applicable constitutional principles, must establish districts that promote competition between the two major political parties. The goal of the commission is to establish districts such that candidates of the political party receiving the majority of the votes Statewide for each House of the Legislature will be elected to the majority of the seats in the respective House. The commission is required to establish as many competitive districts as possible. A "competitive district" is one in which no political party is favored to win election by more than 10 percentage points. To determine whether a political party is favored to win election by more than 10 percentage points, the commission will use the vote totals of the last two gubernatorial elections in those municipalities comprising an established district as a proxy for actual vote totals in order to estimate the likely results in future legislative elections for each newly established district. The Supreme Court will have original jurisdiction to directly hear a challenge brought by any registered voter on the grounds that the districts drawn by the commission do not sufficiently promote competition. To be successful, any such challenge must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that it is possible to establish more competitive districts than the number established by the commission and those districts are more likely to result in members of the party that receives the most votes Statewide for members of each House constituting a majority in the respective House. If the challenge is successful, the Court will order that the districts proposed by the challenger replace the districts established by the commission. The amendment provides that a "major political party" is a political party whose candidates received the largest number or the second largest number of votes in the most recent gubernatorial election in this State. In addition, the amendment provides that new districts will be established in the next odd-numbered year after the amendment becomes a part of the Constitution and thereafter at the ten-year intervals provided by the Constitution. | In Committee |
| S564 | Increases statute of limitations for prosecution of theft of firearm. | This bill would increase the statute of limitations for theft of a firearm. Under current law, theft of a firearm constitutes a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Generally, prosecution of a crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree is required to be commenced within five years after the crime is committed. Therefore, prosecution for theft of a firearm is to be commenced within five years. This bill would increase the current five-year limitation on prosecuting the crime of theft of a firearm to 10 years. | In Committee |
| S574 | Clarifies circumstances in which school board member may participate in volunteer activities. | This bill clarifies the circumstances in which a member of a board of education may participate in volunteer activities. The bill provides that there is no general prohibition on a school board member volunteering in an activity within the school district he oversees, provided that the board member's participation in the activity does not violate the provisions of the "School Ethics Act," P.L.1991, c.393 (C.18A:12-21 et seq.), and is consistent with the provisions of the bill. The bill specifically prohibits a school board member from participating within the school district in a volunteer activity in which: (1) the board member gives direct orders to school personnel or becomes directly involved in activities or functions that are the responsibility of school personnel or the day-to-day administration of the school district; (2) the board member directs students, school personnel, resources, or funds on a regular, frequent basis; or (3) the board member is directed by school personnel or administration on a regular, frequent basis. Pursuant to Advisory Opinion A10-15, issued on July 28, 2015, the School Ethics Commission determined that these types of volunteer activities are inconsistent with a school board member's role and would violate the provisions of the "School Ethics Act," P.L.1991, c.393 (C.18A:12-21 et seq.). In addition, the bill requires a school board member who volunteers in an activity within the school district to obtain prior consent from the superintendent and other staff who will be overseeing the activity. The board member must also inform relevant staff and others participating in the activity that his involvement is in his individual capacity and not in his official capacity as a board member. These requirements were also outlined by the School Ethics Commission in Advisory Opinion A10-15. | In Committee |
| S523 | Allows physicians to jointly negotiate with carriers over contractual terms and conditions. | This bill provides physicians with the right to engage in joint negotiations over the terms and conditions of their contracts with health insurance carriers, that is, health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial health insurers, and health maintenance organizations. The bill is based on legislation enacted in 2002 (P.L.2001, c.371) that authorized physicians and dentists to engage in joint negotiations with carriers, which legislation expired in 2008. The bill permits two or more independent physicians who are practicing in the geographic service area of a carrier to jointly negotiate with the carrier and engage in related joint activity over the terms and conditions of a proposed contract. The negotiations would be carried out through a joint negotiation representative selected by the physicians to act on their behalf. The terms and conditions that may be the subject of the negotiations include non-fee-related matters which may affect patient care, such as any of the following:· the definition of medical necessity and other conditions of coverage;· utilization management criteria and procedures;· clinical practice guidelines;· preventive care and other medical management policies;· patient referral standards and procedures, including, but not limited to, those applicable to out-of-network referrals;· drug formularies and standards and procedures for prescribing off-formulary drugs;· quality assurance programs;· respective physician and carrier liability for the treatment or lack of treatment of covered persons;· the methods and timing of payments;· other administrative procedures, including, but not limited to, eligibility verification systems and claim documentation requirements for covered persons;· credentialing standards and procedures for the selection, retention and termination of participating physicians;· mechanisms for resolving disputes between the carrier and physicians, including, but not limited to, the appeals process for utilization management and credentialing determinations; · the health benefits plans sold or administered by the carrier in which the physicians are required to participate;· the formulation and application of reimbursement methodology; · the terms and conditions of physician contracts, including, but not limited to, all products clauses, and the duration and renewal provisions of the contract; and· the inclusion or alteration of a contractual term or condition, except when the inclusion or alteration is required by a federal or State regulation concerning that term or condition; however, the restriction shall not limit a physician's rights to jointly petition the federal or State government, as applicable, to change the regulation. In addition, the bill provides that a proposed contract concerning fees and fee-related matters may be subject to joint negotiations if the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, finds that the carrier has substantial market power in its service area and that any of the terms or conditions of the contract with the carrier pose an actual or potential threat to the quality and availability of patient care among covered persons. These matters include, but are not limited to, any of the following:· the amount of payment or the methodology for determining the payment for a health care service, including, but not limited to, cost of living increases;· the conversion factor for a resource-based relative value scale or similar reimbursement methodology for health care services;· the amount of any discount on the price of a health care service;· the procedure code or other description of a health care service covered by a payment and the appropriate grouping of the procedure codes;· the amount of a bonus related to the provision of health care services or a withholding from the payment due for a health care service; and· the amount of any other component of the reimbursement methodology for a health care service. The bill requires that a person or entity proposing to act as a joint negotiation representative shall submit a petition to the Attorney General, for his approval. The petition shall identify the representative, the physicians who the representative will represent, the intended subject matter of the proposed negotiations and other information specified in the bill. Upon submitting the petition, the representative shall pay a fee to the Attorney General, in an amount determined by the Attorney General, which shall be reasonable and necessary to cover the costs associated with carrying out the provisions of this bill. After the joint negotiation representative and the carrier have reached an agreement on the contractual terms or conditions that were the subject matter of their negotiations, the representative shall submit a copy of the proposed contract between the physicians and the carrier to the Attorney General, for his approval. The Attorney General shall provide written approval or disapproval of a petition or a proposed contract furnished by the representative no later than 30 days after receipt of the petition or proposed contract. The bill provides that a joint negotiation representative shall not engage in negotiations with a carrier unless the representative's petition has been approved in writing by the Attorney General, and a proposed contract between physicians and a carrier negotiated under this bill shall not be implemented unless the Attorney General has approved the contract. The bill further provides that either party may decline to negotiate or terminate negotiations. In either event, the representative shall so notify the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall approve a petition or a proposed contract if he determines that the petition or proposed contract demonstrates that the benefits which are likely to result from the proposed joint negotiations or contract, as applicable, outweigh the disadvantages attributable to a reduction in competition that may result from the proposed joint negotiations. In making his determination, the Attorney General shall consider physician distribution by specialty and its effect on competition in the geographic service area of the carrier. The bill provides that its provisions shall not be construed to:· permit two or more physicians to jointly engage in a coordinated cessation, reduction or limitation of the health care services which they provide;· permit two or more physicians to meet or communicate in order to jointly negotiate a requirement that at least one of the physicians, as a condition of participation with a carrier, be allowed to participate in all of the products offered by the carrier;· permit two or more physicians to jointly negotiate with a carrier to exclude, limit or otherwise restrict a non-physician or health care provider from participating in the carrier's health benefits plan based substantially on the fact that the health care provider is not a physician, unless that exclusion, limitation or restriction is otherwise permitted by law;· prohibit or restrict activity by physicians that is sanctioned under federal or State law or subject such activity to the requirements of this bill;· affect governmental approval of, or otherwise restrict activity by, physicians that is not prohibited under federal antitrust law; or· require approval of physician contract terms to the extent that the terms are exempt from State regulation under ERISA. The bill provides that its provisions shall not apply to a health benefits plan which is certified by the Commissioner of Human Services to the Attorney General as providing covered services exclusively or primarily to persons who are eligible for Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare. The bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, to report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than four years after its effective date on its implementation, and to include in that report an assessment of the impact that the bill has had on health insurance premiums in the State. The report shall also include the Attorney General's recommendations as to whether the provisions of the bill shall be expanded to include other types of health care professionals and facilities. The bill repeals P.L.2001, c.71 (C.52:17B-196 et seq.), which expired in 2008. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment. | In Committee |
