Legislator
Legislator > Dawn Fantasia
State Assemblymember
Dawn Fantasia
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 24
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Sparta Office
1 Wilson Drive
Suite 2B
Sparta, NJ 07871
Suite 2B
Sparta, NJ 07871
Phone: 973-300-0200
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | An Act requiring the Department of Transportation to provide additional information concerning the condition of pavements in the State and pothole repair and amending P.L.2000, c.73. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR198 | Establishes the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation." | This Assembly Resolution establishes the bipartisan "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation." The committee will consist of 12 members of the General Assembly. Six members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and six members will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The committee will organize within 30 days after the effective date of this resolution. The committee will have two co-chairpersons and two co-vice chairpersons. The Speaker of the General Assembly will appoint a co-chairperson and a co-vice chairperson, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly will appoint a co-chairperson and a co-vice chairperson, all from among the committee's membership. The committee will investigate and report on the historical, legal, and geographic claims of the State of New Jersey to Staten Island. The committee will examine information including, but not limited to, colonial-era land grants, the 1834 boundary compact between New York and New Jersey, and any relevant case law. The committee will explore all lawful avenues by which the State of New Jersey may assert or pursue annexation of Staten Island, subject to the consent of its residents, the State of New York, and the United States Congress. The committee will also solicit testimony from experts in their respective fields concerning the historical, legal, and geographic claims. At the conclusion of its work, the committee will develop and publish a report containing its findings and recommendations. The committee will expire upon the conclusion of the committee's work. | In Committee |
| A5939 | Requires Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of on-farm dairy processing activities. | This bill would transfer the authority of all on-farm dairy processing inspection activities from the Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture would be required to collaborate with the Department of Health and local boards of health to oversee all on-farm dairy processing activities. | In Committee |
| A5946 | Requires juvenile charged with delinquent act to be prosecuted in county where incident giving rise to complaint occurred. | This bill requires a juvenile charged with a delinquent act to be prosecuted in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint occurred. Under current New Jersey Court Rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise tothe complaint allegedly occurred. However, when the juvenile charged is domiciled in a county other than the county of the alleged occurrence, venue is to be laid in the county of the juvenile's domicile unless the court finds good cause for venue to be retained in the county where the incident occurred. Venue is the county in which an action or prosecution is brought for trial. Under the provisions of this bill, when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act, venue is to be laid in the county where the incident giving rise to the juvenile delinquency complaint allegedly occurred. | In Committee |
| A5964 | Requires Attorney General to compile and publicly report certain statistics pertaining to permits to carry for handguns and firearm purchaser identification cards. | This bill requires State and local law enforcement agencies to report certain firearm permit application data to the Attorney General and requires the Attorney General to issue and make public certain reports. Under the bill, each law enforcement agency in the State is required to submit to the Office of the Attorney General anonymized data concerning certain information contained in permit to carry a handgun, permit to purchase a handgun, and firearm purchaser identification card applications that were approved or denied by a law enforcement agency. The bill requires the submitted information to include: (1) the date of application's submission; (2) the county and municipality in which the application was submitted; (3) the applicant's year of birth, race, ethnicity, and gender identity; (4) whether the application has been approved or denied; (5) the date of approval or denial; and (6) the reason for denial, if applicable. Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to: (1) compile data received pursuant to this section, which was submitted on or after June 23, 2022; (2) issue an initial report containing the data compiled between June 23, 2022, and the first day of the second month following the effective date of this bill and monthly reports thereafter; and (3) make the initial and monthly reports available on the office's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A5941 | Allows juvenile to be tried as adult regardless of age for certain drug offenses resulting in death; imposes life imprisonment for conviction of strict liability for drug induced deaths if victim was under age 18. | This bill revises the juvenile waiver law to allow a juvenile to be tried as an adult for the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths. Specifically, the bill allows a juvenile to be tried as an adult in cases where there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile committed a delinquent act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths. In addition, the bill requires the court to impose a term of life imprisonment on a person convicted of the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths, if the victim was under the age of 18 and the illegal substance is in a quantity of one or more ounces, including any adulterants or dilutants. Under current law, the crime of strict liability for drug-induced deaths provides that any person who manufactures, distributes, or dispenses certain controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death which results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance, and is guilty of a crime of the first degree. Current law allows a person who is 15 years of age or older and commits this crime to be tried as an adult. This bill establishes that a person would be tried as an adult, regardless of that person's age. | In Committee |
| A5940 | Establishes "New Jersey Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.'' Under the bill, if an abortion or attempted abortion results in a child born alive, any health care professional present at the time the child is born alive is to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care professional would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and ensure that the child is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital for treatment. A person who violates the above provisions is to be guilty of a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under the bill, "born alive," with respect to a member of the species homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion. The bill provides that a person who intentionally performs or attempts to perform an overt act that kills a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion is to be guilty of violating N.J.S.2C:11-3. A violation of N.J.S.2C:11-3 is punishable by 30 years to life imprisonment. Under the bill, a health care professional and any employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with the requirements of this bill's provisions is to immediately report the failure to an appropriate State or federal law enforcement agency or both or be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The bill provides that the mother of a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion is not to be guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime under the bill's provisions. Further, the mother of the child born alive may bring a civil action for damages against any violator of the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| A5962 | Provides criminal and civil penalties for predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors. | This bill establishes criminal and civil penalties for the predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors. Under the bill, predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors is defined as the manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, where the fentanyl: (1) appears in a manner that is likely to appeal to minors due to the shape, color, taste, or design of the fentanyl or its packaging, including but not limited to, any shape that resembles an animal, vehicle, building or structure, person, character, or trademarked logo, symbol, or design; (2) resembles or is modeled after food, beverages, or other non-controlled substances that are primarily consumed by, marketed to, or attractive to minors and that are commonly sold in retail establishments regardless of whether the food or beverages are generic, trademarked, or branded products, including but not limited to products that resemble candy; (3) resembles a controlled or non-controlled substance or product with ingredients that do not include fentanyl, including but not limited to prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, or cannabis; (4) is packaged in violation of any packaging or labeling requirement enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States Department of Justice, or the Drug Control Unit of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the State Department of Law and Public Safety; or (5) is advertised using any means of audience targeting or selection on any advertising medium, platform, or channel, where the intended audience includes minors. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that a person has engaged in the predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors if the person has been convicted of using a juvenile in a fentanyl distribution scheme, distributing fentanyl within 1,000 feet of school property, or distributing fentanyl to persons under age 18. The bill also specifies that a conviction for predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors will not merge, for sentencing purposes, with a conviction for the underlying crime of drug distribution. The bill provides that predatory marketing of fentanyl to minors is a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. However, under the bill, the term of imprisonment is increased to 30 years, during which the person is not eligible for parole, or the court may impose a specific term of imprisonment which could be between 30 years and life imprisonment of which the person is required to serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. The bill also amends the "Drug Dealer Liability Act," N.J.S.A.2C:35B-1 et seq., to allow a minor or a person who accidentally uses or is exposed to fentanyl to bring a civil suit against all persons who participated in the predatory marketing of fentanyl. | In Committee |
| A5961 | "Weston's Law"; extends crime of human trafficking to include recruiting or coercing juvenile to join gang or drug trafficking scheme. | This bill, which is designated as "Weston's Law," extends the crime of human trafficking, N.J.S.A.2C:13-8, to include the recruiting or coercing of juveniles to join or serve a criminal gang or drug trafficking scheme. Under current law, which encompasses both labor and sex trafficking, human trafficking occurs when a person knowingly holds, recruits, lures, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains another person, regardless of age, by any means, to engage in sexual activity or to provide other labor or services, using methods that include, among other things, acts that would constitute criminal coercion, under N.J.S.A.2C:13-5, or providing the victim with access to controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Human trafficking of a minor occurs when a person knowingly holds, recruits, lures, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a minor by any means to engage in sexual activity using any method, whether or not the trafficker mistakenly believes that the victim is 18 years of age or older. In addition to any other legal remedy which may be awarded by law, under N.J.S.A.2C:13-8 and N.J.S.A.2C:13-8.1, a victim of human trafficking may be awarded civil damages and restitution in an amount equivalent to the value of the victim's labor or services, plus other appropriate relief by the court. Human trafficking is also defined as a type of racketeering activity under the State's organized crime statutes, N.J.S.A.2C:41-1 et seq. (also known as the State RICO law). The State RICO law allows the court to award triple damages to victims of racketeering activity who bring a civil suit against a person convicted of racketeering. Under the existing law concerning the use of juveniles to commit crimes, N.J.S.A.2C:24-9, it is a crime for a person 18 years of age or older to knowingly use, solicit, direct, hire, employ, or conspire with a person 17 years of age or younger to commit any crime, whether or not the adult mistakenly believed that the minor was at least 18 years of age. Additionally, under subsection d. of N.J.S.A.2C:33-28, it is a crime for a person to solicit, recruit, coerce, or threaten a person under 18 years of age to join or actively participate in a criminal street gang. Further, under N.J.S.A.2C:35-6, it is a crime for a person 18 years of age or older to knowingly use, solicit, direct, hire, or employ a person 17 years of age or younger in the operation of an illegal drug production facility, or in the unlawful manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing of CDS, or to possess CDS with intent to distribute. Under the bill, human trafficking with respect to labor or services is defined to include, but not be limited to, labor or services for a criminal street gang or in furtherance of racketeering activity. Human trafficking of a minor is defined to include, but not be limited to, using a minor to commit a crime in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:24-9, to participate in a criminal street gang in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:33-28, or to participate in a drug distribution scheme in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:35-6. The definition of criminal street gang is amended to include human trafficking as a type of gang related activity. In addition to criminal coercion, the bill adds other prohibited methods of inducing a victim into trafficking to include stalking (N.J.S.A.2C:12-10), invasion of privacy (N.J.S.A.2C:14-9), sexual extortion (N.J.S.A.2C:14-9.1), and theft by extortion (N.J.S.A.2C:20-5). The bill further amends the criminal coercion statute to expand coercive threats to include not only threats to a person's health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation, or personal relationships, but also threats to a person's education, employment, or child custody. The bill also clarifies that a conviction for human trafficking will not merge, for sentencing purposes, with a conviction for employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme. Finally, the bill amends the civil damages provision of the State RICO law to clarify that persons damaged in their business or property by racketeering activity, who are entitled to sue a person convicted of racketeering, includes victims of human trafficking if the racketeering activity involved human trafficking. Finally, the bill adds human trafficking to the list of crimes for which a prosecutor may seek to waive a juvenile up from the Family Court to adult criminal court to be tried as an adult. Through the application of human trafficking law under the bill, it is the sponsor's intent to provide additional law enforcement tools to combat the exploitation of minors by the organized illegal drug trade. This bill is named in honor of Weston Fundner, who died in 2022 at the age of 15, from a fentanyl overdose after he was stalked by another teenager who was involved in the illegal drug trade, and coerced into accepting and ingesting a fentanyl pill. | In Committee |
| AR199 | Requires 14 days between introduction and consideration of annual appropriations act in General Assembly. | This resolution would supplement the Rules of the General Assembly to require the bill to enact an annual appropriations act to be introduced no fewer than 14 days in advance of when the bill may be considered on third reading. To facilitate discussion on the bill, the new rule would require the Speaker of the General Assembly to schedule a minimum of four quorums of the General Assembly in the period between introduction of the annual appropriations act and consideration on third reading. | In Committee |
| A5944 | "Affordable Home Energy Protection Act"; prohibits adoption of State or local rules that restrict the use of certain fossil-fuel powered appliances or heating systems. | This bill, to be known as the "Affordable Home Energy Protection Act," would prevent State agencies and local governments from adopting any rule, regulation, ordinance or other measure that: (1) prohibits or unduly restricts the installation, connection, or use of appliances or heating systems powered by natural gas, propane, or fuel oil in residential or commercial buildings; or (2) requires a property owner to remove a functioning combustion-based appliance or heating system or replace a functioning combustion-based appliance or heating system with an electric alternative. | In Committee |
| A5943 | "Vehicle Choice Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from adopting rules, regulations, or policies that restrict or prohibit sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion vehicles in State. | This bill, to be known as the "Vehicle Choice Protection Act," would prohibit State agencies from adopting any rule, regulation, policy, or executive action that has the purpose or effect of prohibiting or restricting the sale, registration, or use of new internal combustion engine vehicles in the State. | In Committee |
| ACR171 | Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit use of eminent domain to take active farmland in certain circumstances. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use is not to be taken or acquired by the government through eminent domain, with limited exception. The power of the government to take or acquire land for other uses is commonly known as eminent domain. Governments in this State can currently take or acquire private property (land and buildings) against the will of an owner, if the action is taken for a public purpose as defined by law, and if the government pays the owner fairly for the property. The ban would apply to the State, counties, municipalities, school districts, and local public entities. These entities, and certain private entities to whom they may otherwise delegate these powers, would be prohibited from taking or acquiring land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use. The constitutional amendment establishes an exception from the prohibition, if the property is restricted to continued agricultural or horticultural use in perpetuity. | In Committee |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of antisemitism. | Establishes State definition of antisemitism. | In Committee |
| 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. | An Act concerning the accidental disability retirement allowance for certain members of the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System, and amending P.L.1954, c.84, P.L.1944, c.255, and P.L.1965, c.89. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | 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 |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | An Act concerning service members and their dependents enrolled at public institutions of higher education and amending P.L.1997, c.377. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A5649 | Allows counties and municipalities to use open space trust funds for remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by county or municipality. | This bill would allow a county or municipality to use monies in their "open space trust fund" for the remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by the county or municipality. Under current law, counties are authorized to establish "County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds" and municipalities are authorized to establish "Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds." These funds are often referred to as "open space trust funds." This bill would expand this authorization to allow counties and municipalities to use the monies in such funds for the additional purpose of remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on property owned by the county or municipality. Under this bill, a county or municipality would not be required to obtain voter approval to use funds in their open space trust fund for the remediation of collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes; however, the county or municipality would be required to adopt a resolution or ordinance, as appropriate, prior to doing so, and comply with public notice requirements contained in the bill. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4380 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | In Committee |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| 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 |
| 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. | 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. | Crossed Over |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | This bill requires that participation in school-sanctioned sports be based on biological sex at birth. It provides that public and nonpublic schools, as well as institutions of higher education, designate athletic or sports teams on the basis of biological sex. The bill also prohibits any athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls from being open to male students. In the event the sex of a student is disputed, the student will establish sex by presenting a signed physician's statement that indicates the student's sex based solely on (1) the student's internal and external reproductive anatomy; (2) the student's normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone; and (3) an analysis of the student's genetic makeup. A school or institution of higher education would not be subject to investigation or any adverse action for maintaining separate athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex. Students who are deprived of athletic opportunities or suffer any harm as a result of a violation of the provisions of this bill would have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, or other legal remedy permitted by law against the school or institution of higher education. A student subject to retaliation or any adverse action by his or her school, institution of higher education, or athletic association or organization for reporting a violation of the bill would also have a private right of action against the school, institution of higher education, or athletic association or organization. Schools or institutions of higher education that suffer any harm as a result of a violation of this bill would likewise have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, or other legal remedy permitted by law. Any student, school, or institution of higher education able to bring suit under this bill would be required to bring their claims within two years after the harm occurred. Students or organizations that prevail on any claim brought pursuant to this bill would be entitled to monetary damages, including damages for any psychological, emotional, and physical harm suffered, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief. | In Committee |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | This bill would require voters to present certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote, beginning with the first election held after January 1, 2025. A voter, whether voting in person or through mail-in ballot, would be required to show or submit a copy of a New Jersey's driver's license, New Jersey nondriver's identification card, or other document, that includes all of the following criteria: (1) the name of the voter to whom the document was issued; (2) a photograph of the voter to whom the document was issued; (3) an expiration date, showing that the document is not expired or expired only after the date of the most recent election; and (4) was issued by the federal government or this State. For first-time voters, this documentation would be required in addition to the production of any document necessary to fulfill the proof of identity requirement mandated by the federal "Help America Vote Act of 2002," if that first-time voter had registered to vote by mail without submitting federally-acceptable identity verification with the registration. However, a first-time voter in this situation would be required to present only one document with respect to both identification requirements, if that document is able to satisfy the document criteria as applicable to each requirement. The requirement for verifying voter identity through additional documentation would not apply to any voter entitled to vote by mail-in ballot under the federal "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act," or provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under the federal "Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act," or any other federal law. Additionally, because the bill's verification of identity requires the production of a document containing a photograph of the voter, it incorporates an exemption from the production of such document if the voter has a religious objection to being photographed, and this is established by a sworn affidavit from the voter. In order to administer the bill's new voter verification requirement, the bill updates the statutory provisions governing election day challenges to a person's right to vote by district board members or other authorized challengers, as appointed pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. With respect to any voter who is denied the right to vote for failing to display acceptable documentation, that voter would be provided a provisional ballot. In order for that ballot to be officially counted in an election, the voter would need to produce the required documentation by the close of business on the second day after the election to the applicable county commissioner of registration. Finally, to ensure that no one is denied the right to vote based solely on an inability to pay for a government-issued document with photograph as required under the bill for identity verification, the Motor Vehicle Commission would issue a nondriver identification card without cost to any voter requiring such document upon execution of an affidavit of indigence. | In Committee |
| AR197 | Calls upon Cranbury Township Committee to reconsider proposed use of eminent domain to seize historic Henry Farm; calls for State eminent domain reform. | This resolution of the General Assembly calls upon Cranbury Township to reconsider the township committee's proposed use of eminent domain to condemn and take the historic Henry Farm, and thereby reduce the acreage of active farmland in the township and the State. The resolution further call upon the Governor and Legislature to limit the use of eminent domain and to reconsider State laws that solve a housing crisis by creating a food insecurity crisis. If carried to its logical conclusion, the State's "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), will replace farmland with housing creating a greater need for farmland to feed the increased population, thus solving one crisis by creating another. Andy and Christopher Henry are the current owners of their family's 21-acre farm, which has been in the family for generations since their great grandfather bought the land in 1850. The Henry brothers have invested more than $200,000 into maintaining the land since they took ownership of the farm 12 years ago. In March 2024, Cranbury Township began its process to identify sites that could help meet its affordable housing requirements, and the brothers received a letter in April 2025 stating that their property was being considered as a site to meet the township's affordable housing requirements. The brothers were further informed that if a deal could not be reached with the family to sell the property, the township could take the farm through eminent domain. The township committee unanimously approved an ordinance on May 12, 2025 authorizing and directing the township to initiate proceedings pursuant to "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), to acquire for public use, by voluntary conveyance or by condemnation, a fee simple or lesser title interest in the lands and improvements of the Henry Farm. Cranbury Township residents packed committee meetings to support the Henry family, with many echoing calls to consider other sites and questioning when the township will push back on State housing mandates. Andy Henry has said he has no intention of selling the land and plans to fight the township's plans to take it by eminent domain, and that he wishes to keep the farm with the Henry family. Andy Henry has further stated that the "farm represents exactly what [the] town prides itself on," further noting that the farm "has open space, rich history, and a farmhouse." Despite objections from dozens of residents, the Cranbury Township Committee approved the plan to acquire the Henry family farm to meet State-mandated affordable housing requirements. The issues around the use of eminent domain in this case are greater than just the acreage of the Henry farm itself, and raise broader societal implications for the preservation of agricultural heritage in the Garden State. Cranbury Township has a long farming tradition that should be respected, and its historic district, which includes buildings from the 19th Century, was originally created as a place to serve local farmers and the agriculture industry. Cranbury Township has in recent years preserved over 2,000 acres of farmland, and Cranbury Township's plan to seize the property goes against Cranbury's long-standing farmland preservation efforts. Seizing of the farm also runs contrary to the New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program's stated goal of permanently preserving 500,000 acres of farmland by 2050 This House calls upon the Township of Cranbury to reconsider its use of eminent domain to take active farmland. | In Committee |
| A5884 | Prohibits condemnation of farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production for purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production. | This bill amends P.L.1971, c.361 to prohibit the condemnation, or taking of private property for a public purpose under the power of eminent domain pursuant to that law, of a property that is farmland actively supporting agricultural or horticultural production and the person or entity seeking to condemn the property intends to develop that property for a purpose other than agricultural or horticultural production. New Jersey has a stated goal of preserving 500,000 acres of farmland, which it is just over halfway to achieving. To obtain this goal the State needs to have as much active farmland as possible and should not allow it to be taken through eminent domain for non-agricultural purposes. Eminent domain is a tool to be used by the government to promote public projects, such as damns, roads, and parks, not a hammer to be used to take private property for use by other private entities to make money for themselves and the government that approves it. This bill will narrow the scope of the eminent domain law and protect farms that are needed to provide food security for citizens. | In Committee |
| A5873 | Exempts grooming and hygiene products and certain baby products from sales and use tax. | This bill provides sales and use tax exemptions for the sales of grooming and hygiene products, as well as the sales of certain baby products. Under current law, receipts from the sales of grooming and hygiene products designed for human use are subject to sales and use tax. A "grooming and hygiene product" would qualify for the sales and use tax exemption provided under the bill if the product is soap or cleaning solution, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, anti-perspirant, or sun tan lotion or screen, regardless of whether the item is an "over-the-counter drug" under State law. The bill also provides a sales and use tax exemption for select baby products, namely: child restraint systems; cribs; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as 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. A "crib" is defined under the bill as a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant. Finally, the bill defines a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport a young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| AJR228 | Designates first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day." | This joint resolution designates the first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day" to honor the volunteer and career firefighters who courageously made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. There are more than 35,000 men and women serving as volunteer and career firefighters in New Jersey. They play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in our State. They respond to emergency calls without reservation and with little regard for their personal safety. Between 1990 and 2024, approximately 145 on-duty firefighter fatalities were reported in this State. Annually, on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day, the United States Congress and the President of the United States honor firefighters who have lost their lives by flying the American flag on all federal buildings at half-staff. Under this joint resolution, the Governor will direct all State and local government agencies to fly the flag of the United States and the State flag at half-staff in honor of all the volunteer and career firefighters who have died in the line of duty. | In Committee |
| A5861 | Appropriates $52,798,268 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and other farmland preservation funds to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill appropriates $52,798,268 from various farmland preservation funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for certain farmland preservation purposes. Of the funding provided by the bill, $21,046,028 is appropriated to the SADC to pay the cost of acquisition by the SADC of development easements on, or fee simple titles to, farmland, to provide grants to counties and municipalities for up to 80 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, and to provide grants to qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland, for farmland preservation purposes for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to: the "Agricultural Retention and Development Act"; the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995"; the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act"; the "Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007"; the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009"; and the "Preserve New Jersey Act." In addition, this bill appropriates $3,452,240 from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" to the SADC for the purpose of providing stewardship grants for activities, beyond routine operation and maintenance, undertaken by landowners, or farm operators as agents for landowners, to repair, restore, or improve lands preserved for farmland preservation purposes, including but not limited to, soil and water conservation project activities, and deer-fencing activities. The appropriations in this bill for the acquisition of fee simple titles and development easements to farmland and for stewardship grants have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also appropriates to the SADC such sums from any additional proceeds which may become available by the effective date of the bill due to the lease or conveyance of farmland previously acquired in fee simple by the SADC, for the purpose of providing for the cost of acquisition by the SADC of development easements and fee simple titles to farmland for farmland preservation purposes. This bill also appropriates from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" to the SADC: $25,000,000 for organizational, administrative, and other work and services, including salaries, equipment, materials, and services necessary to administer the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act"; $2,000,000 for costs associated with administering the direct easement program; $800,000 for organizational, administrative and other work and services necessary to administer the Garden State Preservation Trust; and $500,000 for the costs associated with legal advice and representation in connection with the committee's enforcement of development easements acquired for farmland preservation purposes pursuant to P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014, for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Of the funding in this bill, $51,616,360 is from these constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues. | In Committee |
| A5855 | Increases penalty for crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing certain Schedule I or II controlled dangerous substances. | This bill upgrades the degree of crime associated with the manufacturing, distributing or dispensing of Schedule I or II drugs. It is the sponsor's intent to establish penalties for fentanyl-related drug crimes that are more equivalent to the current penalties for heroin. Currently, fentanyl, despite being more potent and dangerous than heroin, is subject to lighter penalties. It is the sponsor's intent to address the disparities in penalties between the two drugs in order to reduce the incentive to exploit fentanyl's potency and profitability and reduce the risk posed by fentanyl to the citizens of this State. Under current law, it is a second degree crime to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a substance classified as a narcotic drug in Schedule I or II, in any quantity of one ounce or more. It is a crime of the third degree to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a Schedule I or II drug in a quantity of less than one ounce. Under the bill, it is a crime of the first degree to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a Schedule I or II drug in a quantity of one ounce or more; a second degree crime if the quantity is one-half ounce or more, but less than one ounce; and a third degree crime for less than one-half ounce. A first degree crime is ordinarily punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. A second degree crime is ordinarily punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A third degree crime is ordinarily punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under the bill, a person who commits the first degree crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a Schedule I or II drug may instead face a fine of up to $500,000. Further, a person who commits the third degree crime may instead face a fine of up $75,000. | In Committee |
| A2163 | Requires DMVA notify certain veteran organizations and county officers and municipal registers of names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries. | This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide a monthly report to veteran organizations, county officers, and municipal registers of the names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries the previous month. The bill also requires that a representative of the person buried or cremated in a State veteran cemetery sign a waiver before the information may be released. The department may transmit and receive the reports and waivers electronically. The monthly reports and waivers will be confidential and not subject to the law commonly referred to as the open public records act. Veteran organization means a veteran organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, or a federally chartered Veterans' Service Organization. | Crossed Over |
| A5837 | Eliminates presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with repeat home invasion offenses. | This bill eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for certain defendants who are charged with the crime of home invasion or burglary. Specifically, the presumption of pretrial release would not apply to a defendant who was previously convicted, on one or more prior and separate occasions, of home invasion or burglary of a residence. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the Criminal Justice Reform Law, criminal courts are authorized to order: the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings; or the order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Currently, the Criminal Justice Reform Law establishes a presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with: murder; a crime for which the eligible defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment; the theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle; receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle; or a crime under any statute of the United States, this State, or any other state that is substantially equivalent. Under the bill, the presumption of pretrial release also would not apply to an eligible defendant charged with home invasion or burglary of a residence if the defendant was previously convicted of these crimes on one or more prior and separate occasions. | In Committee |
| A5835 | Requires law enforcement officers to undergo training on their responsibilities as mandated reporters of incidents of child abuse and neglect. | This bill requires the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (the DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families, in coordination with the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to develop and adopt a training course and curriculum on: (1) the responsibilities of law enforcement officers as mandated reporters of suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect; and (2) the procedures used by law enforcement officers in responding to reports of child abuse and neglect in accordance with the DCF/Law Enforcement Model Coordinated Response Protocol. The Division of Criminal Justice is to ensure that: (1) the training course is part of each law enforcement officer's initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer; (2) the training course is provided on a triannual basis, as part of the in-service training provided to each local police officer in the State; and (3) every local law enforcement officer appointed prior to the effective date of bill satisfactorily completes the training course. The bill also requires the DCPP to periodically assess the training course and curriculum and update it where the division finds appropriate. | In Committee |
| A5834 | Requires law enforcement officers to follow certain procedures when illegal drugs are suspected of being used in presence of children. | This bill stipulates that upon request from a parent or guardian to remove a child who resides in a home where illegal drugs are suspected of being used in the presence of the child, a law enforcement officer is to: (1) secure and remove the illegal drugs being used in the presence of the child and place the drugs into evidence in accordance with State law and regulations; (2) forward information about the request to the State Central Registry (SCR) for referral to a child protective investigator for investigation of a possible allegation of child abuse or neglect; (3) request an immediate response from a child protective investigator to the report referred to the SCR; and (4) coordinate in the investigation of the report at the request of the child protective investigator. | In Committee |
| A5833 | Establishes grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students. | This bill directs the Commission of Education to establish a program to provide grants to school districts to implement a substance abuse prevention program for eighth grade students. The program is to include two components, a faculty and parent education component and a student education component. The program would be modeled on "Project Positive Choice," a successful drug and alcohol education prevention program that has been part of the eighth grade curriculum at the Copeland Middle School in Rockaway Township since the fall of 1998. The faculty and parent education component would be designed to raise the awareness levels of school staff and parents; sensitize them to issues surrounding substance abuse; and promote the success of the program by reinforcing their roles as stakeholders in the program's outcomes. This component will include workshops for the faculty and staff of the school district on various issues related to substance abuse and sessions to provide parents with the knowledge and skills needed to help reduce the risk of children developing substance abuse problems. The student education component would consist of a four-phase approach to the problem of substance abuse. In the first phase, the students would meet with teenage residents of drug rehabilitation programs who would discuss their own personal experiences with drug and alcohol abuse and the dangers of abuse. In the second phase, an individual who has personal family knowledge on the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse on young adults would address the students. This personal address would be accompanied by an appropriate video presentation that educates students on the dangers of substance abuse. The third phase would consist of minimum custody offenders from a State correctional facility having a discussion with students about the crimes committed in which drugs and alcohol played a major role, the amount of time being served in prison, and what life is like while being incarcerated. The goal of the discussion is to reduce the use of drugs and alcohol by youths and promote responsible decision-making. The final phase would consist of a person or persons with celebrity status, as positive role models, addressing the students to present an anti-drug and alcohol message. A student would not be compelled to participate in the program if the student's parent or guardian presents the school principal with a signed statement that the program is in conflict with the student's conscience or moral or religious beliefs. In order to participate in the grant program, a school district would be required to submit an application to the commissioner. The school district, as part of the application, is required to certify that the district's budget includes funds for the purpose of financing a substance abuse prevention program for eighth grade students. The funds may be: district funds; funds raised through individual, corporate, or other private sector donations; or federal funds. The commissioner is to develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants, and based upon the criteria, is to provide to each selected school district a grant in an amount determined by the commissioner. | 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 |
| A682 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | In Committee |
| A1888 | Provides certain protections to residents of long-term care facilities. | Provides certain protections to residents of long-term care facilities. | In Committee |
| ACR167 | Urges Congress to enact H.R.128 directing treatment of illicit fentanyl as weapon of mass destruction. | This Concurrent Resolution urges Congress to enact H.R.128 directing treatment of illicit fentanyl as weapon of mass destruction. This congressional legislation is supported by data in H. Res.1172 introduced in Congress 2022 that details the impact of illicit synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl, on populations. While the number of deaths from synthetic opioids has dropped in recent years, illegal opioids, and other pills obtained illegally by users, can contain lethal amounts of fentanyl, unknown to the user. | In Committee |
| ACR168 | Urges Congress to enact the "HALT Fentanyl Act." | This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact U.S. Senate Bill 331, the "HALT Fentanyl Act." According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were approximately 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2023, nearly 70 percent of which were attributed to opioids such as illegal fentanyl. The CDC found a recent trend of decreasing deaths from drug overdoses, with a 14.5 percent decrease between June 2023 and June 2024. In New Jersey, drug overdose deaths decreased 35 percent from the peak of 3,148 deaths between January 2021 and January 2022, to 2,031 deaths between September 2023 and September 2024. However, despite this decline, drug overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44. There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally made fentanyl. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain. Illegally made fentanyl is responsible for most cases of fentanyl-related overdose. Illegally made fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets, is often added to other illegal drugs during manufacture because it is cheaper, more powerful, and more addictive than other illegal drugs, and thus more dangerous. Laboratory testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration in the fall of 2024 revealed that five out of 10 illegal pills contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. One gram of illegally made fentanyl, the size of a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to 500 people. The federal "Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act" or "HALT Fentanyl Act" places illegal fentanyl and related substances into Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act. Under federal law, substances in Schedule I are those with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical value, and are subject to regulatory controls and federal criminal penalties, including mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment. In New Jersey, illicit fentanyls are already classified as Schedule I substances pursuant to N.J.A.C.13:45H-10.1. Similar to the criteria in federal law, substances in Schedule I pursuant to New Jersey law are those with high potential for abuse, and either with no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or without accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision. In the view of the sponsor, federal classification of fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I will enhance nationwide efforts to combat illicit manufacturing and trafficking of these potentially deadly drugs. | 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 |
| A4854 | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | Crossed Over |
| A1997 | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. | Crossed Over |
| A4753 | Requires hospitals and birthing facilities to request new parents watch water safety video prior to discharge. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (DOH) to prepare and make available to each hospital and birthing facility in the State an informational video on water safety for children, including, but not limited to, information on the risks to children of drowning in bathtubs, pools, and other bodies of water, the importance of receiving instruction on basic swimming, water safety, water rescue, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills; the use of life jackets and other age appropriate flotation devices for children; and anti-entrapment drain covers, safety release systems, and pool fences. The video is to be shown to a new parent and any other adult family member present at the infant's birth, prior to an infant's birth or the new parent's discharge from a hospital or birthing facility. The commissioner may make the informational video available to hospitals and birthing facilities by posting it on the DOH's Internet website or by other electronic means. The bill also stipulates that the DOH mandate that each hospital and birthing facility in the State require new parents to watch the informational video specified in the bill, which is to be shown to a new parent and any other adult family member present at an infant's birth, prior to the parent's discharge, as part of the hospital or birthing facility's discharge procedures. As used in bill "birthing facility" means an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the DOH that provides birthing and newborn care services. | Crossed Over |
| A4762 | Designates May of each year as "Water Safety Month" in NJ; encourages DOE to provide resources on water safety. | This bill designates May of each year as "Water Safety Month" to raise awareness for safe water practices and accident and drowning prevention. The bill encourages the Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), to provide resources to school districts to hold presentations and educational activities during "Water Safety Month" for students in grades kindergarten through five to provide water safety education. The bill stipulates that the presentations and educational activities may be held in partnership with nonprofit organizations. The bill also encourages the DOE, in consultation with the DOH, to provide resources to public schools to educate students on water safety. | Crossed Over |
| A4763 | Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires DOE to maintain list of locations providing swim lessons. | Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires DOE to maintain list of locations providing swim lessons. | Crossed Over |
| ACR166 | Urges Congress to pass "Fix Our Forests Act." | This resolution urges Congress to pass the "Fix Our Forests Act." On average, 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey's forests each year. In addition to damaging the State's forests and wildlife habitats, wildfires also threaten homes and businesses and jeopardize the health and wellbeing of people who live or recreate within or near the State's forests. The considerable number of hot, dry, or windy days that New Jersey has been experiencing increases the likelihood of wildfires. As the most densely populated state in the country, New Jersey residents are increasingly at risk of being near a wildfire. The "Fix Our Forests Act," currently pending in the United States Congress would create an interagency Fireshed Center to use data to assess and predict wildfire risk to help inform wildfire reduction activities. A data-driven approach to assessing wildfire risk could help this State make strategic decisions about land management practices and take actions that are most likely to decrease the risk of wildfires. Forest fire management techniques vary broadly and can include using prescribed fires to reduce brush that fuels wildfires, thinning the number of trees through accepted forest management practices, minimizing the spread of diseases and insects, and building resilience in at-risk communities. The "Fix Our Forests Act" would facilitate environmental reviews for accepted forest management practices, limit litigation involving fireshed management projects, promote livestock grazing in forests, require a study on pine beetle infestations, and promote strategies to strengthen the domestic seed supply. | In Committee |
| A2596 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | 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 |
| A5723 | Suspends sales and use tax and societal benefits charge on electric and gas public utility bills during four-month period. | This bill temporarily suspends the imposition of the sales and use tax, as well as the societal benefits charge, on customer bills for electric and gas utility service. Under the bill, the temporary suspension applies beginning on June 1, 2025 and through September 30, 2025. It is the sponsor's intent that a temporary suspension of the collection of these charges provide necessary relief from anticipated bill increases and excessive charges to ratepayers. The Board of Public Utilities has announced increases in the electricity rates for residential ratepayers ranging from 17.2 to 20.2 percent, depending on the supplier, starting in June 2025. Consequently, sales and use tax collections from energy and utility sales are anticipated to increase by as much as $85.2 million more than the Governor had initially anticipated for Fiscal Year 2026. Furthermore, during Fiscal Years 2021 through 2024, approximately $704.2 million in revenues generated by the societal benefits charge were transferred to other funds for purposes outside the intent of the charge. In light of the amount of excess revenue generated by the societal benefits charge, it is the sponsor's opinion that the amount collected through the societal benefits charge can be reduced in order to provide necessary relief to ratepayers. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5674 | Excludes certain retirement savings plan contributions, withdrawals, and rollovers from gross income tax. | This bill excludes contributions, qualified withdrawals, and rollovers from certain retirement savings accounts from a taxpayer's gross income. Specifically, the bill would exclude any amounts that are contributed to, or received as a qualified withdrawal from: (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 which are offered to government and nonprofit employees; (3) a deferred compensation plan established under section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code; (4) a federal Thrift Savings Plan; or (5) an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) established pursuant to section 408 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill would also exclude from gross income any rollovers from an IRA to another retirement savings account. For purposes of the bill, a "qualified withdrawal" is defined as a withdrawal from a retirement trust, plan, fund, account, or annuity, as applicable under the bill, that is permitted under the federal Internal Revenue Code and for which no penalties or additional taxes for nonqualifying withdrawals are assessed pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, regulations issued thereunder, or other directives or guidance of the federal Internal Revenue Service. By excluding additional categories of retirement savings from gross income, it is the sponsor's intent to remove a deterrent to retirement savings and provide greater financial security for New Jersey taxpayers as they prepare for, and enter, their retirement years. | In Committee |
| A5691 | Requires display of estimated odds of winning on certain lottery tickets and State Lottery website. | This bill requires the State Lottery Commission to prominently display the overall estimated odds of winning a lottery prize, regardless of amount. For games other than draw games, the odds will be displayed on every such game sold. For draw games, the estimated odds of winning will be made readily available to consumers at the point of sale and on the official New Jersey Lottery website. The bill requires that the odds of winning be expressed in a standardized format in a manner to be determined by the commission. The bill defines "draw based game" to mean a game whose tickets are generated from the gaming system, the winning numbers are randomly drawn by mechanical or electronic means, and does not have a pre-determined outcome. | In Committee |
| A5689 | Establishes minimum acreage goal and schedule for prescribed burns in pinelands area and Statewide. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection, within one year of the bill's enactment, to ensure that prescribed burns are conducted annually on certain minimum acreage in the pinelands area, and elsewhere in the State. The prescribed burns are to take place on minimum acreage beginning with 25,000 acres in the pinelands area and an additional 10,000 acres Statewide and increasing over a period of six years to a final total of 50,000 acres in the pinelands area and 20,000 acres Statewide. A prescribed burn may be conducted by the State, the federal government, or a landowner or lessee with approval by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to existing law. The bill would also require all relevant State agencies involved in environmental planning and land use management to incorporate the Statewide prescribed burn goal into all plans, programs, and surveys, whether they are Statewide or local initiatives, or undertaken in conjunction with the federal government. The bill would require all prescribed burns throughout the State to occur between the months of November and March. According to the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, prescribed burns are generally conducted during late winter months to reduce the amount of smoke produced and because weather conditions tend to be more predictable for safer controlled fires. Under this bill, prescribed burns would be required to be conducted and completed prior to prime wildfire season, which is typically during the months of April and May in New Jersey. A prescribed burn is the deliberate ignition and controlled open burning of wildland fire fuels to attain resource management objectives, such as public safety, wildfire control, ecological, silvicultural, agricultural, or other natural resource management goals. | In Committee |
| A5678 | Prohibits State contractors from distributing data to foreign adversaries. | This bill prohibits State contractors from selling, transferring, disclosing, or providing data to a foreign adversary. Pursuant to the bill, a person or entity that sells, transfers, discloses, or provides data to foreign adversaries, or entities directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary, will be placed on a list by the Department of the Treasury and will not be permitted to contract with State agencies, subcontract with State contractors, file or renew a Public Works Contractor Registration, receive an economic development subsidy from the Economic Development Authority, be awarded a municipal property tax abatement, make or enter into a payment in-lieu of property tax agreement, apply for or receive a tax clearance certificate from the Division of Taxation, be certified as an urban renewal entity for purposes of the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," or be designated as a redeveloper by a public agency for the purposes of the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." The bill also prohibits the State from banking with, having or holding stock, debt, or other equity investments of, or maintaining insurance coverage through a policy issued by a financial institution that has sold, transferred, disclosed, or provided data to a foreign adversary or an entity directly or indirectly controlled by, operating on behalf of, or significantly influenced by a foreign adversary. | In Committee |
| A5680 | Requires public schools to provide age-appropriate information to students in grades nine through 12 on United States military and veterans. | This bill requires public schools that include any of the grades nine through 12 to annually hold an assembly to provide students with age-appropriate information on the United States military. Under the bill, the information is to include an overview of the basic structure of the military and its branches; the contributions of veterans to American society; and information about the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), the United States service academies, and other forms of military involvement. The assembly is to be at least 30 minutes in length, and is to be held in November to coincide with Veterans Day. Additionally, the bill requires that public schools annually hold a veterans appreciation event in addition to the assembly required by the provisions of the bill. The event may include: hosting an event to publicly honor one or more veterans; hosting an event featuring a speech or presentation provided by a veteran; or participating in an alternative educational initiative honoring members of the United States military. Finally, the bill requires public schools to consult with a local veterans' association for assistance in the development of the veterans appreciation event required by the bill. | In Committee |
| A2115 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Crossed Over |
| A4947 | Clarifies that bribery statute applies to unlawful gratuities received either before or after official acts. | This bill amends the bribery statute to clarify that it is an offense to receive any benefits as consideration for past official acts as well as any benefits as consideration for future official acts. Under current law, a person is guilty of bribery if he directly or indirectly offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: (a) any benefit as consideration for a decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or exercise of discretion of a public servant, party official or voter on any public issue or in any public election; (b) any benefit as consideration for a decision, vote, recommendation or exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; (c) any benefit as consideration for a violation of an official duty of a public servant or party official; or (d) any benefit as consideration for the performance of official duties. Under current law, the term "benefit as consideration" means any benefit not authorized by law. Recently, in Snyder v. United States, 144 S. Ct. 1947 (2024), the United States Supreme Court held that the federal bribery statute only applies to criminalize instances when a benefit is given or promised before an official act, but does not apply to instances where a benefit is conferred after the official act. This bill amends State law to make it clear that New Jersey's criminal bribery statute penalizes all instances where a person directly or indirectly offers, confers, or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept from another any benefit as consideration regardless of whether the benefit was received before or after the official act. | Crossed Over |
| AJR211 | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Designates May 18 of each year as Six Triple Eight Day in NJ. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR188 | Urges Governor to declare energy generation emergency in New Jersey. | This Assembly Resolution urges the Governor to declare an energy generation emergency in the State and take the necessary steps to prioritize increased energy transmission and generation capacity. Energy production is fundamental to the State's economic stability, security, and its citizens' quality of life. New Jersey has lost over 20 percent of it generating capacity over the last eight years and has gone from a net energy exporter to a net energy importer. The demand for reliable and efficient energy sources is accelerating across the nation. New Jersey should be ready to meet increasing demands for energy generation and energy independence. | In Committee |
| A5586 | "New Jersey Laken Riley Act;" establishes law enforcement procedures for arrests of aliens unlawfully present in the U.S. charged with certain crimes. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Laken Riley Act," establishes law enforcement procedures for cases where an alien unlawfully present in the United States is arrested and charged with certain crimes. Under the bill, an alien who is confirmed by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and who is arrested for certain crimes, is presumed to require pretrial detention, notwithstanding the State's Criminal Justice Reform Law (also known as "bail reform"). The applicable crimes are any indictable crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree; any motor vehicle violation involving bodily injury to another person; or any crime defined under federal law as an aggravated felony, serious criminal offense, or crime of violence. Additionally, the bill reforms certain law enforcement practices concerning illegal immigration. First, the bill expressly authorizes and requires law enforcement officers to comply with immigration detainers requested by DHS. Second, the bill expressly authorizes law enforcement agencies to enter into voluntary agreements with federal authorities to provide immigration enforcement services. Third, the bill repeals the law banning prisons and jails in this State from serving as immigration detention facilities. Finally, the bill directs the Attorney General to rescind A.G. Directive 2018-6 v.2.0, commonly known as the "Immigrant Trust Directive," which was issued on Sept. 27, 2019. Through this bill, it is the intent of the sponsor to align State law with federal immigration law, particularly the federal Laken Riley Act, Pub.L.119-1, signed into law by the President on January 29, 2025. | In Committee |
| S2594 | Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | An Act appropriating $22,431,294 from the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003," P.L.2003, c.162, and $6,239,630 from the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, to provide loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5554 | "Road to Relief Act"; establishes EDA grant program to support increased transportation expenses incurred by certain commuters, employees, and businesses impacted by certain public highway projects, including ongoing Interstate 80 project; appropriates $1 million. | This bill, which is designated as the "Road to Relief Act," requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to reimburse certain commuters, full-time employees, and retail business establishments for the cost of any increased transportation expenses incurred due to a public highway project. Under the bill, the grant program is to reimburse the following persons for an increase in transportation expenses incurred during a relief period: (1) a commuter whose commute is located, in whole or in part, within an impacted construction zone, and whose commute is affected by the public highway project; (2) a full-time employee of a retail business establishment operating within a construction zone, and whose commute is affected by the public highway project; and (3) a retail business establishment operating within an impacted construction zone. The bill defines "relief period" to mean the period of time between the date on which a public highway project commences and the date on which the project concludes. "Public highway project" means any infrastructure project that involves the construction, improvement, or maintenance of a State, county, or municipal highway, road, or street, including, but not limited to, the repair or reconstruction of any highway, road, or street that has suffered serious damage as a result of a natural disaster or catastrophic failure from any external cause. "Impacted construction zone" means any area immediately surrounding a public highway project, within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located within the area. In addition to any other information or documentation that the EDA deems necessary, the bill requires an application for a grant to include: (1) evidence that an applicant is a commuter, full-time employee, or retail business establishment that is qualified under the grant program; (2) documentation of the transportation expenses regularly incurred by the applicant prior to the relief period; and (3) documentation of the increased transportation expenses incurred by the applicant during the relief period as a direct result of the public highway project. An applicant's documentation of transportation expenses prior to and during the relief period, respectively, is required to demonstrate the transportation expenses incurred by the applicant for an equal number of calendar days. The bill directs the EDA to review and approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds for the program. Upon the approval of an application, the grant issued to an approved applicant is required to be in an amount equal to the difference between: (1) the increased transportation expenses incurred by the applicant during the relief period as a direct result of the public highway project; and (2) the transportation expenses regularly incurred by the applicant prior to the relief period. These amounts are to represent the transportation expenses for an equal number of days during which an applicant incurred transportation expenses. To assist the authority in the review of applications under the program, the bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to notify the EDA of the commencement or completion of public highway projects. The Commissioner of Transportation is also required to notify the EDA of each ongoing public highway project within the State within 30 days after the bill's effective date. The bill appropriates $1 million to the EDA to support the costs of administering the grant program. | In Committee |
| A5556 | "Road to Tax Relief Act"; provides credit for sales tax remittances for businesses impacted by public highway projects, including Interstate 80 project; provides tax credits for certain businesses and persons impacted by same projects; makes appropriation. | This bill, designated as the "Road to Tax Relief Act," provides various forms of tax relief to certain businesses and employees who are adversely impacted by a public highway project, such as the ongoing repair of Interstate 80 in Morris County after the discovery of numerous sinkholes and voids along the roadway. Specifically, a retail business establishment that operates within an impacted construction zone would be entitled to claim a refundable credit against the remittance required under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) in the amount of taxes collected at the establishment during each month in which the public highway project remains ongoing, less the portion of the tax that is constitutionally dedicated to the Property Tax Relief Fund. To claim the credit, the retail business establishment would be required to submit an application to the Director of the Division of Taxation (director) to verify that the retail business establishment operates within an impacted construction zone. Upon approval of the application, the retail business establishment would be permitted to claim a refundable credit against the requirement to remit any tax collections for which the credit is claimed, subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose. The bill also appropriates such amounts as are necessary to defray the costs of the credits against sales tax remittances. Under the bill, an "impacted construction zone" is defined as any area immediately surrounding a public highway project within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located within the area. The bill also defines a "retail business establishment" to include any small business, with no more than 50 full-time employees, that maintains a fixed permanent location where goods are exhibited or services are offered on an appointment or walk-in basis. Additionally, the bill provides gross income tax and corporate income tax credits to retail business establishments operating within an impacted construction zone in the amount of the revenue losses experienced by the establishment as a result of the public highway project. To claim the credit, the retail business establishment would be required to apply to the director for a certification of the establishment's revenue loss for the applicable tax period. Under the bill, the retail business establishment's revenue loss would be calculated based on the difference between: (1) the "baseline receipts," which include the average sum of the actual receipts, in dollars, received in compensation for goods and services sold at the establishment during the dates comprising the applicable relief period in the four prior years; and (2) the "actual receipts," which includes the sum of the actual receipts, in dollars, received in compensation for goods and services sold at a retail business establishment located within an impacted construction zone during the relief period. After approval of the certificate of revenue loss, the retail business establishment would be permitted to claim the tax credit. However, the bill also permits the retail business establishment to apply for a tax credit transfer certificate so that part or all of the credit awarded may be sold or assigned in the tax period during which the tax credit transfer certificate is received. Lastly, the bill also provides gross income tax credits to the employees of retail business establishments operating within an impacted construction zone based on the amount of lost wages experienced by the employee as a result of a modification or reduction to their work schedule due to the impacts of a public highway project. To claim the credit, the employee would be required to apply to the director for a certification of lost wages for the applicable tax period. Under the bill, the employee's lost wages would be calculated based on the difference between: (1) the "baseline wages," which include the compensation that an employee would have otherwise received during the relief period for services rendered at a business establishment had the employee's work schedule not been modified or reduced as a result of the impacts of a public highway project; and (2) the "actual wages," which include the actual compensation received by an employee during the relief period for services rendered at a business establishment. | In Committee |
| A5550 | Requires Division of Local Government Services to perform audits of certain shared services agreements and authorities. | This bill requires the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs (division) to perform certain audits, in a form and manner to be determined by the division, and for this purpose is to employ a certified public accountant licensed pursuant to the laws of the State, of each shared services agreement entered into by a governing body pursuant to the "Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act," sections 1 through 35 of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 through C.40A:65-35), and each authority established pursuant to the "Municipal Shared Services Energy Authority Act," P.L.2015, c.129 (C.40A:66-1 et seq.), and the "Regional Rehabilitation and Reentry Center Authority Act," P.L.2023, c.346 (C.40A:67-1 et seq.), which the division is to submit to the Local Finance Board for review. The division is to perform each audit according to the schedule provided in the bill. The division is to make the results of each audit available to the public on the division's Internet website. The director of the division is authorized to make rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill also provides that the bill is to take effect on the first day of the third month following the date of enactment except that the division may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as is be necessary for the implementation of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5557 | Clarifies child support obligation notice and certification requirements for applicants for State licenses. | This bill clarifies the child support obligation notice and certification requirements for applicants of State licenses. Under current law, a person who applies for a State driver's license, occupational or professional license, or recreational or sporting license is required to certify that the applicant is not in arrears with a child support obligation. A license holder who is in arrears may, after notice and a hearing, have their license suspended or revoked. Under the bill, in order to provide greater notice to license applicants of the child support law, each licensing agency will require applicants to certify on a form promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts separate from the license application form. The separate form will also provide applicants with general notice of the legal basis for the enforcement of child support obligations through the licensing process, including the notice and hearing requirements prior to suspension or revocation. | In Committee |
| A5552 | Prohibits MVC from accepting certain documents as proof of applicant's identity for certain documents issued by MVC. | This bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from accepting the submission of any document issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or their successors, concerning the removal or deportation of an individual from the United States, including, but not limited to, an order of release on recognizance or an order of supervision, as a means of providing proof of an applicant's identity for issuance of a standard basic driver's license, standard identification card, standard motorcycle license, standard special learner's permit, standard examination permit, standard probationary driver's license, or commercial driver license. | In Committee |
| A5551 | Establishes "Veteran Obituary Fund." | This bill establishes a dedicated, non-lapsing fund in the Department of the Treasury to be known as the "Veteran Obituary Fund." Under the bill, the "Veteran Obituary Fund" will be credited with any money received by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to pay for the cost of veteran obituaries. The bill also authorizes the Adjutant General and the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to solicit and accept donations or grants of money or property from any source for the purposes of the fund and to distribute appropriations made by law for these purposes. Under the bill, taxpayers are permitted to deduct the amount of money or property donated to the fund from their gross income, not to exceed $50,000 for the taxable year in which the donation occurs. The bill requires taxpayers to obtain an independent appraisal of the fair market value of property offered in donation to the fund when that value exceeds $500 or a taxpayer intends to claim a deduction in an amount greater than $500. The taxpayer must furnish the appraisal to the department and file the appraisal with their return. The bill also requires the department to provide written acknowledgement of donations of property. The acknowledgement must include the name of the taxpayer, as well as attestations of the fair market value of the property in certain instances. On average, obituaries cost several hundred dollars. New Jersey veterans should not forgo being memorialized or honored upon their passing due to this expense. | In Committee |
| A5553 | Requires BPU to establish best practices and to assess electric public utilities' compliance with BPU best practices during BPU's review of rate increase. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to establish best practices for electric public utilities and to consider a utility's compliance with such standards when reviewing an application for a rate increase. Under the bill, the board is required to identify and establish best practices for electric public utilities based on national, State, and industry standards concerning: (1) electric generation; (2) electric transmission; (3) operations and maintenance, including emergency preparedness and response and vegetation maintenance; (4) consumer education; (5) business management; and (6) affordability and cost containment. The board is required to establish objective benchmarks by which to assess an electric public utility's compliance with the board's best practices. The board is to determine what constitutes an electric public utility's adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks. While reviewing an electric public utility's request to increase its rates, the board is required to assess the utility's efforts to comply, and actual compliance, with the board's best practices. While conducting its assessment, the board is to consider, at a minimum: (1) the utility's progress towards, or actual satisfaction of, the benchmarks established pursuant to the bill; and (2) how the utility's compliance with the board's best practices compares to that of other utilities in New Jersey. Under the bill, the board is prohibited from approving a request to increase any component of an electric rate for an electric public utility that fails to demonstrate at least adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks, as assessed by the board at the time of the electric public utility's base rate case filing. In the event the board denies an electric public utility's petition for a rate increase for failing to demonstrate adequate progress towards meeting the benchmarks, the board is required to provide the electric public utility a copy of its best practices benchmark compliance assessment, including remedial action steps for the electric public utility to take to demonstrate adequate progress. The board is required to make periodic revisions to the best practices as necessary to reflect the current national, State, and industry standards and to publish the best practices on its Internet website. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AR184 | Urges Congress to support policies that examine international pollution differential and hold foreign polluters accountable for their pollution. | This resolution would urge Congress to support policies that examine the pollution differential between the United States' pollution production and that of other countries. This resolution also urges Congress to support policies that hold foreign polluters accountable to the extent of their pollution. The United States has reduced more carbon emissions than any other country in the last 15 years and has an economy that is 44 percent more carbon efficient than the world average. Manufacturers in the United States are more efficient in nearly every industry and yet are forced to compete with companies in China and other countries that face few limits on how much they pollute. In contrast, China, by far the world's largest polluter, accounts for an over 30 percent share of global carbon dioxide emissions and subsidizes its exports by not imposing or enforcing reasonable environmental and labor standard. In 2022, China emitted 12,667.4 million tons of carbon dioxide while the United States emitted 4,853.8 million tons. As the United States has made efforts to reduce its pollution production from nonrenewable sources, China's energy production from coal, gas, and oil has only increased over time. Goods produced in China and Russia generate 300 percent and 400 percent on average, respectively, more in carbon emissions compared to equivalent goods produced in the United States. United States trade policy has not taken into account carbon emissions, and as a result, has afforded foreign polluters with loose carbon standards an advantage over the United States for the past several decades. The Chinese government-owned industry is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party and strives to further increase its influence over the global economy in its trade practices. Rewarding United States firms for their environmental performance would bolster domestic manufacturing, generate well-paying jobs, and reduce dependence on imports from high-emitting producers like China and Russia. This resolution would encourage the United States Congress to support policies that investigate the pollution differential between international countries, and strategies that hold those companies accountable for their pollution through international economic and trade policy. | In Committee |
| A5494 | Prohibits public utilities from imposing surcharge on certain payment transactions. | This bill prohibits a public utility from imposing a surcharge on any public utility customer who has not enrolled in automatic payments through the public utility and, instead, has elected to make an alternative form of payment to the public utility for services rendered to that customer by the public utility. Alternative forms of payment are to include one-time payments made by a public utility customer via: (1) an online credit card transaction; (2) an online debit card transaction; (3) an automated telephone system; or (4) a direct withdrawal from the customer's bank account. Under the bill, "surcharge" means an additional amount imposed by a public utility at the time of a payment transaction that increases a charge to a public utility customer to recover the cost of the public utility's use of third-party payment processing services. | In Committee |
| A3951 | Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | In Committee |
| A4492 | Establishes fee refund program for businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in this State. | This bill establishes a fee refund program for businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in this State. This bill requires State entities that issue permits, licenses, or certifications to compile a catalog of the types of permits, licenses, or certifications it issues and submit that catalog to the Governor. This bill establishes information to be included in the catalog. This bill requires the Governor's office to establish recommended application processing times for the various types of permits, licenses, and certifications. Any State entity that exceeds the recommended application processing time as established under this bill after having received a completed application will refund the amount of the application fee to the extent permitted by law. The refund will have no bearing on the disposition of the underlying application. This bill defines "State entity" as a State department or agency, board, commission, corporation, or authority. | In Committee |
| A5486 | Imposes criminal penalties for harboring aliens who have outstanding warrants and are unlawfully present in U.S. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:29-3, which prohibits hindering apprehension or prosecution, to impose criminal penalties for harboring an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States with knowledge that an arrest warrant or an immigration warrant has been issued for such an alien, or hindering the apprehension or deportation of such an alien. Under the bill, harboring or hindering the apprehension or deportation of an unlawful alien, with knowledge that the alien has an outstanding warrant, is a crime of the fourth degree. An unlawful alien who hinders his or her own apprehension or deportation is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. However, it is an affirmative defense that an unlawful alien was a victim of human trafficking during the time that the unlawful alien was hindering his or her own apprehension or deportation. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A disorderly persons offense is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. | 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 |
| A3169 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | In Committee |
| S3466 | Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation program; provides aid for watershed lands. | An Act concerning the preservation and protection of land in the Highlands Region, amending P.L.1999, c.152, and amending and supplementing P.L.2004, c.120. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5431 | Establishes Forest Fire Preparedness Commission in DEP. | This bill would establish a "Forest Fire Preparedness Commission" in the Department of Environmental Protection. The commission would be composed of 20 members, including the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the State Firewarden, and the Superintendent of the State Police, or their designees, and representatives of local emergency response organizations. The commission would be charged with various duties related to ensuring that the State is prepared to respond in a timely and effective manner to wildfires, including: (1) performing a comprehensive audit of the State's current protocols related to wildfire response; (2) developing a comprehensive roadmap that may be utilized by State, regional, county, and local emergency responders, including firefighters, police, and medical responders, in order to coordinate their responses to wildfires; and (3) developing standardized lines of communication among the State Forest Fire Service and State, regional, county, and municipal emergency response organizations for the purposes of wildfire response. The bill would require the commission to produce a report that produces its findings, plans, recommendations, and activities no later than two years after the bill's enactment, after which the Forest Fire Preparedness Commission would dissolve. | In Committee |
| A3865 | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five. | Requires instruction on cursive handwriting in public school curriculum for grades three through five. | In Committee |
| A2156 | Authorizes creation of honorably discharged veteran license plates. | Authorizes creation of honorably discharged veteran license plates. | In Committee |
| A5430 | Repeals certain energy reduction and reporting requirements for electric and natural gas usage. | In 2018, New Jersey enacted P.L.2018, c.17 (C.48:3-87.8 et. al.), commonly known as the Clean Energy Act of 2018 or CEA, which, in part, directed the Board of Public Utilities (board) to require each electric and gas public utility to develop energy efficiency (EE) and peak demand reduction (PDR) measures. In doing so, the CEA directed the board to require each electric public utility to achieve a two percent annual usage reduction of the average annual usage in the prior three years within five years of implementing an EE program. Simultaneously, the CEA directed the board to require each gas public utility to achieve a 0.75 percent annual usage reduction of the average annual usage in the prior three years within five years of implementing an EE program. The CEA further authorized the board to conduct certain studies on energy usage reduction and implement their findings, allowing for future higher annual usage reduction requirements. In 2020, the board issued an order setting the current annual usage reduction requirements of 2.15 percent and 1.10 percent for electric and gas utilities, respectively. Under the CEA, electric and gas public utilities are presently required to submit annual petitions demonstrating compliance with the EE and PDR requirements, and are eligible for cost recovery of the EE programs. The board is authorized through the CEA to evaluate these petitions based on a series of metrics, including quantitative performance indicators (QPRs), and then assess certain penalties or incentives against or for the public utilities. This bill repeals the requirement for a two percent and .75 percent reduction in average annual electric and natural gas usage, respectively. The bill further repeals the authority for the board to conduct certain studies on energy usage reduction and implement their findings, which has resulted in the current annual usage reduction requirements of 2.15 percent and 1.10 percent for electric and gas utilities, respectively. The bill also repeals the authority for the board to: (1) create QPIs; (2) assess performance incentives or penalties based on the utilities' compliance with the requirements set by the board; and (3) establish a stakeholder process to evaluate the economical achievability of these programs. In addition, the bill repeals the requirement for gas and electric public utilities to submit annual petitions demonstrating compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements. The bill further repeals the energy efficiency cost recovery procedure, which electric and gas public utilities currently are allowed to file in addition to their base rate case filing. It is the sponsor's belief that the CEA's energy usage reduction requirements are no longer in line with the current administration's objectives, which include promoting increased electrification of vehicles and certain appliances, as well as the development of an artificial intelligence hub in New Jersey. Achieving these objectives will likely require additional generation from public utilities regulated by the State. If left in place, the CEA's energy usage reduction requirements may lead to an increase in the cost of electricity and natural gas. It is the sponsor's intent to realign New Jersey's clean energy goals with the State's primary responsibility of ensuring New Jersey residents have access to affordable energy. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AJR218 | Recognizes importance of nuclear energy in NJ. | This joint resolution recognizes the importance of developing nuclear energy as source of reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity in the State. Currently, there are three nuclear power plants in New Jersey which account for 42 percent of the electricity consumed in the State. Not only do these nuclear power plants provide jobs for hundreds of individuals, but are the key to diversifying the available energy sources in New Jersey. Developing nuclear power plants will foster alternative sources of energy which is critical to maintaining stable and reliable electricity generation Statewide. | In Committee |
| A5398 | Prohibits electric public utility residential rate increases during summer and gas public utility residential rate increases during winter. | This bill prohibits residential rate increases for electric public utilities during the summer and gas public utilities during the winter when natural gas and electric usage peaks among utility customers. Specifically, under the bill, no electric public utility rate increase for residential ratepayers is authorized to go into effect during the summer season from June 1 through August 31 (summer) and no gas public utility rate increase for residential ratepayers is authorized to go into effect during the winter season from January 1 through March 31 (winter). During the last year, the Board of Public Utilities (board) authorized electric and gas rate increases just before the peak cooling and heating seasons. Such rate increases have caused rate shock among consumers and forced many to prioritize their spending. It is the sponsor's intent to make the board aware of the impact that the timing of rate increases have on residential ratepayers and to encourage the board to work with the public to stabilize consumer energy bills. | In Committee |
| A5404 | Requires school district receiving 70 percent or more of revenue from State aid to post certain information concerning out-of-State travel expenditures on Internet website. | This bill requires the boards of education of certain school districts to post on their Internet websites information on out-of-State travel expenditures. A school district would be subject to the provisions of the bill if the most recently available information indicates it derives 70 percent or more of its total revenue from State aid revenue sources. Pursuant to the bill, the district is required to post: (1) travel vouchers; (2) itemized expenses for transportation, meals, lodging, and registration or other conference fees; (3) the total number of school district employees and board of education members who received reimbursement for travel expenditures to attend out-of-State travel events during the school year; (4) the title, date, and a summary of any out-of-State travel event attended by a school district employee or board of education member; and (5) any other information deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Education. | In Committee |
