Legislator
Legislator > Heather Simmons
State Assemblymember
Heather Simmons
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 03
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Glassboro Office
711 N. Main St.
Glassboro, NJ 08028
Glassboro, NJ 08028
Phone: 856-226-3530
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5442 | Requires BPU members to have certain experience and complete certain training. | Requires BPU members to have certain experience and complete certain training. | Crossed Over |
| A5733 | Provides for State agency reviews and increases of income thresholds for residential customers to participate in certain utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program to, within one year of the bill's effective date, complete a review of the program, as provided for in the bill, and increase the income threshold if the department, board, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. The bill requires that a State agency request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. The bill further specifies that if an increase in income thresholds for the State's low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the BPU is required to assess if further guidance is necessary to change income thresholds in the utilities' triennium energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers are eligible for only one energy efficiency assistance program and to expand access to moderate-income programs, if appropriate. | Crossed Over |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Passed |
| A5714 | "New Jersey Loves New Jersey Farmers Act"; provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to commercial farm operators for price loss. | This bill, which is designated as the "New Jersey Loves New Jersey Farmers Act," provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits to commercial farm operators in an amount equal to the price loss of New Jersey commercial farm products, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (secretary). Under the bill, a commercial farm operator is allowed a tax credit based on the price loss of New Jersey commercial farm products sold during a tax period. As defined in the bill, "New Jersey commercial farm product" means a crop, including, but not limited to, a fruit or vegetable, harvested for human consumption from a commercial farm. A "commercial farm operator" means the taxpayer primarily responsible for the on-site day-to-day operation of a commercial farm, at which New Jersey commercial farm products are planted, managed, and harvested. The bill defines "price loss" to mean the difference between the baseline receipts and actual receipts for a New Jersey commercial farm product, provided that the amount of the actual receipts is lower than amount of the baseline receipts. Under the bill, "actual receipts" is defined to mean the sum of the actual amounts, in dollars, that a commercial farm operator received in compensation for each unit of a New Jersey commercial farm product sold during the tax period. In contract, "baseline receipts" means the sum of the total number of units of a New Jersey commercial farm product sold during the tax year, multiplied by the monthly reference price for the month in which each unit was sold. The bill defines "monthly reference price" as the average amount, in dollars, as determined by the secretary, that a commercial farm operator should fairly receive in compensation for each unit of a New Jersey commercial farm product sold during that specific month. The bill requires the secretary to accept and review applications for the certification of a commercial farm operator's price loss during a tax period. A commercial farm operator may submit an application for certification of the price loss for a single New Jersey commercial farm product or the total price loss for multiple New Jersey commercial farm products. In addition to such other information and documentation that the secretary may deem necessary, an application for the certification of price loss is required to include: (1) business records of a commercial farm operator demonstrating the actual receipts of each New Jersey commercial farm product for which the commercial farm operator seeks certification of price loss; and (2) an indication of the dates beginning and ending the tax period for which the application is made and calculation of the baseline receipts for that tax period. The secretary is also required under the bill to calculate and publish the monthly reference price for each month of a calendar year, as described in the bill, within 90 days following the final day of that month. Under the bill, any amount of any unused tax credit may be carried forward to the seven tax periods following the year for which the tax credit was issued, after which the tax credit expires. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation to determine the form and manner by which a taxpayer can apply for the tax credit, coordinating with the secretary as necessary. In addition to authorizing tax credits for commercial farm operators, the bill also permits the operators to apply for a tax credit transfer certificate so that part or all of the credit awarded may be sold or assigned in the tax period during which the tax credit transfer certificate is received. The bill provides that a transferee may use the tax credit transfer certificate in the tax period for which it was issued, in the tax period in which it was issued, or in any of the next three successive tax periods. The transferee is permitted to use the credit against tax liabilities in the tax period in which it was issued or in a succeeding tax period, as authorized in the bill, without the need to amend the tax return for the tax period for which the credit was issued. The bill authorizes a transferee to carry forward an unused credit for use in any of the next five successive tax periods, and the unused credit expires thereafter. | In Committee |
| A5440 | Requires State agencies that administer utility bill payment assistance or energy efficiency programs to review, and potentially increase, income thresholds for residential customers to participate in programs. | This bill requires, within one year of the effective date of the bill, the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities, and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program active upon the effective date of the bill to review and increase the income threshold for residential customers to participate in those programs. A State agency may request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. | In Committee |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | In Committee |
| AJR205 | Permanently designates last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey. | This resolution permanently designates the last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about eating disorders and the work the National Eating Disorders Association does in providing services to, and advocating for early intervention and improved access to treatment for, individuals with eating disorders and encourage those suffering from eating disorders and their families to seek the support they need to overcome these life-threatening illnesses. | Crossed Over |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by physicians for license renewal. | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by physicians for license renewal. | Crossed Over |
| A3598 | Requires patient to receive notification of abnormality in chest x-ray; designated as Claudia's Law. | This bill, which is designated as Claudia's Law, provides that if a patient's chest x-ray demonstrates any abnormality, the report provided to the patient is to include the following information, at a minimum: "Your chest x-ray shows an abnormality that may be associated with a risk factor for various illnesses. This information about the result of your chest x-ray is given to you to raise your awareness. Use this information to talk to your health care provider about any risks for illness that pertain to your personal medical history. At that time, ask your health care provider if more screening tests might be useful, based on your risk. A report of your results was sent to your physician." | Crossed Over |
| S1067 | "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. | Vetoed |
| A4374 | Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." | Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." | In Committee |
| A5427 | Eliminates presumption of pretrial release for sex offenses committed against minor. | This bill eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with a sex offense, if the alleged victim of the offense is a minor. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the Criminal Justice Reform Law, criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Currently, the Criminal Justice Reform Law establishes a presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with: murder; a crime for which the eligible defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment; theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle or receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle under certain circumstances; or a crime under any statute of the United States, this State, or any other state that is substantially equivalent. Under the bill, the presumption of pretrial release also would not apply to an eligible defendant charged with a sex offense, as defined under Megan's Law pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-2), if the alleged victim is under 18 years of age. | In Committee |
| A5614 | Requires Division of Parole to establish residency restrictions for certain sex offenders. | This bill requires the Division of Parole to establish residency restrictions for certain sex offenders. The bill defines "sex offender" as a person sentenced to a special sentence of parole supervision for life for the commission of a sex offense which involves a victim under 18 years of age and who has been designated as high-risk of reoffending. Under the provisions of this bill, the Director of the Division of Parole in the State Parole Board is required to establish Statewide residency restrictions for sex offenders. The residency restrictions are required to include, but are not limited to, prohibiting the sex offender from residing within 500 feet of the real property comprising an elementary or secondary school, child care center, or playground. The restrictions would not apply if: 1) the sex offender is serving a sentence at a jail, prison, juvenile facility, or other correctional institution or facility which is located within 500 feet of the real property comprising an elementary or secondary school, child care center, or playground; 2) the sex offender is receiving treatment at a mental health facility located within 500 feet of the real property comprising an elementary or secondary school, child care center, or playground; 3) the sex offender established the residence prior to the bill's effective date; 4) an elementary or secondary school, child care center, or playground is built or established within 500 feet of the sex offender's existing residence; 5) the parole board, after considering a sex offender's housing options, determines that a needs based exception is required; or 6) a court that discharges the sex offender from a psychiatric facility determines that an exemption is appropriate. Finally, the bill provides that the parole officer who is assigned to supervise a sex offender is required to utilize the residency requirements established by the Division of Parole when approving the residence or change of residence of a sex offender. | In Committee |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | In Committee |
| A5502 | Revises provisions of "County College Contracts Law"; permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience. | This bill makes various changes to the "County College Contracts Law." The public bid threshold for county colleges is currently $41,600. Under current law, the threshold is adjusted every two years by the Governor, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers in New York and Northeastern New Jersey and the Philadelphia areas, as reported by the United States Department of Labor. This bill raises the threshold to $100,000 for contracts through which workers employed in the performance of the contract are not paid in accordance to the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." The threshold for contracts through which workers employed in the performance of the contract are paid in accordance with the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act" remains unchanged. Both thresholds will continue to be adjusted by the Governor every two years in the same manner. This bill revises the law that enumerates numerous exemptions to the requirement for public advertising and bidding to also include: (1) the use of electronic data or media services for the publication of legal notices; (2) the production and reproduction of printed materials in electronic and digital formats; (3) information technology; (4) the rental of space and equipment used for graduation and other events and ceremonies; (5) management contracts for bookstores, performing arts centers, residence halls, parking facilities, and building operations; (6) certain consulting services; (7) construction management services; (8) certain technical equipment purchases or rentals; (9) banking and investment services; (10) energy supply from a third-party supplier; (11) hazardous waste collection and disposal services; (12) supplies and services for the administration of study abroad or remote programs; (13) transportation services; (14) vehicle maintenance; (15) vending services; and (16) medical testing. The bill also provides that a county college may purchase without public advertising for bids if the purchase or contract is to be awarded through a reverse auction for the purchase of utilities and other commodities. Additionally, the bill increases the length of time a county college may enter into certain contracts from 24 to 36 consecutive months and permits a county college to enter into certain contracts for a term of not more than five years. The bill also stipulates maximum contract lengths for the provision of: banking, financial services, and e-commerce services; services for maintenance and repair of building systems; and the purchase of alternative energy or the purchase or lease of alternative energy services or equipment for conservation or cost saving purposes. The bill modifies for county colleges the standard for the award of contracts for goods and services, as distinct from construction contracts.Under current law, these contracts are required to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Pursuant to the bill, the board of trustees of a county college is required to award these contracts to the responsible bidder whose bid will be most advantageous to the county college, price and other factors considered. The bill provides that a board of trustees of a county college may, by resolution approved by a majority of the board, disqualify a bidder who would otherwise be determined to be the lowest responsible bidder or the responsible bidder whose bid would otherwise be determined to be most advantageous to the county college as applicable, if the board finds that a board of a public institution of higher education in the State has had a prior negative experience with the bidder within the past 15 years. The bill sets forth conditions that must be applied if a county college is contemplating a bidder disqualification based on prior negative experience including: giving the State college discretion to disqualify a bidder; requiring consideration of mitigating factors; requiring the provision of written notice to the bidder of a potential disqualification and an opportunity for a hearing; and limiting the period of time during which a bidder may be disqualified. | In Committee |
| A5604 | "End Tesla Exception Act"; repeals statute permitting Tesla and other zero emission vehicle manufacturers to sell vehicles directly to consumers. | This bill, which is designated as the "End Tesla Exception Act," repeals section 6 of P.L.2015, c.24 (C.56:10-27.1), which permitted certain motor vehicle manufacturers, including Tesla, to directly buy from or sell to consumers a zero emission motor vehicle. This statute provided an exception to the requirement that motor vehicle sales in this State occur through franchised dealerships. | In Committee |
| A5599 | Provides that regional school districts are not subject to State school aid reductions under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that a regional school district that is spending at least 10 percent below adequacy and in which each constituent school district is located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average equalized total tax rate would not be subject to a reduction in State aid. | In Committee |
| A5602 | Provides that organ donor designation on driver's license or identification card remains upon renewal of license or card under certain circumstances. | This bill provides that a designation as an organ donor on a driver's license or identification card is to remain upon the renewal of the license or card under certain circumstances. Under current law, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator) is required to provide every individual applying for a motorized bicycle license, a driver's license, an identification card, or a license or identification card renewal with the opportunity to designate as an organ donor on such license or identification card. The bill clarifies that the chief administrator is only required to provide an individual applying for a motorized bicycle license, a driver's license, an identification card, or a license or identification card renewal with the opportunity to designate as an organ donor if that individual has not previously designated as an organ and tissue donor pursuant to State law. In addition, under the bill, an individual whose motorized bicycle license, driver's license, or identification card contains the organ donor designation will remain an organ donor upon the renewal of such license or identification card, unless the individual opts to remove the designation pursuant to a change of status procedure prescribed by the chief administrator, in consultation with organ procurement organizations that are authorized by federal law to serve in the State. | In Committee |
| A5573 | Allows juvenile to be tried as adult for committing homicide against law enforcement officer; designated as "Joseph's Law." | This bill revises the juvenile waiver law to allow a juvenile to be tried as an adult for committing criminal homicide against a law enforcement officer. Specifically, the bill allows juveniles to be tried as an adult in cases where there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile committed a delinquent act which if committed by an adult would constitute criminal homicide, other than death by auto, and the victim was a law enforcement officer who was killed while performing the officer's official duties or because of the officer's status as a law enforcement officer Under the bill, the court may deny a motion by the prosecutor to waive jurisdiction of a juvenile delinquency case when the court is clearly convinced that seeking the waiver is an abuse of the prosecutor's discretion. The bill requires the Attorney General to develop for dissemination to the county prosecutors guidelines or directives deemed necessary or appropriate to ensure the uniform application of this section throughout the State. | In Committee |