| SCR30 | Proposes constitutional amendment prohibiting any student from being compelled to attend public school other than one nearest to student's residence. | This constitutional amendment would prohibit compelling any student to attend a public school other than the public school nearest to the student's residence and which is located within the school district in which the student resides, provided the public school provides the course of study which the student is pursuing. | In Committee |
| S545 | Imposes daily fine of $250 upon each member of Legislature during state of emergency due to failure to enact annual appropriations law. | This bill would impose a daily fine of $250 to be paid by each member of the Legislature during a state of emergency that is declared due to the failure to enact a general appropriation law as prescribed by Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution. The fine will be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit into the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| S1966 | Revises health insurance coverage requirements for treatment of infertility. | This bill updates current law on health insurance coverage of infertility by requiring certain health insurance carriers (including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, commercial group health insurance providers, and any entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) to cover infertility services for a partner of a person who has successfully reversed a voluntary sterilization. The bill also requires health insurance carriers to cover any services related to infertility in accordance with American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines and as determined by a physician, including intrauterine insemination, genetic testing, in vitro fertilization using donor eggs, in vitro fertilization where the embryo is transferred to a gestational carrier or surrogate, and unlimited embryo transfers, in accordance with guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and any other services related to infertility recommended by a physician. Additionally, the bill revises the current statutory definition of "infertility" and adds a definition of "treatment of infertility." The bill also provides that nothing in the definition of "infertility" may be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation and prohibits health insurance carriers from imposing restrictions concerning the coverage of infertility services based on age. Finally, the bill excludes coverage for infertility services if an individual's infertility resulted solely from a voluntary unreversed sterilization; provided, however, that coverage for infertility services shall not be excluded if the voluntary sterilization is successfully reversed. | Dead |
| SCR29 | Proposes amendment to Constitution to describe manner in which Legislature will provide for maintenance and support of thorough and efficient system of free public schools. | This proposed amendment to the Constitution states that the Legislature, through the enactment of laws, will determine the components of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools, and how such a system will be funded. The financing mechanism would include the amount that should be funded locally, as well as by the State. State funding provided for education must be equitable, take student and community needs into consideration, and not result in significant disparities in per student funding across different communities. However, the constitutional provision is not to be construed as establishing a minimum or maximum funding level. Additionally, the State would not be required to consider the amount of funding provided to a community in prior years when determining State funding in subsequent years. | In Committee |
| S573 | Creates disorderly persons offense of purporting to be public utility employee to gain access to residence. | Creates disorderly persons offense of purporting to be public utility employee to gain access to residence. | In Committee |
| S546 | Raises mandatory retirement age for SPRS members from 55 to 60. | This bill raises the mandatory retirement age for members of the State Police Retirement System from 55 to 60. | In Committee |
| S544 | Provides for public comment period at certain sessions of each house of the Legislature. | This bill would amend the "Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act," P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-6 et seq.) to require the Senate and General Assembly to each set aside a portion of a session of that house at least four times a year for public comment. Currently, the law requires municipal governing bodies and boards of education, but not other public bodies, to allow a period for public comment at each public meeting. The bill would require that each house adopt reasonable rules governing the order and conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules for designating the session at which public comment will be taken, the maximum time allotted to each speaker, the number of speakers per comment period, maintaining order and decorum, and prohibiting personal comments concerning named individuals. | In Committee |
| S550 | Eliminates provision in bias intimidation statute concerning victim's perception of defendant's purpose; replaces provision with language concerning a "reasonable" victim. | This bill would eliminate a provision in the bias intimidation statute, N.J.S.2C:16-1, concerning the victim's perception of the defendant's purpose. In a 2015 decision the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that this provision is unconstitutional. Currently, subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:16-1 provides that a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits an enumerated offense under any of the following circumstances: (1) with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity; or (2) knowing that the conduct constituting the offense would cause an individual or group of individuals to be intimidated because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity; or (3) under circumstances that caused a victim . . . to be intimidated and the victim . . . reasonably believed either that (a) the offense was committed with a purpose to intimidate the victim or any person or entity in whose welfare the victim is interested because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity, or (b) the victim or the victim's property was selected to be the target of the offense because of the victim's race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity. In State v. Pomianek, 221 N.J. 66 (2015), the Supreme Court held that paragraph (3) of subsection a. violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court ruled that paragraph (3) "is sufficiently vague that a person of reasonable intelligence cannot discern the dividing line between criminal and lawful behavior. A line that moves based on the victim's perceptions, however reasonable and perhaps mistaken, does not give adequate notice of what is prohibited . . . " This bill would eliminate the provision concerning the victim's perception and replace it with language concerning a "reasonable" victim. Similar language concerning a "reasonable" victim is set out in the stalking statute, subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10), and was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Gandhi, 201 N.J. 161 (2008). Under the bill, a person would be guilty of the crime of bias intimidation pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:16-1 if he commits an enumerated crime "under circumstances that would cause a reasonable individual or group of individuals to be intimidated because of the individual's or group's race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity." | In Committee |
| S547 | Prohibits entity that receives grant from New Jersey State Council on Arts from scheduling educational courses on days when local school district is closed for religious holiday. | This bill provides that an entity that receives a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for any purpose cannot hold, within the 12-month period following the receipt of the grant, any educational course, class, or lecture on those days when the schools in the school district, in which the course, class, or lecture is held, are closed for a religious holiday. This will apply to any course, class, or lecture that requires in-person attendance or that is held on-line. If a course, class, or lecture is held on-line, it cannot be held on the days that the schools in the school district in which the entity is located are closed for a religious holiday. This will apply to a course, class, or lecture for which the public is charged a fee or that is offered free of charge. | In Committee |
| S894 | Requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with certain safety features. | This bill requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with: a video camera on the interior of the school bus to monitor student safety; a global positioning system that provides information about the location and speed of each school bus in real time; and two-way communications equipment. The bill requires a school bus driver to comply with the provisions of law that prohibit a school bus driver from using a cellular or other wireless telephone while operating a school bus. The bill provides that video footage and global positioning system data collected from a school bus video camera and global positioning system are not to be considered government records. Under the bill, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, is to promulgate rules concerning the installation and use of the video cameras, global positioning systems, and two-way communications equipment; the use of data collected from the global positioning systems; and the retention of video footage, including, but not limited to, the minimum and maximum amount of time that the footage may be retained. The bill is inspired by Emma, a non-verbal, special needs student who experienced a stressful and upsetting event when her bus driver became lost for several hours while transporting her, and fellow students, to school. The experience was traumatic for Emma, who was unaware of where the school bus was going and was unable to communicate with the school bus driver. The bill seeks to prevent similar traumatic events from occurring in the future. | In Committee |
| S572 | Grants immunity from civil liability to persons reporting information concerning crimes related to terrorism. | This bill provides that a person who reports information to a law enforcement official or law enforcement agency concerning the commission or suspected commission of a crime related to terrorism, or a conspiracy to commit any crime related to terrorism, shall have immunity from any civil liability on account of the report, unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose. Under the bill, crimes related to terrorism include, but are not limited to, terrorism, section 2 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-2); producing or possessing chemical weapons, biological agents or nuclear or radiological devices, section 3 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-3); hindering apprehension or prosecution for terrorism, section 4 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-4); soliciting or providing material support or resources for terrorism, section 5 of P.L.2002, c.26 (C.2C:38-5); terroristic threats, N.J.S.2C:12-3; causing or risking widespread injury or damage, N.J.S.2C:17-2; and causing damage to a nuclear plant with the purpose to cause or threat to cause release of radiation, section 1 of P.L.1983, c.480 (C.2C:17-7). | In Committee |