| A5414 | Prohibits certain financial institutions from requiring certain disabled veterans to include anticipated property tax obligations as part of mortgage applications. | This bill prohibits certain financial institutions from requiring certain disabled veterans to include anticipated property tax obligations as part of a mortgage applications. Under current law, a veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability, and meets all of the requirements for a veterans' property tax exemption, may apply to the municipality in which their principal residence is located for a property tax exemption. The surviving spouse of such a veteran is also entitled to the property tax exemption for the duration of their widowhood or widowerhood, provided that certain eligibility criteria are met. Currently, when a person, including a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse, seeks a mortgage to purchase a home, banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions generally require that the person qualify for the mortgage based on the calculated monthly mortgage payment for the mortgage loan, plus the monthly share of the annual property tax bill. Although these persons may qualify for a total property tax exemption after purchasing the property, the inclusion of property tax obligations in the mortgage application can make it significantly more difficult for these persons to obtain a mortgage, as well as increase the interest rates that may be approved for these mortgage applicants. Under the bill, when a qualified veteran who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to have a 100 percent service-connected disability, or their surviving spouse, seeks a mortgage loan from a State-chartered bank, mortgage company, or credit union for a dwelling house that is to be the person's principal residence, the bank, mortgage company, or credit union may not require the person to indicate or disclose the annual property tax obligation on that dwelling house as part of the underwriting requirements for the mortgage loan, provided that the assessor of the municipality in which the property is located determines that the veteran or surviving spouse satisfies all of the eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, other than the ownership of the property, and certifies the same to the State-chartered bank, mortgage company, or credit union on a form promulgated for this purpose by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. In the case of a mortgage refinance application, the qualified veteran or surviving spouse would be required to meet all of the eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, including ownership of the property. | In Committee |
| A5093 | Requires school meal service providers to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within State borders or within 100 miles of destination school. | Requires school meal service providers to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within State borders or within 100 miles of destination school. | In Committee |
| A5419 | Prohibits health care professionals from providing gender-affirming health care services to persons under 21 years of age. | This bill prohibits health care professionals from providing gender-affirming health care services to persons under 21 years of age. A health care professional who violates the provisions of the bill will be subject to discipline for professional misconduct. The bill defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean all supplies, care, and services of a medical, surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. Gender-affirming health care services, as defined under the bill, does not include supplies, care, and services of a behavioral health, mental health, or psychiatric nature. | In Committee |
| A5416 | Regulates medication administration in certain residential facilities. | This bill regulates medication administration in certain residential facilities. Under the bill, no medication is to be administered through a day program or a community-based residential program unless the medication is administered by a nurse or by a certified medication aide who works under the direct supervision of a nurse. The bill defines "community-based residential program" to mean a group home or supervised apartment, which is licensed and regulated by the Department of Human Services. "Day program" means a program that is certified to provide day habilitation services or sheltered workshops for individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill provides that, in the case of an individual, who is under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian and who requires his or her medication to be administered and managed by a nurse or by a certified medication aide who works under the direct supervision of a nurse, the individual is not to be admitted to the day program or community-based residential program, unless the individual's parent or legal guardian provides the program's chief nurse medical documentation containing comprehensive and specific medication instructions and dosages pertaining to the individual. Further, in the case of an individual who has been admitted to a day program or community-based residential program, who is under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian, and who requires his or her medication to be administered and managed by a nurse or by a certified medication aide who works under the direct supervision of a nurse, as a condition of the individual's permission to continue to participate in the day program or community-based residential program, the individual's parent or legal guardian shall provide the program's chief nurse medical documentation containing comprehensive and specific medication instructions and dosages pertaining to the individual, whenever the individual's medication or dosage is changed by a health care professional. | In Committee |
| A1672 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | An Act concerning eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement and amending P.L.1997, c.348. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5182 | Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges. | Modernizes responsibilities of New Jersey Council of County Colleges. | Crossed Over |
| A5305 | Broadens public awareness signage to include notices in Chinese and Korean. | This bill broadens the public awareness signs containing national, 24 hour hotline information about human trafficking to include information in Chinese and Korean. This legislation is based upon Recommendation #4 contained in "An Inquiry into Human Trafficking Activity in the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Industry in New Jersey," an October, 2024 report of the State Commission of Investigation. | Crossed Over |
| A5303 | Requires AG to review Statewide policy regarding investigation of human trafficking. | This bill requires the Attorney General to review the Statewide policy regarding the investigation of human trafficking. Currently, Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2012-2 sets forth standards and procedures for the investigation of human trafficking. Under the provisions of this bill, upon the review of the policy, the Attorney General is required to consider and address: 1) whether the use of audio or video recording by law enforcement officers conducting undercover investigations of human trafficking would protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure the proper treatment of victims of human trafficking; 2) the implementation of strict policies for dissemination of the audio or video recording, if used, in order to protect victims of human trafficking; 3) the involvement of county prosecutors at the beginning of and throughout human trafficking investigations conducted by county or municipal law enforcement officers in order to address legal challenges as they arise; and 4) any other areas, as determined by the Attorney General. This bill is in response to a recommendation contained in a report issued by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation in October 2024 entitled "An Inquiry into Human Trafficking Activity in the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Industry in New Jersey." | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A5366 | Requires reporting of provisional ballot data in each election district for primary and general elections. | This bill requires the reporting of provisional ballot data in each election district for primary and general elections. Under current law, certain reporting of provisional ballots is required after each primary and general election. On the day after each primary and general election, and by 9 p.m. of every day thereafter, each county clerk is required to publicly list an unofficial report of the total number of provisional ballots cast during the early voting period and on election day. Additionally, beginning on the seventh day after each primary and general election and by 9 p.m. on each day thereafter until the election is certified, each county clerk is required to publicly list an unofficial report detailing the number of eligible provisional ballots that have been received. This bill requires the reporting of provisional ballots of each primary and general election to begin on the day of the primary and general election, instead of the day after each primary and general election. This bill requires the provisional ballot reporting to be specified by election district and requires the results of the provisional ballots cast to be included in the reporting. This bill also requires each county clerk to provide a final report of the number of provisional ballots cast during each primary and general election and the results of the provisional ballots cast, specified by election district, no later than 30 days after the election is certified. | In Committee |
| A5369 | Expands offenses for which juvenile may be waived to adult criminal court to include certain thefts or unlawful takings of motor vehicles; makes use of juvenile in theft of motor vehicle strict liability crime. | This bill expands the offenses for which a juvenile may be waived to adult criminal court to include certain thefts or unlawful takings of motor vehicles and makes the use of a juvenile in the theft of a motor vehicle a strict liability crime. Under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with certain offenses, such as criminal homicide, carjacking, and sexual assault, are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. This bill provides that in addition to the offenses set forth under current law, juveniles 15 years of age and older at the time of the alleged delinquent act who are charged with theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and have previously been adjudicated delinquent for one of these offenses are eligible to be waived to adult criminal court. In addition, the bill makes the use of a juvenile in the theft of a motor vehicle a strict liability crime. Under current law, a person who is at least 18 years of age who knowingly uses, solicits, directs, hires, or employs a person who is 17 years of age or younger to commit theft of an automobile is guilty of a second degree crime. Current law further provides that it is not a defense to prosecution that the actor mistakenly believed that the person which the actor used, solicited, directed, hired, or employed was older than 17 years of age, even if the mistaken belief was reasonable. Under the provisions of this bill, a person who is at least 18 years of age who uses, solicits, directs, hires, or employs a person who is 17 years of age or younger to commit theft of an automobile is guilty of strict liability use of a juvenile in theft of an automobile. Strict liability use of a juvenile in theft of an automobile is a second degree crime. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A5340 | Restricts all ownership of agricultural land in State by foreign governments and persons. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural use; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural land taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with the acquisition of land by a foreign government or foreign person pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural use. The bill provides that any provision of the bill which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, no more than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to report to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) the total acreage of agricultural land in the State that is owned by foreign governments or foreign persons; 2) the percentage change in the amount of in-State agricultural land acreage owned by foreign governments or foreign persons, per year, over the preceding 10 years; 3) the top 10 nationalities of foreign governments or foreign persons owning agricultural land in the State, by total amount of acreage owned; and 4) the purposes for which agricultural land owned by foreign governments or foreign persons has been used in the preceding five years, and any significant changes or trends in the use of such land. The bill authorizes the secretary to base the requisite data on reports that are submitted to the Department of Agriculture, by the United States Department of Agriculture, pursuant to federal law, or based on any other relevant information available to the department. The bill also directs the State Agriculture Development Committee and other State agencies and departments, as well as county boards of agriculture and other local agencies, boards, or political subdivisions in the State, to provide the secretary with any relevant information available concerning the data required to be compiled and reported by the bill. | In Committee |
| AR177 | Commemorates 75th anniversary of Sport Fish Restoration Program. | The Sport Fish Restoration Program, established by the "Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act" (commonly known as the Dingell-Johnson Act), was signed into law in 1950 to provide critical funding for the management, conservation, and restoration of sportfish populations and aquatic habitats in the United States. The funding for the Sport Fish Restoration Program is derived from excise taxes on fishing and motorboat equipment, as well as excise taxes on motorboat fuels, allowing the users of these natural resources to directly contribute to their conservation. The Sport Fish Restoration Program, along with the Wildlife Restoration Program constitute the American System of Conservation Funding, and collectively are widely regarded as having funded the most successful conservation effort in American history. The Sport Fish Restoration Program has played a vital role in sustaining the health of the nation's aquatic resources, ensuring access to fishing opportunities for millions of Americans, and preserving aquatic ecosystems for future generations. New Jersey, with its diverse aquatic habitats, from the freshwater rivers and streams of the Delaware River Basin to the coastal saltwater ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean, has greatly benefited from the restoration efforts and funding provided by the Sport Fish Restoration Program. New Jersey's iconic aquatic species, including the striped bass, brook trout, and American shad, have experienced population increases and habitat improvements due to efforts supported by the Sport Fish Restoration Program. The Sport Fish Restoration Program continues to fund numerous conservation projects in New Jersey's waters, fostering collaborative partnerships with local organizations and conservationists to ensure long-term ecological balance in the State's waterways. The 75-year legacy of the Sport Fish Restoration Program stands as a testament to the dedication of countless hunters and anglers who were among the first conservationists to recognize American's natural resources were in peril and could not sustain unregulated harvest and habitat destruction, and who worked together with governmental organizations to protect and enhance the future of sportfishing and aquatic conservation in New Jersey and across the nation. | In Committee |
| A5326 | Requires public utility to reimburse the State or local unit, in certain circumstances, for costs incurred in securing potentially dangerous condition caused by property controlled by the public utility. | This bill proposes to require a public utility, that is in control of property that may result in a potentially dangerous condition, to be responsible for reimbursing the State or a local unit of government for the costs incurred in securing the property for the purpose of protecting the safety and welfare of the general public from exposure to the potentially dangerous condition. The bill enables the State or local unit of government to seek reimbursement from the public utility, and requires the public utility to pay over to the State or local unit of government the amount of costs incurred by the State or local unit. These provisions are not to apply to the period during which the property at issue is the subject of a declared state of emergency. As a condition to the initiation of a claim seeking reimbursement from a public utility, the bill provides that the State or a local unit of government is required to:· notify the public utility of the potentially dangerous condition;· inform the public utility of its duty and obligation to secure the potentially dangerous condition; and· deploy personnel to secure the scene. The bill, however, provides public utilities with a one hour grace period within which the public utility can avoid liability for a claim, if the public utility deploys personnel sufficient to assume control over the potentially dangerous condition and to protect the general public from risk of injury or loss. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish a fee schedule to guide the State and local units of government in preparing and submitting claims for reimbursement to public utilities. The bill requires the fee schedule to be based upon: the Schedule of Equipment Rates covering costs eligible under the federal Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. s.5121, et seq.; and information regarding the use of that schedule in federal regulations. Additionally, the bill directs the Board of Public Utilities to review and verify the names and emergency contact information currently required to be filed with the board by each public utility pursuant to R.S.48:2-17, and to compile and deliver to the Commissioner of Community Affairs a list of the names and emergency contact information for the persons to contact to inform a public utility of an emergency. The bill also requires the board to inform the commissioner each time a public utility files a change of its emergency contact information with the board. The bill requires the commissioner to disseminate this information to the appropriate offices of State government and to local units of government for them to use to notify a public utility of an emergency. Finally, the bill specifies that amounts that a public utility pays over, or is required to pay over, to the State or local unit of government pursuant to this bill are not relevant to the Board of Public Utilities when considering a base rate case filed by the public utility. | In Committee |
| A5338 | Repeals law prohibiting sale or distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. | This bill repeals the law establishing a ban on single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. The bill also amends a portion of the law which established a $500,000 appropriation, from the Clean Communities Fund, for a public information and education program regarding free reusable carryout bags. The amendments would remove that appropriation. Current law prohibits stores and food service business from providing or selling single-use plastic carryout bags to customers, and prohibits grocery stores from providing or selling single-use paper carryout bags to customers. The law also prohibits distribution of polystyrene foam food service products. A Plastics Advisory Council monitors the implementation of the law, and fees collected from establishments, in violation of the law, currently accrue to the Clean Communities Program Fund. It is the sponsor's intention to eliminate this law in its entirety, as it has resulted in an increased volume of waste in the State through the production and accumulation of unused bags, straws, and other disposable products. Research indicates that plastic bag bans have been associated with increased purchasing of alternative bags and containers and a resultant increase in manufacturing-related pollution. New Jersey stores and food service businesses have noticed a three-fold increase in plastic consumption since the implementation of this law, attributed to the non-recyclable material used in alternative bags. Carryout grocery bag regulations have also been associated with a 127-pound monthly average increase in the number of purchased plastics. This bill would take effect on the 60th day after the date of enactment to allow business and stores two months to restore available supplies of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, polystyrene foam food service products, and single-use plastic straws. | In Committee |
| A5304 | Upgrades penalties for certain prostitution crimes; creates crimes of leader of prostitution network and participant in prostitution network. | This bill upgrades certain crimes related to prostitution and creates the crimes of leader of a prostitution network and participant in a prostitution network. The bill upgrades the criminal penalties for the promotion of prostitution to a crime of the second degree and imposes a mandatory minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, or five years, whichever is greater, during which time the defendant would not be eligible for parole. Under current law, all crimes under the umbrella of promotion of prostitution are crimes of the third degree, except the crimes of soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute and procuring a prostitute for a patron, which are crimes of the fourth degree. The bill also upgrades the criminal penalties for compelling another to engage in or promote prostitution and promoting prostitution of one's spouse from crimes of the third degree to crimes of the second degree, and imposes a mandatory minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, or five years, whichever is greater, during which time the defendant would not be eligible for parole. The bill creates two new crimes: (1) leader of a prostitution network, a crime of the second degree; and (2) participant in a prostitution network, a crime of the third degree. The bill provides that it is an affirmative defense to the crime of participant in a prostitution network that the defendant was a victim of human trafficking during the commission of the crime. A disorderly persons offense is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under the bill, crimes related to prostitution, with the exception of engaging in prostitution as a prostitute, would be ineligible for admission into the Pretrial Intervention Program. This bill is in response to the State Commission of Investigation report released on October 17, 2024, entitled "An Inquiry into Human Trafficking Activity in the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Industry in New Jersey." | In Committee |
| A5327 | Prohibits public procurement of electric vehicles that may have been made through forced labor. | This bill prohibits public contracts procuring electric vehicles that may have been made through forced labor. Under the bill, the State government, State colleges, local governments in this State, and public schools in this State will not be permitted to enter into a contract for the procurement of electric vehicles, or any component of an electric vehicle, unless the appropriate representative obtains a sworn certification from the manufacturer or seller that certifies that no entity involved in the production of the electric vehicle or component for sale used forced labor or child labor in its activities. The bill provides that a civil penalty will be imposed against any manufacturer or seller that provides false or misleading information. The penalty will be $10,000 per false or misleading statement, or 50 percent of the total price paid by the appropriate authority for the vehicles or components, whichever is greater. | 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 |
| A4733 | "Welcome Home Veterans Act"; requires MVC to provide veteran benefit information packets. | This bill establishes the "Welcome Home Veterans Act" which requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide information concerning federal and State benefits that are available to veterans upon the issuance of an initial license, renewal license, probationary license, or an identification card to a veteran, provided the document issued includes a veteran designation. The information required to be provided to veterans under the bill is to be available in both a hardcopy version at each commission agency as well as in a digital format on the commission's Internet website. The information provided to veterans is to include, at a minimum: (1) a copy of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs Veterans' Benefits Guide; (2) a copy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' "Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" booklet; (3) information on where veterans can find more information about available benefits; and (4) any other information the commission, in conjunction with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, believes is necessary for veterans in this State. | In Committee |
| A5307 | Permits DMVA to receive voluntary contributions for veteran suicide prevention public service announcements. | This bill permits the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) to accept gifts, grants, or donations from the public and private sectors for the purpose of public service announcements for the prevention of veteran suicide. Revenues received by the department will be deposited into a special nonlapsing fund maintained by the State Treasurer. | In Committee |
| A5317 | Amends felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during commission of auto theft. | This bill amends the felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault statutes to include death or bodily injury occurring during the commission of an auto theft. Under current law, paragraph (3) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:11-3 generally defines what is commonly known as the "felony murder rule" as a homicide occurring when the defendant is engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal escape, or terrorism, and in the course of such crime or of immediate flight therefrom, the defendant causes the death of another. Under the bill, auto theft is added to the list of crimes to which the felony murder rule would apply. Felony murder is a crime of the first degree, and is subject to sentencing enhancements specific to murder. Under current law, paragraph (2) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:11-4 defines aggravated manslaughter as a homicide occurring when the defendant causes the death of another while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. Aggravated manslaughter is a strict liability crime which does not require the prosecutor to prove that the defendant was reckless or intoxicated, and the defendant is liable even if the death was actually caused by a pursuing police officer. Under the bill, aggravated manslaughter is expanded to include death while driving a stolen motor vehicle at any time, whether or not the defendant was attempting to flee the police. Aggravated manslaughter is a crime of the first degree. Under current law, pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1, aggravated assault includes causing bodily injury to another while fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, or while operating a motor vehicle in violation of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:20-10 (commonly known as the "joyriding" statute). Aggravated assault is a strict liability crime which does not require the prosecutor to prove that the defendant was reckless or intoxicated, and the defendant is liable even if the injury was actually caused by a pursuing police officer. This section of law was not updated to reflect the recent enactment of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.101 (C.2C:20-10.1), the standalone auto theft statute. Under the bill, aggravated assault is expanded to include injury caused at any time during an auto theft as well as "joyriding." Aggravated assault pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1 is a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. However, murder is specifically subject to a term of imprisonment of 30 years without parole, or 30 years to life with a mandatory minimum of 30 years. Clarification of the strict liability nature of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault, even when the injury or death was actually caused by a police officer in pursuit of the defendant, conforms the statutes with State v. Lora, 465 N.J. Super. 477, 496 (App. Div. 2020), certif. denied, 246 N.J. 224 (2021), which held that, "A police-related injury in the pursuit of a criminal is a risk created by that criminal, and we should not allow him to escape liability for his behavior." | In Committee |
| A5316 | Upgrades degree of crime of auto theft when committed in connection with home invasion or residential burglary. | This bill upgrades the degree of crime of auto theft when it is committed in connection with a home invasion or residential burglary. Under current law, auto theft is a crime of the third degree, but is upgraded to a crime of the second degree if multiple vehicles are involved or if the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more. Under the bill, auto theft would also be a crime of the second degree if it is committed in connection with a residential burglary. Auto theft would become a crime of the first degree if it is committed in connection with a home invasion burglary, which is typically a residential burglary involving bodily injury or the use of a weapon. Additionally, for sentencing purposes, a conviction for auto theft would not merge with a conviction for home invasion or residential burglary. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A5256 | Allocates $7.5 million annually of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenue for preservation of land in Highlands Region. | This bill would amend and supplement the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), to allocate $7.5 million annually of constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (council) for the preservation of land in the Highlands Region. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, which dedicates six percent of the CBT for certain environmental purposes. Under the "Preserve New Jersey Act" (act), P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), of the dedicated CBT revenues allocated for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, each year: 62 percent is allocated to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for recreation and conservation purposes; 31 percent is allocated to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation; and the remaining seven percent is allocated to the New Jersey Historic Trust for historic preservation. Under this bill, $5 million of the amount allocated each year to the DEP and $2.5 million of the amount allocated to the SADC would be deposited into the "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund," a new fund created by the bill. These moneys, totaling $7.5 million each year would be used by the council to preserve lands located in the Highlands Region. | In Committee |
| A5298 | Requires DEP and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas. | This bill would requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) to provide priority for principal forgiveness on environmental infrastructure project loans to municipalities in coastal areas. The DEP and the I-Bank finance the State's Water Bank program, which provides financing, in the form of low-interest loans, often with a certain amount of principal forgiveness, in support of wastewater and drinking water projects throughout the State. | In Committee |
| A5276 | Requires certain law enforcement entities and courts to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires every law enforcement agency to notify the appropriate federal immigration authorities when a person who is arrested and charged with any crime and certain offenses is a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in this county. The purpose of notifying federal immigration authorities is to initiate deportation proceedings. Under the bill, "federal immigration authority" is defined as any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or United States Customs and Border Protection, or any division thereof, or any officer, employee, or person otherwise paid by or acting as an agent of the United States Department of Homeland Security who is charged with immigration enforcement. The bill also requires every sentencing court to immediately contact appropriate federal immigration authorities in order to initiate deportation proceedings upon convicting a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in this country of certain crimes or offenses. Finally, correctional facilities in which the convicted non-citizen is held would be required to contact appropriate federal immigration authorities for the purpose of initiating deportation proceedings. Parole or probation officers with a supervisory role over a convicted non-citizen also would be required to contact federal immigration authorities for the purpose of initiating deportation proceedings. The crimes and offenses included under the bill that would require notification are any crime of the first through fourth degree or any disorderly or petty disorderly persons offense involving the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession and use of controlled dangerous substances, theft, robbery, or any other crime or offense resulting in detention. | In Committee |
| A5287 | "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act;" allows State and local entities and private detention facilities to enter into agreements to detain noncitizens. | This bill, to be known as the "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act," would allow State and local entities and private detention facilities to enter into agreements to detain noncitizens. Current law prohibits the State, local government agencies, and private detention facilities operating in this State from entering into, renewing, or extending immigration detention agreements. Under current law, an immigration detention agreement is any contract, agreement, intergovernmental service agreement, or memorandum of understating that authorizes the State, a local government agency, or private detention facility to house or detain individuals for civil immigration violations. In the sponsor's view, this bill is essential for supporting the United States Congress' bipartisan efforts for the likely enactment of the Laken Riley Act which passed the United States Senate on January 20, 2025. The Laken Riley Act would require federal law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants charged with nonviolent crimes. The sponsor also adds that the prohibition against immigration detention agreements in New Jersey has deprived the State, local government agencies, and private facilities from revenues generated from housing or detaining individuals for civil immigration violations. | In Committee |
| ACR153 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations to implement "Advanced Clean Trucks" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the rule and regulations adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection in the December 20, 2021 New Jersey Register, 53 N.J.R. 2148(a), are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature. The Department of Environmental Protection would have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the rules and regulations or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| A5299 | Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers. | This bill prohibits any electric public utility from increasing the rate charged to ratepayers after the bill's enactment for the purpose of recovering the cost of installing smart meters. Beginning on the date 30 days prior to, and until 30 days after, the effective date of any electric public utility rate increase, the bill requires an electric public utility to publish the following information on its Internet website and in any customer communication, including, but not limited to, a paper or electronic bill: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) information on how ratepayers can provide feedback on the impact of or file a complaint concerning the rate increase. The Board of Public Utilities (board) is authorized to impose a fine of up to $10,000 if the board finds that an electric public utility violated this requirement. An electric public utility is required to report to the federal Department of Energy any rate increase expected to result in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills, no less than 60 days prior to the effective date of the rate increase. Within its report to the Department of Energy, an electric public utility is required to include the following information: (1) the amount and effective date of the rate increase; (2) the reasons for the rate increase; (3) an explanation of any anticipated impact on ratepayer bills, including, but not limited to, a clear statement of the percentage by which ratepayer bills are expected to increase; and (4) any measures the electric public utility may take to mitigate the rate increase's impact on ratepayer bills. An electric public utility is also required to provide to the federal Department of Energy an annual report on: (1) any trends in the duration, location, and cause of an electric public utility's electric service interruptions, including, but not limited to, a summary of electric service interruptions during the preceding calendar year; and (2) any trends in overdue bills from an electric public utility's ratepayers during the preceding calendar year. The bill prohibits an electric public utility from disconnecting electric service to or assessing a late fee for bill nonpayment to any ratepayer affected by a rate increase resulting in an average increase of five percent or greater of ratepayer bills within six months following that rate increase. | In Committee |
| A5283 | Eliminates certain requirements for nonprofit organization operating ski area. | This bill eliminates certain requirements for nonprofit organizations operating a ski area. Under current law, the operator of a ski area is required to:· establish and post a system generally identifying slopes and trails and designating the relative degrees of difficulty of the slopes and trails and make trail maps and trail reports available to skiers;· make available, either by oral or written report, information concerning the daily conditions of the slopes and trails; and· remove obvious, man-made hazards as soon as practicable. Under the bill, the operator of a ski area is not required to comply with these provisions if the ski area is operated by a nonprofit organization. The bill defines "nonprofit organization" to mean a private nonprofit corporation, society, or association that has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury to be exempt from income taxation under 26 U.S.C.s.501(c)(3). | In Committee |
| A2623 | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | "Home Business Jobs Creation Act"; classifies certain home businesses as permitted accessory uses. | Crossed Over |
| A3879 | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A5248 | Requires automatic voter registration process at agency or office providing hunting, fishing, or trapping license. | This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at an agency or office providing hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses. The bill requires such agencies or offices to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). Under the bill, any agency or office providing hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses under the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| A5242 | Requires automatic voter registration process at local police force locations or Division of State Police providing firearms purchaser identification cards. | This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at local police force locations or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, which issue firearms purchaser identification cards. The bill requires such local police forces or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). Under the bill, any local police force or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety issuing firearms purchaser identification cards, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| A4284 | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Crossed Over |
| AR154 | Urges Congress to provide for joint session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in honor of semiquincentennial of Declaration of Independence. | Urges Congress to provide for joint session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in honor of semiquincentennial of Declaration of Independence. | 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 |
| AJR213 | Establishes New Jersey Delegation on Government Efficiency. | This bill establishes a New Jersey Delegation on Government Efficiency (DOGE). The DOGE will examine various aspects of State government to determine how to better save public funds and how to implement greater efficiencies in government functions, including, but not limited to, the elimination of any agency or government function. The bill is intended to create a State-level version of the "Department of Government Efficiency" program initiated by the current federal administration. The bill structures the hiring and supervision of DOGE members to be as nonpartisan and independent as possible. While responsible government stewardship of taxpayer dollars should always be a priority, it is a particularly acute need now that the State is grappling with a multi-billion dollar structural deficit, meaning the budget is billions short of revenue to pay for its level of spending. With the continuation of full pension payments and the upcoming need to fund the Stay NJ property tax relief program for seniors, reductions and efficiencies in other State spending must be addressed to ensure such priorities can be maintained. The DOGE will consist of the State Auditor, or a designee, who will serve as chairperson, and up to 20 members of the public who will be selected and appointed by the Delegation on Government Efficiency Selection Committee. The selection committee will include the following members: (1) the Governor, or a designee; (2) the President of the Senate, or a designee; (3) the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; (4) the Minority Leader of the Senate, or a designee; and (5) the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, or a designee. The selection committee will select and appoint public members of the DOGE from among qualified persons who submit applications to the selection committee for membership on the DOGE. An applicant will require the approval of at least four members of the selection committee to be selected and appointed to the DOGE. This ensures bipartisan agreement. The selection committee will issue a public notice on the Internet sites of each principal department in the Executive Branch of State government, the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and the Legislature soliciting applications for public membership. The public notice will include, at a minimum, instructions on how to apply to be a public member of the DOGE, details of the position requirements and approval process, and a description of the duties of a public DOGE member. The position requirements will be developed and approved by at least four members of the selection committee to ensure bipartisan agreement, and will include, at a minimum, appropriate and relevant experience of the applicant in presiding over, managing, or conducting performance audits on any large public or private enterprise, and a statement of potential conflicts of interest from the applicant. The chairperson of the DOGE may dismiss a public DOGE member for any reason, including upon the discovery of unreported conflicts of interest. Vacancies among the public membership of the DOGE due to dismissal or voluntary leave will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The selection committee may set an hourly or per diem rate to be paid to the approved public members for the duration of their tenure on the DOGE. The chairperson of the DOGE may recommend to the selection committee changes to the hourly or per diem rate established by the selection committee as the chairperson deems appropriate to attract and retain public members of the DOGE. The establishment of and any changes to the hourly or per diem rate will be subject to the approval of at least four members of the selection committee. The chairperson of the DOGE will develop a procedure by which members of the public may suggest actions or areas of review that may assist the DOGE in determining how to better save public funds and how to implement greater efficiencies in government functions. The DOGE will meet at the call of the chairperson at the times and in the places necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities. Within 20 months after the its first meeting, the DOGE will issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and recommendations upon the conclusion of its work. The report will be publicly available on the Department of the Treasury's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A4627 | Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation program; provides aid for watershed lands. | Extends expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation program; provides aid for watershed lands. | In Committee |
| A5230 | Requires automatic voter registration to be available when applying for certain licenses and permits. | This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at an agency, office, or local police force providing certain licenses and permits. The bill requires the automatic voter registration process to be available for persons applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, all around sportsman licenses, beaver trapping, wild turkey, or deer permits under the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and firearms purchaser identification cards or permits to carry handguns at local police forces or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the respective agencies, offices, and local police forces to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). The bill also adds licenses to operate a power vessel, also known as boating licenses, under the NJMVC's current automatic voter registration process. Under the bill, any agency, office, or local police force that provides the above mentioned licenses and permits, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| A5216 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from placing time limit on coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. | This bill prohibits health insurance carriers from placing a time limit on the coverage of anesthesia services before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. Under the bill, a carrier (including an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in the State) will be prohibited from limiting coverage based on the amount of time in which anesthesia services are used before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. For the purpose of this bill, "anesthesia services" means the same as the prevailing medical coding standards found within the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology code for anesthesia, including anesthesia modifier codes. | In Committee |
| A5209 | Revises definition of persons engaging in investment activities in Iran. | This bill amends the definition of persons engaging in investment activities in Iran to include persons providing goods or services, or financial institutions extending credit to persons for the provision of goods or services, in an amount more than $0 in the energy sector of Iran. Under current law, such persons are defined as those providing $20 million or more of goods or services or credit for goods or services in the energy sector in Iran. The bill amends the current law prohibiting public contracts by a State agency, local contracting unit, board of education, or county college with persons or entities engaged in certain investment activities in the energy and financial sectors of Iran. The purpose of the law is to support the federal sanctions policy of the United States to deny Iran the ability to support acts of international terrorism or to fund the development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction through its energy sector. | In Committee |
| A5202 | Prohibits electric public utilities from imposing reconciliation charge on customers. | This bill prohibits an electric public utility (utility) from imposing a reconciliation charge on its customers. Under the bill, a "reconciliation charge" means a positive dollar amount charged to utility customers by an electric public utility to help the utility recover the difference between estimated and actual costs to provide electricity service to utility customers, which costs are eligible for rate recovery and include, but are not limited to: basic generation service costs and associated administrative costs; fees; credits; taxes; and interest. It is the sponsor's intent to encourage utilities to engage in long-term financial planning and become less dependent on ratepayers to help utilities recover financial losses due to the utilities' own business decisions. | In Committee |
| A5206 | Requires fiscal notes for all bills that establish new programs or expand existing programs. | This bill amends current law to require the preparation of a fiscal note for any bill that establishes a new program or expands any existing program, provided that the costs of the program are borne by the State or any political subdivision thereof. Current law requires a fiscal note to be prepared for all bills that may increase or decrease the expenditures or revenues of the State. The bill expands the scope of this requirement to specifically include all bills that create a new program or expand existing programs. | In Committee |
| A3899 | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | In Committee |
| ACR150 | Determines that DEP rules and regulations known as " New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Change - Resilient Environment and Landscapes" are inconsistent with legislative intent. | This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the rules and regulations proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection in the August 5, 2024 New Jersey Register, 56 N.J.R. 1282(a), are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature. The Department of Environmental Protection would have 30 days from the date of transmittal of this resolution to amend or withdraw the proposed rules and regulations or the Legislature may, by passage of another concurrent resolution, exercise its authority under the Constitution to invalidate the rules and regulations in whole or in part. | In Committee |
| AJR209 | Designates June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. Born in Trenton and residing in Seaside Park for many years, Robert "Bob" Popovics has been a longtime resident of the State of New Jersey. On November 1, 2024, Bob passed away due to his injuries from an accident at the age of 75. Bob has made numerous contributions to his community, the State, and the United States. Bob proudly served his country with the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Additionally, having taken over the establishment from his parents, Bob and his wife operated Shady Rest restaurant in Bayville, New Jersey. Bob was also well-renowned in the fishing community for being an avid fly fisherman, master fly tyer, and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pop Fleyes, a custom fly tying and educational company. His fly designs have been considered groundbreaking and his community meetings led to the creation of the Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodders. To recognize Bob's numerous contributions to the New Jersey community in which he lived, the fishing community, and the United States, it is altogether fitting and proper to designate June 1 of each year as "Robert 'Bob' Popovics Day" in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A5175 | Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, or accidental disability pension retirement benefits for certain members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al.), signed into law on June 28, 2011, had suspended the automatic annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of PFRS and other State-administered retirement systems until those systems reach a target funded ratio. Decades of underfunding those systems by the State had placed the systems in precarious financial conditions. Although this bill does not reinstate COLAs for other retirees, it serves as the first step in reinstating COLAs for all retirees of the State-administered retirement systems. Through the prioritization of PFRS, the State will begin this process with retired first responders, police and firefighters, to provide them greater financial security and stability at a time when inflation has significantly eroded the value of their retirement benefit payments, which are already based on the lower salaries of years ago. To that end, the bill includes restrictions intended to limit costs and focus on segments among PFRS retirees expected to be most in need of an immediate benefit. Under the bill, members of PFRS will receive automatic COLAs for annual pension, ordinary disability pension, and accidental disability pension benefits if the member has been retired and receiving retirement benefits for a minimum of ten years. Longer-term retirees generally will have lower pension benefits and be less able to obtain employment to offset the erosion of their benefits. Members of PFRS who are hired more than 30 days following the effective date of this act will not be considered eligible to receive these automatic COLAs. Additionally, members who are enrolled in deferred retirement will not be considered eligible for these automatic COLAs, nor will members who retired with 20 or more years of service but less than 25 years of service. The COLAs will only apply to future pension benefit payments. The bill does not provide for retroactive COLAs. The adjustment in eligible members' pension benefits will be calculated based on an amount up to $75,000 of a retiree's benefit for the first year following the enactment of this bill. Eligible members receiving up to $75,000 of pension benefits will receive a COLA tied to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This will ensure that greater initial benefits will be provided to those likely to be most in need. The adjustment in eligible member's pension benefits will be limited to one percent if the member receives more than $75,000 in benefits for the first year following the enactment of the bill. After the first calendar year following the enactment of the bill, the $75,000 threshold will be adjusted annually according to the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, except that the adjustment will be calculated at a rate not to exceed three percent. The bill also grants the cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly pension or survivorship benefit of a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary that is provided by PFRS. Under the bill, if the Board of Trustees of PFRS fails to comply with the provisions of this bill within six months following the effective date, then the State Treasurer will be responsible for implementing the cost-of-living adjustments. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate monies from the General Fund as necessary to effectuate the cost-of-living adjustments established under the bill that are sufficient to cover both State and local expenses, and to reimburse each PFRS local employer for the full cost incurred. The bill further provides that this appropriation will take precedence over any additional funding added to the annual State budget by the Legislature through non-emergency supplemental appropriations, resolutions or other changes to the Governor's budget message. | In Committee |
| A5179 | Requires appointment of State monitor to school districts that receive 70 percent or more of revenue from State aid. | This bill requires a State monitor to be appointed in a school district if the percentage of the school district's revenue derived from State aid is 70 percent or greater of total revenue according to the most recent information reported in the Department of Education's Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending. A monitor appointed pursuant to the bill's provisions is to have direct oversight of a board of education's business operations and personnel matters and generally have the same powers as a State monitor appointed pursuant to current State law known as the "School District Fiscal Accountability Act." According to the 2024 version of the Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending, the following school districts received 70 percent or more of their total revenue from State sources in the 2022-2023 school year: District NameCountyRevenue: State %Trenton Public School DistrictMercer86.3%Plainfield CityUnion84.7%Union CityHudson84.6%City Of Orange Twp.Essex83.3%Camden CityCamden82.8%Bridgeton CityCumberland82.0%Elizabeth CityUnion81.5%Pleasantville CityAtlantic81.1%Gloucester CityCamden80.8%Irvington TownshipEssex80.8%Keansburg BoroMonmouth80.2%East OrangeEssex79.9%Vineland CityCumberland79.7%New Brunswick CityMiddlesex79.7%Newark CityEssex79.2%Paterson CityPassaic78.7%Pemberton Twp.Burlington78.3%Folsom BoroAtlantic78.1%Perth Amboy CityMiddlesex78.1%Lindenwold BoroCamden75.6%Fairfield Twp.Cumberland75.4%Lakehurst BoroOcean75.4%West New York SchoolsHudson74.8%Cumberland Co. VocationalCumberland74.5%Passaic CityPassaic73.9%Millville CityCumberland73.2%Salem CitySalem71.4%Garfield CityBergen71.2%Penns Grove-Carneys Point RegionalSalem70.0% | In Committee |
| A4229 | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | Requires NJEDA to establish loan program to assist beginning farmers in financing capital purchases. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A5140 | Increases penalties for denying access to public facilities, NJT, and transportation network companies to service dogs and their handlers. | This bill increases the penalties, from civil to criminal, for any person who denies or interferes with the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, or any transportation network company. Currently, any person who interferes or denies the access of a service dog or their handler to a public facility is liable for civil penalties as follows:· $250 for the first violation; · $500 for the second violation; and· $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. This bill would subject any person denying access to a public facility, to any form of transportation operated by NJT, or any transportation network company towards a service dog or their handler to criminal penalties. A person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1971, c.130 (C.10:5-29), or section 1 of P.L.2016, c.25 (C.27:25-5b), or section 15 of P.L.2017, c.26 (C.39:5H-15) would be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense for the first violation, and a disorderly persons offense for the second and each subsequent violation. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both; however, for a second and each subsequent violation, the standard term of up to six months' imprisonment has been increased to up to one year. | In Committee |
| A5148 | Permits excused absence for student enlisted or planning to enlist Armed Forces of United States or National Guard. | This bill permits excused absences for students enlisted or planning to enlist in the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard. The bill requires a student enrolled in grade 12 who enlists, or plans to enlist, in the Armed Forces of the United States and who is absent from school to complete a military enlistment activity to receive a State-excused absence for that purpose. The absence is not to be included on a student's transcript, application, employment form, or any similar form requested. The absence is also not to be considered when determining if a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year. Under the bill, a military enlistment activity means any activity required by the Armed Forces of the United States to be eligible to enlist including, but not limited to, any testing, medical or physical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting. | In Committee |
| A3226 | Requires MVC to safeguard automatic voter registration process. | This bill expressly prevents the automatic voter registration process, via the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), from allowing ineligible applicants to register to vote. An "ineligible applicant" means a person submitting an application to the MVC for a motor vehicle driver's license, an examination permit, a probationary driver's license, or a non-driver identification card who does not meet the requirements for eligibility to vote under R.S.19:4-1 and the New Jersey Constitution. Under the bill, the MVC is required to establish and provide separate forms for persons applying for a motor vehicle driver's license, an examination permit, a probationary driver's license, or a non-driver identification card who are not eligible to vote. Because those applicants are not eligible to vote, those forms are prohibited from providing the applicant an option to register to vote. The bill also requires the MVC to provide information on what disqualifies a person from voting under statute and the New Jersey Constitution. With the implementation of automatic voter registration through the MVC, the MVC has not provided evidence that the agency has sufficient safeguards in place to prevent persons who are ineligible to vote from registering to vote through the MVC. Currently, it appears that the MVC uses the same form for all applicants for a driver's license, examination permit, probationary driver's license, or non-driver identification card, regardless of eligibility to vote, which provides the option to register to vote while submitting an application for these documents. The sponsor believes that having separate forms for persons ineligible to vote will help safeguard the voter registration process. | In Committee |
| A5103 | "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act," would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program to solicit bids for the construction of new small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would authorize the BPU to issue financial incentives to SMRs, to be known as SMR incentives, for each megawatt hour of electric energy produced by the reactor. The amount of the incentive would be determined through a competitive solicitation process. Private entities would submit bids to the BPU, which state the level of SMR incentive they estimate they would require to achieve profitability. The BPU would select the lowest bids, except that the bill authorizes the BPU to give preference to certain projects, for example projects sited at former nuclear energy facilities or fossil fuel power plants. The bill would authorize the BPU to use moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which serves as the repository for funds collected by the State under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in order to fund the SMR incentives. The bill would direct the BPU to develop the program within one year after the bill's enactment, and to begin the first competitive solicitation round within two years after the bill's enactment. The bill would restrict the owner or operator of an SMR that receives an incentive from otherwise profiting from the environmental attributes of the energy it produces. Finally, the bill would require each SMR that is selected to participate in the incentive program to pay an annual administrative fee to the BPU, to compensate the BPU for its costs in administering the program. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S1433 | Designates bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North as "Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company Memorial Highway." | An Act designating the bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North in honor of Army Specialist Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A3161 | Broadens eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve component thereof. The benefits in the bill are (1) a civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A5104 | Requires law enforcement agencies to adopt policies of cooperation with federal immigration officials. | This bill requires interstate, State, county, county park, and municipal police departments or forces and educational institutions that appoint law enforcement officers to adopt a policy of cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The bill defines "law enforcement officer" as a person whose public duties include the power to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders against the laws of this State. Additionally, the bill provides that subject to the approval of the Attorney General, the State would be required to defend a law enforcement officer in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred while cooperating with federal immigration authorities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part the law enforcement officer. The bill also provides that a law enforcement officer would be indemnified and held harmless by the State in the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against the law enforcement officer for complying with the bill's provisions and cooperating with federal immigration authorities provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the part the law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| A5055 | Establishes "Students with Communication Disabilities' Bill of Rights." | This bill creates the "Students with Communication Disabilities' Bill of Rights," which requires school districts to recognize the rights of students with communication disabilities. Title II of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" requires schools to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication for students who have a communication disability, which may include hearing, vision, or speech impairments. These aids and services are required to be tailored to the specific nature, length, complexity, and context of the communication, taking into account the student's preferred communication methods. For many students with communication disabilities, an assistant trained in a student's primary and preferred method of communication is vital for assistance in using alternative means of communication such as gestures; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, communication boards, speech-generating devices, symbol cards, bands, or devices; letter boards; American Sign Language; and typing or pointing to letters to communicate. Denial of a student's primary and preferred method of communication inhibits a student's access to a free and appropriate education a student's opportunity to fully participate in the State's public schools. Specifically, this bill requires school districts to provide students with communication disabilities or the students' parent or guardians with:· access to appropriate screening and assessment of communication and language needs at the earliest possible age and the continuation of screening and evaluation services throughout the educational experience; · individualized and appropriate early intervention to support effective communication at the earliest possible age;· direct instruction;· a trained assistant in the student's primary and preferred method of communication;· individual considerations for free, appropriate education across a continuum of options required by State and federal law;· a communication plan focusing on the student's primary and preferred method of communication in the student's Individualized Education Program and 504 plan;· full support services provided by trained assistants in their educational settings using the student's primary and preferred method of communication. The Department of Education through the coordinator for educational programs is to work with school districts to ensure technical assistance is available to support boards of education in meeting the needs of students with communication disabilities;· full access to all programs in their educational settings, including extracurricular activities, recess, lunch, media showings, driver education, and public announcements; and · information from trained assistants on the linguistic issues of individuals with communication disabilities. The bill should not be construed to give any greater rights or protections than found under State or federal law. | In Committee |
| AJR66 | Commemorates 71st anniversary of armistice that ended Korean War. | The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea invaded the Republic of Korea in a surprise and unprovoked attack. A few days later, the United Nations' Security Council declared that the attack conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was a violation of peace. Shortly after, United Nations members were urged to support the Republic of Korea in its defense. Twenty-two countries, including the United States, got involved in the Korean War by supplying the Republic of Korea with fighting units and medical services. From the 1.7 million American soldiers who served in the Korean War, more than 33,000 died and more than 100,000 were injured. More than 191,000 New Jersey residents served in the military during the Korean War, and 836 New Jersey residents were killed or missing in action during the war. After the Korean War ended, the United States and the Republic of Korea signed a mutual defense treaty, which established an alliance between both countries. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea that was formed through sacrifice and shared hardship. Although the Korean War led to the death of 2.5 million individuals, this war is often referred to as the "forgotten war" for the lack of attention it has received compared to other, more well-known international conflicts. Therefore, the State of New Jersey commemorates the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953. | 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 |
| S2962 | Requires contractor subject to prevailing wage law to provide orientation meeting to new employee on prevailing wage project. | An Act concerning the rights of employees under the prevailing wage law and amending P.L.1963, c.150. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5016 | Modifies requirements for associations to protect structural integrity of certain buildings; expands timeframes for associations to establish adequate reserves. | This bill amends a recent enactment, P.L.2023, c.214, (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.), which imposed various requirements upon associations responsible for the management and maintenance of the common elements and facilities of residential buildings within planned real estate developments. The bill also limits applicability of the capital reserve study and funding requirements of P.L.2023, c.214, (C.52:27D-132.2 et al.) to residential condominium and cooperative buildings that are three stories or more in height. The bill further modifies current law to enable impacted associations to increase the amounts required to hold in necessary reserve funds over a longer period of time. The Legislature enacted P.L.2023, c.214 for the purpose of enhancing the structural integrity of the primary load bearing systems of residential buildings. However, language contained in the underlying enactment may be interpreted as having imposed requirements to protect against failures of common areas and capital improvements even though they do not impact a building's structural integrity. The recent enactment may also be interpreted as imposing requirements on non-residential buildings as well as residential ones. This bill modifies language from the recent enactment to address these issues and to limit applicability of P.L.2023, c.214 to residential buildings that are three stories or more in height. Additionally, the bill would double the timeframe imposed under current law within which an impacted association is required to establish and maintain a reserve fund in an adequate amount. | In Committee |
| A5041 | "S2 Appropriations Rescue Act"; appropriates $106.5 million to provide Emergency Supplemental Aid to certain school districts, including districts negatively impacted by effects of P.L.2018, c.67. | This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $106.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to provide "Emergency Supplemental Aid" to certain school districts. The aid is to be distributed to school districts that have been allocated a total amount of State school aid in the 2024-2025 school year that is:· less than the district's adequacy budget, which under current law represents the portion of the costs that a school district is expected to incur to provide a thorough and efficient education; and · less than or equal to $19,000 per resident pupil; and· either: less than or equal to the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year; or greater than the total amount of State school aid allocated to the district in the 2023-2024 school year by up to $200,000. The amount of Emergency Supplemental Aid provided to an eligible district pursuant to the bill is to be determined by multiplying $250 by the number of resident pupils in the district. School districts from all parts of the State have experienced negative budgetary effects over the seven years following the enactment of P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S2." The severity of these budgetary reductions have forced districts to lay off hundreds of teachers and staff, adopt half-day schedules, eliminate sports and clubs, reduce academic programming such as Advanced Placement classes, eliminate busing, and sell land and close schools just to balance their budgets. This educational funding crisis has affected hundreds of school districts representing an array of socioeconomic groups, from urban districts such as the City of East Orange, Jersey City, and Passaic City, to suburban districts such as Hillsborough Township, Freehold Regional School District, Old Bridge Township, Jackson Township, Toms River Regional School District, Brick Township, and Evesham Township, and extending to rural districts, such as Chesterfield Township, Lenape Regional School District, Estell Manor City, and Hardyston Township. This bill provides emergency restoration aid to help stabilize the budgets of these school districts, as well as 290 other districts, for the purpose of providing these children with a quality education. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4433 | Designates bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North as "Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company Memorial Highway." | Designates bridge over Crosswicks Creek on Interstate Highway Route 295 North as "Benjamin Moore and the 693rd Sapper Company Memorial Highway." | In Committee |
| AR120 | Urges amendment of Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement to create definition for oral health care products. | This resolution urges the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board to amend the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, also known as SSUTA, to create a new definition for oral healthcare products. Dental hygiene is critical to an individual's overall health and well-being. Studies have consistently shown that those with poor oral health are at risk for a number of serious health issues, such as heart disease, cancer, dementia, kidney failure, pneumonia, and diabetes. The use of oral healthcare products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss, offer critical protection against diseases that can pose serious harm to one's health. Residents of the State are currently required to pay sales tax on purchases of certain oral healthcare products at a rate of 6.625 percent. The imposition of a tax on these products is done in conformance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) which New Jersey entered in 2005. The SSUTA is a multistate agreement that allows businesses operating in numerous states to more easily comply with the sales and use taxes imposed by member states. One of the ways in which the SSUTA simplifies the administration of sales and use tax laws is by requiring member states to adopt common definitions for the products that are subject to tax, thereby providing greater uniformity among member states' tax bases. Member states are permitted to exempt products from their respective sales and use tax provided that those exemptions are made in accordance with the product definitions contained within the SSUTA. Accordingly, as a member of the SSUTA, the State of New Jersey is restrained from providing a sales and use tax exemption exclusively for oral healthcare products without an amendment first being made to the agreement by the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. This resolution urges the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board to amend the definition of the term "grooming and hygiene product" under the SSUTA to remove oral healthcare products. The resolution further urges the board to amend the agreement to create a new product definition for "oral healthcare products," including toothbrushes, toothpaste, tooth powders, mouthwash, dental floss, and other similar products, to allow member states the ability to provide tax exemptions for the sale of these products, thereby ensuring greater affordability and access to these critical items. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A3994 | Expands scope of public works subject to prevailing wage requirements; concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | Expands scope of public works subject to prevailing wage requirements; concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| A1792 | Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety. | Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety. | In Committee |
| AJR204 | Designates May of each year as "Apraxia Awareness Month" in NJ. | This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Apraxia Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Apraxia is a neurological disorder that affects motor planning and can greatly impair an individual's ability to execute certain skilled movements, such as using familiar tools, speaking, walking, or performing daily living activities, such as eating, dressing, or bathing. Apraxia may be present at birth or caused later in life by trauma or disease, such as stroke, dementia, tumors, neurocognitive disorders, or brain injuries. The severity of apraxia may vary depending on the underlying cause and the type and degree of daily living activities affected, with some individuals requiring long-term assisted nursing care. While there is no cure for apraxia, physical, occupational, or speech therapies may assist individuals with apraxia manage their symptoms, improve their ability to perform activities of daily living, and achieve greater independence. As increasing awareness of apraxia can help ensure New Jerseyans seek appropriate medical care, are promptly diagnosed, and receive therapeutic treatments that may significantly improve their quality of life, it is fitting to designate May of each year as "Apraxia Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation annually to recognize May of each year as "Apraxia Awareness Month" and call upon relevant State agencies, organizations, and citizens of the State to observe the day with appropriate awareness activities and programs. | In Committee |
| A4886 | Increases penalty for certain acts of trespass and vandalism on agricultural and horticultural lands. | This bill would amend current law concerning penalties for trespass and vandalism on agricultural and horticultural lands. Specifically, this bill would increase the penalty for trespass and vandalism on agricultural and horticultural lands when the damage incurred by the landowner exceeds $10,000. Under current law, it is a criminal offense to knowingly or recklessly damage or injure any tangible property, including, but not limited to, any fence, building, feedstocks, crops, live trees, or any domestic animals located on agricultural or horticultural lands. In addition, current law provides a civil penalty of at least $1,000 for a person who engages in such an offense. Under this bill, the minimum civil penalty would be increased from $1,000 to $2,500 if the court determines that the damages sustained from trespass upon the agricultural or horticultural land exceed $10,000. This increased civil penalty would be in addition to any other applicable fines, penalties, or restitution that may be assessed pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1983, c.522 (C.2C:18-6) or any other law. This bill is in response to Resolution No. 26 approved at the 105th State Agricultural Convention, held in February 2020. | In Committee |
| A4911 | Allows gross income tax deduction for income earned in form of tips. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction for income earned in the form of tips. Under the bill, a taxpayer claiming a deduction against gross income tax for income received from customers in the form of tips is required to report that tip income in a statement to the employer pursuant to federal income tax law, or such other documentation as may be required by the Director of the Division of Taxation. | In Committee |
| A2607 | Authorizes taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies to provide paratransit services for two-year period. | An Act concerning paratransit services. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A1131 | Requires DMVA provide central registry of unclaimed cremains of veterans, spouses, and dependents; requires funeral director report to DMVA possession of unclaimed veteran, spouse, and dependent cremains. | Requires DMVA provide central registry of unclaimed cremains of veterans, spouses, and dependents; requires funeral director report to DMVA possession of unclaimed veteran, spouse, and dependent cremains. | Crossed Over |
| A4745 | Requires contractor subject to prevailing wage law to provide orientation meeting to new employee on prevailing wage project. | The bill requires contractors and subcontractors who are subject to the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" to conduct a mandatory orientation meeting for each employee on or up to three days before the employee's first day of a project that explains the employee's wages and the employee's classification under that law, unless the employer has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the employee's labor organization. An employer may satisfy this requirement by conducting one orientation meeting to a group of employees if the employees start employment on the same day. Upon completion of the orientation, each employee will be required to sign a form, promulgated by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, stating that the employee has received the orientation. The bill requires the contractor or subcontractor conducting the orientation to retain each completed form for a period of no less than six years and to provide each completed form to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development upon request by the department. Under the bill, employers that enter into a collective bargaining agreement with an employee's labor organization are not required to conduct an orientation or comply with the subsequent requirements of the orientation with that employee. | In Committee |
| A2378 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | In Committee |
| A2717 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for costs of exemption. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| A4847 | Requires establishment and implementation, in certain circumstances, of wildlife management plans for open space and farmland, and authorizes use of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to finance activities undertaken pursuant to such plans. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), to adopt model wildlife management plans for use by local public entities that seek to acquire or develop land for recreational and conservation (open space) purposes, and it would further direct the SADC, in consultation with the DEP, to adopt model wildlife management plans for use by local public entities that are seeking funds to acquire and preserve farmland. The bill would further provide that, whenever the State or a local government unit seeks to acquire or develop lands for recreational or conservation purposes, or for farmland preservation purposes, using constitutionally dedicated moneys or Green Acres bond act moneys in whole or in part, it will be required to adopt and implement, at the subject property, one of the model wildlife management plans that have been cooperatively developed by the DEP and SADC under the bill's provisions. A local government unit would also be required to be implement the plan selected thereby at other parcels of land which have been acquired thereby, for recreational and conservation purposes, using constitutionally dedicated moneys or Green Acres bond act moneys in whole or in part. The bill would authorize a local government unit, in lieu of adopting one of the new model wildlife management plans developed under the bill, to submit to the DEP or SADC, as the case may be, a wildlife management plan that has been prepared by the local government unit prior to the bill's effective date, and to adopt and implement such pre-existing wildlife management plan, both at the subject property and at other relevant parcels of land owned thereby, upon the DEP's or SADC's approval thereof. Finally, the bill would amend the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), in order to clarify that wildlife management activities or tasks, which are undertaken on preserved open space or farmland in accordance with a wildlife management plan adopted pursuant to the bill's provisions, are to be understood to constitute a type of "stewardship activity" for which Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenues, which have been constitutionally dedicated for the stewardship of preserved open space and farmland, may be appropriated, allocated, and expended. Existing law does not currently require the owners or operators of publicly owned open space or preserved farmland to adopt or implement wildlife management plans for or on such properties; nor does it authorize the use of constitutionally dedicated CBT funds for wildlife management planning undertaken for the benefit of such parcels. | In Committee |
| A4845 | Removes requirements for surgical practices to be licensed as ambulatory care facilities to provide surgical and related services. | This bill removes the requirements under current law for surgical practices to become licensed by the Department of Health (department) as ambulatory care facilities licensed to provide surgical and related services. Current law defines a "surgical practice" to mean a structure or suite of rooms that has the following characteristics: has no more than one room dedicated for use as an operating room which is specifically equipped to perform surgery, and is designed and constructed to accommodate invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures; has one or more post-anesthesia care units or a dedicated recovery area where the patient may be closely monitored and observed until discharged; and is established by a physician, physician professional association surgical practice, or other professional practice form specified by the State Board of Medical Examiners pursuant to regulation solely for the physician's, association's, or other professional entity's private medical practice. Pursuant to the enactment of P.L.2017, c.283, all surgical practices were required to become licensed as ambulatory care facilities licensed to provide surgical and related services. This bill removes those requirements and instead only requires surgical practices to register with the department, which registration is contingent on the surgical practice meeting certain certification or accreditation standards. The bill provides that any surgical practice licensed as an ambulatory care facility to provide surgical and related services will still be exempted from the ambulatory care facility assessment, as provided under current law. The bill removes the moratorium provided under current law that provides that the department will not issue a new registration to any surgical practice. | In Committee |
| AR157 | Supports work of pregnancy resource centers and condemns harassment of pregnancy resource centers by AG. | This resolution expresses support for the work of pregnancy resource centers in this State, and condemns Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin for his politically motivated harassment of pregnancy resource centers. A pregnancy resource center is typically a faith-based non-profit organization, which offers pregnant women information and care to support their pregnancy, such as alternatives to abortion, parenting education, medical treatment from licensed health care professionals, counseling, and maternal and baby goods, often at little or no cost. Pregnancy resource centers offer their services and donated goods without regard to a person's religious affiliation or ability to pay. In 2022, pregnancy resource centers in this State provided over $3.6 million in goods and services to over 23,000 people, including women, men, and youth, which included more than 8,000 free pregnancy tests, more than 6,000 free ultrasound examinations, more than 2,000 free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, more than 9,000 free packs of diapers, more than 75,000 free sets of baby clothes, 55 free car seats, 172 free strollers, 38 free cribs, and more than 1,000 free containers of formula. Despite their significant value to pregnant women and the community at large, pregnancy resource centers are under attack by the Attorney General as part of a coordinated nationwide campaign of intimidation and harassment under the guise of consumer protection. Although there have been no complaints filed by any client of a pregnancy resource center in this State, Attorney General Platkin has issued investigative subpoenas to certain pregnancy resource centers in an apparent misuse of the law enforcement powers of his office. The overbroad and unduly burdensome nature of these subpoenas appear to be a deliberate attempt to target and silence organizations that offer alternatives to abortion. | In Committee |
| A4828 | Expands function of Commission on Human Trafficking to include promoting coordinated response by law enforcement to human trafficking. | This bill requires the Commission on Human Trafficking to promote a coordinated response among State and local law enforcement agencies to facilitate investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases. The Commission on Human Trafficking was established by P.L.2013, c.31, and is directed, by the enabling statute, N.J.S.A.52:17B-237, to evaluate the existing law concerning human trafficking and the enforcement thereof, and to make recommendations for legislation. The commission, established in the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety Human Trafficking Task Force is specifically charged with reviewing existing victim assistance programs, and promoting a coordinated response by public and private resources for victims of human trafficking. This bill would expand the function of the commission to include promoting a coordinated intergovernmental law enforcement response to human trafficking. Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding may be available for other New Jersey-based task force coordination efforts, such as coordinating an intergovernmental law enforcement response to human trafficking as set forth in the bill. It is the sponsor's view that a coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies, including qualifying for federal resources, will strengthen the law enforcement resources available to combat human trafficking. | In Committee |
| A4846 | Removes provisions for acceptance of mail-in ballots received after election day; increases penalties for violation of ballot messenger and bearer limits and candidate prohibition. | This bill removes the provision of current law that allows for mail-in ballots to be counted if received within 144-hours after the polls closed and are postmarked by election day. This bill also removes the provision of current law that allows for mail-in ballots to be counted if received by the county board 48-hours after the polls close. This bill increases the penalties for the violation of the ballot messenger and bearer limits and the prohibition against candidates acting as messengers or bearers. Under current law, every mail-in ballot that is postmarked by election day and that is received by the county board of elections within 144 hours after the time of the closing of the polls is considered valid and is required to be canvassed and every mail-in ballot received by the county board of elections within 48-hours after the time of the closing of the polls, whether it bears a postmark or not, is considered valid and is required to be canvassed. This bill removes both of these timeframes. Therefore, mail-in ballots received after the polls close would not be counted. Current law also provides that a person may act as a ballot messenger or a bearer for up to three voters in an election. Messengers deliver blank ballots to eligible voters, and bearers return completed ballots to election officials on behalf of eligible voters. The law prohibits candidates from serving as messengers or bearers. Under current law, a person who violates these provisions is guilty of a crime of the third degree and, upon conviction, is subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement, unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage. This bill provides that any person who knowingly violates the law by serving as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election, and any candidate serving as a messenger or bearer in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot, is guilty of a crime of the second degree and, upon conviction, is subject, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law, to disenfranchisement, unless and until pardoned or restored by law to the right of suffrage. | In Committee |
| A4865 | Establishes temporary sales tax exemption for small businesses impacted by ongoing public highway projects. | This bill provides a temporary sales tax exemption for transactions made at certain retail business establishments that are operated by qualified small businesses, and which are impacted by ongoing public highway projects. Specifically, the bill provides that temporary sales tax exemption would be available at retail business establishments that are located within an "impacted construction zone," which the bill defines as any area immediately surrounding a public highway project within which area the occurrence of the public highway project impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic or otherwise restricts access to business establishments located with the area. To qualify for the exemption, the retail business establishment would have to be operated by a "small business," which the bill defines as a business with no more than 50 full-time employees, is independently owned and operated, and has its principal place of business in the State of New Jersey. Under the bill, a qualified small business would be required to apply to the Director of the Division of Taxation before claiming the sales tax exemption. Upon approval of an application, the director would provide issue an exemption certificate to the small business, which certificate would indicate the retail business establishments at which the sales tax exemption is available and the exclusion period for which the exemption applies. However, the bill provides that the temporary sales tax exemption may only occur during the period between the date in which a public highway project commences and the date in which the project concludes. | In Committee |
| A3004 | Restricts genetic testing of newborn and crime victim DNA; permits DNA information to be obtained pursuant to warrant or court order. | This bill limits the purposes for which genetic testing may be conducted on DNA samples taken from newborns and crime victims. Current law generally requires the informed consent of a person, or person's representative, in order to obtain a person's genetic information. However, this informed consent requirement does not apply to the use of a person's DNA by a State, county, municipal or federal law enforcement agency for the purposes of establishing the identity of a person in the course of a criminal investigation or prosecution, or for the purposes of newborn screening. Recent reports indicate that DNA samples of newborns, crime victims, and witnesses have been used to convict a family member of the newborn, the crime victim or witness, or a member of the victim's or witness' family. Under the bill, a DNA sample from a victim of or witness to a crime is only to be used to establish the identity of a person who is the subject of the criminal investigation or prosecution for which the sample was obtained. The provisions of the bill further provide that a DNA sample taken from a newborn may only be used for the purpose of detecting disorders or conditions for which newborn screening is explicitly authorized pursuant to the State's Newborn Screening Program in the Department of Health. The bill permits a person to obtain genetic information from an individual pursuant to a validly executed warrant or upon an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Further, a person may disclose or be compelled to disclose the identity of an individual upon whom a genetic test has been performed pursuant to a validly executed warrant. | In Committee |
| A4773 | "Restoring the Representation of Legal Residents Act;" requires Secretary of State to adjust census apportionment and redistricting data to remove illegal alien population for apportionment and redistricting purposes in this State. | This bill, the "Restoring the Representation of Legal Residents Act," requires the Secretary of State to adjust the census apportionment and redistricting data to remove the illegal alien population for apportionment and redistricting purposes in this State. Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires that a census be conducted at least every 10 years. The census has a profound influence on the union's republican institutions, as the results are used to apportion seats in the United States House of Representatives to each State and redraw congressional, state legislative, and local districts. The census figures in 2020 were based on the number of all persons living in the United States, including U.S. citizens, non U.S. citizen legal residents, non U.S. citizen long-term visitors, and illegal aliens. Due to the inclusion of illegal aliens in the federal census counts, the legal residents in congressional, state legislative, and local districts with low numbers of illegal aliens are unjustly punished in their political representation when compared to districts with high numbers of illegal aliens. This bill therefore requires the Secretary of State to adjust the census apportionment and redistricting data to remove the population of illegal aliens for Congressional, Senate, Assembly, and local apportionment and redistricting purposes in this State. Under this bill, the Secretary of State will be required to adjust the census data that is used for apportionment and redistricting purposes, to exclude the population of illegal aliens in this State. The population of this State, so adjusted, would be the basis of the Congressional districts established by the Redistricting Commission, Senate and Assembly districts established by the Apportionment Commission, county districts established by each county district commission, municipal wards established by each municipal ward commission, and school districts established by each entity responsible for the apportionment of the members of each board of education of a regional school district. The bill further provides that, as part of the methodology for the data adjustment, the secretary would develop an accurate count of the legal population residing in this State, drawing from a variety of available datasets concerning a person's legal status, citizenship status, and residency. The datasets would include, but may not be limited to: (1) United States Bureau of the Census data regarding citizenship status and legal status; (2) New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission data regarding applications for motor vehicle driver's licenses, examination permits, probationary driver's licenses, and non-driver identification cards, and each related update, renewal, or change of address, and the issuance of such licenses, permits, and cards in cases where the applicant does not provide a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number; and (3) any other data available from reliable governmental sources deemed appropriate by the secretary for this purpose. Under the bill, the data adjustment would not be required if the United States Bureau of the Census makes available a count of the number of legal residents in the State of New Jersey, excluding only the illegal alien population, which would be used as the basis for Congressional district, Senate district, Assembly district, county district, municipal ward, and school district apportionment and redistricting purposes in this State.edistricting purposes in this State. | In Committee |
