Legislator
Legislator > Latham Tiver
State Senator
Latham Tiver
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 08
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Evesham Office
Elmwood Business Park
Suite B-101
Evesham, NJ 08053
Suite B-101
Evesham, NJ 08053
Phone: 856-817-2143
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3302 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | In Committee |
| S3662 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | This bill would strengthen the legal protections provided to farmers under the "Right to Farm Act." Specifically, the bill would allow farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the defense of bad faith complaints against commercial agricultural operations, activities or structures when a county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), as applicable: 1) finds the farmer is entitled to the irrebuttable presumption established under the "Right to Farm Act"; and 2) determines, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the complaint was brought in bad faith and all or a portion of the costs and attorney fees are reasonable. Under the "Right to Farm Act," the established irrebuttable presumption is that a commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice does not constitute a public or private nuisance, or does not otherwise invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property, if: 1) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure conforms to agricultural management practices recommended and adopted by the SADC, or the specific operation or practice of the commercial agricultural operation has been determined to constitute a generally accepted agricultural operation or practice, either by the appropriate county agriculture development board or the SADC, as applicable; and 2) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice complies with all relevant federal and State statutes and regulations, and does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety. Under the bill, a farmer seeking an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees would submit an application therefor to the county agriculture development board or the SADC as applicable, after being found entitled to the irrebuttable presumption. The county agriculture development board or the SADC would then determine, whether a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S4524 | Appropriates $34 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill appropriates $34 million to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for the purpose of providing planning incentive grants to counties for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act. Under the bill, five counties will each receive a "base grant" of either $1 million or $500,000, as specified in the bill. Those five counties, plus 10 other counties identified in the bill, would also be eligible to compete to receive an additional grant from the "competitive grant fund" pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of the bill, in an amount not to exceed $7.5 million. The maximum grant award a county could receive under the bill is $8.5 million (i.e., the $1 million base grant, if applicable, and a $7.5 million competitive grant). The bill also appropriates to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" moneys from the General Fund already constitutionally dedicated to the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" for the purpose of making the appropriations from that fund required by this bill. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | This bill would strengthen the legal protections provided to farmers under the "Right to Farm Act." Specifically, the bill would allow farmers to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred in the defense of bad faith complaints against commercial agricultural operations, activities or structures when a county agriculture development board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), as applicable: 1) finds the farmer is entitled to the irrebuttable presumption established under the "Right to Farm Act"; and 2) determines, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the complaint was brought in bad faith and all or a portion of the costs and attorney fees are reasonable. Under the "Right to Farm Act," the established irrebuttable presumption is that a commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice does not constitute a public or private nuisance, or does not otherwise invade or interfere with the use and enjoyment of any other land or property, if: 1) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure conforms to agricultural management practices recommended and adopted by the SADC, or the specific operation or practice of the commercial agricultural operation has been determined to constitute a generally accepted agricultural operation or practice, either by the appropriate county agriculture development board or the SADC, as applicable; and 2) the commercial agricultural operation, activity or structure or specific operation or practice complies with all relevant federal and State statutes and regulations, and does not pose a direct threat to public health and safety. Under the bill, a farmer seeking an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees would submit an application therefor to the county agriculture development board or the SADC as applicable, after being found entitled to the irrebuttable presumption. The county agriculture development board or the SADC would then determine, whether a preponderance of the evidence supports a determination that the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | Passed |
| 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 |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Passed |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Passed |
| S4610 | "Affordable Home Energy Protection Act"; prohibits adoption of State or local rules that restrict the use of certain fossil-fuel powered appliances or heating systems. | This bill, to be known as the "Affordable Home Energy Protection Act," would prevent State agencies and local governments from adopting any rule, regulation, ordinance or other measure that: (1) prohibits or unduly restricts the installation, connection, or use of appliances or heating systems powered by natural gas, propane, or fuel oil in residential or commercial buildings; or (2) requires a property owner to remove a functioning combustion-based appliance or heating system or replace a functioning combustion-based appliance or heating system with an electric alternative. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S3401 | Establishes eligibility requirements for State small business set-aside program. | This bill establishes requirements for eligibility when the State implements a small business set-aside program. The State currently has a small business set-aside program. This bill clarifies that only businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard established by federal regulations are required to have a certain maximum number of employees. This bill also alters the definitions of gross revenue from a standard of three years in business to a standard of five years in business. The requirements established in this bill will be in addition to any and all rules or regulations, except that these requirements will supersede the rules and regulations adopted as N.J.A.C. 17:13-2.1(a). | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S4578 | Establishes minimum acreage goal and schedule for prescribed burns in pinelands area and Statewide. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection, within one year of the bill's enactment, to ensure that prescribed burns are conducted annually on certain minimum acreage in the pinelands area, and elsewhere in the State. The prescribed burns are to take place on minimum acreage beginning with 25,000 acres in the pinelands area and an additional 10,000 acres Statewide and increasing over a period of six years to a final total of 50,000 acres in the pinelands area and 20,000 acres Statewide. A prescribed burn may be conducted by the State, the federal government, or a landowner or lessee with approval by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to existing law. The bill would also require all relevant State agencies involved in environmental planning and land use management to incorporate the Statewide prescribed burn goal into all plans, programs, and surveys, whether they are Statewide or local initiatives, or undertaken in conjunction with the federal government. The bill would require all prescribed burns throughout the State to occur between the months of November and March. According to the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, prescribed burns are generally conducted during late winter months to reduce the amount of smoke produced and because weather conditions tend to be more predictable for safer controlled fires. Under this bill, prescribed burns would be required to be conducted and completed prior to prime wildfire season, which is typically during the months of April and May in New Jersey. A prescribed burn is the deliberate ignition and controlled open burning of wildland fire fuels to attain resource management objectives, such as public safety, wildfire control, ecological, silvicultural, agricultural, or other natural resource management goals. | In Committee |
| SCR133 | Urges Congress to pass "Fix Our Forests Act." | This resolution urges Congress to pass the "Fix Our Forests Act." On average, 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey's forests each year. In addition to damaging the State's forests and wildlife habitats, wildfires also threaten homes and businesses and jeopardize the health and wellbeing of people who live or recreate within or near the State's forests. The considerable number of hot, dry, or windy days that New Jersey has been experiencing increases the likelihood of wildfires. As the most densely populated state in the country, New Jersey residents are increasingly at risk of being near a wildfire. The "Fix Our Forests Act," currently pending in the United States Congress would create an interagency Fireshed Center to use data to assess and predict wildfire risk to help inform wildfire reduction activities. A data-driven approach to assessing wildfire risk could help this State make strategic decisions about land management practices and take actions that are most likely to decrease the risk of wildfires. Forest fire management techniques vary broadly and can include using prescribed fires to reduce brush that fuels wildfires, thinning the number of trees through accepted forest management practices, minimizing the spread of diseases and insects, and building resilience in at-risk communities. The "Fix Our Forests Act" would facilitate environmental reviews for accepted forest management practices, limit litigation involving fireshed management projects, promote livestock grazing in forests, require a study on pine beetle infestations, and promote strategies to strengthen the domestic seed supply. | In Committee |
| S4518 | "Electricity Bill Transparency Act"; requires electric utilities to separately list amounts of certain charges. | This bill is to be known as the "Electricity Bill Transparency Act." This bill requires electric public utilities to separately list the amount of tax imposed by the "Sales and Use Tax Act," the amount of the societal benefits charge, and the amount of clean energy charges on each customer's electricity bill. Additionally, the bill requires electric public utilities to itemize the amount of the societal benefits charge that is provided to each societal benefits program on the customer's electricity bill. This bill is intended to provide notice to customers of electricity service, on their bills, about the types and amount of charges that are imposed but are not directly related to the cost of providing electricity to the customer. Many customers are unaware of these non-utility related charges and that these charges fund programs that these customers may not use. | In Committee |
| S4517 | Exempts certain compostable plastic items from ban on single-use plastic carryout products. | This bill would amend existing law concerning the statewide ban on single-use disposable plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products to stipulate that certain compostable items, such as compostable carryout bags, compostable trash bags, and rigid compostable containers, would be exempt from the ban on single-use plastic carryout products. In addition, the bill would clarify that compostable containers, carryout bags, or trash bags would be exempt from the ban on single-use plastic products, provided that their organic composition is certified by any of several identified independent, nationally-recognized third party organizations, as enumerated in the bill. | In Committee |
| S4113 | Permits certain winery license holders to sell wine produced by other winery licensees under certain circumstances; establishes supplemental wine production facility license. | This bill permits plenary and farm winery license holders who produce not more than 250,000 gallons per year to sell the wine they produce to any other plenary or farm winery license holder in this State for purposes of sale by the purchaser on the licensed premises of the winery or to sell wine to any winery outside of this State in accordance with the laws of the purchaser's state. Under the bill, wine sold to another winery is not to be considered towards the calculation of the amount of wine produced by the seller but is to be considered towards the total number of gallons produced per year by the purchasing winery. The bill provides that no less than 50 percent of the wine sold per year is required to be produced on the license holder's premises. In addition, this bill establishes a supplemental wine production facility sublicense. The holder of a plenary winery license or a farm winery license engaged in the production of wine on the licensed premises of the winery who holds a supplemental wine production facility sublicense would be entitled to produce wine at the supplemental wine production facility owned and leased by the license holder. Under the bill, the holder of this sublicense is additionally entitled, subject to rules and regulations, to transfer wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility to the licensed premises of the winery or salesroom for sale at retail to consumers and to otherwise sell and distribute wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility pursuant to the laws of the place of sale and distribution. The bill provides that any wine produced at the supplemental production facility that is not sold to another winery license holder is to be considered when calculating the total gallons per year of wine produced by the licensee for purposes of determining any fees, limitations, and eligibility for privileges that may pertain to the holder of a plenary winery license or farm winery license. The bill prohibits the sale of wine at retail to consumers on the premises of the supplemental wine production facility. Under the bill, the fee for the sublicense is $750. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S4397 | Provides for automatic approval of air pollution control permits after 90-day review period. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review and approve or disapprove applications for permits issued pursuant to the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), including Title V operating permits issued pursuant to the federal "Clean Air Act," within 90 days after the DEP receives the permit application. If the DEP does not approve or disapprove the application within 90 days, the permit application would be deemed automatically approved, under the bill. | 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 |
| S4433 | Exempts certain nonprofit historic educational programs about steam locomotive railroads from regulation as amusement parks or rides. | This bill would exempt from regulation as an amusement park or amusement park ride the operation of a steam locomotive railroad, when done under the auspices of an educational historic museum program. Some nonprofit historical museums throughout the nation, many in conjunction with local government entities, have constructed scale model steam engine locomotives and railroad cars to offer museum members and the public an opportunity to experience what it was like to travel by train over a century ago. These replica railroads do not provide public transportation. Although the locomotives are not heavy enough to fall under the regulation of the Department of Transportation, these replica trains may voluntarily follow all standard railroad maintenance and operating procedures, including the inspections of equipment such as boilers, and may have trained personnel operating the equipment as if it were a full scale railroad. In order not to be deemed an amusement park or ride, the bill provides that a nonprofit historical steam locomotive museum is to follow all standard maintenance and operational guidelines for steam locomotives, including State inspections of boilers, have trained properly all personnel operating the train equipment, and not offer to the public paid admission to rides on the locomotive railroad or sales of tickets for rides at specific times. | In Committee |
| SR132 | Urges Governor to declare energy generation emergency in New Jersey. | This Senate Resolution urges the Governor to declare an energy generation emergency in the State and take the necessary steps to prioritize increased energy transmission and generation capacity. Energy production is fundamental to the State's economic stability, security, and its citizens' quality of life. New Jersey has lost over 20 percent of it generating capacity over the last eight years and has gone from a net energy exporter to a net energy importer. The demand for reliable and efficient energy sources is accelerating across the nation. New Jersey should be ready to meet increasing demands for energy generation and energy independence. | In Committee |
| S4420 | Prohibits purchase and installation of entirely new voting systems in Presidential election years. | This bill prohibits counties from purchasing and county clerks from installing and using an entirely new system of voting machines or voting equipment in the same calendar year as an election for President of the United States. This includes voting machines, tabulating equipment, and associated software. The bill does not restrict the ability to purchase or make use of new voting machines or other equipment needed to supplement the current inventory or replace machines or equipment that is broken, outdated, or otherwise defective. The provisions of this bill are intended to limit the potential for logistical issues associated with the installation of new voting systems interfering with the conduct of elections in Presidential years, which typically generate the highest turnout of voters, heightening the need for a smooth election process. | In Committee |
| S4437 | Requires DOT to study ability of each public highway to accommodate additional weight of electric vehicles. | This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation (department), within six months of the bill's effective date, to conduct a study on the ability of the public highways of the State to accommodate the additional weight of electric vehicles. Under the bill, this study, at a minimum, would: (1) examine each public highway to determine if, and for what time period, each public highway is equipped to handle the additional weight of electric vehicles; (2) provide recommendations to improve the ability of each public highway to accommodate the additional weight of electric vehicles; and (3) develop a list of public highways that ranks each public highway from least-to-most able to accommodate the additional weight of electric vehicles. The bill also requires the department to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature containing the study's findings and recommendations, and the list developed by the department under the study. When considering public highway projects for inclusion in the Annual Transportation Capital Program, the bill also requires the department to prioritize those projects that would address public highways that are unable to accommodate the additional weight of electric vehicles. The bill provides that as a condition of receiving funding for a public highway project under the Annual Transportation Capital Program, the project sponsor would be required to certify that the project enables the public highway to accommodate the additional weight of electric vehicles. | In Committee |
| S4333 | Establishes legislative internship program for veterans. | This bill establishes a legislative internship program for veterans which will allow members of the Legislature to employ veterans as interns with the approval of the presiding officer of the member's House. The bill requires the veteran legislative internship program to accept applications from veterans who were honorably discharged, released from active duty within the last five years, and at or below the pay grades of E-5 or O-3. Applicants must also have a minimum of a 20 percent service-connected disability rating. Applicants who are Purple Heart recipients are not required to meet the service-connected disability rating to be considered eligible for the program. Any veterans receiving a 20-year or Temporary Early Retirement Authorization retirement are not eligible for the program. Under the bill, veterans who are residents of New Jersey will be granted priority over other applicants to the program. The bill requires participants to complete one work period with the district office of a legislator, which will be established by each legislator prior to employing a veteran as an intern. The legislator may elect to retain the participant for an additional work period if the participant agrees to continue their internship after completion of the initial work period. The duties of the interns are to be decided by the legislator for which they are employed. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S4279 | Increase statutory property tax exemption amounts for improvements to dwelling units under "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law." | This bill increases the statutorily set dollar amounts for property tax exemptions and abatements permitted for improvements to certain dwelling units under the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law." Under current law, a municipality may adopt an ordinance exempting from taxation the first $5,000, $15,000, or $25,000 of the value of improvements to certain dwelling units that are more than 20 years old. However, this exemption does not apply to improvements that are made to a multiple dwelling unit. This bill triples the statutorily authorized exemption amounts to the first $15,000, $45,000, or $75,000 of the value of improvements to these dwelling units. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S4040 | Requires public entities purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency; requires Division of Purchase and Property establish training protocols for all purchasing agents; grants Central Nonprofit Agency right of first refusal. | Under current law, State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State that are authorized to purchase goods and services are required to make a good faith effort to purchase five percent of such goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency, an agency established by the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." Under the bill, such State and local government agencies and political subdivisions of the State will be required to purchase five percent of goods and services through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The bill clarifies reporting and oversight requirements. Under the bill, the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury must submit a report of purchasing data to the Central Nonprofit Agency for the Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside program no more than six months after the effective date of this bill, and on a quarterly basis thereafter. In addition, the Department of the Treasury will be required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the compliance of State and local government entities and political subdivisions with the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Division of Purchase and Property, in collaboration with the Central Nonprofit Agency, must establish training protocols for all purchasing agents employed by State or local government entities or political subdivisions required to meet the purchasing thresholds. The bill also provides that the Central Nonprofit Agency will have a right of first refusal for all goods and services that may otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog so long as the Central Nonprofit Agency can deliver the goods or services that would otherwise be purchased through a cooperative purchasing agreement catalog at a price that is within 15 percent of fair market value. The "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" assists persons who are blind or have a severe disability with achieving maximum personal independence through productive employment by assuring a continuous market for their goods and services, which are produced at qualified rehabilitation facilities and distributed through the Central Nonprofit Agency. The Central Nonprofit Agency is designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to facilitate the distribution of orders received from various State agencies as provided in the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act." This bill furthers the goals of the "Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act" to assist in the productive employment of individuals with special needs. | In Committee |
| S3962 | Requires State to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to obligations for development of low- and moderate-income housing units. | This bill requires the State Treasurer to annually compensate certain municipalities for costs related to low- and moderate-income housing units that the municipalities commit to providing. The needs of local roads, schools, water utility services, and other infrastructure, are increasingly challenging for many municipalities as a result of the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), as revised by the recent enactment of additional legislation, P.L.2024, c.2 (C.52:27D-304.1 et al.). These infrastructure costs, along with the costs of planning services, and other costs necessary for compliance with these statutes, may be more extensive than can fully be addressed through the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund," or municipal affordable housing trust funds. This bill is intended to respond to the extensive unfunded financial burdens that are being shouldered by municipalities. The bill directs the State Treasurer to provide $75,000 to the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund of a municipality for each unit of low- or moderate-income housing that the municipality commits to, as reflected in the municipality's housing element and fair share plan. The payment is to be provided to municipalities that have obtained certification for the current round of affordable housing obligations. The total sum of all $75,000 payments owed to a municipality for a 10-year round of affordable housing obligations, is to be divided by 10, and provided in equal amounts, each year, to each municipality's Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund beginning in the first full calendar year of a round of affordable housing obligations, meaning 2026 for the upcoming fourth round. If a municipality initially obtains compliance certification later than the first year of the 10-year round of affordable housing obligations, the bill requires that the total sum of all $75,000 payments owed to a municipality pursuant to the bill are to be concentrated and provided to a municipality in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the State Treasurer. The bill provides that a municipality that obtains compliance certification for its housing element and fair share plan, is to establish a Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund, to be kept separate from other municipal funds, for the purpose of depositing and maintaining monies received for the purposes of this bill. The bill permits a municipality to expend monies in the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund on planning services, attorney's fees, and court costs related to compliance with "Fair Housing Act." The bill also permits a municipality to expend monies in the Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund on operational and capital costs for local infrastructure that may be affected by the construction of affordable housing, including school, transportation, and water infrastructure. The bill directs the State Treasurer to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. | In Committee |