| AJR216 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | This joint resolution respectfully: (1) directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s (PJM) Reliability Pricing Model; and (2) directs the State of New Jersey to collaborate with neighboring states to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM to implement market reforms and expeditiously review new electricity generation applications. PJM is the regional transmission organization responsible for coordinating the movement of electricity and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy distribution in New Jersey, several other states, and the District of Columbia. One of PJM's responsibilities is to administer a capacity market to ensure adequate resources exist on the grid to maintain reliability at the lowest possible cost through a competitive auction. The rising cost of capacity in PJM's capacity market auctions, which contributes to the overall increase in electricity bills for ratepayers, raises concerns about the alignment of capacity prices with the principles of affordability and transparency outlined in New Jersey's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act". In addition, delays in PJM's interconnection queue have prevented new electric generation resources from becoming operational in a timely manner. As a result, these new resources, which are needed to maintain reliability at low costs, will be unable to compete in PJM's capacity market auctions in the near future. The BPU has been working to incentivize the development of new generation resources to help meet growing energy demand and thereby prevent increases in energy and capacity prices. The BPU has also been actively working to protect ratepayers from price increases and coordinating with other PJM states to push for capacity market reforms. The BPU's initiatives, led by Governor Murphy, are accompanied by the actions of consumer advocates, who have furthered the region's efforts to reduce prices through additional complaints at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which the BPU has pledged to support. | In Committee |
| A5601 | Requires State entities to offer optional service for businesses to receive certain notices electronically. | This bill requires State entities that issue legally required notices to businesses operating in this State to provide an optional service for businesses to receive such notices electronically. Such notices may include notices of violations, underpayment notifications, and employee unemployment claims. Within 60 days of the effective date of this bill, each State entity responsible for issuing legally required notices to businesses is required to notify any business within their purview of the optional electronic notification service. State entities are also required to provide the businesses with the necessary information to opt in to the electronic notification service. This bill defines "State entity" as a State department or agency in the Executive Branch of State Government, and any board, commission, corporation, authority, or instrumentality thereof. | In Committee |
| S3620 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | An Act concerning electric and gas public utilities and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A4915 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | This bill requires the Department of State to establish the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States restrict access to reproductive healthcare services. While many pregnancies are safe and uneventful, there is always some risk that a pregnancy will unexpectedly result in a medical emergency endangering the life or health of the patient. The effective treatment of such emergencies sometimes requires termination of the pregnancy. In the states that limit reproductive health care services, it is unclear to what extent necessary medical treatment for pregnancy-related emergencies will be permitted. There is thus a need to create an advisory that will inform New Jersey residents of the extent to which states within the United States limit reproductive health care services so that they may make informed travel decisions while pregnant. Pursuant to this bill, the travel advisory is to provide a description of each state in the United States with respect to reproductive healthcare services, including but not limited to, gestational duration bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage bans, medication restrictions, constitutional protections, reproductive health care funding, and criminal and civil liability for patients and healthcare providers. The travel advisory is required to provide the information according to the following tiered system: (1) "Blue: Exercise normal caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have access to all forms of reproductive medical care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution; (2) "Yellow: Exercise increased caution," which signifies that pregnant individuals have restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in civil or criminal prosecution; and (3) "Red: Reconsider travel," which signifies that pregnant individuals have extremely restricted access to reproductive medical care that could result in an adverse medical outcome, pregnant individuals being subject to civil or criminal prosecution, and individuals seeking emergency reproductive medical care not being provided life-saving care due to state law. The Department of State is to publish the travel advisory in a prominent location on its website and update the advisory for each state every time a state experiences a change in its law, rules, or regulations concerning reproductive healthcare services. | In Committee |
| A5357 | Establishes farm pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer collection and disposal program. | Establishes farm pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer collection and disposal program. | In Committee |
| A5423 | Requires EDA to include social media development services in services offered through Small Business E-commerce Support Program. | This bill requires that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority) include the provision of social media development services among the services offered to eligible small businesses through its Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The authority created the Small Business E-commerce Support Program as a pilot product under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, established pursuant to the "New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020." Under this pilot product, the authority offers e-commerce and digital marketing consulting services to eligible small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses that are situated in a commercial location within the State. Currently, the consultancy services offered through the pilot product generally include assistance related to the development of Internet websites, e-commerce platforms, and digital marketing plans. The bill requires that these services also include assistance related to the development of social media platforms. | In Committee |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | This bill would require the establishment of a public awareness campaign and a call center for certain property tax relief programs offered by the State. The bill further requires the Stay NJ Task Force to submit an annual report to both the Governor and the Legislature concerning administration of the ANCHOR, Homestead Property Tax Reimbursement ("Senior Freeze"), and Stay NJ Property Tax Credit ("Stay NJ") programs. Specifically, the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Stay NJ Task Force, would be required to undertake a public awareness campaign concerning certain property tax relief programs, including the ANCHOR program, Senior Freeze program, Stay NJ program, and various property tax exemptions and deductions provided for veterans, seniors, and disabled persons. For each program, the public awareness campaign would provide information concerning: (1) the eligibility requirements, including those related to age, income, residency, and ownership; (2) the application process, including any documentation that is required to be included in each application and the deadlines for application submissions; (3) resources available to assist residents with applications; and (4) any other information the director may deem necessary. The bill would further require the Director of the Division of Taxation to establish a call center to assist individuals in navigating the division's website and submitting applications for property tax relief through certain programs. Call center services would be provided in English and the three most commonly spoken languages in the State besides English. The director would also be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign. Finally, the bill would require the Stay NJ Task Force to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the administration of benefits under the ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, and Stay NJ programs for the prior tax year. The report would contain information on the number of applications processed and approved, the amount of payments made to eligible applicants for the prior tax year, the total costs of each program, any recommendations concerning legislative or regulatory changes to be made to each property tax relief program, any recommendations concerning system improvements that both the State and local government units should make to provide for continued streamlined application and payment of benefits for each program, and the funding required to implement such system improvements. | In Committee |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | In Committee |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Crossed Over |
| A5093 | Requires school meal service providers to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within State borders or within 100 miles of destination school. | Requires school meal service providers to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within State borders or within 100 miles of destination school. | In Committee |
| A4380 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Repair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Repair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | In Committee |
| AJR170 | Designates month of April of each year as "Donate Life Month." | This resolution designates the month of April each year as "Donate Life Month" in the State of New Jersey. The intent of this resolution is to honor those who have made the decision to give the gift of life to others and to encourage all New Jersey citizens to register as organ donors. Organ donation is a lifesaving service that can benefit thousands of New Jersey residents and their families. For example, it only takes one donor to save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others by their tissue and eye donation. Transplants, however, are only available to those on the donor waitlist who are able to be matched based on blood and tissue type, organ size, medical urgency, waiting time, and geographic location. The rate at which people are added to the waitlist is greatly outpaced by the amount of people currently registered as organ donors. Consequentially, in America, at least 17 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant. This is why it is important that all adult residents of New Jersey register to become organ donors as increasing the amount of eligible donors will alleviate the impact on those waiting for transplants in the State. New Jersey residents can register as an organ and tissue donors at their local Motor Vehicle Agency or through the National Donate Life Registry online. New Jersey has shown a commitment to providing high quality health care services regardless of whether someone is registered as an organ donor. There is much to be done still in closing the gap in the amount of available organs and those who are on the organ donor waitlist. | Crossed Over |
| A5043 | Requires DOH to create and disseminate materials and resources related to cardiomyopathy. | This bill requires the State Department of Health (DOH) to create and disseminate materials and resources related to cardiomyopathy, including a cardiomyopathy risk assessment. The DOH, in consultation with the Department of Education, would be required to develop public education materials and resources on the signs, symptoms, and risk-factors associated with high-risk cardiac conditions and genetic heart rhythm abnormalities. These materials and resources would then be disseminated to school administrators, educators, school health professionals, coaches, families, guardians, caregivers, and other appropriate individuals. The cardiomyopathy risk assessment would be disseminated to the public. With this bill, the DOH would submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing existing activities already conducted by the department on the prevalence and epidemiology of cardiomyopathy across the lifespan of an individual, from birth to adulthood, focusing on the natural history of an individual with cardiomyopathy and the estimated number of cardiomyopathy-related emergency department visits in the pediatric and adult population. The submitted reports would also be made available to the public. This bill would require the DOH apply to any available federal grants to expand and coordinate research and research-related activities associated with cardiomyopathy. The DOH would be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the department's research efforts and future plans and needs for cardiomyopathy research. Additionally, this bill sets up a grants program. Under the program, the commissioner would award grants to eligible public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools for the following purposes: 1. Developing and providing comprehensive materials to establish AED and CPR programs in public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools; 2. Providing support for CPR and AED training programs in public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools for students, staff, and related sports volunteers; 3. Providing support for developing a cardiac emergency response plan within public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools; 4. Purchasing AEDs, AED batteries, and performing necessary AED maintenance; or 5. Replacing old and outdated AED and CPR equipment, machinery, and educational materials. To receive grant funds, a local educational agency, in consultation with a qualified health care entity, would submit an application to the Commissioner of Health. If a local educational agency has applied and been awarded federal funds for the same or similar purposes as listed above, the educational agency would need to first utilize the federal funds before applying to the State for any additional funds. Lastly, this bill appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health to implement the provisions of this bill. | 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 |
| A5372 | Authorizes foraging fruits, fungi, nuts, plants, and parts thereof in State parks and forests for personal use of the forager. | The bill permits a person to forage for their personal use, fruits, fungi, nuts, plants, or parts thereof in State parks or forests, provided that the person does not negligently forage any plant or part thereof, fruit or nut from a plant, or fungi that is identified by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a threatened, endangered, rare, or vulnerable species of plant or fungi, or a plant species of concern pursuant to P.L.1989, c.56 (C.13:1B:15.151 et seq.). The bill also provides that the person engaging in foraging would do so at their own risk, and the State, and its agencies and departments, would not be liable or responsible for the person's safety, foraging, consumption of the fruits, fungi, nuts, or plants foraged, or any consequences of sharing the foraged fruits, fungi, nuts, plants, or parts thereof with another person. The bill defines "personal use" as consumption by the person, the person's family, or the person's friends, and does not include any selling, bartering, or offering for sale or barter of the foraged fruit, fungi, nuts, plants, or parts thereof. In addition, the bill provides that: 1) the DEP may limit foraging in areas where the department identifies such limits to be necessary for the protection of the environment or public safety, including, not limited to, protection of nesting birds, prevention of erosion, protection of newly planted vegetation, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, or protection of the public from a physical hazard; and 2) park personnel who determine that foraging activity in a certain area may pose a threat to wildlife or damage to the land or ecology of the area, or poses a public safety risk, may establish a temporary barrier with a posted notice that limits foraging in the area, and so notify the DEP. The bill requires the DEP to investigate the notice and determine whether foraging activity may continue in the area. Finally, the bill establishes a fine of up to $500 for each violation for a person who negligently forages any plant or part thereof, fruit or nut from a plant, or fungi that is identified by the DEP as a threatened, endangered, rare, or vulnerable species of plant or fungi, or a plant species of concern pursuant to P.L.1989, c.56 (C.13:1B:15.151 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A4817 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | In Committee |
| A5212 | Provides for expansion of social services supports at county colleges. | Provides for expansion of social services supports at county colleges. | In Committee |
| A5332 | Requires State appropriations for Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters Property Tax Relief Program and annual reporting of property tax relief program data; establishes Property Tax Relief Program Oversight Committee. | This bill requires the State to appropriate full funding for the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) Property Tax Relief Program and provide for additional oversight of the State's property tax relief programs. The ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program provides rebates to offset property tax bills for eligible homeowners and tenants who are residents of New Jersey. The bill requires the State to appropriate additional State moneys from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of the Treasury in any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program is not sufficient to provide the full amount of property tax relief prescribed for this program in accordance with current law. The bill also requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to submit annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the total amount expended, and the number of homeowners who receive property tax relief credits, rebates, and reimbursements through the State's property tax relief programs. The report would also include information on the distribution of property tax credits and rebates to senior citizen and non-senior citizen homeowners and tenants and by income bracket. The bill establishes a five-member Property Tax Relief Program Oversight Committee in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury. The bill requires the committee to conduct ongoing monitoring of the State's property tax relief programs. The bill directs the committee to issue reports regarding the efficacy of the State's property tax relief programs in reducing the property tax burden of homeowners in the State and make recommendations to improve the administrative efficiency of the State's property tax relief programs. | In Committee |
