Legislator
Legislator > Mitchelle Drulis
State Assemblymember
Mitchelle Drulis
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 16
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Flemington Office
50 Main St.
Second Floor
Flemington, NJ 08822
Second Floor
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: 908-968-4329
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1439 | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4162 | Limits use or disclosure of certain education records. | This bill limits the disclosure of certain education records. Current law requires students, or the parent or guardians of students, as applicable, in the graduating classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 to complete certain financial aid paperwork unless a waiver is submitted. Under the bill, a waiver template or form developed by the Department of Education, a board of education, or a board of trustees of a charter school for use in collecting student financial aid information pursuant to the provisions of the bill is to require the student, parent or guardian, or school counselor, as applicable, to provide only the student's name, telephone number, email address, date, and signature of the individual submitting the waiver. Under the bill, school districts and charter schools are prohibited from using or disclosing the waiver submitted under P.L.2023, c.295, or any personal information contained within the waiver, without the informed consent of the student or the student's parent or guardian consistent with applicable federal and State-level protections of student educational records, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The bill stipulates it is not to be construed to prohibit, or in any way restrict, any action that is consistent with federal law. Under the bill, the Department of Education is to include language consistent with the prohibition on disclosure in any optional waiver template developed by the department for use by a school district or charter school in a prominent location on the waiver. The bill requires a school district or charter school that uses a waiver developed by the district or charter school to also include language consistent with the prohibition on disclosure in a prominent location on the waiver. Finally, the bill provides that nothing in the bill is to be construed to invalidate a waiver submitted prior to the bill's effective date and that a waiver submitted prior to the bill's effective date is subject to the provisions of the bill concerning the prohibition on disclosure. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1400 | "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act"; provides alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title from relative. | This bill, titled the "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act," would provide an alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title to the property from a relative. The bill is based on the 2010 uniform act of the same name drafted and approved by the Uniform Law Commission (formerly known, and sometimes still referred to, as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws). Currently, any real property held by multiple owners as tenants in common (cotenants) may be subject to a partition action filed in Superior Court, which may result in (1) a partition in kind, which is the physical division of the property proportionate to individual owners' interests, or (2) partition by sale, for which individual owners are then compensated out of the total purchase price proportionate to their interests. See N.J.S.2A:56-1 et seq. This bill would preempt some parts of the existing partition law in order to create new requirements for the process intended to more greatly protect the interests of cotenant property owners who may object to another owner's action seeking to partition any property which meets the following characteristics and is referred to in the bill as "heirs property": - there is no agreement in a record binding all the cotenants which governs the partition of the property; - one or more of the cotenants acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased; and - any one of the following applies: 20 percent or more of the interests are held by cotenants who are relatives; 20 percent or more of the interests are held by an individual who acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased; or 20 percent or more of the cotenants are relatives. When a partition action is filed pursuant to the partition law, N.J.S.2A:56-1 et seq., the court would make a determination, based on information contained in the pleadings or any other information provided to the court pursuant to the Rules of Court, whether the subject property is "heirs property." If so determined, the property would be partitioned in accordance with the process set forth in the bill. The court is to appoint a special master to generally oversee the process and, when appropriate to carry out a partition in kind (the physical division of property), and may, when appropriate, appoint a commissioner or commissioners pursuant R.4:63-1 of the Rules of Court "to ascertain and report in writing the metes and bounds of each [cotenant's] share." Any such appointed commissioner would be required to be disinterested, impartial, and not a party to or participant in the partition action. The bill also provides that if the court determines that the property may be heirs property, the court would order the plaintiff to post, and maintain while the action is pending, a conspicuous notice on the property that is the subject of the action in accordance with the Rules of Court. That notice would state information about the partition action and the common designation by which the property is known, and the court could also require the party to include the party's name and the known defendants (other cotenants). An appointed special master would direct a disinterested real estate appraiser licensed in the State to make a determination of the property's fair market value, assuming sole ownership of the fee simple estate, unless the cotenants have agreed to the property's value or to another valuation method, in which case the special master could accept that value or the value produced by the agreed upon method. If an appraisal was conducted, the completed appraisal would be distributed to the parties in the action and filed with the special master. Within 30 days after the appraisal is filed, any party could file an objection with the special master. Thereafter, following notice of a hearing, the special master could conduct an appraisal hearing to determine the fair market value of the property, during which the special master could consider evidence offered by any party in addition to the real estate appraisal on file. If any cotenant requests a partition by sale, after the determination of the property's value, a notice would be sent within 45 days by the party who filed the partition action to all parties and the special master indicating that any cotenant, except a cotenant that requested partition by sale, could buy all of the interests of the one or more cotenants requesting the sale. Within 30 days thereafter, any eligible cotenant or cotenants could then elect to buy all of those interests by giving notice of such to the parties and the special master. The purchase price for each of the interests of a cotenant requesting the partition by sale would be the determined value of the entire parcel of property multiplied by the cotenant's fractional ownership of the entire parcel. At the conclusion of the buyout notice period, the bill provides for the following: (1) If only one cotenant elected to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the cotenant would notify all the parties and the special master in writing; (2) If more than one cotenant elected to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the special master would allocate the right to buy those interests among the electing cotenants based on each electing cotenant's existing fractional ownership of the entire parcel divided by the total existing fractional ownership of all cotenants electing to buy, and send written notice to all the parties of that fact and of the price to be paid by each electing cotenant; and (3) If no cotenant elected to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the special master with notice to the parties would report in writing to the court, and the court would resolve the matter by ordering a partition in kind or partition by sale. In situations when one or more cotenants elected to buy the available interests, each such cotenant would be required to pay their apportioned price within 30 days with notice to the special master. Upon timely payment by all purchasing cotenants, the special master would issue an order reallocating the interests amongst the remaining cotenants and the money held by the Superior Court Trust Fund would be disbursed, in accordance with procedures set forth in the Rules of Court, to the one or more cotenants who have been bought-out. If no one made timely payments, the special master would report this to the court, which in turn would resolve the matter by ordering a partition in kind or partition by sale. If only some made timely payments, those paying cotenants could file a motion with the special master to determine the outstanding interests and their purchase price, and one or more such cotenants could thereafter pay, based upon a new special master order, for the recalculated remaining interests within 30 days following issuance of the order. After this new 30-day period, if there remained any interests for sale that are not purchased, the court would resolve the matter by ordering a partition in kind or partition by sale. Thus, whenever at the conclusion of the one or more buyout periods described above there remain any unpurchased interest from a cotenant that requested the partition by sale, or any cotenant remains that has requested a partition in kind, the special master would report to the court a recommendation to proceed with a partition in kind. The court would order the partitioning of the property into physically distinct and separately titled parcels, unless the court found that such partitioning would result in great prejudice to the cotenants as a group; the determination of "great prejudice" would be based on such factors as whether the property could be divided practicably amongst cotenants, whether doing so could decrease the aggregate values of the resulting parcels versus selling the property as a whole, and any cotenant's sentimental attachment to the property, including attachment arising because of any ancestral, unique, or special value to the cotenant. In a case in which a partition in kind would result in great prejudice, the court would order a partition by sale, unless no cotenant requested such action, resulting in the dismissal of the case and no further partitioning of the property. Any partition by sale would be an open-market sale unless the court finds that a sale by sealed bids or an auction would be more economically advantageous and in the best interest of the cotenants as a group. Any open-market sale would proceed under a licensed real estate broker, either agreed to by the parties or, absent agreement, appointed by the court. The real estate broker would be provided a reasonable commission on the sale as determined by the court. The broker would offer the property for sale in a commercially reasonable manner at a price no lower than the previously determined value of the property, and on the terms and conditions established by the court. The broker, after receiving an offer to purchase the property, would file a report with the court containing information about the purchase price, name of each buyer, terms of the proposed sale, including the terms of any financing, any amounts to be paid to lienholders, and other material facts relevant to the sale. Thereafter, the purchase could be completed in accordance with applicable State law and payments distributed based upon the former cotenants various interests in the property. This bill would take effect on the 30th day following enactment, and apply to any partition actions filed on or after that date. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | This bill requires that enrollment for health care coverage under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents, be available on the first day of employment for new hires, and on the bill's effective date for such current employees. Delays in health care coverage and access to life-saving medicine can be dangerous and cause debilitating health care debt during emergencies. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor signed Executive Order 172 allowing public employees to immediately enroll in the SHBP. However, the ability to immediately enroll was eliminated when the Governor later signed Executive Order 244 in 2021, which ended the public health emergency. This bill provides for immediate enrollment for eligible resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, including University Hospital, and their dependents. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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. | 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. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Passed |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Crossed Over |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Crossed Over |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Requires State departments and Office of Information Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Crossed Over |
| A4915 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | In Committee |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Crossed Over |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Crossed Over |
| A4124 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | In Committee |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Passed |
| A5792 | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Passed |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5848 | Modifies child endangerment statute to include AI technology; establishes criminal penalties. | This bill amends the child endangerment statute, N.J.S.A.2C:24-4, to create a fourth degree crime of knowingly or recklessly causing or allowing a child to be subjected to sexual conduct through the use of automated interactive computer technology. Under current law, endangering the welfare of a child occurs when a person engages in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child. Endangering is a second degree crime when committed by a person with a legal duty to care for the child, and is a third degree crime when committed by other persons. Although the statute does not specify what types of acts constitute sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, it has been well-settled by the courts of this State that the conduct can occur online or over the telephone without actual physical contact, and can include conversations with children that describe sexual activity. See, e.g., State v. Maxwell, 361 N.J. Super. 502 (Law Div. 2001); State v. Johnson, 460 N.J. Super. 481 (Law Div. 2019); State v. McInerney, 428 N.J. Super. 432 (App. Div. 2012). Under the bill, any person who knowingly or recklessly causes, or allows, a child to be subjected to sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, through the person's creation, control, possession, manipulation, use, dissemination, sale, or promotion of any automated interactive computer technology that is capable of performing or simulating sexual conduct, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The bill provides an exception for AI technology that has safety features designed to stop a chatbot from simulating sexual conduct when it detects that a user is a child. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would impose criminal penalties in situations where the creator of an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot knowingly or recklessly programs the chatbot to engage in simulated sexual chats with users who are children. Such deliberate creation or misuse of AI chatbots, without regard to the safety of children, and their proliferation across social media platforms and the Internet, was reported in an April 26, 2025 article in the Wall Street Journal, entitled "Meta's 'Digital Companions' Will Talk Sex with Users - Even Children." | Crossed Over |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | This bill provides businesses with the option of receiving notifications from the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and, as applicable, from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on new statutory and regulatory requirements and economic incentives related to their industry. Current processes require that all businesses registered in the State receive these updates via traditional paper communication. The bill allows any business with the option of providing a registered email address to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, which will coordinate the dissemination of these statutory, regulatory and economic incentive-related communications through the provided email. The bill also provides a method for businesses to revert to the traditional means of paper communication. | Crossed Over |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | This bill permits 30-calendar day extensions to cure periods for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. Under current law, a State agency, department, or authority may suspend enforcement of any monetary fine or civil penalty, for a period of 60 calendar days, that would otherwise be imposed on a business for a first-time violation that does not or would not result in a significant adverse impact to the public safety or welfare, result in loss of income or benefits to an employee, or present the risk of environmental harm. This bill provides that the State agency, department, or authority may extend the 60-calendar day cure period an additional 30 calendar days for a business where such agency, department, or authority determines that not providing the extension would be contrary to equity and good conscience. | Crossed Over |
| A5692 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | This bill exempts minor league baseball players from the provisions of the State wage and hour laws and the recordkeeping requirements of the wage payment laws, provided the players are employed under a collective bargaining agreement that is in effect and expressly governs wages and working conditions. In putting forth this legislation, the sponsor affirms a dual commitment to organized labor and to the economic and social vitality of the New Jersey communities that host minor league baseball teams. The legislation recognizes the important role these teams play as sources of affordable family entertainment, youth engagement, and local economic development, while also respecting the strong labor protections already secured through collective bargaining. In March 2023, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the certified labor union for Major League Baseball players, entered into the first-ever nationwide collective bargaining agreement with Minor League Baseball. This landmark agreement established significant protections for minor league players, including guaranteed annual salaries, health care coverage, housing stipends, retirement benefits, meals, and tuition assistance. Due to the unique nature of minor league baseball employment--marked by irregular schedules, extensive travel, and non-traditional training demands--certain provisions of State wage and hour laws are incompatible with the terms negotiated by the parties. This bill ensures that the legal framework governing these players remains consistent with the collectively bargained agreement, without undermining its protections or benefits. The exemption established by this bill applies only during the period in which a valid collective bargaining agreement is in effect and expressly provides for the wages and working conditions of the affected players. The bill also requires the league and union to notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in the event of the agreement's termination or replacement, ensuring continued transparency and accountability. Several other states, including Florida, Indiana, and California, have taken similar steps to harmonize their labor laws with the terms of this collective agreement. This legislation adopts a balanced and narrowly tailored approach that supports players, protects the integrity of organized labor, and sustains the community and economic benefits of minor league baseball across New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A5907 | Prohibits sharing automated license plate reader information for interstate investigation concerning reproductive health care services that are legal in NJ. | This bill prohibits the sharing of automated license plate reader information in furtherance of an interstate investigation concerning reproductive health care services that are legal in New Jersey. Under the bill, a person who operates, manages, or has access to information obtained by an automated license plate reader is prohibited from knowingly sharing, transferring, selling, or permitting access to automated license plate reader information in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability on any person for the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about, reproductive health care services that are legal in this State. In addition, the bill prohibits any law enforcement agency from sharing automated license plate reader information with any out-of-State law enforcement agency without first obtaining a written declaration from the out-of-State law enforcement agency that the information will not be used in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding regarding reproductive health care services. Under the bill, any person who operates, manages, or has access to information obtained by an automated license plate reader who knowingly shares license plate reader information in furtherance of an interstate investigation concerning reproductive health care services that are legal in this State is liable to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for a first offense and not more than $5,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" as all medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including but not limited to services relating to pregnancy, contraception, or termination of a pregnancy. | In Committee |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation (division) to develop, and update as necessary to reflect current law, an online training program for the purpose of providing instruction on the process of filing and remitting State taxes, including, but not limited to, the corporation business tax, gross income tax, and sales and use tax. The training program is required to be designed specifically for use by small businesses and micro-businesses and to be made available, free of charge, on the Internet website of the division. | Crossed Over |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | Passed |
| A5712 | Establishes Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program; supports partnership between public institution of higher education and federal Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and establishment of Center for Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; appropriates $3.5 million. | Establishes Air Traffic Controller Loan Redemption Program; supports partnership between public institution of higher education and federal Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and establishment of Center for Study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; appropriates $3.5 million. | Crossed Over |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR186 | Honors life of Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. | This resolution honors late Congressman Pascrell. Congressman Pascrell, a tireless advocate for public health and safety who served New Jersey for decades, leaves behind a legacy of distinguished public service. Congressman Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, an initiative that has played a critical role in advancing national policy, research, and resources for individuals affected by brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur due to a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, while acquired brain injuries (ABI) result from internal causes such as strokes, aneurysms, or tumors. Individuals who suffer from TBI or ABI often experience long-term disabilities ranging from minor impairments to severe and life-altering conditions, which affect their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Over the years the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has worked to increase awareness of brain injuries, support groundbreaking research initiatives, promote rehabilitation services, and address the long-term effects of brain injuries on individuals, families, and communities. As a co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Congressman Pascrell advocated for research initiatives focused on treatment, rehabilitation, and potential cures for TBI. Brain injuries impact thousands of New Jersey residents in every congressional district, affecting children, veterans, athletes, seniors, and survivors of accidents and medical conditions, all of whom need strong legislative advocacy and support at both the State and federal levels. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force remains a bipartisan effort, currently co-chaired by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio from Pennsylvannia and Republican Congressman Morgan Luttrell from Texas, and continues to advance Congressman Pascrell's legacy of championing policies that improve brain injury awareness, prevention, research, and treatment. It is vital that New Jersey's congressional delegation continues Congressman Pascrell's legacy by joining and supporting the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to ensure that our State remains a leader in brain injury advocacy and policy. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4334 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | In Committee |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Crossed Over |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | This bill requires an enforcing agency to conduct an inspection of construction in a two and a half hour time window (time window); establishes a complaint process for an owner, agent, or other responsible person in charge of work to file a complaint on the Department of Community Affairs' (department) Internet website for violations of the bill; and authorizes the department to, after confirmation of a violation or violations, take corrective action, including the issuance of penalties, pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code Act. Specifically, the bill requires an enforcing agency to notify, in writing, the owner, agent, or other responsible person in charge of work, of the time window, during which the enforcing agency will conduct the inspection. The bill requires the notice to be provided within 24 hours of receiving a request for an inspection, and not later than 24 hours prior to the start of a time window set for an inspection. The enforcing agency and inspector would be subject to a complaint, brought at the discretion of the owner, agent, or other responsible person in charge of work, which would be filed on the department's Internet website, if the enforcing agency:§ fails to perform the inspection within the time window;§ fails to provide notice that the enforcing agency is unable to perform a requested or scheduled inspection;§ fails to perform inspections on the dates of, or during the time windows for, inspections on repeated instances;§ cancels an inspection on repeated instances sufficient to notably disrupt construction or completion; or§ is delinquent in the discharge of the enforcing agency's duties pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code Act or the State Uniform Construction Code. The bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish a complaint system, and in response to a complaint, after the department's confirmation of the violation or violations, the bill requires the department to take corrective action against the enforcing agency, including the issuance of penalties. Further, the bill requires the enforcing agency to notify the owner, agent, or other responsible person in charge of work no less than 24 hours prior to the start of the time window, that the enforcing agency is unable to perform the inspection within the allowed timeframes. The bill also requires each enforcing agency to establish a process for ensuring that the enforcing agency performs the inspection within the time window, or provides notice 24 hours prior to the start of the time window. This bill would take effect on the first day of the third month following the date of enactment, except the Commissioner of Community Affairs would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. | 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 |
| 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. | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Passed |
| S4377 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for FY2026; makes appropriation. | This bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $53,450,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) to provide low-interest loans to certain local government units that undertake one of 17 eligible transportation infrastructure projects set forth in the bill. The bill also authorizes the NJIB to make a maximum of $1 million in principal-forgiveness financing loans to project sponsors for planning and design costs. Under the bill, up to $100,000 of a loan, per borrower, is to be forgiven for a project where a principal amount of at least $250,000 is financed by the Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program through completion of the project's construction. Additionally, the bill permits the NJIB to use any loan repayments received to date, and the amounts for capitalized interest, interest accrued pursuant to a short-term or temporary loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Interim Transportation Financing Program, bond issuance expenses, and related amounts, to fund the FY2026 New Jersey Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program (NJTIB). The bill also authorizes the NJIB to utilize certain funds generated by the operation of the bank, including, but not limited to, proceeds from the sale of bonds, the revenues derived from investments, and loan repayments, to defray the NJIB's FY2026 operating expenses. Finally, the bill appropriates certain funds from the General Fund to the NJIB. Since its creation in 2018, the NJIB, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, has provided low-cost NJTIB loans for the construction of critical transportation infrastructure projects with the mission of reducing the cost of financing for New Jersey counties and municipalities and making possible responsible and sustainable economic development. | Passed |
| A2365 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Passed |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Passed |
| A5860 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| A5622 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | This bill would appropriate certain federal and State moneys to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the purpose of implementing the State Fiscal Year 2026 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP). The bill would appropriate these funds for the purpose of making loans to local governments and privately-owned water companies (project sponsors) for a portion of the costs of water infrastructure projects. A companion bill, Assembly Bill No. 5621 of this session, would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to execute loans using the funds appropriated to the DEP by this bill to finance a portion of the costs of the clean water and drinking water projects enumerated by the bill. The bill would authorize the DEP to use the moneys appropriated by the bill to fund the following projects: (1) in subsection a. of section 2 of the bill, a list of two projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $5.2 million in estimated total loan amounts; (2) in subsection b. of section 2 of the bill, a list of four projects to improve drinking water systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $19 million in estimated total loan amounts; (3) in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2026 Clean Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 151 projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $1.7 billion in estimated total loan amounts; (4) in paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, a list of four projects in the Pinelands area that are receiving funding under the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302, to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $15.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; and (5) in subsection b. of section 3 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2026 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 59 projects to improve drinking water systems, representing $651.7 million in estimated total loan amounts. The bill would also appropriate the unexpended balances from various funds to the DEP, and allow the DEP to transfer moneys between various State funds, for the purpose of funding the NJEIFP and providing the State match for federal funding provided under the federal laws, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, as detailed in subsection a. of section 1 of the bill. In addition, the bill would appropriate to the DEP funds deposited in the "Clean Water State Revolving Fund" and the "Drinking Water State Revolving Fund" pursuant to the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Pub. L. 117-58. The bill would authorize loans to certain project sponsors to include zero interest or principal forgiveness, subject to certain funding limits and restrictions detailed in subsections b. through e. of section 1 of the bill. Projects designated for zero interest or principal forgiveness loans include projects that reduce or eliminate discharges from combined sewer overflow outfalls, water quality restoration projects, water and energy efficiency projects, and emerging contaminant projects. The bill would establish certain requirements on loans to project sponsors made by the DEP pursuant to the bill, as enumerated in section 4 of the bill. The bill would also establish additional restrictions, described in section 5 of the bill, for "Sandy financing loans," which are those loans that utilize federal funding provided pursuant to the federal "Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013," Pub.L. 113-2. Under the bill, the project lists and the DEP's authorization to utilize the funds appropriated by the bill would expire on July 1, 2026. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to utilize repayments of loans made using moneys from various State funds, enumerated in subsections a. and b. of section 10 of the bill, to recoup trust bond repayments and administrative fees that have not been paid by project sponsors instead of redepositing the money into the funds. However, the bill would also require the NJIB to make a compensatory deposit into certain State funds, as detailed in subsection c. of section 10 of the bill, when the NJIB receives the deficient payments or fees from the project sponsor. Finally, the bill would appropriate to the NJIB, from repayments of loans, interest payments, certain federal funds, and any earnings received from the investment of those funds, as enumerated in sections 12 and 13 of the bill, such amounts as the chairperson or secretary of the NJIB certifies are necessary and appropriate for deposit into one or more reserve funds established by the NJIB. | In Committee |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | Passed |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Crossed Over |
