Legislator
Legislator > Julio Marenco
State Assemblymember
Julio Marenco
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 33
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
North Bergen Office
9060 Palisade Ave.
North Bergen, NJ 07047
North Bergen, NJ 07047
Phone: 201-295-0200
General Capitol Building Address
P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3871 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | In Committee |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Passed |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Passed |
| A4380 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | In Committee |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Passed |
| AR186 | Honors life of Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. | This resolution honors late Congressman Pascrell. Congressman Pascrell, a tireless advocate for public health and safety who served New Jersey for decades, leaves behind a legacy of distinguished public service. Congressman Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, an initiative that has played a critical role in advancing national policy, research, and resources for individuals affected by brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur due to a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, while acquired brain injuries (ABI) result from internal causes such as strokes, aneurysms, or tumors. Individuals who suffer from TBI or ABI often experience long-term disabilities ranging from minor impairments to severe and life-altering conditions, which affect their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Over the years the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has worked to increase awareness of brain injuries, support groundbreaking research initiatives, promote rehabilitation services, and address the long-term effects of brain injuries on individuals, families, and communities. As a co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Congressman Pascrell advocated for research initiatives focused on treatment, rehabilitation, and potential cures for TBI. Brain injuries impact thousands of New Jersey residents in every congressional district, affecting children, veterans, athletes, seniors, and survivors of accidents and medical conditions, all of whom need strong legislative advocacy and support at both the State and federal levels. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force remains a bipartisan effort, currently co-chaired by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio from Pennsylvannia and Republican Congressman Morgan Luttrell from Texas, and continues to advance Congressman Pascrell's legacy of championing policies that improve brain injury awareness, prevention, research, and treatment. It is vital that New Jersey's congressional delegation continues Congressman Pascrell's legacy by joining and supporting the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to ensure that our State remains a leader in brain injury advocacy and policy. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Passed |
| A3000 | Permits veteran's property tax deduction for tax year when veteran was previously qualified to receive deduction and became owner of real property after October 1 of pretax year. | This bill would allow a veteran who becomes the owner of the legal title to a parcel of real property after October 1 of the pretax year to be eligible to receive the veteran's property tax deduction on that parcel of real property for the tax year as long as the veteran was eligible to receive that property tax deduction on any other parcel of real property in the State prior to October 1 of the pretax year. Under current law, a veteran must be the owner of the legal title to the property as to which a veteran's property tax deduction is claimed on October 1 of the pretax year in order to be eligible to receive that property tax deduction for the tax year beginning the next January 1st. This bill would prevent a veteran from becoming ineligible for the veteran's property tax deduction if the veteran moved into a new home after October 1. | In Committee |
| A5076 | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy. | Crossed Over |
| A4688 | Requires MVC to utilize legal name including roman numerals on certain documents issued by MVC. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to permit an individual whose legal name includes a roman numeral to have the individual's legal name, including the roman numeral, displayed on the individual's standard basic driver's license; standard motorcycle license; standard special learner's permit; standard examination permit; standard probationary driver's license; standard identification card; REAL ID basic driver's license; REAL ID motorcycle license; REAL ID probationary driver's license; REAL ID identification card; or commercial driver license, provided that the individual has provided the commission with the required documentation to obtain such documents. As defined in the bill, "legal name" means the name recorded on a birth certificate unless otherwise changed by marriage, divorce, or order of court. | In Committee |
| A5756 | Authorizes creation of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. (Lambda Theta Phi) license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Lambda Theta Phi license plate is to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring Lambda Theta Phi. The chief administrator, in consultation with the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, is to select the design and color scheme of the Lambda Theta Phi license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Lambda Theta Phi license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to Lambda Theta Phi to be used to support the organization's mission and programs. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the Lambda Theta Phi license plate program. The bill also requires the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. to appoint a liaison to represent the North Atlantic Region of Lambda Theta Phi in all communications with the commission regarding the Lambda Theta Phi license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Lambda Theta Phi license plate program. The bill requires the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, or an individual or entity designated by the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the North Atlantic Region of Lambda Theta Phi to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the Lambda Theta Phi license plates until: 1) the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, or the individual or entity designated by the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Lambda Theta Phi license plate program; and 2) the North Atlantic Region of Lambda Theta Phi liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Lambda Theta Phi license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the seventh month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A5758 | Authorizes creation of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. license plates. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (Lambda Theta Alpha) license plates. The bill provides that the design of the Lambda Theta Alpha license plate is to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring Lambda Theta Alpha. The chief administrator, in consultation with the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha, is to select the design and color scheme of the Lambda Theta Alpha license plates. In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Lambda Theta Alpha license plates. After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the "Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to Lambda Theta Alpha to be used to support the organization's mission and programs. The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates. If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the Lambda Theta Alpha license plate program. The bill also requires the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha to appoint a liaison to represent the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha in all communications with the commission regarding the Lambda Theta Alpha license plates. The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Lambda Theta Alpha license plate program. The bill requires the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha, or an individual or entity designated by the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the program. The bill authorizes the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha to receive funds from private sources to offset the initial costs. The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the Lambda Theta Alpha license plates until: (1) the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha, or the individual or entity designated by the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Lambda Theta Alpha license plate program; and (2) the Northeast Regional Board of Lambda Theta Alpha liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Lambda Theta Alpha license plates. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the seventh month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission. The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date. | In Committee |
| A4083 | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey"; appropriates $2.5 million. | In Committee |
| A5561 | Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities. | Requires AG to establish ballistics analysis device pilot program in certain municipalities. | In Committee |
| A3282 | Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action. | Revises "Homelessness Prevention Program"; requires new charge for filing of eviction action. | In Committee |
| S3525 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | An Act concerning financial institutions servicing mortgages and supplementing P.L.2009, c.53 (C.17:11C-51 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A941 | Makes total property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans retroactive to effective date of determination of total disability; requires State to reimburse municipalities for reimbursement of property taxes paid to veteran. | This bill provides that the total property tax exemption extended to totally disabled veterans is to be retroactive to the effective date of the determination of the veteran's total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. The bill also requires that the governing body of each municipality return all taxes collected on the veteran's property after the effective date of the determination of total disability by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the amount of such property taxes returned to a totally disabled veteran pursuant to the requirements of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3169 | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans. | In Committee |
| A4696 | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | "Climate Superfund Act"; imposes liability on certain fossil fuel companies for certain damages caused by climate change and establishes program in DEP to collect and distribute compensatory payments. | In Committee |
| A1673 | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. | In Committee |
| A4755 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | In Committee |
| A5308 | Requires Director of Division of Local Government Services in DCA to establish grant program to enhance local government efficiency; appropriates $1.5 million. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs to establish a local government unit management enhancement review grant program. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to local government units to contract with management enhancement review consultants, as defined in the bill, to conduct local government unit efficiency reviews and to make recommendations to streamline operations and reduce costs. Under the bill, to participate in the program, a local government is required to submit an application to the division detailing the local government unit's proposed plans for the grant funding, including, but not limited to:· the amount of grant funding being sought by the local government unit; · a description of how the grant funding will be used to conduct an efficiency review; and· the proposed sources of matching funding to be used by the local government unit to conduct the efficiency review. Under the bill, after reviewing the applications, the Director of the division is required to select local government units to receive a management enhancement review grant. In selecting grant recipients, the director is to consider factors specified in the bill. The maximum grant award under the program is $150,000 for a county-based local government unit and $100,000 for a municipal-based local government unit. The bill requires a local government unit that receives a grant under the program to contribute 25 percent of the grant award amount to the management enhancement review. Within one year of receiving a grant, each participating local government unit is required to submit a report to the director detailing:· the expenditures of the grant funds under the program; · the specific shared services, operating efficiencies, or improved delivery of services achieved as a result of the management enhancement review; and· the specific cost savings achieved as a result of the shared services, operating efficiencies, or improved delivery of services. The director is required to compile the reports submitted for inclusion in a comparative profile of the participating local government units and to post the profile for public inspection on the division's Internet website in an easily accessible location. The bill appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to the division to provide grants to local government units to effectuate the purposes of the bill. | In Committee |
| A5283 | Eliminates certain requirements for nonprofit organization operating ski area. | This bill eliminates certain requirements for nonprofit organizations operating a ski area. Under current law, the operator of a ski area is required to:· establish and post a system generally identifying slopes and trails and designating the relative degrees of difficulty of the slopes and trails and make trail maps and trail reports available to skiers;· make available, either by oral or written report, information concerning the daily conditions of the slopes and trails; and· remove obvious, man-made hazards as soon as practicable. Under the bill, the operator of a ski area is not required to comply with these provisions if the ski area is operated by a nonprofit organization. The bill defines "nonprofit organization" to mean a private nonprofit corporation, society, or association that has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury to be exempt from income taxation under 26 U.S.C.s.501(c)(3). | In Committee |
| A5227 | Requires DCA to establish certain Internet websites for local government unit legal notices; appropriates $100,000. | This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish and maintain an Internet website for each county in this State. The purpose of each county Internet website is to provide a portal to allow each local government unit within each county to post local government unit legal notices that are required to be officially advertised in a newspaper. The bill provides that the DCA is to enable a local government unit to, without charge or fee, submit a required legal notice to the appropriate county Internet website, in a form and manner determined by the DCA, and is to prominently post a link to each county Internet website on the department's Internet website. Following its entry of a legal notice onto the appropriate county Internet website, the DCA is to provide the local government unit that submitted the notice with a link to the electronically published notice. The bill provides that whenever a local government unit, or a person who is a local government unit officer or employee, is required by law to publish a legal notice in one or more newspapers, the local government unit, or officer or employee, may satisfy that requirement by delivering the legal notice, a copy thereof, or a link thereto, to the DCA for electronic publication, without charge or fee, on the appropriate county's Internet website established and maintained by the DCA pursuant to the bill. This bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the DCA to develop and maintain the county Internet websites required by the bill. | In Committee |
| A5226 | Establishes Municipal Flood Management Assistance Program in DEP. | This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a program to provide grants to municipalities to address storm flooding, in consultation with the Department of Transportation. The program would establish a grant program for municipalities to assist with flood risk assessments, flood mitigation measures, emergency preparedness, public awareness, and sustainable development. With available information and data about municipal level of need, the DEP would develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of applications by municipalities to receive a grant from the program, establish criteria by which municipalities may qualify for the program, determine prioritization methods for assistance to municipalities in the greatest need, such as for flood mitigation projects located in overburdened communities, designate acceptable uses for grant funds, and select recipients for grant awards under the program. Through the grant program, the department will provide tools and resources to allow municipalities to identify high-risk flood areas, support structural and non-structural solutions to reduce flood impacts, equip municipalities with training, tools, and protocols for flood emergencies, and encourage land-use planning that minimizes flood risks and promotes resilient infrastructure. These tools, resources, protocols, and supports may include geographic information system-based mapping tools (such as the DEP's flood indicator map), vulnerability assessments, available resources on sources of sea level rise, flood hazard, and flood management planning, technical assistance, and funding for design of sustainable stormwater management systems (such as retention basins, living or nature-based shorelines, dikes, coastal barriers, stormwater management basins, polders, weirs, and permeable pavements). Under the bill, the DEP would determine the application procedures and criteria for evaluating applications. The DEP would include in the annual budget request a sufficient sum to carry out the purposes and objectives of the act. Municipalities would be required to submit reports to the DEP relating to its use of grant funds and progress in achieving its goals. Additionally, the DEP would file an annual report with the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of the grant program in accomplishing its flood management objectives. | In Committee |
| A5228 | Excludes repeat offenders and persons convicted of certain crimes from eligibility for administrative parole release. | This bill amends the "Earn Your Way Out Act," P.L.2019, c.364, to exclude inmates with prior convictions for indictable offenses and inmates serving sentences for certain enumerated crimes from being eligible for administrative parole release. The Earn Your Way Out Act established a process by which an inmate who is eligible for administrative parole release may be paroled without a hearing at the time of their first eligibility for parole. Under current law, administrative parole release is available for all inmates regardless of their prior record, except for inmates previously convicted of or currently serving sentences for crimes enumerated under the "No Early Release Act" ("NERA"), N.J.S.A.2C:43-7.2, the "Graves Act," N.J.S.A.2C:43-6, "Megan's Law," N.J.S.A.2C:7-2, and the "Sexually Violent Predator Act," N.J.S.A.30:4-27.26. Under the bill, inmates with any prior convictions for an indictable offense would not be eligible for administrative parole release. Furthermore, in addition to the crimes enumerated under NERA, the Graves Act, Megan's Law, and the Sexually Violent Predator Act, inmates currently serving a sentence imposed for a conviction of any of the following additional crimes would also not be eligible for administrative parole release:· Leaving the scene of an automobile accident resulting in death;· Leaving the scene of a boating accident resulting in death;· Vehicular homicide;· Assault in the third or fourth degree;· Leaving the scene of an automobile accident resulting in serious bodily injury;· Terroristic threats;· Stalking;· Criminal restraint;· Luring of an adult;· Human trafficking in the first degree;· Human trafficking in the second degree;· Invasion of privacy;· Sexual extortion;· Bias intimidation;· Aggravated arson;· Money laundering;· Endangering the welfare of a child causing abuse or neglect;· Child pornography;· Witness tampering;· Official misconduct;· False public alarm in the first degree;· False public alarm in the second degree;· Leader of a narcotics trafficking network;· Maintaining or operating a controlled substance production facility;· Manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing controlled substances;· Soliciting or providing material support for terrorism;· Prohibited weapons and devices;· Possession of explosives for an unlawful purpose;· Possession of destructive devices for an unlawful purpose;· Possession of a weapon except a firearm for an unlawful purpose;· Possession of a weapon during the commission of a drug offense;· Violation of a prohibition on weapons possession;· Manufacture, transport, disposition, and defacement of machine guns or sawed-off shotguns;· Leader of a firearms trafficking network; and· Causing death or injury while driving with a suspended license. | In Committee |
| A2507 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| A5203 | Codifies Bringing Veterans Home Initiative. | On Veterans' Day of 2024, Acting Governor Tahesha Way announced the launch of Bringing Veterans Home (initiative), to be led by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in coordination with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA). This bill codifies the initiative in statute. The bill establishes statutory language concerning the initiative and requires the DCA to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill. The goal of the initiative is to provide access to safe and stable housing to every unhoused or homeless veteran in the State. Specifically, the bill directs the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the DCA to: (1) establish and maintain six regional hubs to be tasked to accelerate housing outcomes for veterans in the region; (2) utilize State data concerning veteran homelessness to determine areas of need and effective interventions; (3) establish, maintain, and publish a standardized referral form; (4) adopt one or more classifications of veterans eligible for participation in, and receipt of different forms of assistance under, the initiative; (5) assist veterans, to the extent feasible, in accessing appropriate benefits and housing placement programs; (6) maintain the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Bringing Veterans Home Initiative launched in 2024; and (7) establish and operate any other goals and programming deemed appropriate by the Office of Homelessness Prevention. The bill would take effect immediately. | 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 |
| A5164 | Regulates artificial intelligence in news media industry; establishes "Artificial Intelligence In Communications Oversight Committee." | This bill regulates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) by news media or other entities providing news. Specifically, the bill requires that any generative AI news content include: (1) a label that the content is generative AI; (2) credit to any source used to produce the content; and (3) a disclaimer that the content may not accurately reflect the source material from which it was produced. The bill provides that any news media or other entity disseminating news or purporting to disseminate news within the State may permit the use of AI to assist its professionals and staff in investigating, researching, and reporting information, but is prohibited from using AI in lieu of professionals and staff. The bill provides that any person who violates its provisions relating to the dissemination of generative AI content or the replacement of journalists with artificial intelligence is subject to a civil penalty as follows: $10,000 for the first violation; $20,000 for the second violation; and $30,000 for the third and any subsequent violation, collectible by the Attorney General in a summary proceeding. The bill codifies the Artificial Intelligence Task Force established by the Governor in 2023, and it establishes a new committee within the task force: the "Artificial Intelligence In Communications Oversight Committee." The duties of the committee will include: (1) crafting and recommending regulations and guidelines for artificial intelligence in the media field; (2) exploring whether AI has replaced human journalists in any capacity in New Jersey; (3) studying wages and work standards as to any impact of artificial intelligence on the news media workforce; (4) examining the large-scale monitoring and data collection of artificial intelligence, potentially for the purpose of manipulating opinions and choices; and (5) on an annual basis, preparing and submitting a report to the Governor and to the Legislature regarding the committee's findings. | In Committee |
