Legislator
Legislator > Carmen Amato
State Senator
Carmen Amato
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 09
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Forked River Office
620 W. Lacey Road
Forked River, NJ 08731
Forked River, NJ 08731
Phone: 609-693-6700
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S1054 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| S3769 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | In Committee |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Crossed Over |
| S3504 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | This bill would provide that the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is the sole State agency authorized to provide site approval for the construction of a small modular reactor (SMR) in the State. The bill would also authorize the operator of a small modular reactor to store any spent nuclear fuel generated by the reactor on-site. As defined by the bill, "small modular reactor" means a nuclear fission reactor that: (1) has a rated electric generating capacity of no more than 300 megawatts; (2) is capable of being constructed and operated either alone or in combination with one or more similar reactors if additional reactors are or become necessary at a single site; and (3) is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Specifically, the bill would authorize the BPU to provide site approval to an SMR in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill would authorize the BPU to approve a site for an SMR only if it is located in a municipality in which a nuclear energy facility has previously been constructed. The bill would provide that the BPU's site approval would supersede any municipal or county decisions to the contrary. The bill would also require the BPU to develop, within one year after's the bill's enactment, an incentive program to provide financial incentives to support the construction of SMRs in the State. The bill would provide that an SMR's authorization to store spent nuclear fuel would last until the development of a national high-level radioactive waste repository pursuant to the federal "Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982." Under that law, the United States Department of Energy was directed to develop a permanent storage site for radioactive waste, but currently, a permanent storage site for radioactive waste has yet to be developed. As a result, spent nuclear fuel is most often stored at the site of the nuclear reactor. | Crossed Over |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Passed |
| 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 |
| S4590 | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | In Committee |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Passed |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Passed |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Passed |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Passed |
| S4567 | Appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses. | This bill appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and various Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Of the total amount appropriated by the bill, $102,679,000 would be used by the DEP to provide grants or loans, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $3,000,000 would be used for a new planning grant program, and $2,320,000 would be used for the DEP's associated administrative costs. The total amount of funding allocated for local government projects listed in this bill is $102,679,000. Of this amount, $22,427,000 is for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 4 of the bill, and $80,252,000 is for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes identified in section 5 of the bill. Of the sum for projects to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $19,959,000 is allocated for planning incentive open space acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities and counties that have an open space tax and an approved open space plan); $2,086,000 is allocated for open space acquisition projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; and $382,000 is allocated for site-specific incentive acquisition projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that have an open space tax, but do not have an open space plan). Of the sum for projects to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes: $29,145,000 is allocated for local park development projects in urban aid municipalities or sponsored by densely populated counties; $11,951,000 is allocated for local park development projects in densely or highly populated municipalities or sponsored by highly populated counties; $6,638,000 is allocated for standard local park development projects (i.e., projects located in municipalities that do not meet the criteria of the prior two categories); $4,247,000 is allocated for stewardship activity projects; and $28,271,000 is allocated for completely inclusive playground projects, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.104 (C.13:8C-27.1), otherwise known as "Jake's Law." The projects approved by the bill include projects in "urban aid" and densely or highly populated municipalities and counties. The bill defines a "densely or highly populated municipality" as a municipality with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or a population of at least 35,000 persons; a "densely populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile; and a "highly populated county" as a county with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. In addition, the bill would appropriate $3 million to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to local governments to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. To the extent that there are funds remaining after the local government unit projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the DEP, with the approval of the JBOC, to use those funds to provide additional funding for local government unit projects listed in this bill as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT). | Passed |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | 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 |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| A5792 | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Passed |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to provide monetary awards to whistleblowers who report tax law violations committed by employers in the construction industry. The bill defines "employer in the construction industry" as an employer engaging in any activity related to the erection, construction, alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures, bridges, highways, roadways, dams, tunnels, sewers, underground buildings or structures, pipelines or ducts and all other construction projects or facilities. Under the bill, if the director proceeds with an administrative or judicial action against an employer in the construction industry and determines that the action is based on specific and credible information brought to the director by an individual, the director is required to provide that individual an award of at least 15 percent, but not more than 30 percent, of the proceeds collected as a result of the action or from any settlement in response to that action; provided, however, if the director determines an action is based principally on an individual's disclosure of an allegation resulting from a judicial or administrative hearing, from a governmental report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, any award provided by the director to that individual may not exceed 10 percent of the proceeds. The bill requires the director to determine the amount of an award based upon the extent to which any information submitted by an individual contributed to the outcome of an action or related settlement. If the director determines that the claim for an award pursuant to the bill is brought by an individual who planned and initiated the actions that led to the violation resulting in the administrative or judicial action in which that individual is a party, the bill permits the director to reduce the amount of the award. In addition, if such an individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the individual's role in the violation, then the director is not permitted to provide an award to that individual. The following individuals are also ineligible to receive an award under the bill: (1) an individual who obtained information through the individual's official duties as an employee of the Department of the Treasury; and (2) an individual who filed a claim for an award based on information obtained from an ineligible individual for the purpose of avoiding the rejection of the claim that would have resulted if the claim was filed by the ineligible individual. The bill provides that any complaint with respect to an award provided, reduced, or revoked pursuant to the bill is to be filed within 30 days after the date of the provision, reduction, or revocation of that award. Finally, the bill protects any employee, as defined by the bill, from retaliatory action under the provisions of the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act," P.L.1986, c.105 (C.34:19-1 et seq.). | Crossed Over |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| S4402 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| S4146 | 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. | 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 | In Committee |
| S4658 | Eliminates sales tax on baby necessities and sunscreen. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of certain baby products and sunscreen. The exemption provided for baby products would include baby wash or soap, baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powders; child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. A "child restraint system" is defined under the bill to mean any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant or young child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or sleeping enclosure designed to accommodate an infant or young child including bassinets and toddler beds. In addition, the bill further defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant or young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sales of sunscreen. "Sunscreen" is defined under the bill to mean a lotion, cream, spray, or gel regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration that is primarily used for purposes of absorbing, reflecting, or scattering ultraviolet radiation and preventing sunburn or any sun-related skin damage. The definition of sunscreen would not, however, include products marketed or intended for use as cosmetics or otherwise intended to be applied for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. | In Committee |
| S2003 | Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to claim credit with filing status of married filing separately. | This bill expands eligibility under the New Jersey earned income tax credit program for taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse, and cannot file a joint return. Under the federal program, if a taxpayer is married, the taxpayer is required to file a joint return with their spouse to be eligible for the federal earned income credit. However, victims of domestic abuse are typically required to file as married filing separately, losing their federal earned income credit and New Jersey earned income tax credit eligibility in the process. The bill exempts a married taxpayer from the joint filing requirement imposed by federal and State law if the taxpayer files as married filing separately and the taxpayer: (i) is living apart from the taxpayer's spouse at the time the taxpayer files the gross income tax return; (ii) is unable to file a joint return because the taxpayer is a victim of domestic abuse; and (iii) indicates on the taxpayer's gross income tax return that the taxpayer meets the criteria set forth in the bill. | In Committee |
| S1927 | Extends veteran's gross income tax exemption to spouses of deceased veterans. | This bill extends the veteran's gross income tax exemption to spouses of deceased veterans. Currently, veterans are allowed a $6,000 exemption, which can be taken as a deduction from their income, for purposes of calculating their State gross income tax liability. If a veteran dies during a taxable year, the spouse of the veteran is allowed the exemption for that taxable year if filing a joint return. However, the spouse is not allowed the exemption in subsequent years. Under this bill, the spouse of the deceased veteran would be allowed to continue to claim the exemption until the spouse remarries. | In Committee |
| S3319 | Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill's enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
| SJR166 | Designates first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day." | This joint resolution designates the first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day" to honor the volunteer and career firefighters who courageously made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. There are more than 35,000 men and women serving as volunteer and career firefighters in New Jersey. They play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in our State. They respond to emergency calls without reservation and with little regard for their personal safety. Between 1990 and 2024, approximately 145 on-duty firefighter fatalities were reported in this State. Annually, on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day, the United States Congress and the President of the United States honor firefighters who have lost their lives by flying the American flag on all federal buildings at half-staff. Under this joint resolution, the Governor will direct all State and local government agencies to fly the flag of the United States and the State flag at half-staff in honor of all the volunteer and career firefighters who have died in the line of duty. | In Committee |
| S4611 | "Vehicle Choice Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that restrict or prohibit sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion vehicles in State. | This bill, to be known as the "Vehicle Choice Protection Act," would prohibit State agencies from adopting any rule, regulation, policy, or executive action that has the purpose or effect of prohibiting or restricting the sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion engine vehicles in the State. | In Committee |
| S4609 | Authorizes certain county fire coordinators to display emergency warning lights on vehicles. | This bill authorizes county fire coordinators and deputy county fire coordinators, as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.28 (C.52:14E-13), to operate and display emergency warning lights, including red emergency warning lights and sirens. Under current law, blue emergency warning lights may be operated by a member of a volunteer fire company or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad or by a member of a county or municipal volunteer office of emergency management whose official duties include responding to a fire or emergency call, provided the company or volunteer is recognized by and rendering service in a county or municipality. Red emergency warning lights may be operated by a chief or first assistant chief of a volunteer fire company. This bill authorizes county fire coordinators and deputy county fire coordinators to operate these emergency warning lights if certain conditions are met. In order for a county fire coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator to mount and operate an emergency warning light, regardless of its color, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to prepare suitable identification cards bearing the chief administrator's signature upon the request of a county executive or director of a board of county commissioners recognizing and being served by a county fire coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator. The identification cards would be countersigned and issued by the county executive or board director to the county fire coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator. No emergency warning lights could be mounted prior to the issuance of the identification cards, and a county fire coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator would need to carry the identification card while an emergency warning light operates on the vehicle. These identification requirements are identical to those imposed under existing law for other authorized drivers operating emergency warning lights. Nothing in current law or this bill grants a county fire coordinator or deputy county fire coordinator any privileges or exemptions denied to the drivers of other vehicles, and the driver operating emergency warning lights is to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and obey all State traffic laws. | In Committee |
| S4613 | Establishes Department of State Police as principal department in executive branch of State government. | This bill establishes the Department of State Police as a principal department in the executive branch of State government. Under current law, the Division of State Police is situated in the Department of Law and Public Safety, which is headed by the Attorney General. Under the provisions of this bill, the Division of State Police is transferred to and constituted as the Department of State Police, which is established as a principal department in the executive branch of State government. The Superintendent of State Police is established as the head of the Department of State Police. The bill provides that the Superintendent of State Police is to be designated as the State Director of Emergency Management and that any personnel change made within the Department of State Police is subject only to the approval of the Superintendent of State Police. The approval of the Attorney General is not required. Currently, the Office of Emergency Management is allocated within the Division of State Police, with the superintendent serving as the Director of Emergency Management. Finally, the bill clarifies that the oversight and monitoring of the current Division of State Police performed by the Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards under current law would apply to the Department of State Police established under this bill. | In Committee |
| S3920 | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | In Committee |
| S4246 | Establishes Veterans Care Commission to study and address issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, Reserve components of US Armed Forces, and NJ National Guard. | This bill establishes a Veterans Care Commission in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to study and address issues facing members of the United States Armed Forces and Reserve components thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. The commission will consist of the following 11 members: the Commissioners of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Health, and Human Services, or their designees; the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, or a designee; the Adjutant General of the DMVA, or a designee; and five public members to be appointed by the Adjutant General, with at least three persons each representing a different qualified veterans' organization. The purpose of the commission is to identify and review the issues and concerns facing service members and recommend the measures the State should take to address and remedy the issues and concerns, including legislation if appropriate. The bill requires the commission to prepare and issue an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and submit the report to the Governor, the Legislature, the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor, and the General Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor. The first annual report will be issued no later than 12 months after the commission's first organizational meeting. | In Committee |
| S3601 | Modifies laws regarding compensation and leaves of absence for certain public employees who served in the military; requires public employers follow certain policies and procedures for leaves of absence. | This bill makes various changes to the laws concerning termination, compensation, and leaves of absence of certain active and retired members of the United States military, the reserves, and the National Guard who are public employees. N.J.S.A.38:23-1 requires a public employer to provide a paid leave of absence for federal active duty to public employees who are members of the reserves of the United States military, including the National Guard of other states. The employer must provide paid leave for 30 work days per year. Leave after 30 days is provided without pay. Also, N.J.S.A.38A:4-4 requires a public employer to provide a paid leave of absence for State or federal active duty to public employees who are members of the New Jersey National Guard. The employer must provide paid leave for 90 work days per year. Leave after 90 days is provided without pay. This bill provides that the public employee would be entitled to pay for the days over 30 or the days over 90, as appropriate, if pay is provided in an applicable collective negotiations agreement in effect at the time of the leave of absence. If an applicable collective negotiations agreement is not in effect or does not address this matter or a person is not covered by a collective negotiations agreement, the officer or employee will be entitled to pay only if the public employer decides to provide it. Also for the purposes of N.J.S.A.38A:4-4, the bill permits a public employee to use, at the employee's sole discretion, accrued paid leave for State and federal active duty as a member of the New Jersey National Guard and the employer cannot require an employee to use that time for leave. For the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-1, this bill entitles a public employee, during the leave of absence, to payment by the public employer, on behalf of the employee, of any contribution required of the officer or employee to a retirement system or program and to a health care benefits plan or program, in addition to any contribution or payment required of the public employer. For the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-1, this bill entitles a public employee to: (1) leave for one travel day to the active duty location if the officer or employee resides 50 or more miles from the location of duty and checks in to lodgings at or near the duty location for the purpose of resting prior to undertaking the military service obligation; and (2) leave, prior to undertaking the military service obligation, of five days if the length of service will be 30 to 180 days, and of ten days if the length of service will be 181 days or more. Also for the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-1, the bill defines "Federal active duty" to mean: the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority, including active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, and inactive duty training; service on a full time basis in the National Guard; time for medical appointments and consultations, surgery, counseling for post traumatic stress disorder, recuperation, rehabilitation, and recovery from an injury sustained or aggravated as a result of military service; and time for an examination to determine fitness for performing funeral honors duty as authorized by federal law. N.J.S.A.38:23-4.1 defines "emergency" for the purposes of N.J.S.A.38:23-4, which provides that a public employee who enters the active military service of the United States or of this State in time of war or emergency must be granted a leave of absence for that service and for three months after receiving a discharge from service. If the public employee is incapacitated by injury or sickness at the time of discharge, the leave must be extended until three months after the employee's discharge, or until the expiration of two years from the date of discharge. N.J.S.A.38:23-4 also provides that during the leave, the employee cannot be terminated or laid off if entry into the military occurred in time of war or emergency. During the period of leave, the employee is entitled to all the rights, privileges and benefits of the public employment. The leave may be granted with or without pay. The employee is entitled to resume the employment if he applies before the expiration of the leave. The bill defines "emergency" for the purposes of this statute to include any period of time from September 11, 2001 until the termination of the Global War on Terrorism as declared by the President of the United States. Finally, the bill requires public employers to prepare and maintain written policies and procedures to be followed with regard to leaves of absence by officers and employees who are members of the Armed Forces of the United States and the reserve components thereof, including the National Guard. The policies must specify documentation requirements for leave, and the receipt of required documentation must be acknowledged in writing by the public employer. The policies and procedures must be applied in a uniform and fair manner. Notice of any changes to the policies and procedures must be given promptly to all affected officers and employees and training must be provided to ensure proper implementation and administration. Upon receipt of a request for a leave or absence by an officer or employee, the public employer must inform an officer or employee in writing, within 90 days after the receipt, of any issues or matters regarding the leave request. If the employer does not notify the officer or employee within such time period, the employer will be permanently barred from raising any such issue or matter, or charging the officer or employee with an administrative violation. A public employer must provide a full accounting to an officer or employee of all matters regarding pay within a reasonable period of time and in a reasonable manner. All records for each officer or employee must be maintained by the public employer for a period of not less than 10 years. If in any action brought in a court of law by an officer or employee, a public employer is found to be in violation of any statutes concerning the employment, compensation, or leave of absence of a public officer or employee who served as a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard, the court must award to the officer or employee reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and costs. | In Committee |
| S699 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Crossed Over |
| S3607 | Extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | This bill extends accidental death benefits for survivors of certain State Police Retirement System (SPRS) retirees. Under current law, the surviving spouse or child of a retired member of the SPRS who died on or before July 8, 2019 and had been receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance is permitted to apply to receive accidental death benefits if the retired member had a qualifying condition or impairment of health due to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. This bill removes the limitation that only a surviving spouse or child of a qualifying SPRS retiree who died before July 8, 2019 is eligible, so that the provisions will apply regardless of when the SPRS retiree died. In addition, this bill establishes eligibility for a surviving spouse or child of a qualifying SPRS member who had been receiving an ordinary disability retirement, a special retirement, or a service retirement. This bill prohibits a written and sworn statement from being required when applying for the accidental death benefits. Under current law, a spouse or child is only eligible for accidental death benefits if the member's or retiree's death was the result of a qualifying condition or impairment of health which the medical board determines to be caused by participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. This bill also allows the World Trade Center Health Program to make this determination. Under current law, the spouse of a deceased retired member who is receiving a pension due to the death of that member on or before July 8, 2019 is eligible to apply to the board of trustees and, upon approval of the application by the board, will receive the accidental death benefits if the surviving spouse submits sufficient documentation that the deceased retiree would have qualified for a retirement. This bill also allows the spouse to apply if the member did qualify for retirement or if the member previously filed the required written and sworn statement. This bill requires notification to SPRS surviving spouses and children of the changes made by the bill by certified mail within 60 days after the bill's effective date. Under current law, a surviving spouse, former surviving spouse, or surviving child, or any legal guardian of the surviving child, must submit an application not later than two years after the effective date of the law. This bill allows survivors to submit an application not later than two years after the date of the member or retiree's death, or two years after the effective date of this bill, whichever is later. Under current law, a surviving spouse or former surviving spouse or surviving child, or any legal guardian of the surviving child, is prohibited from being granted a retroactive payment based upon the difference between the benefit the person would have received if the benefit had been applicable on the date of death of the retiree and the benefit that the person has received from that date of death to the effective date of the law. This bill also provides that these survivors are prohibited from being granted a retroactive payment based upon the difference between the benefit the person would have received if the benefit had been applicable on the date of death of the retiree and the benefit that the person has received from that date of death to the date of the application approval if the date of approval is later than the effective date of the law. | Crossed Over |
| S3902 | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Permits excused absence for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities. | Crossed Over |
| SJR146 | Designates June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. Born in Trenton and residing in Seaside Park for many years, Robert "Bob" Popovics has been a longtime resident of the State of New Jersey. On November 1, 2024, Bob passed away due to his injuries from an accident at the age of 75. Bob has made numerous contributions to his community, the State, and the United States. Bob proudly served his country with the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Additionally, having taken over the establishment from his parents, Bob and his wife operated Shady Rest restaurant in Bayville, New Jersey. Bob was also well-renowned in the fishing community for being an avid fly fisherman, master fly tyer, and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pop Fleyes, a custom fly tying and educational company. His fly designs have been considered groundbreaking and his community meetings led to the creation of the Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodders. To recognize Bob's numerous contributions to the New Jersey community in which he lived, the fishing community, and the United States, it is altogether fitting and proper to designate June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| S1989 | Enhances criminal penalties for persons invloved in certain human trafficking activities. | Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities. | Crossed Over |
| S3423 | Requires standards for organization and deployment of career fire fighters to be consistent with certain national standards. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules for the deployment of career fire fighters that are consistent with the standards promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA 1710 (2020 edition). The bill also requires the appointing authority of each career fire department to ensure the deployment of fire fighting personnel, for rescue, fire suppression, and related activities, consistently with the standards set forth in NFPA 1710 (2020 edition) and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this bill. While a municipality may have authority to determine the overall level of fire protection to provide within its jurisdiction, a municipality that has established and maintains a paid or part-paid fire department and force is to deploy fire-fighting personnel consistently with NFPA 1710, the national standard designed to enhance the safety of the employees of career fire departments. This bill will prevent local units from relaxing fire fighter safety requirements due to possible fiscal constraints or political concerns. | Crossed Over |
| S3426 | Requires Civil Service Commission establish mentoring program for certain civil service firefighter applicants. | This bill requires the Civil Service Commission to establish and maintain a mentoring program for civil service firefighter applicants. The purpose of the mentoring program would be to assist applicants residing in a municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level through the civil service application, examination, and selection process, and to help address obstacles unique to their circumstances. The program will include a study group to help applicants in any municipality with a median income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level with the resources needed to compete with applicants in other communities that benefit from outside private study groups. The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. The program will be designed to provide mentoring to an applicant for the duration of the exam cycle, until the mentee completes the hiring process. The commission would develop criteria to determine eligibility in the program as a mentor and as a mentee. A mentor may be a current or former firefighter in good standing who obtained a firefighter position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed appropriate by the commission. A mentor or mentee may be removed from the mentoring program for good cause as determined by the commission. A mentee would be removed from the program upon the mentee's acceptance of an offer of employment. An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times within a 10-year period. A former mentee may be eligible to participate in the program as a mentor. No monies would be provided to a mentor to participate in the program, and no fees would be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. At least once a year, the commission would review the program for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs and purpose of the program. | Crossed Over |
| S216 | Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation. | Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation. | In Committee |
| S4030 | Requires health care professionals to report cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease. | Requires health care professionals to report cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease. | In Committee |
| S4004 | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S4572 | Requires BPU to publish plain language summary of its final decision on rate increase filings. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities to include in a board order with the board's final decision regarding a public utility's petition to increase the utility's individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule a plain language summary of the board order. Under the bill, the summary is to include: (1) a summary of the contents of the utility's petition; (2) a justification for the board's final decision on the petition; (3) a statement of the petition's impact on affected customers, if any; (4) the utility's current individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule, the new individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule, and the total amount of increase; (5) the utility's rate of return; (6) if the increase is implemented to recover the costs of infrastructure or other investments, an expected period of time by which the utility plans to recover those costs; (7) when the new individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule will take effect; and (8) any other information, as determined by the board. With this bill, the sponsor intends to ensure that consumers know what decisions are being made and how those decisions impact their utility rates and payments, especially at a time when utility rates are increasing. Language currently used in board orders makes it difficult for many consumers to fully understand the board orders' impact. | In Committee |
| S4585 | Prohibits charging service fees for NJ EZ-Pass account holders. | This bill prohibits the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, or an entity contracted by the lead agency of the New Jersey E-ZPass Group to administer the State's electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass) from charging a service fee to an E-ZPass account holder. Under the bill, "service fee" means an additional amount added to the monthly billing statement of an electronic toll collection system account holder for the primary purpose of having enrolled in the State's electronic toll collection system and not for actual usage of the electronic toll collection system; and "lead agency of the New Jersey E-ZPass Group" means an agency, authority, or political subdivision of this State that has the authority to enter into, manage, or negotiate contracts to provide service to accounts with a New Jersey electronic toll collection system under current law. | In Committee |
| S4583 | Establishes Office of Labor Law Enforcement. | This bill establishes, in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Office of Labor Law Enforcement, charged with overseeing, evaluating, and coordinating enforcement activities of the department regarding violations of State labor laws. The bill directs the Attorney General, upon a request by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, to assign one or more deputy attorneys general to represent the department in proceedings regarding State labor law violations, with the assigned deputy attorneys general co-located in department facilities with department personnel engaged in labor law enforcement. The department is required to issue and make public an annual report regarding the office which includes, for each labor law, a summary of enforcement activities, the number of deputy attorneys general and department personnel dedicated to enforcement, personnel costs, the amount of penalties and other revenues collected, and what portion of the revenues are expended on enforcement. The report shall include an analysis of, and recommendations regarding, any changes needed in the number of personnel, including the number of assigned deputy attorneys general, for the enforcement of each law. The bill requires that recommendations in the report be taken into consideration by the Governor in the development of the State budget for the following fiscal year. The bill requires that all sums collected as fines or penalties pursuant to State labor laws be applied to costs of enforcement and administration of those laws, including expenses of the Office of Labor Law Enforcement. "State labor laws" are defined as all laws administered by the department that concern standards regarding wages and other terms and conditions of employment, and the financing and provision of benefits or insurance for workers. | In Committee |
| S4571 | Requires public utilities to send certain information concerning rate increases to customers. | This bill requires public utilities to inform customers about potential rate increases and how customers can express their support or opposition. The bill requires a public utility that has filed a petition with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to increase an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof, to notify its affected customers of the filing. The notice is to be provided with each customer's first utility bill following the date of the filing and is required to include, at a minimum: (1) a summary of the contents of the public utility's filing; (2) the reasoning for the filing; (3) a statement of the filing's impact on affected customers; (4) information about any public hearings concerning the filing; and (5) how affected customers can testify in support of or in opposition to the filing. The bill also requires public utilities to allow customers to opt in to receive email notifications containing information about hearings related to petitions filed by the public utility with the board to increase an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof. With this bill, the sponsor intends to help the public better know the actions taken by utilities and the BPU, the impacts of actions taken by these entities, and how to communicate the customer's views of the actions with those entities. | In Committee |
| S4573 | Prohibits BPU from authorizing rate increases for electric and gas public utilities that charge inclining block rates for residential customers. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities (board) from authorizing any rate increase by an electric public utility or a gas public utility where the utility assesses a charge that includes an inclining block rate for residential customers. Utilities have historically utilized inclining block rates to encourage energy conservation by charging higher rates once a customer's usage exceeds a certain threshold. However, according to the December 9, 2024 report prepared for the board titled, "An Assessment of Energy Affordability in New Jersey and Alternative Policy and Rate Options," inclining block rates are outdated and are not cost-reflective, meaning that the rates do not reflect the actual cost of generating that power. It is the sponsor's intent to eliminate this rate structure, which is expected to reduce electricity rates for residential customers during the summer months. | In Committee |
| S4575 | Requires electric public utilities to submit transmission project proposal to BPU for approval. | This bill requires an electric public utility to submit a transmission project proposal (proposal) to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for approval prior to undertaking a transmission project. The proposal is required to, at a minimum: (1) identify the project's potential impact on the environment, scenic sights, historic sites, and public safety; (2) document all costs associated with undertaking the project; (3) indicate whether the project meets a demonstrated need, which need may be established by the project's provision of certain public benefits; and (4) identify alternative project ideas, if any, that meet the same demonstrated need but for a lower total project cost. Within 90 days of the board's receipt of a proposal, the board is required to determine if the proposal is reasonable, within the public interest, and cost effective. In addition, the board is required to approve the proposal if the board determines that the proposal is reasonable, within the public interest, and cost effective. Under the bill, a "transmission project" is defined to mean a project undertaken by an electric public utility to construct a new transmission line or modify an existing transmission line. It is the sponsor's intent to require an electric public utility to receive approval from the board prior to undertaking a transmission project in response to the testimony provided by the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel (director) during the October 2, 2024 Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee meeting. The director indicated in his testimony that requiring board review of transmission projects prior to their start could reduce transmission costs by ensuring that each transmission project is needed and is the lowest cost solution. | In Committee |
| S4574 | Requires BPU to publish third-party energy supplier information on its Internet website; establishes public awareness campaign on retail choice. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to examine the Internet websites of public utility regulatory bodies in other states with deregulated energy sectors to determine which state has the most helpful and user-friendly information for electric public utility customers and gas public utility customers looking to exercise their right to retail choice. No later than 90 days after making this determination, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the board is to publish information on its Internet website concerning electric power suppliers and gas suppliers that do business in the State, which information is required to: (1) be modeled off the information published on the website of the state selected by the board under the bill; (2) educate the public in plain language on the benefits of exercising retail choice through an electric power supplier or gas supplier; and (3) be published in a user-friendly manner. In addition, the bill requires the board to establish a public awareness campaign to educate electric public utility and gas public utility customers on: (1) the benefits of exercising retail choice; and (2) how to utilize the information pertaining to electric power suppliers and gas suppliers, as updated pursuant to the bill's provisions, on the board's Internet website. In New Jersey, since the enactment of the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" in 1999, electric public utility and gas public utility customers have had the ability to exercise retail choice by selecting their own electric power supplier or gas supplier. However, according to the board's Internet website, as of February 2025, only 6.2 percent of the State's residential electric public utility customers and 2.5 percent of the State's residential gas public utility customers obtain their energy supply through an electric power supplier or gas supplier. With this bill, the sponsor intends to better educate the public on its right to exercise retail choice. | In Committee |
| S4584 | Creates penalty for failure to cooperate with child abuse investigations; upgrades penalties for failure to report child abuse. | This bill creates a penalty for failing to cooperate with a child abuse or neglect investigation and upgrades the penalties for failure to report child abuse and failure to report sexual abuse. Under current law, any person who violates the provisions of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.8 et seq., which includes the failure to report an act of child abuse, and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been committed, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by incarceration for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under current law, any person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by incarceration for a term of between three and five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Finally, this bill amends current law to provide that any person who knowingly fails to cooperate with an investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or any other entity in the Department of Children and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. | In Committee |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | An Act concerning public brawls and disorderly conduct and amending N.J.S.2C:33-1 and N.J.S.2C:33-2. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4549 | Dedicates certain energy sales and use tax receipts to support utility assistance programs. | This bill dedicates a portion of the revenues generated from the taxation of energy or utility service under the sales and use tax to the "Universal Service Fund" to support utility assistance programs. Under this bill, if the total revenues collected in any State fiscal year from the taxation of energy or utility services under the sales and use tax exceed those amounts collected in State Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, then the State would be required to appropriate an amount equivalent to the excess revenues collected during that fiscal year to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for deposit into the "Universal Service Fund" to support utility assistance programs, including but not limited to the Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric Program. The "Universal Service Fund" is a nonlapsing fund administered by the BPU through which various energy and utility assistance programs are funded, such as the Lifeline Credit Program and the federal "Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program." Under current law, the revenues collected from the taxation of energy or utility services under the sales and use tax are required to be deposited into two funds: (1) a special dedicated fund for municipal State aid, known as the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund;" and (2) the General Fund. The portion of these revenues deposited into the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund" is statutorily determined, and the amounts collected in excess of this dedication are deposited into the General Fund. According to the FY 2026 Governor's Budget, the Governor anticipates that the taxation of energy and utility services under the Sales and Use Tax will generate roughly $980 million in total State revenue in FY 2025. The BPU has also announced increases in the electricity rates for residential ratepayers ranging from 17.2 to 20.2 percent, depending on the supplier, to begin this year. In light of these rate increases, sales and use tax collections from energy and utility sales may exceed FY 2025 levels by as much as $85.2 million in FY 2026. Under the bill, these excess collections would be dedicated to the Universal Service Fund. | In Committee |
