Legislator
Legislator > Dan Hutchison
State Assemblymember
Dan Hutchison
(D) - New Jersey
New Jersey Assembly District 04
In Office - Started: 01/09/2024
contact info
Laurel Springs Office
1379 Chews Landing Road
Laurel Springs, NJ 08021
Laurel Springs, NJ 08021
Phone: 856-401-3073
General Capitol Building Address
P.O. Box 068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
State House, 145 W. State St.
Trenton, NJ 08625-0068
Phone: 609-847-3905
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1439 | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Crossed Over |
| A4194 | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | Prohibits cooperative from receiving public works contract when cooperative-approved vendor fails to pay prevailing wage; concerns cooperative purchasing agreements with other states; and permits contracting units to award certain indefinite contracts. | In Committee |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Crossed Over |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Crossed Over |
| A5517 | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Directs BPU to study feasibility of developing advanced reactors Statewide. | Crossed Over |
| A5538 | Prohibits municipal utilities authority from charging fire district and fire department water service charges for fire protection systems in certain circumstances. | Prohibits municipal utilities authority from charging fire district and fire department water service charges for fire protection systems in certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Passed |
| A2365 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | In Committee |
| A5153 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Passed |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| A4029 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | In Committee |
| A4124 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | In Committee |
| 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. | 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. | Crossed Over |
| A5792 | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. | Passed |
| A5848 | Modifies child endangerment statute to include AI technology; establishes criminal penalties. | This bill amends the child endangerment statute, N.J.S.A.2C:24-4, to create a fourth degree crime of knowingly or recklessly causing or allowing a child to be subjected to sexual conduct through the use of automated interactive computer technology. Under current law, endangering the welfare of a child occurs when a person engages in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child. Endangering is a second degree crime when committed by a person with a legal duty to care for the child, and is a third degree crime when committed by other persons. Although the statute does not specify what types of acts constitute sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, it has been well-settled by the courts of this State that the conduct can occur online or over the telephone without actual physical contact, and can include conversations with children that describe sexual activity. See, e.g., State v. Maxwell, 361 N.J. Super. 502 (Law Div. 2001); State v. Johnson, 460 N.J. Super. 481 (Law Div. 2019); State v. McInerney, 428 N.J. Super. 432 (App. Div. 2012). Under the bill, any person who knowingly or recklessly causes, or allows, a child to be subjected to sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child, through the person's creation, control, possession, manipulation, use, dissemination, sale, or promotion of any automated interactive computer technology that is capable of performing or simulating sexual conduct, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The bill provides an exception for AI technology that has safety features designed to stop a chatbot from simulating sexual conduct when it detects that a user is a child. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to 18 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. It is the sponsor's intent that the bill would impose criminal penalties in situations where the creator of an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot knowingly or recklessly programs the chatbot to engage in simulated sexual chats with users who are children. Such deliberate creation or misuse of AI chatbots, without regard to the safety of children, and their proliferation across social media platforms and the Internet, was reported in an April 26, 2025 article in the Wall Street Journal, entitled "Meta's 'Digital Companions' Will Talk Sex with Users - Even Children." | Crossed Over |
| A5422 | Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business. | This bill provides businesses with the option of receiving notifications from the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and, as applicable, from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, on new statutory and regulatory requirements and economic incentives related to their industry. Current processes require that all businesses registered in the State receive these updates via traditional paper communication. The bill allows any business with the option of providing a registered email address to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, which will coordinate the dissemination of these statutory, regulatory and economic incentive-related communications through the provided email. The bill also provides a method for businesses to revert to the traditional means of paper communication. | Crossed Over |
| A5601 | Requires State entities to offer optional service for businesses to receive certain notices electronically. | This bill requires State entities that issue legally required notices to businesses operating in this State to provide an optional service for businesses to receive such notices electronically. Such notices may include notices of violations, underpayment notifications, and employee unemployment claims. Within 60 days of the effective date of this bill, each State entity responsible for issuing legally required notices to businesses is required to notify any business within their purview of the optional electronic notification service. State entities are also required to provide the businesses with the necessary information to opt in to the electronic notification service. This bill defines "State entity" as a State department or agency in the Executive Branch of State Government, and any board, commission, corporation, authority, or instrumentality thereof. | Crossed Over |
| 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. | This resolution urges the Department of Environmental Protection, 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. Forest lands cover 40 percent of the State and are critical to the environmental, social, and economic welfare of the State. Forest lands require proper management, conservation, and stewardship in order to remain healthy and continue to provide benefits to the State and its residents. Prescribed burning is an effective forest management tool that reduces the hazardous accumulation of forest fuels, prevents future wildfires, and reduces the intensity of wildfires. Climate change has made weather in New Jersey less predictable and has resulted in warmer, drier conditions that last into later months of the year. In 2024, New Jersey's wildfire season continued into October and November and during this time, drought conditions spread throughout the State resulting in 1,380 wildfires, burning more than 10,000 acres. Drought presents several challenges to the use of prescribed burning, such as lack of fuels, dangerous conditions, and burn bans. During times of drought where prescribed burning is determined to be unsafe, ineffective, or not possible in managing forest lands, alternate forest management practices, such as ecological thinning, are required to keep New Jersey's forests healthy and reduce the risk of wildfires within the State. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Passed |
| 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. | 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. | Passed |
| 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 |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Passed |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | An Act 2[increasing the amount of the tax credits provided for investments made in emerging technology businesses under] making various changes to2 the "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act2[,]2" 2[and amending P.L.1997, c.349 and P.L.2013, c.14] and the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program, revising various parts of the statutory law, and repealing parts of P.L.2020, c.1562. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Crossed Over |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | An Act allowing an exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock and supplementing Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4215 | Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors. | This bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations concerning the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors in the State. The bill would also authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to incentivize the construction and operation of small modular nuclear reactors using moneys in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" established pursuant to P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.). As defined by the bill, "small modular nuclear reactor" means a nuclear fission reactor that: (1) has a rated electric generating capacity of not more than 300 megawatts; (2) is capable of being construction and operated either alone or in combination with one or more similar reactors if additional reactors are or become necessary at a single site; and (3) is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill would require the BPU, whenever it considers a petition by an electric power supplier or basic generation service provider for the construction, purchase, or lease of a small modular nuclear reactor, to consider: (1) whether, and to what extent, the small modular nuclear reactor proposed by the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider will replace a loss of generating capacity in the State, resulting from the retirement or planned retirement of one or more existing electric generating facilities, which are located in New Jersey and which use coal or natural gas a fuel source; and (2) whether the small modular nuclear reactor that will replace an existing facility will be located on the same site as, or near, the existing facility and, if so, potential opportunities for the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider to make use of any land and existing infrastructure or facilities already owned or under the control of the electric power supplier or basic generation service provider, or create new employment opportunities for workers who have been, or would be, displaced as a result of the retirement of the existing facility. The bill would also establish other requirements for the operation of small modular nuclear reactors, as enumerated in subsections c. through e. of section 3 of the bill, including a requirement that a person that owns or operates a small modular nuclear reactor in the State may not store spent nuclear fuel or high level radioactive waste from the small modular nuclear reactor on the site of the small modular nuclear reactor without first meeting all applicable requirements of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | Crossed Over |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Passed |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Passed |
| A3558 | Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism; creates a public awareness campaign; appropriates $100,000. | This bill establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism. Under the bill, the term "definition of anti-Semitism" refers to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the "contemporary examples of antisemitism". The bill provides that in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the State must take into consideration this definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey State Constitution. Nothing in the bill would be construed to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations. This bill also appropriates $100,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for the creation of a public awareness campaign to promote bias crime reporting. Through extensive community outreach, the citizens of New Jersey will be empowered to identify and report bias crimes using the existing bias crime reporting hotline within the New Jersey Bias Crimes Reporting Unit. This appropriation represents an investment in safety and collective action against bias crimes, including acts considered anti-Semitic. | In Committee |
| A5537 | Permits fire departments to use certain Class B firefighting foam for one year after prohibition takes effect. | Permits fire departments to use certain Class B firefighting foam for one year after prohibition takes effect. | In Committee |
| A5465 | Requires electric public utilities to apply to BPU for certificate of public convenience and necessity prior to undertaking transmission project. | This bill requires an electric public utility (utility) to submit an application to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (certificate) prior to undertaking a transmission project (project) in New Jersey, which application is required to include any information deemed necessary by the board and an application fee in an amount determined by the board. After receiving a completed application, the bill requires the board to issue a board order with its decision regarding the application, its authorization for the utility to construct the project, and a manner and timeframe in which the utility is to complete the project. The board is to act on an application within 150 days and, in certain circumstances, permits the board to extend this 150-day deadline by an additional period not to exceed 75 days. To make its determination, the board is required to consider whether: (1) the project is necessary to provide adequate, reliable, and efficient service to the utility's customers and is the least-cost means of satisfying the service needs of the utility's customers or that the project will promote the development of an effectively competitive electricity market that operates efficiently, is equitable to all customers, and is the least-cost means of satisfying those objectives; (2) the utility is capable of efficiently managing and supervising the construction process and has taken sufficient action to ensure adequate and efficient construction and supervision of the construction; and (3) the utility is capable of financing the proposed construction without significant adverse financial consequences for the utility or its customers. Under the bill, "transmission project" means a project undertaken by an electric public utility to construct a new transmission line or modify an existing transmission line. This term does not include projects that have already been deemed necessary and approved by PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. through a needs assessment. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| A5863 | Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes. | This bill would appropriate $500,000 to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for a municipal planning incentive grant, pursuant to a program established by P.L.1999, c.180 (C.4:1C-43.1), for farmland preservation purposes. The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" was established pursuant to section 8 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Under the bill, Oldmans Township, in Salem County, will receive a "base grant" of $500,000, as specified in the bill. In addition, this municipality would also be eligible to compete for an additional grant from the SADC's competitive grant fund, to be financed with monies previously appropriated to the SADC pursuant to P.L.2019, c.450 and P.L.2020, c.139. The maximum amount of such competitive grant funding award would be $1 million, including up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2019, c.450 and up to $500,000 in funds appropriated under P.L.2020, c.139. Therefore, the bill allows the municipality to receive up to $1.5 million in funding through both the base grant and eligible competitive grants. The allocations and projects listed in the bill have been approved by the SADC and the Garden State Preservation Trust. | In Committee |
| A5603 | Prohibits advertising artificial intelligence system as licensed mental health professional. | This bill prohibits a person who develops or deploys an artificial intelligence system in the State from advertising or representing to the public that the system is or is able to act as a licensed mental health professional. A violation of the bill's provisions would be an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, and would be punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, a violation of the consumer fraud act 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. | In Committee |
| A5832 | Prohibits health insurance carriers from making certain changes to contract with network providers during term of contract. | This bill prohibits a health insurance carrier from making any changes to a contract that the carrier has with its network providers that would reduce the reimbursement to a provider during the term of the contract. | In Committee |
| A4812 | Creates Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding; appropriates $200,000. | Creates Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding; appropriates $200,000. | In Committee |
| A5735 | Requires restaurant to disclose mandatory gratuity to patron and makes failure to disclose unlawful practice under consumer fraud act. | This bill requires a restaurant to disclose a mandatory gratuity charge to a patron on the menu, at the entrance of the restaurant, on the patron's bill, and if the restaurant operates a website, on the restaurant's website. Each point of disclosure is required to be in a prominent manner. A violation of the bill is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act. 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 Committee |
| A4989 | Establishes "Anthony's Legacy Act"; provides special consideration for certain grandparents applying for visitation rights. | This bill establishes "Anthony's Legacy Act", which modifies the circumstances under which a grandparent of a minor child may apply for visitation rights. Specifically, the bill requires a court to give special consideration to an applicant for visitation who is a grandparent of the minor child and is a Gold Star family member. Under current law, a grandparent or any sibling of a child residing in New Jersey may make application before the Superior Court, for an order for visitation. The applicant bears the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the granting of visitation is in the best interests of the child. In making its determination, the court is to consider the following factors: (1) The relationship between the child and the applicant; (2) The relationship between each of the child's parents or the person with whom the child is residing and the applicant; (3) The time which has elapsed since the child last had contact with the applicant; (4) The effect that such visitation will have on the relationship between the child and the child's parents or the person with whom the child is residing; (5) If the parents are divorced or separated, the time sharing arrangement which exists between the parents with regard to the child; (6) The good faith of the applicant in filing the application; (7) Any history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect by the applicant; and (8) Any other factor relevant to the best interests of the child. This bill amends current law to require the court to give special consideration to an applicant who is a grandparent of the child and is a Gold Star family member. The bill defines "Gold Star family member" to mean the spouse, domestic partner, partner in a civil union, parent, brother, sister, child, legal guardian, or other legal custodian, whether of the whole or half blood, or by adoption, of a deceased service member. Under the bill, a "deceased service member" is defined as any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a Reserve component thereof or a member of the National Guard who dies as a result of enemy action, accident or disease while on federal active duty, including active duty for training. | In Committee |
| A4973 | "The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act"; expands opportunity to purchase for resident homeowners in certain manufactured home parks; modifies certain requirements for disposition of private residential leasehold communities. | "The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act"; expands opportunity to purchase for resident homeowners in certain manufactured home parks; modifies certain requirements for disposition of private residential leasehold communities. | Crossed Over |
| A4535 | Concerns State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally; appropriates $100,000. | An Act concerning State regulation of cooperative sober living residences and boarding houses generally, amending and supplementing P.L.1979, c.496, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4652 | Establishes offense of inciting public brawl; upgrades penalty for disorderly conduct in certain circumstances. | An Act concerning public brawls and disorderly conduct and amending N.J.S.2C:33-1 and N.J.S.2C:33-2. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1277 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Passed |
| A3981 | Subjects certain rooming and boarding houses to municipal land use regulations; requires owners and operators of cooperative sober living residences to submit certain approvals with license applications. | This bill subjects certain types of rooming and boarding houses, regulated by the Department of Community Affairs, to municipal land use regulations. Current law provides that no owner or operator of a rooming or boarding house is to be subject to regulation by any county or municipality for the purposes described in the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.496 (C.55:13B-1 et seq.), except for an explicit exemption that subjects rooming and boarding houses to municipal construction regulations. The bill establishes an additional explicit exemption to require owners and operators of rooming and boarding houses be subject to municipal land use regulations. The bill also requires the prospective owner or operator of a cooperative sober living residence to submit to the State proof of certain local approvals as a condition of State issuance of a Class F license, described in N.J.A.C.5:27-1.6, to own or operate a cooperative sober living residence. | Crossed Over |
| A5211 | Establishes New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act, which codifies the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development's New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative. Under the bill, the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development is required to operate a New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative, the purpose of which is to provide students, workers, and job seekers with career pathways they need to pursue promising new careers and opportunities; to strengthen career pathways partnerships between county colleges and employers, primary and secondary schools, vocational technical high schools, four-year institutions of higher education, unions, and community based organizations; and to ensure that employers have access to a highly skilled workforce to meet critical labor market needs. The bill permits the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to establish Centers of Workforce Innovation that offer career pathways in various areas. The bill directs the Centers of Workforce Innovation to develop curriculum specific to each career pathway that is to be made publicly available, provide students with instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in a career pathway, promote the use of the Community College Opportunity Grants, promote the expansion of apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities for students, and to collaborate with business leaders and educational partners across the State. | Crossed Over |
| A3856 | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | Requires health benefits coverage for additional orthotic and prosthetic appliances under certain circumstances; requires coverage for orthotic and prosthetic appliances obtained through podiatrists. | In Committee |