| A5166 | Establishes separate crime of porch piracy, "Porch Theft Task Force," and public awareness campaign; appropriates funds. | This bill establishes a separate crime of residential package theft, also known as "porch piracy," as a distinct crime, separate from the consolidated theft statute, N.J.S.2C:20-2. Under the bill, residential package theft is a crime of the third degree if the amount involved is less than $75,000 or is undetermined, and is a crime of the second degree if the amount involved is $75,000 or more. A crime of the third degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. Under the bill, in addition to any other disposition authorized by law, the court may impose a fine not to exceed $250,000 or five times the retail value of the contents of the package stolen from the residence seized at the time of the arrest, whichever is greater. Also, under the bill, in addition to the ordinary penalties for crimes of the third or second degree, the presumption of non-imprisonment for a person convicted of a first offense of a crime of the third degree would not apply. Further, a person convicted of a second or subsequent offense is required to serve a mandatory minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which time the defendant shall not be eligible for parole. The bill also provides that a person may be charged with residential package theft in addition to, or in combination with, any other crime such as home invasion burglary, residential burglary, or trespass, as applicable. Additionally, the bill establishes the "Porch Theft Task Force" to be led by the Attorney General, and involving State and local law enforcement and delivery companies. The task force is required to track and reduce residential package thefts, centralize data collection concerning residential package thefts, and coordinate law enforcement efforts. The bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to establish a public awareness campaign to educate residents on how to prevent residential package theft. Finally, the bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety such funds as are necessary to implement the bill. | In Committee |
| A5168 | Establishes task force to research and report on potential sources of funding for artificial intelligence initiatives and appropriate tax incentives to support businesses impacted by expansion of use of artificial intelligence. | This bill establishes an 11-member Artificial Intelligence Initiative Funding Task Force, in but not of, the Department of the Treasury. The task force is charged with researching and reporting on potential sources of public and private funding to support artificial intelligence initiatives in the State. The membership of the task force would include the State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Authority, Secretary of Higher Education, Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology, and 6 public members, including two appointed by the Governor and four appointed by the Legislative leadership. The bill requires the task force to issue a report concerning potential sources of public and private funding to support artificial intelligence initiatives in the State. At a minimum the report would be required to include: a description of all current sources of public and private funding that may support artificial intelligence initiatives in New Jersey; recommendations regarding appropriate tax incentives to support the development and growth of business sectors and industries in the State most impacted by an expansion of the use of artificial intelligence; recommendations regarding how the State may leverage public-private partnerships and collaborations with public and private institutions of higher education to finance artificial intelligence initiatives; and recommendations regarding how the State can align funding for its artificial intelligence initiatives and programs with its workforce needs and economic growth goals. The task force report would be due no later than 12 months following its organization. The bill directs the report to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature and to be available to the public through the Department of the Treasury's Internet website. The bill provides that the task force would expire 30 days following the issuance of its report. | In Committee |
| A5167 | Establishes programs in EDA to support New Jersey-based start-up businesses; small businesses, and medium-sized businesses adopting artificial intelligence capabilities; appropriates $175.5 million. | This bill provides support, through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("authority"), to New Jersey-based start-ups, small businesses, and medium-sized businesses that operate within the artificial intelligence industry or that seek to adopt artificial intelligence capabilities. Specifically, the bill establishes three distinct programs within the authority to support these purposes and appropriates a sum of $175.5 million to support these programs. AI Job Creation and Economic Development Fund Program First, the bill establishes the "AI Job Creation and Economic Development Fund Program" within the authority to support the establishment, expansion, or improved operations of AI businesses in the State and to support the development of AI innovation hubs by AI businesses in the State. Under the program, the authority would provide: (1) grants of up to $500,000 to AI businesses that seek to develop AI innovation hubs in the State; and (2) low-interest loans of up to $1 million to AI businesses that seek to establish, expand, or improve business operations in the State. An AI innovation hub is defined under the bill to include any facility or campus that is designed to foster artificial intelligence research, development, and commercialization through collaboration between businesses, academic institutions, and research organizations. To qualify for assistance, AI businesses would be required to demonstrate a viable business plan, commit to creating a minimum number of new full-time jobs in New Jersey, as determined by the authority, and meet certain other eligibility requirements. The bill appropriates $25 million from the General Fund to the authority to support the operations of this program. These monies would be deposited into a non-lapsing revolving loan fund, which the authority would administer for purposes of the program. Notably, the bill requires the authority to submit annual reports detailing program operations, including the number of jobs created, economic impact, and development of AI innovation hubs. AI for Small Business Grant Program Secondly, the bill establishes an "AI for Small Business Grant Program" in the authority, supported through a special, non-lapsing fund known as the "AI for Small Business Grant Program Fund," for the purpose of awarding grants to qualified start-up businesses and small businesses that seek to adopt and implement artificial intelligence technologies for research and development, business expansion, or job creation purposes. Under the program, start-up businesses and small businesses could apply for grant funding to adopt and implement artificial intelligence technologies for research and development purposes, business expansion purposes, and job creation purposes. However, any grant awarded to a recipient would not be: (1) less than $50,000 or greater than $250,000 for research and product development purposes; (2) less than $250,000 or greater than $1 million for business expansion purposes; or (3) less than $10,000 or greater than $20,000 for job creation purposes. The bill appropriates $150 million from the General Fund to the authority to support this program. Beginning one year after the establishment of the grant program and each year thereafter until all funds deposited into the AI for Small Business Grant Program Fund have been expended, the authority would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the number of applications submitted during the previous year, and the amount awarded to each grant recipient for that year. AI for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Consultancy Program Lastly, the bill also establishes the "AI for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Consultancy Program," which would be administered by the authority, in consultation with the New Jersey Chief Technology Officer. Under the program, the authority would provide consultancy services and technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses, upon application to the authority, in identifying and implementing the artificial intelligence technologies and tools that support the business development and growth plan identified in the business's application to the program. The program would be administered by a manager, appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, qualified by work in artificial intelligence development activities or its equivalent in training and experience. As part of the program manager's duties, the person would establish and update, as necessary, a database listing the availability of qualified artificial intelligence professionals, businesses, research institutions, industry networks, academic networks, technologies, and tools in the State. The database would be published and maintained on the official Internet website of the authority. The bill appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the authority for the purposes of establishing and administering the AI for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Consultancy Program. | In Committee |
| A4893 | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | Requires financial institutions to allow mortgagors to make biweekly and semi-monthly payments and payments to mortgage principal. | In Committee |
| A5129 | "CJ's Law"; Criminalizes manufacture and distribution of substances containing kratom under certain circumstances. | This bill, designated as "CJ's Law," would criminalize the manufacture, possession and sale of products containing kratom. Kratom, as known as mitragyna speciosa korth, mitragynine extract, biak-biak, cratom, gratom, ithang, kakuam, katawn, kedemba, ketum, krathom, krton, mambog, madat, Maeng da leaf, nauclea, or Nauclea Speciosa, is a botanical substance that grows naturally in Southeast Asia. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that kratom poses a threat to public health and has the potential for abuse. Kratom is frequently marketed on the Internet for its psychoactive and opioid-like analgesic effects, and for use in the treatment of morphine and heroin addiction. However, kratom is not approved in the United States for any medical use. In a statement released in April 2022, the FDA warned the public against using kratom, warning that the substance "affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine" and that it appears to have "properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence." According to the FDA, scientific literature has disclosed serious concerns regarding the toxicity of kratom in multiple organ systems, with consumption leading to a number of health issues, including depressed respiratory function, nervousness, agitation, aggression, sleeplessness, hallucinations, delusions, loss of libido, tremors, skin hyperpigmentation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and severe withdrawal signs and symptoms. Currently, possession and distribution of kratom is not barred by federal or New Jersey law. However, the FDA Import Alert # 54-15 provides guidance for FDA field personnel regarding the detention of dietary supplements and bulk dietary ingredients that contain kratom. The FDA has also issued a number of warning letters and conducted seizures of illegally sold, unapproved, or misbranded drug products containing kratom that make unproven claims about their ability to treat or cure opioid addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Kratom is banned or its uses restricted in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, France , Germany, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Kratom is also illegal in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Several states have passed laws restricting its sale and use, while several other states have introduced legislation that would ban this drug. This bill amends existing law to include kratom as a controlled dangerous substance and to sets out gradations for crimes involving the substance. The bill would make it a crime of the second degree to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess or have under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a substance containing kratom in an amount of one ounce or more, including adulterants and dilutants. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. It would be a crime of the third degree to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or possess or have under one's control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a substance containing kratom in an amount of less than one ounce, including adulterants and dilutants. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under the bill, there is an exception for the possession and manufacture of kratom, mitragyna speciosa korth, mitragynine, or any derivative of those chemical compounds, for any person who is a practitioner as defined in N.J.S.A.24:21-1. N.J.S.A.24:21-1 defines a "practitioner" as a physician, dentist, veterinarian, scientific investigator, laboratory, pharmacy, hospital, or other person licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to, or administer a controlled dangerous substance in the course of professional practice or research in this State. CJ's Law is designated in remembrance of Christopher James (CJ) Holowach, who died at age 33 from cardiac arrest caused by mixture of drugs that included his physician prescribed Adderol and kratom. While awaiting arm surgery, CJ Holowach consumed kratom to numb his arm pain without jeopardizing his recovery from opioid addiction. However, he was unaware of the dangers of kratom as the supplement's bottle provided no warning labels or suggestions on safe dosage amounts. Kratom is marketed in a way to make it appear to be a safe herbal pain supplement, when it poses serious health risks. Further, addiction experts warn, echoing the sentiments of FDA warnings, that kratom can be highly addictive and create risk of abuse and dependence. It is the sponsor's hope that this bill will stop the sale of kratom in New Jersey, avoiding further tragedies including death. | In Committee |
| A3892 | Requires campus police officers to wear body worn cameras. | Under current law, every uniformed State, county, and municipal patrol law enforcement officer, with certain exceptions, is required to wear a body worn camera that electronically records audio and video while acting in the performance of the officer's official duties. This bill specifically requires campus police officers to wear a body worn camera while acting in the performance of the officer's official duties. This bill also clarifies the definition of a law enforcement officer, as it relates to the regulations for using body worn cameras, to include campus police officers. | In Committee |
| A3161 | Broadens eligibility for certain civil service and pension benefits for veterans by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations. | This bill broadens the eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating the requirement that a veteran serve during specific wars or other periods of emergency, and, in certain instances, that a veteran serve in a war zone. Instead of service during specific dates or in specific locations, the bill requires federal active service in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or a Reserve component thereof. The benefits in the bill are (1) a civil service preference under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes; (2) a veteran's retirement allowance under the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) or the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS); and (3) the purchase of additional military service credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), TPAF, PERS, and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Eligibility for the civil service benefits for all veterans is contingent upon voter approval of an authorizing amendment to the State Constitution. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A4047 | Revises unemployment compensation law. | An Act concerning unemployment compensation and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5057 | Prohibits public utility from recovering certain administrative costs. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving the request of a public utility to recover administrative costs through the public utility rates charged to ratepayers after the bill's effective date. The bill defines "administrative costs" to mean any payment made by a public utility in furtherance of utility service that is not recovered by the public utility as a capital expense. "Administrative costs" includes, but is not limited to, the cost of personnel salaries, information technology, office supplies, and legal expenses. | In Committee |
| A5073 | Provides gross income tax exclusion for military compensation paid to State residents for out-of-State military service. | This bill allows a gross income tax exclusion for certain military compensation paid to members of the United States Armed Forces who are domiciled in New Jersey but who serve their military duty at a station or deployment outside of the State of New Jersey for a minimum of six months of the taxable year. | In Committee |
| S3201 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | An Act upgrading certain penalties for assault and requiring testing for communicable diseases, and revising various parts of statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5033 | Establishes public-private partnerships to develop artificial intelligence job training. | This bill enables the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to establish public-private partnerships to develop and advance AI workforce training. The training will have a dual purpose of retraining workers displaced by AI and providing training in AI skills for active workers to enable the workforce to remain competitive in evolving AI technology. The public-private partnerships will enable the private entity to assume full financial and administrative responsibility for the development of training and retraining services related to AI in exchange for not being subject to certain procurement and prevailing wage criteria. The department will establish methods of publicizing the program, establish criteria for evaluating the proposals, and define the various administrative requirements. In addition, the department will establish an advisory council to provide targeted feedback on the progress of the program and insight on how that training can be improved. | In Committee |
| AJR46 | Designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates January of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the many Hindu residents of this State and their rich and noteworthy history and cultural contributions to this State. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to a time between 3000-8000 BCE. Sacred texts have been passed on through generations for thousands of years, creating a strong following of 1.1 billion Hindus in the 21st century. Hindus believe in a variety of deities, each representing different concepts and values within Hinduism. Different sects of Hindus emphasize particular deities and practices over others, depending on their beliefs. Various Hindu gods and goddesses can be traced to origin points spanning several thousand years, making the traditions surrounding Hinduism and the Hindu deities rich and storied. Some deities have holidays celebrated in their honor, such as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Another well-known Hindu holiday is Holi, the Festival of Colors. It is a holiday celebrating the coming of spring, famous for colorful paste and water thrown on those celebrating. Hindus have made enormous contributions to cultural development throughout history across the globe. Significant achievements in math, science, and medicine used in the modern world can be traced to Hindus. New Jersey is lucky enough to be the state with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the United States. The Hindu community has shown others the beauty of their beliefs, including though the establishment of the largest Hindu temple in the world, now located in Robbinsville, New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4889 | Mandates certain child care centers to retain audio-visual recordings for 180 days and requires review of such recordings before recordings can be deleted. | This bill would require all child care and family day care centers that have an audio-visual surveillance system in place to retain all recordings for 180 days. This bill would also require the Department of Children and Families or an independent third-party organization designated by the department to review the recordings before the recordings can be deleted. This bill would not require child care and family day centers that do not currently have an audio-visual surveillance system in place to install such a surveillance system. | In Committee |
| A2378 | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | Upgrades certain penalties for assaulting law enforcement officer and requires offender to be tested for communicable diseases in certain instances. | In Committee |
| A4296 | Establishes exemption from ban on importation of woodchucks under certain circumstances. | The bill establishes an exemption to the ban on importation of woodchucks into the State for the importation of a woodchuck for the purposes of replacing a groundhog in order for a county or municipality to celebrate Groundhog Day when the county's or municipality's groundhog has died, provided that every effort is made to replace the groundhog with a woodchuck found in the State or imported from a state in which a variant of rabies other than raccoon rabies is not endemic as provided for in the bill. The bill directs the Division of Fish and Wildlife to notify each county and municipality in the State of the limited exception established by the bill, provide guidelines for replacing a woodchuck that dies, and establish procedures for relocating a woodchuck or authorizing its importation. Finally, the bill directs the division to establish requirements for the proper housing and handling of the woodchuck placed in the custody of the county or municipality, as applicable. | Crossed Over |
| A4820 | Prohibits wholesale dealers from price gouging sale of physical goods. | This bill prohibits wholesale dealers from unconscionably raising the sale price of physical goods in a manner that is not justified by inflation, abnormal market disruptions, or natural fluctuations in supply and demand. This practice, often known as and defined in the bill as "price gouging," is harmful to small businesses. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, violations may result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. It is the intent of the sponsor to prohibit "price gouging" to protect small businesses from being sold physical goods at an unfair price by wholesale dealers. | In Committee |
| A4823 | Empowers State Parole Board to refer certain inmates for involuntary commitment evaluation. | This bill gives the New Jersey State Parole Board ("parole board") the authority to refer inmates, who are dangerous to themselves or others because of mental illness or who are sexually violent predators, to the Attorney General ("AG") and applicable county prosecutor to start the involuntary commitment evaluation process in order to ensure that the inmates are not released without appropriate supervision and treatment. Under current law, when an adult or juvenile inmate is scheduled for release due to expiration of the inmate's maximum term, the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections ("commissioner") or the Juvenile Justice Commission ("JJC") is to notify the AG and the prosecutor of the county if the person was convicted of certain sexually-based offenses that the court found was characterized by a pattern of repetitive, compulsive behavior, or the parole board or the superintendent of the facility in which the inmate has been confined has advised the commissioner or the JJC that the conduct of the inmate during the period of confinement, the inmate's mental condition, or the inmate's past history indicates that the inmate may be in need of involuntary commitment. This bill amends the law to now also expressly provide the parole board as having this authority to make the initial referral to the AG and prosecutor to start the evaluation process to determine whether an inmate is in need of involuntary commitment. This bill also amends the law to allow the parole board, commissioner, or the JJC to make the referral at the time an inmate would otherwise become eligible for parole, not just at the expiration of an inmate's maximum term. | In Committee |