| S4556 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain SPRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of the SPRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, this bill serves as an initial step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of the SPRS, the State will begin this process with retired State police to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among retirees of the SPRS expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of the SPRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of the SPRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by SPRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of SPRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through resolutions or through changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| S3317 | Allows each county to create central registry and provide emergency supply kits to distribute to senior residents during emergencies. | Allows each county to create central registry and provide emergency supply kits to distribute to senior residents during emergencies. | In Committee |
| S4500 | Requires NJTA, NJT, and SJTA to provide notice of proposed fare, charge, and toll increases; requires BPU to provide notice of certain filings and decisions. | This bill creates certain notice requirements for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation), the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), and the Board of Public Utilities (board). Under this bill, NJTA, the corporation, and SJTA are required to provide copies of any proposal that would result in the creation of or an increase to a toll, fare, or charge, as applicable, to the Governor and the Legislature at least 15 days prior to providing public notice that the entity is considering the proposal. Further, when NJTA fixes, revises, charges, or collects a toll, fare, or charge, this bill requires NTJA to provide 70 days notice prior to implementing the creation of or an increase to a toll, fare, or charge. The bill further requires the board to provide copies of any filing submitted by a public utility that would result in the creation of or an increase to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule to the Governor and the Legislature 15 days prior to providing public notice that the board will consider that filing by a public utility that would result in the creation of or an increase to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule The bill also requires the board to provide copies of the board's final decision and order on a filing submitted by a public utility that would result in the creation of or an increase to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof to the Governor and the Legislature within 15 days of adopting such final decision and order. | In Committee |
| S4428 | Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service. | Current law provides that a teaching staff member may receive up to four years of credit, in computing length of service for seniority purposes, for military service. This bill provides a similar benefit to educational support professionals. Under the bill, every educational support professional who has served in the active military of the United States and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits is to receive equivalent years of employment or seniority credit, up to four years, for that service as if the professional had been employed for the same period of time at the school district. Any military service is to be credited towards this employment or seniority credit, including service that occurred prior to the professional's employment as an educational support professional. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SJR164 | Designates March 17 of each year as "Profound Autism Day." | This joint resolution designates March 17 of each year as "Profound Autism Day." The definition of autism has evolved over time, creating an increasingly heterogeneous spectrum. While the entire spectrum deserves recognition and support, profound autism is a term intended to provide clarification about the autistic people who require care from an adult caregiver throughout their lives, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. People with profound autism can have a severe intellectual disability or have minimal or no language. They are frequently excluded from research and support programs because of their unique needs. The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released its first prevalence study on profound autism in April 2023. The research concluded that the percentage of 8-year-old children with profound autism among those with autism in the United States was 26.7 percent. The CDC study also found that, compared with children with non-profound autism, children with profound autism were more likely to be female, from racial and ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, and have self-injurious behaviors, seizure disorders, and lower adaptive scores. | In Committee |
| S4434 | Prohibits application of State aid growth limit on certain school districts in 2025-2026 school year. | This bill prohibits the application of any State aid growth limit to the amount of uncapped fiscal year (FY) 2026 State school aid calculated for a school district that experienced a net decrease in actual State school aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. Under the FY 2026 State aid notices, the Department of Education calculated the amount of uncapped equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security aid, and transportation aid for which a school district would be eligible in the 2025-2026 school year. The department then determined that no school district would be eligible for an increase in the sum of these aid categories of greater than six percent when compared to the amount of State school aid the district received in these aid categories, plus any adjustment aid the district may have received, in the 2024-2025 school year. If the increase in the district's FY 2026 uncapped State school aid total in these categories is greater than six percent, the department reduced the sum of the district's State aid entitlement in these categories through the application of a State aid growth limit so that the increase is no greater than six percent. This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Education from applying any State aid growth limit to increases in a school district's uncapped State school aid for the 2025-2026 school year if the school district experienced a net decrease in the amount of State school aid received between the 2017-2018 school year and the 2024-2025 school year. | In Committee |
| S4395 | "Flood Zone Clarification Act"; modifies procedure for delineation of State flood hazard areas. | This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from implementing or adopting, prior to June 1, 2038, the rules and regulations proposed by the DEP and published in the New Jersey Register on August 5, 2024, which are known as New Jersey's Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) Rules. The bill also prohibits the DEP from implementing or adopting a rule or regulation that is substantially similar to one or more provisions set forth in the NJPACT rule proposal, unless, prior to that date, the Legislature has passed a concurrent resolution authorizing the DEP to adopt those rules and regulations. Additionally, the bill limits the DEPs current discretion over the delineation of the State's flood hazard areas by requiring the DEP to set the State's flood hazard area delineation for each watercourse at no more than one foot above the 100-year flood elevation delineated for that watercourse by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Current law requires the DEP to make flood hazard area delineations at least as protective as floodplain delineations approved by the FEMA for the NFIP. This bill would not change that requirement, but would remove the unlimited discretion current law affords the DEP in determining the height of a flood hazard area. Specifically, the bill requires the DEP, within three months following the bill's effective date, to set the State's flood hazard area delineation for each watercourse at one foot above the 100-year flood elevation delineated for that watercourse by the FEMA. The bill also requires the DEP, within three months following each subsequent FEMA delineation of a floodplain for a watercourse, to set the State's flood hazard area delineation for that watercourse at one foot above the 100-year flood elevation delineated for that watercourse by the FEMA. The bill provides that a person applying to the DEP for a permit or other approval, pursuant to the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act," P.L.1962, c.19 (C.58:16A-50 et seq.) on and after the first day of the fourth month next following the bill's effective date, would be subject to the State's flood hazard area delineation of one foot above the FEMAs delineation of the 100-year flood elevation for that watercourse. The bill also provides that after the bill's effective date, the DEP may not adopt a rule or regulation relevant to delineating an area as a flood hazard area unless the DEP first submits the proposed rule or regulation to the Legislature, and the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution authorizing the DEP to adopt the rule or regulation. The bill requires the DEP to submit to the Legislature each rule or regulation it proposes to delineate an area as a flood hazard area, and prohibits the DEP from adopting a proposed rule or regulation unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution specifically approving the proposed rule or regulation. The bill is introduced in response to the DEPs recently proposed NJPACT Rules. The proposed NJPACT Rules, in relevant part, propose to establish a "climate-adjusted flood elevation" of five feet above the FEMA 100-year flood elevation for each New Jersey watercourse. The DEP's justification for proposing the rule is to adjust flood-hazard development thresholds to take into account projected sea level rise due to climate change. The adoption of the DEP's proposed NJPACT rules would be detrimental to New Jersey, and particularly to our State's coastal communities. The DEP has failed to conduct a proper cost-benefit analysis to justify adoption of the proposed rules. The adoption of the rule proposal would cause large portions of New Jersey's coastal area as being improper for development and use. The DEPs assertions that development of these areas would constitute a threat to the safety, health, and general welfare from flooding due to projected climate change are not accurate. The DEP used an outdated and flawed 2019 Rutgers report to justify its proposed establishment of a "climate-adjusted flood elevation" of five feet above the FEMA 100-year flood elevation. Rather than protect the general welfare, adoption of the rule proposal would significantly harm the general welfare, which the DEP is responsible to protect. Adoption of the DEP's rule proposal would limit the ability of middle- and lower-income families to own, improve, or restore coastal properties, and thereby incentivize many of those families to sell their coastal properties to the wealthy or to the government. Adoption of this bill would set a standard delineation mechanism in State law, and thereby prevent the DEP from setting the State's flood hazard area delineation at more than one foot above the FEMA-delineated 100-year flood elevation. | In Committee |
| S4406 | Clarifies child support obligation notice and certification requirements for applicants for State licenses. | This bill clarifies the child support obligation notice and certification requirements for applicants of State licenses. Under current law, a person who applies for a State driver's license, occupational or professional license, or recreational or sporting license is required to certify that the applicant is not in arrears with a child support obligation. A license holder who is in arrears may, after notice and a hearing, have their license suspended or revoked. Under the bill, in order to provide greater notice to license applicants of the child support law, each licensing agency will require applicants to certify on a form promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts separate from the license application form. The separate form will also provide applicants with general notice of the legal basis for the enforcement of child support obligations through the licensing process, including the notice and hearing requirements prior to suspension or revocation. | In Committee |
| S4398 | Suspends sales and use tax and societal benefits charge on electric and gas public utility bills during four-month period. | This bill temporarily suspends the imposition of the sales and use tax, as well as the societal benefits charge, on customer bills for electric and gas utility service. Under the bill, the temporary suspension applies beginning on June 1, 2025 and through September 30, 2025. It is the sponsor's intent that a temporary suspension of the collection of these charges provide necessary relief from anticipated bill increases and excessive charges to ratepayers. The Board of Public Utilities has announced increases in the electricity rates for residential ratepayers ranging from 17.2 to 20.2 percent, depending on the supplier, starting in June 2025. Consequently, sales and use tax collections from energy and utility sales are anticipated to increase by as much as $85.2 million more than the Governor had initially anticipated for Fiscal Year 2026. Furthermore, during Fiscal Years 2021 through 2024, approximately $704.2 million in revenues generated by the societal benefits charge were transferred to other funds for purposes outside the intent of the charge. In light of the amount of excess revenue generated by the societal benefits charge, it is the sponsor's opinion that the amount collected through the societal benefits charge can be reduced in order to provide necessary relief to ratepayers. | In Committee |
| S2818 | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | In Committee |
| S1895 | Permits municipalities to charge reduced or no beach fee for children ages 12 to 17; revises law concerning beach fees for veterans. | This bill would allow a municipality, by ordinance, to charge no fee or a reduced beach fee to children between the ages of 12 and 17. This bill would also provide that a municipality, by ordinance, may charge no fee or a reduced beach fee to honorably discharged veterans, regardless of length of active duty or disability. Under current law, a municipality, by ordinance, may charge no fee or a reduced fee to: (1) persons 65 or more years of age; (2) persons who meet the disability criteria for disability benefits under Title II of the federal Social Security Act; (3) persons in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and their spouse and dependent children over the age of 12 years; (4) persons who are active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training and their spouse and dependent children over the age of 12 years; (5) persons who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable and who either have served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability; and (6) persons holding a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation. This bill would expand the list of individuals who could receive no fee or a reduced beach fee to children between the ages of 12 and 17. In addition, the bill would delete language in current law limiting the exemption and reduced fee to veterans who have either served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability. | In Committee |
| S4330 | Prohibits telecommunications, utility or cable television companies from charging certain customers prior to actual billing due date. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit a telecommunications company, electric public utility, gas public utility or cable television company from charging a credit card customer or direct debit customer for service prior to the actual billing due date that would apply if the customer were to pay by cash, money order or personal check, unless: 1) the customer expressly agrees in writing to be charged for service on an earlier date; or 2) the customer makes such a request to the company or utility by telephone or by other means approved by the BPU. | 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 |
| A4751 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of service credit in the State Police Retirement System for certain military and police service and amending P.L.1965, c.89 and P.L.2013, c.87. | 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 |
| S3606 | Permits purchase of service credit in SPRS for period of enrollment in military service academy and in New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as class two special law enforcement officer. | This bill allows a member of the New Jersey State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase credit in the retirement system for military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, the period of enrollment in the New Jersey State Police Academy, and employment as a class two special law enforcement officer prior to becoming a member. Under current law, a period of service in the United States Armed Forces qualifies as military service that a member of the SPRS may purchase for retirement purposes. This bill permits the purchase of the period of enrollment in a United States military service academy. The military service academies are the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy. These four service academies educate young people to serve as commissioned officers in the various branches of the United States Armed Forces. They are the only academies whose students are on active duty in the United State Armed Forces from the day they enter the academy, with the rank of cadet and midshipman, and subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This bill also allows a member of the SPRS to purchase credit in the retirement system for graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy or for employment as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both, prior to becoming a member. The bill provides that a member may purchase credit for all or a portion of such service rendered while enrolled in the New Jersey State Police Academy or employed by a public employer as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both. Under the bill, the SPRS credit purchased for enrollment in the New Jersey State Police Academy or employment as a class two special law enforcement officer, or both, is equivalent to service in the State Police as a member of the SPRS in qualifying for retirement benefits. | In Committee |
| S4275 | Prohibits State contractors from distributing data to foreign adversaries. | This bill prohibits State contractors from selling, transferring, disclosing, or providing data to a foreign adversary. Pursuant to the bill, a person or entity that sells, transfers, discloses, or provides data to foreign adversaries, or entities directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary, will be placed on a list by the Department of the Treasury and will not be permitted to contract with State agencies, subcontract with State contractors, file or renew a Public Works Contractor Registration, receive an economic development subsidy from the Economic Development Authority, be awarded a municipal property tax abatement, make or enter into a payment in-lieu of property tax agreement, apply for or receive a tax clearance certificate from the Division of Taxation, be certified as an urban renewal entity for purposes of the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," or be designated as a redeveloper by a public agency for the purposes of the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." The bill also prohibits the State from banking with, having or holding stock, debt, or other equity investments of, or maintaining insurance coverage through a policy issued by a financial institution that has sold, transferred, disclosed, or provided data to a foreign adversary or an entity directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary. | In Committee |
| S4287 | Requires health insurance coverage for donation of organs from individuals declared dead. | This bill requires a carrier that offers a health benefits plan in New Jersey to provide coverage, without any cost-sharing, to an insured individual for the donation of an organ after the insured individual is declared dead in accordance with the "Declaration of Death Act." The insured individual who is declared dead: (1) is to be registered as an organ donor through the organ donor registry established by the State; or (2) is to have organs donated if the decision to donate is received from a representative of the insured individual who is declared dead, to include, but not be limited to, the named insured of the health benefits plan, if not the insured individual who is declared dead; a spouse; a child who is at least 18 years of age; sibling or legal guardian. | In Committee |
| S4273 | Modifies definition of "aquaculture" throughout State law to include construction of facilities and appurtenant structures. | This bill would modify the definition of "aquaculture" in various State laws to clarify that the term aquaculture includes the construction of facilities and appurtenant structures that might otherwise be regulated pursuant to any State or federal law or regulation. According to current law, the term aquaculture does not include the construction of facilities and appurtenant structures that might otherwise be regulated pursuant to any State or federal law or regulation. New Jersey's aquaculture industry relies on both in-water farms and the land-based facilities that sustain them. Structures such as hatcheries, processing facilities, and equipment storage are just as vital to shellfish farming as barns and silos are to traditional agriculture. Recognizing these structures as aquaculture will provide much-needed clarity to attract investment and to position New Jersey as a competitor in a thriving and sustainable industry. | In Committee |
| S4277 | Directs ELEC to raise value threshold of pay-to-play prohibition for certain State, county, municipal, school board, and fire district contracts to align with threshold for awarding certain public contracts utilizing qualified purchasing agent. | Under current law, the State and its purchasing agents and agencies, and those of its independent authorities, and counties and municipalities, and their agencies and instrumentalities, and boards of education, and fire districts, are prohibited from engaging in a transaction or entering into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500 with a business entity, unless the contract is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process, if, during the preceding one-year period, that business entity has made a campaign contribution reportable to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) to any candidate committee of any person serving in an elective public office in the applicable jurisdiction where the contract is awarded. Likewise, a business entity that has engaged in a transaction or entered into a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500 with the State or any of its purchasing agents or agencies or those of its independent authorities, or any county or municipality, or agency or instrumentality thereof, or board of education, or fire district is prohibited from making a reportable campaign contribution to any candidate committee of any person serving in an elective public office of that jurisdiction where the contract is awarded, during the term of that contract, unless the contract is awarded pursuant to a fair and open process. This bill directs ELEC to adjust the applicable monetary threshold by December 1 of each year to be equivalent to the applicable public bidding threshold established by the Governor and the State Treasurer for purposes of allowing certain contracts in counties, municipalities, and school districts to be awarded by a qualified purchasing agent. The current adjusted public bidding threshold is $44,000, and it is adjusted every five years. Under the bill, the adjusted transaction and contract value thresholds will be applicable to the State and any of its purchasing agents or agencies or those of its independent authorities, and to any county or municipality, or agency or instrumentality thereof, or board of education, or fire district, which has designated a purchasing agent for purposes of engaging in transactions or entering into contracts below the value threshold. Any county or municipality, or agency or instrumentality thereof, or board of education, or fire district without a qualified purchasing agent will continue to be subject to the applicable transaction or contract value provided by law, without adjustment, which is currently $17,500. | In Committee |
| S165 | Expands definition of child under PFRS and SPRS. | This bill expands the definition of a child under the PFRS and SPRS to include the child of a deceased member that is under the age of 24 and that is enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credit hours in each semester. Under current law, a person is considered a child under the PFRS and SPRS if the person is: (1) under the age of 18; (2) 18 years of age or older and enrolled in a secondary school; (3) under the age of 24 and enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credit hours in each semester, provided that the member died in active service as a result of an accident met in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place, and the death was not the result of the member's willful misconduct; or (4) any age who, at the time of the member's or retirant's death, is disabled because of an intellectual disability or physical incapacity, is unable to do any substantial, gainful work because of the impairment and the impairment has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as affirmed by the medical board. This bill would remove the requirement that if the child is under the age of 24 and enrolled in an institution of higher education, the child must be the survivor of a member who died in the line of duty to be considered a child under the PFRS or SPRS. This bill would permit any child of a deceased member that is under the age of 24 and that is enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credit hours in each semester to be considered a child regardless if the member died in the line of duty or not. | In Committee |
| S4094 | Expands available protections against fraudulent recording of quitclaim deed. | This bill enhances protections against fraudulent recordings of quitclaim deeds by expressly authorizing a property owner to request notification and a delay in the recording, any time a quitclaim deed is submitted for recording on the owner's property. If a property owner submits this request, the bill requires the county recording officer (officer) to notify the property owner any time a person submits a request to record a quitclaim deed on the owner's property, and to wait to record the quitclaim deed until no less than 10 business days, and not more than 12 business days, have passed following the day when the officer sends the notification. To facilitate the notification requirement, the bill directs the officer to accept and retain a submission from a property owner of the owner's preferred mailing address or e-mail address, or both. A "county recording officer" is also known as the "register of deeds and mortgages" in some counties, and the "county clerk" in the others. A "quitclaim deed" is a form of a deed through which a grantor makes no promises concerning the extent of the present ownership of the property at issue, and no future promises concerning the property at issue, but conveys whatever estate or interest the grantor purports to have in the real property at issue. The bill allows the officer to collect a fee from property owners submitting notification requests to offset the cost of the notification requirement. The bill takes effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment in order to allow recording offices to adjust fees. | In Committee |
| S4257 | Establishes Forest Fire Preparedness Commission in DEP. | This bill would establish a "Forest Fire Preparedness Commission" in the Department of Environmental Protection. The commission would be composed of 20 members, including the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the State Firewarden, and the Superintendent of the State Police, or their designees, and representatives of local emergency response organizations. The commission would be charged with various duties related to ensuring that the State is prepared to respond in a timely and effective manner to wildfires, including: (1) performing a comprehensive audit of the State's current protocols related to wildfire response; (2) developing a comprehensive roadmap that may be utilized by State, regional, county, and local emergency responders, including firefighters, police, and medical responders, in order to coordinate their responses to wildfires; and (3) developing standardized lines of communication among the State Forest Fire Service and State, regional, county, and municipal emergency response organizations for the purposes of wildfire response. The bill would require the commission to produce a report that produces its findings, plans, recommendations, and activities no later than two years after the bill's enactment, after which the Forest Fire Preparedness Commission would dissolve. | In Committee |
| S908 | Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools. | This bill would require public and nonpublic schools to ensure that at least one portable anti-choking device is made available in the cafeteria, school nurse's office, and any other similar location. The devices would be placed in an unlocked and easily accessible location during the school day and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking place. The locations of each portable anti-choking device shall have an appropriate identifying sign. A portable anti-choking device is a device that uses manually created suction to remove blockage from a person's airway during a choking emergency. These devices may only be used in schools provided they have been registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Each board of education and the governing board or chief administrator of a nonpublic school would be required to develop policies for the use of anti-choking devices by school nurses and school employees. The policies would include a requirement that all school nurses and school employees receive training in airway management and in the removal of any obstructions from the airway using a portable anti-choking device. The Commissioner of Education would ensure that annual educational opportunities are made available for school nurses and employees of both public and nonpublic schools regarding airway management and the use of portable anti-choking devices. The Department of Education would reimburse public and nonpublic schools for the costs incurred to implement the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| S1445 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | An Act concerning military service members at public institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S843 | Requires Adjutant General of DMVA create program for veterans to receive evaluation and treatment for PTSD, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. | This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to develop, in coordination with appropriate departments and agencies, a program to assist veterans in accessing evaluation and treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis related to military service. The program may include offering support and guidance, transportation, assistance filing disability compensation claims, assistance updating discharge status, health care and other services or programs available at the local, State and federal level for obtaining and addressing a post-traumatic stress disorder, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury diagnosis. Under the bill, "veteran" means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S4221 | Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program. | This bill requires every employer, before hiring an employee, to verify the employment eligibility of the employee through the E-Verify program. E-Verify is an electronic verification of work authorization program jointly operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The bill provides for employers who employ 100 or more employees to comply with the E-Verify requirement by December 31, 2020. Employers who employ less than 100 employees must comply with the E-Verify requirement by December 31, 2020. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to develop a Statewide random auditing program to inspect private employers for compliance with the E-Verify requirement. The commissioner is also directed, upon receipt of a written and signed complaint against an employer, or upon an investigation initiated by the commissioner for good cause, to institute an investigation if the commissioner finds reasonable grounds exist that an employer allegedly violated the E-Verify requirement. The bill provides for the assessment of a civil penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $1000 on employers found to be in violation of the E-Verify requirement. For a first occurrence involving a violation, if, upon notification by the commissioner, the employer complies within seventy-two hours, the employer shall not be assessed a penalty. Any subsequent occurrence involving a violation by the employer results in the assessment of a civil penalty by the commissioner. However, if the employer has not committed a violation of the E-Verify requirement within the previous five years, a subsequent occurrence shall be treated as a first occurrence. The bill also prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens. It imposes penalties on employers who knowingly or intentionally employ unauthorized aliens. For the first violation where an employer knowingly hired unauthorized aliens, a court shall order the employer to terminate such employment, to be subject to a three year probationary period during which the employer shall submit quarterly reports for each new hire, to file a sworn affidavit within three business days after the order has been issued or face the suspension of any business license held by the employer until such time a signed sworn affidavit is filed. In addition, a court may consider a number of factors surrounding the violation and order the suspension of any business license for a period not to exceed ten business days. For the first violation where an employer intentionally hired unauthorized aliens, a court shall order the employer to terminate such employment; a five year probationary period during which the employer shall submit quarterly reports for each new hire; the suspension of any business license for a minimum ten days after considering all factors surrounding the violation; and the employer to file a sworn affidavit until which all licenses shall remain suspended. For any second violation of knowingly or intentionally employing an unauthorized alien, a court shall order the permanent revocation of any and all of the employers' business licenses issued by the State or any political subdivisions of the State. | In Committee |
| SJR101 | Designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month. The men and women in the Armed Forces courageously defend our Nation and State, and keep its citizens safe. As they make heroic sacrifices for their county, their husbands and wives are often left to deal with the strains of relocation and deployment. Though most military spouses do not wear a uniform themselves, they serve and strengthen our Nation and State every day be providing our brave troops with support, comfort, and love. They are the rock on which their families, our military community, and our security depend. They deserve recognition for the contributions and sacrifices they make. This State recognizes the selfless and extraordinary service and sacrifices of military spouses, and designates May of each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Month in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S788 | Exempts certain volunteer first responders from coverage under "unemployment compensation law"; excludes from gross income amounts received for certain volunteer emergency services. | This bill exempts from coverage under the "unemployment compensation," R.S.43:21-1 et seq., any services provided by a volunteer first responder who receives a stipend, including any clothing allowance, for the volunteer's services. The exempted first responder would not be subject to unemployment insurance (UI) taxes and not be eligible for UI benefits. The exclusion would also exclude the first responder's stipend from contributions to the temporary disability and family temporary disability benefits funds, and it would exclude the first responder from being eligible to receive those benefits for the volunteer first responder services. Under the bill, "volunteer first responder" means a volunteer firefighter, volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of volunteer services, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance. Additionally, the bill excludes from gross income the amounts received through stipends, including any clothing allowance, provided by a municipality for services performed by a volunteer first responder. Recently, municipalities have found it more difficult to recruit volunteers to serve as emergency services personnel. In response, many have begun providing stipends to help alleviate staffing shortages. Although they provide a greater incentive to volunteer, the amounts received through these stipends are subject to State and federal income tax. By exempting these stipends from calculation of a taxpayer's gross income under State law, the State can further assist municipalities in their efforts to provide proper emergency services to their residents. | In Committee |
| S1915 | Authorizes special Support Our Veterans license plate with proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veteran's centers. | This bill authorizes a special Support Our Veterans license plate with the proceeds supporting New Jersey homeless veterans' centers, Veterans Haven, North and South. The design of the license plate would be chosen by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Division of Veterans' Services in the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (NJDMAVA). There is a $50 initial fee, in addition to the registration fees required by law, with a $10 annual fee, in addition to the renewal fees required by law. The additional fees, after the deduction of the cost of producing and publicizing the plates, will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Support Our Veterans License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Veterans Haven Council within the (NJDMAVA). The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per license plate in producing, issuing, and publicizing the Support Our Veterans license plates. If the average cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost of producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Support Our Veterans license plate program. The bill also requires that the Veterans Haven Council or other individual or entity designated by the Veterans Haven Council, contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill prohibits the commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the Veterans Haven Council, or its designee, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Support Our Veterans license plate program; and (2) the Veterans Haven Council, or its designee, has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for Support Our Veterans license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The Veterans Haven Council or any individual or entity designated by the Veterans Haven Council, may also publicize the availability of Support Our Veterans license plates in any manner the Veterans Haven Council deems appropriate. The provisions of the bill remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided by the board, and the bill expires after 12 months if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| S2061 | Requires State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct study of utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in State procurement process. | This bill requires the Chief Diversity Officer to study disabled veteran-owned businesses to determine whether disparities exist between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process. The Chief Diversity Officer will prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report containing the study's findings and recommendations for legislative or other actions that can be taken to promote opportunities for disabled veteran-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the State. After the disparity study is submitted, the Chief Diversity Officer may, in the officer's discretion, prepare and submit additional reports identifying the extent to which previous recommendations have been successfully implemented and any impact the implementation of such recommendations have had on State procurement in the preceding years. Studies which demonstrate the disparity between the availability and utilization of disabled veteran-owned businesses in the State procurement process can help provide the basis for goal-based procurement programs. | In Committee |
| S3735 | Extends certain provisions of P.L.2022, c.9. | An Act concerning the mandatory retirement age of police chiefs and fire department chiefs and amending P.L.2022, c.9. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2386 | Provides gross income tax credit to active members of volunteer emergency service organizations for use of personal motor vehicle in performance of active duty. | This bill establishes a refundable gross income tax credit to provide reimbursement to active members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads for the use of their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The amount of the credit is determined by multiplying the business standard mileage rate set by the Internal Revenue Service for transportation or travel expenses by the number of miles the taxpayer actually and necessarily traveled by the taxpayer in the tax year using their personal vehicle in the performance of active duty. The maximum amount of the credit would be $500. If married individuals filing a joint return both qualify, they would be allowed a joint credit of up to $1,000. To be eligible for the credit, a taxpayer would, in the taxable year for which the credit was claimed, have to: (1) have been an unpaid member in good standing of the organization; and (2) have completed "qualifying service" with the organization. The bill defines "qualifying service" as: (a) for a volunteer who does not have duty hours, (i) active participation in at least 60 percent of the regular alarms or other calls to active duty to which the organization responds during the taxable year, (ii) recorded attendance at not less than 60 percent of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, (iii) participation in all of the organization's mandatory meetings during the year, and (iv) performance during the year of not less than 60 percent of any other miscellaneous duty required by the organization; or (b) for a volunteer who does have duty hours, performance of at least 400 duty hours during the year, of which no more than 50 percent could be for drills or other training classes or exercises. The bill requires each volunteer emergency services organization to certify to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, on or before January 15 of each year, a list of the active members of the organization during the prior tax year. The certification will assist the Division of Taxation in verifying a taxpayer's eligibility for a gross income tax credit under the bill. | Crossed Over |
| S4152 | Prohibits certain financial institutions from requiring certain disabled veterans to include anticipated property tax obligations as part of mortgage applications. | This bill prohibits certain financial institutions from requiring certain disabled veterans to include anticipated property tax obligations as part of a mortgage applications. Under current law, a veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability, and meets all of the requirements for a veterans' property tax exemption, may apply to the municipality in which their principal residence is located for a property tax exemption. The surviving spouse of such a veteran is also entitled to the property tax exemption for the duration of their widowhood or widowerhood, provided that certain eligibility criteria are met. Currently, when a person, including a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse, seeks a mortgage to purchase a home, banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions generally require that the person qualify for the mortgage based on the calculated monthly mortgage payment for the mortgage loan, plus the monthly share of the annual property tax bill. Although these persons may qualify for a total property tax exemption after purchasing the property, the inclusion of property tax obligations in the mortgage application can make it significantly more difficult for these persons to obtain a mortgage, as well as increase the interest rates that may be approved for these mortgage applicants. Under the bill, when a qualified veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability, or their surviving spouse, seeks a mortgage loan from a State-chartered bank, mortgage company, or credit union for a dwelling house that is to be the person's principal residence, the bank, mortgage company, or credit union may not require the person to indicate or disclose the annual property tax obligation on that dwelling house as part of the underwriting requirements for the mortgage loan, provided that the assessor of the municipality in which the property is located determines that the veteran or surviving spouse satisfies all of the eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, other than the ownership of the property, and certifies the same to the State-chartered bank, mortgage company, or credit union on a form promulgated for this purpose by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. In the case of a mortgage refinance application, the qualified veteran or surviving spouse would be required to meet all of the eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, including ownership of the property. | In Committee |
| S2385 | Increases tuition credit amount permitted under volunteer tuition credit program. | This bill increases the tuition credit amount permitted under the volunteer tuition credit program. Under current law, certain persons who are active members of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association in good standing and the person's dependent children and spouse are permitted to enroll in a postsecondary program on a tuition-free basis in a county college, county vocational school or county technical institution and be eligible to receive tuition credit in an amount not to exceed a maximum of $2,400 provided the person agrees to serve as a member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association for a minimum of four years of service. Current law provides for a tuition credit of up to $600 following each year of service not to exceed a maximum of $2,400 for the member, dependent, and spouse over a four-year service period. This bill increases the tuition credit amount from $600 to $1,250 per year of service, not to exceed a maximum of $5,000 for the member, dependent, and spouse over a four-year service period. | In Committee |