| A5601 | Requires State entities to offer optional service for businesses to receive certain notices electronically. | This bill requires State entities that issue legally required notices to businesses operating in this State to provide an optional service for businesses to receive such notices electronically. Such notices may include notices of violations, underpayment notifications, and employee unemployment claims. Within 60 days of the effective date of this bill, each State entity responsible for issuing legally required notices to businesses is required to notify any business within their purview of the optional electronic notification service. State entities are also required to provide the businesses with the necessary information to opt in to the electronic notification service. This bill defines "State entity" as a State department or agency in the Executive Branch of State Government, and any board, commission, corporation, authority, or instrumentality thereof. | Crossed Over |
| A4878 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | This bill extends certain options in regard to grades to dependents of service members enrolled in public institutions of higher education who cannot complete a course due to an unplanned military obligation of the service member. The bill also clarifies the scope of existing grade options and establishes additional grade options. Under current law, a student enrolled in public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course due to a deployment, mobilization, reassignment, or other military obligation as a service member has four options in regard to the grade for the course. If the student has completed at least eight weeks of the course, the student may choose to receive a (1) letter grade; (2) pass or fail grade; (3) grade of incomplete; or (4) withdrawal. If the student has completed fewer than eight weeks of the course, the student's options are limited to choosing between receiving an incomplete grade and withdrawing from the course. Current law also specifies that a student who accepts a grade of pass or fail may, within a year of returning to the institution, complete the course work to receive a letter grade. Under the bill, these grade options are to also be made available to the dependents of the service member. The bill defines a "dependent" as a dependent child or spouse of the service member. The bill clarifies that the deployment, mobilization, reassignment or other military obligation preventing the service member or dependent from completing the course be unplanned. The bill also changes the demarcating line of course completion from eight weeks to 55 percent of the duration of the course. If the service member or dependent has completed 55 percent of the duration of the course, receipt of a letter grade would only be granted if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the service member or dependent has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. A grade of pass or fail would also be based on whether the faculty member determines the member or dependent completed sufficient work and there is sufficient evidence of meeting the course requirements. The bill also adds the options of receiving a temporary grade or transferring into an equivalent online section of the course when available and with appropriate approval. The options are to be subject to the approval of the teacher, department, registrar, or appropriate office at the institution, If the service member or dependent has completed less than 55 percent of the duration of the course, the service member or dependent may receive an incomplete for the grade only if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the student or dependent has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade. The service member or dependent also has an added option of transferring into an equivalent online section of the course when available and with appropriate approval. The options shall be subject to the approval of the teacher, department, the registrar, or the appropriate office at the institution, Finally, the bill specifies that the service member or dependent who initially chose to accept a pass or fail grade, but subsequently returns to the institution within a year to complete course work to receive a letter grade, may contact the faculty member who taught the course, the academic chair of the department offering the course, the registrar, or the appropriate office at the institution to establish a plan for completing the course work to receive the grade. | In Committee |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Passed |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Passed |
| A5795 | Modifies certain provisions of "New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Act." | This bill modifies certain provisions governing the "New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Program" (program), through which the State invests in innovation by using proceeds from the auctioning of tax credits to fund qualified investments. Definition of Principal Business Operations The bill amends the definition of the term "principal business operations," which term is used, in part, to determine eligibility for qualified businesses under the program. Under current law, for the purposes of the program, "principal business operations" means any of the following: (1) at least 50 percent of the business's employees not primarily engaged in retail sales reside in the State; (2) at least 50 percent of the business's payroll for employees not primarily engaged in retail sales is paid to individuals living in the State; (3) at least 50 percent of the business's full-time employees not primarily engaged in retail sales are filling a position in the State; or (4) at least 50 percent of the business's payroll for employees not primarily engaged in retail sales is paid to full-time employees filling a position in the State. The bill expands the scope of this definition to also include any instance in which: the business's headquarters is located in the State; and of all states, the largest percentage of the business's full-time employees, who based in the United States and are not primarily engaged in retail sales, are located in New Jersey. Determination of Qualified Investments Under the program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is authorized to allocate monies, generated from the proceeds of tax credit auctions, to one or more qualified venture firms based on the amount of qualified investments made by each firm to qualified businesses. Under current law, the term "qualified investment" means the direct investment of money by the fund in a qualified business for the purchase of shares of stock, with an option to make an additional investment in an option or warrant or a follow-on investment, in the discretion of the authority, all of which is matched by an investment by a qualified venture firm. Current law also provides that the amount of each qualified investment may not exceed $5 million in initial investment, exclusive of follow-on investments, provided certain exceptions. Namely, a maximum qualified investment of $6.25 million may be earned for initial investments made to any qualified business that meets one of the following criteria: (1) utilizes intellectual property that is core to its business model and was developed at a New Jersey-based college or university; (2) is considered a university spin-off business as determined by the authority; or (c) is certified by the State as a minority business or a women's business. This bill amends current law to require that a qualified investment either: (1) match a qualified venture firm's initial investment in a qualified business for the purchase of shares of stock; or (2) in instances where the venture firm has a prior investment in the qualified business, occur at a higher valuation compared to the venture firm's prior investments into the qualified business, as established by an independent third-party valuation or through participation by a third-party investor at the same valuation as the qualified venture firm. The bill increases the maximum amount of the qualified investment that may be earned for initial investments in qualified businesses. Under the bill, the maximum qualified investment that may be earned for an initial investment is $10 million, provided certain exceptions. Additionally, the bill increases to $12.5 million the maximum qualified investment that may be earned for initial investments in any qualified business that: (1) utilizes intellectual property that is core to its business model and was developed at a New Jersey-based college or university; (2) is considered a university spin-off business as determined by the authority; or (3) is certified by the State as a minority business or a women's business. Availability of Funds for Investment Current law prohibits the authority from undertaking a tax credit auction if, exclusive of reserves, more than $15 million is available to the authority from monies received from any prior auction of tax credits pursuant to the program. The bill amends this provision to prohibit the authority from undertaking an auction if more than $50 million is available from these monies. Reporting Requirements A qualified venture firm is required to annually report certain information to the authority under the program. Current law requires that the report include a statement prepared by a certified public accountant, certifying that the accountant has reviewed the report and that the information and representations contained in the report are accurate. Specifically, a qualified venture firm is required to include such statements for the following: (1) the amount of the qualified investment, if any, uninvested at the end of the preceding calendar year; (2) all qualified investments made during the preceding calendar year, including the number and wages of employees of each qualified business at the time the venture firm made the qualified investment and as of December 31 of that year; (3) for any qualified investment in which the qualified venture firm no longer has a position as of the end of the calendar year, the number of employees of the business as of the date the investment was terminated; and (4) financials, audited by a certified public accountant, of the qualified venture firm and the special purpose vehicle, which include a consolidated summary of the performance of the qualified venture firm. The bill amends current law to provide that a qualified venture firm is only required to include a certified public accountant's statement to review and accuracy for financials, audited by a certified public accountant, of the qualified venture firm and the special purpose vehicle that include a consolidated summary of the performance of the qualified venture firm. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5810 | Promotes equity in health insurance appeal process. | This bill eliminates fees for appeals against health insurance carriers pursuant to the Independent Health Care Appeals Program. This bill is in response to the Governor's Fiscal Year 2026 budget recommendations to enact legislation to permanently eliminate fees for consumer appeals against insurance carriers that deny, reduce, or terminate benefits. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5623 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for FY2026; makes appropriation. | This bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to expend up to $53,450,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) to provide low-interest loans to certain local government units that undertake one of 17 eligible transportation infrastructure projects set forth in the bill. The bill also authorizes the NJIB to make a maximum of $1 million in principal-forgiveness financing loans to project sponsors for planning and design costs. Under the bill, up to $100,000 of a loan, per borrower, is to be forgiven for a project where a principal amount of at least $250,000 is financed by the Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program through completion of the project's construction. Additionally, the bill permits the NJIB to use any loan repayments received to date, and the amounts for capitalized interest, interest accrued pursuant to a short-term or temporary loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Interim Transportation Financing Program, bond issuance expenses, and related amounts, to fund the FY2026 New Jersey Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program (NJTIB). The bill also authorizes the NJIB to utilize certain funds generated by the operation of the bank, including, but not limited to, proceeds from the sale of bonds, the revenues derived from investments, and loan repayments, to defray the NJIB's FY2026 operating expenses. Finally, the bill appropriates certain funds from the General Fund to the NJIB. Since its creation in 2018, the NJIB, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, has provided low-cost NJTIB loans for the construction of critical transportation infrastructure projects with the mission of reducing the cost of financing for New Jersey counties and municipalities and making possible responsible and sustainable economic development. | In Committee |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | This bill exempts minor league baseball players from the provisions of the State wage and hour laws and the recordkeeping requirements of the wage payment laws, provided the players are employed under a collective bargaining agreement that is in effect and expressly governs wages and working conditions. In putting forth this legislation, the sponsor affirms a dual commitment to organized labor and to the economic and social vitality of the New Jersey communities that host minor league baseball teams. The legislation recognizes the important role these teams play as sources of affordable family entertainment, youth engagement, and local economic development, while also respecting the strong labor protections already secured through collective bargaining. In March 2023, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the certified labor union for Major League Baseball players, entered into the first-ever nationwide collective bargaining agreement with Minor League Baseball. This landmark agreement established significant protections for minor league players, including guaranteed annual salaries, health care coverage, housing stipends, retirement benefits, meals, and tuition assistance. Due to the unique nature of minor league baseball employment--marked by irregular schedules, extensive travel, and non-traditional training demands--certain provisions of State wage and hour laws are incompatible with the terms negotiated by the parties. This bill ensures that the legal framework governing these players remains consistent with the collectively bargained agreement, without undermining its protections or benefits. The exemption established by this bill applies only during the period in which a valid collective bargaining agreement is in effect and expressly provides for the wages and working conditions of the affected players. The bill also requires the league and union to notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in the event of the agreement's termination or replacement, ensuring continued transparency and accountability. Several other states, including Florida, Indiana, and California, have taken similar steps to harmonize their labor laws with the terms of this collective agreement. This legislation adopts a balanced and narrowly tailored approach that supports players, protects the integrity of organized labor, and sustains the community and economic benefits of minor league baseball across New Jersey. | Passed |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Passed |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | This bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations concerning the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would also authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to incentivize the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors using moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" established pursuant to P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.). As defined by the bill, "small modular nuclear reactor" means a nuclear fission reactor that: (1) has a rated electric generating capacity of not more than 300 megawatts; (2) is capable of being construction and operated either alone or in combination with one or more similar reactors if additional reactors are or become necessary at a single site; and (3) is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill would require the BPU, whenever it considers a petition by an electric power supplier or basic generation service provider for the construction, purchase, or lease of a small modular nuclear reactor, to consider: (1) whether, and to what extent, the small modular nuclear reactor proposed by the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider will replace a loss of generating capacity in the State, resulting from the retirement or planned retirement of one or more existing electric generating facilities, which are located in New Jersey and which use coal or natural gas a fuel source; and (2) whether the small modular nuclear reactor that will replace an existing facility will be located on the same site as, or near, the existing facility and, if so, potential opportunities for the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider to make use of any land and existing infrastructure or facilities already owned or under the control of the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider, or create new employment opportunities for workers who have been, or would be, displaced as a result of the retirement of the existing facility. The bill would also establish other requirements for the operation of small modular nuclear reactors, as enumerated in subsections c. through e. of section 3 of the bill, including a requirement that a person that owns or operates a small modular nuclear reactor in the State may not store spent nuclear fuel or high level radioactive waste from the small modular nuclear reactor on the site of the small modular nuclear reactor without first meeting all applicable requirements of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | Crossed Over |
| A5153 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | In Committee |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Crossed Over |
| ACR169 | Respectfully urges Congress to appropriate emergency funds for and increase staffing at facilities supporting Newark Liberty International Airport. | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is a critical transportation hub for New Jersey, serving nearly 50 million passengers annually and supporting the State's economy through air travel, cargo transport, and tourism. In July 2024, control of EWR's airspace was transferred from New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) to Philadelphia TRACON, a move intended to address understaffing at New York TRACON. The shift to Philadelphia TRACON did not increase the number of air traffic controllers available to manage EWR's airspace. In recent weeks, EWR has experienced multiple serious air traffic control system disruptions, including radar and communications outages which have resulted in flight delays, flight cancellations, ground stops, and air traffic controllers taking medical leave. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled with outdated infrastructure for decades and has acknowledged that old systems, such as aging copper telecommunications lines and remote radar feeds, are contributing to the ongoing issues at EWR. The FAA is below targeted staffing levels nationwide and the Philadelphia TRACON remains affected by the nationwide air traffic controller shortage, with only 22 fully certified controllers and several others still in training, putting air traffic controllers in untenable situations and leading to precautionary flight caps at EWR, exacerbating flight delays and cancellations. On May 8, 2025, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation announced a plan to build a brand new air traffic control system, but this long-term plan will take years to complete and action to modernize air traffic control infrastructure and increase staffing at EWR is urgently needed now. The safe, efficient, and modern functioning of the national airspace system is a federal responsibility, and ensuring system reliability and resilience at high-volume airports like EWR is essential to avoiding catastrophes and protecting public safety, regional economic continuity, and national mobility, and is in the best interests of the State. | Crossed Over |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. | Passed |
| AR194 | Designates June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in New Jersey. | This Assembly resolution designates June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in New Jersey, in recognition of the achievements, contributions, struggles, and humanity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary, and pansexual (LGBTQ+) individuals. Public officials and citizens of New Jersey are respectfully urged to commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2025 with appropriate activities. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Passed |
| AJR216 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Passed |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Passed |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Passed |
| A5595 | Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. | Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. | Crossed Over |
| A5125 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5806 | Eliminates sales tax on baby necessities and sunscreen. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of certain baby products and sunscreen. The exemption provided for baby products would include baby wash or soap, baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powders; child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. A "child restraint system" is defined under the bill to mean any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant or young child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or sleeping enclosure designed to accommodate an infant or young child including bassinets and toddler beds. In addition, the bill further defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant or young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sales of sunscreen. "Sunscreen" is defined under the bill to mean a lotion, cream, spray, or gel regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration that is primarily used for purposes of absorbing, reflecting, or scattering ultraviolet radiation and preventing sunburn or any sun-related skin damage. The definition of sunscreen would not, however, include products marketed or intended for use as cosmetics or otherwise intended to be applied for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance. | In Committee |
| A3684 | Adopts State definition of Islamophobia for certain civil and criminal purposes. | This bill adopts the first-ever State definition of Islamophobia in New Jersey and in the nation. Attacks on persons who are Muslim or perceived to be Muslim have grown significantly since September 11, 2001. From 2014 to 2019, there were 10,015 anti-Muslim bias incidents, which included 1,164 anti-Muslim hate crimes. This rise in Islamophobic sentiment is widely acknowledged by the American people, as a 2019 study by Pew found that most American adults (82%) say that Muslims are subject to at least some discrimination in the United States today. According to the FBI, approximately 19% of religion-based incidents from 2015-2019 were against Muslims, who make up only about 1% of the United States population. Furthermore, the United States Attorney General has commented that since September 11, 2001, the Justice Department has led more than 1,000 investigations into "anti-Muslim hatred" acts and bigoted behavior that have led to more than 45 prosecutions. According to a 2017 Pew Poll, while perceptions of religious groups improved overall in 2017, Muslims rated most negatively of all religious groups, scoring a 48 out of 100. New Jersey ranked among the top 10 states for anti-mosque incidents according to the ACLU, including multiple incidents against Muslim persons and Muslim institutions. This bill provides a State definition of Islamophobia modeled in part after the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which is composed of British Parliament Members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Awareness of this definition of Islamophobia will increase understanding of the parameters of contemporary Islamophobia crime and discrimination. Under the bill, the definition of Islamophobia in the bill would not include any criticism of any Muslim-majority country similar to that leveled against any other country. The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts under the civil or criminal laws of this State, a public official or law enforcement officer is required to take into consideration the definition of Islamophobia contained in this bill for the purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by Islamophobia and discriminatory anti-Muslim intent. Nothing contained in this bill is to be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution, and nothing in this bill is to be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. | In Committee |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism". The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. Nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. This bill also appropriates $100,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for the creation of a public awareness campaign to promote bias crime reporting. Through extensive community outreach, the citizens of New Jersey will be empowered to identify and report bias crimes using the existing bias crime reporting hotline within the New Jersey Bias Crimes Reporting Unit. This appropriation represents an investment in safety and collective action against bias crimes, including acts considered anti-Semitic. | In Committee |
| A5076 | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Crossed Over |
| A5853 | Establishes New Jersey Regulatory Modernization Commission. | This bill, known as the "New Jersey Regulatory Modernization and Red Tape Reduction Act," creates the advisory New Jersey Regulatory Modernization Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations have on economic development and public confidence in government in the State and to provide recommendations to reform or eliminate unnecessary or duplicative regulations while maintaining public health, safety, and environmental standards. For the purposes of complying with the State Constitution, the commission is to be allocated within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the department is responsible for providing administrative support and professional staff to support the commission's work. Under the bill, the commission will consist of 11 voting members, including seven public members appointed by the Executive and Legislative Branches of State government and four State cabinet members who shall serve ex officio. The bill requires the commission to review existing administrative rules and recommend changes or elimination of those deemed unnecessary or burdensome and to solicit feedback from businesses, nonprofits and the public about their regulatory challenges. Each year, the commission will publish, and submit to the Governor and Legislature, an annual report detailing its findings and recommendations, including the economic impact of any recommended reforms. State departments and agencies are expected to reply within 90 days responding to the commissions' recommendations and the commission is expected to collaborate with State departments or agencies to implement approved recommendations. The commission is charged with developing a digital "Red Tape Reduction Portal" for the public to submit regulatory concerns. All commission meetings are subject to the Open Public Meetings law and the commission's reports and findings must be published on a publicly accessible website. The bill appropriates $250,000 to support the administrative operations of the commission. | In Committee |
| A5864 | Appropriates $13,640,000 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities for open space acquisition, park development, and planning projects, and for certain administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $13,640,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $11,959,000 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, $1,000,000 is to establish a new planning grant program, and $681,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs. Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $8,346,000 is allocated for eight acquisition projects; $2,133,000 is allocated for two park development projects; and $1,480,000 is allocated for four stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill would appropriate $1,000,000 to the DEP in order to establish a new a Planning Grant program, the purpose of which would be to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations to fund the preparation of plans and other activities necessary to identify needs and opportunities for additional recreation and conservation initiatives in the State. The bill would require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) for any grant funds distributed under the program. The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs. The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. 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. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. | In Committee |
| A5376 | Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations. | Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations. | In Committee |
| A2255 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | In Committee |
| A5079 | Concerns electrical linemen and associated building trades during weather-related states of emergency. | Concerns electrical linemen and associated building trades during weather-related states of emergency. | In Committee |
| A4083 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | In Committee |
| S1277 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Passed |
| A3941 | Changes classification of State Investigators in civil service. | This bill changes the classification of State Investigators in civil service. State Investigators employed with the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety are currently in the unclassified service of the civil service. In New Jersey, employees serving in classified titles receive the full protections of the civil service system, while unclassified employees do not. This bill will allow all current and future State Investigators to receive those protections. | Crossed Over |
| A4618 | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | Crossed Over |
| A3008 | Requires certain health care facilities to offer lactation counseling and consultations to persons who have given birth. | Requires certain health care facilities to offer lactation counseling and consultations to persons who have given birth. | Crossed Over |
| A5435 | Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs. | Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs. | Crossed Over |
| A5211 | Establishes New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act, which codifies the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development's New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative. Under the bill, the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development is required to operate a New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative, the purpose of which is to provide students, workers, and job seekers with career pathways they need to pursue promising new careers and opportunities; to strengthen career pathways partnerships between county colleges and employers, primary and secondary schools, vocational technical high schools, four-year institutions of higher education, unions, and community based organizations; and to ensure that employers have access to a highly skilled workforce to meet critical labor market needs. The bill permits the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to establish Centers of Workforce Innovation that offer career pathways in various areas. The bill directs the Centers of Workforce Innovation to develop curriculum specific to each career pathway that is to be made publicly available, provide students with instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in a career pathway, promote the use of the Community College Opportunity Grants, promote the expansion of apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities for students, and to collaborate with business leaders and educational partners across the State. | Crossed Over |
| AJR62 | Designates first week of May of each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week." | This joint resolution designates the first week of May as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of mental health and mental illness in children. Mental illness can adversely affect children in many ways, including increasing the likelihood of a child of being suspended from school, abusing drugs or alcohol, or ending up in the juvenile justice system. Many children with mental health disorders do not receive treatment for their illnesses, due to poor understanding of mental illness and treatment options, stigma or lack of access to treatment. The resolution intends to promote awareness in hopes of improving the lives of children who have emotional disturbances and other mental health disorders. | Crossed Over |
| A4276 | Requires DOH to use Basic Screening Survey to access oral health in children. | This bill requires the Department of Health (department) to use the Basic Screening Survey to assess oral health in children. Under the bill, the Department of Health, in conjunction with one or more licensed dentists and related staff, is to collect a sufficient number of random data samples from each county in the State on a biannual basis using the Basic Screening Survey produced by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors in order to formulate a general assessment of the oral health of pre-school and school aged children in this State. No data is to be collected without the informed, written consent of a child's parent or guardian. Any data that is collected is to be collected and used in a manner that is consistent with federal and State privacy laws. The bill requires the department to submit a report biennially to the Governor, and to the Legislature, which report is to contain any findings and recommendations based on the data collected pursuant to the bill's provisions. The Basic Screening Survey is used by states to assess oral health status. Developed by the American Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, this survey can be performed in dental clinics, at health fairs, at other screening opportunities, and through a retrospective chart review. The Basic Screening Survey is not a thorough clinical examination and does not involve making a clinical diagnosis resulting in a treatment plan. The Basic Screening Survey is intended to identify gross dental or oral lesions. | Crossed Over |
| A4562 | Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans. | Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans. | Crossed Over |
| A3363 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | In Committee |