| A3363 | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | Establishes centralized directory for affordable housing, and housing for senior citizens and veterans. | In Committee |
| A5719 | Broadens scope of information sharing and civil immunity therefor, related to insurance fraud. | This bill broadens the scope of information a person or entity, such as an insurance carrier, may disclose to other parties related to actual or potential insurance fraud, and the scope of the related civil immunity covering the person's or entity's distribution of that information. The bill concerns information disclosure practices related to insurance fraud, with the intent of strengthening State and insurance industry efforts to hamper fraudulent activities. To that end, the bill amends and supplements the State statutes governing insurance information practices, P.L.1985, c.179 (C.17:23A-1 et seq.), popularly referred to as the "Insurance Information Practices Act," and the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," P.L.1983, c.320 (C.17:33A-1 et seq.). Specifically, the bill: -Expands the definition of "insurance-support organization" regarding insurance information practices, to permit any such organization to collect and report information about any person or entity in connection with an insurance transaction, going beyond the current scope as expressed in the definition, which focuses only on information collecting and reporting concerning an individual insured, applicant, or claimant; -Similarly expands the definition of "privileged information" regarding insurance information practices, to indicate that such information may relate to any person or entity concerning an insurance transaction; -Modifies the scope of permitted information disclosures with respect to insurance information practices, so that an insurance carrier, among other insurance institutions, or an agent or insurance-support organization may disclose privileged information (as defined above) about a person or entity in connection with, or in reasonable anticipation of, an insurance transaction, to: 1) another insurance institution, agent, or insurance-support organization; 2) any other person or entity involved in detecting or preventing criminal activity or insurance fraud; or 3) a law enforcement or other governmental authority; -Expands the existing immunity provided to any person or entity for disclosing information, as well as the existing immunity associated with the mandatory reporting requirements and information furnishings set forth under the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," to apply to a cause of action "of any nature," instead of the current law's more limited immunity against causes of action in the nature of defamation, invasion of privacy, or other related actions; and -Establishes a new, similarly expansive immunity under the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act" relating to making reports to, or providing information to, or receiving information from: 1) the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, or any employee, agent, or representative of the commissioner, including the Bureau of Fraud Deterrence; 2) federal, State, or local law enforcement, including the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, or other governmental authority; 3) any person performing a business, professional, or insurance function concerning the detection or prevention of criminal activity, fraud, material misrepresentation, or material nondisclosure which violates the provisions of the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act"; 4) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a national nonprofit organization which assists state insurance regulators, individually and collectively, in serving the public interest and achieving insurance regulatory and market goals; or 5) the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing, detecting, and eliminating insurance fraud. By establishing a legal framework for the greater flow of information between the insurance industry and law enforcement, as well as among various parties within the insurance industry, the bill intends to strengthen the efforts of the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and the insurance industry to thwart fraudulent activities. | In Committee |
| A5514 | Requires municipalities and counties to utilize cost-saving practices under cooperative purchasing systems when procuring energy-related goods and services. | This bill requires local contracting units under the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), (contracting units) to determine and utilize cost-saving practices when procuring energy-related goods and services. The bill specifies that a cost savings analysis prescribed by the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs is required to include, at a minimum: factors such as charges for service, materials, delivery, soft costs, costs of acquisition, and other costs of traditional bidding such as cost overruns, protest, rework, and change orders. If the purchasing agent determines that entering into a cooperative purchasing system for the procurement of energy-related goods or services will result in cost savings, the contracting unit is required to utilize a cooperative purchasing system. Under the bill, prior to entering into a contract for the procurement of any goods or services, the contracting unit is required to ensure that the contractor and any subcontractors are compliant with existing State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. This bill also requires the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to develop guidelines for a local contracting unit to enter into cooperative purchasing systems for the procurement of energy-related goods or services. Under the bill, the cooperative purchasing system guidelines is to include, but not be limited to:· the types of energy-related goods and services, including work, labor, commodities, equipment, materials, or supplies of any tangible or intangible nature, except real property, that may be procured through a contract awarded by a contracting agent under a cooperative purchasing system;· the requirements concerning the process for advertising and soliciting bids for contracts through a cooperative purchasing system, and the factors that are required to be utilized in the awarding of contracts;· provisions ensuring contracting units enter into contracts for the procurement of energy-related goods or services through a cooperative purchasing system with contractors and subcontractors that are compliant with existing State and federal laws, rules, and regulations; and· information outlining the benefits of entering into cooperative purchasing systems, including but not limited to: cost-savings for the procurement of energy-related goods and services; access to experienced and reliable contractors and subcontractors; improvements in project execution time; elimination of pre-bid costs; and guaranteed maximum pricing to eliminate unforeseen expenses. The division is required to develop a cost savings analysis template comparing the costs of cooperative purchasing systems and other methods of procurement including, but not limited to, factors such as charges for service, materials, delivery, soft costs, costs of acquisition, and other costs of traditional bidding such as cost overruns, protest, rework, and change orders. The division is required to: (1) distribute the template to the governing body of each municipality and county in the State; and (2) publish the cost savings analysis template on the division's Internet website in an easily accessible location and format. Under the bill, the division is required to distribute the guidelines to the governing body of each municipality and county in this State, and publish the guidelines on the division's Internet website in an easily accessible location and format. | 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 |
| A3538 | Establishes homestead and bank account exemptions for persons in debt; increases existing exemption amounts for household goods. | This bill establishes a homestead and bank account exemption for persons in debt and increases the existing exemption amount for household goods. Under the bill, an owner can exempt an interest in the homestead from an attachment, execution, and forced sale in an amount that is the greater of: (1) the amount of the median sale price for a single-family home in that county, in the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the debtor claims the exemption, as determined by using the United States Census Bureau's most recent 1-year American Community Survey data table, B25077, Median Value, or an equivalent valuation approved by the Department of Banking and Insurance, not to exceed $600,000; or (2) $300,000. If the owner or a dependent of the owner is either 60 years of age or older, or is physically or mentally disabled and because of such disability is unable to engage in substantial gainful employment and whose disability has lasted or can be expected to last at least 12 months, or can be expected to result in death, the homestead exemption will be double the aforementioned county median. The bill provides that the homestead exemption will attach to the owner's interest in identifiable cash proceeds from the voluntary or involuntary sale of the homestead and that the exemption in identifiable cash proceeds would continue for 18 months after the date of sale for the homestead or until the owner establishes a new homestead with the proceeds, whichever period is shorter. The bill also provides that, in a bankruptcy case, the owner's exemptions shall be determined on the date the bankruptcy petition is filed or, with respect to property respect to property that becomes property of the estate after that date, the date the property becomes property of the estate. If the value of the owner's interest in homestead property on such date is less than or equal to the amount that can be exempted under the homestead law, then the owner's entire interest in the property, including the owner's right to possession and interests of no monetary value, is exempt. Any appreciation in the value of the owner's exempt interest in the property during the bankruptcy case is also exempt, even if it exceeds the statutory limit. The bill additionally increases the total value of household goods that are exempt from debt collection, from $1,000 to $15,000, and provides for an exemption from garnishment of up to $10,000 for cash held in a deposit account or other account of the debtor, or up to $15,000 if the cash amount is held in a joint account. | In Committee |
| A3809 | Concerns right to repair farm equipment and lawn mowers. | This bill establishes the right to repair farm equipment and lawn mowers with repair providers other than the original manufacturer. This essentially allows independent repair providers, owners, and authorized repair providers to have the same access to diagnostic repair information for farm equipment and lawn mowers. Specifically, the bill requires a manufacturer of farm equipment or lawn mowers sold, offered for sale, or used in this State to make available to any independent repair provider or owner the same diagnostic, service, or repair documentation at no charge or in the same manner and in the same timeframe as the manufacturer makes the documentation available to an authorized repair provider. The bill also requires a manufacturer to provide farm equipment, lawn mowers, or service parts for purchase by the owner, an authorized agent, or any independent repair provider. A manufacturer is not required to sell parts that are no longer available. The bill prohibits a manufacturer that sells farm equipment or lawn mower diagnostic, service, or repair documentation in a standardized format from requiring an authorized repair provider to purchase it in a proprietary format unless the proprietary format includes documentation or functionality that is not available in the standardized format. Under the bill, a manufacturer of farm equipment or lawn mowers sold, offered for sale, or used in this State is to make available for purchase by independent repair providers and owners all diagnostic repair tools incorporating the same diagnostic, repair, and remote communications capabilities that the manufacturer makes available to its own repair or engineering staff or any authorized repair provider. A manufacturer is also required to offer tools for sale to an independent repair provider or owner under fair and reasonable terms. Farm equipment or lawn mowers with security-related functions are required to include diagnostic, service, and repair documentation necessary to reset a security-related electronic function. In the alternative, the manufacturer is to provide the documentation necessary to reset an immobilizer system or security-related electronic module through the appropriate secure data release systems. The bill imposes a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation of its provisions. It is increasingly difficult to repair lawn mowers and farm equipment, such as tractors, without going directly to the manufacturer. This puts consumers at a disadvantage because fewer repair options are available and market competition is decreased. | In Committee |
| A4813 | Imposes conditions on drivers approaching stationary vehicles and revises public awareness campaign. | Imposes conditions on drivers approaching stationary vehicles and revises public awareness campaign. | Crossed Over |
| A4262 | Exempts creditor from paying municipal property registration fee if property is subject to automatic stay under federal Bankruptcy Code. | This bill exempts certain creditors from payment of a property registration fee for as long as the property remains subject to the automatic stay provision of the federal Bankruptcy Code. Current law, section 3 of P.L.2021, c.444 (C.40:48-2.12s3), authorizes a municipality, by ordinance, to require a foreclosing creditor to register property, and to impose an annual fee on the creditor for registering the property. Under the bill, a creditor who has sought the protection of the federal Bankruptcy Code, and who is protected by the automatic stay provision of the federal Bankruptcy Code, would be excused from the payment of the property registration fees authorized by section 3 of P.L.2021, c.444 (C.40:48-2.12s3). | Crossed Over |
| A2115 | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Requires public transportation employees and certain motorbus operators to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking; requires inclusion of certain content in certain courses. | Crossed Over |
| SJR121 | Designating May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. Tuberous Sclerosis is a rare genetic complex that affects multiple organ systems. Tuberous Sclerosis leads to irregularities in one of two protein-encoding genes which regulate cell division and growth (TSC1 or TSC2), causing non-cancerous tumors to develop in different organs, primarily the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. The benign tumors and abnormal brain structures that are characteristic of Tuberous Sclerosis block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the brain and result in epilepsy, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and various mood complexes. Tuberous Sclerosis is a leading cause of epileptic seizures. Sixty percent of those with Tuberous Sclerosis experience autism. Tuberous Sclerosis affects one million individuals around the world and 50,000 individuals in the United States. At least two children born each day in the United States have Tuberous Sclerosis. Currently, there is no medical cure for the condition. Strategic research will prioritize earlier diagnosis, therapies, and mechanisms for prevention. Organizations such as the TSC Alliance, Matthew's Friends, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex International, and Tuberous Sclerosis Association convene to fund such research and support families influenced by Tuberous Sclerosis. The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance designates the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group's Comprehensive Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center as a network clinic and referral center. May 15 is recognized as global Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day, designed to increase public awareness for this rare condition. By amplifying the voices of individuals in the Tuberous Sclerosis community, the State may benefit from innovative treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. Designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4374 | Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." | Establishes criminal penalties for certain violations of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act." | In Committee |
| A5223 | Requires manufacturer of firefighting personal protective equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances to provide written notice to purchaser. | This bill would require, beginning one year after the bill's effective date, any manufacturer that sells firefighting personal protective equipment containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to provide written notice to the purchaser at the time of sale stating: (1) that the firefighting personal protective equipment contains PFAS; (2) the reason for which the firefighting personal protective equipment contains PFAS; and (3) the specific PFAS contained within the product, listed by chemical name and abbreviated name. The bill would require that both the manufacturer that sells the firefighting personal protective equipment containing PFAS and the purchaser of the firefighting personal protective equipment containing PFAS retain a copy of the written notice for at least three years from the date of purchase. Upon request from the Division of Consumer Affairs (division) in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the manufacturer or purchaser would be required to furnish the written notice, or a copy of the written notice, and associated sales documentation to the division within 60 days of the request. A violation of the bill's provisions would be an unlawful practice pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), commonly known as the State's "Consumer Fraud Act." An unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act 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. | In Committee |
| A5632 | Requires MVC to establish and administer online application for REAL ID identification cards and REAL ID licenses. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to establish and administer an online application for REAL ID identification cards and REAL ID licenses. Specifically, under the bill, the MVC is required to establish an online application for New Jersey residents to obtain a REAL ID license or a REAL ID identification card through the commission's Internet website. As part of the application process, the MVC is required to accept and process electronically submitted copies of identity and lawful status source documents required under the federal "REAL ID Act of 2005," as authorized by the federal "REAL ID Modernization Act." If the MVC determines that an applicant has satisfied all of the requirements established by the federal "REAL ID Act of 2005," the MVC is required to approve and process the applicant's online application to obtain a REAL ID license or REAL ID identification card. If the applicant has failed to satisfy any requirement established by the federal "REAL ID Act of 2005," the MVC is required to deny the applicant's online application to obtain a REAL ID license or REAL ID identification card. The Chief Administrator of the MVC (chief administrator) is required to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this bill, including, but not limited to, establishing: (1) procedures as to how signature, verification, certification, witnessing, or other formal requirements are to be met with respect to documents or information permitted to be submitted in electronic or digital form pursuant to the bill; and (2) safeguards necessary to protect the privacy of, and prevent improper access to or disclosure of, any personal information that may be transmitted in an electronic or digital form. The procedures and safeguards established by the chief administrator pursuant to the bill are to comply with the requirements set forth under the federal "REAL ID Modernization Act," and the federal rules and regulations adopted to implement the act. | In Committee |
| A5464 | Prohibits BPU from approving electric public utility rate increase without full rate review. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving the request of any electric public utility to increase any component of an electric rate charged to ratepayers without conducting a full rate review for the electric public utility. | In Committee |
| A4163 | Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. | An Act concerning health insurance coverage for biomarker precision medical testing and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3388 | Allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | An Act concerning transference of prescriptions and amending P.L.2003, c.280. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3620 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | An Act concerning electric and gas public utilities and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5536 | Modifies procedure for fire districts to request exemption from property tax levy cap. | This bill modifies the procedure for fire district boards of commissioners to seek an exemption from the two percent property tax levy cap. Under current law, fire districts, along with municipalities, counties, and solid waste collection districts, are required to submit a public question to the legal voters residing in its territory to increase the amount to be raised by taxation by more than the allowable adjusted tax levy. The bill would allow fire districts to request approval from the Local Finance Board to increase the amount to be raised by taxation by more than the allowable adjusted tax levy. In the decision to approve or deny the board's request, Local Finance Board would be required to consider any changes in appropriations or revenues, or other circumstances, that warranted the fire district's request. Any decision of the Local Finance Board rejecting an increase to the tax levy cap would be final and conclusive for the fiscal year for which the request was made, and no appeal, review, or waiver application would be permitted. | In Committee |
| A5539 | Reduces threshold cost, from $5 million to $3 million, of public works projects which may include project labor agreements. | This bill amends P.L.2002, c.44 to reduce, from $5 million to $3 million, the minimum cost of a public works project which may include a project labor agreement pursuant to that act. | In Committee |
| A5549 | Requires election workers to be paid hourly rate for mandatory training programs. | This bill requires election workers to be paid for required training programs. Under current law, election workers who attend required training programs may or may not be paid by the county where they are training. The current compensation is at the discretion of the county and is an expense of the county. This bill requires election workers to be paid an hourly rate commensurate with the State minimum wage for the time spent attending required training programs. A county may submit an application to the Secretary of State for reimbursement of the compensation. | In Committee |