| S3595 | "Welcome Home Veterans Act"; requires MVC to provide veteran benefit information packets. | This bill establishes the "Welcome Home Veterans Act" which requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide information concerning federal and State benefits that are available to veterans upon the issuance of an initial license, renewal license, probationary license, or an identification card to a veteran, provided the document issued includes a veteran designation. The information required to be provided to veterans under the bill is to be available in both a hardcopy version at each commission agency as well as in a digital format on the commission's Internet website. The information provided to veterans is to include, at a minimum: (1) a copy of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs Veterans' Benefits Guide; (2) a copy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' "Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" booklet; (3) information on where veterans can find more information about available benefits; and (4) any other information the commission, in conjunction with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, believes is necessary for veterans in this State. | In Committee |
| S3924 | Establishes "Welcome Home Veterans Bonus" program in DMVA. | This bill establishes a "Welcome Home Veterans Bonus" program in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to incentivize veterans to continue residing in New Jersey after completion of military service. To qualify for a bonus under this program, a veteran must have: (1) served in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, including the New Jersey National Guard, in active service as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Freedom Sentinel, or any successor or related operation; (2) been honorably discharged or generally discharged under honorable conditions; and (3) resided in this State for a period of not less than six months before the time of the person's entry into the service. The bill provides that any veteran discharged or released under other than honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status based on the veteran's DD-214 form or equivalent documentation is eligible for the program. The bill also provides that different amounts will be paid out based on the circumstances of the military service. If a person died while in active service, a sum of $1,000 will be paid to the decedent veteran's heir-at-law or, if there is more than one heir-at-law, payments will be made as determined by the decedent veteran's will. If there is no will, the payments will be determined by the requirements of intestate succession as prescribed by law. This bill requires applications for the bonus program to be filed with DMVA. DMVA will be required to establish submission and evaluation criteria for applications and to appoint a payments appeal board consisting of three members whose duties will be to act as a final appeals board. A person who knowingly makes a false statement in supporting a claim under this bill will be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000, by imprisonment for not more than three years, or both. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S3903 | Establishes special enrollment period for individual health plan enrollees and dependents when health care providers become out-of-network. | This bill establishes a special enrollment period for individual health plan enrollees when their health care providers become out-of-network. Under the bill, the board of the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program is required to establish a special enrollment period for a covered person whose health care provider, after participating in the covered person's health benefits plan network, becomes out-of-network during the covered person's policy or contract period. The special enrollment period is to last for a certain period of time to be determined by the board, not to be shorter than 30 days. Finally, the carrier is required to provide information about the enrollment period to affected individuals. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3631 | Provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students. | This bill provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students. As used in the bill, "military-connected student" (or "military-connected child") means a student enrolled in a public school in the State who is a dependent of: (1) a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force; (2) a member of the National Guard; (3) a member of any other reserve component of the armed forces; (4) retirees and those separated honorably from the armed forces; (5) a member or veteran who is medically discharged for one year or longer after the date of separation; (6) a member who perished while on active duty; (7) a uniformed member of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United States Public Health Services; (8) a civilian employee of the Department of Defense; and (9) a school employee who works in a school district in which federal impact aid makes up a significant portion of the district budget, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, as a result of its proximity to a military installation. The bill provides that in the event that a military-connected child relocates outside of the child's original district of residence, the parent or guardian will retain the option to maintain the child's enrollment in the original district of residence for the remainder of the school year, or to begin enrollment in the new school district in which the family resides. Additionally, the bill provides that in the event that a military-connected child relocates outside of the child's original district of residence during the 11th grade, the parent or guardian will retain the option to maintain the child's enrollment in the original district of residence until the child's graduation from high school, or to begin enrollment in the new school district in which the child resides. The bill also provides that, in the event that a military-connected student cannot access temporary living facilities or military installation housing within 30 days of arriving on duty station, the parent or guardian will have the option to enroll their child in a school that serves families that reside on the military installation within ten days of arrival on duty station. In the event that a military-connected child resides in a school district that is found to satisfy less than 80 percent of the quality performance indicators in the instruction and program component of school district effectiveness under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, the parent or guardian will have the option to enroll their child in a school that serves families that reside on the military installation. The bill amends the "Interdistrict Public School Choice Program Act" and requires a school district that participates in an inter-local agreement for the enrollment of students provide a military-connected student: (1) a waiver from any requirement of the agreement that a student reside in a district for a certain length of time before applying for enrollment in a school that is subject to the agreement; (2) preference for enrollment in a school that is subject to the agreement above other students; (3) protection from discrimination in its admission policies or practices on the basis of the student's status as a military-connected student; and (4) guaranteed admission to any school that is subject to the agreement regardless of the capacity of the district, if the parent or guardian can provide military orders or other evidence documenting the parent or guardian's temporary transfer for more than 30 consecutive days. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3725 | Establishes Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program in DHS. | This bill directs the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services (division) to establish the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program, a rebranding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that promotes the program, and provides program benefits, exclusively to veterans. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is a nutrition assistance program that serves as a safety net for low-income households. The bill defines "veteran" to mean any enlisted person or officer who was discharged or otherwise released from active service in the United States Armed Forces, or any reserve component thereof, or the organized militia of New Jersey under conditions other than dishonorable, or as otherwise provided in State law. Nationwide, according to recent research, 7.5 percent of veterans do not have enough food, but less than 5 percent of those veterans are enrolled in SNAP. It is the sponsor's goal to increase veterans' utilization of the food assistance benefits they have earned and deserve by rebranding SNAP specifically for veterans. In order to implement the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program, the division is required to: 1) design, and distribute to eligibility determination agencies of SNAP, promotional materials, applications, and any other documents associated with SNAP with the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program name and branding; 2) design and issue to eligible beneficiaries electronic benefits transfer cards that bear the name and branding of the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program; 3) develop a website, separate and distinct from the State's SNAP website, with the name and branding of the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program; and 4) collaborate with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to ensure that information regarding the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program is distributed to each county Veteran Service Office in the State and posted on the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' webpage. The bill explicitly states that that its provisions are not to be construed to: 1) alter eligibility, benefits, funding, or any federal requirement of SNAP, as it exists upon the effective date of the bill or as it is rebranded to establish the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program; 2) discontinue or alter any existing promotional materials, program documents, or websites associated with SNAP, as they exist upon the effective date of the bill; or 3) replace SNAP with the Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3526 | Changes certain Mobility and Transportation Innovation Program requirements; appropriates $20 million. | Changes certain Mobility and Transportation Innovation Program requirements; appropriates $20 million. | In Committee |
| S3191 | Permits certain transportation research contracts to be awarded to private research institutions of higher education and other entities. | This bill permits the New Jersey Transportation Research Bureau within the Department of Transportation (bureau) to award research contracts to private research institutions of higher education and certain other entities. Under current law, the bureau is required to award research contracts only to New Jersey public research institutions of higher education, except when the manager of the bureau (manager) makes a written determination that additional competition in terms of quality of work product, timeliness of work product delivery, or availability of specific transportation expertise from entities other than New Jersey public research institutions will benefit the Department of Transportation (department). The bill removes a provision that authorizes the manager to allow for competitive bidding for research contracts when doing so will benefit the department. The bill requires the bureau to determine whether awarding a research contract to a public or private research institution of higher education or another entity is in the public interest and provides that the manager has a duty to establish and maintain relationships with private research institutions of higher education and other entities. Additionally, the bill changes the definition of "entities" to include entities other than non-profit organizations. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S3501 | Requires certain public awareness campaigns to include information about duty of motorist to take certain action when approaching pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation (commissioner) and the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (director) to update, on an annual basis, public awareness programs and a public awareness campaign that inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching certain vehicles and the importance of taking these actions. The bill also requires the commissioner to use variable message signs at least once per year to inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching certain vehicles and the importance of taking these actions. Additionally, this bill requires the commissioner to develop, and update annually, public awareness programs and use, at least once per year, variable message signs to inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance. The bill further requires the director to establish and update annually a public awareness campaign that includes information about the importance of complying with a law that requires motorists to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance, the risks associated with failing to comply with the law, and the penalties and fines that will be imposed for violating the law. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S3698 | Permits surviving spouse of retired member of PFRS to be enrolled in SHBP and to continue to receive pension benefit after remarriage in certain circumstances. | Under this bill, certain surviving spouses of retired members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) will receive State-paid health care benefits through the State Health Benefits Program and a continuation of pension benefits after remarriage. The surviving spouse of a retired member of the PFRS who died prior to, on, or after the effective date of this bill and who was receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance at the time of death will be eligible to enroll for health care benefits coverage in the State Health Benefits Program after the effective date of this bill and the annual premiums for such coverage for the surviving spouse and any dependent children will be paid in full by the State. Such a surviving spouse will also be eligible to continue to receive upon remarriage the pension benefit provided by current law to surviving spouses of deceased retired members. The State will be responsible for any increase in contributions to the retirement system required of employers other than the State due to the continuation of the payment of the pension benefit after remarriage. This bill will only apply if the surviving spouse provides documentation, approved by the Board of Trustees of the PFRS, demonstrating that the injury that caused the disability, the complications from that disability, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused by the disability was a significant contributing factor in the retired member's death. An eligible surviving spouse whose pension was terminated due to remarriage prior to the effective date of this bill may apply to the board to have the pension benefit reinstated and payable again commencing from the date of application. | In Committee |
| S2815 | Allows holders of disabled veteran license plates or placards and certain holders of Purple Heart license plates or placards to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disability. | Allows holders of disabled veteran license plates or placards and certain holders of Purple Heart license plates or placards to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disability. | In Committee |
| S3652 | Allows utility task vehicles used for farm operation to travel on public roadways. | This bill allows farmers to register a utility task vehicle used for farm operation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and to operate a utility task vehicles on public highways. Under current law, utility task vehicles are prohibited from operating on a public highway at any time from sunset to sunrise, with certain exceptions. Utility task vehicles are required to operate in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. As defined in this bill, the term "utility task vehicle" means any motorized utility or off-road vehicle with four wheels designed with seating for the operator and one or more passengers, side-by-side, and a steering wheel for steering control. | In Committee |
| S3591 | Prohibits ownership of certain protected land adjacent to military facilities in State by certain foreign governments and persons. | This bill prohibits sanctioned foreign governments and certain foreign persons from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any protected land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. Under the bill, protected land includes certain parcels of land located within 10 miles of a military facility. The bill permits impacted foreign governments and foreign persons that already own or hold an interest in protected land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the protected land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity. The bill provides the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of protected land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire protected land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not prohibited from owning protected land; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to protected land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on protected land taken for the purposes of security. Finally, the bill provides that any provision of the bill that is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. | In Committee |
| S3532 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| SCR110 | Approves FY2025 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2024 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3436 | Permits use of credit card, debit card, or other electronic payment for bingo, raffles, and penny auctions. | This bill would permit the use of credit cards, debit cards, and other electronic payment devices for the sale of shares, tickets, or rights to participate in raffles, bingo games, penny auctions, and any other legalized games of chance the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission deems appropriate. The bill requires the commission to adopt regulations to accept credit cards and other electronic payments. Current law does not expressly permit the use of credit card or electronic payments to purchase shares, tickets, or rights to participate in legalized games of chance such as raffles, bingo, and penny auctions. | 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 |
| S3326 | Establishes State as purchaser of last resort for produce; directs Department of Agriculture to establish program. | The bill establishes the State as a buyer of last resort of unsold produce. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish and implement, in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), a program for the purchase by the State of unsold produce from farmers and the distribution of the purchased produce to food banks, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, adult day care centers, veterans organizations, and any other appropriate nonprofit recipients that provide food or meals to the public. The DOA would purchase the produce for a reasonable market price, as determined by the department, from a participating farmer who has been unable to sell the produce in a timely manner to any other outlet or purchaser, and provide for its distribution to recipients participating in the program. The DOA would ensure compliance with any DOH rules, regulations, or guidelines concerning the purchase and distribution of food which the DOH determines to be relevant for the program. Finally, the DOA is required to adopt any regulations necessary to implement the program and to include in its annual budget request a request for funds sufficient to implement the program and provide for the purchases and distribution thereof through the program. | In Committee |
| S3338 | Establishes veterinary medicine loan redemption program for certain veterinarians who work in underserved areas for five years; annually appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes a Veterinary Medicine Loan Redemption Program to address the current large animal veterinarian shortage in this State. The program will be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). Specifically, the bill provides for redemption of eligible qualifying loan expenses for veterinarians who work for no less than five years at an approved site. An approved site is a site located within a State designated veterinary underserved area or within five miles of a State designated veterinary underserved area. The bill defines a State designated veterinary underserved area as a geographic area designated in this State by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the New Jersey Horse Council, the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, and the New Jersey Farm Bureau, on the basis of a large animal veterinarian shortage affecting the area. The secretary is required to annually establish a list of State designated veterinary underserved areas and transmit that list to HESAA. Program participants are required to be State residents and be a veterinarian licensed, or eligible to be licensed, to practice in this State, agree to practice at an approved site, and agree that the practice is full-time and that at least 75 percent of the participant's work is dedicated to large animal veterinary care. In return for this commitment, the program participant's eligible qualifying loan expenses will be reimbursed. Maximum loan redemption under the bill will equal 100 percent of the eligible qualifying loan expenses for full-time service in return for five years of service, except that the amount of qualifying loans which may be redeemed for a participant under the program is not to exceed $30,000 in any year. Under the bill, no amount of loan redemption is to be provided for service performed by a program participant that is less than full-time and for service in which less than 75 percent of the participant's work at an approved site is dedicated to large animal veterinary care. No amount of eligible qualifying loan expenses is to be redeemed for services performed for less than a full year. The bill provides that in the case of a program participant's death or total and permanent disability, HESAA will nullify the service obligation of the program participant. The nullification will also terminate HESAA's obligations under the loan redemption contract. In the event of a program participant's death or total and permanent disability, HESAA will not require repayment of the prior redeemed portion of indebtedness. The bill provides that $500,000 will be annually appropriated from the General Fund to HESAA for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Redemption Program. Since New Jersey currently does not have its own veterinary medicine school, the provisions of this bill are intended to establish a cost-effective path to addressing the large animal veterinarian shortage by incentivizing veterinary school graduates to reside in the State and practice in areas of the State experiencing large animal veterinarian shortages. From 1990 to 2007, the State provided for a "contract" program with veterinary schools in other states to "buy" seats reserved exclusively for New Jersey students. This program allowed New Jersey residents vying for seats at out-of-State veterinary schools to only compete against each other for those seats, not the entire population of applicants at large. The program also provided funding that permitted those students to attend the out-of-State veterinary schools at in-State tuition rates. However, this program resulted in residents leaving the State for veterinary school, with no promise that they would return to practice in New Jersey. Several other states have implemented veterinary loan redemption programs similar to the program established by this bill, including Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and Wyoming. The program established by this bill will incentivize residents of this State, who attend out-of-State veterinary schools, to return to New Jersey to perform services in a veterinary practice that is dedicated to large animal veterinary care, in exchange for a redemption of their veterinary school loans over a relatively short period of time. This program will provide enormous benefits for large animal owners living in areas of this State with a shortage of adequate veterinary medicine services. Additionally, this program will not penalize program participants with respect to tax liability. Under current federal and State law, amounts of student loan redemption, loan forgiveness, or loan cancellation are not considered income for purposes of taxation. | In Committee |
| S3347 | Requires DOT to develop program to implement adaptive traffic signal technology at certain intersections. | This bill amends the "Congestion Relief and Transportation Trust Fund Renewal Act" to require the Commissioner of Transportation (commissioner) to establish and implement a program to employ adaptive traffic signal technology, or the best available traffic signal technology, at certain intersections of roads and highways that are maintained by the Department of Transportation (department) and meet the traffic threshold established by the department pursuant to the bill. The bill requires the department to develop a traffic threshold for intersections of roads and highways based on the volume and speed of through traffic. Meeting the traffic threshold would signify that the intersection qualifies for the employment of adaptive traffic signal technology, or the best available traffic signal technology, under the program. Once an intersection meets the traffic threshold, adaptive traffic signal technology, or the best available traffic signal technology, would be required to be installed at the intersection during inspection, servicing, or replacement of the traffic signals. The bill also requires that the commissioner consider practicality, financial feasibility, and the danger or limits on pedestrian travel when employing the technology at intersections. | In Committee |
