Legislator
Legislator > Vince Polistina
State Senator
Vince Polistina
(R) - New Jersey
New Jersey Senate District 02
In Office - Started: 11/08/2021
contact info
Egg Harbor Township Office
3100 Hingston Ave.
Suite 101
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Suite 101
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Phone: 609-677-8266
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3713 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | In Committee |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Vetoed |
| S3812 | 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. | In Committee |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | This bill amends the definition of compensation for purposes of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to include additional pay for performing extracurricular duties beyond the regular school day or the regular school year. This additional pay is currently not included in the definition of compensation for pension purposes. Extracurricular duties include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. | 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 |
| 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 |
| S4631 | Increases penalty for crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing certain Schedule I or II controlled dangerous substances. | This bill upgrades the degree of crime associated with the manufacturing, distributing or dispensing of Schedule I or II drugs. It is the sponsor's intent to establish penalties for fentanyl-related drug crimes that are more equivalent to the current penalties for heroin. Currently, fentanyl, despite being more potent and dangerous than heroin, is subject to lighter penalties. It is the sponsor's intent to address the disparities in penalties between the two drugs in order to reduce the incentive to exploit fentanyl's potency and profitability and reduce the risk posed by fentanyl to the citizens of this State. Under current law, it is a second degree crime to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a substance classified as a narcotic drug in Schedule I or II, in any quantity of one ounce or more. It is a crime of the third degree to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a Schedule I or II drug in a quantity of less than one ounce. Under the bill, it is a crime of the first degree to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a Schedule I or II drug in a quantity of one ounce or more; a second degree crime if the quantity is one-half ounce or more, but less than one ounce; and a third degree crime for less than one-half ounce. A first degree crime is ordinarily punishable by 10 to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. A second degree crime is ordinarily punishable by five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both. A third degree crime is ordinarily punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Under the bill, a person who commits the first degree crime of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a Schedule I or II drug may instead face a fine of up to $500,000. Further, a person who commits the third degree crime may instead face a fine of up $75,000. | In Committee |
| S4460 | 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 |
| S3401 | Establishes eligibility requirements for State small business set-aside program. | This bill establishes requirements for eligibility when the State implements a small business set-aside program. The State currently has a small business set-aside program. This bill clarifies that only businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard established by federal regulations are required to have a certain maximum number of employees. This bill also alters the definitions of gross revenue from a standard of three years in business to a standard of five years in business. The requirements established in this bill will be in addition to any and all rules or regulations, except that these requirements will supersede the rules and regulations adopted as N.J.A.C. 17:13-2.1(a). | In Committee |
| S699 | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands. | Crossed Over |
| S2376 | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years. | Crossed Over |
| S216 | Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation. | Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation. | In Committee |
| S172 | Provides paid leave for employee to attend certain events of child of employee; establishes tax credits for employer that provide those leave benefits. | Provides paid leave for employee to attend certain events of child of employee; establishes tax credits for employer that provide those leave benefits. | In Committee |
| S4004 | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | Revises law on extended employment programs for persons with disabilities. | In Committee |
| S2013 | Makes local government business administrators eligible for membership in PERS; provides for transfer from Defined Contribution Retirement Program to PERS. | This bill makes business administrators serving in local governments eligible for membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Business administrators currently participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). The bill defines "business administrator" as the executive and administrative officer of any political subdivision of the State or any agency, board, commission, authority, or instrumentality of the State or of a subdivision serving in a position with the title of business administrator, municipal or county administrator, municipal or county manager, city manager, town manager, village manager, borough manager, township manager, or any functional equivalent, as the case may be. The bill provides for the transfer to the PERS of a business administrator who is participating in the DCRP within 90 days following the effective date of the bill if the employee meets the eligibility requirements for membership in the PERS at the time of enrollment. The bill requires the PERS notify eligible business administrators of the required enrollment within 15 days after the effective date. The bill specifies that service credit transferred from a participant in the DCRP would be recognized as service credit in the PERS to determine eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits in retirement pursuant to current law. The bill also specifies that the membership tier will be determined by the member's participation date in the DCRP or their original enrollment date in the PERS, if applicable, whichever is earlier. Additionally, the actuary for the PERS is required to determine the unfunded accrued liability resulting from the transfer of the business administrators. This unfunded accrued liability will be amortized over a period of 20 years. The value of the account in the DCRP of the business administrator will be transferred to the PERS in accordance with relevant provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code and Internal Revenue Service guidance. The bill will take effect immediately. | In Committee |
| S4494 | Requires all revenue generated by casino hotel parking fee to be provided to CRDA; expands permitted uses of parking fee revenues by CRDA. | This bill requires the full amount of revenue generated by the casino hotel parking fee to be made available to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) for projects located within the boundaries of the City of Atlantic City. Current law requires casino licensees to charge and collect a fee of $3.00 per day for the use of a parking space at a casino hotel facility. Of that amount, the revenue derived from $2.50 of the parking fee is deposited into a special fund held by the State Treasurer and made available for the use of the CRDA for eligible public improvements and economic development and redevelopment projects within the corridor region of the City of Atlantic City. The revenue derived from the remaining $0.50 of the parking fee is deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund. The Casino Revenue Fund accounts for the taxes imposed on casinos, internet gaming, sports betting, and other related activities. Moneys in the Casino Revenue Fund are required to be appropriated to support reductions in property taxes, utility charges, and other specified expenses of eligible senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Under the bill, the revenue derived from $0.50 of the parking fee currently deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund would instead be deposited into the special fund held by the State Treasurer and made available for the use of the CRDA beginning in State fiscal year 2026. Revenues from the parking fee would no longer be deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund. The bill also amends current law to provide that parking fee revenues deposited into the special fund would be available for use by the CRDA for any projects located within the boundaries of the City of Atlantic City, or for other statutory purposes of the authority, as approved by the CRDA. The CRDA would no longer be required to use the moneys in the special fund for projects located only within the corridor region of Atlantic City. | In Committee |
| S4404 | 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 |
| S4399 | Authorizes soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors. | This bill would authorize a soil conservation district to have more than five supervisors. Under the bill, the State Soil Conservation Committee would be authorized to determine the maximum number of supervisors for each district. Current law authorizes five supervisors for each district, appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee. | In Committee |
| S4327 | Imposes certain requirements on businesses that make automatic renewal or continuous service offers. | This bill imposes certain requirements on businesses that make automatic renewal or continuous service offers. Under the bill, every business that makes an automatic renewal offer or continuous service offer to a consumer in this State is required to: 1) present the automatic renewal or continuous service offer terms in a clear and conspicuous manner before the subscription or purchasing agreement is fulfilled and in visual proximity or temporal proximity to the request for consent. If the offer includes a free gift or trial, the offer is required to include a clear and conspicuous explanation of the price that will be charged after the trial ends or the manner in which the subscription or purchasing agreement pricing will change upon conclusion of the trial; 2) obtain the consumer's affirmative consent to the agreement containing the automatic renewal or continuous service offer terms, including the terms of an offer that is made at a promotional or discounted price for a limited period of time, prior to charging the consumer for an automatic renewal or continuous service; and 3) provide an acknowledgement that includes the automatic renewal or continuous service offer terms, cancellation policy, and information regarding how to cancel. If the automatic renewal or continuous service offer includes a free gift or trial, the business is required to disclose in the acknowledgement how to cancel, and allow the consumer to cancel, the automatic renewal or continuous service before the consumer pays for the goods or services. This requirement may be fulfilled after the completion of the initial order. In addition, the bill requires a business that makes an automatic renewal or continuous service offer to provide a toll-free telephone number, electronic mail address, postal address if the seller directly bills the consumer, or another cost-effective, timely, and easy-to-use mechanism for cancellation. In addition, a consumer who accepts an automatic renewal or continuous service offer online is required to be allowed to terminate the automatic renewal or continuous service exclusively online. Further, under the bill, if there is a material change in the terms of the automatic renewal or continuous service that has previously been accepted by the consumer, the business is required to provide the consumer with clear and conspicuous notice of the material change and information regarding how to cancel the automatic renewal or continuous service prior to implementing the change. The bill also provides that in any case where a business sends any goods, wares, merchandise, or products to a consumer under an automatic renewal or continuous service agreement without first obtaining the consumer's affirmative consent, the goods, wares, merchandise, or products are to be deemed an unconditional gift to the consumer. The consumer may dispose of the goods, wares, merchandise, or products in any manner without any obligation to the business. If the consumer has been charged for the goods, wares, merchandise, or products, the business is required to provide a full refund to the consumer within 30 days of the request for a refund by the consumer. A violation of the bill's provisions is an unlawful practice under the 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, 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. Under the bill, "automatic renewal" is defined as a plan or arrangement in which a paid subscription or purchasing agreement is automatically renewed at the end of a definite term for a subsequent term. In addition, "continuous service" means a plan or arrangement in which a subscription or purchasing agreement continues until the consumer cancels the service. | In Committee |
| S4331 | Prohibits local government from naming its property after foreign terrorist organization. | This bill prohibits a local government from naming property under its ownership or control, including, but not limited to, a road, bridge, school, building, neighborhood, community, or park, after a group, that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government, or after land controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill requires the Division of Local Government Services (division) in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (office), to develop and publish a list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands controlled by foreign terrorist organizations, not including recognized, sovereign nations. The bill defines a "local government" as a municipality, county, school district, or other political subdivision of the State, or any public board, commission, committee, authority, or agency which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority, or agency. The bill requires a local government to remove or dismantle signs, street pole banners, plaques, or other forms of displays of support for, or the naming of property after, a foreign terrorist organization, under the control or ownership of the local government within 30 days following the bill's enactment. Within 90 days following the bill's effective date, the bill requires a local government that has named property under its control or ownership after a foreign terrorist organization to rename the property so that it does not identify the name of as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill requires the State to reimburse local governments for both of these costs, upon application. If a local government violates the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer, for each day in which the local government is in violation of the bill, is directed to deduct a portion of the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government. The daily deduction is to be in an amount equal to the result of dividing the total amount of State aid allocated to the local government by the total number of days in the fiscal year in which the State aid is allocated. The bill provides that the division, in consultation with the office, is to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. | In Committee |
| S4329 | "Political Donation Transparency Act;" prohibits automatic enrollment in recurring political contributions and establishes penalties for violators. | This bill is designated as the "Political Donation Transparency Act." This bill prohibits any candidate, political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, legislative leadership committee, independent expenditure committee, or political party committee, or any person or entity acting on behalf of such candidate or comittee, from using automatic or recurring political contributions in solicitations for political contributions, unless certain standards are met. These standards will include that: (1) a contribution must not be made automatic or recurring by default; (2) a contribution must only be made automatic or recurring upon the affirmative consent of the person making the contribution; and (3) a clear and conspicuous description of the nature, frequency, and amount of the automatic or recurring contribution must be provided alongside the option to make a contribution automatic or recurring. The bill also empowers the Election Law Enforcement Commission to establish such rules as may be necessary to enforce its provisions, and makes it a crime of the fourth degree to violate any of the provisions of the bill or associated rules. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S3153 | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Prohibits DCF from using federal benefits received by a child in out of home placement to reimburse State for cost of child's care, except under certain circumstances. | Crossed Over |
| S165 | Expands definition of child under PFRS and SPRS. | This bill expands the definition of a child under the PFRS and SPRS to include the child of a deceased member that is under the age of 24 and that is enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credit hours in each semester. Under current law, a person is considered a child under the PFRS and SPRS if the person is: (1) under the age of 18; (2) 18 years of age or older and enrolled in a secondary school; (3) under the age of 24 and enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credit hours in each semester, provided that the member died in active service as a result of an accident met in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place, and the death was not the result of the member's willful misconduct; or (4) any age who, at the time of the member's or retirant's death, is disabled because of an intellectual disability or physical incapacity, is unable to do any substantial, gainful work because of the impairment and the impairment has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as affirmed by the medical board. This bill would remove the requirement that if the child is under the age of 24 and enrolled in an institution of higher education, the child must be the survivor of a member who died in the line of duty to be considered a child under the PFRS or SPRS. This bill would permit any child of a deceased member that is under the age of 24 and that is enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher education for at least 12 credit hours in each semester to be considered a child regardless if the member died in the line of duty or not. | In Committee |
| A4091 | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | An Act concerning audiologists and hearing aid dispensers and amending various parts of the statutory law. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S788 | Exempts certain volunteer first responders from coverage under "unemployment compensation law"; excludes from gross income amounts received for certain volunteer emergency services. | This bill exempts from coverage under the "unemployment compensation," R.S.43:21-1 et seq., any services provided by a volunteer first responder who receives a stipend, including any clothing allowance, for the volunteer's services. The exempted first responder would not be subject to unemployment insurance (UI) taxes and not be eligible for UI benefits. The exclusion would also exclude the first responder's stipend from contributions to the temporary disability and family temporary disability benefits funds, and it would exclude the first responder from being eligible to receive those benefits for the volunteer first responder services. Under the bill, "volunteer first responder" means a volunteer firefighter, volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of volunteer services, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance. Additionally, the bill excludes from gross income the amounts received through stipends, including any clothing allowance, provided by a municipality for services performed by a volunteer first responder. Recently, municipalities have found it more difficult to recruit volunteers to serve as emergency services personnel. In response, many have begun providing stipends to help alleviate staffing shortages. Although they provide a greater incentive to volunteer, the amounts received through these stipends are subject to State and federal income tax. By exempting these stipends from calculation of a taxpayer's gross income under State law, the State can further assist municipalities in their efforts to provide proper emergency services to their residents. | In Committee |