| A5333 | Requires State appropriations for Stay NJ and homestead property tax reimbursement programs and requires annual reporting of Stay NJ program data; establishes Property Tax Relief Program Oversight Committee. | This bill requires the State to appropriate full funding for the homestead property tax reimbursement program and the Stay NJ Property Tax Relief Program and provides for additional oversight of the State's property tax relief programs. The bill requires the State to appropriate additional State moneys from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of the Treasury in any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for the homestead property tax reimbursement program or the Stay NJ property tax credit program is not sufficient to provide the full amount of property tax relief prescribed under these programs in accordance with current law. The bill also requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to submit annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the total amount of benefits provided through the State's property tax relief programs. The report would also include information on the distribution of property tax credits and rebates to senior citizen and non-senior citizen homeowners and tenants and by income bracket. The bill establishes a five-member Property Tax Relief Program Oversight Committee in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury. The bill requires the committee to conduct ongoing monitoring of the State's property tax relief programs. The bill directs the committee to issue reports regarding the efficacy of the State's property tax relief programs in reducing the property tax burden of homeowners in the State and make recommendations to improve the administrative efficiency of the State's property tax relief programs. Finally, the bill amends current law to require the inclusion of data regarding the distribution of Stay NJ property tax credits to eligible claimants in each municipality as part of the annual property tax data summary prepared by the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. | In Committee |
| A5331 | Establishes a spending freeze for Fiscal Year 2026; requires excess revenues collected in FY2026 to be deposited in Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. | This bill establishes a one-year spending freeze by limiting the total amount of State funds that can be appropriated in Fiscal Year 2026. The bill limits the total amounts appropriated from the State General Fund, Property Tax Relief Fund Casino Control Fund, Casino Revenue Fund, and Gubernatorial Elections Fund in Fiscal Year 2026 to the amounts appropriated from those funds in Fiscal Year 2025. The bill also provides that in Fiscal Year 2026, any revenue collected in excess of the amount collected in Fiscal Year 2025 is required to be appropriated for deposit into the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund in Fiscal Year 2027. However, this requirements would not apply to any source of federal revenue or constitutionally dedicated State revenue. | In Committee |
| A5258 | Permits certain wineries to sell their products by the glass for consumption in licensed salesrooms. | This bill permits plenary winery license holders, out-of-State winery license holders, and farm winery license holders to sell their products by the glass for consumption in their licensed salesrooms. Under the bill, "by the glass" is defined as the selling of an individual portion of wine, or wine mixed with non-alcoholic beverages, in an open container. The sponsor intends for this bill to provide additional purchase options for consumers and increase revenue for winery license holders. | In Committee |
| A5259 | Permits certain winery license holders to sell wine produced by other winery licensees under certain circumstances; establishes supplemental wine production facility license. | This bill permits plenary and farm winery license holders who produce not more than 250,000 gallons per year to sell the wine they produce to any other plenary or farm winery license holder in this State for purposes of sale by the purchaser on the licensed premises of the winery or to sell wine to any winery outside of this State in accordance with the laws of the purchaser's state. Under the bill, wine sold to another winery is not to be considered towards the calculation of the amount of wine produced by the seller but is to be considered towards the total number of gallons produced per year by the purchasing winery. The bill provides that no less than 50 percent of the wine sold per year is required to be produced on the license holder's premises. In addition, this bill establishes a supplemental wine production facility sublicense. The holder of a plenary winery license or a farm winery license engaged in the production of wine on the licensed premises of the winery who holds a supplemental wine production facility sublicense would be entitled to produce wine at the supplemental wine production facility owned and leased by the license holder. Under the bill, the holder of this sublicense is additionally entitled, subject to rules and regulations, to transfer wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility to the licensed premises of the winery or salesroom for sale at retail to consumers and to otherwise sell and distribute wine produced at the supplemental wine production facility pursuant to the laws of the place of sale and distribution. The bill provides that any wine produced at the supplemental production facility that is not sold to another winery license holder is to be considered when calculating the total gallons per year of wine produced by the licensee for purposes of determining any fees, limitations, and eligibility for privileges that may pertain to the holder of a plenary winery license or farm winery license. The bill prohibits the sale of wine at retail to consumers on the premises of the supplemental wine production facility. Under the bill, the fee for the sublicense is $750. | In Committee |
| A5270 | Dedicates certain wine tax receipts to "Jersey Fresh Program Fund." | This bill dedicates a portion of the revenue collected from the alcoholic beverage excise tax on certain wine sales to the "Jersey Fresh Program Fund." Specifically, the bill requires the State Treasurer to deposit into the Jersey Fresh Program Fund an amount equal to the revenues generated under the alcohol beverage excise tax at the rate of $0.21875 per gallon of wines, vermouth, and sparkling wines sold by plenary winery and farm winery licensees, as defined under State law. This dedication equates to 25 percent of the tax currently imposed on the sales of these alcoholic beverages. In 1984, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture created the first state-sponsored agricultural branding program in the nation, "Jersey Fresh," in order to distinguish the high quality of New Jersey-produced fruits and vegetables from others in the marketplace. The State-sponsored branding program was later expanded to include "Jersey Grown" for nursery crops, "Jersey Seafood" for aquacultured and wild-caught fish and shellfish, "Jersey Equine" for equine livestock, and "Made with Jersey Fresh" for processed food made with New Jersey sourced agricultural products. The Jersey Fresh Program Fund was established by law in 2017 to enable the collection of voluntary contributions for the Jersey Fresh Program through gross income tax returns. Under current law, the Legislature is required to annually appropriate all funds deposited into the Jersey Fresh Program Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of providing support to the Jersey Fresh Program, which includes, but not be limited to, funding advertising, promotional, and quality grading program activities to inform consumers about the availability of locally grown agricultural products. This bill expands the scope of revenues that are required to be annually deposited into the Jersey Fresh Program Fund to include a portion of revenues generated from the alcoholic beverage excise tax on the sale of wines, vermouth, and sparkling wines by plenary winery and farm winery licensees. Under the bill, the Legislature would also be required to annually appropriate these monies to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of providing support to the Jersey Fresh Program. | In Committee |
| A5255 | Establishes limits for electric public utility rate increases for low- and middle-income households. | This bill establishes limits for electric public utility rate increases for eligible households. Specifically, under the bill, an electric public utility is prohibited from increasing its rates for low- and middle-income households that are also residential households by more than the all-items index for the previous calendar year. The bill provides that an electric public utility that fails to comply with this prohibition is to be fined an amount and subject to any other penalties to be determined by the board. Finally, the bill requires an electric public utility to report the following information to the board: (1) the number of eligible households that benefit from the program; (2) the financial impact of the program on the electric public utility; and (3) recommendations for adjustments to the program. The board is then required, on an annual basis, to issue a report to the Legislature that summarizes the information it receives from an electric public utility under the bill. Under the bill, "all-items index" means the rate of inflation for all items, as determined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Consumer Price Index reports; "low-income household" means a household with a total, annual household income that is equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, as that level is updated annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and "middle-income household" means a household with a total, annual household income that is equal to or less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, as that level is updated annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. | In Committee |
| A5254 | Establishes "Car Insurance Reduction Act"; modifies current law addressing requirements of automobile insurers for underwriting, rate calculations and reductions, and reporting requirements to State. | This bill establishes the "Car Insurance Reduction Act" and modifies current law addressing requirements of automobile insurers for underwriting; rate calculations and reductions; and reporting requirements to the State. Under the bill, an automobile insurer will be required to include the driving characteristics of insureds and prohibit the use of an insured's credit history, education, or occupation in the formulation of underwriting rules. The bill also requires an automobile insurer to provide to each insured a detailed explanation of the rating plan used to determine the insured's premium, including whether factors not related to the insured's driving record were used. The explanation provided to the insured will be made available through the Internet website of the insurer. Finally, the bill provides that every automobile insurer will be required to allow a consumer to compare coverage options offered by the insurer, along with estimated premiums for each coverage option offered by the insurer, within the Internet website of the insurer. The bill requires private passenger automobile insurers to establish premium rate reductions for safe driving behavior. Insurers are allowed to use telematics systems to determine whether drivers are in compliance with the rate reduction requirements. The bill also requires the Department of Banking and Insurance, in consultation with the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to issue a report concerning the activities of the department and the office and any recommendations relating to facilitating the detection of insurance fraud in New Jersey. The first report is to be issued no later than 18 months following the enactment of the bill and subsequent reports are to be issued every three years thereafter. The report is to include recommendations concerning the ways in which the sharing of information and data between and among State agencies and insurers may facilitate the detection of insurance fraud. Lastly, the bill requires insurers to provide to the Department of Banking and Insurance and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor such information as is necessary to facilitate the detection of insurance fraud and the enforcement of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act." | In Committee |
| AR158 | Urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments regarding employee whistleblower protections. | Urges generative artificial intelligence companies to make voluntary commitments regarding employee whistleblower protections. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AR166 | Urges Miss America Pageant to return to Atlantic City. | This resolution urges the Miss America Pageant to return to Atlantic City in 2025 and every year thereafter. The Miss America Pageant began in Atlantic City as the Inter-City Beauty Contest in 1921. Over time, as the pageant grew in size and reputation, it became the Miss America Pageant. The Miss America Pageant came to involve contestants from across the country, and one of the first winners was Bette Cooper, who was from New Jersey. Since 1945, the Miss America Pageant has given out more than $150 million in scholarships, making it the world's largest scholarship program for women. In 1989, the pageant adopted the concept of a platform, inviting contestants to champion and raise awareness for various social causes. Every Miss America since 1989 has spent the year following her victory promoting noble and worthwhile causes around the country. Despite hosting the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City for the majority of its history, the pageant moved to Orlando, Florida in 2024. In light of the long and successful history of the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, the Miss America Organization is urged to return in 2025 and all future years the pageant is held. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3545 | Establishes programs to address needs of toddlers and certain children who are deaf or hard of hearing. | This bill establishes requirements to provide certain services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as their parents or guardians, to help the child achieve certain benchmarks in the development of the child's sign or spoken language. Specifically, the bill provides for children and their parents or guardians participating in the program to participate in certain including, but not be limited to: (1) holding two meetings per year between the child, the child's parent or guardian, and a language team until the child's sign or spoken language development meets the objective criteria and developmental benchmarks set forth by the early intervention program; and (2) pairing the child's parent or guardian with a mentor. The mentor will be required to: provide guidance to, and share personal insights with, the parent or guardian about living day to day as a person who is deaf or hard of hearing; be a member of the child's language team and play an active role in the child's language development; and be trained as a SKI-HI deaf mentor in accordance with the SKI-HI Deaf Mentor Manual training program. In the case of a toddler who is under the age of three, these activities will be provided by through the Department of Health's (DOH) early intervention program. In the case of a child between the ages of three and five, the activities will be provided through the Department of Education (DOE). The DOE program will be limited to children who previously received services through the early intervention program. A child receiving services under the DOE may continue in the program until the child enters kindergarten or elementary school. A toddler aging out of the DOH program may be eligible for the DOE program. A child who is deaf or hard of hearing and is eligible to receive the services outlined in the bill is to be automatically enrolled to receive the services provided by a language team unless the child's parent or guardian declines the services. As defined in the bill: "language team" means a team consisting of a pediatric audiologist, a teacher of the deaf or hard of hearing, a deaf mentor, and a speech and language pathologist; "pediatric audiologist" means a licensed professional trained to test, diagnose, evaluate, and manage the presence, extent, and reason for hearing loss and other hearing-related issues in infants and children, and to provide recommendations for interventions or rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, prescribing hearing aids or other assistive devices; and "speech and language pathologist" means a licensed professional trained to identify, assess, and rehabilitate persons with speech, voice, or language disorders. | In Committee |
| A4194 | 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. | 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. | In Committee |
| A3899 | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | Creates pilot program to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators. | In Committee |
| A5160 | Provides PERS members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and transfers all current non-retired members of PERS to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of PERS. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to PERS, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to PERS. Any years of service credit transferred to PERS from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with PERS, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into PERS and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to PERS within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to PERS. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of PERS who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of PERS will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| A5158 | Provides TPAF members and certain retirees same benefits provided to members enrolled in retirement system before July 1, 2007. | This bill removes the membership tiers established in the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and transfers all current non-retired members of TPAF to the membership tier referred to as "Tier 1" by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. All transferred members will be considered eligible for any benefits associated with Tier 1. Under the bill, employees of public employers who earn more than the minimum salary requirement, but do not currently meet the minimum hour eligibility requirements, will be considered eligible to be enrolled as members of TPAF. The employer is to process the compulsory enrollment of each affected employee within two months following the enactment of the bill. Any affected employees who are currently enrolled as participants of the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) will be eligible for an automatic transfer of all years of service credit to TPAF, if the employee elects to transfer their membership from DCRP to TPAF. Any years of service credit transferred to TPAF from DCRP will be used to qualify members for retirement and health benefits associated with TPAF, but will not be used to calculate the amount of pension benefit. A participant's prior contributions into the DCRP will not be transferred into TPAF and will remain in the fund. The employee will receive a notice of the transfer of service credit to TPAF within two months following the enactment of the bill. Upon receiving the notice, the affected employee has six months to notify their employer if they do not wish to become enrolled as a member and transfer their service credit to TPAF. Employees in the DCRP who opt out of the transfer will remain in the DCRP. Additionally, any members of TPAF who are receiving long term disability insurance will be eligible to apply for disability retirement as long as they apply within two calendar years following the enactment of the bill. Any changes to the early retirement, deferred retirement, service retirement, and maximum base salary resulting from the transfer of members to Tier 1 of TPAF will only affect members who begin processing a retirement application after the bill is enacted. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Vetoed |