| A4825 | Permits veterans to provide five percent of purchase price in sheriff auction of residential property under certain circumstances. | This bill permits veterans to tender a five percent deposit instead of the 20 percent deposit most commonly required for a residential property at a sheriff auction if the veteran will reside in the property for a minimum of two years. As of 2023, there are 338,012 veterans living in New Jersey. Veterans face unique challenges accessing housing. This bill promotes homeownership for veterans by reducing the barriers to purchasing a home through county sheriff sales. This is restricted to a home in which the veteran commits to reside for a minimum of two years. This bill would take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| A4822 | Strengthens enforcement of child labor law. | The purpose of this bill is to protect the welfare of working minors by helping to implement the goal of the child labor law of preventing excessive or hazardous work from interfering with their educational success, health, or general well-being. The bill strengthens the enforcement of the State's child labor law by providing: 1. An increase in the minimum fines for a knowing violation of the law to $500 for an initial violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation, the same as the minimum fines currently imposed for knowing violations of the wage payment, minimum wage, and prevailing wage laws. 2. That it is a third degree crime, with minimum fines of $1,000 for an initial violation and $2,000 for subsequent violations, for an employer to employ a minor not registered and authorized to work, to employ a minor during days or weeks in which school is in session at times or for an amount of time not allowed by the child labor law, or to employ a minor in hazardous work with equipment or in occupations or workplaces prohibited by that law. 3. That an employer is guilty of a second degree crime, with a minimum fine of $4,000, if a child, while employed by the employer in violation of the child labor law, suffers any injury, occupational disease, or death which is currently compensable at twice the regular rate under the workers' compensation law. 4. That an employer who is convicted of a crime of the third or second degree under the bill will have its registration and authorization to employ minors suspended for not less than one year if convicted of a third degree crime, and not less than two years if convicted of a second degree crime. 5. That an employer who applies for registration and authorization to employ minors after the effective date of the bill is required to acknowledge receipt of a written statement from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development of the requirements of the child labor law and provide a written affirmation that the employer understands and agrees to comply with those requirements before being registered and authorized to employ minors. An employer who was already registered as of the effective date of the bill is required to provide the acknowledgement and affirmation not more than 10 business days after receiving the statement from the department, or have the registration revoked until the employer provides the acknowledgement and affirmation. 6. That an employer who employs minors without obtaining the required registration, or who employs minors during the period in which the employer's registration is suspended or revoked, will be barred from employing minors for a period of three years in addition to any other period of debarment. 7. That an employer who takes retaliatory actions against an employee for making complaints or initiating actions regarding violations of the child labor law is guilty of disorderly persons offense punishable by specified fines and penalties, and required to pay lost wages and liquidated damages of up to 200% of the lost wages, and offer reinstatement if the employee was discharged in retaliation. These remedies are identical to the anti-retaliation provisions of the wage payment and minimum wage laws. | In Committee |
| A4821 | Requires OIT to develop NJ generative artificial intelligence program and implement artificial intelligence education courses with county governments; appropriates $1.5 million. | This bill requires the New Jersey Office of Information Technology ("OIT") to develop a New Jersey generative artificial intelligence program and coordinate with county governments to implement artificial intelligence education courses. The bill defines "generative artificial intelligence" as an artificial intelligence that is capable of generating text, images, videos, or other data in response to prompts. Under this bill, OIT is required to annually subject the New Jersey generative artificial intelligence program to a safety test that includes, at minimum: (1) an analysis of potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities; and (2) descriptions of possible remedies or defensive measures that can be taken by OIT to address all potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities during the conducting of the safety test. The bill requires OIT to implement appropriate remedies and defensive measures identified during the safety test. The bill also requires that the education courses teach residents about artificial intelligence and "natural language processing," which is the use of artificial intelligence to enable computers to interpret and comprehend human language. The courses are to include, at a minimum, education on: (1) what artificial intelligence is and how generative artificial intelligence is different from other artificial intelligence technologies; and (2) methods for identifying and mitigating potential output inaccuracies, fabricated text, and biases of generative artificial intelligence while respecting the privacy of the public and complying with all applicable State and federal laws and policies. [EA1]Note to requester: Please let me know if you would like more or less appropriated. | In Committee |
| A1941 | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments. | In Committee |
| A4665 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, is directed to establish a targeted leadership development program that prepares Hispanic and Latino faculty for leadership positions at public institutions of higher education in the State. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary to establish a program that develops or expands pipelines that guide Hispanic or Latino undergraduate students into academic careers. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt policies and procedures to promote diverse representation reflective of the student body and the State on any search committee convened for a senior administration or leadership position at the institution. Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education is required to establish a program to assist public institutions of higher education in the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino faculty and staff into leadership positions at those institutions. The purpose of the program is to develop guidance and strategies for the institutions to: · identify and mitigate cultural and institutional barriers experienced by Hispanic and Latino faculty and administrators which may negatively impact the recruitment and retention of those individuals into leadership positions at public institutions of higher education; · provide institutional support and professional development opportunities specifically designed for Hispanic and Latino faculty and administrators;· promote opportunities for academic alliances and collaborative partnerships to share best practices, resources, and support for increasing Hispanic and Latino representation in institution leadership; and · conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the institution's diversity programs and initiatives. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to implement a program to increase the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino individuals into leadership positions at the institution. Finally, the bill requires each public institution of higher education to submit an annual diversity report to the Secretary of Higher Education. The report will include, at a minimum:· the racial and gender composition of all leadership positions at the institution; and· a review of the diversity program implemented pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill directs the secretary to compile the annual diversity reports submitted by the institutions and submit a summative report annually to the Governor and the Legislature. | In Committee |
| AR146 | Encourages institutions of higher education to address lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino leadership in higher education. | This resolution encourages institutions of higher education in New Jersey and across the United States to address the lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino presidents of institutions of higher education. Colleges and universities in New Jersey and across the country have seen significant increases in enrollment of Hispanic and Latino undergraduate students in recent decades. Currently, approximately 20 percent of undergraduate students in the United States and approximately 25 percent of undergraduate students in New Jersey identify as Hispanic or Latino. However, while college enrollments increasingly reflect the rich diversity of this State and nation as a whole, the leadership in institutions of higher education does not. In 2023, only six percent of presidents of institutions of higher education in the United States identified as Hispanic or Latino and there is currently only one Latino president leading an institution of higher education in New Jersey. The lack of diverse leadership among institutions of higher education is of great concern as creating a leadership team that is reflective of the student body is critical to promoting inclusivity and belongingness among students, understanding students' diverse needs and interests, and ensuring students feel safe, seen, and heard. Thus, this resolution encourages institutions of higher education in New Jersey and across the United States to address the lack of representation of Hispanic and Latino leadership in higher education by establishing and expanding leadership development programs, enhancing the diversity of governing boards and search committees, and actively engaging with organizations dedicated to the advancement of Hispanic and Latino leaders in higher education. | In Committee |
| A4637 | Requires certain consumer disclosures relating to rabies testing and establishes optional training for veterinarians. | The bill provides that it is a violation of the consumer fraud act for a veterinarian to intentionally misrepresent, including through the use of euphemisms, code words, or otherwise, the information required under current law to be provided to the owner of a dead domestic companion animal undergoing testing for rabies. An unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party. In addition, the bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to develop a poster and pamphlet with information relating to rabies vaccines and quarantine and testing protocols. Veterinarians are required to display the poster in office reception areas and to distribute the pamphlets to certain customers. Lastly, the bill requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a trauma-informed mental health protection training certification program for veterinarians and staff. The program is optional, and those who complete it are to receive a certification from the division. | In Committee |
| A4620 | The "Farm Labor Equality Act." | This bill, the "Farm Labor Equality Act," modifies a number of labor laws to provide farmworkers with rights and protections equal to the rights and protections provided to other workers, specifically in the areas of child labor, overtime pay, employee representation and collective bargaining, and unemployment benefits. Child labor: This bill repeals provisions of the State child labor law, P.L.1940, c.153 (C.34:2-21.1 et seq.), that currently exempt minors employed in agriculture from requirements of that law which apply to most other minors. The bill: 1. raises the minimum age that minors may work in agriculture from 12 years old to 14 years old; 2. reduces the number of hours per day that a minor may work in agriculture from 10 to 8 hours, and clarifies that various limits to work time that apply to most minors also apply to minors employed in agriculture, including not working more than six days, or 40 hours, per week, and not working before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m,; and The bill does not change the provisions of P.L.1940, c.153 which exempt from its provisions agricultural work done by a minor in connection with the minor's own home under the minor's parent or guardian while school is not in session. Overtime pay: The bill repeals provisions of the State wage and hour law, P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a et seq.), that currently exclude farmworkers from overtime pay, thus requiring employers to pay farmworkers 1½ times their regular wage for each hour excess of 40 hours per week, as is currently required for most other workers. Employee representation and collective bargaining: Currently, farmworkers are excluded from the protections against unfair labor practices provided to most private sector workers by the federal National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. s.151 et seq.)("NLRA"), and provided to public employees by the State public employment relations law, P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1 et seq.)("PERL") and the Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act, P.L.2018, c.15 (C.34:13A-5.11 et seq.) ("WDEA"). This bill brings farmworkers under protections similar to those laws, by expanding the responsibilities of the Division of Private Employment Dispute Settlement in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development regarding agricultural employment not regulated by the NLRA. It provides the division with the power to prevent specified unfair labor practices, thus providing rights to the farmworkers similar to the rights provided to other private sector workers under the NLRA, and the rights provided to public employees under the PERL and the WDEA. The bill prohibits agricultural employers and their representatives and agents from the following unfair practices: 1. Interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights granted by the bill. 2. Dominating or interfering with any employee organization. 3. Discriminating against employees for making disclosures or otherwise exercising their rights. 4. Refusing to negotiate in good faith or sign a negotiated agreement. 5. Violating any division regulation. The bill similarly prohibits employee organizations and their representatives and agents from the following unfair practices: 1. Interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of their rights. 2. Interfering with, restraining or coercing an agricultural employer in the selection of a representative for negotiations or grievance procedures. 3. Refusing to negotiate in good faith or sign a negotiated agreement. 4. Violating any division regulation. The division may order an offending party to cease any unfair practice and take reasonable remedial action, including, in the case of a discharge, reinstatement, paying lost wages, costs of action, and damages equal to the wages due. It is also an unfair practice under the bill for an agricultural employer to encourage or discourage employees from joining, forming or assisting an employee organization, or encourage them to end their employee organization membership or revoke authorization of the deduction of dues or fees. The division is required to order the employer to make whole the employee organization for any resulting losses to the organization. Current law, section 5 of P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1), permits the New Jersey State Board of Mediation to designate a labor organization to represent employees of a private sector employer not regulated under the NLRA, if the employees select the organization in an election conforming with NLRA procedures, or, if only one labor organization seeks to represent the employees, a majority of the employees sign cards showing that they prefer that organization. The bill provides that in such cases the employee organization may petition the board to require the employer to provide a list of current employees with contact information. If the organization petitions the board for that information, the employer must also give the organization access to the employees, including allowing meetings in the workplace and employer-controlled living quarters. The bill provides that once an employee organization is designated as the employee representative, the employer must give the organization access to the employer's premises to investigate and discuss grievances and other issues, conduct meetings, and meet newly hired employees. The bill gives farmworker organizations the right to engage in publicity regarding products produced by an employer with which the organization has a dispute, including publicity asking the public to not patronize businesses distributing or selling the products. Unemployment benefits: The bill repeals provisions of the State "unemployment compensation law," R.S.43:21-1 et seq., that currently exclude farmworkers from unemployment benefits if their employer employs less than 10 farmworkers during each of 20 weeks in the preceding year or pays less than $20,000 in wages to farmworkers during any calendar quarter in the current or preceding year. This exclusion applies only to farmworkers, and may prevent laid-off farmworkers from receiving benefits even if their combined employment with multiple employers would otherwise make them eligible. | In Committee |
| A4545 | Requires State to bear partial cost of transportation of certain homeless students to school. | This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence. Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student's parent or guardian remains homeless for that period. In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student. This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless. | In Committee |
| A4144 | "New Jersey Student Support Act"; establishes program in Department of Treasury to provide tax credits to taxpayers contributing to organization which awards scholarships to certain nonpublic school students. | This bill directs the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, to establish a program to provide tax credits to taxpayers that make contributions to a selected student support organization that awards scholarships for eligible students to attend participating nonpublic schools. The program established by the director would allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit against the corporate business tax or personal gross income tax equal to 75 percent of any contribution made to a student support organization; in the case of the gross income tax credit, a taxpayer is required to contribute a minimum of $100 to a student support organization in order to claim a tax credit. The value of a credit for an individual taxpayer in a given year or privilege period is not permitted to exceed the lesser of 50 percent of the taxpayer's total tax liability or $1,000,000 for a tax credit against the corporate business tax or $100,000 for a credit against the personal gross income tax. The maximum amount of tax credits allowable in each State fiscal year may not exceed $37.5 million. The Director of the Division of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is responsible for the administration of the program. The Director of the Division of Taxation is to select one student support organization, draft regulations to implement the program, and submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation and results of the program. The regulations are to include a requirement that tax credits issued under the provision of the bill will be issued equitably among the counties. The Director of Taxation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, is also required to establish a five-person oversight committee to oversee the operation of the student support organization. The student support organization would receive contributions made to the program, spending no more than five percent of contributions on administrative costs, and distributing the remaining 95 percent as scholarships for eligible families. The student support organization is required to verify student eligibility prior to awarding a scholarship, not limit scholarships to students in a certain school or region, award scholarships equally to all eligible students who apply in a given school year, and provide a student with a scholarship that is not less than the amount the student received in the prior school year. The student support organization is to publicize the program, carry forward no more than 20 percent of funds each year, and submit an annual report to the State Treasurer and the Commissioner of Education. The student support organization is required to contract annually for an independent financial audit of the program and transmit a copy of the financial audit to the Division of Taxation, the State Treasurer, and the Commissioner of Education no later than December 1 of each year. To be eligible for a scholarship from the student support organization, a student is to reside in New Jersey and intend to enroll in grades kindergarten through 12 in the next school year. A student is required to have a household income that does not exceed the federal income guidelines for reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program multiplied by 2.6. To participate in the program, a school is to: be located in New Jersey; be a nonpublic school that is eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program; comply with all federal and State anti-discrimination statutes; and comply with the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act," P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18:A37-13 et seq.). The bill also includes language requiring that the provisions of the bill not supersede, impact, or interfere with the full funding in each State fiscal year necessary to satisfy the requirement of the New Jersey Constitution that the Legislature provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between 5 and 18 years of age; the full funding of the veterans' $250 property tax deduction, required to be provided to eligible veterans pursuant to the State Constitution; the senior citizens' and disabled persons' $250 property tax deduction authorized by the State Constitution; the full payment of contributions required by law to be made to the State-administered retirement systems; and the full funding of the Stay NJ property tax credit program established in P.L.2023, c.75 (C.54:4-8.75a et seq.). No later than six months after the conclusion of the fourth school year in which scholarships are awarded under the program, the Department of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Department of Education, any relevant governmental organization, and stakeholders from the nonpublic school community, is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature that will include: information on the number of scholarships and the amount of tax credits awarded under the program; recommendations on improvements to the program; and the number of nonpublic school closures five years prior to awarding any scholarships under the program compared to closures after the implementation of the program. The Department of Education is required to establish a Student Support Grant Program to provide grants to school districts in which at least 50 percent of the student population is eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program. The grant funding is for student support services, including tutoring programs or opportunities, teacher retention bonuses, or the provision of mental health or counseling services. The department will establish an application process for the grants. As part of that process, the eligible school districts are required to demonstrate how the funding will assist the district in providing needed support to its students. The bill provides that the Legislature will annually appropriate from the General Fund to the Department of Education $37.5 million to fund the grant program. | Dead |
| 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 |
| A4507 | Changes term "inmate" to "incarcerated person." | This bill removes all references to the term "inmate" from the statutes, and replaces those references with the term "incarcerated person." This bill embodies the recommendation of the New Jersey Law Revision Commission, set forth in its Final Report: Regarding the Use of the Term "Inmate"; issued on June 6, 2022. | In Committee |
