Legislator
Legislator > Paul Kanitra
State Assemblymember
Paul Kanitra
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 10
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Brick Office
852 Highway 70
Brick, NJ 08724
Brick, NJ 08724
Phone: 732-840-9028
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 |
| 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. | An Act concerning the public school curriculum and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A5947 | "Public Charge Transparency Act"; requires State entities which provide government assistance to inquire and record beneficiary's citizenship or immigration status and report cost of government assistance to illegal aliens. | This bill establishes the "Public Charge Healthcare Transparency Act." The bill requires State entities which provide government assistance to inquire and record beneficiary's citizenship or immigration status and report the cost of government assistance to illegal aliens. The bill defines "government assistance" to mean monetary or non-monetary benefits, which is to include, but not be limited to, assistance with receiving or paying for: clothing, electronics such as cell phones, tablets, and computers, as well as contracts or subscription plans for the operation thereof; education; food; healthcare; housing; legal advice or representation; public utility services, including electric, gas, garbage, recycling, water, and sewer services; and transportation. "State entity" means a State department, agency, or unit, or a local department, agency, or unit that both receives State funding and provides government assistance to illegal aliens. Under the bill, each State entity which provides government assistance to individuals in this State is to inquire and record the individual's citizenship or immigration status as a condition of participation in the government assistance program. Each State entity is also to require the individual to provide documentation authenticating the individual's citizenship or immigration status as a condition of participation in the government assistance program. The bill provides that each State entity which provides government assistance to individuals in this State is to submit a monthly report to the Department of Health on the citizenship and immigration status of individuals who are recipients of government assistance in this State, and the monthly cost of providing government assistance to illegal aliens. The Department of Health is to make each report publicly available on the department's Internet website. As it pertains to effectuating the bill's provisions, it is to be unlawful for any person to knowingly and willingly make a false statement or representation of a material fact, or to omit a material fact, concerning an individual's citizenship or immigration status. Any person who violates this provision is to be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. | 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 |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of antisemitism. | Establishes State definition of antisemitism. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4029 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | 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 |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Passed |
| 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 |
| A5076 | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | An Act concerning public brawls and disorderly conduct and amending N.J.S.2C:33-1 and N.J.S.2C:33-2. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A5655 | "Stolen Vehicle Possession Accountability Act"; increases penalties for adult and juvenile repeat offenses of receiving stolen motor vehicle. | This bill establishes a second degree crime for certain individuals who are convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a third offense for receipt of a stolen motor vehicle, N.J.S.A.2C:20-10.2. Under the bill, a person who commits the crime of receiving a stolen motor vehicle on two or more prior and separate occasions during the 15-year-period preceding the most recent charge is guilty of a crime of the second degree. The bill provides that a conviction for such crime is subject to the "No Early Release Act," which requires that a defendant serve 85% of the sentence, during which time the defendant is not eligible for parole. A second degree crime is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Moreover, the bill establishes that a juvenile court is required to waive jurisdiction of a juvenile who commits a delinquent act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute receiving a stolen motor vehicle on two or more prior and separate occasions. The bill clarifies that on the third or subsequent violation committed by a juvenile, the court may sentence the juvenile to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment. However, if the individual is an adult when committing the third or subsequent violation, the individual shall be subject to the enhanced sentencing under the bill. | In Committee |
| A5664 | "Unifying Families and Bringing Them Home Act"; requires AG to establish program to relocated persons unlawfully in State. | This bill establishes the "Unifying Families and Bringing Them Home Act." Under the bill, the Attorney General (AG) is required to establish a program to relocate persons unlawfully present in the State, along with any immediate family that consents to participate in the program, to their country of origin or an authorized settlement country. The bill provides that any person whose immediate family does not consent to relocation is not eligible to participate in the program. The bill defines "immediate family" to mean a person's spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, biological child under the age of 21 years, and legal ward. The bill requires the AG to investigate a person participating in the program for any alleged violation of law. Under the bill, upon verification by the AG that the only alleged violation of law by a participating person is a violation of federal immigration law, the State is not permitted to share information regarding a person participating in the program with federal authorities. Under the bill, it is a crime of the fourth degree for a person to unlawfully reenter the State after utilizing the program. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. In addition, a program participant who reenters the State after utilizing the program is liable to a penalty equivalent to the cost incurred by the State to relocate that person and the person's immediate family. The sponsor notes that the presence of individuals unlawfully in the State poses significant financial and social challenges to New Jersey. The sponsor intends for this program to reduce the costs associated with providing services to these individuals in New Jersey, including education and healthcare expenses. According to the sponsor, by facilitating the relocation of these individuals to their country of origin or an authorized settlement country, the bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on State resources and promote compliance with the rule of law. | In Committee |
| A5657 | "Stolen Car Accountability Act"; concerns juveniles tried as adults for motor vehicle theft and residential burglary. | This bill provides for the waiver of a juvenile, charged with residential burglary and motor vehicle theft committed in connection with the residential burglary, from the Family Part to the Law Division of the Superior Court to be tried as an adult. Under the bill, if the juvenile is a non-violent first-time offender, and provides cooperation to the prosecutor leading to the arrest and conviction of an adult who is the leader of an auto theft network or who recruited the juvenile into a scheme to commit auto theft, the juvenile is eligible to plea bargain for a dismissal of the residential burglary charge and for a sentence of imprisonment for five years with three years of parole ineligibility. Following release from custody, the juvenile is eligible for an expungement after three years. If a juvenile is offered but declines such a plea bargain, but nevertheless provides cooperation to the prosecutor following conviction, the juvenile is eligible for a sentencing reduction, reduction or waiver of court-ordered financial obligations, or both. Motor vehicle theft is ordinarily a crime of the third degree. If the value of the vehicle is $75,000 or more, or if the theft involved more than one motor vehicle, it is a crime of the second degree. Residential burglary is ordinarily a crime of the second degree and subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires a person to serve at least 85% of the sentence imposed. 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. | 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 |
| A5560 | Repeals law that requires diversity and inclusion instruction for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12. | This bill repeals current State that requires school districts to provide instruction on diversity and inclusion, P.L.2021, c.32 (C.18A:35-4.36a). The law provides that school districts incorporate the instruction in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | 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 |
| A4761 | Requires Division of Children's System of Care to make changes to certain polices regarding the provision of family support and respite care services for certain eligible individuals. | This bill requires the Division of Children's System of Care (DCSOC) in the Department of Children and Families to: (1) establish an authorization period of 12 months for the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend respite, and self-hired respite care, to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability; (2) once an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability has been authorized to receive family support services from an agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), ensure that the individual's family or guardian be provided with a bank of respite care service hours, in addition to, and separate from, any other family support service hours the individual, the individual's family or guardian, or both are eligible to receive, that can be used during each authorization period, including, but not limited to, agency-hired, agency-weekend respite, or self-hired respite care, based on the specific needs of the individual, the individual's family or guardian, or both; and (3) establish a process by which the family or guardian of an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability who has been authorized to receive family support services undergoes an annual reevaluation of the need for the family support services received during the authorization period. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to allow the DCSOC to reduce the amount of respite care service hours an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability, the individual's family or guardian, or both have been authorized to receive during a 12 month authorization period. As defined in the bill: "agency-hired respite care" means respite care, including social and recreational experiences, provided by a trained respite care worker employed by an agency contracted with the DCF to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability in, or outside of, the individual's home; "agency-weekend respite care" means social and recreational experiences provided during the weekend by a trained respite care worker employed by an agency contracted with the DCF to an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability outside of the individual's home; and "self-hired respite care" means an arrangement that allows the family or guardian of an individual under the age of 21 with a developmental disability to recruit and hire a trained respite care worker, paid directly by individual's family or guardian, to provide social and recreational experiences to the individual in, or outside of, the individual's home. Currently, DCSOC policy reauthorizes the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend, and self-hired respite care every 90 days, stipulates that certain respite care services are limited to a set number of service hours (60 hours for agency-hired and self-hired respite care and 75 hours for agency-weekend respite care), and requires the families of individuals under the age of 21 with a developmental disability receiving family support services to undergo an annual reapplication process to continue to receive such services. This bill would require the DCSOC to expand the authorization period for the provision of agency-hired, agency-weekend, and self-hired respite care from the current 90 days to 12 months, ensure that certain respite care services are not limited to a set number of service hours during each authorization period, and replaces the annual reapplication process with an annual reevaluation process of the family supports services provided by DCSOC to eligible individuals to afford families the flexibility to access respite care based on their specific needs. | In Committee |
| A3169 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | 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 |
| AR179 | Adopts articles of impeachment concerning Matthew Platkin, Attorney General. | This Assembly Resolution adopts articles of impeachment in the matter of Matthew Platkin, Attorney General, provides for the presentation of articles to the Senate, and impeaches Matthew Platkin. In light of his record of failing to address ongoing issues within the Division of Criminal Justice and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability; exceeding his statutory authority and unlawfully superseding the Paterson Police Department; failing to defend State law in court proceedings and making a unilateral decision on the constitutionality of State law; targeting certain organizations based upon the political beliefs of the organization, specifically pro-life pregnancy centers; violating the public trust; and his overall failure to perform the duties of his office, it is altogether fitting and proper and within the public interest for the General Assembly to adopt articles of impeachment against Matthew Platkin, and present the articles to the New Jersey Senate in accordance with the New Jersey Constitution, Article VII, Section III, paragraph 2. | In Committee |
| A4051 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A5301 | Expands available protections against fraudulent recording of quitclaim deed. | This bill enhances protections against fraudulent recordings of quitclaim deeds by expressly authorizing a property owner to request notification and a delay in the recording, any time a quitclaim deed is submitted for recording on the owner's property. If a property owner submits this request, the bill requires the county recording officer (officer) to notify the property owner any time a person submits a request to record a quitclaim deed on the owner's property, and to wait to record the quitclaim deed until no less than 10 business days, and not more than 12 business days, have passed following the day when the officer sends the notification. To facilitate the notification requirement, the bill directs the officer to accept and retain a submission from a property owner of the owner's preferred mailing address or e-mail address, or both. A "county recording officer" is also known as the "register of deeds and mortgages" in some counties, and the "county clerk" in the others. A "quitclaim deed" is a form of a deed through which a grantor makes no promises concerning the extent of the present ownership of the property at issue, and no future promises concerning the property at issue, but conveys whatever estate or interest the grantor purports to have in the real property at issue. The bill allows the officer to collect a fee from property owners submitting notification requests to offset the cost of the notification requirement. The bill takes effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment in order to allow recording offices to adjust fees. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5245 | Prohibits setting of snares or cable restraint traps on certain National Guard property; establishes penalties. | This bill amends existing law to prohibit the setting of a snare or cable restraint on any National Guard property that is 150 acres or more in size, and is located in a municipality with a population density of at least 1,500 persons per square mile according to the 2020 decennial census. The bill establishes a civil penalty of $100 to $200 for the first offense, and $200 to $500 for each subsequent offense. Each snare or cable restraint set would constitute a separate offense. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to enforce the bill's provisions, and collect penalties, costs and fines pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999". The bill provides that the Superior Court and the municipal court would have jurisdiction to enforce the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" in connection with this bill's provisions. This bill addresses reports of trapping and killing local fox populations on lands owned by the New Jersey National Guard Training Center and the State Police Academy. The foxes were being trapped and euthanized to protect local nesting areas of piping plover. | In Committee |
| A5229 | Requires MVC to accommodate walk-in services at least three days per week. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to provide service to walk-in customers at least three full days per week at all commission agency locations. The bill also requires the commission to accommodate all walk-in customers on a first-come, first-served basis for all commission services. | In Committee |
| A5233 | Establishes "Protecting Legally-Present Youngsters' Limited Educational Resources Act"; requires students who are not U.S. citizens or legal immigrants to pay tuition to attend public schools. | This bill, entitled the "Protecting Legally-Present Youngsters' Limited Educational Resources (PLYLER) Act," provides that the State's free public schools are for U.S. citizens. It further requires students who are not United States citizens, in the process of obtaining citizenship, or holding legal immigration or visa status to pay tuition to attend a public school. The bill requires a board of education to condition enrollment in the schools of the district on the receipt of documentation establishing a child is a citizen of the United States, is in the process of obtaining citizenship, or holds legal immigration or visa status. If the documentation is not provided, the child is required to be admitted to the schools of the district with the annual payment of tuition. Each board of education, with the approval of the executive county superintendent, is required to establish a uniform tuition amount. Under the bill, the uniform tuition amount is: · not to be less than $1,000 per school year; · not to exceed the actual cost per pupil as annually established by the Commissioner of Education and approved by the State Board of Education; and · required to be paid by the parent or guardian of the child in full prior to the first day the child is scheduled to attend a school in the district. The bill further requires the board of education to report through the School Report Card Program the number and percentage of students who pay tuition to attend a school in the district for failing to establish the citizenship requirement established under the bill, and amount of tuition collected each year. Additionally, the bill amends various sections of current law to comply with the citizenship requirement established under the bill. This bill directly challenges the constitutionality of the Plyler v. Doe decision. In Plyler, the United States Supreme Court held that illegal alien children living in the United States could not be excluded from a free public education if offered to legal resident children. The Plyler decision circumvents the states' authority over education and has cost the State billions of dollars as illegal alien children benefit from a free public education, but their parents often do not pay their full tax responsibility. It is the sponsor's intent to authorize the Legislature to exercise its reserved powers, challenge the outdated Plyler decision, utilize public funds for United States citizens, and remove the burden of educating illegal alien children from New Jersey taxpayers. | In Committee |
| A5232 | "Immigration Enforcement Support Act"; authorizes law enforcement agency to detain and transfer to federal immigration authorities persons illegally in State; provides compensation to law enforcement agency for deportation. | This bill permits the detention by State law enforcement agencies of persons in this State illegally to facilitate transfer to federal immigration authorities, regardless of the nature, degree, and severity of the offense with which the person is charged. In addition, the bill provides compensation to State law enforcement agencies directly involved in the deportation. Under the bill, for every person determined to be in this State illegally who is successfully deported, any State law enforcement agency directly involved in the process that led to the deportation of the person will be eligible to receive a compensation payment of $7,000 from the State. In the event that more than one law enforcement agency is directly involved in the deportation process, compensation is to be allocated proportionately based on each agency's level of involvement as determined by the Attorney General. The bill provides that a law enforcement agency will be considered directly involved in the deportation process if it has detained a person in order to facilitate transfer to federal authorities. Under the bill, the Attorney General is required to establish rules and regulations for determining eligibility and awarding compensation to participating law enforcement agencies. | In Committee |
| AR175 | Urges Congress to pass H.R.9997 naming US Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic. | This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.9997, currently pending before the Subcommittee on Health in the House of Representatives. This bill names the US Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic. Born in 1920, Second Lieutenant Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. and his parents moved to Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Second Lieutenant Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. later became a long-time resident of Toms River and Ocean County. After college, Second Lieutenant Lomell enlisted in the Army, volunteering for the elite Ranger Corps, and was a member of the Second Rangers Battalion during the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion, commanding his own platoon as First Sergeant. Then-First Sergeant Lomell saved countless Allied lives during his service, resulting in a battlefield promotion to Second Lieutenant and the awarding of some of the military's highest honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Silver Star. Following World War II, Second Lieutenant Lomell attended law school on the G.I. Bill, eventually settling with his family in Toms River and, in 1957, establishing his own law firm, which grew to become one of Ocean County's largest law firms. Serving as selflessly in civilian life as he did in the military, Second Lieutenant Lomell was involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including by serving as president of the Ocean County Bar Association, a director of the First National Bank of Toms River, a member of the Dover Township Board of Education, and as a founding member of the World War II Army Rangers Battalion Association. Since Toms River, New Jersey, in the Fourth Congressional District, was designated as the site for the new Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, a state-of-the-art facility serving the region's large veteran population, it is altogether fitting and proper to name this clinic the Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic in honor of the decorated war hero, model citizen, and dedicated husband and father. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A5143 | "Military Spouse Licensure Reform Act." | This bill modifies the process in place regarding the issuance of professional and occupational licenses to nonresident military spouses by repealing the current law and replacing it with a process intended to expedite licensure for the spouses. Under the bill, a nonresident military spouse with an unencumbered license or other credential from another jurisdiction is to be issued a temporary license to practice the same profession or occupation in New Jersey. Upon issuance of a temporary license, (1) a nonresident military spouse can lawfully practice the profession or occupation regulated by the board that issued the temporary license; and (2) that board is to complete the application review process and issue a full license to the requisite military spouse upon approval of the application. Nothing in the bill is to prohibit a nonresident military spouse from applying for a full license offered by a board, in compliance with the law, rules, and regulations for the application process of the specific board. | In Committee |
| AR171 | Urges President and Congress to exempt Social Security benefits from federal income tax. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation exempting payments of Social Security benefits from federal income tax. The Social Security Administration was established in 1935 to provide general welfare to the country's elderly population through a federal social insurance system. The payments, commonly referred to as Social Security benefits, were first paid out in 1937 to retired workers over the age of 65. Since then, the breadth of Social Security benefits has expanded to also provide for payments to early retirees, disability payments, survivors benefits, and payments to dependents of beneficiaries. The average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is about $1,900, which equals roughly $23,000 in annual gross income for a beneficiary. Almost 90 percent of individuals aged 65 or older in the United States receive some form of Social Security benefit, with these benefits representing approximately 30 percent of their total annual income. Additionally, over 20 percent of Social Security beneficiaries are not retirees but rather recipients of disability payments, survivor's benefits, or dependent's benefits. Prior to 1984, Social Security benefits were considered exempt from federal income taxes. Under current federal law, single filers who file a federal income tax return and have combined gross income greater than $25,000 are required to pay federal income tax on up to 50 percent of their Social Security benefit. Single filers with combined gross income greater than $34,000 are required to pay federal income tax on up to 85 percent of their benefit. These income thresholds have also not been adjusted to account for inflation occurring since the 1990s. While Social Security benefits have been treated as taxable income under the federal personal income tax since 1984, the New Jersey Constitution expressly prohibits levying a state personal income tax on Social Security benefits. In addition to New Jersey, 40 states and the District of Columbia do not levy a state personal income tax on Social Security payments. By placing an additional tax burden on Social Security recipients, the federal government fails to appreciate how essential every dollar of a Social Security payment is to many Americans. Legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives of Congress that would exempt payments of Social Security benefits from being treated as taxable income. H.R. 9359, The Social Security Tax Freedom Act, introduced by Representative Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), would exempt Social Security payments from the federal income tax. Because many New Jerseyans who are currently recipients of Social Security benefits have gross incomes greater than $25,000, the federal government should exempt all such payments from federal income tax in order to provide greater financial security for those who rely on the federal social insurance program. Exempting Social Security payments from the federal income tax, regardless of a beneficiary's gross income from other sources, would provide more assistance to hardworking Americans. | In Committee |
| A5144 | Requires driver's licenses and identification cards issued to non-citizens to bear distinct color and include statement providing document cannot be used to vote; requires identification to vote. | This bill establishes certain design requirements for driver's licenses and identification cards issued to non-citizens by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission). Under the bill, a driver's license or identification card issued to an individual who is not a United States citizen is required to be a distinctly different in color than those issued to citizens of the United States. A driver's license or identification card issued to a non-citizen is also required to include a clear statement on the document that reads: "This document shall not be used as identification to vote in elections." Additionally, this bill requires voters seeking to vote either by mail using a mail-in ballot, in person during the early voting period, or in person at the polling place on election day to present identification before being permitted to vote. | 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 |
| A3561 | Establishes crime of doxxing. | This bill establishes the crime of doxxing. Under the bill, doxxing occurs if a person, with the purpose to subject another person to violence, stalking, physical restraining, mental anguish, or to cause a person to fear for their own safety or that of another, knowingly discloses personal identifying information without the person's consent. A crime is committed under the bill when the disclosure: (1) creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or physical harm to the person or a close relation of the person; (2) creates a substantial risk that the person or a close relation of the person is subjected to stalking; or (3) inflicts mental anguish upon the person or a close relation of the person and places the person or close relation in reasonable fear of physical harm. Under the bill, "close relation" is defined as a spouse; domestic partner; partner in a civil union couple; former spouse, former domestic partner; former partner in a civil union; parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild, or grandchild, whether related by blood or by law; any person who is a present household member, or who was, within the prior six months, a household member; or any person with a significant personal or professional relationship. The crime of doxxing does not occur if the disclosure was made: (1) in good faith to inform any member of the public of conduct by the person that the actor reasonably believed to be unlawful; (2) in good faith to inform law enforcement of conduct committed by the person that the actor reasonably believed to constitute a crime; or (3) while cooperating in an official investigation or prosecution of a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:33-4.1, cyber harassment. The bill also establishes a rebuttable presumption that the actor did not act with the purpose established under the bill if the personal identifying information of another person was disclosed for the primary purpose of: (a) publishing, disseminating, or reporting in good faith conduct by an elected public official or law enforcement officer acting in their official capacity that the actor reasonably believe to be unlawful or an abuse of authority; or (b) engaging in lawful and constitutionally protected activity as it pertains to speech, assembly, press, or petition. Doxxing is a crime of the fourth degree unless the disclosure results in any serious bodily injury, physical harm, or stalking, at which time it becomes a crime of the third degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A4967 | Requires DEP to implement Advanced Clean Trucks regulations no earlier than January 1, 2027. | This bill would delay the implementation of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP's) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations to January 1, 2027. Under current law, N.J.A.C. 7:27-31.3, the regulations would become operative on January 1, 2025. The DEP adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations in 2021. Pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the DEP is authorized to implement California's Low Emission Vehicle Program in New Jersey. The ACT regulations would require, among other things, that manufacturers of medium-duty and heavy-duty motor vehicles sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions vehicles, capping at 40 percent to 75 percent of annual sales in 2035, depending on the type of vehicle sold. | In Committee |
| A5115 | "Flood Zone Clarification Act"; modifies procedure for delineation of State flood hazard areas. | This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from implementing or adopting, prior to June 1, 2038, the rules and regulations proposed by the DEP and published in the New Jersey Register on August 5, 2024, which are known as New Jersey's Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) Rules. The bill also prohibits the DEP from implementing or adopting a rule or regulation that is substantially similar to one or more provisions set forth in the NJPACT rule proposal, unless, prior to that date, the Legislature has passed a concurrent resolution authorizing the DEP to adopt those rules and regulations. Additionally, the bill limits the DEPs current discretion over the delineation of the State's flood hazard areas by requiring the DEP to set the State's flood hazard area delineation for each watercourse at no more than one foot above the 100-year flood elevation delineated for that watercourse by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Current law requires the DEP to make flood hazard area delineations at least as protective as floodplain delineations approved by the FEMA for the NFIP. This bill would not change that requirement, but would remove the unlimited discretion current law affords the DEP in determining the height of a flood hazard area. Specifically, the bill requires the DEP, within three months following the bill's effective date, to set the State's flood hazard area delineation for each watercourse at one foot above the 100-year flood elevation delineated for that watercourse by the FEMA. The bill also requires the DEP, within three months following each subsequent FEMA delineation of a floodplain for a watercourse, to set the State's flood hazard area delineation for that watercourse at one foot above the 100-year flood elevation delineated for that watercourse by the FEMA. The bill provides that a person applying to the DEP for a permit or other approval, pursuant to the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act," P.L.1962, c.19 (C.58:16A-50 et seq.) on and after the first day of the fourth month next following the bill's effective date, would be subject to the State's flood hazard area delineation of one foot above the FEMAs delineation of the 100-year flood elevation for that watercourse. The bill also provides that after the bill's effective date, the DEP may not adopt a rule or regulation relevant to delineating an area as a flood hazard area unless the DEP first submits the proposed rule or regulation to the Legislature, and the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution authorizing the DEP to adopt the rule or regulation. The bill requires the DEP to submit to the Legislature each rule or regulation it proposes to delineate an area as a flood hazard area, and prohibits the DEP from adopting a proposed rule or regulation unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution specifically approving the proposed rule or regulation. The bill is introduced in response to the DEPs recently proposed NJPACT Rules. The proposed NJPACT Rules, in relevant part, propose to establish a "climate-adjusted flood elevation" of five feet above the FEMA 100-year flood elevation for each New Jersey watercourse. The DEP's justification for proposing the rule is to adjust flood-hazard development thresholds to take into account projected sea level rise due to climate change. The adoption of the DEP's proposed NJPACT rules would be detrimental to New Jersey, and particularly to our State's coastal communities. The DEP has failed to conduct a proper cost-benefit analysis to justify adoption of the proposed rules. The adoption of the rule proposal would cause large portions of New Jersey's coastal area as being improper for development and use. The DEPs assertions that development of these areas would constitute a threat to the safety, health, and general welfare from flooding due to projected climate change are not accurate. The DEP used an outdated and flawed 2019 Rutgers report to justify its proposed establishment of a "climate-adjusted flood elevation" of five feet above the FEMA 100-year flood elevation. Rather than protect the general welfare, adoption of the rule proposal would significantly harm the general welfare, which the DEP is responsible to protect. Adoption of the DEP's rule proposal would limit the ability of middle- and lower-income families to own, improve, or restore coastal properties, and thereby incentivize many of those families to sell their coastal properties to the wealthy or to the government. Adoption of this bill would set a standard delineation mechanism in State law, and thereby prevent the DEP from setting the State's flood hazard area delineation at more than one foot above the FEMA-delineated 100-year flood elevation. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5065 | Establishes "End Crimes to Clicks Act"; limits disclosure of body worn camera recordings under State's open public records law. | This bill limits the disclosure of body worn camera recordings under the State's open public records act (OPRA). Under the provisions of this bill, in addition to any other law, rule, or regulation exempting body worn camera recordings from public disclosure, body worn camera recordings are exempt from disclosure under OPRA unless the person requesting the body worn camera recording is a subject of the recording or the legal next of kin if the subject is deceased. The bill defines "body worn camera" as a mobile audio and video recording system worn by a law enforcement officer. The bill also defines "subject of the body worn camera recording" as any law enforcement officer, suspect, victim, detainee, conversant, injured party, or other similarly situated person who appears on the body worn camera recording, and shall not include a person who only incidentally appears on the recording. | In Committee |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2652 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | An Act concerning certain criminal offenses involving sexual exploitation or abuse of children and amending various parts of the statutory law. | 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 |