| A4128 | Prohibits operation of drone over school under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the operation of an unmanned aircraft system, commonly referred to as a drone, over a school under certain circumstances. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person knowingly operates a drone below 250 feet over the building or grounds of any school for the purpose of conducting surveillance or gathering information without the prior written authorization of the superintendent or chief school administrator. In addition, under the bill, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person knowingly operates a drone below 250 feet over the building or grounds of any school and the unmanned aircraft system remains above or hovers above the building or grounds of the school without the prior written authorization of the superintendent or chief school administrator. Further, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person uses the building or grounds of a school as a takeoff or landing area for a drone. A disorderly person offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The bill defines, "school" as a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school within this State offering education in grades kindergarten through 12, or any combination of grades, at which a child may legally fulfill compulsory school attendance requirements. Finally, the bill provides that the bill's provisions do not prohibit the authorized use, in compliance with applicable federal rules and regulations, of a drone by a public employee, or a public entity, or by a first responder in the performance of official duties. | In Committee |
| A4465 | Concerns assessment of farmland for property tax purposes. | This bill would revise the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964" to clarify that the mere cessation of agricultural or horticultural activity on land that is valued, assessed, and taxed as farmland under that law, will not subject the land to roll-back taxes unless an active conversion of the land to a non-agricultural or non-horticultural use takes place. "Roll-back taxes" are the additional taxes assessed on a property that is no longer dedicated to agricultural or horticultural use. The amount of roll-back taxes assessed on a property are the difference between the property taxes paid on the property as assessed for agricultural or horticultural use and the taxes that would have otherwise been due if the property had been taxed as other land within the taxing district. These taxes are assessed for the tax year in which agricultural or horticultural use was discontinued and the two tax years preceding. The provisions of this bill conform the "Farmland Assessment Law of 1964" to a1981 New Jersey Tax Court decision in Jackson Twp. V. Paolin, 181 N.J. Super. 293, where the Court found it "difficult to imagine that the intent of any rollback provision was to impose an extra tax burden on a landowner who simply grew old or became disabled and no longer could actively devote his property to agriculture." | In Committee |
| A5101 | Eliminates transaction nexus requirement under Sales and Use Tax and Corporation Business Tax. | This bill amends current law to modify the criteria for determining when a remote seller is subject to the Sales and Use Tax Act and required to collect and remit sales tax to the State, and when a corporation is subject to taxes imposed under the Corporation Business Tax (CBT). Under current law, the Sales and Use Tax Act provides that a seller who makes retail sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products, or taxable services for delivery into New Jersey, without having a physical presence in the state, is required to collect and remit the Sales and Use Tax if: (1) the seller's gross revenue from taxable transactions delivered into New Jersey exceeds $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year; or (2) the seller made 200 or more separate taxable transactions for delivery into New Jersey during the current or prior calendar year. Similarly, under current law, the Corporation Business Tax Act provides that a corporation that derives receipts from sources within the State is subject to the CBT if: (1) the corporation derives receipts from sources within the State in excess of $100,000 during the corporation's fiscal or calendar year; or (2) the corporation has 200 or more separate transactions delivered to customers in this State during the corporation's fiscal or calendar year. Specifically, this bill removes the second criterion related to the number of transactions under both the Sales and Use Tax and the CBT. By eliminating these transactional nexus requirements, the bill provides that: (1) remote sellers would only be required to collect and remit sales tax to the State when the seller's gross revenue from taxable transactions delivered into State exceeds $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year; and (2) corporations would only be subject to CBT when the corporation's receipts from sources within this State exceed $100,000 in the corporation's fiscal or calendar year. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4626 | Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. | Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing. | In Committee |
| A4174 | Clarifies consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in a sexual manner does not include or imply consent to disclosure of image. | This bill amends the invasion of privacy statute, N.J.S.A.2C:14-9, to clarify that a person's consent to being photographed, filmed, videotaped, recorded, observed, or otherwise having their nude, sexual, or sexually suggestive image reproduced is not be construed to include or imply the person's consent to the disclosure of such image. The bill also requires that a person's consent to disclosure is strictly construed to be limited only to the express purpose for which consent was obtained. Under current law, a person's consent to the taking of the image could be construed to also waive any restriction on the subsequent disclosure of the image. Under the bill, taking an image and disclosing an image are two separate acts that require two separate instances of consent. | Crossed Over |
| A5047 | Requires certain large developments, to be used as retail facility or warehouse, to be designed and constructed to accommodate load associated with solar panels. | This bill requires newly constructed large retail and warehouse developments to be designed and constructed in a manner so that the load-bearing system for the large development's roof is able to accommodate the additional weight of an operational solar photovoltaic or solar thermal system. The bill applies to such large developments, for which an application for a construction permit has not been declared complete before the first day of the 12th month following the effective date of the bill, and requires the Department of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations establishing standards for the design and construction of large developments that are designed and constructed in a manner so that the load-bearing system for the large development's roof is able to accommodate solar photovoltaic or solar thermal systems on such large developments, as specified in the bill. The bill defines the term "large development" to mean any building, room, structure, or facility of at least 75,000 square feet, and which is designed predominantly for use as a warehouse, as otherwise defined in current law, or as a retail facility. The bill defines the term "retail facility" to mean a building, room, structure, or facility used predominantly by one or more retailers who engages in the sale, within the State, of products intended for retail sale to consumers for off-premises use or consumption. The bill would take effect on the first day of the fourth month following the date of enactment, except the Commissioner of Community Affairs would be permitted to take anticipatory action necessary to effectuate the provisions of the bill. Data shows that the retail supply chain contributes 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally, which emissions continue to contribute to global climate change. By requiring newly constructed large retail and warehouse developments to be designed and constructed to accommodate operational solar photovoltaic or solar thermal systems, the sector would contribute less to global climate change while benefitting from economies of scale for the location of these systems in the most densely populated state in the country. | In Committee |
| A4124 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | In Committee |
| A5037 | Revises procedures governing audits of election results. | This bill revises procedures governing the audits of election results. These changes include permitting post-election audits to be conducted by independent third-party electronic machines that are not in any way associated with the official ballot tabulation system for the election in addition to a hand-to-eye count. This bill eliminates certain requirements that audit procedures designed, adopted, and implemented by the audit team be implemented to ensure certain percentages of statistical power that a 100 percent manual recount of the voter-verifiable paper records would not alter the electoral outcome reported by the audit. Instead, post-election audit procedures will be published prior to elections and will be subject to public comment. | In Committee |
| A4706 | Revises statutes implementing certain property tax relief programs pursuant to recommendations promulgated by Stay NJ Task Force. | An Act concerning the Stay NJ property tax benefit program and amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4569 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | In Committee |
| A4372 | Broadens types of contracts that educational research and service corporations may enter into on behalf of members; exempts those contracts from certain public bidding requirements. | This bill permits educational research and service corporations to contract with institutions of higher education that are voting members of the educational research and service corporation and exempts those contracts from public bidding requirements. Under current law, a four-year public institution of higher education is permitted to join with other public or independent institutions to form an educational research and services corporation to be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes in accordance with federal law. Current law further permits an educational research and service corporation to act as a lead agency or contracting unit for the procurement of goods and services concerning educational technology systems and related services by the entities comprising the corporation. The bill permits the educational research and services corporation to act as a lead agency or contracting unit for the procurement of all goods and services including, but not limited to, goods and services concerning educational technology systems and related services. The provisions of the bill also permit an educational research and services corporation to enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education which is a voting member of the educational research and services corporation to provide services, consulting, staffing, or goods concerning educational technology systems and related educational support services. The bill stipulates that these agreements are to be considered shared services agreements and are not subject to any public bidding requirements under State law including, but not limited to, the County College Contracts Law and the State College Contracts Law. | Crossed Over |
| A4852 | Establishes workplace policies on employees' right to disconnect from work. | This bill requires a public or private employer to establish a workplace policy that provides an employee the right to disconnect from communications from the employer during nonworking hours. The bill defines the right to disconnect to mean that, except for an emergency or for scheduling, as defined, an employee has the right to ignore communications from the employer during nonworking hours. Further, the bill requires nonworking hours to be established by written agreement between an employer and employee. An employee may file a complaint of a pattern of violation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. A pattern of violation is punishable by a fine of not less than $100. | In Committee |
| A4191 | Protects access to assisted reproductive technology. | This bill provides every woman in this State the fundamental right to choose whether to use assisted reproductive technology (ART). Under current law, the State provides the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization, or to choose whether to carry a pregnancy, to give birth, or to terminate a pregnancy. Under the bill, the fundamental rights related to reproductive health choice in the State are expanded to include the use of ART. ART includes, but is not limited to, in vitro fertilization (IVF). This legislation is in response to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in LePage v. Mobile Infirmary Clinic, P.C. (Docket No. SC-2022-0515, SC-2022-0579), decided in February 2024. In LePage, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are "extrauterine children," finding that that the state's "'Wrongful Death of A Minor Act' applies on its face to all unborn children, without limitation." This holding could have widespread implications for anyone in Alabama who is seeking or provides IVF. New Jersey has long been a State that supports, and provides protections for, the reproductive freedom of its citizens, including the right to make the choice of whether to start or expand a family through IVF. | Crossed Over |
| S2792 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | An Act appropriating $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to the State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3697 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would appropriate $500,000 to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for a municipal planning incentive grant, pursuant to a program established by P.L.1999, c.180 (C.4:1C-43.1), for farmland preservation purposes. Of the $500,000 provided in section 1 of the bill, $200,000 is to be provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues received pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of New Jersey in November 2014, and $300,000 is to be provided from the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund," made available due to the reallocation of monies previously appropriated to the SADC. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 18 of the "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009," P.L.2009, c.117. Under the bill, Washington Township, in Warren County, will receive a "base grant" of $500,000, as specified in the bill. In addition, this municipality would also be eligible to compete for an additional grant from the SADC's competitive grant fund, to be financed with monies previously appropriated to the SADC pursuant to P.L.2019, c.450 and P.L.2020, c.139. The maximum amount of such competitive grant funding award would be $1 million, including up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2019, c.450 and up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2020, c.139. The allocations and projects listed in the bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A4029 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to register with and submit payroll records to DOLWD. | This bill requires any employer or contractor engaged in work for a public body to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and submit certified payroll records to the department and to the public entity with which the employer or contractor is engaged to work. Under current law, employers and contractors engaged in public work, or otherwise subject to the State's prevailing wage requirements, are required to register with the State and submit certified payroll records. This bill would require all contractors engaged in work for a public body to register, whether or not that work is subject to the prevailing wage law or constitutes public work under the law. Under the bill, a "public body" is defined as "the State of New Jersey, any of its political subdivisions, any authority created by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey and any instrumentality or agency of the State of New Jersey or of any of its political subdivisions." The bill defines "work for a public body" as "construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, custom fabrication, duct cleaning, or repair work, or maintenance work, which is done under contract and paid for in whole or in part out of the funds of a public body, done on any property or premises owned or leased by the public body or under agreement to be owned or leased by the public body, or undertaken in connection with any loan, loan guarantee, grant, incentive, expenditure, investment, tax exemption or other financial assistance approved, funded, authorized, administered or provided by a public body, or undertaken to fulfill any condition of receiving any of the financial assistance." | In Committee |
| A4561 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| A4483 | "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act." | This bill, to be known as the "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act," provides certain protections for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer patients. The bill: 1. Requires health insurance carriers (including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, and health maintenance organizations), entities contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCares/Medicaid program to provide coverage for individuals diagnosed with cancer and with a prognosis that is deemed Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal (1) parenteral treatment of the cancer; (2) survivorship care plan, including follow-up appointments; and (3) any other service or item as determined by the regulators of each type of carrier or contract. Under the bill, "parenteral treatment" means the intravenous, intra-arterial, intraperitoneal, or intrathecal administration of nutrition or medication bypassing the gastrointestinal system and "survivorship care plan" means a plan for an individual with cancer from diagnosis through the end of life that focuses on the health and well-being of the individual. This includes, but is not limited to, side effects from treatment, cancer recurrence, and quality of life. Any cost-sharing or copayment or coinsurance that may be required for coverage will not apply. 2. Prohibits residential mortgage lenders from providing a notice of intention to a residential mortgage debtor undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. Under the bill, a residential mortgage lender shall ensure, before sending a notice of intention to cure a default on a mortgage debtor's residential mortgage obligation, that the residential mortgage debtor is not undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. If a mortgage debtor is undergoing treatment, the mortgage lender will be prohibited from providing a notice of intention to the mortgage debtor until the mortgage lender receives notice from the physician of the mortgage debtor that the debtor is no longer undergoing treatment. Additionally, the bill provides that any foreclosure action to take possession of a residential property will be dismissed upon submission by the residential mortgage debtor to the residential mortgage lender of a letter from the physician of the debtor certifying that the debtor is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 3. Prohibits a creditor from initiating a collection proceeding for a default on any debt against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer and who submits to the creditor a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. The bill also provides that any collection proceeding against an individual who is undergoing treatment for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer is required to be dismissed upon submission by the individual of a letter from the individual's physician certifying treatment of the individual for Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer. 4. Requires that for eviction actions based on nonpayment or habitual late payment of rent, or for failure to pay a rent increase, the Superior Court will authorize a stay of eviction for up to 45 days if the tenant is actively undergoing Stage III, Stage IV, or terminal cancer treatment. To qualify for this stay, the tenant must provide a confidential certification from their treating physician, submitted under seal. Additionally, during the stay period, the tenant has the right to renew their lease upon its expiration, subject to reasonable changes proposed by the landlord. The bill also provides the right to reinstatement to equivalent employment after a period of leave applies to all periods in which TDI or FLI benefits are provided, including extending that right to FLI leave takers employed by employers with less than 30 employees, as is presently the case for TDI leave takers. Under the bill, an employee who is eligible for both earned sick leave and either TDI or FLI benefits, may use either the earned sick leave or whichever is applicable of the TDI or FLI benefits, and may select the order in which they are taken, but may not receive more than one kind of paid leave benefits during any period of time. | In Committee |