| A4472 | Allows written palimony agreements to be entered into without advice of counsel. | This bill would allow written palimony agreements to be entered into without advice of counsel. Pursuant to P.L.2009, c.311, all palimony agreements must be in writing and made with the advice of counsel for both parties. The statute, set out in subsection h. of N.J.S.A.25:1-5, defines palimony as "a promise by one party to a non-marital personal relationship to provide support or other consideration for the other party, either during the course of such relationship or after its termination." In Moynihan v. Lynch, 250 N.J. 60 (2022) the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the provision concerning the advice of counsel was unconstitutional. The court found that the provision contravenes the substantive due process guarantee of the New Jersey Constitution, as it interferes with an individual's right of autonomy, singles out written palimony agreements from other agreements, and unduly burdens those who cannot afford counsel. This bill would codify the court's decision in Moynihan. The bill embodies a recommendation by the New Jersey Law Revision Commission, "Final Report Regarding New Jersey Statute of Frauds - Mandatory Attorney Review Provision in N.J.S.25:1-5(h)," issued July 20, 2023. | In Committee |
| A2364 | Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | Establishes Deepfake Technology Unit in DLPS; appropriates $2 million. | 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 |
| AR139 | Expresses sincere appreciation to staff of New Jersey General Assembly. | This resolution expresses sincere appreciation to the staff of the New Jersey General Assembly. Each legislative session, the General Assembly of New Jersey elects officers and administrative personnel to serve the vital functions of the General Assembly. These staff members play a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of the legislative process in this State, and their experience and diverse backgrounds contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the General Assembly's operations. Despite any challenges faced during each legislative session, the General Assembly staff uphold exemplary standards of professionalism and expertise within the constitutionally mandated timeframes. It is essential to recognize the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their unwavering dedication and service to the State of New Jersey. Therefore, the General Assembly wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to the Chief Clerk and all members of the General Assembly staff for their outstanding dedication, cooperation, and excellent work. | In Committee |
| A4387 | Allows students to use portion of opportunity grant awards under Educational Opportunity Fund program during summer session. | This bill provides that a student may elect to use a portion of an opportunity grant funded through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), during the summer session following the academic year for courses that fulfill graduation requirements or award credits in the student's academic major. The student would be responsible for notifying the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of the intent to use a portion of the award during the summer. The Secretary of Higher Education would adjust the amount of the student's award that will be disbursed during the academic year, and notify the student that using a portion of the grant during the summer session will reduce the amount of the award that will be disbursed during the academic year. The secretary would also be required to annually report the number of students who did and did not use a portion of a grant award to enroll in courses during the summer, and the number and percent of these students who graduated within 100 percent and 150 percent of average completion time. This bill implements a recommendation of the College Affordability Study Commission which released its final report in September 2016. | In Committee |
| A3891 | Creates new level of barbering license and apprenticeships in barbering, and establishes limits to hours of instruction for certain barbering training. | This bill establishes a general barbering license and a barbering apprenticeship. As a general barber, an individual can perform the following services: (1) shampooing, cutting, including clipper cutting, and styling of the hair; (2) shaving or trimming of the beard, mustache, or other facial hair; and (3) massaging, cleansing, or stimulating the face. In the bill, a barbering or general barbering apprenticeship is two years. To be a barbering or general barbering apprentice, an individual has to show proof of being at least 17 years of age, of good moral character, and of being free of any communicable, contagious or infectious disease. A shop approved by the board to host an apprenticeship is to meet requirements established in current law and in the bill in regards to licensure as a shop and the employment of the proper professionals to oversee the management of the shop. An apprenticeship, under the bill, can be for an individual seeking a barbering license or a general barbering license. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, an individual is given the option to apply for licensure by the board. Lastly, hours to train as a general barber are established in the bill to not exceed 550 hours of instruction. As part of the 550 hours of instruction, general barbering applicants are to be trained in shears-over-comb techniques, shop management, ethics, and a review of State laws and regulations. | Crossed Over |
| A4004 | Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | Provides for filing extension and alternate medical documentation in PFRS, SPRS, or PERS for accidental disability retirement in certain circumstances; extends accidental death benefit for survivors of certain SPRS retirees. | In Committee |
| A4057 | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | Requires hospitals to test for fentanyl and xylazine as part of urine drug screenings. | In Committee |
| A4301 | Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training programs. | This bill permits the inclusion of workforce training programs in the Tuition Aid Grant Program. Under current law, the Tuition Aid Grant Program is limited to institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions with degree-granting programs approved by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. This bill requires the authority to designate qualified workforce training programs to participate in the tuition aid grant program. Designations are not limited to the degree-granting programs of an institution. Under the bill, the authority is to determine eligibility criteria for participation in the tuition aid grant program. At minimum, to be eligible to participate in the tuition aid grant program, a workforce training program is to: (1) require students to attend, at minimum, 150 hours of classroom instruction; (2) offer an industry-valued credential or employer-valued credential; and (3) have an average completion rate of at least 70 percent, as well as an average job placement rate of at least 70 percent. | In Committee |
| A3173 | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | Makes various changes to address sexual assault and child abuse and neglect involving military personnel; addresses protection, penalties, enforcement, jurisdiction, and victim compensation matters. | In Committee |
| A3873 | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | Allows certain public high school student-athletes to substitute study hall for physical education during their athletic seasons. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A920 | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | Updates scope of practice of optometrists. | In Committee |
| A4049 | Requires second enrollment count for determining State school aid. | This bill revises requirements for enrollment counts used to determine State aid to school districts to include a second enrollment count. The bill stipulates that a school district's resident enrollment would be equal to the average of both enrollment counts. Under current law, school districts are required to report resident enrollment to the Department of Education as of the school day prior to October 16. The bill would require a second enrollment count to be conducted on the school day prior to February 2 of each year. The bill provides that, for the purposes of determining State aid, a district's resident enrollment would be equal to the average of the enrollment determined by each of the counts conducted. Additionally, the bill provides that in the case of students placed in a State facility by the district or the State, enrollment counts would only occur on the last school day prior to October 16 of the prebudget year. [CA1]Changed [CA2]New [CA3]New [CA4]Changed [CA5]Changed [CA6]Changed [CA7]New | In Committee |
| AJR146 | Urges Congress enact legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. | This joint resolution urges Congress to enact legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. Residents of the District of Columbia share all the responsibilities of United States citizenship, including paying more federal taxes than residents of 22 states, serving on federal juries, and defending the United States as members of the United States Armed Forces, yet they are denied full representation in Congress. The residents of the District of Columbia themselves have endorsed statehood. In 2016, a referendum was passed favoring statehood by 86 percent. | 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 |
| A3650 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services. | This bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate of $200 for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services, an increase of $142 from the State's existing rate of $58 per transport. In doing so, the sponsor aims to ensure that emergency ambulance transportation providers, which deliver integral medical services for those with unplanned urgent and life-threatening health conditions, are given the financial support necessary to serve the community. Currently, New Jersey has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rate for basic life support emergency ambulance transportation services in the region. Surrounding states' rates range from $65.27 in Delaware to $293.90 in Connecticut. Moreover, pending legislation in Pennsylvania would increase that state's rate to $325 per transport, which would be the highest rate in the region. | In Committee |
| A1484 | Creates task force to study feasibility of paperless State government. | Creates task force to study feasibility of paperless State government. | In Committee |
| A3355 | Requires school districts to include information on events of September 11, 2001 as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies; requires public schools to hold annual events commemorating September 11, 2001. | This bill requires school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the events of September 11, 2001 in the curriculum of elementary, middle, and high school students as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. Under the bill, the instruction will provide students with information on:· the historical context of the attack;· a timeline of the day as the events unfolded; · the heroic actions of the police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders in the rescue and recovery of the victims, and the heroic sacrifice of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93; and· the outpouring of humanitarian, charitable, and volunteer assistance and support that occurred immediately following the events of that day, and strategies for successfully instilling those traits in daily life. The bill also requires each public school to annually organize a commemorative event that will enhance student awareness of the events of September 11, 2001. In addition to providing students with information concerning the events of September 11, 2001, the event will provide students with age-appropriate opportunities for discussion on conflict resolution, diversity, and tolerance for people of different religions and cultures. | In Committee |
| A2807 | Requires mail-in ballot applications to include prepaid postage. | Under current law, a voter may complete and return to the county clerk by regular mail an application requesting to receive a mail-in ballot. This bill requires the mail-in ballot application form to include prepaid postage, to be paid by the State. | In Committee |
| A1367 | Revises time period at which unit owners assume control of homeowners' associations. | This bill would revise the statutes governing the control of a homeowners association by the developer of a condominium, or other planned unit development, to limit the amount of time that a developer may control a homeowners'' association. Under current law, once 75% of the units in a condominium or planned unit development are sold by the developer, the homeowners' association is governed by unit owners, and not the developer. However, in many cases, a developer will cease construction of additional units of housing in order to maintain control of the homeowners' association. The provisions of this bill are intended to address this issue. The bill would amend section 2 of P.L.1979, c.157 (C.46:8B-12.1), which supplements the "Condominium Act," P.L.1969, c.257 (C.46:8B-1 et seq.), to clarify that the control by the owners shall occur 60 days after the conveyance of 75 percent of the lots, parcels, units or interests within a single structure, or two years after substantial completion of a single condominium structure, whichever occurs first. The bill would also amend the "Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act," P.L.1993, c.30 (C.45:22A-43 et seq.), to clarify that the control by the owners shall occur 60 days after the conveyance of 75 percent of the lots, parcels, units, or interests within a single structure, or two years after substantial completion of a single condominium structure, whichever occurs first. | In Committee |
| A1384 | Prohibits release of home addresses of certain public safety employees by governmental entities. | This bill prohibits government entities from releasing the home addresses of corrections officers, parole officers, probation officers, as well as current and retired law enforcement officers. Under the Open Public Records Act, P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), this information is considered a government record and is available to the public. The bill excludes the home addresses of these public safety employees from the definition of "government record." The bill also requires custodians of government records to redact the addresses from any records prior to granting public access, unless the information is sought for use by a governmental agency in carrying out its functions, or a private person seeking to enforce a child support order. | In Committee |
| A1050 | Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption. | This bill would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality for the cost of complying with the State mandate of affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. The bill would require the State to cover the cost of the actual taxes exempted plus the administrative costs incurred by municipalities in connection with the reimbursement program. Under current law, each municipality must individually make up for any lost revenue resulting from a parcel of property being exempted from property taxation because of its ownership by a disabled veteran. This often results in an increase in taxes to other property taxpayers in the municipality or a reduction in municipal services. Because the number of qualifying disabled veterans varies from municipality to municipality, compliance with the State policy to exempt disabled veterans' property taxes impacts upon some municipalities more greatly than on others resulting in inequity. This bill would put an end to that inequity by having the State reimburse each municipality for the cost of complying with the State mandate of affording disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. | In Committee |
| A1368 | Authorizes municipalities to regulate Internet-organized events. | This bill authorizes a municipality to regulate events in the municipality organized on the Internet. Under the bill, a municipality may establish a regulatory framework through which proprietors of commercial establishments within the municipality can participate in events jointly organized on the Internet. The regulatory framework may include a registration fee based on the number of attendees at the event. The total amount of the registration fees collected by a municipality must be no more than five dollars per attendee. The bill is intended to defray public costs associated with large gatherings organized on the internet by commercial establishments. Several of these events that take place in the State require substantial public expenditures. Municipalities in the State support their local establishments' efforts to increase participation in these events. Accordingly, municipalities should be empowered to register attendees in an effort to promote public safety and ensure the long-term success of such events. | In Committee |
| A2170 | Establishes "State House Flag Program"; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the "State House Flag Program." The "State House Flag Program" will be operated by the Building Management office within the State House Joint Management Commission. At the request of a member of the Legislature, the Building Management office will fly a New Jersey State flag on top of the State House. A certificate will be created for each flag flown, including the information of when it was flown and for which individual, group, or organization the flag is flown. The Building Management office will mail the flag to the individual, group, or organization. This bill directs the Director of Public Information of the Office of Legislative Services to provide information about the "State House Flag Program" to the Legislature and the public in order for members and constituents to be informed of the program's existence. The bill makes to make an appropriation from the General Fund in order to properly implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A383 | Permits certain firefighter training courses to be taken online. | This bill permits certain firefighter training courses to be taken online. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a person is permitted to take the courses required to obtain a firefighter 1 certification, as prescribed by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, in an online format. This provision, however, does not apply to any practical courses including, but not limited to, the following: Turnout Gear & SCBA Orientation Practical; Forcible Entry Practical; Vent Practical; Rope and Knot Lecture & Practical; Rope and Knot Practical 2; Mask Confidence Practical; Hose Practical 1; Hose Practical 2; Hose Practical 3; Hose Practical 4; Fire Attack Practical 1; Fire Attack Practical 2; Fire Attack Practical 3; Sprinkler & Standpipe Practical; Portable Extinguisher Lecture & Practical; Motor Vehicle Fire Practical; Ladder 1; Ladder 2; Ladder 3; JPR Review; Search & Rescue Practical 1 Orientation; Search & Rescue Practical 2 Cold Search; Search & Rescue Practical 3 Hot Search; Search with TIC & Lifeline; and Flashover. | In Committee |
| A1374 | Replaces references to "alien" and "illegal alien" in statutes with "foreign national" and "undocumented foreign national," respectively; prohibits use of those terms by executive branch agencies. | This bill replaces the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" in the New Jersey statutes with the terms "foreign national" and "undocumented foreign national," respectively, when referring to a person in the context of his legal status. This bill also ensures that executive branch agencies discontinue use of those terms. This bill removes from State law the offensive language characterizing persons who are immigrants as "aliens" or "illegal aliens" and prohibits State executive agencies from using those terms in any proposed or final rule, regulation, interpretation, publication, or other document, display, or sign issued by the agency after the effective date of this bill, except to the extent that they are used in quoting or reproducing text written by a source other than an officer or employee of the agency. Similar legislation was introduced in Congress on October 21, 2015, by Congressman Joaquin Castro. The United States is a nation of immigrants, and as such, our laws should discontinue the use of terms that ostracize those in our society who may have been born elsewhere. Regardless of status, immigrants to our nation are first and foremost human beings. Removing the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" from this State's laws shows respect to the hundreds of millions of descendants of immigrants who call the United States home. Especially in the context of an issue as contentious as immigration, discontinuing use of the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" will help reduce the prejudice that has skewed discussions concerning immigration and offer recognition of immigrants' personhood in the laws of this State. | In Committee |
| A1378 | Requires adult corrections officers in State facilities to complete in-service training program. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Police Training Commission, to develop and implement an in-service training program for adult corrections officers appointed by the State who have satisfactorily completed the basic training course approved by the commission. The program curriculum would be developed by the commissioner based upon a needs assessment and in compliance with the standards of the American Correctional Association. The commissioner is to design the program to accommodate the experience level of individual corrections officers. Officers would be required to satisfactorily complete the in-service training program. | In Committee |
| A1372 | "Palisades Cliffs Protection and Planning Act"; concerns preservation of Palisades cliffs and creates Palisades Cliffs Preservation Council. | This bill, "Palisades Cliffs Protection and Planning Act," would provide for the preservation of the Palisades cliffs and create the Palisades Cliffs Preservation Council. The council created by the bill would constitute a political subdivision of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions, would have 10 voting members appointed by the governing bodies of the municipalities within the Palisades cliffs area, and would be conferred with powers, duties, and responsibilities associated with preserving and protecting the Palisades cliffs. Additionally, the bill creates the Palisades Planning Region that would consist of that land within the municipalities which extends up to 2000 feet east of the Palisades cliff crest at each location along the Palisades cliffs. The bill provides that unless approved by the council, no development may be constructed in the Palisades Planning Region unless the maximum height of the proposed development, including any mechanical structures to be constructed atop the building or structure, is at or below the height whereby the sightline looking east from the crest directly to the west of the proposed development would include at least the eastern half of the Hudson River above the proposed building or structure. Where there is no discernable crest immediately to the west of the proposed development, except as otherwise specified in this bill, the height of the beginning of the sightline looking east would be the elevation of the surface of the portion of Palisades Avenue directly west of the proposed building or structure. Under the bill, on or before March 31 in each year, the council is required to make an annual report of its activities for the preceding calendar year to the governing body and the chief executive officer of the municipalities and Bergen and Hudson counties. Each such report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its operations during the preceding year. | In Committee |
| A1558 | Authorizes Surrogate of every county to establish electronic systems to accept electronic signatures on qualifying documents in probate matters. | This bill provides that the Surrogate of every county is authorized to establish electronic systems to accept electronic signatures on qualifying documents including application for probate, authorization to accept service of process, executor qualification, surety bond, data entry review, renunciation of executor, application for administration, qualification of administrator, renunciation of administrator, affidavit of assets, notice of probate, and similar qualifying documents. This bill would not apply to any will. In addition, the bill provides the Supreme Court may adopt Rules of Court and the Administrative Director of the Courts may issue directives to effectuate the purposes of this act. | In Committee |
| A124 | Allows gross income tax deduction for up to $1,200 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for purchase of classroom supplies. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction for up to $1,200 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. | In Committee |