| S4132 | Creates offense of impersonating first responder; grades offense one degree higher than underlying offense. | This bill creates the new offense of impersonating a first responder for the purpose of aiding the commission of a crime or offense. This bill is similar to N.J.S.A.2C:28-8 which makes it a crime to impersonate a public servant or law enforcement officer with purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, or to otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense. A person who commits the new offense is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, the offense is classified one degree higher than the underlying offense, except that where the underlying crime is a crime of the first degree, the offense is a first-degree. Under the bill, the offense is committed if a person impersonates or dresses as a first responder, assumes a false identity as a first responder, or makes a false or misleading statement regarding their own identity as a first responder for the purpose of committing a crime or offense and commits a crime or offense in such assumed character or false identity. Under the bill, the offense is graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, a crime under this bill is classified one degree higher than the underlying offense. This bill is based upon reported instances in California of individuals impersonating first responders, specifically fire fighters battling wildfires, for the purpose of committing various crimes amid the chaos and turmoil. The November 2024 drought warning status declared by Governor Murphy and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections Commissioner LaTourette remains in effect for New Jersey. With that status, the risk for wildfires and other public health risks requiring the assistance and presence of fire and first responder personnel persists. It is the sponsors' view that taking advantage of a crisis situation to commit criminal acts warrants enhanced penalties. | In Committee |
| S4095 | Provides corporation business and gross income tax credits for acquisition of qualified farming equipment. | This bill provides corporation business and gross income tax credits to taxpayers that acquire qualified farming equipment used directly for an eligible farming operation. Specifically, the credits would be for 10 percent of the amount paid during the privilege period or taxable year for the acquisition of farming equipment, but not to exceed 25 percent of the taxpayer's tax liability. In order to claim the credit provided under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to submit an application to the Secretary of Agriculture for certification that the taxpayer is engaged in an eligible farming operation and has acquired qualified farming equipment during the privilege period or taxable year. A copy of the certification would be required to be included with the taxpayer's tax return when such return is filed. The Secretary of Agriculture would be required to establish a process by which applications for certification may be submitted. The bill defines "qualified farming equipment" as any equipment that is used directly for an eligible farming operation and "eligible farming operation" as any activity connected to the commercial growing, harvesting, processing, producing, or raising of agricultural products in the State including crops, dairy animals, livestock, fur-bearing animals, poultry, bees, crops used in fermented alcoholic beverages and wine, and any products therefrom, including organic agricultural products, aquacultural products, horticultural products, and silviculture products. | In Committee |
| S4093 | Requires regional diagnostic and treatment center for child abuse and neglect to establish mobile team to respond to certain hospital requests to perform forensic child abuse examinations. | This bill requires a regional diagnostic and treatment center for child abuse and neglect to establish a mobile team to respond to certain hospital requests to perform forensic child abuse examinations on pediatric patients. The bill also appropriates State funds to support the establishment of the mobile teams. Currently, pursuant to State law, there are four such State-designated multidisciplinary centers designed to support the evaluation and treatment of abused and neglected children within a specific county-based region of the State. Services provided by these centers are largely center-based. Under the bill, each center is required to establish a mobile team of multidisciplinary professionals. The team is to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, to respond to a hospital's request, made in accordance with the provisions of the bill, to perform a forensic child abuse examination on a pediatric patient at the requesting hospital. Each center is also to develop a method by which a hospital may contact the center's mobile team to make a request for services. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, is to determine the number and types of staff required to compose a center's mobile team. The bill mandates that a hospital licensed in the State is to contact the center associated with the county in which the hospital is located and request a forensic child abuse evaluation of a pediatric patient, to be performed at the hospital by the center's mobile team, if: 1) the patient is under the age of 13; the patient has been referred to the hospital by a school nurse, pediatrician, health care provider, parent, or relative for an investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect; and the patient's alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect is a caregiver; or 2) the patient is under the age of 13; the patient presents with any injury that is inconsistent with any account provided describing the circumstances that led to that injury or with the activity typical for the developmental level of that child; and the patient's alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect is a caregiver. The bill also requires hospitals to ensure that all emergency department staff participate in an annual training program, selected by Department of Children and Families in consultation with the Attorney General, regarding the identification and reporting of diagnosed or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. This provision codifies an existing requirement at N.J.A.C.8:43G-2.13, which directs hospitals to provide identical training to appropriate persons. | In Committee |
| S4092 | Prohibits enforcement of certain trapping violations in areas subject to law enforcement investigation. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection or any other person authorized to enforce provisions of chapter 4 of Title 23 of the Revised Statutes, or the State Fish and Game Code, from issuing a violation to a trapping licensee for failure to check a trap within the required time period if the trap is located in an area subject to a law enforcement investigation and the licensee has been instructed by a federal, State, or local law enforcement agent to vacate the area. Current State Fish and Game Code regulations, at N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.12(i), require that all traps set or in use must be checked, tended, and maintained at least once per calendar day for the trapping of semi-aquatic species in tidal areas, and at least once in every 24 hours for all other trappings. | In Committee |
| S4085 | Requires certain law enforcement entities and courts to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires every law enforcement agency to notify the appropriate federal immigration authorities when a person who is arrested and charged with any crime and certain offenses is a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in this county. The purpose of notifying federal immigration authorities is to initiate deportation proceedings. Under the bill, "federal immigration authority" is defined as any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or United States Customs and Border Protection, or any division thereof, or any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of the United States Department of Homeland Security who is charged with immigration enforcement. The bill also requires every sentencing court to immediately contact appropriate federal immigration authorities in order to initiate deportation proceedings upon convicting a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in this country of certain crimes or offenses. Finally, correctional facilities in which the convicted non-citizen is held would be required to contact appropriate federal immigration authorities for the purpose of initiating deportation proceedings. Parole or probation officers with a supervisory role over a convicted non-citizen also would be required to contact federal immigration authorities for the purpose of initiating deportation proceedings. The crimes and offenses included under the bill that would require notification are any crime of the first through fourth degree or any disorderly or petty disorderly persons offense involving the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession and use of controlled dangerous substances, theft, robbery, or any other crime or offense resulting in detention. | In Committee |
| SCR121 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations to implement "Advanced Clean Trucks" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the rule and regulations adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection in the December 20, 2021 New Jersey Register, 53 N.J.R. 2148(a), are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature. The Department of Environmental Protection would have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the rules and regulations or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| S4098 | Excludes all New Jersey Lottery winnings from gross income tax and eliminates related withholding requirements. | This bill provides that all New Jersey Lottery winnings are excluded from the gross income tax and removes withholding requirements for New Jersey Lottery winnings that exceed $10,000 in value. Under current law, New Jersey Lottery winnings in excess of $10,000 are taxable under the gross income tax, and the New Jersey State Lottery is required to withhold a percentage of these prize winnings for gross income tax purposes. Currently, the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury determines the withholding rate. This bill excludes New Jersey Lottery winnings in excess of $10,000 from gross income. Accordingly, all winnings from the New Jersey Lottery would be excluded from the gross income tax. As part of this exclusion, the bill also removes the New Jersey State Lottery's authority to withhold a percentage of such winnings for gross income tax purposes. | In Committee |
| S4096 | Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers. | This bill prohibits any electric public utility from increasing the rate charged to ratepayers after the bill's enactment for the purpose of recovering the cost of installing smart meters. Beginning on the date 30 days prior to, and until 30 days after, the effective date of any electric public utility rate increase, the bill requires an electric public utility to publish the following information on its Internet website and in any customer communication, including, but not limited to, a paper or electronic bill: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) information on how ratepayers can provide feedback on the impact of or file a complaint concerning the rate increase. The Board of Public Utilities (board) is authorized to impose a fine of up to $10,000 if the board finds that an electric public utility violated this requirement. An electric public utility is required to report to the federal Department of Energy any rate increase expected to result in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills, no less than 60 days prior to the effective date of the rate increase. Within its report to the Department of Energy, an electric public utility is required to include the following information: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) any measures the electric public utility may take to mitigate the rate increase's impact on ratepayer bills. An electric public utility is also required to provide to the federal Department of Energy an annual report on: (1) any trends in the duration, location, and cause of an electric public utility's electric service interruptions, including, but not limited to, a summary of electric service interruptions during the preceding calendar year; and (2) any trends in overdue bills from an electric public utility's ratepayers during the preceding calendar year. The bill prohibits an electric public utility from disconnecting electric service to or assessing a late fee for bill nonpayment to any ratepayer affected by a rate increase resulting in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills within six months following that rate increase. | In Committee |
| S4097 | Provides for cost-of-living adjustments to allowance for legislative member staff services. | This bill provides for cost-of-living adjustments to the allowance for Legislative member staff services. Under current law, members of the Legislature are permitted a fixed allowance of $150,000 for staff services. Under the bill, the amount of the annual allowance will be adjusted annually by the State Treasurer in direct proportion to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index over a 12-month period. An adjustment in the annual allowance will be made only if the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for the period specified is greater than zero. The State Treasurer will determine the amount of the adjustment by December 1 of each year and the adjustment will become effective during the calendar year following the determination, beginning on or after January 1 of each calendar year. | In Committee |
| S4091 | Requires DEP and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas. | This bill would requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas. The DEP and the I-Bank finance the State's Water Bank program, which provides financing, in the form of low-interest loans, often with a certain amount of principal forgiveness, in support of wastewater and drinking water projects throughout the State. | In Committee |
| SCR122 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations known as " New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Change - Resilient Environment and Landscapes" are inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the rules and regulations proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the August 5, 2024 New Jersey Register, 56 N.J.R. 1282(a), are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature. The Department of Environmental Protection would have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the proposed rules and regulations or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| S4108 | Requires appointment of State Dementia Services Coordinator; appropriates $150,000. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The State coordinator is to be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the position. The duties of the State coordinator is to include: 1) developing and coordinating the implementation of a master plan to address the impact of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 2) coordinating with existing State programs, services, facilities, and agencies that provide services and other assistance to persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 3) developing procedures to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between, and prevent the duplication of dementia care services provided by, State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; 4) identifying service gaps in the provision of appropriate dementia care services and other assistance by State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; and 5) increasing awareness of, and facilitating access to quality, coordinated treatment and dementia care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia. The appointed State Dementia Services Coordinator: is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the State to supply the coordinator with data and any other information necessary to discharge the coordinator's duties; and may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of the coordinator's mission. The provisions of the bill also require each department, office, division, or agency to cooperate fully with, and provide assistance to, the coordinator to perform the coordinator's duties. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1659 | Requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome and requires installation of signage in certain women's rooms to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. | This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome in grades four through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. This bill would also require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets. The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill would require the menstrual toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department. Under the bill, "group A or M occupancy" means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in the most recently adopted New Jersey International Building Code. Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade five are excluded from the "group A or M occupancy" definition. This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly. Women that use tampons and similar devices have a higher risk of contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches. As menstrual toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion. Menstrual toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. This bill is in honor of Madalyn "Maddy" Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017, just days after contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome. Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida. | In Committee |
| S4056 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from placing time limit on coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. | This bill prohibits health insurance carriers from placing a time limit on the coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. Under the bill, a carrier (including an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in the State) will be prohibited from limiting coverage based on the amount of time in which anesthesia services are used before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. For the purpose of this bill, "anesthesia services" means the same as the prevailing medical coding standards found within the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology code for anesthesia, including anesthesia modifier codes. | In Committee |
| SR123 | Urges Congress to pass H.R.9997 naming US Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.9997, currently pending before the Subcommittee on Health in the House of Representatives. This bill names the US Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic. Born in 1920, Second Lieutenant Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. and his parents moved to Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Second Lieutenant Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. later became a long-time resident of Toms River and Ocean County. After college, Second Lieutenant Lomell enlisted in the Army, volunteering for the elite Ranger Corps, and was a member of the Second Rangers Battalion during the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion, commanding his own platoon as First Sergeant. Then-First Sergeant Lomell saved countless Allied lives during his service, resulting in a battlefield promotion to Second Lieutenant and the awarding of some of the military's highest honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Silver Star. Following World War II, Second Lieutenant Lomell attended law school on the G.I. Bill, eventually settling with his family in Toms River and, in 1957, establishing his own law firm, which grew to become one of Ocean County's largest law firms. Serving as selflessly in civilian life as he did in the military, Second Lieutenant Lomell was involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including by serving as president of the Ocean County Bar Association, a director of the First National Bank of Toms River, a member of the Dover Township Board of Education, and as a founding member of the World War II Army Rangers Battalion Association. Since Toms River, New Jersey, in the Fourth Congressional District, was designated as the site for the new Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, a state-of-the-art facility serving the region's large veteran population, it is altogether fitting and proper to name this clinic the Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic in honor of the decorated war hero, model citizen, and dedicated husband and father. | In Committee |
| S3570 | Changes certain driver testing and education requirements for persons with disabilities. | Changes certain driver testing and education requirements for persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S3366 | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | 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 |
| S3907 | Authorizes creation of "Woman Veteran" license plates with emblem displaying silhouette of woman veteran saluting set against American flag background. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue woman veteran license plates. The design of the woman veteran license plates is to display a silhouette of a woman veteran saluting set against an American flag background and the words "Woman Veteran." An application to obtain a woman veteran license plate is to include satisfactory proof that the applicant is a veteran as evidenced by the applicant's DD-214 form or on a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees collected are to be deposited into the "Woman Veteran License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be appropriated annually to the organizations and groups that support women veterans. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (department) appoint a liaison to represent the department in all communications with the MVC regarding the license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds may not be used by the MVC for the initial cost to implement the license plate program. The bill requires the department, or an individual or entity designated by the department, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for any computer programming necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the department to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The chief administrator is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, or make any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the department, or an individual or entity designated by the department, has provided the MVC with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the department has provided the MVC with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC are provided by the department or its designee. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after the bill's enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| SJR147 | Establishes New Jersey Government Efficiency Commission. | This bill establishes a New Jersey Government Efficiency Commission. The commission will investigate and compile strategies regarding the streamlining of government functions, the elimination of unnecessary government bureaucracy, redundancies, and overlapping functions, and the opportunity for cost reductions in government. The commission will consist of seven members as follows: the State Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee, who will serve as chairperson; one member of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce; one public member appointed by the Governor; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The public members of the commission will be appointed for terms of three years and may be removed by the appointing authority for cause. The initial members shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of this act. The commission will be constituted upon the appointment of the majority of its authorized membership. The commission will meet at the call of the chairperson and will meet as frequently as is necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities. The commission will issue an initial report to the Governor and the Legislature on its finding and recommendations within one year of the commission's formation, and an annual report each year thereafter. | In Committee |
| SJR93 | Designates first full week of May of each year as "Teacher Appreciation Week." | Designates first full week of May of each year as "Teacher Appreciation Week." | In Committee |
| S3313 | Requires certain procedures and training for municipalities, counties, and school districts in response to cybersecurity incidents. | Requires certain procedures and training for municipalities, counties, and school districts in response to cybersecurity incidents. | In Committee |
| S1756 | Revises criteria to establish base year for homestead property tax reimbursement after relocation. | Revises criteria to establish base year for homestead property tax reimbursement after relocation. | In Committee |
| A5152 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | An Act concerning the date of the June 2025 primary election and adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3965 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | In Committee |
| SR118 | Urges US Congress to enact legislation allowing individuals with disabilities to retain federal disability benefits upon marriage. | This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact legislation allowing individuals with disabilities to retain federal disability benefits upon marriage. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability related programs known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI is a need-based program that provides financial assistance to disabled individuals, as well as seniors, with limited income and resources, regardless of their work history. SSDI is based on an individual's work history and the Social Security taxes they have paid. It provides benefits to those who have worked and paid into Social Security for a sufficient number of years but have become disabled and are unable to work. The SSA recently recognized Patrice Jetter and Garry Wickham, subjects of "Patrice: The Movie", a documentary that focuses on the couple's concerns about losing their disability benefits if they were to get married. The film highlights how changes to the asset limit and related marriage rules can only be made by Congress because those have been set by statute. On September 30, 2024 the Social Security Administration issued a public statement acknowledging that some of the policies enforced by the administration are antiquated and should be updated to reflect the modern day needs of individuals living with disabilities and receiving disability benefits. Along with the public statement issued by the SSA on September 30, the SSA enacted three SSI enhancements that is estimated to lead to new or increased SSI payments for hundreds of thousands of Americans with disabilities. In New Jersey, approximately 10.2 percent of the population has a disability. The majority of recipients are disabled workers. In order to implement effective changes to the SSA's policies concerning SSI and SSDI, Congress should take action to enact legislation concerning these two programs that would allow individuals with disabilities to retain their federal disability benefits upon marriage. | In Committee |
| S3964 | "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act," would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program to solicit bids for the construction of new small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would authorize the BPU to issue financial incentives to SMRs, to be known as SMR incentives, for each megawatt hour of electric energy produced by the reactor. The amount of the incentive would be determined through a competitive solicitation process. Private entities would submit bids to the BPU, which state the level of SMR incentive they estimate they would require to achieve profitability. The BPU would select the lowest bids, except that the bill authorizes the BPU to give preference to certain projects, for example projects sited at former nuclear energy facilities or fossil fuel power plants. The bill would authorize the BPU to use moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which serves as the repository for funds collected by the State under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in order to fund the SMR incentives. The bill would direct the BPU to develop the program within one year after the bill's enactment, and to begin the first competitive solicitation round within two years after the bill's enactment. The bill would restrict the owner or operator of an SMR that receives an incentive from otherwise profiting from the environmental attributes of the energy it produces. Finally, the bill would require each SMR that is selected to participate in the incentive program to pay an annual administrative fee to the BPU, to compensate the BPU for its costs in administering the program. | In Committee |
| S354 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| S3948 | Allows certain alcoholic beverage retail licenses to be transferred with annexed municipal land. | This bill establishes a procedure for the transfer of an alcoholic beverage plenary retail consumption license, generally issued to bars and restaurants, when municipal land is annexed by another municipality. Current law provides for the annexation of land in one municipality into another existing municipality through a petition process. Under this bill, a plenary retail consumption license used in connection with a premises located on land that is annexed would be transferred to the governing body of the municipality that annexes the land. The bill also allows a municipality from which land is annexed that transfers a plenary retail consumption license to issue a new plenary retail consumption license at public sale in order to replace any transferred license. Under current law, a municipality may issue plenary retail consumption licenses until the combined total number in the municipality is fewer than one license for each 3,000 municipal residents. This population limitation would not apply to a license transferred or issued under the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S3937 | Requires public utility to charge volunteer emergency service organization residential rate. | This bill requires a public utility to charge a volunteer emergency service organization a residential rate for service delivered to the property at which the volunteer emergency service organization primarily operates, if the residential rate is lower than the commercial rate for the service at that property. In consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, a public utility is to establish a reasonable procedure for an organization to certify itself as a volunteer emergency service organization with the public utility for this purpose. Under the bill, "volunteer emergency service organization" means an organization that relies on volunteer members to provide emergency services, including, but not limited to, fire department, first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad services. | In Committee |
| S2354 | Requires MVC to accommodate walk-in services on certain days. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide service to walk-in customers at least two full days per week for the purpose of better accommodating customers and allowing services to be available for all individuals. Specifically, those lacking the email or computer access required for completion of online tasks and scheduling. The bill also requires the commission to accommodate all walk-in customers on a first-come, first-served basis for all commission services. | In Committee |
| S3437 | Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities. | Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S3909 | Authorizes creation of "250th Anniversary Revolutionary War" license plates. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue 250th Anniversary Revolutionary War license plates. The design of the license plate is to be chosen by the chief administrator, in consultation with the New Jersey Historical Commission (historical commission) in the Department of State. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees collected are to be deposited into the "250th Anniversary Revolutionary War License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be appropriated annually to support and preserve Revolutionary War sites throughout New Jersey. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the Chair of the New Jersey Historical Commission appoint a liaison to represent the historical commission in all communications with the MVC regarding the license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds may not be used by the MVC for the initial cost to implement the license plate program. The bill requires the historical commission, or an individual or entity designated by the historical commission, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for any computer programming necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the historical commission to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The MVC is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, or make any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the historical commission, or an individual or entity designated by the historical commission, has provided the MVC with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the historical commission has provided the MVC with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC are provided by the historical commission or its designee. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month following the bill's enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| S3904 | "S2 Appropriations Rescue Act"; appropriates $106.5 million to provide Emergency Supplemental Aid to certain school districts, including districts negatively impacted by effects of P.L.2018, c.67. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $106.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to provide "Emergency Supplemental Aid" to certain school districts. The aid is to be distributed to school districts that have been allocated a total amount of State school aid in the 2024-2025 school year that is:· less than the district's adequacy budget, which under current law represents the portion of the costs that a school district is expected to incur to provide a thorough and efficient education; and · less than or equal to $19,000 per resident pupil; and· either: less than or equal to the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year; or greater than the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year by up to $200,000. The amount of Emergency Supplemental Aid provided to an eligible district pursuant to the bill is to be determined by multiplying $250 by the number of resident pupils in the district. School districts from all parts of the State have experienced negative budgetary effects over the seven years following the enactment of P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S2." The severity of these budgetary reductions have forced districts to lay off hundreds of teachers and staff, adopt half-day schedules, eliminate sports and clubs, reduce academic programming such as Advanced Placement classes, eliminate busing, and sell land and close schools just to balance their budgets. This educational funding crisis has affected hundreds of school districts representing an array of socioeconomic groups, from urban districts such as the City of East Orange, Jersey City, and Passaic City, to suburban districts such as Hillsborough Township, Freehold Regional School District, Old Bridge Township, Jackson Township, Toms River Regional School District, Brick Township, and Evesham Township, and extending to rural districts, such as Chesterfield Township, Lenape Regional School District, Estell Manor City, and Hardyston Township. This bill provides emergency restoration aid to help stabilize the budgets of these school districts, as well as 290 other districts, for the purpose of providing these children with a quality education. | In Committee |
| S2826 | Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3856 | Requires use of prior military service to extend maximum age for appointment to State Police. | This bill extends the maximum age for appointment to the New Jersey State Police for applicants who have served in the military. Under current law, no person over the age of 35 may be appointed to the State Police. This bill provides that the maximum age of 35 years is to be extended by one year for each year of active duty military service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, with a maximum extension of six years. The sponsor states that veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States gain valuable experience from their military service which make them uniquely qualified for public service employment. The sponsor intends for this bill to increase opportunities for veterans by extending the age limit for appointment to the State Police. This will enhance the ability of the State Police to recruit qualified and skilled candidates, which will benefit both veterans and the State. | In Committee |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3852 | Modifies requirements for associations to protect structural integrity of certain buildings; expands timeframes for associations to establish adequate reserves. | This bill amends a recent enactment, P.L.2023, c.214, (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.), which imposed various requirements upon associations responsible for the management and maintenance of the common elements and facilities of residential buildings within planned real estate developments. The bill also limits applicability of the capital reserve study and funding requirements of P.L.2023, c.214, (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.) to residential condominium and cooperative buildings that are three stories or more in height. The bill further modifies current law to enable impacted associations to increase the amounts required to hold in necessary reserve funds over a longer period of time. The Legislature enacted P.L.2023, c.214 for the purpose of enhancing the structural integrity of the primary load bearing systems of residential buildings. However, language contained in the underlying enactment may be interpreted as having imposed requirements to protect against failures of common areas and capital improvements even though they do not impact a building's structural integrity. The recent enactment may also be interpreted as imposing requirements on non-residential buildings as well as residential ones. This bill modifies language from the recent enactment to address these issues and to limit applicability of P.L.2023, c.214 to residential buildings that are three stories or more in height. Additionally, the bill would double the timeframe imposed under current law within which an impacted association is required to establish and maintain a reserve fund in an adequate amount. | In Committee |
| S2962 | Requires contractor subject to prevailing wage law to provide orientation meeting to new employee on prevailing wage project. | An Act concerning the rights of employees under the prevailing wage law and amending P.L.1963, c.150. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3886 | Creates crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability. | This bill establishes a separate crime of victimization against a senior citizen or a person with a disability, which must be charged and proved as any other crime. Victimization would be graded one degree higher than the offense that was committed. A person would be guilty of victimization if the person commits any crime listed in the bill against a senior citizen or a person with a disability. Upon a conviction, the sentence imposed by the court would not merge with the sentence imposed for the underlying offense. This bill also provides that if the underlying crime for which the person is being sentenced was graded as a crime of the first or second degree, the sentence imposed shall include a term of post-incarceration parole supervision. Under the bill, a "senior citizen" is defined as a person 62 years of age or over. A "person with a disability" is defined as a person who by reason of any pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, any person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. | In Committee |
| S3854 | Extends Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act to caregivers of certain veterans. | This bill amends the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act to extend the tax credit benefit to caregivers of certain veterans. Under current law, the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act provides a gross income tax credit to family caregivers of armed service members with service-connected disabilities arising out of service on or after September 11, 2001. The bill revises the definition of veteran to mean any citizen and resident of this State discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and extends the tax credit to caregivers of veterans who fall under the revised definition. | In Committee |
| S3863 | Establishes 90-day State tax amnesty period ending no later than January 15, 2026; dedicates revenues collected during tax amnesty period for Stabilization Aid to school districts; appropriates up to $15 million. | The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to establish a 90-day State tax amnesty period, to end no later January 15, 2026. The amnesty period would apply only to State tax liabilities for tax returns due on and after September 1, 2017 and before January 1, 2025. During the amnesty period, a taxpayer who has failed to pay a State tax can pay the amount of unpaid tax and one-half of the balance of interest that is due as of November 1, 2024, without the imposition of the remaining one-half of the balance of interest that is due as of November 1, 2024, recovery fees, civil penalties, and criminal penalties arising out of the late payment. The amnesty would not be available to a taxpayer who, at the time of payment, is under criminal investigation or charge for any State tax matter. If a taxpayer eligible for the amnesty fails during the amnesty period to pay taxes owed, the bill subjects that taxpayer to a five percent penalty, which the director may not waive or abate. The five percent penalty would be in addition to all other penalties, interest, or collection costs otherwise authorized by law. If a person is notified by the Office of Criminal Investigation in the Division of Taxation that the person is under criminal investigation for a State tax matter, they would not be eligible for amnesty under the program unless the Office of Criminal Investigation certifies to the director that the State tax matter involving that person was resolved. Further, a taxpayer would not be eligible for amnesty under the bill unless that taxpayer pays the full amount of the tax, reduced interest, and applicable penalty, if any, in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the director. The bill establishes a dedicated account in the Department of Education to be known as the Stabilization Aid Account and requires all of the moneys collected by the State through the tax amnesty program, excluding certain revenues dedicated for specific purposes by the State Constitution, to be deposited into the special account for the purpose of providing Stabilization Aid to school districts that experience a reduction in State aid compared to the prior school year. To receive Stabilization Aid, a school district would be required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. The bill requires that the application include, at a minimum, a written plan explaining how the school district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the school district does not receive Stabilization Aid or similar supplemental State school aid. The bill appropriates a sum not to exceed $15 million from the proceeds collected through the amnesty period for the costs incurred to carry out and administer the program. The bill requires a contract for advertising services for the State tax amnesty program to be procured in an expedited manner. | In Committee |
| S3670 | Provides for mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by remnants of Hurricane Ida. | An Act to provide mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection in response to the remnants of Hurricane Ida and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1887 | Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly. | Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly. | Crossed Over |
| S3828 | Establishes disabled veteran tenant gross income tax credit. | This bill establishes a disabled veteran tenant gross income tax credit. This bill allows a disabled veteran to claim a nonrefundable credit, up to a maximum allowable amount of $1,000, for that portion of the veteran's rent constituting property taxes. Currently, 18 percent of rent paid is considered to constitute property taxes. If a qualifying disabled veteran is married but is filing with a status of "married, filing separately," each spouse will be entitled to claim one half of the credit for which the disabled veteran qualifies. However, if a qualifying disabled veteran rents a homestead with another taxpayer, other than the qualifying disabled veteran's spouse, the qualifying disabled veteran may only claim a credit for the rent constituting property taxes that the qualifying disabled veteran actually paid. The credit established by this bill can be claimed in addition to the $50 credit that can be claimed by a taxpayer or a resident, who is 65 years of age or older, blind, or disabled not subject to tax, who paid rent constituting property taxes on a homestead. A disabled veteran is a veteran who, as a result of war service, is eligible to be compensated for a service connected disability by the United States Veteran Administration. War service is service at some time during the following conflicts: World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Lebanon crisis, the Vietnam conflict, the Lebanon peacekeeping mission, the Grenada peacekeeping mission, the Panama peacekeeping mission, Operation "Desert Shield/Desert Storm," Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch, Operation "Restore Hope," Operations "Joint Endeavor" and "Joint Guard," Operation "Uphold Democracy," Operation "Enduring Freedom," and Operation "Iraqi Freedom." | In Committee |
| S3826 | Establishing veterans' affordable housing preference; authorizing bonus fair share credit for veterans' affordable housing. | This bill would establish a veterans' affordable housing preference, and would offer municipalities bonus fair share credits for veterans' affordable housing. Specifically, the bill would require the developer, residential development owner, or administrative agent for affordable housing in a municipality to provide a preference to low- and moderate-income veterans, regardless of war service, of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve Component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard, with regard to no less than 50 percent of the affordable units in a project. This requirement would apply to both rental and ownership affordable housing. Under existing law, municipalities are permitted to enter into agreements with owners and developers to establish similar veterans preferences for up to 50 percent of the housing in a development. This bill would require a veterans preference for no less than 50 percent of the housing in a development. In addition to the affirmative marketing otherwise required for affordable units, the bill directs the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to provide appropriate outreach to veterans to enhance awareness of the veterans preference and the steps necessary to take advantage of the preference. In order to facilitate appropriate outreach to veterans, the bill requires the DMVA to maintain a registry of veterans who have expressed interest in, or may be eligible for, affordable housing, and the regions or municipalities in which the veterans live, or would be willing to live, should affordable housing become available. In order to ensure that affordable units are offered to eligible veterans before non-veterans, in accordance with the requirements of this bill, the bill requires the DMVA to coordinate with the Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and developers and residential development owners. Additionally, the bill provides that a municipality would receive one unit of credit and one-half bonus credit for each unit of housing occupied or reserved for occupancy by a low or moderate income veteran. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations, in consultation with the Adjutant General of the DMVA, to effectuate the purposes of the bill on or before the effective date of the bill. The bill takes effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment. | In Committee |