| A5013 | Establishes 90-day State tax amnesty period ending no later than January 15, 2026; dedicates revenues collected during tax amnesty period for Stabilization Aid to school districts; appropriates up to $15 million. | The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to establish a 90-day State tax amnesty period, to end no later January 15, 2026. The amnesty period would apply only to State tax liabilities for tax returns due on and after September 1, 2017 and before January 1, 2025. During the amnesty period, a taxpayer who has failed to pay a State tax can pay the amount of unpaid tax and one-half of the balance of interest that is due as of November 1, 2024, without the imposition of the remaining one-half of the balance of interest that is due as of November 1, 2024, recovery fees, civil penalties, and criminal penalties arising out of the late payment. The amnesty would not be available to a taxpayer who, at the time of payment, is under criminal investigation or charge for any State tax matter. If a taxpayer eligible for the amnesty fails during the amnesty period to pay taxes owed, the bill subjects that taxpayer to a five percent penalty, which the director may not waive or abate. The five percent penalty would be in addition to all other penalties, interest, or collection costs otherwise authorized by law. If a person is notified by the Office of Criminal Investigation in the Division of Taxation that the person is under criminal investigation for a State tax matter, they would not be eligible for amnesty under the program unless the Office of Criminal Investigation certifies to the director that the State tax matter involving that person was resolved. Further, a taxpayer would not be eligible for amnesty under the bill unless that taxpayer pays the full amount of the tax, reduced interest, and applicable penalty, if any, in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the director. The bill establishes a dedicated account in the Department of Education to be known as the Stabilization Aid Account and requires all of the moneys collected by the State through the tax amnesty program, excluding certain revenues dedicated for specific purposes by the State Constitution, to be deposited into the special account for the purpose of providing Stabilization Aid to school districts that experience a reduction in State aid compared to the prior school year. To receive Stabilization Aid, a school district would be required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. The bill requires that the application include, at a minimum, a written plan explaining how the school district intends to fund operations in future school years in which the school district does not receive Stabilization Aid or similar supplemental State school aid. The bill appropriates a sum not to exceed $15 million from the proceeds collected through the amnesty period for the costs incurred to carry out and administer the program. The bill requires a contract for advertising services for the State tax amnesty program to be procured in an expedited manner. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A4993 | Extends Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act to caregivers of certain veterans. | This bill amends the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act to extend the tax credit benefit to caregivers of certain veterans. Under current law, the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act provides a gross income tax credit to family caregivers of armed service members with service-connected disabilities arising out of service on or after September 11, 2001. The bill revises the definition of veteran to mean any citizen and resident of this State discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and extends the tax credit to caregivers of veterans who fall under the revised definition. | In Committee |
| A4908 | Eliminates transfer inheritance tax for step-grandchildren. | This bill eliminates the State's transfer inheritance tax for the step-grandchildren of a decedent by treating step-grandchildren the same as a decedent's stepchildren and grandchildren under the New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax Act, R.S.54:33-1 et seq. Currently, step-grandchildren are treated as Class D beneficiaries under subsection d. of R.S.54:34-2 because they do not fall within any of the other statutory classes of beneficiaries (Classes A and C; subsections a. and c.) set forth in that section of law. As Class D beneficiaries, step-grandchildren of a decedent are subject to a transfer inheritance tax of: 15 percent on any property transfer of an amount up to $700,000; and 16 percent on any property transfer in excess of that amount. By contrast, the grandchildren of a decedent, being the "issue of any child or legally adopted child of a decedent," are classified as Class A beneficiaries under subsection a. of R.S.54:34-2, and thus are not subject to any transfer inheritance tax pursuant to the provisions of that section of law. Transfers to stepchildren are likewise treated as Class A beneficiaries and exempt from any transfer inheritance tax under R.S.54:34-2.1. Under the bill, step-grandchildren, i.e., the issue of any stepchild of a decedent, would be treated like stepchildren and grandchildren with respect to a decedent's property transfer, and thus be considered Class A beneficiaries subject to no taxation. | In Committee |
| A4910 | "United Border Security Act;" requires NJ National Guard to provide support services to states of Arizona and Texas. | New Jersey has a vested interest in joining her sister states in securing their common border, the border of the United States. In 2023, approximately 2.5 million aliens are known to have entered the United States illegally. Of those 2.5 million, tens of thousands have likely settled in New Jersey, pushing the number of illegal aliens in New Jersey to approximately eight percent of the State's census population. The cost to New Jerseyans for the presence and care of illegal aliens is approximately $7.3 billion a year. In January of 2024, New Jersey deployed over 1,500 National Guard members to Iraq and Syria to fight against a militant group in the Middle East. New Jersey should do no less to guarantee its security at home and the security of the United States' border. This bill calls for the Governor, upon a lawful request by the Governors of Arizona or Texas, to order no less than 1,500 New Jersey National Guard members to be deployed to Arizona or Texas, as appropriate, in support of its operations to secure its southern border with Mexico. If concurring requests are made, the Governor of New Jersey will designate the division of New Jersey National Guard members between the two states. Monies will be appropriated from the General Fund in such amounts as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Governor and the State Treasurer to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill will expire 12 months following the first deployment of the New Jersey National Guard or when the Governor of Arizona or Texas, as appropriate, has declared the service of the New Jersey National Guard is no longer required, whichever occurs first. | 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 |
| A4909 | "Protecting Mail-in Voters Act"; requires those who vote by mail to enclose copy of personal identification. | This bill establishes the "Protecting Mail-in Voters Act," which modifies "The Vote By Mail Law" to require all voters who use a mail-in ballot to vote to enclose a copy of a valid form of State-accepted photo identification matching the voter's name and current address within the mail-in ballot's outer envelope. The bill requires the county board of elections to compare the signature and the information contained on the copy of the voter's photo identification with the signature and information contained in the requests for mail-in ballots and the signature and information contained in the Statewide voter registration system. The bill requires the Secretary of State to conduct an education campaign to inform voters of these new requirements and to provide voters with instructions for how to properly submit a mail-in ballot. The bill provides that any voter who votes using a mail-in ballot which is rejected for failure to include a copy of the voter's photo identification be given the opportunity to "cure" the deficiency to allow their vote to be counted by completing the cure form sent to the voter by the county board of elections and by including the documents that were not present in the voter's mail-in ballot. | In Committee |
| A4907 | Establishes process for selection, instruction, and oversight of commissioners to Article V convention for proposing amendments to United States Constitution; establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. | This bill establishes a process for the selection, instruction, and oversight of commissioners to an Article V convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution, and establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. Under the bill, an odd number of commissioners would be named as this State's delegates to an Article V convention by a resolution passed by the State legislature, by a majority of those legislators present and voting in a joint session. To be eligible for selection and service as a commissioner, a person would be required to be: a United States citizen and have been such for at least 5 years; a resident of this State and have been such for at least 3 of the last 5 years; at least 25 years old; a registered voter in this State; not registered or required to be registered as a federal lobbyist at any time within the last 5 years; not a federal employee, other than a member of the United States armed forces, or contractor, currently or at any time within the last 10 years; not a federal elected or appointed officer at any time within the last 10 years; not a convicted felon for crimes involving moral turpitude in any jurisdiction, nor for any crime in any jurisdiction within the last 10 years; not a Statewide office while performing the duties of commissioner or interim commissioner; able to attend the convention unencumbered with other responsibilities that could detract from full-time commitment to the responsibilities of the convention, taking into consideration the anticipated duration of the convention; and have relevant subject matter expertise in areas that may include, but may not be limited to, constitutional law, civics, rules of order, American history, political science, political theory, and government. A position as a State legislator would not be deemed a "Statewide office." The bill provides for a commissioner to receive the same compensation as a member of the legislature of this State, prorated for length of time served, and the same allowance for expenses. The bill prohibits a commissioner or interim commissioner from accepting, during the time of service, any gifts or benefits with a combined value of more than $200, other than from an immediate family member and of the kind customarily granted by a member of one's family. The term "gift or benefit" would be construed liberally to include current and future loans, lodging, food, offer of prospective employment, and other actual and prospective benefits. An employer's decision to continue paying a commissioner's current salary would not be construed to be a gift. However, such salary would not be altered until the adjournment of the Article V convention and proposed amendments have been submitted to the states for ratification. The bill provides that the resolution naming the commissioners and their commission would prohibit a commissioner from voting for or otherwise promoting any change to the traditional convention rule of decision on the floor and in the committee of the whole, to-wit, that each state has one vote. A commissioner would also be prohibited from voting in favor of any proposed amendment that would alter the text of the specific guarantees of individual liberty established by the United States Constitution, including the original constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the following amendments: Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Third, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth. The commissioning resolution would be required to clearly state the scope of the commissioners' authority, which would be limited by: (1) if this State was not one of the two-thirds of the states applying for the convention, the subject matter enumerated in the 34 state applications that triggered the convention; or (2) if this State was one of the two-thirds of the states applying for the convention, the subject matter in this State's application; and (3) any additional instructions from the legislature, whether in the commissioning resolution or issued thereafter. The bill allows the legislature to provide additional instructions at any time via subsequent resolution. In addition to the commissioning resolution, the Senate and General Assembly would adopt a resolution to outline the commission's initial statement and charter. The advisory committee would put forth the resolution for the Legislature's approval. A commissioner who has been named on the commissioning resolution would be permitted to withdraw from consideration if the commissioner is unable to uphold the goals established in the resolution of initial statement and charter. The bill also establishes a three-member advisory committee composed of a member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; a member of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and a member of the legislature nominated by joint action of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and approved by the majority of those voting in each chamber. The advisory committee has the responsibility to determine whether a prospective or actual action by a commissioner would violate or violates the commissioning resolution or any subsequent instruction. Upon determining that a commissioner or interim commissioner has exceeded the scope of the commissioner's authority, the advisory committee would be required to recall or suspend said commissioner, and would communicate said action and the reasons therefor to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, the Attorney General, and the presiding officers of the convention. Under the bill, the legislature is empowered to remove said commissioner and appoint an interim commissioner to fill the vacancy. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. Under the bill, a commissioner or interim commissioner who exceeds the scope of the commissioner's authority would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. In addition, any individual who, while not being privileged by law, knowingly bribes, threatens, intimidates or obstructs a commissioner, interim commissioner, or a person representing another state in the capacity of a commissioner or interim commissioner at a convention held in this State, in the performance of the commissioner's duties, or attempts to do so, would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A3539 | Revises statutory terms pertaining to sexual exploitation or abuse of children. | This bill updates terminology in statutory law pertaining to the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. Current state law prohibits the creation, manufacture, distribution, sale or viewing of child pornography. Among child protection advocates, however, terms such as "child sexual abuse material" and "child sexual exploitation material" have come into wider use, replacing the general description of "child pornography" because these terms more accurately reflect the suffering of the children who are victims of these crimes. When used in the context of depictions of children, the term "pornography" may be understood to legitimize or trivialize the sexual abuse or exploitation of those children. In addition, the term "pornography" carries with it the implication that the acts are performed with the consent of the child, and represent legitimate sexual material. This bill replaces the term child pornography with the term "trade in child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in Title 2A. In Title 2C, the definition of "item depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child" is amended to include "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" and the acronym "CSAEM." The bill replaces the term child pornography with "network to share child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in various sections of Title 2C concerning the definition, degrees of crime, examination referrals, registration of sex offenders, and special sentencing for parole supervision for life for a leader of a network distributing depictions of child sexual abuse or exploitation. The bill further clarifies that online distribution or possession of sexual abuse or exploitation material is to be included in the schedule of penalties pertaining to offenses involving computer criminal activity in Title 2C. In Title 9, the term pornography is replaced with "any crime involving child sexual abuse or exploitation material" concerning disqualification of employment pursuant to N.J.S.9:3-40.5. In Title 18A, the word pornography is replaced with the term "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" with regard to the practice of "sexting," or sending sexually explicit messages pursuant to N.J.S.18A:35-4.32. This bill replaces the term pornography in various parts of Title 30 with "any crime involving child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in the statutes concerning revocation of a day care center's registration, criteria for permanent disqualification from employment, disqualification from adopting a child or being a resource family parent, and disqualification of employment at, or ownership or sponsorship of, a child day care center. In Title 52, the term pornography is replaced with "online distribution or possession of child sexual abuse or exploitation material" in the statutes concerning the Department of Law and Public Safety's efforts to receive and respond to inquiries or complaints from members of the public reporting computer crimes pursuant to N.J.S.52:17B-193. This bill also updates the terminology used in current law to replace outdated references to certain crimes that involve the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. According to the sponsor, the changes made in this bill are not intended, nor should they be construed, to have any substantive impact on the applicability of the affected provisions; the changes are intended to render the terminology consistent with the rest of the current statutory scheme and the broader international trend. The bill also corrects technical inconsistencies in the statutes. | In Committee |
| ACR143 | Urges Congress to enact "Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2024" to reimburse State and local units for public safety expenses incurred during major presidential and vice presidential candidates' visits. | This concurrent resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact the "Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2024." Under federal law, the United States Secret Service, under the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security, is mandated to protect the President and the Vice President of the United States, as well as the president-elect, and the vice president-elect. The agency is also authorized to provide protective services to certain other individuals, including the immediate families of the president, vice president, president-elect, and vice president-elect; former presidents and vice presidents, their spouses, and certain children; major presidential and vice presidential candidates; visiting heads of foreign states or foreign governments; and certain other designated individuals. Although it is often unrecognized, the Secret Service's ability to maintain public safety and security for individuals, facilities, and events covered under its protection depends on the agency's effective cooperation and coordination with state and local governments. The July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Former President, and current presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump, further highlights the ongoing need for effective cooperation and coordination to protect major presidential and vice-presidential candidates and maintain public safety throughout election campaigns. The State of New Jersey and its municipalities are not only honored to host any individuals under Secret Service protection, but also take seriously the responsibility to cooperate with the Secret Service to ensure the safety and security surrounding such occasions. However, the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities that are dedicated to ensuring effective cooperation with the Secret Service often place undue financial burdens on the State and its municipalities. The "Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2024," recently introduced in Congress as H.R.9332, would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to utilize the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of State and local governments, on a reimbursement basis, for public safety and law enforcement purposes surrounding events and appearances involving major presidential and vice presidential candidates. The enactment of this bill would provide the State and its municipalities the funding necessary to effectively cooperate and coordinate with the Secret Service in order to protect major presidential and vice presidential candidates and ensure public safety during campaign events and appearances within the State. | In Committee |
| A4775 | Requires DEP to publish certain information regarding natural resources damages when entering into certain settlements under "Spill Compensation and Control Act." | This bill amends the "Spill Compensation and Control Act," P.L.1976, c.141 (C.58:10-23.11 et seq.), to require, if a settlement addresses natural resource damages, that a website link to the applicable natural resource damage assessment report and natural resource damage restoration plans and projects be made available in the New Jersey Register and on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's website. Existing law already requires, at least 60 days prior to its agreement to any administrative or judicially approved settlement, the Department of Environmental Protection to publish the name of the case, the names of the parties to the settlement, the location of the property on which the discharge occurred, a summary of the terms of the settlement, including the amount of any monetary payments made or to be made. | 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 |
| AR155 | Urges U.S. Congress to remove federal courts' jurisdiction in certain education matters, or alternatively, to overturn certain prior case law. | This Assembly resolution urges the United States Congress to remove from federal courts' jurisdiction certain education matters, or in the alternative, urges the United States Supreme Court to overturn its erroneous decision in Plyler v. Doe. Illegal aliens cost this State billions of dollars each year, including in the area of publicly funded education that the State is required to provide even though illegal aliens often do not pay their full tax responsibility. The United States Supreme Court determined over 50 years ago that education is not a fundamental right afforded explicit or implicit protection under the United States Constitution. Moreover, the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution explicitly reserves those powers not delegated to the federal government to the states. Notwithstanding these facts, the Supreme Court wrongly removed from states their constitutionally reserved power to govern their citizenry in the area of education by denying states the ability to charge illegal alien students a tuition, similar to the tax dollars paid by parents of students who are United States citizens and legally admitted aliens. The United States Constitution provides Congress with certain powers to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court and to limit and regulate the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction. This Assembly resolution urges Congress to enact legislation removing jurisdiction of the United States Supreme Court and inferior federal courts over any case or controversy involving state action requiring illegal aliens to pay a school tuition or tax. In the alternative, this resolution urges the Supreme Court to overturn its decision in Plyler v. Doe and reaffirm a state's constitutionally protected right to govern its citizenry in the area of education. | In Committee |
| A4774 | "Enhanced ID Act"; requires MVC to create and issue enhanced driver's licenses and enhanced non-driver identification cards. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to develop and implement a program for the issuance of enhanced driver's licenses and enhanced non-driver identification cards to residents of the State of New Jersey, which identification are to serve as proof of identity and citizenship for persons entering the United States at land and sea ports. The bill requires the enhanced driver's licenses and enhanced non-driver identification cards to be issued in compliance with applicable federal regulations and to include, at a minimum: (1) a machine-readable barcode; (2) reasonable security measures to protect against the unauthorized access to or disclosure of any personal information contained in the enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card, including, but not limited to, radio frequency identification technology; (3) security features to prevent unauthorized duplication or counterfeiting; and (4) personal identifying information, including, but not limited to, a photograph, full legal name, date of birth, gender, address, and signature. To apply for an enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card, an applicant is required to provide the following items to the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the commission in a manner prescribed by the chief administrator: (1) a completed application indicating the applicant's full legal name, date of birth, residence address, height, gender, eye color, Social Security number, signature, and, if applicable, the applicant's intention to be an organ donor; (2) documentation demonstrating the applicant's United States citizenship, full legal name, date of birth, residence address, and Social Security number; (3) a photographic identification document; (4) the applicant's signed declaration acknowledging that the radio frequency identification technology may be used with the enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card; (5) the applicant's signed certification that the information presented by the applicant is true and correct to the best of the applicant's knowledge; and (6) payment of an application fee of not more than $30. Under the bill, the chief administrator is required to examine and verify the genuineness, regularity, and legality of every application and other documentation submitted and may investigate any such application or require the submission of additional information. The chief administrator is required to reject any application if the chief administrator is not satisfied of the genuineness, regularity, and legality of the application or supporting documentation or the truth of any statement contained in the application or supporting documentation, or for any other reason authorized by law. Under the bill, an applicant who applies for an enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card is required to have his or her facial image and signature captured or reproduced by the chief administrator at the time of application, which image or signature may be made available by the commission and used as follows: (1) by a federal, state, or local government agency for any law enforcement purpose authorized by law; (2) by another state to the extent required by federal law; (3) by the chief administrator for any purpose specifically authorized by law; (4) by the chief administrator for forwarding to the Department of State Police; (5) for any other purpose as determined by the chief administrator, if an individual provides his or her written authorization for the release of his or her own facial image or signature; and (6) as otherwise required by law. Additionally, the chief administrator is required to retain copies or digital images of documents provided by the applicant to the chief administrator and may disclose digital images of documents retained to a federal, state, or local government agency for any law enforcement purpose authorized by law. The bill permits the chief administrator to enter into a memorandum of understanding with any federal agency for the purpose of obtaining approval for the issuance of an enhanced driver's license or enhanced official non-driver identification card as proof of identity and citizenship for persons entering the United States at land and sea ports. The requirements of the bill are in addition to the requirements otherwise imposed on individuals who apply for a standard driver's license or standard non-driver identification card. The renewal fee for an enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card is not to be more than $15, but if the enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card is expired, the fee is to be $30. Additionally, the chief administrator may assess a fee for issuing a duplicate or corrected enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card in an amount deemed reasonable by the chief administrator. Finally, a person who makes a false certification or statement in an application for an enhanced driver's license or enhanced non-driver identification card is to be guilty of a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. | 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 |
| A4770 | "Ruth Gilbert Alzheimer's Accessibility Act"; allows certain individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia to receive, and caregivers transporting those individuals to utilize, parking privileges reserved for persons with disability. | This bill permits a person to park a motor vehicle in parking spaces reserved for a person with a disability if the person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia and the person's ability to walk is limited, impaired, or creates a safety condition while walking as certified by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. Under the bill, a person diagnosed Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia and whose ability to walk is limited, impaired, or creates a safety condition while walking is eligible to receive from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission a person with a disability identification card, a vehicle identification placard, and license plates that display the national wheelchair symbol. Under current law, vehicle identification placards are required to be displayed on the motor vehicle used to transport an individual with a disability and when the vehicle is parked overtime or in parking spaces reserved for individuals with a disability. A caregiver may utilize the placard while transporting an individual with a disability. Additionally, under current law, wheel chair symbol license plates may be issued to motor vehicles owned, operated, or leased by an individual with a disability or by any person furnishing transportation on the individual's behalf. | In Committee |
| A4772 | Establishes "Defend our Educational Resources Act." | This bill establishes the "Defend Our Educational Resources Act." Pursuant to the bill, the Governor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is required to take measures necessary to protect the educational resources of the State, including: (1) challenging federal action aimed at limiting the State's authority to govern in the area of education; (2) challenging the United States Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe, which prohibited the denial of taxpayer funds for the education of illegal aliens, when the opportunity arises; and (3) supporting local efforts to preserve educational resources for citizens of the United States. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2402 | Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue United States Coast Guard license plates to current and former members of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and to the spouse and parents of current and former members of the USCG. The design of the license plate is to be chosen by the chief administrator, in consultation with the USCG. In addition to the required motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the license plate program, the additional fees collected are to be deposited into the "United States Coast Guard License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be appropriated annually to the USCG. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the USCG appoint a liaison to represent the USCG in all communications with the MVC regarding the license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds may not be used by the MVC for the initial cost to implement the license plate program. The bill requires the USCG, or an individual or entity designated by the USCG, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for any computer programming necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the USCG to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The MVC is prohibited from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of the license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) the USCG, or an individual or entity designated by the USCG, has provided the MVC with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the USCG, or its designee, has provided the MVC with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the date on which appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the MVC are provided by the USCG or its designee. 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. | Crossed Over |
| A3060 | Permits designation of special event zones for traffic regulation purposes during certain large events. | This bill permits the designation of "special event zones" for the purpose of regulating traffic during certain "special events," which the bill defines as any automotive or motor vehicle events occurring on or near a roadway, which events either have been approved by the county or municipality in which the event is located, or are expected to have 25 or more persons in attendance. When a special event occurs, or is expected to occur, on any roadway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the bill permits the Commissioner of Transportation to designate all or part of the roadway, including any parking structures or other property located within the designated area, as a special event zone. Similarly, when a special event occurs, or is expected to occur, on a roadway under the jurisdiction of a county or municipality, the county or municipality may also designate the area as a special event zone. In either case, the special event zone would remain in effect for the duration of the special event, and including a reasonable period of time before and after the special event. While the special event zone remains in effect, the DOT, municipality, or county, as applicable, would be required to maintain appropriate signage on or along the special event zone. Under the bill, certain traffic regulations would be altered within the special event zone while the zone remains in effect, including: (1) an allowance for the DOT, county, or municipality, as applicable, to reduce the established speed limitations, as such reductions are deemed necessary to ensure public safety; and (2) the prohibition of "exhibition driving," which the bill defines to include certain forms of disruptive or erratic driving; and (3) the imposition of increased penalties for certain traffic offenses. Specifically, the bill provides that a person would be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 after committing the following traffic offenses within a special event zone: (1) operating a motor vehicle in excess of the posted speed limitation; (2) careless driving; and (3) operating a motor vehicle for a wager, in a race, or for the purposes of making a speed record. Additionally, a person who engages in exhibition driving or reckless driving within a special event zone would be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to 60 days, or both. Under current law, the Commissioner of Transportation is required to approve certain types of local traffic regulations before those regulations may take effect. Under the bill, the designation of a special event zone by a county or municipal would take effect without requiring the approval of the commissioner. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| A4737 | "Jillian's Law", mandates institutional commitment for certain persons found not competent to stand trial. | This bill, which is designated as "Jillian's Law," addresses instances where a defendant lacks fitness, or competence, to proceed with a criminal trial. Under N.J.S.A.2C:4-4, a person is deemed fit to or competent to stand trial when the defendant has the mental capacity to appreciate his presence in relation to time, place and things, and his elementary mental processes permit him to appreciate the circumstances and participate in an adequate presentation of his defense. When a defendant is deemed incompetent, the proceedings against that defendant is suspended pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:4-6. Under those circumstances, the court may commit the person to the custody of the Commissioner of Human Services to be placed in an appropriate institution if it is found that the defendant is so dangerous to himself or others as to require institutionalization. Alternately, the court can determine whether placement in an out-patient setting or release is appropriate. This bill would eliminate the options of placement in an out-placement setting, or release, allowing only commitment to an institution for a person found not competent to proceed where the person is so dangerous to himself or others as to require institutionalization. If it is not found that the defendant is so dangerous to himself or others as to require institutionalization, the court shall continue to have the option to proceed to determine whether placement in an out-patient setting or release is appropriate. Subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:4-6 further provides that no commitment to any institution shall be in excess of such period of time during which it can be determined whether it is substantially probable that the defendant could regain his competence within the foreseeable future. Accordingly, if it is found that a defendant has not regained fitness to proceed, and criminal charges held in abeyance are dismissed, involuntary civil commitment in an institutional setting under N.J.S.A.30:4-27.1 would remain an option for persons continuing to be in need of involuntary commitment. This bill is prompted by the case of college student Jillian Ludwig, 18, a native of Wall Township, and Tennessee college student who was tragically killed on November 7, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. The gunman charged with Jillian Ludwig's shooting was previously found incompetent to stand trial, and released, after being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in April 2023. | In Committee |
| A4735 | "Illegal Alien Healthcare Transparency Act"; requires health care facilities to inquire and report on immigration status of patients and to report certain costs of care. | This bill establishes the "Illegal Alien Healthcare Transparency Act." This bill requires health care facilities to inquire and report on the immigration status of patients. Under the bill, the Department of Health will require each licensed health care facility to inquire about the citizenship or immigration status of each of the health care facility's patients and to submit a monthly report to the department on the citizenship and immigration status of the health care facility's patients and the health care facility's monthly cost of care provided to illegal aliens. Any data and information contained in the report will be in aggregate form and the report will not contain the personal identifying information of any patient. The department will make each report publicly available on the department's Internet website. The bill makes it unlawful and a crime of the fourth degree for any patient to knowingly and willingly make a false statement or representation of a material fact concerning the patient's citizenship or immigration status in any document or electronic transmission necessary for a health care facility to complete an inquiry on the patient's citizenship or immigration status. Presently, the United States collects some data on the use of emergency healthcare services by illegal aliens. However, there is a lack of transparency on the full cost of healthcare being utilized by illegal aliens. It is the sponsor's belief that having more data on the healthcare use of illegal aliens would assist New Jersey in computing the actual cost of illegal aliens' use of government services. | In Committee |
| ACR142 | Expresses support for "Equal Representation Act." | This resolution expresses support for H.R. 7109, known as the "Equal Representation Act," which requires a citizenship question on the decennial census, requires reporting on certain census statistics, and modifies the apportionment of United States Representatives, as well as electoral college votes, to be based on the population of United States citizens instead of being based on all individuals who are physically present in the United States, which includes those who are in this country illegally. The United States Constitution requires that a census be conducted every 10 years, with the results impacting the apportionment of seats in the United States House of Representatives, the determination of electoral votes allocated for a presidential election for each state, and the redrawing of state legislative and congressional districts. Census figures are currently based on actual counts of all persons living in the United States, including citizens, noncitizen legal residents, noncitizen long-term visitors, and illegal immigrants. Current estimates suggest that, under the leadership of President Biden, over 10 million people have illegally entered the United States, which continues to overwhelm U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the municipal services of border towns and continues to allow illicit drugs like fentanyl to pour over the border. The Biden administration willfully turns a blind eye to human trafficking and the safety of unaccompanied children. On January 17, 2024, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability heard testimony from immigration policy and law enforcement experts on how the unilateral decisions by the Biden administration are fueling unprecedented illegal immigration and jeopardizing border security. The more than 10 million people who are estimated to 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. The United States noncitizen population is so large that, if the country's noncitizens were all located in one state, that state would surpass Texas as the second most populated state in the country and would be apportioned the equivalent of 40 congressional districts and 42 electoral votes in presidential elections. The United States House of Representatives introduced H.R. 7109, known as the "Equal Representation Act," on January 29, 2024 and passed the bill on May 8, 2024. Although the United States Senate has not yet voted on the "Equal Representation Act," passage of the bill would ensure that congressional representation would be apportioned based on the United States citizen population and would not be diluted by the country's noncitizen population. It is imperative that the right of each American citizen to receive equal representation in government be protected from dilution and passage of the "Equal Representation Act" would provide such protection. | In Committee |