| S548 | Expands deadline for filing financial disclosure statements by candidates for Governor and member of Legislature. | Under current law, every candidate for the office of Governor and every candidate for the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly is required to file a financial disclosure statement on or before the 10th day following the last day for filing a petition to appear on the ballot in the primary election. Under current law, that day is early in April. The bill changes the day for filing the financial statement by the Governor to on or before the 30th day following the last day for filing a petition to appear on the ballot in the primary election. For candidates for the office of member of the Senate or General Assembly, the deadline is changed to the day that members of the Senate and General Assembly are required to file a financial disclosure statement with the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, pursuant to the legislative code of ethics. At present, that day is May 15th of each year. The bill is based on a recommendation made by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, which receives the candidate financial disclosure statements. In an Annual Report, the commission noted that changing the date will provide "candidates with more time in which to carefully complete these forms, along with a less confusing due date, [which] will enhance compliance and disclosure with the law." | In Committee |
| S58 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| S576 | Requires anti-bullying policy of public schools to include provision requiring principal to make preliminary determination and meet with parents of students involved in alleged bullying incident for that determination; extends time for investigating incident. | Current law requires each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying. Under these policies, after an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying has been reported to the principal, he must inform the parents and guardians of all students involved in the alleged incident. This bill specifies that the policy must also include a provision that requires the principal to make a preliminary determination as to whether a reported incident or complaint is a report of an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying as those terms are defined by law, prior to initiating an investigation. The policy must also provide that the principal hold a separate meeting with the parents or guardians of each student involved in the alleged incident within seven days of informing them of the alleged incident, in order to assist the principal in making the preliminary determination. The bill also provides that the investigation of the alleged incident must be completed no later than 30 days from the date the written report of the incident is provided to the principal. Current law requires the investigation to be completed no later than 10 days from the date the written report is provided. This bill extends the time frame to allow a sufficient time period for the principal to hold the meetings with the parents or guardians and make a preliminary determination regarding the alleged incident. | In Committee |
| S551 | Provides for payment of balance of salary to municipal administrator to be withheld if removed immediately for "good cause." | This bill amends N.J.S.40A:9-138 and provides that in the case of immediate removal of a municipal administrator by means of a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the governing body, any unpaid balance of the administrator's salary, and the administrator's salary for the next three calendar months may be withheld following adoption of the resolution provided that the municipal administrator was removed for "good cause." This bill defines "good cause" as an accusation of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude or the violation of any code of ethics in effect within the municipality. This bill also amends P.L.1981, c.465 and defines "good cause" as an accusation of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude, the violation of the provisions of section 17-14, 17-15, 17-16, 17-17 or 17-18 of P.L. 1950, c. 210 (C. 40:69A-163 through 40:69A-167), or the violation of any code of ethics in effect within the municipality. In the event of immediate removal of the municipal administrator this bill provides that payment shall be made when a court of competent jurisdiction renders its final adjudication and finds that no crime or offense was committed. If the act upon which removal for good cause is based does not warrant intervention by the court, payment shall only be made following a finding of no wrongdoing issued as the result of an investigation by a competent and disinterested party. | In Committee |
| S521 | Increases amount of, and income limit for eligibility to receive, senior citizens' and disabled persons' property tax deduction. | This bill increases both the amount of the annual senior citizens' and disabled persons' property tax deduction, and the annual income limit for eligibility to receive that annual deduction. Currently, the Constitution, and the enabling statute, N.J.S.A.54:4-8.41, limits to $10,000 the amount of income that can be earned annually in order to qualify for the senior citizens' and disabled persons' property tax deduction, and limits the amount of that property tax deduction to $250 per year. This bill would increase the annual income limit to $25,000, and the amount of the deduction to $500, beginning in 2015. However, the provisions of the bill would only take effect on the 30th day immediately following the approval by the voters of the State of a constitutional amendment to revise the income limit, and the amount of the property tax deduction, as set forth in the bill. The income limit was last increased in 1983, from $9,000 to $10,000, and the amount of the property tax deduction also was last increased in 1983, from $225 to $250. | In Committee |
| S615 | Provides a gross income tax deduction for veterinarian expenses. | This bill provides a gross income deduction for veterinarian expenses. Specifically, the bill allows a taxpayer to deduct up to $2,500 in nonreimbursed veterinarian expenses incurred by the taxpayer for the examination and care of their pet during the taxable year. | In Committee |
| S528 | Requires Director of Division of Taxation to study impact of State business income taxes on business out-migration, business formation, and employment. | This bill directs the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury ("director") to engage in a continuous study of the impact of New Jersey business income taxes on business out-migration, business formation, and employment and create a Tax Policy Impact Report for annual submittal to the Governor and Legislature. In conducting the study, the director would examine data available from corporation, partnership, and other appropriate New Jersey income tax returns. The Tax Policy Impact Report would consist of the study's findings and recommendations, including whether any State or local tax laws or policies may be modified to improve the State's business climate and decrease the financial impact of taxes on businesses residing in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S526 | Requires notice prior to lapse of life insurance policy due to nonpayment of premium. | This bill requires an insurer to provide notice to the holder of an individual life insurance policy, and any producer of record on that policy, that the policy will lapse due to nonpayment of premium. The notice must be provided to the holder and any producer of record at least 10 days prior to the lapse of the policy and shall be accomplished by regular mail, electronic mail, and telephone to the holder of the life insurance policy and any producer of record, as appropriate, based on information provided by the insured and the producer and on record with the insurer. The notice required by the bill shall be in addition to any other notice concerning nonpayment of premium or lapse of the life insurance policy required under the terms of the policy. | In Committee |
| S1476 | Creates "New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act." | This bill establishes the New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act. The bill regulates the safe distribution and sale of kratom products and provides the necessary definitions for purposes of effectuating the act. The bill defines "kratom" as the tropical evergreen known as the Mitragyna speciose that is native to Southeast Asia that contains the alkaloid mitragynine, which has stimulant and opioid-like properties. The bill establishes that a kratom retailer shall disclose on the label that the product is a kratom product. The information disclosed on the label shall be regulated by the Department of Health. The Department of Health may also establish fees for registration of kratom products and may establish administrative penalties for any person who sells a kratom product with out product registration. Lastly, the bill establishes penalties and prohibitions on kratom retailers. Retailers shall not distribute or sell any kratom product to an individual under 21 years of age. If a retailer so distributes to an individual less than 21 years of age, the retailer shall be guilty of a petty disorderly offense. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 30 days in prison, or up to a $500 penalty, or both Further, a kratom retailer shall not prepare, distribute, sell, or expose for sale: (i) any kratom product that is adulterated with a dangerous non-kratom substance; (ii) any kratom product that is contaminated with a dangerous non-kratom substance, including, but not limited to, a controlled dangerous substance as defined in the New Jersey Statutes; (iii) any kratom product containing a level of 7-hydroxymitragynine in the alkaloid fraction that is greater than 2% of the overall alkaloid composition; (iv) any kratom extract that surpasses the standards in USP-NF chapter 467; (v) any kratom product containing any synthetic alkaloids; (vi) any kratom product that does not include on its package or label the amount of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine contained in such product. Violators of these rules are subject to a $500 civil penalty for the first offense, $1,000 penalty for the second offense, and in the instance of a third offense, a retailer shall be prohibited from selling kratom products for a period of 3 years. If a retailer sells kratom products during this period, the person shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 30 days in prison, a penalty up to $1,000, or both. Any retailer shall have the right to request a hearing to challenge a penalty. A retailer shall not be subject to penalty or imprisonment if it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the retailer relied in good faith upon the representation of the manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor that the product represented was a kratom product. | In Committee |
| S530 | "New Jersey Respect for Physicians Act;" requires prompt response by insurers to requests for prior authorization of health care services. | This bill, entitled the "New Jersey Respect for Physicians Act" amends the "Health Claims Authorization, Processing and Payment Act" to require health insurance carriers to contact the hospital and physician within four hours to discuss a decision to authorize certain health care services and to reduce the amount of time in which a carrier must respond to requests for prior authorization. In the case of a request for prior authorization for a covered person who will be receiving inpatient hospital services or health care services in an outpatient or other setting, current law requires the insurance carrier to communicate the denial of the request or the limitation imposed on the requested service to the hospital or physician within a time frame appropriate to the medical exigencies of the case, but no later than 15 days following the time the request was made. This bill would reduce that to a time frame appropriate to the medical exigencies of the case but no later than 48 hours following the time the request was made. The bill similarly reduces the amount of additional time permitted if the payer needs additional information. With respect to authorizations for a covered person who is currently receiving inpatient hospital services or care rendered in the emergency department of a hospital, the law would remain the same and a denial or limitation shall be communicated no later than 24 hours following the time the request was made. | In Committee |