| S3827 | Encourages expansion of community mental health programs to include mental health services to veterans; prohibits veterans from being denied county mental health services. | This bill encourages the expansion of community mental health programs to include mental health services to veterans and prohibits veterans from being denied county mental health services. Specifically, the bill amends section 1 of P.L.1957, c.146 (C.30:9A-1) to stipulate that the public policy of the State is to encourage the improvement and expansion of community mental health programs in designated service areas in order to provide mental health services to veterans. Current State public policy does not specifically stipulate that community mental health programs in designated service areas are to provide mental health services to veterans. The bill also amends section 3 of P.L.1983, c. 435 (C.30:9A-9.2) to require that reimbursement or advancement grants distributed by the Department of Human Services in areas lacking community mental health centers are to be used to initiate or expand services to veterans in need of mental health services. Currently, reimbursement or advancement grants are used to initiate or expand services for certain target populations which do not include veterans in need of mental health services. The provisions of the bill mandate that a veteran in need of mental health services who meets the eligibility requirements of a county mental health services program is not be denied county mental health services:(1) based solely on the person's status as a veteran, including whether or not the person is eligible for services provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or (2) while waiting for a determination of eligibility for, or the availability of, mental health services provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the bill's provisions, a county mental health services program: (1) is to advise a veteran who may be eligible for mental health services through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs of their presumed eligibility for services, and refer the veteran to the appropriate county veterans' affairs office for assistance with eligibility determination for these, as appropriate; and (2) may enter into a contract with a community-based veterans' mental health services organization, where possible, to provide veteran-specific mental health services. | In Committee |
| S3817 | Requires DEP to implement Advanced Clean Trucks regulations no earlier than January 1, 2027. | This bill would delay the implementation of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP's) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations to January 1, 2027. Under current law, N.J.A.C. 7:27-31.3, the regulations would become operative on January 1, 2025. The DEP adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in 2021. Pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the DEP is authorized to implement California's Low Emission Vehicle Program in New Jersey. The ACT regulations would require, among other things, that manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty motor vehicles sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions vehicles, capping at 40 percent to 75 percent of annual sales in 2035, depending on the type of vehicle sold. | In Committee |
| S3809 | Requires converting portion of Paramus and Menlo Park veterans' memorial homes into single occupancy rooms; requires upgrades to ventilation systems; provides Adjutant General discretion for additional room considerations. | Under this bill and subject to the availability of federal funds provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and federal funds provided or made accessible to the State from the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will convert at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park and at least one ward in the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus to single occupancy rooms. The rooms will be equipped with negative pressure ventilation to support infectious disease control measures, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems will be upgraded throughout the two homes to infection control system standards. If the federal funds are not sufficient to accomplish the conversions and upgrades, there will be appropriated such sums from the General Fund as necessary, in amounts subject to approval by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, for use by the department to accomplish the changes outlined in the bill. | In Committee |
| SR86 | Urges United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. | This Senate resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The citizens of this nation and State are indebted to the sacrifice and heroism of all who have bravely served in the Armed Forces of the United States. In return for their sacrifices, this country has made a commitment to meeting the health care needs of veterans. As of 2023, 338,012 veterans live in New Jersey, with 119,200 of them residing in the southern counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem. Currently, there is no federal Department of Veterans Affairs inpatient hospital facility in southern New Jersey, making it necessary for veterans needing inpatient care to travel long distances to northern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. The East Orange Veterans Medical Center is the largest health care facility serving veterans from southern New Jersey, which is over two hours away from some veterans. In New Jersey, the average resident lives approximately 12 minutes away from the closest hospital, therefore, requiring veterans to travel multiple hours for medical care is unjust. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is an ideal location for an inpatient hospital facility for veterans from southern New Jersey as it shortens the travel distance for these veterans. Additionally, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst provides a variety of other services to veterans, therefore, making trips to the base efficient and convenient for veterans and their families. It is fitting and appropriate for the State to take steps to ensure that our nation's promise of health care access is kept to the veterans of southern New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3807 | Establishes Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. | This bill creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission act. The purpose of the commission will be to assess, support, and create programs for the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members back into civilian life through the coordination of the collective efforts of State agencies with the goal of preventing veteran suicides. The commission will coordinate with State agencies to effectively and responsibly meet the needs of the military community. In performing these responsibilities, the commission will conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and support provided by the agencies. The commission will coordinate its activities with the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for its veterans, service members, and their families. The commission will consist of 13 members. Members of the commission will be appointed for a term of four years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Upon expiration of the initial term, each member may be reappointed for an additional term of four years. The commission, in its discretion, may divide its membership into subcommittees in the course of carrying out its duties. The commission will hold at least six meetings each year, but otherwise will meet at the call of the chair. The primary focus of the commission will be on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community with the goal of the prevention of veteran suicides. The commission will review the activities related to the military community of each State agency to ensure there is efficient and effective coordination and alignment with the needs of the military community. The commission will ensure accountability by tracking the progress of initiatives, programs, and services; develop strategic collaborations among State agencies; and increase public awareness of the services and support available to the military community to prevent veteran suicides. The commission will promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government through knowledge sharing, mobilization of resources, and an aligned approach to serving the military community to prevent veteran suicides. The commission will issue periodic reports, which will include, but not be limited to, its strategic goals, its public research agenda, and its performance and progress in meeting its goals. | In Committee |
| S3805 | Exempts veterans' organizations from motor vehicle registration fee. | This bill exempts veterans' organizations charted under federal law from being charged a fee for the registration of motor vehicles not used for pleasure or hire. Only certain State and local government entities and civic organizations are currently exempted from paying a motor vehicle registration fee. | In Committee |
| S3804 | Requires school district to allow graduating student to wear military sash while participating in high school graduation ceremony. | Under current law, school districts are required to allow a student to wear a military dress uniform issued by a branch of the United States Armed Forces while participating in the student's high school graduation ceremony if the student has:1. fulfilled all of the State and local requirements for receiving a high school diploma, and is otherwise eligible to participate in the high school graduation ceremony; and2. completed basic training for, and is an active member of, a branch of the United States Armed Forces. This bill amends the law to also require school districts to allow graduating students to wear a military sash or stole issued to the student by a branch of the United States Armed Forces while participating in their high school graduation ceremony if they have fulfilled all of the State and local requirements for receiving a high school diploma, and are otherwise eligible to participate in the high school graduation ceremony. A military sash or stole is worn atop a graduation robe and is issued by a recruiter of the graduate's service branch upon enlistment. | In Committee |
| S3410 | Requires DMVA establish Disabled Veterans Transportation Task Force. | This bill establishes a Disabled Veterans Transportation Task Force. The purpose of the task force will be to study, evaluate, and develop recommendations to address the transportation needs of disabled veterans. The task force will consist of the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, the President of New Jersey Transit, and the Adjutant General will appoint: at least three disabled veterans; at least three representatives from different veterans organizations; and at least three representatives from different Boards of County Commissioners. The task force will hold at least three public hearings in different parts of the State and elicit testimony from the public at such times and places as the chairs will designate. It will be the duty of the task force to: identify ways to improve and increase transportation opportunities for disabled veterans; identify barriers that exist to providing disabled veterans with transportation opportunities; develop recommendations regarding reimbursement of travel expenses, including, but not limited to, utilizing travel allowances and mileage based reimbursement; and make recommendations for legislation or such other action as it deems appropriate with regard to transportation opportunities for disabled veterans. The task force will submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations no later than six months after its initial organizational meeting, and a final report of its findings and recommendations no later than 12 months after its initial organizational meeting. The report will be publicly accessible and posted on the website of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. | In Committee |
| S3806 | Exempts volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations from charitable registration fees. | This bill would exempt volunteer fire companies, emergency service providers, and veteran organizations from paying registration filing fees under the State's "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." Under current law, charitable organizations, other than religious organizations and schools, which raise over $10,000 in a fiscal year, are required to register as charitable organizations with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. These organizations are charged a fee for this registration. Under the provisions of this bill, fire companies, nonprofit emergency service providers, and veteran organizations that perform their duties on a volunteer basis would be exempt from paying these filing fees. | In Committee |
| S3810 | Establishes Women Veterans Coordinator in DMVA. | This bill requires the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to appoint a veteran to serve as the Women Veterans Coordinator. The coordinator will help women veterans who have been discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions from the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. At a minimum, the coordinator will: work to assist women veterans with issues including, but not limited to, employment, education, counseling, housing, social and medical services, and other areas of concern to women veterans; identify, develop, plan, organize, and coordinate Statewide programs and services to meet the needs of women veterans; develop and distribute informational materials regarding benefits and programs that provide services and resources to women veterans and their families; and make recommendations to the Adjutant General to ensure compliance with existing polices and regulations pertaining to the needs of women veterans on the State and federal level, and make recommendations regarding the improvement of benefits and services to women veterans. The coordinator will hold quarterly meetings, and make annual recommendations to the Legislature and Governor concerning existing or proposed programs, or legislation to further the objectives of the bill. | In Committee |
| S3808 | Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish a Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who die by suicide. The department, through its regional network of Veteran Service Officers, will provide the family members and volunteer caregivers with information and an application for the program, when it is aware that the cause of death of a veteran is by suicide, and provide assistance with completing and filing the forms. A funeral director will also provide the information, application, and assistance when it is known that the cause of death of a veteran in their custody is by suicide. The bill requires the department to match the family members and volunteer caregivers with clinicians. No fee will be charged to the family member or volunteer caregiver, and the clinicians will donate their time. The application for bereavement counseling will be available for up to five years after the death of the veteran, and counseling sessions will be available for a period of up to 24 months after an application for bereavement counseling has been approved and a clinician assigned. An individual will be eligible for a maximum of 30 counseling hours per year. The department will create a system for monitoring and verifying the donated hours. The department will provide notice about the program on its Internet site and any other location and manner as the department deems appropriate. Under the bill, family member means a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or grandparent, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, legal guardian, romantic partner, or any person residing in the veteran's household. Volunteer caregiver means a person who is 18 years of age or older, is a member of a qualified veterans' organization, and has provided care in the form of counseling or social work to the veteran for a minimum of three months prior to the death by suicide of the veteran. This term will not include a person such as a licensed or professional caregiver, counselor, or social worker, and a person who received compensation for services. Veteran means a person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, including the National Guard, who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service and died by suicide. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3779 | Prohibits school districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting policies that bar military members or veterans from addressing students. | This bill prohibits schools districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting a policy, or otherwise engaging in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran from speaking to or addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies. A school district or public institution of higher education that is in violation of the provisions of the bill would be subject to reductions in State support. The bill also provides that a school district would forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district. | In Committee |
| S2015 | Concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | Concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| S3748 | Prohibits legislative aide who works, or worked, directly for legislator in district office from making political contribution greater than $30 per election to that legislator; prohibits receipt of such contribution. | This bill prohibits a legislative aide who works, or worked, directly for a member of the Legislature in a district office from making a political contribution or giving other things of value greater than $30 to that legislator. It also prohibits the legislator or an individual associated with the legislator's candidate committee or joint candidates committee from soliciting or knowingly accepting such contribution. Specifically, the bill provides that an individual who is employed, either full-time or part-time, by a member of the Legislature to work in the legislative district office of that legislator as an aide, personal assistant, manager, advisor or secretary, or is otherwise compensated directly by that legislator for activities or services regarding legislative duties, can not make a contribution of money or other thing of value greater than $30 to the legislator's candidate committee or joint candidates committee. The bill establishes the same restriction on any individual who was employed by a member of the Legislature during the two-year period following his or her termination of employment or services. The bill provides that any individual found to be in violation of these restrictions is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. | In Committee |
| S3714 | Establishes government records internet database; appropriates $10 million. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to establish a government records internet database for the government records of all State and local agencies to be accessible by the public. The Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs will determine which government records will be required to be submitted to the department for inclusion in the database. The Commissioner will also designate which government records will be accessible in the database in the medium or format the agency maintains and which will be accessible in a format converted from what the agency maintains to a more "user-friendly" format. In making the determination, the commissioner will consider both ease of record accessibility for the public and cost and effort of the conversion to the agency. This bill appropriates $10 million from the State General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs to establish the database. | In Committee |
| S3718 | Permits Secretary of Higher Education to appoint antisemitism monitor to any institution of higher education; requires institution to implement recommendations of antisemitism monitor. | This bill authorizes the Secretary of Higher Education to appoint, at the secretary's discretion, an antisemitism monitor to any institution of higher education in the State. Under the bill, the responsibilities of the antisemitism monitor include: (1) reviewing institution policies related to combatting antisemitism and protecting Jewish students and staff, and how those policies are implemented and enforced; (2) reviewing the efforts of the institution in developing a safe academic environment for Jewish students and staff; and (3) establishing a procedure for members of the campus community to report an incident of antisemitism, including information, as applicable, on the institution's response to the incident. The monitor is to permit the submission of anonymous reports. The bill directs an antisemitism monitor to issue quarterly progress reports to the secretary and the governing board of the institution, or on a schedule determined by the secretary. The progress report shall detail the monitor's findings and include: (1) recommendations to the institution; and (2) recommendations to the Legislature. The bill also requires the institution to implement the recommendations of the antisemitism monitor. The bill directs the salary of an antisemitism monitor to be fixed by the secretary and paid by the institution. The bill requires an institution of higher education to provide the support and access to the monitor as may be necessary for the monitor to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. Under the bill, the failure of an institution to comply with the bill's provisions may, at the recommendation of the secretary, result in: (a) a reduction or total withdrawal of State support for operational and capital costs of the institution; or (b) the loss of eligibility for students enrolled at the institution in student assistance programs administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | In Committee |
| S3741 | Excludes tips from gross income tax. | This bill excludes income earned in the form of tips from the gross income tax. Under current law, the State defines gross income as, among other categories of income, salaries, wages, tips, fees, commissions, bonuses, and other remuneration received for services rendered. Subject to minimum gross income thresholds identified under the law and specific deductions for which a tax filer is deemed eligible, all income from tips is treated as taxable income. However, under current law, the value of property an individual acquires by gift, bequest, devise or inheritance is specifically excluded from gross income, except for the income received from property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or inheritance that has an income-generating capacity. Specifically, the bill eliminates tips as a category of income that is included in the calculation of gross income for State income tax purposes. The bill also specifies that tips received for services rendered, whether in cash or in property, would be treated as property acquired by gift, and therefore specifically excluded from the calculation of gross income. | In Committee |
| S3749 | Allows individual entering assisted living or long-term care facility to terminate trash collection contract. | This bill requires a trash collection service doing business in this State to allow a person who has entered a long term care or an assisted living facility to terminate a trash collection contract without incurring an early termination fee. Unless otherwise waived by the trash collection service, the bill requires the person to give the service recipient no less than 45 days' notice prior to the requested date of the contract's termination or cancellation. However, if a physician's order requires the person's immediate relocation to a long-term care facility, this notice requirement would be waived, and the contract could be terminated within 48 hours. The trash collection service is to provide a standard termination form to the service recipient upon request, which the service recipient and a physician are to utilize when requesting contract termination or cancellation from the service. If a service recipient is unable to submit the standard termination form and a representative of the recipient is requesting contract termination or cancellation, the representative is to submit to the trash collection service the standard termination form and a copy of the power of attorney, conservatorship, or guardianship documents verifying the representative's authority. The bill also allows a trash collection service to require written proof of a service recipient's relocation to a long-term facility. In this event, the bill provides that the delivery of a written notice to the trash collection service of the contract termination and a letter signed by the service recipient's physician no later than 45 days prior to the scheduled date of termination would be deemed to constitute sufficient proof. | In Committee |
| S3708 | Directs DEP to waive walk-in and bicycle entrance fees to State parks and forests during certain holidays. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to waive walk-in and bicycle admission fees for State parks and forests on Memorial Day weekend, the week of the Fourth of July, or Labor Day weekend. The bill would take effect one year after the date of enactment of the bill. | In Committee |
| S1388 | Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes. | This bill resolves an apparent conflict between provisions in chapter 10 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes, which permit municipalities to offer group health insurance benefits to volunteer fire fighters and emergency responders, and provisions in chapter 27A of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes regarding small employer health benefits plans. For example, although N.J.S.40A:10-30 authorizes a municipality to provide group health plans to volunteer firefighters, those volunteers are not considered eligible employees under the small employer health benefits plan statutes. This bill clarifies that these volunteers, as well as emergency responders, may be included in the group of eligible employees in municipalities regarded as small employers, and thereby receive coverage under the same group plan. | In Committee |
| S3681 | Requires battlefield cross memorials in NJ include replicas of vertical rifle, helmet, boots, and dog tags. | This bill requires that battlefield cross memorials in New Jersey that are currently erected and that will be erected in the future include replicas of a vertical rifle, a helmet, boots, and dog tags in their traditional memorial configuration. Historians have found that battlefield crosses date back to the Civil War. Soldiers who died in battle were buried in temporary cemeteries near the battlefield, with their graves being identified by wooden plaques. The configuration of the rifle pointed downward with a helmet on the stock was commonly seen during World Wars I and II, acting as a marker for the Graves Registration Service and as a memorial. Since the Gulf War in 1991, the latest configuration for the battlefield cross, which includes a vertical rifle, helmet, boots, and dog tags, has become a symbol of honor and respect for fallen soldiers as well as closure for the living. It is fitting and proper for New Jersey to require battlefield crosses in the State to incorporate the latest configuration as a way of continuing to honor and respect fallen soldiers. | In Committee |
| S1904 | Authorizes municipalities to adopt ordinances requiring maintenance and repair of certain wharves, piers, docks and bulkheads. | This bill would authorize municipalities to adopt ordinances requiring the maintenance and repair of wharves, piers, docks, and bulkheads along navigable waterways within a municipality, pursuant to standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection. These standards would be developed to minimize potential harm to the public and to the environment, considering the location, surroundings, and the use of the wharf, pier, dock, or bulkhead. The governing body of each municipality adopting such an ordinance may prescribe penalties for the violation of the ordinance, either a fine not to exceed $500, or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both. For a second or subsequent offense, a municipality may prescribe penalties of either a fine not to exceed $2,000, or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both. Within 18 months after the effective date of the bill, the department would be required to adopt regulations establishing minimum standards for the maintenance and repair of wharves, piers, docks, and bulkheads along navigable waterways within a municipality. Further, the department would be required to develop technical guidance materials to assist municipalities in: (1) inspecting and evaluating existing wharves, piers, docks, and bulkheads along navigable waterways within a municipality; (2) notifying owners in non-compliance with minimum maintenance and repair standards established by local ordinance, to perform required improvements; and (3) verifying and inspecting maintenance repairs necessary to ensure compliance with minimum standards adopted by the municipality. The standards developed by the department and the requirements imposed by municipalities pursuant to this bill would be in addition to those established or prescribed pursuant to any other law, rule, or regulation pertaining to wharves, piers, docks, and bulkheads. | In Committee |
| S3654 | Establishes annual sales tax holiday for certain retail sales of computers, school computer supplies, school supplies, school art supplies, and school instructional materials. | This bill establishes an annual "back-to-school" sales tax holiday in the State of New Jersey during August and September. During the two month period, the retail purchases of certain personal computers with a sales price of less than $3,000, school computer supplies with a sales price of less than $1,000 per item, and certain school supplies and equipment made by individual shoppers for non-business purposes will be exempt from the State sales tax. While the tax holiday is intended to provide financial relief to the students of New Jersey and their families, the general public may also make tax-free purchases for other nonbusiness uses during this time period. Annual and temporary sales tax holidays have been established in at least 19 states and the District of Columbia, and have gained popularity and support in several others. While some states have opted to celebrate tax holidays at the beginning of the calendar year or during seasonal holiday periods, a majority of states have established tax moratoria during some portion of the late summer and early autumn back-to-school period, as families prepare to send their children back to school. These tax holidays typically include exemptions for purchases of educational supplies, consumer products, and clothing items that allow students to face the challenges of the coming year. Under the bill, tax exempt school supplies and equipment during the holiday include: (1) school supplies, such as pens and pencils, notebooks, and binders; (2) school art supplies, such as paints and paintbrushes, clay, and glazes; (3) school instructional materials, such as maps, globes, reference books, and workbooks; (4) computers with a sales price of less than $3,000 per item; and (5) school computer supplies, such as computer storage equipment, printers, and personal digital assistants, with a sales price of less than $1,000 per item. Unlike other tax relief initiatives, the establishment of a back-to-school sales tax holiday in New Jersey could be developed and implemented with minimal administrative effort. It would provide an administratively simple and effective way to cut taxes for consumers that would require no special taxpayer forms or rebate applications. In addition, it would be economically beneficial to the State's merchants and small business owners by encouraging consumer spending during a period of time when demand is typically soft. | In Committee |
| SJR131 | Designates August 30 of each year as "Keith Pinto Day" in NJ. | This joint resolution designates August 30 of each year as "Keith Pinto Day" in NJ. Keith Pinto was a lifelong resident of Toms River, NJ who dedicated several summers to serving as a lifeguard in the South Seaside Park section of Berkeley Township, NJ. At the young age of 19, Keith's life was tragically cut short by a lightning storm during his lifeguarding shift on August 30, 2021. Keith is remembered as a hero who served, protected, and developed special connections with families visiting the Jersey Shore. In addition to his service, Keith was widely regarded for his infectious personality, and those close to Keith described him as a good soul who lit up every room and put smiles on the faces of everyone around him. It is fitting and proper to designate August 30 of each year as "Keith Pinto Day" in memory of Keith's life, his service to his community, and the joy he brought to others. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation annually to recognize August 30 of each year as "Keith Pinto Day" and call upon relevant State agencies, organizations, and citizens of the State to observe the day with appropriate commemorative activities and programs. | In Committee |
| S3656 | Requires regional representation for members of BPU. | This bill imposes certain residency requirements for members of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Under the bill, of the five members appointed to serve on the BPU, at least one member is required to reside in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The bill defines the northern region as Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties; the central region as Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Somerset, and Union counties; and the southern region as Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. The bill would provide that, for each appointment made after the effective date of the bill, the Governor would be required to ensure compliance with the required geographic representation. | In Committee |
| S3580 | Reinstates annual sales tax holiday for retail sales of computers, school computer supplies, school art supplies, school instructional materials, and sport recreation equipment. | This bill reinstates the annual "back-to-school" sales tax holiday for school supplies and sport or recreational equipment, which had been repealed by the enactment of P.L.2024, c.19. The sales tax holiday would annually occur during the 10-period up to and including Labor Day. Under the bill, the following items would be exempt from the sales and use tax when sold to an individual purchaser for non-business use during a specified annual exclusion period: (1) computers with a sales price of less than $3,000 per item; (2) school computer supplies with a sales price of less than $1,000 per item; (3) school supplies; (4) school art supplies; (5) school instructional materials; (6) and sport or recreational equipment. The period of time in which the purchase of these items would be exempt from tax each year, referred to in the bill as the "annual exclusion period," is defined as the time between 12:01 a.m. on the ninth day preceding the first Monday in September and 11:59 p.m. on the first Monday in September of each year. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment and apply to retail sales made during any annual exclusion period occurring at least 30 days after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S3581 | Requires municipal governing body to submit public question to voters if area of municipality with over 10 percent property tax ratables is to be subject to annexation by other municipality. | Under current law, land in one municipality may be annexed to another municipality to which that land is contiguous. To effect such an annexation, a petition in writing is required to be presented to the governing body of the municipality to which the annexation is sought to be made, specifically setting forth the boundaries of the land, signed by at least 60 percent of the legal voters residing thereon. In addition to the annexation processes required under law, this bill amends the law to provide that, if the land proposed to be annexed amounts in aggregate to 10 percent or more of the tax ratables of the municipality in which the land is located, the governing body for the municipality in which the land is located is required to submit a public question on the proposed annexation of the land to the electors of the municipality at the general election next occurring at least 45 days after receipt of the petition for annexation. Under the bill, the municipal clerk is required to cause to be published in at least one newspaper having general circulation in the municipality, the municipal public question to be voted upon by the voters on the 30th day before the day of the general election. The bill specifies that if a majority of the electors voting on the public question vote against the proposed annexation by the contiguous municipality, then the proposal fails and the land is not be subject to another public question for annexation within one calendar year from the date of the previous election. The bill also specifies that if a majority of the electors voting on the public question vote to approve the proposed annexation by the contiguous municipality, then the proposed annexation is to be allowed to proceed as provided pursuant to N.J.S.40A:7-12 through N.J.S.40A:7-25. The bill also provides that, in any judicial review of the refusal of the governing body of the municipality in which the land is located or the governing body of the municipality to which annexation is sought to consent to the annexation, the petitioners have the burden of establishing that the refusal to consent to the annexation is in violation of the results of the public question on the proposed annexation submitted to the electors of the municipality at the previous general election. | In Committee |
| SJR129 | Designates February 12th of each year as "Carly Day" in NJ. | This resolution designates February 12th of each year as "Carly Day" in New Jersey. Bayville resident Carly Fetzer was born with a congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Congenital heart defects are problems with the structure of the heart that are present at birth and change the normal flow of blood through the heart. In the US, 9 out of every 1,000 babies will be born with a heart defect. In Carly's first years of life, she had three surgeries to reroute her body's blood flow and despite the odds she lived 18 remarkable years before she passed away. Carly's friends and family established the Carly Fetzer Queen of Hearts Foundation to honor Carly. The foundation provides food vouchers to families at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and donates money to research studies that focus on children with congenital heart defects. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is observed annually from February 7th to February 14th. Designating February 12th as "Carly Day" would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the effects that congenital heart defects have on individuals diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in the State. | In Committee |
| SR110 | Urges Congress and President enact "Social Security Fairness Act." | This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Social Security Fairness Act," currently pending in Congress. Many of New Jersey's law enforcement officers, firefighters, and certain local governmental employees are unfairly penalized by Social Security offsets that reduce or eliminate the earned Social Security benefits of these employees or their spouses. Social Security was enacted in 1935. Initially, state and local governments and their employees were prohibited from participating. Over the years, federal laws were passed allowing these employers and employees the opportunity to elect to join the program. Most public employees in New Jersey retirement systems contribute to Social Security with the exception of law enforcement officers, firefighters, correctional officers, and others in certain local retirement systems. The windfall elimination provision (WEP) reduces benefits that were paid for as part of the Social Security payroll tax. The WEP can lead to a significant reduction of the Social Security benefit and can deprive a retiree of up to $587 per month of the Social Security that was earned and paid. The survivor benefit was paid for by the Social Security earner as part of the Social Security payroll tax. The survivor benefit was created to ensure the surviving spouse was not left without adequate financial support. The government pension offset (GPO) eliminates the survivor benefit even with a modest public pension. These provisions cause first responders and certain local governmental employees to prematurely retire and discourage qualified individuals from entering into government service. The "Social Security Fairness Act" would repeal these provisions. | In Committee |
| S3567 | Provides access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters through SHBP physicians and other providers. | This bill requires access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters serving in fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit, or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, without cost-sharing. Under the bill, physicians who participate in the State Health Benefits Program network will be required to offer these periodic examinations to volunteer firefighters and then a physician or other provider may request payment from the State for the provision of services not to exceed $1,250 in the aggregate per three-year period for each firefighter. According to the bill, fire district of this State, or a fire department, unit or company of or in this State or a political subdivision of this State, which relies on services from volunteer firefighters must maintain adequate records to facilitate the payment. Current law entitles paid firefighters enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program and paid firefighters eligible for enrollment in the State Health Benefits Program to periodic cancer screening examinations every three years without cost-sharing. By law, the State will reimburse public employers in an amount not to exceed $1,250 per three-year period for each firefighter. This bill extends the reimbursement provisions available to paid firefighters under current law to unpaid firefighters serving in any fire district with a volunteer fire department or wherein there exists one or more incorporated volunteer fire companies affording fire protection to the fire district, or any fire department, unit, or company of or in the State or a political subdivision of this State. | In Committee |
| A4360 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | An Act establishing a design professional self-certification program and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3772 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | An Act revising the process for a property tax lien holder to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2334 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | In Committee |
| S3402 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | In Committee |
| S3527 | Requires certain motorbus operators to unload passengers at scheduled destinations. | This bill requires motorbus operators to unload passengers at scheduled destinations. Under the bill, an operator of a motorbus that is operated as part of a motorbus regular route service, charter bus operation, casino bus operation, or special bus operation is prohibited from stopping the vehicle for the purpose of unloading passengers other than at a scheduled destination. A scheduled destination is defined as a preplanned destination or stop on a planned route to a destination that can be demonstrated by a departure and arrival schedule, passenger ticket, receipt, or other publicly available document depicting the location where passengers are planned to unload, and a motorbus operator is required to possess such documentation at all times while operating a motorbus that provides a motorbus regular route service, charter bus operation, casino bus operation, or special bus operation. The provisions of the bill do not apply to the New Jersey Transit Corporation or any public or private entity under contract with the corporation to operate motorbus regular route service. The bill imposes a penalty of $1,000 for each offense and possible confiscation of the motorbus used in the commission of the offense, with an exception for the unplanned unloading of passengers in the event of an emergency if the operator contacts emergency services. | In Committee |
| S1385 | Establishes four-year pilot program in Ocean County for electronic monitoring of certain domestic violence offenders; appropriates $2.5 million. | Establishes four-year pilot program in Ocean County for electronic monitoring of certain domestic violence offenders; appropriates $2.5 million. | Crossed Over |
| S3482 | Increases resource threshold for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. | This bill increases the resource threshold for certain non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medicaid eligibility groups, or those applicants who are over 65 years of age or disabled, such as individuals eligible for nursing homes services; Medicare Shared Savings Programs; the Medically Needy pathway; and home and community-based services. This bill does alter any eligibility requirements regarding the NJ Workability Program, a non-MAGI eligibilty pathway which offers full Medicaid coverage to working disabled individuals whose income or assets would otherwise make them ineligible. Currently, NJ Workability does not limit eligibility based on resources. Generally, in increasing the resource standard under these programs, this bill more closely aligns resource requirements under Medicaid for these populations with individuals under 65 years of age without disabilities, also known as the MAGI eligibility group, who currently do not have a resource test to determine eligibility pursuant to the federal "Affordable Care Act." The current resource standards for the affected eligibility groups varies. For example, an individual applying for the Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports is required to have resources of less than $2,000, while an individual applying for a Medicare Savings Program can have resources up to $9,090. | 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 |
| S2378 | Provides gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals for expense of classroom supplies. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals employed by a New Jersey elementary or secondary school for certain expenses incurred by the educator or paraprofessional for classroom supplies during the taxable year. This New Jersey gross income tax deduction is modeled on the federal income tax deduction for educator expenses allowed under section 62 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.62). The bill defines an "eligible educator" as an individual who is employed as a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, speech language specialist, or principal by a public or private school located in this State for at least 900 hours during a school year. The bill defines a "paraprofessional" as an individual who is employed as a school aide or classroom aide who assists a teaching staff member with the supervision of pupil activities by a public or private school located in the State that provides elementary education or secondary education. The bill allows the deduction of unreimbursed expenditures by an eligible educator or paraprofessional for supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), books, computer equipment, including related software and services, and other equipment and supplementary materials used by the eligible educator or paraprofessional in the classroom. | In Committee |