| A5448 | "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act"; provides alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title from relative. | This bill, titled the "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act," would provide an alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title to the property from a relative. The bill is based on the 2010 uniform act of the same name drafted and approved by the Uniform Law Commission (formerly known, and sometimes still referred to, as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws). Currently, any real property held by multiple owners as tenants in common (cotenants) may be subject to a partition action filed in Superior Court, which may result in (1) a partition in kind, which is the physical division of the property proportionate to individual owners' interests, or (2) partition by sale, for which individual owners are then compensated out of the total purchase price proportionate to their interests. See N.J.S.2A:56-1 et seq. This bill would preempt some parts of the existing partition law in order to create new requirements for the process intended to more greatly protect the interests of cotenant property owners who may object to another owner's action seeking to partition any property which meets the following characteristics and is referred to in the bill as "heirs property": - there is no agreement in a record binding all the cotenants which governs the partition of the property; - one or more of the cotenants acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased; and - any one of the following applies: 20 percent or more of the interests are held by cotenants who are relatives; 20 percent or more of the interests are held by an individual who acquired title from a relative, whether living or deceased; or 20 percent or more of the cotenants are relatives. When a partition action is filed pursuant to the partition law, N.J.S.2A:56-1 et seq., the court would make a determination, based on information contained in the pleadings or any other information provided to the court pursuant to the Rules of Court, whether the subject property is "heirs property." If so determined, the property would be partitioned in accordance with the process set forth in the bill. The court would appoint a special master to generally oversee the process and, when appropriate to carry out a partition in kind (the physical division of property), appoint a commissioner or commissioners pursuant R.4:63-1 of the Rules of Court "to ascertain and report in writing the metes and bounds of each [cotenant's] share." Any such appointed commissioner would be required to be disinterested, impartial, and not a party to or participant in the partition action. The bill also provides that if the court determines that the property may be heirs property, the court would order the plaintiff to post, and maintain while the action is pending, a conspicuous notice on the property that is the subject of the action in accordance with the Rules of Court. That notice would state information about the partition action and the common designation by which the property is known, and the court could also require the party to include the party's name and the known defendants (other cotenants). An appointed special master would direct a disinterested real estate appraiser licensed in the State to make a determination of the property's fair market value, assuming sole ownership of the fee simple estate, unless the cotenants have agreed to the property's value or to another valuation method, in which case the special master could accept that value or the value produced by the agreed upon method. If an appraisal was conducted, the completed appraisal would be distributed to the parties in the action and filed with the special master. Within 30 days after the appraisal is filed, any party could file an objection with the special master. Thereafter, following notice of a hearing, the special master could conduct an appraisal hearing to determine the fair market value of the property, during which the special master could consider evidence offered by any party in addition to the real estate appraisal on file. If any cotenant requests a partition by sale after the determination of the property's value, a notice would be sent within 45 days by the party who filed the partition action to all parties and the special master indicating that any cotenant, except a cotenant that requested partition by sale, could buy all of the interests of the one or more cotenants requesting the sale. Within 30 days thereafter, any eligible cotenant or cotenants could then elect to buy all of those interests by giving notice of such to the parties and the special master. The purchase price for each of the interests of a cotenant requesting the partition by sale would be the determined value of the entire parcel of property multiplied by the cotenant's fractional ownership of the entire parcel. At the conclusion of the buyout notice period, the bill provides for the following: (1) If only one cotenant elected to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the cotenant would notify all the parties and the special master in writing; (2) If more than one cotenant elected to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the special master would allocate the right to buy those interests among the electing cotenants based on each electing cotenant's existing fractional ownership of the entire parcel divided by the total existing fractional ownership of all cotenants electing to buy, and send written notice to all the parties of that fact and of the price to be paid by each electing cotenant; and (3) If no cotenant elected to buy all the interests of the cotenants that requested partition by sale, the special master with notice to the parties would report in writing to the court, and the court would resolve the matter by ordering a partition in kind or partition by sale. In situations when one or more cotenants elected to buy the available interests, each such cotenant would be required to pay their apportioned price within 30 days with notice to the special master. Upon timely payment by all purchasing cotenants, who would deposit their money in the Superior Court Trust Fund, the special master would issue an order reallocating the interests amongst the remaining cotenants and the money held by the trust fund would be disbursed, in accordance with procedures set forth in the Rules of Court, to the one or more cotenants who have been bought out. If no one made timely payments, the special master would report this to the court, which in turn would resolve the matter by ordering a partition in kind or partition by sale. If only some made timely payments, those paying cotenants could file a motion with the special master to determine the outstanding interests and their purchase price, and one or more such cotenants could thereafter pay, based upon a new special master order, for the recalculated remaining interests within 30 days following issuance of the order. After this new 30-day period, if there remained any interests for sale that are not purchased, the court would resolve the matter by ordering a partition in kind or partition by sale. Whenever at the conclusion of the one or more buyout periods described above there remain any unpurchased interest from a cotenant that requested the partition by sale, or any cotenant remains that has requested a partition in kind, the special master would report to the court a recommendation to proceed with a partition in kind. The court would order the partitioning of the property into physically distinct and separately titled parcels, unless the court found that such partitioning would result in great prejudice to the cotenants as a group; the determination of "great prejudice" would be based on such factors as whether the property could be divided practicably amongst cotenants, whether doing so could decrease the aggregate values of the resulting parcels versus selling the property as a whole, and any cotenant's sentimental attachment to the property, including attachment arising because of any ancestral, unique, or special value to the cotenant. In a case in which a partition in kind would result in great prejudice, the court would order a partition by sale, unless no cotenant requested such action, resulting in the dismissal of the case and no further partitioning of the property. Any partition by sale would be an open-market sale unless the court finds that a sale by sealed bids or an auction would be more economically advantageous and in the best interest of the cotenants as a group. Any open-market sale would proceed under a licensed real estate broker, either agreed to by the parties or, absent agreement, appointed by the court. The real estate broker would be provided a reasonable commission on the sale as determined by the court. The broker would offer the property for sale in a commercially reasonable manner at a price no lower than the previously determined value of the property, and on the terms and conditions established by the court. The broker, after receiving an offer to purchase the property, would file a report with the court containing information about the purchase price, name of each buyer, terms of the proposed sale, including the terms of any financing, any amounts to be paid to lienholders, and other material facts relevant to the sale. Thereafter, the purchase could be completed in accordance with applicable State law and payments distributed based upon the former cotenants various interests in the property. This bill would take effect on the 30th day following enactment, and apply to any partition actions filed on or after that date. | In Committee |
| S2332 | Allows complaint for guardianship of minor to be filed six months before minor reaches age 18 under certain circumstances; establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints. | This bill allows a complaint for guardianship of a minor who is anticipated to require a guardian upon attaining the age of 18 to be filed six months before the minor attains the age of 18. The bill also establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints in general. Under current law, once a child reaches age 18, a parent or other appropriate person may file a complaint for guardianship. However, if proceedings are delayed and a guardian is not yet appointed, the young person is left without the legal protection of a parent, other appropriate person, or appointed guardian, until such time as the guardian is actually appointed. Allowing guardianship proceedings to be initiated in advance will help avoid potential administrative or procedural delays and ensure a seamless transition as the minor turns age 18. Under the bill, an order of guardianship entered before a minor is 18 would not take effect until the day the minor turns 18. The bill additionally specifies that a complaint for adjudication of incapacity and appointment of a guardian shall not be withdrawn absent a showing that the alleged incapacitated person is deceased or has capacity. The showing of capacity does not require medical evidence but may, in the court's discretion, be satisfied by testimony of a witness with knowledge of the alleged incapacitated person's condition and circumstances. | Passed |
| A5469 | Limits use or disclosure of certain education records. | This bill limits the disclosure of certain education records. Current law requires students, or the parent or guardians of students, as applicable, in the graduating classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 to complete certain financial aid paperwork unless a waiver is submitted. Under the bill, a waiver template or form developed by the Department of Education, a board of education, or a board of trustees of a charter school for use in collecting student financial aid information pursuant to the provisions of the bill is to require the student, parent or guardian, or school counselor, as applicable, to provide only the student's name, telephone number, email address, date, and signature of the individual submitting the waiver. Under the bill, school districts and charter schools are prohibited from using or disclosing the waiver submitted under P.L.2023, c.295, or any personal information contained within the waiver, without the informed consent of the student or the student's parent or guardian consistent with applicable federal and State-level protections of student educational records, including the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The bill stipulates it is not to be construed to prohibit, or in any way restrict, any action that is consistent with federal law. Under the bill, the Department of Education is to include language consistent with the prohibition on disclosure in any optional waiver template developed by the department for use by a school district or charter school in a prominent location on the waiver. The bill requires a school district or charter school that uses a waiver developed by the district or charter school to also include language consistent with the prohibition on disclosure in a prominent location on the waiver. Finally, the bill provides that nothing in the bill is to be construed to invalidate a waiver submitted prior to the bill's effective date and that a waiver submitted prior to the bill's effective date is subject to the provisions of the bill concerning the prohibition on disclosure. | In Committee |
| A3893 | Allows complaint for guardianship of minor to be filed six months before minor reaches age 18 under certain circumstances; establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints. | This bill allows a complaint for guardianship of a minor who is anticipated to require a guardian upon attaining the age of 18 to be filed six months before the minor attains the age of 18. The bill also establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints in general. Under current law, once a child reaches age 18, a parent or other appropriate person may file a complaint for guardianship. However, if proceedings are delayed and a guardian is not yet appointed, the young person is left without the legal protection of a parent, other appropriate person, or appointed guardian, until such time as the guardian is actually appointed. Allowing guardianship proceedings to be initiated in advance will help avoid potential administrative or procedural delays and ensure a seamless transition as the minor turns age 18. Under the bill, an order of guardianship entered before a minor is 18 would not take effect until the day the minor turns 18. The bill additionally specifies that a complaint for adjudication of incapacity and appointment of a guardian shall not be withdrawn absent a showing that the alleged incapacitated person is deceased or has capacity. The showing of capacity does not require medical evidence but may, in the court's discretion, be satisfied by testimony of a witness with knowledge of the alleged incapacitated person's condition and circumstances. | In Committee |
| A3856 | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | In Committee |
| A1841 | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | Expands requirements for health insurance carriers concerning prostate cancer screening and requires coverage be provided without cost sharing. | In Committee |
| A5426 | Requires State domestic violence public awareness campaign to add information on coercive control; requires annual reporting on activities of campaign and expands range of languages. | Requires State domestic violence public awareness campaign to add information on coercive control; requires annual reporting on activities of campaign and expands range of languages. | Crossed Over |
| A2993 | Authorizes local governments to provide voluntary contributions to certain nonprofit veterans' organizations. | Authorizes local governments to provide voluntary contributions to certain nonprofit veterans' organizations. | Crossed Over |
| A4983 | Requires certain athletic trainers and certain coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete student-athlete eating disorder training program developed by Commissioner of Education. | Requires certain athletic trainers and certain coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete student-athlete eating disorder training program developed by Commissioner of Education. | Crossed Over |
| A4984 | Requires DCF to expand services provided by NJ Statewide Student Support Services program to include eating disorder services. | Requires DCF to expand services provided by NJ Statewide Student Support Services program to include eating disorder services. | Crossed Over |
| A5183 | Directs DOLWD to develop and maintain industry-valued credential list. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to develop and maintain a list of industry-valued credentials identifying the specific credentials offered in New Jersey in which employers are most interested, based on analysis of State labor market data and on feedback from employers in the State. The industry-valued credential list is required to be updated annually and made available as a list and in a downloadable format on the Internet website of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. An industry-valued credential is a recognized degree, diploma, certificate, or certification awarded for an occupation that is valued and demanded by employers, with transferable skills that provide broad opportunities, may lead to opportunities for further training and education, and lead to higher wages, career advancement, or increased job security. | Crossed Over |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5610 | Adds training concerning coercive control to domestic violence training for judges and law enforcement officers. | This bill adds training concerning coercive control to the existing domestic violence training requirements for judges, court personnel, and law enforcement officers. Under current law, N.J.S.A.2C:25-29, indicators of coercive control by an abuser include, but are not limited to: (1) isolating a person from friends, relatives, transportation, medical care, or other source of support; (2) depriving a person of basic necessities; (3) monitoring a person's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic resources, or access to services; (4) compelling a person by force, threat, or intimidation, including, but not limited to, threats based on actual or suspected immigration status; (5) threatening to make or making baseless reports to the police, courts, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) within the Department of Children and Families, the Board of Social Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or other parties; (6) threatening to harm or kill an individual's relative or pet; and (7) threatening to deny or interfere with an individual's child custody or parenting time, other than through enforcement of a valid custody arrangement or court order. Under the bill, the Attorney General and the Administrative Director of the Courts will be required to update the domestic violence training curriculum as necessary to implement the bill. | In Committee |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3620 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | An Act concerning electric and gas public utilities and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5133 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering. | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering. | In Committee |
| A5539 | Reduces threshold cost, from $5 million to $3 million, of public works projects which may include project labor agreements. | This bill amends P.L.2002, c.44 to reduce, from $5 million to $3 million, the minimum cost of a public works project which may include a project labor agreement pursuant to that act. | In Committee |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5510 | Requires appointment of State Dementia Services Coordinator; appropriates $150,000. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The State coordinator is to be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the position. The duties of the State coordinator is to include: 1) developing and coordinating the implementation of a master plan to address the impact of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 2) coordinating with existing State programs, services, facilities, and agencies that provide services and other assistance to persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia; 3) developing procedures to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between, and prevent the duplication of dementia care services provided by, State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; 4) identifying service gaps in the provision of appropriate dementia care services and other assistance by State departments, offices, divisions, agencies, and community-based organizations; and 5) increasing awareness of, and facilitating access to quality, coordinated treatment and dementia care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia. The appointed State Dementia Services Coordinator: is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the State to supply the coordinator with data and any other information necessary to discharge the coordinator's duties; and may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of the coordinator's mission. The provisions of the bill also require each department, office, division, or agency to cooperate fully with, and provide assistance to, the coordinator to perform the coordinator's duties. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5461 | Makes various changes to provisions of "Administrative Procedure Act." | This bill would make various changes to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) and other laws that supplement that act, in order to alter the procedures State agencies are required to follow when they adopt rules and regulations to implement State and federal laws. The bill would also provide for the payment of attorney's fees in certain circumstances when the head of an agency rejects or modifies the recommended report and decision of an administrative law judge and the decision is overturned by a court. Specifically, the bill would require State agencies to make available for public viewing on the agency's website (1) all public comments received related to each rule proposal issued by the agency, and (2) all data sets and other information that were used by the agency to formulate the proposed rule. The bill would also require that each rule proposal be directed toward a single object, prohibiting agencies from bundling together unrelated rule proposals. The bill would extend the public comment period for rule proposals from 30 days to 60 days. The bill would require that the socio-economic impact statement for rule proposals include estimates, in dollars, of the proposed rule's effect on annual expenditures by the State, municipalities, businesses, and residents. The bill would also require rule proposals to include a consideration of alternatives to the rule proposal, with a justification for why the proposed rule is superior to the alternatives. The bill would provide that, if 50 or more commenters request a 30-day extension to the public comment period or a public hearing for a proposed rule, this would constitute "sufficient public interest" for the purposes of section 4 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-4) and the agency proposing the rule would be required to grant the extension or hold a public hearing, as applicable. In addition, the bill would require State agencies to hold a public hearing on a rule proposal if the proposal is estimated to involve a substantive increase in expenditures by the State, municipalities, businesses, or residents. The bill would direct each State agency to formulate standards for what constitutes a "substantive increase in expenditures," but would establish a minimum threshold of $50 million in a calendar year. In addition, the bill would require State agencies to file a notice of intent for each contemplated rulemaking at least 90 days prior to issuing a formal rule proposal notification. Under current law, agencies are authorized, but not required, to file a notice of intent. The notice of intent is required to include a statement of either the terms or substance of the intended action or a description of the subjects and issues involved. The agency would be required to establish the time when, the place where, and the manner in which interested persons may present their views on the contemplated rule-making. The bill would also require agencies to review and respond to petitions that claim that one of the agency's rules is in conflict or inconsistent with another State or federal rule. Similarly, the bill would require State agencies to analyze their rules to verify that they do not conflict with other State and federal rules, prior to readopting them. The bill would require the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) to include all public comments received, and all data and other information used, for each rulemaking action in its online database of rulemaking actions. The bill would also explicitly require State agencies to provide all necessary information to the OAL for the development of the online database. In addition, the bill would require the OAL to update the database daily, rather than making "regular and timely updates," as in current law. Finally, the bill would provide that, whenever the head of the agency rejects or modifies the recommended report and decision of an administrative law judge pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-10), and the modification or rejection is subsequently overturned by judicial review, the agency would be liable for the plaintiff's attorneys' fees incurred in the court challenge to the final agency decision. | In Committee |
| A941 | Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran. | This bill provides that the total property tax exemption extended to totally disabled veterans is to be retroactive to the effective date of the determination of the veteran's total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill also requires that the governing body of each municipality return all taxes collected on the veteran's property after the effective date of the determination of total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the amount of such property taxes returned to a totally disabled veteran pursuant to the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| AR183 | Declares support for Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees residing in NJ; expresses solidarity with its citizens; urges federal government to continue providing support for Ukraine and funds for refugee programs. | This resolution express gratitude to the people of Ukraine for the sacrifices they have made and the courage they have demonstrated by holding back a Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean-backed Russian invasion of Europe, and expresses the State's solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The resolution condemns the illegal aggression against Ukraine by Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation, who are solely responsible for starting this brutal war and who could end this war at any point by withdrawing their forces. The resolution urges the federal government to pursue, in concert with Ukraine and European allies, a just, negotiated end to the war that preserves Ukraine's sovereignty and right to choose its allies, that secures the return to Ukraine for all prisoners and kidnapped children, and that is backed by meaningful European and American security guarantees. This resolution urges the federal government to continue the provision of military and economic aid to Ukraine for as long as Russia's invasion continues and, following a negotiated settlement, to ensure that peace endures. The resolution urges the federal government to unfreeze all funding for federal refugee programs and aid to Ukraine and its people. | In Committee |
| ACR157 | Condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance. | This resolution condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and intolerance, and declares the State of New Jersey as a place that welcomes the diversity brought by Hindu Americans. This resolution recognizes that Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and which encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace. The United States has always been a beacon of hope, progress, and innovation, attracting people from around the world to create and live a better and fulfilling life, and has welcomed more than four million Hindus from all corners of the world and given them better opportunities and the freedom to practice Hinduism, also known as "Sanatana Dharma". The American Hindu community has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, retail trade, and so much more. Hindu contributions of Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more have enriched the cultural fabric and have been widely adopted in American society and enriched the lives of millions. Hinduphobia, as described by the Understanding Hinduphobia Initiative, is "a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear, or hatred". There have been documented instances of hate crimes against Hindu Americans over the last few decades in many parts of the country. | In Committee |
| A4696 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| S1445 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | An Act concerning military service members at public institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5388 | Requires EMTs to undergo training in recognition and response techniques when encountering individuals with mental health conditions. | This bill expands the types of training an emergency medical technician (EMT) is required to undergo as part of the EMT's certification and continuing education. Specifically, the bill amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.80 (C.26:2-190) to require the Departments of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the New Jersey Fire and Emergency Medical Services Institute and the New Jersey State First Aid Council, to develop a training curriculum that provides for the instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques when encountering an individual with a mental health condition. The current training program mandated by the State require EMTs to undergo training of the risks associated with autism or an intellectual or other developmental disability, and instruction in appropriate recognition and response techniques concerning these disabilities. It does not require instruction in the appropriate recognition and response techniques when encountering an individual diagnosed with a mental health condition. The bill also amends section 2 of P.L.2008, c.80 (C.26:2-190) to require that every emergency medical technician certified prior to the effective date of the bill will be required to complete the new training curriculum through existing continuing education requirements. | In Committee |
| A5410 | Establishes additional public inspection requirements for school district budgets. | This bill provides additional public inspection requirements for school district budgets. Pursuant to current law, a school district is required to provide for public inspection on its website and make available in print in a "user-friendly" format the school budget as adopted for the school year. This bill extends these requirements to the version of the budget that is: 1) initially submitted by a school district to the Commissioner of Education for approval; and 2) approved by the commissioner. Pursuant to the bill, the version of the budget that is approved by the commissioner is to be made available no later than 48 hours prior to the public hearing on the budget. In addition, the bill requires all forms of the budget to be provided upon request for public inspection. | In Committee |
| A4101 | Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions. | Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions. | Crossed Over |
| A4556 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A4755 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | In Committee |
| A4817 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | In Committee |
| A2145 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | This bill establishes employment protections for paid first responders who are diagnosed with certain cases of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under the bill, an employer would be prohibited from discharging, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee, or threatening to do so, with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, duties, or privileges of employment on the basis that the employee took or requested any leave related to a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD. The bill provides that if an employer violates its provisions, an employee or former employee would be authorized to institute a civil action in the Superior Court for relief. All remedies available in common law tort actions would be available to a prevailing plaintiff. Additionally, the bill provides that a court would be authorized to order any or all of the following relief: (1) an assessment of a civil fine of $5,000 and $10,000 for each subsequent violation; (2) an injunction to restrain the continued violation of any of the provisions of the bill; (3) reinstatement of the employee to the same position or to a position equivalent to that which the employee held prior to unlawful discharge or retaliatory action; (4) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights; (5) compensation for any lost wages, benefits and other remuneration; (6) payment of reasonable costs and attorney's fees. | In Committee |
| A4979 | Requires law enforcement officers to complete training regarding identification of machine gun conversion devices. | This bill requires law enforcement officers to complete training regarding the identification of machine gun conversion devices. Under current law, the Police Training Commission is to require all law enforcement officers as a condition of continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer to receive periodic commission-approved continuing officer education training. The training is to be mandated or prescribed by the commission. Under this bill, the training required under current law is to include training regarding the identification of machine gun conversion devices and associated firearm components used to convert a semiautomatic firearm into a machine gun. | In Committee |
| A2803 | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A2196 | Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. | Requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria. | Crossed Over |
| A5259 | Permits certain winery license holders to sell wine produced by other winery licensees under certain circumstances; establishes supplemental wine production facility license. | This bill permits plenary and farm winery license holders who produce not more than 250,000 gallons per year to sell the wine they produce to any other plenary or farm winery license holder in this State for purposes of sale by the purchaser on the licensed premises of the winery or to sell wine to any winery outside of this State in accordance with the laws of the purchaser's state. Under the bill, wine sold to another winery is not to be considered towards the calculation of the amount of wine produced by the seller but is to be considered towards the total number of gallons produced per year by the purchasing winery. The bill provides that no less than 50 percent of the wine sold per year is required to be produced on the license holder's premises. In addition, this bill establishes a supplemental wine production facility sublicense. The holder of a plenary winery license or a farm winery license engaged in the production of wine on the licensed premises of the winery who holds a supplemental wine production facility sublicense would be entitled to produce wine at the supplemental wine production facility owned and leased by the license holder. Under the bill, the holder of this sublicense is additionally entitled, subject to rules and regulations, to transfer wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility to the licensed premises of the winery or salesroom for sale at retail to consumers and to otherwise sell and distribute wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility pursuant to the laws of the place of sale and distribution. The bill provides that any wine produced at the supplemental production facility that is not sold to another winery license holder is to be considered when calculating the total gallons per year of wine produced by the licensee for purposes of determining any fees, limitations, and eligibility for privileges that may pertain to the holder of a plenary winery license or farm winery license. The bill prohibits the sale of wine at retail to consumers on the premises of the supplemental wine production facility. Under the bill, the fee for the sublicense is $750. | In Committee |