| S2887 | Provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside employment. | This bill provides that certain volunteer and other workers, including but not limited to firefighters and first aid or rescue squad workers, will receive the maximum workers' compensation benefit for an injury or death regardless of whether the worker was employed outside of that position. This bill is in response to the State Supreme Court case of Kocanowski v. Twp. of Bridgewater, 237 N.J. 3, 14 (2019), in which the Court held that the Legislature intended for "all volunteer firefighters [to receive] the maximum compensation allowed, regardless of current or previous income." The bill is intended to clarify any ambiguity in the existing law as to the workers' compensation entitlement of certain volunteer firefighters and other workers. | In Committee |
| S4103 | Establishes registration and training program for commercial applicators of substances for snow and ice removal. | This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and implement a voluntary commercial applicator deicer training and registration program and establish criteria for training commercial applicators in methods for snow and ice removal and deicer applications that are effective and protect water quality. The bill requires DEP to certify third party training providers and programs at community colleges, vocational schools, universities, or other educational institutions in the State qualified to provide the training specified by the department. The bill requires each commercial applicator to successfully complete training and pass an examination prior to registering with the DEP, and thereafter to update training and registration as required by the DEP. Furthermore, the bill: 1) requires registered commercial applicators to maintain certain records and annually file certain reports; 2) establishes certain limits on liability for commercial applicators; and 3) provides for suspension or revocation of a commercial applicator registration for a violation of any provision of the bill, or for making a false statement, representation, or certification in any documents or information required to be submitted to the department, or in any records required to be maintained under the bill. Finally, the bill authorizes the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the bill's requirements. | In Committee |
| S4059 | Allows veteran service organizations to obtain license to serve members alcoholic beverages. | This bill establishes a veteran's service organization license that would allow certain veteran organizations to sell alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises and only to bona fide members of a veteran's service organization, guests of a bona fide member, affiliated bona fide members of other veteran service organizations, and members of auxiliary organizations that are allied with other veteran's service organizations. The bill defines veteran's service organization as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or other veterans' organizations chartered under federal law, or any service foundation of such an organization recognized in its bylaws. Under current law, these veteran organizations may obtain a club license to serve alcoholic beverages to members and guests but are prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages to auxiliary and affiliated members. Under the bill, a bona fide member of a veteran's service organization would be permitted to have not more than nine individuals as guests on any one occasion and host private events. The bill prohibits affiliated and auxiliary members from having guests and hosting private events on the premises of a veteran's service organization at which they are not a member. A bona fide member who hosts a private event would be required to provide all of the alcoholic beverages which are to be purchased off the licensed premises. The license holder would be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages or charging a fee for the consumption of alcoholic beverages at a private event but would be allowed sell food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises. | In Committee |
| S2874 | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | Expands services that can be provided by audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. | In Committee |
| S3972 | Revises penalty for underage gambling to be civil penalty; provides for all associated fines to be used for gambling addiction treatment. | Under current law, anyone who gambles at a casino or simulcasting facility while under the legal age of 21 is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A person who allows someone under the age of 21 to gamble, while they are in that person's legal care or custody, is also guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A licensee or employee of a casino who allows someone under the age of 21 to gamble is guilty of a disorderly persons offense as well. This bill changes the penalties for each of these actions from that of a disorderly persons offense, which is of a criminal nature, to instead be a civil fine of up to $500 for the first offense, up to $1,000 for the second offense, and up to $2,000 for any offense thereafter. The fines collected will used for prevention, education, and treatment programs for compulsive gambling, such as those provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. | In Committee |
| S2295 | Concerns pretrail and post-trial considerations for certain crimes involving operation of vehicles, including rebuttable presumption for pretrial detention, pretial recommendation of no release from detention, suspension or revocation of license, and vehicle forfeiture. | Concerns pretrial and post-trial considerations for certain crimes involving operation of vehicles, including rebuttable presumption for pretrial detention, pretrial recommendation of no release from detention, suspension or revocation of license, and vehicle forfeiture. | In Committee |
| S305 | Requires Administrative Law Judges to be enrolled in Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS. | This bill requires the enrollment in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) of Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law, as a condition of employment for service as an administrative law judge for each judge enrolled after the effective date of the bill. Currently, administrative law judges are enrolled in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). Administrative law judges will be subject to and governed by the laws and regulations of the Workers' Compensation Judges Part which was established in 2001 and reopened in 2021. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in the DCRP will be transferred out of the program to the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. An administrative law judge who is currently a participant in PERS will be transferred into the Workers' Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days following the bill's effective date. The account in the DCRP for each judge will be transferred and each judge will be given service credit for service during participation in the program of administrative law judges. The unfunded liability for the benefits provided by the transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. | In Committee |
| S2978 | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances. | In Committee |
| S3170 | Increases annual limit of total tax credits certified for qualified projects under Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. | Increases annual limit of total tax credits certified for qualified projects under Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. | In Committee |
| S3892 | Removes exception to civil service working test period for political subdivision employees. | Under current law, for most civil service employees, the Civil Service Commission provides for a working test period of four months, which may be extended to six months at the discretion of the commission, except that the working test period for political subdivision employees is three months. This bill removes the exception for political subdivision employees. Under the bill, the working test period for political subdivision employees will be four months and may be extended to six months at the discretion of the commission. | In Committee |
| S3903 | Establishes special enrollment period for individual health plan enrollees and dependents when health care providers become out-of-network. | This bill establishes a special enrollment period for individual health plan enrollees when their health care providers become out-of-network. Under the bill, the board of the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program is required to establish a special enrollment period for a covered person whose health care provider, after participating in the covered person's health benefits plan network, becomes out-of-network during the covered person's policy or contract period. The special enrollment period is to last for a certain period of time to be determined by the board, not to be shorter than 30 days. Finally, the carrier is required to provide information about the enrollment period to affected individuals. | In Committee |
| S3608 | Permits restaurants and certain alcoholic beverage retailers and manufacturers to conduct business within designated outdoor space or on public sidewalk. | An Act concerning outdoor sale of food and alcoholic beverages and supplementing Title 40 of the Revised Statutes. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3831 | Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments. | This bill requires the State Medicaid program and the Plan First program to cover standard fertility preservation services in cases in which a medically necessary medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility. The State's Plan First program provides a benefit package of family planning and family planning-related services and supplies for individuals whose annual incomes are below 205 percent of the federal poverty level and who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid or the NJ FamilyCare program. The bill defines "iatrogenic infertility" as an impairment of fertility caused by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other medical treatment affecting reproductive organs or processes. The bill further defines "standard fertility preservation services" as procedures which are consistent with established medical practices and professional guidelines published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or as defined by the New Jersey Department of Health, including the storage of sperm, oocytes, embryos, and cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Subsequent to enactment of P.L.2019, c.306, State-regulated health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and the School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) cover standard fertility preservation services if a medically necessary treatment may, directly or indirectly, cause iatrogenic infertility. This statute, however, specifies that standard fertility preservation services for individuals insured by the SHBP, the SEHBP, and State-regulated health insurers does not include storage of sperm or oocytes. The bill will provide Medicaid and Plan First participants who face iatrogenic infertility with access to fertility preservation services that are frequently cost-prohibitive for low-to-moderate income patients. | In Committee |
| SJR33 | Designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. | This joint resolution designates March 16 as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey. Service dogs play an important role in assisting veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma, and seizure disorder. It is estimated that 29 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience PTSD, and 28 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom may experience TBI. New Jersey has a current veteran population of over 300,000. However, despite federal law to expand the availability of service dogs to veterans, the training and placement of service dogs falls primarily upon community non-profit organizations that depend on charitable donations, such as Paws Healing Heroes of Glassboro. The average cost to rescue, train, and present a service dog to a veteran can be $3,000 to $5,000, which is not covered by insurance or other veterans' benefits. Designating "Paws Healing Heroes Day" will promote greater awareness of the unique role of service dogs in assisting veterans. | In Committee |
| S3741 | Excludes tips from gross income tax. | This bill excludes income earned in the form of tips from the gross income tax. Under current law, the State defines gross income as, among other categories of income, salaries, wages, tips, fees, commissions, bonuses, and other remuneration received for services rendered. Subject to minimum gross income thresholds identified under the law and specific deductions for which a tax filer is deemed eligible, all income from tips is treated as taxable income. However, under current law, the value of property an individual acquires by gift, bequest, devise or inheritance is specifically excluded from gross income, except for the income received from property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or inheritance that has an income-generating capacity. Specifically, the bill eliminates tips as a category of income that is included in the calculation of gross income for State income tax purposes. The bill also specifies that tips received for services rendered, whether in cash or in property, would be treated as property acquired by gift, and therefore specifically excluded from the calculation of gross income. | In Committee |
| A2180 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | An Act concerning school transportation, amending P.L.2015, c.268 (C.18A:39-20.1). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S3690 | Requires NJT to establish pilot program to support commuting needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties to Atlantic City. | This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to establish a two-year pilot program to provide additional motorbus regular route service operated by the corporation, or by an entity under contract with the corporation, to residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties commuting to places of employment in Atlantic City. NJ Transit is also required to establish policies and procedures for the pilot program, including but not limited to policies that provide for a user-friendly approach that aims to reduce any barriers and provide ease of access to persons using the motorbus regular route service provided by the pilot program and increase the number and frequency of additional motorbus regular route services. The bill also requires NJ Transit to prepare a report concerning the public transportation needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties commuting to places of employment in Atlantic City. NJ Transit is also required to provide recommendations on how its transportation services can better address the commuting needs of these residents. The report is to examine: (1) the success of the pilot program, which is to be determined by the volume of tickets sold over the duration of the program; (2) alternative transportation options that are available to these residents to commute to employment; (3) the cost of the pilot program; (4) the feasibility of NJ Transit providing additional transportation service between Cumberland and Cape May counties and Atlantic City; (5) whether NJ Transit or an entity under contract with NJ Transit should continue to provide routes established under the pilot program; and (6) any other relevant information concerning the public transportation needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties to commute to employment in Atlantic City. The Executive Director of NJ Transit is to submit a report of NJ Transit's findings and recommendations, based on the results of the pilot program, to the Governor and Legislature within six months from the end of the pilot program. The bill expires upon submission of the report. | In Committee |
| S3682 | Requires Cannabis Regulatory Commission to establish procedure for persons to voluntarily prohibit self from entering dispensary. | This bill permits persons to voluntarily self-exclude themselves from being able to enter dispensaries or purchase any cannabis items from a cannabis dispensary. Under the bill, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission is required to promulgate rules or regulations related to: (1) establishing procedures for the placement on, and removal from, the list of self-excluded persons; (2) establishing procedures for the transmittal of the list of self-excluded persons to all cannabis retailers; and (3) providing guidance for cannabis retailers to establish procedures designed to: (a) remove self-excluded persons from targeted mailings or other forms of advertising or promotions; and (b) deny self-excluded persons entry and access to the retail location and the cannabis items provided by the cannabis retailer. The bill permits any person to be placed on the self-exclusion list and requires any cannabis retailer to deny entry or sale to a person included on the list. The bill establishes that the self-exclusion list is exempt from public inspection, copying, or disclosure. | In Committee |
| S3698 | Permits surviving spouse of retired member of PFRS to be enrolled in SHBP and to continue to receive pension benefit after remarriage in certain circumstances. | Under this bill, certain surviving spouses of retired members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) will receive State-paid health care benefits through the State Health Benefits Program and a continuation of pension benefits after remarriage. The surviving spouse of a retired member of the PFRS who died prior to, on, or after the effective date of this bill and who was receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance at the time of death will be eligible to enroll for health care benefits coverage in the State Health Benefits Program after the effective date of this bill and the annual premiums for such coverage for the surviving spouse and any dependent children will be paid in full by the State. Such a surviving spouse will also be eligible to continue to receive upon remarriage the pension benefit provided by current law to surviving spouses of deceased retired members. The State will be responsible for any increase in contributions to the retirement system required of employers other than the State due to the continuation of the payment of the pension benefit after remarriage. This bill will only apply if the surviving spouse provides documentation, approved by the Board of Trustees of the PFRS, demonstrating that the injury that caused the disability, the complications from that disability, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused by the disability was a significant contributing factor in the retired member's death. An eligible surviving spouse whose pension was terminated due to remarriage prior to the effective date of this bill may apply to the board to have the pension benefit reinstated and payable again commencing from the date of application. | In Committee |
| S3656 | Requires regional representation for members of BPU. | This bill imposes certain residency requirements for members of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Under the bill, of the five members appointed to serve on the BPU, at least one member is required to reside in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The bill defines the northern region as Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties; the central region as Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Somerset, and Union counties; and the southern region as Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. The bill would provide that, for each appointment made after the effective date of the bill, the Governor would be required to ensure compliance with the required geographic representation. | In Committee |