| S3462 | Permits State, local government agencies, and private detention facilities to enter into agreement to detain noncitizens. | This bill permits the State, local government agencies, and private detention facilities to enter into an agreement to detain noncitizens for civil immigration violations. Under current law, the State, a local government agency, or a private detention facility operating in this State is not to enter into, renew, or extend any immigration detention agreement. Current law defines an immigration detention agreement as any contract, agreement, intergovernmental service agreement, or memorandum of understanding that authorizes the State, local government agency, or private detention facility to house or detain individuals for civil immigration violations. Under the provisions of this bill, the State, a local government agency, or a private detention facility operating in this State may enter into, renew, or extend an immigration detention agreement. | In Committee |
| S3248 | Exempts cribs, child restraint systems, nursing bottles, and strollers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts select baby products from the "Sales and Use Tax Act." Currently, the purchases of certain baby items such as cribs; child restraint systems; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers are subject to the sales and use tax. The bill would exempt these items from the tax to help reduce the costs of caring for an infant child. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant and a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| S3448 | Requires NJT to continue to issue and honor rail passenger service and motorbus regular route service tickets with no expiration date. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) to continue to issue: (1) one-way tickets for rail passenger service, including light-rail service, and motorbus regular route service bearing no expiration date; and (2) 10-trip tickets for rail passenger service bearing no expiration date. The bill also requires the corporation to permit individuals who previously purchased a rail passenger service, including light-rail service, or motorbus regular route service ticket bearing no expiration date to utilize the unused ticket. Within 90 days of the bill's effective date, the corporation is required to reinstate any rail passenger service, including light-rail service, or motorbus regular route service ticket issued by the corporation that bears no expiration date and that expired as a result of a corporation policy implemented by the corporation prior to the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S3445 | Establishes process for selection, instruction, and oversight of commissioners to Article V convention for proposing amendments to United States Constitution; establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. | This bill establishes a process for the selection, instruction, and oversight of commissioners to an Article V convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution, and establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. Under the bill, an odd number of commissioners would be named as this State's delegates to an Article V convention by a resolution passed by the State legislature, by a majority of those legislators present and voting in a joint session. To be eligible for selection and service as a commissioner, a person would be required to be: a United States citizen and have been such for at least 5 years; a resident of this State and have been such for at least 3 of the last 5 years; at least 25 years old; a registered voter in this State; not registered or required to be registered as a federal lobbyist at any time within the last 5 years; not a federal employee, other than a member of the United States armed forces, or contractor, currently or at any time within the last 10 years; not a federal elected or appointed officer at any time within the last 10 years; not a convicted felon for crimes involving moral turpitude in any jurisdiction, nor for any crime in any jurisdiction within the last 10 years; not a Statewide office while performing the duties of commissioner or interim commissioner; able to attend the convention unencumbered with other responsibilities that could detract from full-time commitment to the responsibilities of the convention, taking into consideration the anticipated duration of the convention; and have relevant subject matter expertise in areas that may include, but may not be limited to, constitutional law, civics, rules of order, American history, political science, political theory, and government. A position as a State legislator would not be deemed a "Statewide office." The bill provides for a commissioner to receive the same compensation as a member of the legislature of this State, prorated for length of time served, and the same allowance for expenses. The bill prohibits a commissioner or interim commissioner from accepting, during the time of service, any gifts or benefits with a combined value of more than $200, other than from an immediate family member and of the kind customarily granted by a member of one's family. The term "gift or benefit" would be construed liberally to include current and future loans, lodging, food, offer of prospective employment, and other actual and prospective benefits. An employer's decision to continue paying a commissioner's current salary would not be construed to be a gift. However, such salary would not be altered until the adjournment of the Article V convention and proposed amendments have been submitted to the states for ratification. The bill provides that the resolution naming the commissioners and their commission would prohibit a commissioner from voting for or otherwise promoting any change to the traditional convention rule of decision on the floor and in the committee of the whole, to-wit, that each state has one vote. A commissioner would also be prohibited from voting in favor of any proposed amendment that would alter the text of the specific guarantees of individual liberty established by the United States Constitution, including the original constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the following amendments: Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Third, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth. The commissioning resolution would be required to clearly state the scope of the commissioners' authority, which would be limited by: (1) if this State was not one of the two-thirds of the states applying for the convention, the subject matter enumerated in the 34 state applications that triggered the convention; or (2) if this State was one of the two-thirds of the states applying for the convention, the subject matter in this State's application; and (3) any additional instructions from the legislature, whether in the commissioning resolution or issued thereafter. The bill allows the legislature to provide additional instructions at any time via subsequent resolution. In addition to the commissioning resolution, the Senate and General Assembly would adopt a resolution to outline the commission's initial statement and charter. The advisory committee would put forth the resolution for the Legislature's approval. A commissioner who has been named on the commissioning resolution would be permitted to withdraw from consideration if the commissioner is unable to uphold the goals established in the resolution of initial statement and charter. The bill also establishes a three-member advisory committee composed of a member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; a member of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and a member of the legislature nominated by joint action of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and approved by the majority of those voting in each chamber. The advisory committee has the responsibility to determine whether a prospective or actual action by a commissioner would violate or violates the commissioning resolution or any subsequent instruction. Upon determining that a commissioner or interim commissioner has exceeded the scope of the commissioner's authority, the advisory committee would be required to recall or suspend said commissioner, and would communicate said action and the reasons therefor to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, the Attorney General, and the presiding officers of the convention. Under the bill, the legislature is empowered to remove said commissioner and appoint an interim commissioner to fill the vacancy. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. Under the bill, a commissioner or interim commissioner who exceeds the scope of the commissioner's authority would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. In addition, any individual who, while not being privileged by law, knowingly bribes, threatens, intimidates or obstructs a commissioner, interim commissioner, or a person representing another state in the capacity of a commissioner or interim commissioner at a convention held in this State, in the performance of the commissioner's duties, or attempts to do so, would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. | In Committee |
| SCR81 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2025, $1,500 in tax year 2026, $2,000 in tax year 2027, and $2,500 in tax year 2028, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| SCR100 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence owned and occupied by surviving spouse of first responder who dies while performing regular or assigned duties. | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence owned and occupied by surviving spouse of first responder who dies while performing regular or assigned duties. | In Committee |
| S3084 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | This bill allows veterans with a service-connected disability to receive a property tax rebate from the State in proportion to the percentage of their service-connected disability. The bill provides property tax relief to veterans who have a disability rating of less than 100 percent total and permanent disability. Veterans who have a disability rating of 100 percent total and permanent disability are already exempt from paying property taxes. Veterans with a service-connected disability are assigned a disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. A disability rating may range from 0 percent to 100 percent. That rating will determine the percentage of property taxes paid that the veteran will be allowed as a rebate under this bill. Funding for the rebate allowed by this bill is dependent on annual appropriations by the Legislature. The bill caps the rebate at $5,000 and limits availability of the rebate to veterans with gross income of up to $200,000. | In Committee |
| S3403 | Provides supplemental appropriation to ensure certain school districts receive additional amounts of special education categorical, security categorical, and transportation aids. | This bill provides additional aid to certain school districts that have allocations of special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, or transportation aid that are less than those provided under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008." To be eligible for the aid provided by the bill, a school district is required to have experienced a State school formula aid reduction in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years and be spending below adequacy. Under current law, a school district is spending below adequacy if its prior year spending (defined as the sum of equalization aid, special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and the local general fund tax levy) is less than its projected adequacy spending for the budget year (defined as the sum of the adequacy budget, special education categorical aid, and security categorical aid). P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to as "S2") was enacted to realign the amount of State aid provided to school districts with current needs and to move toward fully implementing the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 as originally enacted. In doing so, S2 established a schedule for the reallocation of State aid from school districts deemed "overfunded" under that law to those deemed "underfunded." This schedule primarily applies to State school aid allocated from the 2019-2020 school year through the 2024-2025 school year. In realigning State aid over this time period, however, S2 resulted in many school districts receiving allocations of individual aid categories that are less than those calculated under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. This bill would provide additional aid in the 2024-2025 school year to ensure that eligible school districts receive the amount of special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, or transportation aid as calculated under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. It is the sponsor's intent to provide reasonable, temporary assistance to allow certain school districts spending below adequacy to avoid catastrophic budget cuts due to the loss of State aid for the 2024-2025 school year. The sponsor believes a permanent solution to State school aid inequities, and the resulting harm to students' education, is necessary but not within reach in time for the next school year. The adequacy budget is determined by law to be the amount necessary to ensure a constitutionally required thorough and efficient education, and this bill applies to school districts that are otherwise spending below the sum of that amount and the district's amount of categorical aids for special education and security. The sponsor therefore believes this bill is necessary to avoid detrimental effects on students' educational quality that could result in depriving students of their constitutional rights. Twice in the past two years, the Legislature has implicitly recognized the inadequacy of the existing State school aid system by passing legislation to provide some form of relief to school districts facing massive State aid reductions. This legislation includes P.L.2024, c.13, which appropriates $44.7 million to establish a Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore 45 percent of State school aid reductions and permits certain school districts to exceed the tax levy growth limitation in the 2024-2025 school year. The Legislature also enacted P.L.2023, c.32, which provided additional State school aid to certain school districts and appropriated $103.0 million. That law restored two-thirds of the proposed State aid reductions to school districts. The sponsor believes this bill is consistent with the intentions of these enactments. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S3320 | Permits school districts to receive loans from State to support operating budget under certain circumstances. | This bill permits school districts to receive loans from the State to support the district's operating budget if the district is anticipating a significant budgetary shortfall. The bill establishes the School District Budget Relief Loan Account for the purpose of providing loans to school districts that have significant budgetary shortfalls that would otherwise require the elimination of multiple nonmandatory programs including: advanced placement courses and other specialized instructional programs; kindergarten; sports teams; student clubs and other programs, such as honor societies; musical programs, including bands; and student body government programs. A school district that has submitted an application for a loan would be allowed to delay submission of a proposed budget, the holding of public hearings on the proposed budget, the date for the notification of nontenured staff, and any additional budgeting deadlines that the Commissioner of Education deems appropriate until a decision has been made to approve or deny the loan application and the school district has been notified of the decision. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, a school district is to be able to apply for a loan after the district has received its State school aid notice following the State budget message by the Governor. Within 30 days of enactment, the commissioner is to develop a process by which districts are able to apply for the loans. The loan application is to include the following information: (1) the nature and amount of the budgetary shortfall, including an explanation as to why the district is unable to make sufficient changes to its budget through personnel and program reductions or general fund tax levy increases; (2) an analysis of the impact of the budgetary shortfall on the district's ability to provide a thorough and efficient education, which may include a description of the impact of the budgetary shortfall on student learning and participation in extracurricular activities, and which is required to include a demonstration that the district spent below adequacy in the year prior to the budget year for which the district is applying for the loan; (3) information about the district's general fund tax levy, including a demonstration that, in each of the five years preceding the budget year for which the district is applying for the loan, the district increased its general fund tax levy by at least two percent; and (4) information concerning the district's capital reserve fund balance and capital outlay budget. Prior to submitting the application for a loan to the department, a district is required to first submit its application and a preliminary budget to the executive county superintended and, if a State monitor has been appointed to the district, the district's State monitor. The executive county superintendent and, if applicable, the State monitor are to review the information provided and indicate to the commissioner whether they recommend that the commissioner approve the loan to the district. When making a decision regarding a district's loan application, the commissioner is to consider whether the loan is necessary to ensure the provision of a thorough and efficient education. For any district for which a State monitor has been appointed, the commissioner is required to approve the loan application if the State monitor has indicated that viable budget reductions and general fund tax levy increases are not sufficient to meet the budgetary shortfall. If the commissioner denies a district's loan application, the commissioner shall provide written documentation to the superintendent of the district which shall explain the reasons why the commissioner has determined that the quality of education in the district is better served by denial of the application than by approval. | In Committee |
| SCR107 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to allow the Legislature to enact a law to extend the preference given to veterans for hiring for civil service positions. The law would determine the eligibility of veterans for the purpose of hiring preferences for civil service positions. Currently, only veterans who served in time of war receive a hiring preference when applying for civil service positions. This amendment would allow veterans who did not serve in time of war also to receive a hiring preference for civil service positions. | In Committee |
| SCR108 | Proposes constitutional amendment to require State reimbursement to municipalities for total property tax exemption provided to veterans having permanent and total service-connected disabilities. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require the State to annually reimburse municipalities for the lost property tax revenue related to providing a 100 percent property tax exemption to certain veterans with disabilities. Under current law, veterans having permanent and total service-connected disabilities may qualify for a property tax exemption equal to the full amount of their property tax bill. However, the State is not required to reimburse municipalities for the costs related to the total property tax exemption. Accordingly, counties, school districts, and other local entities that are authorized to impose property taxes are not themselves reimbursed for the costs related to the total property tax exemption provided to certain veterans with disabilities. Although property tax exemptions do not reduce the total amount of property tax revenue collected by a municipality, exempting some properties from taxation shifts the tax burden onto other, nonexempt properties within the municipality. As a result, property tax exemptions may lead to an increase in property taxes for the owners of nonexempt properties. This constitutional amendment would require the State to provide an annual reimbursement to municipalities for the total amount of the total property tax exemption provided to veterans having permanent and total service-connected disabilities. Specifically, the amount of the annual reimbursement would be equal to the total value of property taxes that would have otherwise been collected by the municipality for each property receiving the total property tax exemption provided to veterans having permanent and total service-connected disabilities. A municipality would be required to reimburse each county, school district, and other local entity that is authorized to impose property tax in that municipality. Each reimbursement would be in an amount equal to the property taxes that would have otherwise been due to the county, school district, or other local entity from each tax-exempt property. | In Committee |
| S3318 | Requires State reimbursement to local government units for first-year uncollected property tax revenue attributable to veterans' property tax exemptions. | This bill would require the State to reimburse local government units, including municipalities, counties, school districts for the assessed value of property taxes that are no longer collectible during the first year in which a person is approved for the 100 percent service-disabled veterans property tax exemption. During any tax year in which a person is approved for the property tax exemption, the tax collector of the municipality in which the person resides, would be required to provide the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury with the following documentation: a copy of the resolution approved by the governing body of the municipality granting the property tax exemption; a copy of the person's property tax bill for the tax year; and a certification of the amount of property taxes that would have been otherwise due and payable by the person for each local government unit during the remainder of the tax year following the date of approval by the governing body of the exemption. After this documentation is provided, the State Treasurer would be required to reimburse each local government unit not later than 10 calendar days following the due date of each quarterly tax bill for which property taxes are no longer owed for the property. | In Committee |
| S3333 | Bars enforcement of provision in decedent's will that would require euthanasia of healthy domestic companion animal. | This bill would bar the enforcement of any provision in a decedent's will that would require the euthanasia of a healthy pet. The bill was prompted by reports in March 2019 that a healthy Shih Tzu in Virginia was euthanized pursuant to her late owner's will. Reportedly, a local animal shelter had offered to hold the dog for adoption, but the executor declined. The executor brought the dog to a vet, where she was euthanized. Under the bill, any provision in a will that directs the fiduciary to euthanize a healthy domestic companion animal is against public policy and is void and unenforceable. The bill's definition of "fiduciary" is identical to that in N.J.S.3B:1-1: the term includes includes executors, general administrators of an intestate estate, administrators with the will annexed, substituted administrators, substituted administrators with the will annexed, guardians, substituted guardians, trustees, substituted trustees and, unless restricted by the subject or context, temporary administrators, administrators pendente lite, administrators ad prosequendum, administrators ad litem and other limited fiduciaries. The bill defines "domestic companion animal" as any animal commonly referred to as a pet or one that has been bought, bred, raised or otherwise acquired, in accordance with local ordinances and State and federal law, for the primary purpose of providing companionship to the owner, rather than for business or agricultural purposes. | In Committee |
| S1896 | Authorizes municipalities to establish dredging control reserve fund. | This bill authorizes a municipality to establish a dredging control reserve fund (reserve). Unexpended balances budgeted annually for dredging may be lapsed into the reserve. Upon passage of a resolution of the municipality's governing body, funds in the reserve may be used by the municipality after current budget appropriations for any purpose related to dredging, including, but not limited to: the removal of sand, silt, mud, clay, rock, or other material from the bottom of a waterway in order to maintain or deepen navigation channels and berths; related infrastructure development of the project; the management of the dredged material through decontamination; acceptable placement or beneficial use; and the potential funding of the projects, as necessary, to support New Jersey's or the municipality's maritime, recreation, or tourism industries. Any reimbursement of these expenditures shall be deposited back into the reserve. Unexpended balances budgeted annually for expenses relating to dredging control may be lapsed into the reserve. The bill authorizes the Local Finance Board to adopt rules and regulations in order to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | Crossed Over |
| S3307 | Provides filing extension and medical documentation requirement for certain members or retirees of PFRS, SPRS, or PERS regarding accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. | Under current law, members and retirees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS), and certain members and retirees of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) are eligible to receive an accidental disability retirement allowance for a permanent and total disability resulting from participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. In order to be eligible, the member or retiree must have filed notice of service during certain dates and at certain locations within two years of enactment of the law in 2019. This bill extends the time period during which a member or retiree must file a written and sworn statement with the retirement system to be eligible for the benefit to two years after the effective date of this bill, and permits the board of trustees of the retirement system to approve additional extensions in two-year increments thereafter. Under current law, in order to be eligible for the benefit, the member or retiree must have successfully passed a physical examination for entry into public service, which failed to disclose evidence of the qualifying condition or impairment of health that formed the basis for the disability. This bill allows the member or retiree, as an alternative, to present sufficient evidence of one or more medical examinations or results, performed within a reasonable period of time before or after entry into public service, which failed to disclose evidence of the qualifying condition or impairment of health that formed the basis for the disability as an alternative for proof of eligibility. This bill also requires the board of trustees of each retirement system to notify members and retirants in the retirement system of the enactment of this bill within 30 days of enactment. | In Committee |
| S3261 | Creates Veterans' Memorial Homes Oversight Board. | This bill establishes, in but not of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, the Veterans' Memorial Homes Oversight Board. The board will be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any officer or employee thereof. For the purposes of this bill, the board will have oversight responsibilities for the Veterans' Memorial Home-Menlo Park, the Veterans' Memorial Home-Vineland, and the Veterans' Memorial Home-Paramus, and for any other veterans' memorial home that may be established after the effective date of this bill. The board will be composed of 12 members with the representative from the department being a non-voting member. The board will review, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the bill, violations reported, complaints filed, and investigations conducted at each memorial home to identify systemic issues and problems related to the operation of the memorial homes. The board will be provided with notice of violation reports, complaints filed, and investigations conducted at a veterans' memorial home that involve: the rights or dignity of an admitted person; physical, verbal, or mental abuse, deprivation of services necessary to maintain physical and mental health, or unreasonable confinement; poor quality of care, including inadequate personal hygiene and slow response to requests for assistance; improper transfer or discharge; inappropriate use of chemical or physical restraint; and quality of life. | In Committee |
| SCR106 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence owned and occupied by surviving spouse of first responder who dies in line of duty. | If approved by the voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would provide a property tax exemption for the primary residence owned and occupied by the surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad member who dies in the line of duty. The exemption would include the surviving spouses of both paid and volunteer firefighters and first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad members. The property receiving the exemption is also required to have been the primary residence of the first responder at the time the first responder's death. A surviving spouse would qualify for the exemption, and continue to receive it, for as long as the spouse owns and occupies the home as a primary residence and does not remarry. The constitutional amendment would also require the State to annually reimburse each taxing district for the amount of property taxes that would have otherwise been due for each property receiving the exemption established under the bill had the property been taxed the same as other land within the taxing district. | In Committee |
| S2083 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | In Committee |
| SCR82 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities to provide partial property tax exemption of up to 15 percent of assessed value for primary residence of certain volunteer first responders. | If approved by the voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to enact a law permitting municipalities to provide a partial property tax exemption of up to 15 percent of the assessed value of a home for certain volunteer first responders. A municipality would have to pass an ordinance in order to provide the exemption. The exemption would mean that the volunteer first responder would not pay property taxes on a portion of the home's assessed value. Each municipality would decide whether to allow the exemption and decide the percentage amount of the exemption, however the exemption could not be more than 15 percent of the assessed value of the property. The Legislature would be required to pass a law authorizing the exemption. To be eligible for the exemption, a first responder would have to be an active member of a volunteer fire department or a volunteer first aid or rescue squad that serves the municipality. The home would also have to be the volunteer's primary residence and be located in the municipality in which the volunteer serves. | In Committee |
| S3255 | Establishes certification process for non-physicians to perform laser tattoo removal. | This bill directs the Board of Medical Examiners to establish requirements to allow a non-physician to obtain certification to perform laser tattoo removal. The requirements are to include qualifications of a non-physician to provide tattoo removal services, development or approval of testing, and continuing education for certification renewal. Under the bill, a non-physician is required to obtain certification before offering laser tattoo removal services. A certification in tattoo removal services is to be renewed on a biennial basis with the board. | In Committee |
| S1065 | Establishes New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program in DMVA; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program to assist veterans in applying for and receiving State and federal benefits and to provide training for veterans service officers employed by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The grants will be awarded to qualified veterans' organizations on a competitive basis based on criteria developed by DMVA. An application for a grant must have a detailed outline of the training that will be provided to State veterans service officers or the number of additional veterans service officers the organization will provide to assist veterans with applying for and receiving State and federal benefits, or both. Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature. Under the bill, "qualified veterans' organization" is defined as a nonprofit veterans' organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. This bill also appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the department to defray the costs of the grant program. | In Committee |
| S3271 | Requires green building standards and impact studies for carbon, traffic, storm water, and schools for certain affordable housing development. | This bill requires newly-built affordable housing inclusionary developments of 10 units or more to report the results of a traffic impact study, school impact study, and storm water impact study to the municipality in which the development is to be located. A newly-built inclusionary development requiring the clearing of more than one acre of land would also be required to report the results of a carbon impact study. The bill also requires newly-built inclusionary developments to be designed, constructed, and certified to at least LEED silver standards, or equivalent green building system standards, if the development consists of 10 or more units or four or more floors. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations by the first day of the eighth month following enactment. This bill takes effect on the first day of the thirteenth month next following enactment, and would not apply to developments for which an application for development is submitted prior to that date. | In Committee |
| A4161 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | An Act concerning school district finances and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3081 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | In Committee |
| S3216 | Expands NJT Access Link paratransit service area to include certain veterans health care facilities; appropriates $1 million. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to expand its Access Link paratransit service area to include every health care facility operated by the United States Veterans Health Administration in the State (i.e., veterans health care facility). Under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," any public entity that operates a fixed route, public transportation system is required to provide complementary, origin-to-destination paratransit service for persons with a disability. In compliance with this requirement, NJ Transit currently makes available Access Link paratransit service. As required under federal law, Access Link service is generally made available for origins and destinations that are located within a three-quarter mile radius of NJ Transit's existing bus routes and light rail stations. Notably, this bill requires NJ Transit to make available Access Link paratransit service to and from every veterans health care facility, regardless of whether the facility is located within the minimum paratransit service area required under federal law. Specifically, the bill requires NJ Transit to expand the Access Link service area to include any origins and destinations within: (1) a radius of 1.5 miles around each veterans health care facility; and (2) a width of 1.5 miles on each side of the most direct route connecting each veterans health care facility to NJ Transit's closest existing fixed bus route or light rail station. However, this expanded service area would not include any origins or destinations in which NJ Transit does not have the legal authority to operate paratransit service. Under the bill, NJ Transit would also be prohibited from entering into any contract, or exercising any option to extend an existing contract, concerning the provision of Access Link service by a paratransit service provider unless the contract or option complies with the requirements of this bill. The bill also appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to NJ Transit to defray any costs incurred in the implementation of this bill. | In Committee |
| S3229 | Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training programs. | This bill permits the inclusion of workforce training programs in the Tuition Aid Grant Program. Under current law, the Tuition Aid Grant Program is limited to institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions with degree-granting programs approved by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. This bill requires the authority to designate qualified workforce training programs to participate in the tuition aid grant program. Designations are not limited to the degree-granting programs of an institution. Under the bill, the authority is to determine eligibility criteria for participation in the tuition aid grant program. At minimum, to be eligible to participate in the tuition aid grant program, a workforce training program is to: (1) require students to attend, at minimum, 150 hours of classroom instruction; (2) offer an industry-valued credential or employer-valued credential; and (3) have an average completion rate of at least 70 percent, as well as an average job placement rate of at least 70 percent. | In Committee |
| SCR104 | Condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance. | This resolution condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance, and declares the State of New Jersey as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans. This resolution recognizes that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and which encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as "Sanatana Dharma". The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, retail trade, and so much more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions. Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred". There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country. | In Committee |
| SJR111 | Designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey to increase the public's awareness and understanding of the numerous contributions of New Jersey's older Americans and to rededicate our efforts to better serve the older Americans of New Jersey. The contributions and sacrifices that older Americans have made to this State and country are immeasurable. It is fitting for younger generations to show immense respect and gratitude to their elders, especially now, as society exits a pandemic that has posed unique challenges for older Americans. Whether older Americans retire in their fifties and sixties or continue working into their seventies and eighties, it is important to revere their experience, wisdom, and accomplishments in the workplace and in society. Ensuring the State's continued commitment to causes that help older Americans in New Jersey enjoy active, productive, and healthy lives safely and with dignity is paramount. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to designate the month of May as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S3142 | Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires the Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6, which restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Under the directive, among other provisions, State, county, and local law enforcement are prohibited from providing certain assistance to federal immigration authorities when the sole purpose is to enforce federal civil immigration law. In addition to other restrictions, the directive prohibits law enforcement from providing notice of a detained individual's upcoming release from custody or continuing the detention of a person past the time the person would be released from custody based solely on a civil immigration detainer request, with certain exceptions. The restrictions set forth in this directive pose a danger to the citizens of this State and are a substantial threat to public safety. Therefore, it is imperative that this directive be repealed. | In Committee |
| S3099 | Concerns justified use of force and deadly force. | This bill revises the law concerning the justified use of force and deadly force. Under the bill, a person is justified in using or threatening to use force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other person's imminent use of unlawful force. A person who uses or threatens to use such force does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use such force. The bill provides that a person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to the person or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a crime set forth in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.126 (C.2C:43-7.1). The referenced crimes are those enumerated in the "Three Strikes" law. They include murder; aggravated manslaughter; manslaughter; kidnapping; aggravated sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated assault; burglary; and unlawful possession of a weapon. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force under the bill does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person is not engaged in the commission of a crime and is in a place where the person has a right to be. The bill repeals the current statutes concerning the use of force and deadly force, set out in N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S3075 | Establishes State aid reduction cap of one percent for calculation of State school aid. | This bill establishes a State aid reduction cap for the calculation of State school aid in any school year. The bill ensures that the amount of State school aid disbursed to a district in a school year is reduced by no more than one percent of the prior year's amount of aid. | In Committee |
| S3017 | Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions. | This bill requires a social media company to provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone number by which an account holder may contact a live customer service representative of the social media company for the purpose of reporting fraudulent activity, including, but not limited to, unauthorized access to a social media account. A social media company is also required to publish the toll-free telephone number and an explanation of the purpose of the toll-free telephone number on any email notifications of account security sent to a New Jersey account holder and in a prominent location on the social media platform's homepage or help page. It is an unlawful practice and a violation of the consumer fraud act for a social media company to fail to comply with any provision of this bill. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. Currently, many account holders face difficulty receiving assistance with reporting fraudulent activities on their social media accounts. This bill is intended to provide account holders with a means by which to report fraudulent activity to a live customer service representative. | In Committee |
| SR88 | Urges Congress to expand Veterans Affairs education benefits to include veterans who received general discharge under honorable conditions. | This resolution urges Congress to expand the Veterans Affairs education benefits to include veterans who received a general discharge under honorable conditions. On June 22, 1944, President Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944," more commonly referred to as the GI Bill, which provided World War II servicemen and servicewomen with a number of benefits, including then-unprecedented educational benefits. The educational benefits, which included up to $500 of free tuition at colleges and vocational schools, as well as a cost of living stipend, proved to be wildly popular with World War II veterans accounting for 49 percent of students admitted to colleges in 1947. In the years since, the educational benefits of the GI Bill have been expanded, most recently through the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act" in 2008, and the "Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act" in 2017. Yet, while the benefits of the GI Bill have been expanded over the years, one issue remains the same: veterans who received a general discharge under honorable conditions are ineligible to receive the educational benefits provided under the GI Bill, despite retaining eligibility for all other veterans benefits. Unlike a dishonorable discharge, the cause of which includes crimes such as desertion, murder, and fraud, a general discharge under honorable conditions signifies that while a veteran's overall military performance was considered satisfactory, or even exemplary, other factors, such as failure to meet certain standards or minor disciplinary actions, resulted in the discharge. Additional factors that may potentially lead to a general discharge under honorable conditions, such as being considered either overweight or under-strength, highlight how minor the conditions may be to trigger this type of discharge. The education benefits of the GI Bill remain popular, and in the years since its inception, the GI Bill has been expanded to include the ability to transfer educational benefits to children and spouses, as well as the removal of the initial 15-year limit on using the benefits, increasing their accessibility. The minor infractions that may lead to a general discharge should not prevent the servicemen and servicewomen, who freely enlisted to serve their country, from accessing the educational benefits promised to them, their children, and their spouses. | In Committee |
| S3060 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | As amended, this bill requires health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and commercial group health insurers to provide coverage for an annual prostate cancer screening without cost sharing for men who are between 40 and 75 years of age. Under current law, these health insurance carriers are required only to provide coverage for an annual medically recognized diagnostic examination including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen test for men age 50 and over who are asymptomatic and for men age 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer or other prostate cancer risk factors. The bill expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to mean medically viable methods for the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer, which includes a digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen test and associated laboratory work. "Prostate cancer screening" shall also include subsequent follow up testing as direct by a physician, including, but not limited to: (1) urinary analysis; (2) serum biomarkers; (3) medical imaging, including, but not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging. The bill also extends the prostate cancer screening requirements to commercial individual health insurers, 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, which are not required to provide this coverage under current law. | In Committee |