| SJR120 | Designates month of March as "Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month." | This resolution designates the month of March as "Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month" to honor the service and sacrifice of military and law enforcement working dogs and their handlers. The resolution also respectfully requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to engage in appropriate activities and programs throughout the month of March. Military and law enforcement working dogs continue to play an important role in protecting our nation from both foreign and domestic threats. Although dogs had been used by the military for quite some time, the month of March marks the first time a formal dog-training program was established by the United States Army. March 13th is known as "National K9 Veterans Day" because on March 13, 1942, the United States Army announced creation of the War Dog Program or the "K-9 Corps." Dogs from a number of acceptable breeds including German Shepherds, Belgian Sheep Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Collies, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Eskimo Dogs underwent basic obedience training before entering one of four specialized programs focusing on either sentry work, scouting, messaging, or mine detection. Since then, over 16,000 dogs have served in armed conflicts overseas and have played a critical role saving lives and preventing battlefield injuries to American service members. The Army's decision to train dogs for military purposes was done after organizations like the American Kennel Club formed "Dogs for Defense," a civilian organization whose mission was to train dogs to perform sentry duties along the coastal United States. After becoming aware of this program and recognizing the strategic advantages dogs could provide, Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson approved formation of the K-9 Corps. Dogs possess a number of character traits, such as intelligence, loyalty, dependability, and adaptability, which make them particularly suited for military use. In addition, dogs have strong vision, a powerful sense of smell, and can subdue enemy combatants with the use of non-lethal force. After the successful launch of the K-9 Corps, local law enforcement began using working dogs to help in their own operations beginning in the 1970s. These dogs were used to assist in the apprehension of suspects; detection of drugs, explosives, or other evidence in a criminal investigation; and performance of search and rescue operations during bombings, natural disasters, or missing persons cases. Not every dog is suitable for a role with military or law enforcement. Those selected to participate in a training program join an elite group of dogs that have exhibited proper temperament and decision making abilities. Today, German Shepherds are considered the most suitable for training programs because they consistently display the proper combination of intelligence, dependability, predictability, and adaptability. Unleashing the potential of a working dog to carry out military and law enforcement objectives would not be possible without their handlers. Similar to the animals they work with, handlers go through a rigorous training program integrating classroom instruction, first aid, and real world simulations. This curriculum leaves them able to understand how a canine learns new behaviors, how to care for a dog, and how to operate with a dog in different environments. The State of New Jersey is proud to recognize the contributions of this extraordinary group of military and law enforcement personnel by dedicating a month in their honor. | In Committee |
| S3335 | Provides gross income tax deduction for expenses incurred by disabled veterans for service animals. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction of up to $5,000 for certain expenses incurred by a disabled veteran taxpayer related to the purchasing, training, or maintaining a service animal. Eligible maintenance expenses for a service animal would include purchases of food, grooming, and veterinary care. Under current law, certain taxpayers are permitted to claim a deduction for the portion of certain medical expenses incurred related to the maintenance of service animals. The deduction authorized in this bill would be allowed for any qualifying costs incurred by a disabled veteran that are not already deductible as an eligible medical expense. A "disabled veteran" is defined under the bill as any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in the United States Armed Forces and who has a service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Veteran's Administration. Under the bill, the term "service animal" has the same meaning as is defined under the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," 42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq. and any regulations promulgated under the act. Currently, federal regulations at 28 CFR 35.104 define "service animal" to mean "any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." Federal regulations further require the work or tasks performed by the service to be directly related to the individual's disability. | In Committee |
| S3339 | Establishes loan redemption program for certified veterinarians employed as large animal veterinarians in New Jersey. | This bill establishes the Large Animal Veterinarian Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Under the program, a participant would redeem 20 percent of eligible student loan expenses for each year of service as a large animal veterinarian in a State-designated underserved area. Eligible student loan expenses is defined as the cumulative total of the principal and interest due on student loans used to cover the cost of attendance while enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an institution of higher education. Program participants are matched to State-designated underserved areas by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture. Under the bill, each program participant must be a resident of the State, be a graduate of a veterinary school approved by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, have completed a professional residency program and received a recommendation from the director of the training program concerning participation in the loan redemption program, and agree to practice large animal veterinary medicine in a State-designated underserved area. The contract would be for five one-year periods and would specify the total amount of debt to be redeemed by the State in return for the service. Eligible loans will not be redeemed for service of less than one full year annually. | In Committee |
| S3346 | Requires Commissioner of Transportation to publish notice of certain transportation-related infrastructure projects and activities on Internet website, and directs State Comptroller to monitor publication of notifications. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to publish notice of certain transportation-related infrastructure projects and activities on an Internet website to provide increased accountability and transparency in the allocation and spending of federal funds made available to the State under any federal program for transportation-related infrastructure projects or activities. Under the bill, the commissioner, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer in the Office of Information Technology, is required to design and develop, maintain and operate a single, searchable Internet website that has the capacity to retain and display data and information concerning the allocation and spending of federal funds made available to the State for transportation-related infrastructure projects or activities. The bill requires the website to be maintained and operated not later than 30 days after the bill's effective date, and to be accessible through a link prominently displayed on the home page of the official Internet website for the State of New Jersey. The bill requires the website to be available to the public without charge for access, and to be organized by type of expenditure and State agency associated with the expenditure of federal funds. Additionally, the bill requires the website to allow for public comment, and to incorporate links to other governmental websites for transportation-related infrastructure projects or activities. The bill requires the commissioner to utilize the website to publish notice of each transportation-related infrastructure project or activity, the cost or contract price of which is to be paid with or out of federal funds by or on behalf of a State agency, not later 30 days after the date the funds are first allocated by or on behalf of a State agency. The bill provides that notices published on the website must include information concerning: -- the name and address of the entity responsible for coordinating and conducting the project or activity; -- the names of the principal officers and directors of the entity and, if the entity coordinating and conducting the project or activity is a subsidiary of another entity, the name and address of the parent entity and the names of its principal officers and directors; -- a description of the project or activity and a statement of its purpose; -- the cost or price of the project or activity; -- the beginning and termination dates of the project or activity; and -- the State agency responsible for administering federal funds allocated to the project or activity. The bill requires notices published on the website to also include information regarding: whether an entity responsible for coordinating and conducting a project or activity is certified as a minority business or a women's business by the Director of the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services in the Department of the Treasury; and the number of State residents and the number of women and minorities employed as a result of the project or activity. The bill requires the State Comptroller to monitor the website, and to oversee the publication of transportation-related notifications. The bill requires the State Comptroller to provide written notification to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the General Assembly of any irregularities or inconsistencies identified in the design and development, maintenance and operation of the Internet website, and to provide similar notification of any failure to publish notifications required by the bill. The bill requires the State Comptroller to issue an annual report on or before December 1 of each year in which the website is maintained and operated. The bill requires the report to include information regarding: -- the design and development, maintenance and operation of the Internet website; -- any irregularities or inconsistencies or failures identified during the course of the previous year; and -- any recommendations for improvement of the website or the publication of notifications. The bill also requires the annual report to include data and information concerning the number of State residents and the number of women and minorities employed as a result of federally funded transportation-related infrastructure projects or activities, and the total number of entities responsible for coordinating and conducting transportation-related infrastructure projects or activities during the previous calendar year which are certified as a minority business or a women's business by the director. The bill authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill, and permits the immediate filing of those rules and regulations with the Office of Administrative Law, effective for a period not to exceed 180 days following the bill's effective date. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment. | In Committee |
| S3362 | Establishes Domestic Violence Shelter Pet Grant Program to provide funds to house pets in shelters with their owners. | This bill establishes the Domestic Violence Shelter Pet Grant Program to provide funds to house pets in domestic violence shelters with their owners. Specifically, the bill establishes the program in the Department of Human Services to provide funds to domestic violence shelters to allow the pets of victims of domestic violence to reside concurrently with their owners within domestic violence shelters. Grants are to be awarded to domestic violence shelters to defray the costs of purchasing food, medication, toys, cat litter, leashes, and other supplies necessary for the health and well-being of domesticated animals, as well as for needed veterinary care during the residency of a victim of domestic violence at a domestic violence shelter. To qualify for a grant award under the program, a domestic violence shelter is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner), in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner When awarding grants, preference is to be given based on the number of pets housed at a shelter. Grants shall be awarded by the Commissioner in amounts determined by the commissioner, not to exceed $50,000 to each qualifying shelter. Pursuant to this bill, the sum of $1,000,000 is allocated from the General Fund. | In Committee |
| S3348 | "Securing Access to Funding for Educating Drivers (SAFE) Act"; establishes NJ Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education Scholarship Program (program) within the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission). The purpose of the program is to provide scholarships to eligible individuals from low-income households to cover the costs of the six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course. As defined in the bill, "six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course" means the six-hour behind the wheel driver education course conducted by a drivers' school duly licensed by the commission that is required for individuals between the ages of 16 and 17 to obtain a special learner's permit. Scholarships awarded under the program are required to be in an amount to cover the full cost of the six-hour behind-the-wheel driver education course or $500, whichever is less. To qualify for a scholarship under the program an individual is required to demonstrate to the commission that the individual: (1) is a resident of the State; (2) is between the age of 16 and 17; (3) is from a low-income household; (4) has passed the required written examination, which may be offered as part of a course of driving education approved by the State Department of Education and conducted in a New Jersey public, parochial, or private school; and (5) meets any other eligibility criteria that the commission deems appropriate. Interested individuals that meet the eligibility requirements are required to submit an application to the commission in a form and manner determined by the commission. The commission is required to provide scholarships on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds, to individuals who have submitted an application to the commission and meet the eligibility criteria for a scholarship under the program. The bill requires the commission to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature containing certain information as described in the bill. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the commission the sum of $1 million to provide scholarships under the program. | In Committee |
| S3260 | Establishes program within veterans' memorial homes to provide support to families of residents. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to establish a program within each veterans' memorial home to provide comprehensive support to family members of residents. The purpose of the program is to increase the accessibility of information and resources to family members of residents by placing these services within the veterans' memorial homes. The program shall be administered by the resident advocate of each veterans' memorial home as established by law. The resident advocate will: 1) develop, in cooperation with the Administrator of each veterans' memorial home, a program to provide key information and resources to family members of residents upon request in a timely manner; 2) develop, in cooperation with the Administrator of each veterans' memorial home, a program to provide counseling support to family members of residents; and 3) notify the general public and family members of residents of the veterans' memorial homes that the program established by this section is available to family members. The bill defines "family member" to include any individual who is a New Jersey resident and is the spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, or child, whether of the whole blood or the half blood, or by adoption, of a resident of a State veteran's memorial home. | In Committee |
| S3247 | Establishes counseling program for eligible family members of active duty military members and disabled veterans. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), in consultation with the Department of Human Services (DHS), to establish a counseling program for family members of active duty military members and disabled veterans. The counseling program will provide eligible family members of active duty military members and disabled veterans with mental health care counseling. The program will reimburse mental health care professionals, who are available to participate in the program, for up to 10 mental health care counseling sessions, either in person or by telehealth, per eligible family member per year. The bill requires DMVA, in consultation with DHS, to: (1) develop, maintain, and distribute a list of available mental health care professionals on a Statewide basis and distribute the list of available mental health care professionals to each Veterans Service Office for the distribution thereof. (2) develop a process for mental health care professionals to apply for and demonstrate eligibility to receive reimbursement from the program. (3) periodically inform the mental health care professional of an eligible family member's remaining number of counseling sessions eligible for reimbursement for a calendar year. (4) determine a reasonable rate of reimbursement for each mental health care counseling session with an eligible family member, which rate will be the same regardless of whether the a counseling session occurs in person or by telehealth. (5) conduct an awareness and outreach campaign about the program focused on disseminating information about the program to active duty military members, disabled veterans, and eligible family members. The bill defines "eligible family member" to include any individual who is a New Jersey resident and is the spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, or child, whether of the whole blood or the half blood, or by adoption, of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard who is on active duty for the United States or of a disabled veteran. | In Committee |
| SCR105 | Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate revenues from additional registration fee for zero emission vehicles to State transportation. | This concurrent resolution would amend the State Constitution to dedicate certain revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) starting July 1, 2025. As required under the State Constitution, all revenues deposited into the TTF may only be used to support the State transportation system. Specifically, for each State fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, 2025 in which an additional motor vehicle registration fee is imposed on zero emission vehicles, this constitutional amendment requires an amount equivalent to the amount of revenue annually derived from the additional registration fee to be deposited into the TTF. This constitutional amendment does not require the State to impose a new fee on zero emission vehicles, nor does it change the standard registration fee that is currently imposed on all motor vehicles. Rather, for each State fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, 2025, in which an additional registration fee on zero emission vehicles is imposed, the amendment requires certain amounts of these revenues to be used for transportation purposes. | In Committee |
| S3262 | Establishes program for recruitment, training, and retention of health care professionals in veterans memorial homes; appropriates $370,000. | This bill directs the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to establish a two-year pilot program to increase recruitment, training, and retention of qualified health care personnel at the veterans memorial homes in Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland. The bill also provides for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the State Employment and Training Commission and the Department of Health to create a clinical scholarship program funded by the Workforce Development Partnership Fund and for establishing recruitment bonuses to be paid to registered nurses or licensed practical nurses hired by the department to work in the veterans memorial homes. The amount of the bonus to each recruit could not exceed $6,000; the bonus would be payable in equal installments over two years. The bill also requires the DMVA to reimburse the education costs incurred by current employees who pursue education credits to obtain a licensed practical nursing diploma, a registered nursing degree, or another qualified program degree or certificate. As a condition for receiving the reimbursement, participants would have to agree to work for at least two years at a veterans memorial home after obtaining a registered nursing degree or licensed practical nursing certification. Further, the bill requires the DMVA to establish a list of training and certification programs concerning infection control, geriatric care, PTSD management, and trauma-informed care for veterans for health care personnel employed at the veterans homes. The bill directs the Adjutant General to report annually on the pilot program to the Governor and to the Legislature's committees on health and budget and appropriations. The report is to include information on the level of participation in the program and on the program's success in increasing recruitment, training, and retention of qualified health care personnel at the homes and make any appropriate recommendations for legislative action. Finally, the bill appropriates from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs a total of $370,000. Of this amount, $120,000 is allocated to the payment of recruiting bonuses and $250,000 is allocated to the payment of training reimbursements. | 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 |
| S3250 | Exempts sales of pet food and medication purchased for pets from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts pet food and pet medication from the State's sales and use tax. Specifically, "qualified pet medication" is exempted from the State's sales and use tax under the provisions of the bill. The term "qualified pet medication" is defined as: · medicine that has been recognized as a drug in any official compendium, or supplement to a compendium, by the State Board of Pharmacy or the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in a qualified pet;· medicine intended to affect the structure or function of the body of a qualified pet--except that a food, dietary ingredient, or dietary supplement (as those terms are defined in federal statute) does not necessarily qualify solely because its labeling claims it is medication; or· medicine prescribed by a person licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, or dentistry in the State. Furthermore, the bill defines the term "qualified pet" to mean a legally owned, domesticated live animal normally maintained in or near the household of its owner. The provisions of the bill will become operative on the first day of the first full calendar quarter next following the date of enactment. Pet food and pet medication can be an expensive recurring cost, yet one that is necessary to keep pets healthy and active. The cost of pet food has increased due to inflation. By exempting this pet medication and pet food expense from the State's sales and use tax, the bill benefits both pet owners and their pets. Specifically, the bill eases the tax burden placed on pet owners for the cost of food and medication necessary to ensure the well-being of companion and service animals. By lowering pet food and medication costs, this bill also promotes pet ownership and preventative care. By encouraging pet ownership and well-being, the bill aims to reduce the substantial number of animals maintained in shelters and euthanized each year. The provisions of this bill will help reduce that cost, and thereby encourage more people to keep pets and enjoy the companionship and benefits they provide. | In Committee |
| S3268 | Permits agriculture-related events on preserved farmland. | This bill provides that a person may hold an agriculture-related event on preserved farmland if the owner of the land first obtains a permit from the county agriculture development board to hold such an event. The bill defines "agriculture-related event" as a festival or other event taking place once or a few times in a year on a specific day or specific consecutive days featuring an activity or group of activities highlighting an agricultural or horticultural practice or product implemented or grown on a farm. These events may include, but are not limited to, hay bale races, flower shows, pumpkin tossing and "punkin chunkin" festivals, tractor pulls, and similar activities. The bill also provides that the county agriculture development board may issue an agriculture-related event permit to the owner of preserved farmland in the county if: 1) no more than four permits are issued for the farm per year; and 2) the event only temporarily disturbs the use of the land for agricultural or horticultural purposes, and does not interfere with the use of the land for those purposes after the event has concluded. The bill specifies that holding an agriculture-related event for which a permit has been issued shall not be considered a violation of any agricultural deed restriction for farmland preservation on the land if the person holding the event complies with the terms and conditions of the permit as it was issued. | In Committee |
| S638 | Reduces NJ Legislature Youth Council residency requirement for certain military children from 15 years to 6 months. | Under current law, to be a member of the New Jersey Legislative Youth Council, a person must be a resident of New Jersey for at least 15 years, among other requirements. This bill removes the 15-year residency requirement for military children, and instead requires a minimum residency of six consecutive months for a military child. "Military child" is defined in the bill to mean a child of a full-time service member who is on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, whether the child is related by blood, marriage, or adoption. | In Committee |
| S3157 | Protects access to assisted reproductive technology. | This bill provides every woman in this State the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART). Under current law, the State provides the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization, or to choose whether to carry a pregnancy, to give birth, or to terminate a pregnancy. Under the bill, the fundamental rights related to reproductive health choice in the State are expanded to include the use of ART. ART includes, but is not limited to, in vitro fertilization (IVF). This legislation is in response to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. (Docket No. SC-2022-0515, SC-2022-0579), decided in February 2024. In LePage, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are "extrauterine children," finding that that the state's "'Wrongful Death of A Minor Act' applies on its face to all unborn children, without limitation." This holding could have widespread implications for anyone in Alabama who is seeking or provides IVF. New Jersey has long been a State that supports, and provides protections for, the reproductive freedom of its citizens, including the right to make the choice of whether to start or expand a family through IVF. | In Committee |
| S3175 | Removes registered apprenticeship program requisites of public work contractors; sets apprenticeship standards for prevailing wage projects. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" by setting a standard for apprenticeship programs if a contractor or subcontractor chooses to participate in an apprenticeship program. The bill revises "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act" by removing the requirement that a contractor participate in a registered apprenticeship program in order to be eligible for public works projects. | In Committee |