| SR33 | 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 |
| SR29 | Urges health insurance providers and prescription drug providers to offer option of speaking to or leaving message for human. | This resolution urges health insurance providers and prescription drug providers that use automated telephone answering services to offer individuals who contact them by telephone during normal business hours the option of pressing zero on their telephone in order to speak to or leave a recorded message for a human telephone operator or representative. | In Committee |
| S571 | Authorizes members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions. | This bill adds members of the New Jersey State Legislature to persons permitted to solemnize marriages. The bill permits every current member to solemnize marriages or civil unions while that person holds office. | In Committee |
| S164 | Requires health benefits coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for insureds aged 21 or younger. | This bill, which amends P.L.2008, c.126, "Grace's Law," removes the specification that health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCare Program) provide coverage for expenses incurred in the purchase of a hearing aid only for covered persons who are 15 years old or younger, and providing instead that they provide coverage for those expenses for covered persons who are 21 year old or younger. The bill allows a health insurer to limit the coverage of a hearing aid to one hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 24 months. The bill also requires that benefits provide coverage of the cost of treatment related to cochlear implants, including procedures for the implantation of cochlear devices and costs for any parts, attachments, or accessories of the device. In addition, the bill supplements P.L.2007, c.103 (C.52:14-17.46.1 et seq.) to require the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission to ensure that every contract purchased by the commission meets the same requirements for hearing aid and cochlear implant coverage as "Grace's Law." | Dead |
| S581 | Establishes offense of reckless trespass involving wild animals; establishes penalties; establishes liability for resulting harm to wild animal. | This bill would establish the offense of reckless trespass involving a wild animal, and establish liability for any resulting harm to the wild animal. "Wild animal" is defined to mean any land or sea animal currently or historically found in the wild, other than a domestic companion animal as defined pursuant to subsection u. of N.J.S.2C:20-1 or domestic livestock as defined pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1), and would include an animal kept or exhibited at a zoo. Under the bill, a person commits reckless trespass involving a wild animal if the person enters a cage, enclosure, or other area where a wild animal is housed or otherwise contained, which the person knows he has no legal authority, license, or permission to enter, and intentionally or unintentionally harasses the wild animal, or is attacked by the wild animal. The offense of reckless trespass involving a wild animal would be classified as follows: (1) a disorderly persons offense if the trespass results in no harm to the wild animal, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; (2) a crime of the fourth degree if injury is caused to the wild animal, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both; or (3) a crime of the third degree if the wild animal is killed, punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The bill also provides that a person convicted of committing the offense, in addition to any other fine, penalty, or restitution which may be imposed by law, would be liable for the cost of any damage to, and loss of, property connected to the reckless trespass, including, but not limited to, the injury or death of the wild animal. If a juvenile committed the offense, the parents or legal guardian of the juvenile would be liable if it was shown that the parents or legal guardian of the juvenile recklessly or negligently allowed the juvenile to commit the reckless trespass. Additionally, the bill provides that the following would not be affirmative defenses to prosecution under the bill: (1) the entry into the cage, enclosure, or other area where the wild animal was housed or otherwise contained was not sufficiently guarded, locked, or otherwise made inaccessible so as to prevent entry into the cage, enclosure, or other area; (2) the wild animal was not provoked by any other means than the presence of the person in the cage, enclosure, or other area; or (3) injury to the animal was necessary to protect the person from injury or death. Finally, the bill indicates that the newly established offense of reckless trespass involving a wild animal would not apply to a person who enters a cage, enclosure, or other area for the purpose of aiding another person or a wild animal in the cage, enclosure, or other area. | In Committee |
| S557 | Prohibits certain provisions in liability insurance policies. | This bill prohibits an insurer from including in a liability insurance policy a provision that provides that the insurer will not be liable for any loss for any claim based upon the fact that the loss or claim is similar to any fact, circumstance, situation, transaction, event, or wrongful act underlying or alleged in a separate proceeding or claim. Certain insurance policies include provisions that state that the insurer will not be liable for any loss for any claim based upon or arising out of any same or substantially same or similar fact, circumstance, situation, transaction, event, wrongful act or related wrongful act underlying or alleged in such demand, suit, or other proceeding. In effect, such a provision allows the insurer to deny coverage based on the mere fact that a similar, but unrelated, event to the one being alleged in a claim may have occurred. For example, a medical malpractice insurer could attempt to deny coverage for an alleged claim of medical malpractice based upon a similar occurrence in an unrelated case. This bill is intended to prohibit such a provision, sometimes referred to as an "interrelated wrongful act clause" or "prior and pending proceeding clause," in liability insurance policies as it relates to a similar fact, circumstance, situation, transaction, event, or wrongful act underlying or alleged in a separate, unrelated proceeding or claim. | In Committee |
| S566 | Establishes threats of violence against prosecutors, law enforcement officers and their family members as a second degree crime, subject to the No Early Release Act sentencing. | This bill upgrades the crime of threatening to physically harm a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, or a member of their family to a crime of the second degree. Under the provisions of the bill, a person who threatens to kill or cause physical harm to a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, or a member of their family with the purpose of putting that prosecutor or law enforcement officer in imminent fear of the threatened victim being killed or physically harmed is guilty of a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to ten years; a fine of up to $150,000, or both. The bill also provides that anyone convicted of the crime of threatening to physically harm a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, or a member of their family is subject to sentencing under the "No Early Release Act" (section 2 of P.L.1997, c.117; C.2C:43-7.2). A person sentenced under the "No Early Release Act" is required to serve a minimum of 85% of his court imposed sentence before becoming eligible for parole. | In Committee |
| S1491 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| S582 | 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 |
| S589 | Allows municipalities to advertise for free on certain bridges and railways overpasses. | This bills allows municipalities to advertise for free on bridges and railway overpasses that are located within the municipality and are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation (department), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), the South Jersey Turnpike Authority (SJTA), or the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation), if approved by the department and the NJTA, SJTA, or corporation, as applicable. The advertisements would be required to follow perimeters set forth by other State and federal laws, including the State's "Roadside Sign Control and Outdoor Advertising Act." This bill also requires the department to establish an application process for municipalities to advertise on these bridges and railway overpasses. The department is required to transmit the applications to the NJTA, SJTA, or corporation if that entity has jurisdiction over the bridge or railway overpass on which the municipality seeks to advertise. This bill also amends current statutory law to exempt a municipality from needing to obtain a permit for these advertisements, in certain situation, pursuant to the "Roadside Sign Control and Outdoor Advertising Act." | In Committee |
| S738 | Requires motor vehicle rental companies provide 24-hour drop off or return service. | This bill requires motor vehicle rental companies to permit a customer to return a motor vehicle 24 hours per day. Currently, after-hours vehicle returns are not available at all car rental locations or by all rental companies. Unforeseen circumstances, such as traffic or air travel delays, may create conditions that make it problematic for a rented vehicle to be returned within standard business hours. This creates an inconvenience to the customer and, in some cases, an added expense. This bill requires rental companies to develop a method for customers to return vehicles after-hours. A violation of the bill's provisions results in a civil penalty of $2,500 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for any subsequent offense, which may be collected and enforced by the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. | In Committee |
| S586 | Restricts access to motor vehicle accident reports under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes parameters for the distribution of certain accident report information. Under current law, N.J.S.A.17:33A-29, certain information from accident reports is made available by State and local law enforcement to investigators employed by insurers no later than 24 hours following the time of occurrence. This bill would provide that this information would not be available to the general public until after 90 days have elapsed from the date of the accident, with certain exceptions. This bill also amends R.S.39:4-131 with regard to the form for an accident report which is prepared by the Motor Vehicle Commission and supplied to police departments. Under current law these accident reports are not considered privileged or confidential and every citizen has a right to inspect and copy these reports. The bill would delay the availability of such information to the general public until after 90 days have elapsed from the date of the accident, with certain exceptions. The persons exempt from the 90-day delay period are: (1) investigators and claim representatives employed by insurers; (2) vehicle owners, operators, or passengers listed in the accident report or an authorized representative of such identified person; (3) employees of a law enforcement agency or other governmental employees authorized to investigate or prosecute insurance fraud; (4) any person who claims to have suffered personal injury or property damage as a result of the motor vehicle accident, including pedestrians, or an authorized representative of such person, provided such person or authorized representative identifies with sufficient specificity the time and location of the accident described in the report, upon presentation of appropriate identification and any other information required by the law. In addition, the bill defines "authorized representative" to include: (1) a licensed attorney retained by and acting under the express authorization of a person listed in the accident report or the express authorization of a person who claims to have suffered personal injury or property damage as a result of the motor vehicle accident, or an employee of such attorney, who provides written documentation demonstrating that the attorney has been retained to represent such person; or (2) the next of kin of any person whose death or incapacitation results from the motor vehicle accident. | In Committee |