| A5258 | Permits certain wineries to sell their products by the glass for consumption in licensed salesrooms. | This bill permits plenary winery license holders, out-of-State winery license holders, and farm winery license holders to sell their products by the glass for consumption in their licensed salesrooms. Under the bill, "by the glass" is defined as the selling of an individual portion of wine, or wine mixed with non-alcoholic beverages, in an open container. The sponsor intends for this bill to provide additional purchase options for consumers and increase revenue for winery license holders. | In Committee |
| A5271 | Requires health insurance coverage of scalp cooling systems in connection with cancer chemotherapy treatment; requires physicians to inform patients of scalp cooling therapy. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and State and School Employees' Health Benefits Program contracts) to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used in connection with cancer chemotherapy treatment. Pursuant to the bill, "scalp cooling system" means any device used to cool the human scalp to prevent or reduce hair loss during cancer chemotherapy treatment, so long as the device is designed and intended for repeated use and is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose. In addition, the bill requires physicians administering cancer chemotherapy to a patient to inform the patient, prior to the initiation of treatment, of the availability of scalp cooling therapy as an option to help prevent or reduce hair loss and to maintain a record of the discussion in the patient's medical records. | In Committee |
| S720 | Requires DCPP to consult with Division of Developmental Disabilities following finding of child abuse or neglect to create services plan for person with developmental disability under certain circumstances. | An Act concerning the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and amending P.L.1974, c.119. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3922 | Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the purpose of providing grants, as awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust, for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3879 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | An Act concerning the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to finance a portion of the cost of certain environmental infrastructure projects, and amending P.L.2024, c.41. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR76 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3881 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | An Act concerning the financing of environmental infrastructure projects in Fiscal Year 2025 and amending P.L.2024, c.35. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3936 | Appropriates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects. | An Act appropriating $60 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the development of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5121 | Appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs. | An Act appropriating $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S684 | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients's admission to long-term care facility. | An Act allowing for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients' admission to certain long-term care facilities and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3803 | Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service. | This bill requires a public institution of higher education to readmit an undergraduate student who withdrew from the institution due to the student's service in the uniformed services, including service in the Armed Forces, or as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, on active duty, active duty for training, or full-time National Guard duty under federal or State authority. Under the bill, the institution is required to readmit the student with the same academic status as the student had when the student last attended the institution. The bill also provides that readmission is to be granted upon written request by the student for the next academic semester beginning after the date of the request. Finally, the bill provides that an institution cannot charge an application or other fee for a readmission request made pursuant to the bill's provisions. This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed. | In Committee |
| A4968 | Modifies list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | An Act concerning the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to finance a portion of the cost of certain transportation infrastructure projects and amending P.L.2024, c.43. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2507 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A1657 | Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors. | Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to professional counselors. | Crossed Over |
| A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| AJR210 | Designates second week of September of each year as "Library Awareness Week in New Jersey." | This joint resolution designates the second week of September of each year as "Library Awareness Week in New Jersey." Libraries are critical institutions and dynamic centers of lifelong learning that play a unique role in ensuring the public's right to know and empowering people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about the world around them. Libraries also play a key role in the national discourse on intellectual freedom and equity of access to information and are the cornerstone of our democracy. It is therefore appropriate to foster public pride and support of the State's libraries, promote awareness and use of their valuable resources, and recognize the many contributions of library professionals by establishing a "Library Awareness Week in New Jersey." | In Committee |
| A4220 | Revises Statewide transfer agreements for transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at participating institutions of higher education; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | Revises Statewide transfer agreements for transfer of academic credit and reverse credit at participating institutions of higher education; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | Crossed Over |
| A5181 | Requires rotation of candidate names appearing on primary election ballots. | This bill requires the county clerks or municipal clerks, following a draw for ballot position, to additionally conduct a rotation of candidate names appearing on the primary election ballot. A rotation algorithm will be used to rotate the order in which the names of candidates will appear on the ballot. The rotated ballots may be presented to the voters by assigning the ballot versions per election district, or by randomly presenting such ballots to each voter when voting by mail, voting during the early voting period, or voting in person on election day. As a result of this rotation, voters may receive different ballots where the same list of candidates is ordered differently. The goal of the rotation system is for each candidate to appear substantially an equal number of times at each possible order, from first to last, on the ballot before an equal number of voters, and that no candidate will be advantaged over other candidates on the basis of their ballot placement or position. | In Committee |
| A2104 | Requires DEP to prioritize funding for certain projects for acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes and certain environmental infrastructure projects that include, or allow for, flood mitigation projects. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide additional priority points to certain applicants that seek funding, for Blue Acres projects and for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. Specifically, under the bill, projects that include, or allow for, a flood mitigation project to occur onsite would receive additional priority points in the ranking for funding pursuant to the respective program. The DEP would factor these additional points into its calculations when establishing: (1) the list of projects eligible to receive "Blue Acres funding"; (2) the "clean water project priority list," pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-20); and (3) the "drinking water project priority list," pursuant to section 24 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-20.1). As used in the bill, "Blue Acres project" means any project of the State or a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage caused by, storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage. | Crossed Over |
| AJR89 | Condemns hate in all forms and especially all hate and bias crimes. | Condemns hate in all forms and especially all hate and bias crimes. | Crossed Over |
| ACR138 | Honors 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh program. | This concurrent resolution honors the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program. The agricultural industry is critical to ensuring New Jersey residents have access to healthy food and plays a key role in the State's economy by helping to keep property taxes low, increase property values, and garner State revenue. In 1984, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture established the Jersey Fresh program, the first in the nation state-sponsored agricultural commodity marketing and quality grading program, to promote the State's agricultural industry. The Jersey Fresh program helps support family owned farms across New Jersey through its marketing campaigns that inform shoppers of what produce is in season and encourage consumers to shop local. The Jersey Fresh program's distinct label placed on locally harvested produce assists consumers easily differentiate fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey from other produce in the marketplace. The Jersey Fresh program encourages consumers to purchase locally grown produce through its quality and freshness guarantees. Specifically, the Jersey Fresh quality grading program requires Jersey Fresh produce to meet U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing grade or better. With this added quality assurance, the Jersey Fresh label guarantees that its produce was freshly harvested in New Jersey, has been inspected, and meets high quality standards. The Jersey Fresh program has demonstrated success in increasing New Jersey consumers' awareness of, and willingness to purchase, locally harvested produce. Consumer recognition of Jersey Fresh products has extended beyond the State to the mid-Atlantic and New England markets and, in 2020, was on par with that of other major national brands. Today, the Jersey Fresh program is recognized as a national model for other state-sponsored agricultural branding programs. The Jersey Fresh program's innovative marketing strategies have contributed to the program's longevity and popularity. New Jersey produces over 100 types of fruits and vegetables and is nationally ranked in the top 10 producers of blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, and cranberries. The Jersey Fresh program has expanded across the State and is available to New Jersey residents in every county, including at over 2,000 On-Farm Markets run by local New Jersey farmers, community farmers markets, major retail stores, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. The Jersey Fresh program's popularity and demonstrated success has also inspired related programs modeled after the Jersey Fresh program, including the Made with Jersey Fresh program, which identifies processed food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients; the Jersey Grown program, which advertises New Jersey grown plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers; the Jersey Raised program, which markets livestock raised in New Jersey; and the Jersey Seafood program, which promotes aquacultured and wild-caught fish and seafood products harvested off of New Jersey's coast. | Crossed Over |
| A5160 | Provides PERS members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of PERS. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5158 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5152 | Reschedules June 2025 primary election date; provides for adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | An Act concerning the date of the June 2025 primary election and adjustment of certain election related deadlines. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5119 | Appropriates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects. | This bill appropriates the sum of $60 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for capital projects and park development projects on lands administered by the DEP for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). 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" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on lands administered by the State for recreation and conservation purposes; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. This bill appropriates funds for capital and park development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's State Parks, Forests, and Historic Sites program and Fish and Wildlife program. These programs were formerly known, respectively, as the Division of Parks and Forestry and Division of Fish and Wildlife, prior to the DEP's current reorganization. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The projects and appropriations listed in this bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A4893 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | In Committee |
| A5123 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. | In Committee |
| A5186 | Makes various changes to school funding and budgeting laws; eliminates use of census-based funding for special education aid; establishes reimbursement program for school district fuel costs. | This bill makes various changes to State school aid and budgeting laws, including special education categorical aid, establishes a State school aid reduction cap, and provides for the reimbursement of school district fuel costs. Under the bill, the Department of Education would be required to provide school districts with a preliminary notice of State school aid amounts no later than the first week of January. Under current law, the first notice of State school aid is required to be sent to school districts no later than two days following the delivery of the Governor's budget address. The bill also increases the amount of undesignated general fund balance that a school district is permitted to maintain. Under current law, a district, other than a county vocational district, is required to appropriate any funds in excess of two percent of the budgeted general fund for the prebudget year or $250,000, whichever is greater, for the subsequent year's budget. The bill would increase this limit to six percent of the first $100 million and in excess of three percent of the amount which exceeds $100 million. The bill does not modify current law governing the allowable undesignated general fund balances of county vocational school districts. The bill also changes how special education aid to school districts is calculated. Under the provisions of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," the State provides special education aid to school districts using the census-based funding method. Under this method, districts receive funding for special education based on the assumption that a fixed percent of the total student population requires special education services, rather than using the actual number of special education students in a school district to determine the amount of State aid the district receives. The bill eliminates the use of the census-based methodology, and calculates State aid for special education based on the actual number of special education students included in the district's resident enrollment. Additionally, the bill establishes certain municipal overburden protections to prevent a school district from receiving a reduction in State aid. Pursuant to the bill, a school district would not be subject to a reduction in State school aid if the district is located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average equalized total tax rate for the most recently available calendar year and the district is spending below adequacy. Similarly, the bill provides that a regional school district would not be subject to a reduction in State school aid if the average of the equalized total tax rates for each constituent district or municipality of the regional school district is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average equalized total tax rate for the most recent available calendar year and the regional school district is spending below adequacy. The bill also establishes a State school aid reduction cap to ensure that the amount of State school aid provided to a school district is not to be decreased by more than two percent of the amount of State school aid received by the district in the prebudget year. Additionally, the bill provides that a school district may apply to the Commissioner of Education to receive stabilization aid, in addition to any other State school aid, if the school district experiences a reduction in State school aid compared to the prior school year or otherwise confronts a structural budgetary imbalance. To receive stabilization aid, a school district is required to submit an application to the commissioner, in a manner and form to be prescribed by the commissioner, including a written plan explaining how the district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the district does not receive stabilization aid or similar supplemental State school aid. Finally, the bill provides that the State is to reimburse school districts for actual fuel costs incurred to provide student transportation services. A district seeking reimbursement is to submit to the Department of Education a written invoice, along with any other documentation or verification of costs as the department may require, no later than the submission deadline determined by the department. The department is required to make the reimbursement available to the district within 30 days of the submission deadline. The funds to support the reimbursement program are to be appropriated by the Legislature from the Property Tax Relief Fund. | In Committee |
| A4168 | Requires DCPP to consult with Division of Developmental Disabilities following finding of child abuse or neglect to create services plan for person with developmental disability under certain circumstances. | Under current law, if the court finds that a person who has abused or neglected a child appears to be in need of therapeutic services, the court may order the person to accept such services or an evaluation for services. The services ordered by the court may include, but are not limited to, homemaker services, functional education, and professional therapy. This bill would provide that in cases where the person has a developmental disability and is eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in the Department of Human Services, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency would be required make reasonable efforts to consult with DDD to create a plan for services for the person. DDD would also be required to determine an appropriate method to offer the services based on the person's disability. | In Committee |
| AR173 | Urges federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in NJ airspace. | This resolution affirms support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the program's progress in reducing hunger among vulnerable populations in New Jersey. The resolution urges the United States Congress to reject the proposed federal cuts to SNAP. On May 14, 2025, to achieve a minimum $1.5 trillion cut from the federal budget over a ten year period, the House Agriculture Committee voted in favor of a bill that would reduce up to $300 billion in food aid funding, largely aimed at SNAP. In New Jersey, SNAP is a critical resource for residents, with nearly 850,000 individuals, or nine percent of the total population, relying on the program's benefits to feed their families. A significant number of the households that participate in SNAP include some of the State's most vulnerable members: the elderly, disabled, veterans, and children. The New Jersey General Assembly supports State and federal collaboration to identify programmatic efficiencies within SNAP; however, budgetary cost savings implemented at the expense of striping income-limited children, seniors, and families of safety net food and nutrition services is unconscionable. The General Assembly urges Congress to reject these drastic proposed federal funding reductions, or any subsequent proposals, and to maintain SNAP as an accessible resource for those in need of food assistance. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR101 | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). | In Committee |
| A5122 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by DEP under FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. | In Committee |
| A908 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit, commonly referred to as a rape kit, tracking system. Under the bill, the Attorney General is to issue guidelines or a directive establishing the system. The bill defines a "sexual assault forensic evidence kit tracking system" as an Internet-based system that allows a person, including a victim; a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer; an employee of a healthcare facility or laboratory, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General; and any other person, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General, to track a sexual assault forensic evidence kit through the chain of custody from the time of collection at a healthcare facility to the transfer to a local law enforcement agency, submission to a laboratory, and final disposition. | In Committee |
| A5120 | Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $18,518,738 to the New Jersey Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects contained in the bill and associated administrative expenses. 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" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund" was established by section 9 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The funding contained in this bill will be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust to provide capital preservation grants for 43 projects, totaling $15,031,000 (listed in subsection b. of section 1 of the bill), and historic site management grants, including heritage tourism initiatives, for 34 projects, totaling $1,467,738 (listed in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill). In addition, of the funding, $100,000 will be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust to purchase a historic preservation easement. Lastly, the bill appropriates $1,920,000 to the New Jersey Historic Trust for administrative expenses incurred in the implementation of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Capital preservation grants fund the restoration, preservation, repair, and rehabilitation of historic sites for new or continued use by nonprofit organizations or local governments. There are three levels of capital preservation grants: Level I grants of $5,000 to $150,000; Level II grants of $150,001 to $750,000; and Multi-Phase Level II grants range of $500,000 to $750,000. Historic site management grants help fund preservation planning projects, such as condition assessments, historic structure reports, archaeological investigations, construction documents, and heritage tourism initiatives to improve visitors' experiences at historic sites. All of the grants require a match from the recipient. All of the properties are listed or eligible to be listed in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, either individually or within designated historic districts. The projects listed in this bill have been approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also provides that any transfer of any funds to another project, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in the bill would require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. The bill further provides that, to the extent there are funds remaining after the projects listed in this bill are offered funding, the New Jersey Historic Trust, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, may use those funds to provide additional funding for historic preservation projects, provided those projects were previously approved for funding pursuant to various other laws or approved for funding pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| A2334 | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. | Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipient's admission to long-term care facility. | In Committee |
| A5131 | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | This bill modifies State statutes regarding extended employment programs that provide rehabilitation and employment for persons with significant disabilities. The bill renames the "Sheltered Workshop Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.272 (C.34:16-39 et seq.), as the "Extended Employment Act." The bill amends the act to change the term used to designate facilities operated by nonprofit organizations to provide vocational rehabilitation and transitional employment to persons with disabilities from "sheltered workshop" to "extended employment." The bill relaxes the specifications regarding which individuals, deemed "extended employees," may be served under extended employment programs by permitting the individuals to have "significant," rather than "severe," disabilities and by removing the requirement that they first complete a workshop program, and that, after completing the program, their disability still makes them incapable of competing in the regular labor market. The bill eliminates the role of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired in determining the eligibility of individuals to be served by an extended employment program, setting standards for staff, facilities, and services of the programs, and requiring documentation of services. The bill eliminates the requirement that individual progress reports be provided and removes the law's exemption of extended employment facilities from the permit requirements and certain other requirements of the industrial homework law, P.L.1941, c.308 (C.34:6-136.1 et eq.). The bill clarifies the desired program outcomes of the extended employment program. The bill also sets requirements for baseline funding for the extended employment funding and parameters for minimum increases based on the funding provided in the FY 2024 New Jersey State Budget combined with the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) or 80 percent of expenses outlined in a functional expense report to be submitted by providers of extended employment services each fiscal year, whichever of the two is greater. The bill clarifies that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitative Services is responsible for informing and referring individuals to the extended employment program and requires consultation with ACCSES New Jersey for consultation on major policy and leadership changes within the division. The bill repeals the provisions of P.L.1975, c.350 (C.34:16-45 et seq.) concerning the sale of products produced in extended employment facilities, including specific labeling requirements, requirements regarding the minimum percentage of work to be done in the facilities, and penalties for misrepresentation regarding the disability status of the workers. Finally, the bill eliminates references to particular kinds of transportation in the program assisting persons with disabilities in extended employment programs. | In Committee |
| SJR71 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR103 | Declares NJ "Purple Heart State." | This resolution declares New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." New Jersey veterans and active duty military members have fought selflessly to preserve our nation's freedom, with many being wounded or killed while in the line of duty. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President to veterans and active duty military members who have been wounded or killed while serving in our nation's Armed Forces. The recipients of the Purple Heart Medal deserve recognition and honor for the bravery that recipients have shown while serving our nation. Three states, including West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, are declared "Purple Heart States." Parts of 45 states are part of the "Purple Heart Trail," a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that give tribute to the veterans and active duty military members who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. New Jersey has multiple counties, cities, and locations that are part of the "Purple Heart Trail." The "Purple Heart Trail" was established at the 1992 Military Order of the Purple Heart convention, which was held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" honors the contributions and sacrifices of the New Jersey service members who have received the Purple Heart Medal. Purple Heart Medal recipients from the State have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the State's citizens. The people of New Jersey have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all of the service members who have selflessly served our country and the State. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to declare New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." Declares NJ "Purple Heart State." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3561 | Establishes crime of doxxing. | This bill establishes the crime of doxxing. Under the bill, doxxing occurs if a person, with the purpose to subject another person to violence, stalking, physical restraining, mental anguish, or to cause a person to fear for their own safety or that of another, knowingly discloses personal identifying information without the person's consent. A crime is committed under the bill when the disclosure: (1) creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or physical harm to the person or a close relation of the person; (2) creates a substantial risk that the person or a close relation of the person is subjected to stalking; or (3) inflicts mental anguish upon the person or a close relation of the person and places the person or close relation in reasonable fear of physical harm. Under the bill, "close relation" is defined as a spouse; domestic partner; partner in a civil union couple; former spouse, former domestic partner; former partner in a civil union; parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, or grandchild, whether related by blood or by law; any person who is a present household member, or who was, within the prior six months, a household member; or any person with a significant personal or professional relationship. The crime of doxxing does not occur if the disclosure was made: (1) in good faith to inform any member of the public of conduct by the person that the actor reasonably believed to be unlawful; (2) in good faith to inform law enforcement of conduct committed by the person that the actor reasonably believed to constitute a crime; or (3) while cooperating in an official investigation or prosecution of a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:33-4.1, cyber harassment. The bill also establishes a rebuttable presumption that the actor did not act with the purpose established under the bill if the personal identifying information of another person was disclosed for the primary purpose of: (a) publishing, disseminating, or reporting in good faith conduct by an elected public official or law enforcement officer acting in their official capacity that the actor reasonably believe to be unlawful or an abuse of authority; or (b) engaging in lawful and constitutionally protected activity as it pertains to speech, assembly, press, or petition. Doxxing is a crime of the fourth degree unless the disclosure results in any serious bodily injury, physical harm, or stalking, at which time it becomes a crime of the third degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A4563 | Directs DOE to create New Jersey Education Funding Portal to make available to school districts and public State school aid information. | This bill directs the Department of Education to create, maintain, and update a New Jersey Education Funding Portal. The portal is to make available to school districts and members of the public the data inputs and calculations used by the department in formulating State school aid for all school districts and allow individuals to estimate the effects of changes to enrollment, equalized property value. Under the bill, the portal is to provide user-friendly plain language to specify the: (1) manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated; (2) current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency; (3) weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; (4) current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment; (5) current methodology used to calculate the amount of State funding a school district receives to educate its special education population; (6) provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; and (7) methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid. The bill also requires the portal to be searchable by school district and include, for each school district: (1) measurements of the budgeted local share, district income, equalized valuation, and resident enrollment; (2) the total amount of State school aid received in each of the most recent three school years; and (3) the amount received by the district for each type of categorical State aid in each of the most recent three school years. Finally, the bill requires the portal to include links to: relevant State laws, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to school funding; current budgets for each school district and, as available, proposed budgets for the upcoming school year; and the Educational Adequacy Report. | In Committee |
| A5101 | Eliminates transaction nexus requirement under Sales and Use Tax and Corporation Business Tax. | This bill amends current law to modify the criteria for determining when a remote seller is subject to the Sales and Use Tax Act and required to collect and remit sales tax to the State, and when a corporation is subject to taxes imposed under the Corporation Business Tax (CBT). Under current law, the Sales and Use Tax Act provides that a seller who makes retail sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products, or taxable services for delivery into New Jersey, without having a physical presence in the state, is required to collect and remit the Sales and Use Tax if: (1) the seller's gross revenue from taxable transactions delivered into New Jersey exceeds $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year; or (2) the seller made 200 or more separate taxable transactions for delivery into New Jersey during the current or prior calendar year. Similarly, under current law, the Corporation Business Tax Act provides that a corporation that derives receipts from sources within the State is subject to the CBT if: (1) the corporation derives receipts from sources within the State in excess of $100,000 during the corporation's fiscal or calendar year; or (2) the corporation has 200 or more separate transactions delivered to customers in this State during the corporation's fiscal or calendar year. Specifically, this bill removes the second criterion related to the number of transactions under both the Sales and Use Tax and the CBT. By eliminating these transactional nexus requirements, the bill provides that: (1) remote sellers would only be required to collect and remit sales tax to the State when the seller's gross revenue from taxable transactions delivered into State exceeds $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year; and (2) corporations would only be subject to CBT when the corporation's receipts from sources within this State exceed $100,000 in the corporation's fiscal or calendar year. | In Committee |