| S3655 | Authorizes Division of Gaming Enforcement to participate in national self-exclusion list for gaming activities, and to create necessary forms for participation. | Under current law, the Division of Gaming Enforcement is responsible for the establishment of a self-exclusion program in this State, which allows individuals to request that they not be permitted to enter casinos or otherwise participate in gambling in this State. Many states operate similar programs, which only apply within the boundaries of each state. As a result, a person who wishes to self-exclude from gambling in multiple states, which they may live near or visit frequently, must do so in each individual state. This bill would authorize the division to join multi-state or national self-exclusion programs that would allow individuals to request to join multiple self-exclusion lists, in multiple states, through one form at one time. The bill would also allow the division to enter into an agreement with other states for the mutual enforcement of their self-exclusion lists. The bill directs the division to establish the necessary rules, procedures, and forms for the implementation of such programs or agreements. The division would be required to allow an individual requesting self-exclusion to select the jurisdictions from which they wish to be excluded. The division would be prohibited from sharing the individual's information with any jurisdiction not explicitly authorized by the person. | In Committee |
| S3532 | 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 |
| 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 |
| S2876 | Designates State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 interchange as "Ensign John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange." | An Act designating the interchange between State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 as the "Ensign John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S357 | Concerns rights of juvenile defendants who elect to be tried as adults. | This bill provides that juvenile defendants who voluntarily elect to be tried as adults shall have the same procedural rights as juvenile defendants who are involuntarily waived by the prosecutor from the Family Part to the Criminal Part of the Superior Court. A juvenile may voluntarily choose to be tried as an adult as part of a plea agreement, or if the juvenile insists on a trial by jury. Under current law, in cases in which a prosecutor seeks to have a juvenile tried as an adult, the juvenile still retains some of the rights afforded by the New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice, such as the right to be housed in a juvenile facility if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, the right to seek remand of the case back to the Family Part if it is in the interests of justice, and, except for certain violent crimes, the right to have the case remanded back to the Family Part for sentencing after conviction. However, it is not clear whether a juvenile who voluntarily chooses to be tried as an adult retains those same rights. In addition to clarifying the rights of juvenile defendants, this bill requires the court to determine that an election by a juvenile to be tried as an adult is made knowingly, willingly, and voluntarily, given the differential treatment under the law between juveniles adjudicated delinquent and adults convicted of crimes. As part of making that determination, the court would be required to conduct a hearing during which the juvenile would be informed of the differences in sentencing or disposition between adults and juveniles for the offenses charged. | In Committee |
| S2070 | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. | In Committee |
| S2378 | Provides gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals for expense of classroom supplies. | This bill provides a gross income tax deduction to eligible educators and paraprofessionals employed by a New Jersey elementary or secondary school for certain expenses incurred by the educator or paraprofessional for classroom supplies during the taxable year. This New Jersey gross income tax deduction is modeled on the federal income tax deduction for educator expenses allowed under section 62 of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.62). The bill defines an "eligible educator" as an individual who is employed as a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, speech language specialist, or principal by a public or private school located in this State for at least 900 hours during a school year. The bill defines a "paraprofessional" as an individual who is employed as a school aide or classroom aide who assists a teaching staff member with the supervision of pupil activities by a public or private school located in the State that provides elementary education or secondary education. The bill allows the deduction of unreimbursed expenditures by an eligible educator or paraprofessional for supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), books, computer equipment, including related software and services, and other equipment and supplementary materials used by the eligible educator or paraprofessional in the classroom. | In Committee |
| SCR81 | 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 2025, $1,500 in tax year 2026, $2,000 in tax year 2027, and $2,500 in tax year 2028, 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 |
| S1200 | Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition and fee expenses. | This bill allows taxpayers who have annual gross income of $85,000 or less to deduct certain higher education tuition and fee expenses paid during the taxable year. The bill allows the deduction for higher education tuition and fee expenses paid on account of the status of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse and the taxpayer's dependents as a matriculated student at an accredited higher education institution. | In Committee |
| S1235 | Establishes a gross income tax credit for attendance at New Jersey county colleges. | This bill encourages greater opportunities for attendance at county colleges by establishing a $750 gross income tax credit for payment of tuition and maintenance costs for full time attendance, and a $375 credit for part-time attendance, at a New Jersey county college paid by a taxpayer either for a dependent under 22 years of age or for the taxpayer's own attendance at a county college. These tax credits provide tax savings that can be used to finance a significant portion of a county college student's tuition. The county community college system, comprised of 19 institutions, provides access to higher education for a broad range of New Jersey residents who might otherwise be denied the benefits of a college education. This tax credit can provide a substantial financial subsidy for those taxpayers who are pursuing this gateway to a post-secondary education for themselves or their dependents. | In Committee |
| S2535 | Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services. | This bill amends existing law, which established minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services, to include structured day program services. Current law is limited to community residential services. Under existing law, "brain injury service" means community-based services, residential services, day care services, and home care services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries, regardless of whether such services are provided through the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system or the managed care delivery system. Specifically, the bill requires the Medicaid per diem or encounter reimbursement rates for Structured Day Program Services provided to a Medicaid beneficiary requiring treatment for a brain injury, currently at $3.65 for every 15 minutes of services, when such services are provided by an approved brain injury service provider, to be equal to the average of the reimbursement rates for Day Habilitation Services - Tiers D and Tier E provided to a Medicaid beneficiary eligible for services provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, currently at $9.09 for every 15 minutes of service. | In Committee |
| S3356 | Amends "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act" to exclude full-time students and au pairs from definition of domestic worker and remove joint and several liability provision from law. | This bill modifies the "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act," P.L.2023, c.262. The bill changes the definition of domestic worker to exclude: (1) any full-time student in primary school, secondary school, high school, vocational school, college, or other post-secondary educational institution from the law's provisions; and (2) an au pair. Under the bill, au pair is defined as a young adult from overseas who lives with a family on a legal visa and through a federally regulated program for up to two years and provides childcare in exchange for a weekly stipend, room and board. Current law provides that individuals and employers with an overlapping employment relationship with a domestic worker are subject to joint and several liability, and concurrent fines and penalties, for violations of the "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act." The bill removes the joint and several liability provision from current law. | In Committee |
| S3321 | Establishes the "School District Shared Services Task Force." | This bill establishes the "School District Shared Services Task Force" to study how school districts are utilizing shared services and to develop recommendations that improve upon the efficiency and delivery of shared services for school districts. The task force will include the following 9 members: the Commissioner of Education; the Commissioner of Community Affairs; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate; one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and three members appointed by the Governor including one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Counties, and one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association. The task force will study and consider issues including, but not limited to: - the current shared services arrangements school districts have with other school districts, municipalities, and counties; - the implementation challenges that school districts currently face in attempting to expand the scope and capacity of their shared services; - the funding necessary for school districts to use shared services more often and more efficiently; - the impact, if any, with improving shared services among school districts and potential consolidation of school districts; - recommendations for school districts to adopt and implement to improve the efficiency and delivery of their shared services. The task force is required to issue a final report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of its organization, which contains the task force's findings and recommendations regarding school districts improving the efficiency and delivery of their shared services. The task force would expire upon the submission of this report. | In Committee |
| S3365 | Permits board of chosen freeholders to establish "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program to encourage shared services and municipal consolidation. | This bill permits the board of county commissioners of any county to establish a "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program for local units within the county that plan to study the feasibility of a shared service agreement, a joint meeting contract, or municipal consolidation. Grant and loan monies may be used to fund studies, consultant costs and one-time start-up costs of a shared service agreement, joint meeting contract, or municipal consolidation. The board of county commissioners, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs, may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of its program. The Commissioner of Community Affairs is required to provide common guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications to a county "Sharing Resources" grant program. Applications for one-time start-up costs are required to provide that local units may apply for financial assistance for the one-time start-up costs necessary to implement shared services. Costs that may be financed through the issuance of debt or capital lease agreements are excluded from this program. The board of county commissioners may set limits on aid awards and negotiate the various provisions, costs, payment provisions, and amounts of grants or loans to ensure that the proposed shared service is cost effective and in the public interest. The board of county commissioners may also provide technical support programs to assist local units in applying for grants or aid for studying shared services. The board of county commissioners may receive and expend moneys from the State, the federal government, or private individuals, corporations or associations thereof, to meet all or a portion of the expenses of the "Sharing Resources" grant and loan program, and may raise by taxation, pursuant to R.S.40:23-7, all or a portion of the money necessary to pay for the program. | In Committee |
| S3364 | Directs Department of Environmental Protection to develop and provide motor vehicle driving maps for State forests. | This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection, within 180 days of the bill's enactment, to develop a map for each State forest of those roads that are publicly accessible by motor vehicle. Each map would be required to be provided in a downloadable format with instructions on the department's website on how to download or print the map. | In Committee |
| S3343 | Revises tax lien foreclosure process to protect equity accrued by property owner in tax lien foreclosure. | This bill revises New Jersey's tax lien foreclosure laws to comply with the United States Supreme Court's decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, et al., 143 S. Ct. 1369 (2023), and the New Jersey Appellate Division court decision in 257-261 20th Avenue Realty, LLC v. Alessandro Roberto, et al., A-3315-21 (December 4, 2023). In the Tyler decision, the Supreme Court concluded that the taking of the entirety of a property owner's equity in a parcel of real estate because that property owner was delinquent in the payment of property taxes attributable to the parcel of real property violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In the Roberto decision, the Appellate Division found that New Jersey's tax sale law, which established the confiscation of a property owner's equity when a tax lien on a property is foreclosed, violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution as determined in the Tyler case, and also approved the retroactive application of the decision to any foreclosure case pending final judgment to account for the new principle of law established in Tyler (The Appellate Division court referred to this as "pipeline retroactivity"). In order to address the Tyler and Roberto decisions, the bill provides that notwithstanding any provision of the "tax sale law," R.S.54:5-1 et seq., or the "In Rem Tax Foreclosure Act, 1948", P.L.1948, c.96 (C.54:5-104.29 et seq.), or any other law to the contrary, in the case of a parcel of real property that is the subject of a foreclosure action filed in Superior Court pursuant to the provisions of either law, upon the approval of the action to foreclose the right of redemption by the court, the court may not award a property ownership to the tax lien purchaser. Instead, the court would be required to order: (1) a judicial sale of the property to be conducted by the sheriff of the county in which the property is located, pursuant to any direction or guidance promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs; (2)that the sum of all property taxes paid by the tax lien purchaser, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption that were paid by the tax lien purchaser, would be the first priority lien on the property, paramount to any other lien, including any outstanding municipal lien; and (3) that all costs of the judicial sale incurred by the sheriff's office would be reimbursed from the proceeds of the sale. The bill also provides that the amount received at the judicial sale would be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the property, and in the event that there are no bidders at the judicial sale and the purchaser obtains fee title from the sheriff, the property would be deemed to have no equity. With regard to the disbursement of funds from a judicial sale of a foreclosed property, the bill would require the sheriff to make the following reimbursements from these moneys in the following order not later than 14 days following receipt by the sheriff of the moneys paid by the winning bidder: (1) to the purchaser, the sum of all property taxes paid, and interest due thereon, together with all costs related to the filing and adjudication of the action to foreclose the right of redemption, notwithstanding any other provision of law. These costs may include, but shall not be limited to, the costs associated with prejudgment noticing, any service and filing fees, and all reasonable attorney's fees; (2) to the municipality in which the real property is located, the amount of any other municipal liens on the property together with interest due and owing thereon; 3) to the sheriff's office, the amounts needed to reimburse the costs of the judicial sale, and (4) to the defendant, all remaining moneys from the judicial sale, except that if the sheriff is unable to locate and forward any remaining moneys to the defendant, those funds would escheat to the municipality. The bill would also prohibit the payment by a bidder at a tax lien sale of a premium payment to the municipality in order to obtain a tax sale certificate, once the interest rate has been bid down to zero. Instead, the bill would require a tax collector to accept interest rate bids in even increments and in fractional interest rates of 0.25percent only. If multiple bidders offer the same lowest rate of interest, the collector would then be required to use a random-number generator to select the successful bidder. If a tax sale certificate is not purchased, the certificate would be struck off to the municipality at the maximum rate of interest allowed by law. The bill would entitle the collector to a fee of five percent of the amount of the delinquent taxes and interest when a tax sale certificate is sold, except that the fee would be included in the face value of the certificate, and the collector would not be entitled to the fee until that certificate is redeemed or purchased. | In Committee |
| S3363 | Provides for immediate issuance of marriage and civil union licenses; provides for 72 hour waiting period prior to ceremony. | This bill requires a marriage or civil union license be issued immediately upon application, but continues to require a 72-hour waiting period. Under current law, after a couple applies for a marriage or civil union license there is a 72-hour waiting period before the license can be issued by the licensing officer. The Superior Court may, by order, waive all or any part of the 72-hour period in cases of emergency, upon satisfactory proof being shown. This bill would provide that a marriage or civil union license would be issued by the licensing officer immediately upon filing the application. However, individuals would still be required to wait 72 hours before the marriage or civil union ceremony could be performed. The intent of the bill is not to change the current 72-hour waiting period before the ceremony can occur, but to save couples the additional trip to the licensing officer to pick up the license. The bill provides that all or part of the 72-hour waiting period between issuance of the license and the marriage or civil union ceremony could be waived by order of the Superior Court in cases of emergency, upon satisfactory proof being shown. The bill also provides that the 72-hour waiting period between issuance of the license and the ceremony would not apply to an applicant who is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard. | In Committee |
| S3000 | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses. | In Committee |