| S3202 | Establishes municipal water infrastructure planning and design project grant program in DEP; appropriates $100 million. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a program to provide grants to municipalities that undertake planning and design projects related to prospective water infrastructure projects. In order to be eligible for a grant, a planning and design project would be required to be in support of a water infrastructure project that would be eligible for financing under the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program, carried out jointly by the DEP and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The maximum grant award per project would be $2 million. Municipalities would not be required to provide matching funds in order to be eligible for a grant. The bill would also require the DEP to provide priority to applications for projects located in overburdened communities. Under the bill, the DEP would determine the application procedures and criteria for evaluating applications. The bill would require the DEP to report to Governor and the Legislature on the progress of the program in achieving its goals. Finally, the bill would appropriate $100 million from the General Fund to the DEP for the purposes of the grant program established by the bill. | 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 |
| S3050 | Revises requirements and process for temporary courtesy licenses and certificates issued by State Board of Examiners, NJ Board of Nursing, and other professional and occupational licensing boards to nonresident military spouses. | This bill revises the requirements and process for the issuance of temporary courtesy licenses and certificates to nonresident military spouses. Current law, P.L.2013, c.68 (C.18A:26-2.14), provides a process for an individual who is licensed to teach in another state and is married to an active duty member of the military, who has been transferred to New Jersey, to obtain a temporary instructional certificate to be employed as a teacher in New Jersey on a temporary basis while completing any additional requirements for a New Jersey instructional certificate. The temporary instructional certificate is valid for 180 days and may be extended by the State Board of Examiners for another 180 days. This bill amends current law to provide that the temporary instructional certificate will be valid for 365 days and will be extended by the State board for another four years if the holder demonstrates progress towards obtaining a standard instructional certificate in a time and manner as determined by the board. The bill also provides that the applicant need only pay a criminal history record check fee. The bill supplements existing law to require the Department of Education to establish procedures to expedite the processing of an application submitted by a nonresident military spouse for a New Jersey instructional certificate. Also under current law, the New Jersey Board of Nursing may grant a temporary courtesy license to a nonresident military spouse only if the applicant holds a current license to practice nursing in another jurisdiction which the board determines has licensure requirements to practice nursing that are equivalent to those adopted by the board. This bill removes the provision that the board is required to determine whether the out-of-State license held by the applicant has requirements equivalent to those adopted by the board. The bill also clarifies that the board may only charge fees related to conducting a criminal history record check. Additionally, the bill requires the board to establish an expedited licensing process for the issuance of temporary courtesy licenses to nonresident military spouses. This bill clarifies that a professional or occupational board may only charge fees related to conducting a criminal history record check to nonresident military spouses. The bill would also require each board to extend indefinitely temporary courtesy licenses to nonresident military spouses so long as the applicant's spouse is stationed in New Jersey. Additionally, the bill requires each board to establish an expedited licensing process for the issuance of temporary courtesy licenses to nonresident military spouses. | In Committee |
| S3058 | Establishes inflationary State school aid growth limit; permits certain school districts to apply for Necessary Stabilization Aid. | This bill establishes an inflationary State school aid growth limit, which is generally to be applied to all school districts. The bill also establishes a new category of State school aid called Necessary Stabilization Aid for school districts that receive a smaller increase in State school aid with the implementation of the inflationary State school aid growth limit. Under the bill, the amount of State school aid provided to a school district is to be increased by no more than the inflationary State school aid growth limit when compared to the amount of State school aid provided in the prior school year. The inflationary State school aid growth limit would apply regardless of whether a school district is, under current law, to experience: an increase in State school aid that is greater than or less than the inflationary State school aid growth limit; a reduction in State school aid; or no change in State school aid under certain provisions of current law. The bill does not apply, however, to county vocational school districts receiving vocational expansion stabilization aid. For most school districts, the inflationary State school aid growth limit is to be consistent with the increase in the consumer price index for the New York City and Philadelphia areas. The limit for district factor group A school districts is to be the same rate plus one percentage point. The bill provides that a school district receiving a smaller increase in State school aid pursuant to the bill's provisions, when compared to current law, can apply to the Commissioner of Education for Necessary Stabilization Aid. A school district may receive an amount up to the difference between: 1) aid calculated pursuant to current law; and 2) aid calculated with consideration of the inflationary State school aid growth limit established by the bill. A qualifying school district is required to submit an application to the commissioner, which is to provide sufficient details justifying the awarding of aid and include a written plan explaining how the district intends to use the aid that may be awarded to it. | In Committee |
| S2865 | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | In Committee |
| S2979 | Requires NJ Clean Energy Program incentives be made available to commercial farms. | The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to be eligible to apply for, and receive, any applicable incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP). In addition, the bill would require the BPU, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to establish a program to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms to conduct energy audits to identify the current energy use of buildings and equipment and identify energy conservation measures that can be implemented in order to realize and maximize energy savings and energy efficiency. The bill defines "energy audit" as an assessment of all energy-using systems to determine the consumption characteristics of a commercial farm which shall (1) identify the type, size, and rate of energy consumption of a commercial farm; (2) identify appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures; and (3) indicate the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures. The bill would also require the BPU to publish on its Internet website any incentives or programs that are available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP and information concerning the program established by the BPU, pursuant to the bill, to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms in conducting energy audits. Currently, commercial farms do not fit clearly into the incentive programs offered by the NJCEP, which is divided into categories for residential, commercial, industrial, local government, and multifamily. A farmhouse or residential dwelling on farmland would be eligible for incentives offered in the residential category of the NJCEP since the farmhouse or dwelling qualifies as a residence, however, there are no additional incentives or programs specifically available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP. The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to participate in the NJCEP and receive applicable incentives under the program while improving the energy efficiency of their farms. | In Committee |
| S2980 | Prohibits posting, publishing on the Internet, or disclosing certain information regarding military personnel. | This bill prohibits persons, State and local agencies, and businesses from posting or publishing on the Internet the home addresses or unpublished home telephone numbers of members of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard. The bill makes it a crime for a person to knowingly, with purpose to expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property, or in reckless disregard of the probability of this exposure, post or publish on the Internet the home address or unpublished telephone number of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard, or spouse or child of that member. If a person recklessly violates this provision, it is a crime of the fourth degree. A fourth degree crime is punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. If a person purposefully violates this provision, it is a crime of the third degree. A third degree crime is punishable by imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The bill also prohibits State or local agencies from posting or publishing on the Internet the home address or unpublished home telephone number of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard without first obtaining the member's written consent. In addition, under the provisions of this bill, persons, businesses, and associations are prohibited from disclosing on the Internet the home address or unpublished home telephone number of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard under circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that providing that information would expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property. The bill provides that persons, businesses, or associations are liable to members of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard, or any other person residing at the home of the member for violating the provisions of the bill. The bill authorizes the member or person to bring a civil action in Superior Court. Under the bill, the court may award: (1) actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation of this act; (2) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (3) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred; and (4) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill defines "disclose" as soliciting, selling, manufacturing, giving, providing, lending, trading, mailing, delivering, transferring, publishing, distributing, circulating, disseminating, presenting, exhibiting, advertising, or offering. | In Committee |
| S2981 | Establishes NJ Military Family Relief Fund; provides for designation on State gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to military family relief fund. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the military family relief fund. Under the bill, a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" is established in the Department of the Treasury. Moneys in the fund would be held by the State Treasurer and made available for the purposes of the bill. The purpose of the military family relief fund would be to provide grants up to $2,500 to defray the costs of food, housing, medical services, and other essential expenses for (1) members of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, and their families, (2) members of the New Jersey National Guard and their families, (3) veterans and their families, or (4) the surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces, or a reserve component thereof, a member of the national guard, or a veteran. The bill provides that the Legislature would annually appropriate all funds deposited in the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which would be credited with: (1) moneys received by the State as gifts, grants, or donations for the purpose of military family relief, including, at the discretion of the Adjutant General, grants accepted by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; (2) moneys that the Legislature may appropriate; and (3) other moneys made available including, but not limited to, funds provided by the federal government. Under the bill, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would determine the application process, and establish the eligibility documentation required for a person to be considered a qualified applicant, and issue the grant from the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund," if adequate moneys are available, to those qualified applicants. To be qualified, the applicant is required to be a New Jersey resident and must have resided in the State for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months immediately prior to submitting an application. An applicant must also provide documentation of financial hardship to the department in order to receive the grant and is prohibited from receiving a grant from the "New Jersey Military Family Relief Fund" more than once in any 12-month period. Under the bill, "veteran" means an individual who received an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions from active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, or a Reserve component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard. | In Committee |
| SCR96 | Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate certain revenues for State transportation system. | This concurrent resolution would amend the State Constitution to dedicate certain additional revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). As required under the State Constitution, all revenues deposited into the TTF may only be used to support the cost of planning, acquisition, engineering, construction, reconstruction, repair and rehabilitation of the transportation system in this State. Specifically, during any fiscal year in which a tax is imposed under the "Sales and Use Tax Act" on receipts from the sale of electric vehicles, this constitutional amendment would require an amount equivalent to the amount annually derived from the tax, up to $100 million, be deposited into the TTF. Additionally, during any fiscal year in which an additional motor vehicle registration fee is imposed on electric vehicles, this constitutional amendment would require an amount equivalent to the amount of revenue annually derived from the additional registration fee be deposited into the TTF. This constitutional amendment would not require the State to impose a new tax or fee on electric vehicles, nor would it change the standard registration fee that is currently imposed on non-electric motor vehicles. Rather, if the State were to impose a sales tax on electric vehicles or an additional registration fee on electric vehicles, the amendment would require certain amounts of these revenues to be used for transportation purposes. | In Committee |
| S2957 | "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act"; requires independent audit of NJT. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act," requires that the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) hire an independent firm to conduct an audit of the financial management practices and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 and prepare and issue a report on the independent firm's findings and recommendations, which report is to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 resulted in the issuance of the Comprehensive Strategic, Financial & Operational Assessment of NJ Transit on October 5, 2018. Among the issues identified in the assessment is that, for eight years preceding its publication and despite increasing operation and maintenance costs, the corporation had been forced to transfer much needed capital funds for capital maintenance due to dramatically reduced State Operating Assistance. Through its requirement of an independent audit, this bill is intended to shed light on the financial needs and practices of the corporation since the issuance of the 2018 assessment, including the diversion of capital funds for operations. The report for which the corporation is required to hire an independent firm under this bill is to: (1) include findings on the financial management and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018; (2) summarize the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the demand for the corporation's services and on the financial and practical needs of the corporation to meet current and projected long-term demand; (3) evaluate the corporation's current sources of funding and their adequacy in relation to demand for the corporation's services; and (4) recommend policies and best practices for the corporation to adopt based upon the findings of the independent firm, including, but not limited to, recommendations on the decision-making process, corporate governance, personnel hiring and protocols, and improvement of the customer experience. Within six months of the issuance of the report, the corporation is required to adopt any individual policies and best practices recommended in the report. Under the bill, the corporation is permitted to opt not to adopt an individual policy or best practice, provided that the corporation provides a detailed explanation of why the adoption of that policy or practice is not in the best interest of the corporation within six months of the issuance of the report issued by the independent firm. This bill does not affect any obligation of the corporation to conduct, or hire an independent firm to complete, an audit or study under existing law. | In Committee |
| S2956 | Revises "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act"; extends process for calculating gas tax rate until Fiscal Year 2032; imposes sales and use tax and additional registration fee on electric vehicles; appropriates $2.5 billion. | This bill amends the "New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act of 1984" to make changes necessary to support the State's Annual Transportation Capital Program (capital program) for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025 through 2032. These changes also (1) extend the process for calculating the rate of tax imposed on highway fuels under the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax (PPGRT) through Fiscal Year 2032; (2) impose an additional registration fee for electric vehicles; (3) appropriate funds to the New Jersey Transit Corporation; (4) appropriate funds from the Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF); and (5) repeal the sales and use tax exemption for zero emission vehicles. Transportation Trust Fund Authority Renewal This bill extends the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority's (authority) existing authorization to issue transportation program bonds and creates the potential to increase the authority's bonding authorization from FY 2029 through FY 2032. Under current law, the authority is authorized to issue such transportation program bonds as are necessary to fund the capital program, in an amount not to exceed $12 billion, through June 30, 2024. The bill extends this authorization through June 30, 2032. The bill requires the authority, on or before June 30, 2028, to assess whether its remaining bonding capacity is sufficient to fund the capital program through FY 2032 and report its findings to the Legislature and Governor. If the authority determines that additional authorization is needed to fund the capital program, the Legislature and Governor may authorize the authority to issue a maximum of $4 billion in transportation program bonds from FY 2029 through FY 2032. This bill authorizes $15.96 billion in capital program expenditures for an eight-year period from FY 2025 through FY 2032. Specifically, this bill allows for an average annual capital program size of $2 billion from FY 2025 through FY 2032. The bill requires $500 million to be annually appropriated to the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) for capital projects during FY 2027 through FY 2032. However, under the bill, no monies are to be appropriated in the capital program to NJ Transit for these purposes in FY 2025 and FY 2026. Extension of PPGRT Rate Adjustment Procedure Until 2032 This bill extends the PPGRT annual rate adjustment procedure through FY 2032. Under current law, the rate of tax imposed under the PPGRT is annually adjusted by the State Treasurer to ensure that the State realizes a statutorily prescribed revenue target, more commonly referred to as the "highway fuel cap," based on 2016 collections of highway fuel taxes. The cap amount is based on the Fiscal Year 2016 sum of: (1) the taxes collected under the Motor Fuel Tax, (2) the amount derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the four cent motor fuel tax, and (3) the amount that would have been derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the motor fuel tax at a rate of 23 cents per gallon. All revenues collected are deposited into the TTF to support transportation infrastructure projects and debt service on transportation bonds. This annual adjustment mechanism is currently set to expire at the conclusion of FY 2026. The bill allows this process to continue through FY 2032. Additional Vehicle Registration Fee for Electric Vehicles The bill imposes an additional registration fee for electric vehicles registered in the State. The fee would be collected by the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission at the same time the vehicle is initially registered or renewed, as the case may be. Beginning on July 1, 2024, the amount of the fee would be $300 for passenger electric vehicles and $450 for commercial electric vehicles. Under the bill, the revenues generated from these fees would be credited to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account - Subaccount for Capital Reserves" to support transportation projects. However, the bill specifies that these collections may not be used to pay debt service on transportation system bonds, transportation program bonds, or any other bonds, notes or other obligations, including subordinated obligations of the authority until such time as these revenues may be constitutionally dedicated to the TTF. Appropriation of Funds to New Jersey Transit The bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion from the General Fund to NJ Transit. The bill requires $760 million of these funds to be used for the financing of capital projects and $240 million to be used for NJ Transit operating expenses. The bill also requires the State to appropriate an additional $1 billion in FY 2026 for those same purposes. Appropriation of Funds from Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to TTF The bill appropriates $1.5 billion from the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund" to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account - Subaccount for Capital Reserves" to be used for the funding of transportation capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis. The bill prohibits the expenditure of these funds for debt service on transportation system bonds, transportation program bonds, or any other bonds, notes, or other obligations, including subordinated obligations of the TTF. Repeal of Sales Tax Exemption for Electric Vehicles The bill repeals the sales and use tax exemption currently provided for the sales of zero emission vehicles and annually dedicates the revenues derived from the sales of these vehicles, up to $100 million, to the TTF. Specifically, these revenues would be credited to the "Transportation Trust Fund Account - Subaccount for Capital Reserves" to be used for transportation projects. The bill also specifies that these collections may not be used to pay debt service on transportation system bonds, transportation program bonds, or any other bonds, notes, or other obligations, including subordinated obligations of the authority, until such time as these revenues may be constitutionally dedicated to the TTF. | In Committee |
| S636 | Reduces amount of supervised counseling experience required for professional counselor licensure. | This bill reduces the amount of supervised full-time counseling experience in a professional counseling setting required for professional counselor licensure. Current law, under the "Professional Counselor Licensing Act," P.L.1993, c.340 (C.45:8B-34 et seq.), requires that applicants for a professional counseling license complete at least three years of supervised full-time counseling experience in a professional counseling setting acceptable to the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, one year of which may be obtained prior to the granting of the master's degree. An applicant may eliminate one year of the required supervised counseling experience by substituting 30 graduate semester hours beyond the master's degree if those graduate semester hours are clearly related to counseling and are acceptable to the committee. In no case, however, may the applicant have less than one year of supervised professional counseling experience after the granting of the master's degree. This bill revises these requirements to provide that an applicant is only required to complete at least two years, instead of three, or 3000 hours of supervised full-time counseling experience in a professional counseling setting, one year or 1500 hours of which may be obtained prior to the granting of the master's degree. The bill also provides that an applicant may eliminate one year or 1500 hours of the required supervised counseling experience by substituting certain graduate semester hours beyond the master's degree; however, an applicant cannot have less than one year or 1500 hours of supervised professional counseling experience after the granting of the master's degree. | In Committee |
| S1423 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain ambulance transportation services. | This bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services, an increase of $142 from the State's existing rate of $58 per transport. In doing so, the sponsor aims to ensure that emergency ambulance transportation providers, which deliver integral medical services for those with unplanned urgent and life-threatening health conditions, are given the financial support necessary to serve the community. Currently, New Jersey has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rate for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services in the region. Surrounding states' rates range from $65.27 in Delaware to $293.90 in Connecticut. Moreover, pending legislation in Pennsylvania would increase that state's rate to $325 per transport, which would be the highest rate in the region. | In Committee |
| S2910 | Prohibits DEP from requiring person under 16 years of age to obtain horseback riding permit to ride in State wildlife management areas. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring a person under 16 years of age to obtain a permit from the Division of Fish and Wildlife to engage in horseback riding in a State wildlife management area. The bill further prohibits the DEP from charging a person under 16 years of age a $2.00 nonrefundable permit application fee. | 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 |
| S2807 | Requires MVC to waive knowledge test requirement for certain military service members who apply for commercial driver license. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to waive the knowledge test requirement for certain military service members who apply for a commercial driver license. Under the federal "Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986," the federal government requires the states to meet certain standards governing the issuance of commercial driver licenses. These standards include the requirement that every applicant pass a knowledge test and a skills test before obtaining the license. However, federal regulations allow the states to waive these testing requirements for military service members who meet certain conditions set forth by the federal government (49 C.F.R. s.383.77). As authorized, the State currently requires the MVC to waive the skills test requirement for qualified military service members who apply for certain commercial driver licenses. Under the bill, the MVC would also waive the knowledge test requirement for qualified military service members. As required by federal regulations, a current or former military service person may qualify for the knowledge test waiver if, during the one-year period immediately preceding the date of application, the person: (1) was regularly employed as an operator of certain military vehicles; (2) operated a vehicle that is representative of the type of commercial motor vehicle that the person expects to operate; (3) has not simultaneously held more than one civilian license; (4) has not had any license suspended, revoked, or canceled; (5) has not been convicted of certain types of serious traffic offenses; and (6) has not been convicted of certain types of motor vehicle violations arising in connection with a traffic accident and has no record of an accident in which the person was at fault. However, under current State law, military applicants who seek to operate the following categories of commercial vehicles are not permitted to receive the skills test waiver: (1) vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers; (2) vehicles designed to transport between eight and 16 persons if used to transport such persons for hire on a daily basis to and from places of employment; (3) vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous materials; or (4) vehicles used for the transportation of children to or from a school or other similar places of education. Similarly, these applicants would not qualify for the knowledge test waiver provided under the bill. | In Committee |