| A3540 | Establishes criminal penalties for production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media, commonly known as "deepfakes." | An Act establishing civil and criminal penalties for the production and dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3587 | Upgrades, and in some circumstances provides for extended terms of imprisonment for, certain retail theft crimes, addresses gift card fraud, and authorizes new Attorney General initiatives to address organized retail theft. | An Act concerning retail theft, amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law, and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A5513 | Directs BPU to establish public information campaign concerning public utility meter inspection and calibration. | This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to establish and implement a public information campaign to inform electric, gas, and water public utility customers about utility meter inspection and calibration, as well as the process for disputing a utility bill. The public information campaign is required to provide customers with information including: (1) the requirements of utility meter calibration and the procedures for ensuring accurate billing, including how often meters are required to be tested and calibrated, which entities are authorized to test and calibrate utility meters; (2) the procedures available to electric, gas, and water public utility customers who wish to dispute a meter reading or a utility bill, including the timelines and methods for initiating disputes; (3) the availability of independent verification of meter accuracy through the board and third-party entities in compliance with existing regulations; and (4) any other information the board deems necessary. The public information campaign is also to include, but not be limited to, the preparation, publication, and distribution of information through the board's and the electric, gas, and water public utilities' Internet websites, booklets, pamphlets, or other pertinent materials. The information is to be made available in English and Spanish. The board is to also provide a toll-free telephone number for customers to obtain additional information or make an inquiry regarding a meter, meter readings, or disputed electric, gas, and water public utility bills. | In Committee |
| A5512 | Prohibits electric and gas public utility residential rate increases during certain times of year; requires advance notice of certain rate increases. | This bill prohibits electric public utility residential rate increases during the summer, from June 1 through August 31, and electric public utility and gas public utility residential rate increases during the winter, from January 1 through March 31. In addition, the bill requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to provide residential customers with at least 30 days advance notice of the rate increase via mail or electronic mail. | In Committee |
| A5516 | Directs BPU to establish incentive program for geothermal energy systems and grant program to support government energy aggregation program; increases annual target for new community solar projects. | This bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities to establish an incentive program for geothermal energy systems, and a program to provide grants to counties and municipalities who participate in the State's government energy aggregation program. The bill would also increase the annual target for the growth of the State's community solar program. Specifically, the bill would direct the BPU to establish an incentive program for persons who own and operate geothermal energy systems 18 months after the bill's enactment. Under the bill, the incentive program would provide a fixed-rate, monthly incentive to the owner of the geothermal energy system, which is proportionate to the environmental and peak demand reduction benefits provided by the system. The BPU would be authorized to establish the amounts of the incentives, provided that they are commensurate with the value of SREC-IIs provided under P.L.2021, c.169 (C.48:3-114 et al.). The bill would authorize the BPU to utilize funds collected through the societal benefits charge to fund the incentives. The bill would also direct the BPU to establish a program to incentivize counties and municipalities to become government aggregators pursuant to sections 42 through 45 of the "Energy Discount and Energy Competition Act," P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-91 through C.48:3-94). Government aggregators are counties or municipalities that negotiate with third-party energy providers to provide electricity or natural gas to their residents at a lower rate, or with a higher mix of renewable energy sources, than could normally have been achieved by the individual customer. The bill would authorize the BPU to utilize funds collected through the societal benefits charge to fund the grants. Finally, the bill would increase the annual target for the growth of the community solar program from 150 megawatts per year to 200 megawatts per year. | In Committee |
| A5511 | Requires public utilities to provide certain information on customer bills. | This bill requires public utilities to provide additional information in a consumer utility bills. Specifically, the bill requires a public utility that has been approved for an increase in an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule by the Board of Public Utilities (board) to provide a bill insert to the affected customers. The bill requires the bill insert to be provided in 12-point font, be written in plain language, in both English and Spanish, and include, but not be limited to: (1) an itemized list of any increases to an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule affecting that customer; and (2) an explanation of the reasoning behind any increases. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill will make public utilities billing practices more transparent and lead to greater accountability. | In Committee |
| A5515 | Prohibits electric and gas public utility rate increases except in extraordinary circumstances. | This bill prohibits an electric or gas public utility from increasing its rates for residential customers in excess of five percent during any one-year period, unless required by extraordinary circumstances. | In Committee |
| A5518 | Imposes 30 percent electric public utility windfall surtax on certain taxpayers with allocated taxable net income in excess of 20 percent above five-year average income under CBT. | This bill imposes a 30 percent surtax, to be called the electric public utility windfall surtax, on the windfall income of electric public utilities. Under the bill, "windfall income" means the amount of allocated taxable net income of an electric public utility that is 20 percent greater than the average allocated taxable net income of the utility during the five immediately preceding privilege periods. The bill defines "allocated taxable net income" to mean the same as the term "taxable net income" is defined in the "Corporation Business Tax Act" for purposes of calculating a taxpayer's corporation business tax liability. The electric public utility windfall surtax is to be imposed in addition to the taxpayer's regular corporation business tax liability. No credits are to be allowed against the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for credits for installment payments, estimated payments made with a request for an extension of time for filing a return, or overpayments from prior privilege periods. All revenues collected from the electric public utility windfall surtax, except for amounts constitutionally dedicated for open space, farmland, and historic preservation, are to be annually appropriated to the Board of Public Utilities (board) for distribution to the ratepayers of each electric public utility subject to the electric public utility surtax. The bill requires the board to prescribe the method by which the funds appropriated from surtax proceeds are distributed, except that these monies are required to be distributed proportionally among all ratepayers of the electric public utility. | In Committee |
| AJR181 | Designating May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. Tuberous Sclerosis is a rare genetic complex that affects multiple organ systems. Tuberous Sclerosis leads to irregularities in one of two protein-encoding genes which regulate cell division and growth (TSC1 or TSC2), causing non-cancerous tumors to develop in different organs, primarily the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. The benign tumors and abnormal brain structures that are characteristic of Tuberous Sclerosis block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the brain and result in epilepsy, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and various mood complexes. Tuberous Sclerosis is a leading cause of epileptic seizures. Sixty percent of those with Tuberous Sclerosis experience autism. Tuberous Sclerosis affects one million individuals around the world and 50,000 individuals in the United States. At least two children born each day in the United States have Tuberous Sclerosis. Currently, there is no medical cure for the condition. Strategic research will prioritize earlier diagnosis, therapies, and mechanisms for prevention. Organizations such as the TSC Alliance, Matthew's Friends, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex International, and Tuberous Sclerosis Association convene to fund such research and support families influenced by Tuberous Sclerosis. The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance designates the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group's Comprehensive Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center as a network clinic and referral center. May 15 is recognized as global Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day, designed to increase public awareness for this rare condition. By amplifying the voices of individuals in the Tuberous Sclerosis community, the State may benefit from innovative treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. | In Committee |
| A5461 | Makes various changes to provisions of "Administrative Procedure Act." | This bill would make various changes to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) and other laws that supplement that act, in order to alter the procedures State agencies are required to follow when they adopt rules and regulations to implement State and federal laws. The bill would also provide for the payment of attorney's fees in certain circumstances when the head of an agency rejects or modifies the recommended report and decision of an administrative law judge and the decision is overturned by a court. Specifically, the bill would require State agencies to make available for public viewing on the agency's website (1) all public comments received related to each rule proposal issued by the agency, and (2) all data sets and other information that were used by the agency to formulate the proposed rule. The bill would also require that each rule proposal be directed toward a single object, prohibiting agencies from bundling together unrelated rule proposals. The bill would extend the public comment period for rule proposals from 30 days to 60 days. The bill would require that the socio-economic impact statement for rule proposals include estimates, in dollars, of the proposed rule's effect on annual expenditures by the State, municipalities, businesses, and residents. The bill would also require rule proposals to include a consideration of alternatives to the rule proposal, with a justification for why the proposed rule is superior to the alternatives. The bill would provide that, if 50 or more commenters request a 30-day extension to the public comment period or a public hearing for a proposed rule, this would constitute "sufficient public interest" for the purposes of section 4 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-4) and the agency proposing the rule would be required to grant the extension or hold a public hearing, as applicable. In addition, the bill would require State agencies to hold a public hearing on a rule proposal if the proposal is estimated to involve a substantive increase in expenditures by the State, municipalities, businesses, or residents. The bill would direct each State agency to formulate standards for what constitutes a "substantive increase in expenditures," but would establish a minimum threshold of $50 million in a calendar year. In addition, the bill would require State agencies to file a notice of intent for each contemplated rulemaking at least 90 days prior to issuing a formal rule proposal notification. Under current law, agencies are authorized, but not required, to file a notice of intent. The notice of intent is required to include a statement of either the terms or substance of the intended action or a description of the subjects and issues involved. The agency would be required to establish the time when, the place where, and the manner in which interested persons may present their views on the contemplated rule-making. The bill would also require agencies to review and respond to petitions that claim that one of the agency's rules is in conflict or inconsistent with another State or federal rule. Similarly, the bill would require State agencies to analyze their rules to verify that they do not conflict with other State and federal rules, prior to readopting them. The bill would require the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) to include all public comments received, and all data and other information used, for each rulemaking action in its online database of rulemaking actions. The bill would also explicitly require State agencies to provide all necessary information to the OAL for the development of the online database. In addition, the bill would require the OAL to update the database daily, rather than making "regular and timely updates," as in current law. Finally, the bill would provide that, whenever the head of the agency rejects or modifies the recommended report and decision of an administrative law judge pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-10), and the modification or rejection is subsequently overturned by judicial review, the agency would be liable for the plaintiff's attorneys' fees incurred in the court challenge to the final agency decision. | In Committee |
| A4492 | Establishes fee refund program for businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in this State. | This bill establishes a fee refund program for businesses applying for permits, licenses, or certifications in this State. This bill requires State entities that issue permits, licenses, or certifications to compile a catalog of the types of permits, licenses, or certifications it issues and submit that catalog to the Governor. This bill establishes information to be included in the catalog. This bill requires the Governor's office to establish recommended application processing times for the various types of permits, licenses, and certifications. Any State entity that exceeds the recommended application processing time as established under this bill after having received a completed application will refund the amount of the application fee to the extent permitted by law. The refund will have no bearing on the disposition of the underlying application. This bill defines "State entity" as a State department or agency, board, commission, corporation, or authority. | In Committee |
| A5446 | Prohibits BPU approval of electric and gas public utility rate increases resulting in total increase to average residential customer bill in excess of two percent annually. | This bill prohibits the Board of Public Utilities from approving electric or gas public utility rate increases that are projected to result in a total increase to an average residential customer bill in excess of two percent annually. | In Committee |
| A4653 | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | Requires AG to establish training program for crowd management and provide resources to municipal police department or force for large gatherings and flash mobs. | Crossed Over |
| A4270 | Permits greater diversity in creation of new health sharing ministries and establishes and exempts certain mandates and reporting requirements. | This bill permits greater diversity in the creation of new health sharing ministries and establishes and exempts certain mandates and reporting requirements. Under the bill, a participant in a health care sharing ministry established after December 31, 1999 will not be considered an applicable individual subject to the State's minimum essential coverage requirement, which requires that every applicable individual maintain health insurance coverage. Currently, a participant in a health care sharing ministry established after December 31, 1999 is considered an applicable individual subject to the State's minimum essential coverage requirements and must maintain health insurance coverage or pay a State-imposed tax. Additionally, the bill establishes certain reporting requirements for health care sharing ministries and organizations that offer or intend to offer a plan or arrangement to facilitate payment or reimbursement of health care costs or services for residents of this State. The reporting requirements include the total number of individuals and households that participated in the plan or arrangement in the immediately preceding calendar year and the total amount of fees, dues, or other payments collected by the ministry or organization in the immediately preceding calendar year, among other requirements. Ministries or organizations that fail to comply with the reporting requirements under the bill may be subject to certain monetary penalties or other administrative or legal actions. As used in this bill, "health care sharing ministry" means a not-for-profit organization pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) that is exempt from federal income taxes under 26 U.S.C. s.501(a), whose members: (1) share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and share medical expenses among members in accordance with those beliefs, without regard to the state in which a member resides or is employed; and (2) retain membership even after they develop a medical condition. The term "health care sharing ministry" excludes ministries that do not conduct an annual audit that: (1) is performed by an independent certified public accounting firm; (2) follows generally accepted accounting principles; and (3) is made available to the public upon request. | In Committee |
| A1672 | Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement. | An Act concerning eligibility to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement and amending P.L.1997, c.348. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3904 | Requires geotechnical testing and certain monitoring of transportation projects. | An Act concerning certain testing and monitoring of transportation capital projects and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3825 | Provides project grant under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education expansion; appropriates $7.65 million. | An Act concerning project grants under the "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education expansion and making an appropriation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4051 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | In Committee |
| A4814 | Establishes tianeptine as Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. | This bill would classify tianeptine, an antidepressant drug that can produce opioid-like effects and be similarly addicting to opioids, as a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance. Specifically, it would be placed on the Schedule II list as a form of "opiate," which is defined similarly in both the "Comprehensive Drug Reform Act of 1987," N.J.S.2C:35-1 et seq., and the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act," P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-1 et seq.), as any dangerous substance having addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining capabilities similar to morphine or being capable of conversion into a drug having such capabilities. See N.J.S.2C:35-2 and P.L.1970, c.226, s.2 (C.24:21-2). By categorizing tianeptine as a Schedule II opiate, it would be considered an illegal narcotic drug, see N.J.S.2C:35-2 (definition of "narcotic drug"), for which its manufacturing, distribution, or possession with intent to manufacture or distribute would be punishable as either a crime of the second degree if the act involved a quantity of one ounce or more or a crime of the third degree if the act involved less than one ounce. See N.J.S.2C:35-5, subsection b., paragraphs (4) and (5). A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, or ordinarily a fine of up to $15,000, but the relevant provisions of N.J.S.2C:35-5 would permit the imposition of a fine of up to $75,000, and both imprisonment and a fine could be imposed. It would also be illegal to possess, be under the influence of, or fail to voluntarily deliver to a law enforcement officer any amount of tianeptine. See N.J.S.2C:35-10. Possession of the drug would be punishable as a crime of the third degree, with a term of imprisonment of three to five years, an enhanced fine of up to $35,000, or both. Being under the drug's influence and failing to turn over the drug to a law enforcement officer would both be graded as a disorderly persons offense, with a potential term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The bill would take effect on the 30th day after the date of enactment. | Crossed Over |
| A4817 | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | Requires electric and gas public utilities to establish "Energy Bill Watch" program and include certain information in bills and notices to customers. | In Committee |
| A4391 | Allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | This bill allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II controlled dangerous substance prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to other pharmacists. Specifically, the bill provides that a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance that is prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be transferred from a pharmacist to another pharmacist, provided the prescription transfer is in compliance with federal regulations. Federal rules recently changed to allow the transfer of Schedule II-V controlled dangerous substance prescriptions between licensed pharmacies for the initial filling on a one-time basis only, upon request from the patient. New Jersey currently allows for transfers of Schedule III-V controlled dangerous substance prescriptions; this bill would expand allowable transfers to also include Schedule II controlled dangerous substance prescriptions. The bill will allow for greater flexibility for people attempting to fill attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. The ability to easily transfer prescriptions between pharmacies is especially valuable to patients who are attempting to fill prescriptions for medicine that is less available due to a shortage. Currently, when a patient is unable to fill a prescription at a particular pharmacy, the patient must ask their health care provider to send a new prescription to a different pharmacy. The bill will allow for a more efficient transfer process, by allowing pharmacies to directly transfer attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A5325 | Requires health insurance coverage for certain neurological diseases. | This bill requires health insurance carriers (insurance companies, health, hospital, and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and State and School Employees' Health Benefits Program contracts) to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the diagnosis and treatment of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) that is prescribed or ordered by the treating physician. Coverage pursuant to the bill includes antibiotics, medication and behavioral therapies to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. | In Committee |
| A5344 | Establishes certain requirements for public utility rate increases. | This bill establishes certain requirements for public utility rate increases. Specifically, the bill requires a public utility that files a petition with the Board of Public Utilities (board) for a rate increase to notify the public utility's affected customers of the filing by bill insert or by publication in newspapers published and circulated in the affected service area or areas. The notice is to include, at a minimum: (1) a summary of the contents of the filing; (2) the reasoning for the filing; and (3) a statement of the filing's impact on affected customers. In addition, the bill requires a public utility that files a petition with the board for a rate increase to send a written, plain language summary of the board order with the board's final decision on the public utility's petition to the public utility's affected customers. If the board order results in an increase to the public utility's existing individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof, the public utility is to send the summary to its affected customers 30 days prior to the effective date of the new rates. If the board order does not result in an increase to the public utility's existing individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule thereof, the public utility is to send the summary to its affected customers within 14 days after the issuance of the board order. Finally, the bill amends current law to require the board to respond in writing to any questions submitted by a member of the public during a hearing held by the board or the Office of Administrative Law on a public utility's filing to significantly increase, change, or alter its rate schedule, provided that the questions pertain to the filing being considered at the hearing. Under the bill, the board is to respond to these questions no later than 14 days after the final hearing on a public utility's application to significantly increase, change, or alter its rate schedule. | In Committee |