| S3246 | Changes underage gambling from disorderly persons offense to civil penalty; provides for deposit of all associated fines to local public safety funds. | Under current law, anyone who gambles while under the legal of 21 is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A person who allows someone under the age of 21 to gamble, while they are in that person's legal care or custody, is also guilty of a disorderly persons offense. A licensee or employee of a casino who allows someone under the age of 21 to gamble is guilty of a disorderly persons offense as well. This bill changes the penalties for these actions from that of a disorderly persons offense, which is of a criminal nature, to instead be a civil fine of up to $500 for the first offense, up to $1,000 for the second offense, and up to $2,000 for any offense thereafter. The fines collected will be distributed to Atlantic City for the sole use of public safety services. | In Committee |
| S3266 | Establishes pilot program to study feasibility of regionalization of certain school districts; appropriates $150,000. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a school district regionalization pilot program. The purpose of the program is to study the feasibility of establishing a grade K-12 all purpose regional school district through the consolidation of an existing grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the grade K-8 school districts of its constituent municipalities. The pilot program will consist of a one-year Phase I planning stage, a five-year Phase II implementation stage, and an Evaluation Component. The bill directs the commissioner to select three pilot sites to participate in the program, including one in a northern, central and southern region of the State. Under the bill, if a board of education of a grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the boards of education of the grade K-8 school districts of its constituent municipalities determine to participate in the pilot program, the boards must jointly submit an application to the commissioner. The bill requires that selected school districts conduct a feasibility study to determine the educational and financial impact of forming a grade K-12 regional school district. The districts may apply to the commissioner for a planning grant in an amount not to exceed $50,000 to cover costs associated with its participation in the pilot program including, but not limited to, the collection of data, public relations activities, and the organization of public meetings. In addition to the planning grant, any costs associated with the feasibility study will be paid by the State. The commissioner may extend the Phase I planning stage through a second year if he determines it to be advisable. The bill specifies that the voters of each constituent municipality of the proposed grade K-12 regional school district must approve the participation in the Phase II implementation stage. The commissioner will provide incentive State aid to school districts that participate in the Phase II implementation stage in an amount as is necessary to equalize the apportionment of costs of the grade K-12 regional school district among the constituent municipalities and to support the initial costs associated with regionalization. Incentive State aid will be provided for each of the five years of the Phase II implementation stage. The bill also directs the commissioner to appoint an independent evaluator to work in each of the pilot sites to design and implement the evaluation of that site. The design would address issues such as the impact of the establishment of a grade K-12 regional school district on student achievement, school district finances, parent and student satisfaction with educational programs and athletic and other extra-curricular school programs, staffing, facilities, and governance. | In Committee |
| S3267 | Establishes Textbook Grant Program for State Interns. | This bill establishes a Textbook Grant Program for State Interns. Under the bill, the program will be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The authority will, upon successful review of an application, disburse a one-time grant in the amount of $500 to an applicant. The grant will be applied by the applicant towards the cost of textbooks and other course materials needed by the applicant in the succeeding semester. To be eligible for a grant under the program, a student is required to apply to the authority and submit such documentation as the authority shall require to support the student's: (1) completion of an unpaid short-term internship at a State entity; and (2) enrollment in good standing in an undergraduate degree program at an institution of higher education in the State at the time of the application, including a statement from the student indicating the student's intention to continue enrollment in the succeeding semester. According to the College Board, the average undergraduate student spends in excess of $1,200 a year on textbooks and other course materials. This bill will help to defray those costs for students who complete unpaid internships within State government. | In Committee |
| S2005 | Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state. | Under current law, United States military personnel and their dependents who are living in New Jersey and are attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey are regarded as residents of the State for the purpose of determining tuition. This bill amends that law to provide that:? the in-State tuition classification also applies to the military service member's spouse; and? in the event that the military service member is relocated out of the State due to the service member's continued military service, the service member's spouse or dependent will not lose their in-State tuition classification provided that: (1) the spouse or dependent was enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Jersey prior to the service member's relocation; and (2) the spouse or dependent maintains continuous enrollment at the public institution of higher education. | In Committee |
| SCR98 | Reconstitutes the "Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity." | This concurrent resolution reconstitutes the "Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity," which was created by the 216th Legislature and reconstituted in the 218th, 219th, and 220th Legislatures. The concurrent resolution provides that the joint committee is authorized, empowered, and directed to conduct a continuing study of issues concerning economic justice and equal employment opportunity in this State. The joint committee, in its endeavor to study these issues, shall meet and hold hearings at places, throughout the State, as it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. | In Committee |
| ACR105 | Reconstitutes the "Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity." | Reconstitutes "Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity." | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1060 | Requires public schools to develop policy for emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and use of manual vagus nerve stimulators on students with seizure disorders. | This bill requires a board of education to develop a policy in accordance with the guidelines established by the Department of Education for the emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and the emergency use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator on a student with a seizure disorder. Pursuant to the policy, the school nurse is to have the primary responsibility for the administration of nasal seizure rescue medication. The certified school nurse is required to designate at least two additional employees of the school district who volunteer to administer the nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator on a student when the school nurse is not physically present at the scene. The certified school nurse is required to determine that:· the designees have been properly trained;· the parents of the student consent in writing to the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication and use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator by the designees;· the parents are informed in writing that the district and its employees have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication and the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator; and· the parents sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that the district has no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication and the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator. The policy developed by the school district is to require: (1) the transportation of the student to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of the nasal seizure rescue medication, and if indicated in the emergency action plan after the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator. The student is to be evaluated and receive medical clearance in order to return to school; (2) an alternative plan in the case that a student's seizure action plan does not permit the administration of nasal seizure rescue medication or the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator by a designee; and (3) the parent to provide an ample supply of the prescribed nasal seizure rescue medication to the school nurse and to the designees. Alternatively, if provided for in the seizure action plan, the nasal seizure rescue medication may be permitted to be carried on the student's person. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, appropriate medical experts, and professional organizations representing school nurses, principals, and teachers, is required to establish and disseminate to each board of education guidelines for the development of a policy by a school district for the emergency administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and the use of a manual vagus nerve stimulator on students. The Departments of Education and Health are also required to jointly develop protocols, in consultation with the New Jersey State School Nurses Association, for the training of additional school employees as volunteer designees to administer the nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator when the school nurse is not physically present. The bill requires the Department of Education to take appropriate action to ensure that each school district incorporates age-appropriate education on epilepsy and seizure disorders, consistent with the classroom education programs developed by the Epilepsy Foundation of America, at least once between kindergarten and third grade and at least once between grades six and 12. The bill will take effect on the first day of the 12th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Department of Education may take anticipatory administrative action to implement the bill's provisions. This delayed effective date will allow time for the development of training protocols for school employees designated by the certified school nurse to administer the nasal seizure rescue medication or use the manual vagus nerve stimulator when the school nurse is not present. | In Committee |
| S3139 | Concerns conditions of employment of certain cannabis workers. | This bill provides cannabis workers employed by cannabis employers rights and protections equal to the rights and protections provided to other workers with respect to employee representation, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practices. Cannabis employers are defined in the bill as employers who are licensed or regulated under chapter 6I of Title 24 of the Revised Statutes. Currently, certain cannabis workers, most notably those employed by licensed cannabis cultivators, are excluded from protections against unfair labor practices provided to most private sector workers by the federal National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. s.151 et seq.)("NLRA"), and provided to public employees by the State public employment relations law, P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1 et seq.)("PERL") and the Workplace Democracy Enhancement Act, P.L.2018, c.15 (C.34:13A-5.11 et seq.) ("WDEA"). This bill brings those cannabis workers under protections similar to those laws, by expanding the responsibilities of the State Board of Mediation in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development regarding cannabis employment not regulated by the NLRA. It provides the board with the power to prevent specified unfair labor practices, thus providing rights to the cannabis workers similar to the rights provided to other private sector workers by the NLRA, and the rights provided to public employees by the PERL and the WDEA. The bill prohibits cannabis employers and their representatives and agents from the following unfair practices: 1. Interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights granted by the bill. 2. Dominating or interfering with any employee organization. 3. Discriminating against employees for making disclosures or otherwise exercising their rights. 4. Refusing to negotiate in good faith or sign a negotiated agreement. 5. Violating any board regulation. The bill similarly prohibits cannabis worker organizations and their representatives and agents from the following unfair practices: 1. Interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of their rights. 2. Interfering with, restraining, or coercing a cannabis employer in the selection of a representative for negotiations or grievance procedures. 3. Refusing to negotiate in good faith or sign a negotiated agreement. 4. Violating any board regulation. The board may order an offending party to cease any unfair practice and take reasonable remedial action, including, in the case of a discharge, reinstatement, paying lost wages, costs of action, and damages equal to the wages due. It is also an unfair practice under the bill for a cannabis employer to encourage or discourage employees from joining, forming or assisting an employee organization, or encourage them to end their employee organization membership or revoke authorization of the deduction of dues or fees. The board is required to order the employer to make whole the employee organization for any resulting losses to the organization. Current law, section 5 of P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1), directs the New Jersey State Board of Mediation to designate a labor organization to represent employees of any private sector employer not regulated under the NLRA, including an employer who is not a cannabis employer, if the employees select the organization in an election conforming with NLRA procedures, or, if only one labor organization seeks to represent the employees, a majority of the employees sign cards showing that they prefer that organization. The bill provides that in such cases, including cases of non-cannabis employers, the employee organization may petition the board to require the employer to provide a list of current employees with contact information. The bill increases penalties for employer non-compliance from not more than $1,000 to not more than $5,000 per day of non-compliance. Finally, the bill clarifies that the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.1) concerning private employers not subject to the NLRA apply to employees not subject to the NLRA even if employed by an employer who has both employees not subject to the NLRA and employees who are subject to the NRLA. The bill provides, with respect to cannabis workers and employers, that if the employee organization petitions the board for that information, then the employer must also give the organization access to the employees, including allowing meetings in the workplace and employer-controlled living quarters. The bill provides that once the organization is designated as the employee representative, the employer must give the organization access to the employer's premises to investigate and discuss grievances and other issues, conduct meetings, and meet newly hired employees. The bill gives cannabis worker organizations the right to engage in publicity regarding products produced by an employer with which the organization has a dispute, including publicity asking the public to not patronize businesses distributing or selling the products. | In Committee |
| S3079 | Requires petition circulators and candidates to take bona fide candidacy oath; makes violation third degree crime; reinstitutes prompt pre-election reporting for independent expenditure committees; affirms court jurisdiction of campaign finance laws. | This bill requires persons who gather voter signatures on a petition to nominate a candidate for election, and the candidates named on the petitions themselves, to take an oath that they are conducting a real "bona fide" candidacy. This means that they are conducting the candidacy in good faith and do not seek to engage in a vote syphoning scheme to foil the candidacy or campaign of another candidate. The intent of this bill is to prevent the candidacy of "phantom candidates," whereby a candidate enters a race to syphon votes away from another candidate to foil that candidate's chances at winning the election. This bill makes it a third degree crime to violate the "bona fide" candidacy oath. A crime of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, a fine up to $15,000, or both. This penalty would be in addition to the penalties for false swearing already established under current law. The bill also provides that filing a petition in violation of the bona fide candidacy oath would be grounds for contesting the nomination or election of that candidate. This bill also re-instates the requirement for independent expenditure committees, the so-called "dark money" groups, to promptly report campaign contributions and expenditures in the 15 days before an election. Oath for Petition Circulators and Candidates Under current law, general election petition circulators, or a candidate who signs or circulates, or both signs and circulates, such a petition, must take an oath by affidavit before a duly qualified officer that the petition is made in good faith, that the affiant personally circulated the petition and saw all the signatures made and believes that the signers are duly qualified voters. Similarly, under current law, primary election petition circulators, or a candidate who signs or circulates, or both signs and circulates, such a petition, must take an oath by affidavit that the affiant personally circulated the petition; that the petition is signed by each of the signers in their proper handwriting; that the signers are to the best knowledge and belief of the affiant legal voters of the State or political subdivision, as the case may be, as stated in the petition, and belong to the political party named in the petition; and that the petition is prepared and filed in absolute good faith for the sole purpose of indorsing the person or persons therein named, in order to secure his or their nomination or selection as stated in such petition. This bill adds to the petition circulator oath a requirement for an additional affirmation that the petition is made for a bona fide candidacy in good faith and that such candidacy does not seek to engage in a vote syphoning scheme to foil the candidacy or campaign of another candidate. Under current law, candidates nominated to the general election through direct nomination by petition, and candidates nominated through the primary election process and via write-in votes at the primary election, are required to take the oath of allegiance and submit it with their acceptance of the nomination. This bill would, in addition, require such acceptance to include the following oath of bona fide candidacy, duly taken and subscribed by the candidate before an officer authorized to take oaths in this State: "I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am conducting a bona fide candidacy in good faith and that I do not seek to engage in a vote syphoning scheme to foil the candidacy or campaign of another candidate." Oaths to be on Paper and Attached to Petitions For both the petition circulators and the candidates, the bill requires all of the required oaths by affidavit to be on paper, signed by the affiant, and attached upon the petition or acceptance being filed. The bill requires the officer or officers to whom the petitions and acceptances are addressed to examine each petition and acceptance to ascertain that all oaths and affirmation affidavits required to be made by petition circulators and candidates are submitted on paper and signed by the affiant or affiants along with the petitions and acceptances being filed. Under current law, the Secretary of State is the officer who