| S570 | Permits veterans, for civil service purposes, to be defined as a veteran or disabled veteran under federal or State definition of veteran. | Under current law, a veteran is eligible for a civil service hiring preference, if the person served during specified dates or in specified locations, and in some instances, for a specific length of time. This bill permits persons who served in the active military of the Armed Forces of the United States and apply for civil service preference on or after the date of enactment of the bill to be defined as a "veteran" or "disabled veteran" for civil service preference, under the federal or the State definitions of "veteran" or "disabled veteran." This bill will not impact the eligibility status of any veteran currently eligible for a civil service preference. The bill will expand the number of veterans eligible for a civil service preference. | In Committee |
| S584 | Requires MVC waiver of motorcycle road test for certain veterans. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to waive the motorcycle road test for a motorcycle license applicant who provides documentation of honorable discharge from a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and successful completion of a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course on any United States military base. | In Committee |
| S1671 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S591 | Permits retired judges to practice law while receiving pension or retirement allowance. | This bill removes the statutory prohibition on retired judges from engaging in the practice of law before State courts while receiving a pension or retirement allowance from the Judicial Retirement System. | In Committee |
| S902 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| S2255 | Provides that limitation on lawsuit option does not apply in accidents caused by drunk or reckless drivers. | This bill provides that a person who has chosen the "verbal threshold," or limitation on lawsuit option, under a private passenger automobile insurance policy may nevertheless sue a tortfeasor for noneconomic damages when bodily injury is sustained in an accident if the tortfeasor is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, drunk driving, refusing to take a breathalyzer test, or reckless driving in relation to that accident, even if the verbal threshold requirements have not been met with respect to that injury. | In Committee |
| S592 | Establishes third degree crime of gang assault. | This bill establishes the crime of gang assault. A person commits gang assault, a crime of the third degree, when with intent to cause bodily injury to another person and when aided by two or more other persons actually present, he causes bodily injury to such person or to a third person. Under the bill, "bodily injury" means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. This bill is modeled after New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 120.06. | In Committee |
| S588 | Prohibits certain caller identification service manipulation; makes violation fourth degree crime. | This bill prohibits a person from knowingly making, placing, initiating, or otherwise transmitting a call or text message to a person within this State, and engaging in conduct that results in the display of misleading, false, or inaccurate caller identification information to the receiving party or otherwise circumventing the caller identification service of the receiving party, with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The bill provides, consistent with federal law, several exceptions to the bill's prohibition on caller identification manipulation, including, but not limited to: (1) the use of caller identification manipulation as authorized pursuant to a court order or as determined by the Federal Communications Commission; and (2) the use of caller identification manipulation during the course of any investigative, protective, or intelligence activities performed in connection with official duties, and in accordance with all applicable laws, by any law enforcement agency or intelligence agency of the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state. A person who violates the bill's provisions is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S565 | Creates new motor vehicle offense of engaging in a pattern of aggressive driving. | This bill creates a new motor vehicle offense to be known as "engaging in a pattern of aggressive driving" or "aggressive driving." It is a unique and distinct offense that targets certain violations as part of a single continuous sequence of driving acts. It would recognize the seriousness of aggressive driving by reinforcing the notion that it is a behavioral problem requiring education and more stringent law enforcement and raise its priority among law enforcement, prosecutors and judges. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, by self-reports in polls, one-half of the drivers in New Jersey are angry behind the wheel and/or trying to punish others. Therefore, it is not surprising that across the nation, more than 60 percent of drivers recently surveyed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that aggressive driving is a threat to them or their families. The new offense of committing a pattern of aggressive driving refers to either:· Two or more forms of aggressive driving engaged in simultaneously or in succession; or· Three or more successive acts of any one form of aggressive driving. To qualify as such an offense, the acts must be committed in close proximity to another vehicle during a single, continuous period of driving over the course of up to five miles. The bill includes, as acts of aggressive driving:· Driving 25 miles per hour or more over the speed limit· Tailgating· Improper or erratic lane changes· Unsafe passing off the roadway· Failing to yield the right of way· Violating traffic control devices such as lights and signs Audible verbal threats or insults, flashing of headlights and use of demeaning gestures at persons driving lawfully when designed to show anger, or to intimidate or threaten. The penalties in the bill are based conceptually on recommendations from a 1999 national symposium organized by the National Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. The symposium's "break-out group" recommended that states consider, among other things, that:· a conviction for an aggressive driving violation involve a significant number of points and/or minimum license suspension; and· enhanced penalties should accompany repeat violations or those that cause injury or death.Penalties in the bill range from a 15 to 30 day suspension and/or attendance in an aggressive driving and/or anger management class for a first offense to 60 to 90 day suspension and/or $1000 to $3000 fine for a second or subsequent offense within 24 months or one that causes significant injury or death to another person. There would be no plea bargaining. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Highway Traffic Safety, is required to conduct public education campaigns about the danger of aggressive driving and the content of the new law and promote the reporting of aggressive drivers on the State's toll-free telephone line. It would periodically report citations for aggressive driving to the legislative leadership and make recommendations for legislative amendments to the relevant standing committees. The bill also amends R.S.39:4-85 by modifying an antiquated half-century old requirement that prohibits all passing on the right when off the pavement or "main-traveled portion" of a highway. Passing a vehicle safely on the right on a two-lane road when another vehicle directly in front is making a left would not be considered a form of aggressive driving under the bill. | In Committee |
| S555 | Provides gross income tax deduction for certain donated vehicles. | This bill allows a taxpayer to deduct from gross income the fair market value of a qualified vehicle that the taxpayer donates to a State or local law enforcement agency in the taxable year. A State or local law enforcement agency that accepts the donation of a qualified vehicle shall provide the taxpayer written acknowledgment that includes the name of the taxpayer; the make, model, and year of the vehicle; the vehicle or other identification number; and, if the value of the vehicle is greater than $500, the fair market value of the vehicle based on an independent appraisal provided by the taxpayer. Under the bill, a State or local law enforcement agency is not required to accept any vehicle offered as a donation. | In Committee |
| S549 | Makes it a fourth degree crime to engage in certain tracking and location activities. | This bill would make it a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for a person, in order to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act, to knowingly install or place, or cause to be installed or placed, an electronic tracking device or tracking application to track or determine the location of another person. The bill defines an "electronic tracking device" as "any device designed or intended to be used for the sole purpose of tracking the location or movement of a person that reveals its location or movement by the transmission of electronic signals"; and a "tracking application" as "any computer application software installed or otherwise operational on a computer or mobile device that is used to surreptitiously track and transmit to another person the movement or determine the location of the computer or mobile device." There would be a permissive inference (for consideration by a jury) that the use of a tracking device or application to conduct surreptitious surveillance of another person was to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act, such as stalking pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10) or harassment pursuant to N.J.S.2C:33-4. The bill would exempt actions involving State or local government entities and equipment owned, leased, or operated by those entities, as the bill indicates that the provisions which criminalize tracking or location spotting activities would not be applicable. The bill also provides that several enumerated parties, and in some cases specific uses tied to those parties, would be deemed to be lawful tracking or location spotting of a person. These parties and their lawful uses would include: - a parent or guardian of a minor child for the purpose of tracking or determining the location of the minor child; - for the purpose of monitoring, tracking, or locating a person who, due to a physical or mental health condition, may be at risk of injury or death; - a person in order to track or locate personal property during a lawful business transaction in which the person's personal property is in the temporary possession or otherwise under the control of a third party; - a person collecting consumer location data as part of a lawful business practice, so long as the use is disclosed in a terms of use policy, privacy policy, or similar document or form made available to the consumer; - an employer for the purpose of tracking an employee or vehicle used by an employee while engaged in the course of employment when not prohibited by State or federal law or regulation. The bill adds that a failure by an employer to comply with the written notice requirement to use a tracking device in a vehicle used by an employee in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2021, c.449 (C.34:6B-22) or failure to comply with any other requirements in order to track an employee or vehicle used by an employee pursuant to another State or federal law or regulation would only be considered a violation of that law or regulation, and not punishable as a crime pursuant to this section; and - any person who has obtained the consent of the person to be tracked or located, which consent would be required to be provided in writing, in the case of an electronic tracking device, or, in the case of a tracking application, by opting-in to or otherwise affirmatively accepting its use. A person's consent would be presumed to be revoked if:the person who gave consent and the person who obtained consent are spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners, and one person has filed a petition for divorce, dissolution of the civil union, or termination of the domestic partnership; or - the person who gave consent or the person who obtained consent has filed an application for a temporary or final restraining order pursuant to the provisions of the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.). The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment. | In Committee |