| A3446 | "Freedom to Read Act"; establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries; protects school library staff members and librarians. | An Act concerning public school libraries and public libraries and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3388 | Facilitates construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing built in part through sweat equity by eventual occupant. | Facilitates construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing built in part through sweat equity by eventual occupant. | In Committee |
| A1848 | Prohibits sale of certain diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to persons under 18 years of age under certain circumstances. | Prohibits sale of certain diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to persons under 18 years of age under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5020 | Makes $3 million supplemental appropriation for bonus awards for certain COVID-19 emergency essential frontline State workers of Local 195 International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. | This bill provides for a supplemental appropriation of $3,000,000 from the General Fund to provide individual employee awards to the many essential frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers who provided emergency frontline workplace service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Independent Review of New Jersey's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic completed on March 7, 2024 noted that one of the strengths of New Jersey State Government's response was that staff across government departments and agencies went above and beyond what they were expected or paid to do. Many state employees put their lives on hold to ensure that the important work of their department or agency continued amidst the uncertainty, additional workload, and safety challenges posed by the pandemic. Many frontline agency workers also reported experiencing significant trauma due to the panic and urgency of the response and the demands associated with their jobs. Personal losses and increased workloads caused many State workers to endure prolonged exhaustion and pandemic fatigue. Workers were overwhelmed by the sudden and dramatic increase in their responsibilities, which agencies had to process while being understaffed. Across departments and agencies, state employees demonstrated resilience and flexibility. Many state agencies worked closely with their respective unions to ensure their staff were well placed to continue their work during the pandemic. Agencies that had pre-existing relationships with union leaders were able to have proactive discussions and continuous dialogue in the early stages of the pandemic, enabling rapid decision making concerning workplace attendance by staff deemed essential for the health and safety of human life. The many frontline State workers of Local 195 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers ensured the continued operation and maintenance of the many crucial State facilities, which provide essential services to their clients and patients who could not survive a termination of services during the pandemic. This appropriation will ensure that the many thousands of these State employees receive additional compensation in the form of individual bonuses for their essential work during the most dangerous of times. | In Committee |
| A4706 | Revises statutes implementing certain property tax relief programs pursuant to recommendations promulgated by Stay NJ Task Force. | An Act concerning the Stay NJ property tax benefit program and amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR46 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the many Hindu residents of this State and their rich and noteworthy history and cultural contributions to this State. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to a time between 3000-8000 BCE. Sacred texts have been passed on through generations for thousands of years, creating a strong following of 1.1 billion Hindus in the 21st century. Hindus believe in a variety of deities, each representing different concepts and values within Hinduism. Different sects of Hindus emphasize particular deities and practices over others, depending on their beliefs. Various Hindu gods and goddesses can be traced to origin points spanning several thousand years, making the traditions surrounding Hinduism and the Hindu deities rich and storied. Some deities have holidays celebrated in their honor, such as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Another well-known Hindu holiday is Holi, the Festival of Colors. It is a holiday celebrating the coming of spring, famous for colorful paste and water thrown on those celebrating. Hindus have made enormous contributions to cultural development throughout history across the globe. Significant achievements in math, science, and medicine used in the modern world can be traced to Hindus. New Jersey is lucky enough to be the state with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the United States. The Hindu community has shown others the beauty of their beliefs, including though the establishment of the largest Hindu temple in the world, now located in Robbinsville, New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4866 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | In Committee |
| AR128 | Commemorates 45th anniversary of enactment of Taiwan Relations Act and 35th anniversary of New Jersey-Taiwan sister state relationship. | This resolution commemorates the 45th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 35th anniversary of the New Jersey-Taiwan sister state relationship. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was passed by the United States. Congress on April 10, 1979 to sustain a close bilateral relationship and advance mutual security and commercial interests between the United States and Taiwan. Since its enactment, the TRA has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations, preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a part of the South China Sea that separates the island of Taiwan from the Asian continent. The Taiwan Strait is crucial to the maintenance of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region. Its importance has been recently highlighted in global summits such as the G7, NATO and East Asian Summit. The TRA has served as the foundation for the mutually beneficial partnership between Taiwan and the United States. In 2023, a total of $27.5 billion in bilateral trade occurred between the United States and Taiwan, making Taiwan the 8th largest trading partner of the United States. In June 2023, the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade was signed to enhance the existing trade partnership as a means to promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for workers, as well as businesses. The United States has also assisted Taiwan in furthering their global participation through international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 1989, New Jersey and Taiwan entered a sister-state relationship, which remains a continuous and prosperous affiliation today. In 2021, the relationship was expanded by a sister-city agreement between Newark, New Jersey and Taoyuan City, Taiwan. In 2023, New Jersey exported approximately $723 million worth of products to Taiwan, making Taiwan the State's 5th largest export market in Asia. In October 2023, Governor Murphy announced plans to open Choose New Jersey's New Jersey Asian-Pacific Center in Taiwan and witnessed numerous Memorandums of Understanding between State executive agencies and Taiwan to establish powerful economic trade partnerships and bilateral educational infrastructure. As of March 2024, over 200 Taiwanese companies have invested in New Jersey leading to the creation of new jobs in the State. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR165 | Urges President and Congress of United States to enact federal legislation providing proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact federal legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The United States of America and the State of New Jersey are forever grateful to the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States and who sacrifice their lives to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of this nation. However, in the course of their selfless sacrifice for this nation, many veterans unfortunately experience permanent disabilities that can limit their ability to support themselves and their families. In recognition of the sacrifice and service of these veterans, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities receive the benefits necessary to enjoy a stable quality of life, without the fear of suffering catastrophic financial hardship. While the State of New Jersey currently provides crucial tax relief to these veterans in the form of a total property tax exemption for veterans with 100 percent service-connected disabilities, this assistance is unfortunately unavailable to veterans who live with similar disabilities in other states. To ensure that all veterans throughout the country receive property tax relief commensurate with the severity of their disabilities, there is an urgent need for the federal government to enact legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The provision of proportional property tax relief would entitle veterans with a service-connected disability to an annual property tax benefit based on a designated percentage of the property taxes paid by the veteran, as determined by the veteran's disability rating assigned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. However, to ensure that these benefits target the veterans most in need of assistance, this proportional property tax relief should be limited to those veterans with annual income up to $200,000, and the federal benefits should only be provided for the principal residences of eligible veterans. In providing this proportional property tax relief, the federal government would honor its duty and obligation to support the selfless men and women who sacrificed their well-being for the betterment of this great nation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR25 | Designates first week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week. | This joint resolution designates the first full week of May of each year as Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week in New Jersey. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of military service members are surviving severe wounds and injures in the service of the United States. It is estimated that during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, over 48,000 servicemen and women were physically injured. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, with another 320,000 believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. This State should honor and empower all wounded warriors, encouraging them in their adjustment to civilian life and achievement of their goals. | In Committee |
| AJR60 | Declares NJ "Purple Heart State." | This resolution declares New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." New Jersey veterans and active duty military members have fought selflessly to preserve our nation's freedom, with many being wounded or killed while in the line of duty. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded in the name of the President to veterans and active duty military members who have been wounded or killed while serving in our nation's Armed Forces. The recipients of the Purple Heart Medal deserve recognition and honor for the bravery that recipients have shown while serving our nation. Three states, including West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, are declared "Purple Heart States." Parts of 45 states are part of the "Purple Heart Trail," a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that give tribute to the veterans and active duty military members who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. New Jersey has multiple counties, cities, and locations that are part of the "Purple Heart Trail." The "Purple Heart Trail" was established at the 1992 Military Order of the Purple Heart convention, which was held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" honors the contributions and sacrifices of the New Jersey service members who have received the Purple Heart Medal. Purple Heart Medal recipients from the State have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the State's citizens. The people of New Jersey have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all of the service members who have selflessly served our country and the State. Therefore, it is altogether fitting and proper to declare New Jersey a "Purple Heart State." | In Committee |
| A4993 | Extends Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act to caregivers of certain veterans. | This bill amends the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act to extend the tax credit benefit to caregivers of certain veterans. Under current law, the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act provides a gross income tax credit to family caregivers of armed service members with service-connected disabilities arising out of service on or after September 11, 2001. The bill revises the definition of veteran to mean any citizen and resident of this State discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and extends the tax credit to caregivers of veterans who fall under the revised definition. | In Committee |
| A4313 | Requires Division of Travel and Tourism develop and maintain Internet website on historic sites, districts, and roadside markers. | This bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State to develop and maintain an Internet website for historic sites and historic districts, including, but not limited to, the New Jersey program on historical and cultural roadside markers. Under the bill, the division would develop and maintain an interactive website providing information on the historic sites or historic districts throughout the State. The bill requires the division to update the website whenever a site or district is added to the program or whenever a governmental entity establishes a new historic site or district. | Crossed Over |
| A2378 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | In Committee |
| A4840 | Requires child care centers to establish procedures to notify parents or guardians in event of unexcused child absence as condition of licensure. | This bill mandates that, as a condition of securing a new or renewal license or approval, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) require a child care center to establish a procedure to notify the parent or guardian of a child enrolled at the center in the event of the child's unexcused absence and to determine the reason for the absence pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2020, c.152 (C.30:5B-15.2). Specifically, the bill prohibits the DCF to issue a regular license or approval to a center until it determines that the center has established the notification procedures required pursuant to provisions of the bill. The bill also stipulates that the DCF is to deny, revoke or refuse to renew the center's license or approval, as appropriate, if it determines that a center has not established the notification procedures required under the bill. | In Committee |
| A4532 | Establishes separate crime of burglary of residential dwelling. | This bill establishes burglary of a residence as a separate crime from the crime of burglary pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:18-2, thus facilitating the tracking of the crime of burglary of residential dwellings in this State. Under the bill, "residential dwelling" is defined as: (1) any building or structure, though movable or temporary, or a portion thereof, which serves primarily as a residence for one or more persons; or (2) any place adapted for overnight accommodation of persons. The penalties for burglary of a residence remain the same as under current law. It is a crime of the third degree to commit a burglary of a residential dwelling under this bill; except that it is a crime of the second degree if the actor: (1) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone; (2) is armed with or displays what appear to be explosives or a deadly weapon; or (3) enters the residential dwelling while a resident or any other person, other than a person acting in concert with the actor, is present in the residential dwelling. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | Crossed Over |
| A3508 | Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families. | This bill requires that the child abuse reporting hotline maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) provide information on resources available to the victims of child abuse or neglect and their families. DCPP regularly contracts with community-based agencies throughout the State to provide a variety of services to children and families, including counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care, and residential placement. It is critical for families to be made aware of these services so that they are empowered to break the cycle of abuse and protect the most vulnerable residents of New Jersey. | Crossed Over |
| A2100 | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | Provides workers' compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed illness or injury as result of responding to September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | In Committee |
| A4191 | 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. | Crossed Over |
| AR149 | Supplements General Assembly Rules to require members of General Assembly to be addressed as State Representative. | This resolution supplements the General Assembly Rules to require that all members of the General Assembly be addressed as State Representative. State Representative is a gender-neutral term that provides all members of the General Assembly with the same title. Currently, members of the General Assembly are referred to as Assemblyman and Assemblywoman. The New Jersey State Constitution of 1947 refers to persons elected to the General Assembly as "members," not as "Assemblyman" or "Assemblywoman." 45 states and territories use the term "representative" for members of the lower body. While other states and territories have other genderless titles for members of their lower house, only New Jersey, New York, Nevada, and California call their members "Assemblyman" and "Assemblywoman." New Jersey would be joining the large majority of states by choosing a genderless title for its General Assembly members. | In Committee |
| S2435 | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | An Act concerning the "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund" and amending P.L.1992, c.143. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3407 | Requires payment of prevailing wage for projects financed through commercial property assessed clean energy program. | An Act concerning the C-PACE program and amending P.L.2021, c.201. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4682 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from denying coverage of nonopioid prescription drugs in favor of opioid prescription drugs. | This bill makes it unlawful when a licensed health care provider prescribes a nonopioid medication to a person covered by a health insurance carrier for the treatment of acute pain and the carrier denies coverage of a nonopioid prescription drug: (1) in favor of an opioid prescription drug; or (2) to require a covered person to try an opioid prescription drug prior to approving the use of a nonopioid prescription drug. "Carrier" is defined in the bill to mean an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State. Under the bill, a carrier that establishes and maintains a drug formulary is to ensure that a nonopioid drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain will not be disadvantaged or discouraged, with respect to coverage or cost-sharing, relative to any opioid or narcotic drug for the treatment or management of pain on the formulary of the carrier under various circumstances. It is not prohibited in the bill for an opioid drug to be preferred over another opioid drug or for a nonopioid drug to be preferred over another nonopioid drug. The provisions of the bill prohibiting denial of a nonopioid prescription drug are also incorporated into the laws governing the required coverage for contracts negotiated by the State Health Benefits Commission and the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission, and in the law overseeing Medicaid. | In Committee |
| S2875 | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | An Act concerning minimum loss ratios for certain health benefits plans and amending P.L.1992, c.161 and P.L.1992, c.162. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2884 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System for certain service and amending P.L.1991, c.153. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4360 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | An Act establishing a design professional self-certification program and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4478 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for transportation infrastructure projects for FY2025; makes appropriation. | An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance the cost to construct transportation infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3384 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | An Act appropriating moneys to the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of making zero-interest loans or principal-forgiveness loans to project sponsors to finance a portion of the costs of environmental infrastructure projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4572 | Appropriates $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects; and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $101,696,535 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to help local government units acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2792 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2793 | Appropriates $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $1.723 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR138 | Designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. | This Assembly resolution designates June 2024 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey, in recognition of the achievements, contributions, struggles, and humanity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary, and pansexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. Public officials and citizens of New Jersey are respectfully urged to commemorate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2024 with appropriate activities. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2025. | This bill appropriates certain federal and State moneys to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the purpose of implementing the State Fiscal Year 2025 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (NJEIFP). The bill would appropriate these funds for the purpose of making loans to local governments and privately-owned water companies (project sponsors) for a portion of the costs of water infrastructure projects. A companion bill, Assembly Bill No. 4425 of this session, would authorize the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) to execute loans using the funds appropriated to the DEP by this bill to finance a portion of the costs of the clean water and drinking water projects enumerated by the bill. The bill would authorize the DEP to use the moneys appropriated by the bill to fund the following projects: (1) in subsection a. of section 2 of the bill, a list of six projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $77.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; (2) in subsection b. of section 2 of the bill, a list of two projects to improve drinking water systems that had previously received a loan and require supplemental loans, representing $26.5 million in estimated total loan amounts; (3) in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Clean Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 156 projects to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $1.9 billion in estimated total loan amounts; (4) in paragraph (2) of subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, a list of four projects in the Pinelands area that are receiving funding under the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302, to improve water discharge and treatment systems, representing $15.3 million in estimated total loan amounts; and (5) in subsection b. of section 3 of the bill, the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List," a list of 72 projects to improve drinking water systems, representing $714.9 million in estimated total loan amounts. The bill would also appropriate the unexpended balances from various funds to the DEP, and allow the DEP to transfer moneys between various State funds, for the purpose of funding the NJEIFP and providing the State match for federal funding provided under the federal laws, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, as detailed in subsection a. of section 1 of the bill. In addition, the bill would appropriate to the DEP funds deposited in the "Clean Water State Revolving Fund" and the "Drinking Water State Revolving Fund" pursuant to the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Pub. L. 117-58. The bill would authorize loans to certain project sponsors to include zero interest or principal forgiveness, subject to certain funding limits and restrictions detailed in subsections b. through e. of section 1 of the bill. Projects designated for zero interest or principal forgiveness loans include projects that reduce or eliminate discharges from combined sewer overflow outfalls, water quality restoration projects, water and energy efficiency projects, and emerging contaminant projects. The bill would establish certain requirements on loans to project sponsors made by the DEP pursuant to the bill, as enumerated in section 4 of the bill. The bill would also establish additional restrictions, described in section 5 of the bill, for "Sandy financing loans," which are those loans that utilize federal funding provided pursuant to the federal "Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013," Pub.L. 113-2. Under the bill, the project lists and the DEP's authorization to utilize the funds appropriated by the bill would expire on July 1, 2025. The bill would also authorize the NJIB to utilize repayments of loans made using moneys from various State funds, enumerated in subsections a. and b. of section 10 of the bill, to recoup trust bond repayments and administrative fees that have not been paid by project sponsors instead of redepositing the money into the funds. However, the bill would also require the NJIB to make a compensatory deposit into certain State funds, enumerated in subsection c. of section 10 of the bill, when the NJIB receives the deficient payments or fees from the project sponsor. Finally, the bill would appropriate to the NJIB, from repayments of loans, interest payments, certain federal funds, and any earnings received from the investment of those funds, as enumerated in sections 12 and 13 of the bill, such amounts as the chairperson or secretary of the NJIB certifies are necessary and appropriate for deposit into one or more reserve funds established by the NJIB. | In Committee |
| A4540 | Requires payment of prevailing wage for projects financed through commercial property assessed clean energy program. | This bill removes provisions in the current law that exclude financing under the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy ("C-PACE") Program from being considered as authority financial assistance or financial assistance that would require payment of the prevailing wage. The bill expressly provides that any direct financing provided by a capital provider for a C-PACE project is considered "authority financial assistance" as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.1979, c.303 (C.34:1B-5.1) and that work on the project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements of that section. The C-PACE program provides financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, and certain types of resiliency-related improvements for New Jersey. Pursuant to the bill, employers are required to ensure that not less than the prevailing wage rate is paid to workers involved in construction contracts connected to C-PACE program financing. This includes projects undertaken to meet conditions for receiving assistance. The prevailing wage rate, determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, applies to any authority financial assistance including loans, loan guarantees, grants, incentives, tax exemptions, or other financial assistance provided by the authority. | In Committee |
| A3537 | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund." | In Committee |
| A3972 | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | Makes certain changes to calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets. | In Committee |
| A4659 | Requires four-year public institution of higher education to develop and implement reproductive health services plan; requires county college to develop referral network for reproductive health care services. | This bill requires four-year public institutions of higher education to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan. Pursuant to the bill, the plan is required to include: making available on-campus services provided by health care professionals, or referrals to off-campus services provided by health care professionals or health care facilities, for: obtaining contraception, including non-prescription and prescription emergency contraception and pharmacist authorized, self-administered hormonal contraceptives; services for preventing, testing for, and treating sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; prenatal care; and abortion. The plan is also required to include: methods to provide students with 24-hour access to over-the-counter contraception through the student health center, on-campus retail establishments, or vending machines; the provision of evidence-based reproductive health education services provided by the student health center, peer educators, or other health education programs; and the development of a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus health care services located within the county that the four-year institution of higher education is located. The bill also requires county colleges to develop a referral network of verified health care professionals, health care facilities, and pharmacies that provide off-campus reproductive health care services in the county in which the county college is located in. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of Human Services, to develop guidelines to assist public institutions of higher education in developing and implementing a reproductive health services plan and county colleges in developing the referral network. Finally, the bill stipulates that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to require a public institution of higher education to be a direct provider of reproductive health care services, including abortion. | In Committee |
| A4662 | Requires Medicaid cover emergency contraception without requiring prescription or other authorization. | This bill would require that the Medicaid program provide coverage for emergency contraceptives obtained over the counter without requiring a prescription or other authorization. At this time, Medicaid provides coverage for emergency contraceptives if they are obtained with a prescription. Individuals can obtain emergency contraceptives without a prescription, but the individual must pay for these out-of-pocket. This bill would enable individuals greater access to needed contraceptives without the unnecessary visits to a provider to obtain a prescription. | In Committee |
| A4655 | Codifies authority for certain health care providers to provide abortions and clarifies certain operational requirements for abortion facilities. | This bill codifies the authority of physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, and advanced practice nurses to provide abortions. Under the bill, physician assistants can perform aspiration abortions consistent with the physician assistant's scope of practice, which can include the administration of sedation consistent with the physician assistant's scope of practice and training and a physician assistant can order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication abortions. Under the bill, certified nurse midwives and certified midwives can perform aspiration abortions, which may include the administration of moderate sedation, consistent with their scope of practice and training and consistent with regulations of the applicable licensing board. A certified nurse midwife authorized to prescribe drugs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 97 (C.45:10-18), may order, prescribe, dispense, and administer medication abortions. A certified nurse midwife who is not authorized to prescribe drugs pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c. 97 (C.45:10-18) or a certified midwife may provide medication abortions if the use of the medication is authorized by a standing order issued by a physician. Under the bill, advanced practice nurses may perform aspiration abortions, which may include the administration of moderate sedation, and administer medication abortions consistent with the advanced practice nurse's scope of practice and training and consistent with regulations of the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The bill provides that an abortion facility will not be required to be an ambulatory surgical facility or a surgical practice license, to the extent that the facility performs abortion procedures that do not require general anesthesia or an operating room, and such services may be performed in procedure rooms. An entity seeking licensure as an ambulatory care facility or a surgical practice at which early aspiration abortions would be performed will not be subject to certain limitations under current law for ambulatory care facilities, so long as the facility or surgical practice adheres to all applicable regulations with respect to the standard of care. | In Committee |