receives such petitions and acceptances for Statewide, congressional, and State legislative candidacies, while the county and municipal clerks are the officer or officers who receive such petitions and acceptances for county and local candidacies. Under the bill, the failure to submit the required signed affidavits on paper will render as defective the corresponding petition and acceptance. Penalties for Violation of "Bona Fide" Candidacy Oath The bill creates a new provision in the election crimes statutes to specifically prohibit any candidate or any person who circulates a petition from falsely making oath to any certificate of nomination or petition, or any part of it, in violation of the requirement to conduct a bona fide candidacy in good faith as indicated in the oath or affirmation. Under the bill, a person violating any of these provisions would be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Current prohibitions against perjury or false swearing or affirming would also apply, including those provided under R.S.41:3-1 and R.S.19:34-26. Grounds for Contesting Nomination or Election The bill also provides that the filing of a petition in violation of the bona fide candidacy oath would be grounds for contesting the nomination or election of a candidate. This provision is added to the list of grounds for contesting the nomination or election of candidates. Prompt Reporting by Independent Expenditure Committees This bill re-instates the requirement for independent expenditure committees, the so-called "dark money" groups, to promptly report campaign contributions and expenditures in the days before an election. Under current law, independent expenditure committees are required to file with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) a cumulative report on the 11th day preceding the primary election, and on the 20th day following the primary election, of all contributions received in excess of $7,500 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it for the purpose of furthering the independent expenditure. They are also required to report all independent expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it. In addition, each independent expenditure committee making an electioneering communication pertaining to a municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election is required to file with ELEC a cumulative report on the 29th day preceding the election, a report on the 11th day preceding the election, and on the 20th day following the election, of all contributions received in excess of $7,500 in the form of moneys, loans, paid personal services, or other things of value made to it for the purpose of furthering the independent expenditure, and of all independent expenditures made, incurred, or authorized by it. The reporting period begins on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ends on the reporting date. However, independent expenditure committees are not currently required to report contributions received and expenditures made in the period between the filing of the 11th-day pre-election report and the day of the election, thereby creating a transparency loophole. Under this bill, when an independent expenditure committee receives a contribution from a single source of more than $7,500 after the final day of a cumulative reporting period and on or before a primary, municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election which occurs after that final day but prior to the final day of the next reporting period it will be required, in writing or by electronic transmission, to report that contribution to ELEC within 72 hours of receiving it, if that contribution is received between the 15th day prior to that election and the day of the election. However, a contribution received between the seventh day prior to that election and the day of the election would be required to be reported within 24 hours of receiving it. The bill requires the committee to report the amount and date of the contribution; the name and mailing address of the contributor; and where the contributor is an individual, the individual's occupation and the name and mailing address of the individual's employer. In addition, when an independent expenditure committee makes or authorizes any independent expenditure, or incurs any obligation therefor, between the 15th day prior to the day of a primary, municipal, runoff, school board, special, or general election and the day of that election, it will be required to report, in writing or by electronic transmission, that independent expenditure to the commission within 72 hours of making, authorizing, or incurring it. However, an independent expenditure made, authorized, or incurred between the seventh day prior to the election and the day of the election would be required to be reported within 24 hours of making, authorizing, or incurring it. Furthermore, this bill requires each independent expenditure committee to file its statement of registration with ELEC immediately upon incurring any obligation in excess of $7,500, in the aggregate per election. Superior Court Jurisdiction Finally, this bill affirms that the Superior Court has the authority to adjudicate campaign finance laws. The bill provides that any candidate or committee has the authority to initiate a civil action in the Superior Court for the purpose of enforcing compliance with the campaign finance laws, or enjoining violations thereof or enforcing any penalty prescribed by law, and that the Superior Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate any such claims. | In Committee |
| S3076 | Amends appropriations act to provide funding for restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts; shifts $64,920,000 from certain appropriations for purposes of restoring aid; provides supplemental appropriation of $145,215,047. | This bill amends the FY 2024 appropriations act to provide funding for the restoration of State school aid reductions for certain school districts. The bill ensures that: 1) school districts that previously received an allotment of Supplemental Stabilization Aid under P.L.2023, c.32 receive such aid in the same amount allocated to the district under that law; and 2) that a school district proposed to experience a State school aid reduction in the 2024-2025 school year receive an additional amount of State school aid equal to the difference between the amount of aid received in the 2023-2024 school year and the amount of aid proposed for the 2024-2025 school year. The total funds that would be appropriated under the bill to effectuate these purposes is $210,135,047. The bill would shift a total of approximately $64.9 million in funds from current FY 2024 appropriations, as well as certain unexpended balances from appropriations made in prior fiscal years, to provide for a portion of the total funding needed to effectuate the purposes of the bill. In order to provide for the remaining need, the bill appropriates an additional $145.2 million from the General Fund for the bill's purposes. | In Committee |
| S3033 | Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to consider combined income of all cosigners on application for participation in New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program. | In order to be eligible for a loan under the New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program, an applicant is required to meet all the eligibility criteria, including the income requirement, for a loan. Most students, lacking sufficient income to meet this requirement, have one or more cosigners on their application. In some cases, a student who has two parents cosign a loan is ineligible to participate in the NJCLASS loan program because neither parent meets the minimum income requirement, even though their combined income exceeds the requirement. This bill directs the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, when setting a minimum income requirement to determine the eligibility of a prospective borrower, to consider the combined incomes of all cosigners on an application for participation in the NJCLASS Loan Program. | In Committee |
| S3037 | Establishes loan redemption program and gross income tax credit for mental health professionals who serve children and adolescents. | This bill provides financial incentives, including student loan redemption payments and gross income tax credits, for licensed mental health professionals who provide mental health counseling services to children and adolescents. Specifically, the bill establishes the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Loan Redemption Program ("program") within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority ("authority"). The program would provide loan redemption payments to licensed mental health professionals who are employed in a full-time position that is wholly or primarily dedicated to providing mental health counseling services to children and adolescents ("qualifying occupation"). Under the bill, a program participant may receive a loan redemption payment, in an amount not to exceed $1,000, for each full year of mental health counseling services. However, a person may not participate in the program for longer than four years. Any loan redemption payment provided through the program is required to support the outstanding balance of the participant's eligible student loan expenses. To qualify for participation in the program, an applicant would be required to: (1) be a resident of the State; (2) be a licensed mental health professional who is employed in a qualifying occupation; (3) have an outstanding balance of eligible student loan expenses and not be in default on any eligible student loan expenses; and (4) satisfy any additional criteria that the authority may deem necessary. When a person is selected for participation in the program, the person would be required to enter into a written contract with the authority. At a minimum, this contract would specify the dates that the program participant is required to remain employed in a qualifying occupation. The bill permits a program participant to withdraw from the program by providing written notice to the authority. Under the bill, the authority may not provide a loan redemption payment without first receiving the following documents from the program participant: (1) proof of residency in the State during the previous 12-month period; (2) such certification as the authority deems appropriate to demonstrate that the program participant was employed in a qualifying occupation during the previous 12-month period; (3) certification of the outstanding balance of eligible student loan expenses; and (4) any other materials that the authority may deem necessary. Any person who knowingly or willfully furnishes false or misleading information for the purpose of receiving a loan redemption payment under the program is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Additionally, the bill provides that a licensed mental health professional would be eligible for a gross income tax credit of not more than $1,000 for each taxable year in which the person is employed in a full-time position that is wholly or primarily dedicated to providing mental health counseling services to children and adolescents. | In Committee |
| S2865 | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | Establishes "The Voter Convenience Act" to allow voters to vote at any polling place in their municipality on election day. | In Committee |
| SCR97 | Proposes constitutional amendment to give $250 property tax deduction to law enforcement officers who have sustained permanent disability. | If approved by the voters of the State, this proposed constitutional amendment would provide an annual $250 property tax deduction to law enforcement officers who have been permanently disabled as the result of their law enforcement service, and to their surviving spouses. The proposed amendment directs the Legislature to define the "law enforcement officers" eligible to receive the $250 property tax deduction. | In Committee |
| S2977 | Permits certain State employees to receive unpaid and paid leave to be census enumerators. | This bill permits certain State employees to receive an unpaid and paid leave of absence to be census enumerators. Under the bill, up to five State employees in each State agency shall be granted, upon request, a leave of absence to be census enumerators during that employee's normal work hours. Upon approval of the request, a leave of absence with pay for no more than 10 work days during the federal decennial census year and an additional leave of absence without pay for no more than 10 work days during the federal decennial census year would be granted to those State employees to participate in census outreach as a census enumerator. As used in the bill, "State agency" means any of principal departments in the Executive Branch of State government, and any division, board, bureau, office, commission or other instrumentality within or created by such department, and any independent State authority, commission, instrumentality or agency. | In Committee |
| S2925 | Improves management and administration of New Jersey Better Education Savings Trust program; establishes grants and additional tax incentives for New Jersey Better Education Savings and Trust account contributions; creates New Jersey Better Education Savings and Trust Advisory Council. | This bill makes improvements to the New Jersey Better Education and Savings Trust (NJBEST) program to assist accountholders in saving for a college education. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, in selecting an investment manager for NJBEST accounts, would be required to select the investment manager that charges the lowest possible fees and costs imposed by the manager or managers on yield to contributors. State law currently requires the authority to, among other criteria, consider the impact of fees and costs imposed by the manager on yield to contributors. The minimum dollar amount held in an NJBEST account that is required to be excluded when evaluating the financial needs of a student would also be raised from $25,000 to $50,000. Under current law, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority determines a dollar amount of an NJBEST account that: (1) is not permitted to be considered in evaluating the financial need of a student beneficiary enrolled in an institution of higher education located in the State or be deemed a financial resource or form of financial aid for purposes of determining the student beneficiary's eligibility for any State scholarship or grant; and (2) may not be used to reduce the amount of any scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance awarded by the State to which the student beneficiary is entitled. The authority may not set this dollar amount at less than $25,000. This bill would increase the amount to $50,000, thereby authorizing the exclusion of a greater amount of a NJBEST account from consideration in evaluating the student beneficiary's financial need for purposes of determining eligibility for any scholarship, grant or monetary assistance awarded by the State. The current income limitation for taxpayers who wish to deduct contributions made to an NJBEST account would be raised to $300,000 and permit a deduction of up to $15,000 in contributions from the taxpayer's gross income for the taxable year. Under current law, taxpayers with incomes of $200,000 or less may only deduct up to $10,000 in contributions made during the taxable year. Taxpayers with an annual gross income of $150,000 or less who frequently deposit into their NJBEST accounts would be eligible for grants of at least 10 percent of the initial deposit into the account up to $1,000 and for an additional grant of at least $100 for each year the taxpayer is enrolled in an automated investment plan except for the year in which the initial deposit is made. Currently, NJBEST accounts opened by taxpayers with gross incomes of $75,000 or less is only eligible for a one-time grant of up to $750 in a dollar-for-dollar match of the initial deposit into the account. In addition, taxpayers with a gross income of $150,000 or less would be eligible for a one-time grant of up to $500 in a dollar-for-dollar match of the initial deposit into an NJBEST account provided that the funds used for the initial deposit originate from an out-of-state account established pursuant to section 529 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Grant funds received by the taxpayer would not be subject to State income taxes. This bill also creates the New Jersey Better Education Savings and Trust (NJBEST) Advisory Council within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The advisory council would advise the Governor and the Legislature on ways to improve the operation, management, and administration of the NJBEST program, reviewing, monitoring, and reporting the extent to which the NJBEST program has made a college education accessible and affordable to families across the State; and support existing, and recommending new, Statewide initiatives encouraging families to save for a college education by opening an NJBEST account. The advisory council would be composed of the following members: · the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee;· the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee;· the Commissioner of the Division of Banking and Insurance, or a designee;· a representative from an institution of higher education appointed by the Governor;· four members of the Legislature appointed by the President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and· five public members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill provides tax credits against taxes otherwise due under the State corporate business tax and the New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act for employers that make matching contributions to the NJBEST accounts of employees. Employers would be allowed a tax credit for the total amount of matching contributions made by the taxpayer to the NJBEST accounts of employees during the taxable year. To qualify for the tax credit, the taxpayer would report the names, addresses, and account numbers of the NJBEST accountholders employed by the taxpayer who received matching contributions during the taxable year and the amount of the contributions made to employee accounts. | In Committee |
| S175 | Establishes "ATV Law Enforcement Task Force" to enhance and coordinate efforts to enforce laws pertaining to ATVs. | Establishes "ATV Law Enforcement Task Force" to enhance and coordinate efforts to enforce laws pertaining to ATVs. | In Committee |
| S1625 | Requires annual report on New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program to include information on borrower delinquency and administrative wage garnishments. | Requires annual report on New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program to include information on borrower delinquency and administrative wage garnishments. | In Committee |
| S2839 | "Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan. | This bill would amend P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), which establishes the State's Energy Master Plan Committee, to require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), when preparing the Energy Master Plan or any portion thereof or amendment thereto, to consider the following: (1) the energy needs, supplies, and reliability in all geographic areas of the State; (2) the use and development of diverse energy generation sources including, but not limited to, solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen, natural gas, and renewable natural gas to assure a reliable and sufficient energy supply; (3) the affordability of energy generation, transmission, and distribution to ratepayers; (4) the prioritization of in-State energy generation, to the extent practicable and feasible to minimize subsidies for out-of-State energy generation; and (5) the use of incentives, rather than mandates, when feasible, to increase consumer transparency and choice. The bill would also require the Energy Master Plan to provide that intermittent energy sources are not to exceed 50 percent of the State's energy generation portfolio. The bill updates membership of the Energy Master Plan Committee in accordance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 28. The bill also adds the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of the Rate Counsel, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, or their designees, as members of the Energy Master Plan Committee. In addition, the bill would require the BPU to perform an analysis of any energy generation facility project prior to issuing final approval, and of the State's Energy Master Plan no later than six months after publishing an update thereto. Specifically, the analysis would: (1) detail the cost, financial impact to the State and any applicable local government unit, effect on ratepayers, and economic impact of the energy policy or project, as applicable; (2) provide a breakdown of all associated costs including, but not limited to, the capital cost of energy generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the capital cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed; (3) use only open source modeling software, and provide details about the software used and all parameters entered into the model; (4) provide an opportunity for public comment at least 30 days prior to the publication of the analysis, and include all pertinent written comments received as part of the analysis; and (5) be published and maintained for at least 10 years on the board's Internet website. The bill would also require the BPU, upon invitation, to present testimony each year to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the analyses it performed during the previous year. | In Committee |