| A4738 | Establishes requirements for social media companies concerning content moderation practices; establishes cause of action against social media companies for violation of content moderation practices. | This bill establishes requirements for social media companies concerning content moderation practices and establishes a cause of action against social media companies using content moderation practices on their platforms. This bill provides that it is an unlawful practice and violation of the New Jersey consumer fraud act for a social media company to fail to comply with the requirements set forth in the bill. Among other requirements enumerated in the bill, a social media company is to publish the standards it uses or has used for determining how to censor, "selectively suspend," or implement an "anonymous user ban," as these terms are defined in the bill, and apply censorship, selective suspensions, and anonymous user banning standards in a consistent manner among its users on the platform. Additionally, social media companies are prohibited from knowingly taking any action to censor, selectively suspend, or implement an anonymous user ban against a journalistic enterprise based on the content of its publication or broadcast. Under this bill, a social media company that uses post suppression is prohibited from censoring a user's content or material on the social media platform without providing notification, as described in the bill, to the user who posted or attempted to post the content or material, unless the content or material is obscene. Additionally, a social media company is prohibited from requiring users to interact with a political advertisement directing the user to contact a State or federal legislator or public official before the social media company allows the user to access the user's account. This bill also provides that a user may bring a private cause of action against a social media company for certain violations under the bill. Nothing in this bill is to require disclosure of any trade secret or abrogate any work product protection. Nothing in this bill is to supersede federal law, or to interfere with any existing duty of a social media company, including any duty to preserve evidence. | 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 |
| A3772 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | An Act revising the process for a property tax lien holder to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A3797 | "CJ's Law"; Criminalizes manufacture, sale, and possession of substances containing kratom. | This bill, designated as "CJ's Law," would criminalize the manufacture, possession and sale of products containing kratom. Kratom, as known as mitragyna speciosa korth, mitragynine extract, biak-biak, cratom, gratom, ithang, kakuam, katawn, kedemba, ketum, krathom, krton, mambog, madat, Maeng da leaf, nauclea, or Nauclea Speciosa, is a botanical substance that grows naturally in Southeast Asia. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that kratom poses a threat to public health and has the potential for abuse. Kratom is frequently marketed on the Internet for its psychoactive and opioid-like analgesic effects, and for use in the treatment of morphine and heroin addiction. However, kratom is not approved in the United States for any medical use. In a statement released in April 2022, the FDA warned the public against using kratom, warning that the substance "affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine" and that it appears to have "properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence." According to the FDA, scientific literature has disclosed serious concerns regarding the toxicity of kratom in multiple organ systems, with consumption leading to a number of health issues, including depressed respiratory function, nervousness, agitation, aggression, sleeplessness, hallucinations, delusions, loss of libido, tremors, skin hyperpigmentation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and severe withdrawal signs and symptoms. Currently, possession and distribution of kratom is not barred by federal or New Jersey law. However, the FDA Import Alert # 54-15 provides guidance for FDA field personnel regarding the detention of dietary supplements and bulk dietary ingredients that contain kratom. The FDA has also issued a number of warning letters and conducted seizures of illegally sold, unapproved, or misbranded drug products containing kratom that make unproven claims about their ability to treat or cure opioid addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Kratom is banned or its uses restricted in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, France , Germany, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Kratom is also illegal in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Several states have passed laws restricting its sale and use, while several other states have introduced legislation that would ban this drug. This bill amends existing law to include kratom as a controlled dangerous substance and to sets out gradations for crimes involving the substance. The bill would make it a crime of the second degree to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess or have under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a substance containing kratom in an amount of one ounce or more, including adulterants and dilutants. 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. It would be a crime of the third degree to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess or have under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a substance containing kratom in an amount of less than one ounce, including adulterants and dilutants. 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. Under the bill, the possession of one ounce or more, including adulterants and dilutants, of a substance containing kratom would be a crime of the third degree, and possession of less than one ounce, including adulterants and dilutants, would be a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. CJ's Law is designated in remembrance of Christopher James (CJ) Holowach, who died at age 33 from cardiac arrest caused by mixture of drugs that included his physician prescribed Adderol and kratom. While awaiting arm surgery, CJ Holowach consumed kratom to numb his arm pain without jeopardizing his recovery from opioid addiction. However, he was unaware of the dangers of kratom as the supplement's bottle provided no warning labels or suggestions on safe dosage amounts. Kratom is marketed in a way to make it appear to be a safe herbal pain supplement, when it poses serious health risks. Further, addiction experts warn, echoing the sentiments of FDA warnings, that kratom can be highly addictive and create risk of abuse and dependence. It is the sponsor's hope that this bill will stop the sale of kratom in New Jersey, avoiding further tragedies including death. | In Committee |
| A3908 | Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. | This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA), from the current rate of $50, pursuant to the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, to $140 for residents of nursing homes, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers. This allowance is intended for residents to spend at their discretion on items such as telephone expenses, a meal out with friends, cards to send to family, reading materials, or hobbies. The PNA provides residents the opportunity to participate in activities beyond those provided by the facility, to remain connected with family and friends, and to obtain basic items such as clothing and shoes. The bill also stipulates that beginning January 1 of the following year after the bill's enactment, the PNA is to be increased annually by the same percentage as the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for that year. In the case of residents eligible to receive SSI public assistance, a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income, the federal government provides up to $30 a month for small comfort items not provided by the facility. The State currently supplements the federal allowance by $20 to ensure that SSI recipients residing in nursing facilities, State and county psychiatric hospitals, and State developmental centers receive a total PNA per month equal to that of Medicaid recipients, or $50. Under the bill, absent any changes in the federal allowance, the State would be responsible for a $90 per month supplemental payment for each SSI recipient. | In Committee |
| A4622 | Increases resource threshold for certain Medicaid eligibility groups. | This bill increases the resource threshold for certain non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medicaid eligibility groups, or those applicants who are over 65 years of age or disabled, such as individuals eligible for nursing homes services; Medicare Shared Savings Programs; the Medically Needy pathway; and home and community-based services. This bill does alter any eligibility requirements regarding the NJ Workability Program, a non-MAGI eligibilty pathway which offers full Medicaid coverage to working disabled individuals whose income or assets would otherwise make them ineligible. Currently, NJ Workability does not limit eligibility based on resources. Generally, in increasing the resource standard under these programs, this bill more closely aligns resource requirements under Medicaid for these populations with individuals under 65 years of age without disabilities, also known as the MAGI eligibility group, who currently do not have a resource test to determine eligibility pursuant to the federal "Affordable Care Act." The current resource standards for the affected eligibility groups varies. For example, an individual applying for the Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports is required to have resources of less than $2,000, while an individual applying for a Medicare Savings Program can have resources up to $9,090. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A750 | Authorizes veterans to deduct two years military service from age requirement for police officer under certain circumstances. | This bill authorizes veterans of the armed forces who are more than 35 years old to be appointed as police officers if a maximum of two years of time they served in the armed forces deducted from their actual age equals 35 years or less, provided they served at least 10 days in a war zone. Under current law, a person is required to be at least 21 but not more than 35 years of age to be appointed as a member or officer of a municipal police department or force. An applicant who is older than 35 is deemed to meet this age requirement if the applicant's actual age, less the period of military service during a time of war, meets the maximum age requirement of 35. This bill establishes that a maximum of two years may be deducted from the applicant's age, provided the person meets a minimum threshold of having served at least 10 days during a time of war. | In Committee |
| A4431 | Requires enhanced reporting by independent expenditure committees; extends statute of limitations for campaign finance violations; exempts reports filed with Election Law Enforcement Commission from certain document redaction requirements. | This bill requires enhanced reporting by independent expenditure committees, extends the statute of limitations for campaign finance violations, and exempts reports of contributions and expenditures required to be filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) from certain redaction and nondisclosure requirements. This bill would enact the three recommendations made by ELEC in its 2023 annual report. Enhanced Reporting by Independent Expenditure Committees This bill requires independent expenditure committees, the so-called "dark money" groups, to promptly report campaign contributions and expenditures in the days before an election. This bill also requires such committees to file post-election quarterly reports until the closure of their campaign depository accounts. Under current law, independent expenditure committees are required to file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) a cumulative report on the 11th day preceding the primary election, and on the 20th day following the primary election, of all contributions received in excess of $7,500 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it for the purpose of furthering the independent expenditure. They are also required to report all independent expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it. In addition, each independent expenditure committee making an electioneering communication pertaining to a municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election is required to file with ELEC a cumulative report on the 29th day preceding the election, a report on the 11th day preceding the election, and on the 20th day following the election, of all contributions received in excess of $7,500 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it for the purpose of furthering the independent expenditure, and of all independent expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it. The reporting period begins on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ends on the reporting date. However, under current law, independent expenditure committees are not required to report contributions received and expenditures made in the period between the filing of the 11th-day pre-election report and the day of the election, thereby creating a transparency loophole. Under this bill, when an independent expenditure committee receives a contribution from a single source of more than $7,500 after the final day of a cumulative reporting period and on or before a primary, municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election which occurs after that final day but prior to the final day of the next reporting period it will be required, in writing or by electronic transmission, to report that contribution to ELEC within 72 hours of receiving it, if that contribution is received between the 15th day prior to that election and the day of the election. However, a contribution received between the seventh day prior to that election and the day of the election would be required to be reported within 24 hours of receiving it. The bill requires the committee to report the amount and date of the contribution; the name and mailing address of the contributor; and where the contributor is an individual, the individual's occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual's employer. In addition, when an independent expenditure committee makes or authorizes any independent expenditure of more than $200, or incurs any obligation therefor, between the 15th day prior to the day of a primary, municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election and the day of that election, it will be required to report, in writing or by electronic transmission, that independent expenditure to the commission within 72 hours of making, authorizing, or incurring it. However, an independent expenditure made, authorized, or incurred between the seventh day prior to the election and the day of the election would be required to be reported within 24 hours of making, authorizing, or incurring it. Under current law, independent expenditure committees do not have to file post-election quarterly reports. This bill would require each independent expenditure committee required to file reports to also file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, following each election but not later than April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 of each calendar year, a cumulative quarterly report of all moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value in excess of $7,500 contributed to it during the period ending on the 15th day preceding that date and commencing on January 1 of that calendar year or, in the case of the cumulative quarterly report to be filed not later than January 15, of the previous calendar year, and all expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it during the period. The cumulative quarterly report would contain the name and mailing address of each person or group from whom moneys, loans, paid personal services or other things of value in excess of $7,500 have been contributed and the amount contributed by each person or group, and where an individual has made such contributions, the report would indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual's employer. In the case of any loan reported, the report would contain the name and address of each person who cosigns such loan, and where an individual has cosigned such loans, the report would indicate the occupation of the individual and the name and mailing address of the individual's employer. The report would also contain the name and address of each person, firm or organization to whom expenditures have been paid and the amount and purpose of each such expenditure. The treasurer of the independent expenditure committee reporting would certify to the correctness of each cumulative quarterly report. Each independent expenditure committee would continue to file the post-election quarterly reports until the closure of the committee's campaign depository account. Statute of Limitations for Violations This bill extends the statute of limitations for campaign finance violations. Under current law, any enforcement action brought by ELEC for any violations of campaign finance laws is subject to a statute of limitations of two years following the occurrence of the alleged violation. Under this bill, the statute of limitations would be four years following the date of the election for which the alleged violation occurred. The new four-year statute of limitations will apply to any violations that take place after the enactment of this bill. Exemption from Redaction and Nondisclosure This bill exempts reports filed with ELEC from certain document redaction and nondisclosure requirements. Under current law, certain public officials and employees, such as judges and law enforcement officers, are entitled to have their personal information redacted or subject to nondisclosure when such information is present on a public record. However, there are certain exceptions when an individual's personal information may still be disclosed, even if they are otherwise entitled to redaction or nondisclosure. This bill would add reports required to be filed with ELEC regarding election-related financing to the list of current exceptions. This exception would apply to all reports filed by any individual, candidate, campaign, committee, or other entity under "The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act." | In Committee |
| A4410 | Requires green building standards and impact studies for carbon, traffic, storm water, and schools for certain affordable housing development. | This bill requires newly-built affordable housing inclusionary developments of 10 units or more to report the results of a traffic impact study, school impact study, and storm water impact study to the municipality in which the development is to be located. A newly-built inclusionary development requiring the clearing of more than one acre of land would also be required to report the results of a carbon impact study. The bill also requires newly-built inclusionary developments to be designed, constructed, and certified to at least LEED silver standards, or equivalent green building system standards, if the development consists of 10 or more units or four or more floors. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations by the first day of the eighth month following enactment. This bill takes effect on the first day of the thirteenth month next following enactment, and would not apply to developments for which an application for development is submitted prior to that date. | In Committee |
| A4394 | Clarifies that certain beach owners and lessees have no duty to keep beach safe or to warn of hazards; provides immunity from liability, in certain cases, for injuries occurring on beach or in adjacent waters. | This bill would clarify the duties and liabilities of private beach owners and lessees with respect to injuries suffered by beachgoers, either while on the beach or while on or in the adjacent ocean or other adjacent tidal waters. Specifically, the bill would provide that any private beach owner or lessee who allows, or who is required by the State to provide, public access to the beach premises for sport and recreational activities will have no duty: (1) to keep the beach premises safe for entry or use, by members of the public, for sport and recreational activities, regardless of whether the beach premises is maintained in its natural condition, is improved, or is used as part of a commercial enterprise; or (2) during any period of time in which the beach premises, or any portion thereof, is unguarded, to post or maintain signs or notices warning visitors to the unguarded beach area of the potential or actual dangers that may exist or arise as a result of the natural conditions of the beach or adjacent tidal waters, or due to the use of any structure or improvement, or the engagement in sport and recreational activities, thereon or therein. The bill would further provide that, regardless of whether any public warning or notice of potential or actual dangers is provided, a private beach owner or lessee will not be liable to any person for injury or death resulting or caused thereto when such person is accessing the beach premises or the adjacent tidal waters for sport and recreational purposes at any time when the beach premises, or the relevant portion thereof where injury or death occurs, is unguarded. An "unguarded beach area" is defined, by the bill, to mean any portion of privately owned beach premises, or the entirety of such premises, as the case may be, where or whenever there is no attendant, on-duty lifeguard available, on-site, to monitor the safety of visitors and respond to injuries occurring on the premises or relevant portion thereof, as the case may be, and on or in the tidal waters adjacent thereto. "Unguarded beach area" would include any portion of a privately owned beach premises which is situated outside of the designated and demarked boundaries of a guarded beach area; and any guarded beach area, during any period of time in which the ordinarily attendant, on-duty lifeguard is not on-site and available for duty. The bill would also provide a private beach owner with immunity from liability for injury or death resulting or caused to a person who is accessing the beach premises or adjacent tidal waters for sport and recreational purposes at any time of day when the beach premises, or the relevant portion thereof where injury or death occurs, is guarded by an attendant, on-duty lifeguard, except in those cases where the injury or death has resulted from: (1) the willful or malicious failure, either by the attendant, on-duty lifeguard or by the beach owner or lessee, to guard or warn against a dangerous or potentially dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity, including, but not limited to, a dangerous or potentially dangerous weather, ocean, tidal, or current condition, or a dangerous or potentially dangerous sport or recreational activity, which is present or occurring at the guarded beach area or in the adjacent tidal waters; (2) acts of negligence, either on the part of the attendant lifeguard or on the part of the beach owner or lessee, where permission to engage in sport and recreational activities on the beach premises was granted for a consideration other than the consideration, if any, paid to the owner or lessee by the State; or (3) acts of gross negligence, on the part of the beach owner or lessee, where the injured party has entered upon or is using the guarded beach area or adjacent tidal waters for a use or purpose unrelated to public access purposes. The immunities and associated duty of care exemptions, which would be applied to private beach owners and lessees under the bill, are consistent with existing limitations on liability and exemptions from duties of care that are currently applicable, under Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, to the owners of various agricultural, horticultural, conserved, and other environmentally regulated lands, whenever a member of the public, who is permitted or required to have access such lands for sport and recreational purposes, is injured or dies either as a result of the natural or improved conditions of such lands or as a result of engaging in sport or recreational activities thereon. | In Committee |
| A4389 | Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds. | This bill expands Megan's Law to require that members of municipal governing bodies be notified when a sex offender moves into a municipality and restricts sex offenders from residing in areas frequented by children. Under the provisions of the bill, when a sex offender listed on the Internet registry maintained by the Superintendent of the State Police registers with the chief law enforcement officer of a municipality, the officer is to forward the name and address of the sex offender to the members of the governing body of the municipality. If the sex offender is required to register with the Superintendent of State Police because he is moving to a municipality that does not have a police force, then the Superintendent of State Police is to forward the sex offender's name and address to the members of the governing body of the municipality in which the sex offender intends to reside. Under the provisions of the bill, it is unlawful for a person who is subject to the Megan's Law registration requirements for a sex offense against an individual under the age of 18 to reside within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground or child care center. The residential ban would not cover a sex offender who: resides at a prison or mental health facility; resides at a residence established before the bill's enactment; has a school, playground or child care center established or built within 500 feet of his or her existing residence; was granted a needs based exception by the parole board; or was discharged from a psychiatric facility by a court and was granted an exemption by a court. | 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 |
| 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 |
| ACR136 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence owned and occupied by surviving spouse of first responder who dies in line of duty. | If approved by the voters, this proposed constitutional amendment would provide a property tax exemption for the primary residence owned and occupied by the surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad member who dies in the line of duty. The exemption would include the surviving spouses of both paid and volunteer firefighters and first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad members. The property receiving the exemption is also required to have been the primary residence of the first responder at the time the first responder's death. A surviving spouse would qualify for the exemption, and continue to receive it, for as long as the spouse owns and occupies the home as a primary residence and does not remarry. The constitutional amendment would also require the State to annually reimburse each taxing district for the amount of property taxes that would have otherwise been due for each property receiving the exemption established under the bill had the property been taxed the same as other land within the taxing district. | In Committee |
| A4358 | Requires juveniles to appear before court in county where alleged delinquency complaint occurred. | This bill requires juveniles to appear before the court in the county where the alleged delinquency complaint occurred. Under the court rules, juvenile delinquency complaints are filed in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred, but if the juvenile resides in a county other than the county of the alleged incident, the venue is set to be the county where the juvenile resides. This bill requires a juvenile accused of a delinquency complaint to appear before the court in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. | In Committee |
| A4286 | Establishes "New Jersey COVID-19 Long-Term Health Effects Task Force." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey COVID-19 Long-Term Health Effects Task Force" (task force). Under the bill, the purpose of the task force is to: (1) study the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (2) identify symptoms associated with the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (3) identify medications and other treatments that can combat the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (4) develop methods of educating the public on the long-term health effects of COVID-19; (5) identify any adverse, long-term health effects caused by COVID-19 vaccines; and (6) develop strategies for the Department of Health and county and local health departments to help health care professionals treat patients suffering from the long-term health effects of COVID-19. The bill provides that the task force is to consist of nine members as follows: (1) one member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (2) one member of the public appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (3) one member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (4) one member of the public appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate with experience in COVID-19 and health care; (5) the Commissioner of Health or a designee; (6) two representatives of local or county health departments in New Jersey appointed by the Governor; and (7) two medical doctors with experience treating patient suffering from long-term health effects of COVID-19 appointed by the Governor. | 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 |
| A4294 | Permits school districts to receive loans from State to support operating budget under certain circumstances. | This bill permits school districts to receive loans from the State to support the district's operating budget if the district is anticipating a significant budgetary shortfall. The bill establishes the School District Budget Relief Loan Account for the purpose of providing loans to school districts that have significant budgetary shortfalls that would otherwise require the elimination of multiple nonmandatory programs including: advanced placement courses and other specialized instructional programs; kindergarten; sports teams; student clubs and other programs, such as honor societies; musical programs, including bands; and student body government programs. A school district that has submitted an application for a loan would be allowed to delay submission of a proposed budget, the holding of public hearings on the proposed budget, the date for the notification of nontenured staff, and any additional budgeting deadlines that the Commissioner of Education deems appropriate until a decision has been made to approve or deny the loan application and the school district has been notified of the decision. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, a school district is to be able to apply for a loan after the district has received its State school aid notice following the State budget message by the Governor. Within 30 days of enactment, the commissioner is to develop a process by which districts are able to apply for the loans. The loan application is to include the following information: (1) the nature and amount of the budgetary shortfall, including an explanation as to why the district is unable to make sufficient changes to its budget through personnel and program reductions or general fund tax levy increases; (2) an analysis of the impact of the budgetary shortfall on the district's ability to provide a thorough and efficient education, which may include a description of the impact of the budgetary shortfall on student learning and participation in extracurricular activities, and which is required to include a demonstration that the district spent below adequacy in the year prior to the budget year for which the district is applying for the loan; (3) information about the district's general fund tax levy, including a demonstration that, in each of the five years preceding the budget year for which the district is applying for the loan, the district increased its general fund tax levy by at least two percent; and (4) information concerning the district's capital reserve fund balance and capital outlay budget. Prior to submitting the application for a loan to the department, a district is required to first submit its application and a preliminary budget to the executive county superintended and, if a State monitor has been appointed to the district, the district's State monitor. The executive county superintendent and, if applicable, the State monitor are to review the information provided and indicate to the commissioner whether they recommend that the commissioner approve the loan to the district. When making a decision regarding a district's loan application, the commissioner is to consider whether the loan is necessary to ensure the provision of a thorough and efficient education. For any district for which a State monitor has been appointed, the commissioner is required to approve the loan application if the State monitor has indicated that viable budget reductions and general fund tax levy increases are not sufficient to meet the budgetary shortfall. If the commissioner denies a district's loan application, the commissioner shall provide written documentation to the superintendent of the district which shall explain the reasons why the commissioner has determined that the quality of education in the district is better served by denial of the application than by approval. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A817 | Requires public institutions of higher education to establish plans concerning cyber security and prevention of cyber attacks. | Requires public institution of higher education to establish plans concerning cyber security and prevention of cyber attacks. | Crossed Over |
| A4166 | Establishes State aid reduction cap of one percent for calculation of State school aid. | This bill establishes a State aid reduction cap for the calculation of State school aid in any school year. The bill ensures that the amount of State school aid disbursed to a district in a school year is reduced by no more than one percent of the prior year's amount of aid. | In Committee |
| A4139 | Requires person convicted, or fleeing charge, of sex offense in foreign country to register under Megan's Law; requires law enforcement to inquire about immigration status of sex offenders and cooperate with federal immigration authorities. | This bill requires persons who have been convicted, or fled a charge, of a sex offense in a foreign country to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law under certain circumstances. In addition, contrary to a recent directive issued by the New Jersey Attorney General, the bill requires law enforcement agencies to inquire about the immigration status of a convicted sex offender and notify and cooperate with federal immigration authorities when the law enforcement agency is unable to confirm that the sex offender's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. Under current State law, a person who is convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or acquitted by reason of insanity under the laws of the United States, this State, or another state of an offense similar to those classified as sex offenses under current law is required to register as a sex offender. This bill expands the requirement to register in this State as a sex offender to also include persons who were convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or acquitted by reason of insanity under the laws of any foreign government of an offense similar to those classified as sex offenses under current law, and persons who were charged with such offenses by a foreign government, but fled the jurisdiction prior to the adjudication of those charges. The Attorney General Directive No. 2018-6 generally prohibits State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies from providing certain types of assistance to federal immigration authorities charged with enforcing federal civil immigration law, with certain limited exceptions. The directive also prohibits, with certain limited exceptions, a State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency from inquiring about the immigration status of any individual. Furthermore, the directive does not mandate that law enforcement officials provide assistance in any particular circumstance, even when, under the limited exceptions of the directive, they are permitted to do so. Thus, when an offender who is not authorized to be in the United States has been convicted of a Megan's Law offense, under the directive, local law enforcement is under no obligation to cooperate with federal authorities that may be seeking to enforce federal immigration laws with respect to that offender. In contrast to the directive, the bill requires every county prosecutor to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency when a person has been convicted, adjudicated delinquent, or acquitted by reason of insanity for the commission of a sex offense, as defined under current law. Upon notification, the law enforcement agency is required to inquire about the immigration status of the person who has been convicted. The bill provides that if, based upon the inquiry required by the bill, a law enforcement agency is unable to confirm that the person's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law, the law enforcement agency is to provide notification to a federal immigration authority. Under the bill, the law enforcement agency also is to cooperate with any immigration enforcement initiated by the federal immigration authority, which includes but is not limited to: (1) participating in civil immigration enforcement operations with respect to the sex offender; (2) providing any non-public personally identifying information regarding the sex offender; (3) providing access to any State, county, or local law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property not available to the general public; (4) providing access to a detained sex offender for an interview; (5) providing notice of a detained sex offender's upcoming release from custody; and (6) continuing the detention of a sex offender past the time the sex offender would otherwise be eligible for release from custody when presented with a civil immigration detainer request. Finally, the bill requires the cooperation of a New Jersey law enforcement agency with any immigration enforcement upon an inquiry by a federal immigration authority concerning a registered sex offender convicted of a sex offense by a foreign government, or who was charged with a sex offense by a foreign government and absconded from that jurisdiction prior to the charge being adjudicated or resolved, and if the law enforcement agency is unable to confirm that the sex offender's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. This cooperation is to include, but not be limited to, participating in civil immigration enforcement operations; providing any non-public personally identifying information regarding an individual; providing access to any State, county, or local law enforcement equipment, office space, database, or property not available to the general public; providing access to a detained individual for an interview; providing notice of a detained individual's upcoming release from custody; and continuing the detention of an individual past the time the individual would otherwise be eligible for release from custody based solely on a civil immigration detainer request. The bill further requires a law enforcement agency that registers a sex offender and has knowledge that the sex offender was (1) convicted by a foreign government, or (2) charged with a sex offense by a foreign government and absconded prior to the charges being adjudicated or resolved, to provide notification to a federal immigration authority if the agency is unable to confirm that the sex offender's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. It is the sponsor's firmly held belief that because sex offenders pose a grave danger to public safety, especially for women and children, law enforcement officials should be required to cooperate with immigration enforcement actions initiated by a federal immigration authority, in order to ensure that dangerous predators are not permitted to find safe harbor in New Jersey. | In Committee |