| A2805 | Requires issuance of report on certain information and data on processing of applications for professional and occupational licenses and mandates review of training and call intake in Division of Consumer Affairs. | This bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to review and collect certain information and data on the professions and occupations regulated by the division, or a board, committee or other entity within the division, and compile a report on the findings to be released, six months after the bill is enacted, to the Governor and State Legislature. The information and data to be reviewed and collected include 1) the number of outstanding applications each profession and occupation has for initial licensure or other type of credential; 2) the number of incomplete applications received; 3) funding expended to retain employees; 4) categorization, if possible, of the reasons for calls from applicants and how many calls come in under each category; and 5) the calculation of the percentage of completed applications for initial licensure or other credential over the past five years, to include a calculation of the number of applications that have taken at least twice as long to process in comparison to the average time to process an application. Additionally, the Attorney General, or a designee, is to 1) develop and administer training specific to a profession and occupation to new employees hired to process initial applications for licensure in the profession or occupation; and 2) review the feasibility of outsourcing phone call intake and response to businesses or associations that assist individuals seeking a license in a specific profession or occupation. | In Committee |
| A3879 | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO. | Crossed Over |
| A4284 | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Eliminates fee for special plates for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. | Crossed Over |
| A4992 | Provides project grant under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education expansion; appropriates $7.65 million. | This bill appropriates a total of $7.65 million from the "Securing Our Children's Future Fund." The total amount is directed to the Cumberland County Technical Education Center in Cumberland County for career and technical education expansion. | In Committee |
| S715 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | An Act concerning sexual assault forensic evidence kits and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| A2845 | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | Authorizes funding to protect safety of cooperating witnesses; expands Crime Victim's Bill of Rights to provide these witnesses with certain guarantees. | Crossed Over |
| AR152 | Expresses support for "Breakfast Bowl" held by Montclair State University and Rowan University and recognizes food insecurity efforts of these institutions. | This Assembly resolution expresses support for the annual "Breakfast Bowl" between Montclair State University and Rowan University, which aims to bring attention to the fight against food insecurity many residents in this State endure. The winner of the annual event, along with receiving a trophy, will have the privilege of determining whether New Jersey's famous breakfast meat is to be called "Pork Roll" or "Taylor Ham" until the teams meet for the next year's "Breakfast Bowl." Montclair State University and Rowan University both operate food pantries that seek, in part, to provide fresh produce as part of their efforts to combat food insecurity. With successful football programs that enjoy strong alumni connections and widespread stakeholder support, the "Breakfast Bowl" provides a unique opportunity for the Montclair and Rowan communities, corporate sponsors, State residents, and elected officials to come together in the fight against food insecurity across New Jersey. This resolution also recognizes the significant contributions Montclair State University and Rowan University have made in higher education through academics, community development, and athletics. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A908 | Requires AG to establish rape kit tracking system. | This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit, commonly referred to as a rape kit, tracking system. Under the bill, the Attorney General is to issue guidelines or a directive establishing the system. The bill defines a "sexual assault forensic evidence kit tracking system" as an Internet-based system that allows a person, including a victim; a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer; an employee of a healthcare facility or laboratory, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General; and any other person, as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General, to track a sexual assault forensic evidence kit through the chain of custody from the time of collection at a healthcare facility to the transfer to a local law enforcement agency, submission to a laboratory, and final disposition. | In Committee |
| A4128 | Prohibits operation of drone over school under certain circumstances. | This bill prohibits the operation of an unmanned aircraft system, commonly referred to as a drone, over a school under certain circumstances. Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person knowingly operates a drone below 250 feet over the building or grounds of any school for the purpose of conducting surveillance or gathering information without the prior written authorization of the superintendent or chief school administrator. In addition, under the bill, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person knowingly operates a drone below 250 feet over the building or grounds of any school and the unmanned aircraft system remains above or hovers above the building or grounds of the school without the prior written authorization of the superintendent or chief school administrator. Further, a person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person uses the building or grounds of a school as a takeoff or landing area for a drone. A disorderly person offense is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The bill defines, "school" as a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school within this State offering education in grades kindergarten through 12, or any combination of grades, at which a child may legally fulfill compulsory school attendance requirements. Finally, the bill provides that the bill's provisions do not prohibit the authorized use, in compliance with applicable federal rules and regulations, of a drone by a public employee, or a public entity, or by a first responder in the performance of official duties. | In Committee |
| A5101 | Eliminates transaction nexus requirement under Sales and Use Tax and Corporation Business Tax. | This bill amends current law to modify the criteria for determining when a remote seller is subject to the Sales and Use Tax Act and required to collect and remit sales tax to the State, and when a corporation is subject to taxes imposed under the Corporation Business Tax (CBT). Under current law, the Sales and Use Tax Act provides that a seller who makes retail sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products, or taxable services for delivery into New Jersey, without having a physical presence in the state, is required to collect and remit the Sales and Use Tax if: (1) the seller's gross revenue from taxable transactions delivered into New Jersey exceeds $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year; or (2) the seller made 200 or more separate taxable transactions for delivery into New Jersey during the current or prior calendar year. Similarly, under current law, the Corporation Business Tax Act provides that a corporation that derives receipts from sources within the State is subject to the CBT if: (1) the corporation derives receipts from sources within the State in excess of $100,000 during the corporation's fiscal or calendar year; or (2) the corporation has 200 or more separate transactions delivered to customers in this State during the corporation's fiscal or calendar year. Specifically, this bill removes the second criterion related to the number of transactions under both the Sales and Use Tax and the CBT. By eliminating these transactional nexus requirements, the bill provides that: (1) remote sellers would only be required to collect and remit sales tax to the State when the seller's gross revenue from taxable transactions delivered into State exceeds $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year; and (2) corporations would only be subject to CBT when the corporation's receipts from sources within this State exceed $100,000 in the corporation's fiscal or calendar year. | In Committee |
| A4148 | Requires DOH to develop informational materials on type 1 diabetes and DOE to distribute to parents and guardians of enrolled students. | An Act concerning information provided on type 1 diabetes in public schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4881 | Requires institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions to notify Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of approved federal borrower defense loan discharge. | Requires institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions to notify Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of approved federal borrower defense loan discharge. | In Committee |
| A5078 | Prohibits aquaculture of any species of octopus for purpose of human consumption. | This bill prohibits the aquaculture of any species of octopus for the purpose of human consumption. In addition, this bill prohibits a business entity from selling, possessing, or transporting any species of octopus that is the result or product of aquaculture. Any violation of the bill's provisions would be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000, and each day during which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense. The practice of octopus aquaculture has raised ethical and environmental concerns due to the highly advanced cognitive abilities and complex behaviors exhibited by these animals. Octopus farming practices and conditions, including inadequate living environments and confinement, may subject octopus to significant stress and suffering, compromise their well-being, and lead to adverse behavioral changes. As carnivores, octopuses require a high-protein diet sourced from wild fish and shellfish which could substantially increase demand on marine resources, further depleting fish stocks and disrupting marine ecosystems. Additionally, octopus aquaculture poses further risks to the marine ecosystems due to the heightened potential for the spread of infectious pathogens, which may impact other marine species and ecosystems. | In Committee |
| A2946 | Criminalizes failure to return erroneous person-to-person electronic payments following proper notification. | Criminalizes failure to return erroneous person-to-person electronic payments following proper notification. | Crossed Over |
| AR165 | Urges President and Congress of United States to enact federal legislation providing proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. | This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact federal legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The United States of America and the State of New Jersey are forever grateful to the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States and who sacrifice their lives to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of this nation. However, in the course of their selfless sacrifice for this nation, many veterans unfortunately experience permanent disabilities that can limit their ability to support themselves and their families. In recognition of the sacrifice and service of these veterans, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities receive the benefits necessary to enjoy a stable quality of life, without the fear of suffering catastrophic financial hardship. While the State of New Jersey currently provides crucial tax relief to these veterans in the form of a total property tax exemption for veterans with 100 percent service-connected disabilities, this assistance is unfortunately unavailable to veterans who live with similar disabilities in other states. To ensure that all veterans throughout the country receive property tax relief commensurate with the severity of their disabilities, there is an urgent need for the federal government to enact legislation to provide proportional property tax relief for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability. The provision of proportional property tax relief would entitle veterans with a service-connected disability to an annual property tax benefit based on a designated percentage of the property taxes paid by the veteran, as determined by the veteran's disability rating assigned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. However, to ensure that these benefits target the veterans most in need of assistance, this proportional property tax relief should be limited to those veterans with annual income up to $200,000, and the federal benefits should only be provided for the principal residences of eligible veterans. In providing this proportional property tax relief, the federal government would honor its duty and obligation to support the selfless men and women who sacrificed their well-being for the betterment of this great nation. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3994 | Expands scope of public works subject to prevailing wage requirements; concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | Expands scope of public works subject to prevailing wage requirements; concerns prevailing wage law requirements for public institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| A4639 | Requires boards of education to adopt policy on use of video surveillance systems with artificial intelligence capabilities. | Requires boards of education to adopt policy on use of surveillance systems with artificial intelligence capabilities. | In Committee |
| S3006 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | An Act concerning burglary of residential dwellings, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4880 | Prohibits cryptocurrency automatic teller machines. | This bill prohibits any business entity from owning, controlling, installing, or managing a cryptocurrency automatic teller machine (ATM) in this State. Under the bill, cryptocurrency is defined as any digital form of currency that functions as a medium of exchange through a decentralized computer network without reliance on any central authority such as a government or financial institution. In addition, a cryptocurrency ATM means a physical, internet-connected kiosk allowing users to buy, sell, send, or receive cryptocurrency by depositing money using a debit card, credit card, or cash. Under the provisions of the bill, owning, controlling, installing, managing, selling, or offering for sale a cryptocurrency ATM in this State 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. While cryptocurrency ATMs offer a convenient way for individuals to buy, sell, send, or receive digital currencies, there has been a significant rise in scams associated with their use. According to the United States Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel Network, fraud losses linked to these cryptocurrency automatic teller machines have surged nearly tenfold since 2020 to more than $110 million in 2023 and exceeded $65 million in just the first half of 2024. Since many incidents of fraud go unreported, these figures likely represent only a portion of the overall impact. It is the sponsor's intent to protect consumers from falling victim to financial losses associated with the use of cryptocurrency automatic teller machines. | In Committee |
| A4896 | Makes FY2025 supplemental appropriation of $400,000 from General fund for grant to nonprofit organization to support purchase of pet food for pet owners undergoing medical care. | This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations act to make an additional appropriation of $400,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health to provide a grant to the nonprofit organization Living for a Cause to provide funding for the Patient Pet Food Security Wellness Program. The program would assist patients undergoing medical care in Burlington County and the surrounding counties who are experiencing economic hardship, to provide pet food to patients to alleviate the financial burden of pet ownership and prevent the surrender of pets to animal shelters. Living for a Cause is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Florence, New Jersey and dedicated to a range of philanthropic causes, including animal welfare activities. Since 2009, Living for a Cause has supported many animals and their owners across New Jersey by providing an array of animal emergency programs. The program has sponsored horses that have been rescued from unsafe circumstances, provided pet oxygen masks and K9 cooling vests to relieve animals from heat stroke, distributed K9 ballistic vests to police dogs, and organized large pet food distributions for local food pantries and home delivery. Living for a Cause launched the Patient Pet Food Security Wellness Program in 2023. | In Committee |
| A4473 | Eliminates statute of limitations on income tax assessments that arise out of erroneous refunds induced by fraud. | This bill would eliminate a conflict between two fraud exceptions contained in current State law governing the statute of limitations for tax assessments under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act." Under current law, the Division of Taxation ("division") in the Department of the Treasury is required to assess additional taxes within three years after a taxpayer has filed a tax return. However, this three-year statute of limitations does not apply in certain cases, including when a taxpayer has filed a false or fraudulent return. In other words, the division may issue an assessment at any time if a taxpayer files a false or fraudulent return with the intent to evade tax. Current law also authorizes the division to issue an assessment for a deficiency arising out of an erroneous refund within three years from the issuance of the refund. This statute of limitations is extended to five years in cases in which any part of the refund was induced by fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact. The statute, however, does not explicitly define "fraud" or "misrepresentation of a material fact," which has led to questions concerning whether the statute treats fraud as having a standard that is different from misrepresentation of a material fact. This bill seeks to eliminate the disparity in treatment between when: 1) a taxpayer files a false or fraudulent return, in which case the division may assess additional taxes at any time; and 2) a fraudulent return yields a refund to a taxpayer, in which case the division may assess additional taxes within five years from the issuance of the refund. Specifically, the bill would eliminate the five-year statute of limitations on assessments for erroneous refunds that are induced by fraud. With this change, the bill provides that the division may assess additional taxes at any time if it appears that any part of an erroneous refund was induced by the filing of a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade tax. This change would eliminate the current conflict between the two fraud exceptions and specifies that the filing of a false or fraudulent return would not include a taxpayer's inadvertence, reliance on incorrect technical advice, honest difference of opinion, negligence, or carelessness. The bill eliminates the use of the term "misrepresentation of a material fact." Finally, the bill's provisions would take effect immediately and would apply retroactively to assessments of deficiencies arising out of erroneous refunds that were made within the five years preceding the date of enactment of the bill. | Crossed Over |
| A4299 | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | Establishes crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. | In Committee |
| A4596 | Requires DOH to establish partnerships with certain entities to improve emergency response to public health crisis. | This bill requires the Department of Health to establish partnerships with certain entities to improve emergency response to public health crisis. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is to: (1) identify goods and services that are critical to the Department of Health's ability to provide a robust emergency response to a public health crisis; (2) identify partnerships that are critical to the Department of Health's ability to provide a robust emergency response to a public health crisis; (3) establish mechanisms for the creation and maintenance of the partnerships described in the bill; (4) identify groups that are most at-risk during a public health crisis; (5) establish and maintain institutionalized partnerships with businesses, community groups, governments, health care facilities and professionals, industries, universities, and other stakeholders that will enable the Department of Health to expand and improve its ability to provide a robust emergency response to a public health crisis; (6) formulate collaborative public health crisis response plans through the partnerships that were formed pursuant to the bill's provisions; (7) participate in joint training and exercises with partners for the execution of collaborative public health crisis response plans; (8) regularly engage partners on topics related to the delivery of services and emergency preparedness; (9) coordinate with partners during nonemergency government operations; and (10) coordinate with other local and State agencies and departments to develop a system to share and track contacts and partnership activity. | In Committee |
| A4576 | Requires DOH to revise emergency response plan for pandemic influenzas. | The bill requires the Department of Health (department), in consultation with the State of Emergency Management, to revise the department's Pandemic Influenza Plan, or its successor plan. The bill requires the department to revise the plan to: (1) expand the scope of the emergencies anticipated by the plan to cover long-running and large-scale pandemic influenzas; (2) address each capability as outlined in the most recent United States Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities: National Standards for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Public Health, or such successor guidance as may be promulgated by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (3) outline the specific roles, succession plans, decision rights, and operational responsibilities of each State agency during a public health emergency involving a pandemic influenza; (4) outline the department's approach to coordinating each element of a pandemic influenza emergency response with local health departments in New Jersey; (5) establish or identify crisis standards of care to guide the healthcare response to pandemic influenzas in the State; and (6) incorporate strategies to address any health equity gaps related to pandemic influenzas, including any gaps that were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In revising the plan pursuant to the bill, the department will solicit input from the Governor's Office, local health departments, and other key public health stakeholders as determined by the department. The plan will be subject to regular review by the department and the State Office of Emergency Management and will be updated on a regular basis as may be appropriate. The plan will be utilized by the department and the State Office of Emergency Management to design regular emergency response training exercises related to pandemic influenzas. | In Committee |