| S2771 | Requires DHS to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. | This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is required to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school. The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties. The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary. | In Committee |
| S2780 | Requires SJTA to suspend certain tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway in certain circumstances. | This bill requires the South Jersey Transportation Authority to suspend the collection of any toll east of the Garden State Parkway on the Atlantic City Expressway when U.S. Route 40 is closed east of the Garden State Parkway. U.S. Route 40 is a main thoroughfare for many residents of this State. U.S. Route 40 is also prone to flooding. If, for any reason, the route is closed, there is no efficient means of travel for many motorists to and from Atlantic City to Pleasantville without having to pay a toll. | In Committee |
| S159 | Establishes "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" within Department of Treasury to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion. | This bill establishes the "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" and provides for the appropriation and distribution of excess State hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues for deposit to the fund to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion. Under the bill, the "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" is established as a special, non-lapsing fund within the Department of the Treasury. The bill requires the fund to be administered by the State Treasurer, and provides for the fund to be used as a repository for all excess State hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues that are appropriated and distributed to the Department of the Treasury for deposit to the fund. The bill requires the State Treasurer to use the excess revenues deposited to the fund to issue annually, commencing with State fiscal year 2022, tourism incentive grants to counties for purposes of providing financial assistance to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion. To effectuate that purpose, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to approve, on or before January 1, 2023, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter, the issuance of an incentive grant to each county that has, on or before October 1, 2022, and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter: (1) made and filed an application with the State Treasurer; (2) submitted a statement to the State Treasurer detailing how financial assistance from the fund will be used to support tourism advertising and promotion; and (3) entered into an agreement with the State Treasurer requiring the county to use financial assistance from the fund to support tourism advertising and promotion, to not use financial assistance from the fund to reduce or eliminate the total amount of other funds currently used by the county to support tourism advertising and promotion, and to repay, with interest, the total amount of financial assistance issued to the county if the assistance is not used to support tourism advertising and promotion or the assistance is used to reduce or eliminate the total amount of other funds currently used by the county to support tourism advertising and promotion. The bill provides that the amount of each incentive grant issued to a county will equal the county's share of the excess State hotel and motel occupancy fee revenues deposited to the fund. The bill authorizes the State Treasurer, in consultation with the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of the bill, and permits the immediate filing of those rules and regulations with the Office of Administrative Law, effective for a period not to exceed 360 days following the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S2511 | Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act." | This bill repeals the "Pet Purchase Protection Act," P.L.1999, c.336 (C.56:8-92 et seq.) and replaces it with a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits by pet shops. The bill also imposes several other requirements concerning the sale and adoption of animals. The bill provides that, without limiting the prosecution of any other practices which may be unlawful pursuant to State consumer fraud laws, it would be an unlawful practice and a violation of State consumer fraud law, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for any breeder or broker to knowingly sell a cat or dog that is unfit for purchase. The bill defines "unfit for purchase" as having any disease, deformity, injury, physical condition, illness, or defect which is congenital or hereditary and severely affects the health of the animal, and which was manifest, capable of diagnosis or likely contracted on or before the sale and delivery of the animal to the consumer. The bill specifies that the death of an animal within 14 days of its delivery to the consumer, except by death by accident or as a result of injuries sustained during that period, would be construed to mean the animal was unfit for purchase. The bill establishes a prohibition on the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops and establishes a $500 fine for each violation of this prohibition to be collected in a civil action under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999. The bill authorizes a pet shop to: 1) sell or offer for sale any other type of animal as may be otherwise permitted pursuant to State law or regulation, or sell or offer for sale pet supplies for any type of animal, including a cat, dog, or rabbit, if it is licensed by its municipality to do so; and 2) offer, in collaboration with an animal rescue organization, shelter, or pound, space in the pet shop to showcase cats, dogs, and rabbits that are available for adoption, provided that no payment or compensation, monetary or otherwise, is exchanged between the pet shop and animal rescue organization, shelter, or pound, for the use of the pet shop or for the adoption of any cat, dog, rabbit, or any other animal. The bill prohibits animal rescue organizations, animal rescue organization facilities, pet shops, shelters, or pounds from obtaining a cat, dog, or rabbit from a breeder or broker in exchange for any type of compensation. The bill specifies that: 1) no provision of the bill may be construed to alter, diminish, replace, or revoke the requirements for pet dealers that are not pet shops or the rights of a consumer purchasing an animal from a pet dealer that is not a pet shop, as may be provided elsewhere in law or any rule or regulation; 2) any provision of law or regulation pertaining to pet shops that does not pertain to the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits would continue to apply to pet shops; and 3) no provision of the bill may be construed to alter, diminish, replace, or revoke any recourse or remedy that is otherwise available to a consumer purchasing a cat, dog, rabbit, or any other type of animal and provided under any other law. The bill specifies that the bill's provisions may not be construed to interfere with the implementation of, or otherwise invalidate, or limit or restrict any municipality, county, local health agency, or municipal or county board of health from enacting or enforcing, any law, ordinance, rule, or regulation that places additional obligations or restrictions on pet shops, pet shop sales, pet dealers, breeders, brokers, or breeder or broker sales. | In Committee |
| S1493 | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities. | In Committee |
| S902 | Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. | This bill would create the Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities. The inspector general will be appointed to a five-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The inspector general must have experience as either a prosecutor or investigator, or in the operation of veterans' facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. The inspector general will be independent of supervision or control by any other State officer or employee. The role of the Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities will be to receive and investigate complaints concerning policies and procedures at State veterans' facilities. In exercising investigatory powers, the inspector general would also be empowered to conduct evaluations, inspections, and other such reviews as deemed necessary to ensure the safety and quality of care provided at State veterans' facilities. The inspector general would also be empowered to initiate investigations independent of any complaints received. Upon the appointment of the inspector general, the inspector general will immediately begin an investigation into the policies and practices that may have caused or contributed to the high number of deaths in the veterans' facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector general may refer possible criminal conduct or activity to the appropriate prosecutorial authority. In light of the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19 at veterans' facilities in Paramus and Menlo Park, there is need for additional State oversight of the policies and procedures at all State veterans' facilities. By establishing the position of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities, the State can ensure that the health and well-being of New Jersey's veterans are protected and that tragedies like those that occurred in Paramus and Menlo Park never happen again. | In Committee |
| SR12 | Urges NJ DOH to increase public awareness on effects of xylazine. | This resolution urges the New Jersey Department of Health to take the appropriate steps to inform the public of the dangers to humans who use xylazine as a recreational drug. The New Jersey Department of Health should increase efforts to raise awareness on the human use of xylazine by providing New Jerseyans with appropriate educational resources. A new street drug, xylazine, also known as "Tranq" and "Zombie Drug" has created a growing concern in the State. The drug is a central nervous system depressant that can cause drowsiness and amnesia as well as slow breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths in humans in New Jersey and surrounding states. Xylazine or xylazine-containing drugs are used by injecting, snorting, swallowing, or inhaling. Repeated xylazine use is also associated with skin ulcers, abscesses, and complications. People that are exposed to xylazine, knowingly or unknowingly, use it in combination with other drugs, particularly illicit fentanyl. Xylazine containing fentanyl is used to lengthen the veterinary tranquilizer's euphoric effects. Overdose deaths linked to both xylazine and fentanyl also involved other substances, including cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, alcohol, gabapentin, methadone, and prescription opioids. Since xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone, a medication used for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, cannot be used as an antidote. | In Committee |
| S592 | Establishes third degree crime of gang assault. | This bill establishes the crime of gang assault. A person commits gang assault, a crime of the third degree, when with intent to cause bodily injury to another person and when aided by two or more other persons actually present, he causes bodily injury to such person or to a third person. Under the bill, "bodily injury" means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. This bill is modeled after New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 120.06. | In Committee |
| S170 | Requires all counties to establish mosquito control commissions and report certain mosquito control activities to State Mosquito Control Commission; requires State Mosquito Control Commission to develop guidelines to aid county commissions. | This bill requires the board of county commissioners of each county within the State that does not currently have a county mosquito control commission to establish a county mosquito control commission and appoint members pursuant to R.S.26:9-14 et seq, no later than one year after the bill's effective date. Currently, there are four counties within the State that have mosquito control commissions: Camden County; Middlesex County; Ocean County; and Warren County. This bill would require all other counties within the State to establish a mosquito control commission. The bill also expands the authorized use of State aid appropriations for mosquito extermination and control to include airplane spraying for mosquito extermination in all State counties. The bill removes the current restriction that authorizes the use of State aid appropriations for airplane spraying for mosquito extermination only in counties bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The bill also requires each county mosquito control commission to submit, on or before the first of November in each year, a report to the State Mosquito Control Commission (State commission), the Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (director), and to the board of county commissioners of the county, concerning the commission's mosquito control activities during the previous year. The report would be required to include certain information enumerated in the bill. The bill requires, no later than two years after the bill's effective date, the State commission, in consultation with the director, to establish mosquito control guidelines to assist county mosquito control commissions in mosquito control and extermination activities. In developing the guidelines, the State commission is to be required to utilize the reports submitted by the county mosquito control commissions pursuant to the bill. The guidelines established pursuant to the bill are required to be published on the Internet website of the State commission and updated annually to reflect new mosquito control research, best practices, and the information received in the annual reports submitted to the State commission by county mosquito control commissions. This bill also amends current law to replace the name "county mosquito extermination commission" with "county mosquito control commission." Further, the bill amends various sections of law related to State and county mosquito control commissions to remove references to the terms "board of chosen freeholders" and "chosen freeholder" and replace the terms with "board of county commissioners" and "county commissioner," respectively, as required pursuant to State law. Finally, the bill would repeal P.L.1948, c.383 (C.26:9-13.1), which referred to the term of office of original county mosquito extermination commission members at the time the law took effect in 1948. | In Committee |
| S152 | Provides amounts remaining in inactive Internet gaming accounts will be abandoned property after three years under unclaimed property law. | This bill provides that amounts remaining in Internet gaming accounts that are inactive or dormant for three years will be unclaimed property under the "Uniform Unclaimed Property Act," N.J.S.A.46:30B-1 et seq. Under existing law, amounts in these inactive or dormant accounts for a period determined by the Division of Gaming Enforcement are paid 50% to the casino licensee and 50% to the casino control fund. | In Committee |
| S161 | Enhances State fiscal oversight of certain school districts. | Atlantic City is a "municipality in need of stabilization and recovery" pursuant to the "Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act," P.L.2016, c.4 (C.52:27BBBB-1 et al.). Under this law, Atlantic City's municipal government is under the supervision of the Local Finance Board and the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The Atlantic City school district receives "commercial valuation stabilization aid" pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.143 (C.18A:7F-65). Because of this, the Commissioner of Education has appointed a State monitor to provide direct oversight of the Atlantic City board of education's business operations and personnel matters. While State supervision over Atlantic City's municipal and school operations is appropriate under each of these bodies of law, the current oversight structure lacks coordination of these State functions. This bill would require a school district that has received "commercial valuation stabilization aid" and is located within a "municipality in need of stabilization and recovery" to report directly to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services, or the director's designee, on at least a weekly basis. If the Commissioner of Education has appointed a State monitor for the school district, the bill would require the State monitor to report directly to the director at least weekly. In this instance, in addition to the authorities granted to the director by the Local Finance Board, the bill authorizes the director to oversee the fiscal management and expenditures of school district funds and provides the director the power to approve school district expenditures, including those of a school district under the direct oversight of a State monitor. When acting pursuant to this bill, the director would have the powers and authorities of a State monitor, and is authorized to take action necessary and appropriate to ensure the efficiency of school district expenditures. | In Committee |
| S158 | Requires preservation of employee benefits and contractual rights as condition of sale of Atlantic City International Airport. | This bill provides that, if the South Jersey Transportation Authority ("SJTA") sells or leases any of its interest in the Atlantic City International Airport ("airport"), the SJTA is required to provide that the conditions of the sale or lease cannot deprive any officers or employees of the SJTA of their rights concerning pension and retirement benefits, benefits under existing collective negotiation agreements, and their civil service status, if applicable. The bill also provides that any accumulated employee benefits, including, but not limited to, sick, vacation, or administrative leave, and pension credits of SJTA employees whose employment is transferred to another entity purchasing or leasing the airport, is required to be carried over to the employee's position with the new entity. Finally, the bill provides that all existing employee representatives are required to be retained to act on behalf of SJTA employees affected by the sale or lease of the airport until such time as the employees elect to change those representatives. | In Committee |
| S176 | Provides sales tax exemption for maintaining, servicing, or repairing of aircraft and sales of machinery or equipment and replacement parts installed on aircraft within aviation district. | This bill provides a sales tax exemption for maintaining, servicing, or repairing of aircraft and sales of machinery or equipment and replacement parts installed on aircraft within the aviation district. For purposes of the bill, an aviation district means all areas within the boundaries of the Atlantic City International Airport, and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, and the area within a one-mile radius of the outermost boundary of the Atlantic City International Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center. The aviation district is included as an economic incentive zone under several State economic development incentive acts. This sales tax exemption will further encourage the expansion of aircraft service and repair facilities among the several other aviation and technology related facilities that are developing in this zone. The addition of this sales tax exemption will provide an additional economic incentive within this zone and will aid in further diversifying the economy of the surrounding area of the zone that has been heavily dependent on a casino and tourism-based economy. | In Committee |