| S587 | Creates office to advocate for consumers on insurance issues. | This bill creates an Office of the New Jersey Consumer Insurance Advocate, to be in, but not of, the Division of Insurance in the Department of Banking and Insurance. The position of advocate is to be filled through an appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years and to be performed at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. Any vacancy occurring in the position of advocate is to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If the advocate is unable for any reason to serve a full term of office, the Governor may designate an acting advocate until a successor is appointed and qualified. The advocate is to have at least a baccalaureate degree and five years' experience in property and casualty or life and health insurance, which may include experience as a broker or an agent. Under the bill, the individual appointed is to advocate on behalf of consumers in the State, including before the State Legislature, the Executive and Judicial branches of the State, and any political subdivisions, on matters regarding any line of insurance provided for in New Jersey law. | In Committee |
| S2014 | Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, a report that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| S525 | Reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three years. | The bill reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three taxable years. The purpose of this bill is to lower the gross income tax liabilities of all New Jersey gross income taxpayers while tempering the steep progressivity of the gross income tax liability structure. The bill schedules the gross income tax rate reductions to occur at three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2013, an additional three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2014, and an additional three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2015. After 2015, the bill maintains the total ten percent gross income tax rate reduction for future taxable years. | In Committee |
| S529 | Requires Governor and legislative leaders to meet together quarterly. | This bill requires the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly to meet together at the State House in Trenton at least once each quarter of each calendar year for a period of time of not less than two hours. The initial portion of any meeting will be private. The private portion of a meeting will be followed by a portion that is open to the public. The Governor and each legislative leader will discuss the state of the State, pending legislation, ideas for legislation, public policy issues, and any matter that may be of interest to the people of this State. The Governor and each legislative leader will have the opportunity to speak. During the public portion of any meeting the Governor and each legislative leader will report to the public on the state of the State and, at the discretion of that individual, may accept and respond to questions from members of the public. The Governor and each legislative leader must attend in person every meeting for the duration thereof and may not be represented by any other person. | In Committee |
| S1387 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| S533 | Requires transportation capital project and infrastructure safety inspections to continue if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by State Constitution. | This bill provides that in the event that a state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact a general appropriation law by the deadline prescribed by Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution, the safety inspections of existing transportation infrastructure and newly constructed transportation infrastructure that are funded by the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, will continue to be funded. All State employees that have been designated as necessary to conduct safety inspections are to be considered essential personnel. | In Committee |
| S2016 | Appropriates $70 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. | This bill appropriates $70 million in federal funds to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations, including for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations, that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill, the EDA, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (council), would be required to award $50 million in grants to support the financial recovery, resiliency, and growth of qualifying arts and culture organizations. However, of this total, $10 million in grants would be dedicated to arts education organizations that provide programs and services for public schools or afterschool programs. Specifically, these grants may be used to offset any revenue losses that occurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic or provide the cash reserves necessary to ensure continued operations in the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns. Additionally, the bill requires the EDA, in consultation with the council, to award $20 million in grants to qualifying arts and culture organizations to support the completion of placemaking projects in public spaces. Under the bill, placemaking projects would include any creative or artistic project intended to beautify or enrich public spaces, such as artistic paintings on roadways or sidewalks, landscape plantings in public areas, educational signage, and other artistic, cultural, or educational installations. The monies appropriated under the bill would be provided from the State's allocation of funds from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021". | In Committee |
| S558 | Classifies golf caddies as independent contractors for purposes of State employment laws. | This bill provides that a person who performs caddie services for a fee or other compensation on a golf course is considered an independent contractor for purposes of State employment law. The bill exempts from coverage under various employment laws of the State any services performed by a golf caddie for a fee or other compensation on a golf course. The exempted golf caddie would not be subject to various taxes and would not be eligible for various benefits. | In Committee |
| S561 | Expands duties of State Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator; establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public members, to help conduct performance audits. | This bill would require the Office of the State Auditor, at the request of a member of the Legislature, to conduct an unannounced performance audit of any program of a State or State-supported agency. Currently, the Office of the State Auditor conducts financial audits of State or State-supported agencies. In contrast, a performance audit examines the economy, efficiency or effectiveness of a specific program of a State or State-supported agency. A single performance audit may examine some or all of these three components of a program. The bill provides that if the State Auditor determines that a request for a performance audit is beyond the capacity of the office of the State Auditor or otherwise unfeasible, the State Auditor has 30 days to provide a written explanation to the member who initiated the request. If the State Auditor and the member cannot agree on modifications to the proposed audit to make it feasible, the request will be forwarded to the Legislative Services Commission for review. The commission will determine whether the audit will be conducted as requested, as modified by the commission, or not at all. The bill also permits the State Auditor to initiate a performance audit, at his or her own discretion, with the approval of the commission. Finally, the bill provides that when conducting performance audits, the State Auditor will, in addition to using the services of the State Auditor's staff, utilize the services of members of the "Performance Audit Committee," established under the bill. The committee will consist of eight members of the public selected by legislative leadership based upon education and experience in the fields of accounting, business administration, or economics. To require the State Auditor to conduct performance audits would not only make the auditing practices of this State consistent with those in other states but also strengthen the system of checks and balances between the Executive and Legislative Branches of State government by enabling the Legislature to monitor the effectiveness of individual State programs. | In Committee |
| S536 | Allows person calling certain State or local government entities to have option of speaking or leaving a recorded message with a human telephone operator during normal business hours. | This bill requires a State agency or local unit, as those terms are defined in the bill, that is required by law, rule or regulation to provide the public with a telephone number as a point of contact with that agency or local unit or an employee of that agency or local unit, and that employs an automated telephone answering service to meet this requirement, to allow a person who contacts the State agency or local unit, as appropriate, by telephone during normal business hours to have the option of pressing zero on the person's telephone in order to speak or leave a recorded message with a human telephone operator. | In Committee |
| S527 | Requires DEP to establish "private wildlife habitat certification program"; creates affirmative defense against municipal nuisance ordinances for properties certified under the program. | This bill would direct the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to establish a private wildlife habitat certification program. In establishing the program, the commissioner would be authorized to consider any standards used by recognized conservation organizations for purposes of certifying properties as suitable wildlife habitat. A person who registers a property that has been certified under the program, as outlined below, would be entitled to an affirmative defense against any liability for a violation of a municipal ordinance under which the "certified private wildlife habitat," or any component thereof, is deemed, or would be deemed, a nuisance or an otherwise unlawful condition. In establishing a private wildlife habitat certification program, the commissioner would be required to adopt regulations to implement the program. The regulations would establish standards and procedures for the physical inspection of a property and, thereafter, its certification as "certified private wildlife habitat." The regulations would also identify one or more private certifying entities to implement the physical inspection and certification. The certifying entities identified in the regulations could include nonprofit conservation organizations, for-profit landscaping companies, or any other private entities, provided that the commissioner has determined that any such entity possesses the appropriate expertise, qualifications, and resources to assess whether a property satisfies the standards and criteria established for purposes of certifying a property as a "certified private wildlife habitat." The certifying entities would be authorized to charge fees to cover reasonable costs associated with