| A4790 | Requires electric public utilities to report certain information concerning power outages on their Internet website and to BPU. | This bill requires electric public utilities to publish certain information about power outages on the electric public utility's Internet website and to report the information to the Board of Public Utilities (board). In the event that there is a power outage, the electric public utility responsible for providing the service affected by the power outage is required to publish information on the electric public utility's Internet website about the power outage, including but not limited to: the geographic area affected by the power outage; the start time of the power outage; the number of customers affected by the power outage; the number of current ongoing power outages in the State; the estimated time until service restoration; and the cause of the power outage. Under this bill, the electric public utility is also required to ensure the information provided on the utility's Internet website is updated regularly until service is restored. Additionally, the electric public utility is required to report the same information provided on its Internet website to the board within 30 days of restoration of electric service after a power outage. Currently, much of this information is already provided on electric public utility websites. However, there is no requirement in the law that they do so. Without this requirement, this valuable information can be removed at will. | In Committee |
| A4783 | Requires electric public utilities to provide portable emergency power generators to affected area during certain power outages. | This bill requires electric public utilities to provide portable emergency power generators to affected areas during power outages that last for six hours or more. The electric public utility is required to provide portable emergency power generators by the end of the sixth hour in an amount necessary to restore temporary power to the affected area until the end of the power outage. The electric public utility is required to determine the amount of portable emergency power generators necessary to restore temporary power to the affected area from the end of the sixth hour through the remaining duration of the power outage. | In Committee |
| A4785 | Requires electric public utilities to pre-place repair equipment in areas with frequent power outages. | This bill requires electric public utilities (utilities) operating within the State to pre-place any equipment that is commonly required to remedy a power outage and restore electric service in services areas with frequent power outages due to high-risk events within 12 to 24 hours before a high-risk event. A utility is to consult with the Board of Public Utilities (board) to determine which service areas within its jurisdiction require the pre-placement of repair equipment. The bill also requires utilities to ensure that the pre-placed repair equipment is regularly maintained, technologically updated, and otherwise functionally reliable to assist with power restoration in a timely manner. Under the bill, the board is required to issue rules and regulations to establish guidelines to inform utilities of: (1) the kinds of repair equipment that should be pre-placed in areas with frequent power outages; and (2) best practices in terms of the logistics and procedure for pre-placing repair equipment prior to high-risk events. The bill defines "high-risk event" to mean an event that is likely to cause a power outage and includes, but is not limited to, excessive heat waves, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, high winds, tropical cyclones, and winter storms such as a blizzard.. | In Committee |
| A4789 | Requires electric public utilities to develop vegetation management plan. | This bill requires electric public utilities to develop and submit to the Board of Public Utilities (board) a vegetation management plan within six months of the bill's enactment. The plan is required to, at a minimum: (1) identify on a map those areas in need of vegetation management; (2) describe the type of vegetation management required at each of the identified areas; and (3) provide a timeframe for when vegetation management action will be taken at each of the identified areas. In addition, the bill requires an electric public utility to annually maintain and submit its vegetation management plan to the board. Under the bill, the board is required determine criteria for "dangerous vegetation," which is required to, at a minimum, include a tree, shrub, plant, or any other vegetation growing in, near, or adjacent to an electric public utility's right of way, and the electric distribution and transmission system, but not including a service line to an individual customer, which may include an electric distribution line, as determined by the electric public utility or local government entity that controls the right of way. The board is also required to establish criteria for a vegetation management plan, approve or reject a plan within 60 days of its submission to the board, and establish an appeal process for electric public utilities whose plans have been rejected by the board. Additionally, the bill defines "vegetation management" as the clearing, moving, cutting, or destroying to remove, replace as reasonable and necessary, or maintain dangerous vegetation. | In Committee |
| A4771 | Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens. | This bill provides that no person will receive a contract, loan, tax deferral, tax reduction, tax abatement, grant, subsidy, loan guarantee, certification, or license from the State unless that person has certified that his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law; or if the person is an employer receiving monies, licensure or any other benefit from the State, that the employer made a good faith effort to verify an employee's eligibility for employment in compliance with federal law. A penalty would apply only for "knowingly and willfully" false statements. The bill requires the New Jersey Department of Labor to prepare and make available to all State agencies a form which requires signatories, as individuals and as employers, to indicate compliance with federal law with regard to unauthorized aliens. The form will contain the following statement: "I certify that all the above statements are true, that I am aware that State law provides a penalty for written statements that are knowingly and willfully false and that the State of New Jersey reserves the right to terminate, cancel, rescind or revoke any privilege or benefit granted by the State based upon the above statements should any of them prove knowingly and willfully false." The bill states that the intent is to have each State agency incorporate the language of the form into existing documents and procedures rather than establish a separate certification filing system. | In Committee |
| AJR194 | Urges US Senate to pass federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." | This joint resolution urges the US Senate to pass the federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." To be eligible to vote in federal elections, voters must be US citizens. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), referred to as the "motor voter law," was enacted to make it easier for American citizens to register to vote by requiring states to allow individuals to register to vote when applying for or renewing their driver's licenses. However, efforts to streamline voter registration with states' departments of motor vehicles have resulted in state agencies mistakenly registering noncitizens to vote in federal elections. While the prevalence of voting by noncitizens is unknown, the shortcomings of voter registration systems have eroded public confidence in the integrity of federal elections, with over a quarter of Americans surveyed reporting concerns about counting ineligible votes, including votes cast by noncitizens, in the 2024 presidential election. Currently, federal law does not require documentary proof of citizenship when registering individuals to vote. Amid growing concerns about the adequacy of voting registration safeguards, members of the House of Representatives introduced and passed the federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." The SAVE Act would create uniform procedural safeguards for voter registration by amending the NVRA to require individuals to provide documentary proof of US citizenship and identity before registering to vote in federal elections and require states to implement programs to verify registrants' citizenship status. The SAVE Act would also grant states free access to federal databases to ensure ineligible voters are identified and removed. As confidence in the electoral process and results are fundamental to American democracy, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the US Senate to take swift action to enact the federal SAVE Act. | In Committee |
| A4781 | Prohibits ownership of certain protected land adjacent to military facilities in State by certain foreign governments and persons. | This bill prohibits sanctioned foreign governments and certain foreign persons from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any protected land in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. Under the bill, protected land includes certain parcels of land located within 10 miles of a military facility. The bill permits impacted foreign governments and foreign persons that already own or hold an interest in protected land in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the protected land to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity. The bill provides the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of protected land: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire protected land, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not prohibited from owning protected land; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to protected land acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on protected land taken for the purposes of security. Finally, the bill provides that any provision of the bill that is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. | In Committee |
| A4786 | Prohibits public utilities from charging smart meter opt-out fees. | This bill prohibits public utilities in this State from charging or collecting an opt-out fee to persons that have chosen not to have a smart meter installed in their places of residence. Under the bill, a "smart meter" is defined as a metering device that employs smart meter technology to measure, record, and transmit utility usage data to both a public utility and a customer for billing and other purposes. "Smart meter" includes a basic hourly interval meter, a meter with one-way communication, and a real-time meter with built-in, two-way communication capable of recording and transmitting instantaneous utility usage data. It is the sponsor's intent to help utility customers control their utility costs by exempting them from the fee charged by utilities for opting out of smart meter installation. Currently, residential customers are required to either agree to install a smart meter or pay a monthly fee to keep their analog meter. Utility customers have been experiencing larger and larger bills as companies save money by reducing employee costs. It is the sponsor's intent that that this legislation will promote choice in selecting a meter and save ratepayers money if they choose to keep an analog meter. | In Committee |
| A4788 | Exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts from the State sales and use tax the retail sales of natural gas and electrical services for residential customers. Public utilities that provide natural gas and electric services would be required, at the conclusion of each monthly billing cycle, to deduct from each customer's bill the amount that represents the sales and use tax. By exempting the purchase of natural gas and electrical services from the sales and use tax, residents will be able to find some measure of relief in the face of rising costs. | In Committee |
| A4805 | Requires legislative approval of State Board of Education rules and regulations; repeals equity regulations. | This bill requires legislative approval for all rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education and repeals the entirety of the "Managing for Equity in Education" regulations found within chapter 7 of Title 6A of the New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.6A:7). Under the bill, the State Board of Education is required to obtain legislative approval prior to adopting any new rule; amending a rule, readopting an expiring rule; or readopting a rule without changes, with technical changes, or with substantial changes. This legislative approval is to be in the form of the passage of a concurrent resolution. If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the rule or readoption, the rule is required to be adopted in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act." If the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the rule or readoption, it cannot be adopted. Additionally, the bill provides that the State board is required to include the concurrent resolution when filing for a notice of proposal or notice of adoption with the Office of Administrative Law. Finally, this bill repeals the State board's "Managing for Equity in Education" regulations recently adopted and found within N.J.A.C.6A:7. | In Committee |
| A4768 | Establishes "Cyber Security Reserve Corps;" appropriates $500,000. | This bill establishes the "Cyber Security Reserve Corps" in the Office of Information and Technology for the purposes of developing expertise and preparing for cyber security emergencies. The reserve corps will assist in cybersecurity risk management and provide response assistance to the State in the event of a critical cyber incident. The bill requires the Cyber Security Reserve Corps to be stationed in a satellite office in the City of Atlantic City with at least two full-time personnel stationed at the headquarters to effectively manage the recruitment, operations, and purchasing for the reserve corps. To become a member of the Cyber Security Reserve Corps, volunteers must have at least two years of direct involvement with information security, preferably with security operations, incident response, or digital or network forensics, and pass a series of tests designed by the Office of Information and Technology. Volunteers must commit to no less than 10 days per calendar year for relevant training and will be expected to respond and provide assistance to the State, a county, a municipality, or a public school system in the event of a critical cyber incident. Reserve corps members will serve without compensation. The bill also requires the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, or a designee, to establish a framework of cooperation between the reserve corps and counties, municipalities, public school systems, the National Guard, and military reserve organizations, as deemed necessary. These frameworks must include cyber security risk management protocols, established points and methods of contact, a step-by-step plan in the event of a critical cyber incident, and coordinated efforts to address cyber security concerns. The bill establishes the Cyber Security Reserve Corps Fund and makes an appropriation of $500,000 from the General Fund to the New Jersey Office of Information Technology for such fund in order to properly recruit, train, and manage volunteers, as well as purchase any necessary equipment. | In Committee |
| AJR193 | Designates April 27th of each year as "Ulysses S. Grant Day." | This resolution designates April 27th of each year as "Ulysses S. Grant Day" to promote greater public appreciation of the invaluable contributions made by Ulysses S. Grant. Ulysses S. Grant bravely served in the United States military through two treacherous wars. As the President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant continued to fight for peace, prosperity, and equal rights. History remembers Ulysses S. Grant not only as an important political leader, but an impenetrable force against tyranny for all Americans. Ulysses S. Grant also brought attention to the Jersey Shore, as he and numerous presidents thereafter vacationed in Long Branch. It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to honor President Ulysses S. Grant for his many outstanding contributions to this State and the United States. | In Committee |
| AR151 | Urges Cuba to extradite Joanne Chesimard to U.S. | This Assembly Resolution urges Cuba to extradite Joanne Chesimard to the United States. Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, was convicted in 1977 of the May 2, 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and wounding of New Jersey State Trooper James Harper during a shoot-out on the New Jersey Turnpike. After being pulled over for a routine traffic stop, Joanne Chesimard and fellow members of the radical Black Liberation Army opened fire on Troopers Foerster and Harper, and Joanne Chesimard eventually killed Trooper Foerster by shooting him in the head as he lay wounded by gunfire. In 1977, Joanne Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison, but two years later she escaped from a maximum security cell in what is now the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township, New Jersey. Joanne Chesimard later fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum and has lived ever since. State authorities have made numerous efforts to extradite Joanne Chesimard and in 2013, Joanne Chesimard was the first woman named to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most wanted terrorist list. Cuba is urged to extradite Joanne Chesimard to the United States so that she may be brought to justice for the murder of a dedicated law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| A4742 | Renames Blue Star Memorial Highway Council as Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council; renames Blue Star Memorial Highway system as Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system. | This bill renames the Blue Star Memorial Highway Council as the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council and the Blue Star Memorial Highway system as the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system to recognize Gold Star families. Gold Star families are immediate relatives of members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in combat or in support of certain military activities. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation, within 90 days of the bill's effective date, to update all signage throughout the State concerning the Blue Star Memorial Highway system to reflect the highway system's updated name, the "Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system." | In Committee |
| A4743 | Allows utility task vehicles used for farm operation to travel on public roadways. | This bill allows farmers to register a utility task vehicle used for farm operation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and to operate a utility task vehicles on public highways. Under current law, utility task vehicles are prohibited from operating on a public highway at any time from sunset to sunrise, with certain exceptions. Utility task vehicles are required to operate in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. As defined in this bill, the term "utility task vehicle" means any motorized utility or off-road vehicle with four wheels designed with seating for the operator and one or more passengers, side-by-side, and a steering wheel for steering control. | In Committee |
| A4734 | Requires Secretary of State to adjust census redistricting data to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State. | This bill requires the Secretary of State to adjust the redistricting data received from the Census Bureau to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State. Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires that a census be conducted every 10 years. The census has a profound influence on the nation's democracy, as the results are used to apportion seats in the United States House of Representatives to each state, determine each state's electoral votes allocated for a presidential election, and redraw congressional, state legislative, and local districts. The census figures are based on actual counts of all persons living in the United States, including citizens, noncitizen legal residents, noncitizen long-term visitors, and illegal immigrants. Due to the inclusion of noncitizens in the census counts, congressional, state legislative, and local districts with low numbers of noncitizens suffer politically in comparison to districts with high numbers of noncitizens. Current estimates suggest that, under the leadership of President Biden, over 10 million people have illegally entered the United States. The number of illegal immigrants continues to overwhelm U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the municipal services of border towns, illicit drugs like fentanyl continue to pour over the border, and the Biden administration willfully turns a blind eye to human trafficking and the safety of unaccompanied children. At a hearing held on January 17, 2024 by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, immigration policy and law enforcement experts testified how the unilateral decisions by the Biden administration are fueling unprecedented illegal immigration and jeopardizing border security. According to current estimates, the more than 10 million people who have entered the country illegally under President Biden have increased the population of illegal immigrants in the United States to more than 20 million people. The total noncitizen population in the United States, including illegal immigrants, noncitizen legal residents, and noncitizen long-term visitors, is estimated to be as high as 30 million people. It is imperative that the right of each American citizen to receive equal representation in government be protected from dilution. This bill therefore requires the Secretary of State to adjust the census redistricting data to remove the population of noncitizens for legislative and local redistricting purposes in this State. Under this bill, the Secretary of State will be required to adjust the census data that is used for redistricting purposes, to exclude the population of noncitizens in this State. The population of this State as adjusted to remove noncitizens would be the basis of the legislative districts established by the Apportionment Commission, county districts established by each county district commission, and municipal wards established by each municipal ward commission. | In Committee |
| A1941 | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | In Committee |
| A4360 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | An Act establishing a design professional self-certification program and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| S3474 | Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | An Act appropriating $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4570 | Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. | The bill appropriates $10,067,905 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $9,588,905 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $479,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs. 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. This bill appropriates funds to be used to provide grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Further, of the funding allocated for acquisition and development projects by nonprofit entities, a certain percentage is to be used to fund stewardship activities undertaken by nonprofit entities. A "stewardship activity" is defined in the "Preserve New Jersey Act" as an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken to repair or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $5,701,800 is allocated for 11 acquisition projects; $3,578,105 is allocated for four park development projects; and $309,000 is allocated for two stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill appropriates $479,000 to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. 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. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A3698 | 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. | This bill would appropriate $1.723 million to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation purposes. Specifically, the bill would appropriate funds for grants to one qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization for projects for five farms. The grants provided by the bill are for up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland for farmland preservation purposes, or up to 50 percent of the cost of acquisition of fee simple titles to farmland for resale or lease with agricultural deed restrictions approved by the SADC. Of the total appropriated, $896,678.23 is from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues, pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act. In addition, of the total appropriated, $826,321.77 is from the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," established pursuant to section 18 of the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," P.L.2009, c.117. All the funds in the bill are made available due to the reallocation of previously appropriated monies. The allocations and projects listed in this bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A4632 | Revises definition of persons engaging in investment activities in Iran to reduce threshold from $20 million to $10 million. | This bill amends the definition of persons engaging in investment activities in Iran to include persons providing goods or services, or financial institutions extending credit to persons for the provision of goods or services, in the amount of $10 million or more in the energy sector of Iran. Current law defines such persons as those providing $20 million or more of goods or services or credit for goods or services in the energy sector in Iran. The bill amends a law that prohibits public contracts by a State agency, local contracting unit, board of education, or county college with persons or entities engaged in certain investment activities in the energy and financial sectors of Iran. The purpose of the law is to support the federal sanctions policy of the United States to deny Iran the ability to support acts of international terrorism or to fund the development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction through its energy sector. Iran supports acts of international terrorism and military conflict through funds and technology connected to its energy sector. Iran-supported groups are attacking commercial ships and United States Navy vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Iran is supplying weapons to Russia for its war against Ukraine according to the United States Department of State. The United States Treasury Secretary has stated that Iran's attacks on United States allies in the Middle East and its financing of military organizations threaten to destabilize the region and could have broader economic consequences. Other states have recently expanded restrictions on companies that do business with Iran. United Against Nuclear Iran, a United States based nonprofit formed to combat the threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, has stated that $10 million is an appropriate threshold for restricting persons engaged in investment activities in Iran's energy sector from securing State or local government contracts. | In Committee |
| A4633 | Allows expectant mothers in third trimester to receive temporary parking privileges. | This bill permits expectant mothers during their third trimester of pregnancy to be eligible to receive a temporary parking placard, authorizing the expectant mother to park overtime at metered parking spots or to use special parking places established for use by persons with disabilities in any municipality of this State. Under the bill, the chief of police in each municipality is required to issue a temporary placard of not more than three months' duration to any expectant mother who is a resident of New Jersey during her third trimester of pregnancy, as certified by certain medical and healthcare professionals. Each temporary placard is valid for a period of three months and is required to display, in a clearly visible manner, the date on which the temporary placard will become invalid. The temporary placard is required to be granted upon proof to the chief of police in each municipality of written certification by certain certified medical and healthcare professionals that the expectant mother has entered into the third trimester of pregnancy. This certification is required to be provided on a standard form to be developed by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with local chiefs of police. The temporary placard is required to be displayed on the motor vehicle used by the expectant mother during her third trimester of pregnancy, and the fee for the issuance of a temporary placard is $4. | In Committee |
| A4629 | Allows exclusion of certain small business income from taxation under gross income tax and corporation business tax. | This bill excludes up to $50,000 of the income earned by qualified small businesses from taxation under the corporation business tax and the gross income tax. The provisions of this bill would apply to tax periods beginning after December 31, 2024. Under the bill, a ²qualified small business² is defined to include a business entity that: (1) is independently owned and operated, with management owning at least a 51 percent ownership interest in the corporation and being responsible for both its daily and long-term operations; (2) has its principal business operations located in the State; (3) is registered to do business in this State with the Director of the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services; (4) earned gross revenues not more than $2 million during the applicable tax period; and (5) employed not more than 20 full-time or part-time employees during the taxable year, not including certain seasonal employees, except that a majority of the employees are required to be residents of this State. | In Committee |
| AR145 | Urges Congress and President enact "Social Security Fairness Act." | This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Social Security Fairness Act," currently pending in Congress. Many of New Jersey's law enforcement officers, firefighters, and certain local governmental employees are unfairly penalized by Social Security offsets that reduce or eliminate the earned Social Security benefits of these employees or their spouses. Social Security was enacted in 1935. Initially, state and local governments and their employees were prohibited from participating. Over the years, federal laws were passed allowing these employers and employees the opportunity to elect to join the program. Most public employees in New Jersey retirement systems contribute to Social Security with the exception of law enforcement officers, firefighters, correctional officers, and others in certain local retirement systems. The windfall elimination provision (WEP) reduces benefits that were paid for as part of the Social Security payroll tax. The WEP can lead to a significant reduction of the Social Security benefit and can deprive a retiree of up to $587 per month of the Social Security that was earned and paid. The survivor benefit was paid for by the Social Security earner as part of the Social Security payroll tax. The survivor benefit was created to ensure the surviving spouse was not left without adequate financial support. The government pension offset (GPO) eliminates the survivor benefit even with a modest public pension. These provisions cause first responders and certain local governmental employees to prematurely retire and discourage qualified individuals from entering into government service. The "Social Security Fairness Act" would repeal these provisions. | In Committee |
| A4634 | Requires Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test to be offered as alternative assessment for high school graduation proficiency test requirement. | This bill requires the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery- Armed Forces Qualifying Test to be offered as alternative assessment for the high school graduation proficiency test requirement. Current law requires public high school students to pass the State graduation proficiency test to demonstrate mastery of the State graduation proficiency standards. State Board of Education regulations establish graduation pathways, which provide that a student may demonstrate proficiency by: 1) achieving a passing score on the State graduation proficiency test; 2) achieving a passing score on a corresponding substitute competency test; or 3) demonstrating proficiency through the portfolio appeals process. The regulations define "substitute competency test" to mean, for students in the classes of 2018 through 2022, an alternative set of third-party assessments approved by the Commissioner, including, but not limited to, the SAT, PSAT, ACT, ACT-Aspire, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test, or Accuplacer, that can be used to demonstrate competency in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for students who have not demonstrated proficiency on the State graduation proficiency test. In May 2023, the State Board of Education approved the graduation test requirements for the 2024 and 2025 classes, as well as the list of substitute competency tests, but removed the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test. It is the intent of this bill to reinstate the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test as an alternative assessment by adding it back to the list of substitute competency tests. | In Committee |
| A2369 | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | "New Jersey Works Act"; concerns businesses and pre-employment training programs; provides tax credit to businesses supporting pre-employment training programs; appropriates $1 million. | In Committee |
| A3301 | Creates crime of victimization of persons with disabilities and senior citizens. | This bill creates the separate crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability, which would be graded one degree higher than the offense that was committed. A person would be guilty of victimization if the person commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit or threatens the immediate commission of an offense specified in chapters 11 through 18 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes (criminal homicide; assault, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats; kidnapping and related offenses, coercion; sexual offenses; robbery; bias intimidation; arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction; and burglary and other criminal intrusion) against a senior citizen or a person with a disability. If the victim of an underlying offense is a senior citizen or a person with a disability, the actor would be strictly liable for the victimization offense and it would not be a defense that the actor did not know that the victim was a senior citizen or a person with a disability. Under the provisions of the bill, victimization is a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense is a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, it is a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime, except that when the underlying crime is a crime of the first degree, victimization is a first degree crime and the defendant, upon conviction thereof, may be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 10 years and 30 years, with a presumptive term of 20 years. The bill also provides that when the underlying crime was solely a third degree violation of N.J.S.A.2C:18-2 (burglary), it is an affirmative defense that the property entered was an unoccupied motor vehicle or other unoccupied structure. In a prosecution when the underlying crime was solely a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:17-3 (criminal mischief), it is an affirmative defense that no person other than the actor was present at the time the offense was committed. In addition, a conviction of victimization would not merge with a conviction of any of the underlying offenses. The court would impose separate sentences upon a conviction for victimization and a conviction of any underlying offense. A "person with a disability" is defined as a person who by reason of a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment is substantially incapable of exercising normal physical or mental power of resistance, and includes, but is not limited to, a person determined disabled pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or any other governmental retirement or benefits program that uses substantially the same criteria for determining eligibility. A "senior citizen" is defined as a person 60 years of age or older. | In Committee |
| A3034 | Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $100,000 appropriation; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote aquaculture products as part of the Jersey Fresh Program. The Jersey Fresh Program is the marketing and quality grading program that is currently used, by the department, to advertise and promote the availability of fruit and vegetable agricultural commodities that have been produced in the State and graded for quality. This bill would expand the Jersey Fresh Program to additionally include marketing for fish and shellfish that are produced in the State, or in State waters, through means of aquaculture, and the quality of which complies with standards adopted by the department and is verified thereby through the use of an appropriate quality grading system. The bill would require the department to develop and implement a quality grading system that is specific to the grading of aquaculture products, as distinguished from wild-caught seafood products, which system is to be consistent with, and similar to, the quality grading system that is used, by the department, to grade the quality of other agricultural commodities for the purposes of the Jersey Fresh Program. The bill provides an initial appropriation of $100,000 for the bill's purposes, and it additionally provides for an annual appropriation of $100,000 to be made in each fiscal year after the bill's effective date, in order to facilitate the ongoing marketing and promotion of aquaculture products under the Jersey Fresh Program. The monies made available under the bill would be in addition to any other monies that may be appropriated or allocated to the Jersey Fresh Program. | In Committee |
| A4609 | "Protecting Students from Obscene Material in School Libraries Act." | This bill, entitled the "Protecting Students from Obscene Material in School Libraries Act," requires boards of education to safeguard students from obscene material in school libraries and against school employees who provide obscene materials to students in school libraries. This bill requires boards of education to adopt a policy regarding obscene material in school libraries. Under the bill the policy is to: (1) establish criteria for material that is appropriate for a school library; (2) prohibit the inclusion of obscene material in a school library; (3) mandate that all school employees, including school library media specialists, comply with the State's criminal code's Obscenity For Persons Under 18; (4) create a procedure for a board to investigate a claim of a school employee's alleged violation of Obscenity For Persons Under 18, which in part prohibits a person from knowingly distributing or exhibiting obscene material to persons under 18 years of age; and (5) establish a scale of disciplinary actions against a school employee based on guidance and resources established by the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner, in consultation with the State Librarian, is to develop and distribute to school districts guidance and resources regarding: (1) examples of obscene material that are not to be included in a school library; (2) information concerning when a board of education should refer an allegation of a violation of Obscenity For Persons Under 18 to law enforcement; (3) recommended disciplinary actions against a school employee, which include termination of employment for a criminal conviction under Obscenity For Persons Under 18; and (4) any other information the commissioner deems necessary. The bill authorizes the commissioner to enforce the provisions of the bill. If the commissioner determines that a school district is noncompliant, the commissioner may impose appropriate sanctions, which can include the withholding of funds payable by the State to a school district. | In Committee |
| A4012 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, approximately $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.38 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| A4560 | Repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act." | This bill repeals the "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act," enacted as sections 32 through 38 of P.L.2008, c.46 (C.40:55D-8.1 through C.40:55D-8.7), which established a Statewide non-residential development fee charged by all municipalities for non-residential construction or improvements, at a rate of two and one-half percent of the equalized assessed value of land and improvements for all new non-residential construction on unimproved lots, and at a rate of two and one-half percent of the increase in equalized assessed value for additions to existing structures to be used for non-residential purposes. The bill also repeals and amends several statutes that reference the "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act." | In Committee |
| A4559 | Concerns certain workers' compensation supplemental benefits and funding method. | This bill provides, from July 1, 2025 forward, an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the weekly workers' compensation benefit rate for any worker who has become totally and permanently disabled from a workplace injury at any time after December 31, 1979 and for the surviving dependents of any worker who died from a workplace injury after December 31, 1979, except the COLA provided in this bill does not apply public safety workers and their dependents who already receive a COLA pursuant to P.L.2019, c.127, or to dependents of essential employees who died from COVID, who receive a COLA pursuant to P.L.2021, c.55. This adjustment is intended to mirror, to the extent possible, the COLA already in place for benefits arising from an injury occurring before 1980. The bill provides for the COLA to be an amount such that, when added to the workers' compensation weekly benefit rate initially awarded, the sum will bear the same percentage relationship to the maximum benefit rate at the time of the adjustment that the initial rate bore to the maximum rate at the time of the initial award, except that: (1) the bill reduces the amount of the adjustment as much as necessary to ensure that the sum of the adjustment and the amount initially awarded does not exceed the amount which would cause any reduction of Social Security disability benefits; (2) in cases which are not subject to the provisions of point one above, the bill reduces the supplemental workers' compensation benefits (but not regular workers' compensation) for claimants injured after 1979 by the amount of any Social Security benefits (other than Social Security disability benefits and any cost of living increases in Social Security benefits), Black Lung benefits, or the employer's share of disability pension payments received from or on account of an employer; (3) the bill requires that the COLA benefits will not be paid to any individual who elects to not receive benefits under the Federal Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Act for which the individual is eligible; and (4) the bill requires that the COLA increase portion of the benefit increase is funded out of the General Fund. These reductions parallel the reductions provided under current law for claimants who were injured before 1980. The bill also provides that no supplemental benefits will be paid in any case in which they are calculated to be less than $5 per week. Current law requires such annual adjustments in the rate of workers' compensation benefits for death and permanent total disability to be paid from the Second Injury Fund (SIF), but only for cases of injury or death occurring before January 1, 1980. The bill extends the adjustments paid from the SIF to claims originating after December 31, 1979, although the adjustments apply only to benefits paid on those claims after July 1, 2025 to avoid a backlog of retroactive benefits. To avoid an abrupt fiscal impact on the workers' compensation system, the bill provides that one third of the supplemental benefit rate be paid during the first year (fiscal year 2026), two thirds of the rate be paid during the second year (fiscal year 2027), and the full amount be paid during the third year (fiscal year 2028) and subsequent years. The cost of living supplement that the bill provides to an individual for total permanent disability or survivor's benefits under workers' compensation will be reduced by the original amount of that individual's periodic Social Security survivor's or retirement benefits, but not reduced by subsequent cost of living increases in those Social Security benefits. In the case of an individual who initially received Social Security disability benefits and later receives Social Security retirement benefits, or who dies and has dependents who receive Social Security survivors' benefits, the workers' compensation supplement will then be reduced by the amount of the Social Security retirement or survivor benefits, exclusive of any cost of living increase in those Social Security retirement or survivor benefits. The bill sets time limits for workers' compensation insurers and self-insured employers to notify the SIF when supplemental workers' compensation benefits are required under the bill. An insurer or self-insured employer is required to provide the notice not more than 60 days after the supplement is awarded or voluntary payment is to begin. If a failure to notify results in the payment of an incorrect amount of benefits, the liability for the payment of the supplemental benefits is transferred from the SIF to the insurer or employer until the required notice is provided. The bill makes no change in the provisions of sections 1 and 9 of P.L.1980, c.83 (C.34:15-95.4 and 34:15-95.5), which provide for the reduction of certain portions of workers' compensation benefits by the amount of Social Security disability benefits paid. In addition, the bill expressly states that the supplemental benefits shall not be paid in a manner which in any way changes or modifies the provisions of those sections. The bill, therefore, will have no effect on existing provisions of State and federal law regarding offsets between workers' compensation and federal Social Security disability benefits. | In Committee |
| A4557 | "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act"; bans abortion 20 weeks or more after fertilization. | This bill, designated as the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," provides that an abortion is not to be performed or attempted if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater, with certain exceptions noted below. It is to be unlawful for a person to perform an abortion or attempt to do so, unless the person is a physician who has first made a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child or has reasonably relied upon this determination made by another physician. In making the determination, a physician is to make inquiries of the pregnant woman and perform any medical examinations or tests necessary to accurately determine post-fertilization age. The bill provides an exception to the above provisions if: (1) the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant women whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by, or arising from, the pregnancy itself; (2) the pregnancy is the result of rape, if reported to a law enforcement agency prior to the abortion; or (3) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest against a minor, if reported to a law enforcement agency or to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families prior to the abortion. In terminating or attempting to terminate a pregnancy under these circumstances, the physician may do so only in a manner which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless the termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of death of the pregnant woman or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The bill also: outlines the procedures that a physician who performs or attempts an abortion must follow, consistent with the federal "Born Alive Infant Protection Act", if an exception provided in the bill exists and the pain-capable unborn child survives the abortion or attempted abortion; outlines the documentation from a law enforcement agency, Department of Defense victim assistance personnel, or DCCP, that a physician is required to file proving a pregnant woman or minor seeking an abortion has been raped or is a victim of incest; requires the woman seeking the abortion, the physician performing or attempting to perform the abortion, and a witness to sign an informed consent authorization form; and requires any physician who performs or attempts an abortion pursuant to the bill to annually submit a summary of all such abortions to the National Center for Health Statistics as provided by the conditions outlined in the bill. A person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion in violation of the bill's requirements is to be guilty of a crime of the third degree (punishable by three to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to $15,000, or both); however, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed is to be immune from civil or criminal liability. A woman or the parent of a minor upon whom an abortion is performed in violation of the provisions of the the bill may, in a civil action against any person who committed the violation, obtain appropriate relief the conditions delineated in the bill. The bill, which is modeled on H.R.36 of the 114th Congress, is intended to address the concern that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain by 20 weeks after fertilization, if not earlier. Surgeons in the field of maternal and fetal medicine have found it necessary to sedate an unborn child to prevent the unborn child from engaging in vigorous movement in reaction to invasive surgery. It is the purpose of this Legislature to assert a compelling governmental interest in protecting the lives of unborn children from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates they are capable of feeling pain. | In Committee |
| A4504 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-owned lakes; appropriates $2 million. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct, cause to be constructed, or enter into long-term contracts with the owners of private marinas to provide for, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed. Any contract entered into with an owner of a private marina would be subject to a public bidding process. The bill would appropriate $2 million from the General Fund to the DEP in order to provide for the public boat access required by the bill. The bill is intended to ensure the public has boat access to any State-owned lake on which boats are allowed. Greenwood Lake is one example where a public boat launch is needed in order to ensure that the public is able to enjoy the same access to the lake as private property owners adjacent to the lake and members of private marinas located on the lake. Currently, there is no public boat launch in either New Jersey or New York. Private marina owners have previously allowed day-use access to their privately-owned boat ramps for a fee. However, as marinas on the lake have surged in popularity and there has been an increase in demand for access, particularly seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, these private marinas are operating at capacity and have either limited or eliminated public day-use access. Thus, members of the public are denied boating access to the lake. | In Committee |
| A4453 | Prohibits application, implementation, or enforcement of policies and rules established by international organizations in this State. | This bill would prohibit the State of New Jersey, all departments, boards, commissions, agencies, authorities, and political subdivisions thereof, and all courts of competent jurisdiction within the State from applying, implementing, or enforcing the policies, rules, or regulations of an international organization. As defined under the bill, "international organization" means an organization established by a multinational agreement or pursuant to international law. This includes, but is not limited to, the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Economic Forum. | In Committee |
| A4430 | Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office. | This bill requires the board of trustees of any State or locally-administered pension fund or retirement system to order the forfeiture of all of the earned service credit or pension or other retirement benefit of any member who is convicted of a crime under the laws of this State, or of an offense under the laws of another state or the United States, for misconduct occurring during the member's service in an elective or appointive public office or position which involves or touches the office or position and renders the service dishonorable. This would apply whether or not the fund or system covered the public office or position. Current law provides for the full forfeiture of all of the pension or retirement benefit of any member, elected or appointed, convicted of certain listed crimes involving or touching the office or employment if the pension or benefit is from the system or fund which covered the office or employment involved in the offense. In addition, under current law, a board of trustees of a pension system may order the full or partial forfeiture of the pension of any member for any kind of misconduct which renders the public service dishonorable. The board considers 11 factors in its evaluation of the public service. | In Committee |
| AJR179 | Establishes "Commission on Apprenticeship Program Promotion." | This joint resolution establishes the "Commission on Apprenticeship Program Promotion." The commission shall consist of seven members: the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or the commissioner's designee; the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; one member to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and one member to be appointed by the Governor. Under the resolution, the commission would study the best way to promote apprenticeship programs to high school students in a manner and form that demonstrates the value of the education and skills acquired through apprenticeship programs and the economic opportunities available upon completion of such a program. The members of the commission are to be appointed within 60 days from the enactment of the resolution, and the commission is to issue a report one year after the date of its organization. The commission would submit the report, together with any recommendations it may have to legislative or regulatory action, to the Governor and the Legislature. The commission would dissolve 30 days after the issuance of its final report. | In Committee |
| A4412 | Establishes certification process for non-physicians to perform laser tattoo removal. | This bill directs the Board of Medical Examiners to establish requirements to allow a non-physician to obtain certification to perform laser tattoo removal. The requirements are to include qualifications of a non-physician to provide tattoo removal services, development or approval of testing, and continuing education for certification renewal. Under the bill, a non-physician is required to obtain certification before offering laser tattoo removal services. A certification in tattoo removal services is to be renewed on a biennial basis with the board. | In Committee |
| A4424 | Concerns justified use of force and deadly force. | This bill revises the law concerning the justified use of force and deadly force. Under the bill, a person is justified in using or threatening to use force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other person's imminent use of unlawful force. A person who uses or threatens to use such force does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use such force. The bill provides that a person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if the person reasonably believes that using or threatening to use deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the person or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a crime set forth in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.126 (C.2C:43-7.1). The referenced crimes are those enumerated in the "Three Strikes" law. They include murder; aggravated manslaughter; manslaughter; kidnapping; aggravated sexual assault; robbery; carjacking; aggravated assault; burglary; and unlawful possession of a weapon. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force under the bill does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person is not engaged in the commission of a crime and is in a place where the person has a right to be. The bill repeals the current statutes concerning the use of force and deadly force, set out in N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4407 | Increases daily compensation for election workers and increases additional compensation rate for election workers managing signature copy registers. | This bill increases the daily compensation for election workers from $300 per day to $400 per day. It also increases the additional compensation rate for election workers who obtain and return signature copy registers. Under current law, if one election worker obtains or returns the signature copy registers, the additional compensation is $12.50. If two election workers share the responsibility, each receives an additional $6.25. This bill will increase the compensation rate to $20 and $10, respectively. Under current law, election workers are paid $300 per day each time the primary election, general election, or any special election is held. The State reimburses $225 of the payment to the election workers while the counties account for the rest. This bill increases the State's reimbursement to $325 while keeping the counties sum at $75. | In Committee |
| AJR178 | Urges US Department of Veterans Affairs to study use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans. | This joint resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to study the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans. While serving their country, military members can come across various traumatic events through circumstances such as war zone deployment, training accidents, and military sexual trauma. Among veterans using health care provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 23 percent had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their life. PTSD can cause chemical changes in the body's hormonal system and autonomic nervous system, as well as changes to brain activity and structure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been effective in treating disruptions of brain structure and functions, making it a potential alternative treatment for PTSD. In 2017, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced it would offer HBOT as a treatment option for a small group of veterans with PTSD symptoms resistant to standard treatments. Additionally, two evidence briefs on the use of HBOT to treat veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD in whom other treatments have not been successful were prepared for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. On April 16, 2024, legislation establishing a pilot program at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to furnish HBOT for veterans who have PTSD or TBI passed the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health by voice vote. It is important that a study on the efficacy of HBOT be conducted to determine if the treatment will bring about beneficial changes for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly serve the nation and risk their lives to protect our freedom. | In Committee |
| A4057 | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | In Committee |
| ACR135 | Proposes constitutional amendment prohibiting any student from being compelled to attend public school other than one nearest to student's residence. | This constitutional amendment would prohibit compelling any student to attend a public school other than the public school nearest to the student's residence and which is located within the school district in which the student resides, provided the public school provides the course of study which the student is pursuing. | In Committee |
| AR137 | Urges Congress and President of United States to enact "Laken Riley Act." | This resolution urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Laken Riley Act," which requires that migrants who enter the country illegally and are accused of theft be taken into federal custody. The "Laken Riley Act" was introduced in response to the tragic murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan migrant, was charged with the crime. The death of Laken Riley is a stark example of the devastating consequences that can result from lax immigration policies. Before being taken into custody for murder, Ibarra had been arrested for shoplifting. The "Laken Riley Act" would have prevented Riley's murder by requiring that migrants who enter the country illegally and are accused of theft be taken into federal custody. The passage of the "Laken Riley Act" by the United States Congress and its enactment into law by the President would represent a significant step towards enhancing public safety across the country and the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A4259 | Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses. | This bill makes changes to the "New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act" in order to expand the scope of the law with regard to small businesses, defined as businesses that employ fewer than 100 full-time employees or having gross annual sales of less than $6 million. The bill requires an agency to use, when developing rules, the consolidation or simplification of a compliance or reporting requirement for small businesses as an approach to minimize the rule's impact on small businesses, so long as the public health, safety, or general public welfare is not endangered. Under the bill, an agency seeking to continue in effect an expiring rule by duly proposing for re-adoption the rule, with amendment, prior to its expiration, is to consider a series of factors, as part of the regulatory flexibility analysis, which are set forth in the bill. This review is to be conducted by the agency at the time a rule is proposed for re-adoption (which is generally every seven years), to ensure that the rule continues to have a minimal impact on small businesses. The bill establishes a process by which a small business that is adversely affected economically or aggrieved by final rule-making action may file a petition with the agency objecting to all or a part of a rule subject to regulatory flexibility analysis. For cases in which the agency rejects the petition, this process addresses concerns about frivolous appeals without creating unprecedented procedures with respect to the courts. Specifically, the bill: (1) establishes a petition process as a prerequisite for a court appeal; (2) requires the appeal petition to be filed within 90 days after final rule-making action; (3) creates an optional summary disposition process based on affidavits; (4) sets sanctions for frivolous appeals; and (5) places a restriction on appeals based on compliance with the regulatory flexibility process. | In Committee |
| A4257 | Concerns applicability of sales tax to certain horse-boarding charges in New Jersey. | This bill clarifies the sales tax collection responsibilities of horse-boarding businesses in New Jersey by providing an exemption from tax for the lease or rental of certain stable stalls and charges for horse boarding and certain other relate services. Under the bill, the taxable service of "furnishing space for storage" is redefined to exclude from tax charges for the lease or rental of certain stable stalls. The bill provides that the service of "furnishing space for storage" does not include, and the taxable service therefore does not apply to, charges for the lease or rental of a stall in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility for the boarding or stabling or for the keeping or holding of a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny. The bill exempts from tax certain charges for boarding a horse. The bill provides that charges for storing a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility by a person engaged in the business of boarding or stabling or otherwise keeping or holding horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies are exempt from the sales tax. The bill also exempts from tax certain services provided for the care of horses boarded by persons engaged in the business of boarding horses. The bill provides that charges for maintaining or servicing a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny that is boarded or stabled or that is kept or held in a barn, stable, or other similar structure or facility by a person engaged in the business of boarding or stabling or otherwise keeping or holding horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or hinnies are exempt from the sales tax. This bill provides that the tax exemptions established by the bill would apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 next following the bill's date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A4200 | Prohibits collecting of certain costs associated with offshore wind projects from ratepayers. | This bill amends the "Offshore Wind Economic Development Act" to provide that the Board of Public Utilities ("BPU") may not require ratepayers to pay or prepay any costs associated with the subsidies for qualified offshore wind projects approved by the BPU. Under current law, the BPU administers an offshore wind renewable energy certificate ("OREC") program that permits qualified offshore wind projects to sell ORECs to electric power suppliers and basic generation service providers at a price and for a time period determined by order of the BPU. An OREC is a portion of the mechanism in which subsidies are provided for offshore wind projects by allowing eligible projects to be credited with saleable ORECs for each megawatt-hour generated by the project and delivered to the transmission grid. However, pursuant to regulations adopted by the BPU, the State currently requires electric public utilities to impose an OREC surcharge on ratepayers to pre-collect the costs of the project subsidy. Ratepayers are later refunded based on the revenue generated from the sale of ORECs. This bill prohibits the BPU from requiring ratepayers to make any payments or prepayments for any part of the subsidy for a qualified offshore wind project, including, but not limited to, an OREC surcharge or any other similar fee or rate intended to recover the costs of the subsidy. | In Committee |
| A4230 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
| A4256 | Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires the Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6, which restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Under the directive, among other provisions, State, county, and local law enforcement are prohibited from providing certain assistance to federal immigration authorities when the sole purpose is to enforce federal civil immigration law. In addition to other restrictions, the directive prohibits law enforcement from providing notice of a detained individual's upcoming release from custody or continuing the detention of a person past the time the person would be released from custody based solely on a civil immigration detainer request, with certain exceptions. The restrictions set forth in this directive pose a danger to the citizens of this State and are a substantial threat to public safety. Therefore, it is imperative that this directive be repealed. | In Committee |
| AR132 | Denounces organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and political prisoners in People's Republic of China. | This resolution denounces the practice of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, political dissidents, and ethnic minorities in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The harvesting of organs from executed prisoners is well-documented in the PRC. The practice was officially sanctioned in 1984 upon the enactment of the "Temporary Rules Concerning the Utilization of Corpses or organs from the Corpses of Executed Criminals," which explicitly stated that "the use of the corpses or organs of executed criminals must be kept strictly secret, and attention must be paid to avoiding negative repercussions." According to the former PRC Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu, more than 90 percent of China's deceased organ donations in 2005 were obtained from executed prisoners. By 2013, approximately 50 percent of the country's estimated 100,000 annual organ transplantations were reportedly supplied by executed prisoners. Credible reports indicate that the PRC heavily targeted imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners for organ harvesting beginning in the early 2000s. Founded in 1992 by Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that uses meditative exercises and emphasizes the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. By 1999, the movement gained over 70 million practitioners throughout China. However, fearing Falun Gong's growing societal influence, the PRC President Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide campaign in July 1999 to eliminate the practice. Since then, Falun Gong practitioners throughout China have been imprisoned, tortured, and coerced into renouncing their beliefs. Practitioners who refused to recant became prime targets of organ harvesting. An estimated 65,000 Falun Gong practitioners were killed for their organs between 2000 and 2008 alone. Ethnic minorities and political prisoners, most notably Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province, were also reportedly targeted for organ harvesting. According to human rights organizations such as Freedom House, "there is reason to believe that such abuses continue" in 2017. Harvesting organs from religious or political prisoners violates not only ethical medical standards but also the universal rights of the Chinese people. The State of New Jersey stands in solidarity with the Falun Gong, its practitioners, and every other victim of Chinese organ harvesting. | In Committee |
| A4244 | Revises distribution of monies from Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund to municipalities. | This bill revises the distribution of monies from the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund (AEREF) to municipalities for the purpose of maintaining their municipal courts. The bill provides specifically as follows: · Beginning January 15, 2023, and each year thereafter, each municipality in the State is to report to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) the number of drunk driving arrests made in its municipality during the preceding calendar year.· The AOC is to certify the number of arrests reported for the preceding calendar year by each municipality.· Beginning for calendar year 2022, the amount of funding to be allocated to each reporting municipality from the AEREF is to be calculated as follows: --The total amount of funding received by the municipality from the AEREF in the preceding year is to be multiplied by 50 percent, and the resulting figure will then be divided by the total number of drunk driving arrests in the municipality for the same calendar year to determine the unit dollar value for each arrest. --The total amount of funding received by the municipality from the AEREF in the preceding year is to be multiplied by 50 percent, and the resulting figure will then be divided by the average number of yearly drunk driving arrests in the municipality for the preceding five calendar years to determine a five-year unit dollar value for each arrest. --The two figures calculated above are to be added together, and the resulting figure will determine the total unit dollar value for each arrest. --The amount to be allocated to each reporting municipality will be the proportion of its total unit dollar value to the total amount of funds available for allocation from the "Municipal Court Administration Reimbursement Fund." | In Committee |
| AR135 | Opposes President Biden's revocation of Presidential Permit for Keystone XL pipeline. | This resolution expresses the Assembly's opposition to the revocation of the Presidential Permit granted to TC Energy for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a proposed project that would have added up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day to the United States oil supply. The resolution asks President Biden to reconsider his decision and to reverse course in the best interest of American energy security, economic interests, and environmental impacts. If President Biden fails to reinstate the Presidential Permit, this resolution then calls on the United States Congress to overturn President Biden's decision to revoke the permit. Based on analyses performed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Fraser Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, the Keystone XL pipeline would likely reduce the transportation costs, incidence of oil spills, and frequency of safety incidents that are involved with the transportation of oil from the remote Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Canada currently holds the third largest proven oil reserves worldwide. Promoting a mutually beneficial trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada by constructing the Keystone XL Pipeline is in America's best interest with respect to energy security and economic, safety, and environmental concerns. | In Committee |
| A4249 | Provides limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. | This bill would provide limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. An agritourism activity is an interactive or passive activity, carried out without or without payment to an agritourism host on a farm, related to agriculture, food production, historic tradition, or nature watching, and which is conducted by an agritourism host for the education, entertainment, or recreation of participants. Agritourism activities include farming activities, the viewing of cultural, historic, or natural attractions, pick-your-own activities, nature watching, and activities involving an animal exhibition at an agricultural fair. It would not include roadside farm stands or operations exclusively devoted to the sale of merchandise or food at retail. Under the bill, an agritourism host would not have a legal duty to protect a participant from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, and would not be liable for injury to or death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, provided the host gives proper warning as required in section 3 of the bill. Proper warning, as specified in the bill, is the posting of a warning notice on certain signs and contracts. That warning notice would read: "WARNING: Under New Jersey law, an agritourism host is not liable for the injury or death of a participant in an agritourism activity resulting from the inherent risk of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks include without limitation the risk of animals, weather, land conditions, and the potential for you as a participant to act in a negligent way that may contribute to your own injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity." Failure to follow the warning requirements would result in the agritourism host's loss of limited liability protections. The limitation on liability also would not extend to any agritourism host who: (1) commits an act or omission of gross negligence concerning the safety of a participant that proximately causes injury or death to the participant; (2) has actual knowledge of a dangerous condition on the land, facilities, or equipment used in the activity or the dangerous propensity of a particular animal used in the activity that proximately causes injury or death to the participant and does not make that danger known to the participant; (3) intentionally injures a participant; or (4) commits any other act, error, or omission that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct, gross negligence, or criminal conduct that proximately causes injury or death to the participant. The limitation on liability provided by the bill would be in addition to any other limitation on liability provided by law, including, but not limited to, the limitations on liability for outdoor sports and recreational activities and equine animal activities. Finally, the bill would repeal P.L.1997, c.378 (C.2A:42A-9 et seq.) concerning farmer immunity for "pick-your-own" operations. The protections in that law would be included in this bill, and are expanded to include agritourism activities generally. This bill is modeled substantially on legislation from Arkansas. | In Committee |
| A4250 | Establishes expedited ejectment proceeding to remove certain unauthorized real property occupants. | This bill establishes an expedited ejectment proceeding to remove certain unauthorized occupants of real property. In an action by a property owner in the Superior Court to obtain possession of real property from a person occupying the property without the consent of the owner, without color of title, and without making any prior payment for the occupancy, the bill requires the court to, within three business days of receiving a verified complaint, allow a hearing on the complaint to proceed. The court is required to notify the real property owner or the owner's agent of the court's determination. If the court allows a special expedited ejectment proceeding, the court is required to fix the date of the hearing, to occur on or before the fifth business day following the court's determination. In the complaint filed by the real property owner or the owner's agent, the real property owner or the owner's agent is required to certify the following:· that prior to the submission of the complaint to the court, the property occupant has been provided with written notice of the complaint or written notice has been posted prominently on the real property;· the person verifying the complaint is the property owner or the owner's agent;· the occupant of the property has never been a lawful tenant of the property, and does not lawfully own or possess the real property; · the occupant of the property has never paid rent to the property owner or the owner's agent; and · the occupant of the property has never had a written lease or other written permission from the property owner or the owner's agent, to reside on the property. In addition to any notice that the Administrative Director of the Courts may determine to be appropriate, a property occupant, who is the subject of a complaint submitted in accordance with the bill, would be provided with written notice of the date, time, and location of the special expedited ejectment proceeding within 24 hours of scheduling. If, in a special expedited ejectment proceeding, the court determines that the information certified by the owner or the owner's agent is accurate, the bill requires the court to issue a writ of possession. An officer of the court is required by the bill to remove the unauthorized occupant following the issuance of the writ of possession. The bill provides that the court would be authorized to extend the timeline requirements, if necessary in the interest of justice, in extraordinary circumstances. The bill provides that a person commits a crime of the third degree if the person knowingly forges a document for the purpose of availing oneself of, or circumventing, the special ejectment proceeding processes established in the bill. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, and a fine of up to $15,000. As a result of existing provisions of chapter 39 of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, which this bill supplements, a property owner who prevails in an action initiated pursuant to the bill, would recover all damages proximately caused by the unlawful occupancy, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Additionally, the bill provides that a prevailing property owner would be entitled to treble damages for all damages proximately caused by the unlawful entry and detainer. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment, and would apply to an action for a writ of possession initiated on or after that date. | In Committee |
| A4247 | Designates month of November as "Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Awareness Month" in NJ. | This bill designates the month of November as "Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Awareness Month" in New Jersey, and requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation calling on public officials and citizens of the State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), also known as complex regional pain syndrome, is a debilitating and progressively chronic condition characterized by severe burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch. In 2007, New Jersey established a reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome education and research program in the Department of Health in order to increase public awareness of the causes of RSDS, promote the value of early detection and the diagnosis of and possible treatments for the syndrome, and support research, through public and private sources, to accurately identify, diagnose, and treat RSDS. | In Committee |
| A4245 | Decreases Alcoholic Beverage Tax rate paid on certain liquors. | This bill decreases the Alcoholic Beverage Tax (ABT) rate paid on certain liquors. Currently, the ABT rate is $5.50 a gallon of liquor. This bill revises the ABT rate to provide that liquor which is manufactured in a distillery producing no more than 20,000 gallons of distilled alcoholic beverages per year shall be taxed at the rate of $2.75 a gallon; the ABT rate for liquor manufactured in distilleries producing more than 20,000 gallons remains $5.50 a gallon. The form in which the taxpayers must file the ABT rate will be prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation in accordance with the Director's rule making authority. By decreasing the tax burden imposed on distilleries producing less than 20,000 gallons, the sponsor's intent is to encourage the start-up of additional distilleries in this State. Additionally, a lower ABT rate for small distilleries will allow these distilleries to become competitive with larger distilleries, which have a scale of economies by virtue of their size. Currently, a taxpayer in this State must file an ABT return bimonthly. Accordingly, this bill will become effective immediately and apply to all sales and deliveries made on the first day of the bimonthly reporting period next following enactment of this bill into law. | In Committee |
| ACR132 | Urges federal government to refrain from implementing any ban on gas powered appliances in residential or commercial buildings. | This concurrent resolution urges the federal government to refrain from enacting any ban on the use of natural gas appliances in residential or commercial buildings. Natural gas is a critically important part of the energy portfolio of the United States and of New Jersey. Natural gas appliances, including cooktops, ovens, grills, air conditioners, furnaces, heaters, laundry machines, hot water heaters, and fireplaces, are used in both commercial and residential settings. Approximately 47 percent of US households utilize natural gas as their main heating fuel and 38 percent of US households utilize natural gas for cooking. In New Jersey, approximately 69 percent of households utilize natural gas cooking and 73 percent of New Jersey households utilize natural gas as their main heating fuel. New Jersey has over 35,000 miles of natural gas distribution lines which service over 2.9 million customers. Natural gas is generally recognized as a cleaner, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly form of energy than other fossil fuels. Natural gas is abundant in the United States, including neighboring states such as Pennsylvania and New York, and helps the United States maintain energy independence from foreign powers. The natural gas industry employs thousands of people across the country, including in the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| AR133 | Opposes all proposals to change designation of Delaware Water Gap from National Recreation Area to National Park and Preserve, including proposal from Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve Alliance. | This resolution expresses opposition to all proposals to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a National Recreation Area to a National Park and Preserve and expand the current boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area ("Delaware Water Gap") is a unit of the National Park System located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that encompasses portions of Sussex and Warren Counties. The Delaware Water Gap offers numerous recreational opportunities that are enjoyed by the residents of Sussex and Warren counties, as well as residents from throughout the State and visitors from across the country. A recently proposed project titled "Delaware Water Gap: Redesignation Project" ("Redesignation Project") seeks to change the designation of the Delaware Water Gap from a National Recreation Area to the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve, and to expand the area of the present Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The specifics and scope of the Redesignation Project and the environmental, economic, and agricultural impacts of the project, remain unknown, including if, and how, fees will be collected, and how the project will be funded. In addition, the Redesignation Project raises concerns that the rights of local property owners may be disregarded. It is possible the federal government will use eminent domain to acquire private and State property alongside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, including nearby High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, and Worthington State Forest. The conversion of private property to federal property would result in numerous economic ramifications. It would result in a reduction of tax revenue in affected municipalities, may negatively affect local school districts in the area, and may negatively affect the local economy by preventing farmers who lease land along the Delaware River from producing crops that feed livestock. The Redesignation Project may further affect the local economy by prohibiting or restricting recreational activities, including hunting. As stakeholders determined in 2016, prohibiting these recreational activities will cause local businesses in Sussex and Warren counties to suffer financially, and prevent local residents from enjoying hunting and other recreational activities locally. | In Committee |
| A4241 | Expands "Body Armor Replacement Fund" eligibility. | This bill expands the eligibility criteria for recipients of grants provided by the "Body Armor Replacement" fund. Currently, local law enforcement agencies, the Division of State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Department of Corrections are entitled to grants from the "Body Armor Fund". This bill would permit the Attorney General to administer grants to any other State agency or department that appoints law enforcement officers, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, which could then procure body vests for conservation officers and State Park Police officers. The bill also defines "law enforcement officer" for the purpose of determining eligibility to receive grant funding. | In Committee |
| A4251 | Requires school districts to allow students receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities in student's resident district. | This bill requires school districts to allow students receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to participate in any school-sponsored extracurricular activity including, but not limited to, clubs, musical ensembles, Statewide interscholastic sports programs, and theatrical productions in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. Under the bill, a student receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school who wishes to participate in an extracurricular activity in the resident district is required to: (1) provide proof that the student resides in the district; (2) meet the eligibility and try out criteria for participation in the activity; and (3) comply with all policies, rules, and regulations of the governing organization of the extracurricular activity. In the event that the extracurricular activity involves participation in interscholastic athletics, the student is to demonstrate to the board of education that the student did not transfer to a program providing equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school for athletic advantage. Under the bill, if the extracurricular activity requires the completion of a physical examination or medical test as a condition of participation and the school district of residence offers the examination or test to the students enrolled in the school district, then the school district is required to allow a student receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school to access the examination or test and publish the dates and times of the examination or test on its website. | In Committee |
| A4242 | The "New Jersey Right to Home Defense Law." | This bill, the "New Jersey Right to Home Defense Law," authorizes a person to use force, including deadly force, in those instances where the person reasonably fears imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm from an intruder or attacker in his home or residence. The bill sets forth the circumstances under which a person is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm. Those circumstance include instances where a individual: (1) is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering a home or residence; (2) has unlawfully and forcibly entered a home or residence; or (3) has removed, or is attempting to unlawfully remove another, against that person's will, from a home or residence; or (4) when the actor knows or reasonably believes that an unlawful and forcible entry is occurring or has occurred; or (5) when the actor knows or reasonably believes that an unlawful and forcible act is occurring or has occurred. The bill clarifies that a person presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily harm to himself or another in his home or residence has no duty to retreat and is justified in using force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or serious bodily harm to himself or another. Finally, the bill provides immunity, both criminal and civil, for any person who is justified in using force. Under the bill, the court is authorized to award reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income and all expenses incurred by a defendant who is wrongly subject to a civil action. | In Committee |
| A4235 | Establishes motor vehicle registration for street rods and custom motor vehicles. | This bill creates a new motor vehicle registration for street rods and custom motor vehicles. The bill defines a street rod as a motor vehicle that was manufactured prior to 1948, or after 1948 but was manufactured in a manner to resemble a vehicle manufactured prior to 1949; and has been altered from the manufacturer's original design, or the body of the motor vehicle has been constructed from non-original parts. Custom motor vehicles are defined under the bill as a motor vehicle that: 1) is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948, or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; and 2) has been altered from the manufacturer original design, or the body of the motor vehicle has been constructed from non-original parts. Under the provisions of the bill, an applicant for a custom motor vehicle is required to certify in writing that the vehicle will not be used for general transportation, but may be used for activities, including but not limited to, occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, and tours. The bill also provides that the chief administrator of the motor vehicle commission is to certify, authorize, and issue a certificate of ownership to the owner of a custom motor vehicle or street rod, provided that the owner submits proof that the vehicle qualifies as a street rod or custom motor vehicle. Under the bill, the year of manufacture and model year stated on the certificate of ownership is to be the year of manufacture and model year that the street rod or custom motor vehicle resembles. The bill requires that the phrase "Replica-Custom Motor Vehicle" or "Replica-Street Rod" be conspicuously printed at the top of the certificate of ownership. The bill further requires the chief administrator to issue special license plates for street rods and custom motor vehicles. The chief administrator, in consultation with representatives from the National Street Rod Association, is to choose the design, including an emblem and a color scheme of the license plates. The bill provides that the application for a license plate shall be accompanied by a fee of $50, payable to the motor vehicle commission. The owner of a street rod or custom motor vehicle is required to pay $10 annually for the use of the special license plate. In addition, the provisions of the bill provide that a street rod or custom motor vehicle is exempt from regular inspections under the law. These vehicles also would be exempt from having specific equipment added or affixed to the vehicle that was not required under State law following the year of manufacture listed on the vehicle's certificate of ownership. Finally, the bill provides that a street rod or custom vehicle may be equipped with a "blue dot tail light" as a rear reflector, turn signal or stop lamp. The bill defines "blue dot tail light" as a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter. | In Committee |
| A4237 | Requires certain contractors to verify work authorization of newly hired employees. | This bill requires every contractor who is required to pay its employees the prevailing wage rate as determined by the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act," P.L.1963, c.150 (C.34:11-56.25 et seq.), to verify the employment eligibility of its employees through the E-Verify program. E-Verify is an electronic verification of work authorization program jointly operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The bill requires these contractors to use the E-Verify program to verify the employment eligibility of all employees hired after June 30, 2025. The bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to develop a Statewide random auditing program to inspect contractors for compliance with the E-Verify requirement. The commissioner is also directed, upon receipt of a written and signed complaint against a contractor, or upon an investigation initiated by the commissioner for good cause, to institute an investigation if the commissioner finds reasonable grounds exist that a contractor violated the E-Verify requirement. The bill provides for the assessment of a civil penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 on contractors found to be in violation of the E-Verify requirement. For a first occurrence involving a violation, if the contractor complies within 72 hours of notification by the commissioner, the contractor shall not be assessed a penalty. Any subsequent occurrence involving a violation by the contractor will result in the assessment of a civil penalty by the commissioner, and the commissioner may deny renewal, revoke, or suspend, for a period of not more than one year, the contractor's registration under "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act," P.L.1999, c.238 (C.34:11-56.48 et seq.). A subsequent occurrence shall be treated as a first occurrence if the contractor has not committed a violation of the E-Verify requirement within the previous five years. | In Committee |
| A4246 | Requires children's psychiatric facilities to have designated staff members visually supervise patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. | This bill requires a children's psychiatric facility to provide daily care to and supervision of the children receiving treatment at the facility, and the agency administrator or home, program, or facility director is to designate trained staff members to provide active, 24 hour, seven day a week visual supervision of each child at the facility including, but not limited to, video monitoring with equipment capable of streaming live video wirelessly to a remote location. Video monitoring of the child would only be allowed if one or more of the designated staff members can continuously and actively watch the children via monitor. The bill amends R.S.9:6-2 to expand the definition of "the person having the care, custody and control of any child" to include the agency administrator or home, program, or facility director of a children's psychiatric facility. The bill stipulates that at no time would a child receiving treatment at the facility be left unsupervised by designated staff members, except when that child is using the bathroom, shower, or changing facilities, or be left alone with one or more children without active, visual supervision by designated staff members. As used in the bill, "children's psychiatric facility" means a hospital contracted with a children's crisis intervention services unit or a private health care facility to provide acute child psychiatric or short-term psychiatric care. | In Committee |
| A4236 | Requires voter who wishes to vote by mail to complete application for mail-in ballot each calendar year; repeals automatic vote-by-mail designation. | This bill requires a voter who wishes to vote by mail to complete an application for a mail-in ballot each calendar year. The bill also repeals a provision of current law which required each county clerk to designate each voter who voted by mail in 2016, 2017, and 2018 as automatic vote-by-mail voters in all future elections. Under current law, a voter may apply to vote by mail in all future elections or in any single election. A voter who indicates a desire to vote by mail in all future elections is not required to reapply for a mail-in ballot each year, but may notify the county clerk that he or she no longer wishes to vote by mail. However, beginning with the 2020 general election cycle, if the voter does not vote by mail in four consecutive years, then the voter is no longer furnished with a mail-in ballot for future elections and the voter is notified in writing of the change. This bill would require voters who want to vote by mail to complete a mail-in ballot application each calendar year. The application would offer the voter the opportunity to either vote by mail in all elections held in that calendar year, or in any single election held in that calendar year. This bill also repeals a provision of law that made voters who voted by mail in 2016, 2017, and 2018 be designated as automatic vote-by-mail voters in all future elections, unless they opted out at the time of the law's implementation. The bill requires the county clerk in each county, within 30 days of the implementation date, to transmit to each voter who is designated in the Statewide Voter Registration System as receiving a mail-in ballot for all future elections, a notice informing the voter that he or she is required to complete an application to vote by mail each calendar year. The bill would take effect immediately, but would be implemented on the first day following the November general election occurring after that effective date. | In Committee |