| A2902 | Establishes geriatric parole for certain eligible inmates. | This bill establishes geriatric parole for inmates 65 years of age or older who have served a minimum of one-third their sentence and for inmates 60 years of age or older who have served one-half of their sentence. The appropriate board panel reviewing a request for geriatric parole is to consider the inmate's risk to public safety. Inmates who are serving a sentence for a sex offense as defined in Megan's Law or for committing or attempting to commit the following offenses are not eligible for geriatric parole: murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, second degree arson, or terrorism. Additionally, inmates are not eligible for geriatric parole if serving a sentence for theft by deception, racketeering, or misapplication of entrusted property by a fiduciary in which the inmate caused the victim to suffer a loss of personal monetary savings as a result of fraud, misrepresentation, or violation of a fiduciary duty. The bill requires the board panel to notify the appropriate sentencing court, county prosecutor or Attorney General, and any victim or member of the family of a victim who are entitled to notice regarding parole. The sentencing court, county prosecutor or Attorney General, and any victim or member of the family of a victim would be afforded the opportunity to submit comments to the board panel. Under the bill, a denial of a request for geriatric parole does not preclude an inmate's eligibility for parole under current law. | In Committee |
| A3059 | Repeals $100,000 cap on sales and use tax exemption for certain capital improvements made by businesses participating in Urban Enterprise Zone program. | This bill retroactively repeals the $100,000 cap on the sales tax exemption for retail sales of materials, supplies, and services for the exclusive use of erecting structures or buildings on, or improving, altering or repairing the real property of a qualified business, or a contractor hired by the qualified business to make such improvements, alterations, or repairs. This sales tax exemption is currently available to qualified businesses participating in the State Urban Enterprise Zone program. The sales tax exemption was enacted in August of 2021 with a cap of $100,000, and applies to sales and uses on or after January 1, 2022. This bill keeps the exemption in place but eliminates the cap retroactively to January 1, 2022. | In Committee |
| A2774 | Requires certain hospitals to establish bereavement areas. | This bill requires certain hospitals to establish bereavement areas. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is to require general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) to designate and maintain at least one bereavement area in a private room within the hospital that may be used by individuals who have received upsetting news concerning a family member receiving treatment at the hospital including, but not limited to, notice that the family member has died. | In Committee |
| A641 | Permits modification of alimony award based on cohabitation of supported spouse. | This bill would amend N.J.S.2A:34-23 to enable the court to modify an alimony award based on changed circumstances resulting from cohabitation of a supported spouse. N.J.S.2A:34-23 defines cohabitation as a mutually supportive, intimate personal relationship in which a couple has undertaken duties and privileges that are commonly associated with marriage or civil union but does not necessarily maintain a single common household. The statute sets forth the factors to be considered by the court when assessing whether cohabitation is occurring. The statute also provides that a court may not find an absence of cohabitation solely on grounds that the couple does not live together on a full-time basis. Currently, a court may suspend or terminate an alimony award if a payee cohabits with another person. However, an alimony award may not be modified as a result of cohabitation. Under the bill, the court would be able to modify an alimony award as an alternative remedy to suspension or termination. The factors to be considered by the court when determining whether cohabitation is occurring and whether alimony should be modified, suspended or terminated are enumerated in subsection n. of N.J.S.2A:34-23. Along with these factors, the bill would also require the court to consider whether the recipient of alimony has received an economic benefit from the relationship, and whether the recipient of alimony has supported or subsidized the other cohabitant under circumstances sufficient to entitle the supporting spouse to relief. When modifying the duration and amount of an alimony award as a result of cohabitation, the bill would require the court to consider the degree to which the relationship has reduced the financial needs of the supported spouse. The bill would take effect immediately and would not be construed to modify any provision which relates to cohabitation that has been ordered or agreed upon, or other specifically bargained for contractual provisions that have been incorporated into a final judgment of divorce or dissolution; a final order that has concluded post-judgment litigation; or any enforceable written agreement between the parties. | In Committee |
| A1684 | Permits public high school students to opt out of physical education and sports programs during Ramadan. | This bill permits any public high school student who observes Ramadan to opt out of physical education class. Under the bill, a student can substitute the required physical education course with an instructional course or study hall for the duration of the marking period in which Ramadan falls. The bill requires the student to submit a written notice to the principal of the school prior to the school district creating schedules for the marking period. The instructional course or study hall is required to provide the student with graduation credits equal to the number received for completion of the physical education course. This bill does not exempt students from the statutory requirement that they attend at least two and one-half hours per school week of health and safety education courses, when these courses are scheduled. Additionally, this bill permits a student-athlete to be excused from participation in an interscholastic sports program, intramural sports program, or cheerleading program during Ramadan. In order to be excused, a student-athlete is required to submit a written notice to the coach of the athletic program. The bill stipulates that a coach cannot penalize a student-athlete for not participating during Ramadan. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is mandatory for all healthy adult Muslims. Children are not expected to fast until they reach puberty, usually around the age of 14. It is the intent of this bill to acknowledge Muslim students who observe Ramadan by providing less intense alternatives to physical activity while these students practice their religious beliefs by fasting. | In Committee |
| A1180 | Prohibits surgical declawing of cats and other animals. | This bill would prohibit a person from performing, or causing to be performed, an onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat or other animal, unless the procedure is deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed veterinarian. Any person who violates this provision would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both. A violator would also be subject to a civil penalty of between $500 and $2,000. For purposes of the bill, the term "therapeutic purpose" means for purpose of necessity to address the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in a claw that compromises the animal's health. "Therapeutic purpose" would not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal. Under the bill, whenever a licensed veterinarian determines that an onychectomy or flexor tendonectomy is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the veterinarian would be required to file a written statement with the Department of Health, and provide a copy of that statement to the owner or keeper of the animal. A veterinarian who fails to comply with this provision would be subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. An onychectomy involves amputating the last bone of each toe on a cat's paw with a scalpel, guillotine, or laser. A flexor tendonectomy, involves severing the tendon that controls the claw in each toe, so that the cat keeps its claws, but cannot flex or extend them. Sometimes they are medically necessary such as for the removal of cancerous tumors. | In Committee |
| A1366 | Directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse municipalities for certain emergency services. | This bill directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse municipalities for all actual and related costs a municipality incurs in providing emergency services to respond to any emergency involving a pipeline. With the exception of volunteer personnel, the bill directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse a municipality for the cost of emergency services equal to the hourly wages of the emergency services personnel. The bill directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse a municipality for the cost of emergency services by any volunteer at a rate equal to that of volunteer services under any applicable assistance program administered by the federal government. In this bill, "emergency" means any circumstance caused by a person or event, except any natural disaster, which includes, but is not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, or storm, resulting in the escape of a conveyed commodity from a pipeline that constitutes a clear and present danger to life, health, or property. "Emergency services" means the provision of services by municipal law enforcement, firefighting, paramedic, and medical personnel, including volunteer personnel, provided by a municipal authority to ensure the health or safety of a person or property during an emergency. | In Committee |
| A1386 | Increases statute of limitations for prosecution of vehicular homicide. | This bill increases the statute of limitations for vehicular homicide. Under current law, vehicular homicide is a crime of the first degree if the defendant was driving while intoxicated on school property; otherwise it is a crime of the second degree. Generally, the prosecution of a first, second, third, and fourth degree crime is to be commenced within five years after the crime is committed. Therefore, prosecution for first and second degree vehicular homicide is to be commenced within five years. This bill would increase the current five-year limitation on prosecuting vehicular homicide to 10 years. Under the bill, this 10-year statute of limitations would only apply to vehicular homicide offenses committed after the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| A3183 | Authorizes municipality to deliver property tax bills, construction permits, and receipts for payment via e-mail. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Local GovernmentServices in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Information Technology and the State Treasurer, to establish a mechanism by which a municipality may transmit property tax bills, construction permits, and receipts for payment of municipal fees and charges via e-mail. The bill permits a municipality to adopt an ordinance designating the use of e-mail as an authorized means of delivery, but does not permit a municipality to designate it as the sole means of delivery. The bill specifies that a municipality would have to continue providing hard copies though regular mail, at no extra charge, to any taxpayer, applicant, or fee payer who does not request electronic delivery. | In Committee |
| A1383 | Sets forth certain standards to be followed by law enforcement agencies and fire departments when utilizing drones. | This bill sets forth certain guidelines to be followed by law enforcement agencies, emergency management offices, and fire departments that use unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones. Under the provisions of the bill, a law enforcement agency is prohibited from utilizing a drone unless that law enforcement agency has obtained a warrant, or exigent circumstances exist making it unreasonable to obtain a warrant. A law enforcement agency is not required to obtain a warrant if a person or property owner that the agency seeks information about provides written consent permitting the use of a drone. The bill also authorizes the use of a drone by the Missing Persons Unit in the Department of Law and Public Safety or other law enforcement agency for search and rescue missions including, but not limited to, locating a high risk missing person or missing child or following a notification that a person is abducted or missing by an Amber Alert or Silver Alert. In addition, the bill provides that the forest fire service established under the Department of Environmental Protection may utilize a drone to survey or monitor the extent of a forest fire. All fire departments operating in the State are also permitted to utilize a drone to survey or monitor the extent of a fire in situations when the unmanned aerial vehicle can assist firefighters in obtaining visual and auditory information on the damage caused by the fire to a building or other structure. The bill permits the State Office of Emergency Management and county and local Offices of Emergency Management to use drones in the event of an emergency as defined in the bill, including but not limited to a hurricane, flood, or terrorist act. The bill clarifies that an office of emergency management or fire department that utilizes a drone are not subject to the warrant requirements imposed on law enforcement agencies. The bill requires that any records of a verbal or video communication derived from the use of a drone that are unrelated to an ongoing criminal investigation must be discarded within 14 days. In the case of drones being used by a fire department, verbal or video communication that is unrelated to an arson investigation must also be discarded within 14 days. In addition, any information or records of a verbal or video communication derived from the use of a drone must be strictly safeguarded from the public or any other third party. Evidence illegally derived by a law enforcement agency from the use of a drone is prohibited from being used as evidence in a criminal prosecution or disclosed in any other judicial proceeding, administrative proceeding, arbitration proceeding, or legislative proceeding, and may not be used to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause that an offense has been, is being, or is about to be committed. The bill also requires each law enforcement agency, office of emergency management, or fire department that utilizes a drone to keep maintenance records for each unmanned aerial vehicle, a record of the two most recent calendar years of fuel purchases for each unmanned aerial vehicle, and any other documentation pertinent to the unmanned aerial vehicle that may be otherwise required by the Office of the Attorney General. In addition, each law enforcement agency, office of emergency management, or fire department that utilizes a drone is required to annually inspect the drone to ensure that the system is being properly maintained, is in good working condition and is safe to be used in the same proximity as the general public. A report of the annual inspection is to be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General no later than January 1 of each year. In addition, the report is required to include a statement documenting the number of times that an unmanned aerial vehicle was used during the year, as well as a statement of facts establishing the purpose for which the unmanned aerial vehicle was used, and the character of the information that the law enforcement agency or fire department obtained from utilizing the unmanned aerial vehicle. Finally, this bill prohibits drones from being equipped with an "antipersonnel device." Under the bill, antipersonnel device is defined as a firearm or any prohibited weapon or device or any other projectile designed to harm, incapacitate, or otherwise negatively impact a human being. A person who operates a drone equipped with an antipersonnel device is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree under the provisions of the bill. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A2214 | Requires MVC to offer driver's license knowledge test in Italian. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to make the driver's license examination test available in Italian. In the last few years, the MVC has eliminated the administration of the examination test in several foreign languages, including Italian. Applicants who would have taken the test in Italian may be accompanied by an interpreter who meets certain criteria. Obtaining an interpreter, however, places an additional burden on the applicant. Under the provisions of this bill, the MVC would be required to reinstate a driver's license examination test in Italian. | In Committee |
| A2413 | Waives certain commercial driver license fees for veterans and spouses of veterans. | This bill waives certain commercial driver license fees for a veteran and his or her spouse. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a veteran or his or her spouse would not be charged a fee for transferring a commercial driver license from the state in which the veteran or his or her spouse previously resided. The bill defines "veteran" as a person who received an honorable discharge from a branch of the active or reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state. | In Committee |
| A511 | Permits new cigar lounges to be opened under certain circumstances. | This bill would authorize a municipality to adopt an ordinance allowing certain new cigar lounges within the municipality that are exempt from the provisions of the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act." The ordinance would set forth how many such lounges may open and operate within the municipality. If a municipality adopts such an ordinance, a prospective cigar lounge would have to apply to the local board of health in the municipality for a registration to open and operate in the municipality. The local board of health could only grant such application if the lounge will: not sell or serve food or alcoholic beverages, except at certain private events not open to the public; not be located within a bar or restaurant; have an entrance distinct from any other establishment; be directly accessible by the public; be equipped with an exhaust system appropriate to ensure worker and customer safety; and not permit the use of hookahs. Under current law, only a cigar bar or lounge that opened before December 31, 2004 could be registered with the local board of health, and be exempted from the provisions of the "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act." The bill would require a new cigar lounge to renew its registration after one year, and each year thereafter. The local board of health could only renew a registration if the cigar lounge generates 15 percent or more of its total annual gross income from the on-site sale of tobacco products and the rental of on-site humidors, not including any sales from vending machines, continues to comply with all the requirements of the initial registration, replaces the filter of the exhaust system, and does not expand its size or change its location. If a cigar lounge fails to have its registration renewed, its owner would not be permitted to register another cigar lounge. | In Committee |
| A1370 | Requires DOT to implement complete streets policy that considers persons with certain disabilities. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department) to implement a complete streets policy to plan, design, construct, maintain, and operate new and rehabilitated public highways and public transportation projects to provide safe access for all users. The complete streets policy would require the consideration and implementation of design elements and infrastructure improvement projects that promote the ability of persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to travel independently. The bill also requires the department, as part of the complete streets policy, to develop universal design concepts that advance the mobility options for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, the department is required to develop guidance and policies concerning the means by which the universal design concepts would be incorporated into the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of new and rehabilitated public highways and public transportation projects. The department is required to encourage regional and local entities that apply for funding through the local aid program to adopt a complete streets policy consistent with the bill. | In Committee |
| A3005 | Indexes amount of veterans' income tax exemption for inflation. | This bill would index the amount of the veterans' gross income tax exemption, which is currently $6,000, for inflation. The bill would require that, beginning in tax year 2023, the amount of the exemption would be adjusted annually based on the percentage change in the Chained Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending August 31 of the previous tax year. The C-CPI-U is the index currently used by the federal government to adjust federal income tax brackets for inflation. If there is no increase in that index, the amount of the exemption would remain unchanged for the applicable tax year. | In Committee |
| A114 | Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless. | This bill would require the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to allow operators of shelters for the homeless and others who place persons in homeless shelters to have access to real-time information about the occupancy status of shelter beds, as collected by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), to determine the availability of shelter beds in the vicinity. Each homeless shelter operator would be required to update information about available shelter beds not later than one hour after a bed becomes available, or an available bed has been filled. These provisions will allow operators of homeless shelters that are currently full to ascertain whether there are available beds in nearby shelters so as to enable them to direct individuals in need of emergency shelter to locations that can accommodate them. This bill also requires a shelter for the homeless to cooperate in providing any necessary information to the database, as determined by the HMFA, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Human Services, as a condition of being eligible to receive funding for the shelter from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services. The bill would not apply to shelters for victims of domestic violence. | In Committee |
| A2871 | Increases amounts of property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, from $250 to $500. | This bill would increase from $250 to $500 the annual property tax deductions provided to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. The bill would take effect immediately, but remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of the State of amendments to the State Constitution that increase the amount of the property tax deductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and veterans, to $500. | In Committee |
| A1380 | Establishes State payment in lieu of taxes to municipalities for loss of revenues due to an overburden of tax-exempt cemetery property; appropriates $66 million. | This bill provides for an in lieu of tax payment by the State to municipalities to compensate them for the loss of tax ratables resulting from cemetery and graveyard property that is exempt from taxation. Under the bill, a municipal assessor would determine the taxable value of cemetery property as if it were not exempt from taxation. The bill defines "exempt cemetery property" as any land or place used or dedicated for use for burial of human remains, cremation of human remains, or disposition of cremated human remains. These assessments would be transmitted to, reviewed by, and if necessary, revised by the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury. The director's determination with regard to the assessment of the value of exempt cemetery property would be final and could not be appealed. The amount of each municipality's in lieu of tax payment is determined by multiplying the local purposes tax rate for the current tax year by the total assessed value of its exempt cemetery property. No municipality may receive a payment that is greater than 20% of its property tax levy for local purposes. The director must certify the amount owed to each municipality by December 1 of each year. Payments in lieu of taxes would be distributed to municipalities in four equal installments on August 1, September 1, October 1, and November 1 of the following year. Based on data reported by the county boards of taxation in the 2011 Abstract of Ratables 383 municipalities would be eligible for in lieu of tax payments under this bill. The bill appropriates $66 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of the Treasury for distribution to municipalities as payments in lieu of taxes. | In Committee |
| A1373 | Establishes crime of knowingly filing false report against law enforcement officers. | This bill establishes a third degree crime of filing a false report or giving false information to law enforcement authorities with the purpose to implicate a law enforcement officer in a crime, offense, or professional infraction that would warrant disciplinary action against the law enforcement officer. Under current law, a person who knowingly gives or causes to be given false information to a law enforcement officer in order to implicate another commits false incrimination, a crime of the third degree, or a crime of the second degree if the victim was implicated in a first or second degree crime. In addition, it is a crime of the fourth degree to report to law enforcement authorities an offense or other incident that did not occur, or pretend to furnish the authorities with information relating to an arrest or incident for which the person has no information. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. This bill establishes a separate crime of the third degree of falsely implicating a law enforcement officer in a crime, offense, or professional infraction that would warrant disciplinary action. Under the bill, the crime of falsely implicating a law enforcement officer would not merge with the crimes of falsely incriminating another or giving a false report. | In Committee |