| S2984 | Extends closing time of polling places by one hour. | This bill extends the closing time of polling places by one hour. Under current law, in most circumstances, polling places open at 6:00 A.M. and close at 8:00 P.M. This bill changes the closing time, in most circumstances, to 9:00 P.M. The bill extends the closing time for early voting sites. Early voting sites are currently open 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday. This bill requires early voting sites to stay open until 9:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday and until 7:00 P.M. on Sunday. The office of the municipal clerk is open on election day to assist voters. Under current law, the office of the municipal clerk is open from 6:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. This bill requires the office of the municipal clerk to stay open until 9:00 P.M. This bill extends the time for which minors between 16 and 18 years of age serving at an election are required to stop. Under current law, they are permitted to serve until 9:00 P.M. This bill changes the time minors must complete service from 9:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. to account for the later poll closing time. Requiring the polls to stay open an extra hour will allow for more flexibility for voters who choose to vote in the evening hours. | In Committee |
| S1649 | Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons. | Creates crime of fiscal victimization against senior citizens or disabled persons. | 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 |
| AR110 | Urges President and Congress to enact "Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023." | This bill urges the President and Congress to enact the "Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023," which would prohibit testing cosmetics on animals, as well as the sale or transport of a cosmetic in interstate commerce, if any component of the cosmetic was developed or manufactured using animal testing. The bill was introduced in the 118th Congress as H.R.5399. Every year, countless animals are poisoned and killed in tests that attempt to evaluate the hazards of consumer products and their ingredients. Despite the widespread availability of effective alternatives to animal testing, many cosmetics companies still conduct testing on animals. By banning animal testing in the United States, and prohibiting the sale of products that have been tested on animals, the enactment of this legislation would help reduce animal cosmetics testing worldwide, and bring the United States' cosmetics policy in line with more than 30 countries that have already implemented bans on the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, including the European Union, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, and India. The "Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023" is endorsed by over 370 companies in the cosmetics industry, and is supported by both Republican and Democratic cosponsors. By enacting this legislation, the United States can show moral leadership without compromising product safety or business profitability. | In Committee |
| S2796 | Increases amounts of property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, from $250 to $500. | This bill would increase from $250 to $500 the annual property tax deductions provided to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. The bill would take effect immediately, but remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of the State of amendments to the State Constitution that increase the amount of the property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. | In Committee |
| S2777 | Requires prosecutors to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration. | This bill amends Megan's Law to require that the county prosecutors determine an offender's risk of re-offense, or tier, prior to the inmate's release from incarceration. At present, many sex offenders are not tiered until they have been released into the community because the offender's residence is a factor that may be considered in determining risk of re-offense. Under current law, the factors relevant to the risk of re-offense, which the prosecutor is required to consider in determining the tier designation, include conditions of release that minimize risk of re-offense such as, whether the offender is residing in a home situation that provides guidance and supervision. In order to enable prosecutors to tier offenders prior to their release from incarceration, the bill removes this factor. | In Committee |
| S2779 | Authorizes reimbursement for EMT training from EMT Training Fund for certain volunteer firefighters. | This bill clarifies that agencies, entities and organizations that train and certify volunteer emergency medical technicians will be reimbursed for the cost of providing that training and certification to volunteer members of first aid and rescue squads, as well as to volunteer firefighters. Currently, any private agency, organization or entity that trains and tests members of volunteer ambulance, first aid and rescue squads seeking emergency medical technician certification or recertification may be reimbursed from the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund. This bill provides that reimbursement will also be made when this training is provided to members of volunteer fire companies. | In Committee |
| S2774 | Requires local government units to provide opportunities for military- or veteran- owned businesses to supply materials and services for projects receiving funding from NJ Infrastructure Bank. | This bill would require the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to adopt rules and regulations requiring a local government unit that receives a loan or guarantee for a project to establish a program to provide opportunities for businesses that are owned by members of the military, by veterans, or by the spouses thereof, to supply materials and services for the contract. Under the current law being amended by the bill, the NJIB is required to adopt rules and regulations requiring a local government unit that receives a project loan or guarantee to establish: (1) an affirmative action program for the hiring of minority workers in the performance of any construction contract for that project; and (2) a program to provide opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged contractors and vendors to supply materials and services for the contract, consistent with the provisions of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.). The bill would supplement those existing requirements by providing for the NJIB to additionally require a local government recipient of a project loan or guarantee to establish a program providing certain opportunities to businesses that are owned by military service members or veterans, or by the spouses thereof. | In Committee |
| S2778 | Requires local government notification of sex offender registration; and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds with few exceptions. | The purpose of this bill is to expand Megan's Law to require municipal governing bodies to be notified when a sex offender moves into a municipality and to restrict sex offenders from residing in areas frequented by children. The bill would require that when a sex offender listed on the Internet registry maintained by the Superintendent of the State Police registers with the chief law enforcement officer of a municipality, the officer shall forward the name and address of the sex offender to the governing body of the municipality. If the sex offender must register with the Superintendent of State Police because he is moving to a municipality that does not have a police force, then the Superintendent of State Police shall forward the sex offender's name and address to the governing body of the municipality in which the sex offender intends to reside. The bill would also make it a disorderly persons offense for a sex offender whose risk of re-offense has been assessed as moderate or high to reside within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground or child care center. The residential ban would not cover a sex offender that resides at a prison or mental health facility within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground or child care center; a sex offender that continues to reside at a residence established before the bill's enactment which is within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground or child care center; or a sex offender that has a school, playground or child care center established or built within 500 feet of their existing residence. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S2782 | Establishes certain exclusions and credits under gross income and corporation business taxes for contributions to lifelong learning accounts. | This bill establishes certain tax exclusions and credits for the use of lifelong learning accounts (account) in order to finance worker training and education. Generally, the bill consists of four parts: gross income tax (GIT) exclusions for employer-provided account contributions and account earnings; a GIT credit for personal account contributions; GIT and corporation business tax (CBT) credits for employers making account contributions for their employees; and administrative provisions concerning the maintenance of the accounts. The bill allows a taxpayer to exclude from taxable gross income, employer contributions to the taxpayer's account of up to $2,500 per year and earnings on account balances. Generally, distributions from an account are treated as taxable income under the GIT, except in the case of certain account rollovers and account adjustments made due to excess contributions. The bill provides a GIT credit for a taxpayer's own contributions to the taxpayer's account. Generally, the credit is for 50 percent of a taxpayer's first $500 of account contributions, or $1,000 for taxpayers filing jointly, and 25 percent for the taxpayer's account contributions exceeding $500, or $1,000 for taxpayers filing jointly. The maximum creditable contribution amount varies based on the taxpayer's filing status and annual income level. Generally, individual filers are allowed a maximum creditable contribution of $2,500, which is reduced by $1 for each $8 earned over $100,000. Creditable contributions are not allowed for individual filers with $120,000 of annual income or more. Generally, joint filers are allowed a maximum creditable contribution of $5,000 in the case of married individuals each of whom contributes to a lifelong learning account, which is reduced by $1 for each $8 earned over $200,000. Creditable contributions are not allowed for joint filers with $240,000 of annual income or more. Maximum creditable contributions are reduced by the amount of any employer-provided account contributions, which are excluded from the taxpayer's taxable income by this bill. Generally, the maximum credit amount is $750 for individuals and $1,500 for joint filers. Depending upon a taxpayer's liability and order of application of other potential credits, the GIT credit for taxpayer account contributions is refundable. The bill grants the Director of the Division of Taxation the authority to preclude rollovers between accounts from qualifying for credit. The bill allows GIT and CBT credits for employers making account contributions for their employees in an amount equal to 25 percent of account contributions. Per employee and per tax year, annual account contributions may not exceed $2,500. Small business employers are allowed an additional credit amount for 50 percent of the administrative costs associated with the credit for the tax year, but not exceeding $500 of credit for the tax year. The bill defines a small business as a taxpayer with no more than 100 employees, each with no less than $5,000 of annual compensation. The small business administrative cost credit is allowed only for the first and second tax years for which the employer is allowed the employer-provided employee account contribution credit. Both the employer-provided employee account contribution credit and the small business administrative cost credit are nonrefundable, but the amount of an unused credit may be carried forward one tax year and used as a deduction. The bill establishes certain requirements for the maintenance and use of the accounts. Accounts must be created or organized in New Jersey and for the exclusive benefit of the account beneficiary. For a tax year, total contributions, from whatever source, to lifelong learning accounts of a taxpayer may not exceed $2,500, except as to account rollovers. Account trustees must be a bank or other entity that demonstrates to the Director of the Division of Taxation that accounts will be maintained in accordance with the bill. An account beneficiary's interest in the account balance is nonforfeitable. The bill prohibits a trustee from investing account assets in life insurance contracts or collectibles and prohibits account assets from being commingled with other property, except as to common trust or investment funds. The bill gives the Director of the Division of Taxation rulemaking authority with regard to further account requirements. Generally, the bill restricts qualified use of accounts to taxpayers that are 18 to 70 years of age. Account funds are to be distributed for qualified education expenses incurred by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse. Qualified education expenses are amounts paid and required for instructional courses, training courses, and apprenticeship programs, which include, but are not limited to, books, equipment, fees, information technology devices, supplies, tools, and tuition. Qualified education expenses do not include amounts paid for courses or programs taken for recreational or leisure purposes. The bill includes a penalty for nonqualified distributions in the form of additional tax liability in the amount of five percent of the nonqualified distribution. The bill's nonqualified distribution penalty does not apply to distributions on account of death, disability, divorce, or attaining the age of 71 as of the first day of the taxable year. The bill also contains exemptions from the nonqualified distribution penalties for distributions that are rollovers between accounts and account adjustments made due to excess annual account contributions. | In Committee |
| S2771 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is required to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| S2559 | Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption. | This bill would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality for the cost of complying with the State mandate of affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. The bill would require the State to cover the cost of the actual taxes exempted plus the administrative costs incurred by municipalities in connection with the reimbursement program. Under current law, each municipality must individually make up for any lost revenue resulting from a parcel of property being exempted from property taxation because of its ownership by a disabled veteran. This often results in an increase in taxes to other property taxpayers in the municipality or a reduction in municipal services. Because the number of qualifying disabled veterans varies from municipality to municipality, compliance with the State policy to exempt disabled veterans' property taxes impacts upon some municipalities more greatly than on others resulting in inequity. This bill would put an end to that inequity by having the State reimburse each municipality for the cost of complying with the State mandate of affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. | In Committee |
| S1069 | Establishes county veteran transportation grant program; removes certain restrictions to the current veterans transportation assistance program; appropriates $2 million. | Establishes county veteran transportation grant program; removes certain restrictions to the current veterans transportation assistance program; appropriates $2 million. | In Committee |
| S2518 | Increases annual income limitation to receive senior and disabled citizens' property tax deduction to $15,000. | This bill would amend current law to increase the annual income threshold for eligibility to receive the senior and disabled persons $250 property tax deduction from $10,000 to $15,000 once that increase is authorized by constitutional amendment. | In Committee |
| S2382 | Requires schools to report certain assaults to law enforcement. | This bill requires schools to report certain assaults to law enforcement. Under the bill, a public school employee is required to alert the principal or the principal's designee after becoming aware that a student has allegedly committed an assault upon another student on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored function. After receiving notification, the principal or principal's designee is required to immediately report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement agency. This bill defines "assault" as attempting to cause or purposely, knowingly, or recklessly causing bodily injury to another. "Law enforcement agency" is defined as a department, division, bureau, commission, board or other authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof which employs law enforcement officers. This bill is in response to the death of Central Regional High School student Adriana Kuch. Adriana Kuch committed suicide after a video of her being assaulted by four classmates on school property was posted on the Internet. The school did not report the assault to the police. It is the intent of this bill to require schools to immediately report similar incidents of assault to the police. | In Committee |
| S2383 | Establishes "Volunteer Fire Company Assistance Program" in DCA to support operations and sustainability of volunteer fire companies; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the "Volunteer Fire Company Assistance Program" in the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to support the ongoing operations and sustainability of volunteer fire companies. The bill establishes a special, non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Volunteer Fire Company Assistance Program Fund" (fund), which is required to be annually credited with money appropriated by the Legislature. Under the bill, the Director of the Division of Fire Safety (division) is required to develop and administer a grant program to annually distribute monies in the fund to volunteer fire companies in the form of grants to support the ongoing operations and sustainability of volunteer fire companies, including the purchasing of emergency equipment. Under the bill, to participate in the grant program, a volunteer fire company is to be required to submit an application to the division. An application is required to include certain information detailing the volunteer fire company's proposed plans for the grant funding. The Director of the division (director) is required to establish an annual maximum grant award amount to ensure that the maximum number of program applicants receive a grant award, given available funding. Under the bill, within one year of receiving a grant, each participating volunteer fire company is required to submit a report to the division detailing the use and impact of the funds. The bill requires the director to compile the reports for inclusion in a comparative profile of the participating volunteer fire companies and post the profile for public inspection on the division's Internet website. The bill also provides that, within one year of posting the comparative profile, the director is to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that contains information on the implementation of the grant program. The bill appropriates $10 million, as specified in the bill, from the General Fund for the purpose of supporting the ongoing operations and sustainability of volunteer fire departments. | In Committee |
| S2384 | Makes permanent certain immunity relating to COVID-19 spread in planned real estate developments. | This bill eliminates the expiration of immunity for planned real estate developments in the event of COVID-19 spread. New Jersey law previously established a temporary immunity for planned real estate developments from liability for damages related to the exposure to or transmission of COVID-19 on their premises so long as the following signage is posted at the entrance of shared spaces, such as pools and gyms: "ANY PERSON ENTERING THE PREMISES WAIVES ALL CIVIL LIABILITY AGAINST THE PLANNED REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT FOR DAMAGES ARISING FROM, OR RELATED TO, AN EXPOSURE TO, OR TRANSMISSION OF, COVID-19 ON THE PREMISES, EXCEPT FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS CONSTITUTING A CRIME, ACTUAL FRAUD, ACTUAL MALICE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESSNESS, OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT." The New Jersey law to provide the temporary immunity established an expiration date of January 1, 2022. This bill provides permanent immunity to planned real estate developments in the event of COVID-19 exposure or transmission on their premises so long as required signage is posted. This immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting a crime, actual fraud, actual malice, gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct. | In Committee |
| S1022 | Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans. | Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans. | In Committee |
| S1470 | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | This bill provides that a public safety worker who participated in the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and is treated or monitored through the World Trade Center Health Program established by the Centers for Disease Control is presumed to be compensable under the State workers' compensation law without respect to when the worker files his claim for compensation, except that the claim is required to be filed within two years after the effective date of the bill. A worker is deemed ineligible for the benefits if the worker is eligible for benefits for the same injury, illness, or death under workers' compensation programs of other states or the federal government. The bill requires the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State, and each county, municipality, regional or joint public safety entity, or other agency involved in the public safety, to notify all active and retired personnel and next-of-kin, if the personnel are deceased, of the presumption of compensability within three months of the effective date of the bill. | 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 |
| S1918 | Increases penalties for certain heroin offenses by revising threshold amounts for first, second, and third degree crimes of manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing heroin. | This bill would increase the penalties for offenses involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense heroin by lowering the threshold quantities for crimes of the first, second, and third degree. The bill would not affect the threshold quantities for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense any other controlled dangerous substance. Currently, the threshold quantity for a first degree offense involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense heroin is five ounces or more; the bill would reduce the threshold quantity to 2.5 ounces or more of heroin. Currently, the threshold quantity for a second degree offense is one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces of heroin; the bill would reduce this threshold quantity to 0.17 ounces or more but less than 2.5 ounces of heroin. Currently, the threshold quantity for a third degree offense is less than one-half ounce of heroin; the bill would reduce the threshold quantity to less than 0.17 ounces of heroin. The first degree crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense heroin is ordinarily punishable by imprisonment for 10 to 20 years, up to a $500,000 fine, or both. Additionally, the term of imprisonment may include imposition of a mandatory minimum term, fixed at, or between, one-third and one-half of the sentence imposed with no eligibility for parole. The second degree crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense heroin is ordinarily punishable by imprisonment for five to 10 years, up to a $150,000 fine, or both. The third degree crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing or possessing or having under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense heroin is ordinarily punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, up to a $75,000 fine, or both. This bill implements Recommendation No. 7 from the July 2013 report from the State Commission of Investigation titled "Scenes from an Epidemic: A Report on the SCI's Investigation of Prescription Pill and Heroin Abuse." | In Committee |
| S927 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $5,000 income tax deduction. | This bill permits volunteer firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members to claim an additional exemption of $5,000 to be taken as a deduction from their gross income if they meet certain qualifications. Under the bill, firefighters may claim the $5,000 deduction if they: 1) volunteered during the entire tax year; 2) performed 60% of fire duty; and 3) had, by January 1st of the tax year, attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified according to approved standards. To satisfy the "60% of fire duty" requirement, volunteer firefighters without duty hours must have responded to 60% of the regular alarms and drills in which the department or force participated and volunteer firefighters with duty hours must have at least 400 duty hours during a calendar year of which not more than 50% was for drills. First aid or rescue squad members may claim the deduction if they: 1) volunteered during the entire tax year; 2) performed 10% of rescue duty; and 3) had, by January 1st of the tax year, either passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. To satisfy the "10% of rescue duty" requirement, first aid or rescue squad members who volunteer with duty hours must complete at least 400 hours of duty during the year, of which not more than 50% is for drills. If they volunteer without duty hours, the squad members must attend and render first aid at not less than 10% of the regular alarms and participate in 60% of the drills. The bill defines duty hours as those during which volunteers committed themselves to respond to alarms. The bill requires eligible volunteers to submit proof with their tax claim that they are entitled to the deduction. The Director of the Division of Taxation is responsible for establishing the manner of this proof. An official of each fire department or force is responsible for providing a list of firefighters who are eligible for the deduction for the previous tax year to the Department of Community Affairs by March 31st. Similarly, an official of the rescue or first aid squad is responsible for providing a list of squad members who are eligible for the deduction for the previous tax year to the Department of Health and Senior Services by March 31st. The lists are to be made available to the Director of the Division of Taxation for verification purposes. An official who files a false list is subject to prosecution under section 29 of P.L.1987, c.76 (C.54:52-19), which makes it a crime of the fourth degree to knowingly certify a false statement with the intent to evade a tax. Fourth-degree crimes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1926 | Caps State use portion of energy tax revenues and ensures balance of such revenues are paid annually as municipal aid. | This bill limits the amount of annual energy tax revenues that the State may retain as general State revenue to the amount the State budget "skimmed" in fiscal year 1998, or $403 million. The remaining balance must be paid out annually to municipalities so as to provide for enhanced property tax relief. In so doing, the bill ensures that, unlike in some years past, New Jersey's municipalities are not shortchanged when energy-sector tax collections grow. The State and its municipalities share energy tax revenues. Recent State budgets have routinely shifted the allocation formula in the State's favor by holding the municipal share flat and apportioning to the State all the revenue growth. The bill breaks this abusive pattern by mandating that the State cannot retain more than the $403 million per year that it "skimmed" in fiscal year 1998 and that any excess amounts are disbursed to municipalities in proportion to each municipality's prior year State aid distribution from this source. The table below illustrates the allocation of annual energy tax revenues between the State and its municipalities under current law. Energy Tax Revenue Allocation between State and Municipalities Fiscal YearState Use PortionMunicipal Aid1998$403,000,000 (Bill's Cap)$740,000,0002008$948,000,000$789,000,0002009$926,000,000$789,000,0002010$844,000,000$789,000,0002011$841,000,000$789,000,0002012$389,000,000$789,000,0002013$436,000,000$789,000,0002014$337,000,000$789,000,0002015$470,300,000$789,000,0002016$187,000,000$789,000,0002017 est.$304,600,000$789,000,0002018 est.$328,400,000$789,000,000 | In Committee |
| S1001 | Requires municipalities to designate parking spaces for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients. | This bill would require the governing body of each municipality to designate a parking space at or near the municipality's city hall or other principal municipal building for the exclusive use of a motor vehicle owned by and transporting a disabled veteran or Purple Heart recipient, which vehicle displays a disabled veteran's or Purple Heart license plate or placard issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The bill would take effect immediately but remain inoperative until the first day of the sixth month following the date of enactment in order to allow municipalities a period of time to comply with the bill's requirements. The Motor Vehicle Commission already issues specialized license plates to persons who qualify as disabled veterans and to active members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Motor Vehicle Commission also issues placards to eligible disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients so that eligible persons who do not have a specialized license plate may qualify for the exemption from payment of municipal parking meter fees that was established by P.L.2015, c.218 (C.39:4-207.10). By reserving parking spots for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients, municipalities will call attention to the significant contributions made by wounded combat veterans, and of their existence in our communities. | In Committee |
| S2011 | Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. | This bill increases from $25 million to $50 million the amount that is annually credited to the Shore Protection Fund from the collection of realty transfer fees. The realty transfer fee is imposed on the recording of deeds transferring real property and is calculated on the basis of the amount paid in the deed. The basic rate is $1.75 for each $500 of consideration, of which $0.50 is retained by the county and $1.25 is the State share. Currently, the first $25 million of the State share collected annually is credited to the Shore Protection Fund. | In Committee |
| S1929 | Deems spent nuclear fuel from decommissioned nuclear power plant to be real property. | This bill would deem spent nuclear fuel that is located in a decommissioned nuclear power plant to be real property for the purposes of chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes, and therefore subject to property taxation. | In Committee |
| S868 | Exempts certain veterans from gross income tax. | This bill exempts certain veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of New Jersey from the gross income tax. To qualify for the exemption, a veteran must: (1) be honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of New Jersey in a federal active duty status; and (2) have gross income of $50,000 or less. | In Committee |
| S878 | Permits conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | This bill permits raffle licensees to conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. Under current law, municipalities where voters have approved a referendum to allow raffle games may license eligible organizations to conduct these games. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety regulates the conduct of these games. Under Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2, subparagraph B of the State Constitution, and under the Raffles Licensing Law, eligible organizations may apply for a license to conduct raffles. Bona fide organizations or associations of veterans; churches or religious congregations and religious organizations; charitable, educational, and fraternal organizations; civic and service clubs; senior citizen associations and clubs; officially recognized volunteer fire companies; and officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads are eligible to apply for a license. This bill permits eligible organizations to conduct Queen of Hearts raffle games. A "Queen of Hearts raffle" means a raffle game utilizing a Queen of Hearts raffle board onto which 54 thoroughly shuffled playing cards are placed facedown, side-by-side. Raffle tickets are placed into a ticket drum or other receptacle and a winning ticket is drawn at random. The participant holding the winning raffle ticket is entitled to "Search for the Queen of Hearts" by selecting one of the facedown playing cards. When the playing card selected is not the Queen of Hearts, the card is placed out of play, and the person is awarded a cash prize valued according to a certain schedule. The raffle drawings are conducted weekly until a person selects the Queen of Hearts. When a person selects the Queen of Hearts, that person will be awarded 50 percent of the prize, and the remainder of the prize will be retained by the licensee as proceeds from conducting the raffle. The bill specifies that the licensee may use the net proceeds derived from the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games in any manner allowable by law and in accordance with State regulations. The bill directs the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | In Committee |
| S1469 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | This bill authorizes the use of a school bus monitoring system to enforce section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), the State law governing passing a school bus. A school bus monitoring system is defined as a system meeting certain requirements set forth in the bill and having at least one camera and computer that captures and records a digital video or image of any motor vehicle operating near a school bus. Under current law, school buses are required to exhibit flashing red lights when the bus has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any person with a developmental disability or a child. Drivers of vehicles approaching or overtaking the school bus are required to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that has activated its flashing lights. The penalty for violating this law, for a first offense, is: 1) a fine of no less than $100; 2) imprisonment for no more than 15 days or community service; or 3) both. For subsequent offenses, the penalty is: 1) a fine of no less than $250; 2) imprisonment for no less than 15 days; or 3) both. This bill provides that the penalty for violating the law, when the violation is not evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system, would be: 1) a fine of $250; 2) 15 days of community service; or 3) both, in the case of a first offense. For each subsequent offense, the penalty would be a fine of $500 and no less than 15 days of community service. Under the bill, a civil penalty of $250 would be imposed on a person who passes a school bus in violation of current law if the violation is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system. Under these circumstances, any civil penalty imposed and collected for this violation is to be forwarded to the financial officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred and used for general municipal and school district purposes, including efforts to improve the monitoring and enforcement of this law through the utilization of a school bus monitoring system and other public education safety programs. A violation that is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system would not result in penalty points or automobile insurance eligibility points being assessed on the violator. The bill authorizes a municipality or school district operating or providing Type I or Type II school buses that transport students to contract with a private vendor to provide for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a school bus monitoring system for enforcement purposes. The bill provides that a school bus monitoring system must be capable of capturing and producing a record of any occurrence that may be considered illegal passing of a school bus, and include in that recorded image: -- if the school bus is exhibiting its flashing light; -- if a motor vehicle passes a school bus; -- the license plate, make, and model of the violating vehicle; and -- the date, time, and location of the violation. The bill requires any suspected violation captured in a recorded image produced by a school bus monitoring system to be made available to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred. A law enforcement officer is to issue a summons within 90 days of determining that a suspected violation occurred. A summons may not be issued for a violation occurring more than 90 days from date of the violation. The bill provides that any recorded image or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system is not a public record under New Jersey's "Open Public Records Act," is not discoverable as a public record except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter, and is not to be offered into evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding unless directly related to illegally passing a school bus. The bill provides that recorded images or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system pertaining to a specific violation are not to be retained for more than 60 days after the collection of any civil penalty imposed, and are then to be purged. All recorded images and information collected but not resulting in the issuance of a summons are to be purged within 95 days of the recording. The bill provides that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable for a summons for illegally passing a school bus as evidenced by a recorded image captured by a school bus monitoring system. However, a lessor or owner of a motor vehicle is not liable for a summons if: -- the lessor demonstrates that the vehicle was used without the lessor's express or implied consent, and provides the name and address of the vehicle operator or registrant; -- the lessee was operating or in possession of the vehicle at the time of the violation and the lessor provides the name and address of the lessee; or -- the owner, lessor, or lessee demonstrates that the vehicle was stolen at the time the violation occurred and provides a copy of the police report regarding the vehicle theft. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including specifications and certification procedures for the school bus monitoring systems and devices that may be installed. The bill also permits the Supreme Court of New Jersey to adopt Rules of Court as appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purposes of the substitute. The bill will take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, but permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to take anticipatory administrative actions in advance of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S1921 | Makes annual compensation paid to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans payable from date of veteran's death. | This bill requires the payment of the $750 annual compensation payable to a surviving spouse of a blind or severely disabled wartime veteran to begin from April 9, 1985 for veterans who died before that date and from the date of the veteran's death, regardless of when the surviving spouse files the application for this benefit, for veterans who died on or after that date. Surviving spouses were first made eligible for this benefit on April 9, 1985 by P.L.1985, c.116. Under current regulations of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, a surviving spouse is eligible for this benefit from the date of application. This lifetime benefit is statutorily available to a veteran who was blinded in service during any war including specifically World War II and the Korean Conflict, or who was severely disabled as a result of service during any war including specifically World War II, the Korean conflict, or Vietnam, although the department has made this benefit available to veterans who served in other wars or military emergencies. A veteran who applied for this benefit within one year of military discharge received payments beginning with that year. A veteran who applied after one year received payments from the date of application. The sponsor states that this same requirement that payments begin from the date of application should not apply to surviving spouses because at the time of the veteran's death it is known that he or she was blind or severely disabled as a result of wartime service. | 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 |
| S1923 | Prevents intoxicated employees from receiving workers' compensation. | This bill amends the workers' compensation law to provide that if an employee was intoxicated when the injury or death occurred, it is presumed that the injury or death was caused by the intoxication and the employee will be barred from receiving workers' compensation. This bill is, in part, a response to the New Jersey Supreme Court case of Tlumac v. High Bridge Stone, 187 N.J. 567 (2006), in which the Court reaffirmed a long standing rule that held intoxication must be the "sole cause" of an accident in order to deprive an employee of workers' compensation benefits. In its decision, the Court stated that its role is to "effectuate the will of the Legislature" and concluded that any changes to the workers' compensation system must be done through legislation. Moreover, the Court noted that the workers' compensation law was created in 1911 and "may no longer comport with current policies." | In Committee |
| S1885 | Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. | This bill broadens the eligibility for various veterans benefits by eliminating the requirement that to be considered a veteran a person must have served during periods of war, in specific war zones, or during periods of emergency. Instead, the bill provides that a person will be considered a veteran if he or she served for at least 90 days, exclusive of certain types of initial training, in order to be eligible for veterans benefits. The bill specifies that to be considered a veteran and eligible for veterans benefits, a member of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces (including the National Guard) must serve the entire period to which he or she is called to federal active service, exclusive of active duty for training. A person who is discharged as the result of a service-connected disability will be classed as a veteran even if he or she did not meet the 90-day service requirement. The veterans benefits include: (1) civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF and PERS; (4) the annual property tax deduction provided under Article VIII of the New Jersey Constitution ($250 each tax year) or the property tax exemption provided under N.J.S.A.54:4-3.30 for a veteran who is certified permanently 100% disabled by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs; and (5) surviving spouse benefits for veterans killed in active service, including civil service preference and the property tax deduction or exemption. The bill provides that an active service member of the United States Armed Forces or a current member of a military reserve component (including the National Guard) who has not been discharged from service is eligible for the civil service preference and the property tax deduction provided that he or she qualifies as a veteran. Eligibility for the property tax benefits and civil service preference is contingent upon voter approval of authorizing amendments to the State Constitution. Article VIII, Section I, paragraph 3 (concerning property tax benefits) and Article VII, Section I, paragraph 2 (concerning civil service preference) of the State Constitution currently refer to service in time of war. The bill repeals a section of existing civil service, pension and tax law regarding wartime service which is no longer necessary because of the elimination of the wartime service requirement. | In Committee |
| S1333 | Increases from $750 to $3,000 annual State payment made to certain veterans and their surviving spouses. | This bill increases the annual payment made by the State to a veteran with certain specified service-connected injuries and the surviving spouse of that veteran. The payment will increase from $750 to $3,000 annually. The amount is paid to a veteran who has sustained a total loss of sight, or who has paraplegia and permanent paralysis of both legs and lower parts of the body, or who has osteochondritis and permanent loss of the use of both legs, or who has hemiplegia and permanent paralysis of one leg and one arm or either side of the body, resulting from injury to the spinal cord, skeletal structure, or brain, or who has had hands or feet amputated, or who has lost the use of both feet or both legs, due to multiple sclerosis, sustained through enemy action, or accident, or resulting from disease contracted while in active military service. The surviving spouse of the veteran continues to receive the payment. There are currently 207 persons receiving the benefit. | In Committee |
| S1906 | Provides for payment to small municipalities, in certain cases, of certain penalty moneys assessed for violations of fish and game laws. | This bill would provide for the reimbursement of small municipalities that are involved in the adjudication of State and federal fish and game laws. The Division of Fish and Wildlife is generally responsible for overseeing and enforcing fish and game laws in the State, and State law currently provides that all penalty amounts recovered for violations of the State's fish and game laws, rules, and regulations must be paid, in full, to the division. This provision of law, however, fails to recognize that local governments are often left with the burden of paying, at their own expense, the costs associated with the adjudication of fish and game violations. Small municipalities - defined under the bill as those that have "a permanent population of less than 2,000 persons" - are particularly ill equipped to finance these judicial efforts. This bill would, therefore, amend the law to provide that whenever a court action is undertaken in the municipal court of a small municipality, which court action results in the assessment of penalty moneys for a violation of the State's fish and game laws, 50 percent of the recovered moneys must be paid to the governing body of the municipality in which the court action took place, while the remaining 50 percent of recovered moneys must be paid to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The bill would also entitle a small municipality to receive 50 percent of the moneys recovered for a violation of a federal fish and game law or regulation when the moneys are recovered as a result of a municipal court action undertaken in the small municipality, so long as such action is not prohibited by federal law. In all other cases of federal fish and game law enforcement, however, and unless prohibited by federal law, any recovered moneys would be paid, in full, to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. A person who fails to forward recovered moneys to the division or the adjudicating small municipality, as required by the bill, would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Although this offense currently exists in the law, it is referenced as a "misdemeanor" - an outdated term that is no longer used in the State. Because a crime that was previously characterized as a misdemeanor is now classified as a crime of the fourth degree, the bill updates the language in the existing law without changing the penalty for the offense. | In Committee |