| A4240 | Allows for exclusion of certain properties from Highlands preservation area. | This bill would allow, beginning on August 10, 2024, an owner of property located in the Highlands preservation area to request that the property be excluded from the preservation area under certain circumstances. Specifically, this bill would provide that when an owner of property located within the preservation area offers that property for sale to the State and the State rejects the offer due to the lack of available funding to purchase the property at an amount equal to a fair market value appraisal of the value of the lands as of August 9, 2004 (the day before the date of enactment of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120), that property owner may request that the property be removed from the preservation area. Under the bill, upon written request by the property owner to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Chair of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council containing documentation from the State that the State does not have funds available to purchase the property at a price equal to the value of the lands as of August 9, 2004, the property would be exempt from the provisions of sections 30 through 43 of P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-28 et al.) and would be regulated by the State and the local government unit in the same manner as property located in the planning area. The bill would apply to lands the owner of which, at the time of the proposed sale to the State, is the same person who owned the lands on the date of enactment of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" and who has owned the lands continuously since then, or is an immediate family member of that person. The bill would require that the property be excluded from the preservation area and would require this exclusion to be recorded on the deed of the property. The bill would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Chair of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to take all appropriate action to note the exclusion of such a property on all maps and descriptions of the preservation area prepared or published by the Department of Environmental Protection or the council. | In Committee |
| A4243 | Removes prohibition on police presence at ballot drop boxes and polling places. | Under current law, the presence of police officers at polling places during the conduct of an election and at ballot drop box locations in use during the conduct of an election is limited. This bill removes the prohibition on police presence at ballot drop boxes and polling places that was adopted into law in 2021 (P.L.2021, c.459). Under this bill, police are once again permitted to be within 100 feet of a ballot drop box or polling place during the conduct of an election while in an official capacity. The bill also removes the following provisions of current law:· a provision requiring a district board of elections to notify the county board of elections or superintendent of elections, as appropriate, of the dispatch of a police officer or other law enforcement officer to a polling place;· a provision requiring the county board of elections or superintendent of elections, as appropriate, to notify the Secretary of State of the dispatch of a police officer or other law enforcement officer to a polling place; and· a provision requiring the Secretary of State, county boards of elections, and superintendents of elections to maintain a record of all dispatches issued and reported to a polling place. | In Committee |
| A4239 | "Motor Vehicle Insurance Verification Act"; requires Motor Vehicle Commission to establish online motor vehicle insurance verification system. | This bill, entitled the "Motor Vehicle Insurance Verification Act," requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to establish a system for the online verification of evidence of motor vehicle insurance, to assist in the identification of uninsured motorists. The bill also requires motor vehicle insurers to provide policy information for the online insurance verification system and to otherwise cooperate with the commission in establishing the system. The bill specifies certain requirements for the verification system, including that: (1) the online insurance verification system comply with certain standards of the Insurance Industry Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration (IICMVA); (2) the system be accessible to all law enforcement officers for the purpose of enforcing the mandatory motor vehicle insurance requirements of section 1 of P.L.1972, c.197 (C.39:6B-1) through capabilities for real-time verification of compliance with mandatory insurance requirements at traffic stops and other appropriate events; (3) the system include information to enable the commission to make inquiries to insurers about evidence of insurance; and (4) the commission may adopt rules and regulations to provide insurers who write a minimum number of policies, to be determined by the commission, the authority to use an alternative method for reporting insurance policy data. The bill also requires the commission to take other actions with respect to the verification system, including maintaining the system in a manner that allows it to be responsive to requestors, consulting with the insurance industry and private service providers, and maintaining a contact person. The bill also requires motor vehicle insurers authorized to do business in the State to cooperate with the commission in establishing and maintaining the system, to verify evidence of insurance for every motor vehicle insured by that company, and to maintain certain records regarding system data. The bill provides that when the commission has reason to believe that a motor vehicle has been or is currently being operated without insurance, the commission may suspend or revoke the owner's motor vehicle registration. The registration shall not be reinstated and a new registration shall not be issued unless evidence of insurance has been provided to the commission and any applicable reinstatement fees as prescribed by the commission have been paid. These fees shall be in addition to any other applicable fines, penalties, and fees. The bill also provides that not more than two years after the establishment of the online insurance verification system, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, after consultation with representatives of the motor vehicle insurance industry, shall report to the Governor and to the Legislature as to the costs for the system incurred by the commission, insurers and the public, and the effectiveness of the system in reducing the number of uninsured motor vehicles in the State. The bill requires the commission to establish a pilot program for a period of at least nine months during which the online insurance verification system shall be tested. The commission shall ensure that the pilot program is successfully tested and the verification system is fully operational within one year of the effective date of the bill. The bill provides that no enforcement action that is based on the system shall be taken until the commission has determined that the pilot program has been successfully completed. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, to adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including provisions for imposing appropriate civil penalties for any violation of the bill. The bill provides that it becomes effective on the 90th day next following enactment, but the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A4238 | Provides that school district may not prohibit active or retired law enforcement officer or registered security officer from carrying firearm in performance of school security duties if authorized under State law to carry. | This bill provides that if a school district enters into an agreement for the provision of school security services with an active or retired law enforcement officer, including a safe schools resource officer or a Class Three special law enforcement officer, or with a security officer registered under the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.), the school district may not prohibit that officer from carrying a firearm in school buildings or on school grounds in the performance of his school security duties if that officer is authorized under State law to carry such a firearm. In the wake of the recent school shooting tragedy, many communities have sought the assignment of active or retired law enforcement officers or armed security officers in the public schools. However, some boards of education have prohibited these officers from actually carrying a firearm in the performance of their school security duties. This prohibition does not reflect the desire of many of the residents of these communities who seek the level of protection that an armed officer would provide. This bill would prohibit a school district from imposing such a restriction. | In Committee |
| ACR131 | Opposes State Board of Education revised New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education on sex education adopted on June 3, 2020. | This concurrent resolution opposes the State Board of Education revised New Jersey Student Leaning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education concerning sex education and calls upon the State board to revise these standards. On June 3, 2020, the State Board of Education readopted the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education that contained significant changes regarding the standards for sex education, including the inclusion of certain controversial topics on various social issues. This concurrent resolution conveys the Legislature's objections to the new sex education standards due to the fact that they are both age-inappropriate and significantly interfere with and erode a parent's right to determine whether a child is emotionally and intellectually prepared for instruction in sex education and whether the instruction provided is appropriate and comports with core family values and beliefs. | In Committee |
| AJR169 | Designates The Growing Stage Children's Theatre of New Jersey as New Jersey State children's theatre. | This resolution would designate The Growing Stage Children's Theatre of New Jersey as the New Jersey State children's theatre. The Growing Stage plays a unique role in the State by introducing children and families to the performing arts. The theatre has had a long history of enriching the community by presenting a variety of productions to thousands of people. The theatre actively engages communities of all economic and social backgrounds to be a part of the performing arts. | In Committee |
| A4260 | Prohibits DEP from requiring certain municipalities to adopt ordinance that controls tree removal and replacement. | This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring any municipality that is assigned to Tier A under N.J.A.C.7:14A-25.3 to: adopt and enforce an ordinance that controls tree removal and replacement as part of the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program (program). Under the program, all municipalities are assigned either to Tier A or to Tier B as follows: (1) an entire municipality is assigned to Tier A if that municipality: (1) is located entirely or partially within an urbanized area as determined by the 2000 Decennial Census by the Bureau of the Census or a subsequent and superseding Decennial Census, and has a population of at least 1,000 within an urbanized area as determined by that Census; (2) has a population density of at least 1,000 per square mile, and a population of at least 10,000 as determined by that Census; (3) has a stormwater sewer system discharging directly into the salt waters of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, or Cape May counties; (4) requests Tier A assignment from the DEP; or (5) operates a stormwater discharge identified under N.J.A.C. 7:14A-25.2(a)4, provided that the DEP determines that such identification warrants assignment of the municipality to Tier A; and (2) every municipality not assigned to Tier A is assigned to Tier B. In November 2023, the DEP modified the New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) Tier A Municipal Stormwater General Permit to require Tier A municipalities to adopt a model ordinance governing tree removal and replacement. This bill would abrogate that provision of the general permit. | In Committee |
| ACR133 | Constitutes special committee of Senate and General Assembly entitled "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." | This concurrent resolution constitutes a special committee of the Legislature entitled the "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." The creation of this committee is in response to several news articles highlighting the recommended increase in premiums and periodic charges for the State health care programs and allegations the Governor's Office may have intervened during contract disputes with the State's contractor, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. The committee will review and investigate the recommended increases in the premiums of the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will also investigate allegations that the Governor's Office may have pressured staff at the Department of the Treasury to halt the contract dispute with Horizon and the effort by the department to recoup the $34 million from the contract. Additionally, the committee will review the implementation, if any, of P.L.2019, c.143, which created subaccounts in the State Health Benefits Program Fund and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Fund and also required the State to procure a professional services contract for a third-party medical claims reviewer for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will make recommendations that address this subject. | In Committee |
| A4258 | Requires eligibility checklist and audit for enrollment in PERS of certain public employees who provide professional services; imposes fine on certifying officer or supervisor for ineligible enrollments. | This bill requires the completion of specific certifications by certifying officers of public employers who enroll certain public officers and employees in the Public Employee's Retirement System (PERS). For each enrollment in the PERS of a public officer or employee whose position requires that the officer or employee render professional services as an attorney, engineer, accountant, auditor, physician, or architect, the certifying officer must complete, sign, and submit at the time of enrollment a certification that requires the certifying officer to answer a series of questions for the purpose of verifying that the status of the public officer or employee being enrolled is that of an employee and not an independent contractor. The questions will be based, to the extent appropriate, on the employee test utilized by the federal Internal Revenue Service. The certifying officer must also submit with the certification a copy of the resolution or ordinance adopted by the employer to create the position, the resolution adopted by the employer to appoint the individual to the position, and a copy of the oath of office taken by the individual. The bill also requires this certification to be completed by all certifying officers for all applicable public officers and employees who were enrolled prior to the bill's effective date. The bill prohibits a certifying officer from seeking advice or relying upon representations of the individual who is the subject of the enrollment when completing the certification or when making any decision with regard to the eligibility for enrollment. The certifying officer must seek advice and rely upon representations only from an impartial individual or an employee of the Division of Pensions and Benefits. The bill requires the board of trustees of the PERS to establish an audit program through which it will conduct a continuous review of the various public employers participating in the system for the purpose of ensuring that only eligible officers and employees who render professional services are enrolled in the retirement system. The audit program must be initiated within 60 days following the bill's effective date and the primary focus of the program for the first 12 months must be to verify the eligibility of public officers and employees enrolled prior to the effective date. The provisions of this bill described above are based on the recommendations of the Office of the State Comptroller as set forth in its report of July 17, 2012 entitled "Improper Participation by Professional Service Providers in the State Pension System." In addition, the bill provides for the imposition of civil penalties against a certifying officer or the officer's immediate supervisor who knowingly and willfully violate any provision of law or regulation concerning the enrollment of a public officer or employee in a State-administered retirement system that results in the enrollment or continued enrollment of a public officer, employee, or other person who is ineligible for such enrollment. The penalty will be a fine of $1,000 for an initial violation, $2,500 for a second violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation, and $5,000 for a third violation or subsequent violation that occurs within 10 years of an initial violation. The penalty will be collected and enforced in proceedings in accordance with the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and the rules of court governing actions for the collection of civil penalties. | In Committee |
| A4261 | Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions. | This bill reduces the taxable wage base applied to certain payroll tax contributions made by employers and employees. Current law establishes the level of wages subject to tax contributions required under the unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, and family leave insurance programs, as well as under the Workforce Development Partnership Fund and the Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills. For calendar year 2024, the taxable wage base for these programs is $42,300. Under current law, the taxable wage amount is determined annually by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development by multiplying the Statewide average weekly wage by 28. This bill reduces the taxable wage base applied to these payroll tax contributions by requiring the commissioner to determine the taxable wage amount by multiplying the Statewide average weekly wage by 14, rather than 28. The bill provides that if the taxable wage amount determined by the commissioner in any given year is less than the taxable wage amount determined for the preceding year, the greater amount will be used. In effect, the bill reduces the taxable wage amount applied to tax contributions paid by employers and employees by approximately half beginning on January 1, 2025. | In Committee |
| A2320 | Requires Department of Agriculture to take various actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in New Jersey. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to take certain actions to publicize and promote community supported agriculture in the State. "Community supported agriculture" is a method of on-the-farm direct sales and marketing in which the retail sale, to a consumer, of a share of the agricultural output of a commercial farm is effectuated through a paid subscription service. "Community supported agriculture program" or "CSA program" is defined by the bill to mean a farm product retail sales and marketing program in which participating consumers agree to pay a seasonal or annual subscription fee to a farm in exchange for the consumers' regular and ongoing receipt of weekly shares of the farm's seasonal agricultural output. The bill would provide, in particular, that within 180 days after the bill's effective date, the Secretary of Agriculture is to develop and implement a publicity and marketing program to promote community supported agriculture in the State. As part of the program, the department would be required to: (1) establish and regularly update, on its Internet website, a webpage that is dedicated to community supported agriculture, which webpage, at a minimum, is to include a searchable list of all CSA programs in the State and the farms participating therein, and provide hyperlinks, or use another simple methodology, to enable members of the public to subscribe to CSA programs in their local area; (2) use all available means, including, but not limited to, print media, television, radio, road and other signage, the Internet, and social media to advertise and publicize: the availability of, and the benefits of participating in, community supported agriculture in the State; the names and locations of farms that participate in CSA programs; and the availability of the community supported agriculture webpage, established pursuant to the bill; and (3) develop, print, and distribute distinct promotional and marketing labels that may be used by farmers to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture. Nothing in the bill would prohibit the operator of a farm, after first consulting with the DOA, from creating the farm's own promotional labels and using those labels to identify agricultural products that are being marketed and sold by the farm through community supported agriculture. The bill would also require the DOA, acting in cooperation with the Department of Education and in coordination with farmers, public, private, and charter schools and their food services, the New Jersey Farm to School Network or its successor entity, and other interested and relevant organizations and groups, as determined by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to be appropriate, to establish and annually observe a week of promotional events to be known as "Community Supported Agriculture Week." "Community Supported Agriculture Week" would be intended to highlight and promote the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both as a means by which farming operations can better ensure their ongoing productivity, success, and financial stability, and as a means by which individuals, families, and businesses in the State can obtain fresh, seasonal, and easily accessible farm-to-table foods, throughout the year, while developing closer, more supportive, and reciprocal relationships with local farmers and becoming more invested in, and aware of the factors affecting, the seasonal and long-term success, stability, and viability of farming operations. The week would be celebrated on an annual basis, throughout the State, during the last full week in February, and would be observed through the holding of relevant promotional events. The bill would further require the DOA, through the State's existing "Farm to School Program," to encourage schools in the State to obtain fresh, locally grown or produced agricultural products for school meals by subscribing to, and becoming participants in, a community supported agriculture program, and to work in cooperation with the Department of Education to ensure that school curriculum addresses the value and importance of community supported agriculture, both to farmers and to the community as a whole, and the ways in which students and their families can become active participants in community supported agriculture. In addition, the bill would require the State's existing "Farm to School" website to: (1) provide opportunities for the execution of community supported agriculture subscription agreements between and among farmers, distributors, and schools or school districts; (2) facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events in association with "Community Supported Agriculture Week"; and (3) include a copy of any community supported agriculture subscription agreement that has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State. The bill would also require the existing State website that serves as a clearinghouse for farmers, and that currently provides a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that have a need for produce or dairy products, to additionally provide a list of schools, school districts, and food banks that are interested in participating as subscribers in a community supported agriculture program. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and receive funds, either as direct contributions, or from the sale of labels or the right to use labels authorized by the DOA, or from any other source, for the purposes of advertising and promoting the value and importance of community supported agriculture in the State, as provided by the bill. This authority would be supplemental to the secretary's existing authority to solicit and receive funds for the purpose of advertising and promoting the sale of NJ farm products and the "Jersey Fresh" program. Any monies received for the purposes of the bill are to be deposited in the State's existing "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund." The bill would clarify that, in addition to the existing purposes for which monies in the "New Jersey Farm Products Publicity Fund" may be used, such monies may be used to publicize the value and importance of community supported agriculture; to cover the expenses of printing and distributing labels used in identifying products being marketed and sold through community supported agriculture; and to cover any other expenses that are incident to the implementation of this bill. | Crossed Over |
| A4158 | Removes Election Day as State and public holiday. | This bill removes Election Day as a State and public holiday. The designation of the third Friday in June each year as Juneteenth Day has added additional financial considerations. It is estimated that the additional holiday will add $3 million dollars each year to the State's costs for overtime costs in the Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, and the Juvenile Justice Commission. The additional holiday would also lead to an increase in costs for local and county governments. The increase in costs could potentially result in higher property taxes for the communities. It is the sponsor's belief that removing Election Day would save the State more money than the addition of Juneteenth Day would cost. Election Day, while a State and public holiday, still requires various State, county, and district employees to work to ensure a fair, accurate, and secure election. For example, municipal clerk offices are required to be open on Election Day from 6am to 8pm. In addition, the Superior Court assignment judge for each county is required to work during an election to ensure a fair process. Removing Election Day would also lead to savings for local and county governments. | In Committee |
| A4159 | Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute. | This bill removes the power of the board of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to increase fees by regulation in regard to: R.S.39:3-13 (fees for permits and articulated vehicle endorsements); R.S.39:3-20 (fees for registration of commercial motor vehicles based on weight); R.S.39:3-21 (motorcycle registration fee); R.S.39:10-11 (motor vehicle certificate of ownership fees); R.S.39:10-12 (duplicate certificate of ownership fee); R.S.39:10-14 (fees for lien or change of title search); and R.S.39:10-16 (fee for corrected certificate of ownership). The bill amends existing law to set by statute the amount of certain boating certificate of ownership fees rather than to let the fees be established by regulation. The fees are established at the current rates. The bill also rescinds or requires the rescinding of any regulations increasing the above mentioned fees adopted by the board of the commission before the date this bill becomes law. This bill is in response to a rule proposal (41 N.J.R.862(a)) by the Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt regulations to increase fees in the above-mentioned areas. Of particular concern is the proposal to increase the fee for motorcycle registration from $10 to $65 (a more than 600% increase) and the fee for motor vehicle and boat certificates of ownership from $20 to $60 (a 300% increase). | In Committee |
| A4152 | Increases minimum civil fine for harassing person taking wildlife and increases criminal penalty for subsequent offenses. | This bill increases the minimum civil fine for harassing a person lawfully taking wildlife from $100 to $250. The bill also establishes an enhanced penalty for repeat offenders. Under current law, a person who harasses a hunter is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense, regardless of whether the person is a repeat offender. A petty disorderly persons offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both imprisonment and a fine. Under this bill, a subsequent offender would be committing a disorderly persons offense, punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and a fine. | In Committee |
| AJR165 | Designates first full week of June of each year as "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week." | This joint resolution would designate the first full week of June of each year as "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week." Fishing and boating are cornerstones of the American recreational experience. In 2012, an estimated 47 million Americans participated in fishing and 46 million Americans participated in boating. In New Jersey, 766,000 anglers spent a total of 9.5 million days fishing in 2011. The State's parks and natural areas, 127 miles of coastline, hundreds of miles of bayshore, and numerous inland lakes and tributaries provide countless fishing and boating opportunities. New Jersey also offers some of the best and most diverse fishing in the country, including saltwater fishing for striped bass and flounder and stream fishing for brook trout. The State hosts a variety of boating activities, such as sailing, cruising, dining and entertaining, nature observation, and water sports. Recreational fishing and boating are excellent opportunities for families to spend time together, and for people to learn about and help conserve the natural environment. Fishing and boating are also believed by many to be significant stress-relieving activities. National Fishing and Boating Week, which often takes place at the beginning of June, highlights the importance of fishing and boating in enhancing people's quality of life and preserving the country's natural beauty. By designating New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week in June, it is hoped that this will encourage all people to participate in fishing and boating, and enjoy the natural beauty of the State in one of the best months to take it in. This joint resolution would request the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week" with appropriate activities and programs. It would also direct the Division of Fish and Wildlife to take appropriate measures each year to publicize "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week," and to coordinate at least one of the State's free fishing days, selected pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1985, c.352 (C.23:3-1b), with that week. | In Committee |
| A4153 | Authorizes creation of Second Amendment license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Second Amendment license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Second Amendment license plate is to display a militiaman along with the words "Protect the Second Amendment" at the bottom of the license plate. In consultation with the Fish and Game Council (council), the chief administrator will select the design and color scheme of the Second Amendment license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Second Amendment license plates. After deducting the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Second Amendment License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund will be annually appropriated to the council and will be used to provide funding to support State-owned gun ranges. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires the council to appoint a liaison to represent the council in all communications with the commission regarding the Second Amendment license plates. The bill prohibits the commission from using State or other public funds to cover the initial cost of implementing the Second Amendment license plate program. The bill requires an individual or entity designated by the council to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the council to receive funds from private sources to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates until: (1) the individual or entity designated by the council has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the council liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A4155 | Revises definition of "landlord" to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility. | This bill revises the definition of "landlord" for purposes of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12n et seq.) in order to include owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. This would authorize a municipality to adopt ordinances to enforce standards of responsible conduct in a community with respect to these houses. Section 3 of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12p) grants a municipality the authority to adopt an ordinance to curb and discourage occasional excesses arising from irresponsible rentals in an effort to protect a community's interest in preserving peace and tranquility. Currently, only smaller, non-professionally managed rental properties of less than four units and owners of mobile home units may be the subject of such an ordinance. This bill extends the definition of "landlord" in section 2 of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12o) to include owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. Specifically, this revision would authorize the governing body of a municipality to adopt an ordinance holding owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses to the same standards of responsibility as may be required of smaller, non-professionally managed rental properties of less than four units and mobile home owners. This revision would not impact the applicability of any existing municipal ordinance. If a municipality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1993, c.127 (C.40:48-2.12p), another ordinance would have to be adopted with respect to owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses. | In Committee |
| ACR130 | Proposes amendment to Constitution to require each house of the Legislature to meet four times annually solely to vote on bills that provide property tax relief. | This proposed amendment to the State Constitution is intended to further the goal of providing property tax relief in New Jersey. The proposed amendment would require each house of the Legislature to devote four meetings a year solely to voting on bills that have been certified as providing property tax relief. Any such bill that passes in one house would have to be voted on in the second house within 60 days after passage in the first house. The proposed amendment does not require the Legislature to vote on every property tax legislation, or prohibit the Legislature from voting on any property tax legislation during any time other than a quarterly session. The Legislature would designate a person or entity that would have the responsibility of reviewing and certifying bills that provide property tax relief. To be certified as providing property tax relief, the bill could not increase or impose a tax, fee, or other assessment that generates revenue and would have to effect property taxes in a positive manner for property taxpayers. Such a bill would also have to provide for: direct property tax relief; education spending and funding reform and unit savings; civil service reform; pension, and health care benefit, and compensation reform; shared services; local government spending and funding reform and unit savings; government and ethics reform; low-income housing mandate reform; or repeal of State mandates. | In Committee |
| AJR164 | Designates fourth Saturday of September each year as "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day." | This joint resolution would designate the fourth Saturday of September each year as "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day." Hunting and fishing are cornerstones of the American recreational experience. In 2011, an estimated 94,000 hunters took a combined 2.6 million hunting trips, and 766,000 anglers took 8.4 million fishing trips, generating billions of dollars in economic activity in the State. More than 750,000 acres of public lands in New Jersey are open to hunters, and provide an exceptional diversity of habitat and harbor numerous game species. Additionally, New Jersey's 127 miles of coastline, hundreds of miles of bay shore, and numerous inland lakes and tributaries provide some of the best and most diverse fishing in the country. Hunting and fishing are excellent opportunities for families to spend time together, and for children to learn more about wildlife and the environment. Hunting and fishing are also believed by many to be significant stress-relieving activities. People who hunt and fish are also more likely to value and help conserve the environment, and funds from hunting and fishing licenses, and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery, and angling equipment, in New Jersey and across the country go toward wildlife conservation programs. By designating "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day," it is hoped that this will encourage more residents to participate in hunting and fishing. The joint resolution would request the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day" with appropriate activities and programs. It would also direct the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection to take appropriate measures each year to publicize "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day," and to coordinate at least one of the State's free fishing days, selected pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1985, c.352 (C.23:3-1b), with that day. | In Committee |
| A4157 | Requires AG to create voting fraud task force. | This bill requires the Attorney General to create a voting fraud task force in the Division of Criminal Justice, Specialized Crimes Bureau. The purpose of the task force is to investigate and prosecute crimes involving voting fraud. Under the bill, the task force is to be comprised of members of State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, as determined by the Attorney General, and is to utilize a coordinated law enforcement strategy to address voting fraud in this State. | In Committee |
| A4154 | Establishes "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program." | This bill would establish the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" in the Department of Agriculture. The bill requires the department to adopt regulations that: (1) provide encouragement for public institutions of higher education that provide meal programs to expand or improve their kitchen facilities to allow for the daily production of meals that incorporate more fresh, locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products; (2) establish a bidding matrix that provides for public institutions of higher education to purchase New Jersey grown food and allows them to adopt price preferences for local agricultural and farm products; (3) in conjunction with the Secretary of Higher Education, develop ways in which public institutions of higher education can increase the procurement of locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products for use in meals; and (4) create a public directory for New Jersey farmers with contact information of purchasing agents at public institutions of higher education, and another public directory for purchasers with information about qualified New Jersey farmers and distributors. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" website that provides information on the program, and includes a copy of any public contract or other written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to students, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by a public institution of higher education. Finally, the bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and accept contributions from private and public sources for the purpose of providing support to help fund the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program," which encourages public institutions of higher education to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate in meals throughout the growing season, and to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students. | In Committee |
| A4156 | Requires clinic connected with dental school at public institution of higher education to give priority to 100 percent disabled veterans. | This bill requires a clinic that is part of the extramural network of dental clinics established by the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, or by any other dental school of a public institution of higher education, to give priority to 100 percent disabled veterans in scheduling appointments at the dental clinic. In giving priority to a 100 percent disabled veteran, a dental clinic is required to ensure that an oral health treatment appointment for the veteran is scheduled in a timely manner and that the time between the scheduling of the medical appointment and the occurrence of the appointment does not exceed 30 days. | In Committee |
| A4142 | Requires voter registration forms be made available when applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping license. | This bill requires that voter registration forms are to be made available at any agency or office providing hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses under the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection. | In Committee |
| A4146 | Requires entities to verify age of persons accessing certain online material and prohibits minors from accessing certain online material. | This bill requires imposes several requirements on entities that operate certain Internet websites and webpages, including requiring the entity to verify the age of all State residents that attempts to access the website or webpage and prohibiting minors from accessing certain material that is not suitable to minors. Specifically, the bill provides that an entity may not allow a State resident under the age of 18 years to access an Internet website or an individual webpage that contains a "substantial portion" of material harmful to minors, as defined in the bill, unless: (1) the entity verifies the age of each resident that attempts to access the Internet website or webpage using reasonable age verification methods; and (2) if the resident is determined to be a minor, the material contained on the Internet website or webpage is suitable to the minor, as determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs (division) in the Department of law and Public Safety. For the purposes of this bill, "substantial purpose" means that following amounts with respect to each of the following interactive computer services: (1) for a social media platform, more than one-third of total user accounts contain any material harmful to minors, or more than one-third of the content on one or more user's account on that platform contains material harmful to minors; (2) for a search engine, more than one-third of the webpages displayed in response to any user query contain any material harmful to minors, or more than one-third of the thumbnail images displayed in response to any user query contain any material harmful to minors; or (3) for any website or webpage, including a search engine, more than one-third of the total content on the website or on any individual webpage contains any material harmful to minors. The bill also provides that an entity or third party that performs the required age verification may not retain any identifying information of the individual after access has been granted to the material. Under this bill, an entity is required to use reasonable age verification methods that comply with standards and guidelines established by the division. However, the bill provides that the permitted age verifications methods may generally include: (1) use of a digitized information card; (2) verification through an independent, third-party age verification service that compares the personal information entered by the individual who is seeking access to the material that is available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that is regularly used by government agencies and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification; or (3) any available, reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify the age of the individual attempting to access the material. In developing the standards and guidelines concerning the permitted methods of age verification, the division may consider such factors as technological feasibility, operational effectiveness of the age verification system, and the scale and number of users and the primary consumer use of an interactive computer service. Under this bill, the division would also be required to establish standards and guidelines to determine the types of content that would be deemed "material harmful to minors," as defined in the bill. Additionally, the division would also be required to determine the types of content that would be deemed suitable to minors of each of the following ages, which standards would be based on the different degrees of material harmful that such content may have on minors of such ages: (1) minors under the age of 10 years; (2) minors over the age of 10 years but less than 15 years; and (3) minors from the age of 15 years but less than 18 years. This bill would not apply to any bona fide news or public interest broadcast, website video, report, or event. The bill also provides that interactive computer services, search engines, and certain cloud service providers would not be deemed to violate the provisions of this bill solely for providing access or connection to or from a website or other information or content on the Internet, or a facility, system, or network, unless the interactive computer service participates in a venture with, and knowingly benefits from, an entity in violation of this bill, regarding an entity's knowing and intentional publishing or distribution of material harmful to minors. Under the bill, the division is required to receive consumer complaints related to, investigate alleged violation of, and enforce the provisions of this bill. The division would be entitled to any penalties, fines, or fees collected for a violation, which monies would be deposited into a fund, established by this bill, to provide aid in the investigation of cyber-crimes involving the exploitation of children. State law agencies may apply for monies from this fund in a manner prescribed by the division. Before initiating an enforcement action, the bill requires the division to provide written notice identifying and explaining the basis for each alleged violation to be enforced. Thereafter, an entity receiving notice may prevent the need for an enforcement action by curing the violation. If the entity does not cure a violation, the division may initiate a civil action as provided in the bill. The division is authorized to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation or to initiate a civil suit in Superior Court. A court may grant an additional $10,000 per violation. If the division proves a violation, the division is entitled to reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and investigative fees. Additionally, the bill permits an individual to bring an action in the Superior Court against an entity for failure to comply with the provisions of this bill. If the suit is successful, an individual would be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and court costs. An individual would also be entitled to up to $2,500 per instance of violation, and if the violation resulted from a minor accessing material harmful to minors, may include compensatory damages and damages for emotional pain and suffering, provided the conduct of the defendant is found to be willful, wanton, or reckless. | In Committee |
| A4108 | Requires DOLWD to apply smart labor force data to direct veterans to in-demand fields. | This bill requires the Center for Occupational Employment Information in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to produce monthly electronic reports of workforce need projections, by industry, job type, geography, and needed credential, including reports to compare workforce needs with existing and projected workforce and credential availability in the State, and highlight top in-demand industries, job types, and credentials by geographic area. Additionally, the center is required to include in the reports mapping of which in-demand job titles and credentials would leverage skills, experience and credentials possessed by veterans. Finally, the bill requires the center to forward the underlying data report and that additional information monthly to appropriate military out-placement offices, education centers, nonprofit programs, and any other office, department, division, bureau, board, commission or agency of the State working to connect veterans with jobs. | In Committee |
| A4110 | Requires MVC to place designation on motor vehicle's registration information indicating registrant is deaf. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to add a designation on a motor vehicle's registration information indicating the registrant is deaf. The notation would only appear when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's license plate information through the commission's online interface with law enforcement agencies and may only be used to alert the law enforcement officer that the person is deaf or hard of hearing. The designation would be added to the applicant's motor vehicle registration information provided the applicant has a hearing loss of 41 decibels or greater. As part of the application process, an otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) or an audiologist clinically certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is required to verify the applicant's hearing ability. | In Committee |
| A4096 | "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act"; requires independent audit of NJT. | This bill, to be known as the "New Jersey Transit Accountability Act," requires that the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) hire an independent firm to conduct an audit of the financial management practices and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 and prepare and issue a report on the independent firm's findings and recommendations, which report is to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. Executive Order No. 5 of 2018 resulted in the issuance of the Comprehensive Strategic, Financial & Operational Assessment of NJ Transit on October 5, 2018. Among the issues identified in the assessment is that, for eight years preceding its publication and despite increasing operation and maintenance costs, the corporation had been forced to transfer much needed capital funds for capital maintenance due to dramatically reduced State Operating Assistance. Through its requirement of an independent audit, this bill is intended to shed light on the financial needs and practices of the corporation since the issuance of the 2018 assessment, including the diversion of capital funds for operations. The report for which the corporation is required to hire an independent firm under this bill is to: (1) include findings on the financial management and budget reporting practices of the corporation since the date of the issuance of the report conducted pursuant to Executive Order No. 5 of 2018; (2) summarize the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the demand for the corporation's services and on the financial and practical needs of the corporation to meet current and projected long-term demand; (3) evaluate the corporation's current sources of funding and their adequacy in relation to demand for the corporation's services; and (4) recommend policies and best practices for the corporation to adopt based upon the findings of the independent firm, including, but not limited to, recommendations on the decision-making process, corporate governance, personnel hiring and protocols, and improvement of the customer experience. Within six months of the issuance of the report, the corporation is required to adopt any individual policies and best practices recommended in the report. Under the bill, the corporation is permitted to opt not to adopt an individual policy or best practice, provided that the corporation provides a detailed explanation of why the adoption of that policy or practice is not in the best interest of the corporation within six months of the issuance of the report issued by the independent firm. This bill does not affect any obligation of the corporation to conduct, or hire an independent firm to complete, an audit or study under existing law. | In Committee |
| A4095 | Allows county sheriffs to issue firearms identification cards and permits to purchase handguns; authorizes county sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns. | This bill provides county sheriffs with the authority to issue firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase handguns, and provides them with authority to accept applications for permits to carry handguns. Under current law, a State resident applying for a firearms purchaser identification card or a permit to purchase a handgun must make such application to the chief law enforcement officer of an organized full-time police department of the municipality where the applicant resides or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have a full-time police force. Out-of-State residents must make application to the superintendent. The chief law enforcement officer, or superintendent, as the case may be, is tasked with taking fingerprints and initiating a criminal history records check on the applicant. Upon completion of the background investigation, the applicant is issued the identification card or permit by the chief law enforcement officer or superintendent. Under the provisions of this bill, county sheriffs are granted the same authority for State residents. In the instance of an application for a permit to carry a handgun, the initial application process is similar under current law. An applicant must make application to the chief law enforcement officer of an organized full-time police department of the municipality where the applicant resides or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have a full-time police force. Out-of-State residents and employees of armored trucks must make application to the superintendent. Upon approval of the application by the chief law enforcement officer, or superintendent, the Superior Court issues the permit. The bill provides county sheriffs with the authority to accept, investigate and approve or deny permit to carry applications for State residents. | In Committee |
| AR107 | Urges U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. | This resolution urges the United State Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to utilize and fund existing paratransit transportation networks to transport disabled veterans to and from its New Jersey medical centers. Approximately five million veterans in the United States have a service-connected disability, and about 53,000 of those veterans live in New Jersey. The VA operates two medical centers in New Jersey, with one in East Orange and one in Lyons. Service-connected disabilities can adversely impact veterans' abilities to access necessary medical care at these facilities. Currently, the VA provides transportation service via the Veterans Transportation Service, but this service has limitations that can result in the reduced efficiency of transporting disabled veterans to and from medical appointments. Disabled American Veterans and other veterans' service organizations also provide free van transportation to and from VA medical centers in New Jersey, but these non-profit organizations should not shoulder the responsibility to provide properly coordinated VA-funded patient transport for deserving veterans and qualified family members. It has also been reported by numerous New Jersey veterans that the transportation service provided to these VA facilities is deficient, with veterans being left at facilities for hours, overnight, and in adverse weather conditions. Both New Jersey counties and non-profit social service organizations have existing paratransit transportation for use by senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. These high quality county and non-profit paratransit providers may be able to expand their coverage to meet the transportation needs of veterans traveling to and from VA facilities if provided funding to cover the cost of such an expansion. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR108 | Urges United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. | This Assembly resolution urges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The citizens of this nation and State are indebted to the sacrifice and heroism of all who have bravely served in the Armed Forces of the United States. In return for their sacrifices, this country has made a commitment to meeting the health care needs of veterans. As of 2023, 338,012 veterans live in New Jersey, with 119,200 of them residing in the southern counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem. Currently, there is no federal Department of Veterans Affairs inpatient hospital facility in southern New Jersey, making it necessary for veterans needing inpatient care to travel long distances to northern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. The East Orange Veterans Medical Center is the largest health care facility serving veterans from southern New Jersey, which is over two hours away from some veterans. In New Jersey, the average resident lives approximately 12 minutes away from the closest hospital, therefore, requiring veterans to travel multiple hours for medical care is unjust. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is an ideal location for an inpatient hospital facility for veterans from southern New Jersey as it shortens the travel distance for these veterans. Additionally, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst provides a variety of other services to veterans, therefore, making trips to the base efficient and convenient for veterans and their families. It is fitting and appropriate for the State to take steps to ensure that our nation's promise of health care access is kept to the veterans of southern New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A920 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A4052 | "Electricity Bill Transparency Act"; requires electric utilities to separately list amounts of certain charges. | This bill is to be known as the "Electricity Bill Transparency Act." This bill requires electric public utilities to separately list the amount of tax imposed by the "Sales and Use Tax Act," the amount of the societal benefits charge, and the amount of clean energy charges on each customer's electricity bill. Additionally, the bill requires electric public utilities to itemize the amount of the societal benefits charge that is provided to each societal benefits program on the customer's electricity bill. This bill is intended to provide notice to customers of electricity service, on their bills, about the types and amount of charges that are imposed but are not directly related to the cost of providing electricity to the customer. Many customers are unaware of these non-utility related charges and that these charges fund programs that these customers may not use. | In Committee |
| A4041 | Establishes program for acquisition, by local government units and nonprofit organizations, of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | This bill directs the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to establish a program to provide grants to local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for the acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. The purpose of the program would be the preservation and stewardship of lands for agricultural, silvicultural, or horticultural use and production. The use of such funding, for the bill's purposes, is to be consistent with the provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) and the State Constitution. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the new development easement program established pursuant to the bill, a woodland would be required to: (1) be at least five acres in size; (2) be devoted to the production for sale of tree or forest products, other than Christmas trees, or be appurtenant woodlands to land so devoted; (3) be managed by the landowner in accordance with a forest stewardship plan approved pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-31), a woodland management plan approved pursuant to section 3 of the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.3), or a plan approved pursuant to the federal Forest Stewardship Program administered by the United States Forest Service; (4) not be a property targeted for acquisition or preservation by the Department of Environmental Protection or the Garden State Preservation Trust, as certified by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee; (5) be supportive of, or include, an existing parcel of farmland; and (6) be located in an agricultural development area designated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.32 (C.4:1C-11 et al.). The appraisal process for development easements under the program would be the same as that for farmland under the provisions of subsection e. of section 8 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-50), which were recently revised by P.L.2023, c.245. Under the program, the SADC would use constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues in order to provide grants to local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to fund the acquisition of development easements. The bill would stipulate that up to 15 percent of the annual appropriations of moneys from the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" by the SADC could be used for the program. The grants distributed by the SADC would be authorized to cover up to 80 percent of the costs of acquisition of a development easement by a local government unit, and up to 50 percent of the costs of acquisition of a development easement by a nonprofit organization. The bill would also require that those moneys in the "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" that are used to provide grants to local government units and nonprofit organizations to acquire development easements on farmland and woodlands be awarded on the condition that grant awardees will expend the funds with first priority given to the preservation of farmland, second priority given to the preservation of farmland with appurtenant woodlands, and third priority given to the preservation of woodlands that are supportive of, or include, existing farmland under the program established pursuant to this bill. It is the intent of the bill's sponsor to establish a program that is different from the Green Acres program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection in the following ways. First, properties in the program would remain in private hands. Although the Green Acres program has the ability to obtain development easements, rather than acquiring land outright, it has in recent years chosen to focus exclusively on land acquisition. This program, by contrast, would not involve the acquisition of land by the State. Secondly, properties that participate in this program would remain subject to property taxes, thus not depriving municipalities of needed revenue. Third, the bill would allow for small properties to participate in the program, as opposed to the larger properties that are prioritized by the Green Acres program. Fourth, this program would encourage the effective protection and management of woodlands by the property owners themselves, who are in the best position to do so. Finally, the program would allow small farms with large tracts of supportive woodlands, which may not qualify for preservation under current farmland preservation program rules, to qualify for funding. | In Committee |
| A3952 | Permits certain municipalities to appoint persons separate from civil service eligible list under certain circumstances. | Currently, when a municipality requests an eligible list of hires from the Civil Service Commission to fill a vacancy, it may take several months to receive the eligible list, and in the meantime, positions go unfilled. In addition, there are times when the list is received and either there are no suitable persons, or the persons on the list do not accept the position. Under this bill, when a municipality having no police department and a population less than 12,000 requests a certified eligible list from the commission, the commission must provide the list within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request. If the commission fails to respond to the request within the 30 days, or an appointment does not result from the list, the municipality may hire a qualified person. The municipality will sign a waiver designed and authorized by the Civil Service Commission exempting the candidate from the civil service hiring process. Upon accepting appointment, the candidate must satisfactorily complete the working test period to be considered by the commission as qualified for the position and to have civil service status. The Civil Service Commission will not require the municipality to replace the candidate upon issuance of a certified eligible list. This bill will help reduce the number of unfilled positons in certain municipalities. | In Committee |
| A3954 | Removes statutory limitation on number of permits that may be issued by Division of Fish and Wildlife for the taking of beaver. | This bill would grant the Division of Fish and Wildlife full authority to issue permits as is necessary and appropriate to manage the beaver resource in the State. In particular, the bill would remove the current statutory restriction, which limits to 200 the number of beaver trapping permits that may be issued by the division in any one year. The authority granted by this bill is consistent with the division's existing authority to issue as many permits as it deems appropriate in relation to the management of various other game species. | In Committee |
| A3953 | Requires State reimbursement to local government units for first-year uncollected property tax revenue attributable to veterans' property tax exemptions. | This bill would require the State to reimburse local government units, including municipalities, counties, school districts for the assessed value of property taxes that are no longer collectible during the first year in which a person is approved for the 100 percent service-disabled veterans property tax exemption. During any tax year in which a person is approved for the property tax exemption, the tax collector of the municipality in which the person resides, would be required to provide the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury with the following documentation: a copy of the resolution approved by the governing body of the municipality granting the property tax exemption; a copy of the person's property tax bill for the tax year; and a certification of the amount of property taxes that would have been otherwise due and payable by the person for each local government unit during the remainder of the tax year following the date of approval by the governing body of the exemption. After this documentation is provided, the State Treasurer would be required to reimburse each local government unit not later than 10 calendar days following the due date of each quarterly tax bill for which property taxes are no longer owed for the property. | In Committee |
| A3959 | Regulates residential mental health treatment facilities. | This bill regulates residential mental health treatment facilities. Under the bill, residential mental health treatment facilities, as defined in the bill, are to: (1) provide mental health services or treatment in a manner that is consistent with the Level 3.5 level of care according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine in a 24 hours per day and seven days per week, structured living environment for patients who require such support, and in instances where inpatient hospitalization treatment is unnecessary; (2) provide health services or treatment for limited periods of time with the goal of preparing patients to move into the community at lower levels of care; and (3) provide health services or treatment without any retrospective review or concurrent review of medical necessity. The bill provides that no residential mental health treatment facility is to operate within this State except pursuant to a license obtained from the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), upon an application made therefor. The applicant is to be required to furnish evidence of the facility's ability to comply with the minimum standards for licensure established by the commissioner and of the good moral character of the facility's owners. Under the bill, the commissioner is to issue a license to a residential mental health treatment facility if the applicant is of good moral character and the facility is in compliance with the bill's provisions. There is to be a presumption in favor of an applicant's good moral character if the applicant is currently licensed and in good standing in this State as a mental health program pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:121 et seq. A residential mental health treatment facility is not to be licensed to operate at the same location as a residential substance use disorders treatment facility or program. The bill amends section 19 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-7a) to exempt residential mental health treatment facilities from the certificate of need requirement. The certificate of need program is a regulatory process that is administered by the Office of Certificate of Need and Healthcare Facility Licensure with the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Under the certificate of need program, certain health care facilities are required to obtain the DOH's approval prior to constructing, relocating, or renovating their facilities. Finally, the bill provides that the commissioner is to adopt rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for the licensure of residential health treatment facilities and the treatment of patients therein, and if feasible, structure the rules and regulations similarly to the regulations which are applicable to residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs, as set forth in N.J.A.C.8:111 et seq. | In Committee |
| A3905 | Prohibits State from imposing mileage-based user fee; prohibits use of State funding for any program, study, or pilot program related to imposition of mileage-based user fee. | This bill prohibits the State from imposing a mileage-based user fee within the State. The bill defines "mileage-based user fee" as any fee imposed on the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, which fee is calculated based on the number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle during a designated period of time. In addition, the bill prohibits the use of State funding to implement any programs or pilot programs or conduct any studies related to the imposition of a mileage-based user fee within the State. | In Committee |
| AR113 | Directs AG to repeal and amend certain provisions of directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. | This resolution directs the Attorney General to repeal and modify the Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6 to allow law enforcement to fulfil their responsibilities and obligations to protect the citizens of the State of New Jersey without legal barriers. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General issued Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6 on November 29, 2018 which established strict limits on when State, county, and local law enforcement may assist United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Attorney General is urged to repeal the directive with the exception for subsections A, B, and C of section IV relating to T-Visa (victims of human trafficking) and U-Visa (crime victims) certifications and to modify subsection D of section IV to read as follows:"State, county, and local law enforcement agencies and officials may ask any questions necessary to complete a T- or U-visa certification. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict, prohibit, or in any way prevent a State, county, or local law enforcement agency or official from sending to, maintaining, or receiving from federal immigration authorities information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual." The highest responsibility of government and law enforcement is to ensure the safety of our schools, hospitals, and local communities.It is the sponsor's opinion that the welfare of the residents of New Jersey must be our first priority. | In Committee |
| AR114 | Recognizes 100th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between United States and Ireland. | This Assembly resolution recognizes the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland. On October 7, 1924, 100 years ago, Ireland formally opened diplomatic relations with the United States of America when Irish Ambassador Timothy Smiddy performed the presentation of credentials to President Calvin Coolidge. The United States was one of the first nations to recognize the new Irish state following the Irish people's long and painful struggle for independence. When Ambassador Smiddy emerged from the White House, he had become Ireland's first ambassador to any country in the world. The already established and deep connection of the Irish people to the United States made it appropriate that the first dispatch of an Irish representative was to Washington D.C. Approximately 32 million people in the United States and 1.3 million people in New Jersey today claim Irish ancestry. Irish immigrants helped build the America known to the world today, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the transcontinental railroad to our modern political system. Irish people have made an enormous contribution to public debate and politics in America, from their local communities to the White House. More than twenty American Presidents have claimed some Irish ancestry. The influence of Irish-Americans extends well beyond the Oval Office and the United States Capitol to every state of the nation. This fact being most evident by the significant number of State legislators in the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. Since Timothy Smiddy's presentation of credentials 100 years ago, an additional 18 Irish Ambassadors have presented credentials to United States Presidents. Over this time, the relationship between Ireland and the United States has progressed significantly. Ireland has transformed into the economically prosperous, culturally vibrant, and peaceful nation it is today. This transformation is due to the support of friends in the United States, from the crucial role America played in brokering peace in Northern Ireland, culminating with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, to the substantial American economic investment in Ireland. America and Ireland have a two-way prosperous economic relationship as there are almost 1,000 American companies in Ireland employing over 200,000 people and almost 650 Irish companies in America employing over 100,000 people. The American-Irish relationship is a shining example of how ancestral ties, historical connections, cultural affinities, and shared values can create a foundation for an enduring partnership and mutual prosperity. Irish-American State legislators in New Jersey and across the United States are playing a vitally important role in fostering this partnership and ensuring that it continues and flourishes for another century to come. | In Committee |
| A3835 | Prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received COVID-19 vaccine. | This bill prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. Under the bill, it is to be unlawful to ask any individual if the individual has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, to require any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or to require any individual to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of or as a prerequisite to: (1) the exercise of any privilege or right granted under State or federal law; (2) conducting any business or commerce; (3) travelling to, outside, or within the State; (4) obtaining or maintaining an internship, obtaining or maintaining employment, or receiving a promotion from an employer; (5) participation in any governmental or political activity; (6) admission or enrollment into any child or adult day care program; (7) admission in, enrollment in, or graduation from a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (8) participation in any activity, internship, opportunity, program, or sport offered by a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (9) receiving adequate dental care or health care; (10) maintaining, receiving, or renewing a professional certification or license; (11) obtaining or renewing membership in any professional organization; (12) entrance into or service from any place of business, including, but not limited to, any market, restaurant, or store; (13) entrance into and service from any public building, office, or structure; (14) entrance into and use of any public park or beach; or (15) admission into or service from any amusement park, concert venue, theater, or sporting event. The bill provides that it is to be unlawful to discriminate against or to take any adverse action against any individual who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who does not disclose whether the individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine. An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is to, in addition to any other relief authorized by law, be liable for civil damages to the victim in the amount of $25,000 in an action brought in the Superior Court in the county where the offense occurred. In addition to an award of civil damages, the court is to order the defendant to pay such attorney's fees or expenses, or both, that are actually and reasonably incurred by the victim who is the successful party in the action. | In Committee |
| A3827 | Prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring students to receive COVID-19 vaccination. | This bill, which will be known as the "COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement Prohibition Act for Higher Education," prohibits an institution of higher education from requiring a student to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, or presenting evidence of such vaccination, as a condition of: enrollment in the institution; or participation in any program sponsored by the institution. | In Committee |
| A3819 | "Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances. | This bill, to be known as the "Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act," makes it an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, lease, or distribute a product that makes content accessible on the Internet unless the product contains digital blocking capability that renders any obscene material inaccessible. Additionally, it would be an unlawful practice for a minor to receive such a product unless the digital blocking capability is active and properly operating. Under the bill, a person who manufactures, sells, offers for sale, leases, or distributes a product that makes content accessible on the Internet is to: (1) make reasonable and ongoing efforts to ensure that the digital content blocking capability functions properly; (2) establish a reporting mechanism, such as a website or call center, to allow a consumer to report unblocked obscene material or report blocked material that is not obscene; (3) ensure that all child pornography and revenge pornography is inaccessible on the product; (4) prohibit the product from accessing any hub that facilitates prostitution; and (5) render websites that are known to facilitate human trafficking inaccessible. An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured. The bill provides that any digital blocking capability may be deactivated after a consumer: requests in writing that the capability be disabled; presents identification to verify that he or she is 18 years of age or older; acknowledges receiving a written warning regarding the potential danger of deactivating the digital blocking capability; and pays a one-time $20 digital access fee. A person who manufactures, sells, offers for sale, leases, or distributes a product that makes content accessible on the Internet may elect to pay a $20 opt-out fee for each product that enters this State's stream of commerce. The digital access fee and opt-out fee would be collected and submitted by the manufacturer or seller to the State Treasurer each quarter, to be forwarded to the Attorney General to help fund the operations of the Commission on Human Trafficking. If the digital blocking capability blocks material that is not obscene and the block is reported to a call center or reporting website, the material is to be unblocked within a reasonable time, but no later than five business days after the block is first reported. A consumer may seek judicial relief to unblock filtered content. The Attorney General or a consumer may file a civil suit for any report of unblocked obscene material that does not receive a response. The Attorney General or consumer may seek damages of up to $500 for each piece of content that was reported but not subsequently blocked. The prevailing party in the civil action may seek attorneys' fees. | In Committee |
| ACR125 | Proposes constitutional amendment to preserve right of people to fish, hunt, trap and harvest fish and wildlife. | Fishing, hunting, trapping, and the harvesting of fish and wildlife are a valued part of the State's heritage. This constitutional amendment would preserve the right of the people to fish, hunt, trap, and harvest fish and wildlife. The amendment would also require that fish and wildlife be managed by laws and regulations that provide persons with the continued opportunity to take, by traditional means and methods, species traditionally pursued by fishermen, hunters, and trappers. Fish and wildlife management would be required to be consistent with both the State's duty to protect its sporting heritage and its duty to conserve fish and wildlife. The amendment would also require that fishing, hunting, trapping, and the harvesting of fish and wildlife, by traditional means and methods, be a preferred and available way of controlling all invasive or overpopulated species. This amendment would serve as a Bill of Rights for fishermen, hunters, and trappers, and would preserve the right to fish, hunt, trap, and harvest fish and wildlife. | In Committee |
| A3841 | Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities. | This bill is intended to ensure that persons who are unlawfully present in the United States and have been incarcerated in prisons, jails, youth detention, or other correctional facilities in this State are not released back into the general population upon their release, but rather are remanded solely to the custody of federal immigration officials. The bill requires the administrator, superintendent, warden or other person responsible for the operation of a prison, jail, youth detention or other correctional facility to determine the nationality of every inmate incarcerated in the facility. If an inmate is not a United States citizen, the facility's administrator is required to determine whether the inmate is lawfully present in the United States. When this cannot be determined, the inmate is to be deemed not lawfully present in the United States. The bill prohibits the release of an inmate if the inmate is not a United States citizen or is not lawfully present in the United States except to the custody of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officials. Administrators, superintendents, wardens or other operators of correctional facilities who violate the bill's provisions are liable to a civil fine as specified by the Commissioner of Corrections. | In Committee |
| A3821 | "New Jersey Safe Haven for Protection of Domestic Companion Animals Act." | This bill provides that any person, may voluntarily and anonymously deliver a domestic companion animal to a shelter, pound, veterinary hospital, or police station in the State, and leave the animal with an employee, veterinarian, or police officer at the facility. The bill provides that the person would not be liable for the care or disposition of the animal. The bill further provides that no employee, veterinarian, or police officer at the shelter, pound, veterinary hospital, or police station, as applicable, may refuse to accept any domestic companion animal. Finally, the bill directs the Commissioner of Health to establish a public education and information program to disseminate the information on the requirements of this bill to every municipality, shelter, pound, veterinary hospital, police station, and public school with students in grades three through 12. | In Committee |
| A3820 | Excludes farmland from definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" in "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law." | This bill would amend the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.), to specify that farmland is not a redevelopment area or an area in need of redevelopment under that law. Specifically, this bill amends the definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area" used in the law to specifically exclude any land actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use that is valued, assessed, and taxed pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.). The classification of productive farmland as an area in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law" is detrimental to the State's agricultural economy. Retaining productive farmland is critically important to New Jersey, nicknamed "The Garden State," as agriculture is one of the State's largest industries. | In Committee |
| AR104 | Urges Congress and President to enact immigration policies that better serve national interest. | This resolution urges Congress and the President to enact immigration policies that better serve the national interest. Each nation has the sovereign right to determine its own immigration policies, and the United States government has a responsibility to its citizens to end illegal immigration. According to United States Customs and Border Protection, in fiscal year 2023, there was a record-breaking number of 3.2 million encounters with illegal aliens at our borders nationwide, surpassing the previous record-breaking number of 2.7 million encounters in fiscal year 2022. Illegal immigration into the United States is threatening America's foundation, and Congress as well as the President should immediately enact immigration policies that better serve the national interest. | In Committee |
| A3590 | Upgrades burglary of residence to crime of the second degree. | Presently, burglary is punishable under N.J.S.2C:18-2 as a crime of the second degree if the defendant either was armed or inflicted, attempted to inflict or threatened, bodily injury during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine not to exceed $150,000 or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000 or both. This bill upgrades the crime of burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree. Specifically, the bill makes it second degree burglary to unlawfully enter or surreptitiously remain in a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, whether or not a person is actually present. This bill further provides that a person who commits second degree burglary of a residence under the bill would be subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA). Under NERA, persons convicted of certain enumerated violent crimes of the first or second degree are required to serve a minimum term of at least 85% of the sentence imposed. | In Committee |
| A3487 | Increases penalties for human trafficking of children. | This bill increases penalties for human trafficking of a child under 18 years of age. Under current law, a person commits the crime of human trafficking of a child if he knowingly holds, recruits, lures, entices, harbors, transports, provides or obtains, by any means, a child under 18 years of age, to engage in sexual activity. Such an offense is a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. However, current law provides that the term of imprisonment, imposed for human trafficking of a child to engage in sexual activity, is: either a term of 20 years during which the actor is not eligible for parole; or a specific term between 20 years and life imprisonment, of which the actor is required to serve 20 years before being eligible for parole. The bill amends current law to encompass any other act of human trafficking of a child under 18 years of age, not just human trafficking a child to engage in sexual activity. The bill provides that the term of imprisonment imposed for any act of human trafficking of a child under the age of 18 years of age is life imprisonment, without eligibility for parole. | 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 |
| ACR107 | Proposes Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. | This concurrent resolution expresses support for and strongly encourages a "Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights," which highlights for children the many benefits of participating in and enjoying outdoor activities, especially during summer vacation. | In Committee |
| A3392 | Prohibits mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 as condition of attending public K-12 schools. | This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Health and other State governmental entities from requiring immunization against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a condition of attendance at a public primary or secondary school. | In Committee |
| A3406 | Establishes Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission. | This bill creates the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. Under the bill, the commission would be comprised of nine members, consisting of representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of State government, who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The bill requires each department, office, division, or agency of the State to cooperate with the commission and furnish it with any information, personnel, and assistance it needs to accomplish its duties. The commission's findings would be advisory and cannot be used as a basis for any legal challenges based upon the action or inaction of any department, office, division, or agency of the State. The bill requires the commission to: (1) review all proposed and adopted rules and regulations and operative Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments; (2) call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply the commission with data and other information, personnel, or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties; (3) solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, and environmental organizations, businesses, workers, and other affected persons or entities as the commission deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) provide annually a written report to the Governor and the Legislature in which the commission must provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. | In Committee |
| A3405 | Eliminates general purpose, supplemental and mansion realty transfer fees. | This bill eliminates three recently enacted realty transfer fees: the supplemental fee created in 2003 and the general purpose fee and "mansion" fee created 2004. The supplemental fee applies to sellers and consists of a graduated fee, applicable to non-exempt property sales generally. The general purpose fee applies to a seller and consists of a graduated fee, applicable to non-exempt real property exceeding $350,000. The "mansion" fee consists of 1% of the purchase price and applies to buyers of residential property exceeding $1,000,000. The three fees substantially increase cost of buying and selling real property for New Jerseyans. As an example, the total transfer fee costs of selling a $750,000 home is now $6,775. This amount is almost double the $3,525 cost from fiscal year 2003. These realty transfer fees are actually taxes, as they add to the cost of a transaction to increase State revenue, rather than cover a cost of a transaction or service. As such, the realty transfer fees in New Jersey are an abuse of legitimate fee processes. In contrast, the Realty Transfer Tax Act of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is properly called a tax, as it is a state tax on the transaction of transferring realty. The elimination of the fees helps reduce costs to New Jerseyans and makes the New Jersey fee process more legitimate. | In Committee |
| A3404 | Requires State parks, forests, and other natural and historic areas to remain open to public for seven days if emergency is declared due to failure to enact general appropriation law as prescribed by NJ Constitution. | This bill would require that State parks and forests, State recreation areas, State historic sites, State natural areas, and State wildlife management areas would continue to be open to the public for a period not to exceed seven calendar days if a state of emergency is declared due to the failure to enact a general appropriation law by the deadline prescribed by Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution. The Department of Environmental Protection would be required to develop a plan for the continued operation of those locations if such a state of emergency is declared which would designate those State employees necessary to continue to provide services. | In Committee |
| A3357 | Modifies method of calculating impervious surface percentage for municipal parks in Highland preservation area. | This bill would allow municipalities to use the total, summed area of each of their municipal parks as a single lot, for the purposes of complying with the impervious surface restrictions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-1 et seq.). Current law prohibits placing impervious surfaces on more than three percent of any lot in the Highlands preservation area. Under this bill, a municipality would be permitted to place impervious surfaces on greater than three percent of one municipal park, provided that the total area of impervious surface in all of the municipal parks in that municipality does not exceed three percent of the total area of the parks. | In Committee |
| ACR106 | Proposes constitutional amendment eliminating cap on certain benefits to qualify for senior and disabled citizens' $250 property tax deduction. | This constitutional amendment would eliminate the cap on certain benefits for purposes of qualifying for the senior and disabled citizens' $250 property tax deduction. Currently, an eligible senior or disabled person qualifies for this deduction if they have an income of $10,000 or less. Certain government pension, disability, and retirement benefits provided in lieu of social security do not count as income for the purposes of this $10,000 limit. These benefits are only excluded from income up to the maximum social security benefit amount. Therefore, if these benefits exceed the maximum social security benefit amount, then the excess amount counts toward the $10,000 limit. This amendment would lift that cap and allow any amount of these benefits to be excluded from the $10,000 limit. Accordingly, senior or disabled persons may receive benefits greater than the maximum social security benefit amount and still be eligible for the $250 property tax deduction, provided that they do not have other income exceeding $10,000. | In Committee |
| A3355 | Requires school districts to include information on events of September 11, 2001 as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies; requires public schools to hold annual events commemorating September 11, 2001. | This bill requires school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the events of September 11, 2001 in the curriculum of elementary, middle, and high school students as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. Under the bill, the instruction will provide students with information on:· the historical context of the attack;· a timeline of the day as the events unfolded; · the heroic actions of the police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders in the rescue and recovery of the victims, and the heroic sacrifice of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93; and· the outpouring of humanitarian, charitable, and volunteer assistance and support that occurred immediately following the events of that day, and strategies for successfully instilling those traits in daily life. The bill also requires each public school to annually organize a commemorative event that will enhance student awareness of the events of September 11, 2001. In addition to providing students with information concerning the events of September 11, 2001, the event will provide students with age-appropriate opportunities for discussion on conflict resolution, diversity, and tolerance for people of different religions and cultures. | In Committee |
| A139 | Repeals sections of law pertaining to transfer of civil service and non-civil service employees of terminated local health agency to superseding agency. | This bill repeals sections 16 and 17 of P.L.1975, c.329 (C.26:3A2-16 and C.26:3A2-17), which provide that each full-time employee of a local health agency whose employment is governed by the provisions of the Civil Service law, and each full-time employee for a period of 2 years or more of a local health agency whose employment is not governed by the provisions of the Civil Service law, and whose employment by such agency shall have been terminated by reason of the assumption of its activities and responsibilities by another local health agency, shall be transferred to such other local agency, shall be assigned duties comparable to those previously performed by the employee, and shall be entitled to and credited with all rights and privileges accruing to the employee by reason of his or her tenure in the previous office or position, the same as if the entire period of previous employment had been in the position to which the employee was transferred, as well as compensation fixed at not less than the amount received by the employee at the time of transfer. Section 17 of P.L.1975, c.329 (C.26:3A2-17) also provides that when a full-time employee for a period of 2 years or more of a local health agency whose employment is not governed by the provisions of the Civil Service law is transferred to a superseding health department subject to the provisions of the Civil Service law, the board shall forthwith certify to the Civil Service Commission (now the Merit System Board) the entitlement of the employee to Civil Service rights and privileges, and shall appropriately classify the employee in the competitive civil service without examination. The employee shall thereafter be subject to the provisions of the Civil Service law with regard to the terms of his or her employment, promotion, tenure, classification, compensation and like matters, as well as compensation fixed at not less than the amount received by the employee at the time of transfer. It is the opinion of the sponsor that, as the State is urging smaller municipalities to merge or share services in order to make government in New Jersey more efficient and to lower the tax burden, and the Governor's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2009 penalizes smaller municipalities by reducing their Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid to compel smaller municipalities to consolidate, the above sections of law should be repealed to allow municipalities and counties to achieve cost savings through the consolidation of local health agencies at the county and regional level. The sponsor argues that if a municipality will be penalized with loss of aid for being too small, it ought to be given tools to rectify the loss. | In Committee |