| A3807 | Requires public institution of higher education to post syllabus of each undergraduate course on its website. | This bill requires each public institution of higher education to post on its Internet website a syllabus for each undergraduate course offered for academic credit by the institution. The syllabus is to include: (1) a brief description of each major course requirement, assignment, and examination; (2) the titles and authors of any required or recommended reading; and (3) a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or class. The bill further provides that the syllabus is to be made available no later than the seventh day before the first day of the course registration period for the semester during which the course is being offered. | In Committee |
| A4531 | Limits negotiated plea agreements for crime of burglary when firearm involved. | This bill prohibits the prosecution from entering into a plea agreement for a lesser term of imprisonment or fine for the crime of burglary when a firearm is involved. Under current law, it is a crime of the second degree if, in the course of committing the offense of burglary, the actor: (1) purposely, knowingly or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone; or (2) is armed with or displays what appears to be explosives or a deadly weapon. Under the bill, a person convicted of burglary while armed with a firearm would be ineligible to enter into a negotiated plea agreement to receive a lesser term of imprisonment or a fine. "Firearm" is defined as any handgun, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, automatic or semi-automatic rifle, or any gun, device or instrument in the nature of a weapon from which may be fired or ejected any solid projectable ball, slug, pellet, missile or bullet, or any gas, vapor or other noxious thing, by means of a cartridge or shell or by the action of an explosive or the igniting of flammable or explosive substances. "Firearm" also includes, without limitation, any firearm which is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person. | Crossed Over |
| A3004 | Restricts genetic testing of newborn and crime victim DNA; permits DNA information to be obtained pursuant to warrant or court order. | This bill limits the purposes for which genetic testing may be conducted on DNA samples taken from newborns and crime victims. Current law generally requires the informed consent of a person, or person's representative, in order to obtain a person's genetic information. However, this informed consent requirement does not apply to the use of a person's DNA by a State, county, municipal or federal law enforcement agency for the purposes of establishing the identity of a person in the course of a criminal investigation or prosecution, or for the purposes of newborn screening. Recent reports indicate that DNA samples of newborns, crime victims, and witnesses have been used to convict a family member of the newborn, the crime victim or witness, or a member of the victim's or witness' family. Under the bill, a DNA sample from a victim of or witness to a crime is only to be used to establish the identity of a person who is the subject of the criminal investigation or prosecution for which the sample was obtained. The provisions of the bill further provide that a DNA sample taken from a newborn may only be used for the purpose of detecting disorders or conditions for which newborn screening is explicitly authorized pursuant to the State's Newborn Screening Program in the Department of Health. The bill permits a person to obtain genetic information from an individual pursuant to a validly executed warrant or upon an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Further, a person may disclose or be compelled to disclose the identity of an individual upon whom a genetic test has been performed pursuant to a validly executed warrant. | In Committee |
| A4532 | Establishes separate crime of burglary of residential dwelling. | This bill establishes burglary of a residence as a separate crime from the crime of burglary pursuant to N.J.S.A.2C:18-2, thus facilitating the tracking of the crime of burglary of residential dwellings in this State. Under the bill, "residential dwelling" is defined as: (1) any building or structure, though movable or temporary, or a portion thereof, which serves primarily as a residence for one or more persons; or (2) any place adapted for overnight accommodation of persons. The penalties for burglary of a residence remain the same as under current law. It is a crime of the third degree to commit a burglary of a residential dwelling under this bill; except that it is a crime of the second degree if the actor: (1) purposely, knowingly, or recklessly inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict bodily injury on anyone; (2) is armed with or displays what appear to be explosives or a deadly weapon; or (3) enters the residential dwelling while a resident or any other person, other than a person acting in concert with the actor, is present in the residential dwelling. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. | Crossed Over |
| A1844 | Requires 60 day notice concerning tuition rate changes by licensed child care centers. | Requires 60 day notice concerning tuition rate changes by licensed child care centers. | Crossed Over |
| A4271 | Expands scope of practice of pediatricians and advanced practice nurses with respect to pediatric behavioral and developmental health care. | This bill expands the scope of practice of pediatricians and advanced practice nurses with respect to pediatric behavioral and developmental health care. Under the bill, a pediatrician or advanced practice nurse, who does not specialize in pediatric behavioral or developmental health care, is to be permitted to provide behavioral or developmental health care to children with low-acuity, behavioral or developmental conditions, including, but not limited to, anxiety or stress, as determined by the State Board of Medical Examiners and New Jersey Board of Nursing. | In Committee |
| A4680 | Requires schools to universally provide free meals to all students, regardless of whether students are federally eligible for free or reduced price meals. | This bill would require school districts and nonpublic schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, and public and nonpublic schools offering school breakfasts under the federal School Breakfast Program, to respectively provide school lunches or school breakfasts, or both, to all enrolled students, free of charge, regardless of whether each such student is determined to be federally eligible for free or reduced price school meals. Under existing federal law, a student is federally eligible to receive free or reduced price school lunch under the National School Lunch Program, or free or reduced price school breakfast under the federal School Breakfast Program, only if the student is determined to be categorically eligible for such benefits (i.e., is determined to be a homeless child, a migrant child, a runaway child, a foster child, or a Head Start Child, or is a participant in certain public benefits programs) or can demonstrate either that the student lives in a low-income household - i.e., a household having an annual income of not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Pursuant to the recently enacted "Working Class Families' Anti-Hunger Act," P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-3.2 et al.), as amended by P.L.2023, c.336 (C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), New Jersey has additionally provided for free school meals, subsidized by the State, to be provided to public school and non-public school students from "middle-income families" - i.e., families having an income of up to 224 percent of the FPL). This bill would provide for the further expansion of the existing State law, in this area, in order to expressly require all school districts and public or nonpublic schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program to provide school lunch or breakfast, or both, as appropriate, to all enrolled students, free of charge, regardless of each such students categorical eligibility or income-eligibility for federally subsidized school meals. Any student who is neither categorically nor income-eligible to receive free school meals subsidized by the federal government would, under the bill's provisions, still be deemed to be statutorily eligible for free school meals fully subsidized by the State. All students who are deemed to be categorically eligible, income-eligible, or statutorily eligible for subsidized school meals, under the bill's expanded eligibility provisions, would be eligible to continue receiving such school meals, free of charge, through a summer meals program, and, if enrolled at a public school, through an emergency meals distribution program that is activated during a period of public school closure resulting from COVID-19. The bill would revise the existing law to require schools to request that a student's parent or guardian complete a household income data collection form for the limited purposes specified in the bill. This data collection form would serve the same purposes as the current subsidized school meals application that is used to certify students as eligible for free or reduced price school meals; however, parents and guardians would be encouraged, and no longer required, to submit such forms in order for the student to receive free school meals, as provided by the bill. Any parent or guardian declining to provide such income-related data would be required to submit a signed acknowledgement card confirming that declination. Consistent with State-level reimbursement requirements previously established, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2019, c.445 (C.18A:33-21.1) and the Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act, this bill would require the State to provide funding, to each school or school district participating in the National School Lunch Program or federal School Breakfast Program, as may be necessary to reimburse the costs associated with the provision, by such school or district, of subsidized school meals to students who are federally ineligible for free or reduced price school meals. The bill would repeal various sections of existing law, pertaining to school lunch programs, school breakfast programs, and summer meals programs, which are contrary to the bill's universal free meal provisions. Some of the sections being repealed would be replaced by new sections of the bill. The sections being repealed, and the provisions replacing those repealed sections, are as follows: (1) Section 1 of P.L.2006, c.14 (C.18A:33-3.1). This section pertains to prepayment for school lunches. Because students will no longer be required to pay for school lunches under the bill, this section is being repealed. (2) Section 2 of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-5). This section exempts, from school lunch requirements, any school in which less than five percent of enrolled students meet federal eligibility requirements for receipt of free meals. Because the bill requires all schools to provide free school lunches, this section is being repealed; however, the exemption previously provided thereby is being restated in section 1 of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-4), as amended by section 2 of the bill. (3) Section 3 of P.L.2003, c.4 (C.18A:33-11). This section requires a school district to publicize the availability of the federal School Breakfast Program, to ensure that students eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts are not treated differently than other students, and to encourage students who are not eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts to, nonetheless, participate in the federal School Breakfast Program. Because the bill provides that income-eligibility may not be considered when providing free meals to students, this section is being repealed, and its publicity provisions are being moved to, and restated in, other provisions of the bill. (5) Section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21). This section provides procedures to be implemented by a school district, and establishes certain prohibitions on discriminatory treatment, when a student's school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears. Because students will not be required to pay for school lunch or breakfast under the bill's provisions and the determination of school meal arrearages will, therefore, not be relevant to whether a student receives school meals under the bill, this section is being repealed. (6) Section 1 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21a). This section established a short title (the "Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act"), which was to be used in citing to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) and sections 3 and 4 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21b and C.18A:33-21c). However, section 3 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21b) was previously repealed by P.L.2023, c.336 (C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), and section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) is being repealed by this bill. In addition, because the only remaining provision of law cited in this section - i.e., section 4 of P.L.2020, c.29 (C.18A:33-21c) - contains only a single sentence related to the receipt of school meals by homeless students (and does not a more detailed provision establishing a "bill of rights" for all students), it no longer seems necessary or appropriate to attach a short title to this sole remaining provision of law, particularly when the existing short title does not reflect the purpose of that remaining provision. As a result, this short title section is being repealed. | In Committee |
| A2294 | Establishes mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. | Establishes mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for certain homeowners impacted by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. | Vetoed |
| ACR141 | Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption for primary residence owned and occupied by surviving spouse of first responder who dies while performing regular or assigned duties. | This proposed constitutional amendment would provide a property tax exemption for the primary residence owned and occupied by the surviving spouse of a first responder who dies as a direct result of performing regular or assigned duties. The property tax exemption would include the surviving spouses of a law enforcement officer, both paid and volunteer firefighters, and first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad members. However, the property for which the property tax exemption is granted is required to have been the primary residence of the first responder at the time of the first responder's death. A surviving spouse may receive the property tax exemption for as long as the spouse owns and occupies the home as a primary residence and does not remarry. However, the property tax exemption would not be provided to the surviving spouse of a first responder who dies as a direct result of the first responder's own willful negligence. The property tax exemption also would not be provided to a surviving spouse who did not cohabit with the first responder at their time of death under circumstances which would have given rise to a cause of action for a divorce. | In Committee |
| AR150 | Recognizes historical importance and cultural significance of Hinchliffe Stadium and annual football game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University at Hinchliffe Stadium. | This Assembly resolution recognizes the historical importance and cultural significance of Hinchliffe Stadium to the State of New Jersey. This resolution also recognizes the significance of an annual football game between Montclair State University and William Paterson University at Hinchliffe Stadium as a sporting event that honors the history and legacy of the stadium. Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey is one of only two surviving Negro League stadiums in the nation and holds immense historical significance as a landmark of sports culture. The stadium, built in 1932, was renovated and reopened in 2023 as a 10,000 seat stadium, and features the Charles J. Muth Museum, a treasure trove of baseball's past. The preservation of historic sites like Hinchliffe Stadium is vital for educating future generations about the contributions of African American athletes to American sports and society. Montclair State University and William Paterson University have a longstanding football rivalry. The annual game between the two institutions is a celebrated event that brings together students, alumni, and the community. Plans to hold the annual rivalry game at Hinchliffe Stadium will not only honor the legacy of the stadium, but also promote its historical and cultural significance. | In Committee |
| A4711 | Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury. | This bill requires a public institution of higher education to provide an alternative scholarship to a student-athlete who loses an athletic scholarship due to an injury. If a public institution of higher education rescinds or does not renew an athletic scholarship previously awarded by the institution to a student-athlete due to an incapacitating injury or illness, the bill requires the institution to provide the student-athlete with a scholarship equal in value to the athletic scholarship for the remainder of the student's enrollment in an undergraduate degree program at the institution, or for a maximum of five academic years, inclusive of the duration of the athletic scholarship, whichever is shorter. The bill defines "incapacitating injury or illness" to mean an injury or illness directly related to the student-athlete's participation in an intercollegiate athletic program at a public institution of higher education that has been determined by the institution's medical staff to make the student-athlete medically ineligible to continue participation in intercollegiate athletics. | 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 |
| S1017 | Establishes right of sexual assault victim to notification of certain developments in criminal case. | An Act concerning the rights of victims of sexual assault and amending and supplementing P.L.2019, c.103 (C.52:4B-60.1 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4360 | "New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act"; requires DCA to establish design professional self-certification program. | An Act establishing a design professional self-certification program and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A2884 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | An Act concerning the purchase of credit in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System for certain service and amending P.L.1991, c.153. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S2869 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | This bill provides that if the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development finds that an employer has, for the purpose of concealing any violation of State wage, benefit and tax laws, disclosed or threatened to disclose to a public body an employee's immigration status, the commissioner is, in addition to imposing any other remedies or penalties authorized by law, authorized to assess and collect an administrative penalty against the employer. Specifically, the bill provides for administrative penalties as follows: (1) for the first violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000; (2) for the second violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000; and (3) for any subsequent violation, an administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000. When determining the amount of the administrative penalty imposed pursuant to the bill's provisions, the commissioner may consider factors which include the history of previous violations by the employer, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith of the employer and the size of the employer's business. The commissioner may not levy an administrative penalty pursuant to the bill's provisions unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator with notification of the violation and of the amount of administrative penalty, and unless the commissioner provides the alleged violator an opportunity to request a hearing before the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3772 | Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity. | An Act revising the process for a property tax lien holder to foreclose the right to redeem a property tax lien, amending various parts of the statutory law, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes and P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3192 | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | An Act concerning consumer rights in certain real estate transactions and amending P.L.2009, c.238 and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes and chapter 8 of Title 56 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A4081 | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | Establishes penalties for employers who disclose or threaten to disclose employee's immigration status for purpose of concealing violation of State wage, benefit or tax laws. | In Committee |
| SCR110 | Approves FY2025 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2024 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| A3748 | Establishes right of sexual assault victim to notification of certain developments in criminal case. | This bill requires sexual assault victims to be notified of certain developments concerning the evidence in their cases. Specifically, the bill expands the State's Sexual Assault Victim's Bill of Rights to give sexual assault victims the right to be informed if: (1) a DNA profile of an assailant was obtained from the processing of evidence in the sexual assault case; (2) a DNA profile of an assailant has been entered into any data bank designed or intended to be used for the retention or comparison of case evidence; (3) there is a match between the DNA profile of an assailant obtained in the sexual assault case and a DNA profile contained in any data bank designed or intended to be used for the retention or comparison of case evidence; and (4) sexual assault evidence is submitted to a forensic laboratory, if that evidence is compared against any data bank, and the results of the comparison. Additionally, under the bill, upon a victim's request, the law enforcement agency with the primary responsibility for investigating a sexual assault case is required to inform the victim of the status of the processing of all evidence collected in that case. The bill authorizes the victim to designate another person of the victim's choosing to receive information requested by the sexual assault victim or any notice required by the bill. The victim is responsible for keeping the law enforcement agency informed of the name, address, telephone number, and electronic mail address of the person to whom the information should be provided, and of any changes in this information. | In Committee |
| ACR139 | Approves FY2025 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | The passage of a concurrent resolution by each House is the means for the Legislature's approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Plan of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. The consolidated Financial Plan is required by law to be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly on or before May 15, 2024 to implement financing of clean water and drinking water projects on the eligibility lists developed by the Department of Environmental Protection. | In Committee |
| A4454 | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act." | In Committee |
| A4628 | Requires health benefits coverage of continuous glucose monitoring system for treatment of glycogen storage disease. | This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital, and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program) to provide coverage for expenses incurred in the purchase and use of a continuous glucose monitoring system, as prescribed by health care practitioner for the treatment of glycogen storage disease. | In Committee |