| A3796 | Codifies Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Eagleton Institute of Politics; makes appropriation. | Codifies Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Eagleton Institute of Politics; makes appropriation. | In Committee |
| A4427 | Promotes trauma-informed care in State to mitigate negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress. | This bill requires the Department of Children and Families (department) to develop and implement a program to promote trauma-informed care in order to mitigate the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress in this State. In implementing the program, the department will, at a minimum: a. develop a trauma-informed care toolkit of resources that provide trauma awareness and self-care education for State employees, increase recognition of signs of adverse child experience exposure, and offer effective interventions to mitigate trauma and build resilience, which toolkit is to be shared across all State agencies and organizations for use at service delivery access points; b. promote a Trauma Awareness Month in New Jersey with appropriate events to be held across the State; c. share information with State employees and community partners on educational and professional development opportunities related to adverse childhood experiences and building resilience; d. create a recognition program for individuals who work in the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum, which may include individuals, divisions within an agency, and community partners, such as schools and school districts; e. identify gaps in available services or service capacity along the prevention and early intervention-treatment continuum for children and their caregivers Statewide; f. develop a comprehensive plan focused on early intervention for children and their caregivers exposed to adverse childhood experiences in order to help prevent, and remedy the impact of, abuse and neglect; and g. coordinate the collection, evaluation, and reporting of adverse childhood experience data in the State. The bill requires each State agency that provides services for children and adults to implement best practices for providing trauma-informed care, which will include, but not be limited to: offering regularly scheduled training to staff to increase their knowledge about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress on short-term and long-term health outcomes; promoting strategies to enhance staff resilience and self-care; using trauma-specific language in requests for proposals and in service contracts with providers, when appropriate; and implementing evidence-informed services to prevent and respond to toxic stress and build resilience in children, adults, and communities. | In Committee |
| S2082 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | An Act establishing the "New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force," and amending and supplementing P.L.2012, c.26. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3977 | Concerns State regulation of boarding houses, including cooperative sober living residences. | The bill amends the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979" to strengthen the State's regulation of cooperative sober living residences, as defined in the bill. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for certain licensing violations for a rooming or boarding house, including cooperative sober living residences. The bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to maintain a list of licensed cooperative sober living residences on its Internet website including the location and contact information for each licensed cooperative sober living residence. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for incidents affecting the safety or welfare of cooperative sober living residence residents or staff, which includes an immediate notification to DCA and a written report of the incident within five working days of the incident. Incidents for which the bill's reporting requirements would apply include: (1) fire, flood, disaster, accident, or other unanticipated event that results in the serious injury or death of a resident or staff member, or the evacuation of residents from the cooperative sober living residence, or closure of the cooperative sober living residence for six or more hours; (2) serious injury or death of a resident of the cooperative sober living residence, including overdose; (3) outbreak of a communicable disease or other condition that adversely affects multiple residents or staff; (4) alleged or suspected crimes that endanger the life or safety of residents or staff, or which jeopardize the operations or fiscal stability of the cooperative sober living residence; (5) disciplinary actions concerning staff, including termination, resulting from inappropriate staff interaction with residents; and (6) criminal convictions or disciplinary sanctions imposed on staff or board members or representatives of the governing authority by licensing or credentialing boards since the prior application for licensure. | In Committee |
| A4272 | Establishes Kidney Donor Insurance Fund. | This bill provides that a person who donates a kidney as a live kidney donor is to be eligible after the donation for a health benefits plan through the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program for the duration of the donor's life. The health benefits plan is to be paid for by the State through the "Kidney Donor Insurance Fund," established pursuant to the bill in the Department of Banking and Insurance, and is to include the highest level of services available through the gold level of the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program. | In Committee |
| AR129 | Urges Congress to enact "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act." | This resolution urges Congress to enact the "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act", which is pending before the House of Representatives as H.R. 3106. H.R. 3106 makes it a crime to intentionally disclose, or threaten to disclose, a digital depiction that has been altered using digital manipulation of an individual engaging in sexually explicit conduct and creates a right of private action for victims to seek relief. Congress is respectfully urged to enact H.R. 3106, in order to prevent the emotional, psychological and reputational harm that can result from the production or distribution of digital forgeries of intimate digital depictions of identifiable individuals. | In Committee |
| A4265 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to provide monetary awards to whistleblowers who report tax law violations committed by employers in the construction industry. The bill defines "employer in the construction industry" as an employer engaging in any activity related to the erection, construction, alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures, bridges, highways, roadways, dams, tunnels, sewers, underground buildings or structures, pipelines or ducts and all other construction projects or facilities. Under the bill, if the director proceeds with an administrative or judicial action against an employer in the construction industry and determines that the action is based on specific and credible information brought to the director by an individual, the director is required to provide that individual an award of at least 15 percent, but not more than 30 percent, of the proceeds collected as a result of the action or from any settlement in response to that action; provided, however, if the director determines an action is based principally on an individual's disclosure of an allegation resulting from a judicial or administrative hearing, from a governmental report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, any award provided by the director to that individual may not exceed 10 percent of the proceeds. The bill requires the director to determine the amount of an award based upon the extent to which any information submitted by an individual contributed to the outcome of an action or related settlement. If the director determines that the claim for an award pursuant to the bill is brought by an individual who planned and initiated the actions that led to the violation resulting in the administrative or judicial action in which that individual is a party, the bill permits the director to reduce the amount of the award. In addition, if such an individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the individual's role in the violation, then the director is not permitted to provide an award to that individual. The following individuals are also ineligible to receive an award under the bill: (1) an individual who obtained information through the individual's official duties as an employee of the Department of the Treasury; and (2) an individual who filed a claim for an award based on information obtained from an ineligible individual for the purpose of avoiding the rejection of the claim that would have resulted if the claim was filed by the ineligible individual. The bill provides that any complaint with respect to an award provided, reduced, or revoked pursuant to the bill is to be filed within 30 days after the date of the provision, reduction, or revocation of that award. Finally, the bill protects any employee, as defined by the bill, from retaliatory action under the provisions of the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act," P.L.1986, c.105 (C.34:19-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A4172 | Concerns discrimination based on membership in a labor organization. | This bill extends protection under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to members of a labor organization. The LAD, P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et. seq.), provides protections for those who are members of a protected class, including protection against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, land use, lending, and association membership. Under current law, a member of a protected class includes an employee who has one or more characteristics, including race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, sex, gender identity or expression, disability or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of any individual, or liability for service in the armed forces. This bill provides that members of a labor organization also are members of a protected class who are entitled protection under the LAD. In addition, the bill revises the definition of "labor organization" to include any organization of any kind, including a labor union or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which public or private employees participate and which exists and is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with public or private employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment. | In Committee |
| A3413 | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | Establishes New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force; clarifies collection of student growth data. | In Committee |
| A4028 | Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3885 | Imposes additional annual registration fee for electric vehicles; reduces rate of highway fuel taxes; authorizes DOT to conduct alternative revenue feasibility study. | This bill would ensure greater tax fairness between the owners of gas powered vehicles and electric vehicles. Namely, the bill would establish an additional annual registration fee for electric vehicles, provide for a reduction in the State tax on highway fuels under both the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts (PPGR) Tax and the Motor Fuels Tax, and require the Department of Transportation to study and make recommendations concerning the dedication of alternative sources of revenue to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). Additional Annual Registration Fee for Electric Vehicles The bill first requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to impose and collect an additional annual registration fee for each passenger and commercial electric vehicle in the State. Under the bill, the amount of the additional annual registration fee would be $300 for each passenger electric vehicle and $450 for each commercial electric vehicle during the fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2025. Notably, the bill requires all revenues derived from these additional registration fees to be collected by the chief administrator and remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit into the TTF. Reduction of Highway Fuel Taxes Next, the bill would enact a 33 percent reduction in the taxes imposed on highway fuels under both the Motor Fuel Tax and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax (PPGRT), collectively referred to as the "gas tax," beginning with State Fiscal Year 2025. The bill would also permanently extend the procedure by which the rate of tax imposed on highway fuels under the PPGRT is calculated. Currently, the Motor Fuel Tax is fixed at 10.5 cents for gasoline and 13.5 cents for diesel fuel, and the PPGR tax is set at 31.8 cents for gasoline and 35.8 cents for diesel fuel. The Motor Fuel Tax on gasoline would be lowered from 10.5 cents to 7 cents per gallon, and the motor fuel tax on diesel would be lowered from 13.5 cents to 9 cents per gallon. The motor fuel tax on liquefied petroleum gas would likewise be lowered from 5.25 cents per gallon to 3.5 cents given that the tax rate for these products are set at one-half of the tax imposed on gasoline. Under current law, the tax rate imposed on highway fuels under the PPGRT is annually adjusted by the State Treasurer to ensure that the State realizes a statutorily prescribed revenue target. All revenues collected are deposited into the TTF to support transportation infrastructure projects and debt service on transportation bonds. This annual adjustment mechanism is currently set to expire at the conclusion of State Fiscal Year 2026. This bill would permanently extend this annual adjustment mechanism. The bill also reduces the rate of tax imposed on highway fuels under the PPGRT by lowering the statutorily prescribed revenue target, also referred to as the "highway fuel cap amount," by 33 percent. The highway fuel cap amount is based on State Fiscal Year 2016 sum of: (1) the taxes collected on the 12.48 percent and four cent tax rates for highway fuels taxes, (2) the amount derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the four cent motor fuel tax, and (3) the amount that would have been derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the motor fuel tax at a rate of 23 cents per gallon. To ensure adequate funding for the TTF, the bill would require the State to annually appropriate from the General Fund such amounts as are necessary from the revenues collected under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) into the TTF to support all debt service obligations of the Transportation Trust Fund Authority's (TTFA) for the current year. Alternative Revenue Feasibility Study Finally, the bill requires the Department of Transportation (department), in consultation with the TTFA and the Office of Revenue and Economic Analysis in the Department of the Treasury, to study and make recommendations and a repot concerning the dedication of alternative sources of revenue to the TTF. These revenues may be necessary to offset future revenue reductions from the Motor Fuels Tax (MFT) and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax (PPGRT) due to the decreased consumption of gasoline, diesel, and other highway fuels. The purpose of this study will be to identify one or more sources of revenue, other than the Motor Fuels Tax and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax, that may be relied upon to fund the TTF in future years. At a minimum, the report would be required to: (1) analyze the feasibility of dedicating alternative sources of revenue to the TTF; and (2) make recommendations for the dedication of alternative sources of revenue, other than the MFT and the PPGRT, to the TTF. No later than August 31, 2026, the department is required to submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature as well as publish an electronic copy of the report on the department's official Internet website. | 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 |
| A3804 | Establishes interagency council on menopause in DOH. | This bill establishes an Interagency Council on Menopause in the Department of Health (DOH) to promote and support access to best practice health care for a person through their menopause transition and post-reproductive years, enabling the person to achieve optimal health and well-being. Under the provisions of the bill, the interagency council is to consist of 15 members as follows: (1) the Director of the Office of Women's Health in the DOH, the Assistant Commissioner of Family Health Services in the DOH, and the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; and (2) 12 public members appointed by the Governor, who include: a person with perimenopause, a person with menopause, a public health educator, an expert in perimenopause and menopause treatment and research, a representative of a women's health organization, an epidemiologist, a gynecologist licensed to practice in this State who is a menopause specialist, a general practitioner licensed to practice in this State with expertise in treating persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause, a geriatrician licensed to practice in this State, a registered professional nurse licensed to practice in this State, a nutritionist who has experience in providing services to persons with perimenopause or menopause, and a representative of a women's health advocacy organization. The purpose of the interagency council is to: promote the health and quality of a person's life during midlife and beyond through an understanding of perimenopause, menopause, and healthy aging; disseminate evidence-based knowledge concerning perimenopause and menopause to health care professionals through multi-lingual and multi-cultural educational resources, programs, and events; support and promote research into all aspects of perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; facilitate collaboration and information-exchange between health care professionals, medical societies, governmental agencies, research institutions, community-based organizations, and other organizations or entities with shared interests and goals relating to the study of, and treating persons experiencing, perimenopause or menopause; encourage the multi-disciplinary delivery of health care from menopause transition to a person's post-reproductive years; develop and provide State-supported evidence-based treatment services related to perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; increase awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause through the provision of multi-lingual, culturally sensitive health information to health care professionals and policy makers; develop and establish a plan to disseminate information, through television, radio, Internet, print media, social media, and other forms of communication, about new treatment options, research findings, and ways in which a person experiencing perimenopause or menopause can access services in the State; and make policy recommendations to the Legislature on the quality of, and access to, treatment and services for persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Health to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the effective date of bill, and annually thereafter, on the activities and accomplishments of the interagency council and its findings and recommendations on issues relating to the quality of, and access to, treatment and services for persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause in this State. | In Committee |