| A4138 | Establishes award of damages for pain and suffering to owner of pet cat or dog that dies due to malpractice or negligence by veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or other veterinary facility. | This bill establishes that, whenever a veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or other veterinary facility is found liable for the death of a pet cat or dog due to malpractice or negligence on the part of the veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or other veterinary facility, the owner of the pet would be entitled to, in addition to the reimbursement of the monetary value of the cat or dog and any cost of veterinary care, the award of not less than $5,000 in damages for pain and suffering due to the loss of the pet, as determined and awarded by the court finding the liability for the death of the pet cat or dog. | In Committee |
| A4065 | Requires New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to adopt policy on use of instant replay in certain postseason games. | This bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to adopt a policy on the use of instant replay in certain postseason games. Under the bill, the NJSIAA is required to develop and adopt a policy that requires an official video and audio recording of each of each tournament and postseason contest conducted by the NJSIAA. The bill requires that the policy specify how the recording may be used during a postseason contest to review a sports official's judgement of the playing rules. At a minimum, the policy is required to:· require the use of video and audio review of any sports official's determination that impacts or alters the final score or outcome of a postseason contest; and · permit the use of video and audio review to: (1) identify and determine violations of its sportsmanship policy; and (2) ensure that disqualifications are correctly identified. | In Committee |
| A920 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A4034 | Requires school districts to award students high school graduation credits in health, safety, and physical education for completing county fire academy course under certain circumstances. | The bill permits a student who successfully completes a course at a county fire academy to be eligible to receive credit toward meeting the high school graduation requirements for health, safety, and physical education if the student meets certain criteria. The student is required to: be between the ages of 16 and 18 years old; complete an examination, as applicable, to become a junior firefighter, or equivalent; and commit to volunteer at the fire department that serves the municipality in which the student resides for a period of two years. | In Committee |
| A1892 | Prohibits deepfake pornography and imposes criminal and civil penalties for non-consensual disclosure. | This bill prohibits the emerging technological phenomenon of sexually "deceptive audio or visual media," commonly known as "deepfakes." Unlike older forms of audio or visual manipulation, the creator of a deepfake uses newer technology such as artificial intelligence with the intent of making it appear, as realistically as possible, that the person being depicted has engaged in activity that did not actually occur. Deepfakes have been intentionally used to embarrass or harass a person, or to cast that person in a false light. When the person being depicted is a child, deepfake technology has the potential to create realistic pornography involving the child. The penalty for non-consensual disclosure of deceptive audio or visual media is the same as for non-consensual disclosure of so-called "revenge porn" under the invasion of privacy statute, which under current law is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The penalty for deceptive audio or visual media depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child is the same as for distributing, possessing, or storing child pornography, which under current law is a crime of the second degree for less than 1,000 items and a crime of the first degree for 1,000 or more items. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the first degree is punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. The person depicted in the non-consensual disclosure may also bring a civil action in the Superior Court for invasion of privacy. | In Committee |
| A3916 | Establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with theft of motor vehicle be detained prior to trial under certain circumstances. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person charged with theft of a motor vehicle is subject to pretrial detention if, during the course of the theft, the person engaged in conduct that caused death or serious bodily injury to another person or engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person. Under current law, a person is guilty of theft of a motor vehicle if the person unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, another person's motor vehicle with the purpose to deprive that person of the motor vehicle. Theft of a motor vehicle is a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Additionally under current law, courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of defendants who are found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. The bill provides that if, upon motion by the prosecutor, the court finds probable cause a defendant committed theft of a motor vehicle, and during the course of the theft engaged in conduct that caused death or serious bodily injury to another person or engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person, there would be a rebuttable presumption that the person be detained pending trial because no amount of monetary bail, non-monetary conditions of release, or combination thereof would reasonably assure the safety of any other person or the community. The presumption may be rebutted by the defendant upon a showing of a preponderance of the evidence in support of the defendant. Under current law, this rebuttable presumption applies when the court finds probable cause that the defendant committed murder or any crime for which the defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment. | In Committee |
| A3909 | "Max's Law"; requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. | This bill, to be known as "Max's Law," requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under the bill, the instruction is required to include information on: (1) fentanyl and xylazine abuse prevention; (2) fentanyl and xylazine poisoning awareness; (3) the dangers of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl or any substituted derivative of fentanyl, xylazine, and counterfeit drugs; (4) recognizing the symptoms of fentanyl and xylazine poisoning; (5) how to respond to a fentanyl or xylazine poisoning emergency; and (6) laws that provide immunity or other protections for persons who report drug or alcohol use, or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol poisoning or overdoses for themselves or others. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate resources designed to implement the requirements established under the bill. The information is required to utilize information and resources provided by: (1) the National Institutes of Health; (2) the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; (3) the United States Department of Health and Human Services; (4) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; or (5) any State, county, or municipal department or agency. The bill requires the Department of Education to post and maintain on its Internet website: (1) information for instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine provided to school districts; (2) informational materials containing awareness and safety information for school staff, students, and parents, on opioid poisoning prevention; (3) information on outreach organizations with resources concerning opioid awareness and opioid poisoning prevention; and (4) preventative mental health resources available from applicable federal, state, county, or municipal departments and agencies. Xylazine, commonly referred to as "tranq," is a non-opioid sedatitve, or tranquilizer. While xylazine is not considered a controlled substance in the United States, it is not approved for use in people. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that xylazine and fentanyl mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine and to honor the memory of Max Lenowitz of Woodcliff Lake, a beloved son, brother, and friend, and the thousands of other New Jersey residents who have lost their lives to fentanyl or xylazine poisoning. | 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 |
| A3825 | Requires Department of Agriculture to establish program to make grants available to certain non-profit organizations for seafood gleaning operations; appropriates $250,000. | This bill would direct the Department of Agriculture ("department") to establish a program, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, to provide grants to support seafood gleaning programs operated by eligible non-profit organizations in the State. A nonprofit organization would be eligible for a grant under the program, in a maximum amount of up to $250,000 per program year, if the organization operates a seafood gleaning program, pursuant to which, gleaned seafood received from commercial fishermen, are donated, by the receiving nonprofit organization, to emergency feeding organizations and local distribution agencies for further distribution, thereby, to food insecure and low-income individuals and families in the State. In order to effectuate the grant program, the bill would require the department to: establish criteria, supplemental to, but consistent with, the basic eligibility criteria set forth in the bill, to be used in qualifying an eligible non-profit organization for a program grant award; adopt guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications; establish criteria for the evaluation and prioritization of program grant applications; identify the seafood gleaning-related project costs eligible for grant funding and the specific factors that will be considered, by the department, in determining the appropriate dollar amount of each grant award issued under the program; and identify the terms and conditions for the awarding and use of program grant funds, including, at a minimum, conditions requiring a grant recipient to report relevant information, to the department, regarding the recipient's expenditure of awarded grant funds. The bill would also require the department to submit a written report, to the Governor and the Legislature, identifying the name of each nonprofit organization awarded a program grant in the annual reporting period and providing, for each such grant recipient, a description of the organization's seafood gleaning program and identify the total amount of seafood donated, per year, through the gleaning program, the total number of employees and volunteers participating in the seafood gleaning program, and the total number, and location, of recipients of seafood that has been donated, under the gleaning program, during the reporting period. The bill would appropriate $250,000 from the General Fund, to the Department of Agriculture, to finance initial program grants and administrative costs. The bill would additionally require the Secretary of Agriculture to annually request additional appropriations, as part of the department's yearly budget proposal, as may be necessary to fund the grant program on an ongoing basis. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A3844 | Establishes certain requirements for social media websites concerning content moderation practices; establishes cause of action against social media websites for violation of content moderation practices. | This bill establishes a cause of action against social media websites for the censoring or banning of certain users. This bill authorizes the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General to bring an action under the New Jersey consumer fraud act against a social media website if the social media website fails to comply with the requirements set forth in the bill. Among other requirements enumerated in the bill, a social media website is to publish the standards it uses or has used for determining how to censor, "selectively suspend," and implement an "anonymous content or user ban," as these terms are defined in the bill, users and apply censorship, selective suspensions, and anonymous content or user banning standards in a consistent manner among its users on the platform. Additionally, social media websites are not to be permitted to apply or use post prioritization or anonymous content or user banning algorithms for content and material posted by or about a user who is known by the social media website to be a candidate for office or a journalistic enterprise, as those terms are defined in the bill. Finally, the bill establishes causes of actions along with setting damages for violations of the bill, in accordance with federal, State, and local laws. | In Committee |
| A3846 | Exempts cribs, child restraint systems, nursing bottles, and strollers from sales and use tax. | This bill exempts select baby products from the "Sales and Use Tax Act." Currently, the purchases of certain baby items such as cribs; child restraint systems; nursing bottles, nipples, and funnels; and strollers are subject to the sales and use tax. The bill would exempt these items from the tax to help reduce the costs of caring for an infant child. The bill defines a "child restraint system" as any device that is designed to protect, hold, or restrain an infant while riding in a motor vehicle to prevent or minimize injury and conforms with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also defines a "crib" as a bed or containment designed to accommodate an infant and a "stroller" as a non-motorized, wheeled vehicle designed to push or otherwise transport an infant including, but not limited to, a carriage, folding-type umbrella stroller, or full-size stroller. | In Committee |
| A3842 | Makes various revisions to nursing home regulations; makes appropriations. | This bill makes various revisions to nursing home regulations. Under the bill, the Department of Health (department) is to conduct unannounced, biennial, on-site inspections of each nursing home in this State. The department is to post on its Internet website each inspection report prepared following an inspection of a nursing home within 90 days of the inspection. The bill provides that a nursing home is to afford each resident the opportunity to visit with a physician or an advanced practice nurse every 15 days, if such periodic visits are medically necessary. The bill amends P.L.2020, c.112 to increase the nursing home staff-to-resident ratio in the following manner: (1) one certified nurse aide to every seven residents, instead of eight residents as provided under current law, for the day shift; and (2) one direct care staff member to every nine residents, instead of 10 residents as provided under current law, for the evening shift. The bill amends P.L.1977, c.239 to require the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to employ geriatric social workers to meet with nursing home residents on a regular basis for the purpose of addressing concerns regarding the legal, financial, and service needs of nursing home residents, in a manner to be determined by the ombudsman. The bill appropriates funds to the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman that are necessary to pay for the office's compliance with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| A3589 | Provides that salary and other costs associated with Commissioner of Education's appointment of State monitor and other staff under "School District Fiscal Accountability Act" will be paid by State. | This bill provides that the salary and other costs associated with a State monitor and any additional staff appointed by the Commissioner of Education under the provisions of the "School District Fiscal Accountability Act," P.L.2006, c.15 (C.18A:7A-54 et seq.), to provide direct oversight of a board of education's business operations and personnel matters will be paid by the State. Under current law, these costs are assumed by the school district. It is the sponsor's contention that the current State policy requiring school districts to assume the costs of a State appointed monitor can result in a perfect "Catch 22" for districts experiencing fiscal distress, forcing them to spend scarce resources to prove that they have scarce resources. A perfect example is that of the Jackson Township, New Jersey school district. Prior to the enactment of the State law that currently dictates school funding, commonly known as "S2," the district had no serious fiscal issues. Now, six years later, the district has lost approximately $20 million in State aid, resulting in the elimination of 215 positions, including both teachers and non-instructional staff. The district has had to request a $13.9 million loan from the State to balance its 2023-2024 budget. According to the sponsor, it is blatantly obvious to even a casual observer that the Jackson Township school district is experiencing dire fiscal stress, and the State's requirement that the district pay for a monitor hired by the State to prove this only compounds this problem. This bill squarely places the burden of payment for the monitor where it truly belongs, on the State. | In Committee |
| A3586 | Elevates leaving scene of accident resulting in death to crime of first degree. | This bill elevates the crime of leaving the scene of an accident from a crime of the second degree to a crime of the first degree if the accident results in the death of another person. Current law provides that a motor vehicle operator who knows he is involved in an accident and knowingly leaves the scene of that accident under circumstances that violate the law which requires that the operator (1) provide appropriate identification, (2) render assistance to any victim, and (3) when necessary, contact law enforcement, is guilty of a crime of the second degree if the accident results in the death of another person. A crime of the second degree is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000 or both. This bill will elevate leaving the scene of an accident to a crime of the first degree if the accident results in death of another person. A crime of the first degree is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. | 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 |
| A3489 | Broadens riot and disorderly conduct; enhances penalties for public monument destruction; addresses riot victim assaults; creates crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. | In light of the exponentially greater risk of injury and damage caused by crowd based destructive behavior, this omnibus bill addresses certain violent crime committed during the course of riot. Presently, a person is guilty of riot if he participates with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct with an unlawful purpose, enumerated in the statute. This bill expands the categories of unlawful purposes to include when the actor causes damage to property or injury to another. Riot under these circumstances is a crime of the fourth degree punishably by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under the bill, a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if, during a riot, he violates N.J.S.A.2C:33-2, Disorderly conduct, in a place of public accommodation. "Place of public accommodation, resort or amusement" includes any inn, tavern, road house or hotel, whether for entertainment of transient guests or accommodation of those seeking health, recreation or rest; any restaurant, eating house, or place where food is sold for consumption on the premises; any place maintained for sale of ice cream, ice and fruit preparations or their derivatives, soda water or confections, or where any beverages of any kind are retailed for consumption on the premises; any garage, any public conveyance operated on land or water, and stations and terminals thereof; any public bathhouse, public boardwalk, public seashore accommodation; any theater, or other place of public amusement, motion-picture house, airdrome, music hall, roof garden, skating rink, amusement and recreation park, fair, bowling alley, gymnasium, shooting gallery, billiard and pool parlor; any dispensary, clinic, hospital, public library, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the regents of the State of New Jersey. Under these circumstances, the offense is a crime of the fourth degree. The bill amends N.J.S.A2C:33-7, Obstructing highways and other public passages, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if a person, who, having no legal privilege to do so, purposely or recklessly obstructs any highway or other public passage in the course of committing riot or disorderly conduct. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:33-9, Desecration of venerated objects, to elevate the offense to a crime of the fourth degree if the desecration occurs during a riot. The term desecrate is clarified to include conduct such as actual destruction or the toppling of a monument. The bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1, Assault. Currently, the statute enumerates the circumstances when aggravated assault occurs; this bill adds the additional circumstance. Under the bill, a person is guilty of aggravated assault if he attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another in the course of a riot. Aggravated assault under this circumstance is a crime of the third degree, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Additionally, paragraph (5) of subsection b. of N.J.S.A.2C:12-1 elevates simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against certain categories of persons, including when committed against a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the officer's duties while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of authority or because of the officer's status as a law enforcement officer, and is graded as a crime of the third degree. Under the bill, if, in the course of a riot, an object is thrown at a law enforcement officer, or if the law enforcement officer is struck, whether or not with an object, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a first offense of a crime of the third degree shall not apply, and a mandatory period of six months imprisonment shall apply. The bill creates the new crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly. A person promotes violent, disorderly assembly if he conspires with others as an organizer, supervisor, financier or manager to commit any crime specified in chapters 11 through 18, 20, 33, 35, or 37 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; N.J.S.2C:34-1; N.J.S.2C:39-3; N.J.S.2C:39-4; section 1 of P.L.1998, c.26 (C.2C:39-4.1); N.J.S.2C:39-5; or N.J.S.2C:39-9 in the course of a riot or at the site of a peaceable assembly. Promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a crime of one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime referred to in subsection a. of this section, except that where the underlying offense is a crime of the first degree, promotion of violent, disorderly assembly is a first degree crime and the defendant, upon conviction, and notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a of N.J.S.2C:43-6, shall be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 15 and 30 years. This bill is based upon a legislation concept entitled, "Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act," articulated in the media concerning an announcement made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. | In Committee |
| A3490 | Establishes increased penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on public beaches. | The New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act (the Act) prohibits the smoking of cannabis and marijuana, as well as cigarettes, on a public beach. Penalties for smoking in violation of the Act are $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. This bill increases the penalties for smoking cannabis or marijuana on a public beach to $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $1,500 for the third and subsequent offenses. The penalties for smoking cigarettes on a public beach would remain unchanged. Beach towns in New Jersey have experienced difficulty in enforcing the Act in light of the legalization of recreational cannabis and the decriminalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. It is the sponsor's view that these increased penalties will help deter the smoking of cannabis and marijuana on public beaches in this State. | In Committee |
| A3491 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| A3486 | Requires notification of certain domestic violence victims through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday System (VINE). | Currently, the Attorney General operates the Victim Information and Notification Everyday System (VINE) pursuant to Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2005-5. Under the VINE system, crime victims are notified when a defendant is released from custody. The bill would expand the use of the VINE system to include domestic violence victims on whose behalf a restraining order has been entered. Under current law, N.J.S.A.2C:25-26.1 requires the prosecutor to notify the victim when a defendant charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence is released from custody. Under the bill, this section of law would also provide for notification to a victim on whose behalf a final or temporary restraining order or protective order has been entered when the status of the person subject to the domestic violence restraining order has changed, including but not limited to, when the person is released from custody, discharged or transferred from custody or released on bail for a violation of a restraining order or for any crime or offense. The bill also provides that the victim's location would remain confidential and not appear on any documents or records to which the defendant would have access. | In Committee |
| A3488 | Lowers monetary threshold for certain motor vehicle theft to constitute second degree crime. | Currently, theft offenses are graded based primarily on the value of the item involved or, for second and third degree crimes, graded by the attendant circumstances or category. Thus, a theft is graded as a crime of the second degree crime if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. A theft is graded as a crime of the third degree if the amount involved exceeds $500 but is less than $75,000. A theft is graded as a crime of the fourth degree if the amount involved is at least $200 but does not exceed $500. This bill would lower the monetary threshold for motor vehicle theft to constitute a crime of the second degree. Under the bill, a motor vehicle valued at $25,000 or more would be a crime of the second degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A motor vehicle valued at less than $25,000 would remain a crime of the third degree. | 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 |
| A3492 | Concerns penalties for possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons. | This bill concerns the penalties for possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons. Under current law, any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items who possesses or consumes alcoholic beverages or cannabis items, marijuana, or hashish in any school, public conveyance, public place, place of public assembly, or motor vehicle is subject to certain consequences, including a written warning by a law enforcement officer to the underage person and if the person is under 18 years of age, a written notification to the person's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the underage person. For certain violations, the law enforcement officer is also to provide informational materials about how to access community services that will assist the person with opportunities to access further social services. Finally, current law provides that the officer is also to take possession of any alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item and any drug or cannabis paraphernalia. This bill reinstates the penalties for possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons that were in place prior to the enactment of P.L.2021, c.25 and P.L.2021, c.38 . Under this bill, any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who possesses or consumes any alcoholic beverage in any school, public conveyance, public place, place of public assembly, or motor vehicle is guilty of a disorderly persons offense and is to be fined not less than $500. In addition, when the offense is committed in a motor vehicle, the court is required to suspend or postpone the driving privileges of the defendant for six months. The court may also require the defendant to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program. Further, current law prohibits certain actions by law enforcement officers with respect to violations for the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages and marijuana, hashish, or cannabis item by underage persons, including: 1) providing that a person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items is not capable of giving lawful consent to a search to determine a violation of current law and prohibiting an officer from requesting that a person consent to such a search; 2) providing that the odor of an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis, or burnt marijuana, hashish, cannabis or cannabis item does not constitute reasonable articulable suspicion to initiate an investigatory stop of a person or probable cause to initiate a search of a person or the person's property to determine a violation of current law and that the unconcealed possession of these items observed in plain sight by an officer does not constitute probable cause to initiate a search of the person or the person's property to determine a further violation of law; 3) providing that an underage person who possesses or consumes alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item in violation of current law is not to be subject to arrest, transported to a police station, police headquarters, or other place of law enforcement operations and shall not be subject to detention or taken into custody, with certain limited exceptions; 4) prohibiting a law enforcement officer from deactivating a body worn camera at the request of the person who is the subject of a responsive call for service or law enforcement or investigative encounter related to a violation for underage possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage, cannabis items, marijuana, or hashish; and 5) providing that an underage person who violates current law regarding the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, cannabis items, marijuana, or hashish is not to be photographed or fingerprinted. Under this bill, the prohibitions set forth above would not apply to actions taken by law enforcement with respect to the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages by underage persons. In addition, current law provides that a law enforcement officer is guilty of the crime of official deprivation of civil rights for violating any provisions of current law that address law enforcement actions involving persons who are under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items. Under this bill, law enforcement actions involving persons who are under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages would not be included in this provision. Finally, under current law, the Attorney General is to biannually issue a report detailing the number of occurrences and other statistics concerning first, second, third, and subsequent violations involving the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or cannabis items by underage persons, the municipal, county, or other geographic areas within which first, second, third, and subsequent violations occur, and the law enforcement agencies involved in first, second, third, and subsequent violation, covering the previous six month period. This bill removes the requirement for the report to contain this information regarding the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons as these persons would no longer be issued first, second, third and subsequent violations under the bill. | In Committee |
| AR96 | Condemns Hamas for its attacks on Israel and supports Israel's right to exist. | 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 its right to exist. | In Committee |
| A3449 | Provides that school districts spending below adequacy are not subject to certain State school aid reductions. | P.L.2018, c.67 (C.18A:7F-67 et al.), commonly referred to as "S-2," stipulates that State school aid to certain school districts is to be reduced in accordance with a schedule detailed in the law. Under section 4 of P.L.2018, c.67 (C.18A:7F-68), certain school districts are not subject to State aid reductions: 1) SDA (former Abbott) districts that spend below adequacy and are located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate exceeds the Statewide average; and 2) non-SDA districts that spend below adequacy by at least 10 percent and are located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate exceeds the Statewide average by more than 10 percent. This bill provides that any school district that is spending below adequacy is not subject to State school aid reductions under P.L.2018, c.67. | In Committee |
| A3356 | Provides tuition-free credits to certain instituitions of higher education for certain law enforcement officers and firefighters and their spouses and dependents. | This bill provides that retired law enforcement officers and retired firefighters are permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at public institutions of higher education or degree-granting proprietary institutions and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free, for a maximum of eight semesters, provided that:· the officer or firefighter retired because of a service-related injury or illness pursuant to certain enumerated sections of State law or any substantially similar statute governing the disability retirement of federal law enforcement officers or firefighters;· the retired officer or firefighter is enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at the institution in good standing, or in a degree-granting program at a qualified proprietary institution in good standing; and· the retired officer or firefighter has applied for all available federal and State student grants and scholarships for which the officer is eligible. Under the bill, the State will reimburse an institution for the tuition of each eligible retired law enforcement officer and firefighter who enrolls in the institution to the extent that the tuition cost is not paid through federal and State student grants and scholarships. The bill also provides that the dependent child or spouse of a law enforcement officer or a firefighter who was a New Jersey resident and who died in the line of duty is permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at a public institution of higher education or a degree-granting proprietary institution and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free, for a maximum of eight semesters, provided that the dependent child or spouse: · is a New Jersey resident;· meets the grade point average requirements of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy;· is accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution. In the event that the spouse has completed an undergraduate degree program prior to the time of the law enforcement officer's or firefighter's death, the spouse shall be entitled to enroll, tuition-free, in a graduate degree program offered by a public institution of higher education, excluding any medical, dental, or law programs; and· applies for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the dependent child or spouse is eligible. Under the bill, the State will reimburse each public institution of higher education or degree-granting proprietary institution for the costs of waiving tuition pursuant to this act. | 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 |
| A3358 | Heightens grade of theft if property stolen is catalytic converter. | This bill increases the penalty for theft of a catalytic converter. Currently, theft offenses are graded based primarily on the value of the item involved or, for second and third degree crimes, graded by the attendant circumstances or category. This bill directs that if the property stolen is a catalytic converter, theft constitutes a crime one degree higher than the underlying theft offense. | In Committee |
| A802 | "Barnegat Bay Protection Act"; establishes Barnegat Bay Protection Fund, dedicates portion of sales tax on fertilizer, authorizes special license plates, and provides for donations. | This bill, to be known as the "Barnegat Bay Protection Act," would establish the "Barnegat Bay Protection Fund" to support and help protect, preserve, and remediate the Barnegat Bay estuary and its watershed. The fund would be supported through: (1) dedication of a portion of the sales tax on lawn fertilizer; (2) authorization of special Protect Barnegat Bay license plates; and (3) donations, including those that may be at the time of application or renewal of a license to operate a personal watercraft or power vessel and registration or renewal of a vessel, and at the time a beach badge or tag fee is collected anywhere in the State. Monies in the fund would be used exclusively for the purposes of preservation and remediation of the Barnegat Bay estuary watershed, which may include a public education campaign about the importance of protecting the Barnegat Bay and measures and actions that can be taken to preserve it. Section 3 of the bill establishes the Barnegat Bay Protection Fund, a special non-lapsing fund in the Department of the Treasury. Monies deposited into the fund would include the amounts collected from specialty license plate fees, donations at the time of boat registration or renewal, the dedication of 1% of the sales tax on lawn fertilizer, and donations at the point of purchase of a beach registration fee (i.e., a beach badge or beach tag), or other donations made to the fund. Monies deposited are to be distributed, at the discretion of the State Treasurer in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and expended exclusively for the purposes of the preservation and remediation of the Barnegat Bay estuary watershed. The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, would annually submit to the Legislature a report on the fund, concerning the monies received and spent. The bill authorizes the solicitation and acceptance of donations, by gift, bequest, or devise, from any person or entity, for deposit into the "Barnegat Bay Protection Fund." The bill also provides that 1% of the sales and use tax collected only on the retail sale of lawn fertilizer would be deposited into the fund. The bill would authorize a Protect Barnegat Bay license plate, which would indicate support for, and an interest in, funding the protection, preservation and remediation of the Barnegat Bay estuary watershed. The design of the license plate would be chosen by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. There would be a $50 initial fee in addition to the registration fees required by law, and in addition to the renewal fees required by law, a $10 annual renewal fee, which would be deposited into the Barnegat Bay Protection Fund. At the time the fee is paid for a license to operate a personal watercraft or power vessel, or for the registration or renewal of a certificate of number (registration) for a vessel, the Chief Administrator of the MVC, or the chief administrator's representative, would inform an applicant that they may make a donation to the Barnegat Bay Protection Fund and how that donation may be made. A donation would be paid to the chief administrator and forwarded to the State Treasurer for deposit into the Barnegat Bay Protection Fund. An applicant could not be denied an operator's license or a certificate of registration based on whether the person did or did not donate to the fund. Finally, the bill provides that, for any municipality charging and collecting a beach badge or beach tag fee, the municipality may provide an opportunity for a person purchasing a badge or tag to donate to the Barnegat Bay Protection Fund at the time the fee is collected. Any monies collected from donations made at the point of purchase of a beach badge or tag would be forwarded to the State Treasurer to be deposited into the fund. A municipality would be prohibited from denying the purchase of a beach badge or tag based on whether a person did or did not donate to the fund. | In Committee |