| AJR188 | Designates March 31 of each year as "Jack Antonoff Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates March 31 of each year as "Jack Antonoff Day" to recognize the musician and producer's contributions to modern pop music and his support for LGBTQ youth. Jack Antonoff was born in Bergenfield, New Jersey on March 31, 1984, and is currently the lead vocalist for the band "Bleachers," guitarist and drummer for "Fun," and was the lead vocalist for "Steel Train." He has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award and has won ten Grammy Awards, including three consecutive Producer of the Year Awards. His impact on modern pop music is undeniable, having worked with Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Sara Bareilles, the 1975, Lorde, St. Vincent, Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, Fifth Harmony, Kevin Abstract, Carly Rae Jepsen, the Chicks, Tegan and Sara, and Clairo. Jack Antonoff founded the Ally Coalition with Rachel Antonoff, which is committed to bettering the lives of LGBTQ youth through tours, social media campaigns, and collaborative partnerships, providing meaningful support to organizations serving LGBTQ youth. With the Ally Coalition's unique connection to the entertainment industry, the artists they partner with use their platforms to raise awareness of the systemic inequalities facing the LGBTQ population and activate prominent members of the creative community and their fan bases to engage with these issues in meaningful and impactful ways. The Ally Coalition worked with Janet Mock to gather 40,000 people to support transgender students and produces an annual talent show in New York City headlined with talented and groundbreaking artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, the National, Hayley Kiyoko, Sasheer Zamata, and Lana Del Rey. Given Jack Antonoff's impact on modern pop music and his support for LGBTQ youth, it is appropriate for the State of New Jersey to honor his work and designate March 31 of each year as "Jack Antonoff Day" in New Jersey. | 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 |
| A4638 | Establishes "Resident Firefighter Grant Program" in Division of Fire Safety. | This bill establishes the "Resident Firefighter Grant Program" in the Division of Fire Safety (division) in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). This program would provide grants to fire districts to use for the creation and expansion of resident firefighter programs. The bill defines "resident firefighter" as a firefighter who performs fire station duties including, but not limited to, attending trainings and responding to emergency calls, in exchange for free living accommodations. The bill requires the director of the division, to the extent possible, to equitably distribute grant awards to successful applicants in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. Funds distributed under the program are required to be used for the purposes as prescribed in the bill, including, but not limited to, incentives and amenities for resident firefighters, and construction of, and supplies for, dormitories for resident firefighters which may include kitchen facilities. The bill also requires DCA to annually request, as part of its annual budget proposal, a minimum of $5 million to fund the grants authorized by the bill. The bill also requires DCA and the division to pursue and utilize any available federal, State, local, and private funding for the grants. | In Committee |
| A4537 | Requires public institution of higher education to adopt withdrawal policy permitting refund for certain extenuating circumstances. | This bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that permits a student to withdraw for an extenuating circumstance and receive a refund. Under the bill, the policy is required to: (1) define "extenuating circumstance," which is to include: illness; injury; hospitalization; and mental health and wellness; (2) include a provision to refund tuition and fees paid by the student for the semester in which the student withdraws if the extenuating circumstances inhibit the student's ability to acquire an education at the institution; (3) establish criteria to determine whether a student's ability to acquire an education has been inhibited by an extenuating circumstance; (4) include a provision that any student who withdraws in compliance with the policy and who has paid amounts for room, board, or fees is entitled to a refund of the portion of those charges attributable to the time period during which the facilities or services were not used by the student; and (5) explain that any refund payable to a student who is a financial aid recipient or State aid recipient is subject to the applicable State and federal laws and regulations regarding refunds. | In Committee |
| A4538 | Prohibits public institutions of higher education from increasing resident undergraduate tuition by more than two percent over prior academic year. | This bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from increasing the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for any academic year by more than two percent over the institution's resident undergraduate tuition rates for the prior academic year. | In Committee |
| A4561 | Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000. | This bill amends N.J.S.A.2C:16-1, the crime of bias intimidation,to specifically include Sikhism in the protected classes set forth in the statute. Sikhism is the monotheistic religion founded in India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. New Jersey is home to approximately 100,000 Sikhs, which is one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States. On October 16, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") released its annual report of hate crime statistics, which recorded 198 anti-Sikh hate crime incidents. According to the FBI report, Sikhs remain the second-most targeted group in the nation for religiously-motivated hate crime incidents. Current law enumerates the protected classes of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, and ethnicity in the bias intimidation statute. Under the provisions of the bill, a person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts, conspires, or threatens the immediate commission of certain specified offenses with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group because of their membership within a protected class, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, or Sikhism, or knowing that the conduct would cause an individual or group to be intimidated on that basis or under circumstances in which the victim believes he was targeted on that basis. Pursuant to this bill, all local, county, and State law enforcement entities in New Jersey are to report all violations under the statute to the State and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for preparing bias crime reports. Further, this bill sets forth that the Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Education, is to: (1) develop training, for the dissemination to county and local law enforcement agencies, on Sihkism, which shall include, but not limited to, visible Sikh identity features, including turbans, bracelets, moustaches, beard, and physical attire, and the classification of bias intimidation cases as anti-sikh, to prevent the misclassification of hate and bias incidents. (2) coordinate with other State agencies and departments in the creation of a public awareness campaign and educational initiatives on Sikhism; and (3) annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the public awareness campaign,educational initiatives on Sikhism executed through the public awareness campaign across different public platforms, and on the steps taken to include Sikhism education across curriculum standards in different grades across township boards of education within this State. Pursuant to this bill, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General, in consultation with the New Jersey field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop a transnational repression recognition and response training program that is to include how to identify different tactics of transnational repression and best practices for appropriate county, local and state law enforcement prevention, reporting, and response tactics. Current law establishes within the Division of Purchase and Property in the State Department of the Treasury, the position of Chief Diversity Officer. This bill expands the Chief Diversity Officer's responsibilities to include: ensuring that each public entity of this State incorporate the definition for anti-Sikh hate into the bias intimidation policy of the public entity; and ensuring that the definition of anti-Sikh hate is incorporated into the diversity, equity, and inclusivity promotion policies in any program offered by the State or any political subdivision of the State. This bill appropriates $100,000, for three consecutive years following enactment, from the General Fund to the Office of the Attorney General to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives and outreach efforts to the Sikh community. | In Committee |
| A4536 | Provides that contracts between subscribers and attorney in fact are not a related party transaction. | This bill amends the law concerning reciprocal insurance and interinsurance contracts. The bill provides that contracts between subscribers and the attorney in fact, and any fees charged pursuant to those contracts or arising out of those contracts, are not to be considered a related party transaction. | In Committee |
| A4432 | Establishes Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council in DOH; requires council to create report on human trafficking and 2026 FIFA World Cup; appropriates $1 million. | Establishes Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council in DOH; requires council to create report on human trafficking and 2026 FIFA World Cup; appropriates $1 million. | In Committee |
| A4503 | Extends requirements on use of restraint and seclusion to all students; requires immediate parental notification; requires DOE to collect and report data regarding use of restraint and seclusion on students. | In January of 2018, the Legislature enacted P.L.2017, c.291 that established certain requirements in the event that a school district, educational services commission, or an approved private school for students with disabilities choose to utilize physical restraint or a seclusion technique on a student with disabilities. This bill amends that law to provide that in addition to the requirements previously imposed when physical restraint or seclusion techniques are used on a student with disabilities, the school district, educational services commission, or the approved private school for students with disabilities are also required to: 1) request a meeting with the parent or guardian of the student who has been subjected to physical restraint or seclusion on more than one occasion to discuss a plan for improving the student's behavior; 2) in the case of seclusion, to immediately notify the student's parent or guardian when the student is subject to seclusion by telephone or electronic communication. Under the current law, this requirement is only applicable to the use of physical restraint; and 3) provide a full written report of the incident of seclusion to the student's parent or guardian within 48 hours of the occurrence of the incident. Again, under current law, this requirement is only applicable to the use of physical restraint. The bill directs the Department of Education to establish guidelines on adequate physical requirements for a seclusion area, including guidelines on the lighting and space of the seclusion area. The guidelines are to ensure the safety and dignity of the student placed in the seclusion area. The bill also directs the department to annually collect data from school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities on the use of physical restraint and seclusion. The department is to annually publish the data on its website disaggregated by county and by race, gender, and age. Finally, the bill provides that the requirements included in current law and in the bill on the use of physical restraint and seclusion on students with disabilities, will also be applied to the use of physical restraint and seclusion on all other students. | In Committee |
| A4504 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-owned lakes; appropriates $2 million. | This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct, cause to be constructed, or enter into long-term contracts with the owners of private marinas to provide for, public boat access to any State-owned lake at which boats with or without onboard motors are allowed. Any contract entered into with an owner of a private marina would be subject to a public bidding process. The bill would appropriate $2 million from the General Fund to the DEP in order to provide for the public boat access required by the bill. The bill is intended to ensure the public has boat access to any State-owned lake on which boats are allowed. Greenwood Lake is one example where a public boat launch is needed in order to ensure that the public is able to enjoy the same access to the lake as private property owners adjacent to the lake and members of private marinas located on the lake. Currently, there is no public boat launch in either New Jersey or New York. Private marina owners have previously allowed day-use access to their privately-owned boat ramps for a fee. However, as marinas on the lake have surged in popularity and there has been an increase in demand for access, particularly seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, these private marinas are operating at capacity and have either limited or eliminated public day-use access. Thus, members of the public are denied boating access to the lake. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A3975 | Establishes oversight and qualifications of peer recovery specialists. | Establishes oversight and qualifications of peer recovery specialists. | 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 |
| A4265 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | This bill requires the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury to provide monetary awards to whistleblowers who report tax law violations committed by employers in the construction industry. The bill defines "employer in the construction industry" as an employer engaging in any activity related to the erection, construction, alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures, bridges, highways, roadways, dams, tunnels, sewers, underground buildings or structures, pipelines or ducts and all other construction projects or facilities. Under the bill, if the director proceeds with an administrative or judicial action against an employer in the construction industry and determines that the action is based on specific and credible information brought to the director by an individual, the director is required to provide that individual an award of at least 15 percent, but not more than 30 percent, of the proceeds collected as a result of the action or from any settlement in response to that action; provided, however, if the director determines an action is based principally on an individual's disclosure of an allegation resulting from a judicial or administrative hearing, from a governmental report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or from the news media, any award provided by the director to that individual may not exceed 10 percent of the proceeds. The bill requires the director to determine the amount of an award based upon the extent to which any information submitted by an individual contributed to the outcome of an action or related settlement. If the director determines that the claim for an award pursuant to the bill is brought by an individual who planned and initiated the actions that led to the violation resulting in the administrative or judicial action in which that individual is a party, the bill permits the director to reduce the amount of the award. In addition, if such an individual is convicted of criminal conduct arising from the individual's role in the violation, then the director is not permitted to provide an award to that individual. The following individuals are also ineligible to receive an award under the bill: (1) an individual who obtained information through the individual's official duties as an employee of the Department of the Treasury; and (2) an individual who filed a claim for an award based on information obtained from an ineligible individual for the purpose of avoiding the rejection of the claim that would have resulted if the claim was filed by the ineligible individual. The bill provides that any complaint with respect to an award provided, reduced, or revoked pursuant to the bill is to be filed within 30 days after the date of the provision, reduction, or revocation of that award. Finally, the bill protects any employee, as defined by the bill, from retaliatory action under the provisions of the "Conscientious Employee Protection Act," P.L.1986, c.105 (C.34:19-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| A4172 | Concerns discrimination based on membership in a labor organization. | This bill extends protection under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to members of a labor organization. The LAD, P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et. seq.), provides protections for those who are members of a protected class, including protection against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, land use, lending, and association membership. Under current law, a member of a protected class includes an employee who has one or more characteristics, including race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, sex, gender identity or expression, disability or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait of any individual, or liability for service in the armed forces. This bill provides that members of a labor organization also are members of a protected class who are entitled protection under the LAD. In addition, the bill revises the definition of "labor organization" to include any organization of any kind, including a labor union or any agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which public or private employees participate and which exists and is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with public or private employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment. | In Committee |
| A4028 | Provides certain resources to county prosecutors for enforcement of law regarding failure to pay wages; makes appropriation. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), for purposes of supporting the enforcement of the provisions of State wage and hour laws, to provide funds and training to each county prosecutor's office for the investigation and prosecution of the abovementioned laws and worker exploitation. The bill requires the county prosecutor of each county to establish and assign an assistant prosecutor to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the State wage and hour laws. The bill makes an appropriation from the General Fund to the DOLWD, not to exceed $2,000,000, for purposes of effectuating the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| A3885 | Imposes additional annual registration fee for electric vehicles; reduces rate of highway fuel taxes; authorizes DOT to conduct alternative revenue feasibility study. | This bill would ensure greater tax fairness between the owners of gas powered vehicles and electric vehicles. Namely, the bill would establish an additional annual registration fee for electric vehicles, provide for a reduction in the State tax on highway fuels under both the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts (PPGR) Tax and the Motor Fuels Tax, and require the Department of Transportation to study and make recommendations concerning the dedication of alternative sources of revenue to the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). Additional Annual Registration Fee for Electric Vehicles The bill first requires the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to impose and collect an additional annual registration fee for each passenger and commercial electric vehicle in the State. Under the bill, the amount of the additional annual registration fee would be $300 for each passenger electric vehicle and $450 for each commercial electric vehicle during the fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 2025. Notably, the bill requires all revenues derived from these additional registration fees to be collected by the chief administrator and remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit into the TTF. Reduction of Highway Fuel Taxes Next, the bill would enact a 33 percent reduction in the taxes imposed on highway fuels under both the Motor Fuel Tax and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax (PPGRT), collectively referred to as the "gas tax," beginning with State Fiscal Year 2025. The bill would also permanently extend the procedure by which the rate of tax imposed on highway fuels under the PPGRT is calculated. Currently, the Motor Fuel Tax is fixed at 10.5 cents for gasoline and 13.5 cents for diesel fuel, and the PPGR tax is set at 31.8 cents for gasoline and 35.8 cents for diesel fuel. The Motor Fuel Tax on gasoline would be lowered from 10.5 cents to 7 cents per gallon, and the motor fuel tax on diesel would be lowered from 13.5 cents to 9 cents per gallon. The motor fuel tax on liquefied petroleum gas would likewise be lowered from 5.25 cents per gallon to 3.5 cents given that the tax rate for these products are set at one-half of the tax imposed on gasoline. Under current law, the tax rate imposed on highway fuels under the PPGRT is annually adjusted by the State Treasurer to ensure that the State realizes a statutorily prescribed revenue target. All revenues collected are deposited into the TTF to support transportation infrastructure projects and debt service on transportation bonds. This annual adjustment mechanism is currently set to expire at the conclusion of State Fiscal Year 2026. This bill would permanently extend this annual adjustment mechanism. The bill also reduces the rate of tax imposed on highway fuels under the PPGRT by lowering the statutorily prescribed revenue target, also referred to as the "highway fuel cap amount," by 33 percent. The highway fuel cap amount is based on State Fiscal Year 2016 sum of: (1) the taxes collected on the 12.48 percent and four cent tax rates for highway fuels taxes, (2) the amount derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the four cent motor fuel tax, and (3) the amount that would have been derived from taxing the gallonage of highway fuel subject to the motor fuel tax at a rate of 23 cents per gallon. To ensure adequate funding for the TTF, the bill would require the State to annually appropriate from the General Fund such amounts as are necessary from the revenues collected under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.) into the TTF to support all debt service obligations of the Transportation Trust Fund Authority's (TTFA) for the current year. Alternative Revenue Feasibility Study Finally, the bill requires the Department of Transportation (department), in consultation with the TTFA and the Office of Revenue and Economic Analysis in the Department of the Treasury, to study and make recommendations and a repot concerning the dedication of alternative sources of revenue to the TTF. These revenues may be necessary to offset future revenue reductions from the Motor Fuels Tax (MFT) and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax (PPGRT) due to the decreased consumption of gasoline, diesel, and other highway fuels. The purpose of this study will be to identify one or more sources of revenue, other than the Motor Fuels Tax and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax, that may be relied upon to fund the TTF in future years. At a minimum, the report would be required to: (1) analyze the feasibility of dedicating alternative sources of revenue to the TTF; and (2) make recommendations for the dedication of alternative sources of revenue, other than the MFT and the PPGRT, to the TTF. No later than August 31, 2026, the department is required to submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature as well as publish an electronic copy of the report on the department's official Internet website. | In Committee |