| S151 | Authorizes CRDA to finance transportation projects between Atlantic City Airport and Atlantic City Tourism District. | This bill authorizes the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority ("authority") to enter into a contract or agreement with the State or the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority to provide for, or assist in, the financing of a transportation project. The bill defines a "transportation project" as the planning, acquisition, engineering, construction, reconstruction, or improvement of any highway transportation project or public transportation project which provides direct access between the Atlantic City Airport and the Atlantic City Tourism District. Current law requires all available assets and revenues of the authority be devoted to the purposes of the Atlantic City Tourism District and community development in Atlantic City, or the enhancement of air service at the Atlantic City Airport, or the provision of transportation service between the Atlantic City Airport and the Atlantic City Tourism District. Current law requires all available assets and revenues of the authority be devoted to the purpose of the Atlantic City Tourism District and community development in Atlantic City. | Dead |
| S150 | Provides gross income tax credit for A-list performing artists for income derived from certain live performances contracted for and rendered within the Atlantic City Tourism District on a recurring basis and within the State. | This bill provides a gross income tax credit for A-list performing artists for income derived from certain live performances contracted for and rendered within the Atlantic City Tourism District and additional locations within the State. This tax credit, which will effectively establish a 100% State income tax exemption for top-ranked national performers who commit to perform periodically in Atlantic City, and for their performances that may occur elsewhere in New Jersey, is intended to generate a net revenue benefit that can be accomplished through the growth in additional tourists visiting and staying in Atlantic City to be entertained by major entertainers and sporting events that become Atlantic City regulars. Top nationally-ranked live performing artists, as will be identified by way of a national review to be annually compiled by the New Jersey Secretary of State, in categories of entertainment and sports performance occupations including but not limited to musicians, singers, dancers, actors, comics, athletic and sports competitors participating in professional, organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators, will be eligible to apply for the tax credit if they commit to and actually perform live on at least four occasions within any taxable year within the Atlantic City Tourism District. Tax credits may then also be claimed for live performances in other New Jersey venues within that taxable year. Income from live performances for which a tax credit may be claimed must be pursuant to live performance contracts entered into during the next five calendar years beginning after the date of enactment of this bill. This tax credit must be applied for and allowed pursuant to a written application with the Director of the Division of Taxation under an expedited process. The credit may be applied only against the gross income tax liability on income derived from these services performed in the district and other State locations during a taxable year, and the credit is to be calculated as if the income is subject to tax at the highest marginal tax rate as applied to the taxpayer pursuant to the New Jersey gross income tax. | In Committee |
| S1387 | Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. | This bill requires the distribution of additional State aid to municipalities under the "Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act." Budget constraints required reductions in the amount of Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) distributed to all municipalities in Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some municipalities also experienced reductions in their Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid (ETR Aid) distribution during that period. This supplemental funding would restore, over a two-year period, approximately $331 million in reductions to CMPTRA and ETR Aid. In Fiscal Year 2023, municipalities would receive an aid increase equal to 50 percent of the difference between the distribution of CMPTRA and ETR Aid they received in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012. The fully restored amount would be distributed beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter. The total amount of aid to be restored to each municipality would be in addition to the total amount of CMPTRA and ETR Aid distributed to each municipality in Fiscal Year 2012. This legislation also extends the existing ETR Aid "poison pill" protection to ensure that each municipality received an aid amount not less than the combined payment of CMPTRA and ETR Aid to municipalities in Fiscal Year 2012 and the additional aid distributed under the bill. This bill also amends current law to require a municipality to subtract any additional amount of ETR aid it receives, pursuant to the bill, from its adjusted tax levy when computing that amount for its next fiscal year. By deducting the additional amount of ETR Aid from the previous year's levy, municipalities would be permitted to raise a lower amount of taxes through the levy for municipal purposes. The bill prohibits a municipality from anticipating, for purposes of preparing its annual budget, the receipt of any State aid payment from the ETR aid under the provisions in the bill. The bill also requires a municipality to amend its local budget to properly reflect the total amount distributed to the municipality from the ETR aid. | In Committee |
| S183 | Exempts from "Sales and Use Tax Act" certain retail sales of computers and school supplies; allows $500 gross income tax deduction to teachers purchasing school supplies for classroom use. | This bill establishes two new tax benefits for consumers and educators who purchase school supplies. Sales and Use Tax Exemption. The bill exempts the retail sale of the following products from the sales and use tax if they are sold to an individual purchaser for non-business use: (1) school supplies, such as pens and pencils, notebooks, and binders; (2) school art supplies, such as paints and paintbrushes, clay, and glazers; (3) school instructional materials, such as maps, globes, reference books, and workbooks; (4) computers with a sales price of less than $3,000 per item; and (5) school computer supplies, such as computer storage equipment, printers, and personal digital assistants, with a sales price of less than $1,000. Under current law, retail sales of these products are exempt from sales tax only during the annual "back-to-school" sales tax holiday that begins in late August and ends on Labor Day. Certain retail sales of sport or recreational equipment is also exempt from sales and use tax during the "back-to-school" sales tax holiday. Purchases of these items are not include in the list of goods that would be exempt from sales tax under the bill. All retail sales of items would be subject to sales and use tax. Retail sales of computers with a sales price greater than or equal to $1,000 remain subject to tax. The bill provides that the sales tax exemption takes effect immediately but applies to receipts received from all sales made on or after the first day of the fourth month next following enactment. Deduction from Gross Income. The also allows a gross income tax deduction, not to exceed $500 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for the purchase of classroom supplies. Under the bill, an "eligible educator" is a teacher who is employed in a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school in the State. The bill defines "classroom supplies" as books, pencils, and other drawing supplies, computers and related equipment, laboratory equipment, and any other equipment and supplementary materials needed for day-to-day classroom activities. This portion of the bill takes effect immediately, but applies to taxable years commencing on or after the January 1 next following the date of enactment. | In Committee |
| S191 | Classifies xylazine as Schedule III controlled dangerous substance under certain circumstances. | This bill classifies xylazine as a Schedule III controlled dangerous substance (CDS), except when it is acquired, prescribed, administered, or dispensed by a veterinarian in the course of the professional practice of veterinary medicine. Drugs listed as Schedule III CDS that do not otherwise carry a specific criminal penalty are subject to certain standard criminal penalties related to the illegal manufacturing, distribution, dispensing, possession, and use of the drug. Accordingly, a person convicted of the illegal manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, use, or being under the influence of xylazine would be guilty of a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years, as well as a fine of up to $25,000 in the case of manufacturing, distribution, and dispensing offenses, and a fine of up to $35,000 for possession, use, or intoxication offenses. Certain enhanced penalties would apply for offenses committed within 1,000 feet of school property, for offenses committed within 500 feet of certain public spaces, and for distributing xylaxine to a person under 18 years of age or who is pregnant. Xylazine, which is also known by the street names "tranq," "tranq dope," and "zombie drug," has been approved for use as an animal sedative and is commonly used in veterinary practice, but has not been approved for use in humans. However, it has been reported that xylazine has been increasingly detected in illegal street drugs, and particularly in opioid drugs, as it can enhance and prolong the euphoric effects of opioids. However, xylazine is not itself an opioid, and it does not respond to opioid antidotes like naloxone. Accordingly, a person who consumes an opioid drug that includes xylazine may die of an overdose notwithstanding the prompt administration of an opioid antidote. Furthermore, xylazine is highly addictive, results in severe withdrawal symptoms, and can cause severe skin ulcers and abscesses. Although some drug users seek out xylazine for its effects in enhancing opioid intoxication, others may not be aware they are consuming it or that they are at enhanced risk of overdose and other drug-related injuries. It is the sponsor's belief that listing xylazine as a Schedule III CDS, except when it is being used in the course of practicing veterinary medicine, will help protect the lives of New Jersey citizens and prevent unnecessary deaths. | In Committee |
| S192 | Requires public employers that offer deferred compensation retirement plans to also offer Roth contribution option. | This bill requires that any public entity within the State that offers to its employees a deferred compensation plan to also offer a Roth contribution option for the employees who participate in the plan. Roth contribution options permit employees to make after-tax contributions to the retirement account through salary deductions. These after-tax contributions, and any subsequent earnings, can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. Under current law, there is no requirement that a Roth contribution option be made available to public employees who choose to participate in their respective deferred compensation retirement plan. Under current law, public employers may offer a deferred compensation plan to their employees. Deferred compensation plans provide an opportunity to voluntarily shelter a portion of an employee's salary from federal income taxes to save for retirement to supplement Social Security and any other retirement plan provided by public employers to their employees. | In Committee |
| S178 | Creates Wind and Nuclear Production Apprenticeship Grant Program. | This bill establishes the Wind and Nuclear Production Apprenticeship Grant Program. The program will provide grants to fund newly-established apprenticeship programs in the industries of wind energy and nuclear power in the State. To be eligible for the grant, the apprenticeship program is required to be accredited and approved by the United States Department of Labor. The program will be administered by the Office of Apprenticeship in the department. Each grant will be selected from either the wind energy or nuclear power industry, but any organizational sponsor of an apprenticeship program is eligible to receive the grant, including businesses; business organizations and associations; labor organizations; joint labor-management partnerships; local education agencies; public vocational schools; two-year and four-year colleges; local workforce development boards; workforce training providers; economic development organizations; and community-based and other non-profit organizations. Under the bill: "Wind Energy Industry" means an industry involved with the design, manufacture, construction, and maintenance of wind turbines or other wind power renewable energy sources. "Nuclear Power Industry" means an industry involved with the operation of nuclear-powered, electricity generation plants. Existing funds allocated from the "Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills" would be used for the cost of program. | In Committee |
| S188 | Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish guidelines regarding best practices for student financial aid offers. | This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to issue guidelines incorporating the best practices within the United States Government Accountability Office's report, "Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid" (GAO Report) for use by institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees. The purpose of this bill is to address the transparency issues identified in the GAO Report. The GAO Report found: 1) 91 percent of institutions of higher education do not include the net price of attendance in their aid offers; 2) 55 percent of institutions do not itemize key direct and indirect costs in their student financial aid offers; and 3) 24 percent of institutions do not provide a student with the total cost of attendance. The GAO Report further identified 10 best practices for transparency in student financial aid offers, but stated that nearly two-thirds of institutions of higher education studied in the report followed half or fewer and none followed all 10. Under the bill, the guidelines to be established by the secretary are required to ensure students receive information in student financial aid offers from institutions that: 1) identifies the direct and indirect costs of attendance; 2) provides the total and net costs of attendance; 3) establishes standardized terms for student financial aid offers; 4) explains a student's right to accept or decline an offer; 5) requires the contact information for the representative of the institution who the student can contact for additional assistance related to the offer; and 6) prohibits using the term "award" in student financial aid offers. The guidelines developed under the bill are also required to comply with the provisions of existing State law concerning financial aid transparency and the United States Department of Education's "College Financing Plan." The secretary is required to ensure the guidelines are not duplicative of federal requirements. It is the intent of this bill that by directing the secretary to create guidelines that incorporate the 10 best practices identified in the GAO Report, New Jersey's institutions of higher education will provide its students with the key information necessary to make informed decisions. | In Committee |
| S179 | Provides that certain sending school districts will continue to have representation on certain receiving boards of education despite decreases in enrollment numbers. | Pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.8 (C:18A:38-8.2), a sending district may qualify for representation on the board of education of a receiving district, if the pupils of the sending district comprise a certain percentage of the total enrollment of the pupils in the grades of the receiving district in which the pupils of the sending district will be enrolled. This bill will permit a sending district that in the 2022-2023 school year qualifies pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.8 (C.18A:38-8.2) to have a representative on a receiving board of education of a school district that is entitled to commercial valuation stabilization aid to continue to qualify for that representation despite no longer meeting the threshold for the percentage of pupils as set forth in the law. This bill will apply to only one receiving district, the Atlantic City School District. Given the considerable amount of tuition support allocated by the sending districts to the Atlantic City School District, it is crucial for those sending districts to maintain representation on the board of education to ensure appropriate input and oversight regardless of minor fluctuations in enrollment. | In Committee |
| S162 | Establishes certain exceptions for emergency personnel operating personal watercraft while providing rescue services. | This bill affords emergency personnel certain exceptions under the law while operating a personal water craft, often referred to as a jet ski, in performance of official duties. Under current law, jet ski operators are prohibited from exceeding minimum headway speed within 100 feet of the shoreline, buoys or signs that mark theboundaries of a swimming area, any person in the water, or residential dwelling units. Jet ski operators are also prohibited from operating the vessel in manner that makes it airborne within 100 feet of another vessel. This bill waives these requirements for any law enforcement officer, a member of a fire department, a member of a State, county or municipal beach patrol, or emergency medical services personnel who are operating a jet ski while in actual performance of their official duties. | In Committee |
| S181 | Requires temporary detention and notification to parent or guardian of underage person who unlawfully purchases or possesses alcoholic beverages or cannabis. | This bill provides that if a person under the age of 18 violates the law by purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages or cannabis and receives a written warning from a law enforcement officer, the law enforcement officer would also be required to take the person into custody and notify the minor's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor that the underage person was taken into custody. Under the bill, the minor would be taken into temporary custody but not subject to arrest. P.L.2021, c.25 established certain consequences for persons who purchase or possess alcoholic beverages or cannabis items when under the legal age to do so. These consequences include notification to the minor's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor. However, P.L.2021, c.25 does require that the minor be temporarily detained and the minor's parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor be notified of the temporary detention. This bill requires that the minor be temporarily detained but not subject to arrest. The bill preserves provisions of current law that prohibit a record of the minor's possession of alcoholic beverages or cannabis in any juvenile delinquency matter. The bill also clarifies that a law enforcement officer is required to seize from persons under 21 years of age any alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, cannabis item, or drug or cannabis paraphernalia to be destroyed or secured for use in law enforcement training or educational programs. | In Committee |