| A3685 | Establishes pilot program in Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for certain expenditures concerning warehouse development; appropriates $1 million. | This bill establishes a pilot program in the Office of Planning Advocacy (office) for the purpose of reimbursing a municipality for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in reexamining and updating municipal zoning ordinances, and conducting certain mitigation studies, concerning warehouse development. The bill defines "warehouse" to mean any site, building, room, structure, or facility used primarily for the storage of goods intended for sale or distribution. The pilot program is to offer grant funding to reimburse a municipality for: 1) a reexamination of the municipality's master plan and adoption a warehouse-specific zoning ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill; or 2) a mitigation study on the potential effects of pending warehouse development site plan applications and, regardless of the results of the mitigation study, adoption of a warehouse-specific zoning ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill. The bill provides that a municipality may submit to the office an application, in a form and manner to be determined by the office, for a funding reimbursement grant for expenses incurred consistent with the provisions of the bill. The application is to require a municipality to demonstrate that the municipality has enacted an ordinance consistent with the office's guidance on warehouse development and compatible with a model ordinance developed pursuant to the bill as a condition of receiving a reimbursement grant. The office is to develop criteria to prioritize reimbursement grant applications from municipalities that are in most need of financial assistance. The bill provides that the office is to promulgate one or more model zoning ordinances detailing different regulatory options for the siting of warehouses that may impose a negative impact on land use, traffic volume, infrastructure, storm water runoff, public health, or any other impact category determined by the office, and direct development towards areas ideally suited to handle warehousing impacts. The bill further provides that the office, upon the exhaustion of funds allocated to the pilot program, is to submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, detailing the expenditure of the appropriated funds, and making any recommendations on the feasibility of implementing the pilot program on a permanent basis. The bill appropriates from the General Fund the sum of $1,000,000 to the Office of Planning Advocacy for the purposes of the pilot program. The pilot program is to expire upon the submission of the report required by the bill. | In Committee |
| A3569 | Requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. | This bill requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. Under the bill, commencing 180 days following the bill's effective date, a licensed health care professional who performs an annual physical examination on a female patient who is 40 years of age or older is to provide the female patient an informational pamphlet on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause, as prepared and published by the Department of Health pursuant to the bill, during the visit. The bill provides that, within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the Department of Health is to prepare and publish on its Internet website an informational pamphlet on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. | In Committee |
| AJR124 | Designates October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in New Jersey. Postmenopause is the period of time after menopause after a woman's menstrual periods have ceased for 12 consecutive months. Natural postmenopause typically occurs sometime between a woman's late 40s and early 60s, with the average postmenopausal age being 51 years old. Postmenopause is caused by the same hormonal changes that drive the entire menopause transition and can be influenced by internal factors such as fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone hormones and external factors such as lifestyle habits, stress, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. It is a common belief that the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause will disappear once postmenopause begins; however, some women can continue to experience symptoms during postmenopause, which can be very similar to the symptoms experienced during menopause and perimenopause. Postmenopausal women may be at an increased risk for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and urinary tract infections, which are conditions where early awareness of a woman's elevated risk can help women receive appropriate and timely healthcare. A bone density screening test is an example of an important screening tool for postmenopausal women that can help determine the levels of calcium in bones and allow postmenopausal women to take timely action to prevent osteoporosis. Since 2009, the International Menopause Society, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has designated October as World Menopause Awareness Month, with October 18 celebrated as World Menopause Awareness Day with the purpose of raising awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and well-being throughout the menopause process. It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate October 18 of each year as "Postmenopause Day" in order to raise awareness about the period of time after menopause, the symptoms and health risks associated with postmenopause, and the disease management options available for women experiencing postmenopause. | In Committee |
| AJR125 | Designates October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in New Jersey. Perimenopause is the time during which a woman's body makes the natural transition to menopause and often begins about eight to 10 years before menopause. Perimenopause is a natural process caused by the gradual decline of ovary function and estrogen production, during which ovulation may become erratic, the menstrual cycle lengthens, and flow may become irregular before a woman's final period. Common symptoms can last for a few months to many years and may include: irregular periods or skipping periods; periods that are heavier or lighter than usual; hot flashes; vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex; urinary urgency; sleep problems; changes in mood; and depression. Perimenopause is a lesser known stage of the menopause process and individuals may not realize that the symptoms the person is experiencing are associated with perimenopause and may instead attribute the symptoms to ageing, stress, anxiety, and depression, which may result in the delay of appropriate treatment from health care professionals. October 11 is recognized as "World Perimenopause Day" with the purpose of educating people about mental health and the early signs of perimenopause and supporting women going through perimenopause who may feel lost. It is altogether fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate October 11 of each year as "Perimenopause Day" in order to support women going through perimenopause, to raise awareness of the realities of perimenopause and the available disease management options, and to combat stigma and misinformation concerning perimenopause. | In Committee |
| A3576 | Requires menopause informational pamphlet to be distributed under certain circumstances. | This bill requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances. Under the bill, commencing 180 days following the bill's effective date, a licensed health care professional who performs an annual physical examination on a female patient who is between the ages of 35 and 39 is to provide the female patient a pamphlet containing information on premature menopause, early menopause, and primary ovarian insufficiency, as prepared and published by the Department of Health pursuant to the bill, during the visit. The bill provides that, within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the Department of Health is to prepare and publish on its Internet website a pamphlet containing information on each stage of menopause. | In Committee |
| AJR123 | Designates September of each year as "Menopause Awareness Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates September of each year as "Menopause Awareness Month" in New Jersey. Menopause is the stage of life where a woman's hormone levels change and she permanently stops having menstrual periods, and is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period. The average age women begin menopause is 51, but it can commence anytime in a women's 40s or 50s. In 2019, there were 1.2 million women in New Jersey between 40 and 59 years of age. Menopause and the years preceding menopause, known as perimenopause, are natural biological processes, however the physical and emotional symptoms that coincide with these processes may disrupt a woman's daily life. In addition to enduring the symptoms of menopause, the process is often a shrouded subject, not discussed in families or the community, which results in women feeling alone and isolated. Nationally, September is designated as "Menopause Awareness Month" by organizations throughout the United States to raise awareness on menopause. It is fitting and proper for the State to join these entities to promote understanding and encourage discussion regarding menopause throughout the month of September. | In Committee |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism". The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. Nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. This bill also appropriates $100,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for the creation of a public awareness campaign to promote bias crime reporting. Through extensive community outreach, the citizens of New Jersey will be empowered to identify and report bias crimes using the existing bias crime reporting hotline within the New Jersey Bias Crimes Reporting Unit. This appropriation represents an investment in safety and collective action against bias crimes, including acts considered anti-Semitic. | In Committee |
| A2500 | "Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services. | This bill, which is designated as the Mental Health Access Act, increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services under the State Medicaid program. Specifically, the bill requires that reimbursement rates for evidence-based behavioral health services are to be no less than the Medicare reimbursement rate for the service, provided that the service is limited to individual or group counseling provided in an outpatient setting and the billing provider is a licensed behavioral health treatment facility or licensed health care professional. The bill defines "evidence based" to mean a treatment provided by licensed mental health professionals that meets criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, for evidence-based treatment. | In Committee |
| A2080 | Requires institution of higher education to have automatic external defibrillator on premises of each athletic facility and student center. | This bill requires an institution of higher education to place an automated external defibrillator in an unlocked location in each athletic facility and student center with an appropriate identifying sign. The defibrillator will be accessible during the normal operating hours of the athletic facility or student center and within reasonable proximity of the institution's athletic fields. Under the bill, the institution is required to ensure that: (1) at least two staff members who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator are in the athletic facility or student center during the normal operating hours; and (2) each defibrillator is tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines, and notification is provided to the appropriate first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad, or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the defibrillator, the type acquired, and its location. An institution of higher education and its staff are granted immunity from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator. | In Committee |
| A1646 | Establishes prescription drug pricing disclosure requirements and measures to reduce prescription drug costs. | This bill provides for prescription drug disclosure requirements and measures to reduce costs for prescription drugs and biological products costs. Under the bill, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) are required to disclose certain information about prescription drug and biological product pricing and generic substitutions to benefit plan purchasers. The bill requires PBMs to establish a toll-free telephone number through which consumers and pharmacists can quickly obtain information regarding coverage, pricing and prescription drug and biological product safety. With respect to purchasers of pharmacy benefits management services, this bill requires PBMs to disclose, in the contract entered into between the purchaser and the PBM, the methodology and sources utilized to determine multiple source generic drug and biological product pricing. That pricing information shall be updated whenever a change occurs and must be provided to the purchaser. If a PBM uses a multiple source generic list for drugs and biological product dispensed at retail, but not for drugs and biological products dispensed by mail, this must be disclosed in the contract as well, or within 21 business days from the implementation of the practice. In addition, the bill requires PBMs to disclose to purchasers whether the multiple source generic pricing list used to bill the purchaser is the same as the list used to reimburse pharmacies. If the lists are not the same, the difference between the amount paid to the pharmacy and the amount charged to the purchaser shall be disclosed. This bill also requires PBMs to provide a toll-free telephone number for consumers and contracted pharmacies to speak with a New Jersey-licensed pharmacist concerning benefits coverage, drug and biological product pricing and prescription drug safety. Callers may not be placed on hold for longer than five minutes, and concerns must be resolved within 24 hours. This bill establishes the Prescription Drug and Biological Product Review Commission in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, which will be tasked with developing a list of critical prescription drugs and biological products for which drug and biological product manufacturers will be required to report certain information concerning development, production, and marketing costs. If the commission determines that a drug or biological product is priced excessively high in New Jersey, it will have the authority to establish a maximum price for the drug or biological product in the State. The commission will consist of nine members. In developing the list of critical prescription drugs and biological products, the commission will consider: the cost of the drug or biological product in the State, including the cost to public health care programs; the extent of utilization of the drug or biological product within the State; the availability and cost of comparable or therapeutically equivalent courses of treatment; the rate of successful treatment outcomes for the drug or biological product; other objectively quantifiable factors as the commission determines to be relevant. The commission may additionally consider recommendations for drugs and biological products to be included in the list made by government agencies, members of the public, and professional organizations. The commission will be required to review and update the list at least once every three years. For each prescription drug and biological product that the commission places on the critical prescription drug list, the manufacturer of the drug or biological product will be required to report information concerning: the total cost of production and approximate cost of production per dose; research and development costs; marketing and advertising costs; the prices for the drug or biological product that are charged to purchasers outside the United States for a representative set of countries determined by the commission; prices charged to typical New Jersey purchasers; true net typical prices charged to pharmacy benefit managers; and any rebates that are available to consumers which information is to be made publically available. Using information submitted under the bill, the commission will identify prescription drugs and biological products that have a cost in New Jersey that is excessively high when compared with the cost of the drug or biological product in other states and countries and when compared with the overall cost of researching, developing, and producing the drug or biological product in light of the number of years the drug or biological product has been made available for distribution. For prescription drugs and biological products with an excessively high cost, the commission will be permitted to set the maximum allowable price that the manufacturer can charge for that prescription drug or biological product in New Jersey, which is to be commensurate with the price of the drug in other states and countries, with full consideration of the overall cost of researching, developing, and producing the drug or biological product in light of the number of years the drug or biological product has been made available for distribution. This bill also prohibits manufacturers and wholesale distributors of prescription drugs and biological products from excessively increasing the price of certain prescription drugs and biological products without justification. Specifically, manufacturers and wholesale distributors may not engage in price gouging in the sale of an essential off-patent or generic drug or biological product. Price gouging is defined to mean an increase in the price of a drug or biological product that: (1) is excessive and not justified by the cost of producing the drug or biological product or expanding access to the drug or biological product to promote the public health; and (2) results in consumers having no alternative but to purchase the drug or biological product at an excessive price because of the importance of the drug or biological product to their health and insufficient marketplace competition. Under the bill, wholesale distributors will not be found to have violated this prohibition if the distributor increases the price of a drug or biological product in direct response to additional costs for the drug or biological product imposed on the distributor by the manufacturer. The bill defines "essential off-patent or generic drug or biological product" to mean any prescription drug or biological product, including any drug-device or biological product-device combination product for the delivery of the prescription drug or biological product: (1) that is made available for sale in the State; (2) for which all exclusive marketing rights granted under federal law have expired; (3) that is actively manufactured and marketed by three or fewer manufacturers; and (4) that appears on the current Model List of Essential Medicines adopted by the World Health Organization or has been otherwise designated as an essential medicine by the Commissioner of Health. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety may notify the Attorney General of any increase in the price of an essential off-patent or generic drug or biological product whenever: (1) the price increase, individually or in combination with other price increases, would result in an increase of 50 percent or more in the wholesale acquisition cost for the drug or biological product or in the price paid for the drug or biological product by the State Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare programs within a one-year period; and (2) the wholesale acquisition cost of the drug or biological product is more than $80 for a 30-day supply or a full course of treatment. At the request of the Attorney General, the manufacturer of an essential off-patent or generic drug or biological product identified in a notice provided under the bill will be required to submit, within 45 days of receiving the request, a statement to the Attorney General: (1) detailing the cost of producing the drug or biological product; (2) identifying the circumstances and timing of any cost increases in the preceding year; (3) identifying the circumstances and timing of any expenditures made by the manufacturer to expand access to the drug or biological product, and explaining any resulting improvements in public health; and (4) any other information the manufacturer determines to be relevant to a determination as to whether a violation of the provisions of the bill has occurred. The Attorney General may require a manufacturer or a wholesale distributor to produce any records or documents that may be relevant to a determination as to whether a violation of the bill has occurred. The Attorney General may additionally petition for a court order: compelling submission of any required statement or records; restraining or enjoining a violation of the bill; restoring to any consumer, including any third party payor, any money acquired by the manufacturer or wholesale distributor as a result of a price increase that violates the bill; requiring a manufacturer that has engaged in price gouging to make the drug or biological product available in the State, for a period of up to one year, at a price that does not exceed the price immediately prior to the violation; and assessing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 against a manufacturer or wholesale distributor who has violated the provisions of the bill. For the purposes of assessing the civil penalty, each sale of a drug or biological product at a price that constitutes price gouging will be deemed a separate violation. Any information provided by a manufacturer or wholesale distributor under the bill will be confidential and may not be disclosed to the public or otherwise subjected to public access, inspection, or copying, unless the manufacturer or wholesale distributor waives confidentiality. | In Committee |
| A1653 | Prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring students who have children to purchase meal plans, live in on-campus housing, or pay gym fees. | This bill places restrictions on certain requirements that institutions of higher education can impose on students enrolled in the institution who are parents. Under the bill, an institution of higher education in New Jersey may not require any enrolled student who has full or partial custody of a child to: purchase a meal plan; reside in on-campus housing, except when required as a condition of entry into a residential cohort or access program or as a condition of receipt of a scholarship; or pay any fees associated with the use of a campus gym, fitness center, or other recreational facility, as long as the fee is not associated with other campus services fees including, but not limited to, transportation. The institution would not be required to allow a student to use the campus gym, fitness center, or other recreational facility if the associated fees are not paid. | In Committee |
| A2284 | Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing services by $4. | This bill would increase the Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services by $4. PDN services are individualized nursing services that are provided by licensed nurses, on a continuous and non-intermittent basis, to certain beneficiaries in the home setting. Under the State FY 2023 Appropriations Act, the current Medicaid reimbursement rate for PDN services is $61 per hour when the services are provided by a registered nurse and $49 per hour when the services are provided by a licensed practical nurse. These rates supersede the rates established under current Department of Human Services regulations, which establish a rate of $60 for PDN services provided by a registered nurse and a rate of $48 for services provided by a licensed practical nurse. The bill increases the Medicaid reimbursement rate for PDN services to at least $65 per hour when provided by a registered professional nurse and to at least $53 per hour when provided by a licensed practical nurse. The increased reimbursement rate will apply regardless of whether services are provided under the fee for service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. | In Committee |
| A944 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| A2098 | "New Jersey Transit Villages Act." | This bill establishes the "New Jersey Transit Villages Act" for the purpose of encouraging municipalities to promote intensive mixed-use development within close proximity to mass transit. The bill encourages municipalities to use transit-oriented development techniques by directing transportation investments into the redevelopment of our older urban and suburban areas around transit hubs. The bill also seeks to increase transportation options and transit availability, which will have the effect of reducing automobile traffic, stabilizing property taxes, and providing affordable housing. Several years ago the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Transit Corporation administratively established the "Transit Village Initiative" to encourage appropriate intensive development within a half-mile radius of mass transit facilities. This bill would codify the Transit Village Initiative and permit State funding to be used to further the goals of the program. | In Committee |
| A1532 | "Madalyn's Law"; requires school districts to incorporate age-appropriate instruction on toxic shock syndrome and requires installation of signage in certain women's rooms to enhance public awareness of toxic shock syndrome. | This bill requires each school district, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, to incorporate instruction on toxic shock syndrome in grades 4 through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement. This bill would also require the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of toxic shock syndrome. This requirement would only apply to restrooms that include two or more toilets. The bill would require the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill would require the toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department. Failure to comply with the provisions of this bill would result in liability for a penalty of not more than $100 for each violation. Under the bill, "group A or M occupancy" means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in chapter 3 of the 2015 New Jersey International Building Code. Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade 5 are excluded from the "group A or M occupancy" definition. This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly. Anyone can contract toxic shock syndrome, but women using tampons and similar devices have a higher risk. Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches. As toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion. Toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of toxic shock syndrome. This bill is named in honor of Madalyn "Maddy" Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017 just days after contracting Toxic Shock Syndrome. Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida. | In Committee |
| A2796 | Authorizes establishment of regional economic development partnerships. | This bill authorizes local governmental entities to enter into regional economic development partnerships for the purpose of engaging in joint regional economic planning and formulating an economic development or redevelopment strategy. Under the bill, regional economic development partnerships could include any combination of county governments, municipal governments, agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and public or private economic development organization. A regional economic development partnership may also include businesses, business organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other entities located within the region. | In Committee |
| AJR16 | Permits evidence of prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination be admissible as hearsay exception. | This Joint Resolution amends the Rules of Evidence to permit the jury to consider a statement by a declarant as it relates to sexual assault or employment discrimination in certain cases. The resolution permits statements by the declarant relating to sexual assault or employment discrimination when: (i) the complaint was made spontaneously and voluntarily, (ii) within a reasonable amount of time after the crime had occurred, and (iii) to a person the victim ordinarily would turn to for support. The resolution permits admission of declarant's statement for the purposes of assessing the credibility of the complainant with respect to the commission of the offense; to negate the inference that the victim's initial delay or silence means the complaint was fabricated; or when relevant, and to the extent necessary, to explain the investigative process and complete the narrative of events leading to the defendant's arrest. | In Committee |
| A3254 | Requires certain warehouse operators to implement air pollution reduction and mitigation plans. | This bill would require certain warehouse operators to implement an air pollution reduction and mitigation plan (APRM plan), beginning 36 months after the bill's effective date. Specifically, the bill would apply to warehouse operators that utilize at least 50,000 square feet of warehouse space in at least one warehouse that is at least 100,000 square feet in size. The bill defines a "warehouse operator" as an entity that conducts day-to-day operations at a warehouse, including operations conducted through the use of third-party contractors, which entity may or may not be the owner of the warehouse. The bill would prohibit applicable warehouse operators from conducting warehousing operations in New Jersey, unless they implement an APRM plan approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill would direct the DEP to develop, no later than 24 months after the bill's effective date, a template for the standard APRM plan. In order to implement the standard plan, warehouse operators would first need to determine the amount of truck traffic that originates from their operations using a formula to be developed by the DEP, as well as the square footage of warehouse space they utilize. Then, warehouse operators would use those figures in another formula, also to be developed by the DEP, to determine the number of air pollution reduction and mitigation points (APRM points) they need to accrue during the following year. Warehouse operators would be able to accrue APRM points through various activities - including purchasing low- or zero-emissions vehicles, installing solar panels, or installing air filters at certain buildings in the municipalities in which they operate - as enumerated in subsection b. of section 3 of the bill. APRM points could also be accrued by depositing moneys in the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2019, c.362 (C.48:25-7). Warehouse operators may also comply with the bill's provisions by submitting a custom APRM plan to the DEP. The custom APRM would be required to state the actions to be taken by the warehouse operator to reduce or mitigate air pollution caused by the warehouse operator, as well as conform to other minimum standards established in subsection b. of section 4 of the bill. The bill would require warehouse operators to submit to the DEP each year the APRM plan to be implemented for the next year and an annual report detailing the actions taken during the previous year. The DEP would have 90 days to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the plan. The bill would also require warehouse operators to retain records that demonstrate whether and how they have complied with the bill's provisions. In particular, warehouse operators would be required to retain records that evidence the amount of truck traffic generated by the warehouse operator. The bill would require the DEP to develop guidelines to assist warehouse operators with this task. The bill would authorize the DEP to request the records retained by warehouse operators, as well as to audit warehouse operators, for cause or randomly. The bill would direct the DEP to publish the warehouse operators covered under the bill and their compliance status on its website. A person who violates the provisions of the bill would be subject to a civil administrative penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation. The amount of any civil administrative penalty would be assessed pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the DEP for violations of similar type, seriousness, and duration. A person who violates the provisions of the bill, and any order issues pursuant thereto, or who fails to pay in full a civil administrative penalty, would be subject, upon order of a court, to a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000. Civil penalties would be imposed and recovered in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999." In addition to these penalties, a person who knowingly, purposely, or recklessly makes a false or misleading statement to the DEP on any certification or registration would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and subject to a fine of up to $50,000 and restitution. The bill also establishes other remedies and enforcement mechanisms. | In Committee |
| A3253 | Concerns work break periods and warehouse conditions of employment. | This bill supplements and amends the "New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law," P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a et seq.), to require all employers to provide meal and rest periods for employees working for shifts of specified lengths, and to have the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development set by regulation requirements regarding work quotas in warehouse distribution centers. The bill requires all employers to provide paid meal periods of at least 30 minutes for employees who work for more than five hours continuously, and paid rest periods of at least a 15 minutes for any continuous work period of more than four hours. Current New Jersey law requires 30-minute meal breaks for minors who work five or more continuous hours, but has no requirement for adults, and no requirement for rest breaks for adults or minors. 21 states currently require meal breaks for adults and six of those states also have rest break requirements. The bill directs the commissioner to adopt regulations setting requirements for work quotas in covered warehouse facilities to assure that the quotas: 1. include the quantified number of tasks to be performed or materials to be produced or handled, within the defined time period, and any potential adverse employment action that could result from failure to meet the quota; 2. do not result in rates of work or workloads under which the wages paid are not fairly and reasonably commensurate with the value of the service provided; 3. permit rates of work and workloads which workers can maintain on a sustained basis, and do not result in high levels of turnover of the workforce, or otherwise adversely affect the general well-being and efficiency of the workers; and 4. do not prevent compliance with required meal and rest periods, prevent needed use of bathroom facilities, prevent breaks or other accommodations required by the Law Against Discrimination in connection with pregnancy or breastfeeding, or hinder any other accommodations required pursuant to any State or federal anti-discrimination or safety and health laws. In setting requirements for quotas, the commissioner is directed to consider information regarding quotas imposed by warehouse employers, data regarding the rates of work and workloads in warehouses, information regarding adverse impacts of excessive work speeds on warehouse workers, data on turnover rates and wage levels in warehouses in this State and elsewhere, and the adequacy of those wage levels to meet a cost of living necessary for health and well-being. The commissioner is also directed to consult with warehouse employer organization representatives, representatives of labor organizations representing warehouse employees, and individuals not employed by those organizations who have expertise regarding the effects of work speed and quotas on the well-being, efficiency, and turnover rates of warehouse workers. Warehouse employers are required to provide employees with a written description of quotas to which the employee is subject. The employers are prohibited from requiring any employee to meet a quota that violates any requirement set by the regulation pursuant to the bill, and are prohibited from taking any adverse employment action against an employee for failure to meet a quota that does not meet the requirements set those regulations or for failure to meet a quota which the employer has failed to disclose. Actions taken by an employee to comply with occupational health and safety laws or standards are considered productive time for purposes of any quota or monitoring system. Current and former employees who believe that meeting a quota caused a violation of the provisions of the bill are given the right to obtain from an employer a written description of each quota and employee's own personal work speed data. Any employer who violates the bill's provisions is subject to sanctions in the "New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law." | In Committee |