| A180 | Prohibits social media websites from selectively suspending candidates for elective office and creates private right of action for users whose political or religious speech has been deleted. | This bill, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of State law, and consistent with federal law, prohibits a social media website from willfully selectively suspending, commonly referred to as "deplatforming," a candidate for office who is known by the social media website to be a candidate, beginning on the date of the qualification and ending on the date of the election or the date the candidate ceases to be a candidate. A social media website is to provide each user of the social media website a method by which the user may be identified as a qualified candidate and which provides sufficient information to allow the social media website to confirm the user's qualification by reviewing the Internet website of the Division of Elections in the Department of State or the Internet website of the local board of elections. The bill provides that a social media website that willfully provides free advertising for a candidate is to inform the candidate of that in-kind contribution. Posts, content, material, and comments by candidates that are shown on the social media website in the same or similar way as other users' posts, content, material, and comments are not to be considered free advertising. The bill provides that, upon finding a violation of the provisions of the bill by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, in addition to any remedies available pursuant to State law, the commission may assess against a social media website a penalty of $250,000 per day for a violation affecting a candidate for Statewide office and $25,000 per day for a violation affecting a candidate for other offices. This bill also creates a private right of action for users of a social media website, as those terms are defined in the bill, whose political or religious speech has been deleted or censored by the social media website or whose political or religious speech has been disfavored or censured by an algorithm used by the social media website. A user may be awarded certain damages provided in the bill. The bill provides that the prevailing party in a cause of action may be awarded costs and reasonable attorney fees. The bill provides that a court or jury is required to consider evidence that the owner or operator of a social media website restored from deletion or removed the censoring of a user's speech in a reasonable time when determining damages sought by a user. A court may not consider evidence of a user's alleged hate speech on the social media website as a basis for justification or defense of the social media website's actions. The bill provides that the Attorney General may bring a civil cause of action on behalf of a user whose political or religious speech has been censored by a social media website under certain circumstances provided in the bill. | In Committee |
| A970 | Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations. | This bill would establish additional specific factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment for a municipality's fair share affordable housing obligation. The bill also caps the number of units a municipality may have allocated as its affordable housing obligation with regard to the size of the municipal population. The additional factors to be used in calculating the municipal adjustment are as follows: (a) population of the municipality; (b) water supply and sewerage capacity in the municipality; (c) school class sizes and school services in the municipality; (d) public safety services in the municipality; and (e) public transportation and traffic in the municipality. The bill requires a municipal adjustment if maintaining approximately the same school class sizes would be a significant cost or if adequate school, public safety, and public transportation resources are not available or would be a significant cost to provide. A municipal adjustment would also have to be made if present traffic conditions would be substantially disrupted. The additional municipal adjustment factors required by the bill would require a more holistic examination of the actual state of affairs in a municipality, as well as of the potential impacts of additional development, in calculating its fair share affordable housing obligation. This will help ensure that reasonable numbers are arrived at that will not be disruptive to the quality of life and provision of local government services in a municipality. The bill's population cap would protect those municipalities that may face dramatic municipal population increases if mandated to add a large amount of additional affordable housing. Current law provides that no municipality shall be required to address a fair share of affordable housing units beyond 1,000 low and moderate income units within 10 years from the grant of substantive certification; except that a municipality may be allocated more than 1,000 units, if based upon an evidentiary hearing, it is found likely that the municipality through its zoning powers could create a realistic opportunity for more than 1,000 low and moderate income units within that 10-year period. In order to prevent the disparate impact such a potentially large affordable housing mandate can create for municipalities with small populations, this bill provides that an allocation of units to a municipality as its fair share shall not exceed an amount that would result in an increase of the municipal population by more than five percent. | In Committee |
| A250 | Requires cost-benefit analyses and local government financial impact findings for approval of long term property tax exemption; requires DCA to post Statewide database of these exemptions on its Internet website. | This bill would require an application for a long term property tax exemption to include a cost-benefit analysis and for the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality to produce an independent cost-benefit analysis to be submitted along with the application to the municipal governing body before it can decide on the exemption. The bill would also require a municipal governing body to include in its resolution approving or disapproving of a project for which a long term tax exemption is sought specific findings about the net impact of the project on the finances of the directly affected local governments, namely the municipality, county, school district, and other taxing districts within which the project is located. The cost-benefit analyses and financial impact findings required for grants of long term property tax exemptions would have to be posted on the Internet website of the granting municipality. If the municipality does not have a website, this information would have to be provided for public inspection on the Internet website of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Municipalities that grant new long term property tax exemptions would have to provide pertinent information about each approved project to DCA, which would post that information, along with existing long term property tax exemption information retrieved from plain language budget summaries submitted to DCA, in a database, sorted by municipality, on its Internet website. This bill would ensure that municipalities consider and evaluate whether an investment in a redevelopment project through the grant of a long term property tax exemption will generate satisfactory revenue returns to the municipality, as well as the financial impacts on counties, school districts, and other local governments. The bill would also allow the public to do the same by making the required cost-benefit analyses and financial impact findings, as well as complete long term property tax exemption information for each municipality, easily accessible on the Internet. | In Committee |
| ACR54 | Proposes amendment to Constitution to prohibit State or federal law or regulation from compelling a person to obtain, provide, or participate in health care coverage. | This proposed "Health Care Freedom Amendment" would amend Article I of the State Constitution by adding a new paragraph 24 in order to preserve the freedom of the people of New Jersey to provide for their health care. The proposed amendment provides that "no State or federal law or regulation shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person to obtain health care coverage, any employer to provide health care coverage to its employees, or any health care provider to participate in any health care coverage plan or program." | In Committee |
| ACR17 | Proposes Constitutional amendment to limit exercise of eminent domain to acquisition of land for essential public purposes. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the eminent domain power of State and local government to the acquisition of private property only for purposes considered to be "essential public purposes." The proposed amendment would define "essential public purposes" to include and be limited to the establishment of utility and transportation corridors, educational facilities, airports, correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, landfills, sewage treatment facilities, storm water management facilities, in-patient health facilities, and recreational facilities. Currently, the State Constitution establishes the clearance, replanning, development or redevelopment of blighted areas as a public purpose and public use for which government may take or acquire private property. This amendment would specifically prohibit government from acquiring private property for these purposes, although it would permit government to continue to grant tax exemptions to private corporations in order to promote the redevelopment of blighted areas. It is the sponsor's belief that as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005) which upheld a municipality's right to condemn private residences for private redevelopment, New Jersey homeowners and business owners are now more vulnerable to overreaching government action which impairs private property rights. Accordingly, this constitutional amendment represents an attempt to protect New Jersey residents from the effects of this decision. | In Committee |
| A211 | Limits long term tax exemptions in municipalities with school districts receiving certain State school aid. | This bill would amend the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et seq.) to prohibit the exemption of property taxes for school purposes for any financial agreement for a project located in a municipality having a school district that is an SDA district on or after the effective date of the bill. The term "SDA district" is defined in section 3 of P.L.2000, c.72 as a school district that received education opportunity aid or preschool expansion in in the 2007-2008 school year. Effectively, the provisions of this bill would be limited to the school districts formerly known as "Abbott districts," which were affected by the New Jersey Supreme Court decisions in the line of Abbott v. Burke cases. | In Committee |
| A214 | Expands range of local units eligible to join an insurance fund established by a municipality or county under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that, for the purposes of N.J.S.40A:10-6, which provides for the establishment of insurance funds by the governing body of any local unit under certain circumstances, "local unit" means a county, municipality, board of education, county college, county vocational school, and any municipal authority. Under current law, a board of education is permitted to participate in a county insurance fund under N.J.S.A.18A:18A-2 and a municipal insurance fund under N.J.S.A.40A:10-6.1 and N.J.S.A.40A:10-52 (as well as N.J.S.A.40A:10-53, -54, and -55 with regard to participation by all-purpose regional school districts, consolidated school districts, and limited-purpose school districts). A county vocational school district is permitted to participate in a county insurance fund under N.J.S.A.40A:10-56 and N.J.S.A.40A:10-57. A county college is permitted to participate in a county insurance fund under N.J.S.A.18A:64A-25.40; however, there is no current statutory authority for a county college to participate in a municipal insurance fund. Similarly, there is no current statutory authority for a municipal authority to participate in a county or municipal insurance fund. This bill would collect all such local units under a single statute and provide the authority for participation in such insurance funds. | In Committee |
| A237 | Restricts use of electronic benefit cards by cash assistance recipients. | This bill is intended to restrict the use of electronic benefit cards by cash assistance recipients in those venues that do not conduce to the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. The bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to work with the New Jersey Office of Information Technology and representatives of automatic teller machine suppliers to create and implement a program or method to prevent: access to cash benefits through the electronic benefit distribution system at automatic teller machines located on the premises of a casino, adult entertainment venue, adult bookstore, or liquor store; and the use of a benefit card to make a point-of-sale purchase at those premises or to pay for a cruise at a travel agency or other venue. The commissioner, as soon as is practicable after the date of enactment of this bill, is to apply for any federal waivers that the commissioner determines are required to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill takes take effect on the first day of the seventh month following the date of enactment, except for the provision that requires the commissioner to seek any necessary federal waivers, but the commissioner is authorized to take administrative action in advance as necessary to implement the bill. The restrictions on access to electronic benefit cards by cash assistance recipients in certain venues as provided in this bill include certain restrictions that are currently embodied in federal law, pursuant to sections 4001 through 4005 of Pub.L.112-96, designated as the "Welfare Integrity and Data Improvement Act," enacted on February 22, 2012. Each state must comply with these federal requirements by 2014 or face a loss of federal funds for its TANF program (which is the Work First New Jersey program in this State). | In Committee |
| A187 | Requires legislative approval of changes to core curriculum content standards and Statewide assessments. | Under current law, the State Board of Education is directed to review and update the core curriculum content standards every five years. This bill provides that any update or revision made to the core curriculum content standards following the bill's effective date will require the approval of the Legislature. The State board must forward the update or revision to the Legislature, and the Legislature must adopt a concurrent resolution within 45 days of submission to approve or disapprove the update or revision. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the update or revision, it may be implemented. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the update or revision, it may not be implemented. Similarly, the bill requires that any revision made to a Statewide assessment or the adoption of a new Statewide assessment will also require the approval of the Legislature through the adoption of a concurrent resolution. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to approve the revised or new Statewide assessment, it may be implemented. In the event that the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution to disapprove the new or revised Statewide assessment, it may not be implemented. | In Committee |
| A2620 | "The New Jersey Healthcare Choice Act"; permits health insurers licensed in other states to provide coverage in New Jersey under certain circumstances. | This bill allows health insurers licensed in other states to provide individual health benefits plans and small employer health benefits plans to New Jersey residents and to employers in New Jersey under certain conditions and under the oversight of the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. In order to offer plans in the State, the foreign health insurer would have to offer these plans in its domiciliary state and otherwise be in compliance with all applicable laws in that state. In addition, the foreign health insurer must apply for and obtain a certificate of authority to do business as a foreign health insurer from the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. The commissioner shall issue the certificate if the commissioner determines that the foreign health insurer meets certain conditions as specified in the bill. Foreign health insurers who provide individual health benefits plans or small employer health benefits plans in the State must make certain disclosures to individual residents or employers, related to the differences between these plans and plans currently permitted to be offered in the State. The bill provides that the commissioner may deny, revoke or suspend a certificate of authority to do business as a foreign health insurer, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, and the commissioner must establish review procedures to handle claims by health care providers and covered persons against foreign health insurers. The bill requires the commissioner to establish grievance and independent claims review procedures with respect to claims by a health care provider or a covered person, with which a foreign health insurer shall comply as a condition of issuing policies in this State. The bill also requires the commissioner to establish fair marketing standards for marketing materials used by foreign health insurers to market individual health benefits plans and small employer health benefits plans in the State. The bill requires foreign health insurers to comply with all applicable requirements of P.L.1947, c.379 (C.17:29B-1 et seq.) (relating to trade practices); P.L.1991, c.208 (C:17B:32A-1 et seq.) (relating to the New Jersey Life and Health Guaranty Association); and the capital and surplus requirements set forth in section 2 of P.L.1995, c.235, as determined to be applicable to foreign health insurers by the commissioner. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Banking and Insurance to adopt regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. However, the department's regulations shall not: (1) require a foreign health insurer to modify coverage or benefit requirements, or restrict underwriting requirements or premium ratings, in any way that conflicts with the insurer's domiciliary state's laws or regulations; (2) provide for an expansion of the commissioner's authority over foreign health insurers in a way that conflicts with the provisions of this bill; or (3) require any individual health benefits plan or small employer health benefits plan issued by the foreign health insurer to be countersigned by an insurance agent or broker residing in this State. Health insurance regulations vary from state to state and, as a result, the cost for individual health coverage and small employer health coverage also varies widely. By allowing insurers licensed in other states to offer coverage to individuals and employers in this State, the intent of the bill is to provide New Jersey residents with access to a wider range of affordable health benefits plans. | In Committee |
| A239 | Specifies conditions under which State, county, municipality, independent authority, school district, or higher education institution can grant unpaid or paid leave of absence to public employee to perform work for labor organization. | This bill implements the recommendations of the State Commission of Investigation as set forth in its report of May 2012 entitled "Union Work Public Pay: The Taxpayer Cost of Compensation and Benefits for Public-Employee Union Leave." The provisions of this bill apply to the State, counties, municipalities, school districts, independent authorities, and institutions of higher education as public employers. This bill authorizes a public employer to grant an unpaid leave of absence to any employee elected or appointed as an officer or representative of a labor organization that represents, or is affiliated with a labor organization that represents, the public employees of the employer only if such an unpaid leave of absence is provided for in a collective negotiations agreement between the employer and the labor organization, or in an addendum to such an agreement, and that agreement or addendum names the public employee or describes the public employee who is eligible for the unpaid leave of absence and specifies the commencement date and termination date of the leave of absence. The public employer may also grant a paid leave of absence to any employee elected or appointed as an officer or representative of a labor organization that represents, or is affiliated with a labor organization that represents, the public employees of the employer only if such a paid leave of absence is provided for in a collective negotiations agreement between the employer and the labor organization, or in an addendum to such an agreement, and that agreement or addendum: (1) names the public employee or describes the public employee who is eligible for the paid leave absence; (2) specifies the commencement date and termination date of the leave of absence; and (3) requires the labor organization to reimburse the employer in advance, on a schedule provided in the agreement or addendum, for payments to be made by the employer to the employee or on behalf of that employee for compensation and benefits. The amount of the reimbursement required must include the amount paid by the employer to the employee for salary, wages, allowances, bonuses, longevity pay, reimbursements, or other supplemental compensation, the amount paid by the employer on behalf of the employee for benefits including for health care benefits coverage and for contributions to any retirement program or plan, and the amount paid by the employer on behalf of the employee for any taxes, fees, dues, or other payments including those required by State or federal law or a collective bargaining agreement or addendum to such an agreement. A public employee would not commence an unpaid or paid leave of absence until the employer has notified, in writing, the Division of Pensions and Benefits in the Department of the Treasury, and when appropriate the Department of Community Affairs, the Civil Service Commission, and the Department of Education, of the name of the public employee, the commencement date and termination date of the leave of absence, and whether the employee will be on an unpaid or paid leave of absence. The employer must notify the division when a public employee's unpaid or paid leave of absence has been terminated, with the notification to occur no later than three business days following the termination date. The maximum period for such paid and unpaid leaves of absence would be a subject of negotiation between the employer and labor organization. The bill requires a public employer to maintain a single file that contains: the name, title, and position of each public employee who is on an unpaid or paid leave of absence; the commencement date and termination date of the leave of absence; copies of the provisions of each collective negotiations agreement or addendum to such an agreement providing for such leave of absence for each employee named; proofs of the payments of the reimbursement required; and proofs of the notifications required. The information in this file must be available to the public for inspection, copying, and examination as a government record. Each collective negotiations agreement and any addendum to such an agreement that contains a provision relevant to an unpaid or paid leave of absence provided for in this section must be filed with the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission. The initial file must be prepared and complete within 30 days after the bill's effective date and transmitted to the appropriate State agency. For public employees who are on unpaid or paid leaves of absence on the bill's effective date, the file must contain: the name, title, and position of each such public employee; whether the leave is in accordance with the provisions of a collective negotiations agreement or an addendum to such an agreement; the commencement date and termination date of the leave of absence; copies of the provisions of each collective negotiations agreement or addendum to such an agreement providing for such leave of absence for each employee named; proofs of the payments of any reimbursement required; and proofs of the notifications that may have been made. If there is no collective negotiations agreement or an addendum to such an agreement that provides for, through specific language or general reference, an unpaid or paid leave of absence for an employee, a record in the file must describe the circumstances and conditions under which the leave of absence was granted and whether it is an unpaid or paid leave of absence. If on the bill's effective date a public employee is on an unpaid or paid leave of absence that is not provided for, through specific language or a general reference, in a collective negotiations agreement or an addendum to such an agreement, the leave of absence for that public employee will be terminated on the 120th day following that effective date unless the requirements for such an unpaid or paid leave of absence specified in the bill are met by the 120th day. | In Committee |
| A140 | Prohibits the imposition of affordable housing need and related fees upon the local transfer or move of a business. | This bill prohibits the Council on Affordable Housing from adopting a regulation which would generate affordable housing need for a municipality upon the event of a commercial or industrial entity moving or relocating within the municipality, or within the same housing region of the municipality, or within a 50 mile radius extending in all directions from the initial location of the entity. Municipalities are prohibited from imposing a fee for affordable housing purposes upon a developer meeting the criteria set forth in the bill. | 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 |
| AR13 | Urges New Jersey Supreme Court to refer to supervisory treatment program as "Recovery Court" in publications. | This resolution urges the New Jersey Supreme Court to refer to supervisory treatment under N.J.S.A.2C:35-14 as "Recovery Courts." It has become popular to refer to the supervisory treatment as the "drug court" program. This term even appears in Judiciary publications disseminated generally and to the public via the Judiciary website. However, the term appears only once in the statutes at large, and nowhere in the relevant statute. Accordingly, this resolution requests the Judiciary to take the initiative and begin to refer to the treatment program referenced in N.J.S.A.2C:35-14 in a more comprehensive manner, emphasizing the recovery aspect of the programming offered to participants. | In Committee |
| A196 | Exempts sales of certain baby products from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts the sales of certain baby products from the sales and use tax. Under current law, baby food, formula, wipes, clothing, and diapers are currently exempt from the sales and use tax. However, there are other items of equal importance in caring for a baby that are currently taxable such as cribs, strollers, child restraint systems, baby bath soaps, shampoos, lotions, and powders, and nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain a child while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines "crib" to mean a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant and "stroller" to mean a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport a young child including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or a full-size stroller. By exempting these items from the sales and use tax, the State can continue to provide assistance to families by reducing the costs of raising a child. | In Committee |
| A170 | Expands authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside normal territorial jurisdictions. | This bill expands the authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside their normal territorial jurisdictions. Under the bill's provisions, any municipal emergency management coordinator is authorized to request assistance from the chief executive officer or his or her designee of any volunteer first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad; chief or other head of the fire department and force or fire company; or chief or other head of the police department and force located in and serving another municipality. The bill also provides emergency management personnel with the same statutory protections afforded to members of police forces, fire departments and forces, and volunteer fire companies in the event of injury or death while rendering assistance outside of their normal operating jurisdiction. If an individual were to suffer any injury or death, the individual or the individual's designee or legal representative would be entitled to the salary, pension rights, workers' compensation or other benefits as would be available if the injury or death occurred in the territorial jurisdiction in which the individual normally performed his or her duties. | In Committee |
| ACR13 | Proposes constitutional amendment removing gubernatorial appointment of certain municipal court judges. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to Article VI, Section VI, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution which would eliminate the Governor and the Senate from involvement in the appointment of certain municipal court judges. The constitutional amendment would provide that judges of municipal courts with jurisdiction extending to more than one municipality would be appointed as provided in law rather than as provided in the Constitution, which requires these judges to be nominated by the Governor and appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate. The statutes currently provide for three types of municipal courts: municipal courts of single municipalities, joint municipal courts, and central municipal courts. A municipal court of a single municipality is created by a single municipality and has jurisdiction over cases from that municipality. A judge of a municipal court of a single municipality is appointed at the municipal level. A joint municipal court is created by two or more municipalities and has jurisdiction over cases from these municipalities. A central municipal court is created by a county and has jurisdiction over cases from all municipalities in that county. The Constitution requires judges of joint municipal courts and central municipal courts to be nominated and appointed at the State level by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This constitutional amendment would give the Legislature the option to enact a statute that takes the Governor and the Senate out of these appointments and allows these judges to be appointed by another method. For example, judges of a joint municipal court could be appointed solely by the municipalities that created the joint municipal court, and judges of a central municipal court could be appointed solely by the county that created the central municipal court. This constitutional amendment would not preclude the possibility that a statute would continue to provide for nomination by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate but it does permit a statute to set forth another method of selection and appointment. | In Committee |
| ACR81 | Proposes amendment to constitution regarding parental notification for medical or surgical procedures or treatments relating to pregnancy to be performed on minor children. | This proposed constitutional amendment states that the Legislature may provide that a parent or legal guardian shall receive notice before his or her unemancipated minor or incompetent child undergoes any medical or surgical procedure or treatment relating to pregnancy, irrespective of any right or interest otherwise provided in the State Constitution. The Legislature enacted the "Parental Notification for Abortion Act," P.L.1999, c.145 (C.9:17A-1.1 et seq.) and the constitutionality of the act was challenged in court. The case came before the New Jersey Supreme Court and in Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey v. Farmer, 165 N.J. 609 (2000), the court found the act unconstitutional. In its analysis, the New Jersey Supreme Court relied on the "more expansive" language found in the New Jersey Constitution than that of the United States Constitution, and stated that Article I, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution "incorporates within its terms the right of privacy and its concomitant rights, including a woman's right to make certain fundamental choices." In declaring the law unconstitutional on equal protection grounds under the State Constitution, the court found that the law unconstitutionally distinguished "between minors seeking an abortion and minors seeking medical and surgical care relating to their pregnancies." This constitutional amendment is intended to overturn the court's decision and permit the Legislature to provide that a parent shall receive notice before his or her unemancipated minor or incompetent child undergoes any medical or surgical procedure or treatment relating to pregnancy, irrespective of any right or interest otherwise provided in the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A215 | Authorizes municipalities that petition for or receive substantive certification pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act" to make certain affordable housing units available on a preferential basis to certain eligible persons. | This bill would authorize any municipality which has petitioned for or received substantive certification of its affordable housing plan from the Council on Affordable Housing pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.) to reserve or make available on a priority basis certain units of affordable housing. In the case of any unit of affordable housing sponsored by a corporate employer, the bill would authorize any employee of that corporate sponsor who meets the income qualifications for a low or moderate income unit of housing to have priority to purchase or rent, as appropriate, that unit of affordable housing. In the case of any unit of affordable housing sponsored by the owner of any farm that employs migrant workers, the bill would authorize any migrant worker who meets the income qualifications for a low or moderate income unit of housing to have priority to purchase or rent, as appropriate, that unit of affordable housing. In the case of any unit of affordable housing created as an accessory unit of, and sponsored by, the owner of any unit of housing, the bill would authorize any family member who meets the income qualifications for a low or moderate income unit of housing to have priority to purchase or rent, as appropriate, that accessory unit of affordable housing. The bill also exempts from the requirement of affirmative regional marketing any unit of affordable housing meeting the criteria set forth in the bill, allowing such units to be credited against the fair share housing obligation of the municipality. | In Committee |
| A155 | Includes value of certain properties exempt from taxation in valuation used to calculate State school aid in SDA districts. | Under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), a school district's State aid is determined, in part, by the district's capacity to raise revenue locally, as measured by the community's equalized property valuation and aggregate income. In the case of property that is exempt from taxation under the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et seq.), the value of the property is omitted from the calculation. This may lead a school district that is located in a municipality with exempt property to receive a greater amount of State aid at the expense of other districts. This bill requires that the value of property exempt from taxation under that law be included when determining a community's wealth for the purpose of determining State school aid for an SDA (former Abbott) district. | In Committee |
| A2611 | Authorizes chiefs of part-time municipal police forces to issue firearms ID cards and handgun purchase permits. | This bill would authorize the chief of police of a part-time municipal police department or force to issue firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase a handgun. Under current law, only the chiefs of full-time police departments or forces are authorized to issue these firearms cards and permits. Authorizing these chiefs to issue firearms cards and permits would relieve the State Police from processing these applications and facilitate their issuance in a more timely fashion. | In Committee |
| A173 | Provides for drug testing of adult recipients of Work First New Jersey program benefits. | This bill provides for random drug testing of adult recipients of Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) program benefits. The bill provides specifically that an adult recipient of WFNJ benefits, on or after the effective date of the bill, will be subject to random drug testing in a manner to be prescribed by regulation of the Commissioner of Human Services. The WFNJ program is to assume the cost of such testing. A person's eligibility for benefits under the WFNJ program or any other program of public assistance will not be dependent upon the results of such testing; however, based upon those results, the commissioner may condition eligibility for WFNJ benefits upon the person's completion of a drug treatment program approved by the commissioner. The commissioner, as soon as is practicable after the bill's enactment, is to apply for any federal waivers that the commissioner determines are required to implement the bill's provisions. The bill will take effect on the first day of the seventh month following the date of enactment, except for the provision that requires the commissioner to seek any necessary federal waivers, which will become effective immediately. | In Committee |
| A238 | Grants municipal courts discretion to assess court costs for certain dismissals. | N.J.S.22A:3-4 provides the fee schedule for assessment of courts costs in municipal proceedings. The statute currently allows for an assessment up to but not exceeding $33 for all cases, including violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and traffic ordinances. This bill amends N.J.S.22A:3-4 by adding a provision which specifically grants municipal courts the discretion to assess the same court costs for charges of violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statues and traffic ordinances which are dismissed in accordance with a plea agreement. This bill shifts a portion of the financial burden of operating municipal courts from local property tax payers to those accused of offenses over which the municipal courts have jurisdiction. | In Committee |
| ACR20 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for Statewide initiative and referendum for directing State fiscal restraint. | This concurrent resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to provide the people of New Jersey with the power of direct initiative and referendum to enact and repeal laws governing certain forms of State spending, appropriations and taxation as well as the issuance of long-term public debt. This constitutional amendment provides the people of New Jersey with the ability to directly enact and repeal laws by majority voter approval through State general election public questions in five specific categories. Focused on imposing greater fiscal restraints on State government, the five categories, include: (1) reduction of up to 10 percent of total State appropriations, (2) elimination of specific items of State appropriation, (3) reduction of up to 10 percent of total anticipated State revenue from taxes and all other sources, (4) repeal of any State tax law, and (5) a one year suspension of the issuance of any long-term debt by any State statutory entity which debt was not approved by the voters. Under the provisions of the resolution, the Legislature may negate a direct enactment through a recorded two-thirds majority vote of all members in both Houses within 45 days of voter approval. When mandated by a direct vote of the people, the Governor is authorized to implement the provisions of voter enacted fiscal restraints. A statewide referendum petition will be submitted to the voters if it contains voter signatures in each of at least 14 counties equal to at least 25% of the votes cast for the last gubernatorial election. A limit on the time allowed for collecting the required number of signatures may be established by law, but the limitation cannot be less than one year. A petition proposing a voter enactment directing fiscal restraint may contain more than one such proposed enactment, but it must allow for a separate and distinct public question to be voted on for each such enactment. Before a petition can be submitted to the voters at a general election, it is to be filed with the Secretary of State, who is to have 60 days to determine whether the petition was signed by a sufficient number of registered voters. The Secretary of State is authorized to make a determination on the basis of a sample of the signatures, chosen in accordance with appropriate random sampling techniques. If, on or before the 30th day after the filing, the Secretary of State determines that a sufficient number of signatures have not been obtained, the petition is deemed void and without effect. Otherwise, the petition is deemed eligible for submission to the voters at a general election. This constitutional amendment provides that prior to the submission to the voters of a proposed enactment, any party may seek a declaratory judgment from the New Jersey Supreme Court that the proposed enactment would be invalid under the Constitution or laws of the United States. If a law proposed by initiative or referendum petition and submitted to the people is not approved, or a law whose continuance is the subject of a public question submitted to the people in a referendum is not rejected, then neither that law nor public question, or one to effect the same or substantially the same change, may be submitted to the people for approval or rejection, before the third general election thereafter. The constitutional amendment also provides that no law proposed by an initiative or referendum petition and approved by the people may be subject to the veto power of the Governor. Italso provides that if conflicting laws proposed by the initiative process are approved by the people at the same election, the one receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be approved. | In Committee |
| A146 | Prohibits State departments and agencies from considering or requiring compliance by Highlands planning area municipalities with Highlands regional master plan in certain circumstances. | This bill would prohibit any State department or agency from requiring that a municipality in the Highlands Region planning area revise its master plan and development regulations to conform to the goals, requirements and provisions of the regional master plan, as a condition to any approval or decision concerning the municipality or any person in the municipality, including a decision to award a grant or loan, a decision concerning the amount of a grant or loan, whether to provide aid or assistance, to grant or deny a permit, or concerning the terms or conditions of a permit. Similarly, the municipality's conformance with the regional master plan or lack of conformance with the plan could not be considered by a State department or agency as a factor in a decision to award a grant or loan, a decision concerning the amount of a grant or loan, whether to provide aid or assistance, to grant or deny a permit, or concerning the terms or conditions of a permit. | In Committee |
| A165 | Concerns endangered plant species in NJ. | This bill would amend the definition of the term "endangered species" as used in the State's "Endangered Plant Species List Act" to mean any plant species that (1) is designated as listed, proposed, or under review by the federal government as endangered or threatened throughout its range in the United States pursuant to the federal "Endangered Species Act of 1973," any additional species known or believed to be rare throughout its worldwide range, and any species having five or fewer extant populations within the State, and (2) is not an invasive species. The bill would define the term "invasive species" to mean any plant which has a high potential to become noxious or which is likely to spread to a degree that will likely cause damage to the environment, human economy, or human health. Some non-native plant species exhibit an aggressive growth habit and can out-compete and displace native plant species. Invasive species also can degrade, change, or displace native habitats. This bill would also allow the Department of Environmental Protection to remove any plant from the endangered plant species list, if the plant is an invasive species, unless the plant is included on the federal endangered plant species list pursuant to the "Endangered Species Act of 1973." Furthermore, the bill would authorize the department to control or eliminate an invasive plant species regardless of the existence, or possible existence, of endangered plant species in the area being controlled, except as may be prohibited by federal law, rule, or regulation. | In Committee |
| A185 | Requires DEP to evaluate extending sewer service in Lake Hopatcong region; allows gross income tax deduction for septic system maintenance under certain circumstances. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to evaluate extending sewer service in areas surrounding Lake Hopatcong and its watershed. If the DEP determines installation of sewer service would not significantly improve water quality of the lake or is otherwise not feasible, this bill would provide a gross income tax deduction for one-half of the cost of the maintenance of a septic system performed at a taxpayer's primary residence located in an area that may impact Lake Hopatcong and its watershed. Specifically, this bill would require the DEP, within 90 days after the date the bill is enacted into law, to study the feasibility of extending sewer service in the area surrounding Lake Hopatcong and its watershed and make a determination as to whether the expansion of sewer service in the watershed would result in a significant improvement to the water quality of Lake Hopatcong. The bill directs the DEP to consult with the appropriate local governing bodies and the Lake Hopatcong Commission in conducting the study and making the determination required by the bill. If the DEP determines that installation of sewer service is not feasible or would not result in a significant improvement to the water quality of Lake Hopatcong, the DEP Commissioner would notify the Director of the Division of Taxation of the finding. A homeowner would then be eligible for a gross income tax deduction for one-half of the cost of performing maintenance of a septic system at the taxpayer's primary residence located within the watershed. The bill would require the DEP Commissioner to delineate the geographic area encompassing Lake Hopatcong and its watershed in which properties eligible for the tax dedication are located. To be eligible for the deduction, the bill would require a taxpayer to submit a receipt of work done and amounts paid for septic system maintenance. In addition, the bill would require the Director of the Division of Taxation, in consultation with the DEP Commissioner, to adopt standards by which taxpayers would demonstrate that they qualify for the tax deduction. In the early summer of 2019, the DEP detected cyanobacteria, a form of harmful algal bloom, in Lake Hopatcong and subsequently advised against making any contact with the water. Exposure to these harmful algal blooms can cause a range of health effects, including rashes, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, gastroenteritis, respiratory irritation, skin rashes, and eye irritation. A major contributor to harmful algal blooms is excessive nutrient loading in the water caused by runoff into Lake Hopatcong. Primary sources of nutrients include septic systems, lawn fertilizers, and animal wastes. In a press release issued in July 2019, the DEP urged property owners in the area to, among other things, have a wastewater professional perform a comprehensive evaluation of their septic system and fix any issues and have septic systems pumped out if this hasn't been done for three to five years. | In Committee |
| ACR21 | Urges parties to 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree to address ongoing risk of Delaware River Basin flooding. | This resolution urges the parties to the 1954 United States Supreme Court Decree to address the ongoing risk of Delaware River Basin flooding. The Delaware River is the longest, undammed river in the United States east of the Mississippi. Nearly two million New Jersey residents live in the Delaware River Basin, and rely on the river for drinking water. The river has historically flooded, endangering human life and property. Much of the flooding has occurred in areas of the State located downstream from the New York City reservoirs, which were at or near capacity when the flooding occurred. When New York's reservoirs are completely filled, the state can no longer provide flood controls downstream, presenting a dangerous and unnecessary threat to the lives and properties of New Jersey residents. Reports issued by the Delaware River Flood Task Force and the Delaware River Basin Interstate Flood Mitigation Task Force support this view. Requiring New York City to maintain adequate, year-round voids in its reservoirs serves the public interest by minimizing the loss of life and property caused by floods. Management of the flows and levels of New York City reservoirs is subject to a 1954 Supreme Court decree, to which New Jersey, New York, New York City, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are parties. Under that decree, and subsequent agreements between the parties, New York may fill its reservoirs to 105 percent capacity during the period of May 1 to June 15 of each year, a period when flooding has historically occurred. This resolution would urge the parties to call upon the Supreme Court to amend the decree, and demand that New York City maintain year-round voids in its reservoirs in order to mitigate the devastating effects of floods on people living downstream. | In Committee |
| A1447 | Provides secondary classroom experience credit towards meeting requirements of classroom training portion of registered apprenticeship. | This bill provides that partners participating in a consortium applying for a grant under the "Youth Transitions to Work Partnership Act," P.L.1993, c.268 (C.34"15E-1 et seq.), are required to consult and gain approval from the United States Department of Labor before making agreements which provide that secondary classroom experience may count as credit toward meeting the requirements of the classroom training portion of a registered apprenticeship. This requirement applies to any school-to-apprenticeship linkage program or apprenticeship program established under the grant. | In Committee |
| A1311 | Extends certain federal income tax advantages of individual health savings accounts to individual taxpayers under the New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill allows gross income tax advantages in connection with Health Savings Accounts in conformity with the federal income tax advantages extended to these accounts under recent federal law. The bill provides a gross income tax deduction for deposits to, and an exemption for withdrawals from, health savings accounts. Individuals can use these accounts to cover out-of-pocket medical care costs under high-deductible medical care plans. The bill also excludes the earnings in an account from gross income taxation, as the account earnings are excluded from federal income taxation. The federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 permits eligible individuals to establish health savings accounts (HSAs) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004. Under the federal income tax, HSA contributions are deductible from adjusted gross income, contributions grow tax-free over the years, and amounts can be distributed tax-free to pay or reimburse qualified medical expenses. HSAs are similar to Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs) established as tax-advantaged accounts under the federal income tax and accorded similar tax-free treatment under the New Jersey gross income tax. However, HSAs are more flexible and available to many more individuals than MSAs. Taxpayers can be expected to embrace them enthusiastically because the federal tax benefits are generous; HSAs are akin to tax-favored accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s. Eligible individuals are individuals who are covered by a high-deductible health plan. A high-deductible health plan is a health plan that has a deductible that is at least $1,000 for self-only coverage or $2,000 for family coverage. The policy must also have an out-of-pocket maximum that can be no greater than $5,000 for self-only coverage and $10,000 for family coverage. Out-of-pocket expense includes deductibles, copayments, and other amounts (other than premiums) that the individual must pay for covered benefits under their medical care plan. This bill makes contributions made by or on behalf of an eligible individual that are deductible for federal income tax purposes deductible by the individual for gross income tax purposes. Also, the bill makes employer contributions to an HSA excludible from gross income to the extent the contribution would be deductible if made by the employee. The maximum aggregate annual contribution that can be made to an HSA, as set by federal law, is the lesser of 100 percent of the annual deductible under the high-deductible health plan, or the maximum deductible permitted under an MSA as adjusted for inflation. Contributions can be made to individual HSAs by individual and their employers. For 2018, the amount of the maximum high deductible is estimated to be $6,650 in the case of self-only coverage and $13,300 in the case of family coverage. Under the gross income tax as under the federal income tax, tax-free rollover contributions from Archer MSAs and other HSAs into an HSA will be permitted. Rollovers will not be subject to the annual contribution limits. Under the bill, distributions from an HSA for qualified medical expense (most medical expenses defined as deductible for federal income tax purposes) for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and dependents generally will be excludable from New Jersey gross income. Distributions from an HSA that are not for qualified medical expenses will be includable in New Jersey gross income. However, distributions that are not for qualified medical expenses will not be includable in gross income if they are made after death or disability, or after the individual attains the age of Medicare eligibility (age 65). HSAs give workers the opportunity to save tax-free for routine medical bills like doctor visits or medicines, the security of funds to cover the out-of-pocket expenses of a major illness, and the freedom of knowing that the account is worker-owned, not under the control of an insurance company, and is portable whenever a worker changes employers. During years when an individual's family health care spending is low, the money remaining in the HSA earns tax-free interest, dividends or gains and is available in the future when unexpected medical expenses arise. Health savings accounts are a new option which will give families access to affordable health care will reducing health insurance premiums. The tax advantages provided under federal law are not available under the current New Jersey gross income tax. This bill will extend that tax conformity. | In Committee |
| A202 | Provides for appointment of certain municipal court judges at the local or county level. | This bill is the enabling legislation to a proposed constitutional amendment, which would eliminate the Governor and the Senate from involvement in the appointment of judges of joint municipal courts and central municipal courts. Currently, the statutes allow for three types of municipal courts: municipal courts of single municipalities, joint municipal courts, and central municipal courts. A municipal court of a single municipality has jurisdiction over cases from that municipality, and a judge of such a court is appointed at the municipal level. However, judges of joint municipal courts and central municipal courts are nominated and appointed at the State level by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. (A joint municipal court is created by two or more municipalities and has jurisdiction over cases from these municipalities. A central municipal court is created by a county and has jurisdiction over cases from all municipalities in that county.) This bill amends N.J.S.2B:12-4 to provide that if two or more municipalities agree to the establishment of a joint municipal court, the method of selecting and appointing each judge would be set forth in the agreement establishing that court. A copy of the agreement would be filed with the Administrative Director of the Courts. The Governor and the Senate would not be involved. In addition, the bill provides that a judge of a central municipal court would be appointed by the county executive in those counties having a county executive and in all other counties would be appointed by the county governing body. The Governor and the Senate would also not be involved in this appointment. Under the bill, judges of municipal courts of single municipalities would continue to be appointed at the municipal level. | In Committee |
| A2704 | Establishes credit under sales and use tax for certain small businesses that collect and remit sales and use tax. | This bill provides a credit against a seller's remittance of sales and use tax if that seller is deemed a small business pursuant to the definition set forth in the bill. The credit is equal to 10 percent of a seller's monthly remittance or $100 per month, whichever amount is less. The credit is provided to a seller at the time the seller files their sales and use tax return. The Director of the Division of Taxation can require a seller to submit any documentation, records, and other information as deemed necessary to verify that the seller is a small business. The bill defines small business as a business that is independently owned and operated and employs fewer than 20 full-time employees. If a seller willfully and knowingly falsifies any document, record, or other information required by the director to claim the credit, that seller is subject to a penalty of $100 for a first offense and $200 for each subsequent offense thereafter. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to sales and use tax collections remitted to the State on or after the first day of the sixth month next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1331 | Gradually reduces CBT rate. | This bill gradually reduces the corporation business tax rate from 9 percent to 2.5 percent of income. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, the rate will be 7 percent. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the rate will be 5 percent. For privilege periods ending between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the rate will be 3 percent. For privilege periods ending after December 31, 2023, the rate will 2.5 percent. For a taxpayer with less than $100,000 of income, the rate of tax will be reduced faster. Currently, the rate is 7.5 percent for taxpayers with income between $50,000 and $100,000, and 6.5 percent for taxpayers with less than $50,000 of income. Pursuant to this bill, the rate will be 3.5 percent for taxpayers with less than $100,000 of income for privilege periods ending between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. For privilege periods ending after December 31, 2021, the rate will be 2.5 percent. A "privilege period" is the 12 month accounting period for which tax is due for the privilege of doing business in the State. | In Committee |
| A200 | Eliminates supplemental realty transfer fee and one percent fee on transfers of certain commercial real estate and tax on sale of controlling interests in certain commercial real property. | This bill eliminates one of the four realty transfer fees, the supplemental fee. In addition, it repeals the one percent assessment on the selling price of commercial property transacted for more than $1 million, and the parallel tax on the sale of controlling interests in certain commercial real property. In so doing, the bill lowers the cost of property transactions and supports the real estate market. The State capitalized on the recent real estate boom by creating two new realty transfer fee layers in 2003 and 2004 and by instituting a one percent assessment on residential properties selling for more than $1 million in 2004 and on commercial properties selling for more than $1 million in 2006. Now that the real estate market finds itself in a downward spiral, these actions drag down the market and dissuade property transactions. The bill repeals the supplemental fee, which saves a seller of an existing $250,000 property $300, the seller of a new $250,000 property $600, and a seller of an existing $350,000 property $580. The supplemental fee, created in 2003, applies to the seller of non-exempt real property, provided that the seller is neither a senior citizen nor blind or disabled. The supplemental fee is a graduated fee that pertains to the full amount of the property transaction and has the following structure: $0.25 on each $500 of consideration on the first $150,000 of the value recited in the deed of transfer; $0.85 on each $500 of consideration between $150,000 and $200,000; and $1.40 on each $500 of consideration over $200,000. Of the revenue generated, counties retain $0.25 on every $500 of consideration, of which a portion shall be utilized under certain circumstances to finance public health services under the Public Health Priority Funding Act. The remaining revenue accrues to the State Extraordinary Aid Account to fund property tax relief. In addition, the supplemental fee effectively voided a partial exemption of $1.00 per $500 of consideration for the first $150,000 of the transaction price of property upon which there is new construction. The bill also repeals the "one percent fee" that buyers of Class 4A "commercial properties" transacted for more than $1 million pay and the parallel tax on the purchaser in a non-deed transfer of a controlling interest in an entity that owns Class 4A "commercial properties". The buyer of a $2 million commercial property thus saves $20,000. Class 4A "commercial properties" are any kind of income-producing real property other than property classified as vacant land, residential property, farm property, industrial properties, and apartments. | In Committee |
| A206 | Prohibits harassment of farmers engaged in farming operations. | This bill prohibits harassing, bothering, or otherwise interfering with a farmer engaged in farming operations for the purpose of hindering or preventing the lawful farming of agricultural products. For the purposes of this bill, agricultural products include, but are not limited to, crops, dairy animals, livestock, fur-bearing animals, poultry, bees, aquacultural products, trees, and forest products. A person who harasses a farmer would be guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense, the penalty for which is imprisonment for up to 30 days, a fine of up to $500, or both imprisonment and a fine. For a second or subsequent offense, the violator would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and a fine. A violator would also be subject to a civil penalty of between $250 and $500 for each violation. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues would constitute a separate offense. The Secretary of Agriculture would be authorized to seek injunctive and other relief against a violator. The bill also provides that a person who is adversely affected by a violation would be able to bring a civil action for injunctive and other relief as well as for damages, including punitive damages and special damages, against the violator. Special damages would include, but need not be limited to, lost profits and the cost of damages to farmland, supplies, equipment, and agricultural products caused by the activities of the violator. | In Committee |
| A260 | Excludes bonuses for reenlistment or voluntary extension of enlistment in armed forces from gross income. | This bill excludes from taxable gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax certain bonuses received by members of the Armed Forces. Amounts received as bonuses for reenlisting or voluntarily extending enlistment may be excluded from gross income pursuant to this bill. The purpose of the bill is to provide tax relief to taxpayers that valiantly and unselfishly serve their country, often at considerable sacrifice to themselves and their families, by allowing them to exclude reenlistment and voluntary extension of enlistment bonuses from taxable gross income. | In Committee |
| ACR50 | Proposes an amendment to Constitution specifying a method of providing for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools and allocating all income tax receipts to school districts. | Whereas, paragraph 1 of Article III states, "The powers of the government shall be divided among three distinct branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one branch shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as expressly provided in this Constitution." Whereas, paragraph 1 of Section IV of Article VIII states, "The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years." Whereas, paragraph 2 of Section IV of Article VIII states, "The fund for the support of free public schools...shall be annually appropriated to the support of free public schools, and for the equal benefit of all the people of the State." Whereas, paragraph 7 of Section I of Article VIII states that the income tax is to be, "...annually appropriated...exclusively for the purpose of reducing or offsetting property taxes." This proposed constitutional amendment provides that the Legislature will provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools by appropriating the net receipts from the gross income tax to school districts on a per pupil basis. The amendment also clarifies that nothing in the constitutional provision would restrict, limit, or otherwise affect the right of the Legislature to regulate additional funding to districts. Last, it amends the constitutional provision that authorizes the gross income tax to specify that all of the revenue will be appropriated to school districts, as opposed to school districts, counties and municipalities. | In Committee |
| A229 | Authorizes farmland assessment for forested lands and woodlands devoted to the production of USDA designated specialty crops; exempts such lands from woodland management plan requirement. | This bill amends the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," to deem forested land or woodlands to be in agricultural use when devoted to the production for sale of a crop designated as a specialty crop by the United States Department of Agriculture, including, but not limited to, the production of maple syrup from sap collected from trees grown and maintained on the forested lands or woodlands. The bill further exempts the landowner of such lands from the woodland management plan requirement to receive farmland assessment valuation for such lands. The bill does not change the other income and eligibility requirements for farmland assessment under the current law. | In Committee |
| AR19 | Constitutes special committee of General Assembly entitled Assembly Select Committee on the Executive Branch's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." | This Assembly Resolution establishes a special committee of the General Assembly entitled the "Assembly Select Committee on the Executive Branch's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic" to evaluate the executive branch's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and develop strategies to improve the State's response to future outbreaks of infectious disease and other Statewide events that may result in a prolonged emergency response. The special committee will comprise six members of the General Assembly. Three members are to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and three members are to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, with no more than three members being from a single political party. The Speaker of the General Assembly will appoint a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the special committee from among the membership, who may not be of the same political party. For the purposes of carrying out its duties, the special committee will have all the powers conferred under the laws and the Constitutions of the State of New Jersey and of the United States, including, but not limited to, the powers conferred under chapter 13 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, which include the power to issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence, provided that no subpoena may be issued by the committee without the written consent of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, and the Speaker of the General Assembly. The special committee will be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of the State of New Jersey, any political subdivision of the State, and any agency thereof, as may be required and as may be available for that purpose, and to employ any other services as may be deemed necessary, in order to perform its duties, and within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose. The special committee, upon the written approval of the Speaker of the General Assembly, will be entitled to call to its assistance, employ, and avail itself of the services of one or more special counsel retained to assist the committee. | In Committee |
| A3204 | Requires public schools to post curriculum plans online; requires school districts to make textbooks or other materials used in implementing curriculum plans available for inspection by parents and legal guardians. | This bill requires school districts to post curriculum plans for each course offered to students in each grade level at least 30 days prior to the beginning of a school year. Specifically, a school district would be required to post information concerning each unit of study, student learning objectives, and information concerning textbooks and other materials to be used in implementing the district's curriculum plans. School districts would be required to update their Internet websites each time a curriculum plan is updated or revised. The bill also requires school districts to post information concerning when and where textbooks and other materials used as part of the district's implementation of the district's curriculum plans will be available for review by the parents or legal guardians of students in the district. Parents and legal guardians would be given the opportunity to review these materials prior to the time in which they will be incorporated into classroom instruction. By requiring that school districts post their curriculum plans online and providing parents and legal guardians with the opportunity to review textbooks and other materials used as part of the curriculum, the State can ensure greater transparency and collaboration between school officials and the families they serve. | In Committee |
| A216 | Provides municipality with affordable housing credit toward its municipal fair share housing obligation for funds transferred to the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund pursuant to P.L.2008, c.46. | This bill provides municipalities with affordable housing credit toward their municipal fair share housing obligation for funds transferred to the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund" pursuant to P.L.2008, c.46. Under the provisions of the bill, a municipality that has transferred its development fee trust fund or payments-in-lieu balances to the "New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund" would receive one unit of affordable housing credit in proportion to the minimum per unit amount established for the housing region of the transferring municipality by the Council on Affordable Housing ("council"). As a point of reference, under N.J.A.C.5:97-7.1 (the council's substantive rules for the period beginning June 2, 2008) the minimum per unit transfer amount pursuant to a regional contribution agreement by housing region was: Housing Region 1 (Northeast) -- $80,000; Housing Region 2 (Northwest) -- $67,000; Housing Region 3 (West Central) -- $67,000; Housing Region 4 (East Central) -- $70,000; Housing Region 5 (Southwest) -- $71,000; and Housing Region 6 (South-Southwest) -- $80,000. | In Committee |
| A252 | Requires creditors to accept electronic document transmission for certain documents. | This bill permits the electronic transmission of death certificates. Under the bill, a personal representative of a decedent is permitted to transmit a certification or certified copy of a death certificate via electronic means to a creditor who has established a claim against the decedents estate. A creditor who fails to accept electronic submission of a death certificate is prohibited from presenting a claim to the personal representative of the decedent's estate. Under current law, a death certificate is required to include the following items: the name of the decedent; the county or municipality in which the death occurred; date of death; sex of the decedent; date of birth; and date of issuance and manner of death. It is the sponsor's intent to address issues that executor have in transmitting death certificates to creditors. Executors have been told the following upon transmission of a death certificate to the creditor: "we did not receive it," "it was sent to the wrong address," and "the fax was not legible." This bill would address these issues and streamline the transmission of the death certificate to creditors. | In Committee |
| A415 | Requires registered voters present identification when voting. | This bill requires a voter to present acceptable identification before voting at a polling place at any election. Acceptable identification includes, but is not limited to, (1) a New Jersey driver's license; (2) a New Jersey REAL ID identification card or license issued in accordance with the federal "REAL ID Act of 2005," 49 U.S.C. s.30301; (3) an identification card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission pursuant to P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.2 et seq.); (4) a United States passport; (5) a United States military or veteran identification card; or (6) a voter registration card. A voter who does not present identification, or whose identification information does not appear to match the voter's information may be subject to challenge. This bill does not deny or alter a voter's opportunity to establish his or her right to vote if challenged. This bill will take effect on January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| A251 | Increases maximum municipal percentage of affordable fair share housing satisfied by age-restricted units to 50 percent. | This bill would establish the maximum percentage of a municipality's affordable fair share housing obligation which may be met by age-restricted units in a municipality at 50 percent. The Council on Affordable Housing adopted its third-round regulations, since partially invalidated by the courts, that reduced the percentage from 50 percent to 25 percent. | In Committee |
| A971 | Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities. | This bill would revise the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), to prohibit any categorical affordable housing obligation exemption for municipalities that are eligible for the Municipal (Urban) Aid Program. Prior rules of the Council on Affordable Housing excluded these municipalities from providing any contribution toward a region's affordable housing need. Those exemptions, however, can lead to undue development burdens on the other municipalities in the region. Additionally, directing more affordable housing development to urban municipalities would help minimize urban sprawl and would direct development to areas that already have extensive infrastructure in place, allowing for more cost-effective accommodation of new development. | In Committee |
| A192 | Prohibits use of private funds and personnel in governmental offices and procedures pertaining to administration of elections; establishes crimes and penalties for violations. | This bill prohibits the use of private funds and personnel in governmental offices and procedures regarding election administration and establishes crimes and penalties for violations. Under current law, election administration expenses are funded by counties, municipalities, school districts, and the State from their respective budgets and appropriations. This bill would make it unlawful for the State, a county, municipality, school district, fire district, or any other government entity or employee to accept or expend any funds from any person, corporation, non-governmental organization, business entity, political party, or any other private entity to be used in preparing, administering, or conducting elections, including registering voters. This provision would not be interpreted to prohibit the State or government entity or employee from receiving or expending any funds allocated to the government entity from the State or federal government. Any person who violates these provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Under current law, designated election officials, including members of the district boards of elections, county boards of elections, boards of county canvassers, board of state canvassers, and any other officer, official, employee, or judge in their respective capacities, are authorized to process and canvass ballots in an election. This bill would make it unlawful for any private person to self-appoint or be employed or appointed in a supervisory capacity to provide direction to any employee or have any role in determining the eligibility of any ballots to be counted or disqualified, unless such employment or appointment is authorized and governed by the provisions of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes. Any person who violates these provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. This bill is based on legislation enacted in the 11 states of Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas, which limits or prohibits the use of private or philanthropic funding to governmental offices to administer elections. It is the sponsor's belief that the use of private funding for historically publicly-funded governmental election administration activities raises questions among the public about the integrity of governmental election procedures. Specifically, the use of private funding for these governmental purposes raises questions about the intent, expectations and actions of the private funder and any allied organizations or individuals distributing the funding, implementing the private funder's plans, or receiving payment from the private funds. The reported and apparently unprecedented injection of hundreds of millions of private dollars into governmental election agencies in 2020 by a billionaire chief executive officer of a social media company has raised such questions. Further related reports of private individuals giving directions to public employees, including deciding which ballots would be counted and which would not, contribute to such questions, as do reports of private funds being used by public agencies for activities resembling "get out the vote" efforts normally funded by partisan political candidates and parties. | In Committee |
| A175 | Requires medical testing for certain persons in circumstances when first responders may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens. | This bill would provide for the court-ordered testing of certain persons in circumstances when first responders may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and any other infectious disease that may be transmitted through exposure to human blood. First responders include enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. Specifically, the bill would provide that a first responder who, in the course of an interaction with a person, may have been exposed to a bloodborne pathogen through direct contact with bodily fluid or an accidental prick of a syringe or hypodermic needle, could notify the local public health officer within 24 hours of the potential exposure. Upon the first responder's request, the public health officer is required to seek consent from the person who came into contact with the first responder to voluntarily submit to serological tests or other medically appropriate tests, including repeat or confirmatory tests, for infection with a bloodborne pathogen that can be transmitted by contact with bodily fluids or an accidental prick of a syringe or hypodermic needle. If the person does not consent and submit to testing within 24 hours of the public health officer's request, the public health officer is required to file an emergency application for a court order requiring the person to submit to testing. The court would be required to grant the order for testing if the court finds, by a preponderance of evidence, that there is a risk that a bloodborne pathogen was transmitted as a result of the contact. The court order would require testing to be performed as soon as practicable by a health care provider or at a health care facility licensed or authorized to administer the ordered testing. The bill authorizes the court to order the person who came into contact with the first responder to reimburse the State for the costs of the tests. The results of any testing would be disclosed to the person tested and the first responder who requested the testing, but are not to be disclosed to any other individual except as authorized by law or court order. A court order for testing and any test results would be confidential and could not be used for any law enforcement purposes or as evidence in any civil proceeding. A person who knowingly discloses or uses such confidential information in violation of the bill would be guilty of a fourth degree crime, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A person who performs a test ordered in accordance with accepted medical standards for the performance of such tests would be immune from civil and criminal liability arising from their conduct. The bill is not to be construed to preclude or limit any other testing for HIV, hepatitis, or any other infectious disease that is otherwise permitted by statute, court rule, or common law. | In Committee |
| A1053 | Reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three years. | The bill reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three taxable years. The purpose of this bill is to lower the gross income tax liabilities of all New Jersey gross income taxpayers while tempering the steep progressivity of the gross income tax liability structure. The bill schedules the gross income tax rate reductions to occur at three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2013, an additional three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2014, and an additional three and one-third percent for taxable years beginning in 2015. After 2015, the bill maintains the total ten percent gross income tax rate reduction for future taxable years. | In Committee |
| A1662 | Prohibits mental health care professionals from disclosing, and health insurance carriers from demanding, certain information concerning behavioral health care services provided to patients. | This bill prohibits mental health care professionals from disclosing, and health insurance carriers from demanding, certain information concerning behavioral health care services provided to patients. Specifically, the bill authorizes a mental health care professional to disclose to a health insurance carrier only the following information: (1) The patient's name, age, sex, address, educational status, identifying number within the insurance program, date of onset of difficulty, date of initial consultation, dates of sessions, whether the sessions are individual or group sessions, and fees; (2) Diagnostic information, defined as therapeutic characterizations of the type found in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or in another professionally recognized diagnostic manual; (3) Status of the patient as voluntary or involuntary; or inpatient or outpatient; (4) The reason for continuing behavioral health care services, limited to an assessment of the client's current level of functioning and level of distress. These aspects are to be described as "none," or by the terms "mild," "moderate," "severe" or "extreme"; and (5) Prognosis, limited to an estimate of the minimal time during which treatment might continue. The bill also provides that the information provided to a carrier pursuant to the bill shall be marked "confidential" and, if directed by the patient or an authorized representative, forwarded to the attention of a specific individual. The bill also prohibits a health insurance carrier from requesting, or requiring in any contract or policy, information to be provided from a mental health care professional concerning any covered person, except the information described above. In certain circumstances health insurance carriers have requested, as part of utilization management, information from mental health care professionals that the providers are prohibited from disclosing pursuant to the rules and regulations of the providers' professional licensure. This bill is intended to reconcile that conflict by codifying certain aspects of those rules of professional licensure and by clearly limiting the information that the carrier can request, or require to be provided, to the information that is permitted to be shared pursuant to those rules. | In Committee |
| A210 | Provides that person who impersonates law enforcement officer and commits crime is guilty of third degree crime. | Under current law, a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he impersonates a law enforcement officer or an employee of a law enforcement agency with the intent to induce another to submit to or rely upon that pretense. Under the provisions of this bill, a person who impersonates a law enforcement officer or employee of a law enforcement agency and who, during the course of that impersonation, commits a crime of the fourth degree or higher is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A crime of third degree is punishable by a fine of up to $15,000, three to five years imprisonment, or both. | In Committee |
| A646 | Reauthorizes use of regional contribution agreements. | This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to re-authorize the use of regional contribution agreements by municipalities to meet affordable housing needs. Since July 17, 2008, the effective date of P.L.2008, c.46, municipalities have been prohibited from using regional contribution agreements to address fair share housing obligations. This bill would re-authorize a municipality to propose transferring up to 50% of its fair share housing obligation to another municipality within its housing region through a regional contribution agreement. This matches the portion of a fair share housing obligation that had been transferrable prior to 2008. | In Committee |
| A157 | Prohibits exemption of school purposes property taxes under "Long Term Tax Exemption Law." | This bill would amend the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law," P.L.1991, c.431 (C.40A:20-1 et seq.) to prohibit the exemption of property taxes for school purposes for any project for which a long term tax exemption is sought by an urban renewal entity after the effective date of the bill. The exemption of property taxes for school purposes on real property subject to a long term property tax exemption under the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law" requires that the property tax levy for school purposes be allocated among all property taxpayers whose property is not subject to such a property tax exemption, thereby increasing their property tax burden. The purpose of this bill is to prevent these circumstances from occurring as the result of property tax exemptions granted after the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A232 | Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning socio-economic impact statements for proposed rule-making. | This bill revises the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) (APA) to add specific requirements for the socio-economic impact statement required as part of the rule-making process. The APA, enacted in 1968, establishes the procedures that agencies in the Executive branch of State government must follow when exercising their authority to adopt rules and regulations. This bill expands the requirements for the description of the expected socio-economic impact of a proposed rule-making by requiring State agencies to obtain, for inclusion in the publication of the rule proposal in the New Jersey Register, a socio-economic impact description of the proposed rule from the regulated community. Under this bill, a State agency, prior to submitting a proposed rule to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for publication in the New Jersey Register, would be required to contact one representative of the segment of the public proposed to be regulated by the rule (i.e., the regulated community), provide that representative with a written copy of the proposed rule, and provide the opportunity for the representative to prepare a description of the socio-economic impact of the proposed rule. The agency would select the regulated community representative from among those interested persons associated with the segment of the public proposed to be regulated by the rule who have provided substantial written submissions to the agency on previous rules proposals on similar subject matter. Upon receipt of the socio-economic impact description of the proposed rule, the agency would be required to include, in full, that description in the proposed rule submitted to the OAL for publication in the New Jersey Register. The bill provides that the OAL may require payment by the regulated community representative preparing the socio-economic impact description in an amount sufficient to cover the proportional costs of printing and distributing the New Jersey Register attributable to the publication of that description. An agency would not be required to include a socio-economic impact description prepared by a representative of the regulated community if the agency finds that the proposed rule would impose an insignificant impact, either because the scope of the regulation is minimal, or there is an extreme unlikelihood that the regulation would evoke a socio-economic impact. In this case, the agency's finding and an indication of the basis for its finding are required to be included in the notice of a proposed rule published by OAL. | In Committee |
| A168 | Establishes bipartisan task force to study response to COVID-19 in New Jersey. | This bill establishes a bipartisan task force to study the response to COVID-19 in New Jersey. The bill establishes a bipartisan task force, to be known as the "New Jersey COVID-19 Response Task Force," (task force) to consist of eight members. The President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly are to each appoint two members to the task force. The members of the task force are to be appointed and are to hold their initial organizational meeting within 45 days following the bill's effective date. It is to be the duty of the task force to study New Jersey's general response to COVID-19. In addition, the task force is to: 1) examine the effectiveness of the communication and coordination between governmental entities during the State's response to COVID-19; 2) review the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on nursing homes and nursing home residents; 3) assess the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on the education, physical and mental health, and socialization of children in the State; 4) examine the impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on crime rates, physical and mental health, poverty rates, and rates of suicide; 5) analyze the financial impact of the State's COVID-19 response measures on businesses, residents, and the State; 6) compare the number of positive COVID-19 cases and the number of COVID-19 deaths in this State to states which took less restrictive, comparable, and more restrictive COVID-19 response measures as compared to New Jersey's COVID-19 response measures; 7) review the healthcare system's response to COVID-19 and determine which government actions and provisions of law either aided or hindered the ability of the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19; and 8) consider other matters as the members of the task force may deem appropriate. Under the bill, the task force is to make recommendations for legislation or other action as it deems appropriate with regard to improving, expanding, and facilitating a response to a Statewide or national medical emergency. The bill provides that the task force is to expire after it submits its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A1113 | Establishes Red Tape Review Commission. | This bill creates the Red Tape Review Commission to assess the effect that rules and regulations and Executive Orders have on the State's economy and to provide recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. Under the bill, the commission would be comprised of eight members, consisting of representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches of State government, who are devoted to the common goal of promptly addressing the State's economic viability and prosperity. The bill requires each department, office, division, or agency of the State to cooperate with the commission and furnish it with any information, personnel, and assistance it needs to accomplish its duties. The commission's finding would be advisory and cannot be used as a basis for any legal challenges based upon the action or inaction of any department, office, division, or agency of the State. The bill requires the commission to: (1) Review all proposed and adopted rules and regulations and operative Executive Orders issued by the Governor to: assess their potential or actual effects on the State's economy; determine whether their costs and other burdens on businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh their intended benefits; and establish a basis for providing recommendations to the Governor to amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments; (2) Call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply the commission with data and other information, personnel, or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties; (3) Solicit both written and oral comments from the public, including professional, labor, community, and environmental organizations, businesses, workers, and other affected persons or entities as the commission deems appropriate, and to consider the views expressed by those parties in any report; and (4) Provide annually a written report to the Governor and the Legislature in which the commission must provide recommendations to repeal, rescind, or amend any rules and regulations or Executive Orders that unduly burden the State's businesses, workers, and local governments. | In Committee |
| A1523 | Prohibits automatic registration with New Jersey Immunization Information System. | This bill amends P.L.2004, c.138 to prohibit the automatic registration of individuals into the New Jersey Immunization Information System. Under current law, newborn infants in New Jersey, who are born on or after January 1, 1998, are automatically enrolled into the New Jersey Immunization Information System, unless the parent or legal guardian of the infant provides a written request to not participate in the registry. This bill amends current law to instead provide that infants born on or after the effective date of this bill can only be enrolled into the registry upon the written request of the parent or legal guardian. The bill provides that, in general, an individual may only be enrolled in the registry upon the written request of the individual or the individual's parent or legal guardian, in case of an individual who is younger than 18 years or age, notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary. | In Committee |
| A3222 | Requires school performance reports to include information about positive placement of graduates, including apprenticeships. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to include information about the placement of students following graduation in the school performance reports, which are referred to as "report cards" under current law. School performance reports contain information on a number of student outcomes, including graduation and dropout rates, and post-secondary school enrollment. This bill would require the school performance report to contain additional information about the number of students achieving positive placement after graduating from high school. Under the bill, positive placement would include placement in an apprenticeship. | In Committee |
| A1261 | Clarifies that law enforcement officers employed by educational institutions may possess firearms on campus. | This bill clarifies that campus law enforcement officers are permitted to carry a firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of a school, college, university or other educational institution in the course of the officer's employment or traveling to or from the officer's place of employment. The bill defines "law enforcement officer" as a person empowered to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law and who has successfully completed a firearms training course administered by the Police Training Commission. | In Committee |
| A169 | Prohibits payment of temporary disability benefits to incarcerated individuals. | This bill amends the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25 et al.), to prohibit benefits from being paid to any claimant during any period during which the claimant is incarcerated in any federal, State or municipal penal institution, jail, medical facility, public or private hospital, or in any other place because of a criminal violation of a federal, State or other municipal law or ordinance. | In Committee |
| A1097 | Establishes a formula for the distribution of State aid to school districts. | Whereas, paragraph 1 of Article III states, "The powers of the government shall be divided among three distinct branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one branch shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as expressly provided in this Constitution." Whereas, paragraph 1 of Section IV of Article VIII states, "The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years." Whereas, paragraph 2 of Section IV of Article VIII states, "The fund for the support of free public schools...shall be annually appropriated to the support of free public schools, and for the equal benefit of all the people of the State." Whereas, paragraph 7 of Section I of Article VIII states that the income tax is to be, "...annually appropriated...exclusively for the purpose of reducing or offsetting property taxes." This bill establishes a new formula for the allocation of State aid to school districts to satisfy the Legislature's constitutional responsibility to provide for a system of free public schools. The bill provides State aid by determining a per pupil amount of State aid and multiplying that amount by the school district's projected resident enrollment for the budget year. The per pupil State aid amount is determined after the State Treasurer projects the total revenue amount from the State income tax for the budget year. Following the determination of the projected total State income tax, the Department of Education is to divide that amount by the total projected resident enrollment of the school districts. The department determines each school district's State aid by multiplying this per pupil State aid amount by the district's projected resident enrollment. | In Committee |