| A3808 | "Used Car Buyers' Bill of Rights"; prohibits certain "as is" sales of used motor vehicles. | This bill, designated the "Used Car Buyers' Bill of Rights," prohibits "as is" sales of used motor vehicles to consumers, requires dealers to offer contract cancellation option agreements for certain used vehicles, and establishes additional requirements for dealers selling used vehicles. The bill does not apply to transactions between private parties or the sale of used motorcycles, motor homes, or off-road vehicles. The bill makes it an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act for a dealer to sell to a consumer a used vehicle deemed to be "certified" or any other similar descriptive term that implies the vehicle complies with the terms of a used motor vehicle certification program if: the dealer knows or should know that the odometer is inaccurate; the dealer knows or should know that the vehicle was reacquired by a manufacturer or dealer pursuant to state or federal warranty laws; the title to the vehicle is inscribed with the notation "flood," "junk," "Lemon Law Buyback," "manufacturer repurchase," "nonrepairable," "salvage," or another similar title designation; the vehicle sustained damage in an impact, fire, or flood which substantially impairs its use or safety; the dealer knows or should know that the vehicle sustained frame damage which, after repair prior to sale, substantially impairs the use or safety of the vehicle; prior to sale, the dealer fails to provide a consumer with a completed inspection report indicating all the components were inspected; the dealer disclaims any warranties of merchantability on the vehicle; or the term "certified," or any other similar descriptive term, is used in a manner that is untrue or misleading. The bill requires that a dealer offer a consumer a contract cancellation option agreement that allows the consumer to return the used motor vehicle, without cause, if the used motor vehicle has a purchase price of less than $40,000. The contract cancellation option agreement gives the consumer the right to cancel the contract and obtain a refund. The bill sets forth the information to be contained in any contract cancellation option agreement, including the deadline for exercising the cancellation option and returning the vehicle to the dealer, the maximum mileage the vehicle may be driven, which could not be less than 250 miles, and any restocking fee. A dealer would be required to apply toward the restocking fee the price paid by the consumer for the contract cancellation option agreement. A dealer also is required to give notice at its business location and in the contract for the used motor vehicle that there is no cancellation period, sometimes referred to as a "cooling-off" period, unless a consumer obtains a contract cancellation option. Under the bill, the requirement that a dealer offer a contract cancellation option to a consumer does not apply to total loss or salvage vehicles. The bill provides that the fee for the contract cancellation option agreement is not to exceed the following: (1) $75 for a used motor vehicle with a cash price of $5,000 or less; (2) $150 for a used motor vehicle with a cash price of between $5,000.01 and $10,000; (3) $250 for a used motor vehicle with a cash price of between $10,000.01 and $30,000; or (4) one percent of the purchase price for a used motor vehicle with a cash price of $30,000.01 to $40,000. Under the bill, after a consumer exercises the right to cancel a contract under the agreement, no later than three business days for a used motor vehicle purchased by cash, credit or debit card, or bank loan, or 10 business days for a used motor vehicle purchased by check, the dealer is required to cancel the contract and provide the consumer with a refund, including the appropriate portion of the sales tax or other fees paid. In addition, within three business days, a dealer would be required to return to the consumer any used vehicle the consumer conveyed to the dealer as a down payment or trade-in. If the dealer sold or otherwise transferred title to that used vehicle, the refund would include the fair market value of that used vehicle or its value as stated in the contract, whichever is greater. Currently, P.L.1995, c.373 (C.56:8-67 et seq.) sets forth minimum warranty requirements when a dealer sells to a consumer a used vehicle. Under current law, in the event that a used motor vehicle is sold "as is," it is an unlawful practice for a dealer to fail to provide a clear written explanation, prior to sale, of what is meant by the term "as is." The bill amends current law to make it an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act for a dealer to sell a consumer a used vehicle "as is," i.e., without any warranty. The bill eliminates the existing ability of a dealer to sell a consumer a used vehicle "as is" as a result of negotiating a lower price in exchange for waiving the dealer's obligation to provide a warranty. The bill revises the mileage requirements under the dealer's required written warranty. If the motor vehicle has less than 40,000 miles, the warranty would be 90 days or 3,750 miles, whichever comes first. If the motor vehicle has 40,000 miles or more, but less than 80,000 miles, the warranty would be 60 days or 2,500 miles, whichever comes first. If the used motor vehicle has 80,000 miles or more, but less than 125,000 miles, the warranty would be 30 days or 1,250 miles, whichever comes first. If the used motor vehicle has 125,000 miles or more, a consumer would be entitled to any implied warranties created by law. Under the bill, a dealer may sell a used motor vehicle "as is" and is not required to provide a written warranty to a consumer if the used motor vehicle has been issued a salvage certificate of title by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or declared a total loss by an insurance company, of if the used motor vehicle has been reported as a salvage vehicle or as a total loss in a National Motor Vehicle Title Information System history report. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Additionally, 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. | In Committee |
| A3635 | Provides for spaying and neutering stray or feral cats and establishes fund therefor; designated as "Compassion for Community Cats Law." | The bill, designated as the "Compassion for Community Cats Law," provides for the spaying and neutering of stray or feral cats. In particular, the bill provides, with limited exceptions, that: (1) no cat may be released for adoption from an animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound unless the cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian; and (2) any community cat trapped and impounded at a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound, or trapped and taken to an animal rescue organization facility, must be spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, and vaccinated against rabies before being returned to the location where the community cat was trapped or given to a person assuming ownership of the community cat. The spaying and neutering requirements do not apply to a cat or a community cat that: (1) is less than two months old; (2) a licensed veterinarian determines cannot be spayed or neutered for other health reasons affecting the cat; (3) is placed in a foster home or transferred to another shelter, pound, kennel operating as a shelter or pound, or animal rescue organization facility by a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound; or (4) is to be euthanized in accordance with the provisions of section 16 of P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16) and R.S.4:22-19, which provide for humanely euthanizing animals after a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound has offered the animal for adoption for at least seven days. The bill authorizes an animal rescue organization facility, shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound to charge the cost of spaying or neutering the cat to the person assuming ownership of the cat. The bill also amends various sections of existing law to allow for the implementation of the new spaying and neutering requirements established by the bill and other provisions of the bill. The bill authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt regulations necessary to implement grant programs and fund the spaying and neutering requirements established in the bill. The bill establishes the "Compassion for Community Cats Fund" in the DOH to provide grants to municipalities and counties to establish programs to humanely trap community cats, and sterilize, ear-tip, and vaccinate them against rabies, and return each feral cat to the location where the cat was trapped. The "Compassion for Community Cats Fund" is to be credited with the monies collected for violations of the bill, the surcharge on dog licenses imposed by section 1 of P.L.1983, c.181 (C.4:19-15.3c), any moneys appropriated by the Legislature, and any return on investment of moneys deposited in the fund. Finally, the bill repeals sections 2 and 3 of P.L.2011, c.142 (C.4:19-15.30 and 4:19-15.31), known as the "Pet Sterilization Pilot Program." Feral cat populations have existed in the State since the time of the first European settlements and they continue to exist primarily due to a lack of effective management in the form of spaying and neutering. To a lesser but still important extent, cats are abandoned, stray from their owners, or are allowed to roam unsupervised, and, if sexually intact, will reproduce. Feral cats are known as "community cats" because they live outdoors and are not owned by anyone but may be cared for by members of the community. The practice of "catch and kill," whereby community cats are trapped and subsequently euthanized, has failed to effectively manage feral cat populations and the continued use of "catch and kill" is an inhumane practice that is incompatible with the moral values of this State. "Trap, neuter, vaccinate and return," also known as "TNVR," is the most effective, compassionate, and humane method of managing these populations of community cats. TNVR is a nonlethal population control method in which community cats are humanely trapped, vaccinated against rabies, and spayed or neutered by licensed veterinarians, and then returned to the location where they were trapped. TNVR is also the most effective method of reducing the burden of community cats on the State's animal shelters. The Office of Veterinary Public Health in the Department of Health reported that cats accounted for more than half of the animals impounded and nearly 80 percent of the animals that were euthanized in the State's animal shelters in 2017. The TNVR method of managing community cat populations is also cost effective for the State's taxpayers, the most beneficial to public health, and results in improved quality of life for the residents of the State. Five counties and more than 150 municipalities in the State and the National Animal Care and Control Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Humane Society of the United States endorse TNVR for managing community cat populations. This bill would promote the use of TNVR by enabling municipalities and counties to implement this effective, compassionate and humane method of managing community cat populations through provision of municipal startup grants and by appropriately aligning the use of the Animal Population Control Fund with spraying and neutering services in the State to manage community cat populations. | In Committee |
| A3592 | Requires landlord to provide written explanation for rent increase. | This bill requires, along with the existing rent increase notice requirements, that a landlord provide a written explanation for a rent increase, which would: (1) describe why the rent increase is not unconscionable; (2) confirm that the increase complies with municipal ordinances, and other applicable laws; and (3) list any expenses associated with the tenant's unit and common areas of the property that have contributed to the need for the rent increase. Additionally, the bill also requires that if the tenant is a resident of a senior citizen housing project, which refers to a building with three or more dwelling units, intended for, and solely occupied by, senior citizens, then the written notice of increase in rent is to include: (a) the contact information of an individual authorized to speak to the tenants about the proposed rent increase; and (b) a statement, provided in the bill, in a bold typeface in a font size no less than one point larger than the point size of the rest of the written statement or 11 points, whichever is larger. The bill also adjusts the underlying statutory language concerning notice requirements prior to rent increases to clarify that those notices have to be in writing, and establishes a penalty for a landlord's violation of the bill of $500, enforceable: (1) in an action brought by the Commissioner of Community Affairs or Attorney General; and (2) in a separate cause of action brought by and at the discretion of the tenant, who may recover the $500 penalty, in addition to reasonable attorney's fees or expenses. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment, and would apply to any notice of a rent increase provided to a tenant by a landlord on or after that date. The cost of housing in New Jersey, including rental housing, constitutes one of the most substantial financial challenges faced by residents of this State. Due to the housing shortage, in addition to the disparity in bargaining power between residential tenants and their landlords, a significant number of New Jersey residents struggle to afford rent and dispute rent increases by their landlords. New Jersey law requires a landlord to provide a written notice to the tenant whenever the landlord intends to increase rent, and a written notice to quit, or terminate, the tenancy at the end of the lease term. State law has not set forth a precise limit on rent increases, but has instead required that a rent increase not be "unconscionable," which may be asserted as a defense to an eviction by a residential tenant pursuant to subsection f. of section 2 of P.L.1974, c.49 (C.2A:18-61.1). The term "unconscionable" is defined on a case-by-case basis by the courts using the multi-factor test set forth by Fromet Properties, Inc. v. Buel, 294 N.J. Super. 601 (App. Div. 1996), which requires, among the other factors, a court to look at a landlord's expenses and profitability, and determine whether the rent increase would "shock the conscience" of a reasonable person. Due to the summary nature of landlord-tenant proceedings, limited discovery, case-by-case determinations of unconscionability, disparity of bargaining power, and limited precedent setting forth a bright line standard for unconscionable rent increases, residential tenants are limited in their ability to collect sufficient information in advance of the landlord's increase or, if necessary, eviction proceedings, and dispute a rent increase. Therefore, to protect the public health, housing stability, financial security, and well-being of residential tenants, it is in the public interest to require a landlord to provide a tenant written explanation for a rent increase and provide certain, specific notices. | In Committee |
| A3559 | Removes certain part-time elected public officials from eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits coverage; makes elected public officials ineligible for payments for waiving health care benefits coverage; codifies Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit. | This bill limits eligibility for health care benefits coverage for elected public officials of a municipality or county to those elected public officials whose hours of work are fixed at 35 or more per week. This limitations applies to counties and municipality that do not participate in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). The limitation is the same as the current eligibility requirement for health care benefits coverage in the SHBP. Elected public officials currently receiving health care benefits coverage may continue to receive such coverage as long as they remain eligible prior to the effective date of the bill and continuously thereafter. The bill also makes elected public officials who choose to waive health care benefits coverage ineligible for payments for such a waiver. Such payments are currently permitted for certain public employees by public employers that participate and that do not participate in the SHBP. This bill codifies the Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit (PFAU) within the Department of the Treasury, which was established by executive order in 2013 to prevent and investigate cases of intentional deception or misrepresentation that result in an unauthorized benefit to a member or to some other person from the State-administered retirement systems and benefits programs. This includes, but is not limited to, disability pension claims and improper participation in the retirement systems and other benefit programs. This bill also provides subpoena power to the PFAU to assist the unit during investigations. According to an investigative report issued by the State Comptroller, the PFAU has inadequate statutory authority to compel public employers to comply with requests for information during investigations. Codifying the unit will result in more effective investigations. | In Committee |
| A3362 | Prohibits landlord from considering certain actions in tenant screening; clarifies that rent receivership action does not require rent deposit and may be based on implied warranty of habitability. | This bill would prohibit a landlord from considering certain landlord-tenant case histories when screening tenants. The bill also would clarify that tenants may pursue a rent receivership action against a landlord without first having to make a rent deposit with the court and that the action may be made on the ground that the implied warranty of habitability has been violated. These measures would serve to protect prospective tenants from being unfairly turned away from rental housing due to prior landlord-tenant case histories, and would make it easier for tenants to pursue relief in the courts if the rental housing is not fit for habitation. With respect to tenant screening, the bill provides that a landlord may not consider a landlord-tenant court record unless: (1) the case resulted in a judgment for possession; (2) the decision in the case is not under appeal; and (3) the judgment for possession was entered no more than three years prior to the prospective tenant's rental application. If a landlord takes any adverse action on a rental application, the landlord would be required to provide a written notice of the adverse action to the prospective tenant that states the reasons for the adverse action, and the notice would have to disclose and contain any screening information about the prospective tenant accessed by the landlord. A landlord that violates either of these provisions of the bill would be liable for a penalty of not less than $1,000 for the first offense, and not less than $5,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. With respect to rent receivership actions, the bill clarifies that a tenant is not required to place a rent deposit with a court in order to initiate the action. The bill also would make explicit that this action may be based on a claim that the implied warranty of habitability has been violated. The implied warranty of habitability is a court-created doctrine that requires a landlord to ensure rental housing is fit for human habitation and for the uses reasonably intended by the parties, and that the occupants are not subject to conditions that are dangerous, hazardous, or detrimental to their life, health, or safety. | In Committee |
| A3003 | Establishes electronic lien and titling system for New Jersey motor vehicles. | This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to complete a study within 60 days of the bill's enactment to determine whether it has the resources and capability to establish and implement, within 12 months of the bill's enactment, an electronic lien and title system to process and administer, in a cost-effective manner, the notification, recording, and release of security interests and titling information by the lienholders of motor vehicles in lieu of the current paper-based system. If the MVC determines it has the resources and capability to establish and implement the system, it is to establish and implement the system within 12 months of the bill's enactment. If the MVC determines it does not have the resources and capability to establish and implement the system, the MVC is required to contract with a qualified bidder to establish and implement the system for the State. The contract is to be offered, advertised, and awarded in accordance with the State public contracts law. In addition, the bill specifies that the contract is to:(1) be for a term of not less than seven years;(2) be a no-cost contract, ensuring that the MVC is assessed no charges by the successful bidder for establishing and implementing the electronic lien and titling system and that the successful bidder is obligated to reimburse the MVC for all reasonable costs directly associated with the establishment and implementation of the system; and(3) permit the successful bidder to charge participating lienholders and their agents reasonable fees. Further, the bill requires contract applicants to have a demonstrated history of directly providing both electronic lien services to state motor vehicle departments or agencies and electronic lien software and services to lienholders. The bill mandates that within one year of the date upon which the electronic lien and titling system becomes operational, all lienholders in New Jersey are required to participate in the system, except individuals and those lienholders who are not normally engaged in the business of financing motor vehicles and who are administratively exempted by the Chief Administrator of the MVC. | In Committee |
| A3001 | Provides for oversight of DHS contracts with providers serving persons with developmental disabilities. | This bill provides for oversight of the contracts the Department of Human Services (DHS) enters into with providers serving persons with developmental disabilities who are eligible for services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). In August 2009, the Office of the State Comptroller issued a report concerning DDD entitled "A Performance Audit of Oversight of Third-Party Contracts," which raised several concerns and made recommendations to DHS about contracts for DDD services. This bill addresses some of those concerns and recommendations by establishing requirements for provider expenditure reports, a 10 percent cap on providers' general and administrative costs, and provider performance reviews, in order to ensure that State funds are spent on services that help improve outcomes for persons with developmental disabilities. Specifically, the bill provides that, with regard to expenditure reports, the Commissioner of Human Services is to require a provider of services to persons with developmental disabilities to submit to DDD, no later than 30 days after the end of a quarter or at more frequent intervals as specified by DHS, an expenditure report for each contract the provider has entered into with DHS. If a provider fails to submit the report, the provider's contract would be subject to "negative contracting action," which is defined in the bill as conditional renewal, non-renewal, imposition of a probationary period, or termination of a contract, and also includes nonpayment pending compliance with corrective or remedial action. The Office of the State Comptroller, on a random basis, and the DDD, on an ongoing basis, are to review expenditure reports and include in their reviews, at a minimum, an analysis of whether: an expenditure contained in the report and identified by the office is appropriate and reasonable; proper documentation is available to support an expenditure; and expenditures for general and administrative costs are within the 10 percent limit specified in the bill. The office would conduct the review and submit a report of its findings pursuant to P.L.2007, c.52 (C.52:15C-1 et seq.). With regard to the 10 percent cap on general and administrative costs, the bill provides that a contract entered into on or after the effective date of the bill, including renewal of an earlier contract, is to stipulate that the expenditure of State funds for general and administrative costs of the provider shall not exceed 10 percent of the provider's annual expenditure of State contract funds. In the case of a provider whose contract is in effect on the bill's effective date and whose general and administrative expenses exceed 10 percent, DHS is to attempt to modify the contract to include the 10 percent cap. If a provider exceeds the 10 percent cap stipulated in a contract, the contract would be subject to negative contracting action. With regard to performance reviews, the bill requires the Director of DDD, or the director's designee, to review a provider's performance to determine whether services for which the provider is under contract are being performed and whether the provider's performance contributes to the success of a person with a developmental disability in attaining the goals and objectives specified in the person's individualized habilitation plan developed pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1977, c.82 (C.30:6D-10). Specifically, a contract administrator will be required, at least once every 12 months, to conduct an unannounced visit of a provider to review whether the provider is performing the services specified in the provider's contract and whether those services are contributing to the success of a person with a developmental disability in attaining the goals and objectives specified in the person's individualized habilitation plan. The contract administrator is to summarize the findings of the visit in a report to be submitted to the director, or the director's designee, no later than 30 days following the date of the visit. Prior to renewal of a provider's contract, the director, or the director's designee, will be required to evaluate the contract administrator's report and a summary of the results from a survey of: 1) the provider's employees; 2) other persons providing services on behalf of the provider; and 3) the parents and legal guardians of persons with developmental disabilities who are receiving services from the provider. DDD is to prepare a survey form for completion by these persons. The survey is to provide these persons with an opportunity to provide feedback to the division about the ability of the provider to provide services that contribute to the success of a person with a developmental disability in attaining the goals and objectives specified in the person's individualized habilitation plan. If, after the evaluation of a report of an unannounced visit and the review of the provider's survey results, the division director, or the director's designee, determines that persons with developmental disabilities are not succeeding in attaining the goals and objectives specified in their individualized habilitation plans as a result of the provider's inability to contribute to the success of a person with a developmental disability in attaining those goals and objectives, the provider's contract may not be renewed and may be subject to other negative contract action, as appropriate; Before taking negative contracting action, DHS will be required to give notice to a provider, either personally or by mail to the last known address of the provider with return receipt requested. The notice would afford the provider the opportunity to be heard and to contest the department's action. DHS will be required to examine the feasibility of adopting an outcome-based contracting payment system for DDD that specifies desired outcomes for persons with developmental disabilities receiving services from a provider and that confers payment to the provider as the persons with developmental disabilities who are receiving services reach pre-defined steps or "milestones" along the way to achieving the specified desired outcomes. This type of payment system, known as the "Milestone Payment System," is used in about 15 other states, including, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Texas, and New York. | In Committee |