| A290 | Allows holder of disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plate or placard to park in parking spots for persons with disability. | This bill provides that a person who has been issued a disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plate or placard is to be considered a person with a disability by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The bill further provides that any person who is a disabled veteran or recipient of the Purple Heart may park in parking spaces and zones that are restricted for persons with a disability provided that the person displays the person's unexpired disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plate or placard while parked in that parking space or zone. | In Committee |
| A1375 | Establishes special license plates for veterans. | This bill authorizes the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates to honorably discharged veterans. The license plates authorized by this bill are to bear a design approved by the administrator identifying the registrant as a veteran, in addition to other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. A $15 application fee is required to obtain the special plates, in addition to the normal registration fee. The bill authorizes the administrator to promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance and use of these plates. The bill allows surviving spouses of deceased veterans to retain the special license plates. | In Committee |
| A1377 | Requires notice of development applications be given to residential tenants on that property. | This bill is intended to ensure that residential tenants receive notice of hearings on applications for development of the property on which the tenancy is located. The bill requires owners or landlords who are development applicants to deliver notice of a hearing on the development application to each residential tenant by either provide that notice of a hearing on an application for development for a property with a residential tenant shall be given to each residential tenant by one of three procedures: (1) by personal service, or (2) by mailing a copy by certified mail to the tenant's mailing address, as known to the property owner or landlord, or (3) by requiring that the property owner or landlord shall post the hearing notice in a conspicuous place in at least one interior common area accessible to residential tenants, at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing and, to the extent practicable, maintain the posting until the day following the date of the hearing. The posting requirement would not be an option if there is no interior common area. A landlord or owner would not be able to obtain approval for a development application until filing a certification with the municipal agency that he or she has complied with the tenants' notice requirements. | In Committee |
| A1382 | Establishes Animal Cruelty Offender Registry; prohibits purchase, adoption, and breeding of animals by animal cruelty offenders. | This bill would provide for the establishment and implementation of an animal cruelty offender registry that would require the continuing registration of animal cruelty offenders and allow for the public disclosure of certain information pertaining to those offenders. Requiring the registration of animal cruelty offenders is necessary because the overwhelming evidence accumulated since 1970 shows that persons who cruelly abuse or torture animals are likely to engage in recidivist acts of violence against both animals and humans. In particular, studies have shown that early incidents of animal abuse are often part of the criminal histories of serial killers, child, spouse, and elder abusers, and sexually violent predators, and may be characteristic of the developmental histories of up to 66 percent of violent offenders, in general. In addition, it has been shown that those who abuse animals through participation in animal fighting rings also often engage in other crimes associated with violence, and will often continue to engage in animal abuse and other violence-related offenses even after serving jail time. The bill would require registration for any person convicted of an enumerated animal cruelty offense who maintains, establishes, or re-establishes a primary residence or secondary residence in this State or who is otherwise physically present in the State for more than 14 consecutive days or a period exceeding 30 days in a calendar year. In particular, a person would be required to register if they have been convicted, adjudicated delinquent, found not guilty by reason of insanity, or found civilly liable for any of the following animal cruelty offenses: (1) overdriving, overloading, driving when overloaded, overworking, depriving of necessary sustenance, abusing, or needlessly killing a living animal by direct or indirect means, including through the use of another living animal; (2) tormenting, torturing, maiming, hanging, poisoning, unnecessarily or cruelly beating, or needlessly mutilating a living animal by direct or indirect means, including through the use of another living animal, whether or not such actions cause the death of the animal; (3) cruelly killing, by direct or indirect means, a living animal, including through the use of another living animal; (4) causing, allowing, or permitting the fighting or baiting of a living animal for amusement or gain; (5) engaging in the management of, or receiving money or other consideration for the admission of a person to, a place that is kept or used for the purposes of fighting or baiting a living animal; (6) owning, possessing, keeping, training, promoting, purchasing, or knowingly selling a living animal for the purposes of fighting or baiting that animal; (7) allowing or suffering a place under a person's ownership or control to be used for the purposes of fighting or baiting a living animal; (8) acting as a spectator, gambling on the outcome of a fight, or otherwise encouraging or assisting in activities occurring at a place that is kept or used for the purposes of fighting or baiting a living animal; (9) carrying a living animal in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner; (10) impounding or confining a living animal and failing to supply it during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water; (11) abandoning a maimed, sick, infirm, or disabled animal to die in a public place; (12) abandoning a domestic animal; (13) unlawfully debarking or silencing a dog; (14) using a live pigeon, fowl, or other bird as a target or to be shot at for amusement or as a test of skill in marksmanship, or shooting such a bird, except where such use or shooting conforms with the rules pertaining to the shooting of game animals; and (15) any comparable offense in another state, country, or jurisdiction. The bill establishes a prohibition against the animal cruelty offender from adopting, purchasing, or engaging in any part of breeding animals after being required to register and during any period of time when the animal cruelty offender is required to register. If it is the first time the animal cruelty offender has been required to register and the animal cruelty offender owns, or has in the animal cruelty offender's residence, any animals, the appropriate municipal official shall inspect the conditions under which the animals are kept and the health and environment of the animals, and determine if the animals are in good physical health, and appear to receive necessary care as defined pursuant to R.S.4:22-15, and do not seem to be suffering from any abuse or neglect. If such a determination is made, the animal cruelty offender would be permitted to continue to own, care for, or live with the animals in the animal cruelty offender's residence. If the determination is that the animals are in poor physical health, do not receive necessary care, or show signs of abuse or neglect, or the animal cruelty offender has committed a second offense that would require registering, the animals would be immediately forfeited and offered for adoption. The bill would require the Attorney General to provide for the release of the animal cruelty offender from registration requirements after the animal cruelty offender has remained incident-free for 10 years. The Attorney General is required to provide for the annual archiving of the registry and any animal cruelty offender's name and other required information would remain accessible to law enforcement and the public, regardless of whether the animal cruelty offender is currently required to register. The bill would require that notice of the duty to register be provided by the Attorney General within 30 days after the bill's enactment, and by the Motor Vehicle Commission upon application for a driver's license or identification card. The court or local law enforcement agency with which an offender is required to initially register pursuant to this bill would be required to notify the offender of the specific requirements of the bill, and the penalties for noncompliance. The information to be included in an offender's registration would consist of the following: (1) A statement in writing, signed by the animal cruelty offender, acknowledging that the offender has been advised of the duty to register, and including the offender's name, social security number, age, race, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color; address of primary residence and secondary residence if any, or county and municipality of physical presence if a non-resident or homeless resident; address of anticipated or current places of employment; any anticipated or current school enrollment; the commission date and a brief description of the conviction offenses for which registration is required; and the indictment number associated with each such offense; (2) A photograph of the defendant; and (3) Any other information that the Attorney General deems necessary to properly inform the public about the identity of the offender and to assess the risk of re-offense. The bill would require each offender to verify the address on the registration statement on an annual basis, and would additionally require each offender to notify law enforcement officials of any change in address. Any person who fails to register as required by the bill's provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and would be subject, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, to pay a fine of $2,500. Any registered animal cruelty offender who fails to comply, or who falsifies information in complying with the change of address requirements or address verification requirements provided by the bill, would be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, and would be subject, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, to pay a fine of $1,500. The Attorney General would be required to maintain a central registry of all registrations submitted in accordance with this bill's provisions, and would additionally be required to develop a system for making certain offender information from the central registry available to the public on the Internet. The Attorney General would be responsible both for ensuring that the Internet registry contains appropriate warnings and notifications, and for maintaining the accuracy of, and for timely updating the information contained therein. An Animal cruelty offender Internet Registry Advisory Council would be established to consult with and make recommendations to the Attorney General concerning the publication of registration records on the Internet. All records maintained pursuant to the bill would be open to any law enforcement agency in the State, any other state, or the United States government, and would be able to be released to the Office of Animal Welfare in the Department of Health, or to the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services, the Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships, or the Division of Youth and Family Services in the Department of Children and Families for use in carrying out the office's and the divisions' respective responsibilities under law. Any official would be immune from civil liability for damages for any discretionary decision to release relevant records unless it is shown that the official acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. Upon receipt of an offender's registration or notification of an offender's change in address, and pursuant to the procedures outlined in the bill's provisions, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality (or county) wherein the offender's primary residence and secondary residence, if any, is located, or wherein the offender is generally present if a non-resident or a homeless resident of the State, would be required to provide notification to the community of the offender's presence therein, in accordance with guidelines to be established by the Attorney General relating to the offender's risk of re-offense. The bill would establish a temporary advisory council to assist the Attorney General in establishing these guidelines and procedures for risk assessment and community notification. The bill would require the Attorney General to consider various factors relevant to an offender's risk of re-offense, and would require the regulations adopted by the Attorney General to provide for two tiers of community notification based on whether the offender is determined to have a low risk of re-offense, or whether the offender is determined to have a moderate or high risk of re-offense. The bill would require the regulations adopted by the Attorney General to prohibit a "low risk" categorization in a case where the registered animal cruelty offender (1) has more than one prior conviction for an animal cruelty offense, as defined by the bill, (2) has one prior conviction for an animal cruelty offense in addition to one or more convictions for a violent offense against a person, or (3) has been diagnosed with Conduct Disorder - a disorder characterized by a general and ongoing disregard for societal laws and the feelings of others, and for which animal abuse is a symptom. In the case that an offender is determined to have a low risk of re-offense, notification of the offender's presence in the community would be provided only to law enforcement agencies likely to encounter the person, and the person's registration information would be prohibited from publication on the Internet unless such publication is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. In the case that an offender is determined to have a moderate or high risk of re-offense, notification of the offender's presence in the community would be provided to law enforcement agencies likely to encounter the offender, as well as to members of the public likely to encounter the offender, and to animal shelters, pet adoption societies, humane societies, veterinarian's offices, and other animal welfare or control groups in the offender's community. Furthermore, registration information for offenders having a moderate to high risk of re-offense would be made available for public viewing, without limitation, on the Internet registry. The bill would require the Attorney General's regulations to ensure that an offender will be provided with notice of the results of the risk assessment and will be afforded an opportunity to have that determination reviewed prior to Internet publication or any notification of community members. Because the courts have found that there may be some limited privacy interest in the disclosure of the offender's exact address, the bill would allow disclosure of the offender's exact address only to individuals and businesses in the offender's community having a particular need for the information, and would prohibit publication of this information on the Internet registry - providing, instead, for the Internet publication only of the general vicinity of the offender's address. Moreover, private citizens and businesses in the offender's community would be entitled to obtain the offender's exact address only after signing a receipt of notice form, prepared by the Attorney General, which explicitly prohibits the disclosure of the offender's exact address to persons who are not members of the household or employees of the business, as the case may be, and which provides express notice that any harassment or harming of the offender, the offender's family, or the offender's property is prohibited and punishable by law. Any information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions could be used by any person in any manner to protect an animal at risk, or for any other lawful purpose consistent with the enhancement of public safety. Except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct, any person who provides or fails to provide information to the community, or who discloses or fails to disclose information on the Internet registry in accordance with the bill's provisions, would be immune from civil or criminal action. The bill would provide, however, that any person using the information disclosed pursuant thereto to commit a crime would be guilty of a crime of the third degree, and that any person using the information disclosed to commit a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and subject to pay a fine of $500 to $1,000, in addition to any other penalty imposed. Evidence that a person obtained information about an offender from law enforcement or from the Internet registry within one year prior to committing a criminal offense against that offender would give rise to an inference that the person used information in violation of the bill's provisions. The bill would also provide that any person who uses any information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions to encourage, solicit, or assist a registered animal cruelty offender or other person to engage in criminal activity or an animal cruelty offense would be guilty of a crime of the third degree and, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, subject to pay a fine of $2,500. The bill would additionally prevent the use of information disclosed pursuant thereto for purposes of health or other insurance; loans; credit; education, scholarships, or fellowships; benefits, privileges, or services provided by a business establishment, unless consistent with enhancement of the public safety; or housing and accommodations. However, the bill would specifically allow a humane society, animal welfare organization, or other similar group to use the information disclosed pursuant to its provisions in order to screen applicants for employment or for pet adoption services. The use of any information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions for any of the specifically prohibited purposes would make the user of the information liable for actual damages, attorney's fees, and any amount that may be determined by a jury or a court sitting without a jury, which is not less than $250, and not more than three times the amount of actual damage, or for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Furthermore, the bill would authorize civil action for injunctive or other preventative relief in the case that there is reasonable cause to believe that any person or group is engaged in a pattern of misuse of information disclosed pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill would establish the "Animal Cruelty Offender Registration Fund," separate and distinct from the General Fund, in order to provide a dedicated source of moneys by which to finance the ongoing administrative and maintenance costs associated with the Animal Cruelty Offender Registry and the expenses associated with the community notifications required under the bill. The fund would be credited with: (1) fifty percent of all civil and criminal fines collected by a court in relation to the animal cruelty offenses for which registration is required; (2) any excess fines collected by a court as a result of an offender's failure to register, failure to notify authorities of a change in address, failure to timely verify the offender's address, or falsification of any information in the course of complying with the bill's requirements in this regard; (3) any excess fines collected by a court from the unlawful use of information disclosed pursuant to the act's provisions to encourage, solicit, or assist a registered animal cruelty offender or other person to engage in criminal activity or commit an animal cruelty offense; (4) any interest or other investment income accrued on moneys deposited in the account; (5) any moneys gifted to the fund; and (6) any other moneys appropriated by the Legislature and allocated to the fund for its purposes. Finally, the bill would provide that a registered animal cruelty offender may make application to the Superior Court to terminate the obligation to register under this bill upon proof that the person has not committed an animal cruelty offense or an offense constituting violence against humans within 15 years following conviction or release from a correctional facility for any term of imprisonment imposed, whichever is later, and is not likely to pose a threat to the safety of others. A registered animal cruelty offender would also be able to make application to the Attorney General to terminate the obligation to register under this bill upon the submission of evidence, sufficient in the determination of the Attorney General, to establish that the offender no longer maintains primary residence or secondary residence in this State, and will not be present in the State for more than 14 consecutive days, or for an aggregate period of 30 days or more. However, such an offender would be required to re-register with the State in the event that he re-establishes primary residence or secondary residence in the State or re-establishes physical presence therein for the requisite period of time. | In Committee |
| A1098 | Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests. | This bill would provide free admission to State parks and forests to disabled veterans residing in New Jersey who have been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who have been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree. This bill would also exempt such disabled veterans from any fees for accessing State park beaches by motor vehicle in order to fish there, including fees for mobile sportfishing vehicle permits. State law currently only provides free admission to State parks and forests to New Jersey residents who are 62 or more years of age, totally disabled, or active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training, and current law does not specifically exempt disabled veterans from fees for motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish. This bill would extend free State park and forest admission, as well as free motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish, to all veterans who have incurred a service-connected disability, regardless of the degree of disability. | In Committee |
| A1369 | "Addi's Law"; makes parent's conviction for murder of child's other parent grounds for termination of parental rights. | This bill, designated "Addi's Law," amends section 15 of P.L.1951, c.138 (C.30:4C-15) to make a parent's conviction for the murder of a child's other parent grounds for termination of parental rights. Specifically, if the parent of a child has been found by a criminal court to have committed murder, aggravated manslaughter, or manslaughter of the child's other parent, to have aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit the murder, aggravated manslaughter, or manslaughter, or to have committed, or attempted to commit, an assault or similarly serious act which resulted, or could have resulted, in the death or significant bodily injury to the child's other parent, the bill would require the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) in the Department of Children and Families to file a petition to terminate the parent's parental rights. Currently, the law requires DCPP to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of a parent who has been found by a criminal court to have committed murder, aggravated manslaughter, or manslaughter of another child of the parent, to have aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit the murder, aggravated manslaughter, or manslaughter of the child or another child of the parent, or to have committed, or attempted to commit, an assault or similarly serious act which resulted, or could have resulted, in the death or significant bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent, but not if the offenses were committed against the child's other parent. Under the provisions of the bill, prior to filing or seeking to join as a party to a petition for the termination of parental rights of the parent of a child who has been found to have committed murder, aggravated manslaughter, or manslaughter of the child's other parent, or to have aided and abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit the murder, aggravated manslaughter, or manslaughter, or to have committed, or attempted to commit, an assault or similarly serious act which resulted, or could have resulted, in the death or significant bodily injury of the child's other parent, DCPP would be permitted to take into account whether the parent, at the time the offenses were committed, was a victim of domestic violence or reasonably believed that the parent was protecting himself or herself or the parent's children against the use of unlawful force by the other parent. Current law requires DCPP to file or to seek to be joined as a party to a petition for termination of parental rights as soon as any of the circumstances set forth in the law are established, unless DCPP establishes an exception to the requirement to seek termination of parental rights in accordance with section 31 of P.L.1999, c.53 (C.30:4C-15.3). The law does not require DCPP, at any time during the filing of a petition for termination of parental rights, to take into account whether the parent was a victim of domestic violence or believed that the parent was acting in self-defense or in defense of the parent's children. This bill is named "Addi's Law," in honor of Merry Abernathy, a mother who was murdered by her partner. After the murder, Merry's partner tried to claim custody of their child, Addison. "Addi's Law" is modeled after a North Carolina statute that allows the court to terminate the parental rights of a child's parent who has committed certain offenses (murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder or manslaughter, or assault resulting in death or significant bodily injury) against the child's other parent. | In Committee |