| A186 | Establishes "Local Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act." | This bill extends the same disclosure, reporting, and other requirements that govern the activities of governmental affairs agents to their activities with respect to all local government levels. Under the bill, a governmental affairs agent acting on behalf of a lobbyist who seeks to influence a local measure, local regulations, the local governmental process, or to provide a benefit to certain local officials, would be required to file a statement of representation with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) prior to attempting to exercise such influence or provide such benefit. These activities would include communications with: (1) the local governing body of a municipality, a county, a local authority, or a school district, including a charter school; (2) the local chief executive of the municipality, county, authority, or school district; (3) their respective staffs, as defined in the bill, which includes the heads of principal local government departments and agencies; and (4) local government officers and employees, which includes the deputy heads of principal local government departments and agencies. The bill defines a "local measure" as including all ordinances, resolutions, amendments, nominations and appointments pending or proposed in a local governing body, and all ordinances and resolutions which having been approved by the local governing body are pending implementation. A "local regulation" includes any local administrative rule or regulation affecting the rights, privileges, benefits, duties, obligations, or liabilities of any one or more persons subject by law to regulation as a class, but does not include a local administrative action (1) to issue, renew or deny, or, in an adjudicative action, to suspend or revoke, a license, order, permit or waiver under any law or administrative rule or regulation, (2) to impose a penalty, or (3) to effectuate an administrative reorganization within a single local government department or agency. The "local governmental process" includes the promulgation of local administrative orders; rate setting; the development, negotiation, award, modification or cancellation of public contracts; issuance, denial, modification, renewal, revocation or suspension of permits, licenses or waivers; procedures for bidding; imposition or modification of fines and penalties; procedures for purchasing; rendition of local administrative determinations; and the award, denial, modification, renewal or termination of financial assistance, grants and loans. Among other provisions, the bill: (1) requires a governmental affairs agent to file with ELEC a statement or signed notice of representation prior to any communication with, or providing a benefit to, a member of the local governing body, staff of the local governing body, the local chief executive, staff of the local chief executive, or a local government officer or employee. The statement must disclose, among other information, the name and address of the governmental affairs agent, the lobbyist retaining the services of that agent, and the specific or general types of local measures, local regulations, or local governmental processes that the agent is employed to influence (section 4); (2) prohibits a lobbyist or a governmental affairs agent from offering or giving or agreeing to offer or give, directly or indirectly, any compensation, reward, employment, gift, honorarium or other thing of value to a local government officer or employee or a member of the local governing body or staff of the local governing body, totaling more than $250 in a calendar year. This prohibition also applies with respect to each member of the immediate family of a member of the local governing body, which means a spouse, child, parent, or sibling of the member residing in the same household as the member of the local governing body. The bill also provides for certain exemptions (section 6); (3) prohibits a member of the local governing body, the local chief executive, or the head of a principal local government department or agency from acting as a governmental affairs agent with respect to any local measure, local regulation, or local governmental process of the municipality, county, authority, or school district with which the person holds office or is employed and for one year next subsequent to the termination of the office or employment of the person (section 10); (4) requires the governmental affairs agent to file with ELEC quarterly reports of his or her activities (section 12); and requires the governmental affairs agent or lobbyist to file a full annual report of the moneys or other things of value received for, and of those amounts expended in, communications with or the awarding of benefits to intended recipients, governmental affairs agents or lobbyists, and the general public or publisher of the communication, when the annual amounts either received or expended exceed $2,500 in any year (section 13); (5) require each governmental affairs agent or lobbyist to provide each recipient of benefits a full written and certified report describing the benefit, including a description of the benefit, the amount of the benefit, the date it was provided and to whom it was paid by February 1 of each year (section 15); (6) empower ELEC with specific power and duties for its implementation of the various requirements in the bill, including the ability to establish and collect reasonable fees for the filing of statements of representation and quarterly and annual reports, and an annual fee to be paid by each governmental affairs agent for allocation to ELEC; and (7) establish the due process to be followed to prosecute violations of this bill, including the penalties for violations. This bill is modeled upon the "Legislative and Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act," P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-18 et seq., which governs the activities and disclosures of governmental affairs agents and lobbyists who seek to influence legislation, regulations, and governmental processes at the State government level. The intent of this bill is to impose the same or substantially the same provisions of current law on governmental affairs agents and lobbyists who seek to influence local measures, regulations, and governmental processes at the county, municipality, local authority, and school district level. | In Committee |
| A1507 | Restricts establishment of mandates to become vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); establishes reimbursement program to cover certain out-of-pocket costs incurred in obtaining COVID-19 vaccine. | This bill prohibits State, county, and local government entities, as well as public and private child care centers, preschool programs, elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, from mandating that any person be immunized against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The restriction will not apply to health care workers or individuals employed by or providing services at a licensed health care facility who are required to receive the immunization as a condition of working with a medically-vulnerable population. The bill additionally provides that any requirement that health care workers and other individuals working or providing services at a licensed health care facility be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be subject to State and federal laws and health care facility policies that apply to other vaccines that are required for health care workers and other vaccines that are required as a condition of working or providing services at a health care facility, including any exemptions that apply when a vaccine is medically-contraindicated for the individual or when the individual objects to the vaccine based on sincerely-held religious belief. The bill further requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a program to reimburse health care workers and other individuals who are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for out-of-pocket costs. To be eligible for reimbursement, the individual will be required to certify to the DOH: (1) the actual out-of-pocket costs incurred by the individual; (2) that all or part of the cost of the vaccine is not covered by health insurance; (3) that the individual's employer will not cover any portion of the cost of the vaccine that is not covered by health insurance; (4) that the out-of-pocket costs incurred are not a copay, coinsurance, or other cost sharing imposed by the individual's health insurer; and (5) that the out-of-pocket costs of the vaccine represent an undue financial burden to the individual. A person who submits a false certification will be required to repay to the DOH the full amount of any reimbursement received from the program, and will be liable to a civil penalty of up to $1,000, to be collected by and in the name of the DOH. Although several vaccines against COVID-19 have shown promise in preventing against the spread of the disease, the development of COVID-19 vaccines has proceeded at an unprecedented pace, and the vaccines first being made available to the general public have not completed the full process ordinarily mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety of new drugs and devices for human use. It is the sponsor's belief that, until there is a fuller record concerning the safety, effectiveness, and long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccines being made available to the general public, these vaccines should not be made mandatory outside of certain health care settings. | In Committee |
| A428 | Requires appropriate official file information on deaths in county with county clerk; provides additional ways for transferring deceased voter's record to Statewide voter registration system's death file. | This bill requires that county clerks receive information on deaths in the county in addition to the commissioner of registration and provides additional ways for deceased voters to be transferred from the active file to the death file of the Statewide voter registration system. Under current law, each month, the health officer or other officer in charge of records of death in each municipality is required to file with the commissioner of registration of the county in which the municipality is located the age, date of death, and the names and addresses of all persons 18 years of age or older who have died within such municipality during the previous month. In addition, the State registrar of vital statistics, the Commissioner of the Department of Health, and funeral directors across the State are required to file death certificates. If the commissioner of registration finds sufficient evidence that the voter is deceased, the deceased voter's record is transferred from the active file to the death file of the Statewide voter registration system. This bill requires the appropriate officers or State registrar to also file this information with the county clerk of the county. The county clerk will undertake an investigation similar to that of the commissioner of registration and transmit the findings to the commissioner. If sufficient evidence is found, the commissioner will transfer the record from the active file to the death file. This bill also provides additional ways for deceased voters' records to be transferred to the death file. Under the bill, the next of kin of a deceased voter will be permitted to submit, along with the death certificate, a notarized form created by the Secretary of State to the commissioner of registration, or the county clerk of the county in which the deceased voter resided, to have a deceased family member transferred from the active file to the death file. If the form is submitted to the county clerk, the clerk would transmit the form to the commissioner. In addition, the Director of the Division of Veterans' Healthcare Services or an administrator of a nursing home facility would be required to submit a form created by the Secretary of State to notify the commissioner of registration of a deceased resident and have the resident transferred from the active file to the death file after receipt of that person's death certificate. Funeral home directors in the State would also be required to submit a form along with the person's death certificate to the commissioner or the county clerk. | In Committee |
| A2298 | Limits "tobacco and vapor products tax" on cigars to up to $0.50 per cigar. | This bill limits the taxation of cigars under the Tobacco and Vapor Products Tax Act to a maximum of 50 cents per cigar. Currently, the tax on cigars is 30 percent of the wholesale price. Under this bill, the tax will still be 30 percent of the wholesale price, but the tax will be capped at 50 cents per cigar. The bill also amends current law to clarify tax payment responsibilities of tobacco product wholesalers and distributors. Every state imposes some tax on non-cigarette tobacco products. Ten states have adopted a tax cap per cigar. Cigar retailers with establishments in those states have claimed that prior to the establishment of the cap their retail sales prices suffered a serious competitive disadvantage with out-of-state, Internet, and catalog businesses that did not collect state tobacco products tax. Setting a maximum tax per cigar is proposed to encourage New Jersey consumers to make more of their cigar purchases from New Jersey "brick and mortar" retailers who are often small locally-owned businesses. A 50 cent per cigar tax cap will level the playing field for New Jersey retailers and potentially increase State revenues collected under the tax. | In Committee |
| A223 | Transfers Division of Elections from Department of State to Department of Law and Public Safety; designates Attorney General as chief election official and requires two bipartisan co-directors. | This bill transfers the Division of Elections from the Department of State to Department of Law and Public Safety and designates the Attorney General as the chief election official in this State. The bill also requires the division to be administered by two bipartisan co-directors. Under the bill, each co-director would be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One co-director would be of the same political party as the Governor, and would be appointed upon the recommendation of the State party chairperson of that political party, the leader of that political party in the Senate, and the leader of that political party in the General Assembly. The second co-director would be of the political party that received the second largest number of votes at the most recent election for the office of Governor, and would be appointed upon the recommendation of the State party chairperson of that political party, the leader of that political party in the Senate, and the leader of that political party in the General Assembly. The co-directors would serve for a four-year term, to expire upon the expiration of the Governor's term of office. A co-director may be reappointed for future four-year terms. Any vacancy in the office of co-director would be filled for the remaining of the term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The bill would take effect on January 1 next following the date of enactment, but the Secretary of State and the Attorney General may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for its implementation. | In Committee |
| A1084 | Prohibits DEP from imposing conditions on projects exempt from "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act." | This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection from requiring a deed restriction or from imposing any other conditions or requirements upon a property, applicant, property owner, or person whose project, development, or activity qualifies for an exemption from the provisions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," as a condition of the department issuing a Highlands applicability and consistency determination or otherwise acknowledging entitlement to a statutory exemption. Current DEP regulations and procedures require in certain circumstances that persons apply for a determination of the applicability of the Highlands law and rules to their project, development, or activity. Even when the department has determined a project, development, or activity to be exempt from the act pursuant to the statute, it has required a deed restriction and has made its determination of exemption conditional on submission of a deed restriction to the department. This bill would prohibit the department from imposing such conditions on projects, developments, or activities statutorily exempt from the act. This bill would be retroactive to the effective date of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act." | In Committee |
| AR11 | Requires mandatory posting of legislation with 41 or more sponsors; provides for Special Order Speeches and public comment periods at committee meetings. | Section 1 amends Rule 4:7 and requires the Speaker to include on the Calendar of Bills and Resolutions any bill or resolution with 41 or more sponsors no later than the second meeting of the General Assembly, at which bills and resolutions are considered, after the bill or resolution receives second reading or adds its 41st sponsor, whichever is later. This provision applies only to bills or resolutions with 41 or more current sponsors. Section 2 adds subsection f. to Rule 10:23. Subsection f. would require that when a bill or resolution has 41 or more sponsors and is referred to a committee, if the committee does not report the bill by the third meeting of that committee after referral, a prime sponsor may so advise the Speaker in writing. The Speaker shall verify that advice and not later than the next meeting of the General Assembly, when a quorum is present, order the bill or resolution to second reading. Because the purpose of subsection f. is to expedite the consideration of bills and resolutions with 41 or more sponsors, the bill or resolution may only receive a second or subsequent committee reference under Rule 10:18 or by the vote of 41 or more members. Section 3 adds a new Rule 2:10 on special order speeches. Special order speeches would be scheduled four times a year and take place after the General Assembly has concluded its voting and while the voting board remains open for routine business. The majority and minority parties would each have up to one hour for special order speeches. Each member speaking would have up to 15 minutes. The Speaker shall reasonably accommodate special order speeches by independent members. As the General Assembly remains in session during these speeches, they are subject to all rules of the General Assembly and also the "speech or debate" provisions of Article IV, Section IV, paragraph 9 of the New Jersey Constitution. Section 4 adds a new Rule 10:26 regarding comments by members of the public before standing reference committees. Two times a year, each standing reference committee must schedule two hours for public comments. The committee member presiding during these comments shall resolve all issues that arise and ensure that proper decorum is followed at all times. Public comments shall not deal with personalities and must be confined to subjects within the jurisdiction of the committee. | In Committee |
| A249 | Amends Fiscal Year 2023 annual appropriations act to prohibit use of appropriated moneys for, or to support, certain State litigation related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. | This bill would amend the Fiscal Year 2023 annual appropriations act to prohibit the use of appropriated funds for, or to support, certain State litigation that seeks relief for climate change-related harms allegedly caused by fossil fuel industries. Specifically, the bill would provide that, notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no amounts appropriated, under the FY 2023 annual appropriations act, to the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Law and Public Safety, or any other State department or agency, may be used, in any manner, to pursue or support litigation brought against an entity in the coal, natural gas, or petroleum products industries (the fossil fuel industries), or against an individual representative of any such entity, which litigation asserts a cause of action, including, but not limited to, a cause of action seeking remedy for negligence, a failure to warn, impairment of the public trust, trespass, public nuisance, or consumer fraud, based on the allegation that the business activities being undertaken by the entity or individual in the State have caused or exacerbated climate change or one or more specific public harms allegedly resulting from, or associated with, climate change, including, but not limited to, harms to the State or its residents that have allegedly resulted from the emission of greenhouse gases or co-pollutants in the fossil fuel industries. Although there may be a correlation between climate change and the activities and emissions of fossil fuel industries, it is well established that correlation is not equivalent to, and is not sufficient to prove, "but for" causation. Because there is no definitive evidence establishing a "but for" causation link between the activities and emissions of fossil fuel industries and the subsequent development or exacerbation of climate change, and because there is ongoing scientific debate as to whether, how, and the extent to which, the State and the public may be harmed as a direct result of climate change, it is impossible to say, with any certainty, that fossil fuel industries should be held liable for climate change or for any specific harms allegedly related thereto. Consequently, until a "but for" causation link is definitively established between the activities of the fossil fuel industries and climate change, it is inappropriate for State funds to be used to finance litigation seeking to financially penalize, or to otherwise punish, fossil fuel industries or their individual representatives for climate change-related harms being suffered by the State or its residents. | In Committee |
| A1059 | Requires each public school to post on website comprehensive list of all resources available in school library. | This bill requires each public school that has a school library to post for public inspection on the school's website in an easily accessible location a comprehensive list of every resource that is available in the school library, including but not limited to, books, periodicals, DVDs, and databases, offered in print or digitally. Any new resource ordered or purchased is required to be added to the list within 10 days of the order or purchase. Under the bill, the school library media specialist who oversees the school library is responsible for ensuring that the list is updated and posted on the school's website. In the event that a school does not employ a school library media specialist, the principal of the school is required to appoint existing staff members to oversee the cataloging of the library resources. | In Committee |
| ACR25 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit assessment of homestead real property, and allow exemption on up to $50,000 of home's value. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to place a limit on annual assessment increases for homestead real property. Homestead real property, which is the principal residence of the owners of the property, would be assessed at true value as of the January 1 next following the approval by the voters of this proposed amendment, and would then be reassessed annually on each succeeding January 1. Any annual increase in the property's assessment would be limited to 3% or the Consumer Price Index rate, whichever is lower. When a homestead real property changes ownership, the property would be assessed at true value as of January 1 of the year following the change of ownership. Thereafter, any limitations in the annual increase in the assessed value of the property would once again apply until the next time the property changes ownership. The limitations on assessment increases established by this amendment would not apply to an added assessment that results from an improvement. Additionally, this proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption on up to $50,000 of assessed value. Specifically, this exemption would consist of (1) a full property tax exemption on the first $25,000 of value assessed to a homestead property, and (2) an exemption from all non-school district property taxes on the third $25,000 of value assessed to a homestead property, meaning value assessed between $50,000 and $75,000. | In Committee |
| A2695 | Provides that no more than four of the seven public members appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council may be of the same political party. | This bill provides that of the seven residents of the State appointed to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council by the Governor, not more than four of these members may be of the same political party. | In Committee |
| A259 | Provides procedures for crediting certain dwellings used by agricultural workers in determination of municipality's fair share housing obligation. | This bill provides municipalities with credit against their fair share affordable housing obligation for dwellings produced for the use of migrant farm workers. This legislation requires the Council on Affordable Housing to permit a municipality to credit units built for the use of seasonal farm workers against the municipality's fair share obligation. Units produced for temporary farm workers do not generate an affordable housing obligation pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," N.J.S.A.52:27D-301 et al., because the dwellings are not intended for market-rate consumption. Units of housing produced for low- and moderate-income families necessarily fall within the definition of affordable housing because they are an actual source of housing for workers whose incomes are likely to be well below an area median. | In Committee |
| A307 | Requires State Treasurer to issue report concerning New York's taxation of New Jersey residents' income. | This bill requires the State Treasurer to issue a report to the Legislature concerning New York's taxation of New Jersey resident's income. The report is required to include: (1) an explanation of efforts the State has taken to address the inequity of New York's taxation of New Jersey residents' income, (2) the estimated total credits the State has granted, or will grant, to New Jersey residents for income taxes paid to New York in each tax year beginning with Tax Year 2011 and ending with an estimate for Tax Year 2020, (3) a discussion of steps that the State may take to protect the State of New Jersey's public fisc, and the paychecks of New Jersey residents, from New York and its political subdivisions taxing authority, (4) an estimate of New Jersey residents' tax savings should the State be able to shift residents' income tax payments from New York and its political subdivisions to New Jersey, (5) a discussion of any state or federal statutory or case law impediments to successfully achieving equitable taxation of New Jersey commuters working for employers in New York, (6) an analysis of how other states and jurisdictions address the tax implications of residents living in one state and commuting to another, (7) a discussion of the State's efforts to participate in the litigation between the State of New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts concerning Massachusetts' taxation of New Hampshire residents, and (8) recommendations as to how the State may resolve the inequitable tax treatment of New Jersey commuters working for employers in New York. The State Treasurer is permitted to contract with a third party to prepare all or a portion of the report. The report is to be delivered within six months of the bill's enactment. | In Committee |
| A209 | Requires public utilities and cable television companies to accommodate and relocate facilities when necessary for transportation infrastructure projects at direction of DOT. | This bill expands the current requirement that a public utility or a cable television company (collectively, "utility company") accommodate and relocate facilities when necessary for transportation infrastructure projects, at the direction of the Department of Transportation ("department"). The bill defines facilities as a utility company's tracks, pipes, mains or laterals, conduits, access manholes or chambers, cables, wires, towers, poles, telecommunications equipment, data transmissions systems, or other equipment, appliances, or apparatus, but not including any railroad. The bill creates a process whereby the department and a utility company establish and assign responsibility for the relocation of utility facilities within the limits of construction projects. The bill permits the department to manage utility relocations through its construction contract, and allows the department's contractor to control the project's construction schedule and the timing for utility facilities relocation work. Where appropriate, the department may assign responsibility for the utility relocation to a utility company. The bill's provisions allow the department to hold a utility company liable for delaying the department or its contractor for failure to provide necessary data and support during the design process, or failure to relocate their facilities according to the construction schedule when the utility company accepts responsibility for relocating their facilities. The bill maintains current practice by not requiring the utility company to pay relocation costs, but does require the utility company to pay for costs associated with pre-engineering, field location testing, engineering design and review, and any costs attributable to the utility company from its delay in the relocation of its facilities. Delays in relocating utility facilities typically delay other construction activities that are dependent on their relocation, thereby affecting the overall construction schedule. Construction delays can increase material costs, which can increase over time, and labor costs as personnel must be retained on a construction project for a longer period of time. Additionally, the general public may be inconvenienced by longer construction periods. The bill is intended to considerably reduce delays and costs when a utility company's facilities are not relocated in accordance with the construction schedule. | In Committee |
| A198 | Expands crime of human trafficking to include individuals who benefit financially. | The bill expands the reach of the statute by including those individuals who receive a "financial benefit" from participating in human trafficking without necessarily being an "organizer, supervisor, financier or manager" of the enterprise or scheme. Under the current law, a person commits the crime of human trafficking if he: (1) knowingly holds, recruits, lures, entices, harbors, transports, provides or obtains, by any means, another, to engage in unlawful sexual activity or to provide labor or services:? by threats of serious bodily harm or physical restraint against the person or any other person;? by means of any scheme, plan or pattern intended to cause the person to believe that the person or any other person would suffer serious bodily harm or physical restraint;? by criminal coercion; or? by destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing any passport, immigration-related document or other government document; or? by means of the abuse or threatened abuse of the law or legal process; or (2) receives anything of value from participation as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager in a scheme or course of conduct which violates paragraph (1) of this subsection. | In Committee |
| A144 | Exempts certain water quality management structures, funded by certain federal and State grants, from real property taxation. | This bill would exempt from real property taxation certain water quality management structures funded, in whole or in part, by certain federal and State grants. The bill defines "water quality management structure" as a physical structure designed and installed using a grant from the United States Conservation Service in the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, or the State Agriculture Development Committee for purposes of improving water quality. Any water quality management structure that qualifies under the bill would be exempt from property taxation under chapter 4 of Title 54. The owner of real property with a certified water quality management structure would have exempted annually from the assessed valuation of the real property a sum equal to the remainder of the assessed valuation of the real property with the water quality management structure included, minus the assessed valuation of the real property without the water quality management structure. The enforcing agency in any municipality would make the decision to grant a certification that the structures qualify after receiving a written application. The enforcing agency may inquire into the right of a claimant to the exemption and may require the filing of a new application or the submission of any proof necessary to determine the continuation of the exemption. The enforcing agency would also have the authority to make an inspection of the premises. The exemption for the water quality management structure would begin the tax year following the year in which certification was granted. The enforcing agency may revoke the certificate if: the certificate was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation; the claimant fails to proceed with the construction, reconstruction, installation, or acquisition of a water quality management structure; the water quality management structure to which the certificate relates is being used for a different primary purpose; or the claimant has so departed from the equipment, design, and construction previously certified by the enforcing agency that, the water quality management structure is not suitable the purposes initially intended. The bill also requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to adopt rules and regulations necessary for certification of the water quality management systems, including the technical sufficiency of a water quality management system to qualify for an exemption, for the implementation of the act. | In Committee |
| A156 | Eliminates seniority in Civil Service and other jurisdictions for reductions in force in certain circumstances. | This bill would modify existing civil service rules to permit the State, a county or a municipality to lay off, as part of a reduction in force, individuals with more seniority in the event the less senior individual possesses essential skills necessary to meet the needs of the county or municipality. When terminating a more senior employee instead of a less senior employee, the appointing authority must certify to the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission that the less senior employee has specialized skills, licenses, certifications, or other qualifications that the more senior employee does not possess and that those skills are essential to the operation of the county or municipal department. In the event that the reduction in force occurs in a county or municipality that has not adopted the civil service rules, the appointing authority must notify the Public Employment Relations Commission of the pending layoffs and gain their approval prior to implementing the layoffs. Finally, the bill expands the authority of the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission. Under the bill, counties and municipalities must receive permission from the chairperson of the commission prior to implementing a reduction in force that does not follow seniority rules. | In Committee |
| A677 | Removes income-based limitations on gross income tax exclusion for pension and retirement income. | This bill removes the income-based limitations on the gross income tax exclusion for pension and other retirement income. Under current law, taxpayers with $150,000 or less in annual income and who are at least 62 years old or disabled may exclude certain pension and retirement income from taxable gross income. For those with between $100,000 and $150,000 of income, the exclusion is reduced. This bill eliminates the $150,000 income cap and the reduced exclusion for those with between $100,000 and $150,000 so that taxpayers of any income level, who are otherwise eligible, may claim the exclusion. The purpose of this bill is to allow taxpayers with pension and retirement income to exclude more of their income from taxable gross income. By removing the income-based limitations, this bill allows greater numbers of taxpayers to benefit from the tax relief provided by the exclusion. | In Committee |
| A1508 | Requires Secretary of State to establish voter list maintenance and crosscheck program and to include certain voter registration data in annual report to Governor and Legislature. | This bill directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with each commissioner of registration, to establish and update, as appropriate, a voter list maintenance and crosscheck program. The purpose of the program would be to maintain and keep up-to-date a secure and accurate Statewide voter registration system. Under the bill, the program, at a minimum, must provide for the crosschecking of information in the Statewide database with information obtained via voter registration information agreements entered into by the secretary under current law and must provide for the sharing of voter information among each county clerk and commissioner of registration. The secretary, in consultation with each commissioner of registration, is required to establish uniform standards and procedures for voter list maintenance and crosschecking. At a minimum, the program must permit a county commissioner of registration to verify a new voter registration applicant's information, update information in the Statewide voter registration system, and remove duplicate, non-resident, or ineligible voters from the Statewide voter registration system. The bill also requires the annual report on the voter registration system to the Governor and the Legislature to be submitted no later than 90 days following the date of the November general election. Under the bill and in addition to the requirements in current law, the report is required to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of any voter registration information agreements entered into by the Secretary of State; (2) list the number of inactive and active voters in the State by county, the number of registrants transferred to the death file by county, and the number of registrants removed from the Statewide voter registration system by county; and (3) list the counties that are not compliant with the standards and procedures for voter list maintenance and crosschecking established by the Secretary of State. | In Committee |
| A788 | Permits any member of PERS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for disability resulting from participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup options. | A law recently enacted, P.L.2019, 157, provided that a member or retiree of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), the State Police Retirement System (SPRS), and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) is eligible to receive an accidental disability retirement allowance for a permanent and total disability resulting from participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. The law provides that permanent and total disability resulting from a qualifying condition or impairment of health will be presumed to have occurred during and as a result of the performance of a member's regular or assigned duties if the member participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations for a minimum of eight hours. The law permits a member who did not participate in those operations for a minimum of eight hours to be eligible for the presumption under certain circumstances. The law also provides for a reclassification of a retiree's retirement from a service retirement or an ordinary disability retirement to an accidental disability retirement under certain circumstances. The law applies regardless of whether the PERS member or retiree was enrolled in the PERS at the time of the participation in the rescue, recovery and cleanup operations. Currently, the PERS portion of the bill applies only to: any member or retiree who is or was enrolled in the PERS because the member or retiree did not meet the age or medical requirements for enrollment in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System on the basis of the position held; and to any emergency medical technician who is a member or retiree of the Public Employees' Retirement System. The bill amends the relevant provisions of the PERS to provide this benefit to any member of the PERS. | In Committee |
| A193 | Establishes Main Street Economic Growth Program to encourage business development in certain small municipalities. | This bill establishes the Main Street Economic Growth Program (program) for the purpose of providing financial and technical assistance to businesses located in main street areas within certain small municipalities. The bill's purpose is to encourage business development along traditional main streets of less-populated municipalities. The bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to establish the program, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Business Action Center. The bill authorizes the governing body of a small municipality to designate a "Main Street area" within the municipality. This designation would set forth the municipality's policy and plan for addressing the economic conditions in the Main Street area. Specifically, the bill defines "small municipality" as any municipality with a population under 11,000, and which municipality either: (1) is designated as a county seat; (2) contains an opportunity zone; or (3) is over 70 percent developed, according to a Department of Environmental Protection data set. The bill provides for corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for businesses located in a Main Street area that participate in the program based upon criteria to be determined by EDA. The bill provides that the credits be equal to 15 percent of the cost of employee compensation expenses related to meeting the employment criteria developed by EDA pursuant to the bill. The bill also requires the EDA to establish the Main Street Economic Growth Assistance Fund for the purpose of providing loans, loan guarantees, and technical assistance to area businesses located within the designated Main Street area of a participating small municipality. Under the bill, the EDA is permitted to decide the terms of any loan or loan guarantee, as well as the amount of any technical assistance, that is provided through the program. The bill requires the EDA to issue an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the program and to adopt rules and regulations to implement the program. | In Committee |
| A3196 | Requires Secretary of State create website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots; establishes "Vote by Mail Study Commission." | This bill requires the Secretary of State to create a website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots they receive. The bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission." Under the bill, the secretary would establish on the Division of Elections website a link for voters to report irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot received by the voter. The link would enable the voter to complete a form containing the voter's name, address, and contact information, and sufficient space for the voter to describe the issues with the mail-in ballot. The form may also include choices for the voter to select from among possible irregularities concerning a mail-in ballot, such as when the intended recipient of the ballot does not reside at that address or is deceased. The website would automatically forward each form to the appropriate county clerk, county board of elections, and county superintendent of elections, as the case may be, for follow-up. The bill also requires the secretary to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than January 15 of each year, a summary of the forms received through the website for the previous calendar year. This bill also establishes the "Vote by Mail Study Commission," consisting of the following nine members: (1) the Secretary of State or a designee, who would serve as chairperson; (2) two county clerks, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Officers Association - Clerk Section; (3) one member representing the county boards of elections and one member representing the superintendents of elections, who would not be members of the same political party, appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Election Officials Association; (4) two members of the Senate to be appointed, one each, by the President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader; and (5) two members of the General Assembly to be appointed, one each, by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The bill directs the commission to investigate, research, and evaluate irregularities pertaining to the implementation, accuracy, and integrity of the vote-by-mail process and systems established in this State. The commission would hold at least three public hearings, one each in the Northern, Central, and Southern parts of the State, to receive testimony from the public and elections experts on matters concerning voting by mail. The commission's inquiries would include, but may not be limited to: (1) procedures to prevent the mailing of more than one mail-in ballot to the same person; (2) measures that may be implemented to prevent the mailing of mail-in ballots to inactive, deceased, and non-resident voters; (3) maintenance activities that may be implemented to enhance the accuracy of the voter rolls and the mail-in voter designation in the Statewide Voter Registration System; and (4) any other matter concerning voting by mail the commission deems appropriate. The bill directs the commission to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following its first meeting. The commission would expire upon the submission of its report. | In Committee |
| A190 | Exempts local utilities from certain reporting requirements. | This bill excludes local utilities and local utility authorities from certain reporting requirements. Under N.J.S.A.48:2-29.57 et seq., both public utilities and local utilities are required to report information on the effects of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on utilities and certain other information, including utility supply, demand, revenues, and expenses, the average amount billed to customers' accounts, infrastructure projects the utilities' planned to undertake that were canceled or for which the start date was delayed for certain reasons, and other additional information. Under this bill, only public utilities would be required to submit this information. Because these reporting requirements would no longer apply to local utilities and local utility authorities, the bill also provides that the BPU would no longer be required to consult with the Department of Community Affairs when implementing the provisions of N.J.S.A.48:2-29.57 et seq. | In Committee |
| A1088 | Clarifies that BB guns are not firearms under New Jersey law. | This bill revises the definition of "firearm" to clarify that BB guns are not firearms and, therefore, are not subject to New Jersey's strict firearms licensing and permitting statutes. | In Committee |
| A163 | Exempts public institutions of higher education from motor vehicle registration fee. | This bill exempts public institutions of higher education from paying the registration fee for motor vehicles not used for pleasure or hire. Current law defines a public institution of higher education as the six State colleges, the county colleges, the public junior colleges, the New Jersey college of medicine and dentistry, the college of aeronautical and airspace science established in Atlantic County, the industrial schools, Newark college of engineering, Rutgers, the State University, and any other public universities, colleges, county colleges, and junior colleges established or authorized by law. Under current law, certain State and local government entities and civic organizations are exempted from paying a motor vehicle registration fee. This bill extends that exemption to public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| A226 | Requires Type II school district without board of school estimate holding its school election in November to receive voter approval of base budget. | Pursuant to P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1 et al.), procedures were established whereby the annual school election in a Type II school district could be moved from April to the date of the general election. A school election held in November is only for the purpose of electing the district's board members and for voting on any proposal for additional funds above the school district's tax levy cap. For a school district which holds its annual school election in November, no voter approval is required for the base budget. This bill will return to voters residing in school districts in which the annual school election has been moved to November the right to approve or disapprove the district's base budget. Under the provisions of this bill, a voter at the November school election will have the right to vote on the same matters that are presented to a voter at an April school election. Under the provisions of this bill, a school district with a November school election will continue to submit its budget to the commissioner by March 20, except that this budget will be a temporary budget for the upcoming school year. As current law provides, the secretary of the board of education by May 19 will certify the amount fixed and determined by the school board to the county board of taxation and the amount certified will be included in the taxes levied and collected in the municipality or municipalities comprising the district. If the voters approve the budget at the November school election, the temporary budget will be the final budget for the district for that school year. If the voters disapprove the budget, the budget will be submitted to the governing body of each of the municipalities included within the district for determination of the amount that should be expended notwithstanding voter rejection, as is the process under current law for defeated school budgets. If under this process the general fund tax levy of the district is reduced, or if the voters in November fail to approve any separate proposal on the ballot to spend above cap, then the secretary of the board of education will re-certify to the county board of taxation the sum or sums to be raised for that school year. | In Committee |
| ACR19 | Clarifies housing rights of State residents under State Constitution and prohibits laws requiring municipalities to provide housing opportunities through zoning and land use regulations. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed amendment of Article I, paragraph 1 and Article IV, Section VI, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution would remove the affordable housing obligations placed upon municipalities as a result of the Mount Laurel cases. Approval of these proposed amendments will clarify that there is no personal right to housing for all income levels in all municipalities, and that the Legislature shall not enact laws that require any municipality to provide housing for all income levels through zoning and land use regulation. The amendments further ensure that the Legislature shall not adopt any law for the purpose of providing housing for all income levels that supersedes, overturns or interferes with a municipal zoning ordinance. | In Committee |
| A245 | Limits and clarifies use of cap banking by school districts. | This bill clarifies current law to provide that a school district may consider in its calculations a decrease in the school district's adjusted tax levy for a school budget year for the purposes of determining the difference between the maximum allowable amount to be raised by taxation for the current school budget year and the actual amount to be raised by taxation for the current school budget year. Under current law, the amount of that difference may be added to the school district's adjusted tax levy above the maximum allowable amount permitted by law in any one of the next three succeeding budget years, which is a practice commonly referred to as "cap banking." The bill also amends current law, with respect to "cap banking," to provide that that under no circumstances will a school district be permitted to add an amount to its adjusted tax levy that represents an increase of more than six percent as compared to the school district's adjusted tax levy in the immediately preceding school budget year. In other words, this bill will prohibit a school district from using the "cap banking" provision of law to increase its adjusted tax levy more than six percent in any school budget year. Finally, the bill amends current law to provide that a school district that adds an amount to its adjusted tax levy that is more than the allowable amount permitted by law in a school budget year will not be permitted to do so in any of the next two succeeding school budget years. In other words, the bill will eliminate any amount that remains in the school district's "cap bank" in any year that the school district uses the "cap banking" provision of law, thereby requiring the school district to build up its "cap bank" in order to utilize the "cap banking" provision of law in future school budget years. The intent of this legislation is to provide school districts with an appropriate amount of flexibility when utilizing the "cap banking" provision of law, but also to prevent school districts from using their "cap bank" to increase the adjusted tax levy by an exorbitant amount in any given school budget year. By placing sensible limitations on the use of "cap banking," this bill provides assurances to New Jersey residents that they will not be subject to burdensome property tax increases due to a school district's use of its "cap bank." | In Committee |
| A141 | Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping. | This bill clarifies existing law that the Fish and Game Council is empowered as the sole State governmental entity responsible for determining whether or not any species of fresh water fish, game bird, game animal, or fur-bearing animal may be fished, hunted, or trapped, and in determining what circumstances, when and in what localities, by what means and in what amounts and numbers those species may be fished, hunted, or trapped. The bill also clarifies existing law to require the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the division director, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to implement the State Fish and Game Code as adopted by the council and any comprehensive policies concerned therewith as formulated by the council, all as directed by the council. The bill further emphasizes the autonomy of the council pertaining to matters of fresh water fishing, hunting, and trapping by removing the council from the division and instead locating it in, but not of, the division and the DEP. This bill is necessary to correct the clearly erroneous interpretation of the statutory law given recently by the New Jersey Supreme Court in the case of U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In its February 28, 2005 decision in that case, the Court reversed a well-reasoned, unanimous three-judge Appellate Division opinion and thereby stopped the black bear hunt scheduled for December 2004 until certain specified conditions were met. In doing so, the Supreme Court found that the Fish and Game Council and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection have "shared responsibility" regarding the formulation of comprehensive policies pertaining to game animals, including black bears. The effect of this decision was to give the commissioner veto authority over any action taken by the council, thereby transforming the council into a mere advisory body. This result is clearly contrary to the statutory law establishing the Fish and Game Council as a fully capable regulatory body, providing for adoption of the State Fish and Game Code by the council only, and establishing the State Fish and Game Code as the only mechanism by which fresh water fishing, hunting, and trapping is regulated in the State. The Court's decision wrongly upset an established statutory framework, over 50 years of precedent, and the designed and mutually accepted working relationship established by the council with the Division of Fish and Wildlife over that time period since the council was created by law. Section 16 of this bill also provides that lands under the administration, ownership, management, or control of the Division of Fish and Wildlife or the DEP which were acquired in whole or in part with monies from the "hunters' and anglers' license fund," from the New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp Account, or with federal aid for fish and wildlife purposes, shall not be closed to the taking of any species of freshwater fish or wildlife in accordance with the State Fish and Game Code by the action of any State agency or official without the approval of the Fish and Game Council. This section responds in part to an Appellate Division opinion issued November 24, 2004 in the case of Safari Club International v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in which the court interpreted the current statutory law in support of affirming the notice recently issued by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection closing all lands owned, managed or controlled by the DEP to bear hunting. | In Committee |
| A387 | Provides for agreement between Secretary of State and AOC to match information in Statewide voter registration system with certain jury records in order to identify and remove ineligible non-citizen voter registrants from system. | This bill would require the Secretary of State, as the chief State election official, to enter into an agreement with the Judiciary's Administrative Office of the Courts to match information in the database of the Statewide voter registration system with the juror records kept pursuant to N.J.S.2B:20-9 concerning all requests for excuses and deferrals of jury duty. The purpose of matching up such information would be to identify those persons summoned for jury service who indicate non-citizenship as the basis for being excused and remove them from the voter database as ineligible registrants in accordance with applicable law. The agreement would apply retroactively to all available juror records maintained since the 1994 "motor-voter" enactment permitting a person to register to vote while applying for a motor vehicle driver's license. See sections 23 and 24 of P.L.1994, c.182 (C.39:3-10m and 39:2-3.2). | In Committee |
| A166 | Directs Dept. of Agriculture to develop and implement beginning farmer mentoring program in cooperation with certain agricultural and educational organizations and entities. | This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation and cooperation with the State Agriculture Development Committee, the New Jersey Farm Bureau, the county boards of agriculture, Rutgers the State University, the New Jersey Agricultural Society, and any other appropriate agricultural, horticultural, or educational entities in the State, to develop and implement a beginning farmer mentoring program by which experienced farmers would provide guidance, advice, and other appropriate assistance to beginning farmers so that they and their farms may succeed and thrive. The bill also would authorize the department to partner with appropriate public or private organizations or entities to accomplish the purposes of the bill, including entering into agreements or contracts with those organizations or entities to operate the program, in whole or in part, under the general supervision of the department. This bill is necessary because, according to the latest available data, in New Jersey the average age of the principal operator of a farm rose from 57 years in 2007 to 59 years in 2012. A similar trend is occurring nationally. Farming is unlikely to survive in New Jersey if this trend continues. Thus, it is necessary to create a mentoring program whereby experienced farmers can impart their knowledge to beginning farmers so that they will have a greater chance to succeed, thus ensuring that agriculture will continue to be a major industry in the State, in both the near and distant future. | In Committee |
| A2643 | Prohibits mail-in ballot outer envelope from containing political affiliation or designation visible to public. | This bill prohibits any mail-in ballot outer envelope from containing a political affiliation or designation visible to the public. Under current law, the county clerk in each county mails a mail-in ballot to each voter who votes by mail. The mail-in ballot envelope contains the blank ballot, an outer envelope, and an inner envelope. When the voter completes the ballot, the voter places the voted ballot inside the inner envelope, and places the inner envelope inside the outer envelope, which is addressed to the appropriate county board of elections for mailing. This bill requires each county clerk to ensure that the outer envelope and the envelope that is used to mail the blank ballot, outer envelope, and inner envelope to each voter do not contain any political affiliation or designation visible to the public on the envelope's exterior. This bill also requires each county clerk to ensure that any political affiliation or designation on the inner envelope is not visible to the public on the outer envelope's exterior. | In Committee |
| A242 | Establishes farm brewery and winery-brewery beverage license. | This bill establishes a winery-brewery sublicense that would permit wineries to produce malt alcoholic beverages for retail sale to consumers for consumption off the licensed premises and establishes a farm brewery license that would permit the licensee to produce malt alcoholic beverages for retail sale to consumers for consumption off the licensed premised. A farm brewery would operate in much the same manner as a farm winery, using locally grown farm products in brewing malt beverages which would be sold at the farm. A licensee would be required to be actively engaged in farming on or adjacent to the brewery site and to be actively cultivating hops or other products used in the production of the malt alcoholic beverages. A farm brewery licensee would be permitted to brew up to 2,000 barrels of malt alcoholic beverages per year for retail sale for consumption off the premises and to offer samples. A graduated license based on volume would range in cost from $100 to $300 a year. A single individual or entity would be permitted to hold only one farm brewery license. The winery-brewery sublicense established by the committee substitute would be available to plenary and farm winery licensees, provided they are actively engaged in farming on or adjacent to the winery premises and are growing and cultivating hops or another product used in the production of the malt alcoholic beverages. Under the provisions of the committee substitute, the holder of a winery-brewery sublicense would be permitted to brew up to 3,000 barrels of malt beverages per year and to sell this product at retail for off premises consumption and to offer samples. The committee substitute does not authorize a licensee to sell any malt alcoholic beverages to wholesalers and retailers. The annual fee for this sublicense would be $750. A winery-brewery licensee would be permitted to hold only one sublicense under the committee substitute. | In Committee |
| A1115 | Excludes under gross income tax certain contributions to qualified pension plans, deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings. | This bill excludes from gross income taxation the employee and employer contributions that public and private sector employees make to federally qualified tax exempt pension plans under section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill also excludes from gross income taxation elective contributions that employees of the public and non-profit sectors may make toward their retirement savings, and allows a deduction for federally qualifying IRA contributions. The New Jersey gross income tax currently allows the employees of private, for profit, businesses to make tax-deferred contributions to the retirement savings plans authorized under section 401(k) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Contributions mandated under most qualified retirement plans are not accorded tax deferral under the New Jersey gross income tax. Also employees of public and nonprofit sectors are not afforded the same access to 401(k) plans as private sector employees that includes the gross income tax contributions tax deferral. This bill incorporates New Jersey gross income tax deferrals for private and public sector employee contributions and for contribution designated as "employer contributions" for federal income tax purposes under qualified retirement plans established under section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. This bill also incorporates tax deferrals for the elective deferred compensation systems allowed to employees of governments and nonprofits. Charitable, educational and religious organization employees and public school employees are authorized by federal law to contribute toward their retirement savings under plans established under subsection (b) of section 403 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986. State and local government and authority employers are authorized by federal law to make contributions under plans established under section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, and federal employees are authorized by the federal Internal Revenue Code to make contributions to the federal Thrift Savings Plan. This bill gives the employees of federally tax-exempt charitable, educational or religious organizations; the employees of public school systems; the employees of state and local government and federal employees similar tax incentives for retirement savings that are provided under the New Jersey gross income tax to private sector employees. This bill also allows a gross income tax deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts, or premiums paid to individual retirement annuities, that qualify for federal income tax deductions. IRA's are a significant retirement savings vehicle for employees whose employers do not offer a pension plan. | In Committee |
| A150 | Eliminates requirement for State residency for public officers and employees with limited historic exceptions. | This bill eliminates the requirement that all public officers and employees, with certain exceptions, have their principal residence in this State. This requirement was imposed in 2011. Prior to imposing the requirement on all public officers and employees, R.S.52:14-7 required State residency for the Governor, each member of the Legislature, the head of each principal department of the Executive Branch of State government, and every Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Superior Court, and judge of any inferior court established under the laws of this State. This bill retains the residency requirement for persons holding these positions, but eliminates it for all other public officers and employees covered by R.S.52:14-7. | In Committee |
| AR20 | Opposes President Biden's policies regarding crisis on United States-Mexico border; urges President Biden to reinstate policies that secured nation's southern border under prior administration. | This Assembly resolution opposes the Biden administration's policies regarding the border crisis on the United States-Mexico border and strongly urges President Biden to reinstate all of the policies that had successfully secured our nation's southern border under the prior administration. Securing our borders is one of the federal government's most essential responsibilities in ensuring our national security and public safety as well as our health and financial well-being. The policies of the Trump Administration had successfully secured our nation's southern border with Mexico including, but not limited to: building the Wall; using Title 42 public health authority to immediately expel border crossers during the COVID-19 pandemic; instituting the Migrant Protection Protocol, also commonly known as the "remain in Mexico" policy for asylum-seekers; and entering the Safe Third-Country Agreements with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It is the responsibility of President Biden and Congress to protect the safety of the public by preserving the integrity of our borders and measures to control immigration as opposed to serving political agendas. | In Committee |
| A254 | Decriminalizes manufacture and certain possession of slingshots. | This bill amends the definition of a "weapon" to remove "slingshots" and decriminalizes the possession or manufacture of a slingshot in New Jersey. Under current law, a "slingshot" is defined as a weapon. Additionally, two sections of law provide that possession of a slingshot is a crime of the fourth degree, unless the person has an explainable, lawful purpose for carrying the weapon. Another section of law provides that manufacture of a slingshot can be a fourth degree crime. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Shooting slingshots has long been a traditional and peaceable sporting activity, and one in which children often engage. Consequently, this bill amends the definition of "weapon" to remove slingshots. This change ensures that the burden to prove lawful conduct will no longer rest on a person who simply possesses a slingshot. The bill further provides that the manufacture of slingshots will no longer be considered a fourth degree crime. It should be noted that the definition of "weapon" in New Jersey is broad enough to include the misuse of any instrument "readily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury." The provisions of this bill do not amend that language. Accordingly, a slingshot can still be considered a "weapon" if it is ever used as a weapon. | In Committee |
| A199 | Expands scope of review of Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission. | The purpose of this bill is to require the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission to review all legislation relating to the pension and health care plans or programs for State and other public employees. Currently, most, but not all, pension and health care legislation concerning public employees is reviewed by the commission. Legislation that affects the financing, procedures, or operations of pension or health care plans or programs, including all defined benefit retirement plans or systems, defined contribution retirement plans or programs, or deferred compensation or other individual retirement account-type plans, or that mandates or permits public entities to pay for employee health care benefits in active service or in retirement, are not certified for review by the commission. | In Committee |
| AR17 | Urges Federal Bureau of Investigation to include in Uniform Crime Report September 11, 2001 terror attack victims in hate crime statistics. | This resolution urges the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to include in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) the September 11, 2001 terror attack victims as victims of hate-motivated murder. The attack on the United States perpetrated by international terrorists on September 11, 2001 was one of the most vicious crimes ever inflicted upon this great nation. This deplorable attack resulted in the death of almost 3,000 people, including almost 400 police, fire, and rescue personnel. In response to the passage of the federal Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990, the FBI began to collect and publish data on crimes motivated by race, religion, ethnicity and national origin, gender preference, and disability. In 2001, the UCR's hate crime statistics provided that 9,730 bias-motivated incidents were reported by law enforcement agencies nationwide. Additionally, the FBI reported that there were 10 hate-motivated murders in 2001. Despite the thousands of victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attack, the FBI reported that 649 murders occurred in New York City in 2001, which marked a 3.6 percent decline from the previous year, the largest decline of any major city in the Northeast. The FBI included data on the September 11, 2001 terror attack victims in a special report within the UCR and did not include the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attack in the UCR as murder victims or victims of hate-motivated murder. In order for the term "hate-motivated murder" to retain its proper meaning, the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attack should be included in the data for hate-motivated murder in the UCR's hate crime statistics. | In Committee |
| A2699 | Requires distribution of State aid to certain municipalities located in whole or in part in the Highlands preservation area. | This bill would require the distribution of State aid to municipalities located in whole, or in part, in the Highlands preservation area of the Highlands Region. The Highlands Region was designated in the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-1 et al.), which controls and limits, as appropriate, development in the New Jersey Highlands, an essential source of drinking water for one-half of the State's population, covering portions of 88 municipalities in seven counties, through a regional approach to land use planning and more stringent environmental standards. The Highlands Region consists of a planning area and a preservation area. The law designated a preservation area of the New Jersey Highlands to be subject to stringent standards governing major development. As part of the "Highlands Water and Planning Protection Act," the Legislature included a 10-year State aid program to municipalities located in whole or in part in the Highlands preservation area, to provide these municipalities with funds for the vacant land that was subject to development restrictions. Due to State budgetary restrictions, the FY 2010 Appropriations Act was the last State budget that provided this aid. However, the land in the preservation area is still subject to the permanent development restrictions enacted in the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," and therefore, municipalities located in the preservation area have little ability to approve development projects that will provide property tax relief to property taxpayers. This bill is intended to provide a new, permanent State program to provide property tax relief to the taxpayers in those municipalities located in whole, or in part, in the preservation of the Highlands. This bill would establish the "Highlands Preservation Area Municipal Property Tax Relief Fund" in the General Fund as a special nonlapsing fund for the purpose of providing State aid to qualified municipalities pursuant to the bill. In each State fiscal year, the bill requires that there be credited from the "Highlands Protection Fund" to the "Highlands Preservation Area Municipal Property Tax Relief Fund" such sums as shall be necessary to provide State aid to qualified municipalities. A "qualified municipality" under the bill would be a municipality located entirely in the Highlands preservation area; or a municipality wherein, of the total municipal land area that is located in the Highlands Region, at least 60 percent of that land is located in the Highlands preservation area; and which has conformed its municipal master plan and development regulations to the Highlands regional master plan pursuant to the "Highlands Water and Planning Protection Act." Under the bill, every qualified municipality would be eligible for a distribution from the fund. The bill would set property tax year 2023 (calendar year 2023) as the base year for the calculation of the State aid to be provided under the bill. The bill would require the assessor of every qualified municipality to certify to the county tax board on or before December 1 annually, a report of the assessed value of each parcel of vacant land in the base year and the change in the assessed value of each such parcel in the current tax year attributable to successful appeals of assessed values of vacant land to the county tax board, or attributable to a revaluation approved by the director and implemented or a reassessment approved by the county board of taxation. Upon receipt of these reports, the county tax board would compute and certify to the director on or before December 20 of each year, in such manner as to identify for each qualified municipality the aggregate decline, if any, in the true value of vacant land, comparing the current tax year to the base year. The aggregate changes identified for each qualified municipality would constitute its valuation base. The State Treasurer would certify to each qualified municipality, on or before February 15, its property tax stabilization amount, and the State Treasurer would pay to each qualified municipality its State aid in two equal installments, pursuant to a schedule prescribed by the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill would require that, in the event the amount available in the "Highlands Preservation Area Municipal Property Tax Relief Fund" in any year is insufficient to pay the full amount to which each qualified municipality is entitled, the payments would be made from the Property Tax Relief Fund. | In Committee |
| A412 | Prohibits approval of voting machine or voting system if vendor is foreign company, if domestic vendor exports technology overseas, or due to major non-citizen ownership. | Under current law, the Secretary of State is responsible for approving any voting machine or voting system prior to their use in elections in this State to ensure such equipment meets established security, accuracy, functionality, and other performance standards. This bill would prohibit the Secretary of State from approving any voting machine or voting system if the voting machine or voting system vendor is a foreign company, or if the vendor is a domestic company that exports the voting machine or voting system technology to a foreign country, or if any of the company's major shareholders are foreign nationals who are not United States citizens, or if any member of the company's board also serves on the board of a competing company. The bill requires a qualifying voting machine or voting system vendor to be located in the United States. Under the bill, any request for proposal or bid for the purchase, lease, servicing, or use of a voting machine or voting system would be required to include a thorough vetting of the vendor for compliance with the provisions of the bill, and each vendor awarded a contract or agreement would be subject to a compliance review each year prior to the conduct of the primary election. However, the bill would not prevent any purchase, lease, servicing, or use of any voting machine or voting system approved by the Secretary of State before its effective date for the duration of an existing contract or agreement with a vendor, and its provisions would apply prospectively upon the expiration of an existing contract or agreement. | In Committee |
| A222 | Eliminates age restriction for issuing special permits to carry handgun to retired law enforcement officers. | This bill eliminates the age restriction governing the issuance of permits to carry handguns to retired law enforcement officers. Currently, retired law enforcement officers may receive a permit to carry a handgun without having to establish "justifiable need" until they have attained the age of 75. This bill eliminates that age limitation. | In Committee |
| A972 | Prohibits imposition of builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation. | This bill prohibits the imposition of a builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation. The builder's remedy, as a method of achieving fair share housing, has been contrary to the public interest and public policy goals in that it resulted in the development of extraordinary amounts of market rate housing in densely populated regions while producing comparatively little affordable housing, to the overall detriment of specific communities and the State as a whole. Municipalities have attempted to navigate the rulings of the court for nearly four decades, but have been unable to adequately address the affordable housing needs of the State despite the threat of builder's remedy lawsuits. Under the bill, if a court determines that a municipality has failed to meet its obligation to provide a reasonable opportunity for the development of affordable housing, a court may impose a remedy other than a builder's remedy. For the purposes of the bill, "builder's remedy" means a court imposed remedy for a litigant who is an individual or a profit-making entity in which the court requires a municipality to utilize zoning techniques such as mandatory set-asides or density bonuses which provide for the economic viability of a residential development by including housing which is not for low and moderate income households. | In Committee |
| AJR12 | Designates first full week in August of each year as "Farmers Market Week." | This bill designates the first full week in August of each year as "Farmers Market Week" in the State of New Jersey in order to recognize the key role of these markets in our local communities. Farmers markets serve local communities by increasing access to fresh, nutritious, and affordable food, supporting good health, stimulating local economies, and promoting sustainability. "Farmers Market Week" in New Jersey will coincide with "National Farmers Market Week" each year so as to properly and fully recognize the key role these markets have in both the State and throughout the nation. | In Committee |
| A191 | Bans foreign ownership of agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands in State. | This bill would prohibit any foreign government or foreign person from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining a legal, beneficial, or other interest in any agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in the State on or after the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions, as described below. The bill would permit a foreign government or foreign person that already owns or holds an interest in agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in the State, on the bill's effective date, to continue to own or hold the interest in such land for a maximum of five years thereafter. Within five years after the bill's effective date, the foreign government or foreign person would be required to sell or otherwise convey the ownership of, or interest in, the agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural or horticultural use or be maintained as agricultural woodlands, as applicable. The bill would provide the following exceptions to the general prohibition on the continued foreign ownership of agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands: 1) a foreign government or foreign person may acquire agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands, on or after the bill's effective date, through a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether by mortgage or otherwise, but such person or government would then be required to sell or convey the land, within two years after the transfer of title thereto, to an individual, trust, corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is not a foreign government or foreign person, with a deed of easement attached to the land requiring the land to remain devoted to agricultural or horticultural use or be maintained as agricultural woodlands, as applicable; and 2) the provisions of the bill would not be applicable to agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands acquired by devise or descent or pursuant to a bona fide encumbrance established on agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands taken for the purposes of security. The bill further provides that, whenever land assessment valuation is undertaken in association with the acquisition of land by a foreign government or foreign person pursuant to a process of law involving the collection of debt, the execution of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the forfeiture of a contract for deed, or the imposition of a lien or claim on the land, whether created by a mortgage or otherwise, the valuation is to incorporate and reflect the fact that the land is to remain devoted to agricultural or horticultural use or maintained as agricultural woodlands, as applicable. The bill provides that any provision of the bill which is inconsistent with, or in violation of, any treaty between the United States and another country would not apply to any foreign government or foreign person residing in a country that is party to the treaty. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, no more than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, to report to the Governor and the Legislature: 1) the total acreage of agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands in the State that is owned by foreign governments or foreign persons; 2) the percentage change in the amount of in-State agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands acreage owned by foreign governments or foreign persons, per year, over the preceding 10 years; 3) the top 10 nationalities of foreign governments or foreign persons owning agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in the State, by total amount of acreage owned; and 4) the purposes for which agricultural or horticultural land and agricultural woodlands owned by foreign governments or foreign persons has been used in the preceding five years, and any significant changes or trends in the use of such land. The bill authorizes the secretary to base the requisite data on: reports that are submitted, to the Department of Agriculture, by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to federal law; or any other relevant information available to the department. The bill also directs the State Agriculture Development Committee and other State agencies and departments, as well as county boards of agriculture and other local agencies, boards, or political subdivisions in the State, to provide the secretary with any relevant information available concerning the data required to be compiled and reported by the bill. | In Committee |
| A2706 | Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations. | This bill provides that any order, rule, or regulation issued by the Governor pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act" will terminate on the 15th day after issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of concurrent resolution. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to the bill for the same emergency. The bill does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act"; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act." | In Committee |
| A2653 | Prohibits using cadaveric fetal tissue obtained from elective abortion procedure for research purposes and using any cadaveric fetal tissue to research cosmetic treatments. | Under current law, women are given the opportunity to voluntarily donate unused embryos and cadaveric fetal tissue for research purposes following a course of fertility treatments, a miscarriage, or an abortion. This bill prohibits the use of cadaveric fetal tissue obtained from an elective abortion procedure for any research purposes, and prohibits the use of any cadaveric fetal tissue to research cosmetic treatments. The bill will not prohibit the use of cadaveric fetal tissue obtained following a miscarriage or stillbirth for other research purposes, will not affect the prohibition against purchasing or selling embryonic or cadaveric fetal tissue, which is currently a crime under both State and federal law, and will not prohibit genetic or other testing of fetal tissue, at the parent's request, for the purposes of determining the health or condition of the fetus or the parents. A physician or other health care professional treating a patient for infertility is required to provide the patient with timely, relevant, and appropriate information sufficient to allow the patient to make an informed and voluntary choice regarding the disposition of any embryos remaining following treatment. This bill requires that the patient provide written acknowledgement that this information was provided, and that the written acknowledgement be included in the patient's medical record. | In Committee |
| A1275 | Concerning noncitizens voting in local elections and conduct in office by local government officers. | This bill concerns conduct by local government officers while in office by declaring the actions of any local unit to authorize or permit individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections of the local unit to be against public policy and declare any such policies null and void. The bill maintains that, pursuant to Article II, Section I, paragraph 3 of the New Jersey Constitution and Title 19 of the New Jersey Statutes, only individuals who are citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in elections held in the State, and specifically prohibits elected local government officers from voting or acting to approve any ordinance or resolution which would allow individuals who are not citizens of the United States to vote in elections of the local unit. At least 14 municipalities in various states allow noncitizens to participate in certain elections. The bill also amends the "Local Government Ethics Law" to include violations of an elected local governmentofficer's oath of office by a local government officer as a violation under the "Local Government Ethics Law," and subject to potential fine. | In Committee |
| A2431 | Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State. | This bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any financial ties prior to approval by the Secretary of State. As amended, the bill would require those vendors to report significant changes in ownership or shareholder status on an ongoing basis. Currently, voting system vendors must meet a number of requirements prior to approval and certification of voting systems in the State. However, the vendors are not required to disclose financial and investment ties. This bill would require voting system vendors to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies, or in the vendor's parent company. The bill would also require changes of five percent or greater in ownership or shareholder status to be reported. This bill is a response to the recent elections security issues. Several states have taken steps to address potential security risks. In Maryland, the state moved to require voting system vendors to disclose its investment ties following the revelation that a former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, owned the firm which financed the buyout of Maryland's voting system vendor. In June of 2019, North Carolina's State Board of Elections voted unanimously for each vendor seeking certification in the state to disclose any owners or shareholders with a five percent or greater interest or share in the company, in any subsidiary companies or in the vendor's parent company. This bill draws on the actions of these states to ensure the security of the elections of the State of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A1099 | Provides "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" exemption, and clarifies municipal planning or zoning authority, for certain development along commercial corridors in Highlands Region. | This bill amends the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-1 et al.), to (1) clarify municipal planning or zoning authority, and (2) provide an exemption from the Highlands permitting review program for certain development along commercial corridors in the Highlands Region. Specifically, this bill provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," or any regional master plan, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a municipality or county would not be denied conformance approval or be deemed to have taken an action inconsistent with the regional master plan if the municipality or county is exercising its planning or zoning authority for property located within a commercial corridor in a manner inconsistent with the regional master plan. In addition, the bill amends the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" to add a new exemption for the construction or reconstruction of commercial or industrial development within a commercial corridor. This construction or reconstruction would be exempt from the provisions of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," the regional master plan, any rules or regulations adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant thereto, or any amendments to a master plan, development regulations, or other regulations adopted by a local government unit to specifically conform them with the regional master plan. The bill defines a "commercial corridor" as the land area with frontage on a State, county, or rail thoroughfare in the Highlands Region zoned for commercial or industrial use as of August 10, 2004, i.e., the effective date of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," or, subsequent to that date, the land area along such a thoroughfare that is deemed by a municipal planning board and governing body of a municipality to be necessary for commercial or industrial use for the economic viability of that municipality. This bill is meant to encourage reasonable and necessary economic growth in the Highlands Region as set forth in the findings and declarations section of the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" that "it is important to ensure the economic viability of communities throughout the New Jersey Highlands; and that residential, commercial, and industrial development, redevelopment, and economic growth in certain appropriate areas of the New Jersey Highlands are also in the best interests of all the citizens of the State, providing innumerable social, cultural, and economic benefits and opportunities." This bill would further these findings and declarations by providing that commercial corridors along well-traveled thoroughfares are appropriate areas for economic development in the Highlands Region. | In Committee |
| ACR52 | Proposes constitutional amendment to eliminate judicial review of arbitration rulings in disputes between Judiciary and county concerning court facilities. | This constitutional amendment would eliminate the authority of the New Jersey Supreme Court to review and change arbitrators' decisions in cases involving courthouse facility disputes between the Judiciary and county governing bodies. Under current law, the counties are responsible for the costs of construction and renovation of courthouse facilities. In some instances, disputes arise between the counties and the Judiciary concerning factors such as the design or construction of specific facilities. The Rules of Court provide that a dispute between the county governing body and the Judiciary can be submitted to arbitration, at the request of either party. According to the Rules of Court, the decision of the arbitrator is subject to review by the Supreme Court and can be vacated, modified or corrected if the court determines that "the decision fails to balance the needs and interest of the county and the Judiciary in a fair manner." Effectively, this means that the Judiciary can overturn a decision in which the Judiciary is a party based upon the Constitutional authority of the Supreme Court over "practice and procedure" in the State courts. Adoption of this amendment would end the Supreme Court's ability to overturn the arbitrators' decision. | In Committee |
| A2518 | Establishes reasonableness standard for persons lawfully transporting firearm who deviate from course of travel. | This bill clarifies the type of situations in which persons may deviate from their statutorily required course of travel when lawfully transporting a firearm. Under current law, certain persons in specific situations may lawfully transport a weapon without a permit to carry. A person who is lawfully transporting a firearm in a motor vehicle may deviate from the course of travel between statutorily permitted locations only to the extent "reasonably necessary" under the circumstances. The "reasonably necessary" standard applies to the following persons: (1) licensed firearms dealers and their registered employees during the normal course of business while traveling to and from their place of business and other places for the purpose of demonstration, exhibition, or delivery related to a sale; (2) firearms owners carrying their firearms on or between their place of business and residence or dwelling, or between where the firearm was purchased and the home or business, or between their business or residence and a repair shop; (3) members of authorized rifle and pistol clubs carrying a firearm to or from target practice; (4) licensed hunters or fishermen traveling directly to or from their hunting or fishing destination; and (5) persons traveling to a target range or other authorized place for practice, match, target, trap, or skeet shooting exhibitions. The Acting Attorney General recently issued guidelines to be followed by prosecutors and law enforcement officers when determining whether a deviation in the course of travel with a lawfully-possessed firearm is "reasonably necessary." The guidelines provided examples of "reasonably necessary" deviations which may include: collecting and discharging passengers; purchasing fuel, food and beverages, medication, or other needed supplies; using a restroom; contending with an emergency situation; or driving around a traffic jam. This bill amends current law to replace the "reasonably necessary" standard with a less stringent reasonableness standard which allows persons lawfully transporting a firearm to deviate from their course of travel for a common, brief, and lawful purpose associated with reaching a statutorily permitted destination. The bill provides that reasonable deviations may include, but are not limited to, collecting and discharging passengers; obtaining supplies, medication, food or other provisions; and using restrooms prior to reaching an authorized destination. In addition, the bill clarifies that a person may travel with a firearm to contend with a bona fide emergency, or when a State or local emergency has been declared and an evacuation plan is in effect. | In Committee |
| A253 | Prohibits State contracts for technology with Chinese government-owned or affiliated companies. | This bill provides that any company owned or operated by, or affiliated with, the Government of China will be ineligible to bid or submit a proposal for a technology contract with any State agency. This bill also requires companies that submit a bid or proposal with respect to a contract for technology goods and services to certify that the company is eligible to bid or submit a proposal. This bill establishes that, if the Division of Purchase and Property determines that a company has submitted a false certification, the company will be liable for a civil penalty in an amount that is equal to the greater of $250,000 or twice the amount of the contract for which a bid or proposal was submitted and the State agency, or the Division of Purchase and Property, will terminate the contract with the company. | In Committee |