| A748 | Requires police notification when driver license is suspended. | R.S.39:5-30 authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to suspend or revoke a person's driver's license for a violation of Title 39, the motor vehicle code, or on other reasonable grounds. Upon the suspension or revocation of a person's driver's license, this bill requires the chief administrator to notify, in writing, the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over where the person resides. The bill also makes technical changes to the statute. | In Committee |
| A1050 | Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption. | This bill would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality for the cost of complying with the State mandate of affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. The bill would require the State to cover the cost of the actual taxes exempted plus the administrative costs incurred by municipalities in connection with the reimbursement program. Under current law, each municipality must individually make up for any lost revenue resulting from a parcel of property being exempted from property taxation because of its ownership by a disabled veteran. This often results in an increase in taxes to other property taxpayers in the municipality or a reduction in municipal services. Because the number of qualifying disabled veterans varies from municipality to municipality, compliance with the State policy to exempt disabled veterans' property taxes impacts upon some municipalities more greatly than on others resulting in inequity. This bill would put an end to that inequity by having the State reimburse each municipality for the cost of complying with the State mandate of affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. | In Committee |
| A809 | Requires law enforcement officers to issue preliminary suspension of driver's license for certain drunk driving offenses. | This bill requires law enforcement officers to issue an immediate preliminary suspension of a person's driver's license for certain drunk driving offenses. Under the bill, a law enforcement officer is required to issue an immediate preliminary suspension of the driver's license of any person who is arrested for driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a breath test, or, in the case of a person who under 21 years of age, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more, but less than 0.08 percent. If the person's driver's license was issued in another state, the law enforcement officer is required to issue an immediate preliminary suspension of the nonresident reciprocity privilege. In addition, the bill requires the law enforcement officer to immediately confiscate the person's driver's license, unless the driver's license was issued by another state. Under the provisions of this bill, the law enforcement officer is required to forward to the chief administrator the confiscated driver's license, the notice of the immediate preliminary suspension of the driver's license or nonresident reciprocity privilege, and a report which is to include the reason for the suspension. In addition, the bill requires the chief administrator to notify, in writing, the person whose driver's license or nonresident reciprocity privilege was suspended that the person has the right to request a hearing to contest the issuance of the suspension. The bill provides that a person may request a hearing by notifying the chief administrator within 10 days from the date on which the notice informing the person of the right to the hearing was mailed. A hearing is required to be held by an administrative law judge within 10 days of receipt of a request for a hearing. The bill provides that the purpose of the hearing is to determine if, pending adjudication of the charge against the person by a municipal court, the preliminary suspension issued by the law enforcement officer under the bill's provisions is to remain in effect. At the hearing, the judge is to determine by clear and convincing evidence if there was a factual basis upon which the person was initially stopped by the law enforcement officer and whether the person was properly charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a breath test, or, in the case of a person under 21 years of age, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or more, but less than 0.08 percent and if so, the preliminary suspension is to be continued pending adjudication of the charge against the person by the municipal court. Finally, the bill provides that the period of preliminary suspension imposed under the bill is to be deducted from any suspension imposed as a result of the adjudication of the charge against the person by a municipal court. | In Committee |
| A784 | Allows certain drug dealing offenses to be graded by "units," rather than weight, of controlled dangerous substances. | This bill would establish new classification schemes for certain controlled dangerous substances. Currently, the seriousness of a drug distribution offense is measured by reference to the amount, or weight, of controlled dangerous substances involved. However, some controlled dangerous substances, such as LSD and methamphetamine, are not sold by weight and are difficult to measure by weight. This bill would give prosecutors the option to grade the seriousness of a drug distribution offense by reference to the number of units involved, rather than the weight of the drugs. Under this bill, a unit would be defined as either the smallest discrete pill, tablet, capsule, vial, packet, fold or other unit of distribution or packaging of the controlled dangerous substance, or the amount which is commonly distributed for consumption at one time by an individual to achieve the desired effect, whichever method of measurement is less. This new classification scheme is intended to more accurately grade the crime of distributing particular substances such as LSD and methamphetamine, and also to more accurately grade such crimes as the packaging of illicit substances for street level distribution. The new scheme is intended to give prosecutors an additional tool to use in charging those involved in drug trafficking. In many cases, it would have the effect of granting prosecutors the option to charge a defendant with a higher level offense than would otherwise be possible under current law. The charge by "units" would apply only to persons who distribute or possess illicit drugs with the intent to distribute. It would not be used to determine the seriousness of "simple possession" drug offenses. The bill would establish a new classification scheme for the crime of distribution of heroin to make the weights comparable, in terms of amounts commonly consumed, to the weights required for cocaine. Under current law, the distribution of heroin and cocaine are punishable as if they were the same substance. However, heroin provides more pharmacological effect from a given weight than does cocaine. Thus, in effect, the current statutes allow those who distribute heroin to be treated more leniently than those who distribute cocaine. Consequently, the new classification scheme established under the bill for the crime of distribution of heroin and cocaine would be as follows: A person would be guilty of a crime of the first degree for distributing or possessing with intent to distribute the following: · one ounce or more of heroin (instead of the current five ounces or more), or· five ounces or more of cocaine (same as current law), or· 500 or more units of either cocaine or heroin. A person would be guilty of a crime of the second degree for distributing or possessing with intent to distribute the following:· one-quarter ounce or more but less than one ounce of heroin (instead of the current one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces ), or· one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces of cocaine (same as current law), or· 100 or more units but fewer than 500 units of cocaine or heroin. A person would be guilty of a crime of the third degree for distributing or possessing with intent to distribute the following:· less than one quarter ounce (instead of the current less than one-half ounce) of heroin, or· less than one-half ounce of cocaine (same as current law), or· fewer than 100 units of cocaine or heroin. The mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment under the statute and the mandatory minimum fines remain unchanged. The bill would also add the "units" measurement scheme for the following: (1) the first degree crimes of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute: (a) lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or its analog, in a quantity of 100 milligrams or more or 500 or more units; or phencyclidine, or its analog, in a quantity of 10 grams or more or 500 or more units; or (b) Methamphetamine, or its analog, or P2P, in a quantity of five ounces or more or 500 or more units. (2) the second degree crimes of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute: (a) lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or its analog, in a quantity of less than 100 milligrams grams or 100 or more units but fewer than 500 units or phencyclidine, or its analog, in a quantity of less than 10 grams or 100 or more units but fewer than 500 units; or (b) Methamphetamine, or P2P, in a quantity of one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces or 100 or more units but fewer than 500 units. (The third degree crime concerning a quantity of less than one-half ounce remains the same.) The gradation scheme for distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish remain the same as does the gradation scheme for controlled dangerous substances classified in Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V. | 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 |
| A1045 | Requires water purveyors to notify municipalities they service regarding water supply and water quality issues. | This bill requires every water purveyor to file quarterly and annual reports with the municipalities they service regarding the adequacy and water quality of the water furnished to its users. Specifically, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would require every water purveyor that owns or operates a public community water system to submit quarterly and annual reports to the governing body of each municipality within its service area to ensure that these governing bodies are provided with adequate and accurate reports regarding the developed water supply available for local water users. These quarterly reports are to include the following information: (1) the term of the allocation permit; (2) the maximum allowable diversion, expressed in terms of a daily, monthly or annual diversion; (3) the permitted allocation and the specific water sources utilized therefor; (4) whether the water purveyor has exceeded the permitted allocation during any particular time period; and (5) whether the water purveyor is seeking an increase in the water allocation due to planned development projects, and updates of the status of any such projects or applications before the DEP. The reports would also include an annual assessment by the water purveyor, based on service area planning, regarding the timeframe for the anticipated utilization of the entire water allotment in the allocation permit and the need for acquiring an additional water allotment by contract or application to the DEP therefor. Whenever a water purveyor exceeds its permitted allocation, the bill requires the water purveyor to publish a notice of this water usage in at least one newspaper circulating within the affected service area, including an explanation of conservation methods necessary to ensure the continued viability of the public water system and anticipated alternatives for the water purveyor to acquire an additional water allotment by contract or application to the department therefor. The bill also requires every water purveyor to file quarterly sampling reports with the municipalities they service regarding the water quality of the developed water supply available for its users. The compliance sampling reports are required to contain the sampling results for inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, and radionuclides, and be prepared in a format prescribed by and on forms available from the DEP. The bill directs the DEP to adopt rules and regulations to implement the requirements imposed by the bill. These rules and regulations are to specify the responsibilities of water purveyors, whether public or private, with respect to the reporting and notification requirements of the bill. In addition, the bill imposes penalties on water purveyors for violations of the provisions of the bill. A water purveyor who knowingly (1) makes any false or misleading statement on any report or notice required to be submitted under the bill, or (2) fails to submit any report or publish a notice required under the bill, would, upon conviction, be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and would be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 for the first offense and not more than $100,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. Lastly, the bill updates the definition section of the law and makes other technical amendments to the "Water Supply Management Act." | In Committee |
| A769 | Extends deadline for midpoint status report of municipal fair share affordable housing obligation compliance. | This bill would provide municipalities with an additional year to comply with midpoint realistic opportunity reviews, which are required by the "Fair Housing Act," P.L.1985, c.222 (C:52:27D-301 et al.) and by many settlement agreements between municipalities and the Fair Share Housing Center. Midpoint opportunity reviews are required in order to review a municipality's status in implementing its housing element and fair share plan. Many midpoint realistic opportunity reviews are due for submission by July 1, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only slowed the economy, but also slowed the operation of municipal government. In response to these circumstances, this bill is intended to provide municipalities with additional time, one year to be exact, to present the status of the implementation of their approved housing elements and fair share plans through the midpoint. | In Committee |
| A831 | Prohibits imposition of civil penalties on State agencies by State agencies. | This bill prohibits State agencies from assessing imposing, or enforcing civil penalties on State agencies, or a division, board, bureau or office of such an agency. Under current law, there is no prohibition which would prevent a State agency from seeking penalties against an agency or an entity in an agency. | In Committee |
| A830 | Creates toll relief program; appropriates $250 million to NJTA and $250 million to SJTA. | This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (authorities) to each create a toll relief program to provide a qualifying account that records 35 or more qualifying transactions per electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass) transponder for the calendar month with an account credit equal to 50 percent of the amount paid in that calendar month for the qualifying transactions per transponder. As defined in the bill, a qualifying account is a private prepaid E-ZPass account. The account credit is required to be posted to the qualifying account no later than one month after the credit is earned. The authorities are required to prepare and submit quarterly reports to the Governor and Legislature documenting reimbursements issued under the toll relief program. The bill appropriates $250 million to the NJTA and $250 million to the SJTA from the General Fund to support the provision of account credits issued under the toll relief programs. The authorities are prohibited from using appropriated funds for administration, contracted services, or expenses of the authority, or any contractor or vendor thereof. The bill expires one year following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| A1052 | Requires issuance of tourniquets to law enforcement officers; requires emergency service vehicles be equipped with tourniquets. | This bill requires tourniquets to be issued to all State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers and requires all emergency service vehicles to be equipped with a tourniquet. Tourniquets are not currently issued to all law enforcement officers in this State. In addition, tourniquets are not currently included as part of the basic equipment and supplies required for emergency vehicles pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Health. In the United States, the use of tourniquets fell out of favor following the civil war when they were questioned due to complications associated with their indiscriminate use. Until recently, tourniquets were thought to be a last resort, to be used only when more conventional methods (direct pressure, elevation, pressure point, and pressure dressing) were unsuccessful. In recent years there has been a resurgence in the use of tourniquets. The "first use" of the tourniquet has been found to save numerous lives in a number of emergencies including the Boston Marathon bombings and active shooter incidents. Victims of motor vehicle accidents have been saved in New Jersey by officers to whom tourniquets have been issued. It is the sponsor's view that these life-saving tools should be issued to all law enforcement officers, and be part of the basic equipment and supplies required for emergency vehicles in this State. Under the bill, a tourniquet is required to be issued to every State, county, and municipal law enforcement officer, and every basic life support ambulance and mobility assistance vehicle licensed by the Department of Health is required to be equipped with a tourniquet. The cost of the tourniquets issued to law enforcement officers under the bill may be funded by forfeiture funds received by the Attorney General as instrumentalities of crime. Finally, the bill authorizes the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Health to promulgate guidelines or directives in order to enforce the provisions of the bill. | 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 |
| ACR31 | Applies to Congress for an Article V Convention of States to limit certain powers of the federal government and terms of office. | This Assembly concurrent resolution applies to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for its officials. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1044 | Requires labeling of ingredients and restricts phosphorus in household cleansing products. | This bill would restrict the amount of phosphorus in household cleansing products and require the labeling of certain ingredients, such as phosphorus, in household cleansing products. The bill would prohibit the distribution, selling, or offering for sale of any household cleansing product unless its wrapper or container is labeled to identify the weight of each ingredient the Commissioner of Environmental Protections determines may adversely affect human health or the environment. The bill would also generally prohibit any household cleansing product from being distributed, sold, or offered for sale in the State if it contains a phosphorus compound other than trace concentrations. However, a household cleansing product could be distributed, sold, or offered for sale in the State if it contains a phosphorus compound not more than: 0.5% by weight, for a product used in dishwashers; and 8.7% by weight for a product used in food and beverage processing equipment and dairy equipment. A person could distribute, sell, or offer for sale existing stock of household cleansing products only for a period of up to one year beyond the date of enactment of this bill into law. A person who violates the labeling requirement or sale restrictions, set forth in section 2 or 3 of the bill, would be subject to a penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each offense. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. Under the bill, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) may adopt rules and regulations to require manufacturers of household cleansing products to submit certain information to the DEP, which would also be posted on the DEP website. A number of states have taken action to restrict the amount of phosphorus in household cleaning products, and at least 17 states restrict phosphorus in dishwashing detergents. | In Committee |
| A799 | Provides State income tax credit for removal of lawns near Barnegat Bay. | This bill authorizes a recurring annual tax credit of $250 against the State income tax to owners of properties situated within 1,000 feet of Barnegat Bay and its tributaries who replace grass lawns with stone, crushed shells, or other similar materials. Property owners with existing stone or crushed shell lawns would also be eligible for this benefit. The bill's objective is to provide an incentive to property owners to reduce the amount of lawn fertilizers and other chemical agents used in landscaping that flow into Barnegat Bay. These substances are believed to be one of the major causes of the degradation of the bay's waters and ecosystems. | In Committee |
| A1057 | Raises minimum amounts of property damage liability, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist coverage for certain automobile insurance policies. | This bill raises the minimum amounts of property damage liability, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist coverage for certain automobile insurance policies. Under this bill, the minimum amount of coverage for uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage under a standard automobile insurance policy is raised to $50,000 for an accident causing bodily injury or death to a single person, $100,000 for an accident causing the injury or death of more than one person, and $25,000 for damage to property in an accident that does not involve hit and run motor vehicles. Additionally, this bill raises the minimum amount of liability coverage for property damage under a basic automobile insurance policy to $15,000 per accident. | In Committee |
| A266 | Prohibits award of custody or visitation rights to persons convicted of certain sex crimes against minors. | This bill expands the types of crimes for which a conviction would prohibit an award of custody of or visitation rights to a child. The bill is similar to legislation recently enacted in Oklahoma. Under current law, pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.9:2-4.1, a person convicted of sexual assault shall not be awarded custody of or visitation rights to any minor child, including a minor child who was born as a result of or was the victim of the sexual assault, except upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child for custody or visitation rights to be awarded. Pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.9:2-4.1, except upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child for custody or visitation rights to be awarded, a person convicted of sexual contact or of endangering the welfare of a child shall not be awarded custody of or visitation rights to any minor child. The bill would add additional criminal acts of a sexual nature to the statute. Under the bill, additional crimes for which a conviction would prohibit an award of custody of or visitation rights to a child, except upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child for custody or visitation rights to be awarded, include: first degree kidnapping under paragraph (2) of subsection c. of N.J.S.2C:13-1; criminal sexual contact under N.J.S.2C:14-3; luring or enticing a child under N.J.S.2C:13-6 when the person convicted has also any time been convicted under N.J.S.2C:14-2, subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3, or N.J.S.2C:24-4; human trafficking under N.J.S.2C:13-8 when the conviction is based on the person knowingly holding, recruiting, luring, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining, by any means, another, to engage in sexual activity as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:34-1; lewdness under paragraph (1) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:14-4; promoting prostitution of the actor's child or a child under the age of 18, or engaging in prostitution with a child under the age of 18 under paragraphs (3), (4), or (7) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:34-1. This bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| A819 | Requires mortgage lenders to maintain vacant, age-restricted dwelling units during foreclosure. | This bill places certain obligations on creditors to maintain vacant dwelling units in age-restricted communities during foreclosure. The bill provides that if the owner of a dwelling unit in an age-restricted community vacates or abandons a unit on which a foreclosure proceeding has been initiated or if a unit becomes vacant at any point subsequent to the creditor's filing the summons and complaint in an action to foreclose on a mortgage against the unit, but prior to vesting of title in the creditor or any other third party, a representative of the community may notify the creditor of the vacancy. The creditor, in addition to any other applicable responsibilities under the current provisions of section 17 of P.L.2008, c.127 (C.46:10B-51) with respect to maintaining residential property, would then have the responsibility, in the same manner and to the same extent as the title owner of the unit pursuant to the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the community, to: (1) pay the unit's monthly maintenance fee and the unit's share of any other common expenses of administering, maintaining, or operating the community; and (2) maintain the unit. If the creditor is required to pay any outstanding fees or incurs expenses towards the maintenance of a vacant or abandoned property, the creditor may include these costs in any foreclosure or other action against the title owner. If the creditor, subsequent to receipt of notice from the community, fails to pay the monthly maintenance fee or other common expenses, or fails to maintain the dwelling unit pursuant to the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the community, the community shall have the same recourse against the creditor as it would have against the title owner of the unit pursuant to the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the community. The bill provides that the nonpayment of any condominium or age-restricted community unit's monthly maintenance fee and the unit's share of any other common expenses would be an indicia of vacancy or abandonment under section 1 of P.L.2012, c.70 (C.2A:50-73). | In Committee |
| A828 | Prohibits download or use of TikTok application on any State-issued electronic device. | This bill prohibits the download or use of the social media application TikTok and visiting the TikTok Internet website, or that of any successor application or service, on State-issued electronic devices. On November 17, 2022, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the United States House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, present a significant security risk to the people of New Jersey and the United States. TikTok collects massive amounts of user data, which can be accessed by ByteDance employees. This includes employees in ByteDance's offices in China. Director Wray also testified that Chinese law allows the government to access data obtained from companies headquartered there. This combination of access and Chinese law may expose Americans to the risk of data collection and influence campaigns by the Chinese government. By prohibiting TikTok on State-issued devices, this bill protects the people of New Jersey and the State government from these security risks. The bill also provides an exception for law enforcement officers using TikTok in investigative activities. The Attorney General will establish guidelines for the appropriate use of TikTok as an investigative tool. | 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 |
| A803 | Prohibits persons violating animal cruelty law from owning, keeping, or harboring animals; requires DHSS establish and maintain website list of such persons. | This bill prohibits any person found guilty of, or liable for, a violation of the State animal cruelty laws from owning, keeping, or harboring an animal. The bill prohibits any such person from licensing or registering a dog or cat. The bill also provides for the seizure and confiscation of animals from people convicted of, or liable for, a violation of the animal cruelty laws. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Senior Services to establish a readily identifiable location on the department's website where any member of the public may access the list of such violators. The department is currently required to maintain such a list for persons ineligible to be animal control officers. The bill further directs the department to confirm there are no changes to the online list or update the online list at that location at least every 30 days. Finally, the bill directs the department to issue to each municipal clerk, and to each kennel, shelter, pound, and pet shop known to the department, as soon as practicable, a notice in writing with information about the list and how it can be accessed. | In Committee |
| A833 | Reinstates penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcohol and cannabis as disorderly person offense. | This bill reinstates the criminal penalty for underage possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages, cannabis, marijuana, and hashish as a disorderly person offense. A disorderly person offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. This bill also re-establishes a minimum fine of $500 and re-establishes the penalty of a six month suspension of driving privileges. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement, Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act" ("CREAMMA"), P.L.2021, c.16, established a penalty for underage possession and consumption of cannabis and marijuana equivalent to the penalty for underage alcohol. Shortly after CREAMMA was enacted, the criminal penalties for underage alcohol and cannabis were replaced with a system of non-punitive written warnings, under P.L.2021, c.25, and P.L.2021, c.38. It is the sponsor's view that the written warning scheme has proven ineffectual in curbing underage use and abuse of alcohol and cannabis, as demonstrated by a sharp rise in 2022 and 2023 in the number of police complaints regarding underage parties where alcohol and cannabis were found, particularly in the beach communities along the Jersey Shore. It is the sponsor's intent to control underage alcohol and cannabis use and abuse by reinstating the threat of criminal prosecution, as well as driver's license suspension. | In Committee |
| A1062 | Directs MVC to establish public information campaign concerning certain motorized vehicles; establishes 15-mile-per-hour speed limit for certain motorized vehicles. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to develop and implement a public information campaign concerning the operation of, and dangers to pedestrians and other vehicles interacting with, low-speed electric bicycles, low-speed motorized scooters, motorized bicycles, and motorized scooters. The campaign would also notify persons operating these vehicles of their responsibilities concerning the safety of others. The bill also establishes a speed limit of 15 miles per hour for the operation of motorized bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, and low-speed electric scooters on the highways, roadways, and streets in the State. | In Committee |
| A1040 | Requires Director of Division of Taxation to include sales of properties in age-restricted developments by third parties in table of equalized valuations. | This bill would require the Director of the Division of Taxation to include sales of properties in age-restricted developments by third parties such as guardians, trustees, executors, and administrators in the promulgation of a table of equalized valuations, for the purposes of establishing local tax assessments. Currently, such sales are not considered usable, because they are not "arms-length transfers" and therefore not considered to be true market-transaction indicators of fair market value. However, because the majority of sales of properties in age-restricted developments are transacted by third parties who have been entrusted by senior citizens with these transactions, this exclusion places an unfair burden on the residents of age-restricted communities. | In Committee |
| A676 | Designates portion of State Highway Route 71 as "John Tarantino Highway." | This bill designates a portion of State Highway Route 71 in the Borough of Spring Lake Heights as the "John Tarantino Highway" to honor patriotism of World War II veteran Angelo John Tarantino. The Legislature honors Mr. Tarantino for his service to the people of the United States and the State of New Jersey both during World War II and in the years after. Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the "John Tarantino Highway." The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation. | Dead |
| A755 | Establishes mandatory penalties for committing burglary and theft during a state of emergency. | This bill amends the "Disaster Control Act" by establishing additional mandatory penalties for committing theft, robbery or burglary, acts commonly referred to as looting, during an emergency. Under the Disaster Control Act, the Governor is empowered to issue executive orders in response to emergencies. Emergencies under the act extend to war emergencies and disasters resulting from natural or unnatural causes which endanger the health, safety or resources of the residents of one or more municipalities of the State. The act, in part, establishes penalties for committing unlawful conduct during the threat of an emergency that jeopardizes the health, welfare and safety of the people, or contributes to the loss of, or destruction, to property. This bill amends the act to establish a mandatory six month term of imprisonment or a six month term of community service, whichever the court deems to be appropriate, if a person commits burglary, robbery or theft during an emergency. The mandatory penalties established under this bill are to be imposed in addition to any penalties imposed for committing the crimes of theft, robbery, or burglary under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. Finally, the bill clarifies that a person may be penalized under the Disaster Control Act while an emergency is ongoing. | In Committee |
| A1060 | Authorizes members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions. | This bill adds members of the New Jersey State Legislature to persons permitted to solemnize marriages. The bill permits every current member to solemnize marriages or civil unions while that person holds office. | In Committee |
| A757 | Establishes new offenses concerning unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners. | This bill establishes new offenses relating to the unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners. Under the provisions of the bill, a person who possesses a credit card scanner without a lawful purpose is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for a term of up to six months, or both. A person who uses a credit card scanner for an unlawful purpose is guilty of a crime of the second decree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a fine of up to $150,000, imprisonment for a term of between five and 10 years, or both. | In Committee |
| A745 | Clarifies crime of unlawful access concerning certain password protected communications in electronic storage. | This bill amends the provisions of New Jersey's wiretapping statute dealing with unlawful access to stored communications, section 21 of P.L.1993, c.29 (C.2A:156A-27), to clarify criminal liability concerning password protected wire or electronic communications in electronic storage, such as e-mail accounts. A person would be guilty of a fourth degree crime if that person obtains, alters, or prevents authorized access to any such communication that is protected by a password or other personal code, without first knowing and inputting that password or other personal code, or otherwise having the express consent of at least one of the parties to whom that password or other personal code belongs. As such, there would be no implied consent and no defense from criminal liability for a person who accessed communications after a party to those communications had failed to properly log out or otherwise exit the electronic storage medium containing the communications, leaving such communications unprotected by password or other personal code. A person would be guilty of a third degree crime for unlawful access, if the person additionally acted for the purpose of commercial advantage, commercial gain, or malicious destruction or damage. A fourth degree crime is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A third degree crime is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. This clarification to criminal liability for unlawful access would also clarify liability in any civil action brought by an aggrieved person whose communications were accessed, due to the availability of such civil actions arising from criminal unlawful access, as set forth in section 26 of P.L.1993, c.29 (C.2A:156A-32). | 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 |
| A789 | Requires insurers that sell flood insurance to provide certain policyholders with certain information. | This bill requires insurers who sell flood insurance to provide to certain of their policyholders, who are claimants for damage to the insured property, information relating to claims for damage to their properties. More specifically, the bill stipulates that every insurer selling and advertising flood insurance in this State through the National Flood Insurance Program overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide to each of its flood insurance policyholders who held such policy on October 28, 2012, and is a claimant for damage to the insured property, copies of all reports and documents, including any drafts, redlines, markups, notes, measurements, photographs and written communications related thereto, that have been prepared, collected or taken by any engineer, adjustor or other agent or contractor affiliated with the insurer or any other defendant in a claim dispute, relating to the properties and damage at issue. The date of October 28, 2012, enumerated in the bill, corresponds to the date that Superstorm Sandy struck New Jersey and surrounding areas. | In Committee |
| A777 | Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor. | This bill would permit religious organizations to continue operating and engaging in religious services during a declaration by the Governor of a state of emergency or public health emergency. The bill does not prohibit the Governor from requiring religious organizations to comply with health, safety, or occupancy requirements issued by the State or federal government that are applicable to all organizations and businesses that provide essential services. | In Committee |
| A785 | Prohibits local units of government from adopting increased minimum wage and mandatory paid sick leave for private employers. | This bill would prohibit a local unit from adopting an ordinance, resolution, or rule or regulation, or taking any other action, setting forth the terms and conditions of employment offered by any private employer, including, but not limited to, imposing sick leave or minimum wage requirements. Under the bill, any ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation, or other action taken setting forth the terms and conditions of employment offered by private employers would be against public policy and would be null and void. The bill defines "local unit" as a political subdivision of the State that is a municipality or county, or any agency or instrumentality of a municipality or county, but not a school district or regional school district. The bill would also remove all provisions of section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4) regarding what actions a political subdivision may or may not take with respect to terms and conditions of employees of private sector employers who are vendors, contractors, and subcontractors of a political subdivision. | In Committee |
| A814 | Requires truck and van rental companies to photograph authorized user. | This bill requires a company that rents trucks or vans to photograph any person authorized to operate a rented truck or van. The rental company would be required to keep the photograph on file for a minimum of 180 days, and make it available to law enforcement upon request. Unfortunately, on occasion, rental trucks and vans have been used maliciously. Under the bill, law enforcement in these instances could seek, and rental companies could provide, a photograph of the authorized user. | In Committee |