| A2945 | Establishes crime of possessing firearm during public demonstration for purpose of causing civil disorder. | This bill establishes a third degree crime of knowingly possessing a firearm during a public demonstration for the purpose of causing civil disorder. Under the bill, a person may be found guilty of the crime irrespective of whether the person possesses a valid permit to carry a firearm or a valid firearms purchaser identification card. The bill defines "civil disorder" as a public disturbance involving acts of violence by assemblages of two or more persons which creates a risk of imminent danger to the public health, safety, or welfare or causes bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death. "Public demonstration" is defined by the bill as a procession, gathering, or assembly of persons in a public place, where the gathering is in pursuit of a common purpose of demonstrating support for, or opposition to, a person, matter, or thing. A third degree crime is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. | In Committee |
| A1376 | Requires health insurance coverage for hair headpieces for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer. | This bill requires hospital, medical and health service corporations, individual and small and large group commercial health insurers and health maintenance organizations which provide coverage for prostheses, to provide coverage for expenses for headpieces of human or artificial hair worn to conceal scalp hair loss resulting from chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The coverage shall be subject to a written recommendation by the treating physician stating that the headpiece is medically necessary. Also, the coverage shall be subject to the same limitations and guidelines as for other prostheses under the health benefits plan. The provisions of the bill will take effect 60 days after the date of enactment and will apply to all health benefits plans issued or renewed on or after that date. | In Committee |
| ACR36 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase to $500 veterans' property tax deduction. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to: $300 in calendar year 2023, $350 in calendar year 2024, $400 in calendar year 2025, $450 in calendar year 2026 and $500 in calendar year 2027 and for each year thereafter. The veterans' property tax deduction provided for in the State Constitution was last increased in 1999, when the amount of the annual deduction was raised from $50 to $250 over four years. | In Committee |
| A1964 | Directs use of 21st Century Improvement Fund to establish individualized account access system. | The 21st Century Improvement Fund, section 14 of P.L.2014. c.31 (C.2B:1-9), is a dedicated, nonlapsing fund annually credited with a sum equal to the yearly revenue derived from the incremental amounts of certain fees payable to the court. One of the dedicated purposes of the fund is the development, maintenance and administration of the Statewide digital e-court information system. Presently, the e-court system broadly includes public access to digital court matters. This bill would expand the public access function to include access to court matters generally, including an individualized account access and notification system for individuals using email addresses and telephone numbers about pending court matters including but not limited to violations and court dates. The bill further amends section 14 of P.L.2014. c.31 (C.2B:1-10) to ensure that a portion of the funds allocated for the development, maintenance and administration of a Statewide digital e-court information system shall be used for expanded purpose. It is the sponsor's view that enhanced notification technology can lead to increased access and accessibility to the court system which, in turn, can prevent such issues as missed court dates and failure to settle matters, arrests, warrant issues and arrests for individuals. The use of notification technology at the account is used in such areas as online banking and notifications about health and self-care appointments, and should be available to individuals involved at all levels the justice system. | In Committee |
| A2218 | Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of residence to second degree crime under certain circumstances. | This bill creates the first degree crime of home invasion and makes this crime subject to the No Early Release Act. In addition, the bill upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances. Specifically, under the provisions of the bill, a person commits the crime of home invasion if he or she enters a person's residence with the intent to commit a robbery, a first or second degree crime, or certain kidnapping and sexual crimes or offenses when another person or persons are present and the actor: 1) uses force or inflicts bodily injury on a person in the residence; 2) threatens a person in the residence with, or purposely or knowingly, puts the person in fear of immediate bodily injury; 3) commits, attempts to commit, or threatens to commit any first or second degree crime or certain kidnapping and sexual crimes and offenses; or 4) is armed with or threatens the use of a deadly weapon or explosive. The bill requires a mandatory term of imprisonment of between 10 years and 30 years for the crime of home invasion. Additionally, the convicted offender would be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed, without possibility of parole, since the bill includes the crime of home invasion under the No Early Release Act. A convicted offender also could be subject to a fine of up to $200,000 (the ordinary fine amount applicable to first degree crimes). As to burglary, this crime is upgraded to a second degree crime if a person enters a residence when a resident or any other person, other than a person acting in concert with the actor, is present in the home. The bill provides that knowledge that another person was in the home would not be an element of this upgraded crime, and it would not be a defense that the offender was unaware that another person was present in the home when they entered the residence. The upgraded crime would be punishable by a term of imprisonment between five to 10 years, a fine up to $150,000, or both. Under current law, burglary is only a crime of the second degree if the defendant inflicted, attempted to inflict, or threatened bodily injury or was armed during the course of the offense. In all other circumstances, burglary is a crime of the third degree (ordinarily punishable by a term of imprisonment of between three to five years, a fine not up to $15,000, or both). | In Committee |
| A3191 | Establishes fund to reimburse municipalities for police and sanitation costs related to crowding at MVC sites; appropriates $500,000. | This bill would establish a fund to provide reimbursements to municipalities for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by a municipal police force or department for the management and control of crowds and traffic, as well as for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by a municipality for litter and garbage collection, and the provision of portable restrooms, related to crowds, at a New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission ("MVC") location during the COVID-19 pandemic. When MVC locations were reopened to the public during this pandemic, there were massive crowds necessitating a police presence and sanitation efforts, at significant expense to the affected municipalities. Since these costs were due to poor planning on the part of the State, and not the municipalities, the State should reimburse these municipalities for those costs. The bill appropriates $500,000 to the fund, which would be established within the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. To obtain a reimbursement, a municipality would have to submit an application to the division in accordance with procedures specified by the division. The bill would be retroactive to March 9, 2020, when Executive Order No. 103 was issued, declaring a public health emergency and state of emergency in response to COVID-19, and would expire upon the conclusion of both declared emergencies. | In Committee |
| A1381 | Requires disclosure of data recording devices in motor vehicles; limits access to recorded data. | This bill would require the disclosure of data recording devices, such as event data recorders, in motor vehicles, and further limit access to recorded data. Specifically, at least six months after the bill's effective date and upon introduction of a new model year motor vehicle, a manufacturer of a new motor vehicle that is equipped with a recording device must disclose that fact in or along with the owner's manual for the vehicle. Any subscription service for a motor vehicle equipped with a recording device that is capable of recording vehicle location data, or information concerning a crash in which the motor vehicle has been involved that is transmitted to a central communications system, must also disclose that such information may be recorded or transmitted. Section 3 of the bill provides that recorded data may only be accessed by the motor vehicle owner, or with the consent of the motor vehicle owner or the owner's agent or legal representative, except: (1) if the owner of the motor vehicle or the owner's agent or legal representative has a contract with a third-party subscription service that requires access to a recording device or recorded data in order to perform the contract, so long as the subscription service contract includes a disclosure and the recorded data is only accessed and used in accordance with the contract; (2) upon order by a court of competent jurisdiction or another administrative authority having jurisdiction to issue such an order; (3) if the recorded data is accessed by an emergency response provider and is used for the sole purpose of determining the need for or facilitating an emergency medical response in the event of a motor vehicle crash and assisting them in performing their duties as emergency response providers; (4) if a motor vehicle repair or servicing facility, including a licensed new motor vehicle dealer, or a technician or mechanic at such a facility, requires access to recorded data in order to carry out normal and ordinary diagnosing, servicing, and repair duties and the recorded data is used for the sole purpose of performing such duties; or (5) for the purpose of improving motor vehicle safety, security, or traffic management, including for medical research of the human body's reaction to motor vehicle crashes, provided that the identity of the registered owner or driver is not disclosed in connection with that retrieved data. The bill prohibits a person from knowingly altering or deleting data on a recording device, or knowingly destroying a recording device, after a crash event that resulted in bodily injury or death, within a reasonable amount of time sufficient for a law enforcement officer to obtain a search warrant. Furthermore, no insurer could refuse to renew a motor vehicle insurance policy solely because of the refusal of a motor vehicle owner to provide consent or access to recorded data from a recording device. No insurer or agent could reduce coverage, increase the insured's premium, apply a surcharge, refuse to apply a discount other than a discount that is based on data recorded by a recording device, place in a less favorable tier, or refuse to place in the company's best tier. When there are multiple companies available within a group of insurers, the bill prohibits insurers from failing to place in the most favorably priced company solely because a motor vehicle owner refuses to allow an insurer access to recorded data from a recording device. | In Committee |
| A1060 | Authorizes members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions. | This bill adds members of the New Jersey State Legislature to persons permitted to solemnize marriages. The bill permits every current member to solemnize marriages or civil unions while that person holds office. | In Committee |
| A1371 | Prohibits tourist helicopter operations in New Jersey. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to prohibit tourist helicopter operations at aviation facilities licensed by the State. Tourist helicopter is defined to mean a helicopter that operates for the purpose of providing sightseeing tours to patrons in areas including, but not limited to, the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. Flights by helicopters owned or operated by a federal or military authority or the State government and helicopters providing emergency medical transportation are not included in the prohibition. | In Committee |
| A1379 | Provides for forfeiture of vehicle where weapon was unlawfully possessed. | This bill amends the State's forfeiture law to authorize the forfeiture of a motor vehicle if a weapon is unlawfully possessed in that vehicle. Current law prohibits possession of machine guns, handguns, rifles, shotguns and assault weapons without a license. Under the bill, illegal possession of these guns in a motor vehicle subjects that motor vehicle to forfeiture. The purpose of the bill is to protect the public safety by aggressively fighting the illegal possession and transportation of unlawfully possessed firearms. It is the sponsor's understanding that the forfeiture of a motor vehicle seized under this bill would be subject to the provisions regarding the rights of an innocent owner as set forth in N.J.S.2C:64-5. | In Committee |
| A1786 | Establishes School Connectivity Grant Program to expand access to online instruction for economically disadvantaged students; makes appropriation. | This bill establishes the "School Connectivity Grant Program" within the Department of Education to provide funds to certain public schools to expand access to online instruction for economically disadvantaged students. Under the grant program, the department would award grants to school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools to defray the costs of purchasing a qualifying stockpile of online instruction equipment. Specifically, any grant recipient would be required to purchase and maintain a reserve of one piece of online instruction equipment for every 12 students who were enrolled in the school district, charter school, or renaissance school during the previous school year. For the purposes of this reserve, one piece of online instruction would include (1) one connected device (e.g., a laptop or tablet computer); and (2) one Wi-Fi hotspot, or the provision of mobile broadband Internet access service. Any school district, charter school, or renaissance school may apply to the department for a grant. The grants would be awarded in amounts determined by the Commissioner of Education. When awarding these grants, the commissioner would be required to give preference to applicants with the largest number of students who lack access to online instruction. The bill authorizes the commissioner to adopt emergency regulations within three months of the bill's effective date to effectuate the purposes of the grant program. At a minimum, these regulations would be required to set forth the requirements for application submissions, the criteria for application selections, and the eligible uses of financial assistance. The bill also appropriated $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the department to defray the costs of the grant program. | In Committee |
| A510 | Creates cigar night smoking ban exemption at racetracks and off-track wagering facilities. | This bill creates an exemption to the smoking ban on indoor public places by permitting racetracks and off-track wagering facilities to host "cigar nights." The "cigar nights" will be permitted in controlled specified areas no more than five times per year per facility. | In Committee |
| A1385 | Reduces helicopter operations at certain aviation facilities licensed by the State. | This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to promulgate rules and regulations to reduce the noise generated by helicopters at airports, helipads, and heliports licensed by the State. These rules and regulations are to include requirements that the proprietor of an airport, helipad, or helistop reduce the number of helicopters leaving the airport, helipad, or helistop by not less than 47 percent per weekday compared to the average number of helicopter flights per weekday leaving from the airport, heliport, or helistop for the 12 months preceding the date of enactment of the bill. Flights by helicopters owned or operated by a federal or military authority or the State government and helicopters providing emergency medical transportation are not included in the required reduction in flights. | In Committee |
| A2594 | Establishes State holiday on September 11 of each year. | This bill designates September 11 of each year a State holiday, which will be known as 9/11 Remembrance Day. On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by the terrorist group, al-Qaeda, with four hijacked commercial airplanes. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured where planes crashed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania. Approximately 750 New Jerseyans lost their lives that day and the death toll is still rising 20 years later, as some of those who selflessly worked at Ground Zero after the attacks are dying from illnesses caused by exposure to the variety of poisonous materials at the site. Many lives are owed to the first responders who courageously sacrificed their lives and health in order to bring others to safety. Over 150 memorials in the form of gardens, statues, plaques, and monuments have been installed all over the State of New Jersey in the years since the attacks, but establishing a State holiday would allow for a day of reflection for New Jerseyans. On this holiday, the State will recognize the victims of the terror attacks and the bravery and selflessness of the first responders and volunteers who responded in the wake of those attacks. | In Committee |
| A697 | Provides free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel. | This bill would amend current law to provide free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel. Specifically, the bill would provide free admission to veterans who are residents of the State, and to any person who is in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the reserves, who is a State resident or stationed in New Jersey, regardless of their residency status. Current law already provides free admission to State residents who are active members of the National Guard, totally disabled, or 62 or more years of age. | In Committee |
| A3097 | Establishes presumption of pretrial detention for certain vehicular offenses. | This bill establishes a presumption of pretrial detention for a person who commits reckless vehicular homicide or strict liability vehicular homicide. A person is guilty of strict liability vehicular homicide, a crime of the third degree, if the person commits vehicular homicide by driving while intoxicated. A person commits second degree reckless vehicular homicide if the person was operating an auto recklessly while under the influence in violation of N.J.S.A.39:4-50. Reckless vehicular homicide is a first degree crime if the defendant was operating the auto in violation of N.J.S.A.39:4-50 while on school property, within 1,000 feet of school property, or driving through a school crossing under certain circumstances. Under current law, there is a rebuttable presumption that a defendant who is charged with murder or a crime that subjects the defendant to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment is to be detained pending trial. The rebuttable presumption applies when a prosecutor makes a motion for pretrial detention, and may be rebutted upon a showing of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, in favor of the defendant. This bill provides that the rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention also applies to defendants charged with reckless vehicular homicide and strict liability vehicular homicide as established pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:11-5 and N.J.S.A.2C:11-5.3. A defendant charged pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:11-5 or N.J.S.A.2C:11-5.3 would be subject to forfeiture of the auto or vessel which was used in the commission of the offense, unless the defendant establishes at a hearing, which may occur at the time of sentencing, by a preponderance of the evidence that such forfeiture would constitute a serious hardship to the family of the defendant that outweighs the need to deter such conduct by the defendant and others. Finally, the bill also permits a court, if deciding against the pretrial detention of a defendant for a violation of the reckless driving or strict liability vehicular homicide provisions, to order the suspension or revocation of the defendant's license. | In Committee |
| A1259 | Increases PFRS accidental disability and accidental death pension when disability or death is caused by weapon. | This bill increases the accidental disability pension and the accidental death pension provided in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) when the disability or death is caused on or after the effective date of this bill by a weapon. If a PFRS member is injured in the line of duty by a weapon and permanently disabled, the pension for the retiree will increase from 66 percent of final compensation to 100 percent of final compensation. When the retiree attains mandatory retirement age, the pension thereafter will be 80 percent of the final compensation. If a PFRS member dies in the line of duty and the death is caused by a weapon, the pension for the surviving spouse or surviving children will increase from 70 percent of final compensation to 75 percent of final compensation. In addition, the final compensation used to determine the disability pension or the death pension will continue to increase until the member would have attained the age of 65 under the assumption of continuous service. The final compensation will increase by the same percentage increase which is applied in any adjustments of the compensation schedule of active members after the member's retirement or death but before the date on which the retired or deceased member would have attained the age of 65. | In Committee |
| A1124 | Requires MVC to issue blue envelopes that hold documents required to operate motor vehicle to persons diagnosed with autism. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, the Superintendent of State Police, and at least one organization that advocates on behalf of persons who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, to design and make available blue envelopes that may be utilized by a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to hold documents required for the operation of a motor vehicle. Under the bill, the blue envelopes are required to: (1) be of a color shade easily recognizable to law enforcement officers; (2) be capable of holding a person's driver's license, motor vehicle registration certificate, and insurance identification card; (3) provide written information on the outside of the envelope identifying the envelope holder as a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder; and (4) provide written guidance to assist law enforcement officers in effectively communicating with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The bill also requires that the chief administrator, in consultation with the commissioner, establish the documentation required to be produced by a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or by the parent, guardian, or caregiver of the person, in order to obtain a blue envelope. The bill is based on a 2020 Connecticut statute. | In Committee |