| A4657 | Creates "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to strengthen access to reproductive health care; makes appropriation. | This bill implements various measures to strengthen access to reproductive health care services in the State and establishes the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund" to address those purposes. The fund will be used for the following purposes: (1 "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program"; (2) "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program"; and (3) "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program". The purpose of the "Reproductive Health Care Clinical Training Program" established in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety will be to protect access to reproductive health care by ensuring that there are sufficient number of health care professionals to provide reproductive health care services. For instance, the program will ensure that the coordinating organization has demonstrated experience in coordinating health care training programs for reproductive health care services and family planning services. The coordinating organization will also be responsible for administering grants to develop and sustain reproductive health care services. The bill provides that the "Reproductive Health Care Security Grant Program" in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness will make available grants to eligible reproductive health care facilities which the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness determines are at a high risk of being the target of unlawful activity, including acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, cyber attacks, and harassment. Grants provided under the program will be used to hire security personnel and target-hardening equipment. Further, the "Reproductive Health Care Facility Loan Program" will award loans to eligible reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care services. Under the bill, loans awarded will be used to support establishing or renovating existing health care facilities, investments in technology to facilitate care, the recruitment and retention of staff, and other operational needs that increase reproductive health care services. The bill requires that the Department of Health conduct a Statewide needs assessment to examine the gaps in access and delivery of reproductive health care services in the State, including the impact that out-of-State restrictions have had on the need for reproductive health care services and the provider network in the State. Finally, the bill appropriates monies from the General Fund, subject to availability, to the "Reproductive Health Care Access Fund." The FY 2024 Appropriations Act includes a $5 million appropriation for OBGYN Clinical Training Program to provide training to licensed members of the health care community. Another $5 million in FY 2024 is appropriated for the Reproductive Health Security Grant Program toward securing clinics. These grants support reproductive health care facilities that provide reproductive health care with target hardening support. The FY 2024 Governor's Budget recommends language in which the Office of Homeland Security Preparedness will receive reimbursement to administer the grant. | In Committee |
| A4660 | Establishes Reproductive Health Care Professionals Loan Redemption Program; appropriates $5 million. | This bill establishes the Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The loan redemption program is to provide for the redemption of a portion of a program participant's State, federal, or commercial student loans in exchange for the program participant's service at a site providing reproductive health care services, as approved by the authority. Under the bill, the sites may include sites operated by a nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, and other facilities providing reproductive health care services. An approved site under the bill includes sites providing abortion care. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant is required to: (1) be a resident of the State; (2) be employed as an eligible reproductive health care professional, defined as a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services and who is providing reproductive health care services in the State; and (3) submit an application in a manner determined by the executive director of the HESAA. In selecting program participants, the executive director is required to give preference to applicants employed as an eligible reproductive health care professional in a county facing a shortage of reproductive health care professionals. The bill stipulates that a selected program participant is to enter into a written contract with the authority. The contract is to specify the duration of the program participant's required service and the total amount of student loans to be redeemed in return for the service. Under the bill, loan redemption is to amount to 18 percent of a program participant's qualifying loan amounts in return for one full year of service at an approved site, an additional 26 percent for a second full year of service, an additional 28 percent for a third full year of service, and an additional 28 percent for a fourth full year of service. The total loan redemption for a program participant is not to exceed $200,000. Finally, the bill stipulates that a reproductive health care professional, who is participating in the National Health Services Corps Loan Repayment Program or any other loan redemption program administered by the authority, is not eligible to simultaneously participate in the Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program. | In Committee |
| A4661 | Provides for voluntary contributions for taxpayers on gross income tax returns to support reproductive health care services. | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" and provides for a designation on the State gross income tax return that will permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund to support equitable access to reproductive health care services for individuals who cannot afford them. Under the bill, the State would be required to annually appropriate the amounts deposited into the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" for distribution, in equal amounts, to the three largest providers of reproductive health care services to Medicaid patients in the State during the previous calendar year, as determined by the Commissioner of Health. The bill requires these monies to be used to provide reproductive health care services to individuals who cannot afford such services. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" to mean medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy. | In Committee |
| A4656 | Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected health care activities; establishes right of residents to legally protected health care services, which are restricted in other states. | This bill establishes certain protections for individuals seeking abortion or gender-affirming health care services, as well as certain protections for professionals who provided abortion-related health care services. Crime: Interference with Reproductive or Gender-Affirming Health Services This bill creates the new crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health services." A person is guilty of the crime if the person purposely or knowingly, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another's access to or receipt or provision of reproductive or gender-affirming health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer or assistant: (1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury; (2) obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility; (3) intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant; (4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility is a reproductive or gender-affirming health care service patient, provider, assistant, volunteer, or facility; (5) videotapes, films, photographs, or records by electronic means, within 100 feet of the entrance to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care services facility, a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant without that person's consent; or (6) discloses or distributes a videotape, film, photograph, or recording of the person. Interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a crime of the fourth degree, but is a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury. Further, interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services is a disorderly persons offense if the act would cause a reasonable person to suffer: (1) damage to the victim's business or personal reputation; (2) financial harm; or (3) pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional harm. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is a punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Civil Action: Interference with Reproductive or gender-affirming Health Services The bill also authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a person who unlawfully interferes with another person's reproductive or gender-affirming health care services. Under the bill, a court may award: (1) injunctive relief; (2) compensatory damages in an amount not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation; (3) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs; and (5) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. Under the bill, the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of the law, for compensatory damages, and for the assessment of a civil penalty against each person who violates the law. The civil penalty imposed on each actor will be up to, but not exceed, $10,000 for a first violation, and $25,000 for any subsequent violation. Dispersal of Gatherings The bill authorized any law enforcement officer to order the immediate dispersal of a gathering that substantially impedes access to or departure from an entrance or driveway to a reproductive or gender-affirming health care facility during the business hours of the facility. Failure to comply with an order to disperse issued by the Attorney General or a law enforcement officer is a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Licensing Boards The bill prohibits a board from imposing any additional or alternative penalties, in accordance with N.J.S.A.34:1-22, on the holder of a certificate, registration, or license based solely on the holder providing, authorizing, participating, referring to, or assisting with any health care, medical service, or procedure related to an abortion for a person who resides in a jurisdiction where the provision, authorization, participation, referral, or assistance is illegal. Applicability of Laws of Other States The bill establishes that a law of another state that authorized a person or government entity to bring a prosecution, civil action, or any other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging, aiding, or assisting in providing or prescribing any legally protected health care activity is against the public policy of this State. Further, such laws of another state are prohibited from being applied to any matter, case, or controversy heard in a State court or in an administrative tribunal of this State. The prohibition does not apply to an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the laws of this State, or an action founded in tort, contract, or statute under the similar laws of another state. This includes, but is not limited to, an alleged act of malpractice or negligence by a person in the person's profession or occupation. Protection of Patient Information This bill updates P.L.2022, c.51 to provide a definition of "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." P.L.2022, c.51 provides certain protections with respect to the disclosure of patient information relating to reproductive health care services, as well as protecting access to health care, medical services, and procedures related to an abortion for persons who come to this State from jurisdictions in which these actions are illegal. The bill provides that in any civil action or other proceeding preliminary thereto, a medical provider or other covered entity, as described under federal law concerning medical privacy and security, is barred from disclosing the following communications or information, unless the patient or patient's conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative explicitly consented in writing to the disclosure: (1) any communication made to the covered entity, or any information obtained by the covered entity from, a patient or the conservator, guardian, or other authorized legal representative of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity; or (2) any information obtained by personal examination of a patient relating to legally protected health care activity that is permitted under the laws of this State. Additionally, under the bill, a public entity of this State or employee, appointee, officer or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public entity would be prohibited from providing any information, or expending or using time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel or other resources in furtherance of any interstate investigation or proceeding seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for: (1) the provision, receipt, or seeking of, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State; or (2) assisting, advising, aiding, abetting, facilitating, soliciting, or conspiring with any person or entity providing, receiving, seeking, or inquiring or responding to an inquiry about legally protected health care activity that is legal in this State. Extradition This bill updates N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 to prevent a person from being extradited to another state under certain circumstances related to "legally protected health care activity." Under current law, N.J.S.A.2A:160-14.1 prevents extradition as it relates to "reproductive health care services." Under the bill, "Legally protected health care activity" is defined as activity providing, seeking, receiving, assisting with, or inquiring about reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in this State, regardless of the patient's location. Relatedly, the bill also defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. "Gender-affirming health care services" does not include sexual orientation change efforts as defined by N.J.S.A.45:1-55. In Vitro Fertilization Protections This bill strengthens reproductive health care freedom in New Jersey by specifying that: every individual present in this State, including, but not limited to, an individual who is under State control or supervision, shall have the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), including, but not limited to in vitro fertilization (IVF); and a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under any of the laws of the State. Medicolegal Investigations This bill removes the requirement that a medical examiner conduct a medicolegal investigation of a death in the State related to a fetal death occurring without medical attendance. This provisions seeks to ensure that a woman who has a miscarriage or fetal complications is not investigated or the fetal death criminalized. Repealers The bill repeals the following statutes, which have either been obviated by court decision or would be obviated by this bill: (1) N.J.S.A.2A:65A-5 through N.J.S.A.2A:65A-7 (banned partial birth abortions); (2) N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.1 through N.J.S.A.9:17A-1.12 (required parental notification for minors' abortion); (3) N.J.S.A.30:4D-6.1 (barred Medicaid payment for abortion except where necessary to save the woman's life). | In Committee |
| A3908 | Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill's enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
| A4601 | Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for reproductive health care services; prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of health care services. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for the termination of pregnancies. Under the bill, "pregnancy" is defined as the period of the human reproductive process beginning with the implantation of a fertilized egg. The bill provides that, upon request of a religious employer, health insurers are required to grant an exclusion if the coverage conflicts with the religious employer's bona fide religious beliefs and practices. "Religious employer" is defined in the bill to mean an organization that is referred to in section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii) of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. s.6033), and that is organized and operates as a nonprofit entity. Additionally, the bill provides that any State program that provides benefits for pregnancy-related care will also provide benefits for the termination of a pregnancy. Lastly, under the bill, medical malpractice insurers are barred from taking any adverse action, including loss of coverage, sanctions, fines, penalties, or rate increases, against an insured for providing or facilitating reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services based solely on the fact that the patient receiving the service is a resident of a state where providing or facilitating the activity is illegal. | In Committee |
| A4561 | 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 |
| A4483 | "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act," provides certain protections for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer patients. The bill: 1. Requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for individuals diagnosed with cancer and with a prognosis that is deemed Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal (1) parenteral treatment of the cancer; (2) survivorship care plan, including follow-up appointments; and (3) any other service or item as determined by the regulators of each type of carrier or contract. Under the bill, "parenteral treatment" means the intravenous, intra-arterial, intraperitoneal, or intrathecal administration of nutrition or medication bypassing the gastrointestinal system and "survivorship care plan" means a plan for an individual with cancer from diagnosis through the end of life that focuses on the health and well-being of the individual. This includes, but is not limited to, side effects from treatment, cancer recurrence, and quality of life. Any cost-sharing or copayment or coinsurance that may be required for coverage will not apply. 2. Prohibits residential mortgage lenders from providing a notice of intention to a residential mortgage debtor undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. Under the bill, a residential mortgage lender shall ensure, before sending a notice of intention to cure a default on a mortgage debtor's residential mortgage obligation, that the residential mortgage debtor is not undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. If a mortgage debtor is undergoing treatment, the mortgage lender will be prohibited from providing a notice of intention to the mortgage debtor until the mortgage lender receives notice from the physician of the mortgage debtor that the debtor is no longer undergoing treatment. Additionally, the bill provides that any foreclosure action to take possession of a residential property will be dismissed upon submission by the residential mortgage debtor to the residential mortgage lender of a letter from the physician of the debtor certifying that the debtor is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 3. Prohibits a creditor from initiating a collection proceeding for a default on any debt against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer and who submits to the creditor a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. The bill also provides that any collection proceeding against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer is required to be dismissed upon submission by the individual of a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 4. Requires that for eviction actions based on nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or for failure to pay a rent increase, the Superior Court will authorize a stay of eviction for up to 45 days if the tenant is actively undergoing Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer treatment. To qualify for this stay, the tenant must provide a confidential certification from their treating physician, submitted under seal. Additionally, during the stay period, the tenant has the right to renew their lease upon its expiration, subject to reasonable changes proposed by the landlord. The bill also provides the right to reinstatement to equivalent employment after a period of leave applies to all periods in which TDI or FLI benefits are provided, including extending that right to FLI leave takers employed by employers with less than 30 employees, as is presently the case for TDI leave takers. Under the bill, an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either TDI or FLI benefits, may use either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of the TDI or FLI benefits, and may select the order in which they are taken, but may not receive more than one kind of paid leave benefits during any period of time. | In Committee |
| A2883 | Allows gross income tax deduction for union dues paid to labor organizations. | This bill allows a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for union dues paid to labor organizations. The bill defines "union dues" as the total amount of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges or expenses required of members of or public employees represented by a labor organization. The bill also defines "labor organization" as any organization of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work. To claim the deduction allowed under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to provide, in a form and manner prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation, verification of the union dues paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year. | In Committee |
| S2082 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force," and amending and supplementing P.L.2012, c.26. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4004 | Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | In Committee |
| A4382 | Revises film and digital media content production tax credit program to include requirement for production of domestic original music and musical scores. | The bill revises the Garden State Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for expenses incurred for the production of certain films and digital media content. Specifically, the bill revises the tax credit program to include an additional criterion for certain film and digital media content expenses to be considered eligible for the tax credit. The bill adds a requirement to the tax credit program for taxpayers that produce films and digital media content that include original music or original musical scores. The bill requires all original music and original musical scores developed for the production of film or digital media content to be produced and recorded domestically in the United States or any of its territories. | In Committee |
| A4161 | Establishes Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to restore certain portions of State school aid reductions; permits certain school districts to exceed tax levy growth limitation in 2024-2025 school year; appropriates $44.7 million. | An Act concerning school district finances and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3873 | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | In Committee |
| A4212 | Permits representative of National Association of County Veteran Service Officers to take leave of absence with pay to attend State or national conventions. | This bill will permit a representative of the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers (NACVSO) to take a leave of absence with pay in order to attend a State or national convention. | In Committee |
| S1644 | Authorizes State Treasurer to sell as surplus certain real property and improvements in Township of Hillsborough in Somerset County. | An Act authorizing the State Treasurer to sell certain surplus real property and improvements owned by the State in the Township of Hillsborough, County of Somerset. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4135 | Requires counties to establish crisis intervention services programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers. | Current law permits the governing body of any county to establish a law enforcement crisis intervention services program for the provision of debriefing and counseling services for law enforcement officers and sheriff's officers who have been involved in incidents which may produce personal or job-related depression, anxiety, stress or other psychological or emotional tensions, traumas, pressures or disorders. This bill, which is designated as the "Craig Tiger Act," requires that each county establish such a program. This bill also makes firefighters in the county eligible for the debriefing and counseling services of a program, and makes law enforcement officers who are employed by a State department or agency eligible for the debriefing and counseling services of a program when the officer resides in the county or when the officer's primary work location is in the county. The bill makes volunteer firefighters and 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers eligible for the program as well. The bill expands the definition of critical incident to include: (1) the visual or audible witnessing of the death or maiming, or the visual or audible witnessing of the immediate aftermath of such a death or maiming, of one or more human beings; (2) the response to or direct involvement in a criminal investigation of an offense involving dangerous crimes against children; (3) the need for rescue in the line of duty where one's life was in danger; and (4) the response to or direct involvement in an investigation regarding the drowning or near drowning of a child. This bill prohibits an employer from requiring a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer who is receiving services to use accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or sick leave if the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer leaves work to attend these counseling sessions. In addition, this bill provides that, if a provider of the crisis intervention services program determines that the law enforcement officer, firefighter, or sheriff's officer is not fit for duty while the law enforcement officer is receiving debriefing or counseling services, the employer must ensure that the law enforcement officer has no loss of pay and benefits for up to 30 calendar days per incident after the date the provider determines that the employee is not fit for duty if certain criteria are met. This bill will provide qualified officers and firefighters with up to 12 counseling sessions, which can be provided in person or by telehealth. If the provider determines that the officer or firefighter requires additional counseling sessions, the program will provide up to an additional 24 counseling sessions, if the sessions occur within one year after the first session. In addition, this bill requires each county crisis intervention services advisory council to compile data regarding the program and, on or before September 1 of each year, submit the data to the Department of Community Affairs. On or before October 1 of each year, the department is required to compile the data into a report and submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature. Finally, this bill requires the State to reimburse a county for the costs of the crisis intervention services program it is required to establish pursuant to this bill. | In Committee |
| A3413 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | In Committee |
| AR122 | Condemns Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. and pending federal legislation, H.R.431; reaffirms freedom of access and protection of reproductive health care services in New Jersey, including IVF. | This resolution condemns the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. and pending federal legislation, H.R.431; and reaffirms the freedom of access and protection of reproductive health care services in New Jersey, including in vitro fertilization. In the United States, one in six people of childbearing age struggle with infertility and require some type of professional assistance in order to conceive a child. Fortunately, 90 percent of infertility cases are treatable with medical therapies including drug treatment, surgery, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is a process whereby an egg is removed from a person's body and combined with sperm inside a laboratory for fertilization; the fertilized egg, called an embryo, is then transferred into the uterus. In LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. (Docket No. SC-2022-0515, SC-2022-0579), 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. With the support of over 120 representatives from the Republican party, Congressman Alexander X. Mooney of West Virginia introduced H.R. 431, which would implement equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for the right to life of each "born and preborn human person." Under this bill, the terms "human person" and "human being" include "each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being." This legislation, if enacted, poses a significant threat to the reproductive freedoms of the citizens in New Jersey and the United States, particularly those related to IVF and other fertility treatments. A number of Republican senators joined the Democrats in criticizing the LePage ruling, and expressed their support for IVF. Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic Senator from Illinois who utilized IVF to conceive her two children, introduced legislation, S.3612, to protect the rights of individuals to seek reproductive assistance, such as IVF, and physicians who provide these services, without the fear of prosecution. Senator Duckworth urged her Republican colleagues to join the Democrats' efforts to protect access to IVF by unanimously passing this legislation, as many Republican Senators initially denounced the LePage ruling for the harmful precedent that the decision has set on reproductive assistance services,. However, Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi blocked the unanimous passage of the bill by objecting to Senator Duckworth's request. When the United States Supreme Court's issued its 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org., which overturned Roe v. Wade, the country faced fear and uncertainty around key reproductive rights issues. A number of states took action to interfere with a person's access to reproductive health care out-of-state, in some instances by seeking to prosecute a person in a state where reproductive health care access was criminalized following Dobbs, for seeking reproductive health care services in another jurisdiction where it remained legal. Such actions are designed to prevent individuals and health care providers from seeking and providing lawful reproductive health care services by instilling fear through the threat of prosecution. In stark contrast to actions taken in states to monitor private health information, the New Jersey legislature has acted to protect private medical information from prosecutors in other states, to ensure New Jersey law enforcement will not take part in extraditions to people who have sought reproductive health care that is legal in New Jersey, and to require the creation of a website so people who are confused about recent court decisions know what their freedoms are on reproductive health decisions in New Jersey The LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. ruling threatens the rights of Alabamians who are planning to have children, and endangers the fertility clinics that provide IVF services, those that have embryos stored, and the overall future of family planning in Alabama. It is in the public interest of the citizens of New Jersey to condemn, in the strongest terms, any ruling that infringes on citizens rights to exercise their reproductive freedom or their access to reproductive health care, including IVF. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3946 | Authorizes State Treasurer to sell as surplus certain real property and improvements in Township of Hillsborough in Somerset County. | Authorizes State Treasurer to sell as surplus certain real property and improvements in Township of Hillsborough in Somerset County. | In Committee |
| A904 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey." | This bill establishes the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New Jersey" and is modeled after the "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York." Under the bill, all statutes, rules, and regulations, in this State including all local laws or ordinances related to the elective franchise must be construed liberally in favor of: (1) protecting the right of voters to have their ballot cast and counted; (2) ensuring that eligible voters are not impaired in registering to vote; and (3) ensuring voters of race, color, and language-minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process in registering to vote and voting. The bill prohibits the authority to prescribe or maintain voting or elections policies and practices to be so exercised as to unnecessarily deny or abridge the right to vote. The bill also prohibits a county board of elections or political subdivision from using a method of election that has the effect of impairing the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections, as a result of vote dilution. The bill requires any policy and practice that burdens the right to vote must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling policy justification that must be supported by substantial evidence. The bill provides factors for determining if a violation of the bill has occurred, including if a voter's right to vote has been violated or if the voter has experienced vote dilution. Under the bill, if a violation of the provision of the bill occurs, the bill provides a remedy process, including for apportionment and redistricting maps. The bill provides that after a New Jersey Voting Rights Act notification letter is mailed from a prospective plaintiff to a political subdivision the political submission may pass a New Jersey Voting Rights Act resolution reaffirming: (1) the political subdivision's intention to enact and implement a remedy for a potential violation of the bill; (2) specific steps the political subdivision will undertake to facilitate approval and implementation of such a remedy; and (3) a schedule for enacting and implementing such a remedy. The bill provides that if the governing body of a political subdivision lacks the authority under this act or applicable State law or local laws to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, or fails to enact or implement a remedy identified in the resolution, within 90 days after the passage of the resolution, or if the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined by the bill, the governing body of the political subdivision must coordinate with the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to resolve the violation, including reaffirming that any proposal is unlikely to violate the United States Constitution, New Jersey Constitution, or any federal or State law, would not diminish the ability of protected class members to participate in the political process and to elect their preferred candidates to office; and is feasible to implement. Under the bill, the Attorney General and the Division on Civil Rights are provided with certain preclearance powers. The bill provides that if certain political subdivisions that have been the subject to court order or government enforcement action based on violations of the bill; the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, or a voting-related violation of the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution, may be subject to preclearance, which is the process of obtaining prior approval from the Division on Civil Rights or a court of this State for any changes related to election procedures in that political subdivision. The bill provides assistance to language-minority groups. Under the bill, a county board of elections or a political subdivision that administers elections must provide language-related assistance in voting and elections to a language-minority group in a political subdivision if, based on data from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey, or data of comparable quality collected by a public office, that: (1) more than two percent, but in no instance fewer than 300 individuals, of the citizens of voting age of a political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient; or (2) more than 4,000 of the citizens of voting age of such political subdivision are members of a single language-minority group and are limited English proficient. The bill further provides that a county board of elections or political subdivision required to provide language assistance to a particular language-minority group pursuant to this section must provide voting materials in the covered language of an equal quality of the corresponding English language materials, including registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots. Under the bill, any aggrieved persons or organization whose membership includes aggrieved persons or members of a protected class, organization whose mission, in whole or in part, is to ensure voting access and such mission would be hindered by a violation of this bill, or the Attorney General may file an action pursuant to the bill in court. The bill provides that any action or investigation to enforce any provision of this bill, the Attorney General would have the authority to take proof and determine relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil and criminal laws of this State. The bill also contains a severability provision. If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, or other portion of the bill is for any reason held or declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or preempted by federal law, or the applicability of that portion to any person or facility is held invalid, the remainder of the bill would not thereby be deemed to be unconstitutional, preempted, or invalid. The purpose of this bill is to: (1) encourage participation in the elective franchise by all eligible voters to the maximum extent; (2) ensure that eligible voters who are members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups have an equal opportunity to participate in the political processes of this State and exercise the elective franchise; (3) improve the quality and availability of demographic and election data; and (4) protect eligible voters against intimidation and deceptive practices. This bill would take effect on the first day of the 18th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Attorney General may take any anticipatory action in advance thereof. | Dead |