| S2808 | Allows honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard to carry handgun. | This bill allows honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces or National Guard to carry a handgun at all times in this State. Under current law, certain retired law enforcement officers may annually apply for a permit to carry a handgun, until those officers reach age 75, at which time they are no longer eligible. The permit allows a retired law enforcement officer to carry a handgun at all times. This bill extends the right to carry a handgun to honorably discharged veterans provided the veteran is not otherwise disqualified from owning a firearm under current law. As is the case with a retired law enforcement officer, a veteran would be required to semi-annually qualify in the use of the handgun. The bill requires that prior to issuing a carry permit the Superintendent of State Police is to obtain a verification of service from a representative of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs certifying the veteran's length of service and the date on which the veteran was honorably discharged. Members of the United States Armed Forces receive extensive firearms and weapons training as part of their service to this country. The sponsor believes that men and women who have served this country honorably and are trained in the use of firearms should be entitled to carry a handgun at all times in this State to protect themselves and continue to provide safety to the community. | 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 |
| S2734 | Directs Department of Agriculture to establish "Farm to Food Bank Pilot Program." | The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish, in consultation with the Department of Health, the "Farm to Food Bank Pilot Program" for farmers to contract with food banks for the timely distribution of produce and other agricultural food products. The program would operate for three years after the bill is enacted into law, terminating 90 days after the submission of the report to the Governor and Legislature required under the bill, except that the bill provides that farmers and food banks would continue to honor the terms and conditions of any contract in effect after the termination date until the conclusion of the contract. The bill authorizes the DOA, within the limits of appropriations for the program, to provide a farmer with a grant to cover all or part of the farmer's production costs, up to a reasonable market price for the produce or agricultural food product, as determined by the DOA. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to request annually, as part of the DOA's budget proposal, an appropriation as may be necessary to fund the program and provide grants to farmers under the program. | In Committee |
| SCR91 | Urges Congress to pass legislation that exempts military retirement pay from federal income taxation. | This resolution respectfully urges Congress to enact legislation that exempts military retirement pay from federal income taxation. Members of the Armed Forces and of the Reserves dedicate years of their lives to the service of this country, often being separated from their families for extended periods, forgoing more lucrative employment, and facing life-threatening dangers. Generally, 20 years or more of service on active duty in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may qualify an individual for military retirement pay. Military retirees face unique challenges, including reassimilating into civilian life, finding affordable housing, re-entry into the civilian job market, and possibly dealing with issues such as post-traumatic stress. In light of their considerable sacrifice, and in recognition of their years of service to the United States and its people, individuals who have served in the Armed Forces or Reserves should be relieved of the burden of federal income taxation of their military retirement pay. | In Committee |
| S646 | Concerns foreclosure of certain tax liens on real property. | Concerns foreclosure of certain tax liens on real property. | In Committee |
| S2676 | Allows farm operators to accelerate depreciation of certain expenditures under corporation business and gross income taxes. | This bill allows farm operators to accelerate certain tax deductions for business expenses for purposes of calculating State corporation business tax and gross income tax, matching two provisions of the federal tax code. Specifically, the bill allows the accelerated depreciation of assets to the extent allowed under section 168 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, and the immediate deduction of certain capital expenses to the extent allowed under section 179 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Generally, under section 167 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, taxpayers are allowed to deduct a reasonable allowance for the wear and tear, or depreciation, of an asset used in trade or business. Sections 168 and 179 allow an accelerated depreciation if certain conditions are met. New Jersey, however, decoupled its tax law from those provisions following changes to those provisions in the early 2000s. Instead of allowing depreciation as allowed under current federal law, the State currently allows depreciation as federal law allowed it in 2002 for section 179 and in 2001 for sections 167 and 168. Since that time, further modifications were made to sections 168 and 179. Under current section 179, a taxpayer may deduct up to $1 million of qualified assets purchased and placed in service in the tax year. The deduction cannot exceed taxable income, and the deduction is phased out if a company's total qualified assets placed in service during the year exceed $2.5 million. The limits and thresholds for the section 179 deduction are scheduled to be indexed for inflation in future years. Under current section 168, a taxpayer may depreciate an additional 60 percent of the adjusted cost of eligible property. This "bonus" depreciation is scheduled to decrease by 20 percent in 2025 and every year thereafter until it reaches 0 percent in 2027. | In Committee |
| SJR78 | Designates neon yellow as official color to raise awareness of suicide among veterans. | This joint resolution designates neon yellow (pantone 395) as the official color in New Jersey for raising awareness of veteran suicide. The neon yellow color would be called Vet 22 in New Jersey as it is called in Pennsylvania. The color Vet 22 derives its name from the startling statistic that 22 veterans take their own lives each day and is designed to enlist support in the fight against veteran suicide. In New Jersey, as of September 30, 2018, there are approximately 340,560 veterans in this State, of which approximately 25,680 are women. The residents of New Jersey have a responsibility to be proactive and help our veterans who suffer from the deepest, invisible wounds of war and conflict before these veterans take their own lives. The health and well-being of the courageous men and women who served in uniform are of the highest priority for this State. It is therefore proper and fitting for the State of New Jersey to illustrate its support for its veterans and their emotional and mental health by designating Vet 22 or neon yellow as the official color to raise awareness of veteran suicide. | In Committee |
| S2367 | Extends validity of and eliminates issuance fee for temporary instructional certificate issued to military spouse; requires expedited processing of military spouse application for NJ instructional certificate and eliminates fee to obtain certificate. | This bill provides that a temporary instructional certificate for a nonresident military spouse is to be valid for 365 days, with an option for an extension by the State Board of Examiners for an additional 365 days. The bill also prohibits the State board from charging a nonresident military spouse a fee for the issuance of a temporary instructional certificate. The bill further requires the Department of Education to establish procedures to expedite the processing of an application submitted by a nonresident military spouse for a New Jersey instructional certificate. The department and the State Board of Examiners are prohibited from requiring a nonresident military spouse to pay a fee for the issuance of the instructional certificate. | In Committee |
| S2458 | Requires DOLWD to allow individuals to schedule unemployment service appointments at One Stop Career Centers via telephone or Internet. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to allow an individual to schedule an unemployment service appointment at a One Stop Career Center over the telephone or the Internet. The bill defines an unemployment service appointment as a scheduled meeting related to receiving or applying for unemployment benefits. Currently, an unemployment claimant may only make an appointment at a One Stop Career Center via the Internet. This bill would allow an individual to schedule an unemployment service appointment via telephone or the Internet. | In Committee |
| S2441 | Requires MVC to take measures to prevent agency closures during public health emergency; requires MVC to provide alternatives if closure is unpreventable. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to take all measures necessary to prevent the temporary closure of a commission agency due to the coronavirus. If the chief administrator determines that the temporary closure of a commission agency is necessary, the chief administrator is required to provide reasonable alternatives to prospective customers of that agency location, which is to include but is not limited to the use of a mobile unit at or nearby the agency location. The chief administrator is required to report to the Governor and Legislature on the commission's efforts to prevent agency closures. | In Committee |
| SR66 | Urges Governor to resume in-person services at DOLWD. | This Senate Resolution urges the Governor to safely resume in-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. In-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development have been closed since March of 2020. New Jersey's unemployment rate as of March 2021 was still 7.7 percent, and the State has only recovered 54 percent of the jobs lost in March and April of 2020 as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic-related shutdowns, meaning that many New Jersey residents require access to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's services. Although many of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's services are provided over the internet or the telephone, these services may not be as accessible for elderly clients, low-income clients, or clients with disabilities. The State's numbers of new cases of COVID-19 and number of COVID-19 fatalities are decreasing, leading to a safer indoor work environment, and indoor capacity limits are scheduled to be raised on May 19th if there is no surge in cases prior to that date. A resumption of in-person services at many of the Department's agencies, including a resumption of in-person unemployment claim filings and a resumption of in-person services at One-Stop Career Centers, is in the best interests of the clientele that the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is designed to serve. Additionally, a resumption of in-person services at the Division of Unemployment Insurance would allow claimants who are victims of programming and technological glitches to more effectively redress their problems and receive their claims, and would allow the Division of Unemployment and other agencies to more effectively communicate with these victims. This resolution additionally calls for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to fully staff all public-facing offices at all times. | In Committee |
| S2408 | Requires annual General Fund appropriation to DMVA for purposes of base realignment and closure. | This bill will require an annual appropriation not to exceed $200,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs for the Council on Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs for the preservation of military installations in the event of federal action taken on base realignment and closure. The bill also requires a competitive contracting process to be followed every two years for any contract or agreement with a lobbyist or governmental affairs agent to assist with the preservation of military installations. In addition, the bill requires an annual report to be submitted by the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs that details each expenditure from the funds provided for the preservation of military installations. The report is to be available as a public record and posted on the website of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. | 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 |
| S1410 | Eliminates use of census-based funding of special education aid in school funding law. | Under the provisions of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), the State provides special education aid to school districts using the census-based method. Under this method, districts receive funding for special education based on the assumption that a fixed percent of the total student population requires special education services, rather than using the actual number of special education students to determine the amount of State aid that school districts will receive. This bill eliminates the use of the census-based methodology, and calculates State aid for special education based on the actual number of special education students included in the district's resident enrollment. | In Committee |
| S595 | Restricts occupancy of dwelling unit in age-restricted community to older adults following resale. | This bill requires dwelling units in an age-restricted community that are transferred by resale to remain occupied by households that will allow the age-restricted community to remain "housing for older persons," as defined by the federal "Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988," 46 U.S.C. ss.3601 et seq. This bill also clarifies the definition of "resale" in P.L.2008, c.71 to provide that resale includes mortgage and tax foreclosure sales, execution sales, and bankruptcy sales. The sponsors intend this legislation to preserve age-restricted properties' unique status by requiring that dwelling units transferred by resale, even for affordable housing purposes, continue to be occupied by older adults. | In Committee |
| S633 | Eliminates requirement for public school employees to maintain State residency. | This bill eliminates the requirement that employees of a school district have their principal residence in this State. This requirement was established by law in 2011 and currently applies to all public officers and employees in the State, with certain limited exceptions. This bill retains the residency requirement for all other public officers and employees, but eliminates it for employees of a school district. The bill also expressly provides that no provision of the law that establishes the residency requirement will be construed as requiring an employee of, or a person hired by, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project to comply with the residency requirement. | In Committee |
| S608 | Extends "whistleblower" protections to employee disclosure of governmental mismanagement, waste and abuse. | This bill provides protection against employer retaliation for an employee who makes disclosures, provides testimony, or objects or refuses to participate in any activity, policy or practice of the employer, or another employer in a business relationship with the employer, which the employee reasonably believes is a substantial waste of public funds by a governmental entity or is a gross mismanagement or an abuse of authority by an employer that is a governmental entity. The bill defines both "gross mismanagement" and "abuse of authority" as a pattern of actions by an employer that is a governmental entity, made in a manner clearly deviating from the standard of care or competence that a reasonable person would observe in the same situation, which has a substantial adverse affect on the operations, clients, customers or employees of the entity, or on the efficient accomplishment of any function of the entity authorized by law, regulation, or a clear mandate of public policy concerning the public health, safety or welfare or protection of the environment. The difference is that "gross mismanagement" concerns actions which are "negligent or incompetent" while "abuse of authority" concerns actions which are "illegal, malicious, fraudulent, arbitrary or capricious." The bill defines "substantial waste of public funds" as conduct or omissions, made in a manner clearly deviating from the standard of care or competence that a reasonable person would observe in the same situation, of any employer, including one which is a governmental entity, which result or could reasonably be expected to result, at once or over a period of time, in the misuse, destruction, loss, or expenditure without valuable result, of a substantial amount of moneys or resources belonging to or deriving from a governmental entity. | In Committee |
| S642 | Authorizes NJ Historical Commission to establish program to promote developing historic projects on website and collect donations for projects on behalf of historic site or organization. | This bill would authorize the New Jersey Historical Commission ("commission") to establish a program to support New Jersey historic sites and organizations and collect donations for projects on their behalf. Specifically, the commission would establish a program to help historic sites and organizations by announcing and promoting an historic project on the commission's website. "Historic sites and organizations" include historic sites, historical societies, historical libraries, history museums, historical agencies of local or county government, and related not-for-profit agencies and organizations. This program would be a creative platform to enable historic sites and organizations to gain exposure, generate funding, and leverage donations for their historic projects, through the commission, while retaining independence and ownership of the project. No offer of financial returns or equity, or solicitation of loans, would be made in connection with any historic project. The program website would provide the means for any visitor to the website to donate to a specific historic site or organization, or specific historic project. A gift or grant donated for these purposes would only be accepted by the commission on behalf of an historic site or organization. Any donation to an historic site or organization would be used at the discretion of the historic site or organization accepting it and any donation to a specific historic project would be used by the historic site or organization for the designated historic project. The commission would be authorized to accept and administer gifts or grants to be used only in accordance with the purposes set forth in this bill, or they would be returned to the donor or refused. The Department of the Treasury would provide the means by which donations may be made to the commission. Under the bill, the commission may request to monitor or oversee the progress of an historic project, as appropriate, and may require an historic site or organization to report progress on occasion; however, the commission would not be responsible for ensuring the completion of a project, nor would it investigate an historic site or organizations' ability to complete a project. An historic site or organization would be required to notify the commission, in writing, upon completion of a project. Additionally, this bill would allow the commission to collaborate, consult, or partner with an organization, including an Internet-based organization (for example, a crowdsourcing or advocacy organization such as Kickstarter, Inc.), whose mission is to support creative projects by fundraising and engaging the public at-large. The commission may also partner with or contract for such an organization to specifically announce or promote New Jersey historic sites or organizations and accept gifts or grants towards a developing project on behalf of an historic site or organization in furtherance of the goals of this bill. | In Committee |
| S622 | Establishes young driver program for commercial driver licences. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to establish a program to increase the number of young drivers who possess a commercial driver license. The program is to be established in consultation with experts in the commercial trucking industry. The commission is required to include information on the program in its annual report. | In Committee |
| S626 | Establishes "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program" to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers. | This bill establishes in the Department of Agriculture the "New Farmers Improvement Grant Program," to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers investing in diversification of their farming operations and innovations for the sustainability of those operations. The bill defines "beginning farmer" as a person who desires to engage in farming and has never farmed before, who has engaged in farming in the State for 10 years or less as of the effective date of the bill, or who qualifies as a first time farmer pursuant to federal law at 26 U.S.C. s.147(c)(2). To date, the State of New Jersey has spent $1.148 billion to preserve farmland in the Garden State. New Jersey cannot rely only on the success of land preservation to preserve farming. The State must take further action to preserve its farmers as well. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. The State-wide average age has increased more drastically at 2.72 percent annually since 2002, on average. | In Committee |
| S604 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to small business employers and farm employers related to increase in State minimum wage. | This bill allows corporation business tax (CBT) credits and gross income tax (GIT) credits for small business employers and farm employers for payment of the increased State minimum wage. The bill provides small business employers and farm employers with a tax credit equal to the difference of: 1) the minimum hourly wage required to be paid to an employee pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113, following the enactment of P.L.2019, c.32, which phases the State minimum wage up to $15.00 per hour, multiplied by the number of hours worked by an employee during a privilege period or taxable year; minus 2) that minimum hourly wage required to be paid on the day prior to the enactment of that same law, factoring in any adjustments to the minimum hourly wage, such as inflation, as required by law at that time. The term "small business employer" means a taxpayer that: 1) employs fewer than 25 employees in this State, which employees shall have been employed by the employer for not less than 48 weeks of the calendar year and which are employed by the taxpayer as of the last day of the calendar year; and 2) generates less than $1 million in annual net receipts, based on the average of the three preceding privilege periods or taxable years. The term "farm employer" means a taxpayer in this State who engages individuals in this State on a piece-rate or regular hourly rate basis to labor on a farm. The bill restricts the number of employees that can be used in calculating the tax credit amount, caps the credit amount at $12,500 for each employee included in the calculation of the credit, and limits the credit's availability to the ten subsequent privilege periods or taxable years that commence immediately following the effective date of the bill. Any amount of the tax credit that cannot be taken against a small business employer's or farm employer's CBT liability can be carried forward for four privilege periods following the privilege period for which a portion of the tax credit was allowed. If the GIT credit exceeds a small business employer's or farm employer's liability, the small business employer or farm employer can receive a refund for the amount in excess. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to determine the form and manner by which a taxpayer can apply for the tax credit. | In Committee |
| S637 | Authorizes riding of steer and other pack animals designated by DEP in any State park where horseback riding is permitted. | This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection, whenever it authorizes horseback riding as a permitted recreational activity in a State park, to additionally authorize, as a permitted recreational activity in the same State park, the riding of steer and any other pack animals designated by the department. | In Committee |
| S603 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to farm employers for providing lodging or transportation benefits. | This bill provides corporation business tax (CBT) credits and gross income tax (GIT) credits to farm employers for providing lodging or transportation benefits. The bill provides farm employers with tax credits in an amount equal to $250 for each employee that the farm employer provides lodging to, and up to $500 for each employee that the farm employer provides transportation benefits to during the taxable year. The lodging provided to an employee is required to be: (a) furnished on the premises of the farm employer's business; (b) furnished for the convenience of the farm employer; (c) required as a condition of employment; and (d) for a continuous period of at least six weeks during the taxable year. The transportation benefit provided by the farm employer is to assist with an employee's cost to commute or travel to or from work by reimbursing the employee for related and substantiated expenses. Any amount of the tax credit that cannot be applied against a farm employer's CBT liability for a privilege period can be carried forward to the four privilege periods following the privilege period for which a portion of the tax credit was allowed. If the GIT credit exceeds farm employer's liability, the farm employer can receive a refund for the amount in excess. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to determine the form and manner by which a taxpayer can apply for the tax credit. | In Committee |