| A3342 | Requires health care practitioners prescribing opioid medications to limit amount of prescribed medication to seven day supply, except in certain circumstances. | This bill provides certain limits on the amount of opioid medication that may be prescribed to a patient. Under the bill, whenever a health care practitioner or physician prescribes an opioid medication to a patient, the health care practitioner or physician is to be prohibited from prescribing more than a seven-day supply of the medication. However, if a health care practitioner or physician determines, in his or her professional judgment, that the prescription of more than a seven-day supply of opioid medication is necessary to treat a patient's acute medical condition, or is necessary to provide the patient with adequate management of chronic pain, the practitioner may issue a prescription of more than a seven-day supply of opioid medication. The quantity of opioid medication prescribed under this bill is not to exceed the amounts specified in section 1 of P.L.1997, c.249 (C.45:9-22.19), and is to be consistent with any other applicable State and federal prescribing requirements. | In Committee |
| A810 | Requires installation of ignition interlock device if sentence for DWI is stayed pending appeal. | This bill requires the installation of an ignition interlock device if a sentence for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or refusal to take a breathalyzer test is stayed pending appeal. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a court is not to grant a stay of a sentence imposed for DWI or refusal to take a breathalyzer test pending appeal unless the court requires the person whose sentence is stayed to install an ignition interlock device. Under the bill, the court is to order the installation of the ignition interlock device in the motor vehicle principally operated by the person. In addition, the device is to remain installed in the motor vehicle until the appeal is concluded. | In Committee |
| A811 | Ensures operation of certain motor fuel storage, distribution and dispensing facilities during disasters and emergencies. | This bill provides for a number of measures designed to assure the operation of certain motor fuel storage, distribution and dispensing facilities during disasters and emergencies. Specifically, the bill requires that no later than December 31, 2022, each motor fuel terminal facility and wholesaler that sells motor fuel in this State shall be capable, in the event of a disaster, of operating its motor fuel distribution loading racks using an alternate generated power source for a minimum of 72 hours. The bill further requires that each newly constructed or substantially renovated gasoline station for which a certificate of occupancy is issued on or after September 1, 2022, and all gasoline stations having eight or more fueling positions that are within five miles of an interstate highway or a State or federally-designated evacuation route by no later than December 31, 2022, are to be pre-wired with an appropriate transfer switch, and be capable of operating all fuel pumps, dispensing equipment, life-safety systems, and payment acceptance equipment using an alternate generated power source. The bill establishes the "New Jersey Disaster Motor Fuel Supplier Program" (program) within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The program is to allow any motor fuel retail dealer doing business in this State to participate in a network of emergency responders to provide motor fuel supplies and services at their gasoline stations to government, medical, critical infrastructure, and other emergency responders, as well as the general public, during a declared state of emergency. Participation in the program would require a pre-certification of preparedness of the retail dealer by the State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to provide emergency motor fuel supplies and services. The Director of the State OEM is to establish requirements for pre-certification by no later than September 1, 2022. A retail dealer is not to be pre-certified unless that retail dealer has the on-site capability to provide motor fuel dispensing services to emergency responders, demonstrates the ability to have the service available within 24 hours after a declared state of emergency, and agrees to make the service available as needed. The bill provides that, during a declared state of emergency, emergency response personnel who can produce appropriate identification, as determined by State or county emergency management officials, are to be given priority for motor fuel purchases at gasoline stations operated by retail dealers that are certified under the program. Certified gasoline stations may be directed by county or state emergency management officials to remain open for a period during a declared curfew to provide service for emergency personnel. Under that direction, certified gasoline stations are not to be deemed in violation of the curfew and are not to be penalized for such operation, nor shall the emergency personnel be in violation of such curfew. Retail dealers that are pre-certified may request the Director of the State OEM for priority re-supply fueling in order to continue service to emergency responders. The bill provides to a retail dealer participating in the program a tax credit in an amount equal to 25 percent of the cost of the purchase and installation during the taxable year of the transfer switch and alternate generated power source required to meet the certification requirements established by the State OEM. The total tax credit to be given to a retail dealer is not to exceed $15,000. | In Committee |
| A771 | Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential customer for cost of food and prescription medicine spoiled or compromised as a result of sustained electric service outage. | This bill would require an electric public utility to reimburse a residential customer for the cost of food and prescription medicine that spoils or is compromised as a result of a sustained power outage. Under the bill, a customer whose food spoils due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $500 for the amount paid for the food that spoiled. A customer whose prescription medicine is compromised due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $1,000 for the amount paid for the prescription medicine that is compromised. In both cases, a customer would be required to submit to the electric public utility an itemized list of losses and proof of loss, as specified in the bill. No later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, each electric public utility in the State would be required to develop and implement a system for customers of the electric public utility to apply for a reimbursement online via the electric public utility's Internet website. Applications for a reimbursement would be made in a form and manner as determined by the Board of Public Utilities. The board would be authorized to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the bill. | In Committee |
| A793 | Provides gross income tax deduction for certain E-ZPass tolls paid. | This bill provides a deduction from New Jersey gross income for certain tolls paid on State toll roads via the E-ZPass system. The deduction, in the amount of $1,000 per taxable year, is available to an individual who has an E-ZPass account, for the operation of a motor vehicle by the individual or any member of the individual's household on any toll roadway in this State, or any interstate toll bridge or toll tunnel connecting New Jersey with another state, including, but not limited to those operated by the Delaware River Joint Tollbridge Commission, the Burlington County Bridge Commission, the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Delaware River Port Authority, or the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, during the taxable year if, in the aggregate, such E-ZPass tolls paid by the individual exceed $1,000 in the aggregate, for the taxable year. The bill provides that amounts paid as fines, penalties, administrative fees, or which are reimbursed, or deductible as business expenses, or otherwise under certain provisions of State or federal law, are not includible in determining the aggregate amount of E-ZPass tolls paid in a taxable year. This bill is intended to assist individuals in offsetting the considerable expenses associated with commuting, which have been aggravated by the recent increase in the State gasoline tax rate. By providing toll-paying commuters with a way to offset a portion of their costs, this bill recognizes that these individuals are paying more than their fair share of the burden of maintaining safe, modern, and ample roadways in the State. | In Committee |
| A773 | Requires electric public utility to install and operate smart meters and smart meter technology at customers' premises upon request and in new building construction. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to file, within 90 days of the effective date of the bill, a proposed plan with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for the procurement and installation of "smart meters" and "smart meter technology," as defined in the bill, at customer premises. The BPU is to approve or modify the smart meter plan within 180 days of plan submittal. The plan is to describe the smart meters and smart meter technology the utility proposes to furnish, under the condition that they be provided: 1) upon a request from a customer that agrees to pay the cost of the smart meter at the time of the request; or 2) in new building construction. The bill requires that the smart meter plan include a provision requiring a utility to make available, with customer consent, direct smart meter access and electronic access to customer smart meter data to third parties, including electric power suppliers and providers of an electric related service. The bill requires a utility to file with the BPU, within 24 months of the effective date of the bill, one or more proposed time-of-use electric rates and real-time price plans for customers provided with smart meters and smart meter technology. The BPU is to approve or modify the time-of-use rates and real-time price plan within 180 days of plan submittal. A residential or commercial customer may elect to participate in a time-of-use rates or real-time price plan. The bill allows a utility to recover reasonable and prudent costs of providing smart meters and smart meter technology, as determined by the BPU, through a base rate recovery proceeding or an automatic adjustment clause. Eligible cost recovery is to include annual depreciation and capital costs over the life of the smart meters and smart meter technology, in accordance with a depreciation schedule not to exceed 15 years, and the cost of any electric distribution system upgrades that the utility may require to enable the use of smart meters and smart meter technology which are incurred, less operating and capital cost savings realized by the utility from the installation and use of smart meters and smart meter technology. The bill prohibits a utility from recovering lost or decreased revenues from customers due to reduced electricity usage or shifting electricity demand. | In Committee |
| A823 | Establishes $40 daily pay rate for jurors. | This bill amends section 19 of P.L.1993, c.275 (C.22A:1-1.1) to establish a $40 daily pay rate for grand and petit jurors. Currently, jurors receive $5 for each day's attendance. In addition, each person serving as a juror, other than certain full-time government employees, is paid $35 for each consecutive day of attendance in excess of three days. This bill requires an immediate $40 per day beginning on the first day of service. This bill also makes an appropriation of $6,000,000 from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts to pay for this increase in juror pay. | In Committee |
| A772 | Requires at least one member of BPU to reside in either Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, or Ocean County. | This bill requires that, after the effective date of the bill, a person is to be appointed to the Board of Public Utilities only if the appointee, or at least one existing member of the board, resides in either Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, or Ocean County. | 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 |
| A768 | Establishes Jersey Shore Safety and Economy Task Force. | This bill establishes the Jersey Shore Safety and Economy Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to develop safety standards and protocols to ensure safe working and operating conditions, in a manner that is consistent with the State's public health efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019, in businesses that rely heavily on the summer tourism industry in the following counties: Atlantic County, Cape May County, Ocean County, and Monmouth County. The task force is to: (1) provide guidance, including any applicable social distancing guidelines, for the reopening of these businesses in a manner that promotes the safety and wellbeing of the employees and patrons of these businesses; (2) provide an assessment of the economic impact of the task force's recommendations on these businesses; and (3) provide an assessment of the impact of the task force's recommendations on the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in the State. The task force is to comprise of 14 members as follows: (1) the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee, who will serve ex officio; (2) the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; (3) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who will each be of different political parties; (4) two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who will each be of different political parties; and (5) eight public members to be appointed by the Governor as follows: one member upon the recommendation of the Atlantic County Division of Public Health; one member upon the recommendation of the Cape May County Health Department; one member upon the recommendation of the Ocean County Health Department; one member upon the recommendation of the Monmouth County Health Department; and four members upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, including one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Atlantic County, one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Cape May County, one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Ocean County, and one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Monmouth County. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health or the commissioner's designee is to serve as chairperson of the task force. The members are to serve without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force. The task force may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The bill directs the Department of Health to provide staff support to the task force. The task force is to report its recommendations to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health, the Cape May County Health Department, the Ocean County Health Department, the Monmouth County Health Department, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the Governor, and the Legislature no later than 30 days after the adoption of this bill. The task force will expire immediately upon the issuance of the task force report. | In Committee |
| A752 | Prohibits certain sex offenders from working in ice cream trucks and amusement parks. | This bill would prohibit persons convicted of committing a sex offense against a person under the age of 18 from working on frozen dessert trucks or in amusement parks. As used in the bill, "amusement park" means a permanent indoor or outdoor facility or park where amusement rides are available for use by the general public. "Frozen dessert truck" means a motor vehicle in which frozen desserts are carried for purposes of retail sale on the streets of this State. A violation of the provisions of the bill would be a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A815 | Establishes rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for child sexual abuse. | This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for a defendant charged with sexual assault or criminal sexual contact when the victim is a minor. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the "Bail Reform Law," criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or 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, there is a rebuttable presumption that a defendant who is charged with murder or a crime that subjects the defendant to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment is to be detained pending trial. This rebuttable presumption applies when a prosecutor makes a motion for pretrial detention, and may be rebutted upon a showing of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, in favor of the defendant. If the presumption is not rebutted, the court may order pretrial detention of the defendant. If the presumption is rebutted, the prosecutor still has the opportunity to establish grounds for pretrial detention. This bill provides that the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention also applies to defendants charged with sexual assault pursuant to N.J.S.2C:14-2 or criminal sexual contact pursuant to N.J.S.2C:14-3 when the victim is a minor. | In Committee |
| A805 | Establishes bribery in official and political matters applies to person soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept benefit as consideration to act even though not yet in office or otherwise qualified to act. | This bill concerns the act of bribery in official and political matters. It establishes that a person would be guilty of such bribery if the person acted to solicit, accept, or agree to accept a benefit from another as consideration for taking future action, specifically on behalf of that benefit provider, even though the person had not yet assumed the public or political position needed to act or was not yet otherwise qualified to act. To clarify its application with respect to any candidates for elective public office, the bill expands the definition of "public servant," a term used periodically under existing bribery laws, to include not just current officeholders, but any person who is a candidate for public office as defined under subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-3), whose activities are subject to regulatory oversight by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, and any person elected but who has not yet assumed office. Thus, for example, it would be a crime for a candidate for public office to seek out or accept a campaign contribution (the benefit) from an individual contributor as consideration to take future action, specifically on behalf of that contributor, as the officeholder to the position sought in the campaign. By focusing the act of bribery to a direct consideration between the candidate's solicitation, acceptance, or agreement to accept a campaign contribution and the individual contributor, the bill intends to not criminalize the public and general campaign speeches and promises that generate lawful campaign contributions in accordance with applicable State and federal law, such as "The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act," P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.). To that end, the provisions of the bill include language stating that the crime of bribery in official and political matters is inapplicable to "any public or general campaign speech, advertisement, or other campaign activity used to generate lawful campaign contributions." The bill would make the above described form of bribery a crime of the second degree, which is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both; however, if the benefit involved with the criminal act was valued at $200 or less, then the bribery would be a crime of the third degree, ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The bill, in part, is intended to respond to the 2012 dismissal of a criminal indictment against a New Jersey mayoral candidate in the case of U.S. v. Manzo, 851 F. Supp.2d 797 (D.N.J. 2012). According to the indictment, the candidate accepted cash payments in exchange for promising to expedite a local development project and promote an individual within the municipal government if the candidate became mayor. Id., at 800. While the federal court found the alleged conduct "deeply objectionable" and "morally reprehensible," Id., at 819, 829, it dismissed the indictment because the actions did not amount to criminal activity under New Jersey law. This bill would ensure that such future incidents involving persons seeking public or political office are punishable as criminal acts. | In Committee |
| A787 | Permits short-term tax exemption for certain improvements to dwellings damaged by natural disasters. | This bill would amend the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law," P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.) to permit a municipality to adopt an ordinance declaring an area to be in need of rehabilitation for the purposes of Article VIII, Section I, paragraph 6 of the New Jersey Constitution if dwellings within the area were damaged by a natural disaster for which a state of emergency has been declared by the President of the United States or the Governor. Under that constitutional provision, municipalities, by ordinance, may provide property taxpayers a property tax exemption on dwellings in areas in need of rehabilitation for a period of five years. Under the bill, an ordinance so adopted would have to require that, in determining the value of an exemption, the assessor shall consider the additional value to those dwellings that is directly attributable to the additional space under those dwellings created by the elevation of those dwellings as not increasing the taxable value of those properties for a period of five years, notwithstanding that the market value of the real property to which the improvements are made is increased thereby. The ordinance may provide for a reduction of the exemption for each year of the exemption period. The bill also clarifies that during the exemption period, increases in value to dwellings that are not directly attributable to the additional space under dwellings created by the elevation of those dwellings, and which increase the value of those dwellings, must be reflected in the assessed value of those dwellings. | In Committee |
| A1047 | "Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older. | This bill, entitled the "Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act," would reduce the school property tax burden on senior residents of the State who are 65 years or older by 50%. The bill provides a reimbursement for property taxes paid to eligible claimants from the Casino Revenue Fund. The bill phases in eligibility over a three-year period through income limits. For the first year, only seniors with incomes of $35,000 or less would be eligible for the reimbursement. The income limit rises to $75,000 for the second year and there is no income limit for the third year and thereafter. A surviving spouse who is at least 55 years of age also would qualify for the reimbursement. The Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury would be responsible for promulgating application forms for the reimbursement and issuing rules and regulations. | In Committee |
| A827 | Enacts "Anthony Maruca's Law"; requires law enforcement officers to carry epinephrine. | This bill enacts "Anthony Maruca's Law." Under the bill, a law enforcement officer is required to successfully complete an approved educational program to administer an epinephrine auto-injector device for the emergency administration of epinephrine and provide the officer's employing entity with a copy of a certificate of completion of an approved educational program. The bill provides that a police department or force employing law enforcement officers is to make available to each law enforcement officer, at a minimum, a one-dose supply of an epinephrine auto-injector device which may be used by the law enforcement officer while in the performance of official duties. In addition, pursuant to the bill's provisions an epinephrine auto-injector device is to be made available in all vehicles or medical supply kits, consistent with any standards, protocols, or guidelines established by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to regulation. Anthony Maruca tragically died at the age of 23 as a result of anaphylactic shock brought on by a food allergy. Law enforcement officers were present at the scene but were unable to render meaningful assistance because the officers were not supplied with an epinephrine auto-injector device. If the officers were equipped with an epinephrine auto-injector, it likely would have saved Anthony's life and spared his family the trauma of losing a loved one. The sponsor hopes that this bill will aid in preventing additional deaths by providing law enforcement with a lifesaving resource. | In Committee |
| A1046 | Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employing immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who were killed in action. | This bill provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for employing immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who were killed in action. The two credits established by this bill provide an employer with a credit in the amount of ten percent of the wages paid to an immediate family member of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who was killed in action. The credits may not exceed $1,200 per family member per tax year. For the employer to be eligible to receive the credit, the family member must be a new employee and be employed in the State full-time for no less than nine full and consecutive calendar months. The credit is nonrefundable, but may be carried forward for up to 20 tax years. The bill prohibits taxpayers from simultaneously using family members to qualify for the bill's credit and any other generally available employment incentive that comes in the form of a State tax credit or grant. The bill also empowers the Director of the Division of Taxation to recapture credit due to noncompliance. The bill schedules the credits to become available for tax years beginning on or after the January 1 first following the date of enactment. | 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 |
| A1241 | Establishes matching grant program in DCA to support community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts. | This bill establishes the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program in the Department of Community Affairs (department) to provide matching grants to nonprofit community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts. To be eligible for a matching grant award a community-based nonprofit organization is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Community Affairs (commissioner), in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner. A grant application is required to relate to an underlying grant from a county or municipality received by the community-based nonprofit organization not more than 12 months prior to the date of application, and include information determined necessary by the commissioner, and at a minimum include information related to: (1) the identity, finances, and operations of the community based organization; (2) the amount and distribution date of the grant to the community based organization; and (3) plans for the proposed uses for the grant and the matching grant. The department is required to award matching grants based on review and analytical criteria adopted by the department. The department is further required to award matching grants to community-based nonprofit organizations in the order in which qualifying applications are received. The department is required to maintain a record of underlying grants provided by each county and municipality, and is prohibited from providing a matching grant for an application if an award of the amount requested would result in the department awarding matching grants in an amount exceeding $50,000, in that calendar year, for applications related to underlying grants provided by a particular county or municipality. The bill also authorizes the department to require a community-based nonprofit organization to verify award or receipt of an underlying grant from a county or municipality in an amount equal to the requested matching grant amount. The bill also specifically prohibits the department from establishing or enforcing a cap on the total number of matching grants or the total amount that any individual community-based nonprofit organization may receive from the department as matching grants. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of the matching grant program in addressing the needs of individual communities, homeless persons, and at-risk persons, and any recommendations concerning continuing or expanding the matching grant program. | In Committee |
| A774 | Authorizes payment of just compensation to businesses for losses due to public health emergency closures. | This bill provides that the closure of a business due to an order declaring a public health emergency is a public purpose for which the State may have to pay the business owner just compensation. Under the bill, the owner of a business may bring an action to compel the State to exercise condemnation and to pay just compensation for either:· loss of income during, and for a reasonable time after, a temporary partial or complete closure of the business, if the business would not have closed but for compliance with the order; or· loss of going concern, including the loss of real property, if the closure of the business results in the owner going out of business and the owner proves the owner would not have gone out of business but for compliance with the order. The bill would assign to the business owner: the burden of proving that the alleged loss is due to the public health emergency; and the burden of proving the amount of compensation for losses. The bill provides that it's provisions would apply to a public health emergency declared on or after January 1, 2020. An action to compel condemnation and the payment of just compensation brought under the bill must be filed within one year of the expiration of the order that declared or renewed the public health emergency. | In Committee |
| A1041 | Requires newly-constructed grocery stores to have generators. | This bill would establish a requirement under the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), that newly-constructed grocery stores, including supermarkets and convenience marts, have automatic standby emergency power generators. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, access to food and other basic necessities was greatly compromised due to the widespread and lengthy power outages throughout the State. This bill would require that newly-constructed grocery stores have the capacity to continue operations if power is lost during an emergency, to help ensure that the public has ready access to food and other basic necessities. | In Committee |
| A813 | Requires electric public utility to submit proposal to BPU detailing utility's plan to harden its electric distribution substations to protect against criminal attacks. | This bill requires each electric public utility (utility) in the State having ownership or control of an electric distribution substation to submit a proposal to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for approval detailing the utility's plan to harden its electric distribution substation to protect against criminal attacks. Within 180 days of receipt of a utility's submission of the plan, the board is to determine whether the plan is feasible and whether the plan is to be implemented with or without recommendations. Upon a determination that the plan is feasible and is to be implemented, the board is to order the utility to implement and complete the plan within one calendar year from the date of the order. | In Committee |
| A759 | Requires certain NJ Transit Corporation employees to undergo criminal history background checks and wear photo identification. | This bill requires each prospective employee of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) whose work responsibilities require access to a "security sensitive area," defined as "the area determined by NJ Transit to be essential to maintaining the security of its facilities and operations," to receive a criminal history background check. Under the bill, NJ Transit is not to employ an individual who has access to a "security sensitive area" unless it is determined that no criminal record information exists on file in the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police which would disqualify the individual from being so employed. The bill requires prospective security employees to submit to being fingerprinted in accordance with applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations. An employee who refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the securing of a criminal history background check may not be considered for employment. The bill provides that, upon receipt of their criminal history record information, NJ Transit is to notify prospective security employees as to whether they are qualified or disqualified for employment. A prospective security employee would have 20 days from the date of the notice of disqualification to file an appeal for review on the accuracy of the criminal history record information or to establish rehabilitation pursuant to the regulations adopted by NJ Transit, in consultation with the Attorney General. NJ Transit is not to maintain a prospective security employee's criminal history record information for more than 36 months from the date of the final disposition of the employee's disqualification. The bill requires current security employees of NJ Transit to be issued and display photographic identification to enable them to better identify themselves to the public. Specifically, NJ Transit is to adopt procedures to ensure that current security employees are issued an identification card, which includes: the individual's name, a color photograph of the individual in a size adequate to permit recognition, the individual's signature, the date of issuance, and proof of employment by NJ Transit. The bill stipulates that current security employees plainly display their identification card at all times while on duty. Current security employees are not permitted to allow another person to use or display the employee's identification card for the purpose of deceiving the other person's identity. | In Committee |
| A756 | Enhances penalties imposed on drivers who have never been issued a driver's license. | This bill enhances the penalties imposed on a person convicted of driving without a license who has never been issued a driver's license in this State or any other jurisdiction. Currently, the penalty for this offense is a fine of between $200 and $500, and possible imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60 days. This bill increases the fines and establishes specific terms of imprisonment for a person who drives a motor vehicle when the person has never been licensed to drive in this State or in any other jurisdiction as follows: a $500 fine for the first offense, a $750 fine and at least one day, but not more than five days imprisonment for the second offense, and a $1,000 fine and 10 days imprisonment for a third or subsequent offense. Additionally, this bill establishes a penalty of 45 to 180 days imprisonment if, while operating a motor vehicle, a person who has never been licensed to drive a motor vehicle in this State or any other jurisdiction is involved in a motor vehicle accident causing bodily injury to another person. The penalties in this bill are the same as the penalties imposed for driving a motor vehicle when a person's driver's license is suspended or revoked, or when a person has been prohibited from obtaining a driver's license. | In Committee |