the inspection and certification process. The bill would also require that the regulations promote the use of native plants. In addition, certifying entities would be required to issue to the owner of each certified property a certificate of registration to be filed with the municipality in which the property is located, and a sign for purposes of designating the property as a "certified private wildlife habitat." Under the bill, prior to altering a property for purposes of establishing a "certified private wildlife habitat," the owner of the property would be required to obtain from a certifying entity a certificate of registration and file it with the municipal clerk of the municipality in which the property is located. The municipal clerk would be authorized to charge a fee not to exceed $25 for each certificate of registration filed. A certificate of registration would expire two years after the issue date; however, the bill provides that the property owner could renew a certificate of registration for an additional two years by submitting a written and signed certification affirming that the property continues to comply with all applicable standards and criteria for certified private wildlife habitats and remains substantially unaltered, or has been improved, since the time the initial certificate of registration was issued. The bill would allow for only one such renewal. Upon the expiration of a certificate of registration, a person could apply for a new certificate of registration, which would be issued subject to all the aforementioned standards, procedures, and requirements, including a new physical inspection and new certification of the property by a certifying entity. A person who provides a notice of intent to alter a property for purposes of establishing a "certified private wildlife habitat," and thereafter timely registers the property and maintains an unexpired certificate of registration with a municipality, would be entitled to an affirmative defense against any liability for a violation of a municipal ordinance under which the "certified private wildlife habitat," or any component thereof, is deemed, or would be deemed, a nuisance or an otherwise unlawful condition. The person would be entitled to this affirmative defense from the time of filing the notice of intent, provided that a certificate of registration is indeed obtained and filed within 60 days after the notice of intent. | In Committee |
| S796 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of cancer treatments, tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of treatments, tests, procedures, or prescription drugs covered under a health benefits or prescription drug benefits plan when prescribed for a covered individual who has been diagnosed with cancer. This bill will ensure that cancer patients are not burdened with technical requirements by health benefits providers which employ utilization management review systems that slow down medical care. The sponsor is concerned that complaints from people who need medical treatment are on the rise, and feels that it is time to end the nightmare of the insurance company bureaucracy that is frustrating patients who need care and medicine. The so-called "pre-approval" process, now required by insurance companies, is a nightmare for patients across New Jersey. Historically, doctors would order a treatment, test, or medicine and patients received it. Now, a myriad of bureaucratic obstacles makes patients and doctors pawns in a sad game of insurance-company chess. There are examples of cancer patients waiting for long periods of time to receive treatments or medicine because of a cumbersome and slow approval policy. The sponsor is convinced that it is time for the doctors to make decisions, not insurance companies; it is time for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer to not be burdened with technical requirements by insurance companies that employ systems that slow down medical care and are incredibly frustrating. It is the sponsor's goal that insurance companies pay for what the doctor orders. | In Committee |
| S559 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under health benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under a health benefits plan. | In Committee |
| S535 | Eliminates general purpose, supplemental and mansion realty transfer fees. | This bill eliminates three recently enacted realty transfer fees: the supplemental fee created in 2003 and the general purpose fee and "mansion" fee created 2004. The supplemental fee applies to sellers and consists of a graduated fee, applicable to non-exempt property sales generally. The general purpose fee applies to a seller and consists of a graduated fee, applicable to non-exempt real property exceeding $350,000. The "mansion" fee consists of 1% of the purchase price and applies to buyers of residential property exceeding $1,000,000. The three fees substantially increase cost of buying and selling real property for New Jerseyans. As an example, the total transfer fee costs of selling a $750,000 home is now $6,775. This amount is almost double the $3,525 cost from fiscal year 2003. These realty transfer fees are actually taxes, as they add to the cost of a transaction to increase State revenue, rather than cover a cost of a transaction or service. As such, the realty transfer fees in New Jersey are an abuse of legitimate fee processes. In contrast, the Realty Transfer Tax Act of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is properly called a tax, as it is a state tax on the transaction of transferring realty. The elimination of the fees helps reduce costs to New Jerseyans and makes the New Jersey fee process more legitimate. | In Committee |
| S524 | Eliminates minimum corporation business tax on New Jersey S corporations. | This bill eliminates the minimum corporation business tax on New Jersey S corporations. At present, a New Jersey S corporation is subject to the following minimum corporation business tax according to the amount of its New Jersey gross receipts. New Jersey Gross Receipts: Minimum Tax:Less than $100,000 $500$100,000 or more but less than $250,000 $750$250,000 or more but less than $500,000 $1,000$500,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 $1,500$1,000,000 or more $2,000 The purpose of this bill is to lessen the burden of double taxation upon S corporation shareholders. The bill will apply to privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2010. | In Committee |
| S2257 | Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans. | This bill prohibits health insurers, third party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program from requiring the pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures or prescription drugs covered under a health benefits or prescription drug benefits plan. This bill will ensure that patients who are ill are not burdened with technical requirements by health benefits providers which employ utilization management review systems that slow down medical care. The sponsor is concerned that complaints from people who need medical treatment are on the rise, and feels that it is time to end the nightmare of the insurance company bureaucracy that is frustrating patients who need care and medicine. The so-called "pre-approval" process, now required by insurance companies, is a nightmare for patients across New Jersey. Historically, doctors would order a test or medicine and patients received it. Now, a myriad of bureaucratic obstacles makes patients and doctors pawns in a sad game of insurance-company chess. There are examples of cancer patients waiting for long periods of time to receive medicine because of a cumbersome and slow approval policy. The sponsor is convinced that it is time for the doctors to make decisions, not insurance companies; it is time for patients who are ill to not be burdened with technical requirements by insurance companies that employ systems that slow down medical care and are incredibly frustrating. It is the sponsor's goal that insurance companies pay for what the doctor orders. | In Committee |
| S590 | Establishes registry allowing persons to voluntarily include their names on list of individuals prohibited from owning firearm. | This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish an Internet-based "Do Not Sell" registry to prohibit the sale of firearms to any person residing in this State who has voluntarily requested to be included in the registry. Under the bill, a person would be permitted to voluntarily enter his or her name on the registry and be prohibited from purchasing a firearm. The person's information would be included among the criteria prohibiting a person from purchasing a firearm when a criminal history record background check is conducted. The bill requires the superintendent to ensure that the Internet-based registry verifies the identity of a registered person, prevents unauthorized disclosures of personal information, and informs registered persons of the implications of being included in the registry. Under the bill, a person would be permitted to submit email addresses of personal contacts. The bill requires the registry to be programmed to notify and advise via email the personal contacts that the registered person has included in the registry. The registry also would notify the same personal contacts via email if the registered person subsequently requests to be removed from the registry. The bill allows a person who voluntarily registers to subsequently request through the Internet-based registry to have his or her information removed from the registry. The superintendent would be prohibited from removing the information until 21 days after the person's request. Following the request, the superintendent would be required to destroy all records of the registration, associated transactions, and the request for removal of that individual's name from the registry. Information regarding a person's registration would not be deemed a public record pursuant to the open public records act. The bill requires the Attorney General to prepare and disseminate educational information regarding the "Do Not Sell" registry to each psychiatric facility in the State which would be made available to the public. Under the bill, it would be a crime of the third degree to transfer a firearm to a registered person with knowledge that the person receiving the firearm is included in the registry. In addition, it would be a crime of the third degree to knowingly register another person's information in the registry without that person's consent. A crime of the third degree is punishable by fine of up to $15,000, a term of imprisonment between three and five years, or both. | In Committee |
| S1666 | Removes criminal liability for law enforcement officers who have investigative encounter with underage person for possession of alcohol or cannabis unless civil rights are violated. | This bill provides that a law enforcement officer is not criminally liable for deprivation of civil rights for certain interactions with an underage person who possesses or consumes alcohol, marijuana, or certain cannabis items unless the officer acted with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Under current law, a law enforcement officer, when responding to a call for service or upon the initiation of any other law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation concerning the unlawful possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis item by a person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items, may be guilty of a crime of official deprivation of civil rights under certain circumstances. Current law imposes criminal liability regardless of whether the officer's act was done with the purpose to intimidate or discriminate against a person or group of persons because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity, which motivation is required to be proven for other acts of criminal deprivation of civil rights under section 2 of P.L.2003, c.31 (C.2C:30-6). Under this bill, a law enforcement officer who purposely intimidates or discriminates against an underage person because of the person's race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity by engaging in a law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation concerning the underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or any cannabis would be guilty of deprivation of civil rights. | In Committee |