| A203 | Clarifies definition of reasonably necessary deviation when legally transporting firearm or weapon in motor vehicle. | Current law provides that a person lawfully transporting a firearm or weapon in a motor vehicle may deviate from the course of travel only to the extent reasonably necessary under the circumstances. This bill clarifies the type of situations that could constitute reasonably necessary deviations. The bill provides that reasonably necessary deviations are to include, but not be limited to, collecting and discharging passengers; purchasing fuel, food and beverages, medicine or other supplies; use of a restroom; or contending with an emergency situation. | In Committee |
| A2647 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-owned lakes; appropriates $1 million. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct, cause to be constructed, or enter into long-term contracts with the owners of private marinas to provide for, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed. Any contract entered into with an owner of a private marina would be subject to a public bidding process. The bill would appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to the DEP in order to provide for the public boat access required by the bill. The bill is intended to ensure the public has boat access to any State-owned lake on which boats are allowed. Greenwood Lake is one example where a public boat launch is needed in order to ensure that the public is able to enjoy the same access to the lake as private property owners adjacent to the lake and members of private marinas located on the lake. Currently, there is no public boat launch in either New Jersey or New York. Private marina owners have previously allowed day-use access to their privately-owned boat ramps for a fee. However, as marinas on the lake have surged in popularity and there has been an increase in demand for access, particularly seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, these private marinas are operating at capacity and have either limited or eliminated public day-use access. Thus, members of the public are denied boating access to the lake. | In Committee |
| A2666 | Eliminates $375 minimum Corporation Business Tax on New Jersey S corporations with New Jersey gross receipts of less than $100,000. | This bill eliminates the $375 minimum Corporation Business Tax (CBT) payment due for New Jersey S corporations with New Jersey gross receipts of less than $100,000. At present, if a New Jersey S corporation earns New Jersey gross receipts of less than $100,000, a $375 minimum CBT payment is due. The $375 minimum CBT payment is due even if the New Jersey S corporation earns New Jersey gross receipts significantly less than $100,000. And this minimum CBT payment does not account for the further possibility of the gross income tax's application to the New Jersey S corporation's income through the shareholders. This bill alleviates the rigid application of the CBT minimum tax on New Jersey S corporations with less than $100,000 in New Jersey gross receipts. As New Jersey continues to recover from the most recent economic downturn, this bill will help some of New Jersey's smallest grossing S corporations free up potentially duplicative tax payments for more productive investment in the economy. The bill applies to privilege periods beginning on and after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A241 | Allows appointment of challengers to any election district within congressional or legislative district where challenger resides. | Under current law, a person cannot be appointed to serve as a challenger in an election district unless that person is a registered voter in the county in which the election district is located. This bill would allow a person to be appointed to serve as a challenger in any election district located within a congressional or legislative district where the person resides. Under the bill, in the case of a congressional or legislative district, a person who is a registered voter in any county or part thereof located within the congressional or legislative district may be appointed as a challenger in any election district in any county or part thereof located within the congressional or legislative district. | In Committee |
| A213 | Exempts contaminated and industrially-zoned sites from affordable housing rules. | This bill would prohibit the Council on Affordable Housing to the calculate fair share affordable housing obligation for a municipality on the basis of any development of contaminated sites or industrial sites within its borders. In addition, the bill directs that a municipality shall not charge fees to a developer pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), upon the developer's remediation of a contaminated site or application for development of an industrially-zoned site. Developers and others expend significant resources to turn land which has been contaminated with toxins into useful, developable land. In addition, the development of a certain amount of land within a municipality for industry is not only desirable, but necessary to support the residential housing in the community. Under the council's formula for the fair share housing obligation, promulgated pursuant to the "Fair Housing Act," a municipality could be faced with an increase of its affordable housing obligation upon a contaminated remediation, or upon the development of any industrially zoned land. In addition, the developer of the such land may be charged fees by the municipality if all of the land will not be used for affordable housing construction. This results in a great disincentive to remediate contaminated and for industry to locate to a municipality. Some experts estimate that New Jersey is quickly running out of developable land, and therefore incentives to remediate contaminated land should be provided, rather than policies which serve as disincentives to such remediation. The economic necessity of attracting business and industry to New Jersey speaks for itself. Since industrial zones are permitted under current land use statutes, development of such zones should not be discouraged. | In Committee |
| AR15 | Condemns publication and distribution of images inciting, glorifying, or justifying violence against law enforcement officers. | This resolution strongly condemns the publication and distribution of images inciting, glorifying, or justifying violence against law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers are essential to the safety and well-being of this nation and all United States citizens. Recently, disturbing images have been circulated illustrating the beheading of American law enforcement officers, including one of a graphic image of a masked person slitting the throat of a police officer, published on social media by a National Football League player. While the player removed this image shortly thereafter and posted an apology, the initial post served to perpetuate recent violence against law enforcement officers and an apology does not protect the officers who are targeted. This image portrayed the graphic nature of beheadings used by the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which is a form of cruel and unusual punishment as well as a crime against humanity. While the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects offensive images and commentary, these images are intolerable and there is no justification for targeting or assassinating law enforcement officers, who selflessly serve and protect all people. All law enforcement officers deserve the same freedoms and protections to live their lives as any other citizen of New Jersey and this nation. Under the Constitution of the United States of America, speech is protected; however, it is incumbent upon citizens to combat disturbing and offensive speech with more speech to counter it. | In Committee |
| A2514 | Clarifies that chief of police or Superintendent of State Police has burden of proving applicant's disqualification for permit to purchase handgun or firearms purchaser identification card. | This bill clarifies that the chief of police or the Superintendent of State Police has the burden of proving an applicant's disqualification for a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card. Under current law, the issuance of a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card may be denied if the applicant is subject to certain disabilities that prohibit him or her from obtaining a permit or identification card. The provisions of this bill provide that if an application for a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card is denied, the chief of police in the municipality where the applicant resides or the superintendent, as appropriate, has the burden of proving that the applicant is subject to a disability which would disqualify the applicant from being issued a permit or identification card under current law. In addition, under the provisions of this bill, within ten days of the denial of an application, the chief of police or the superintendent, as appropriate, is required to provide the applicant with a written statement specifying the reason and any proof relied upon for the denial of the application. | In Committee |
| A1321 | Repeals surtax imposed on certain businesses. | This bill repeals the recently enacted surtax on certain businesses. In July of 2018 a surtax was imposed for four privilege periods on businesses subject to the corporation business tax, other than public utilities, with more than $1 million of taxable net income. For the first two privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, the surtax is imposed at 2.5 percent of income. The surtax is imposed at 1.5 percent for the two privilege periods after that. This bill eliminates the surtax for privilege periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, so that the surtax would no longer be in effect for the three privilege periods beginning on or after that date. | In Committee |
| ACR14 | Proposes constitutional amendment to restore the death penalty under certain circumstances. | This constitutional amendment would restore the death penalty, which was abolished in 2007 by the enactment of P.L.2007, c.204. The amendment provides that the Legislature shall by law provide for the imposition of the death penalty on persons convicted of certain murders. The law would heighten the burden of proof as a safeguard against the possibility that an innocent person might receive the death penalty. Under the law, a person would be sentenced to death only if the jury or, if there is no jury, the court, finds with no doubt that all of the aggravating factors of the case outweigh all of the mitigating factors. Aggravating and mitigating factors are relevant circumstances concerning the murder and the defendant's character and history. The law would also provide that if any juror or the court has a residual or lingering doubt the defendant shall not be sentenced to death. Under the prior death penalty statute, a defendant could be sentenced to death upon the lesser finding of "beyond a reasonable doubt." The amendment also establishes deadlines to shorten the time period for death penalty appeals. Under the amendment, in all cases in which a sentence of death is imposed the appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court and any proportionality review shall be decided and an opinion reaching the merits filed within 150 days of the certification of the entire record by the sentencing court. A proportionality review is a review to determine whether a defendant's death sentence is disproportionate to the sentences of other defendants convicted of factually similar crimes. The amendment also provides that in all cases in which a sentence of death is imposed and the New Jersey Supreme Court affirms the defendant's conviction and sentence, no application for post-conviction relief may be filed in the courts of this State after one year from the date of the denial of certiorari or other final action by the United States Supreme Court in respect of defendant's direct appeal. However, the amendment would not prohibit a defendant from applying for a new trial on the grounds that he is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. The amendment also includes a provision stating that a failure to comply with the time requirements shall not be grounds for precluding the ultimate imposition of the death penalty. If approved, the amendment would apply only to persons convicted and sentenced for crimes committed on or after noon on the first day of January next following approval of the amendment by the voters. The sponsor is naming the proposed amendment the "Respect for the Majority of New Jersey Voters Amendment" in recognition of the fact that opinion polls at the time of the abolition of the death penalty showed that the majority of New Jersey voters supported the death penalty and opposed its abolition. According to a December 2007 Quinnipiac University poll, 78% of New Jersey voters supported keeping the death penalty for "the most violent cases." | In Committee |
| A162 | Allows possession of bear spray under certain conditions. | This bill would allow individuals 18 years of age or older to possess, under certain conditions, bear spray for the purpose of repelling an aggressive bear. Under current law, a person 18 years of age or older, who has not been convicted of a crime, may possess a small, pocket-sized device capable of spraying a non-lethal chemical substance which causes temporary physical discomfort, also known as pepper spray. The law limits the size of the device to one which contains and releases not more than three-quarters of an ounce of pepper spray. A person possessing a larger quantity would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and subject to a fine of at least $100. However, because bear spray devices contain much more than three-quarters of an ounce of a chemical substance, current law effectively prohibits the possession of bear spray. This bill would allow any person who is 18 years of age or older to possess, for the sole purpose of repelling an aggressive bear while hiking, biking, or engaging in any other outdoor recreational activity, a bear deterrent or bear spray product approved and registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and clearly identified as such on the product label. The EPA regulates bear spray as a "pesticide" under federal law, and manufacturers of bear spray must register their products with, and receive approval from, the EPA. To be approved by the EPA, a bear spray device must, among other things, contain a minimum content of 7.6 ounces, which is significantly larger than the maximum content of three-quarters of an ounce allowed under State law. The labels on bear sprays approved by the EPA show the EPA registration and EPA establishment number for the product. In addition, the bill provides that a person who uses bear spray upon or toward another person would not be liable in any civil action for damages resulting from that release or discharge when the actor reasonably believes that the releasing or discharging of the bear spray is immediately necessary for the purpose of personal self-defense. However, nothing in the bill would be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing any damage by the willful, wanton, or grossly negligent unlawful releasing or discharging of bear spray upon or toward another person. A person who knowingly possesses and uses bear spray in a manner contrary to the provisions of the bill would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in accordance with the penalty in current law. Bear spray products approved by the EPA have been shown to be an effective, non-lethal deterrent capable of stopping aggressive behavior in bears. Personal defense sprays do not contain the correct active ingredients or have the amount necessary to divert or stop a charging or attacking bear. | In Committee |
| A161 | Adds rock climbing, bouldering, and ice climbing to definition of "sport and recreational activities" in law concerning landowner liability. | This bill would amend P.L.1968, c.73 (C.2A:42A-2 et seq.), commonly known as the "Landowners' Liability Act," by expanding the definition of "sport and recreational activities" to include rock climbing, bouldering, and ice climbing. Under current law, if a landowner grants permission to another person, without receiving consideration (e.g., payment), to enter the landowner's property for the purpose of engaging in a sport or recreational activity, the landowner is not considered to have: (1) extended any assurance that the premises are safe for the particularsport or recreational activity; (2) rendered the person an invitee to whom a duty of cared is owed; or (3) assumed liability for an injury to person or property caused by an act of the person to whom permission to enter was granted, unless the injured person was owed a duty of care by the landowner. | In Committee |
| A212 | Makes General Fund supplemental appropriation of $350,000 to DMVA for Council on Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs for preservation of military installations in case of base realignment and closure. | This bill would appropriate $350,000 to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs for use by the Council on Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs to preserve military installations in the event of federal action on base realignment and closure (BRAC). | In Committee |
| ACR18 | Proposes constitutional amendment to broaden powers of the Council on Local Mandates. | The Council on Local Mandates was established in 1996 to rule on questions of whether State laws, rules and regulations enacted or adopted after January 17, 1996 were unfunded mandates on local governments and unenforceable. With the constant annual increases to the burden of local property taxes, it is prudent for the Legislature to take advantage of the expertise developed by the members and staff of the Council on Local Mandates to review statutes and regulations, whenever enacted or adopted, in order to recommend the repeal or modification of those laws and regulations that place an excessive burden on local units of government, and also to review bills pending before the Legislature to identify for the Legislature bills that would constitute unfunded, unenforceable mandates on school districts, counties and municipalities if enacted. This constitutional amendment would expand the authority of the Council of Local Mandates to allow it to effectively function as a study commission with respect to existing statutory laws and regulations, and bills pending before the Legislature. | In Committee |
| A228 | Permits idling of motor vehicles on residential property. | This bill would allow a person to idle a gasoline-fueled motor vehicle on residential property. Idling is a common method of warming up a motor vehicle before driving. The current Department of Environmental Protection regulation concerning motor vehicle idling, N.J.A.C.7:27-15.8, prevents a person from idling a gasoline-fueled motor vehicle for more than three minutes under most circumstances. While the regulation provides seven exemptions from this prohibition, there is no exemption for warming up a car on residential property. This bill would prevent a person from being penalized for warming up a motor vehicle on residential property. | In Committee |
| A2621 | Excludes overtime pay of certain employees from gross income tax. | This bill excludes from income taxation the overtime pay of employees who are subject to the minimum overtime rate established under section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4). That law requires that employees receive at least 150 percent of their regular hourly wage for each hour of working time in excess of 40 hours in a week. Bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees are excluded from the overtime regulation and hence the income tax exemption, as are farm laborers, salespersons of motor vehicles, outside salespersons, hotel employees, employees who drive limousines, and employees of common carriers of passengers by motor bus, among others. The legislation also instructs employers not to withhold State gross income tax from tax-exempt overtime compensation. Untaxing overtime pay does not only duly reward hard-working New Jerseyans, but it also provides the economy with a much-needed stimulus. The economy benefits because the tax cut boosts the after-tax income of households with overtime-working income earners. This, in turn, adds to their consumption spending. Moreover, since the tax cut makes overtime more lucrative, it also creates an incentive to work more and hence to improve the State's overall economic performance. | In Committee |
| A188 | Exempts fuel used for operation of certain school buses from petroleum products gross receipts tax and motor fuel tax; clarifies tax treatment of certain dyed fuel thereunder; clarifies determination of taxable estates of certain decedents. | This bill provides an exemption from the petroleum products gross receipts tax (PPGRT) and the motor fuel tax for fuel used for the operation of certain school buses clarifies the tax treatment of certain dyed fuel under the PPGRT, and clarifies the determination of taxable estates of certain resident decedents for purposes of the estate tax. The bill also excludes the exemptions and these clarifying changes from the review of legislative actions by the three-member review council established by P.L.2016, c.57, to prevent a cessation in the imposition of one of the components of the petroleum products gross receipts tax. Fuel Used for Certain School Buses. The bill provides an exemption from the petroleum products gross receipts tax and the motor fuel tax for fuel used for the operation of certain school buses. Under the bill, the exemption applies to fuel used for school buses operated for the transportation of pupils to or from school or a school-sponsored activity or event by a religious or charitable organization or corporation or by a person under contract with a public or governmental agency or a religious or other charitable organization or corporation. To receive the benefit of the exemption, purchasers of fuel used to operate a school bus for the transportation of pupils to or from school or a school-sponsored activity or event must pay tax at the point of purchase and seek a refund of the taxes paid by the filing of a claim with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. As is required under current law for certain other exempt uses of fuel, the claim for refund must be filed with the director by the purchaser providing proof that the tax has been paid, and the director must confirm that a refunds has not been previously issued. The bill defines "school buses" by reference to the definition of "school bus" under R.S.39:1-1. Under that section of law, a "school bus" is any motor vehicle operated by, or under contract with, a public or governmental agency, or religious or other charitable organization or corporation, or privately operated for the transportation of children to or from school for secular or religious education, which complies with the regulations of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission affecting school buses, and includes "School Vehicle Type I" and "School Vehicle Type II." Under current law, consumers of fuel that are eligible for an exemption from the petroleum products gross receipts tax and the motor fuel tax must pay the tax at the point of purchase and seek a refund of the taxes paid by the filing of a claim with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The law provides that the claim for refund must be filed by the consumer providing proof that the tax has been paid and a refund has not been previously issued. Treatment of Dyed Fuel under PPGRT. The bill clarifies the tax treatment of certain dyed fuel under the petroleum products gross receipts tax. Under the bill, dyed fuel is excluded from the definition of "gross receipts" so that receipts from sales of dyed fuel (unless used in a motor vehicle for operation on the public highways) are explicitly exempt from tax and recognized in a similar form and manner as dyed fuel is recognized for purposes of the motor fuel tax. Under the motor fuel tax, dyed fuel is dyed diesel fuel or dyed kerosene that is required to be dyed pursuant to United States Environmental Protection Agency rules or is dyed pursuant Internal Revenue Service rules or any other requirements set by those federal agencies. Fuel is dyed to easily identify fuel that has not been subjected to federal highway tax. The motor fuel tax recognizes that dyed fuel can generally only be used for an exempt public purpose, and prohibits dyed fuel sold for an exempt purpose from being used in a taxable manner through the imposition of certain fines and penalties. Determination of Taxable Estates of Resident Decedents. The bill clarifies the determination of taxable estates of certain resident decedents for purposes of the estate tax. Under the bill, the taxable estate of each resident decedent dying on or after January 1, 2017, but before January 1, 2018, is to be determined based upon the taxable estate of the decedent for federal estate tax purposes but without the deduction of any estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes actually paid to any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia as is otherwise allowed pursuant to section 2058 of the federal Internal Revenue Code in effect on January 1, 2017. The disallowance of the deduction will limit the potential of a tax benefit that estates of resident decedents dying on or after January 1, 2017, but before January 1, 2018, might claim for any estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes actually paid to any state or (territory of the United States or District of Columbia). Currently, the law directs the estate tax to be determined based upon the federal taxable estate (which is the decedent's gross estate minus certain deductions, including the deduction for estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes actually paid to any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia), and provides that the resident decedent's tax liability is to further be reduced by a credit for a proportion of those same taxes actually paid to any state in respect to property in another state owned by the decedent or subject to those taxes as part of or in connection with the estate. Exclusion from Review by the Review Council. The bill excludes the exemptions and the clarifying changes from the review of the three member review council established by P.L.2016, c.57 to prevent a cessation in the imposition of one of the components of the PPGRT. Under the bill, the provisions of current law that direct the three-member review council to review legislative actions and issue certifications to the Director of the Division of Taxation and the scheduled implementation of P.L.2016, c.57 might otherwise be impeded will not apply to those sections of the bill that exempt fuel used for certain school buses and clarify treatment of dyed fuel and the determination of taxable estates of resident decedents. Under current law, the three member review council (i.e. the State Treasurer, Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, and a third public member) is directed to monitor the actions of the Legislature on an ongoing basis for interference with the implementation of P.L.2016, c.57. If the implementation is impeded, the council is to certify this interference to the Director of the Division of Taxation and the director is to effectuate the cessation of the imposition of one of the components of the PPGRT. Effective Date. The bill is scheduled to take effect immediately upon enactment, but provides for the exemption and clarification to the treatment of dyed fuel to apply to the fuel used on or after the first day of the first month next following enactment. The bill provides for the clarification of the determination of taxable estates to apply retroactively to estates of resident decedents dying on or after January 1, 2017. | In Committee |
| AR14 | Urges FDA to prohibit labeling of non-dairy products as milk. | This resolution opposes the use of the term "milk" as a label for non-dairy products and respectfully urges the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate and take appropriate action against any manufacturer found to be offering for sale non-dairy products with the label "milk." "Milk" is currently defined by the FDA in one of its regulations as the "lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows" (21 C.F.R. 131.110). In addition, the long-held and commonly understood and accepted meaning of the word "milk" is that it is a liquid dairy product from a lactating cow, goat, sheep, or other domesticated mammal. Use of the term "milk" to describe plant-based imitation dairy products is inaccurate, misleading to consumers, and harmful to dairy farmers. | In Committee |
| A148 | Permits farm income averaging credit under the New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill provides New Jersey farmers with a credit against their annual New Jersey gross income tax determined by using income averaging (averaging out yearly gains and losses or varying levels of gains over a four-year period) from their farming business. The value of the credit is equal to the difference between a New Jersey farmer's income without four-year farming income averaging and with farming income averaging. The maximum annual credit allowed is $5,000. Farmers are faced with a variety of risks that impact the economic viability of their farming operations. Risks associated with production, weather, financial management, marketing and labor influence the potential for success. In order to assist farmers, the federal government enacted income averaging provisions that would permit farmers to have more control over the cyclical nature of agricultural risks and even out their tax liabilities for a more secure future. This New Jersey tax credit will provide farmers with New Jersey gross income tax relief in taxable years that follow the less profitable years of their New Jersey farming business. | In Committee |
| ACR16 | Proposes constitutional amendment to establish State right to keep and bear arms. | This concurrent resolution proposes to amend the New Jersey Constitution to provide for a State right to keep and bear arms. The amendment provides that the right to keep and bear arms could not be infringed. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides for a right to keep and bear arms. The Supreme Court of the United States has interpreted this to mean individuals have a right to own firearms. The court also has determined that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution makes the right applicable to the states. Currently, the State Constitution provides that the people of New Jersey have the right of enjoying and defending life and liberty, but does not explicitly include a right to firearm ownership. The amendment proposed by this resolution would include the right to keep and bear firearms in the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| A1754 | Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption. | This bill permits eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members to take an additional $2,000 exemption as a deduction from gross income under the New Jersey gross income tax. The bill specifically sets forth eligibility requirements for persons who want to claim the additional personal exemption. Fire company members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 60 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have attained the rank of Firefighter I Certified. First aid and rescue squad members would be eligible if they serve as a volunteer for the entire tax year, respond to at least 10 percent of regular alarms and 60 percent of drills, and have passed an approved training program or qualified as an emergency medical technician. Volunteers that have duty hours would be eligible if they serve at least 400 duty hours during any calendar year, with no more than 50 percent as drills. The bill requires the Director of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Commissioner of Health, to promulgate rules or regulations to effect certain provisions of the bill. The official in charge of each fire department or force or first aid or rescue squad is required to submit annually to the appropriate State agency a list of members who have met the committee substitute requirements. | In Committee |
| A1373 | Establishes crime of knowingly filing false report against law enforcement officers. | This bill establishes a third degree crime of filing a false report or giving false information to law enforcement authorities with the purpose to implicate a law enforcement officer in a crime, offense, or professional infraction that would warrant disciplinary action against the law enforcement officer. Under current law, a person who knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law enforcement officer in order to implicate another commits false incrimination, a crime of the third degree, or a crime of the second degree if the victim was implicated in a first or second degree crime. In addition, it is a crime of the fourth degree to report to law enforcement authorities an offense or other incident that did not occur, or pretend to furnish the authorities with information relating to an arrest or incident for which the person has no information. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. This bill establishes a separate crime of the third degree of falsely implicating a law enforcement officer in a crime, offense, or professional infraction that would warrant disciplinary action. Under the bill, the crime of falsely implicating a law enforcement officer would not merge with the crimes of falsely incriminating another or giving a false report. | In Committee |
| A151 | Requires minimum geographic cost adjustment for school districts in all counties. | This bill amends the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA), P.L.2007, c.260, to require that the county-level geographic cost adjustment (GCA) established by the Department of Education is greater than or equal to 1.0 for all counties. The purpose of the GCA is to reflect differences in the cost of providing educational services that are outside the control of the district and consequently leads to increases in State aid in some districts and decreases in others. Under current law, 12 counties, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Sussex, and Warren Counties, have a GCA of less than 1.0. | In Committee |
| A176 | Clarifies that licensed dealers may provide firearms for display at fund raising events sponsored by certain tax exempt organizations. | This bill clarifies that licensed firearms dealers may lawfully provide firearms for display at fund raising events sponsored by nonprofit, charitable and other organizations designated as tax exempt by the federal Internal Revenue Service pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. | In Committee |
| AR12 | Urges Congress to compel Department of Health and Human Services to fulfill its obligations pursuant to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. | This resolution urges the United States Congress to compel the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to fulfill the obligations of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. §300aa-1 et seq.) by submitting a biennial report describing the actions taken by DHHS to improve vaccine safety to Congress, as required by law. | In Committee |
| A224 | Prohibits State funding to assist immigrants facing detention or deportation. | The bill prohibits State funds from being used to provide legal assistance or legal services to individuals facing detention or deportation based on their immigration status. The bill prohibits this funding directly, or under the terms of any contract with, or grant to, any public agency or nonprofit entity providing for such assistance or services. The purpose of this bill is to prevent State funds from being used to support an Office of Immigration Protection, or another organization or entity with a mission of offering legal assistance or legal services to protect immigrants. The Fiscal Year 2019 Budget, as proposed by Governor Murphy, includes language providing for an amount not to exceed $2,100,000 to be appropriated for Legal Services of New Jersey -- Legal Assistance in Civil Matters, based on actual or anticipated caseloads, for the provision of legal assistance to individuals facing detention or deportation based on their immigration status. | In Committee |
| A3218 | Requires Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform audit of voter registration records in Statewide Voter Registration System. | This bill requires the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to perform an audit of the voter registration records in the Statewide Voter Registration System within 90 days of its effective date. The purpose of the audit is to identify (1) any voter registration records of persons who are ineligible to vote who successfully registered to vote; (2) whether any person who is ineligible to vote attempted to register to vote, even if that attempt was not successful; and (3) whether the procedures to ensure that a reasonable effort is made to remove registrants who are ineligible to vote pursuant to federal or State law are effective, as required under current law. The bill directs the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration to jointly develop the audit methodology, processes, and procedures to apply uniformly in each county. Within 30 days of completing the audit, the Secretary of State and county commissioners of registration are directed to issue a report to the Governor and to the Legislature containing the results of the audit, their findings, and recommendations. | In Committee |
| A183 | Prohibits adoption of State and local rules that prohibit use of fossil fuel-powered kitchen appliances. | This bill would prohibit the adoption of State rules and regulations, and county and municipal ordinances, which prohibit the installation or use of a fossil fuel-powered appliance in a residential or commercial kitchen in the State, including, but not limited to, a natural gas-powered oven or stove. The bill would not prohibit the use of voluntary incentive programs to encourage the use of electric kitchen appliances. | In Committee |
| ACR15 | Condemns Hong Kong national security law passed by People's Republic of China on June 30, 2020. | This resolution condemns "The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Jong Special Administrative Region" passed by the People's Republic of China on June 30, 2020. Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China have co-existed under a "one country, two systems" political framework since the People's Republic of China resumed sovereignty over the region from the United Kingdom in 1997. As part of but while still being independent of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy in all areas except foreign and defense affairs, and even has its own constitution, money, passport, immigration channel, and legal system. This political framework has preserved Hong Kong's distinctive status, freedoms, and laws. The people of Hong Kong have made global headlines for their pro-democracy protests, which were triggered by the introduction of an extradition bill introduced by the People's Republic of China in April 2019 and which are now focused on demanding amnesty for arrested protesters, an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality, and the implementation of complete universal suffrage. The Hong Kong protests have escalated over the past year, and the People's Republic of China has blamed their continued existence on the interference and backing of foreign countries, such as the United States, and views the Hong Kong protests as concerted efforts to sow chaos and topple the ruling Communist Party of the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China imposed a new national security law on June 30, 2020 on Hong Kong, entitled "The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Jong Special Administrative Region," with the goal of stamping out opposition to the ruling Communist Party. The expansive and draconian new law was passed swiftly and in secrecy, breaking with standard Chinese legal procedures when the public is able to view and comment on proposed legislation before its passage. As a result of this secrecy, Hong Kong officials had no opportunity to provide input on either the drafting or passage of the new law. The new law consists of 66 articles and lays out new crimes and punishments for vaguely defined acts of separatism, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign countries, with the maximum punishment for the most serious of offenses being life imprisonment. Agencies and offices, such as the Committee for Safeguarding National Security which is an arm of the Chinese national security apparatus, are also to be established in Hong Kong under the new law and will have the power to collect intelligence in Hong Kong in total secrecy and will be shielded from legal challenges. Finally, the new law allows the government of the People's Republic of China to target protestors, grants the People's Republic of China broad authority to intervene in Hong Kong's historically independent legal system, and targets certain institutions, such as schools, for tighter governmental control and oversight. Arrests and detainments for violations of the new law have already been made, including the July 1, 2020 arrest of a man after he unfurled a Hong Kong flag during demonstrations. Condemnation of such ambiguous and dangerous laws, which openly flout the democratic process and negatively affect public discourse and human rights, should come from every nation. | In Committee |
| A2749 | Decreases the premium receipts tax for surplus lines insurance coverage. | This bill decreases the premium receipts tax for surplus lines coverage, whether procured directly by the insured or through a surplus lines agent, from 5% to 3%. This decrease represents a reduction in this tax to the same level at which it existed prior to the enactment of P.L.2009, c.75. Additionally, in response to this decrease, the bill clarifies that of the 3% premium receipts tax paid, all of it shall be paid to the treasurer of the New Jersey State Firemen's Association in the case of any surplus lines policies that cover fire insurance on property located in a municipality or fire district with a duly incorporated firemen's relief association. This is merely a continuation of the current law's dedication, and accounts for the bill's elimination of the additional 2% tax on such policies, which under P.L.2009, c.75 was forwarded to the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. | In Committee |
| A1118 | Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. | The bill revises the gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and is designated as the Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. As is common with progressive income tax structures, a marriage penalty occurs when married taxpayers, who would have otherwise faced a lower income tax liability by remaining single and filing individual tax returns, face a higher tax liability due to their marital status and filing their taxes jointly. For the sake of tax equity, the bill would amend the tax brackets for those filing jointly to align the tax brackets with those imposed on taxpayers filing individual tax returns. These changes would lower the gross income tax liability of most joint filers. The bill accomplishes eliminating the so-called marriage penalty by making the following changes to the tax brackets of joint filers:· Taxable income up to $40,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.40 percent. · Taxable income over $40,000 but not over $70,000 would be taxed at a rate of 1.75 percent. The bill would take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. | In Committee |
| ACR27 | Provides for special session of Legislature to consider property tax relief and reform. | This concurrent resolution provides for the convening of a special session of the Legislature for the purpose of considering property tax relief and reform. | In Committee |
| AR16 | Expresses support for "Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act." | This resolution expresses support for the proposed federal "Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act" which directs President of the United States to submit a report to Congress on fugitives residing in other countries who the United States has attempted to extradite. Specifically the proposed legislation requires a report to be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees which addresses the following: (1) the number of fugitives, and others for whom the United States is seeking extradition or rendition, currently residing in other countries whose extradition is sought by the United States and a list of those countries; (2) diplomatic and other efforts, if any, the United States has undertaken to secure the return of the fugitives; (3) the average length of time these cases have been outstanding; (4) the number of cases that have been resolved to the satisfaction of the United States; (5) factors that have been barriers to the resolution of these cases; and (6) the number of United States citizens whose extradition has been sought by other countries during the past five years, a list of those countries seeking extradition, and the outcomes of those requests. The purpose of the act is to provide information necessary to evaluate and strengthen our nation's efforts to extradite fugitives. The act is named for two New Jersey residents whose killers escaped from prison and who are now living abroad. New Jersey has a special interest in seeking justice for the murders of Walter Patterson and State Trooper Werner Foerster. | In Committee |
| A770 | Requires registered voters to present photo ID when voting at polling place. | This bill requires a voter to present photo identification before voting at a polling place at any election. Acceptable photo identification includes, but is not limited to a valid: (a) New Jersey driver's license; (b) New Jersey REAL ID identification card or license; (c) New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles "identification only" card; or (d) United States passport. A voter who does not present photo identification, or whose identification contains a picture that does not appear to depict the voter would be subject to challenge. This bill does not deny or alter a voter's opportunity to establish his or her right to vote if challenged. | In Committee |
| A225 | Reduces residency requirement for resident hunting licenses from six months to 60 days. | This bill would reduce the residency requirement for a resident hunting license. Under current law, in order to obtain a resident's hunting license, a person must have an actual and bona fide domicile in the State for at least six months. This bill would reduce the required time to 60 days. | In Committee |
| A184 | Authorizes Sunday firearm and bow hunting for deer on certain lands. | This bill would authorize Sunday hunting for deer with a firearm on State wildlife management areas and private property. The bill also would authorize Sunday hunting with a firearm or bow and arrow on federal military land, subject to approval by the appropriate federal military installation, and on the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, subject to proper approval by the administrative authority of the technical center. Under current State law, hunting is prohibited on Sundays, with certain limited exceptions. Although federal agencies may permit hunting on their lands, these agencies are subject to both State and federal laws regarding hunting. Thus, an individual may not hunt on federal military installations in the State or on the William J. Hughes Technical Center on Sundays. This bill would amend current law to authorize Sunday hunting of deer with a firearm on State wildlife management areas and private property. Also, the bill would authorize firearm and bow and arrow hunting of deer on Sundays on federal military lands and on the William J. Hughes Technical Center, a Federal Aviation Administration facility, during any bow and arrow or firearm hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code. Under the bill, the person hunting is required to possess a valid firearm license, valid bow and arrow license, or a valid "All Around Sportsman License," issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and abide by all applicable provisions of the State Fish and Game Code. | In Committee |
| A147 | Provides for direct property tax relief from Highlands Property Tax Stabilization Fund. | This bill would revise the Highlands Property Tax Stabilization Program to require that the distribution of the stabilization aid reflect all elements of the property tax bill. The bill would provide that the tax credit rate shall be multiplied by the taxable value for each taxable line item, the product of which shall be deducted from the total taxes due, before deductions, on each line item for the tax year. The tax credit rate and amount of the Highlands Property Tax Stabilization Credit would be displayed on the tax bill. | In Committee |
| A172 | The "School Safety and Security Act"; establishes penalties for certain criminal acts committed on school property. | This bill, the "School Safety and Security Act," would establish penalties for certain criminal activity related to school safety and security. Under current law, certain criminal acts committed on school property, or committed against a school official or employee are penalized and in some cases are subject to enhanced penalties. However, there is presently no provision in Title 2C, the Criminal Code, which establishes penalties solely for criminal activity related to school safety and security. The bill would establish certain acts related to school safety and security as crimes of the fourth degree. Under subsection a. of section 3 of the bill, an actor would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly enters or remains on school property after having been advised by written or verbal communication, a posting, or other reasonable efforts have been made by the school district or non-public school or any other authorized person to notify the actor that he is not licensed or privileged to do so; or having entered school property, provides false information, name, or identification to any authorized person requesting such information; or assists another to enter school property by ignoring, circumventing, or bypassing any direction, policy, or device specifically designed to identify, authorize or otherwise screen visitors entering the school property after having been advised by written or verbal communication, posting, or other reasonable efforts to advise the actor of such direction, policy, or device; or assists another to enter school property by defeating any security measure or device specifically designed to prevent unauthorized access. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under subsection b. of section 3 of the bill if he purposely or knowingly activates, uses, or tampers with any device utilized, designed, or intended to announce or communicate a crime or emergency, or to initiate a school safety and security plan, non-fire evacuation, lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related response knowing that there is no such crime or emergency and that it is likely to initiate a school safety and security plan, a lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related plan or emergency response. Under subsection c. of section 3 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly damages or tampers with any device, instrument, sign, or system used to monitor or manage the security of a school. Under subsection d. of section 3 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly interferes with, obstructs, or impedes implementation of an activated school safety and security plan or any security protocol, function or drill, intended to provide an emergency response from the school district or non-public school, employee, administrator, or any other authorized person, or to notify and elicit a response from security personnel or law enforcement. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under subsection e. of section 3 of the bill if, with purpose to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he engages in criminal, alarming or threatening behavior; and causes any school district or non-public school, employee, administrator, law enforcement officer, or any other authorized person to initiate, activate, communicate, or otherwise begin protocol pursuant to a school safety and security plan, non-fire evacuation, drill, lockdown, lock-in, or other security-related plan or emergency response, or to notify and elicit a response from security personnel or law enforcement. Pursuant to section 4 of the bill, all information related to plans, locations, diagrams, procedures, drills, or other activity that is part of an established school safety and security plan or other security-related plan or emergency response intended to be used to ensure the safety and security of a school would not be made available to any individual or institution except law enforcement officials; school board members; employees of the school district or non-public school; and any other person or entity otherwise provided by law. A person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly, without the express written permission of the superintendent of schools of the school district or the chief school administrator of the non-public school, or the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the school is located or, if the municipality does not have a local police force, the Superintendent of State Police, films, records, or otherwise documents procedures, drills, or activity that is part of an established school safety and security plan, or other security-related plan or emergency response; or posts any information, video, or procedures on the Internet, social media, or makes public any plans, locations, diagrams, or procedures pursuant to an established school safety and security plan, or other security-related plan or emergency response, intended to be used to ensure the safety and security of the school. The chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police would be required to notify the appropriate superintendent of schools of the school district or the chief school administrator of the non-public school if written permission is granted. This subsection would not apply to law enforcement activities associated with the operation of, or planning or training for, school safety and security or emergency responsiveness, or to news coverage of an emergency. Under subsection a. of section 5 of the bill, a person would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely or knowingly stops, impedes, redirects, or otherwise interferes with an established route, operation, or function of a school bus, van, or transportation vehicle engaged in the transportation of children to or from school or a school-sponsored event. Pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of the bill, a person who, knowing he is not licensed or privileged to do so, enters an occupied school bus without the consent of the school bus driver or authorized school representative would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. This section would not apply to the actions of law enforcement or other established emergency road or utility repair crews in response to emergency traffic conditions. The bill provides that nothing in the bill would preclude an indictment and conviction for any other offense defined by the laws of this State. For the purposes of the bill "school district" would mean any local or regional school district established pursuant to chapter 8 or chapter 13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. "School safety and security plan" would mean the comprehensive plans, procedures, and mechanisms developed by each school district that provide for safety and security in the school district's public elementary and secondary schools and which provide for, at a minimum, the protection of the health, safety, security and welfare of the school population; the prevention of, intervention in, response to and recovery from emergency and crisis situations. The bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| A197 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | This bill provides for a gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers in exchange for their sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. The New Jersey gross income tax provides a deduction for a charitable, qualified conservation contribution of real property interests for land preservation purposes modeled on the similar federal income tax deduction which covers full land interest sales and restricted land use easements. But land interest sales in New Jersey to various conservation programs for which a purchase price is paid to the New Jersey taxpayer can result in taxable gains for those New Jersey sellers who need to garner some investment income from these sales. To allow a deduction for these transfers with preservation or conservation restrictions on the real estate can prevent developers from buying up environmentally valuable land in this State and benefit both the taxpayer and the residents of the State at large. The bill will allow the deductions for both parts of some mixed transfers referred to as bargain sales in which there is both a charitable donation aspect and a cash purchase payment for less than the land's fair market value (FMV). The donation value is the difference between the FMV and the cash payment. In a bargain sale, a real estate owner is both a seller (for the cash portion) and a donor (for the donated portion) of the real estate interest. The bill will also allow a deduction for full market value sales to conservation organization which include certain governmental programs and non-profit run preservation programs. These programs will include but not be limited to those run by a governmental unit, charitable trust, foundation or charitable non-profit organization that participates in a Green Acres program, Blue Acres program, farmland preservation program, historic preservation program, the Highlands Transfer Development Rights Program, a park or forestry or an open space and recreation space preservation or conservation program or a wildlife, hunting or fishing conservation and restoration program. | In Committee |
| A648 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on water safety as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on water safety into the health education curriculum for students in grades K through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The instruction must provide information on: the proper use of flotation devices; how to become aware of water conditions; the danger of rip currents and how to respond if caught in one; and the importance of swimming in areas monitored by a lifeguard. Drownings are the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control. While New Jersey students participate in drills for fire and active shooter crises, they do not receive instruction on what to do if you are drowning or see someone drowning. | In Committee |
| A143 | Requires Dept. of Agriculture to provide for electronic submittal of milk dealer license applications. | Currently, the Department of Agriculture does not provide on its Internet website for the electronic submittal of milk dealer license applications to the department. Instead, an applicant must print the form out from the Department of Agriculture's website, fill it out, and mail it to the department. By providing for electronic application submittals, this bill will streamline the application process for both the applicant and the department. | In Committee |
| A218 | Replaces references to Civil Service Commission with chairperson of commission to clarify duties and responsibilities of chairperson. | This bill replaces references to the Civil Service Commission in various sections of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes (Civil Service), and in various other statutes, with the chairperson of the commission in order to clarify the duties and responsibilities of the chairperson. The Civil Service Commission was created in 2008 when the Department of Personnel was abolished. This bill makes corrective and clarifying adjustments to the statutes deemed necessary following that reorganization. In addition, the bill transfers the State Employee Awards Committee from the Civil Service Commission to the Department of the Treasury and the responsibility for internship programs from the Department of the Treasury to the Civil Service Commission. The bill permits the chairperson of the commission to appoint a deputy administrator and changes the working test period for regular appointments of political subdivision employees from three to four months. | In Committee |
| A217 | "Property Assessment Appeal Transparency Act"; revises content of required annual notification of real property assessment. | This bill, designated as the "Property Assessment Appeal Transparency Act," would require that the annual property assessment notice required to be mailed to each taxpayer, pursuant to section 32 of P.L.1991, c.75 (C.54:4-38.1), contain information explaining the impact of the assessed value of a parcel of real property on the property tax bill for that parcel of real property. Under current law, this annual notice is only required by statute to contain the current year's assessment and preceding year's property taxes. A notification of a change of assessment, also required under the statute, only requires information about the current and prior assessments on the property. Both notices must also contain information instructing taxpayers on how to appeal their assessment. However, no information is currently required in either case about the effect of a property's assessed value on the property taxes due and owing on the property. This lack of information leads to confusion on the part of many property owners who do not understand that the amount of their property tax bill is directly related to the property's assessed value. In order to provide this information to taxpayers, this bill would require that the notice of assessment and notice of change of assessment also contain this statement: "This notice is to inform you of the assessment on your real property for the current tax year. This assessment will be used to calculate your property tax bill. If you disagree with the assessed value of your real property, you should file an appeal of this assessment with your county board of taxation. If the assessed value exceeds $1,000,000, you may appeal to your county board of taxation or directly to the Tax Court." This statement would provide property taxpayers with greater knowledge and understanding about the effect of their property's assessed value on their property taxes, and would also effectuate transparency in how property taxes are calculated. | In Committee |
| A3192 | Permits county clerk to remove voters from vote-by-mail lists under certain circumstances. | The bill permits the clerk of each county to remove a voter from lists of qualified voters receiving mail-in ballots if the following circumstances apply: (1) the United States Postal Service returned mail of a ballot, sample ballot, or any other official county election mail sent directly to the named voter; (2) the voter has not used a mail-in ballot for any election in a two-year period; or (3) the United States Postal Service National Change of Address System indicates the voter's recipient address has changed or is undeliverable. Prior to removing a voter from the list the county clerk is required to notify the voter in writing and indicate the reasons for the removal and instruct the voter on the necessary steps to continue to vote by mail. If the voter does not respond to the notice within 30 days of mailing, the county clerk would remove that voter from the list of voters receiving mail-in ballots and send that voter a notice of removal along with an application to re-apply to vote by mail. | In Committee |
| AR18 | Condemns People's Republic of China's treatment of Uyghurs. | This Assembly Resolution condemns the People's Republic of China's treatment of the Uyghur ethnic group. The People's Republic of China is reportedly repressing, mistreating, and interning over one million Uyghurs because the Uyghur ethnic group is predominately Muslim. This Assembly Resolution demonstrates the General Assembly's commitment to freedom and popular self-determination both at home and around the world. | In Committee |
| A2633 | Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations. | This bill allows a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions that are made to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations to encourage philanthropic giving to Garden State charities. Under the bill, New Jersey gross income taxpayers are allowed to deduct from gross income charitable contributions that are made during the taxable year to a qualified New Jersey-based charitable organization. The bill provides that the amount of the deduction is limited to the amount of charitable contributions that is allowable as a deduction from federal adjusted gross income to the taxpayer for the federal taxable year pursuant to section 170 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.170). The deduction allowed by the bill mirrors the federal income tax deduction for charitable contributions and is allowed regardless of whether the federal itemized deduction is taken by the taxpayer. Thus, the deduction is equal to the amount "allowable" by Internal Revenue Code section 170, not just the deduction allowed and taken. The bill defines "qualified New Jersey-based charitable organization" as a charitable organization that is registered pursuant to the "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act," or an organization that is exempt from the registration requirements of that act, and that maintains an office, employs persons, and provides services in this State. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to charitable contributions that are made in taxable years beginning on or after the January 1 next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A160 | Prohibits Dept. of Agriculture from regulating minimum property size required per number of honeybee hives. | This bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture from regulating the minimum property size required per number of hives for the purpose of keeping honeybees or related apiary activities. | In Committee |
| A142 | Restricts Commissioner of Education's authority to reject school district's budget proposal. | Prior to adopting a budget or presenting it to voters for approval, as may be applicable, a school district must submit the budget proposal to the Commissioner of Education for review and approval. The commissioner may reject the proposal and direct modifications if the commissioner, among other things, is not satisfied that the budget proposal is sufficient to satisfy the thoroughness and efficiency standards that have been established. This bill eliminates that statutory authority and specifies that the commissioner may not reject a budget proposal based on the fact that the proposal includes a general fund tax levy or total general fund budget that is less than the amount included in the prior budget year. | In Committee |
| A1086 | Permits sale of raw milk under certain conditions and establishes raw milk permit program. | This bill would permit the sale of raw milk by a person holding a valid raw milk permit. The bill would also require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to establish a raw milk permit program. The bill authorizes permit holders to sell, offer for sale or otherwise make available raw milk at the farm or property where the raw milk is produced. The bill also establishes standards for the quality of the raw milk that is produced by a permit holder. To protect the public health, the bill establishes certain prerequisites that must be met before a raw milk permit may be granted, including: (1) a signed affidavit by the permit applicant certifying that no growth hormones will be used in the process of producing raw milk; (2) conspicuous warning requirements stating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, including specific labeling on dispensing containers and sold containers and specific signage; (3) submission to certain inspections by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health; and (4) compliance with all applicable provisions of New Jersey's dairy laws, rules and regulations. The permit program would be funded by a permit fee estimated by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to cover the costs of administering the program. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, would be required to conduct initial testing of the cows intended to be used for the production of raw milk, with ongoing testing as necessary. The permit holder is also required to conduct tests, at the permit holder's expense, to measure the levels of certain bacteria and pathogens in the raw milk produced. Failing test results are required to be reported to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health. If the permit holder fails to meet certain standards, by failing two consecutive tests in a one year period, then the raw milk permit would be revoked. | In Committee |
| A195 | Establishes priority for certain firearm-related background checks when applicant has obtained domestic violence restraining order. | This bill requires the background investigation of an applicant for a firearms purchaser identification card, permit to purchase a handgun, or permit to carry a handgun to take precedence over the investigation of other applicants if there is a restraining order in effect that was obtained by the applicant against a domestic violence offender pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991" (PVDA). The bill requires the standard application form for an identification card or either type of permit to set forth whether a restraining order obtained by the applicant against a domestic violence offender pursuant to the PVDA is in effect, in order to alert law enforcement that the application should take precedence. The sponsor's intent is to accelerate the process of victims of domestic violence obtaining identification cards or permits in order to allow them to protect themselves. | In Committee |
| A258 | Prohibits use of new merchant category code by credit card companies for purchases of firearms and ammunitions. | This bill prohibits the use of a new merchant category code to designate when consumers purchase a firearm or ammunition. The bill defines "merchant category code" to mean a specific identification number established by the International Organization for Standardization that is used to identify a specific good or service provided by a merchant. Under the bill, a payment settlement entity, merchant acquiring entity, or third party settlement organization, as those terms are defined pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, are prohibited from assigning a merchant category code to, or otherwise classifying, a merchant that is a seller of firearms or ammunition separately from general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Additionally, an entity involved in facilitating or processing a payment card transaction, including, but not limited to, a financial institution, an acquirer, a payment card network, or a payment card issuer, is not to assign to or require a merchant to use a merchant category code that classifies the merchant as a firearms or ammunition retailer or places the merchant as a similar classification. A merchant of firearms or ammunition is to be assigned or is to use a merchant category code for general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Any agreement or contractual provision between an entity required to comply with the bill and a merchant that is contrary to the bill's provisions is to be considered void. Lastly, the Department of Law and Public Safety is charged with investigating allegations of violations of the bill. The department is to bring, upon a finding of a violation, an administrative action to impose an administrative fine of not more than $10,000 for each violation of the bill. | In Committee |
| A158 | Authorizes imposition of additional fines for overcrowding. | This bill would allow municipalities to adopt ordinances authorizing the issuance of summonses upon certain landlords and tenants alleged to have violated occupancy requirements resulting in overcrowding. The bill would allow for the imposition of fines upon a culpable landlord or tenant of up to $2,500 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second violation, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. These fines would be in addition to any other fines or penalties authorized by law. The bill would require that a hearing be held before any fines could be imposed. The bill would not be applicable to seasonal rentals or to buildings with more than four residential rental units. The bill would also clarify existing law by distinguishing between illegal occupancies resulting in overcrowding that are caused by landlords and those that are caused by tenants, specifying that landlords are not obligated to pay tenant relocation costs when the tenant's own conduct is the primary cause for the overcrowding. This is consonant with the holdings in Haddock v. Dept. of Community Development, City of Passaic, 217 N.J.Super. 592 (App. Div. 1987) and M.C. Associates v. Shah, 226 N.J.Super. 173 (App. Div. 1988). The bill would also give landlords the right to an expedited eviction when a tenant's conduct was the primary cause of overcrowding in excess of the occupancy allowed under the lease or State law. The bill also establishes new standards to be utilized in determining whether a tenant has been the primary cause of overcrowding or illegal occupancy. The bill provides that in order for the conduct of the tenants to be deemed the primary cause for the illegal occupancy or overcrowding, it must be established (1) that the tenant signed a lease or was provided a written copy of the rental policy in which the number of intended occupants was specified, (2) that the number of allowed occupants was within the standards established by the applicable code requirements, or rental policy if a number was specified in the lease, and (3) that any additional occupants in excess of the number of occupants specified became residents of the rental unit without the expressed consent of the owner-landlord. | In Committee |
| A234 | Permits corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer epinephrine auto-injector device. | This bill clarifies existing law to expressly permit corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device. Under the bill, any person, including a county or State corrections officer, firefighter, or police officer, who has successfully completed an educational program approved by the Commissioner of Health to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device is to be issued a certificate of completion, which is to authorize the person to administer, maintain, and dispose of an epinephrine auto-injector device. The bill defines "firefighter" to mean a firefighter who is employed by or who volunteers for a public fire department. "Police officer" means a State, county, or municipal police officer. | In Committee |
| A207 | Requires Chief Administrator of MVC to conduct wanted person check of all applicants for licenses, permits, and identification cards. | This bill requires a wanted person check to be conducted of all applicants for permits, driver's licenses, and identification cards. Specifically, the bill requires the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to conduct a wanted person check of all applicants for a probationary or basic driver's license, motorcycle license, examination permit, special learner's permit, or non-driver identification card. A "wanted person check" is defined under the bill as a determination of whether a person has an outstanding arrest warrant or pending charges by accessing the New Jersey Wanted Person System (NJWPS) and New Jersey Criminal Justice Information System (NJCJIS) in the files of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). | In Committee |
| A208 | Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits. | This bill requires the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission, which was established pursuant to P.L.2003, c.193 (C.17B:27D-1 et seq.), to periodically, on an ongoing basis, analyze and review the financial impact of all mandated health benefits enacted by the Legislature. The analysis and review of each mandated health benefit shall include:· the impact of the mandated health benefit on total costs to purchasers and benefit costs;· the extent to which the mandated health benefit has increased the appropriate use of the treatment or service; and· the extent to which the mandated health benefit resulted in any savings to the health care system through increased access to preventive care. The bill further provides that: ? two years after the effective date of the bill and every three years thereafter, the commission shall issue reports to the Governor and the Legislature on its findings and make any recommendations it deems appropriate, including whether any of the mandated health benefits should be repealed and offered, instead, as a rider to health benefits coverage; and ? the commission may issue such interim reports to the Governor and Legislature on specific mandates, as it deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| A1119 | Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation. | This bill permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes, due and paid in a calendar year on the taxpayer's principal residence, from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. Under current law, a taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of property taxes due and paid in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. If the taxpayer is a renter, the taxpayer may deduct up to $15,000 of the amount of "rent constituting property tax," which is defined in P.L.1996, c.60, s.2 (C.54A:3A-16) to mean 18 percent of rent, due and paid in the calendar year from the taxpayer's gross income tax obligation. This bill eliminates these $15,000 maximum allowable deductions, thereby permitting a taxpayer to deduct the full amount of property taxes, or rent constituting property taxes, due and paid by the taxpayer in the calendar year on the taxpayer's primary residence. | In Committee |
| A530 | Allocates $10 million of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes. | This bill would amend and supplement the "Preserve New Jersey Act" to allocate $10 million annually from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues for providing grants to assist certain entities to pay the cost of development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes for the management and maintenance of lakes. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a program for the issuance of these grants. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects located in the Highlands Region and Pinelands area and to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides priority for funding for projects located in the Highlands Region and Pinelands area in recognition of the critical role lakes in these ecologically significant locations provide in the supply of drinking water to residents throughout the State, watershed protection, and for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. Harmful algal blooms occur when colonies of microscopic algae or bacteria grow at exponential rates and produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. Exposure to these algal blooms can cause a range of health effects, including skin rashes, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, gastroenteritis, respiratory irritation and eye irritation. The issuance by the DEP of "no contact" advisories or other warnings cautioning against contact with the water in certain lakes due to the presence of harmful algal blooms directly impacts the public's use of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. Certain stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities may control harmful algal blooms, which would result in improvements to water quality and increase recreational access to lakes. The Greenwood Lake Commission, the Lake Hopatcong Commission, and local government units may apply for grants pursuant to the bill. The DEP would be required to approve any applications submitted by the Greenwood Lake Commission and the Lake Hopatcong Commission, and each commission would receive a minimum grant award of $750,000 in each fiscal year under the bill. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), 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, including stewardship activities, 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. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." This bill provides that $10 million of the amount currently allocated for development of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes would be used instead to fund the grants to be awarded pursuant to the bill. The bill requires the DEP, each fiscal year, to submit a list of projects to receive funding pursuant to the bill to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly to be introduced in the Legislature as appropriations bills. The bill further provides that the DEP shall not submit, and the Legislature shall not approve, any other list of projects to receive funding pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act" until the DEP has submitted to the Legislature the list of projects recommended to receive funding pursuant to the program established by the bill. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" defines the terms "development," "recreation and conservation purposes," and "stewardship." "Development" means any improvement, including a stewardship activity, made to a land or water area designed to expand and enhance its utilization for recreation and conservation purposes, and includes the construction, renovation, or repair of any such improvement, but does not mean shore protection or beach nourishment or replenishment activities. "Recreation and conservation purposes" means the use of lands for beaches, biological or ecological study, boating, camping, fishing, forests, greenways, hunting, natural areas, parks, playgrounds, protecting historic properties, water reserves, watershed protection, wildlife preserves, active sports, or a similar use for either public outdoor recreation or conservation of natural resources, or both. "Stewardship activity" means an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken by the State, a local government unit, or a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization to repair, or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes. | In Committee |
| A201 | Provides for no net loss of DEP lands for fishing, hunting, and trapping purposes. | This bill would protect fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities by providing for no net loss of certain State lands made available for the purposes of public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping. This bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to recognize fishing, hunting, and trapping as primary uses of the lands and to exercise management authority in order to promote and enhance public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities. The commissioner would not be required to give preference to fishing, hunting, or trapping over other primary uses of State park and forest land or other priorities established by law. The commissioner would be required to make land management decisions that do not result in any net loss of acreage available for public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities and would provide for the expeditious replacement of acreage to compensate for any closures of existing land for such uses. By providing for no net loss of acreage, the department would be prohibited from reducing the amount of acreage of land, administered by the department, available for public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping opportunities in the State, on or after the date of enactment of this bill into law. Acreage dedicated to State wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds, and recreational areas, managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, would not be reduced except due to environmental or biological reasons for the protection of wildlife or fisheries or their associated habitat, or as a result of a land exchange wherein the department receives property of equal or greater value. State parks and forests would be accessible for the purposes of recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping unless restricted for reasons of public safety or homeland security, as limited by the commissioner in consultation with the State Police. The commissioner would further be required to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee including information regarding: the acreage managed or owned by the department that had been available for public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping during the previous year, and the reasons for such closures; the amount of acreage opened to public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping to compensate for the acreage closed; and the reasons why any newly acquired State public park and forest land, wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds, and recreational areas were not open to public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping. A number of states are considering legislation similar to this bill and a growing number of states have passed laws protecting public recreational fishing, hunting, and trapping land by preventing the net loss of acreage for such uses. Similar legislation has also been introduced in Congress to prevent the net loss of Federal public land for the purposes of fishing, hunting, and trapping. | In Committee |
| ACR51 | Provides for 5 year terms for Justices of the Supreme Court and for tenure elections for a Justice to receive tenure upon reappointment. | Presently, Supreme Court justices serve an initial seven-year term and receive tenure upon reappointment by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would provide for 5 year terms for Justices of the Supreme Court. There would be no limitation on the number of terms which a Justice may serve, but no Justice would receive tenure unless and until that Justice is reappointed and is approved for tenure by the voters in a tenure election. If a Justice is not approved by the voters for tenure, he would remain eligible for reappointment to another 5 year term, at the discretion of the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. As under present law, justices would be retired at 70 years of age. | In Committee |
| A235 | Requires electric public utilities to establish toll-free telephone number to be used by public for reporting damaged equipment and dangerous vegetation. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number that may be used by the public to report to the utility the existence of broken or otherwise damaged "distribution infrastructure" of the utility or the presence or threat of "dangerous vegetation" to the utility's distribution infrastructure, as those terms are defined in the bill. The utility is to publish the toll-free telephone number and an explanation of the purpose of the toll-free telephone number on every periodic bill sent to each customer of the utility and in a prominent location on the homepage of the utility's Internet website. | In Committee |
| A220 | Prohibits DOT from taking certain action on certain rock fall mitigation projects and requires DOT to conduct analysis on project alternatives. | This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation (department) from planning for, designing, or constructing, or using funds for the planning, design, or construction of, a rock wall between milepost 1.00 and milepost 1.50 on Interstate Highway Route 80. The bill also requires the department, for any project for rock fall mitigation between those mileposts, to conduct a full analysis of all feasible non-rock wall options for rock fall mitigation. | In Committee |
| A153 | Exempts certain volunteer emergency service organizations from charitable contribution filing fees. | The bill would exempt certain volunteer emergency service organizations from paying registration filing fees under the under the State's "Charitable Registration and Investigation Act." Under current law, charitable organizations, other than religious organizations and schools, which raise over $10,000 in a fiscal year are required to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety as charitable organizations. Pursuant to regulations promulgated under the act, these organizations are charged a fee for this registration. Charitable organizations which raise $25,000 or less in a fiscal year, whether they are required to register or voluntarily register under the act, are required to file a short form registration. The fee charged by the division for filing a short form registration is $30. Charitable organizations that raise more than $25,000 are required to file a long form registration. The fee charged by the division for filing a long form registration is $60 if the organization raised $100,000 or less. The long form registration fee for organizations which raise more than $100,000, but less than $500,000 is $150. If the organization raises over $500,000 the fee is $250. Under this bill, non-profit corporations, associations, or organizations located in this State which are regularly engaged in providing emergency medical care, rescue services, the transport of patients, or fire protection services, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts and emergency service providers, would be exempt from paying these filing fees. | In Committee |
| A152 | Prohibits State's participation in multi-state cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions from transportation sector. | This bill would prohibit the State from participating in a multi-state initiative cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Specifically, the bill would prohibit any State agency, or representative or employee thereof, from: (1) entering any agreement or arrangement with the appropriate representatives of other states, including the formation of a for-profit or non-profit corporation, any form of association, alliance, compact, or commission, or any other form of organization, in this or another state, established for the purpose of creating a cap and trade program for carbon emissions from combustion gas and diesel engines or any similar multi-state program that would cap and reduce the amount of allowable carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels; and (2) adopting any rules or regulations that would establish a multi-state cap and trade program to limit carbon emissions from combustion gas and diesel engines or any similar multi-state program that would cap and reduce the amount of allowable carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels. In December 2018, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection announced that New Jersey was joining with other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to design a new regional low-carbon transportation policy proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, called the "Transportation and Climate Initiative." Other participants include Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. According to the announcement, the initiative includes a proposal to cap and reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels, and investing proceeds from the program into low-carbon and more resilient transportation infrastructure. While the reduction of carbon emissions is an important goal, it is also important to protect consumers from price increases that would likely result from a cap and trade program. | In Committee |
| A236 | Extends limit for nonpublic school busing to 30 miles in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren Counties, and requires existing bus stops to be used. | This bill establishes as part of the permanent law the requirement that transportation services or an in-lieu-of payment be provided to a nonpublic school student if the student lives remote from his nonpublic school of attendance and the nonpublic school is located not more than 30 miles from the student's residence in: a county of the second class with a population of less than 275,000 or a population density of less than 600; a county of the third class; a county of the sixth class; or a county of the fifth class with a population of less than 600,000. This would cover transportation in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Ocean, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Salem, Sussex, and Warren Counties. Nonpublic school pupils eligible for transportation pursuant to this bill will be required by the school district to use the bus stops which serve the pupils whose residences are not more than 20 miles from the nonpublic school. Under the bill, the State will be responsible for any costs incurred by the district in providing transportation or an in-lieu-of payment to these students up to the amount of the statutorily established nonpublic transportation amount. Under existing law, in order to be eligible for transportation services or an aid-in-lieu-of payment, a nonpublic school student must live remote from his school of attendance (2 miles in the case of an elementary school student and 2 1/2 miles in the case of a high school student) and the nonpublic school may not be more than 20 miles from the student's residence. However, over the past several school years, through language included in the appropriations act, transportation services have been provided to nonpublic school students who reside in six rural counties if the nonpublic school is not more than 30 miles from the student's residence. The six counties that have been included in the appropriations act are Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Salem, Sussex, and Warren. | In Committee |
| A164 | "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act"; requires verification of employment. | This bill, the "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act," requires that all employers use the federal "E-verify" system to check the employment eligibility of each new hire, within ninety days of the date of hire. The bill establishes a graduated penalty system against any employer who knowingly employs unauthorized aliens. The penalty for the first offense will be a $10,000 fine for each unauthorized alien and three years of monitored probation. During the probationary period the employer is required to file quarterly reports with the county prosecutor. The reports must include, but shall not be limited to, documentation of the E-verify confirmation of each new employee who is hired by the employer at the location where the unauthorized alien performed work. The penalty for a second offense will be a $20,000 fine for each unauthorized alien and an additional five years of monitored probation. The penalty for a third offense will be a $30,000 fine for each unauthorized alien. Under the bill, proof that the employee's eligibility to work was confirmed through the E-verify program creates a rebuttable presumption that the employer did not intentionally or knowingly employ an unauthorized alien. E-verify is an Internet-based system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. It provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. It is currently available to employers without charge. | In Committee |
| A189 | Provides that certain school districts will not receive State school aid reductions in 2023-2024 school year. | This bill provides that a school district that has been subject to a reduction in State school aid under S2 in any of the school years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, or 2023-2024 will receive an amount of State school aid in the 2023-2024 school year that is equal to the highest amount received by the district in the school years for any of the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, or 2022-2023 school years. This bill requires the costs of providing this level of State school aid to be paid for from the federal funds allocated to the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," or any other federal funding available to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. | In Committee |
| A159 | Prohibits municipal ordinance to create sanctuary city; establishes State and local employee ethics violation upon noncompliance with federal immigration enforcement request. | This bill is intended to make certain that State and local officials in New Jersey cooperate with federal authorities with respect to immigration and customs enforcement requests. The bill prohibits counties and municipalities from establishing formal or informal policies of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Several jurisdictions, such as California, have established a formal prohibition on cooperation with federal authorities on immigration issues. In San Francisco, a young woman named Kate Steinle was brutally murdered by an individual who intentionally committed the crime in San Francisco because it had designated itself a sanctuary city. Other jurisdictions, such as certain municipalities in New Jersey, have an informal practice of not cooperating with requests from the federal government regarding immigration matters. This bill is intended to prevent the State, municipalities, or any subdivision thereof, from establishing a formal or informal "sanctuary city" policy, which has led to recent violent crimes around the country. Under this bill, a State or local official who fails to cooperate with federal authorities with respect to immigration enforcement will be committing an ethics violation. The regular process for the disposition of ethics violations at the State or local level will be applicable to these situations. The bill also creates a civil fine for any member of a municipal or county governing body which votes in favor of a sanctuary city ordinance after the effective date of the bill. | In Committee |
| A1278 | Clarifies scope of affordable housing obligations. | Although the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C.52:27D-301 et al.), clearly states that the State Constitution's affordable housing obligation is comprised of the "present and prospective need" for affordable housing only, some courts have misunderstood the intent of the Legislature behind the "Fair Housing Act," and imposed a retroactive obligation for the so-called gap period. The purpose of this bill is to eliminate any possible misconception with respect to the Legislature's intent to ensure that determinations of a municipality's fair share of affordable housing will be based upon the present and prospective need for affordable housing, as clearly set forth in the "Fair Housing Act," and that a fair share obligation will not include retrospective need that may have arisen during any "gap period" between housing cycles. The New Jersey Supreme Court, through its rulings in South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 67 N.J. 151 (1975) and South Burlington County NAACP v. Mount Laurel, 92 N.J. 158 (1983), determined that every municipality in a growth area has a constitutional obligation to provide through its land use regulations a realistic opportunity for a fair share of its region's present and prospective needs for housing for low and moderate income families. By enacting the "Fair Housing Act," the Legislature accepted the Supreme Court's request that the Legislature occupy the field of affordable housing and defined the constitutional obligation to include the present and prospective needs for affordable housing only. The Legislature directed each municipality to comply with its constitutional obligation to address its obligations with respect to the present and prospective need by: including in the housing element of its master plan a determination of the municipality's present and prospective fair share for low and moderate income housing and a determination of the municipality's capacity to accommodate its present and prospective housing needs, including its fair share for low and moderate income housing as the present and prospective need; and adopting or revising land use and other relevant ordinances consistent with the provisions for low and moderate income housing in its housing element. The courts and the Legislature of this State require municipalities to allow low and moderate income families a chance to find housing based upon the present need and the prospective need for affordable housing in each municipality and region of the State. This requirement has always been about planning and zoning; municipalities may not limit opportunities for affordable housing through exclusionary zoning. Differences of opinion between the judicial and executive branches of government over how to calculate each municipality's "fair share" of affordable housing have resulted in a "gap period" of over 15 years, which is still going on, during which the State provided municipalities no clear guidelines on how to zone to satisfy their obligation to allow for a fair share of affordable housing. Now that the courts have assumed control over municipal compliance with affordable housing obligations, it is possible that municipalities may be obligated to allow for the production of affordable housing based upon the speculated need for affordable housing which arose during the gap period. While laudable, such a result is contrary to current law, which confines municipal fair share determinations to a present and prospective need for affordable housing, and would impose an unrealistic and excessive burden upon the residential communities of our State. Requiring fair share obligations to include the need developed through a long regulatory gap period would result in an unreasonable burden, the resolution of which would force municipalities to allow rapid, unsettling changes to the physical and demographic nature of their communities. This bill eliminates any possible misconception of what the Legislature intended the fair share obligation to include so as to preclude the imposition of a fair share obligation based upon a concept of retrospective need during the gap period. | In Committee |