| A744 | Establishes NJ Animal Abuser Registry. | This bill would provide for the establishment and implementation of an animal abuser registry system that would require the continuing registration of animal abuse offenders and allow for the public disclosure of certain information pertaining to those offenders. Such a registry system for animal abusers is necessary because the overwhelming evidence accumulated since 1970 shows that persons who cruelly abuse or torture animals are likely to engage in recidivist acts of violence against both animals and humans. In particular, studies have shown that early incidents of animal abuse are often part of the criminal histories of serial killers, child, spouse, and elder abusers, and sexually violent predators, and may be characteristic of the developmental histories of up to 66 percent of violent offenders, in general. In addition, it has been shown that those who abuse animals through participation in animal fighting rings also often engage in other crimes associated with violence, and will often continue to engage in animal abuse and other violence-related offenses even after serving jail time. The bill would require registration for any person convicted of an enumerated animal abuse offense who maintains, establishes, or re-establishes a primary residence or secondary residence in this State or who is otherwise physically present in the State for more than 14 consecutive days or a period exceeding 30 days in a calendar year. In particular, a person would be required to register if they have been convicted, adjudicated delinquent, found not guilty by reason of insanity, or found civilly liable for any of the following animal abuse offenses: (1) overdriving, overloading, driving when overloaded, overworking, depriving of necessary sustenance, abusing, or needlessly killing a living animal by direct or indirect means, including through the use of another living animal; (2) tormenting, torturing, maiming, hanging, poisoning, unnecessarily or cruelly beating, or needlessly mutilating a living animal by direct or indirect means, including through the use of another living animal, whether or not such actions cause the death of the animal; (3) cruelly killing, by direct or indirect means, a living animal, including through the use of another living animal; (4) causing, allowing, or permitting the fighting or baiting of a living animal for amusement or gain; (5) engaging in the management of, or receiving money or other consideration for the admission of a person to, a place that is kept or used for the purposes of fighting or baiting a living animal; (6) owning, possessing, keeping, training, promoting, purchasing, or knowingly selling a living animal for the purposes of fighting or baiting that animal; (7) allowing or suffering a place under a person's ownership or control to be used for the purposes of fighting or baiting a living animal; (8) acting as a spectator, gambling on the outcome of a fight, or otherwise encouraging or assisting in activities occurring at a place that is kept or used for the purposes of fighting or baiting a living animal; (9) carrying a living animal in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner; (10) impounding or confining a living animal and failing to supply it during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water; (11) abandoning a maimed, sick, infirm, or disabled animal to die in a public place; (12) abandoning a domestic animal; (13) unlawfully debarking or silencing a dog; (14) using a live pigeon, fowl, or other bird as a target or to be shot at for amusement or as a test of skill in marksmanship, or shooting such a bird, except where such use or shooting conforms with the rules pertaining to the shooting of game animals; and (15) any comparable offense in another state, country, or jurisdiction. The bill would require that notice of the duty to register be provided by the Attorney General within 30 days after the bill's enactment, and by the Motor Vehicle Commission upon application for a driver's license or identification card. The court or local law enforcement agency with which an offender is required to initially register pursuant to this bill would be required to notify the offender of the specific requirements of the bill, and the penalties for noncompliance. The information to be included in an offender's registration would consist of the following: (1) A statement in writing, signed by the animal abuse offender, acknowledging that the offender has been advised of the duty to register, and including the offender's name, social security number, age, race, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color; address of primary residence and secondary residence if any, or county and municipality of physical presence if a non-resident or homeless resident; address of anticipated or current places of employment; any anticipated or current school enrollment; the commission date and a brief description of the conviction offenses for which registration is required; and the indictment number associated with each such offense; (2) A photograph of the defendant; and (3) Any other information that the Attorney General deems necessary to properly inform the public about the identity of the offender and to assess the risk of re-offense. The bill would require each offender to verify the address on the registration statement on an annual basis, and would additionally require each offender to notify law enforcement officials of any change in address. Any person who fails to register as required by the bill's provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and would be subject, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, to pay a fine of $2,500. Any registered animal abuse offender who fails to comply, or who falsifies information in complying with the change of address requirements or address verification requirements provided by the bill, would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and would be subject, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, to pay a fine of $1,500. The Attorney General would be required to maintain a central registry of all registrations submitted in accordance with this bill's provisions, and would additionally be required to develop a system for making certain offender information from the central registry available to the public on the Internet. The Attorney General would be responsible both for ensuring that the Internet registry contains appropriate warnings and notifications, and for maintaining the accuracy of, and for timely updating the information contained therein. An Animal Abuse Offender Internet Registry Advisory Council would be established to consult with and make recommendations to the Attorney General concerning the publication of registration records on the Internet. All records maintained pursuant to the bill would be open to any law enforcement agency in the State, any other state, or the United States government, and would be able to be released to the Office of Animal Welfare in the Department of Health and Senior Services, or to the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services, the Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships, or the Division of Youth and Family Services in the Department of Children and Families for use in carrying out the office's and the divisions' respective responsibilities under law. Any official would be immune from civil liability for damages for any discretionary decision to release relevant records unless it is shown that the official acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. Upon receipt of an offender's registration or notification of an offender's change in address, and pursuant to the procedures outlined in the bill's provisions, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality (or county) wherein the offender's primary residence and secondary residence, if any, is located, or wherein the offender is generally present if a non-resident or a homeless resident of the State, would be required to provide notification to the community of the offender's presence therein, in accordance with guidelines to be established by the Attorney General relating to the offender's risk of re-offense. The bill would establish a temporary advisory council to assist the Attorney General in establishing these guidelines and procedures for risk assessment and community notification. The bill would require the Attorney General to consider various factors relevant to an offender's risk of re-offense, and would require the regulations adopted by the Attorney General to provide for two tiers of community notification based on whether the offender is determined to have a low risk of re-offense, or whether the offender is determined to have a moderate or high risk of re-offense. The bill would require the regulations adopted by the Attorney General to prohibit a "low risk" categorization in a case where the registered animal abuse offender (1) has more than one prior conviction for an animal abuse offense, as defined by the bill, (2) has one prior conviction for an animal abuse offense in addition to one or more convictions for a violent offense against a person, or (3) has been diagnosed with Conduct Disorder - a disorder characterized by a general and ongoing disregard for societal laws and the feelings of others, and for which animal abuse is a symptom. In the case that an offender is determined to have a low risk of re-offense, notification of the offender's presence in the community would be provided only to law enforcement agencies likely to encounter the person, and the person's registration information would be prohibited from publication on the Internet unless such publication is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. In the case that an offender is determined to have a moderate or high risk of re-offense, notification of the offender's presence in the community would be provided to law enforcement agencies likely to encounter the offender, as well as to members of the public likely to encounter the offender, and to animal shelters, pet adoption societies, humane societies, veterinarian's offices, and other animal welfare or control groups in the offender's community. Furthermore, registration information for offenders having a moderate to high risk of re-offense would be made available for public viewing, without limitation, on the Internet registry. The bill would require the Attorney General's regulations to ensure that an offender will be provided with notice of the results of the risk assessment and will be afforded an opportunity to have that determination reviewed prior to Internet publication or any notification of community members. The bill would allow the disclosure of the offender's exact address only in very limited circumstances, since the courts have held that an offender may have some limited privacy interest in that information. Accordingly, the offender's exact address would be excluded from the Internet registry, and would be disclosed only to individuals within the offender's community who have a particular need for that information. Moreover, the offender's exact address would be disclosed to individuals in the community only in cases where the individuals have signed a receipt of notice form, which explicitly prohibits the disclosure of the offender's exact address to persons outside the individual's household, and which provides express notice that any harassment of the offender is punishable by law. Businesses within the offender's community would be entitled to know only the vicinity of the offender's address. Any information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions could be used by any person in any manner to protect an animal at risk, or for any other lawful purpose consistent with the enhancement of public safety. Except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct, any person who provides or fails to provide information to the community, or who discloses or fails to disclose information on the Internet registry in accordance with the bill's provisions, would be immune from civil or criminal action. The bill would provide, however, that any person using the information disclosed pursuant thereto to commit a crime would be guilty of a crime of the third degree, and that any person using the information disclosed to commit a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and subject to pay a fine of $500 to $1,000, in addition to any other penalty imposed. Evidence that a person obtained information about an offender from law enforcement or from the Internet registry within one year prior to committing a criminal offense against that offender would give rise to an inference that the person used information in violation of the bill's provisions. The bill would also provide that any person who uses any information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions to encourage, solicit, or assist a registered animal abuse offender or other person to engage in criminal activity or an animal abuse offense would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, subject to pay a fine of $2,500. The bill would additionally prevent the use of information disclosed pursuant thereto for purposes of health or other insurance; loans; credit; education, scholarships, or fellowships; benefits, privileges, or services provided by a business establishment, unless consistent with enhancement of the public safety; or housing and accommodations. However, the bill would specifically allow a humane society, animal welfare organization, or other similar group to use the information disclosed pursuant to its provisions in order to screen applicants for employment or for pet adoption services. The use of any information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions for any of the specifically prohibited purposes would make the user of the information liable for actual damages, attorney's fees, and any amount that may be determined by a jury or a court sitting without a jury, which is not less than $250, and not more than three times the amount of actual damage, or for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Furthermore, the bill would authorize civil action for injunctive or other preventative relief in the case that there is reasonable cause to believe that any person or group is engaged in a pattern of misuse of information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill would establish the "Animal Abuser Registry Fund," separate and distinct from the General Fund, in order to provide a dedicated source of moneys by which to finance the ongoing administrative and maintenance costs associated with the Animal Abuser Registry and the expenses associated with the community notifications required under the bill. The fund would be credited with: (1) fifty percent of all civil and criminal fines collected by a court in relation to the animal abuse offenses for which registration is required; (2) any excess fines collected by a court as a result of an offender's failure to register, failure to notify authorities of a change in address, failure to timely verify the offender's address, or falsification of any information in the course of complying with the bill's requirements in this regard; (3) any excess fines collected by a court from the unlawful use of information disclosed pursuant to the act's provisions to encourage, solicit, or assist a registered animal abuse offender or other person to engage in criminal activity or commit an animal abuse offense; (4) any interest or other investment income accrued on moneys deposited in the account; (5) any moneys gifted to the fund; and (6) any other moneys appropriated by the Legislature and allocated to the fund for its purposes. Finally, the bill would provide that a registered animal abuse offender may make application to the Superior Court to terminate the obligation to register under this bill upon proof that the person has not committed an animal abuse offense or an offense constituting violence against humans within 15 years following conviction or release from a correctional facility for any term of imprisonment imposed, whichever is later, and is not likely to pose a threat to the safety of others. A registered animal abuse offender would also be able to make application to the Attorney General to terminate the obligation to register under this bill upon the submission of evidence, sufficient in the determination of the Attorney General, to establish that the offender no longer maintains primary residence or secondary residence in this State, and will not be present in the State for more than 14 consecutive days, or for an aggregate period of 30 days or more. However, such an offender would be required to re-register with the State in the event that he re-establishes primary residence or secondary residence in the State or re-establishes physical presence therein for the requisite period of time. | In Committee |
| A818 | Prevents State school aid reduction in school districts that experienced decrease in equalized valuation and are located in certain counties. | This bill provides that a school district located in a county of the fifth or sixth class will not experience a reduction in State school aid relative to the 2017-2018 school year if the district's equalized valuation for the budget year is less than the equalized valuation for the 2012-2013 budget year. The bill's provisions apply to school districts located in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. The bill's intent is to prevent a reduction in State aid in school districts in areas most heavily impacted by Superstorm Sandy and whose property valuations have yet to recover from the damage caused by the storm. | In Committee |
| A765 | "The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act of 2020"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties. | This bill, known as "The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act of 2020," requires the Board of Public Utilities ("BPU") to develop and enforce performance benchmarks for service reliability and communications for electric public utilities and requires electric public utilities to submit to the BPU a review of strategies to mitigate flooding of substations within flood zones. In addition, the bill requires all public utilities conducting business in the State to file a service reliability plan and an emergency communications strategic plan for review and approval by the BPU. After review of a public utility's service reliability plan and communications plan, in either or both, the BPU may order the public utility to make such modifications as it deems reasonably necessary to remedy any deficiency. This bill reaffirms the BPU's authority to open an investigation to review the performance or communications of a public utility during a disruption of service in the public utility's service area. If the BPU finds that, as a result of the failure of a public utility to implement its service reliability plan or communications plan, the public utility's performance was materially less effective, the BPU may impose a civil administrative penalty. This bill amends existing law to increase the civil penalties paid by all public utilities for violating any law, rule, regulation, or order by the BPU. Civil penalties will be increased from $100 a day to $25,000 for each violation, but penalties are not to exceed $2,000,000 for any series of related events. The "Board of Public Utilities Civil Penalty Fund" will be established in the BPU, into which all penalties collected will be deposited. The money in the fund will be used to increase public utilities' service quality and reliability. Civil penalties will not be recoverable from ratepayers. | In Committee |
| ACR49 | Proposes amendment to Constitution to provide that State aid to school districts will be allocated on equal per pupil basis. | This Assembly Concurrent Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to specify that State aid payable directly to school districts, other than funding for special education, would be provided on an equal per pupil basis. The amendment also specifies that the State would not be required to provide a minimum, nor does it establish a maximum, amount of funding to school districts. | In Committee |
| A1048 | Increases annual income limit for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | This bill would increase the annual income limit for eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement. Under current law, the income limit is $80,000 or less for single persons or married couples. This bill would increase that income limit to $100,000 or less in 2017 and each year thereafter, to allow more senior citizens and disabled persons to qualify for this property tax relief program. | In Committee |
| A754 | Authorizes special parking insignias for passenger automobiles used to transport the developmentally disabled. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special insignias for the passenger automobiles of individuals who provide transport to persons with developmental disabilities. Under the provisions of the bill, the vehicles with these insignias would be permitted to park in handicapped parking spaces when they are being used to transport a person with a developmental disability. A "developmental disability," as used in the bill, means a severe, chronic disability which is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental or physical impairments; is manifest before age 22; is likely to continue indefinitely; and results in substantial functional limitations. It includes, but is not limited to, severe disabilities attributable to mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida and other neurological impairments. Currently, vehicles owned or operated by a public entity or by a public or private nonprofit organization that are used to transport persons with developmental disabilities may lawfully park in handicapped parking spaces. | In Committee |
| A751 | Authorizes court to impose rescue operation costs of public entity under certain circumstances. | This bill authorizes a court to impose the expense of a recovery or rescue operation by a public entity upon a person in violation of certain criminal mischief and motor vehicle operation laws. Specifically, the bill allows a court to assess the value of any services provided and any costs or expenses incurred by a public entity, including but not limited to law enforcement and emergency medical services, arising from or associated with the recovery or rescue of a person, and the person's pet or property if applicable, if the person is guilty of criminal mischief and: (1) reckless driving; (2) careless driving; or (3) driving or operating a vehicle in an unsafe manner. Public entities such as law enforcement and emergency management and medical services are often called upon to aid in the recovery or rescue of persons in dangerous situations. Some of these situations are the result of purposeful, knowing, or heedless disregard for the safety of others and result in damages to, or the endangerment of, a person, animal, or property. This bill would allow public entities to recover rescue operation costs in the event that a person was guilty of criminal mischief (e.g., damaging tangible property of another; tampering with tangible property to endanger a person or property) and the reckless, careless, or unsafe operation of a vehicle (e.g., driving on a frozen body of water). | In Committee |
| A1055 | Allows shore municipalities to provide spouse and dependent children of veterans free or reduced cost access to beaches. | This bill would permit shore municipalities, by ordinance, to provide free or reduced fee beach access to the spouse and dependent children, over the age of 12 years, of veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable and who either served at least 90 days in active duty or were discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability. Current law permits municipalities, by ordinance, to provide free or reduced fee beach access to the spouse or dependent children, over the age of 12 years, of persons who are in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States or who are active members of the New Jersey National Guard and who have completed Initial Active Duty Training. This bill would authorize municipalities to provide the same benefit to the spouse and dependent children of qualifying veterans. | In Committee |
| A1061 | Permits conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | This bill permits raffle licensees to conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. Under current law, municipalities where voters have approved a referendum to allow raffle games may license eligible organizations to conduct these games. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety regulates the conduct of these games. Under Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2, subparagraph B of the State Constitution, and under the Raffles Licensing Law, eligible organizations may apply for a license to conduct raffles. Bona fide organizations or associations of veterans; churches or religious congregations and religious organizations; charitable, educational, and fraternal organizations; civic and service clubs; senior citizen associations and clubs; officially recognized volunteer fire companies; and officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads are eligible to apply for a license. This bill permits eligible organizations to conduct Queen of Hearts raffle games. A "Queen of Hearts raffle" means a raffle game utilizing a Queen of Hearts raffle board onto which 54 thoroughly shuffled playing cards are placed facedown, side-by-side. Raffle tickets are placed into a ticket drum or other receptacle and a winning ticket is drawn at random. The participant holding the winning raffle ticket is entitled to "Search for the Queen of Hearts" by selecting one of the facedown playing cards. When the playing card selected is not the Queen of Hearts, the card is placed out of play, and the person is awarded a cash prize valued according to a certain schedule. The raffle drawings are conducted weekly until a person selects the Queen of Hearts. When a person selects the Queen of Hearts, that person will be awarded 50 percent of the prize, and the remainder of the prize will be retained by the licensee as proceeds from conducting the raffle. The bill directs the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games. | In Committee |
| A812 | Prohibits public utility from filing rate increase petition under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities (board) from considering, reviewing, or approving, and prohibits a public utility from being permitted to file, a request for a rate increase during any period of time when: 1) the board has directed the public utility to file a base rate case to determine whether the public utility exceeded its authorized rate of return; or 2) the public utility has been notified by the board that the board is investigating whether the public utility exceeded its authorized rate of return. This prohibition shall continue until such time as the board shall determine that the base rate case proceeding or the investigation has been concluded. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A807 | Permits minors to work until 11 p.m. between Memorial Day and October 1 of each year in certain circumstances. | This bill revises the hours a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age may work with permission from a parent or legal guardian. If enacted, the bill would allow minors who are 14 or 15 years of age to work until 11 p.m. from Memorial Day to October 1 of each year, with permission from their parent or legal guardian. Under current law, minors who are 14 or 15 years of age may work during the period beginning on the last day of the school year and ending on Labor Day of each year until 9 p.m. The bill does not modify the types of occupations in which minors can work, the total number of hours minors can work, or the required breaks from work an employer is required to provide an employee who is a minor. | In Committee |
| A762 | Directs Commissioner of Education to encourage implementation of Natural High Drug Prevention Program in school districts. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to work with the national nonprofit organization Natural High to encourage the implementation of the Natural High Drug Prevention Program in each school district. The program will include, but is not limited to, use of Natural High videos and research-based curricula, training for State educators on the Natural High program, program assessments, support to activate Natural High clubs at middle schools and high schools in the State, and participation of a State educator on the Natural High Leadership Council to provide State-specific input on the program. Under the bill, the curriculum for the Natural High Drug Prevention Program implemented in the State's school districts will include information on: (1) identifying and engaging in positive activities or passions, referred to as natural highs; (2) the benefits of engaging in natural highs and the consequences of drug use; (3) setting goals and reaching one's full potential; (4) peer pressure, refusal strategies, and influencing peers to adopt a drug-free lifestyle; (5) identifying positive role models; (6) basing choices on positive personal values; and (7) discerning true and false messages about drug use and a drug-free lifestyle. These topics are key components of the research-based curriculum developed by Natural High. | In Committee |
| A753 | Omits State Police detectives from Open Public Records Act. | This bill amends the definitions of the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) to include State Police detective information to the list of OPRA exclusions. State Police detectives must work discreetly to apprehend criminals. Information that publicizes personal details of a detective such as name, place of work, title, salary, etc. places this person and their family in danger. The State of New Jersey has the obligation to protect those who are protecting the citizens of this State. | In Committee |
| A1063 | Requires Division of Consumer Affairs display list of all registered ticket brokers on division's website. | This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs maintain a list of all registered ticket brokers in the State, and display that list on the division's website. Making the list publicly available is crucial for ensuring transparency in the ticket industry, and protecting consumers from unregistered ticket brokers. | In Committee |
| A829 | Requires members of State Board of Education to attend meetings in person to be recorded as present. | This bill provides that a member of the State Board of Education may only be recorded as present if the member attends the meeting in person, except as may be otherwise determined during a state of emergency declared by the Governor. The bill also requires all public meetings of the State Board of Education to be accessible to the public both in person and virtually. A link providing virtual access to meetings is required to be publicly available on the State Board of Education's website. Finally, for any meeting in which the State Board of Education accepts public comment, the bill stipulates that members of the public will be able to provide comments by means of remote communication. | In Committee |
| A824 | Permits police officers to be assigned to public school if school is being used as polling place during conduct of election. | 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 amends current law to permit police officers to be assigned to a public school if the school is being used as a polling place during conduct of an election. Under the bill, a district board, superintendent of elections, or a county clerk may request that one or more police officer be assigned to a public school during the conduct of an election to provide security at that school. Upon the request, a commission, committee, board, or official having charge of the police department in any county or municipality may assign one or more police officers for that purpose. Under the bill, interfering with any person present at a location for the purpose of voting while transporting election materials to or from a polling place or providing security at a polling place located at a public school is prohibited. | In Committee |
| A2641 | Requires school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities in the student's resident district. | This bill requires school districts to allow home-schooled students 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 home-schooled student who wishes to participate in an extracurricular activity in his resident district must: (1) provide proof that he 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 must demonstrate to the board of education that he did not transfer to a home-school program 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 home-schooled student to access the examination or test and must publish the dates and times of the examination or test on its website. | In Committee |
| A820 | Establishes New Jersey Internet Criminal Information Registry. | This bill directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain the New Jersey Internet Criminal Information Registry. The names and information relating to persons who have been convicted of certain violent crimes would be placed on the registry and would be available to the public on the Internet. A conviction of any one of the following crimes would result in a person's placement on the registry: murder; aggravated manslaughter or manslaughter; vehicular homicide; disarming a law enforcement officer; kidnapping, except for convictions for which a person is required to register pursuant to Megan's law; robbery; carjacking; aggravated arson; burglary; extortion; booby traps in manufacturing or distribution facilities; strict liability for drug induced deaths; terrorism; producing or possessing chemical weapons, biological agents or nuclear or radiological devices; racketeering when it is a crime of the first degree; firearms trafficking; or any crime of the first or second degree involving serious bodily injury. The registry is to be subdivided into four categories: inmates; parolees; inmates participating in residential community release programs; and persons convicted of a substantially similar violent crime in a different jurisdiction, but paroled in New Jersey under the Interstate Corrections Compact. Registry information is to include the person's name, sentence, address or place of incarceration, release or parole discharge date, and criminal history. The bill specifies that upon release or discharge from parole, the person's name and all related information is to be immediately removed from the registry and no longer be available to the public. The bill also specifies that no action is to be brought against a real estate broker, broker-salesperson, salesperson, seller, or lessor for failure to investigate or disclose any information from the registry that is compiled or made available pursuant to the bill. Finally, the bill directs the Attorney General to use forfeiture funds to cover the costs of establishing and maintaining the registry. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A776 | Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses. | This bill provides that a student attending a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school would not be required to wear a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending. A student would also not be required to wear a face mask while present on a school bus. The bill would not prohibit a student from voluntarily wearing a face mask while in any indoor or outdoor area of any building of, or while on the grounds of, the school which the student is attending or while the student is present on a school bus. | In Committee |
| A1039 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of texting while driving as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. | This bill requires school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of cell phone usage and text messaging while driving aspart of the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction will provide students in grades 9 through 12 with: information concerning the correlation between distracted driving and erratic driving behavior, such as lane-weaving and sudden speed changes, and driving accidents; and statistics concerning the number of driving accidents, injuries and fatalities resulting from cell phone usage and text messaging while driving. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education will provide school districts with sample learning activities and resources designed to promote awareness of the dangers associated with cell phone usage and text messaging while driving. | In Committee |
| A1042 | Requires local governing body and DCA to suspend collection of certificate of occupancy and related inspection fees for homes being rented by persons identified by FEMA as displaced individuals. | This bill requires local governing bodies and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to suspend the collection of fees for certificates of inspection, certificates of occupancy, continuing certificates of occupancy or other documentary code enforcement certifications issued pursuant to sections 6 and 15 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-124 and 133), sections 1 and 2 of P.L.1991, c.92 (C.52:27D-198.1 and 198.2), and section 1 of P.L.1999, c.15 (C.52:27D-133.3), for a period of time commencing on the date of enactment of the bill through the last day of the sixth month next following enactment, for a dwelling unit rented by a person identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a displaced individual as a result of loss of their primary residence due to the impact of the 2012 Hurricane Sandy. Under the provisions of the bill, the local governing body or the department may continue to charge fees that would otherwise have been collected but for the provisions of subsection a. of section 1 of the bill, and shall remit an accounting of such fees charged to the State Treasurer to determine the amount of funds to be apportioned to the local governing body or department to cover the uncollected fees charged during the period of the suspension. | In Committee |
| ACR44 | Urges Governor to protect religious liberty during declared state of emergency. | Rising COVID-19 infections in New Jersey prompted Governor Murphy to declare a state of emergency and announce a Statewide curfew on March 9, 2020 and a Statewide stay-at-home-order on March 21, 2020. Churches and houses of worship were affected by the Statewide stay-at-home order and were closed between March and June 2020 for in-person religious services and once re-opened, remained heavily restricted by indoor capacity limits placed by Governor Murphy. Not all secular businesses and services were equally restricted. Many, like grocery stores, pharmacies, and liquor stores were deemed "essential" by executive order and remained open with few or no restrictions. Churches and houses of worship were not deemed "essential" despite the important services they provide New Jersey residents, such as food pantries, homeless shelters, and a sense of community, unity, and hope. Religious liberty is protected by the United States Constitution and the New Jersey Constitution. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents the government from prohibiting the free exercise of religion and the freedom to peaceably assemble and the New Jersey Constitution specifically protects the manner of worshipping Almighty God. The Supreme Court of the United States determined that certain COVID-19 restrictions in the states of California, Colorado, and New York, in particular indoor gathering restrictions and religious household gathering restrictions, violated religious liberty as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Governor Murphy has utilized his gubernatorial powers aggressively since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that have abridged, and not protected, the freedom of New Jersey residents. Restrictions on religious gatherings in New Jersey during the COVID-19 health emergency potentially violated certain unalienable rights protected by the Constitution of the United States, and in light of these violations, the Legislature of New Jersey urges the Governor of New Jersey to protect religious liberty during a declared state of emergency. | 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 |
| A763 | Expands statute authorizing temporary restraining orders for certain alleged stalking victims to include victims of any age or mental capacity. | This bill would allow any person who alleges that he is a victim of stalking to apply for a temporary restraining order against the defendant. Under current law, where there is an allegation that a person has stalked a child under the age of 18, a developmentally disabled person or a person with a mental disease or defect which renders the person temporarily or permanently incapable of understanding the nature of his conduct, the parent or guardian of the alleged victim may apply for a temporary restraining order limiting the contact of the defendant and the alleged victim. This bill would expand these provisions to allow alleged victims of any age or mental capacity to apply for these orders. Current law provides that a conviction of stalking operates as an automatic application for a permanent restraining order limiting the contact of the defendant and the victim. (See N.J.S.A.2C:12-10.1). However, it may take several years before a defendant charged with stalking is convicted of the crime. Under the bill, a person could apply for a temporary restraining order against the defendant on an emergency basis, before the defendant is convicted. The bill provides that if the hearing is held on an emergency, ex parte basis, without the presence of the defendant, the court issuing the temporary restraining order would be required to hold a hearing within 10 days after notice to the defendant. At the hearing, the court would decide whether the temporary restraining order should be continued. The standard for continuing the temporary order would be by a preponderance of the evidence. If continued, the temporary restraining order would be in effect until either (1) the defendant is convicted, in which case the court would hold a hearing on the issue of whether a permanent restraining order would be entered (pursuant to current law), or (2) the victim, or a parent or guardian acting on the victim's behalf, requests that the temporary restraining order be dismissed. | 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 |
| A767 | Establishes toll free helpline for first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. | This bill establishes a toll free helpline for first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Under the bill, the Department of Health (DOH) is to establish, in coordination with University Behavioral HealthCare of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers), a toll free helpline for first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder due to their work during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The helpline is to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week and is to respond to calls from first responders, health care workers, other frontline workers, and their families. The operators of the helpline are to seek to identify first responders, health care workers, other frontline workers, and their families who should be referred to further peer support and counseling services, and provide referrals. To the greatest extent possible, the operators of the help line, are to be (1) familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder and the emotional and psychological tensions, depressions, and anxieties unique to first responders, health care workers, other frontline workers, and their families or (2) trained to provide counseling services involving marriage and family life, substance abuse, personal stress management, and other emotional or psychological disorders or conditions which may be likely to adversely affect the personal and service related well-being of first responders, health care workers, other frontline workers, and their families. The bill provides that the DOH and Rutgers are to provide for the confidentiality of the names of the persons calling, the information discussed, and any referrals for further peer support or counseling; provided, however, the DOH and Rutgers may establish guidelines providing for the tracking of any person who exhibits a severe emotional or psychological disorder or condition which the operator handling the call reasonably believes might result in harm to the first responder, health care worker, other frontline worker, or any other person. "Frontline worker" means a person who provides an essential service or key public service, including, but not limited to, employees of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families. | In Committee |
| A749 | Extends Class Two special law enforcement training for time deployed. | This bill extends the three-year time period during which a member of the United States military who had completed Class Two special law enforcement officer training could be appointed to a police department without retaking the training by the amount of time that the member was deployed into active service. The bill defines "military" as the armed forces of the United States, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the National Guard and any other reserve component of the armed forces, and the merchant marine when organized under the federal law as a public military force. Under current law, municipalities are authorized to appoint a limited number of part-time special law enforcement officers to supplement their regular police forces. Many shore communities hire these officers during seasonal summer periods. Class Two special law enforcement officers are empowered to exercise full police powers and perform the duties of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer. They also are authorized to carry a firearm. Under Police Training Commission policy, a person who completes the Class Two special law enforcement basic police officer training program is certified for appointment to a police department for three years. A trainee who does not receive an appointment within those three years is required to retake the course. Under this bill, in the case of a trainee who is a member of the United States military, the certification period would be automatically extended for the amount of time that the trainee spent being deployed in active service. | In Committee |