| S641 | Requires Department of Agriculture to take various actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in New Jersey. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to take certain actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in the State. "Community supported agriculture" is a method of on-the-farm direct sales and marketing in which the retail sale, to a consumer, of a share of the agricultural output of a commercial farm is effectuated through a paid subscription service. "Community supported agriculture program" or "CSA program" is defined by the bill to mean a farm product retail sales and marketing program in which participating consumers agree to pay a seasonal or annual subscription fee to a farm in exchange for the consumers' regular and ongoing receipt of weekly shares of the farm's seasonal agricultural output. The bill would provide, in particular, that within 180 days after the bill's effective date, the Secretary of Agriculture is to develop and implement a publicity and marketing program to promote community supported agriculture in the State. As part of the program, the department would be required to: (1) establish and regularly update, on its Internet website, a webpage that is dedicated to community supported agriculture, which webpage, at a minimum, is to include a searchable list of all CSA programs in the State and the farms participating therein, and provide hyperlinks, or use another simple methodology, to enable members of the public to subscribe to CSA programs in their local area; (2) use all available means, including, but not limited to, print media, television, radio, road and other signage, the Internet, and social media to advertise and publicize: the availability of, and the benefits of participating in, community supported agriculture in the State; the names and locations of farms that participate in CSA programs; and the availability of the community supported agriculture webpage, established pursuant to the bill; and (3) develop, print, and distribute distinct promotional and marketing labels that may be used by farmers to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the operator of a farm, after first consulting with the DOA, from creating the farm's own promotional labels and using those labels to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold by the farm through community supported agriculture. The bill would also require the DOA, acting in cooperation with the Department of Education and in coordination with farmers, public, private, and charter schools and their food services, the New Jersey Farm to School Network or its successor entity, and other interested and relevant organizations and groups, as determined by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to be appropriate, to establish and annually observe a week of promotional events to be known as "Community Supported Agriculture Week." "Community Supported Agriculture Week" would be intended to highlight and promote the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both as a means by which farming operations can better ensure their ongoing productivity, success, and financial stability, and as a means by which individuals, families, and businesses in the State can obtain fresh, seasonal, and easily accessible farm-to-table foods, throughout the year, while developing closer, more supportive, and reciprocal relationships with local farmers and becoming more invested in, and aware of the factors affecting, the seasonal and long-term success, stability, and viability of farming operations. The week would be celebrated on an annual basis, throughout the State, during the last full week in February, and would be observed through the holding of relevant promotional events. The bill would further require the DOA, through the State's existing "Farm to School Program," to encourage schools in the State to obtain fresh, locally grown or produced agricultural products for school meals by subscribing to, and becoming participants in, a community supported agriculture program, and to work in cooperation with the Department of Education to ensure that school curriculum addresses the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both to farmers and to the community as a whole, and the ways in which students and their families can become active participants in community supported agriculture. In addition, the bill would require the State's existing "Farm to School" website to: (1) provide opportunities for the execution of community supported agriculture subscription agreements between and among farmers, distributors, and schools or school districts; (2) facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events in association with "Community Supported Agriculture Week"; and (3) include a copy of any community supported agriculture subscription agreement that has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State. The bill would also require the existing State website that serves as a clearinghouse for farmers, and that currently provides a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that have a need for produce or dairy products, to additionally provide a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that are interested in participating as subscribers in a community supported agriculture program. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and receive funds, either as direct contributions, or from the sale of labels or the right to use labels authorized by the DOA, or from any other source, for the purposes of advertising and promoting the value and importance of community supported agriculture in the State, as provided by the bill. This authority would be supplemental to the secretary's existing authority to solicit and receive funds for the purpose of advertising and promoting the sale of NJ farm products and the "Jersey Fresh" program. Any monies received for the purposes of the bill are to be deposited in the State's existing "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund." The bill would clarify that, in addition to the existing purposes for which monies in the "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund" may be used, such monies may be used to publicize the value and importance of community supported agriculture; to cover the expenses of printing and distributing labels used in identifying products being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture; and to cover any other expenses that are incident to the implementation of this bill. | In Committee |
| S607 | Criminalizes fraudulently pretending to be transportation network company driver. | This bill criminalizes fraudulently pretending to be a transportation network company driver. Under the bill, it is a crime of the fourth degree if a person falsely pretends to be a transportation network company driver for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself or another or to injure or defraud another. In addition, if the person knowingly exhibits or displays a falsely purported identifying marker as set forth in section 23 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-23) or some other identification, then it is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the third degree carries a penalty of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. In addition, the bill provides that it is not a crime for a transportation network company driver to provide cash rides. | In Committee |
| S629 | Provides tax credits to restaurant owners to offset increase in State minimum wage rate. | This bill allows corporation business tax (CBT) credits and gross income tax (GIT) credits for restaurant owners to offset the increased State minimum wage. The bill provides a tax credit equal to: (1) the minimum wage rate required to be paid to an employee multiplied by the number of hours worked by an employee during a tax year; minus (2) the minimum wage rate required to be paid on the day prior to the enactment of the 2019 changes to the minimum wage law, factoring in any otherwise required adjustments to the minimum wage rate, such as for inflation. In the case of an employee who customarily and regularly receives gratuities or tips, the credit will be $3.00 multiplied by the number of hours worked by the employee during. Employees that are employed for deliveries will not be counted in the calculation of the credit. The bill restricts the number of employees that can be used in calculating the tax credit amount, caps the credit amount at $12,500 for each employee included in the calculation of the credit, and limits the credit's availability to the 10 years immediately following the effective date of the bill. A taxpayer will be allowed to claim a credit for no more than three restaurant locations, and the credit will only be available to a taxpayer with five or fewer restaurants. | In Committee |
| S639 | Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions made to animal shelters. | This bill allows a State gross income tax deduction of up to $1,500 for charitable contributions made to a New Jersey-based animal shelter. The bill defines "animal shelter" to mean an establishment that is a licensed animal shelter that receives, houses, and distributes domestic companion animals that have been abandoned or lost or are in physical danger and are in need of temporary care and housing until the animal is relocated to permanent care and housing or is euthanized. The term "animal shelter" also includes, but is not limited to, a shelter and a facility that is contracted by a municipality as an animal control facility to which the animal control officer of the municipality may deliver animals that are found abandoned, lost or in physical danger. | In Committee |
| S614 | Requires annual review of all released sex offenders to determine if they were registered and tiered. | This bill requires the Attorney General, on or before March 30th of each year, to conduct a review of all persons who were released from incarceration or involuntary commitment in the previous calendar year and who are required to register as a sex offender. The review is to determine whether such persons actually did register and whether they were tiered by the county prosecutors. | In Committee |
| S612 | Gives priority to applicants for firearms purchaser identification card and permits to purchase handguns when domestic violence restraining order is in effect. | This bill establishes that the background investigation of an applicant for a firearms purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun is to take precedence over the investigation of other applicants if a restraining order obtained by the applicant against a domestic violence offender pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" is in effect. To implement this provision, the bill also requires the standard application form for an identification card or permit to set forth whether a restraining order obtained by the applicant against a domestic violence offender pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" is in effect. The intent of the bill is to expedite the process of obtaining identification cards or permits for victims of domestic violence so they are better able to protect themselves from their attackers. | 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 |
| S602 | Authorizes school nurses to administer opioid antidotes to overdose victims on school property, with immunity from civil, criminal, and professional liability, pursuant to "Overdose Prevention Act." | This bill would amend the State's "Overdose Prevention Act" (OPA), P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et seq.), in order to authorize school nurses to administer opioid antidotes, with immunity, to overdose victims who are located on school property, or are engaged in school-sponsored activities. The bill would authorize a health care practitioner to prescribe or dispense opioid antidotes, through a standing order, to a school nurse, or to a school that employs a school nurse, who is deemed by the health care practitioner to be capable of administering the antidotes to overdose victims in an emergency. A school nurse acting pursuant to a standing order would be authorized, in an emergency situation, to administer an opioid antidote, without fee, to any person on school property, or to any person engaged in a school-sponsored activity, if the nurse believes, in good faith, that the person is experiencing an opioid overdose. Consistent with the OPA's existing immunity provisions, the bill would provide schools and school nurses with immunity from civil and criminal liability, and immunity from professional disciplinary action, in association with any act or omission, which is related to the administration of an opioid antidote, and which is undertaken, in good faith, in accordance with the provisions of the bill and the OPA. The bill would also make several technical amendments to the OPA to correct improper citations and terminological references, and improve clarity. | In Committee |
| S598 | Allows $250 gross income tax deduction for members of military on active duty. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction of $250 for taxpayers who are on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for the entire taxable year. According to the U.S. Department of Defense Manpower Data Center, as of September of 2017, there were a total of 7,669 active duty military personnel in the State serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. It is the sponsor's intent that the service of these men and women be recognized and that this deduction provide some assistance by potentially reducing their New Jersey Gross Income Tax liability. The bill would take effect upon enactment and apply to taxable years commencing on or after the January 1 next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S599 | Concerns certain fees for credit card usage during state of emergency. | This bill prohibits an electronic payment system from imposing a fee on a merchant for the manual entry of a credit card that is higher than the fee for an electronic credit card transaction. "Electronic payment system" is defined as an entity, which is not a national bank, that directly, or through licensed members, processors or agents, provides the proprietary services, infrastructure, and software that route information and data to facilitate transaction authorization, clearance, and settlement, and that merchants access in order to accept a brand of general-purpose credit cards, charge cards, debit cards or store-valued cards as payments for goods or services. "Merchant" is defined as a person or entity doing business in this State which offers goods or services for sale in this State. The provisions of the bill would be in effect during a state of emergency declared by the governor. | In Committee |
| S632 | Allows tax credits for supermarkets with dedicated displays for Jersey Fresh products. | This bill allows a corporation business tax credit or gross income tax credit for grocery stores and small food retailers that maintain dedicated displays for Jersey Fresh products and New Jersey certified organic products. The credit would be $2,000 per display in a grocery store, or $1,000 per display in a small food retailer. To qualify for a credit, the dedicated displays must be at least 25 square feet of floor space in a grocery store or 12 square feet of floor space in a small food retailer, and must be maintained for at least 120 days of the year. Jersey Fresh is a quality grading, marketing, and labeling program operated by the Department of Agriculture and pursuant to which fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables are labeled as Jersey Fresh, locally grown nursery crops are labeled as Jersey Grown, locally aquacultured or wild-caught fish and shellfish are labeled as Jersey Seafood, and processed foods made with New Jersey-sourced agricultural products are labeled as Made with Jersey Fresh. New Jersey certified organic products are verified by the Department of Agriculture, and are part of an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. The system is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony. Fresh, locally-sourced foods can provide greater flavor and nutrition than those imported from far away. Often times when produce is shipped to New Jersey from other states, it must be harvested before it is at its peak of flavor and ripeness, to allow for both time and shipping conditions of that item from another state or sometimes even another country. A Jersey Fresh commodity is grown right here in New Jersey, and because of the obvious geographic proximity to local distribution centers, the commodity can be harvested at its peak stage and offered to retailers in a much shorter amount of time. Additionally, when commodities are harvested at their peak of flavor and freshness, more of the very important vitamins and minerals each commodity offers is retained within the commodity. | In Committee |
| S601 | Requires PFRS enrollment to be retroactive to first date of employment for death benefit eligibility. | This bill requires eligible policemen and firemen to be deemed enrolled in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) retroactive to their first date of employment for the purpose of a death benefit. Under current law, eligible policemen and firemen are required to be enrolled in the PFRS as a condition of their employment. This bill provides that the death of an employee prior to enrollment in PFRS will be deemed to have occurred during active service. The bill requires that an employee's membership in PFRS is to be retroactive to the first date of their employment if they were not enrolled in PFRS at the time of their death. This will permit an employee's surviving spouse, child, or parent to collect death benefits. Additionally, if the employee died prior to the enactment of this bill, their surviving spouse, child, or parent may apply for death benefits within 12 months after the enactment of this bill. | In Committee |
| S613 | Authorizes South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association license plates with proceeds to veterans' and emergency management operations. | This bill authorizes the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission ("commission") to issue South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association license plates for a motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in this State. The bill requires a $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee for these license plates, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of a motor vehicle. The additional fees are to be deposited in the "South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association License Plate Fund" ("fund"), in the Department of the Treasury, created in this bill. The funds are to be appropriated equally on an annual basis to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs for the aid of veterans organizations and to the Emergency Management Section of the Division of State Police for use by local emergency management organizations. The commission is to be reimbursed for the costs incurred for producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the special plates and for any computer programming necessary to implement the license plate program from donors and the fees collected prior to their deposit into the fund. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission ("chief administrator") is to annually certify the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year which cost is to be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor. If the certified average cost per license plate exceeds the $50 application fee for two consecutive years, the chief administrator may discontinue issuing the South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association license plate. | In Committee |
| S620 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $500 income tax deduction. | This bill would allow eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid and rescue squad members to take an additional $500 personal exemption as a deduction from gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax. The bill specifically sets forth eligibility requirements for persons who want to claim the additional personal exemption. Fire company members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 60 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified. First aid and rescue squad members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 10 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of the drills, and have passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. The official in charge of each fire department or force or first aid or rescue squad is required to submit annually to the appropriate State agency a list of members who have met the above requirements. | In Committee |
| S605 | Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to small business employers and farm employers for increases in certain mandatory employer contributions. | This bill provides corporation business tax (CBT) credits and gross income tax (GIT) credits to small business employers and farm employers for increases in certain mandatory employer contributions. The bill provides small business employers and farm employers with tax credits in an amount equal to the difference of: 1) the amounts expended by the small business employer or farm employer as mandatory employer contributions for workers' compensation insurance and New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance and Unemployment Insurance during the privilege period or taxable year; minus 2) the amounts that would have been expended by the small business employer or farm employer as mandatory employer contributions for workers' compensation insurance and New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance and Unemployment Insurance during the preceding for the same amount of employees and wages during the preceding privilege period or taxable year. The term "small business employer" means a taxpayer that: 1) employs fewer than 25 employees in this State, which employees shall have been employed by the employer for not less than 48 weeks of the calendar year and which are employed by the taxpayer as of the last day of the calendar year; and 2) generates less than $1 million in annual net receipts, based on the average of the three preceding privilege periods or taxable years. The term "farm employer" means a taxpayer in this State who engages individuals in this State on a piece-rate or regular hourly rate basis to labor on a farm. The bill caps the credit amount at $12,000 annually for each taxpayer per privilege period and taxable year, and the credit is only available for the privilege periods and taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2030. Any amount of the tax credit that cannot be taken against a small business employer's or farm employer's CBT liability can be carried forward for four privilege periods following the privilege period for which a portion of the tax credit was allowed. If the credit exceeds a small business employer's or farm employer's GIT liability, the small business employer or farm employer can receive a refund for the amount in excess. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to determine the form and manner by which a taxpayer can apply for the tax credit. | In Committee |
| SCR31 | Requires Legislature to make bills and joint resolutions available to public on Legislature's website at least seven days before final vote. | This constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to make bills and joint resolutions available to the public on the Legislature's website at least seven days before a final vote. Under the Constitution, a bill has to be read three times before it can be passed. A bill is given first reading when introduced, second reading generally when voted out of committee, and third reading before the final vote. The Constitution also requires one full calendar day between second reading and a final vote on a bill or joint resolution with an emergency exception. This amendment would change the Constitution to instead require at least seven days between second reading and third reading. Under the bill, each time a bill or joint resolution is read a second time the bill or joint resolution must be made available on the Legislature's website for at least seven days after each second reading and prior to the third reading. The exception in the Constitution that a bill or joint resolution may have a final vote without the seven day period if three-fourths of the members in that House decide that the bill or joint resolution is an emergency measure remains unchanged. It is the sponsor's belief that this amendment would ensure that the public has access to most bills and joint resolutions for at least seven days before a final vote and limit the ability of bills and joint resolutions to be voted on without proper transparency to the public. | In Committee |
| S609 | Excludes farmland from definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" in "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." | This bill would amend the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.), to specify that farmland is not a redevelopment area or an area in need of redevelopment under that law. Specifically, this bill amends the definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" used in the law to specifically exclude any land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use that is valued, assessed, and taxed pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.). The classification of productive farmland as an area in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law" is detrimental to the State's agricultural economy. Retaining productive farmland is critically important to New Jersey, nicknamed "The Garden State," as agriculture is one of the State's largest industries. | In Committee |
| S619 | Eliminates transfer inheritance taxes on brothers and sisters of a decedent. | This bill amends the New Jersey transfer inheritance tax to eliminate the tax on brothers and sisters of a decedent for transfers made on or after January 1, 2022. Presently, transfers to brothers and sisters of a decedent are taxed according to the rate imposed on "Class C" beneficiaries, or at a rate of 11 to 16 percent depending on the amount transferred, with the first $25,000 exempt from taxation. This bill would effectively treat transfers to a brother or sister of a decedent on par with transfers to other immediate family members, including the spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, father, mother, grandparent, or child of a decedent. | In Committee |
| S610 | Establishes Emergency Services Assistance Grant Program in DOH; appropriates $10 million. | This bill establishes the Emergency Services Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Health (department) and appropriates $10,000,000 from federal monies received by the State due to the COVID-19 outbreak to fulfill the bill's provisions. The program is to award grants to emergency services providers who have suffered financial losses during the COVID-19 outbreak as a result of diminished fundraising activity due to federal, local, or State mandates. The Commissioner of Health (commissioner) is to develop an application by which an emergency services provider may apply for a grant for funding, and criteria by which to rank applications received by the department. The grant amount shall be based on previous fundraising activity as demonstrated through financial information submitted by the emergency services provider to the commissioner. The commissioner is to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program and make the application available on the department's Internet website. Upon receipt of an application, the commissioner is to review the application and, subject to the availability of funds, award a grant to each approved grant applicant. The bill defines "emergency services provider" to mean any volunteer fire company or any volunteer first aid, emergency, rescue, or ambulance squad. | In Committee |
| S621 | Concerns bereavement leave for miscarriage and stillbirth. | This bill provides that an employee shall be permitted to take family leave granted by the "New Jersey Family Leave Act" to grieve the loss of a child due to miscarriage or stillbirth. This bill allows an employee to take family temporary disability leave granted by the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law" to bereave the loss of a child due to miscarriage or stillbirth if the individual, or the domestic partner or civil union partner of the individual, is a biological parent of the child or is a parent of the child pursuant to a valid gestational carrier agreement. | In Committee |
| S616 | Lowers age of eligibility for surviving spouse under homestead property tax reimbursement program. | This bill lowers the minimum age for a surviving spouse of an eligible claimant to maintain their eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement upon the death of the eligible claimant. The current minimum age is 65. The bill changes the minimum age to 62. The bill is retroactive to January 1, 2020. Informally known as the "senior freeze," the homestead property tax reimbursement provides eligible senior citizens and disabled persons with a benefit to compensate for increases in property taxes. | In Committee |