| ACR43 | Proposes constitutional amendment to limit effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by Governor to 14 days. | This constitutional amendment provides that certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by the Governor during a period of a state of emergency will terminate on the 15th day following the date of issuance, unless the Legislature approves a greater period of time by way of a concurrent resolution. The constitutional amendment prohibits the Governor from issuing an order, rule, or regulation to the same or substantially the same effect as the one terminated pursuant to the amendment for the same emergency. The constitutional amendment does not apply to orders, rules, or regulations: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute; (2) issued pursuant to direction by or agreement with the federal government, in compliance with federal law, or to the extent that application of the bill would jeopardize the receipt of federal funds by the State; (3) applying exclusively to the executive branch; (4) issued under the Governor's authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State; or (5) issued pursuant to a provision of law providing for a greater period, notwithstanding that the order, rule, or regulation may also cite to an authority provided under the "Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act," or a successor State statute. | In Committee |
| A231 | Authorizes creation of Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue a Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation license plate. The design of the license plate is to be chosen by the chief administrator, in consultation with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation license plates. The additional fees are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and used to support the organization's mission of providing scholarships to Marine Corps families. The bill also provides that the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, other concerned organization, and individual donors may contribute monies to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation license plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation or any individual or entity designated by the foundation, may also publicize the availability of the license plates in any manner the foundation deems appropriate. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has provided over 30,000 scholarships for post-high school education to the sons and daughters of Marines since 1962. Scholarships are awarded to all eligible students of active duty, retired, or honorably discharged Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Special consideration is given to the children of wounded and fallen Marines and those with demonstrated financial need. | In Committee |
| A181 | Establishes minimum dollar amount required in Maintenance and Preservation Funds of cemetery companies established before December 1, 1971. | This bill sets the minimum dollar amount a cemetery company must retain in its Maintenance and Preservation Fund at $37,500 if that company was established before December 1, 1971. Current law requires such cemetery companies to transfer into their Maintenance and Preservation Funds any funds established for the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery and any additional amount set by the New Jersey Cemetery Board. However, current law does not set a minimum dollar amount these cemeteries are required to retain in their Maintenance and Preservation Funds, as it does for cemetery companies established after December 1, 1971. Additionally, the bill requires that any funds exceeding the $37,500 minimum must be applied towards the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery. | In Committee |
| ACR39 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide registered voters with right to cast ballot in person at polling place on election day; requires mail-in ballot request before voter receives mail-in ballot. | This constitutional amendment would ensure that registered voters in this State, who are qualified to vote, have the right to cast a ballot in person on the day of any election in this State, and would permit mail-in ballots to be distributed only to voters who submit a written request for a mail-in ballot. This amendment would bar the Legislature from passing laws, and the Governor from issuing executive orders, that would: (1) limit or deny in-person voting for a registered voter who wishes to vote in person, or (2) automatically distribute mail-in ballots to all voters. | In Committee |
| A177 | Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools. | This bill would require public and nonpublic schools to ensure that at least one portable anti-choking device is made available in the cafeteria, school nurse's office, and any other similar location. The devices would be placed in an unlocked and easily accessible location during the school day and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking place. The locations of each portable anti-choking device shall have an appropriate identifying sign. A portable anti-choking device is a device that uses manually created suction to remove blockage from a person's airway during a choking emergency. These devices may only be used in schools provided they have been registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Each board of education and the governing board or chief administrator of a nonpublic school would be required to develop policies for the use of anti-choking devices by school nurses and school employees. The policies would include a requirement that all school nurses and school employees receive training in airway management and in the removal of any obstructions from the airway using a portable anti-choking device. The Commissioner of Education would ensure that annual educational opportunities are made available for school nurses and employees of both public and nonpublic schools regarding airway management and the use of portable anti-choking devices. The Department of Education would reimburse public and nonpublic schools for the costs incurred to implement the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| A182 | Prohibits DEP from requiring person under 16 years of age to obtain horseback riding permit to ride in State wildlife management areas. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring a person under 16 years of age to obtain a permit from the Division of Fish and Wildlife to engage in horseback riding in a State wildlife management area. The bill further prohibits the DEP from charging a person under 16 years of age a $2.00 nonrefundable permit application fee. | In Committee |
| A3231 | Creates alternate voting members on county agriculture development boards. | This bill amends the "Agriculture Retention and Development Act" by creating alternate members on County Agriculture Development Boards (CADB) who are able to vote in the absence or disqualification of a voting member. This bill would require each CADB to have two alternate members, one of whom represents the general public and one of whom is actively engaged in farming. These alternate members would each serve for a term of four years and may vote in place of an appointed voting member of their respective appointment background, should a voting member be absent or disqualified. The alternate voting member may participate in discussions of the proceedings when not voting. The alternate member with a farming background would be appointed in the same manner as the four members actively engaged in farming, and the alternate member representing the general public would be appointed in the same manner as the three members representing the general public. | In Committee |
| A1566 | Prohibits school districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting policies that bar military members or veterans from addressing students. | This bill prohibits schools districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting a policy, or otherwise engaging in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran from speaking to or addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies. A school district or public institution of higher education that is in violation of the provisions of the bill would be subject to reductions in State support. The bill also provides that a school district would forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district. | In Committee |
| A221 | Requires State personal income tax materials to include notice of certain property tax relief programs. | This bill requires State personal income tax materials to include notice of the property tax relief programs administered by the Division of Taxation. The purpose of the bill is to better effectuate the personal income tax's constitutional design to provide property tax relief. The bill amends the Director of the Division of Taxation's existing regulatory authority to explicitly require notice in the State's personal income tax filing instructions concerning the availability of the Homestead Benefit Program, Senior Freeze Program, and the State's personal income tax deductions and alternative credit for property taxes. | In Committee |
| A2105 | Makes FY2023 supplemental appropriation of $17 million to DEP for grants for certain lake management activities. | This bill makes a one-time supplemental appropriation of $17 million for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the General Fund. The bill directs the DEP to establish a program to use these funds for grants to assist qualified entities to pay certain costs associated with the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill requires the DEP to develop criteria for the evaluation and ranking of applications to provide priority to projects submitted by qualified entities responsible for a lake with public access; and projects to improve water quality and increase recreational access and use of lakes, including projects to control nutrient levels in lakes in order to prevent future harmful algal blooms. The bill provides that a grant issued pursuant to the bill may be used for stormwater and nonpoint source pollution management activities, if the DEP determines that those activities would directly enhance, improve, or protect the use of a lake for recreation and conservation purposes. The bill defines "qualified entity" to mean: the Greenwood Lake Commission; the Lake Hopatcong Commission; a local government unit; an entity established pursuant to law or an entity established pursuant to ordinance by the municipalities surrounding a publicly-accessible lake for the management of the lake, including, but not limited to, the Deal Lake Commission or the Lake Topanemus Park Commission; or a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3) and whose mission is the management or maintenance of a publicly-accessible lake. | In Committee |
| A1091 | Allows commercial farmer to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees of defending against unreasonable 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 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 if the complaint was made in bad faith and if the costs and fees, or a portion thereof, are reasonable. If so, the county agriculture development board or the SADC would issue an order for the person filing the complaint to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer. | In Committee |
| A2614 | Directs AG to enter into agreement with U.S. Attorney General to empower certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates. | This bill authorizes the Attorney General to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Attorney General, as provided under section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. s.1357(g)) to train and empower certain designated State and county corrections officers to perform limited enforcement functions and activities. Under the provisions of the bill, the designated officers would be trained and empowered to investigate, at the time of their incarceration, whether inmates are lawful residents and, in those cases where that investigation reveals that the inmate's presence in the United States is not authorized under federal law, to so notify United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the federal Department of Homeland Security. The terms of the memorandum are to set forth the training curriculum, protocols for the working relationship between the affected State, county and federal officers, offices and agencies; the amounts of federal assistance the State is to receive under the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for participating in the ICE 287(g) program and a certification that the participating corrections officers and parole officers are acting under color of federal authority for the purposes of determining the liability, and immunity from suit, for any civil action brought under federal or State law. | In Committee |
| A1125 | "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act"; repeals certain sections of law; requires additional aid to lower property taxes commensurate with residents' ability to support schools; appropriates $2.9 billion. | The bill is to be known as the "Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act." The bill requires that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, State school aid will be provided to school districts at levels consistent with the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) up to their adequacy budget, and prevents future cuts to State aid. It also requires a school district to reduce its tax levy in an amount equal to any increase in State school aid above the prior budget year under certain circumstances, allowing the district to subsequently increase its levy from a lower level than the prior budget year. It is the sponsors' intent to bring equity to New Jersey's school system by increasing State aid contributions to SFRA adequacy budget levels in a manner consistent with the "thorough and efficient" education clause in the State Constitution (N.J. Const. art. VIII, sec. 4, par.1). Providing school aid in this manner will reduce property taxes based on the ability of each school district's residents to support schools. The bill repeals certain sections of law enacted as part of P.L.2018, c.67 (commonly referred to "S2") that resulted in loss of aid and higher property taxes in certain school districts. The bill requires the State to provide aid to school districts equal to the greatest amount of:· aid according to the SFRA; · aid according to the SFRA and, if applicable, additional aid to provided to school districts that lost funding as a result of the implementation of S2; or· State school aid received in any of the school years between and including the 2017-2018 school year and the 2022-2023 school year. Under the bill, a district may petition the Commissioner of Education and State Treasurer for additional aid if it demonstrates a willingness to reduce its adjusted tax levy by an amount equal to any additional aid received. The bill requires a school district to reduce its school tax levy by the same amount of their State school aid increase above the prior year if the total tax levy of the municipality or municipalities comprising the district is more than five percent of school district income. After lowering its levy commensurate with a State aid increase, a school district may increase its levy by an amount necessary to cover an increase in per pupil administrative costs and deferred revenue. The bill requires a district to submit a proposal to voters of the district if it wishes to exceed this limitation. If the voters do not approve the proposal, a school district may add to its adjusted tax levy the difference between the maximum amount to be raised by taxation for the current budget year and the actual amount to be raised by taxation for the current school year if the amount of State school aid and the adjusted tax levy is below the adequacy budget in the next three succeeding budget years. Lastly, the bill appropriates $2,946,618,000 for the purposes of providing additional aid under the bill. The bill stipulates that any unexpended balances are appropriated to the Schools Development Authority for the purposes of supporting school facilities projects and supporting emergent needs and capital maintenance in school districts. | In Committee |
| AR29 | Urges President to withdraw United States from World Health Organization. | This Assembly resolution respectfully urges the President of the United States to withdraw the United States from, and to cease making monetary contributions to, the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is the United Nations agency tasked with developing, promoting, and implementing global health policy, and was responsible for directing the international response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is the sentiment of the General Assembly that the WHO's failures in its pandemic response, including a slow and inadequate initial reaction to the emergence of the disease, the issuance of inconsistent and erroneous guidance that may have exacerbated the spread of COVID-19, and its unjustifiable deference to the Chinese government, particularly with regard to the WHO's investigation into the origins of the virus, as well as concerns as to the potential breadth of its authority to reach into every aspect of life across the globe, merit withdrawing the United States from the organization. | In Committee |
| A2550 | Phases out the transfer inheritance tax over two years. | This bill reduces and finally eliminates the New Jersey transfer inheritance tax over two years. The New Jersey transfer inheritance tax is one of the State's oldest taxes, originating in 1892 and imposed in roughly its present form since 1909. The tax is imposed on the transfer of all personal and real property in the estates of New Jersey resident decedents and on all tangible and real property located in New Jersey in the estates of nonresident decedents. The tax was extensively revised in 1985 to exempt from taxation transfers to spouses, ancestors and descendants of the decedent, but "lateral" transfers, bequests to brothers and sisters of the decedent or their children, and to nonrelatives are taxed at rates up to 16%. This bill eliminates the transfer inheritance tax over two years. In the first calendar year following enactment of the bill, all of the transfers that are currently taxable remain taxable, but at 50% of the current tax rates. In the second year following enactment, taxes are no longer imposed. | In Committee |
| A379 | Repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote." | This bill repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote," adopted as part of the New Jersey statutes pursuant to P.L.2007, c.334, and amends various parts of the statutory law to remove any reference to the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, when enough states collectively possessing the majority of the electoral votes required to decide a presidential race become parties to the agreement, New Jersey's electoral votes will be required to be allocated to the presidential candidate that won the popular vote nationwide, regardless of whether that candidate won in New Jersey. This manner of allocating electoral votes is a radical departure from the current system in New Jersey which, in the winner-take-all manner, the State's electoral votes are allocated to the candidate that won the popular vote in the State. By requiring that the State's electoral votes be allocated to the national popular vote winner instead of the candidate who won in New Jersey, the national popular vote agreement disenfranchises New Jersey voters and arguably amounts to the circumvention of the United States Constitution. | In Committee |
| A3347 | Requires basic course in land use law and planning offered to certain officials to include module on warehouse development and high-density development. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to prepare and offer a module on warehouse development and high-density development as a part of the commissioner's basic course in land use law and planning. The basic course is offered to current and prospective members, and alternate members, of: local planning boards; zoning boards of adjustment; supplemental zoning boards of adjustment; and combined boards. Innovation within the warehousing sector of the economy has led to the development of very large warehousing facilities on sites that were zoned for smaller, traditional types of warehouses. While these types of developments are of Statewide economic importance, the unanticipated development of large-scale regional warehousing facilities has, at times, resulted in significant negative regional impacts. In order to better inform municipal governments and local planning officials of this problem and possible solutions, the State Planning Commission prepared a warehouse guidance document in September 2022. By including a module on warehouse development and high-density development as a part of the basic course in land use law and planning, local officials will be better prepared to consider and address these important issues. | In Committee |
| A1305 | Requires DCA to establish optional certification courses for planning professionals on development of warehouses and high-density buildings. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish certification courses for planning professionals on the development of warehouses and high-density buildings. The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to develop and offer optional certification courses for planning professionals on current topics and issues relating to the development of warehouses and high density buildings. The courses are to be developed in conjunction with institutions of higher education, the State Planning Commission, and non-profit organizations representing planning associations and include modules specifically on warehouse development and high-density development. Additionally, the bill specifies that these optional courses offered to planning professionals do not meet the land use law and planning course requirement for planning board and zoning board members required pursuant to the "Municipal Land Use Law." Local planners are crucial in leading a community in its development and implementation of the Master Plan. It is the sponsor's intent to give planners additional tools to provide leadership to their communities. Warehouse construction has become a leading concern among both the public and local government officials. Many communities feel overwhelmed by the size and consequences of high-density development. Providing planning professionals with greater and up to date information will better allow them to serve their communities and local officials. | In Committee |
| A1156 | Establishes Office of Child Advocate. | This bill establishes the Office of the Child Advocate in, but notof, the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS). The bill provides that the child advocate would seek to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, and that children under State supervision due to abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Child Advocate would be deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill allows the Child Advocate to: investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response on, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State; inspect and review the operations, policies, and procedures of juvenile detention centers, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for the care of abused or neglected children, shelters for the care of juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis cases, shelters for the care of homeless youth, or independent living arrangements; and any other public or private residential setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, or children who receive child protective or permanency services; review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children at risk of abuse or neglect by conducting research audits or other studies of case records, policies, procedures, and protocols, as deemed necessary by the child advocate to assess the performance of the entities; receive, investigate, and make referrals to other agencies or take other appropriate actions with respect to a complaint received by the office regarding the actions of a State, county or municipal agency, or a State-funded private entity providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect; hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the office, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the child advocate deems appropriate; establish and maintain a 24 hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the child advocate, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies and contract services, protect children; and intervene in or institute litigation, or intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children. The bill provides that the Child Advocate would seek to ensure the protection of children who are in an institution or resource family home by reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring the operation and activities of the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit in the Department of Children and Families. The bill also provides that the Child Advocate would report annually to the Governor, Attorney General, and Legislature on: the activities of the office; priorities for children's services that have been identified by the child advocate; and recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, and are in State or institutional custody, or receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities, and make the annual report available to the public and post the report on DLPS's website. | In Committee |
| A1306 | Provides CBT and GIT credits for completion of qualified construction projects at abandoned commercial building sites. | The bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for any qualified construction costs incurred by a taxpayer for the completion of a qualified construction project at the site of an abandoned commercial building in the State. The bill defines "commercial building" as a building of at least 100,000 square feet that is used for commercial purposes. Under the bill, a "qualified construction project" includes any of the following: the demolition of an abandoned commercial building; the construction of a new commercial building at the demolition site of an abandoned commercial building; the removal of debris from the demolition site of an abandoned commercial building; the remediation of a demolition site; or the repurposing of an abandoned commercial building. The amount of the tax credit is capped at the lesser of the following: (1) 25 percent of the qualified construction costs incurred by the taxpayer during the privilege period or taxable year; or (2) $1,000,000. To qualify for the tax credit allowed under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury for a certification that provides: (1) that the qualified construction project meets the requirements of the bill; and (2) the amount of the tax credit calculated pursuant to the bill. The bill requires the division to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill's provisions. The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $5 million. Finally, the bill would require, no later than one year after the expiration of the tax credits provided pursuant to the bill, the division to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the replacement of abandoned commercial buildings with newly constructed commercial buildings. Construction of commercial buildings throughout the State has increased exponentially during recent years. Many commercial buildings have been constructed on the State's farmland, which has adversely impacted the State's farming sector. Construction of commercial buildings on farmland decreases the amount of land in the State that is able to be used for farming purposes and, in many cases, destroys prime soil, which is limited to areas where the soil naturally occurs and, once destroyed, cannot be recreated. Farmland is an important economic and environmental resource for New Jersey and, for this reason, it is important take steps to ensure farmland is used for farming purposes and not converted into commercial buildings. Lands currently used for commercial purposes should continue to be used for commercial purposes. For this reason, abandoned commercial buildings should be replaced with newly constructed commercial buildings at the same location. This bill would encourage the development of commercial buildings throughout the State while also protecting the State's farmland. | In Committee |
| A1301 | Requires State Planning Commission to adopt model buffer ordinances detailing different regulatory options for siting warehouses; allows conforming updates to municipal master plans and zoning ordinances. | This bill requires the State Planning Commission to prepare and adopt model buffer ordinances to be applicable to lots on or near the boundaries between different zoning districts detailing different regulatory options for the siting of warehouses, including design and setbacks. The bill also allows municipal master plans and zoning ordinances to be consistent and compatible with one or more of those model buffer ordinances. The bill also defines "warehouse" to mean a building that stores cargo, goods, or products of any type on a short-term or long-term basis for later distribution to wholesale or retail customers, and includes, but is not limited to, a distribution center, flex-warehouse, or any other type of warehouse. | In Committee |
| A3227 | Establishes Office of Ombudsman for Children. | This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in, but not of the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill provides that the office is to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, respond to the concerns and addressing the needs of children in the resource family care, and that children under State supervision due to child abuse or neglect are served adequately and appropriately by the State. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is deemed a child protective agency for the purposes of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.10a. The bill requires the ombudsman to: (1) investigate, review, monitor, or evaluate any State agency response to, or disposition of, an allegation of child abuse or neglect in this State, or the out-of-placement of children under the care, custody, and supervision of the State; (2) inspect and review the operations, policies, procedures, and contracts of all juvenile detention centers or facilities, resource family homes, group homes, residential treatment facilities, shelters for care of abused or neglected children, homeless youth, or juveniles considered as juvenile-family crisis centers, or independent living arrangements operated, licensed, or approved for payment, by the Departments of Children and Families, Community Affairs, or Health, or any other public or private setting in which a child has been placed by a State or county agency or department; (3) review, evaluate, report on, and make recommendations concerning the procedures established by any State agency providing services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services; (4) review, monitor, and report on the performance of State-funded private entities charged with the care and supervision of children due to abuse or neglect or children, as deemed necessary by the ombudsman to assess the performance of the entities; (5) intervene in or institute administrative proceedings before any department, commission, agency, or State board, to assert the broad public interest of the State in the welfare of children and to protect and promote the rights of children; (6) hold a public hearing on the subject of an investigation or study underway by the ombudsman, and receive testimony from agency and program representatives, the public, and other interested parties, as the ombudsman deems appropriate; and (7) establish and maintain a 24-hour toll-free telephone hotline to receive and respond to calls from members of the public referring problems to the ombudsman, both individual and systemic, in how the State, through its agencies or contract services, protects children. The bill also provides that the ombudsman report annually to the Governor, Commissioner of Children and Families, and Legislature on: (1) the activities of the office; (2) priorities for children's services that have been identified by the ombudsman; and (3) recommendations for improvement or needed changes concerning the provision of services to children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency services by State agencies and State-funded private entities. The report is to be posted on the Office of the Attorney General's and the Department of Children and Families' websites. | In Committee |
| A1282 | Provides for full funding of extraordinary special education State aid. | This bill provides that, in the first full school year following the date of enactment and in each school year thereafter, the State will fund extraordinary special education aid at 100 percent of the amount calculated under current law. Under current law, districts may apply for reimbursement for certain costs of educating students with disabilities when the costs exceed $40,000 (if the student is educated in a public school program) or $55,000 (if the student attends a private school for students with disabilities). The reimbursement rates included in the State school funding law are 90 percent of the expenditures above the threshold for students educated in a public school program with other students who do not have disabilities and 75 percent for other students. In recent years, the annual appropriations act has not provided sufficient funding to reimburse school districts for 100 percent of the extraordinary special education costs calculated under current law. In fiscal year 2023, the $420 million appropriation for extraordinary special education aid funded approximately 83.9 percent of total eligible costs incurred by school districts in the 2021-2022 school year. | In Committee |
| AR86 | Supports Israel as it defends itself against the terrorist attacks by Hamas. | This House strongly condemns Hamas for its terroristic attacks against Israel and the atrocities perpetrated against innocent people. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a massive, unprovoked war on Israel by air, land, and sea. Hamas terrorists crossed the land border and began killing Israelis, abducting people as hostages, slaughtering ordinary civilians and entire families, including babies and elderly people, setting houses on fire, and raping women. Since October 7, 2023, Hamas has launched over 4,500 rockets into southern and central Israel, at least 1,400 people have been confirmed dead in Israel, of whom 30 were American citizens, and another 3,400 have been injured. Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization, designated as such by the United States and the European Union, for its history of suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Jewish people and the State of Israel. Israel is a non-NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States, and the United States has declared its commitment to Israel, reaffirming our 75-year partnership with Israel and the Jewish people in the advancement of our shared democratic values and cultural ties. The Israeli people and its government have shown unwavering bravery in response to the unprovoked act of terrorism by Hamas. The State of New Jersey is proud of its strong relationship with Israel and its citizens, and reaffirms its commitment to Israel in the face of these terrorist attacks. New Jersey condemns the terrorist acts of Hamas against Israel and supports Israel as it defends itself. | In Committee |
| A996 | Requires county clerks to send confirmation notice to vote-by-mail applicant that requests mail-in ballot at separate mailing address than address at which applicant is registered to vote. | This bill requires county clerks to send a confirmation notice to vote-by-mail applicants that requests a mail-in ballot at a separate mailing address than the address at which the applicant is registered to vote. Under current law, an applicant to vote-by-mail can request that a mail-in ballot be sent to a separate mailing address than the address at which the applicant is registered to vote. However, a notice to the applicant at the registration address confirming the address where an applicant's mail-in ballot will be sent is not required. Under the bill, county clerks will be required to send a confirmation notice to inform vote-by-mail applicants that a mail-in ballot has been requested at a separate mailing address than the applicant's voting residence. The confirmation notice will be required to contain instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials to remedy a false request or correct any other inaccurate information contained in the confirmation notice. | In Committee |
| A1281 | Requires school districts to receive written permission from parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys. | This bill would require school districts to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain health surveys to students. Under current law, a school district that sends prior written notification to a parent or legal guardian may administer an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment or evaluation to the student which reveals information concerning any of the following issues: · use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping;· sexual behavior and attitudes;· behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or· physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. Written notification provided to a parent or legal guardian is required to be delivered by regular mail, electronic mail, or a written acknowledgement form to be delivered by the student at least two weeks prior to administration of the survey, assessment, analysis, or evaluation. Information obtained through the survey is also required to be submitted to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and may be used to develop public health initiatives and prevention programs. This bill would amend current law to require a school district to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian, rather than providing notification, prior to administering an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation to a student concerning the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping; sexual behavior and attitudes; behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. | In Committee |
| A1274 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A1554 | Requires Secretary of State and Chief Administration of MVC to conduct audit of certain voter registrations and annual audits thereafter; requires proof of citizenship for voter registration at MVC. | This bill amends current law to require the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Commission and the Secretary of State to conduct an audit of all voter registration applications submitted on or after May 1, 2021 to ensure only eligible residents registered to vote in the State. This bill also requires the Chief Administrator and the Secretary of State to conduct an annual audit of yearly registrations to ensure eligibility of voters. Each audit must be completed 30 days before the primary election for a general election and a report of each audit must be submitted to the Secretary of State, the Governor, and the Legislature. The bill provides that no person shall be offered an opportunity to automatically register to vote or update an existing voter registration at the MVC without providing proof of citizenship. | In Committee |
| A2527 | Prohibits voter registration of standard driver's license or identification card applicants. | This bill limits the automatic voter registration process available at Motor Vehicle Commission locations to REAL ID applicants for licenses, cards, or permits. Under this bill, applicants for standard driver's licenses or identification cards, who cannot provide proof of legal presence in the United States, would be prevented from registering to vote. | In Committee |
| A790 | Terminates imposition of general purpose fee under realty transfer fee and one percent assessment on purchases of residential real property selling for more than $1,000,000. | This bill eliminates a) the general purpose fee, one of the four realty transfer fees; and b) the one-percent assessment on the selling price of residential property transacted for more than $1 million. P.L.2004, c.66 imposed the general purpose fee on the seller of non-exempt real property whose selling price equals or exceeds $350,000. It applies to the full amount of the property sale and has the following schedule: $0.90 on each $500 of consideration on the first $550,000 of the value recited in the deed of transfer; $1.40 on each $500 of consideration between $550,000 and $850,000; $1.90 on each $500 of consideration between $850,000 and $1,000,000; and $2.15 on each $500 of consideration over $1,000,000. As a consequence of this bill, property sellers will pay a diminished amount in realty transfer fees. For example, the legislation lowers the fee liability by $900, or roughly 22 percent, for real property selling at $500,000. For a property selling at $1.2 million, in turn, the liability decreases by $3,260, or about 27 percent. P.L.2004, c.66 also levied a one-percent assessment on the transaction of residential property selling for more than $1 million that the property's buyer has to pay. The assessment's repeal, which also covers farmland if it includes a residential structure, will save a purchaser of a $1.5 million residential property $15,000, for example. | In Committee |
| A1056 | Requires commissioner of registration to move voters with undeliverable mail-in ballots to inactive file; removes such inactive voters from Statewide voter registration system following failure to vote in two consecutive federal general elections. | This bill requires the commissioner of registration to move voters with undeliverable mail-in ballots to the inactive file and remove such inactive voters from the Statewide voter registration system following failure to vote in two consecutive federal general elections. Under current law, any mail-in ballot returned for any reason is forwarded to the commissioner of registration, who notes the return in the voter record of that voter. This bill requires that a mail-in ballot returned as undeliverable to the county be forwarded to the commissioner of registration and noted in the Statewide voter registration system. The commissioner will compile a list of the voters and place those voters in the inactive file. If a voter in the inactive file fails to vote in two consecutive federal general elections, the commissioner will take the necessary steps to begin the process for the removal of the voter from the Statewide voter registration system and transfer to the deleted file. The commissioner would be required to send notice to a mail-in ballot voter following the voter's placement in the inactive file due to a mail-in ballot returned as undeliverable, the decision of the commissioner to begin the process for removal from the Statewide voter registration system, and the removal of the voter from the Statewide voter registration system and transfer to the deleted file. | In Committee |
| A1120 | Prohibits State from mandating electric heating or water heating systems. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish a report, within 30 months after the bill's enactment, that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| AR38 | Condemns terror attacks by Hamas against Israel and reaffirms our commitment and support of Israel and Jewish people. | This resolution condemns the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel and reaffirms the State of New Jersey's commitment and support of Israel and the Jewish people. On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the Islamist militant group Hamas carried out a vicious terrorist attack against the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The attack began in the early morning of that Saturday, with Hamas launching thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip that reached as far as Tel Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem, and then infiltrating 22 Israeli towns and army bases in the south, including a gathering of young people at a music festival, the armed terrorists arriving in boats, paragliders, motorcycles, and other vehicles. News reports, survivor accounts, images, and videos from the scenes of this horrific attack show that Hamas terrorists slaughtered ordinary civilians and entire families, including babies and elderly people, set houses on fire, raped women, and took hostages. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, at least 1,400 people were confirmed dead in Israel, of whom 30 were American citizens, and another 3,400 were injured. In addition, Israeli authorities indicate that Hamas has taken at least 199 people hostage from Israel into Gaza, with an undetermined number of American citizens among them. Hamas is a terrorist organization, designated as such by the United States and the European Union, for its history of suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Jewish people and the State of Israel. In fact, since issuing its charter in 1988, Hamas has called for the destruction of the State of Israel as an inherent principle of the group. In response to the Hamas terrorist attack, Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8, 2023 and launched "Operation Swords of Iron," calling to duty over 300,000 reservists in the first 48 hours, which according to the Israeli Defense Forces is the largest military mobilization since the 400,000 reservists called to serve in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The United States has declared its unwavering commitment to Israel as the country responds to this terrorist attack, reaffirming our 75-year partnership with Israel and the Jewish people in the advancement of our shared democratic values and cultural ties. The State of New Jersey is proud of its long and strong relationship with Israel and its citizens, and reaffirms its commitment to Israel and the Jewish people in the face of this terrorist attack. | In Committee |
| A3339 | Establishes "Parents Bill of Rights Act"; prohibits school district from interfering with fundamental right of parent or guardian to engage in and direct student's education; permits opt-out of school district curriculum. | This bill establishes the "Parents Bill of Rights Act." The bill provides that a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school in the State has a fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education. Under the bill, the parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education includes, but is not limited to, the right to (1) a summary of the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (2) review the curriculum to be taught to their child in the current school year; (3) review a list of the media services, textbooks, and books that are used in the classroom and that are available to a student through the school district; and (4) opt their child out of any curriculum that the parent or guardian believes is in conflict with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. No penalties as to credit or graduation are permitted as a result of a parent or guardian's decision to opt their child out of the curriculum under the provisions of the bill. The bill prohibits a school or school district from interfering with a parent or guardian's fundamental right to engage in and direct their child's education or denying a request by a parent or guardian for information made pursuant to the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A410 | Provides that public school parent who objects to learning material or activity that parent considers harmful may receive voucher from school district to enroll student in nonpublic school. | This bill provides that in the event that the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district objects to a learning material or activity that is part of the curriculum, on the basis that the material or activity is harmful, withdraws his child from the school district and enrolls the child in a nonpublic school, the resident school district is required to provide the parent or guardian with a voucher to support the tuition and fees of the nonpublic school. The voucher will equal 75 percent of the resident school district's annual spending per pupil prorated based upon the number of days remaining in the school year. An objection to a learning material or activity on the basis that it is harmful includes, but is not limited to, an objection that the material or activity questions, violates, or conflicts with the parent or guardian's belief or practice regarding sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, conscience, ethics, morality, or religion. | In Committee |
| A1283 | Directs State Board of Education to rescind New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education and directs boards of education to establish Parental Advisory Committees and adopt standards for health instruction. | This bill directs the State Board of Education to rescind the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, which were most recently adopted by the board on June 3, 2020. Under the bill, the board will be prohibited from adopting any future Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education or from mandating any similar curriculum requirements or standards in the subjects of health and physical education. The bill directs each local board of education to establish a Parental Advisory Committee to work with the board and school district personnel in the development of curriculum standards for the instruction of students in the subjects of health and physical education. Under the bill, committee membership is required to be reflective of the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the district. The bill requires any meeting of the committee to be open to members of the public and requires that the committee's recommendations are posted on the school district's website for public inspection. The bill directs local boards of education to, within 180 days of the bill's enactment, adopt curriculum standards for the instruction of students in the subjects of health and physical education. The bill amends numerous sections of law that pertain to the development of, or requirements within, the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill maintains these instruction requirements, but provides that the instruction will be given as part of a local school district's implementation of the curriculum standards in health and physical education adopted by the local board pursuant to the bill's provisions. These sections of law require public school instruction on the topics of: suicide prevention; organ donation; sexual abuse and assault; dating violence; gang violence; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; sexting; consent for physical contact and sexual activity; mental health; the "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act"; breast self-examination; and substance abuse. The bill removes any provisions within these sections of law that require the Department of Education to provide sample learning activities, resources, or materials to local school districts on these topics. | In Committee |
| A2218 | Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of residence to second degree crime under certain circumstances. | This bill creates the first degree crime of home invasion and makes this crime subject to the No Early Release Act. In addition, the bill upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances. Specifically, under the provisions of the bill, a person commits the crime of home invasion if he or she enters a person's residence with the intent to commit a robbery, a first or second degree crime, or certain kidnapping and sexual crimes or offenses when another person or persons are present and the actor: 1) uses force or inflicts bodily injury on a person in the residence; 2) threatens a person in the residence with, or purposely or knowingly, puts the person in fear of immediate bodily injury; 3) commits, attempts to commit, or threatens to commit any first or second degree crime or certain kidnapping and sexual crimes and offenses; or 4) is armed with or threatens the use of a deadly weapon or explosive. The bill requires a mandatory term of imprisonment of between 10 years and 30 years for the crime of home invasion. Additionally, the convicted offender would be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, without possibility of parole, since the bill includes the crime of home invasion under the No Early Release Act. A convicted offender also could be subject to a fine of up to $200,000 (the ordinary fine amount applicable to first degree crimes). As to burglary, this crime is upgraded to a second degree crime if a person enters a residence when a resident or any other person, other than a person acting in concert with the actor, is present in the home. The bill provides that knowledge that another person was in the home would not be an element of this upgraded crime, and it would not be a defense that the offender was unaware that another person was present in the home when they entered the residence. The upgraded crime would be punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine up to $150,000, or both. Under current law, burglary is only a crime of the second degree if the defendant inflicted, attempted to inflict, or threatened bodily injury or was armed during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree (ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of between three to five years, a fine not up to $15,000, or both). | In Committee |
| A2897 | Requires employers within construction industry to notify employees of certain rights. | This bill supplements the "Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act," P.L.2007, c.114 (C.34:20-1 et seq.), which establishes a standard for the misclassification of employees as independent contractors within the construction industry. Specifically, this bill requires employers subject to the provisions of that act to conspicuously post notification of the rights of employees to unemployment benefits, minimum wage, overtime and other federal and State workplace protections, as well as the protections against retaliation and the penalties provided under P.L.2007, c.114 (C.34:20-1 et seq.). This notice must contain contact information for individuals working for the employer or their representatives to file complaints or inquire with a representative of the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development about the provisions and possible violations of P.L.2007, c.114 (C.34:20-1 et seq.), as well as be provided in English, Spanish or other languages required by the commissioner. Employers who violate these provisions will be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and, upon conviction, be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for a first violation, and up to $5,000 for any subsequent violation within a five year period. | In Committee |
| ACR36 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase to $500 veterans' property tax deduction. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to: $300 in calendar year 2023, $350 in calendar year 2024, $400 in calendar year 2025, $450 in calendar year 2026 and $500 in calendar year 2027 and for each year thereafter. The veterans' property tax deduction provided for in the State Constitution was last increased in 1999, when the amount of the annual deduction was raised from $50 to $250 over four years. | In Committee |
| A2617 | "Transparency in Government Act"; provides for establishment of State public finance website. | This bill, the "Transparency in Government Act," establishes a State public finance website to provide State residents with a convenient, user-friendly source of information to track State revenues and expenditures and to gauge the State's overall level of bonded indebtedness. Under the bill, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, is required to design, develop, and maintain a single, searchable website that is accessible to the general public without charge, and that includes information on: -- annual State expenditures; -- annual State revenues; -- annual State bonded indebtedness, and -- any other data and information specified by the State Treasurer after consulting with and seeking the advice of the Chief Technology Officer and the Public Finance Transparency Committee established by the bill. The bill provides that the website must include data and information concerning State expenditures, revenues, and bonded indebtedness for fiscal year 2000 and each year thereafter. The bill permits data and information posted on the website to be periodically updated, but prohibits the removal of data and information posted to the site. The bill requires data and information available in the central accounting and State payroll systems to be made available on the website as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the last day of the preceding fiscal year. The bill stipulates that it does not require the disclosure of information deemed, private, personal, or confidential by State or federal law. The bill establishes the Public Finance Transparency Committee within the Department of the Treasury. The bill provides for the committee to be comprised of 13 members, including: (1) the State Treasurer, (1) the Chief Technology Officer, (1) the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, (2) two members who are commissioners, directors, or officers of a State agency, (4) four members of the general public, and (4) four members of the Legislature. The bill directs the committee to: -- serve in an advisory capacity to the State Treasurer on matters related to the development and expansion of the website and opportunities to make the website more accessible to the public; -- advise the State Treasurer and Chief Technology Officer on the incorporation of additional data and information into the website, after the site is implemented; -- seek the advice and receive feedback from the public, professional associations, State agencies, academic groups and institutions, and other individuals with knowledge of and interest in areas of public information access, gateways services, add-on services, and electronic information for the general improvement of the website; and -- issue an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the website. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, but provides for section 3 of the bill (concerning the design and development of the website) to not apply until the first business day of the seventh month beginning after the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1335 | Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in Chinese pharmaceutical companies. | The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread harm, claiming over 200,000 lives to date. The pandemic has also shut down the economies of the world, leading to massive closures of small businesses and loss of employment. In the United States alone, over 20 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the pandemic reached our shores. The risks of COVID-19 were hidden from foreign nations by the Chinese government, increasing the risk and toll of the pandemic worldwide. Chinese companies should not be rewarded with additional investment from State and national resources while they control a large proportion of pharmaceutical manufacturing. The state should reinvest in New Jersey-based pharmaceutical manufacturing to improve health and economic resources. This bill prohibits investment in any Chinese pharmaceutical company and any company that has an equity tie or is engaged in business operations with a Chinese pharmaceutical company. The State Investment Council will work with an independent research firm to track any current investments in Chinese pharmaceutical companies and take appropriate action to end the investment. The Division of Investment will submit an annual report to highlight the progress in fulfilling the requirements of the bill. The bill also protects the State Investment Council, employees of the Division of Investment, and other State officers and employees from legal action that may arise due to the provisions of this bill. | In Committee |
| A287 | Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report. | This bill would prohibit the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), or any other State agency from adopting rules and regulations that mandate the use of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems as the sole or primary means of heating buildings or providing hot water to buildings, including, but not limited to, residences or commercial buildings. The prohibition would remain in effect until the DCA issues a report on the costs and benefits of electric heating, as required by the bill. The bill would not prohibit a State agency from offering incentives for the voluntary installation or use of an electric heating or electric water heating system. In addition, the bill would not prohibit a person from installing or using an electric heating system as the sole or primary means of heating a building or an electric water heating system as the sole or primary means of providing hot water to a building. The bill would require the DCA, in cooperation with the DEP and the BPU, to hold at least six public hearings throughout the State, within 18 months after the bill's enactment, to solicit information on topics related to the costs and benefits of electric heating systems and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings in the State. The bill would then require the DCA, in consultation with the DEP and the BPU, to publish, within 24 months after the bill's enactment, a report that summarizes the information submitted at the public hearings held pursuant to the bill, and recommends legislative and regulatory actions. After the report is published, the bill's prohibition on regulatory actions to mandate the installation of electric heating systems or electric water heating systems would expire. | In Committee |
| A944 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1236 | Establishes "New Jersey Right to Try-Plus Act" permitting terminally ill patients access to certain investigational and off-label treatments. | This bill would establish the "New Jersey Right to Try-Plus Act," pursuant to which patients who are terminally ill would be permitted to request access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices that have not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as to off-label treatments using FDA-approved drugs, biological products, and devices. The sponsor believes that any person suffering from a terminal illness deserves the right to try any medicine or other treatment that the person believes may be able to save his or her life. The sponsor holds that no person or entity should be able to deny a terminal patient the ability to exercise his or her own judgement on the matter, with the advice of the patient's physician and with the patient's informed consent. In such a case, no person or entity should be subject to any legal liability for the patient's decision, except in cases of gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct. To request the use of an investigational drug, biological product, or device, the patient will be required to: have a medical condition that results in a life expectancy of less than 12 months; have consulted with a physician and considered all other treatment options currently approved by the FDA; have received a prescription or recommendation for the investigational drug, biological product, or device from a physician licensed and in good standing in New Jersey; and give informed, written consent to use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The physician authorizing the patient for the investigational drug, biological product, or device will be required to document that the patient has met these requirements. The bill requires that the investigational drug, biological product, or device has successfully completed phase one of an FDA-approved clinical trial and remains under investigation in an FDA-approved clinical trial. Nothing in the bill would compel a manufacturer to make an investigational drug, biological product, or device available to a patient; however, if the manufacturer chooses to make the drug, biological product, or device available, the manufacturer will be permitted to either provide the drug, biological product, or device without compensation or require the patient pay the costs associated with its manufacture. Government medical assistance programs and private health insurers would not be required to provide coverage for the cost of an investigational drug, biological product, or device, but private insurers would be permitted to provide coverage if they so choose. Except in the case of gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, a physician who assists a patient with a request for, or who treats a patient using, an investigational drug, biological product, or device pursuant to the bill will not be liable in any criminal or civil action or subject to adverse licensure or other administrative disciplinary action for adverse consequences resulting from acts or omissions taken by the physician consistent with the bill. With regard to off-label uses of FDA-approved drugs, biological products, and devices, the bill would require a hospital to provide and administer to a patient, upon request, any FDA-approved drug, biological product, or device, regardless of whether the drug, biological product, or device has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of the patient's disease, illness, or condition, and regardless of whether the drug, biological product, or device is part of the hospital's treatment protocols for the patient's disease, illness, or condition. A patient will be eligible for the off-label use of a drug, biological product, or device under the bill if the patient has: (1) a medical condition that results in a life expectancy of less than 12 months; (2) provided a written attestation to having received and reviewed the patient package insert, medication guide, instructions for use, or comparable patient-oriented labeling required by the FDA; (3) received a prescription or recommendation for the drug, biological product, or device from a physician licensed and in good standing in New Jersey, which physician need not be employed by, under contract with, or affiliated with the hospital; and (4) given informed, written consent for the off-label use of the drug, biological product, or device. The patient will be required to submit documentation to the hospital that these requirements are met along with the request for the off-label use of the drug, biological product, or device. The physician providing the prescription or recommendation for the drug, biological product, or device may provide the patient with additional informational materials concerning treatment using the drug, biological product, or device that the physician determines to be relevant, which informational materials may be based on or incorporate informational materials available from a national or global health authority. Any additional informational materials provided to the patient are to be included in the documentation submitted to the hospital. Except in the case of gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, a hospital, a health care practitioner or staff member providing services at or through the hospital, and any physician unaffiliated with the hospital, who assists a patient with a request for, or who furnishes or administers, a drug, biological product, or device to a patient for an off-label use pursuant to the bill, will not be liable in any criminal or civil action or subject to adverse licensure or other administrative disciplinary action for adverse consequences resulting from acts or omissions taken by the hospital, health care practitioner, staff member, or physician consistent with the provisions of the bill. Any official, employee, or agent of a State or local government who blocks or attempts to block an eligible patient's access to an investigational or off-label use of a drug, biological product, or device would be a disorderly person, which offense is punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a $1,000 fine, or both. | In Committee |
| A731 | Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings. | This bill would criminalize unlawful occupancy of a dwelling, also known as "squatting." Currently, squatting is not a criminal act. In order to lawfully evict a squatter, the owner of the property must apply to the court for a writ of possession. This bill would create three criminal offenses: housebreaking, unlawful occupancy, and unlawful reentry. They would be crimes of the fourth degree. Housebreaking. Under the bill, a person who forcibly enters an uninhabited or vacant dwelling knowing or having reason to believe that such entry is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner, with the intent to take up residence or provide a residency to another therein, would be guilty of housebreaking. The bill provides that a person is presumed to know that an entry is without the permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Occupancy. The bill provides that a person who takes up residence in an uninhabited or vacant dwelling and knows or has reason to believe that such residency is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner is guilty of unlawful occupancy. A person is presumed to know that the residency is without the permission of the owner or an authorized representative unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner, and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Reentry. The bill provides that a person commits unlawful reentry if an owner of real property has recovered possession of the property from the person pursuant to a court order and, without the authority of the court or permission of the owner, the person reenters the property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A275 | Allows individuals that have undergone certain background checks, including individuals with certain commercial driver license endorsements, to renew license online or by mail. | This bill permits individuals with a valid driver license and commercial driver license who also have either: 1) a federal Transportation Worker Identification Credential issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); or 2) an endorsement to transport hazardous materials with a required TSA fingerprinting and background check, to renew their licenses into REAL-ID compliant versions by mail or the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Internet website, and not in-person at an MVC agency. These individuals have already met federal REAL ID requirements as a result of having acquired certain federal TSA documents with requirements that are equal to or greater than REAL ID standards. As a result, it is reasonable to allow these individuals to renew their licenses as REAL ID versions without having to do so in person, given the lengthy wait times for in-person appointments to conduct REAL ID license transactions at this moment in time. | In Committee |
| A534 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| A715 | Provides research and development tax credit under gross income tax. | This bill allows taxpayers subject to the New Jersey gross income tax to claim a credit for research and development (R&D) expenses and payments in the same way that taxpayers subject to the corporation business tax may claim the credit. The credit is based on the federal R&D tax credit, and is intended to incentivize R&D spending, which will stimulate technological and economic growth in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| AR57 | Urges immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of marine life off the coast of New Jersey. | This resolution urges the State and federal governments to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping due to recent unexplained deaths of whales and dolphins off the coast of New Jersey. Since December 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recorded at least twelve whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey, eight of which have been humpback whales. In addition, there were also five deaths of dolphins recorded in February 2023 alone. Most of these deaths remain unexplained, but have occurred in or near areas of offshore wind energy development. Given the unprecedented number of these recent deaths, their occurrence in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants State and federal investigation. A possible cause of these deaths is the increased use of sonar and other underwater mapping technologies for the development of offshore wind energy projects, which may interfere with marine mammals' ability to hear, communicate, and navigate underwater. Therefore, an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects' impact on marine life can be conducted. | In Committee |
| A3130 | Provides for retained eligibility for members of NJ National Guard or reserve component called to active federal military service who met fire department maximum age requirement at closing date of civil service examination. | This bill provides that any member of the New Jersey National Guard or of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces who is placed on a civil service active open competitive employment list, and who is called to active federal military service prior to the expiration of the list, would be deemed to have met that maximum age requirement on the date on which the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list if the person met the maximum age requirement for appointment as a member of the fire department in a municipality at the announced closing date of the civil service examination from which the first list of eligibles is or was compiled. This same provision already applies to members and officers of the police department. | In Committee |
| A1069 | Requires school district to notify registered apprenticeship programs of upcoming college or career fair. | This bill requires a school district that intends to host a college or career fair for high school students to notify each registered apprenticeship program offered in the county in which the school district is located of the college or career fair. Under the bill, the notification is required to include:· the planned date, time, and location of the college or career fair; and · information on how an apprenticeship program may register with the school district to participate in the college or career fair. | 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 |
| A1273 | Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program. | This bill requires every employer, before hiring an employee, to verify the employment eligibility of the employee through the E-Verify program. E-Verify is an electronic verification of work authorization program jointly operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The bill provides for employers who employ 100 or more employees to comply with the E-Verify requirement by December 31, 2020. Employers who employ less than 100 employees must comply with the E-Verify requirement by December 31, 2020. The bill directs the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to develop a Statewide random auditing program to inspect private employers for compliance with the E-Verify requirement. The commissioner is also directed, upon receipt of a written and signed complaint against an employer, or upon an investigation initiated by the commissioner for good cause, to institute an investigation if the commissioner finds reasonable grounds exist that an employer allegedly violated the E-Verify requirement. The bill provides for the assessment of a civil penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $1000 on employers found to be in violation of the E-Verify requirement. For a first occurrence involving a violation, if, upon notification by the commissioner, the employer complies within seventy-two hours, the employer shall not be assessed a penalty. Any subsequent occurrence involving a violation by the employer results in the assessment of a civil penalty by the commissioner. However, if the employer has not committed a violation of the E-Verify requirement within the previous five years, a subsequent occurrence shall be treated as a first occurrence. The bill also prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens. It imposes penalties on employers who knowingly or intentionally employ unauthorized aliens. For the first violation where an employer knowingly hired unauthorized aliens, a court shall order the employer to terminate such employment, to be subject to a three year probationary period during which the employer shall submit quarterly reports for each new hire, to file a sworn affidavit within three business days after the order has been issued or face the suspension of any business license held by the employer until such time a signed sworn affidavit is filed. In addition, a court may consider a number of factors surrounding the violation and order the suspension of any business license for a period not to exceed ten business days. For the first violation where an employer intentionally hired unauthorized aliens, a court shall order the employer to terminate such employment; a five year probationary period during which the employer shall submit quarterly reports for each new hire; the suspension of any business license for a minimum ten days after considering all factors surrounding the violation; and the employer to file a sworn affidavit until which all licenses shall remain suspended. For any second violation of knowingly or intentionally employing an unauthorized alien, a court shall order the permanent revocation of any and all of the employers' business licenses issued by the State or any political subdivisions of the State. | In Committee |
| A1674 | Requires any State website providing information on reproductive rights to also provide information on adoption services. | This bill requires any State website providing information on reproductive rights to also provide information on adoption services. Under the bill, any Internet website, which is operated directly or indirectly by a State government entity, that provides information on reproductive rights, is to also provide easily accessible information on adoption services and information on resources for new and single mothers and pregnant women, who wish to give birth to their children, including the information that is published on the Department of Health's Internet website, as required pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families, and the State Treasurer, is to develop and publish on the Department of Health's Internet website, comprehensive information on adoption services and resources for new and single mothers and pregnant women who wish to give birth to their children, which is to include, but is not to be limited to: (1) information on the benefits of choosing adoption and information on, and links to, adoption services; and (2) information on, and links to, resources, financial and otherwise, for new and single mothers and pregnant women who wish to give birth to their children. | In Committee |
| A2991 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| A1652 | Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program. | The bill appropriates $450,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection to fund the cost of implementing the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program. The money would be appropriated from the "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund," a statutory account established to receive fines and penalties from convicted drug offenders that are used to support State-authorized drug and alcohol abuse abatement programs. The bill encourages the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funding annually from the "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund" or any other appropriate source to maintain the operation of the program in future years. | In Committee |
| A2615 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years to restore municipal aid reductions; requires additional aid to be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a five-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2017, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 20% of the difference between their total payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. Municipalities would receive equal increases in each of the following four fiscal years. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in State Fiscal Year 2021 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes, thereby benefitting property taxpayers. | In Committee |
| A1355 | Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate. | This bill prohibits a bill that that has been certified for a fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate from being released from committee unless and until the fiscal note or legislative fiscal estimate is complete. | In Committee |
| A272 | Eliminates statute of limitations for prosecution of human trafficking crimes. | This bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecution for the crime of human trafficking. Currently, under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-6 there is no statute of limitations for prosecutions for the following crimes: murder; manslaughter; sexual assault; and criminal offenses arising from violations of certain environmental statutes concerning widespread injury or damage. Prosecution for other crimes, such as human trafficking, must be commenced within five years, except for certain crimes enumerated in the statute such as: (1) bribery and official misconduct offenses which must be commenced within seven years; (2) criminal sexual contact or endangering the welfare of a minor which must be commenced within five years after the victim attains the age of 18 or two years after discovery, whichever is later. Prosecutions for disorderly persons offenses must be commenced within one year after they are committed. By eliminating the statute of limitations for human trafficking crimes, the prosecution for these crimes may be commenced at any time rather than within five years after it is committed. | In Committee |
| AR91 | Urges New Jersey members of Congress to join Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. | This resolution urges each current and future member of the United States Congress elected from this State to join the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to effectively represent constituents with brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. An acquired brain injury (ABI), on the other hand, occurs not from an external source, but rather an internal one. An individual may sustain an ABI as a result of various medical problems such as a stroke, brain aneurysm, or brain cancer. An individual who suffers either a TBI or ABI can experience a disability ranging from minor to severe. The lives of individuals who survive a brain injury can be undermined and compromised in a variety of ways. Elected officials at all levels of government can serve and support those who have survived brain injuries. In the United States Congress, there is a task force known as the "Congressional Brain Injury Task Force." The task force works to increase awareness of brain injuries in the United States, supports research initiatives for rehabilitation and potential cures, and addresses the effects such injuries have on families, children, education, and the workforce. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force was founded by New Jersey Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. The task force is currently co-chaired by Congressman Pascrell, a Democrat, and Congressman Don Bacon, a Republican from the State of Nebraska. There are residents from every congressional district in the State living with long-term disabilities as a result of brain injuries. It is imperative that people with brain injuries are effectively represented and served in the United States Congress. Membership in the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is a means by which each member of the United States Congress elected from this State can be adequately educated about brain injury issues and, thus, increase their capacity to effectively represent and serve constituents impacted by brain injury. | In Committee |
| ACR98 | Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to allow the Legislature to enact a law to extend the preference given to veterans for hiring for civil service positions. The law would determine the eligibility of veterans for the purpose of hiring preferences for civil service positions. Currently, only veterans who served in time of war receive a hiring preference when applying for civil service positions. This amendment would allow veterans who did not serve in time of war also to receive a hiring preference for civil service positions. | In Committee |
| A977 | Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax. | This bill indexes for inflation the taxable income brackets under the New Jersey gross income tax. This adds to the State personal income tax a common-sense taxpayer protection called inflation indexing that has been provided under the federal income tax since the 1980s. Inflation indexing means that tax brackets are revised annually to reflect nominal price and wage increases that result from inflation. When tax brackets are not indexed for inflation it results in what is called "bracket creep," which is an increase in effective tax rates caused by inflation. Higher income can bump a taxpayer into the next tax bracket, even if that higher income is merely keeping pace with inflation. A lack of inflation adjustment can also push more of a taxpayer's income into the highest bracket for which they qualify. The final result is a tax increase that occurs without any legislation being passed. Indexing addresses this by altering each bracket level each year by the level of annual inflation. Under this bill the inflation adjustment for taxable income brackets is the national consumer price index for all urban consumers as prepared by the United States Department of Labor. This is the same measure of inflation that is used for indexing the taxable income brackets under the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill compares an annual inflation measure from the year prior to the one for which taxes will be imposed to a base year measure from the year prior to the one in which the bill is enacted. This delay allows the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the adjusted amounts when the tax year begins. | In Committee |
| A535 | Prohibits any foreign company created under laws of foreign adversary from participating in critical infrastructure. | This bill prohibits any foreign company created under the laws of a foreign adversary from participating in critical infrastructure in this State. The bill defines "foreign adversary" to mean any foreign government determined by the United States Secretary of Commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons. Under the bill, the State of New Jersey, and all agencies or political subdivisions thereof, are prohibited from allowing a foreign company created under the laws of a foreign adversary to participate in the construction, maintenance, or control of any critical infrastructure in this State. Critical infrastructure includes communication networks, electric generation, gas distribution systems, water pipelines, and related support facilities, such as buildings, offices, lines, poles, pipes, structures, and equipment. The State's safety, security, and stability depend on protecting critical infrastructure from foreign adversaries. The disruption of these key services would significantly disrupt the well-being of the people of this State and the functioning of the economy. The involvement of a foreign company created under the laws of a foreign adversary raises substantial security threats, such as cyber-attacks or the intentional disruption of services. Accordingly, to protect against risks posed by foreign adversaries, it is crucial to ensure that only trusted entities control the State's critical infrastructure. | In Committee |
| A1332 | Supports activities of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. | This bill would establish a permanent new source of funding of up to $1.5 million for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc., (NJMEP) or an appropriate successor from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The NJMEP is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the profitability and competitiveness of manufacturers in this State. NJMEP helps organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. Under current law, of the total revenues dedicated to the Workforce Development Partnership Funds, 37% is reserved for and appropriated to the Office of Customized Training. The bill reduces this allocation by $1.5 million. | In Committee |
| A806 | Increases penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. | This bill would increase the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl. Fentanyl is an anesthetic and analgesic, first synthesized in the 1950's, that in recent years has become a drug of abuse. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and is potentially lethal even at very low doses. Under current law, set out in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:35-5 and section 6 of P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-6), unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both. Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both. However, the fine imposed for the third degree offense involving fentanyl is increased to up to $75,000. Under the bill, the penalties for unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl would match the penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing heroin or cocaine under current law. The bill provides that unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing fentanyl in a quantity of five ounces or more would be a crime of the first degree. A crime of the first degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years or a fine of up to $200,000, or both. Under the bill the defendant would be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant would be ineligible for parole. The defendant would also be sentenced to pay an increased fine of up to $500,000. The bill provides that if the quantity of fentanyl unlawfully manufactured, distributed, or dispensed is one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the quantity is less than one-half ounce, the defendant would be guilty of a crime of the third degree with an increased fine of up to $75,000. | In Committee |
| A998 | Adds illicit fentanyls to Schedule I in the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act." | This bill would add "illicit fentanyls" to Schedule I in the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act." Schedule I substances have high potential for abuse, and either have no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or lack accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision. Illicit fentanyls are derivatives of the regulated prescription drug fentanyl. In September 2016, the Office of the Attorney General issued an emergency order that temporarily added seven illicit fentanyls to Schedule I. On March 21, 2017 this designation was made permanent, when these substances were added to Schedule I in the Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 13:45H-10.1.) This bill would codify the Schedule I placement of illicit fentanyls in the statutes. This bill would not change the designation of prescription fentanyl, which is a Schedule II substance. A substance is placed in Schedule II if it: (1) has high potential for abuse; (2) has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; and (3) abuse may lead to severe psychic or physical dependence. Under subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:35-5, unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing any Schedule I or II substance in a quantity of one ounce or more is a crime of the second degree (punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to ten years or a fine up to $150,000, or both). Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing or dispensing in a quantity of less than one ounce is a crime of the third degree (generally punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both, but in this case also punishable by an increased fine of up to $75,000). Specifically, the bill adds the following substances to Schedule I: Illicit fentanyls. Illicit fentanyls include any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that is not listed as a controlled substance in Schedules I through V, is not a Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug, and contains any quantity of the following substances, their salts, isomers (whether optical, positional, or geometric), homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers, and homologues (analogs) unless specifically excepted whenever the existence of these salts, isomers, homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers and homologues (analogs) is possible within the specific chemical designations:i. Furanyl Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2-furancarboxamide, monohydrochloride or N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-phenylfuran-2-carboxamide; ii. 3-Methylfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 3-methyl-N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenethyl-4-piperidyl)-propanamide); iii. 3-Methyl Butyrylfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 3-Methyl, N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-butanamide, monohydrochloride; iv. Valeryl Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-pentanamide, monohydrochloride; v. Norfentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-phenyl-N-4-piperidinyl-propanamide; vi. Para-Fluorobutyryl-Fentanyl, with a chemical composition of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl) -4-piperidinyl]-butanamide, monohydrochloride; and vii. Carfentanyl, with a chemical composition of 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylic acid; methyl 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-(N-propanoylanilino) piperidine-4-carboxylateor. | In Committee |
| A1503 | Requires registered voters to present identification when voting at polling place. | This bill requires a voter to present acceptable identification before voting at a polling place at any election. Acceptable identification includes, but is not limited to a valid: (1) New Jersey driver's license; (2) New Jersey REAL ID; (3) New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission "identification only" card; (4) United States passport; (5) voter registration card; (6) a municipal, State, or employment identification card; (7) a birth certificate; (8) a United States military or veteran identification card; (9) property tax and assessment statement or card; (10) insurance or public assistance identification card; (11) high school or college identification card; or (12) medical marijuana card. Identification cannot be digital. If a resident is unable to provide any of the initial forms of identification, the resident will be required to provide two forms of identification from the following forms of approved supplemental identification before casting their vote: (1) a utility bill, with name and address present, which includes, but is not limited to: phone, internet, water, gas, sewage, electric, or television; (2) mortgage or rental statement; or (3) mail or an envelope with the voter's address visible from a governmental agency or utility company. A voter who does not present identification, or whose identification information does not appear to match the voter's information may be subject to challenge. This bill does not deny or alter a voter's opportunity to establish his or her right to vote if challenged. | In Committee |
| A3343 | Requires AG to create voting integrity task force. | This bill requires the Attorney General to create a voting integrity task force in the Division of Criminal Justice, Specialized Crimes Bureau. The purpose of the task force is to investigate and prosecute crimes involving voting fraud. Under the bill, the task force is to be comprised of members of State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, as determined by the Attorney General, and is to utilize a coordinated law enforcement strategy to uphold voting integrity in this State. | In Committee |
| A1112 | Extends eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans. | Under current law, to be considered a veteran and eligible for certain State civil service preference benefits and pension benefits as a public employee, a person must have served during specific dates or in specific locations. This bill changes the definition of veteran and removes the requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations for the civil service preference benefits and the pension provisions of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Under this bill, a veteran will be defined as any resident of this State released under other than dishonorable conditions from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, a Reserve component thereof, or the New Jersey National Guard in a federal active duty status. Today's modern military requires the essential services of all military and Reserve personnel, regardless of location or duty assignment, to fulfill the military's mission in time of war or peace. The purpose of this bill is to recognize that all military personnel, regardless of their location or assigned duties serve our nation. Military personnel who served domestically, including responders to 9-11, served our nation and should be considered veterans for pension and civil service purposes. | In Committee |
| 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 | Nay |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Suspend Rule 22:5b | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Nay |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Nay |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Abstain |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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 | Abstain |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 24 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2024 |