| A3452 | Provides tax levy cap adjustment for certain school districts experiencing reductions in State school aid. | Provides tax levy cap adjustment for certain school districts experiencing reductions in State school aid. | In Committee |
| A942 | Requires five-year average of equalized property valuation be used in calculation of local share under State school funding formula. | This bill makes changes to the calculation of a school district's local share in determining the district's State school aid. Under current law, a district's local share is calculated by multiplying the district's prebudget year equalized valuation by the Statewide property value rate, divided by two, and adding this to the product of the district's income and the Statewide income rate, divided by two. This bill amends the calculation to use the district's average equalized valuation over the preceding five school years instead of the district's prebudget year equalized valuation. | In Committee |
| A3778 | Reaffirms continuation of Rutgers Institute of Management and Labor Relations; appropriates $750,000. | Reaffirms continuation of Rutgers Institute of Management and Labor Relations; appropriates $750,000. | In Committee |
| A4003 | 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 "S2," 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 |
| A3943 | Requires surety to take certain actions after assuming responsibility for completion of transportation project. | This bill requires a surety to take certain actions after assuming responsibility for the completion of a transportation project. Specifically, the bill provides that when a surety assumes responsibility for the completion of a transportation project, the surety would be required to: (1) enter into a contract with a contractor for the completion of the transportation project within 60 calendar days; and (2) require the contractor to begin, or otherwise resume, construction of the transportation project within 60 calendar days of the execution of the contract. The bill would also apply to any surety that is responsible for the completion of a transportation project on the date of enactment of the bill, except that: (1) if the surety has not entered into a contract with a contractor for the completion of the transportation project on or before the date of enactment, the surety would be required to enter into such contract within 60 calendar days of the bill's enactment and require the contractor to begin, or otherwise resume, construction of the transportation project within 60 calendar days of the execution of the contract; (2) if the surety has entered into a contract with a contractor for the completion of the transportation project, but the contractor has not begun, or otherwise resumed, construction of the transportation project on the date of enactment, the surety would be required to require the contractor to begin, or otherwise resume, construction of the transportation project within 60 days of the bill's enactment; and (3) the requirements of the bill would not apply if the surety has entered into a contract, and the contractor has begun, or otherwise resumed, construction of the transportation project on or before the bill's enactment. A surety that violates the bill's provisions is subject to a penalty of not less than $10,000 for each day a surety is not in compliance. | In Committee |
| A2362 | Establishes New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to reduce financial barriers to teacher certification. Under the bill, the program is to provide scholarships to students completing required clinical practice through a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program at an institution of higher education in the State. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $7,200 for each semester of full-time clinical practice completed in a school in the State. To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant is required to: be a resident of the State; be enrolled full-time in an approved program of study; and complete any steps required by the approved program of study to be eligible to apply for clinical practice. The bill requires the authority to establish an application process for the program. The authority, in coordination with the Department of Education, may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program. Additionally, the authority, in coordination with the department, is to annually collect data on the program. Finally, the bill details reasons for which a student's scholarship may be terminated. The bill also stipulates that the scholarship is to be terminated if the student is dismissed from the institution of education preparation program for academic or disciplinary reasons or withdraws due to illness. Under the bill, the student would not be required to repay the scholarship in either situation. | In Committee |
| A518 | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion. | In Committee |
| A3915 | Establishes Veterans State Government Fellowship program. | This bill creates the Veterans State Government Fellowship program within the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. The purpose of the program is to foster and encourage education and training in the executive and legislative processes for veterans who have an interest in law, public policy, and politics. The program will be administered by the Eagleton Institute. Eight veterans will be selected to serve as fellows. The fellows will be selected by the director of the program. Each veteran fellow will be paid a stipend and will work for the Legislature in either the Senate Majority Office, Senate Minority Office, General Assembly Majority Office, or General Assembly Minority Office, or for a participating State department or agency. An annual appropriation of $600,000 will be made to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey for the purposes of this bill. | In Committee |
| A3780 | Expands purpose of Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to support transportation costs incurred by eligible individuals in accessing support group meetings. | This bill expands the purpose of the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to support transportation costs incurred by an eligible individual in accessing support group meetings. Under the bill, support group meetings mean any gathering of individuals with traumatic brain injuries who congregate in order to obtain information and perspective, relative to their injuries, and to improve their general well-being. Pursuant to N.J.A.C.10:141-1.11, the Traumatic Brain Injury Fund currently provides payment to an eligible individual for transportation services related to accessing medical appointments, treatment facilities, or vocational programs. The Traumatic Brain Injury Fund purchases supports and services for eligible New Jersey residents of any age, who have survived a traumatic brain injury, to foster independence and maximize quality of life when insurance, personal resources, or public programs are unavailable to meet those needs. A portion of the fund also is used to support public education, outreach, and prevention activities related to traumatic brain injuries. A $0.50 surcharge on motor vehicle registration fees generates revenue for the fund. | In Committee |
| A3763 | Requires MVC to conduct study and issue report comparing online transactions and in-person transactions. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to conduct a study and prepare a written report comparing online transactions processed by the commission through the commission's Internet website against transactions processed in-person at commission agencies. Under the bill, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is required to submit a detailed written report of the study's findings to the Governor and Legislature within six months of the effective date of the bill. The bill expires upon submission of the report. | In Committee |
| A3783 | Prohibits certain caller identification service manipulation and provides additional penalty. | This bill prohibits a telemarketer, in connection with any voice telecommunications service used within this State, to knowingly make, place, initiate, or otherwise transmit a call or text message or engage in conduct that results in the display of misleading, false, or inaccurate caller identification (ID) information on the receiving party's telephone or circumvent a caller ID service that is designed to allow the receiving party to identify caller ID information regarding the origin and nature of the call or text message with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The bill provides, consistent with federal law, several exceptions to the bill's prohibition on caller ID manipulation. Further, the bill provides that a person who knowingly manipulates a caller ID service is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | In Committee |
| ACR124 | Urges New Jersey State Park Service to establish visitor's center at Princeton Battlefield State Park. | This concurrent resolution urges the New Jersey State Park Service to establish a visitor's center at Princeton Battlefield State Park. Princeton Battlefield State Park preserves a critically important piece of American and New Jersey history. Important leaders in the early history of the United States of America, including General George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Charles Willson Peale, and Dr. Benjamin Rush, were present at the Princeton Battlefield. It was also the hallowed ground where several important military leaders gave their lives, notably, General Hugh Mercer of Virginia, Colonel John Haslet of Delaware and Captain William Shippin of Pennsylvania, the first United States Marine to fall in land combat. The Battle of Princeton ended ten long days of battle between the Continental Army, the hired Germanic auxiliary troops, and the British military forces, beginning with the famous Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River by General George Washington and his Continental Army. Victory for the Continental Army at the Battle of Princeton was a major turning point in the war for America's independence. Preserving the Princeton Battlefield is crucial. The site memorializes the sacrifice of those who defended the United States in its first war, and is a tribute to those who still defend the nation almost 250 years later. The battlefield's status as a State Park is not enough. Establishing a visitor's center will highlight its importance in New Jersey and in American history by providing a permanent place in which visitors can learn about the Battle of Princeton and the American Revolutionary War. Without a visitor's center to welcome and educate the public, the physical site of the Princeton Battlefield is at risk and its story could become lost. Private donations would help the State Park Service in developing the best possible visitor's center. | In Committee |
| ACR123 | Urges United States President, Congress, and USDA to take steps to protect SNAP beneficiaries from fraud. | This resolution urges the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the United States Department of Agriculture to take all steps necessary to promptly find a comprehensive resolution to the rising levels of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit fraud occurring throughout the country. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides assistance to supplement the food budget of low-income families nationwide. The program is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Division of Family Development, within the Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the county welfare agencies. Fraud of SNAP benefits has risen to an alarming level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the most frequent culprit of lost benefits related to "skimming" devices. Skimming occurs when devices are illegally installed on point-of-sale terminals to capture a cardholder's personal identification number and other data stored on the magnetic strip of the EBT card. Criminals use the data to duplicate the EBT card and access the victim's SNAP benefits. In December 2022, Congress addressed the growing concern of stolen SNAP benefits in the passage of the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023," which allows state agencies to temporarily use federal funds to replace SNAP benefits lost to skimming and other forms of fraud between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. While these federal efforts to protect SNAP beneficiaries from the consequences of skimming are a positive step in the right direction, the New Jersey State Legislature encourages its federal partners to take additional actions to more aggressively safeguard this vulnerable community; including authorizing the permanent replacement of stolen SNAP benefits with federal funds, retroactive to October 2021, and the provision of regulations and funds to support more secure card payment systems for SNAP benefits. | In Committee |
| A3769 | Establishes one-time tax credits for certain organic farmers. | This bill would provide one-time corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to certain State-certified organic farmers who are required in 2022 to obtain certification for organic agricultural products from an accredited certifying agent outside of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. In a notice dated January 11, 2022, the department informed currently certified organic farmers within the State that department certification for organic agricultural products would be surrendered effective May 30, 2022 and that the department would no longer certify or inspect organic operations. Organic farmers that are certified with the department would be required to, within 60 of days of the date of the department's notice, apply to another Accredited Certification Agency for an organic certification. For the privilege period and taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2022, but before January 1, 2023, a qualified taxpayer who meets the requirements of the bill would be allowed a credit against the corporation business tax or gross income tax in an amount equal to the difference between: the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from an accredited certifying agent certification for organic agricultural products for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; and the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from the department certification for organic agricultural products pursuant to P.L.2003, c.176 (C.4:10-79) for that same period. To qualify for a credit, a taxpayer would have to apply for a certification from the Department of Agriculture that certifies: the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from an accredited certifying agent certification for organic agricultural products for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain from the department certification for organic agricultural products pursuant to P.L.2003, c.176 (C.4:10-79) for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; and the amount of the tax credit to which the qualified taxpayer is entitled. The application would include such information as the department determines relevant. When filing a tax return that includes a claim for a credit pursuant to this bill, the taxpayer would have to include a copy of the certification issued by the department. Under the bill, if a qualified taxpayer incurs fees to obtain from the department or other accredited certifying agent annual certification for organic agricultural products, the department is required to calculate the tax credit by: (1) prorating the fees incurred by the taxpayer to reflect the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; and (2) subtracting (a) the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain certification from the department for that period from (b) the fees incurred by the qualified taxpayer to obtain certification from an accredited certifying agent during that period. Under the bill, a "qualified taxpayer" means any person or entity: who produces and sells organic agricultural products in adherence to applicable federal standards for such products; who was certified by the department pursuant to P.L.2003, c.176 (C.4:10-79) on January 11, 2022; who paid fees to the department in connection with certification for organic agricultural products for the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022; who was certified by an accredited certifying agent during the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022, and who paid fees to the accredited certifying agent in connection with that certification; and whose fees for certification by an accredited certifying agent during the period beginning on May 30, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2022 exceeded the qualified taxpayer's fees for certification by the department during that same period. The bill defines "accredited certifying agent" as a person or entity that operates as an accredited certifying agent under the National Organic Program. | In Committee |
| A3683 | Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act." | This bill establishes the "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act," which provides certain staffing standards in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and unlicensed assistive personnel-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the bill's requirements by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. A registered professional nurse or other staff member, a collective bargaining agent of a staff member, or a member of the public, who believes that the hospital or facility in which the nurse or staff member is employed is in violation of the requirements established by the bill, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation. Following the completion of an investigation, in which investigation the department determines a hospital or facility to be in violation of the requirements established by the bill, the hospital or facility may be issued a civil penalty in increasing amounts for repeat violations. Any money collected by the court in payment of a civil penalty imposed will be conveyed to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Patient Protection and Staffing Fund (fund) established by the bill. Moneys in the fund will be dedicated and used only for the purposes of increasing the number of inspectors employed by the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of the bill, advancing nursing recruitment and retentions programs, supporting student loan forgiveness for nursing students, and increasing pay for nursing teaching staff. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers and State psychiatric hospitals, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| ACR119 | Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, and make the State the trustee of all public natural resources. Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment would provide that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment. The amendment provides that the State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction. The amendment would also provide that the State's public natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all of the people, including both present and future generations. The State would serve as trustee of these resources and have a duty to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people. Finally, the amendment would provide that the rights established in the amendment are self-executing, and are in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law. | In Committee |
| A3650 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency 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 |
| A513 | Provides tuition fee waiver for certain apprenticeship courses. | Provides tuition fee waiver for certain apprenticeship courses. | In Committee |
| A3542 | Requires at least one drive-up ballot drop box in each county; requires certain information to be posted at ballot drop boxes and locations. | This bill requires the county board of elections in each county to establish at least one drive-up ballot drop box in the county and to post certain information at ballot drop boxes and locations. Under current law, each county board of elections is required to establish at least 10 ballot drop boxes at locations throughout the county following several criteria. Under this bill, at least one of those locations would be required to be a "drive-up ballot drop box," defined as a ballot drop box and location designed and evaluated to possess accessible features including, but not limited to, sufficient vehicle turning radius adjacent to the driver side, curb cuts, availability of handicap parking, and an unimpeded path to the ballot drop box from handicap parking. The bill requires the drive-up ballot drop box to be easy to locate and readily visible by voters with adequate lighting and a clear line of sight from the street and parking area. The bill would also require certain information to be posted at ballot drop boxes and drop box locations. Under the bill, all ballot drop boxes would be marked as an "Official Ballot Drop Box." In addition, in a uniform manner prescribed by the Secretary of State, the following information would be posted at drop boxes and drop box locations in all languages required under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and under current law for the county: the penalties for drop box tampering; a-toll free voter hotline; a statement indicating that no postage is necessary for depositing the ballot into the drop box; a statement indicating that the drop box is for mail-in ballots only for that county; and a statement informing the public of the applicable deadline for accepting ballots at the drop box. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of State and county boards of elections to include guidelines for county boards of elections to follow to establish an electioneering boundary of 100 feet around each ballot drop box in compliance with current law. The bill requires the posting of signs and information to notify the public of the prohibited electioneering activities within the boundary of the ballot drop box. | In Committee |
| A3560 | Concerns false public alarms involving places of worship. | This bill establishes a second degree crime for false public alarms when the alarm involves a church, synagogue, temple, or other place of public worship. The bill defines "place of worship" as a building capable of seating more than 50 people used primarily as a place of public or private worship on a permanent basis by a recognized and established religious sect or denomination. Finally, the bill provides for additional penalties for false alarms as it relates to churches, synagogues, temples, or other places of worship. A person committing such a violation is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 or the actual costs incurred by or resulting from the emergency response to the false alarm, whichever is higher. A second degree crime is punishable by a term of 5-10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A3450 | Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities. | This bill establishes staffing standards for registered professional nurses in State hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and developmental centers. Specifically, the bill provides that, in addition to existing staffing requirements provided by law or regulation, the Commissioner of Health is to adopt regulations that provide minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for all patient units in general and special hospitals, State psychiatric hospitals, and ambulatory surgical facilities, in accordance with the minimum staffing requirements that are established by the bill. As specified in the bill, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will vary depending on the type of unit, and will range from one registered professional nurse for every five patients in a behavioral health or psychiatric or a medical/surgical unit, to one registered professional nurse for every patient under anesthesia in an operating room. The regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health are not to decrease any nurse-to-patient staffing ratios that are already in effect on the bill's effective date. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health is to require all general and special hospitals, State psychiatric hospitals, and ambulatory surgical facilities to employ an acuity and staffing system for the purpose of increasing direct care registered professional nurse staffing levels above the minimum levels established in the bill, or otherwise provided by law or regulation, in order to ensure adequate staffing of each unit, service, or department. The acuity and staffing system will be based on: patient classification or acuity; professional nurse staffing standards adopted by nurse specialty organizations; skill mix; and the staffing levels of other health care personnel and the use of agency or temporary staff. The system is to be established in the facility by the facility's department of nursing, with the approval of a majority of the unit staff nurses or their bargaining agent. The bill requires the acuity and staffing system to allow for the forecasting of staffing levels, and to provide a method to adjust staffing levels for each patient care unit based on objective criteria currently set forth at N.J.A.C.8:43G-17.1(a)3, including, but not limited to: (1) the documented skills, training, and competency of staff to plan and provide nursing services in the nursing areas where they function; (2) a patient database incorporating objective factors such as the case mix index, specific or aggregate patient diagnostic classifications or acuity levels, patient profiles, critical pathways or care progression plans, length of stay, and discharge plans; (3) operational factors, such as unit size, design, and capacity, the admission/discharge/transfer index, and support service availability; (4) contingency plans to address critical departures from the staffing plan, including policies and procedures to regulate the closure of available beds if staffing levels fall below specified levels; and (5) policies and procedures for the reassignment of staff, including float and agency staff. The acuity and staffing system will additionally be required to permit waiver of minimum staffing level requirements in the event of an unforeseen emergent circumstance which causes significant changes in the patient census for a regular shift. Waiver will not be permitted unless the facility has made reasonable efforts to provide sufficient additional staff to meet the required minimum staffing levels, including seeking volunteers and making use of on-call staff, per-diem staff, agency staff, and float pools. The bill defines "unforeseeable emergent circumstance" to mean an unpredictable or unavoidable occurrence requiring immediate action. The Commissioner of Health will also be permitted to waive the minimum staffing level requirements for any hospital or facility that the commissioner determines is in financial distress. A waiver may be revoked upon a determination that the facility is no longer in financial distress. The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce minimum staffing ratios by conducting periodic inspections and responding to complaints. The bill provides a system, pursuant to which a registered professional nurse, other staff member, or member of the public, believing that a facility is in violation of the staffing requirements or the staffing and acuity system, may file a complaint with the Commissioner of Health. In responding to a complaint, the commissioner will be required to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not a hospital or facility is in violation, and to take such other action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill. Finally, in addition to the above-described requirements applicable to the Commissioner of Health, the bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a review of Department of Human Services regulations concerning registered professional nurse staffing standards in developmental centers, and to revise the regulations, as appropriate, to reflect safe staffing practices and assure adequate staffing at the facilities. | In Committee |
| ACR85 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250. | 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 $1,250, beginning in 2024. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, to be increased by $50 each year over a period of four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| A590 | Authorizes State employees to take administrative leave days in observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; requires school districts to permit students excused absences for observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. | This bill provides that full-time State employees would be able to be absent from work for the purposes of observing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, without that absence counting toward their administrative leave allotment. The bill also explicitly requires that a student's absence from school due to the observance of Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha will be an excused absence for the purposes of recording attendance. Muslims celebrate two main holidays every lunar year, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr, which means "festival of the breaking of the fast," is celebrated first at the conclusion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Muslims in the United States observe this month of sacrifice and contemplation by fasting, reading the Holy Quran, and participating in charity work, worship, and emphasizing self-discipline. Eid al-Adha, the "feast of the sacrifice," is celebrated two months later and commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Eid al-Adha is the more sacred of the two Eids, and often coincides with the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage, an annual Islamic pilgrimage in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Under the bill, one additional day of administrative leave per calendar year would be granted to an employee if that employee is absent from work in observance of Eid al-Fitr. Similarly, one additional day of administrative leave per calendar year would be granted to an employee if that employee is absent from work in observance of or Eid al-Adha. This bill would require a school district to record an excused absence for a student who is absent from school due to the observance of Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha. The bill also provides that a student absence because of the observance of Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha would not be included on any transcript or application or employment form or any similar form on which information concerning a pupil's attendance record is requested. Further, if the student presents a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian, the bill provides that a student absent from school because of the observance of the two holidays would: (1) not be deprived of any award or eligibility or opportunity to compete for any award due to the absence; and (2) would be given the opportunity to take an alternate test or examination if they miss a test or examination due to the absence from school. | In Committee |
| A1712 | Requires certain ratios of school library media specialists to students in public schools. | This bill establishes minimum ratios of school library media specialists to students required in school districts. The ratios are:· in each public school having an enrollment of less than 300 students on October 15 of the prior school year, the board of education is required to employ, at a minimum, one half-time staff member who holds an educational services certificate with a school library media specialist endorsement;· in each public school having an enrollment of between 300 and 1,499 students on October 15 of the prior school year, the board of education is required to employ, at a minimum, one full-time staff member who holds an educational services certificate with a school library media specialist endorsement; and· in each public school having an enrollment of 1,500 or more students on October 15 of the prior school year, the board of education is required to employ, at a minimum, two full-time staff members who hold an educational services certificate with a school library media specialist endorsement. The bill specifies how much time in each school day the school library media specialist is required to devote to school library work in public secondary schools, which is dependent upon the enrollment in the school. The bill also requires a public school having an enrollment of 500 or more students on October 15 of the prior school year to employ a minimum of one full-time staff member to serve as a library clerk, and to employ one additional full-time staff member to serve as a library clerk for each additional 500 students enrolled in the school. In order to be college- and career-ready in the twenty-first century, students must be able to use a wide range of information resources including books, media, technology, and the Internet. All students must be able to locate, evaluate, and interpret information accurately for academic and professional success. A qualified school library media specialist is uniquely suited through educational training and professional development to provide this educational foundation for all students. Many states currently require school library media specialists in their schools and most use student enrollment to determine the number of school library media specialists the schools employ. | In Committee |