| SCR28 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit assessment of homestead real property, and allow exemption on up to $50,000 of home's value. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to place a limit on annual assessment increases for homestead real property. Homestead real property, which is the principal residence of the owners of the property, would be assessed at true value as of the January 1 next following the approval by the voters of this proposed amendment, and would then be reassessed annually on each succeeding January 1. Any annual increase in the property's assessment would be limited to 3% or the Consumer Price Index rate, whichever is lower. When a homestead real property changes ownership, the property would be assessed at true value as of January 1 of the year following the change of ownership. Thereafter, any limitations in the annual increase in the assessed value of the property would once again apply until the next time the property changes ownership. The limitations on assessment increases established by this amendment would not apply to an added assessment that results from an improvement. Additionally, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption on up to $50,000 of assessed value. Specifically, this exemption would consist of (1) a full property tax exemption on the first $25,000 of value assessed to a homestead property, and (2) an exemption from all non-school district property taxes on the third $25,000 of value assessed to a homestead property, meaning value assessed between $50,000 and $75,000. | In Committee |
| S540 | Establishes disorderly persons offense for dog owner who fails to remain at scene and provide certain information when dog injures a person. | This bill would make it a disorderly persons offense if a person's dog bites or otherwise injures another person in the dog owner's presence, and the dog owner fails to remain at the scene of the incident until certain information has been provided to the person bitten or otherwise injured by the dog. Specifically, the bill requires a dog owner whose dog bites or otherwise injures another person in the presence of the owner, to remain at the scene of the incident until the owner of the dog provides the person bitten or otherwise injured by the dog with their name, address, and contact information. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:43-3 to the contrary, a person convicted of a disorderly persons offense under the bill will be subject to pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, or to be imprisoned for a term of not more than six months, or both. | In Committee |
| S531 | Provides that limitation on lawsuit option does not apply in accident caused by drunk driver. | This bill provides that a person who has chosen the "verbal threshold," or limitation on lawsuit option, under his private passenger automobile insurance policy could nevertheless sue a tortfeasor for noneconomic damages when bodily injury is sustained in an accident if the tortfeasor is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, drunk driving or refusing to take a breathalyzer test in relation to that accident, even if the verbal threshold requirements have not been met with respect to that injury. | In Committee |
| S556 | Exempts transfers of residential real property between family members from inheritance tax. | This bill amends the New Jersey transfer inheritance tax to eliminate the tax on transfers of residential real property between family members who co-own residential real property. Currently, transfers of property between family members are only exempt from taxation if the family members are spouses, civil union partners, domestic partners, children, legally adopted children, mutually-acknowledged children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and stepchildren. This bill amends the New Jersey transfer inheritance tax to exempt property transfers between certain family members who co-own the residential real property. This bill will take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year next following enactment. | In Committee |
| S579 | Establishes independent State Office of Consumer. | This bill establishes the independent State Office of the Consumer in the Legislative Branch of State Government. The head of the office will be a director who will serve a term of six years. The director will be appointed the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Senate Minority Leader and the Assembly Minority Leader by consensus and be a person qualified by education, training, and prior work experience to direct the work of the office and to perform the duties and functions and fulfill the responsibilities of the position. The Office of the Consumer will be responsible for conducting routine, periodic, and random phone call assessments of local government, school district, and State offices and the offices of regulated health insurance companies by calling those offices to determine the responsiveness and accessibility of the office. The office will also be responsible for periodic assessments of the websites of local government, school district, and State offices and the offices of regulated health insurance companies and by assessing the user-friendliness of the websites. The director will make monthly reports to the Legislature and the Governor that include the frequency and ease of reaching a live person to speak to when calling offices and the ease of finding information and user-friendliness of the websites visited during the reporting period. | In Committee |
| SR49 | 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 |
| S2276 | Prohibits selection of health insurance coverage as primary under personal injury protection coverage. | The bill removes a provision under current law allowing the selection of health insurance coverage as the primary payer for personal injury protection coverage and prohibits that practice. Instead, the bill requires the personal injury protection coverage of the named insured to be the primary coverage for the named insured and any resident relatives in the named insured's household who are not named insureds under an automobile insurance policy of their own. | In Committee |
| S580 | Appropriates $5 million to Cranford Township for flood control projects. | This bill makes a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Environmental Protection to provide Cranford Township in Union County with a grant of $5,000,000 to finance the Cranford Northeast Quadrant Flood Control Project, which includes the following projects: 1) construction of a pumping station to convey storm water into the main channel of the Rahway river; 2) improvements to express and local storm sewers; 3) development of wetland delineation data; and 4) elevation of existing earthen dikes along the Rahway river. While similar legislation appropriating $3,250,000 was enacted in December, 2000 (P.L.2000, c.170), these funds were never utilized, having been subsequently lapsed to the General Fund to help alleviate a State Budget deficit. | In Committee |
| S538 | Requires DOBI to provide compensation to members of self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements under certain circumstances. | This bill requires DOBI to provide compensation to members of self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) under certain circumstances. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance will be required to compensate MEWA members 60 percent of the value of any assessment imposed by the State Superior Court to pay any incurred but unpaid claims and projected claims, if the court determines that the rehabilitation, liquidation, conservation or dissolution of the MEWA is not due to the mismanagement of the MEWA itself. In making a determination of whether the MEWA's liquidation, conservation, rehabilitation or dissolution is not due to the MEWA's own mismanagement, the court shall consider the impact of factors beyond the MEWA's control, including, but not limited to, an epidemic or pandemic or a natural or human-made disaster or emergency. | In Committee |
| S1703 | Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance. | This bill adds $2.35 billion from the General Fund to the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund," and appropriates a total of $4.32 billion from the fund to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of providing funds to each municipality and county in the State to be used by the municipality or county to retire and defease local debt or to fund capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than issuing additional local debt. The total amount of funds appropriated by the bill includes $1.97 billion in currently unallocated balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. Under the bill, $3.0 billion would be allocated to each municipality on an equal per capita basis wherein each municipality receives the same dollar amount per resident. The remaining $1.32 billion appropriated by the bill would be allocated to each county on an equal per capita basis. The bill requires that all funds appropriated by the bill be distributed to each municipality and each county within 30 days of enactment. The State budget has recently benefited from debt reduction and avoidance from prior appropriations to the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention account, though typically only after funds have remained in the account for inordinately long periods of time while inflation destroys its value. Local governments can frequently have significant debt which can be equally or more expensive for taxpayers than State debt. Local governments have compelling infrastructure and capital needs that include, but are not limited to: water, sewer, parks, flooding, storm water, public safety, emergency medical services, community development, and traffic improvements. The State's budgeting process has frequently provided only small and symbolic amounts of assistance towards local infrastructure and capital improvements and only after burdensome, inefficient, and politicized processes that chose winners and losers based on favoritism. The sponsor believes it is sound public policy to quickly and efficiently direct remaining balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund towards debt reduction and avoidance that benefits property taxpayers and all residents of the State through a fair and reasonable allocation process. | In Committee |
| S537 | Requires Governor hold public hearings during declarations under Emergency Health Powers Act. | This bill requires the Governor to hold public hearings when a public health emergency is declared under the Emergency Health Powers Act. The hearings will be held at least once a month and in various parts of the State. Currently, the public has limited opportunity to voice any concerns. This lack of opportunity to voice concerns has become an increasing issue with the prolonged restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Under this bill, the Governor will be required to hold public hearings in various parts of the State to provide for the exchange of information regarding the impact of the declaration on the State and its residents and to provide an opportunity for members of the public to express their concerns regarding the declaration. This bill will apply to any extension or modification of a declaration that was initially issued before the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S2838 | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention and increases penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses; authorizes home detention for minors adjudicated delinquent for motor vehicle theft offenses; establishes Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $7 million. | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention and increases penalties for motor vehicle theft offenses; authorizes home detention for minors adjudicated delinquent for motor vehicle theft offenses; establishes Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $7 million. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 21 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 01/11/2022 | |
| NJ | District 21 | House | Republican | Out of Office | 02/24/2003 | 01/23/2024 |