| A800 | Concerns valuation of property condemned for dune construction or beach replenishment. | This bill would supplement the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), to provide that just compensation for an easement over a portion of beachfront property condemned for the purpose of dune construction or beach replenishment must include consideration of the increase in value to the entire property due to the added safety and property protection provided by the dune or replenished beach. The bill would also provide that any additional rights of the public to access property held in the public trust arising as a result of the easement, or the dune construction or beach replenishment, would not be considered to cause a diminution in the value of the entire property. | In Committee |
| A797 | Limits upfront costs for oral anticancer medications for persons covered under certain health benefits plans. | This bill limits the amount that a covered person is required to pay upfront in order to obtain oral anticancer medications by amending P.L.2011, c. 188, which requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to cover oral anticancer medications on a basis no less favorable than intravenous anticancer medications. Specifically, the bill provides that, except for any copayment, deductible or coinsurance required to be paid by the covered person pursuant to the contract or policy, a contract or policy shall not require a covered person to pay any additional upfront cost or out of pocket expense for orally administered anticancer medications, even if reimbursement for that cost or expense is to be provided to the covered person at a later date. Due to the extremely high cost of many oral anticancer medications, many patients cannot afford to pay for these medications upfront and wait for reimbursement from their insurer or health benefits plan at a later date. This bill attempts to remedy these situations by limiting upfront costs to the patient's copayment, deductible or coinsurance. | In Committee |
| A832 | Extends pension eligibility for survivors of certain emergency services volunteers who contracted COVID-19 during 2020 public health emergency declared by Governor. | This bill extends pension eligibility to the widow, children, or parent of any volunteer firefighter, first aid worker or rescue squad worker, or emergency medical technician who contracted COVID-19 during the public health emergency in this State declared by the Governor on March 9, 2020. Under current law, if any volunteer firefighter, first aid worker, rescue squad worker, or emergency medical technician has died as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty as a member of the volunteer fire company or first aid or rescue squad on or after January 1, 2000, the widow or children or parent of the volunteer is eligible for a survivor's pension. The pension is $15,000 per year, and $10,000 or $5,000 depending on the survivor's relationship to the deceased. Once approved by the municipality, the pension will be payable by the State. Under this bill, for a survivor's pension, the death of a volunteer attributable to COVID-19, complications therefrom, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused thereby will be deemed to have occurred as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty as a volunteer if: the volunteer contracted COVID-19 and the volunteer's death occurred after receiving a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 during the public health emergency; the volunteer died as a result of COVID-19; and the volunteer's regular or assigned duties required the volunteer to interact, and the volunteer so interacted, with the public or to directly supervise other personnel so interacting with the public on any date during the public health emergency and within 14 calendar days prior to the appearance of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that were confirmed in writing by a licensed health care provider on a form approved by the board of trustees and also confirmed by a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2. An eligible beneficiary of a volunteer who died during the public health emergency may apply for a survivor's pension pursuant to this bill. If approved by the governing body of the municipality, the survivor's pension will be retroactive to the first calendar year after the year of the volunteer's death. | 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 |
| A1058 | Authorizes creation of Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Domestic Violence Awareness license plate is to display an image of a purple ribbon and the words "Domestic Violence Awareness" below the image. The chief administrator, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, is to select the design and color scheme of the Domestic Violence Awareness 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 Domestic Violence Awareness license plates. After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates 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 "Domestic Violence Awareness License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the Department of Children and Families (department) and are to be used to provide grant funding to organizations and nonprofit agencies that support victims of domestic violence. 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 plates exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill also requires that the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families appoint a liaison to represent the department in all communications with the commission regarding the Domestic Violence Awareness license plate. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Domestic Violence Awareness license plate program. The bill requires an individual or entity designated by the department to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the department to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the license plates, until: (1) the individual or entity is designated by the department has provided the commission with the money necessary of offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the license plate program; and (2) the department 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 moth after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A816 | Requires DOE to release to school district upon request data and software program algorithms used to calculate State school aid. | This bill requires the Department of Education to provide to any school district that requests the information, the data for all school districts used to calculate State school aid, including the data necessary to calculate and reconcile all school districts' adequacy budgets, equalization aid, and local shares, and the detaisl of any adjustments made when the calculated local share exceeds the adequacy budget for every such district in the State, and the software program algorithms used by the department to calculate State school aid. The department would be required to provide the software program regardless of whether or not the department considers the software program to be proprietary. Under the bill's provisions, the department would also be required to provide a reconciliation, broken down by district, that demonstrates that total local share plus total equalization aid equals the total of all adequacy budgets Statewide in accordance with sections 10 and 11 of the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA), P.L.2007, c.260. As some school districts grapple with reductions in State school aid under the provisions of P.L.2018 c.67 (C.18A:7F-67 et al.), commonly referred to as S-2, it is only fair that increased transparency on the State school aid calculations be provided to school districts. These school districts need to have the information required for them to determine that the State school aid formula has been calculated correctly and in accordance with the law for all school districts in the State. | In Committee |
| A1054 | Changes law regulating size limits of lobsters. | This bill amends current law authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate the size limits of lobsters caught for commercial and personal use by clarifying that these size limits would apply only to lobsters taken from the marine waters of the State. | In Committee |
| A761 | Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property. | This bill requires a public utility (utility) to reimburse a business customer for financial losses incurred by the business customer during the period when the business customer ceases operations due to a service interruption to the business customer requiring the utility to repair or replace its equipment on the business customer's property. The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is to determine the amount of any reimbursement cost the utility is to pay its business customer for that loss upon examining appropriate documentation provided to the BPU by the business customer, as determined by the BPU. A utility is not to include in its rate base or otherwise recover from ratepayers the amount of the reimbursement cost that the BPU determines is due to the business customer. The bill is not to apply to a business customer incurring losses due to a utility service interruption occurring during an emergency event. "Emergency event" is defined as a natural or humanly caused occurrence arising from conditions beyond the control of the utility, including but not limited to, a thunderstorm, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flood, heat wave, snowstorm, or ice storm, which results in: (1) a sustained service interruption to at least five percent of the customers within an operating area or at least five percent of the utility's customers within a municipality or county located in an operating area; or (2) the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the State or by the federal government. | In Committee |
| A760 | Directs BPU to study whether State's electric distribution system meets certain standards. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study and prepare and submit, within six months of the effective date of the bill, to the Governor and Legislature, a written report which is to make findings which are to include the BPU's determination of whether the State's electric distribution system is maintained and operated by the electric public utilities in a manner that meets BPU standards and an assessment of the reliability State's electric distribution system through an application of other applicable standards. The BPU is also directed to provide recommendations to improve reliability. In conducting the study, the BPU is directed to: (1) assess each electric public utility's compliance with the standards adopted by the BPU pursuant to statute requiring that electric public utilities (a) furnish safe, adequate, and proper service, and (b) comply with standards concerning the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the distribution equipment and facilities of electric public utilities and standards for the operation, reliability, and safety of that equipment and facilities during periods of emergency or disaster, and (c) any other law, rule, regulation, or order concerning the reliability New Jersey's electric distribution system; and (2) conduct an assessment of the reliability of the State's electric distribution system in consideration of other applicable standards to include (a) a comparison of the performance of this State's distribution system as compared to that of other states, (b) an assessment of electric public utility restoration efforts in response to severe weather events and natural disasters, (c) the capability of the categories of utility poles located in the State to support distribution infrastructure during severe weather events and natural disasters, and (d) the implementation of applicable requirements of the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, the American National Standards Institute, and other applicable national and international standards with respect to the New Jersey's electric distribution infrastructure. | In Committee |
| AJR34 | Designates October 1 of each year as "New Jersey Diner Day". | This joint resolution designates October 1 of each year as "New Jersey Diner Day". New Jersey is known as the "Diner Capital of the World". The history of diners in New Jersey started during the automobile industry's rise in the 1910s and 1920s wherein New Jersey diners began as portable wooden food wagons. Jerry O'Mahony and his brother of Bayonne, New Jersey, owned several lunch wagons that operated throughout Hudson, County, New Jersey. The O'Mahony brothers hired a carpenter to build their own food wagon and sold it to a restaurant entrepreneur. In the decades that followed, nearly all of the major United States diner builders, including Jerry O'Mahony Inc., started operating in New Jersey. Due to New Jersey's location between Philadelphia and New York City, New Jersey built highly developed transportation systems and road networks for commuters traveling between the two metropolitan hubs. As busy commuters traveled between these three states, New Jersey's 24-hour diners became destinations to eat and rest. Travelers and locals alike sought out these diners for an affordable, convenient meal. New Jersey is home to approximately 525 diners, the most diners in any state. Diners play an important role in New Jersey's economy and culture and should be celebrated. | In Committee |
| A804 | Makes it a crime of the second degree to interfere with 9-1-1 public safety answering points. | This bill would make it a crime of the second degree to interfere with 9-1-1 public safety answering points. Under current law, a person is guilty of a crime of the second degree pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:20-25 if, purposely or knowingly and without authorization, or in excess of authorization, he alters, damages or destroys any data, data base, computer, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer system or computer network, or denies, disrupts or impairs computer services, including access to any part of the Internet, that are available to any other user of the computer services. This bill clarifies that interference with 9-1-1 service is also a crime of the second degree. This bill is intended to address the problem of hackers who unlawfully gain access to 9-1-1 systems and interfere with communications, making it difficult or impossible for callers needing emergency services to reach the 9-1-1 service. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime of the second degree to purposely or knowingly and without authorization, or in excess of authorization, deny, disrupt or impair computer services, including access to a public safety answering point (PSAP), as defined in N.J.S.A.52:17C-1. A PSAP is defined in the statute as "a facility, operated on a 24-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of receiving 9-1-1 calls and, as appropriate, directly dispatching emergency response services or transferring or relaying emergency 9-1-1 calls to other public safety agencies. A public safety answering point is the first point of reception by a public safety agency of 9-1-1 calls and serves the jurisdictions in which it is located or other participating jurisdictions." Under the provisions of subsection h. of N.J.S.A.2C:20-25, if the victim of the crime is a government agency, the defendant must be sentenced to a period of imprisonment that includes a minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which the defendant is not eligible for parole. The victim is deemed to be a government agency if a computer, computer network, computer storage medium, computer system, computer equipment, computer program, computer software, computer data or data base that is a subject of the crime is owned, operated or maintained by or on behalf of a governmental agency or unit of State or local government or a public authority. This bill also clarifies that a PSAP is encompassed within the provisions of subsection h. of N.J.S.A.2C:20-25. A crime of the second degree is generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years or a fine up to $150,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A3341 | Establishes immunity for businesses against damage claims for public health emergency exposure; excludes reckless or intentional conduct. | This bill provides immunity to businesses against claims for damages or injury to individuals arising out of exposure to any public health emergency at premises owned or operated by the employer, or during activity managed by the employer. The immunity provided in the bill is in addition to any other immunity protections under State or federal law. The immunity provided in this bill does not apply to willful misconduct, reckless infliction of harm or the intentional infliction of harm. Under the bill "employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, legal representative, or any organized group of persons acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in its relations to employees. It is the sponsor's view that establishing immunity for businesses against claims for damage to individuals arising out of exposure to a public health emergency declared by the governor of the State of New Jersey to be a public health emergency, will aid in restoring, strengthening and vitalizing the economy, a key objective, by removing the risk of costly actions for damage arising from exposure to the virus. With that view in mind, the immunity of the bill extends to include employees and patrons of businesses, except where reckless or intentional conduct is involved. | In Committee |
| ACR45 | Urges US Congress to pass legislation to reinstate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine. | This concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to pass H.R.7570, which would establish certain protections for individuals involuntarily separated from the United States Armed Forces solely on the basis of refusing to receive vaccinations against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccinations became mandatory for members of the Armed Forces in 2021. Those service members who did not wish to receive a vaccine were discharged, in some cases with a general discharge under honorable conditions. These discharges may create issues for future employment and minimize the contribution and commitment made by members of the United States Armed Forces. H.R.7570 would reinstate service members to their previous rank and grade, upon their request and change the discharge of an individual to honorable. New Jersey recognizes the contributions of members of the Armed Forces and the importance of their service to our nation. | In Committee |
| A1051 | Increases fines for failing to have required markings on commercial vehicles. | This bill increases the fines for failing to display certain required information on commercial vehicles. Current law requires the owner of a commercial vehicle to conspicuously display on the vehicle itself, or on a name plate affixed to the vehicle, the name of the owner and the municipality of the owner's principal place of business. The sign or name plate is to be in plain view and be at least three inches high. The current fine for a violation of this provision is $10. This bill increases the fine for these violations to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense. | In Committee |
| A791 | Exempts senior citizens and blind or disabled persons from certain realty transfer fees. | This bill exempts the sale of owner-occupied residential property by a senior citizen or a blind or disabled person, from certain State portions of the realty transfer fee. The bill also exempts the purchase by a senior citizen or a blind or disabled person of certain residential property from the 1% fee imposed upon the recording of title to that property if the selling price exceeds $1,000,000. The reduction in revenue collected through the realty transfer fee as the result of the enactment of this bill is not believed to be sufficient to trigger the "poison pill" provisions of the realty transfer fee. The "poison pill" provisions of the realty transfer fee law require the Legislature to annually appropriate from realty transfer fees collected by the State $25 million to the "Shore Protection Fund" (N.J.S.A.13:19-16.1) and $12 million to the "Highlands Protection Fund" (N.J.S.A.13:20-19). That law provides that if these funds do not receive this required revenue, the State portion of the basic fee, as well as the additional fee which funds the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (N.J.S.A.52:27D-320) shall not be collected. | In Committee |
| A746 | Requires installation of emergency power supply systems to certain common areas of new planned real estate developments; provides related tax incentives. | This bill would require the installation of an emergency power supply system to supply standby power to each clubhouse or community room in a new common interest community. Hurricane Sandy resulted in prolonged power outages throughout the State of New Jersey and surrounding areas. While Hurricane Sandy is the most recent and prominent example of extended power outages caused by extraordinary weather conditions, it was not an isolated occurrence with regard to extended power outages. Many parts of New Jersey have been developed as common interest communities. Although these planned communities may isolate residential dwellings from public and commercial buildings, these communities often contain clubhouses or other facilities that could be used as a shelter during times of emergency. By requiring new common interest communities to equip clubhouses and community rooms with an alternate source of electrical power, the bill will provide residents of these communities with a centrally-located, well-powered shelter to better wait-out future power outages. While this bill would not require existing common interest communities to retrofit their clubhouses and community rooms with emergency power supply systems, the sponsors recommend and encourage these communities to do so. In recognition of the quasi-public purpose of this initiative, the bill provides a corporation business tax deduction and gross income tax deduction (not to exceed $10,000 in either case), and a sales tax exemption, for the purchase of equipment necessary for the installation of emergency power supply systems by developers of new common interest communities as required under the bill. | In Committee |
| A1043 | Prohibits sale, distribution, and use of urea as an ice melt. | This bill prohibits the sale and use of urea as an ice melt in the State, but does not prohibit any of its other uses. An ice melt, as defined in the bill, is a substance applied to an outdoor surface for the purpose of melting or removing ice or snow, or as a preventative measure against the formation of ice. Urea, as also defined in the bill, is the nitrogen-producing substance and commercially produced products often used as fertilizer, but also used to melt, prevent the formation of, or remove ice. The bill specifies that the term urea may include ammonia sulfates used to melt, prevent the formation of, or remove ice, but does not include rock salt. The bill also establishes a civil penalty of up to $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for the second and each subsequent offense, for violations of the bill. This penalty may be collected in a civil action by summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A778 | Prohibits NJT from making major alterations to rail yards located near certain environmentally sensitive areas. | This bill would prohibit the New Jersey Transit Corporation from making any major alterations, renovations, improvements, upgrades, or additions to any rail yard: (1) which is located within the coastal area as defined and regulated by the "Coastal Area Facility Review Act" (CAFRA); (2) from which surface water or groundwater flows into the watershed of the Barnegat Bay Estuary or into wetlands designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to be priority wetlands; and (3) any portion of which is located in, or within 1,000 feet of: (a) a freshwater wetland or freshwater wetland transition area; (b) a coastal or tidal wetland or coastal or tidal wetland buffer or transition area; or (c) a tidal water body. Exceptions to the bill's prohibition would be allowed only by express written authorization of the Governor, following consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. | 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 |
| A792 | Eliminates supplemental realty transfer fee. | This bill eliminates the supplemental realty transfer fee imposed by P.L.2003, c.113, which took effect on July 14, 2003. The supplemental fee has a graduated structure. It is $0.25 for each $500 of the selling price not in excess of $150,000, $0.85 for each $500 of the selling price in excess of $150,000 but not in excess of $200,000, and $1.40 for each $500 of the selling price in excess of $200,000. Counties retain $0.25 of for each $500 of the selling price and remit the remainder to the State. The supplemental fee also includes an additional fee of $1.00 for each $500 of the selling price not in excess of $150,000 that is exempt from $1.00 of the basic fee as "new construction". The State receives all of the proceeds. | 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 |
| A822 | Requires fire suppression systems in all elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger. | This bill requires the installation of automatic fire suppression systems in elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger. Under the bill's provisions, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, is to adopt regulations necessary to implement this requirement, including rules for the prioritization of elementary and secondary schools for the installation of the automatic fire suppression systems. The bill provides the State Treasurer with the authority to apply State funds otherwise available to State departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, including the proceeds of bonds issued by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for school facilities projects under the provisions of the "Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act," P.L.2000, c.72, for the purpose of securing compliance with the bill's requirements. Since the 1980's, fire suppression systems have been required in all newly-constructed schools 12,000 square feet or larger. | In Committee |
| A1049 | Increases income eligibility limit for homestead property tax reimbursement program. | This bill would double the income eligibility limits for the homestead property tax reimbursement program, also commonly known as the senior and disabled citizens' property tax freeze program, beginning in tax year 2017. The homestead property tax reimbursement program provides certain senior and disabled homeowners a reimbursement of any annual increase in property taxes above the amount of the tax liability for the year in which the homeowner became eligible for the program. The program applies to anyone who? is 65 or more years of age, or who is a disabled person;? is an owner of a homestead or leases a site in a mobile home park on which site the person owns a manufactured or mobile home;? has an annual income below the amount specified in the law governing the program; and? has paid property taxes directly, or through rent, on any homestead or rental unit used as a principal residence in this State for at least 10 consecutive years, at least three of which were as owner of the homestead for which a reimbursement is first sought, or after moving to another homestead in New Jersey, in the full second tax year after moving. Under the bill, the income eligibility limits for the program will increase to $160,000 from $80,000 in tax year 2017 for single claimants and for married couples. This increase in the income limits will allow additional citizens to benefit from the program, which effectively holds qualified participants harmless from property tax increases on their homestead after establishing their "base year" liability for the tax. | In Committee |
| A825 | Clarifies that statute of limitation is tolled in certain cases until State possesses match of crime scene evidence and suspect's DNA. | This bill clarifies that the statute of limitations in cases involving physical evidence and DNA or fingerprint evidence tolls until confirmation of a match of certain evidence. N.J.S.A.2C:1-6 sets forth time limitations for the prosecution of various offenses. Subsection c. of N.J.S.A.2C:1-6 establishes a timeframe for prosecution of most crimes, but carves out an exception for circumstances in which the prosecution includes DNA or fingerprint evidence; the exception tolls the statutory limitation period. In those cases, subsection c. of N.J.S.A.2C:1-6 provides that "time does not start to run until the State is in possession of both the physical evidence and the DNA or fingerprint evidence necessary to establish the identification of the actor by means of comparison to the physical evidence." In State v. Thompson, 22 N.J. LEXIS 463, the New Jersey Supreme Court interpreted the exception language of subsection c. of N.J.S.A.2C:1-6 to mean the Legislature intended that the statute of limitation in cases involving DNA evidence begins "when the State possesses the physical evidence from the crime as well as the DNA sample from the defendant, not when a match is confirmed." This bill clarifies that the statute of limitations begins to run when a match between the physical evidence and DNA or fingerprint evidence has been confirmed. | 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 |
| A874 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A2517 | Prohibits employment of illegal aliens and requires use of E-Verify program in public contracts. | This bill provides that no State agency or political subdivision may enter into or renew a public contract for services with a contractor who knowingly employs or contracts with an illegal alien to perform work under the contract or who knowingly contracts with an illegal alien to perform work under the contract. The bill requires each public contract for services to include a provision that the contractor shall not: (1) knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien to perform work under the public contract for services; or (2) enter into a contract with a subcontractor that fails to certify to the contractor that the subcontractor shall not knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien to perform work under the public contract for services. The bill requires each public contract for services to include provisions stating that: (1) the contractor will verify through the E-Verify program that the contractor will not employ any illegal aliens; (2) if the contractor obtains actual knowledge that a subcontractor performing work under the public contract for services knowingly employs or contracts with an illegal alien, the contractor shall be required to: (a) notify the subcontractor and the contracting State agency or political subdivision within three days that the contractor has actual knowledge that the subcontractor is employing or contracting with an illegal alien; and (b) terminate the subcontract with the subcontractor if within three days of receiving the notice the subcontractor does not stop employing or contracting with the illegal alien; except that the contractor shall not terminate the contract with the subcontractor if during the three days the subcontractor provides information to establish that the subcontractor has not knowingly employed or contracted with an illegal alien; and (3) the contractor is required to comply with any reasonable request by the department made in the course of an investigation that the department is undertaking pursuant to the authority established pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a State agency or political subdivision must notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development if a contractor violates a provision of a public contract for services required pursuant to the bill and the State agency or political subdivision terminates the contract for the breach. Based on the notification, the department shall maintain a list that includes the name of the contractor, the State agency or political subdivision that terminated the public contract for services, and the date of the termination. A contractor shall be removed from the list if two years have passed since the date the contract was terminated, or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that there has not been a violation of the provision of the public contract for services. A State agency or political subdivision shall notify the department if a court has made that determination. The list shall be available for public inspection at the department and shall be published on an internet website maintained by the department. The bill provides that the department may investigate whether a contractor is complying with the provisions of a public contract for services required pursuant to the bill. The department may conduct on-site inspections where a public contract for services is being performed, request and review documentation that proves the legal status of any person performing work on a public contract for services, or take other reasonable steps that are necessary to determine whether a contractor is complying with the provisions of a public contract for services required pursuant to the bill. The bill requires the department to receive complaints of suspected violations of a provision of a public contract for services and gives the department discretion as to determine which complaints are to be investigated. The results of any investigation do not constitute final agency action. The bill requires the department to notify a State agency or political subdivision if it suspects that there has been a breach of a provision in a public contract for services pursuant to the bill. | In Committee |
| A1719 | Excludes certain illegal aliens from workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits. | This bill excludes illegal aliens from workers' compensation coverage unless they were lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time the employment was performed, were lawfully present for the purpose of performing the employment, or otherwise were permanently residing in the United States under color of law at the time the employment was performed (including aliens who were lawfully present in the United States as a result of the application of the provisions of section 203(a)(7) or section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. s.1153(a)(7) or 8 U.S.C. s.1128(d)(5), respectively). The bill also provides that illegal aliens shall not be eligible to receive benefits pursuant to the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25) if they are not eligible for benefits pursuant to the "unemployment compensation law," R.S.43:21-1 et seq. This bill is in response to the decision of Mateo Coria v. Board of Review and National Fence Systems, No. A-5076-89-T5 (App. Div. 1991). In that case, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court held that the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law" does not disqualify individuals for benefits based upon their status as illegal aliens. | In Committee |
| A2638 | Requires chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when non-citizen applies for firearms purchaser identification card or handgun purchase permit. | This bill requires a chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in the United States applies for a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC) or permit to purchase a handgun (PPH). Under current law, a person who purchases a rifle or shotgun is required to obtain a FPIC; handgun purchasers are required to obtain a PPH. An applicant for a FPIC or PPH is required submit to the chief law enforcement officer or the superintendent, as appropriate, a written application, consent for a mental health records search, and two sets of fingerprints for a criminal history records background check. Federal law prohibits selling or transferring a firearm to a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. s.922(d)(5). This bill incorporates the federal standard governing the sale or transfer of firearms to a non-citizen. In addition, the bill requires a chief law enforcement officer or the superintendent to notify and cooperate with federal immigration authorities when the officer or superintendent determines that an applicant for a FPIC or PPH is a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in the United States. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| ACR60 | Amends Constitution to allow public funds to be used for historic preservation of places of worship. | This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to allow public funds to be used for the historic preservation of churches or other places of worship as part of a historic preservation program. This concurrent resolution is in response to a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, (Docket No. 079277). This court decision found that the award by Morris County of taxpayer funds to repair twelve churches, as part of a historic preservation program, violates Article I, paragraph 3, known as the "Religious Aid Clause" of the New Jersey Constitution. Under current law, counties are authorized to establish "County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Funds," and municipalities are also authorized to establish similar funds. These funds are often referred to as "open space trust funds," and may only be established by a county or municipality with voter approval to annually levy funds for the acquisition, development, or maintenance of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, acquisition of farmland for farmland preservation purposes, historic preservation of historic properties, and other similar purposes. In 2002, the voters of Morris County authorized the county to provide historic preservation funding under a trust fund established by this property tax levy. The New Jersey Supreme Court found, in Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, that the use of these taxpayer funds for historic preservation activities at a church or other place of worship violates the "Religious Aid Clause" of the New Jersey Constitution. This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, would allow public funds to be used for historic preservation activities at churches or other places of worship as part of a historic preservation program. | In Committee |
| ACR74 | Amends State Constitution to prohibit State from using bonds to balance State budget. | This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that prohibits the State from using borrowed funds to balance the State budget. It prohibits proceeds from the sale of bonds from being used as revenue to pay for State budget appropriations, except for new capital projects not previously enacted. It also prohibits bonds from being sold to fund any project previously paid for in an annual State budget or through any previous appropriation supplementing the State budget. The balanced budget provision of the State Constitution has been severely weakened if not effectively repealed by the use of long-term bonded indebtedness to produce enormous short-term revenue sources to balance current, single-year State spending. In Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004 the State caused various State authorities to issue bonds totaling more than $3.5 billion and to turn over virtually all of the funds to the State as revenue to support the ordinary operating expenses of the State government. The Governor's budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2005 again propose that $1.5 billion of bonds be sold by an authority and that virtually all of the funds be turned over to the State as revenue to pay for ordinary operating expenses. The result of this proposed action would be to effectively borrow to pay operating costs and enact a budget that is not balanced in any meaningful sense. This proposed constitutional amendment will end the practice of the State's borrowing to meet ordinary operating expenses and reestablish a balanced budget requirement. | In Committee |
| A5570 | Prohibits setting of snares or cable restraint traps on certain National Guard property; establishes penalties. | Prohibits setting of snares or cable restraint traps on certain National Guard property; establishes penalties. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Abstain |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Abstain |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Nay |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 10 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 01/09/2024 |