| S623 | Establishes reasonableness standard for persons lawfully transporting firearm who deviate from course of travel. | This bill clarifies the type of situations in which persons may deviate from their statutorily required course of travel when lawfully transporting a firearm. Under current law, certain persons in specific situations may lawfully transport a weapon without a permit to carry. A person who is lawfully transporting a firearm in a motor vehicle may deviate from the course of travel between statutorily permitted locations only to the extent "reasonably necessary" under the circumstances. The "reasonably necessary" standard applies to the following persons: (1) licensed firearms dealers and their registered employees during the normal course of business while traveling to and from their place of business and other places for the purpose of demonstration, exhibition, or delivery related to a sale; (2) firearms owners carrying their firearms on or between their place of business and residence or dwelling, or between where the firearm was purchased and the home or business, or between their business or residence and a repair shop; (3) members of authorized rifle and pistol clubs carrying a firearm to or from target practice; (4) licensed hunters or fishermen traveling directly to or from their hunting or fishing destination; and (5) persons traveling to a target range or other authorized place for practice, match, target, trap, or skeet shooting exhibitions. The Acting Attorney General recently issued guidelines to be followed by prosecutors and law enforcement officers when determining whether a deviation in the course of travel with a lawfully-possessed firearm is "reasonably necessary." The guidelines provided examples of "reasonably necessary" deviations which may include: collecting and discharging passengers; purchasing fuel, food and beverages, medication, or other needed supplies; using a restroom; contending with an emergency situation; or driving around a traffic jam. This bill amends current law to replace the "reasonably necessary" standard with a less stringent reasonableness standard which allows persons lawfully transporting a firearm to deviate from their course of travel for a common, brief, and lawful purpose associated with reaching a statutorily permitted destination. The bill provides that reasonable deviations may include, but are not limited to, collecting and discharging passengers; obtaining supplies, medication, food or other provisions; and using restrooms prior to reaching an authorized destination. In addition, the bill clarifies that a person may travel with a firearm to contend with a bona fide emergency, or when a State or local emergency has been declared and an evacuation plan is in effect. | In Committee |
| S630 | Requires grants to local government units to cover total cost of forest stewardship plans; provides for allocation of funding from "Global Warming Solutions Fund". | This bill would require that a grant awarded by the Department of Environmental Protection for a forest stewardship plan to a local government unit be for the total cost of the development and implementation of the plan. Current law authorizes the department to award grants of up to $1,500 from the "Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund" (fund) to pay for the cost of developing a forest stewardship plan pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-31) to owners of forested land, including local government units. Current law also provides that, if the cost of developing a forest stewardship plan exceeds $1,500, the department may also award 80 percent of the cost that exceeds $1,500 to the owner, up to a maximum grant of $2,500. The fund is credited with moneys allocated for programs that enhance the stewardship and restoration of the State's forests pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-51) from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund." This bill would require a grant to a local government unit to cover the total cost of development and implementation of a forest stewardship plan for its forested land. Finally, the bill would require that of the moneys allocated for forest stewardship from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," at least 10 percent of that allocation would be required to be allocated for grants for the development and implementation of forest stewardship plans. | In Committee |
| SJR23 | Urges President and Congress of United States to enact student loan forgiveness program for teachers in military-impacted communities. | This joint resolution urges the President and the Congress of the United States to enact a student loan forgiveness program for teachers who teach in military-impacted communities to help attract and retain highly qualified and skilled teachers to teach in those communities and ensure that military-connected students receive a quality education. The dependent children of active duty United States military personnel often encounter educational and social-emotional challenges during the transition to a new school when the student's parent or guardian is relocated due to the active member's continued military service. Teachers often serve as the initial point of contact for many military-connected students and can help ease entry into the new school environment for those students. | In Committee |
| S631 | Requires DEP to reimburse local units for costs incurred in responding to emergencies in State parks and forests. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reimburse a local unit for costs incurred by the local unit in responding to an emergency inside a State park or forest. A local unit includes any county, municipality, or any agency, authority, or other entity thereof, or any fire district. The local unit seeking reimbursement would be required to submit to the DEP an invoice along with any other documentation of costs as the DEP may require, within 30 days after responding to an emergency. The DEP would be required to make the reimbursement within 30 days after receipt of the invoice. The bill would apply only to costs incurred by local units after the date of enactment of the bill into law. | In Committee |
| S617 | Adds illicit fentanyls to Schedule I in the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act." | This bill would add "illicit fentanyls" to Schedule I in the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act." Schedule I substances have high potential for abuse, and either have no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or lack accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision. Illicit fentanyls are derivatives of the regulated prescription drug fentanyl. In September 2016, the Office of the Attorney General issued an emergency order that temporarily added seven illicit fentanyls to Schedule I. On March 21, 2017 this designation was made permanent, when these substances were added to Schedule I in the Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 13:45H-10.1.) This bill would codify the Schedule I placement of illicit fentanyls in the statutes. This bill would not change the designation of prescription fentanyl, which is a Schedule II substance. A substance is placed in Schedule II if it: (1) has high potential for abuse; (2) has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; and (3) abuse may lead to severe psychic or physical dependence. Under subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:35-5, unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing any Schedule I or II substance in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree (punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both). Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree (generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both, but in this case also punishable by an increased fine of up to $75,000). Specifically, the bill adds the following substances to Schedule I: Illicit fentanyls. Illicit fentanyls include any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that is not listed as a controlled substance in Schedules I through V, is not a Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug, and contains any quantity of the following substances, their salts, isomers (whether optical, positional, or geometric), homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers, and homologues (analogs) unless specifically excepted whenever the existence of these salts, isomers, homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers and homologues (analogs) is possible within the specific chemical designations:i. Furanyl Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2-furancarboxamide, monohydrochloride or N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-phenylfuran-2-carboxamide; ii. 3-Methylfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 3-methyl-N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenethyl-4-piperidyl)-propanamide); iii. 3-Methyl Butyrylfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 3-Methyl, N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-butanamide, monohydrochloride; iv. Valeryl Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-pentanamide, monohydrochloride; v. Norfentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-4-piperidinyl-propanamide; vi. Para-Fluorobutyryl-Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl) -4-piperidinyl]-butanamide, monohydrochloride; and vii. Carfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylic acid; methyl 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-(N-propanoylanilino) piperidine-4-carboxylateor. | In Committee |
| S624 | Excludes veterans' benefits from calculation of financial obligation for care at psychiatric facility. | This bill amends R.S.30:4-60 to exclude veterans' benefits from income for the purpose of calculating the financial obligation for care in a psychiatric facility, which is defined as a State psychiatric hospital listed in R.S.30:1-7, county psychiatric hospital, or psychiatric unit of a county hospital. Currently, subsection c. of R.S.30:4-60, which was added by P.L.2005, c.55, provides that the financial obligation of an adult with mental illness, after taking a credit for all available third party insurance or medical assistance program payments, is based on the sliding scale fee schedule established for charity care under section 10 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.60). Under the bill, veterans' benefits the person receives would be excluded from income when calculating the adult's obligation for psychiatric care using the sliding scale fee for charity care. | In Committee |
| S596 | Requires public utilities to mail customers detailed explanation of rate settlement agreements prior to final BPU vote. | This bill requires a public utility to, upon arriving at a rate settlement agreement, the approval of which would increase individual rates, tolls, charges, or schedules of a public utility, notify customers in the service area affected by the settlement by direct mail prior to the final settlement decision before the Board of Public Utilities. The notification shall provide an explanation of the proposed settlement, including a detailed justification of the basis for the proposed settlement. | In Committee |
| S597 | Requires public utilities to provide customers notice of request for increase in rates; revises requirements related to hearings on proposed rate increases. | This bill requires that electric, gas, water, and sewer public utilities regulated by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) that have petitioned the BPU for an increase in rates, shall provide notice to individual customers of any hearing or proceeding to be held concerning such a request. Such notice must be provided reasonably in advance of the hearing or proceeding, as determined by board rules or regulations, and shall be conspicuously set forth in writing in or with the bills for service sent by the public utility, or other written notice, to each of its customers and publicized in the public notice section of a newspaper having substantial readership, printed, and published within each county in which the public utility provides service. The bill amends the law concerning public hearings conducted in relation to proposed rate increases by any public utility to provide that such hearings shall be held in the municipality with the largest population that may be affected by the increase. If the increase would affect municipalities in more than one county, the hearings would be held in the municipality with the largest population in each affected county. In addition, the bill directs the BPU to receive and address public questions and comments concerning the proposed rate increase submitted during the public hearing. | In Committee |
| S643 | Allows gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses of certain veterans. | This bill provides an annual exemption under the New Jersey gross income tax, in the amount of $3,000, to a taxpayer who is the surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran of active duty military service. Under current law, a taxpayer who is a veteran honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the United States Armed Forces or a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of New Jersey in a federal active duty status, may be eligible to receive a gross income tax exemption in the amount of $6,000 for each taxable year in which the veteran qualifies. This bill extends this veterans' exemption to the surviving spouse of a veteran who has: (1) died while on active duty; (2) was honorably discharged from active duty; or (3) was released from active duty under honorable circumstances. If a surviving spouse remarries, he or she becomes no longer eligible to receive the exemption. The following terms are defined elsewhere in the statutes and are incorporated by reference: "active duty" means duty in the active military service; and "armed forces" means the land, air, and sea forces established by State or federal laws, as applicable. This bill extends the veterans' gross income tax exemption to surviving spouses in order to acknowledge the burdens borne by the widows and widowers of our veterans. Tax relief of this nature is a means to further boost the economic security of those individuals who sacrificed to safeguard our security and freedom. | In Committee |
| SJR22 | Designates fourth Sunday of October of each year as "Football Tight Ends Day" in NJ. | This joint resolution designates the fourth Sunday of October of each year as "Football Tight Ends Day" in New Jersey. Tight ends (TEs) are hybrid position players on offense who have several responsibilities. During a rushing play, they are tasked with effectively blocking defensive linemen, who often range anywhere from 275 and 325 pounds. During a passing play, they are required to block linemen, run a receiving route, or both. The various responsibilities of a TE require them to be strong, agile, decisive, and athletic. Despite these various responsibilities and skillsets, TEs are often overlooked when it comes to fan appreciation and recognition for more glamorous positions, such as quarterback or running back. To provide greater recognition to TEs, San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle, widely considered one of the best players in the NFL by fans and players alike, created "National Tight Ends Day" in 2019. The focus of "National Tight Ends Day" is to acknowledge the importance of the TE position, the often undervalued TEs in the league, and celebrate the energetic and fun personalities of TEs. Since its inception in 2019, "National Tight Ends Day" has been embraced by teams, the NFL, fans, and multiple media outlets across the country. New Jersey has a rich history in the game of football. New Jersey is the birthplace of college football and home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets, who play their games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. New Jersey has a rich history with the tight end position as well. The Miami Dolphins Mike Gesicki, Pittsburgh Steelers Eric Ebron, and Tennessee Titans Anthony Firkser were all born in New Jersey and play the TE position at a high level in the NFL. Former All-Pro TE and current sportscaster Greg Olsen was also born in New Jersey and was a highly recruited player out of Wayne Hills High School. United States Senator Cory Booker was also a standout TE at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan and Stanford University. Given the State's storied history with the game of football and the tight end position, it is appropriate for New Jersey to take the lead on promoting and acknowledging "Football Tight Ends Day" on the fourth Sunday of October of each year to recognize the contributions and efforts of those players. | In Committee |
| S628 | Requires State employer to ascertain child abuse or sexual misconduct in employment applications for certain positions involving children; requires background checks for current and prospective employees. | This bill requires State employers, or service providers holding a contract with a State employer to provide services involving children, to ascertain allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct prior to awarding employment in certain positions that involve regular contact with children. The bill also requires a criminal history record background check and a child abuse record background check for each current or prospective employee of a State employer or service provider who is or would be employed in a position having regular contact with children. Under the bill, a State employer means any of the principal departments in the Executive Branch of this State, and any board, bureau, office, division, authority, or other instrumentality thereof. Application Information - Prospective Employees The bill requires each State employer or service provider to request from each applicant for employment in a position having regular contact with children detailed information concerning that person's employment history. Each such applicant would be required to provide (1) a list of the applicant's current employer, all former employers within the last 20 years, and an indication of which of those employment positions involved direct contact with children; (2) a written authorization that consents to and authorizes disclosure of the information requested and the release of related records by the applicant's employers, and that releases those employers from liability that may arise from the disclosure or release of records; and (3) a written statement as to whether the applicant has been the subject of any child abuse or sexual misconduct investigation by any employer, State licensing agency, law enforcement agency, or the Department of Children and Families, and whether the investigation resulted in a finding that the allegations were false or the alleged incident of child abuse or sexual misconduct was not substantiated; has ever been disciplined, discharged, non-renewed, asked to resign from employment, resigned from or otherwise separated from any employment while allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct; or has ever had a license, professional license, or certificate suspended, surrendered, or revoked while allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct. The bill establishes penalties for the provision of false information by an applicant for employment; requires that current and former employers of an applicant respond to a State employer's or service provider's request for information within 20 days of that request; and allows the State employer or service provider to disqualify an applicant if the information on that person's application cannot be verified due to a non-response from a current or prior employer. The bill allows such disqualification or termination upon an affirmative response or finding of child abuse or sexual misconduct in an applicant's application or employment history. Under special or emergent circumstances, the bill allows a State employer or service provider to employ or contract with an applicant on a provisional basis for a period not to exceed 90 days pending review of an applicant's information, provided the applicant submitted the information requested and the State employer or service provider has no adverse knowledge or information pertaining to the applicant. The bill provides that the application records would not be subject to public disclosure under the "open public records act," and prohibits the State employer or service provider from entering into any contracts or agreements that would expunge application records or make it difficult to report findings of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Criminal History Record Background Check - Current and Prospective Employees The bill requires an applicant for employment and each current employee of a State employer or service provider who is or will be employed in a position which involves regular contact with children, to undergo a criminal history record background check as a condition of prospective or continuing employment. The prospective or current employee would be permanently disqualified from employment in that position if the criminal history record background check of that employee or applicant reveals a record of conviction for any of the following crimes and offenses: (1) a crime against a child, including endangering the welfare of a child and child pornography; child molestation; (2) abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child; (3) endangering the welfare of a person with a developmental disability; (4) sexual assault, criminal sexual contact or lewdness; (5) murder or manslaughter; (6) stalking; (7) kidnaping and related offenses including criminal restraint, false imprisonment, interference with custody, criminal coercion, or enticing a child into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area; (8) arson, or causing or risking widespread injury or damage, which would constitute a crime of the second degree; (9) aggravated assault, which would constitute a crime of the second or third degree; (10) robbery, which would constitute a crime of the first degree; (11) burglary, which would constitute a crime of the second degree; (12) domestic violence; (13) terroristic threats; and (14) an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these crimes or offenses. Under the bill, for crimes and offenses other than those listed, an employee or applicant may be eligible for employment if the individual has affirmatively demonstrated clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation. Child Abuse Record Information Check - Current and Prospective Employees The bill further requires each applicant for employment and each current employee of a State employer or service provider who will be or is employed in a position which involves regular contact with children to undergo a child abuse record information check. The State employer or service provider would be required to conduct that check to determine if an incident of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against the prospective or current employee. Under the bill, if a current or prospective employee refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the conduct of a child abuse record information check, the person would be ineligible for or immediately terminated from employment. The bill provides that a current employee of a State employer or service provider, or an applicant for employment, who is or will be employed in a position which involves regular contact with children, would be permanently disqualified from employment in that position if the child abuse record information check of that employee or applicant reveals a record of conviction for child abuse. | In Committee |
| S634 | Enters New Jersey into Counseling Compact. | This bill enters New Jersey into the Counseling Compact. The Counseling Compact (compact) is an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses. The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services. The practice of professional counseling occurs in the state where the client is located at the time of the counseling services. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. In addition, the compact is designed to achieve the following objectives: 1) increase public access to professional counseling services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses; 2) enhance the states' ability to protect the public's health and safety; 3) encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate practice for licensed professional counselors; 4) support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel; 5) enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information among member states; 6) allow for the use of telehealth technology to facilitate increased access to professional counseling services; 7) support the uniformity of professional counseling licensure requirements throughout the states to promote public safety and public health benefits; 8) invest all member states with the authority to hold a licensed professional counselor accountable for meeting all state practice laws in the state in which the client is located at the time care is rendered through the mutual recognition of member state licenses; 9) eliminate the necessity for licenses in multiple states; and 10) provide opportunities for interstate practice by licensed professional counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements. The compact is administered by a commission comprising representatives of each of the member states. The commission has certain powers to promulgate rules and bylaws, create a budget, conduct investigations, assess member fees, and to generally enforce the provisions of the compact. The compact sets forth procedures for investigating and disciplining professional counselors for misconduct, as well as for communicating to member states information concerning a professional counselor who is under investigation, has lost the right to practice under the compact, or who has regained the right to practice under the compact. The compact provides that it takes effect when it has been adopted in 10 states. Currently, 16 states have joined the compact: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. | Dead |
| S645 | Increases allowed amount of property tax refunds and certain cancellations that can be authorized without further action of municipal governing body. | This bill would permit the governing body of a municipality to adopt a resolution authorizing a municipal employee, without any further action by the governing body, to process a property tax refund or the cancellation of a property tax refund or delinquency of less than $20. Under current law, the amount of refund or cancellation that can be processed by a municipal employee without further action by the governing body is $10. | In Committee |
| S600 | Establishes Volunteer First Responders Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. | This bill establishes the Volunteer First Responders Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to:· be a resident of the State;· be an active volunteer emergency responder who: o in the case of a volunteer on a first aid, rescue, or ambulance squad or with an Office of Emergency Management, has completed a minimum of 500 hours of volunteer work in each year of program participation; oro in the case of a volunteer firefighter, has responded to at least 60 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills and has received certification from the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs;· have completed an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an in-State institution of higher education on or after the bill's effective date; and· provide the authority with a sworn or official statement from the chief or other presiding officer with the volunteer fire company, the volunteer first aid, rescue or ambulance squad, or the county or municipal volunteer Office of Emergency Management, as appropriate, attesting that the applicant is an active member in good standing. The redemption of loans under the program would amount to $6,000 or the outstanding balance of eligible student loan expenses, whichever is less. A participant may receive $2,000 in each of the second, third, and fourth years of active service in the program following graduation from the degree or certificate program. A program participant will not be eligible to receive any loan redemption in the first year of active service in the program. | In Committee |