| A1915 | Allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children because of immigration matters to appoint standby guardians. | This bill allows a parent or legal custodian who has been separated from their child as a result of a federal immigration matter to appoint a standby guardian. Specifically, the bill amends P.L.1995, c.76 (C.3B:12-64 et seq.) to allow the parent or legal custodian to petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian of a child or to allow the other parent or legal guardian to designate in writing a standby guardian, under specific circumstances, if the parent or custodian is subject to an administrative separation. Currently, a parent or legal custodian can petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian, and the court may appoint the standby guardian, or another parent or custodian may designate in writing a standby guardian, if the triggering event requiring the appointment is death, incapacity, or debilitation and there is significant risk that the parent or custodian will die, become incapacitated, or become debilitated as a result of a progressive chronic condition or a fatal illness. As used in the bill, "administrative separation" means the separation of a parent or legal custodian from the parent's or legal custodian's child as a result of a federal immigration matter, including, but not limited to, arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal, or receipt of official communication by federal, State, or local authorities responsible for immigration enforcement which gives reasonable notice that the care and supervision of the parent's or legal custodian's child will be interrupted or cannot be provided as the result of the parent's or custodian's impending arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal. Under the provisions of the bill, the petition would state that the triggering event, an impending administrative separation, occurred to require the appointment of a standby guardian and that there is significant risk that the parent or legal custodian will be the subject of such separation. However, the parent or custodian would not be required to submit documentation of an impending administrative separation. If the court finds that that there is a significant risk that the parent or legal guardian will be subject to an administrative separation, a standby guardian would be appointed. Current law does not recognize an administrative separation as a triggering event for the appointment of a standby guardian and does not allow a parent or legal custodian to petition the court for the appointment of a standby guardian, and the court to appoint such a guardian, if there is significant risk that the parent or legal custodian will be the subject to an administrative separation. As required under current law for standby guardians who are appointed due to death, incapacity, or debilitation, the bill stipulates that: if the triggering event that causes the appointment of a standby guardian is an administrative separation, the parent's or legal custodian's attorney or legal representative would provide a copy of a determination of administrative separation to the appointed standby guardian, if the guardian's identity is known to the parent's or custodian's attorney or legal representative; and the appointed standby guardian is required to petition the court, including a determination of administrative separation, within 60 days of assuming guardianship duties for confirmation of the appointment. As used in the bill, "determination of administrative separation" means a written determination by federal, state, or local authorities responsible for immigration enforcement regarding the nature, cause, and extent of the parent's or legal guardian's arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal. As mandated by the current law for standby guardians who are appointed due to death, incapacity, or debilitation, the bill also stipulates that if the consent of a child's parent or legal custodian for the execution of a power of attorney delegating another person to exercise the parent's or legal custodian's powers is not appropriate or is unavailable pursuant to N.J.S.3B:12-39, the other parent or legal custodian may execute a written statement to designate a standby guardian in the event of the designator's administrative separation. The written designation would identify the designator, the minor child, and the standby guardian. If the parent or legal custodian has been arrested, detained, incarcerated, or removed from the State as a result of an administrative separation, another person may sign the written designation on the parent's or legal custodian's behalf. | In Committee |
| A1585 | Provides veterans with up to 60 credits tuition-free at county college serving county of residence. | This bill provides that veterans who are enrolled in good standing at the New Jersey county college serving their county of residence will be eligible to receive up to 60 credits tuition-free. For purposes of the bill, a "veteran" is a citizen and resident of the State who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component, and was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances. In order to be eligible for tuition benefits under the bill, the veteran is required to apply for all available State and federal student grants and scholarships for which he is eligible, as well as any tuition benefits for which he is eligible under the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.). If the county college in which the veteran is enrolled awards the veteran any credits for military experience, those credits will count toward the maximum number of 60 credits tuition-free. | In Committee |
| A3285 | Allows person on police officer or firefighter eligible list who is unable to complete requirements for employment due to certain military service to have name placed on subsequent eligible list. | The purpose of this bill is to offer a second opportunity for employment to a member of the National Guard or the Reserves who could not accept a position as a police officer or firefighter because of service to the nation. It allows a person who previously passed or subsequently passes a civil service examination for the position of police officer or firefighter, but who was unable or is unable to complete any other requirements for employment because of active duty in the National Guard or the Reserves, to have the person's name placed in order by score on a subsequent eligible list (designated by the person) for the same type of position. This privilege would be available to Guardsmen and Reservists called to at least 30 days of continuous active duty after September 11, 2001 and prior to the termination of operation "Enduring Freedom." Any such person who met the maximum age requirement for a position at the announced closing date of the civil service examination on which the first list of eligibles is based will be deemed to have met such maximum age requirement on the date that the person's name is placed on a subsequent eligible list. | In Committee |
| A1857 | Allows gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for purchase of classroom supplies. | This bill allows a gross income tax deduction for up to $1,000 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. | In Committee |
| A1859 | Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to develop pathway to nursing scholarship for health care workers who want to become nurses; appropriates $1 million. | This bill requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in consultation with the New Jersey Board of Nursing, to develop a pathway to nursing scholarship program. The purpose of the scholarship program is to address the current and projected critical shortage of nurses in the State by providing an incentive for persons who currently work in the field of healthcare to enter an approved course of study in a nursing education program to ensure that sufficient numbers of trained nursing staff are available to provide quality health care services to the residents of this State. Under the bill, HESAA will award 100 scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each to qualified recipients enrolled in an approved course of study in a nursing education program in the State. To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must: be a resident of the State and maintain domicile in the State during participation in the program; currently work in, or have previously worked in, the healthcare industry; be enrolled in an approved course of study concerning nursing instruction at an institution of higher education or at a school of professional nursing; and submit a written statement to the authority detailing the applicant's ongoing commitment to working as a nurse upon completion of an approved course of study concerning nursing instruction at an institution of higher education or at a school of professional nursing. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to HESAA to effectuate the purposes of this act. | In Committee |
| A2150 | Creates New Jersey Cold War medal. | This bill creates a Cold War medal to be presented by the Governor to a veteran who is a resident of the State, or who was a resident on the date of commencement of service, in recognition of his or her honorable service during the Cold War between the dates of September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991, inclusive. The Cold War was a long and costly struggle between the forces of freedom and democracy led by the United States and the forces of communism led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Cold War started after World War II and ended with the collapse of the government of the Soviet Union in December of 1991. Tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines, and air force personnel served during this period of crisis and struggle and some paid with their lives to protect the freedom and democracy we have today. | In Committee |
| A2630 | Creates special license plates supporting Autism Awareness. | This bill authorizes the creation of a special license plate supporting Autism Awareness. The design of the Autism Awareness license plate is to be chosen by the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission), in consultation with the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism (council). In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Autism Awareness license plates. The additional fees, after the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the " Autism Awareness License Plate Fund." The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, to be expended in consultation with the council. . The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost per license plate in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the Autism Awareness license plates. If the average cost exceeds $50 for two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the license plate program. The bill provides that no State or other public funds may be used by the commission for the initial cost of designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Autism Awareness license plates or any computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the Autism Awareness license plate program. The bill also requires that an individual or entity designated by the council contribute monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission for designing, producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of Autism Awareness license plates, and any computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program. The bill prohibits the commission from designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability of Autism Awareness license plates, or making any necessary programming changes, until: (1) an individual or entity designated by the council has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Autism Awareness license plate program; and (2) the council, or its designee, has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for Autism Awareness license plates, upon the availability for purchase of those license plates. The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission's website. The council, or any individual or entity designated by the council, may also publicize the availability of Autism Awareness license plates in any manner the council deems appropriate. The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided by an individual or entity designated by the council. The bill expires after 12 months if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received. | In Committee |
| A2751 | Establishes teacher recruitment grant program in DOE; appropriates $6 million to DOE. | This bill establishes a competitive grant program in the Department of Education to provide funding to no less than two eligible organizations that recruit, train, place, and retain new teachers for long-term-employment in underserved school districts. The selected organizations would receive a grant equal to the amount of private contributions that the organizations receive, not to exceed $1 million each year, for three years. For the purposes of the grant program, an underserved school district is one in which at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, and which is experiencing a teacher workforce shortage as determined by the Commissioner of Education. | In Committee |
| A944 | Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses. | This bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs), including restrictions that limit the ability of APNs to prescribe medications and administer anesthesia, and establishes new requirements for APNs to prescribe medications. The bill expressly provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or regulation to the contrary, an APN with greater than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice will be authorized to practice without a joint protocol with a collaborating provider. With regard to prescribing medications, the bill requires the use of New Jersey Prescription Blanks and satisfying continuing professional education requirements related to pharmacology and prescribing controlled substances. An APN with fewer than 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be permitted to prescribe medication only if a formal joint protocol with a physician or experienced advanced practice nurse is in place. The bill revises the requirements for APNs to authorize patients for medical cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis, to provide that the APN will only be required to meet the requirements set forth under the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act," P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.). Those requirements include: possessing active State and federal registrations to prescribe controlled dangerous substances; being the health care practitioner responsible for the ongoing treatment of a patient's qualifying medical condition; and complying with various other requirements for issuing written instructions for medical cannabis. The bill further provides that every APN who is an APN-Anesthesia and who has completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing practice in an initial role will be authorized to practice as an APN-Anesthesia to the full scope of practice for APNs-Anesthesia, without any requirement for supervision by a licensed physician and without any requirement that the APN-Anesthesia enter into joint protocols with a licensed physician. The bill provides that any State law or regulation that requires the signature or similar endorsement of a physician will be deemed to require the same of an APN, to the extent consistent with an APN's scope of practice. The bill revises and repeals certain sections of law that are obviated by the changes made under the bill. | In Committee |
| ACR58 | Proposes constitutional amendment to increase amount of veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount of the veterans' property tax deduction from the current $250 to $2,500. The increase would occur over four years. Veterans who are honorably discharged from active service in a branch of the United States Armed Forces qualify for the deduction. A qualified veteran's surviving spouse would receive the deduction after the qualified veteran dies. The amendment would increase the amount of the deduction to $1,000 in tax year 2024, $1,500 in tax year 2025, $2,000 in tax year 2026, and $2,500 in tax year 2027, and every tax year thereafter. The voters of the State last approved an increase in the amount of the deduction in 1999, from $50 to $250, over four years. The amount of the deduction has been $250 since 2003. | In Committee |
| A2486 | Establishes Office of New Americans in Department of Human Services. | This bill establishes the Office of New Americans in the New Jersey Department of Human Services. This bill codifies the existing Office of New Americans established in 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 74 of 2019. The commissioner will appoint the director, and the director will be the administrator and head of the office. The bill requires the office to be a centralized location for expertise and data on New Americans and to engage in programs, initiatives, and policies focused on successful integration for immigrants, refugees, and their children. The office will also provide technical assistance and training to other offices and departments in the Executive Branch on issues pertaining to effective and equitable engagement with New Americans. The bill also requires the Department of Human Services, through the Office of New Americans, to: administer services for New Americans; engage directly with immigrant and refugee communities and service providers to understand and address their concerns and the obstacles they face in accessing services and resources; and support and advise State departments and agencies, as well as other organizations, on community engagement and outreach to promote best practices and improve the accessibility of State programs and information by New Americans. Additionally, the bill requires the office to use data for informing the State's efforts only as authorized under State and federal law to advance integration for immigrants. The office will not use or share data for the use of civil immigration enforcement. | In Committee |
| A3312 | Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old. | This bill raises the age requirement for compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age, except for students who graduate from high school prior to their eighteenth birthday. This change would first apply to children who are in the eighth grade at the time of the bill's enactment. The New Jersey Constitution declares that "[t]he Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between the age of five and 18 years." (Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1). The requirement for school attendance until age 16 was established in 1914, with an exception permitting children over 14 years of age who were "regularly and lawfully employed in some useful occupation" to leave school. This exception was removed by P.L.1940, c.154 and the 16 year old "drop out" age has not been changed since. | In Committee |
| A1416 | Requires stress testing on State's ability to provide services in various economic conditions. | This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to, once every third year, conduct and report on a stress test analysis of the State's ability to maintain services and provide necessary assistance to residents in various economic conditions. Stress tests analyses can be used to help governments better prepare for future economic recessions. The stress test analyses required by this bill will include: (1) long- and short-term projections of major funding sources, including revenues from major taxes and funding from the federal government; (2) a comparison between projections of major funding sources and historical trends for each of those funding sources; (3) an analysis of expenditures that are likely to increase or decrease in various economic conditions; (4) an accounting of the State's reserves, including amounts deposited into the "Surplus Revenue Fund"; and (5) options that the State has to respond to, and lessen the negative impact of, economic recessions. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A775 | "Fairness in Women's Sport Act." | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A551 | Permits certain consumers up to five business days to cancel home improvement contracts and up to three days to cancel certain consumer goods contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2335 | Requires school districts to provide instruction on history of Latinos and Hispanics as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AJR128 | Designates August of each year as "American Artist Appreciation Month" in New Jersey. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3742 | Requires Secretary of Agriculture to establish Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse school districts for costs expended in sourcing and procuring local foods for students; appropriates $4,500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2788 | Appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3974 | Prohibits use of deceptive marketing practices by substance use disorder treatment providers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3979 | Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3973 | Revises law concerning patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities, recovery residences, and clinical laboratories. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3052 | Concerns grade options at public institutions of higher education for service member and dependents unable to complete course due to military obligation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3041 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4182 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4248 | Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3944 | Provides that certain non-profit corporation alcoholic beverage theater licensees include disregarded entities of such corporations; allows certain community theaters to sell alcoholic beverages. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5146 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3982 | Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3992 | Modifies capital reserve funding requirements for certain planned real estate developments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5213 | Establishes "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to strengthen alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts; makes appropriation. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5199 | Requires resident and fellow physicians employed by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who are eligible for coverage in SHBP, to be eligible to enroll and receive health insurance on first day of employment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5195 | Requires producer of certain firefighting equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser; prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain firefighting equipment containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5260 | Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5277 | Establishes public awareness campaign and call center for certain property tax relief programs; requires submission of annual report by Stay NJ Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5278 | Establishes "New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act"; requires health insurance coverage of medically necessary perimenopause and menopause treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| SJR154 | Directs BPU to investigate PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.'s Reliability Pricing Model; directs State to promote affordable energy practices and to urge PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. to implement certain reforms. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5362 | Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5383 | Requires unrestricted Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5420 | Permits 30-calendar day extension to cure period for certain businesses to address and resolve certain violations. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5421 | Requires development of online tax training for small and micro-businesses. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| AR180 | Urges DEP, Pinelands Commission, and Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council to engage in alternative forest management practices during periods of drought when prescribed burning is unsafe. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5447 | Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5462 | Requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special rules for certain data centers to protect non-data center customers from increased costs. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5533 | Establishes requirements for receipt and purchase of scrap metals containing lithium-ion or propulsion batteries. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Assembly District 33 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 |