| A3002 | Requires urgent care and retail health clinics to have defibrillator on site and employees trained to use defibrillator. | This bill requires urgent care and retail health clinics to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) on site and employees trained in AED use, no later than one year after the effective date of the bill. An urgent care clinic is a health care facility that offers episodic, walk-in care for the treatment of acute, but not life-threatening, health conditions. A retail health clinic is a health care facility located within a retail store, supermarket, pharmacy, or similar retail outlet that offers episodic, walk-in care for a limited set of acute conditions. Pursuant to provisions of this bill, an urgent care clinic or retail health clinic shall acquire at least one AED, as defined in N.J.S.A.2A:62A-24, and store the AED in a central location within the clinic or that is known and available to the employees of the clinic. The bills requires the clinic to ensure that the AED is tested and maintained and to provide notification to the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the defibrillator, the type acquired, and the AED's location. The clinic is responsible for training the clinic employees in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of an AED and ensuring that there is at least one trained employee on site during the clinic's normal business hours. Lastly, the clinic should ensure that employees comply with the provisions of N.J.S.A.2A:62A-26 concerning the use of the AED. | 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 |
| A1462 | Directs BPU to establish program concerning renewable natural gas; provides gas public utilities with customer rate recovery mechanism for costs associated with program. | This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a renewable natural gas program to encourage gas public utilities (utilities) to procure renewable natural gas and invest in renewable natural gas infrastructure. As part of this program, the bill also requires the BPU to adopt a ratemaking mechanism to allow for the recovery of all costs prudently incurred by a utility under the program. Specifically, the ratemaking mechanism would allow utilities to periodically recover the following costs from ratepayers, subject to approval by the BPU: (1) any capital investments in renewable natural gas infrastructure incurred by the utility for the purpose of providing renewable natural gas service under the program, including the cost of capital, as determined in the utility's most recent rate case, and any other incremental costs associated with these investments; (2) any operating costs incurred by the utility associated with the program; and (3) any costs of procuring renewable natural gas from a third party, including affiliates of the utility. When a utility procures renewable natural gas from a third party, the bill requires the utility to purchase the renewable natural gas supply at prices and on terms consistent with market conditions. The bill also requires the BPU to regulate the charges assessed to customers of the utility for the supply of renewable natural gas, which charges would be based on the utility's cost of providing such supply, including renewable natural gas commodity and capacity costs, as well as any related ancillary and administrative costs. | In Committee |
| A1154 | Excludes veteran disability compensation from income qualification limits under homestead property tax reimbursement program. | This bill would allow more disabled veterans to qualify for the homestead property tax reimbursement program. The homestead property tax reimbursement program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax increases. The amount of the reimbursement is the difference between the amount of property taxes that were due and paid for the "base year" (the first year that an individual meets all the eligibility requirements) and the amount due and paid for the year that the individual is applying for the reimbursement, provided the amount paid for the current year is greater. The bill would exclude disability compensation paid by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to a veteran from the calculation of that person's income for the purpose of determining whether the person is eligible to participate in the homestead property tax reimbursement program. | 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 |
| A3006 | Revises property tax assessment calendar. | This bill would revise the current dates for the administration of the assessment of real property in order to create a more accurate process for that essential assessment function throughout the entire State. The provisions of the bill specifically address the systemic costs which result from the losses due to successful assessment appeals by property owners, which reduce the property tax base, and which require municipalities to refund large amounts of property taxes collected from those property owners prior to the successful assessment appeal, which lowers their assessment, and thereby lowers the amount of property taxes due and payable from those property owners. Under current law, every municipal tax assessor files the municipality's tax list with the county board of taxation, which subsequently sets the local tax rates. Assessment appeals are filed by property owners on April 1 of each year, or on May 1 in the case of a municipality that has undergone a municipal-wide revaluation or reassessment of real property. Appeals are heard by the county tax board and generally decided in most, if not all, cases by the end of July. Successful appeals that late in the tax year result in reduced assessments, which results in a reduced municipal tax base, which then results in the under-collection of property taxes to fund current year operations. The bill proposes the re-scheduling of the property assessment appeal process to dates prior to the calculation of the local property tax rate, which would allow for a more accurate local property tax rate to reflect local budgetary needs and the true value of the tax base that provides the property tax revenue to fund the local budget. The following chart sets forth the current statutory dates relative to the individual functions that comprise the real property assessment process, and the proposed dates for those functions under the bill: DATES RELATIVE TO CERTIFICATION OF THE TAX LIST, ASSESSMENT APPEALS, AND THE CALCULATION OF LOCAL TAX RATES IN ALL MUNICIPALITIESDescription of FunctionCurrent DateProposed DateAssessing DateOctober 1 of pre-tax yearOctober 1 of pre-tax yearCertification of Preliminary AssessmentN/ANovember 1 of pre-tax yearNotification of Assessment PostcardsFebruary 1November 15 of pre-tax year Assessment Appeal Filing DeadlineApril 1; May 1 in municipalities wherein revaluation of real property has occurredJanuary 15Assessment Appeals HeardMay, June and JulyFebruary, March and AprilTax List FiledJanuary 10May 5County Preliminary EqualizationMarch 10May 15County Final EqualizationMarch 10May 25Municipal Budget to Tax BoardMarch 31May 15County Budget to Tax BoardApril 1May 15 School Budget to Tax BoardMay 19May 15Certified Tax RatesMay 20May 31Tax DuplicatesJune 3June 3Tax BillsJune 14June 14 The assessment calendar proposed under this bill has been successfully implemented in Monmouth County since 2014, Gloucester County since 2018, and Burlington County since 2021. The calendar has been shown to provide municipalities in these counties with more financial certainty. By notifying property owners of their property tax assessments and deciding appeals of those assessments at earlier times, municipalities can better ascertain their revenues to ensure the integrity of their budgets throughout the fiscal year. | In Committee |
| A2757 | Authorizes conversion of certain office parks and retail centers to mixed-use developments. | This bill would establish a limited preemption from local zoning regulations for applications to convert certain office parks and retail centers into mixed-use developments. Office parks and retail shopping centers located within suburban parts of the State have been termed "stranded assets," in part because their reuse or redevelopment is restricted by zoning regulations which limit their development to a single land use. This bill seeks to initiate interest among property owners to develop these sites by establishing a two-year window of time within which a developer may submit an application to convert an eligible property into a mixed-use development without being constrained by outdated zoning ordinances. The bill defines "eligible property" as an office park of at least 50,000 square feet or a retail center of at least 15,000 square feet, which office park or retail center has a vacancy rate of at least 40 percent. Further, an eligible property includes only properties within Planning Areas 1 and 2, designated centers, within one mile of a transit center or central business district, and within a Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") sewer service area. An eligible property does not include properties in or adjacent to a landfill, active garbage dump, trash incinerator, power plant, oil or chemical refinery, superfund site, jail, prison, wastewater treatment facility, or large warehouse distribution facility or other heavy industrial use. The bill provides that a mixed-use development is a permitted use, which does not require a use variance, if the mixed-use development is the subject of an application for development to convert an eligible property to a mixed-use development, the application for development is submitted for approval within two years of the bill's effective date, and the application for development proposes to:· reuse the existing building or buildings without expanding their square footage, · redevelop the eligible property without expanding the square footage of the building or buildings on the eligible property, or · extend beyond the building footprint square footage provided the development enhances a combination of stormwater management, the tree canopy, and street grid connectivity. If an application for mixed-use development proposes new residential units, then the use variance-related benefits of the bill would also be conditional on at least 20 percent of the residential units constructed for owner-occupancy and 15 percent of the residential units constructed for rental occupancy being reserved as low income housing, moderate income housing, or very low income housing. The use variance-related benefits of the bill are also conditional on the application enhancing the multimodal transportation connectivity of the area through the addition or enhancement of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, or other improvements. The bill would require a planning board or other approving authority to approve an application to convert an eligible property to a mixed-use development if the board determines that the application can be granted without causing substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purpose of the zone plan and zoning ordinance, and complies with the other requirements of the bill. While freeing developers of these properties from municipal use restrictions, the bill retains local control over other aspects of the approval of an application to convert an eligible property to a mixed-use development. The bill specifically authorizes approving authorities to condition approval of an application to convert an eligible property to a mixed-use development upon complying with requirements for parking, water supply, sanitary sewer capacity, storm water management, bulk standards, and all reasonable site plan review, recreation, and design standards. However, the bill imposes one limitation on this grant of authority by providing that the height and setback limitations applicable to a converted mixed-use development will be the greatest height and least restrictive setback limitations allowed within the zoning district under municipal ordinance or variance approved by the approving authority. Finally, the bill would direct the Department of Community Affairs ("DCA") to conduct an inventory of abandoned and underutilized retail centers, office parks, and other stranded assets, and report the results to the Legislature and the public within 12 months of the enactment of this bill. The bill directs DCA to periodically update the inventory and report. | 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 |
| A1143 | Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for programs providing mental health, substance use treatment, or services to persons with developmental disabilities. | This bill stipulates that on or after the effective date of the bill, the terms of a contract entered into between the Divisions of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services (DHS) and a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities include an annual increase in the cost of living adjustment received by the organization. The cost of living adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index for the previous 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30, as published by the United States Department of Labor, and the DHS would be required to announce the rate of the increase on October 1 of each year. As used in the bill, a program providing mental health services, substance use treatment services, or services to persons with developmental disabilities shall include State programs partially funded or fully funded by Medicaid and licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Human Services or other appropriate State licensing agencies. | In Committee |
| A2999 | Requires instruction on cybersecurity in grades nine through 12; requires Office of Secretary of Higher Education to develop cybersecurity model curricula; establishes loan redemption programs for individuals in certain cybersecurity occupations. | This bill requires school districts to incorporate instruction on cybersecurity in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in each of the grades nine through 12. The instruction will be based on curriculum guidelines established under the bill by the Commissioner of Education in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell. The curriculum guidelines would provide for a sequential course of study for each of the grades nine through 12 and include various introductory concepts and activities related to cybersecurity. Under the bill, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and the New Jersey Presidents' Council, would develop a cybersecurity model curriculum for use by four-year institutions of higher education in the State and a cybersecurity model curriculum for use by county colleges in the State. The model curricula developed pursuant would assist four-year institutions of higher education and county colleges in developing cybersecurity-related degree programs. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority, in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council, are required to develop and distribute to institutions of higher education cybersecurity career pathway marketing materials that provide descriptions of cybersecurity careers and the benefits of pursuing such careers. The bill also creates two student loan redemption programs for individuals seeking careers in cybersecurity-related roles. The Cybersecurity Loan Redemption Program would provide $1,000 to program participants for each year of employment in a cybersecurity occupation approved by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, up to a maximum of four years, for the redemption of a portion of eligible qualifying loan expenses. Among other requirements enumerated in the bill, a program participant is required to be graduate of an approved cybersecurity degree program at an institution of higher education located in New Jersey and be employed in an approved cybersecurity occupation with an employer located in the State. The second loan redemption program, the Cybersecurity Teacher Loan Redemption Program, would similarly provide $1,000 to program participants for each year of service as a teacher in a cybersecurity-related subject matter, as determined by the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, up to a maximum of four years, for the redemption of a portion of eligible qualifying loan expenses. Among other requirements enumerated in the bill, a program participant is required to be a teacher of an approved cybersecurity-related subject matter, who is employed by a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project in the State. | 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 |
| 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 |
| A2193 | Requires creation of license plates that allow disabled veterans to park in parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities. | This bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special license plates for qualified disabled veterans. The plates allow disabled veterans to park in a parking space or zone that is restricted for use by a person with a disability, provided that the disabled veteran displays the veteran's valid, unexpired qualified disabled veteran license plate on the motor vehicle while parked in the parking space or zone. Under the bill, these special plates are to display the words "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol. There is to be no cost to the applicant for these special license plates. Finally, the bill specifies that these plates are not transferable and are exclusively for the use of the person to whom they are duly issued. The knowing misuse or abuse of any benefit, privilege, or consideration granted to a holder of a qualified disabled veteran license plate will be sufficient cause for the revocation of the benefits, privileges, and considerations provided to the holder of the license plate and the forfeiture of the license plate. | 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 | Abstain |
| A2929 | Requires disclosure of lead drinking water hazards to tenants of residential units; prohibits landlords from obstructing replacement of lead service lines; concerns testing of certain property for lead drinking water hazards. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2090 | Requires solid waste management district to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3099 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by State-licensed chiropractor. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3007 | Increases maximum age for pediatric long-term care facility residents to 26. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A3035 | Prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1682 | Requires State Board of Education to adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards pertaining to labor movement; requires school districts to provide instruction on labor movement. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A1675 | Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2998 | Permits court to order counseling for children in households with domestic violence in appropriate cases; establishes presumption of award of custody to domestic violence victim in appropriate cases. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A2390 | Requires municipalities in compliance with affordable housing obligations be provided priority consideration for certain State grants and assistance. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | 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 | Abstain |
| A4295 | Establishes New Jersey-India Commission. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4302 | Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4479 | Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4521 | Concerns provision of services to defendants on pretrial release. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4544 | Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Assembly Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4577 | Requires State departments and Office of Technology to provide reports on proposed technology upgrades. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4636 | Requires that notice concerning gift card fraud be posted by retail mercantile establishments that sell gift cards to consumers. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4643 | Creates penalty for child endangerment via use of social media. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4651 | Establishes penalties for certain conduct related to public brawl and disorderly conduct. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4714 | Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately. | Assembly Floor: Table Motion | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4765 | Requires driver education and testing on responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians and persons operating bicycles and personal conveyances; requires driver's manual to include information on sharing roadway with motorists for certain road users. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4818 | Reduces and clarifies requirements for municipal tourist development commission disbursements for advertising. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3663 | Establishes reproductive health travel advisory. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3773 | Concerns requirements to report separations from employment under employee leasing agreements. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5000 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5004 | Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| A5077 | Extends statutory pause on collection of student growth objective data. | Assembly Floor: Concur in Senate Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Yea |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Assembly Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | 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 04 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/09/2024 |