| A3256 | Provides for regional economic and land use impact report and establishes review processes related to development of certain large warehouses; and requires related real property reassessments. | This bill provides for regional economic and land use impact reports, establishes review processes related to development of certain large warehouses, and requires related real property reassessments. The bill applies to any "large warehouse," as defined in the bill. The bill provides that whenever an applicant files an application for development of a large warehouse, the administrative officer of a host municipality is to deliver to the clerk of each adjoining municipality a notice of regional impact that is to include a copy of the complete application for development. Delivery of the notice of regional impact is to be made as soon as practicable after the application for development is deemed complete, and would suspend any otherwise applicable time requirement, including the convening of a hearing date related to the application. Once an application for development has been received by the clerk of each adjoining municipality, any time provision applicable to the application for development is to be suspended until after receiving a final decision, not subject to appeal, regarding the regional impact of the application for development from the county planning board (board) or a decision of the State Planning Commission (commission). Under the bill, the governing body of an adjoining municipality, within 20 days after receipt of notice may adopt a resolution of regional concerns and deliver a copy of the resolution to the administrative officer and to the applicant. If the host municipality receives an application for development of a large warehouse and does not share a border with a county border, the administrative officer is to notify the board and each adjoining municipality of the need for a regional impact hearing before the board. If the host municipality receives an application for development of a large warehouse and does share a border with a county border, the administrative officer is to notify the commission and each adjoining municipality of the need for a regional impact hearing before the commission. A board conducting a regional impact hearing is to render a decision to allow or disallow a host municipality to consider an application for development of a large warehouse. The county planning board is only to render a decision to allow the application for development of a large warehouse to be considered by the host municipality upon the board's determination that the applicant has made an affirmative showing that approval of the application for development may be granted under certain circumstances enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that an adjoining municipality that is aggrieved by a decision of a county planning board may submit an appeal in writing within 45 days of the board's final decision to the commission. Under the bill, prior to consideration of an application for development for a large warehouse by a board or the commission, the host municipality is to prepare and make available a regional economic and land use impact report. The preparation of a regional economic and land use impact report is not to be waived, and is to be completed and distributed no later than the date on which a hearing of a board or the commission is scheduled to consider an application for a large warehouse development. The bill provides that a host municipality may contract with a private entity, other than the applicant, or another public agency for the preparation of a regional economic and land use impact report. The host municipality and the private entity or other public agency is to ensure that persons qualified by education, training, and experience to conduct economic and fiscal analyses prepare the regional economic and land use impact report. Additionally, the applicant is to pay the costs of preparing a regional economic and land use impact report. Under the bill, a regional economic and land use impact report is to include, but not be limited to, certain provisions provided in the bill. The bill provides that a regional economic and land use impact report prepared is to be delivered to the board or the commission, as applicable, and is to be made available to any adjoining municipality, upon request. Under the bill, the commission is to have certain duties enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that the commission, within 45 days of a hearing, is to render a decision to allow or disallow the application for development of a large warehouse to be considered by the host municipality. The commission is to render a decision to allow an application if the commission determines that the applicant has made an affirmative showing that approval of the application for development may be granted without certain detriments enumerated in the bill. Under the bill, a host municipality, upon receiving an application for a large warehouse development, and prior to approving an application, is to notify the planning board of the need to update the master plan, unless the master plan was updated within the prior 12 months. If a host municipality's master plan was not updated within the prior 12 months, the planning board of the host municipality is to update the land use and development proposal aspects of the host municipality's master plan in order to consider the number and nature of variances that were granted in the prior 12 months. The bill provides that if a municipality that has approved a large warehouse development project has not performed a municipal-wide revaluation or municipal-wide reassessment of all real property in the municipality within the 60 months immediately preceding the approval of the large warehouse development project, the municipality is to perform the municipal-wide revaluation or municipal-wide reassessment of real property within the municipality not later the 24th month next following that approval. | In Committee |
| A3255 | Establishes loan redemption program for certified veterinarians employed as large animal veterinarians in New Jersey. | This bill establishes the Large Animal Veterinarian Loan Redemption Program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Under the program, a participant would redeem 20 percent of eligible student loan expenses for each year of service as a large animal veterinarian in a State-designated underserved area. Eligible student loan expenses is defined as the cumulative total of the principal and interest due on student loans used to cover the cost of attendance while enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an institution of higher education. Program participants are matched to State-designated underserved areas by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture. Under the bill, each program participant must be a resident of the State, be a graduate of a veterinary school approved by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, have completed a professional residency program and received a recommendation from the director of the training program concerning participation in the loan redemption program, and agree to practice large animal veterinary medicine in a State-designated underserved area. The contract would be for five one-year periods and would specify the total amount of debt to be redeemed by the State in return for the service. Eligible loans will not be redeemed for service of less than one full year annually. | In Committee |
| A5736 | Updates certain notification requirements in "Energy Bill Watch" program. | Updates certain notification requirements in "Energy Bill Watch" program. | Introduced |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1277 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| SJR30 | Designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S1439 | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S1400 | "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act"; provides alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title from relative. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| AJR62 | Designates first week of May of each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3008 | Requires certain health care facilities to offer lactation counseling and consultations to persons who have given birth. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A1996 | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3036 | "Swift Access For Emergency Response Actions Preservation Program (SAFER APP)"; authorizes Attorney General to order turn-by-turn navigation systems to reroute vehicular traffic under certain conditions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A913 | Authorizes medical cannabis for treatment of sickle cell anemia. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3157 | Requires DMVA create Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of certain veterans. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A2415 | Requires Silver Alert System receive same broadcast alerts as Amber Alert System. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| AJR56 | Designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S2332 | Allows complaint for guardianship of minor to be filed six months before minor reaches age 18 under certain circumstances; establishes certain standards for filing guardianship complaints. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3759 | Prohibits internet sale of lottery tickets by State Lottery Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S2886 | Requires pharmacies to provide certain information regarding insulin manufacturer assistance programs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3941 | Changes classification of State Investigators in civil service. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A3981 | Subjects certain rooming and boarding houses to municipal land use regulations; requires owners and operators of cooperative sober living residences to submit certain approvals with license applications. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4276 | Requires DOH to use Basic Screening Survey to access oral health in children. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| AJR171 | Celebrates career of New Jersey resident John Sterling. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4535 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4562 | Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4618 | Requires official inspection facility employees covered by collective bargaining agreement to be offered employment following contract renewal or award of new contract; requires collective bargaining agreement to be binding in certain cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4767 | Limits regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in menstrual products. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4763 | Requires development of educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools; requires DOE to maintain list of locations providing swim lessons. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4753 | Requires hospitals and birthing facilities to request new parents watch water safety video prior to discharge. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4762 | Designates May of each year as "Water Safety Month" in NJ; encourages DOE to provide resources on water safety. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4857 | Extends anti-SLAPP protections to complainants of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4854 | Modifies method of allocating State aid for providing auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic school students. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4899 | Limits amount of residential rental property application fee; establishes penalty. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4913 | Establishes certain State funding preferences for municipalities that enhance opportunities to develop housing. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S3787 | Requires municipal tax collectors who obtain payments in lieu of taxes under "Long Term Tax Exemption Law" to transmit county portion directly to county. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A4986 | Codifies early language instruction program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children in DHS. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S3850 | Permits county boards of elections to extend distance within which electioneering is prohibited. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5017 | Exempts certain personal information collected by insurance-support organizations from certain requirements concerning notification and disclosure of personal data. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S3928 | Limits general application of certain consumer contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S3961 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to offer no-fee option to parents for making school lunch and other payments; requires payment processing platforms used by certain schools to provide users with information on user fees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5211 | Establishes New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4121 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to assign distribution of funding for Community Security Initiatives to Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5358 | Revises New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| S4162 | Limits use or disclosure of certain education records. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5395 | Requires cancellation option for any subscription service and establishes certain standards pertaining to use of negative option features. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5424 | Promotes housing availability and prevents speculation by imposing fee for institutional ownership of certain unproductive residential property. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5442 | Requires BPU members to have certain experience and complete certain training. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5432 | Establishes standards for determining an unconscionable rent increase; excludes from public access landlord tenant records in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5435 | Requires Division of Housing and Community Resources in DCA and applicable State agencies and nonprofits to establish a consolidated application for residential utility assistance programs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5466 | Requires BPU to study effects of data centers on electricity costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 05/22/2025 | Abstain |
| A5545 | Authorizes soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5598 | Modifies requirements to obtain licensure in public accountancy. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5572 | Establishes quorum standards for professional licensing entities under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5606 | Amends Fiscal Year 2025 annual appropriations act to clarify distribution of Meals on Wheels Program grant to Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5618 | Requires Administrative Office of the Courts to collect and publish statistical information about consumer debt lawsuits. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5733 | Provides for State agency reviews and increases of income thresholds for residential customers to participate in certain utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| AR193 | Affirms support for SNAP and program's progress in reducing hunger among vulnerable populations in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 05/22/2025 | Yea |
| A5088 | Exempts sale of farm vehicles from sales and use tax for farmers. | Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/15/2025 | Yea |
| A5241 | Prohibits approving authority from approving construction of certain warehouses on lot of land within 1,000 feet of historic district. | Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/15/2025 | Abstain |
| A5545 | Authorizes soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors. | Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/15/2025 | Yea |
| A5572 | Establishes quorum standards for professional licensing entities under certain circumstances. | Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee: Reported with Amendments | 05/15/2025 | Yea |
| S3889 | Requires each public institution of higher education to develop food waste reduction program on campus. | Assembly Higher Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/05/2025 | Yea |
| A5387 | Requires each public institution of higher education to develop food waste reduction program on campus. | Assembly Higher Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/05/2025 | Yea |
| A5502 | Revises provisions of "County College Contracts Law"; permits bidder disqualification due to prior negative experience. | Assembly Higher Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/05/2025 | Yea |
| A5579 | Requires public institution of higher education to provide students with information on food assistance programs. | Assembly Higher Education Committee: Reported Favorably | 05/05/2025 | Yea |
| A2367 | Establishes public awareness campaign on dangers of social media use to minors; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee: Reported Favorably | 04/10/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee: Reported with Amendments | 04/10/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee: Reported with Amendments | 04/10/2025 | Yea |
| S1548 | Requires school districts to adopt policies concerning student use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S2236 | Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3340 | Clarifies which health care professional may provide documentation to school district of need for home instruction due to student's health condition. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3025 | Exempts poll workers wages from affecting unemployment compensation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| AJR67 | Designates last week of April of each year as "Reentry Week." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1211 | Upgrades criminal penalties for use or possession of payment card scanning device; requires merchant to take reasonable safety measures to prevent scanning of payment card. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3283 | Directs certain unclaimed electric, gas, and water public utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1973 | Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for endometriosis. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1715 | Requires public institution of higher education to invite Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey on institution's campus. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1700 | Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of perinatal anxiety. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1825 | Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A2115 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A1389 | Requires seizure of ammunition and certain firearm components in response to domestic violence restraining order or conviction. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Nay |
| A3540 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3541 | Establishes legislative internship program. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| S2594 | Appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3598 | Requires patient to receive notification of abnormality in chest x-ray; designated as Claudia's Law. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3732 | Establishes third degree crime for certain trespasses involving victim of domestic violence. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3734 | Permits court to order transfer of billing responsibility for, and rights to, wireless telephone number to certain victims of domestic violence or stalking. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3881 | Requires State Police to establish online portal allowing persons to obtain status of expungement orders. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| A3940 | Modifies regulation of mortuary science and establishes oversight of mortuary and embalming science. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| SJR102 | Designates May 17 of each year as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 03/24/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 03 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 |