| S1883 | Excludes certain illegal aliens from workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits. | This bill excludes illegal aliens from workers' compensation coverage unless they were lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time the employment was performed, were lawfully present for the purpose of performing the employment, or otherwise were permanently residing in the United States under color of law at the time the employment was performed. The bill also provides that illegal aliens will not be eligible to receive benefits pursuant to the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25) if they are not eligible for benefits pursuant to the "unemployment compensation law," R.S.43:21-1 et seq. This bill is in response to the decision of Mateo Coria v. Board of Review and National Fence Systems, No. A-5076-89-T5 (App. Div. 1991). In that case, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court held that the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law" does not disqualify individuals for benefits based upon their status as illegal aliens. | In Committee |
| S1068 | Establishes and allocates funds for program to provide mental health services to veterans; appropriates $2 million. | This bill directs the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to establish a program to provide grants to certain veterans organizations to provide mental health services to veterans. The veterans organizations will contract with mental health care professionals to provide the services. The bill appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Fund for the program. The bill defines "veterans organization" to mean a veterans organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. It shall also include the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group and the New Jersey Catholic Charities Diocese. | 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 |
| S722 | Requires MVC to issue blue envelopes that hold documents required to operate motor vehicle to persons diagnosed with autism. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, the Superintendent of State Police, and at least one organization that advocates on behalf of persons who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, to design and make available blue envelopes that may be utilized by a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to hold documents required for the operation of a motor vehicle. Under the bill, the blue envelopes are required to: (1) be of a color shade easily recognizable to law enforcement officers; (2) be capable of holding a person's driver's license, motor vehicle registration certificate, and insurance identification card; (3) provide written information on the outside of the envelope identifying the envelope holder as a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder; and (4) provide written guidance to assist law enforcement officers in effectively communicating with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The bill also requires that the chief administrator, in consultation with the commissioner, establish the documentation required to be produced by a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or by the parent, guardian, or caregiver of the person, in order to obtain a blue envelope. The bill is based on a 2020 Connecticut statute. | In Committee |
| S1891 | Permits certain portion of municipal development trust funds to be spent on housing affordability assistance to veterans. | This bill provides that a municipality that is authorized to collect affordable housing fees pursuant to the rules of the Council on Affordable Housing may set aside up to 30 percent of the development fee amounts permitted to be spent on affordability assistance programs to be directed to a municipal program for first-time homebuying veterans to provide grants for down payment assistance. Grants under the program are to be limited to $15,000 per recipient, and is not to be considered as income concerning eligibility requirements for other State programs, or for purposes of taxation. The bill is to help veterans by supplementing other State programs available for first-time homebuyers, such as the low-interest loans program offered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. | In Committee |
| S838 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator for service members. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S1888 | Increases penalties for identity theft when victim is a senior citizen or veteran. | This bill would increase the penalties for identity theft in cases when the victim is a senior citizen or veteran. Under the bill, the penalties would be increased as follows:· If the offense only involves one victim, and a senior citizen or a veteran is deprived of an amount less than $500, a first offense would constitute a crime of the third degree, rather than fourth degree, and a second or subsequent offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than third degree;· If there are two to five victims or the actor obtains a benefit of $500 to $75,000, and any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than the third degree; and· If there are more than five victims or the actor obtains a benefit of $75,000 or more, any of the victims is a senior citizen or a veteran, the offense would constitute a crime of the first degree, rather than the second degree. Similarly, for crimes of trafficking in personal identifying information pertaining to another person, this bill would increase penalties as follows:· If the offense only involves one piece of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the third degree, rather than the fourth degree;· If the offense involves 20 or more pieces of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the second degree, rather than third degree;· If the offense only involves 50 or more pieces of information and that information was obtained through records owned or maintained by a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, retirement community, or veterans' facility, the offense would constitute a crime of the first degree, rather than second degree. A crime in the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of $10,000, or both. A crime in the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both, and a crime in the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime in the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1894 | Establishes immunity for youth sports leagues and senior planned real estate development associations relating to COVID-19. | This bill would establish immunity for youth sports leagues and senior planned real estate development associations, and any members, employees, and agents thereof, for any civil damages caused by an exposure to COVID-19 alleged to have been sustained as a result of an act or omission during a youth sports event, in the course of managing or maintaining the facilities of the youth sports league, or in the course of managing or maintaining the common elements and facilities of the age-restricted planned real estate development. The immunity established by the bill would be retroactive to March 9, 2020, when Executive Order No. 103 was issued, declaring a public health emergency and state of emergency in response to COVID-19. This immunity would not apply to acts or omissions constituting a crime, actual fraud, actual malice, gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct. This immunity would apply in addition to any other available immunity. | 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 |
| S1910 | Requires BPU to provide funding for purchase and installation of photovoltaic technologies for age-restricted community clubhouse facilities from societal benefits charge. | This bill would expand the demand side management programs administered by the Board of Public Utilities (board) and funded from the societal benefits charge to include grants and low-interest loans to age-restricted communities to cover costs of the purchase and installation of photovoltaic technologies for use in age-restricted community clubhouse facilities. The bill defines "age-restricted community" as a community that complies with the definition of "housing for older persons," as provided in 42 U.S.C. s.3607, for that community, as set forth in section 100.301 of Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations. | In Committee |
| S1905 | Revises law concerning sexually oriented businesses. | This bill would amend current law to prohibit the operation of a sexually oriented business within 2,500 feet, increased from the current 1,000 feet, of any existing sexually oriented business, any church, synagogue, temple or other place of public worship, any elementary or secondary school or any school bus stop, any municipal or county playground or place of public resort and recreation, or any hospital or any child care center, or within 2,500 feet of any area zoned for residential use. This bill would also authorize the governing body of a municipality, by ordinance, to regulate the time, place and manner of operation of a sexually oriented business, and to require the licensure of a sexually oriented business and its employees, including independent contractors. Under the bill, "time, place and manner of operation" shall mean the hours of operation of a sexually oriented business, the interior configuration of the business, including the distance between certain employees and patrons, and the degree of allowable nudity to be demonstrated by the performers employed by the business. The bill also requires that a sexually oriented business shall close no later that 11:00 P.M. and shall maintain a distance of not less than six feet between its performers and patrons at all times, unless the governing body of the municipality in which a sexually oriented business is located, by ordinance, sets a later closing time and a shorter distance between the performers and patrons. | In Committee |
| S1897 | Allows law enforcement officers in PERS to transfer to and enroll in PFRS; requires all law enforcement officers to be enrolled in PFRS. | This bill allows certain law enforcement officers to transfer and enroll in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. It provides that a law enforcement officer who is enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System may transfer to the Police and Firemen's Retirement System by waiving all rights and benefits which would otherwise be provided by the Public Employees' Retirement System. Any law enforcement officer may continue membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System by waiving all rights and benefits which would otherwise be provided by the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. Such waivers would be accomplished by filing forms satisfactory to the board of trustees within 90 days after the enactment of this bill. The actuary of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System would be required to calculate the liability of each employer of the employees becoming members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, taking into account the value of moneys remitted by the Public Employees' Retirement System. In the event that the value of the money so remitted is less than the total which is required by the Police and Firemen's Retirement System to provide the transferred member with credit for all public service, the employee is responsible for the amount equal to the difference between these two values. Any law enforcement officer hired on or after the enactment of this bill would be enrolled in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. | In Committee |
| S1909 | Designates State Highway Route 72 as "Burlington-Ocean Purple Heart Memorial Highway." | This bill designates the entire length of State Highway Route 72, as the "Burlington-Ocean Purple Heart Memorial Highway" to honor the men and women who have received the Purple Heart in recognition of their extraordinary courage and sacrifice in military service to the Nation. Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the "Burlington-Ocean Purple Heart Memorial Highway." The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation. | In Committee |
| S1924 | Requires account numbers to be truncated on certain sales receipts. | This bill provides that credit card and debit card account numbers must be truncated on sales receipts, including copies retained by merchants. Under current law, a retail sales establishment may not electronically print more than the last five digits of a customer's credit card account number or the expiration date of that credit card upon any sales receipt provided at the point of sale to the customer. An exception is made for sales receipts in which the sole means of recording the customer's credit card number is by handwriting or by an imprint or copy of the credit card. This bill extends the prohibition against printing the whole account number or expiration date on sales receipts to include debit card information. The bill also specifies that the prohibition applies to copies of sales receipts retained by the retail sales establishment, in addition to those physically provided to the customer. The bill sets forth a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violations. | In Committee |
| S1168 | Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault if committed against crossing guard or parking enforcement officer. | This bill upgrades the crime of simple assault to aggravated assault if the victim is a crossing guard or parking enforcement officer who is in uniform or engaged in official duties, or when the assault is due to the person's status as a crossing guard or parking enforcement officer. Currently, N.J.S.2C:12-1 establishes increased criminal penalties when certain victims - including law enforcement officers, school employees, and health care workers - are assaulted while performing official duties or because of their job status. This bill extends that protection to crossing guards and parking enforcement officers. Aggravated assault under paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1 is a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury; otherwise it is a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years; a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment for not more than 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S1608 | Broadens eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve component thereof. The benefits in the bill are (1) a civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| SCR74 | Proposes constitutional amendment granting property assessment reductions for certain improvements to dwelling houses to provide living-quarters for senior citizen relatives. | This proposed constitutional amendment requires tax assessors to provide for a reduction in the assessed value of a homestead property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of that property that results from the construction or reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing senior living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse, provided at least one of the parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles for whom the senior living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a reduction may not exceed the lesser of either the increase in assessed value resulting from construction or reconstruction of the property or twenty percent of the total assessed value of the property as improved. This reduction shall be applicable to construction or reconstruction completed in or after the first full tax year occurring after approval of this paragraph by the voters of this State and shall continue through the tax year of the death or relocation of each of the parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles for whom the senior living quarters are provided. | In Committee |
| S2053 | Provides tax credits to small businesses to offset increases in unemployment insurance contributions. | This bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to small businesses to help offset increases in their unemployment insurance contributions, including increases scheduled pursuant to P.L.2020, c.150. The tax credit provided by the bill to a small business is an amount equal to the difference in the business's actual unemployment insurance contribution as required pursuant to R.S.43:21-7(c)(5) and the amount the small business would have paid if contributions had been computed based on rates set by column "C" of the table in R.S.43:21-7(c)(5)(E). The credit will be provided for any year in which the unemployment insurance contribution rates are greater than those imposed under column "C", and will end upon the first year in which the tax rates are equal or less than the rates of column "C". The bill adopts the U.S. Small Business Administration's definitions of a small business based on size standards and other applicable criteria. The tax credits are non-refundable, but may be carried forward for seven years. If a small business utilizes alternative relief options, such as grants or subsidies, to offset their increase in employer contributions, the small business would not be eligible for the bill's tax credits. | In Committee |
| S725 | Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings. | This bill would criminalize unlawful occupancy of a dwelling, also known as "squatting." Currently, squatting is not a criminal act. In order to lawfully evict a squatter, the owner of the property must apply to the court for a writ of possession. This bill would create three criminal offenses: housebreaking, unlawful occupancy, and unlawful reentry. They would be crimes of the fourth degree. Housebreaking. Under the bill, a person who forcibly enters an uninhabited or vacant dwelling knowing or having reason to believe that such entry is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner, with the intent to take up residence or provide a residency to another therein, would be guilty of housebreaking. The bill provides that a person is presumed to know that an entry is without the permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Occupancy. The bill provides that a person who takes up residence in an uninhabited or vacant dwelling and knows or has reason to believe that such residency is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner is guilty of unlawful occupancy. A person is presumed to know that the residency is without the permission of the owner or an authorized representative unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner, and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Reentry. The bill provides that a person commits unlawful reentry if an owner of real property has recovered possession of the property from the person pursuant to a court order and, without the authority of the court or permission of the owner, the person reenters the property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S864 | Permits municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for first responders. | This bill permits municipalities to establish an affordable housing preference for first responders. Under the bill, a municipality would be authorized to enter into agreements with developers to provide affordable housing occupancy preferences for low and moderate income first responders, who meet certain service requirements, of up to 50 percent of the affordable units in a particular project. Current law does not provide any preference for first responders who otherwise qualify for affordable housing. For the purposes of the bill, "first responder" is defined as a law enforcement officer; paid or volunteer firefighter; paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association; or any other person who, in the course of the person's employment, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance; and who, in the case of all the foregoing, has served in that capacity for at least two years. | In Committee |
| S362 | Allocates 10 percent of Green Acres funding to local government units for development of completely inclusive playgrounds. | This bill provides that 10 percent of the Green Acres funding provided for grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects would be allocated as grants for the development of completely inclusive playgrounds by local government units. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of corporation business tax (CBT) revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. For State fiscal years 2017 through 2019, the act provides that of the 60 percent of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program: 55 percent shall be used for State open space acquisition and development projects; 38 percent shall be used for grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and 7 percent shall be used for grants to fund open space acquisition and development projects undertaken by qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations. Currently, the Green Acres program requires all development projects to comply with all applicable federal and State requirements of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" and "barrier free" codes. This bill would provide that of the funding for local government open space acquisition and development projects, 10 percent would be allocated as grants for the development of completely inclusive playgrounds, including the retrofitting of existing playgrounds, by local government units. The bill further provides that a grant by the State for development of a completely inclusive playground by a local government unit that is not an urban aid municipality would be for 50 percent of the cost of development of the playground. This bill would provide that a portion of Green Acres funds be specifically allocated for the development of completely inclusive playgrounds by counties and municipalities. | In Committee |
| SJR65 | Designates September of each year as "Chiari Malformation-Syringomyelia Awareness Month." | This joint resolution designates September of each year as "Chiari Malformation-Syringomyelia Awareness Month" in New Jersey to increase awareness of this little-known condition. The joint resolution respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing September as "Chiari Malformation-Syringomyelia Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calls upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| S1900 | Imposes mandatory term of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole on persons who commit particularly brutal sexual assaults. | In 1987, Lawrence Singleton's parole from a California prison made national headlines; he had served eight years of a fourteen-year sentence for the vicious rape and mutilation of a 15-year-old hitchhiker. After the rape, Singleton had hacked off his victim's arms with an ax and left her to die, but she survived to testify against him. Despite the public outcry against Singleton's release, officials were powerless to stop it, since he had served his sentence under the California law in effect at the time. In February, 1997, Singleton was arrested again, this time for the murder of a woman in his home. This bill is intended to prevent brutal attackers such as Singleton from ever getting a second chance to claim another victim. The bill would require that any person who commits a violent sexual assault would be required to serve a life sentence, without possibility for parole. The life sentence would be imposed on any person convicted of aggravated sexual assault upon a victim who suffers serious bodily injury. Under the Criminal Code, "serious bodily injury" is defined as "bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ." | In Committee |
| SCR15 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Senate concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| S1547 | Provides that salary and other costs associated with Commissioner of Education's appointment of State monitor and other staff under "School District Fiscal Accountability Act" will be paid by State. | This bill provides that the salary and other costs associated with a State monitor and any additional staff appointed by the Commissioner of Education under the provisions of the "School District Fiscal Accountability Act," P.L.2006, c.15 (C.18A:7A-54 et seq.), to provide direct oversight of a board of education's business operations and personnel matters will be paid by the State. Under current law, these costs are assumed by the school district. | In Committee |
| S1704 | Reinstates penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcohol and cannabis as disorderly person offense. | This bill reinstates the criminal penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages, cannabis, marijuana, and hashish as a disorderly person offense. A disorderly person offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. This bill also re-establishes a minimum fine of $500 and re-establishes the penalty of a six month suspension of driving privileges. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement, Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act" ("CREAMMA"), P.L.2021, c.16, established a penalty for underage possession and consumption of cannabis and marijuana equivalent to the penalty for underage alcohol. Shortly after CREAMMA was enacted, the criminal penalties for underage alcohol and cannabis were replaced with a system of non-punitive written warnings, under P.L.2021, c.25, and P.L.2021, c.38. It is the sponsor's view that the written warning scheme has proven ineffectual in curbing underage use and abuse of alcohol and cannabis, as demonstrated by a sharp rise in 2022 and 2023 in the number of police complaints regarding underage parties where alcohol and cannabis were found, particularly in the beach communities along the Jersey Shore. It is the sponsor's intent to control underage alcohol and cannabis use and abuse by reinstating the threat of criminal prosecution, as well as driver's license suspension. | In Committee |
| S1893 | Eliminates the New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax and repeals parts of chapters 33 through 37 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes. | This bill repeals the Transfer Inheritance Tax for transfers of estate for decedents dying on or after July 1, 2021. Currently, New Jersey imposes a Transfer Inheritance Tax on beneficiaries for the receipt of assets from a New Jersey resident decedent and certain New Jersey assets of nonresident decedents, as determined by the value of the assets transferred and the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent. The Transfer Inheritance Tax is one of the State's oldest taxes, originating in 1892. The tax is imposed on the transfer of all personal and real property in the estates of New Jersey resident decedents and of all tangible and real property located in New Jersey in the estates of nonresident decedents. The tax was extensively revised in 1985 to exempt from taxation transfers to spouses, ancestors, and descendants of the decedent. But "lateral" transfers, bequests to brothers and sisters of the decedent or their children, and to nonrelatives are taxed at rates of up to 16 percent. This bill eliminates all remaining taxable "classes" of beneficiaries and eliminates New Jersey's distinction as being one of only six states to impose an inheritance tax. | In Committee |
| S1928 | Provides gross income tax deduction for New Jersey fuel taxes paid through purchases of motor fuel for personal use of motor vehicles. | This bill provides a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for all New Jersey State fuel taxes that are paid by taxpayers on purchases of motor fuel for the operation for personal use of the taxpayer's motor vehicles and not otherwise reimbursed. Under the bill, the gross income tax deduction is allowed for taxpayers at any income level and in any filing status, and is capped at $1,000 for the 2021 taxable year and at $2,000 for each taxable year beginning thereafter. | In Committee |
| SCR76 | Urges Congress and the President of the United States to increase subsidies for federal flood insurance. | This concurrent resolution respectfully urges Congress and the President of the United States to take all appropriate legislative and regulatory action necessary to increase subsidies for premiums paid for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, especially for property owners who have suffered frequent losses. | In Committee |
| S1919 | Clarifies that punitive damages may not be awarded against public entities or public employees acting within the scope of their employment in any action. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq., to clarify that the legislative intent of the prohibition against the awarding of punitive damages against either a public entity or public employee, acting within the scope of his employment, applies in every action, regardless of the applicability of other remedies available in common law or pursuant to other statutory law. The bill specifically mentions the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) (hereafter, LAD), and the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act," P.L.1986, c.105 (C.34:19-1 et seq.) (hereafter, CEPA), since a court decision previously held to the contrary regarding these two enactments. See Abbamont v. Piscataway Township Bd. of Educ., 138 N.J. 405 (1994). The bill also amends section 5 of P.L.1995, c.142 (C:2A:15-5.13) concerning punitive damages generally, and the specific sections of the LAD and CEPA that provide prevailing plaintiffs in these statutory-based actions "all remedies [also] available in common law tort," to clarify that such remedies do not include punitive damages against public entities or public employees acting within the scope of their employment. This bill would not permit the awarding of punitive damages on the grounds that, ultimately, it is the local taxpayer who will bear these litigation costs. The sponsor believes that the reasons for awarding punitive damages generally do not outweigh the public policy considerations of financially burdening citizens at large when a public entity or public employee, acting within the scope of his employment, is involved. | In Committee |
| S1912 | Criminalizes fifth or subsequent drunk driving offenses. | This bill would establish criminal penalties for fifth and subsequent offenses of driving under the influence (DUI). Currently, DUI is a traffic offense under Title 39 of the Revised Statutes (the State motor vehicle code). Under the provisions of the bill, a person who is convicted of a fifth or subsequent DUI offense would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, imprisonment for three to five years, or both. The person's driver's license also would be suspended for 10 years. The bill also provides that if the fifth or subsequent violation occurs in a school zone or in or near a school crosswalk, the person's driver's license would be suspended for 20 years. | In Committee |
| S1534 | Increases annual property tax deduction for senior citizens and disabled persons from $250 to $500. | This bill would increase the amount of the annual property tax deduction provided to eligible senior citizens and disabled persons from the current $250 to $300.00 in tax year 2023, $350.00 in tax year 2024, $400.00 in tax year 2025, $450.00 in tax year 2026, and $500.00 in tax year 2027 and in each tax year thereafter. The amount of this annual property tax deduction has not been increased since 1983. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of the State of a constitutional amendment authorizing this increased property tax deduction for senior citizens and disabled persons. | In Committee |
| SR19 | Supports preservation of Columbus Day as federal and State holiday. | This resolution supports preserving Columbus Day as a federal and State holiday. Americans have celebrated Columbus' voyage, which culminated in his arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, since the colonial period. Since 1970, the federal government has recognized Columbus Day as a federal holiday taking place on the second Monday in October of each year. This House recognizes the significance of Columbus's arrival in the New World and expresses its support of Columbus Day as a holiday to honor and celebrate Columbus' historic achievement. | In Committee |
| S1901 | Authorizes counties to reduce greenhead fly populations; appropriates $50,000. | This bill would empower a county board of chosen freeholders to authorize its county mosquito extermination commission to conduct a program to reduce the population of greenhead flies in areas of the county where they have become a significant nuisance or pest problem. The bill specifies that the programs would consist of the manufacture, placement, and maintenance of greenhead fly box traps that have been developed by Rutgers, the State University. The bill would appropriate $50,000 for the funding of greenhead fly extermination programs in affected counties. Greenhead fly larvae develop in New Jersey's coastal marshes. The fly population becomes abundant from June to September, reaching peak numbers in July. In order to continue to lay eggs during its lifespan of three to four weeks, adult female greenheads travel from the salt marsh environment to surrounding open and wooded areas in search of blood sources such as people, cattle, and other animals. High concentrations of these flies have a detrimental impact on residents and others who live, work, or enjoy recreational activities in close proximity to them, and are of special concern in shore municipalities that rely on tourism for their prosperity. | In Committee |
| S627 | Excludes military compensation of military personnel serving outside of this State from gross income tax. | This bill allows an exemption for certain military compensation from the gross income tax for those servicemen and women domiciled in New Jersey but serving their duty outside of the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S1902 | Makes public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes or found at fault in certain civil actions liable and subject to pension garnishment for public legal expenses and illegally obtained funds. | This bill provides that any person who serves or has served as a public officer or employee under the government of this State, or any political subdivision thereof, who is convicted of a crime that involves or touches that office or employment will be liable to the Attorney General, county prosecutor, or United States Attorney, as appropriate, for the cost of prosecution and, if that person receives legal representation at public expense, will be liable to the public entity that paid for the representation for the cost thereof, except representation by the Office of the Public Defender pursuant to N.J.S.A.2A:158A-1 et seq. unless the cost of services is recoverable under that act. It also provides that any such person who is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been at fault in any civil matter that involves or touches that office or employment and who has received legal representation in connection with that matter at public expense, will be liable for the cost of that representation. The bill provides that the retirement benefit or pension contributions, as appropriate, of any person liable to a public entity for legal expenses or for a money judgment obtained by the State or other public employer and rendered against that person if convicted of an offense under the provisions of chapter 27 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, or any other offense involving a theft or misuse of public funds, or any attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense, will be subject to garnishment, attachment or other process in order to satisfy the liability. In addition, the bill requires that on its effective date, the Division of Pensions and Benefits in the Department of the Treasury seek a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service confirming the status of the State-administered retirement systems and funds, under its provisions, as qualified plans under federal law. If the determination letter states that the bill changes the status of the State-administered retirement systems and funds so that they are no longer qualified plans under federal law, subsection b. of section 1 of the bill will be void and will expire immediately. | In Committee |
| S1911 | Establishes "Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund" with $200 assessment on persons convicted of certain offenses. | This bill imposes a $200 assessment on persons convicted of computer criminal activity or a sex offense. The money collected is to be forwarded to the State Treasurer to be placed in a fund called the "Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund," which the bill establishes. The Attorney General shall grant money from the fund to county prosecutor offices for training and equipment necessary to investigate and prosecute persons who use the Internet to arrange meetings with children for the purpose of committing a crime. | In Committee |
| S1917 | Creates new offense of theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person. | This bill creates the new offense of theft by financial exploitation of vulnerable person. Under the bill, an actor commits this offense when, being in a position of trust in relation to a senior citizen or a person with a disability, he commits a theft offense against that person. The bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:20-1 to define a senior citizen as a person 62 years of age or older. A "person with a disability" means a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined to be disabled pursuant to Title II or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.ss.401-433 or 42 U.S.C.ss.1381-1383), or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. Further, a "person in a position of trust" means a person who: (a) is the parent, spouse, adult child, or other relative by blood or affinity of a senior citizen or person with a disability; or (b) is a joint tenant or tenant in common with a senior citizen orperson with a disability; or (c) has a fiduciary obligation to a senior citizen or person with adisability; or (d) receives monetary or other valuable consideration for providing care for a senior citizen or person with a disability; or (e) lives with or provides some component of home care services on a continuing basis to a senior citizen or person with a disability including, but not limited to, a neighbor or friend who does not provide such services on a compensated basis but has access to a senior citizen or person with a disability based on such relationship. The bill provides that theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person shall be graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, it is a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying theft offense. | In Committee |
| S834 | Broadens riot and disorderly conduct; enhances penalties for public monument destruction; addresses riot victim assaults; creates crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. | In light of the exponentially greater risk of injury and damage caused by crowd based destructive behavior, this omnibus bill addresses certain violent crime committed during the course of riot. Presently, a person is guilty of riot if he participates with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct with an unlawful purpose, enumerated in the statute. This bill expands the categories of unlawful purposes to include when the actor causes damage to property or injury to another. Riot under these circumstances is a crime of the fourth degree punishably by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under the bill, a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, during a riot, he violates N.J.S.A.2C:33-2, Disorderly conduct, in a place of public accommodation. "Place of public accommodation, resort or amusement" includes any inn, tavern, road house or hotel, whether for entertainment of transient guests or accommodation of those seeking health, recreation or rest; any restaurant, eating house, or place where food is sold for consumption on the premises; any place maintained for sale of ice cream, ice and fruit preparations or their derivatives, soda water or confections, or where any beverages of any kind are retailed for consumption on the premises; any garage, any public conveyance operated on land or water, and stations and terminals thereof; any public bathhouse, public boardwalk, public seashore accommodation; any theater, or other place of public amusement, motion-picture house, airdrome, music hall, roof garden, skating rink, amusement and recreation park, fair, bowling alley, gymnasium, shooting gallery, billiard and pool parlor; any dispensary, clinic, hospital, public library, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the regents of the State of New Jersey. Under these circumstances, the offense is a crime of the fourth degree. The bill amends N.J.S.A2C:33-7, Obstructing highways and other public passages, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage in the course of committing riot or disorderly conduct. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:33-9, Desecration of venerated objects, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if the desecration occurs during a riot. The term desecrate is clarified to include conduct such as actual destruction or the toppling of a monument. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1, Assault. Currently, the statute enumerates the circumstances when aggravated assault occurs; this bill adds the additional circumstance. Under the bill, a person is guilty of aggravated assault if he attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another in the course of a riot. Aggravated assault under this circumstance is a crime of the third degree, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Additionally, paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:12-1 elevates simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against certain categories of persons, including when committed against a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the officer's duties while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of authority or because of the officer's status as a law enforcement officer, and is graded as a crime of the third degree. Under the bill, if, in the course of a riot, an object is thrown at a law enforcement officer, or if the law enforcement officer is struck, whether or not with an object, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a first offense of a crime of the third degree shall not apply, and a mandatory period of six months imprisonment shall apply. The bill creates the new crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. A person promotes violent, disorderly assembly if he conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager to commit any crime specified in chapters 11 through 18, 20, 33, 35, or 37 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; N.J.S.2C:34-1; N.J.S.2C:39-3; N.J.S.2C:39-4; section 1 of P.L.1998, c.26 (C.2C:39-4.1); N.J.S.2C:39-5; or N.J.S.2C:39-9 in the course of a riot or at the site of a peaceable assembly. Promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a crime of one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime referred to in subsection a. of this section, except that where the underlying offense is a crime of the first degree, promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a first degree crime and the defendant, upon conviction, and notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a of N.J.S.2C:43-6, shall be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 15 and 30 years. This bill is based upon a legislation concept entitled, "Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act," articulated in the media concerning an announcement made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. | In Committee |
| S1925 | Excludes value of certain manufacturer rebates from sales price of motor vehicles taxable under sales and use tax. | This bill excludes the value of certain manufacturer rebates from the sales price of motor vehicles taxable under the sales and use tax. A manufacturer rebate is an amount paid by the manufacturer to the customer for buying a product. Typically, a customer pays the full price to a retailer and uses some "proof of purchase" to obtain a rebate from the manufacturer. Although the later rebate payment reduces the customer's total outlay for the product, the rebate does not reduce the actual payment that the customer made to the retailer, so a rebate does not reduce the amount of the actual sales price or the amount of sales tax due on a sale. This can become very confusing for the customer in certain motor vehicle purchases involving manufacturers' rebates in which the car dealer allows the customer to apply the rebate to the purchase at the time of the sale. In these sales the customer turns over the rights to the rebate to the dealer (who later collects it). Because the application of the rebate reduces the amount of the customer's outlay to the dealer, it appears to the customer that the customer has been provided a discount on the dealer's sale price, and expects to pay sales tax on the discounted price. However, under current law the customer and the manufacturer have together paid the full sale price, and the customer owes sales tax on that full price: the customer's outlay plus the rebate amount. This bill provides a special rule for manufacturer rebates in motor vehicle sales. Under the bill, if the rebate is a cash payment granted as a true manufacturer rebate (and not a credit acquired under a credit or financing plan) and the rebate is used at the time of the retail sale to reduce the sale price of the motor vehicle (and not provided later), then the amount of the rebate is not counted as part of the "sales price" on which sales tax liability is calculated. | In Committee |
| S1914 | Increases prison time for certain persons convicted of a motor vehicle offense when license suspended for DUI. | This bill increases the prison time for persons who are convicted of a motor vehicle offense during a period when their driver's license is suspended for a third or subsequent DUI offense or for a third or subsequent refusal to take a chemical or breathalyzer test when stopped for a suspected DUI offense. Under current law, a person found guilty for a third or subsequent time of operating a motor vehicle while the person's license is suspended is subject to imprisonment in the county jail for a period of 10 days. This bill would increase that term of imprisonment to a period of not less than 30 days or more than 180 days in those cases where the violator's driver's license is suspended for a third or subsequent driving under the influence (DUI) offense or for refusing to take a breathalyzer or chemical test when stopped for a suspected DUI offense. The other penalties remain substantially the same as those for anyone convicted of driving during a period when their driver's license is suspended for a third or subsequent time: a fine of $1,000 and the revocation of the violator's motor vehicle registration privilege when the violations leading to the suspension are for the same offense. | In Committee |
| S1884 | Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service. | This bill would expand upon current law to provide that disabled veterans would be entitled to free admission to State parks and forests. In addition, this bill provides that persons with any of the following types of military service would also be entitled to free admission to State parks and forests and to free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, tags, and certificates: (1) a member of a unit of the organized reserve of the Armed Forces of the United States which is located in New Jersey; (2) an active duty member of any branch or department of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a resident of the State or who is based or stationed in the State regardless of residency; and (3) a retired member of the New Jersey National Guard. Finally, this bill provides that the benefits authorized in the bill and in current law would apply to both residents and nonresidents of the State who meet the established criteria for active or former military status. Current law provides that active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training may obtain free admission to State parks and forests as well as free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, tags, and certificates. Current law also provides that disabled veterans qualify for free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, stamps, tags, and certificates but not free admission to State parks and forests. | In Committee |