| S618 | Provides that in certain cases vacancy in membership of board of education of limited purpose regional school district will be filled by majority vote of board of education of constituent district represented by former board member. | Under current law at N.J.S.18A:12-15, in many cases a vacancy in the membership of a board of education is filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board after the vacancy occurs. This bill provides that in those cases, if the vacancy to be filled is a vacancy on the board of a limited purpose regional school district, the vacancy will be filled by a majority vote of the members of the board of education of the constituent district represented by the former board member. | In Committee |
| S625 | Requires MVC to authorize use of third-party vendors in administration of commercial driver license testing. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to authorize third-party vendors to administer the knowledge or skills tests for commercial driver license applicants. In 2017, the State enacted legislation to establish the Commercial Driver License Testing Pilot Program. Under the pilot program, the MVC was required to appoint three private third-party vendors to administer the knowledge and skills tests for commercial driver license applicants. Moreover, based on the chief administrator's evaluation of the pilot program, the MVC was required to authorize other third-party vendors to administer these tests. However, although the MVC issued a series of Requests for Quote to solicit participating vendors, the MVC does not appear to have implemented the pilot program. In response, this bill amends current law to clarify that the MVC is required to authorize the use of third-party vendors in the administration of commercial driver license testing. Notably, the appointment of third-party vendors would no longer be based on the evaluation of the Commercial Driver License Testing Pilot Program. Additionally, the bill removes a provision of existing law that allows the chief administrator to limit the number of third-party vendors that may administer tests throughout the State. | In Committee |
| S606 | Exempts certain surviving spouses and surviving civil union partners of certain disabled veterans from components of the realty transfer fee. | This bill exempts the surviving spouses and surviving civil union partners of veterans who were completely disabled in active service in time of war from the basic and supplemental fee components of the realty transfer fee. Under current law, senior citizens and persons with disabilities who sell their one- or two-family residential home are exempted from the basic fee and the supplemental fee. This exemption is not available to the surviving spouse of a senior citizen or the surviving spouse of a person with a disability unless the surviving spouse is a senior citizen or a person with a disability. This bill allows the basic and supplemental realty transfer fee rates to the sale of any one- or two-family home of the surviving spouse or surviving partner of a disabled veteran who, at the time of the disabled veteran's death, qualified for the property tax exemption for the residential premises allowed to veterans who were 100 percent disabled in active service in time of war if the sale is made by the survivor during the survivor's widowhood or widowerhood. These surviving spouses and partners have endured the anxiety of separation experienced by all those who have had a loved one sent into active military service, and then shared the sacrifice of the veterans who have bought the destruction of war home with them. | In Committee |
| S615 | Provides a gross income tax deduction for veterinarian expenses. | This bill provides a gross income deduction for veterinarian expenses. Specifically, the bill allows a taxpayer to deduct up to $2,500 in nonreimbursed veterinarian expenses incurred by the taxpayer for the examination and care of their pet during the taxable year. | In Committee |
| SCR32 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing municipalities to provide partial property tax exemption to certain first responders disabled as result of World Trade Center recovery medical condition. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would permit municipalities, by ordinance, to provide a partial property tax exemption for the primary residence of an eligible first responder. The partial property tax exemption would be on the first 15 percent of the assessed value of the primary residence. The amendment would require the Legislature to pass a law permitting the exemption. Eligible first responders would include police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who are disabled as the result of a medical condition related to their presence at the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. | In Committee |
| S611 | Upgrades domestic violence-related assault under certain circumstances. | This bill upgrades domestic violence-related assault under certain circumstances. P.L.2015, c.98 made it aggravated assault, a crime of the third degree, to attempt to cause or to cause significant bodily injury to a person who, with respect to the actor, meets the definition of a "victim of domestic violence" pursuant to the law. In addition, the enactment eliminated the presumption of non-imprisonment for these assaults. This bill specifically upgrades assault committed in the course of violating a domestic violence restraining order. The bill provides for a gradation scheme which would take into account the infliction of serious bodily injury or bodily injury in the course of the restraining order violation. The penalties range from a crime of the fourth degree to a crime of the first degree, depending on the circumstances: · It would be a crime of the first degree if a person commits an aggravated assault by attempting to cause serious bodily injury to another or causing such injury purposely or knowingly or under extreme indifference to the value of human life recklessly causing such injury. (Subparagraph (a) of paragraph (14) of subsection b.)· It would be a crime of the second degree if a person commits an aggravated assault by attempting to cause or purposely or knowingly causing bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon. (Subparagraph (b) of paragraph (14) of subsection b.)· It would be a crime of the third degree (but the presumption of non-imprisonment would not apply) if a person recklessly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon or if the person knowingly, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, points a firearm at or in the direction of another, whether or not the actor believes it to be loaded. (Subparagraph (c) of paragraph (14) of subsection b.)· It would be a crime of the fourth degree (but the presumption of non-imprisonment would not apply) if the person commits a simple assault. A person is guilty of simple assault if he attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another, or negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, or attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. (Subparagraph (d) of paragraph (14) of subsection b.) A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10-20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S640 | Permits farm income averaging credit under the New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill provides New Jersey farmers with a credit against their annual New Jersey gross income tax determined by using income averaging (averaging out yearly gains and losses or varying levels of gains over a four-year period) from their farming business. The value of the credit is equal to the difference between a New Jersey farmer's income without four-year farming income averaging and with farming income averaging. The maximum annual credit allowed is $5,000. Farmers are faced with a variety of risks that impact the economic viability of their farming operations. Risks associated with production, weather, financial management, marketing and labor influence the potential for success. In order to assist farmers, the federal government enacted income averaging provisions that would permit farmers to have more control over the cyclical nature of agricultural risks and even out their tax liabilities for a more secure future. This New Jersey tax credit will provide farmers with New Jersey gross income tax relief in taxable years that follow the less profitable years of their New Jersey farming business. | In Committee |
| S635 | Requires State Board of Education meetings to be accessible virtually and in person. | This bill requires all public meetings of the State Board of Education to be accessible to the public both in person and virtually. The bill also requires that a link providing virtual access to meetings be publicly available on the State Board of Education's website. Finally, for any meeting in which the State Board of Education accepts public comment, the bill stipulates that members of the public will be able to provide comments by means of remote communication. | In Committee |
| S644 | Requires DHS to establish five-year pilot program to facilitate coordinated provision of systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment (START) services to adults who have both developmental disabilities and mental illness. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services, within 180 days after the bill's effective date, to establish a five-year pilot program to facilitate the coordinated provision of systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment (START) services to eligible adults in the State. An "eligible adult" is defined by the bill as a person who has both a developmental disability and a mental illness and is eligible to receive services from the Department of Human Services (DHS). The dual purposes of the pilot program will be to: 1) utilize appropriate crisis planning methods and the cross-system coordination of services as a means to promote and enhance the health, wellbeing, and ongoing mental stability of eligible adults residing at home in the community, in order to enable eligible adults to avoid institutionalization and maintain community-based residence; and 2) provide eligible adults with a therapeutic space, within the community, which can be used both for their respite, as a means to stave-off potential crisis, and for their stabilization in times of actual crisis. In implementing the pilot START program, the Commissioner of Human Services will be required to: 1) develop effective community, regional, and Statewide partnerships and efficient cross-system service linkages, as may be necessary to ensure the timely and coordinated provision of START services to all eligible adults in the State; 2) ensure that the pilot program utilizes a person-centered and solutions-focused approach, employs positive psychology and other evidence-based practices, and prioritizes and optimizes the independence, therapeutic treatment, and community-based living of eligible adults, consistent with the START program model established in 1988 and promoted by the Center for START Services at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability; and 3) designate at least one facility in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State to serve as a therapeutic respite home under the pilot program. Each therapeutic respite home designated under the bill is to contain at least two respite beds and two stabilization beds for use by eligible adults in the region. Respite beds are to be reserved for use by an eligible adult who is not in crisis, but whose crisis management and stabilization plan provides for the occasional use of therapeutic respite services as a means by which to prevent the onset of a behavioral health crisis. Stabilization beds are to be reserved for use by eligible adults who are actively experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The pilot START program will be designed to coordinate the cross-system provision of relevant services to eligible adults. Relevant services are to include, but need not be limited to: 1) individualized, cross-system assessment and diagnostic services to be used in identifying eligible adults and assessing and meeting their service needs; 2) on-site and remote crisis response and stabilization services, which are to be made available to eligible adults, immediately upon request or referral, 24 hours per day, seven days per week; 3) therapeutic respite and stabilization care, which is to be provided in a therapeutic respite home to any adult in crisis and to any eligible adult whose crisis management and stabilization plan provides for the occasional and temporary use of therapeutic respite as a means by which to prevent the onset of a behavioral health crisis; 4) ongoing and individualized cross-system crisis prevention and response planning services, which are to be made available, upon request or referral, to eligible adults and the family members, guardians, and caregivers thereof, and which are to include, at a minimum, the development of a personalized crisis management and stabilization plan for each eligible adult, which: a) identifies strategies that can be used by the eligible adult and the family members, guardian, or caregivers thereof to proactively prevent a behavioral health crisis; and b) describes the means and methods that will be used, in the event of a behavioral health crisis, to facilitate the eligible adult's timely receipt of appropriate crisis intervention, response, counseling, and stabilization services in the least restrictive, non-institutional setting; and 5) cross-system service coordination and referral services, and clinical and non-clinical consultation, education, and training services and sessions, which are to be made available to eligible adults and the family members, guardians, and caregivers thereof, in order to: a) help eligible adults and their family members, guardians, and caregivers identify and make full use of all available START services; b) promptly link eligible adults to, and coordinate each adult's receipt of, appropriate START services; and c) ensure the effective implementation of crisis management and stabilization plans. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services, at the end of each year of the pilot program's operation, to submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature. Each annual report is to identify, at a minimum: 1) the number of eligible adults in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State who are receiving services under the pilot program; 2) the location of each therapeutic respite home designated under the bill, and the number of respite beds and stabilization beds that are available at each therapeutic respite home; 3) the number of eligible adults in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State who have utilized respite or stabilization services provided by a therapeutic respite home, and the average amount of time that eligible adults have spent in residential respite care or stabilization care; 4) any problems or other factors that are affecting the implementation of the pilot program or reducing its effectiveness, and any actions that are being recommended or undertaken to address those problems; and 5) the commissioner's findings and conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the pilot program's ongoing operations. The commissioner's final report, which is to be submitted within 30 days following the termination of the five-year pilot program, will additionally be required to include the commissioner's findings and recommendations with respect to whether and how the pilot program should be established on a permanent basis. This bill will take effect immediately, but will expire upon the termination of the five-year pilot program. | In Committee |
| S1331 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | This bill requires that participation in school-sanctioned sports be based on biological sex at birth. It provides that public and nonpublic schools, as well as institutions of higher education, designate athletic or sports teams on the basis of biological sex. The bill also prohibits any athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls from being open to males. In the event the sex of a student is disputed, the student will establish sex by presenting a signed physician's statement that indicates the student's sex based solely on (1) the student's internal and external reproductive anatomy; (2) the student's normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone; and (3) an analysis of the student's genetic makeup. A school or institution of higher education would not be subject to investigation or any adverse action for maintaining separate athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex. Students who are deprived of athletic opportunities or suffer any harm as a result of a violation of the provisions of this bill would have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, or other legal remedy permitted by law against the school or institution of higher education. A student subject to retaliation or any adverse action by his or her school, institution of higher education, or athletic association or organization for reporting a violation of the bill would also have a private right of action against the school, institution of higher education, or athletic association or organization. A school or institution of higher education that suffers any harm as a result of a violation of this bill would likewise have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, or other legal remedy permitted by law. Any student, school, or institution of higher education able to bring suit under this bill would be required to bring their claims within two years after the harm occurred. Students or organizations that prevail on any claim brought pursuant to this bill would be entitled to monetary damages, including damages for any psychological, emotional, and physical harm suffered, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief. | 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 |
| S1986 | Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study, evaluate, and assess the provision of State school aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA). The task force will consist of seven members, including: the Commissioner of Education or a designee; and six public members, each of whom shall have educational experience and expertise in education and municipal finance and school budgeting. Two of the members will be appointed by the Senate President, two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly will each appoint one member. Under the bill, the duty of the task force is to study the effectiveness of, and provide recommendations on potentially improving, various aspects of the SFRA including, but not limited to:? the manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated;? the current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency and the impact on the educational outcomes of those students; ? the weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; ? the current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment;? the formula's use of the census-based funding methodology for determining the amount of State aid a school district receives to educate its special education population and the effects of potentially employing different methodologies; ? the provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; ? the methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid; and ? the impact that the reallocation of State school aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S-2," had on school districts' finances. The bill requires that the task force will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report will be posted in a prominent location on the Internet website of the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| S824 | Allows possession of bear spray under certain conditions. | This bill would allow individuals 18 years of age or older to possess, under certain conditions, bear spray for the purpose of repelling an aggressive bear. Under current law, a person 18 years of age or older, who has not been convicted of a crime, may possess a small, pocket-sized device capable of spraying a non-lethal chemical substance which causes temporary physical discomfort, also known as pepper spray. The law limits the size of the device to one which contains and releases not more than three-quarters of an ounce of pepper spray. A person possessing a larger quantity would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and subject to a fine of at least $100. However, because bear spray devices contain much more than three-quarters of an ounce of a chemical substance, current law effectively prohibits the possession of bear spray. This bill would allow any person who is 18 years of age or older to possess, for the sole purpose of repelling an aggressive bear while hiking, biking, or engaging in any other outdoor recreational activity, a bear deterrent or bear spray product approved and registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and clearly identified as such on the product label. The EPA regulates bear spray as a "pesticide" under federal law, and manufacturers of bear spray must register their products with, and receive approval from, the EPA. To be approved by the EPA, a bear spray device must, among other things, contain a minimum content of 7.6 ounces, which is significantly larger than the maximum content of three-quarters of an ounce allowed under State law. The labels on bear sprays approved by the EPA show the EPA registration and EPA establishment number for the product. In addition, the bill provides that a person who uses bear spray upon or toward another person would not be liable in any civil action for damages resulting from that release or discharge when the actor reasonably believes that the releasing or discharging of the bear spray is immediately necessary for the purpose of personal self-defense. However, nothing in the bill would be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing any damage by the willful, wanton, or grossly negligent unlawful releasing or discharging of bear spray upon or toward another person. A person who knowingly possesses and uses bear spray in a manner contrary to the provisions of the bill would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in accordance with the penalty in current law. Bear spray products approved by the EPA have been shown to be an effective, non-lethal deterrent capable of stopping aggressive behavior in bears. Personal defense sprays do not contain the correct active ingredients or have the amount necessary to divert or stop a charging or attacking bear. | In Committee |
| S2045 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S739 | Establishes "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial Commission." | This bill establishes a "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial Commission." Under the bill, there is established in, but not of, the Department of Law and Public Safety a commission to be known as the "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial Commission." The purpose of the commission is to select a location and design for the construction of a "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial" that honors and recognizes law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. A non-lapsing fund will be established for the design, construction, and maintenance of the memorial The commission is to consist of the following thirteen members: the Attorney General or designee, a representative of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, a representative of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, a representative of the State Troopers Fraternal Association, a representative from the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, a representative from the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, a representative from the New Jersey Emergency Medical Services Council, a representative from the New Jersey State First Aid Council, two public members with experience in the design, construction, or maintenance of memorials, and three public members who are family members of a fallen law enforcement officer, a fallen firefighter, and a fallen emergency medical services personnel. All members are to be appointed by the Governor. The bill requires the appointments to be made within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The commission is to organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of the majority of the members. A majority of all of the authorized members constitutes a quorum. Under the bill, the Department of Law and Public Safety is to provide staff and related support services as the commission requires to carry out its work. The bill requires the commission to select a suitable design and location for the construction of the Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial Fund and to oversee the construction of the memorial. The memorial is required to have three walls to represent the following branches of emergency service: law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical service. Each wall will contain the names of each fallen law enforcement officer, firefighter, and emergency medical services personnel, as appropriate. The walls are to be constructed with additional space to add additional names as necessary. Within 18 months of the bill's effective date, the commission is required to submit a final report to the Governor and the Legislature which is to include the final design and location selected for the memorial. Finally, the bill establishes in the Department of Treasury a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial Commission Fund." The fund will support the design, construction, and maintenance of the Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial. The fund is to be credited with any donations by members of the public, funds appropriated by law, or any other moneys that may become available for its purpose. | In Committee |
| S723 | Restricts all ownership of agricultural land in State by foreign governments and persons. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural land taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with the acquisition of land by a foreign government or foreign person pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill provides that any provision of the bill which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, no more than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to report to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) the total acreage of agricultural land in the State that is owned by foreign governments or foreign persons; 2) the percentage change in the amount of in-State agricultural land acreage owned by foreign governments or foreign persons, per year, over the preceding 10 years; 3) the top 10 nationalities of foreign governments or foreign persons owning agricultural land in the State, by total amount of acreage owned; and 4) the purposes for which agricultural land owned by foreign governments or foreign persons has been used in the preceding five years, and any significant changes or trends in the use of such land. The bill authorizes the secretary to base the requisite data on reports that are submitted to the Department of Agriculture, by the United States Department of Agriculture, pursuant to federal law, or based on any other relevant information available to the department. The bill also directs the State Agriculture Development Committee and other State agencies and departments, as well as county boards of agriculture and other local agencies, boards, or political subdivisions in the State, to provide the secretary with any relevant information available concerning the data required to be compiled and reported by the bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 | Nay |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 08 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2024 |