| A938 | "Department of Commerce and Innovation Act"; establishes Department of Commerce and Innovation as principal department in Executive Branch of State government; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes the Department of Commerce and Innovation (department) as a principal department in the Executive Branch of the State government. New Jersey has historically been a hub for business and industry in the United States, in sectors that range from textiles and ceramics to pharmaceuticals and scientific innovation, and it is the policy of this State to continue to be an economic leader in this country. It is also the policy of New Jersey to stimulate economic growth and development in ways that are efficient and coordinated across all sectors, departments, and agencies; however, this State has seen a decrease in coordination and centralization of these efforts, starting with the abolishment of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce Department) in 1998. With the abolishment of the Commerce Department, the New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, later renamed the New Jersey Commerce Commission (commission), was established in but not of the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of streamlining the coordination of economic development in this State to meet the demands of the 21st Century. Yet, in 2008, the commission was also abolished and its functions, duties, offices, and programs were dispersed among several departments and agencies, with tourism responsibilities transferred to the Department of State, and most other functions and duties being transferred to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority), an authority formerly housed within the Commerce Department. Some of the functions and duties of the commission were transferred to the Division of Business Assistance, Marketing, and International Trade, which was established within the authority with the abolishment of the commission, and, in 2011, was itself renamed the Business Action Center and transferred to the Department of State through Executive Reorganization Plan No. 003-2011. With the State government's gradual decentralization of economic growth policy and administration, New Jersey has struggled to coordinate a cohesive policy approach to attract and foster business, industry, and innovation in this State, and in recent years has fallen behind other states, particularly in science, technology, and engineering. It is in the best interest of the citizens of this State to establish a principal department within the Executive Branch to serve as a centralized focus for business and industrial concerns, to serve as a voice and advocate of the interests of the business and innovation community to the Executive Branch and to the Legislature, to realign the functions and duties of several State agencies in a coordinated manner to streamline the administration of business assistance and innovation programs and policy, to eliminate the confusion felt within the business community concerning the myriad State programs and policy objectives that are difficult to navigate or discover due to being spread across several State agencies and departments, and to establish a strong, centralized business-centered State identity that will again put New Jersey at the forefront of business, industry, and innovation in this country. The administrator and chief executive officer of the department is to be a commissioner, who is to be known as the Commissioner of Commerce and Innovation (commissioner), and who is to be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The commissioner is to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and is to serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office and until the appointment and qualification of the commissioner's successor. The commissioner is to devote the commissioner's entire time to the duties of the office and is to receive a salary as provided by law. Any vacancy occurring in the office of the commissioner is to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The department and the commissioner are to be responsible for the activities of the State government in the support and development of business, industry, and innovation through aid, promotion, and advertising, domestic and foreign commerce, business and technological growth, and any program as determined by the department. The department and commissioner also are to be responsible for research and statistics in the fields of commerce, business, and innovation and maintenance of a business information service. The Business Action Center in the Department of State, the Economic Development Authority in but not of the Department of the Treasury, and the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology in but not of the Department of the Treasury, are to be transferred, together with all functions, powers, and duties, to the department. This bill amends existing law to add the commissioner to the board of the authority. This bill provides that, within three months of the effective date of this bill, after consultation with all division directors, the State Treasurer, and the commissioners of appropriate commissions and executive departments, including but not necessarily limited to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of State, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the commissioner is to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature identifying: those functions and duties currently exercised by other departments, divisions, agencies, commissions, councils, boards, offices, or bureaus of State government relating to commerce, economic development, and innovation that may be appropriately transferred to the department and those functions and duties transferred to the department pursuant to the provisions of this bill that may be appropriately transferred to other departments. The transfers may be effectuated by executive order or law, as the case may be. | In Committee |
| A2197 | Prohibits Fish and Game Council and Division of Fish and Wildlife from requiring, for deer management plans, written consent of private landowners located in, or within 2,000 feet of, deer management area. | Existing law requires a deer management plan, adopted by a county board of agriculture, a county governing body, a municipal governing body, or the owner or operator of an airport, to document the written consent of all private landowners affected by the deer management plan, in order to authorize access to their private lands for the purposes of local deer management activities. This bill would amend the law to eliminate this consent requirement. The bill would further specify that, notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, neither the Fish and Game Council nor the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection may require a county board of agriculture, a county governing body, a municipal governing body, or the owner or operator of an airport, as part of a community based deer management plan, to obtain the written consent of the owners of private lands situated in, or within 2,000 feet of, the designated special deer management area, in order to for a law enforcement officer, an animal control officer, an agents thereof, or another authorized person to access or enter upon such private lands for the purposes of retrieving a deer darted for sterilization, or for other purposes associated with the authorized implementation of the deer management plan. | In Committee |
| A932 | Excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings under the gross income tax. | This bill provides taxpayers a gross income tax exclusion in the amount of contributions made to certain retirement plans, and allows a deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. The affected types of plans are: (1) a plan established under section 401(a) or section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (2) amounts paid for annuity contracts under section 403(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits; (3) a deferred compensation plan of a state or local government that meets the requirements of section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (4) a federal Thrift Savings Plan; or (5) a standard Individual Retirement Account pursuant to section 408 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The contributions to these plans are taxed upon distribution from the account. The bill applies to contributions made or premiums paid in taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following enactment of the bill. | In Committee |
| A2195 | Establishes Office of Statewide Mobility Manager to assist certain persons with disabilities and their families with transportation and mobility needs. | This bill establishes the Office of Statewide Mobility Manager to provide assistance with transportation services and trip-planning guidance for persons with autism spectrum disorder and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their guardians, families, caregivers, and service providers. The bill specifically tasks the office with: (1) being informed on and knowledgeable of the laws and practices concerning public transportation, private transportation, and the Americans with Disabilities Act; (2) identifying and helping secure feasible transportation alternatives for persons with disabilities and their guardians, families, caregivers, and service providers; (3) providing uniform information on transportation services and trip-planning guidance for all New Jersey residents regardless of location; (4) assisting the State and counties with coordination strategies, including but not limited to linking regions and connecting people with existing transit services; and (5) taking any other action to fulfill the purposes of the office. | In Committee |
| A2194 | Requires installation of baby-changing stations in certain public restrooms. | This bill would require baby diaper-changing stations in any newly constructed men's or women's public restroom that is maintained in a place of public accommodation within the State. It would also require any place of public accommodation to install changing stations during renovations to existing restrooms when, when such renovation requires a building permit and the value of the renovation is $5,000 or more. The bill would further require the owner or operator of a place of public accommodation that maintains one or more women's restrooms with a diaper changing station to maintain an equal number of men's restrooms equipped with a changing station. The bill applies to places of public accommodation with a maximum occupancy level greater than 25 people, but does not include places that deny access to children over three years of age. Failure to comply with the provisions of this bill constitutes a petty disorderly persons offense with a maximum fine of $500, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a civil penalty of up to $500, or both. | In Committee |
| A1532 | "Madalyn's Law"; requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on toxic shock syndrome and requires installation of signage in certain women's rooms to enhance public awareness of toxic shock syndrome. | This bill requires each school district, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, to incorporate instruction on toxic shock syndrome in grades 4 through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. This bill would also require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of toxic shock syndrome. This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets. The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill would require the toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department. Failure to comply with the provisions of this bill would result in liability for a penalty of not more than $100 for each violation. Under the bill, "group A or M occupancy" means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in chapter 3 of the 2015 New Jersey International Building Code. Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade 5 are excluded from the "group A or M occupancy" definition. This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly. Anyone can contract toxic shock syndrome, but women using tampons and similar devices have a higher risk. Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches. As toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion. Toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of toxic shock syndrome. This bill is named in honor of Madalyn "Maddy" Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017 just days after contracting Toxic Shock Syndrome. Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida. | In Committee |
| A939 | Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups. | This bill provides credits against the New Jersey gross income tax to support the development of certain New Jersey-based small business start-ups. Under the bill, taxpayers that meet the definition of a qualified small business are allowed gross income tax credits that can be taken to reduce the taxpayer's liability for tax during the first, second, and third taxable years in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit by the taxpayer. The bill provides that the amount of credit permitted to be taken is determined based upon a fixed percentage of the taxpayer's New Jersey gross income tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of the qualified small business. The bill provides that the fixed percentage of the credit is weighted in favor of tax liabilities incurred during the first few years of profitability. The bill specifies that in the first taxable year the business is conducted or operated for a profit, the taxpayer is allowed a credit equal to 75 percent of the New Jersey gross income tax liability that is incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of the qualified small business. In the second year of profitability, the credit is equal to 50 percent of the tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of the business. In the third year, the credit is 25 percent of the tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the business. The bill limits the application of the allowable credits to the tax otherwise due and required to be paid for the taxable year to which the credit applies. This means, for example, that a credit allowed for tax liabilities incurred in connection with the conduct or operation of a qualified small business during the second taxable year in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit can only be taken to reduce the tax liabilities required to be paid by the taxpayer during the second taxable year the business is profitable; the credit cannot be carried back or carried forward to reduce a past or future tax liability. The bill establishes a mandatory pre-approval process in connection with the credits. The bill provides that taxpayers seeking a credit to offset a tax liability incurred and required to be paid in connection with the conduct or operation of a qualified small business must make and file an application with the Director of the Division of Taxation to obtain the director's written authorization prior to taking the allowable credit. The bill authorizes the director to establish an application process and prescribe the form and manner through which a taxpayer may make and file an application to obtain the director's authorization for the credit, but stipulates that the taxpayer must demonstrate that the qualified small business (for which the taxpayer is seeking a credit) is unrelated to the conduct or operation of any other business that was, or is currently, conducted or operated by the taxpayer or, if the qualified small business and any other business that was, or is currently, conducted or operated by the taxpayer are related, that the qualified small business was not established or acquired for the purpose of enjoying the benefit of the credit. The bill provides that taxpayer applications are deemed approved and written authorizations are deemed issued if the director fails to make a determination regarding the approval of an application within 90 calendar days of the date a complete application is received or if the director fails to issue a written authorization within five calendar days of the date the determination is made. The bill authorizes the director to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill, and allows for the immediate filing of those rules and regulations with the Office of Administrative Law, effective for a period not exceeding 360 calendar days following the bill's effective date. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to tax liabilities incurred and required to be paid in connection with qualified small businesses first conducted or operated for a profit in taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the date of enactment. For purposes of the bill, a "qualified small business" is a business that: -- is registered to do business in this State, -- maintains a business location or otherwise derives a majority of its income from business activities or operations conducted within this State, -- has no more than 50 employees in any calendar month during the first taxable year in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit by the taxpayer, and -- has net income of not more than $100,000 from all business activities or operations conducted within and without this State during the first taxable year in which the business is conducted or operated for a profit by the taxpayer. The purpose of this bill is to support the development of start-up small businesses that are based in New Jersey. The credit provided by the bill will significantly reduce the tax liabilities associated with the conduct or operation of small businesses during the first few years of profitability, and provide small business owners with the opportunity to reinvest additional resources back into their businesses during the most critical period in the life of any small business. | In Committee |
| A1213 | Makes supplemental appropriation of $15 million to DMVA for New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for facilities expansion. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $15 million from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for the purpose of providing financial assistance to complete facilities expansion, consisting of an additional 11,850 square feet for the Vietnam Era Museum. The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation commemorates New Jersey service members who served in Vietnam and their families through storytelling that enhances public understanding of the Vietnam War Era. The Foundation serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually. The expansion would help the Foundation obtain critical accreditation and recognition from national bodies and public audiences, acquire State-of-the-art equipment to care for museum artifacts, and deliver a premier educational experience that would attract volunteers, tourists, and revenues to the museum and the State. | In Committee |
| A2170 | Establishes "State House Flag Program"; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the "State House Flag Program." The "State House Flag Program" will be operated by the Building Management office within the State House Joint Management Commission. At the request of a member of the Legislature, the Building Management office will fly a New Jersey State flag on top of the State House. A certificate will be created for each flag flown, including the information of when it was flown and for which individual, group, or organization the flag is flown. The Building Management office will mail the flag to the individual, group, or organization. This bill directs the Director of Public Information of the Office of Legislative Services to provide information about the "State House Flag Program" to the Legislature and the public in order for members and constituents to be informed of the program's existence. The bill makes to make an appropriation from the General Fund in order to properly implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A925 | Allows voter registration at polling place on election day or at early voting site during early voting period. | This bill allows for voter registration at polling places on election day or at early voting sites during the early voting period. Under current law, a person must register to vote at least 21 days before the election. This bill allows a person who has not registered to vote by that deadline to register at a polling place on the day of the election or at an early voting site during the early voting period. This bill also allows a person to cast a provisional ballot if the person has registered to vote within the period of 21 days before the election if the person can affirm that the person has not previously voted in that election. If the county commissioner of registration is not able to verify the person's Motor Vehicle Commission New Jersey driver's license number or non-driver identification number, or the last four digits of the person's Social Security Number, the county commissioner of registration will notify the person by mail, e-mail, or telephone within 24 hours that they must provide valid identification no later than 48 hours prior to the final certification of the results of the election in order for their ballot to be counted. | In Committee |
| ACR67 | Condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. | This resolution condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. Throughout the last decade, there has been clear evidence of increasing incidents and expressions of anti-Semitism throughout the world. More recently, in a 2018 report, the Anti-Defamation League noted that in 2018 there were 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents against Jews and Jewish institutions, which included the deadliest attack on Jewish persons in American history on October 27, 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where 11 worshippers were killed. In 2018, a report showed New Jersey ranked third in the nation in anti-Semitic incidents with 200 anti-Semitic incidents reported. In 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported an increase in hate crimes against Jews or Jewish institutions and found that attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions made up 60.3 percent of all religious-based hate crimes. There is an urgent need to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities, and synagogues, schools, cemeteries, and other institutions. Anti-Semitism is the centuries-old bigotry and form of racism faced by Jewish people simply because they are Jews. Anti-Semitism is a challenge to the basic principles of tolerance, pluralism, and democracy and the shared values that bind Americans together. The First Amendment to the Constitution established the United States as a country committed to the principles of tolerance and religious freedom, and the Fourteenth Amendment established equal protection of the laws as the heart of justice in the United States. Adherence to these principles is vital to the progress of the American people and the diverse communities and religious groups of the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey Legislature unequivocally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts in this State, the United States, and throughout the world to justify anti-Jewish hatred. | In Committee |
| A2484 | Eliminates fee for filing certified copy of name change order. | Under current law, a $50 fee is charged for filing a certified copy of an order for change of name. Many New Jersey residents seek a change of name each year for reasons including marriage and divorce. This bill eliminates the fee for filing a certified copy of a name change order in this State. | In Committee |
| ACR58 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2024, $1,500 in tax year 2025, $2,000 in tax year 2026, and $2,500 in tax year 2027, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| A2783 | "New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act"; establishes certain requirements and penalties regarding firearm storage; repeals law governing minor's access to firearm; requires AG to establish public awareness campaign regarding firearm storage; appropriates $500,000. | This bill, titled the "New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act," establishes penalties for improper storage of a firearm; requires a warning to be issued to firearms purchasers; and requires the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign regarding the risks associated with improper storage. The bill also makes an appropriation, and repeals the provisions of current law establishing penalties for only a minor's access of an improperly stored firearm.Under current law, there are storage requirements and penalties imposed if a minor accesses a loaded firearm that is not in use. However, there currently are no general requirements for storing a firearm when not in use. This bill requires a legal owner of a firearm to: (1) store or secure a firearm that is not in use at a premises under the owner's control unloaded, in a gun safe or securely locked box or container; and (2) store ammunition separately from the firearm. The provisions of the bill do not apply to active law enforcement officers authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to law, provided that when a person under the age of 18 is on premises under the control of the officer, the firearm must be: (a) stored in a gun safe or securely locked box or container; or (b) stored in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or inaccessible to a person under the age of 18. The bill also provides that its provisions do not apply to a lawful owner or a licensed retail dealer that displays the firearm, unloaded, for the purposes of sale or exhibition, provided that any firearm on the premises under the lawful owner's or licensed retail dealer's control, and that is not on display for the purposes of sale or exhibition, must be stored in a manner as defined by the bill. Under the bill, the failure of a firearm owner to properly store a firearm in accordance with the provisions of the bill will give rise to a permissive inference that the legal owner acted knowingly or recklessly in engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death to another person. The bill requires the court to notify a person convicted of a crime or offense involving an improperly stored firearm that he or she is prohibited from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm, and from receiving or retaining a permit to purchase a handgun (PPH) or a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC). The court also is required to order a defendant to arrange for the immediate surrender to a law enforcement officer of any firearm that has not already been seized or surrendered, as well as any PPH or FPIC. Within five days of the entry of an order, the defendant may arrange to sell a surrendered firearm to a licensed retail dealer. The dealer then has 10 days to take possession of the firearm. A law enforcement officer accepting a surrendered firearm is to provide the defendant with a receipt to be presented to the prosecutor as proof that the firearm was surrendered. If a firearm is surrendered to a law enforcement officer, but not sold to a licensed retail dealer, the officer is authorized to dispose of the firearm in accordance with the State's civil asset forfeiture laws. In addition, the bill requires a retail dealer or employee to notify a firearms purchaser and post signage, explaining the New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act and warning of the dangers associated with having a firearm in the home and the penalties imposed for unlawful access of an improperly stored firearm. The provisions of the bill also require the Attorney General to establish a public awareness campaign to inform and educate the public about the provisions of the bill, including the requirements and penalties imposed under the bill, and the dangers associated with the presence of a loaded, unsecured firearm in the home. The public awareness campaign is to be implemented in media outlets which include, but are not limited to: Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television ads, and other media outlets deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. The bill appropriates $500,000 to fund the public awareness campaign. The bill also requires the Attorney General to collect and analyze data related to implementation of the bill, including the number of violations that have occurred and the disposition of each violation. The Attorney General is required to study the overall impact of the bill, considering the effectiveness of the bill. The Attorney General also is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature summarizing the analysis and study conducted pursuant to the bill, and make the report available to the public on the Internet website of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The report is to be submitted and published by November 1st of each year. Finally, the bill repeals current law governing a minor's access to a firearm, to be replaced with the requirements and penalties established under the bill. | In Committee |
| A1111 | Requires certain commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with certain global positioning systems. | This bill requires a commercial motor vehicle operating upon the public highways of this State to be equipped with a global positioning system navigation program that provides information about upcoming highway infrastructure with low vertical clearance and weight restrictions and dynamic route directions that account for commercial motor vehicle restrictions. | In Committee |
| A3089 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | This bill authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without an individual prescription under certain circumstances, and requires prescription benefits coverage for prophylaxis furnished under the bill. HIV prophylaxis is a course of treatment involving certain drug combinations that can prevent HIV infection notwithstanding exposure to the virus under circumstances in which it is normally transmitted, such as through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, or other contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids. HIV prophylaxis includes both HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is taken by a person who anticipates engaging in conduct that risks HIV infection, and HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is taken by a person who may have been exposed to HIV. Under the bill, pharmacists will be permitted to furnish PrEP and PEP to patients without an individual prescription pursuant to a standing order issued by the Commissioner of Health or, if the commissioner is not a duly licensed physician, the Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Services. A standing order will be issued to a pharmacist upon request, provided that the pharmacist completes a training program approved by the State Board of Pharmacy in consultation with the Department of Health, and certifies that the pharmacist will meet the requirements set forth in the bill to furnish PrEP and PEP without an individual prescription. The training program is to include information about financial assistance programs available to patients to assist with the costs of PrEP and PEP. The bill allows a patient to receive up to a 60-day supply of PrEP without an individual prescription in any given two-year period. Thereafter, to continue receiving PrEP, the patient will be required to obtain a prescription for the drugs. A pharmacist furnishing PrEP to a patient without an individual prescription will be required to document that the patient is HIV negative, as demonstrated by a test administered in the past seven days, and that the patient does not report any signs or symptoms of acute HIV infection. If the patient does not have a current HIV test, the pharmacist may order a test. If the patient tests positive for HIV, the pharmacist will be required to provide the patient with information and resources concerning HIV treatment and comply with State and federal requirements for a positive HIV test, which includes certain reporting requirements. Additionally, the pharmacist will be required to confirm that the patient is not taking any contraindicated medications, provide the patient with counseling on the ongoing use of PrEP, advise the patient that the patient will require a prescription to continue receiving PrEP, confirm the patient has not already been provided with a 60-day supply of PrEP without an individual prescription in the past two years, document the services provided, and notify the patient's primary care provider that the patient was furnished with PrEP, unless the patient does not consent to the pharmacist providing this notice. Pharmacists may furnish a complete course of PEP to a patient who may have been exposed to HIV if the pharmacist confirms with the patient that the exposure to HIV occurred within the previous 72 hours, the patient otherwise meets the clinical criteria for PEP consistent with guidelines published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pharmacist tests the patient for HIV, the pharmacist counsels the patient on the use of PEP consistent with CDC guidelines, the pharmacist informs the patient of the availability of PrEP, and the pharmacist notifies the patient's primary care provider the patient was furnished with PEP, unless the patient does not consent to the pharmacist providing this notice. If a patient being furnished with PrEP or PEP does not have a primary care provider, or refuses to consent to the pharmacist providing notice to the primary care provider, the pharmacist will be required to provide the patient with a list of health care providers to contact regarding ongoing treatment using PrEP or follow-up care for PEP, as applicable. The DOH will be required to publish and maintain a current list of providers for pharmacists to use for this purpose, which list may be made available on the department's Internet website. In no case will a patient be authorized to waive the consultation required under the bill to receive PrEP or PEP without an individual prescription. The bill requires health benefits plans that include prescription benefits, as well as the State Employee's Health Benefits Plan, the School Employees' Health Benefits Plan, and Medicaid, to provide coverage for PrEP and PEP furnished under the bill without any prior authorization or step therapy requirements. If therapeutic equivalents to prevent HIV and AIDS are approved, the health plans may apply prior authorization or step therapy requirements to other versions of the treatment, provided at least one version is covered without prior authorization or step therapy. Health plans will not be authorized to prohibit a pharmacist from dispensing PrEP and PEP. Health plans will not be required to provide coverage for PrEP furnished without an individual prescription in a quantity that exceeds a 60-day supply within a given two-year period. Health plans will not be required to cover PrEP or PEP furnished by a pharmacist at an out-of-network pharmacy unless the plain includes an out-of-network pharmacy benefit. | In Committee |
| A2490 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| A126 | Provides family leave for employee to attend certain events of child of employee; establishes tax credits for employer that provide full paid family leave benefits. | This establishes a permissive program wherein an employer that provides full paid leave for employees, for up to two full work days, to take time needed by the employee in connection with a child of the employee to attend a school-related conference, meeting, function or other event, will be entitled to a tax credit for the amount of wages paid to an employee for the use of the leave. | In Committee |
| A4160 | Provides additional State school aid to certain school districts; appropriates $105,886,559. | Provides additional State school aid to certain school districts; appropriates $105,886,559. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly 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. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 16 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 |