| SCR77 | Urges President of United States and United States Congress to annually financially compensate every local unit of government in United States where there is located decommissioned nuclear power plant in which spent nuclear fuel is stored. | This concurrent resolution urges the President and the United States Congress to enact legislation to annually financially compensate every local unit of government in the United States in which there is located a decommissioned or no longer functioning nuclear power plant in which spent nuclear fuel is currently stored, until a federal nuclear waste storage facility is operational in the United States and the spent nuclear fuel can be relocated to that facility. These decommissioned nuclear power plants cannot be repurposed, or redeveloped, as long as the spent nuclear fuel remains stored on the premises. Effectively, these properties are contaminated sites, and have no value for property taxation purposes, causing all other property taxpayers in these municipalities to pay higher property taxes. The "Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982," 42 U.S.C. s.10101 et seq., assigned to the United States Department of Energy the responsibility to site, build, and operate a deep geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. This federal repository was never constructed, so local units of government in which these nuclear power plants exist have effectively become permanent repositories for the spent nuclear fuel once these plants are decommissioned. Therefore, it is fitting for the United States Government, through the Nuclear Waste General Fund, to provide financial compensation to these local units of government for lost property tax revenue in every year in which the federal repository did not exist, and for the burden of becoming the de facto interim storage facilities for stranded nuclear waste. | In Committee |
| S1931 | Subjects spent nuclear fuel located in a decommissioned nuclear power plant to taxation as business personal property. | This bill would amend R.S.54:4-1 to make spent nuclear fuel that is located in a decommissioned nuclear power plant business personal property that is subject to property taxation pursuant to chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes. | In Committee |
| S1892 | Requires DEP to assume responsibility for dredging of waterways providing boat access to lagoon communities; appropriates $6,000,000. | This bill provides for the dredging of the waterways providing boat access to lagoon communities in the State, whether officially designated as navigational channels or not, and maintain these waterways for the future economic and environmental health and vitality of the coastal areas of the State. | In Committee |
| S1898 | Allows judgment for restitution of stolen public funds to be levied against convicted employee's retirement allowance or pension contributions. | This bill allows a public employer to levy a judgment for restitution of illegally obtained funds against a convicted public employee's retirement allowance from any of the principal State-administered retirement systems or from the employee's pension contributions to any of these systems. Under current law, the right of a public employee to a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance or to the return of contributions from the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System or the State Police Retirement System is exempt from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment or any other process arising out of any State or federal court. Under this bill, the State or other public employer will be entitled to an order of garnishment against the withdrawal of any contributions by, or the payment of a retirement allowance to, a retirement system member or beneficiary in the amount of a money judgment obtained by the employer and rendered against that member if convicted of an offense under the provisions of chapter 27 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes (concerning bribery and corrupt influence), or any other offense involving a theft or misuse of public funds, or any attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense. The judgment may include the cost of prosecution as well as the amount of restitution ordered. | In Committee |
| S1886 | Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens. | This bill provides that no person will receive a contract, loan, tax deferral, tax reduction, tax abatement, grant, subsidy, loan guarantee, certification, or license from the State unless that person has certified that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law; or if the person is an employer receiving monies, licensure or any other benefit from the State, that the employer made a good faith effort to verify an employee's eligibility for employment in compliance with federal law. A penalty would apply only for "knowingly and willfully" false statements. The bill requires the New Jersey Department of Labor to prepare and make available to all State agencies a form which requires signatories, as individuals and as employers, to indicate compliance with federal law with regard to unauthorized aliens. The form will contain the following statement: "I certify that all the above statements are true, that I am aware that State law provides a penalty for written statements that are knowingly and willfully false and that the State of New Jersey reserves the right to terminate, cancel, rescind or revoke any privilege or benefit granted by the State based upon the above statements should any of them prove knowingly and willfully false." The bill states that the intent is to have each State agency incorporate the language of the form into existing documents and procedures rather than establish a separate certification filing system. | In Committee |
| S2161 | "New Jersey Ticket Consumer Choice Act." | This bill, the "New Jersey Ticket Consumer Choice Act," guarantees the right of New Jersey ticket purchasers to opt-out of ticket restrictions that limit their ability to use, sell, or give away the tickets they have purchased. Specifically, this bill allows ticket issuers to sell tickets through a ticketing system that restricts the rights of consumers to resell their tickets only if, at the time of the initial sale, the consumer is offered the option to purchase the same ticket in a form not subject to restrictions by the issuer. Issuers would be permitted, however, to sell or give away tickets in a non-transferable form in the context of targeted promotions or private events. The bill prohibits any penalty or discrimination against a ticket holder solely because the ticket was resold or because of the specific ticket platform on which the ticket was resold. The bill provides for the recognition of the rights of issuers and venue owners and operators to institute policies governing overall operation of entertainment events and ticket sales. The bill exempts from the provisions of the bill issuers of tickets for an entertainment event held in a venue owned or operated by an entity which is subject to a hotel and motel occupancy fee pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2003, c.114 (C.54:32D-1) and located in a city the governing body of which has levied a retail sales tax pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1947, c.71 (C.40:48-8.15). The consumer choice provisions of this bill protecting the right of ticket purchasers to resell their tickets have been in effect in New York State for six years. | In Committee |
| S1907 | Provides for discounted resident trapping license fees for senior citizens. | This bill provides a resident trapping license fee discount to senior citizens. The current law provides discounted licensing rates to senior citizens only with regard to resident fishing, firearm hunting, and bow hunting. Accordingly, this bill would fill a gap in the statute by providing senior citizens with a resident trapping license fee discount that is consistent with the discounts already authorized for other closely related outdoor activities. | 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 |
| S1933 | Authorizes creation of New Jersey Maritime Museum license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special New Jersey Maritime Museum license plates. The bill provides that the design of the New Jersey Maritime Museum license plate is to display words or a slogan and an emblem indicating support for, or an interest in, the New Jersey Maritime Museum. The chief administrator, in consultation with the New Jersey Maritime Museum, is to select the design and color scheme of the New Jersey Maritime Museum license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the New Jersey Maritime Museum license plates. After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "New Jersey Maritime Museum License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the New Jersey Maritime Museum to be used to support and maintain the museum. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the New Jersey Maritime Museum license plate program. The bill also requires that the New Jersey Maritime Museum appoint a liaison to represent the museum in all communications with the commission regarding the license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the New Jersey Maritime Museum license plate program. The bill requires the New Jersey Maritime Museum or an individual or entity designated by the museum to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the New Jersey Maritime Museum to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The chief administrator is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, until: (1) the New Jersey Maritime Museum or the individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Maritime Museum has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the New Jersey Maritime Museum liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month following enactment to allow the New Jersey Maritime Museum time to provide the commission with the completed applications and fees required pursuant to the bill. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month following enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. In fulfillment of a lifelong ambition of opening a museum free to the public promoting New Jersey's vast maritime history, Deborah Whitcraft founded the New Jersey Maritime Museum on July 3, 2007. When it initially opened, the museum exhibited a sizable collection of shipwreck files, documents, and artifacts. In the years since it has opened, the New Jersey Maritime Museum has grown thanks to donations and loans from the diving community and public. Located in Beach Haven, New Jersey, the New Jersey Maritime Museum operates as a registered non-profit entity and is open to the public, free of charge. | In Committee |
| S1889 | Establishes special dredging account; directs $5,000,000 of sales tax collected annually be deposited therein; directs DEP to administer account and dredging program with certain requirements. | This bill dedicates $5,000,000 from sales tax revenues to a special dredging account, created in this bill and named the "Community and Navigational Waterways Restorative and Maintenance Dredging Account," for the purposes of funding the dredging of waterways in the State outside of the port region. More specifically, the monies are to be used for the dredging of navigational waters in the State, or the restorative and maintenance dredging of waterways in the State that may not be officially designated as navigational waters by the Department of Environmental Protection but provide boat access from open water to residential dwelling units in coastal areas. The bill requires that no less than one quarter of the monies deposited in the account shall be allocated by the Department of Environmental Protection to the restorative and maintenance dredging of waterways in the State that provide boat access from open water to residential dwelling units in coastal areas. The bill further requires that the Department of Environmental Protection establish then annually update a list of eligible waterways in the State and a prioritized list of the dredging projects. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to be as broad as possible in determining eligibility and to seek out and include recommendations from counties, municipalities, residential communities, or any task force concerning lagoon communities that may be established. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to submit to the Governor and Legislature the eligible waterways and prioritized project lists, a list of the projects and their cost funded in the previous calendar year, and a list of the projects and their cost projected to be funded in the current calendar year. The "Port of New Jersey Revitalization, Dredging, Environmental Cleanup, Lake Restoration, and Delaware Bay Area Economic Development Bond Act of 1996," P.L.1996, c.70, provided $185,000,000 to the port region for dredging projects but the majority of $20,000,000 provided for non-port region dredging projects has been held for the Delaware River deepening project, leaving essentially no funding for any dredging projects outside of the port region. Each year, substantial sales tax revenues are collected on sales of boats, powered personal watercraft (jet skis), motor boat engines, boat trailers and other recreational boating and powered personal watercraft supplies and equipment, and the Legislature finds it appropriate to use these revenues for maintaining the waterways on which the vessels, supplies and equipment were sold to be used. | In Committee |
| S1932 | Permits certain municipalities to impose stranded nuclear waste fee. | This bill would permit the governing body of a municipality in which there is located a decommissioned nuclear power plant in which spent nuclear fuel is stored, by ordinance, to impose a stranded nuclear waste fee on the owner of the decommissioned nuclear power plant for every calendar year in which spent nuclear fuel is stored in the decommissioned nuclear power plant. The amount of the annual fee would be equal to the number of kilograms of spent nuclear fuel stored at the decommissioned nuclear power plant multiplied by the fee per kilogram established in the ordinance. The fee per kilogram could not exceed $15. The use of the annual fee would be limited to reducing the municipal property tax levy. | In Committee |
| S1930 | Requires decommissioned nuclear power facility to pay annual community service payment in lieu of property taxes. | This bill would require the owner of a decommissioned nuclear power plant in which spent nuclear fuel has not been removed, no later than August 1 of each year, to make a community service payment in lieu of property taxes to the municipality in which the plant is located. The first community service payment would be due August 1 of the year following the last full tax year in which the plant was operational, and a payment would then be due every August 1 thereafter, as long as the spent nuclear fuel remains inside of the plant. In the case of a plant that was decommissioned more than one year prior to the enactment of the bill, the first community service payment would be due on August 1 immediately following the enactment of the bill, The amount of the first annual payment would be equal to the amount of property taxes for municipal and school district purposes paid by the owner of the decommissioned nuclear power plant in the last full tax year immediately prior to the plant's decommissioning. Thereafter, in each year, the required payment would increase by 2 percent over the payment made in the previous year. The owner would make the annual community service payment to the municipality, which would retain its share of the payment. The municipality would then forward to the school district the portion of the payment representing the school district purposes property taxes, within five business days of receiving the payment. The bill would require that once the spent nuclear fuel has been removed from the plant, the plant would again be subject to taxation as real property. | In Committee |
| S1899 | Provides that civil actions concerning home improvement contracts for residential or non-commercial property may be brought in the county where the property is located. | This bill would allow civil actions for certain home improvement contracts to be brought in the Special Civil Part of the Superior Court in the county where the property is located. The bill would apply to actions involving home improvement contracts for residential or non-commercial property. Currently, pursuant to Court Rule, venue for actions brought in the Special Civil Part is laid "in the county in which at least one defendant in the action resides." The Court Rule, R.6:1-3, also provides that venue may be laid "as otherwise provided by statute." Actions are brought in the Special Civil Part if the amount in dispute does not exceed $15,000. In the view of the sponsor, home improvement contractors in beach communities have encountered difficulties in pursuing Special Civil Part lawsuits against certain homeowners who have defaulted on payment for services rendered, because these homeowners do not live in the county where their vacation homes are located. This bill would address the issue by allowing the contractor, or the homeowner, to commence an action in the county where the home is located. Under R.4:3-2 of the Court Rules, actions are brought in the Law Division of the Superior Court if the amount in dispute is greater than $15,000. The Court Rule provides that these suits, unlike suits in Special Civil Part, may be brought in the county where the property is situated or where any party to the action resides. This bill would provide similar flexibility for plaintiffs in Special Civil Part. | In Committee |
| S2133 | Establishes legislative internship program; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes a legislative internship program to allow members of the Legislature to employ interns, with the approval of the presiding officer of the member's House. The bill requires the legislative internship program to be open to any full-time or part-time student currently attending any accredited institution of higher education in undergraduate level and graduate level programs, with the exception of juris doctorate and PhD programs. The bill also requires students who are residents of New Jersey, or who are attending institutions of higher education located within New Jersey, to be granted priority over other applicants to the program. Additionally, the bill requires participants to complete one work period with a district office of a legislator. The work period will be established by each legislator prior to employing an intern. This bill also allows the legislator to elect to retain the participant for an additional work period if the participant agrees to continue their internship after completion of the program requirement. Additionally, this bill allows not more than $10,000 annually to be provided to each member of the Legislature for employing interns. Students selected to participate in the legislative internship will receive a stipend of $1,000 for every work period completed in the program. The stipend is prorated and paid bi-weekly or monthly, as determined by the legislator. This bill also appropriates $1,200,000 from the State General Fund to the New Jersey Legislature for the purposes of the legislative internship program. | In Committee |
| S1890 | Appropriates $26,140,000 for dredging projects and dredged material disposal projects related to navigational waterways. | This bill appropriates $26,140,000 for the purposes of dredging, and properly disposing of the dredged materials from, certain navigational waterways, projects related to the disposal of dredged materials from such dredging projects, and the dredging of other waterways of navigational importance that are not designated as navigational waterways. The dredging projects of navigational waterways outside of the New York/New Jersey port region have gone unfunded for many years and the situation has reached a critical stage. A number of the projects on the list of navigational waterways in the bill are State priority projects that the State has been unable to fund from the "Port of New Jersey Revitalization, Dredging, Environmental Cleanup, Lake Restoration, and Delaware Bay Area Economic Development Bond Act of 1996," P.L.1996, c.70, because the remaining monies for this type of dredging have been committed to the Delaware River deepening project, another important and crucial navigational waterway dredging project. The projects funded by the $4,000,000 appropriation are of importance to residential and recreational boating. | In Committee |
| S313 | Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran. | This bill provides that the total property tax exemption extended to totally disabled veterans is to be retroactive to the effective date of the determination of the veteran's total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill also requires that the governing body of each municipality return all taxes collected on the veteran's property after the effective date of the determination of total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the amount of such property taxes returned to a totally disabled veteran pursuant to the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| SJR28 | Designates second weekend of September each year as "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Weekend." | This joint resolution designates the second weekend in September as "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Weekend." The joint resolution recognizes New Jersey's fallen members of the police, firefighting, and emergency medical service professions. Since record keeping began, New Jersey has lost over 600 firefighters and 500 police officers to line-of-duty deaths. For emergency medical service professionals, line of duty deaths is harder to count and still being assessed with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This joint resolution calls upon public officials and residents of New Jersey to observe the second weekend of September each year with appropriate activities and programs. | In Committee |
| S1935 | Converts loan awarded to Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum from loan to grant. | This bill amends an appropriations bill passed by the Legislature in 1999 that awarded $20 million in grants and loans from the "1996 Economic Development Site Fund" established pursuant to section 20 of the "Port of New Jersey Revitalization, Dredging, Environmental Cleanup, Lake Restoration, and Delaware Bay Area Economic Development Bond Act of 1996," P.L.1996, c.70. The funds were awarded to eight municipalities that had been recommended and approved to receive the money by the Economic Development Site Task Force. A grant in the amount of $250,000 and a loan in the amount of $1,250,000 were awarded to the Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum. This bill would convert the loan into a grant. | In Committee |
| S1922 | "Breann's Law" requires health insurers, SHBP and NJ FamilyCare to provide "out of network" coverage for children with catastrophic illnesses. | This bill, "Breann's Law," is named for Breann LaManna, a young New Jersey girl who was denied "out-of-network" coverage for a life threatening illness. The bill requires health insurers, as well as the State Health Benefits Plan and NJ FamilyCare, to provide benefits for services provided by an "out-of-network" provider to the same extent as they would be provided if performed in-network, when the services are for a covered child who is suffering from a catastrophic illness, after a referral from an in-network provider. Catastrophic illness is defined in the bill as an acute or prolonged illness usually considered to be life-threatening or with the threat of serious residual disability. | In Committee |
| S57 | Creates sexual assault prevention and response program and coordinator in DMVA. | This bill establishes in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a sexual assault prevention and response program. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will appoint an individual to serve as the sexual assault prevention coordinator. The coordinator will provide victim advocacy services, including ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate responsive care, understand available reporting options, and are notified of eligibility for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The coordinator may also file an application with the consent of the victim for a protective order on behalf of the victim. The protective order may be filed at the State level and with the military authorities. The program will permit a victim of sexual harassment to: (1) file a confidential complaint of sexual harassment with the coordinator alleging that a service member committed the offense; (2) participate in the United States Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender Program; (3) receive notice if the accused service member is subsequently accused of an offense of sexual assault by a service member or another person; and (4) convert a confidential complaint to a formal complaint at any time. An annual report will be submitted to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the program and the activities of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs relating to the prevention of sexual assault. The report will include: (1) the policies and procedures implemented by the coordinator and the Adjutant General in response to incidents of sexual assault; (2) an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the program and the policies and procedures on the prevention and oversight of and response to sexual assaults; (3) an analysis of the number of sexual assaults involving members of the New Jersey National Guard; (4) deficiencies in the department's sexual assault prevention training; and (5) the department's plans for preventing and responding to sexual assault. The program will apply to alleged sexual assaults committed by a service member against another service member, regardless of whether or not either person was on or off duty at the time of the alleged assault. A complaint may be filed if the alleged offense took place while the accused was a service member and retires or is discharged from service prior to the filing of the complaint. Under the bill, "service member" means a member of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| S417 | Creates permanent commission to study various statutory definitions of veteran, disabled veteran, and service-disabled veteran. | This bill establishes a permanent study commission on the various statutory definitions of veteran, disabled veteran, and service-disabled veteran. Of the total membership, one member would be appointed by the Governor, one member would be appointed by the President of the Senate, one member would be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, one member would be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one member would be appointed by the General Assembly Minority Leader. The appointee by the Governor will be an employee of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. The purpose of the study commission would be to (1) determine the various definitions of "veteran," "disabled veteran," "service-disabled veteran," and any other definition of veteran in the statutes, and (2) recommend changes to such definitions in the statutes that may provide greater uniformity and be less restrictive. The study commission would: (1) compile and analyze the various definitions of "veteran," "disabled veteran," "service-disabled veteran," and any other definition of veteran in the statutes; (2) identify statutes with unique and restrictive requirements for the various definitions and determine if the requirements may be revised for the benefit of more uniform definitions; (3) identify potential revisions to be made to the statutes to provide for a clearer understanding of the requirements for qualification under the various definitions; (4) consult with the military community for their expertise and input on its work; and (5) utilize the findings of the study commission, and the expertise from the military community, to recommend changes to the various definitions. The bill requires the study commission to prepare and issue an annual report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and submit it to the Governor, the Legislature, the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor, and the General Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, or its successor. The first annual report will be issued no later than 12 months after the commission organizes. | In Committee |
| S1662 | Revises Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program; requires all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. | This bill revises the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief ("ETR") Aid Program by requiring all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities. Historically, energy providers and public utility companies were required to pay gross receipts and franchise taxes based on their use of public lands. For many decades, these taxes were paid directly to municipalities as a means of compensation for hosting such facilities. In the 1980s, the State began to collect these taxes on behalf of municipalities, distribute a portion of the proceeds to municipalities as State aid, and retain the remaining revenues for other State purposes. In the late 1990s, this practice was continued when the State established the ETR Aid program after reforming the taxation of energy providers and public utility companies. Under current law, the State is required to annually deposit a statutorily determined amount of monies into the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund" and distribute those monies to municipalities as ETR Aid. Every year, the total distribution of ETR Aid is required to increase based on inflation. During any year in which the State fails to provide this aid, the State is required to forego the collections of certain taxes on energy providers and public utilities (e.g., sales tax collections for energy services, corporation business tax collections from certain public utility companies, etc.), hereinafter referred to as "energy taxes." Under this bill, the ETR Aid program would be restructured to reflect the original design of the gross receipts and franchise taxes, wherein all energy taxes were paid directly to municipalities. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, and during each year thereafter, the bill requires the State Treasurer to: (1) determine the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided Statewide; (2) determine the amounts provided to each municipality; (3) direct each energy taxpayer to make direct payment of energy taxes to one or more municipalities; and (4) advise each municipality of the name of each energy taxpayer that would make direct payment of energy taxes to the municipality, the amounts owed therefrom, and the dates on which each payment would be provided. The State Treasurer would also be required to establish additional requirements concerning the payment of ETR Aid, including but not limited to dates on which each payment would be provided. The bill provides that whenever an energy tax payment is made directly to a municipality, the amount of the payment may be taken as a credit against the tax liability of the energy taxpayer, as prescribed by the State Treasurer. Additionally, the bill provides that beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, the aggregate amount of ETR Aid provided during any fiscal year is required to equal the greater of: (1) the total amount that would have been otherwise provided under current law; or (2) the total amount of energy taxes due and payable during that fiscal year. Consequently, the bill would prevent the State from retaining any portion of these energy tax collections for other State purposes. Under the bill, if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year exceed the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the difference would be distributed amongst all municipalities in proportion to the equalized assessed valuation of real and personal property owned by all energy taxpayers located within each municipality, as determined by the State Treasurer. Alternatively, the bill also provides that if the total energy taxes due and payable during any fiscal year is less than the amount of ETR Aid that would have been otherwise provided under current law, then the State Treasurer is required to make such additional payments as are necessary, from the Property Tax Relief Fund, to ensure that each municipality receives the amount owed. During any fiscal year in which the State fails to comply with the requirements of this bill, the State would be required to forego the collection of all energy taxes. | In Committee |
| S983 | Establishes forest firefighter death benefit. | The bill establishes an annual $15,000 death benefit for forest firefighters who die in the line of duty. The Department of Environmental Protection employs part-time forest firefighters who are compensated on an hourly basis. This bill provides an annual $15,000 payment to the families of these forest firefighters who die in the line of duty. The death benefit is to be made payable provided the report of death is filed within 30 days following the accident, but the Commissioner of Environmental Protection may waive the time requirement. The payment is to be made by the State Treasurer from the General Fund. | In Committee |
| S1882 | Provides for representation of certain regions of State on New Jersey Turnpike Authority. | This bill provides that of the appointed members of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority at least one is to be a resident of Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Gloucester County, Ocean County, or Salem County; at least one is to be a resident of Mercer County, Middlesex County, or Monmouth County; and at least one is to be a resident of Bergen County, Essex County, Hudson County, Union County, or Passaic County. The bill only applies to members of the authority appointed after its enactment into law. | In Committee |
| S872 | Excludes bonuses for reenlistment or voluntary extension of enlistment in armed forces from gross income. | This bill excludes from taxable gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax certain bonuses received by members of the Armed Forces. Amounts received as bonuses for reenlisting or voluntarily extending enlistment may be excluded from gross income pursuant to this bill. The purpose of the bill is to provide tax relief to taxpayers that valiantly and unselfishly serve their country, often at considerable sacrifice to themselves and their families, by allowing them to exclude reenlistment and voluntary extension of enlistment bonuses from taxable gross income. | In Committee |
| S1916 | Allows persons diagnosed with autism to voluntarily enter medical information in MVC database and make notation on driver's licenses, permits, and non-driver identification cards. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to establish a program to assist law enforcement officers in recognizing and effectively communicating with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Under the program, a person diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder may voluntarily report the diagnosis to the commission through the commission's website, by mail, or when filing an application with the commission for a motor vehicle record. In addition, the person may identify any motor vehicle that the person intends to regularly operate and provide any other information that may assist a law enforcement officer when communicating with the person. The bill defines "motor vehicle record" as any record that pertains to a motor vehicle operator's permit, driver's license, motor vehicle registration, or identification card issued by the MVC. The information provided is to be included in the person's motor vehicle record and exclusively used to assist law enforcement officers during a motor vehicle stop or other law enforcement action. Information submitted to the commission is not to be subject to public disclosure under the "Open Public Records Act" or the common law concerning access to public records or be discoverable as a public record by any person, entity, or governmental agency. In addition, this bill requires the chief administrator to allow a validated permit, probationary or basic driver's license holder, or non-driver identification card holder to voluntarily indicate that the holder has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The designation is to be made in accordance with procedures prescribed by the chief administrator and is to be used by law enforcement officials or emergency medical professionals to effectively communicate with a person diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. | In Committee |
| SCR75 | Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office. | This proposed amendment to the Constitution would prohibit any person who has been convicted of a crime, as defined by law, from serving as an elected public official in this State. | In Committee |
| S1920 | Reestablishes senior citizen supplemental stabilization aid. | This bill reestablishes the State education aid category known as senior citizen supplemental stabilization aid. This aid category was originally established under the "Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act of 1996" (CEIFA), P.L.1996, c.138, and provided additional aid to school districts located in municipalities in which at least 45% of the residents were 65 years old or older. The statute authorizing this State aid category was repealed with the passage of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260. Under this bill, $500 per pupil will be provided for students residing in municipalities in which at least 51% of the residents are 65 years old or older. According to the 2000 federal decennial census, two municipalities, Manchester Township and Berkeley Township, meet the 51% threshold. Since Berkeley Township is one of the constituent municipalities of the Central Regional School District, the additional aid for the Berkeley students attending this district will be used to reduce the township's share of the regional school tax apportionment. | In Committee |
| SCR73 | Memorializes Congress to propose constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of American flag. | This concurrent resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution, for ratification by the states, providing that Congress and the states shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag. | In Committee |
| S1936 | Exempts veterans from camping facilities fees at State parks and forests. | This bill exempts veterans from being required to pay any camping facilities fee for the use of campsites, cabins, lean-tos, and shelters at State parks and forests. | In Committee |
| S1903 | Authorizes municipal dredging of lagoon community waterways and levying of special assessment or issuing of bonds to finance such dredging. | This bill authorizes a municipality in which a lagoon community is located to have waterways servicing the lagoon community dredged, and the dredged material properly disposed of, for the purpose of maintaining transportation by boat into, out of, and throughout the lagoon community. The bill further authorizes the municipality to finance the dredging and disposal through the levy of a special assessment on any property owners that the municipality determines to benefit from the dredging, or by issuing bonds for the dredging as a capital improvement. "Lagoon community" is defined in the bill as any residential development in a coastal municipality where the waterways function as streets and provide access to, from and throughout the development via boat. | In Committee |
| S1561 | Establishes increased penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on public beaches. | The New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act prohibits the smoking of cannabis and marijuana, as well as cigarettes, on a public beach. Penalties for smoking in violation of this act are $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. This bill increases the penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on a public beach to $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $1,500 for the third and subsequent offenses. The penalties for smoking cigarettes on a public beach would remain unchanged. Beach towns in New Jersey have experienced difficulty in enforcing the Smoke Free Air Act in light of the legalization of recreational cannabis and the decriminalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. It is the sponsor's view that these increased penalties will help deter the smoking of cannabis and marijuana on public beaches in this State. | In Committee |
| S1913 | Requires additional fines for certain crimes against minors to fund Amber Alert system. | This bill imposes a $400 assessment on persons convicted of certain crimes committed against minors. The money collected is to be forwarded to the State Treasurer to be placed in a fund called the "Amber Alert Fund" which the bill establishes. The Attorney General is required to distribute the money from the fund to the Missing Persons Clearinghouse in the Division of the State Police's Missing Persons Unit for the purpose of making enhancements to the Amber Alert system. After enhancements to the system have been made, any additional money from the fund shall be used for programs designed to recover abducted children. The crimes for which the $400 would be assessed are: interference with custody; luring a child into a motor vehicle, structure, or isolated area; exposing one's intimate parts to a child; and endangering the welfare of a child. The following crimes would also be subject to the $400 fee in situations where the victim is under the age of 18 years: murder, assault, terroristic threats, kidnapping, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, and aggravated criminal sexual contact. | 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 |
| S1934 | Allows municipalities to administer responsibilities of Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act under certain conditions. | This bill would allow a municipality, upon passage of an ordinance and designation of an applicable local official, and in compliance with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the bill, to apply to the State Soil Conservation Committee (committee) for authority to administer the provisions of the "Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act," P.L.1975, c.251 (C.4:24-39 et seq.), and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, within the municipality. The bill directs the committee, within one year after the bill is enacted into law, to adopt rules and regulations establishing the procedure and criteria for a municipality to apply to the committee for authority to administer the provisions of the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act pursuant to the bill. These rules and regulations would include, but not be limited to: the manner and form of the ordinance to be adopted by the municipality; the qualifications for the local official designated by the municipality; and the requirements for the municipality to administer and enforce the standards for the control of soil erosion and sedimentation adopted pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1975, c.251 and section 2 of P.L.2010, c.113 (C.4:24-42.1). Under current law, the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act is administered by the committee and local soil conservation districts. The law, when enacted in 1975, included a provision that authorized a municipality to adopt an ordinance that conforms with the standards for the control of soil erosion and sedimentation to enforce the standards, instead of the applicable district, provided that the ordinance was adopted within 12 months of the adoption of the standards. This bill would provide another opportunity for a municipality to assume the responsibility for the implementation of the standards. | In Committee |
| S1908 | Authorizes "100 percent Disabled Veteran" license plates for qualified veterans; entitles holders to handicapped parking privileges. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue 100 Percent Disabled Veteran license plates. In addition to honoring those veterans who have been rendered 100 percent disabled while serving the country, this plate grants those 100 percent disabled veterans all the benefits, privileges, and considerations afforded to the holders of handicapped license plates, most notably the privilege of legally parking in handicapped parking areas. Under the bill, these special plates are to display the words "100 Percent Disabled Veteran" and an emblem or symbol chosen by the chief administrator, after consulting with representatives of organizations consisting of or representing the interests of 100 percent disabled veterans. There is to be no cost to the applicant for 100 Percent Disabled Veteran license plates. Finally, the bill specifies that these plates are not transferable and are exclusively for the use of the person to whom they are duly issued. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of a 100 Percent Disabled Veteran license plate will be sufficient cause for the revocation of the benefits, privileges, and considerations provided to the holder of the license plate and the forfeiture of the license plate. | In Committee |
| S1187 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | This bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations concerning the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would also authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to incentivize the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors using moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" established pursuant to P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.). As defined by the bill, "small modular nuclear reactor" means a nuclear fission reactor that: (1) has a rated electric generating capacity of not more than 300 megawatts; (2) is capable of being construction and operated either alone or in combination with one or more similar reactors if additional reactors are or become necessary at a single site; and (3) is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill would require the BPU, whenever it considers a petition by an electric power supplier or basic generation service provider for the construction, purchase, or lease of a small modular nuclear reactor, to consider: (1) whether, and to what extent, the small modular nuclear reactor proposed by the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider will replace a loss of generating capacity in the State, resulting from the retirement or planned retirement of one or more existing electric generating facilities, which are located in New Jersey and which use coal or natural gas a fuel source; and (2) whether the small modular nuclear reactor that will replace an existing facility will be located on the same site as, or near, the existing facility and, if so, potential opportunities for the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider to make use of any land and existing infrastructure or facilities already owned or under the control of the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider, or create new employment opportunities for workers who have been, or would be, displaced as a result of the retirement of the existing facility. The bill would also establish other requirements for the operation of small modular nuclear reactors, as enumerated in subsections c. through e. of section 3 of the bill, including a requirement that a person that owns or operates a small modular nuclear reactor in the State may not store spent nuclear fuel or high level radioactive waste from the small modular nuclear reactor on the site of the small modular nuclear reactor without first meeting all applicable requirements of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | In Committee |
| SCR135 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations to implement "Advanced Clean Cars II" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. | Determines that DEP rules and regulations to implement "Advanced Clean Cars II" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. | Introduced |
| S4697 | Prohibits electric public utilities from billing customers for certain services during service interruptions and requires repair of certain street lights. | Prohibits electric public utilities from billing customers for certain services during service interruptions and requires repair of certain street lights. | Introduced |
| S4723 | Authorizes conveyance of certain State-owned real property in Stafford Township and Lacey Township in Ocean County to US Fish and Wildlife Service. | Authorizes conveyance of certain State-owned real property in Stafford Township and Lacey Township in Ocean County to US Fish and Wildlife Service. | 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 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Nay |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 09 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2024 |