| S1553 | Allows public schools to let certain students not enrolled in school participate in high school interscholastic athletics; allows public high schools in same district to enter into cooperative sports programs under certain conditions. | This bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to allow public high schools in the same school district to enter into a cooperative sports program for any sport at the varsity level if either of the schools demonstrates an inability to field a team at the varsity level due to: a decline in interest or participation in the sport at one of the schools that impacts the ability of that school to safely field a team; or budgetary constraints which force the elimination of certain sports programs at one of the schools. Under the current rules of the NJSIAA, schools are prohibited from entering into cooperative sports programs for basketball, baseball, softball and spring track, and in football if one of the schools is classified as a Group III school. This bill requires the NJSIAA to allow the schools to enter into cooperative sports programs regardless of the sport or the member schools' Group classification. The bill also permits school districts to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence if the district is unable to field a team due to a decline in interest or participation in the sport that impacts the ability of the district to safely field a team or squad, and if the nonpublic school does not sponsor a high school interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Comparable provisions are included in the bill that will permit school districts to also allow homeschooled students and charter school students to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the district. Public school students who may wish to participate in a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad at a charter school would also be permitted to do so, under similar criteria. School districts and charter schools are permitted to charge students who participate in a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad pursuant to this bill, other than students with a financial hardship, a fee no greater than the actual cost per pupil of participating in the sport. | In Committee |
| S169 | Requires professional boards to issue licenses under certain circumstances to veterans with credentials in good standing from another jurisdiction. | This bill requires professional and occupational boards to issue a license, certificate, or certification to any applicant who received a license and equivalent training, education, or experience while serving or after serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. The person applying for the license, certificate, or certification could have obtained a license and training, education, or experience during or outside of the person's military service. The bill requires a professional and occupational board to issue a license, certificate, or certification to an applicant who presents evidence to the board that: (1) the applicant was honorably discharged from active military service; (2) the applicant's license, certificate, or certification is in good standing in another jurisdiction; and (3) the applicant complies with all other requirements for licensure, including a requirement for examination. The bill also requires each board to provide methods of evaluating equivalent training, education, or experience obtained towards meeting the requirements for the issuance of a license, certificate, or certification. However, no method of evaluation shall operate in such a manner as to require the same number of hours of experience by the applicant. This bill provides reciprocity for veterans with a license, certificate, or certification issued by another jurisdiction. Veterans with these credentials face barriers to entering the job market since occupational licenses are not necessarily portable due to different standards required by individual states; however, often times, a veteran's training, education, and experience as a licensed professional in another state is valuable and transferable. This bill would help veterans licensed in another jurisdiction to obtain their license in New Jersey and more easily find or keep employment in this State. | In Committee |
| S171 | Establishes school district grant program in DOE to reimburse public school teachers for classroom material expenditures. | This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Education to provide annual reimbursement to public school teachers employed on a full-time basis for expenditures incurred by a teacher for classroom supplies purchased for use during the school year. The amount of the annual reimbursement per teacher would not exceed $250 per school year, unless sufficient funds remain available to reimburse those teachers who spent more than $250 for classroom supplies. Under the bill, a teacher who wants to apply for reimbursement will submit receipts for the purchase of classroom supplies in the manner prescribed by the district. In the event that all eligible teachers have received reimbursement for their expenditures in an amount equal to $250, or the actual amount of their expenditures if less than $250, any remaining grant funds will be used to reimburse teachers whose expenditures for classroom supplies for the school year exceeded $250. If any grant funds remain at the end of the school budget year, the district will hold the funds in reserve to be applied for the same purpose in the subsequent school budget year. The school district is required to report the amount of the reserve funds to the department. The bill requires that the costs borne by the State to provide the grant funds would be paid from federal funds allocated to the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," or any other federal funding made available to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. | In Committee |
| S1703 | Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance. | This bill adds $2.35 billion from the General Fund to the "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund," and appropriates a total of $4.32 billion from the fund to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of providing funds to each municipality and county in the State to be used by the municipality or county to retire and defease local debt or to fund capital projects on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than issuing additional local debt. The total amount of funds appropriated by the bill includes $1.97 billion in currently unallocated balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. Under the bill, $3.0 billion would be allocated to each municipality on an equal per capita basis wherein each municipality receives the same dollar amount per resident. The remaining $1.32 billion appropriated by the bill would be allocated to each county on an equal per capita basis. The bill requires that all funds appropriated by the bill be distributed to each municipality and each county within 30 days of enactment. The State budget has recently benefited from debt reduction and avoidance from prior appropriations to the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention account, though typically only after funds have remained in the account for inordinately long periods of time while inflation destroys its value. Local governments can frequently have significant debt which can be equally or more expensive for taxpayers than State debt. Local governments have compelling infrastructure and capital needs that include, but are not limited to: water, sewer, parks, flooding, storm water, public safety, emergency medical services, community development, and traffic improvements. The State's budgeting process has frequently provided only small and symbolic amounts of assistance towards local infrastructure and capital improvements and only after burdensome, inefficient, and politicized processes that chose winners and losers based on favoritism. The sponsor believes it is sound public policy to quickly and efficiently direct remaining balances in the New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund towards debt reduction and avoidance that benefits property taxpayers and all residents of the State through a fair and reasonable allocation process. | In Committee |
| S173 | Requires public institutions of higher education to adopt test-optional admissions policy. | This bill requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to adopt a test-optional admissions policy that allows for, but does not require, the submission of standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT, in a student's application to an undergraduate program of the institution. Under the bill, a public institution of higher education is authorized to utilize a standardized testing requirement to determine admission to the institution for an undergraduate program for any applicant who:· received equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school for two or more years during the grades nine through 12; · is applying to an honors or specialized program of the institution; or· is applying for any State student grants and scholarships, federal student grants and scholarships, or institutional merit-based grants or scholarships, for which standardized test scores are required. The bill specifies that its provisions do not prohibit a public institution of higher education from considering an applicant's standardized test scores to determine admission to an undergraduate program for an applicant who voluntarily submits the test scores for consideration. The bill encourages independent institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions to similarly adopt a test-optional admissions policy that allows for, but does not require, the submission of standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT, in a student's application to an undergraduate program of the institution. | In Committee |
| S189 | Establishes "Scientific Conference Grant Program"; appropriates $250,000. | This bill establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (office) the "Scientific Conference Grant Program" (program). The bill also appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to the office to fund the program. Under the bill, the program will award grants to public institutions of higher education that host scientific conferences and seminars in the State. Grants awarded through the program are to be used to defray the costs, either in whole or in part, associated with hosting a scientific conference or seminar and may be applied towards the costs of event spaces and speakers, including speaker fees, honoraria, travel, and lodging. Grants cannot be used to defray food costs or other vendor costs not related to the reservation or use of the event space. Under the bill, a public institution of higher education may apply to the Secretary of Higher Education (secretary) for a grant. The application is required to include a description and preliminary agenda for the conference or seminar, the names and credentials of all invited speakers, and any relevant information pertaining to the costs of hosting the conference or seminar. The grants will be awarded in amounts determined by the secretary | In Committee |
| S184 | Requires DOLWD to undertake study on effects of temporary employment on work force. | This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to undertake a study on the effects of temporary employment on the work force of the State of New Jersey. The study is to consider the comprehensive effects of temporary employment, and shall include, but not be limited to, the effects of temporary employment on wages, businesses, and workers throughout the State. The bill requires the department, in conducting the study, to: (1) consider federal and State laws relating directly or indirectly to temporary help service firms and employment agencies; (2) consult with relevant persons in the public and private sectors, and with members of the academic community and of relevant branches of the legal profession; (3) examine the experience of temporary workers in this State; and (4) make other investigations as it may deem necessary. The bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to report the findings and conclusions of the study to the Legislature within 12 months of the bill's effective date and to include in the report any recommendations for legislation which the commissioner deems appropriate. | In Committee |
| S164 | Requires health benefits coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for insureds aged 21 or younger. | This bill, which amends P.L.2008, c.126, "Grace's Law," removes the specification that 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 NJ FamilyCare Program) provide coverage for expenses incurred in the purchase of a hearing aid only for covered persons who are 15 years old or younger, and providing instead that they provide coverage for those expenses for covered persons who are 21 year old or younger. The bill allows a health insurer to limit the coverage of a hearing aid to one hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 24 months. The bill also requires that benefits provide coverage of the cost of treatment related to cochlear implants, including procedures for the implantation of cochlear devices and costs for any parts, attachments, or accessories of the device. In addition, the bill supplements P.L.2007, c.103 (C.52:14-17.46.1 et seq.) to require the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission to ensure that every contract purchased by the commission meets the same requirements for hearing aid and cochlear implant coverage as "Grace's Law." | Dead |
| SR11 | Urges Congress and President to enact "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act." | This resolution respectfully urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act," introduced in the United States House of Representatives as H.R. 9429 on December 5, 2022. The "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act" seeks to make financial aid offers more transparent by: 1) establishing standardized terms related cost, grant aid, and financing options; 2) listing clearly a student's direct costs first followed by the indirect costs of attendance; and 3) publishing a College Scorecard on each institution that informs a potential student the average cost of attendance. The "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act" was introduced in response to the findings within the United States Government Accountability Office's report, "Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid" (GAO Report). The GAO Report found that: 1) 91 percent of institutions of higher education do not include or understate the net price of attendance in their aid offers; 2) 55 percent of institutions do not itemize key direct and indirect costs in their financial aid offers; and 3) 24 percent of institutions do not provide a student with the total cost of attendance. The GAO Report recommended that Congress enact legislation to address these issues. Transparency in financial aid offers is crucial for students and their families to understand their financial obligations when selecting an institution of higher education. Without clear and comparable information, students may choose an unaffordable institution and be more likely to rely on excessive student loans to finance their education. New Jersey has expressed its commitment to making higher education affordable and ensuring greater transparency in financial aid offers. The "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act" is a next step in ensuring transparency and consumer friendly practices by institutions of higher education that aligns with New Jersey's prior legislative enactments. The State recognizes the importance of creating a federal requirement for financial aid offers. Thus, the Senate respectfully urges Congress and the President to enact the "College Cost Transparency and Student Protection Act." | In Committee |
| S182 | Increases gross income tax relief based on rent constituting property taxes for residential tenants and establishes refundable gross income tax credit in place of gross income tax deduction for residential tenants. | This bill increases tax relief under the New Jersey gross income tax for residential tenants. The bill provides income tax relief for tenants by increasing, from 18 percent to 30 percent, the amount of rent defined as "rent constituting property taxes". The bill also changes the gross income tax deduction for residential tenants to a refundable gross income tax credit of up to $15,000 for "rent constituting property taxes." Increasing the cap on the amount of rental payments defined as "rent constituting property taxes" and allowing that amount to be a refundable tax credit of up to $15,000 will reduce residential tenants' tax burdens. | In Committee |
| S193 | Creates behavioral health court pilot program. | This bill establishes a behavioral health court pilot program. The goal of the behavioral health court pilot program is to divert certain persons suffering from behavioral health issues from the State prison system and into treatment programs, thereby reducing the demand for State prison bed spaces and providing treatment to eligible offenders. Under the bill, a person will be eligible for court directed diversion when the individual has undergone a professional diagnostic assessment and: (1) has no history of possessing a firearm during the commission of an offense; (2) has no previous convictions or pending charges for a serious violent offense; (3) has no convictions on two or more separate occasions; (4) presents no danger to the community if placed on probation; (5) is in need of behavioral health care services; and (6) will benefit from the behavioral health treatment and monitoring. An individual who violates any term or condition of the behavioral health special probation related to behavioral health care treatment may have their probation revoked by the court. Upon a second violation, the court is required to revoke the behavioral health special probation unless the court finds that there is a substantial likelihood that the person will successfully complete the treatment program if permitted to continue. If a court permanently revokes a person's behavioral health special probation, the court is required to impose any sentence that might have been imposed, or that would have been required to be imposed, for the offense for which the person was convicted. The court has the option, in lieu of revocation of behavioral health special probation, to impose a term of incarceration for a period of not less than 30 days nor more than two months, after which the person's term of behavioral health special probation pursuant to this section may be reinstated. A person successfully discharged from a term of behavioral health special probation may seek expungement of all records and information relating to the arrest, detention, conviction, and proceeding for any offense that existed at the time of discharge. | In Committee |
| S1491 | Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems. | This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act," P.L.1958, c.143 (C.43:3B-1 et seq.), for members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, the Judicial Retirement System, the Public Employees' Retirement System, the Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Provisions contained in P.L.2011, c.78 (C.43:3C-16 et al), signed into law on June 28, 2011, cancelled the automatic, annual adjustment for current and future retirees and beneficiaries of these State-administered retirement systems. COLAs protect retirement benefits against erosion by inflation, the ills of which were addressed by the Legislature, both for the individual and the State, with the enactment of the "Pension Adjustment Act" in 1958. Without the annual adjustment, retirees and beneficiaries will gradually see significant reductions in their purchasing power. The loss of COLAs will impact their everyday lives, and, over time, make it harder to afford more necessary elements of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs, groceries, and utility bills. Retirees and beneficiaries will find it more prudent, or perhaps necessary, to leave this State for other states with a comparably lower cost of living. For the State, such outbound migration will result in the loss of the economic activity of those retirees and beneficiaries, and any tax revenues concomitant with such activity. In addition, New Jersey's fiscal outlook may be further strained by the retirees and beneficiaries who remain. These persons will continue to slip further downward on the socioeconomic scale. In some cases, they will require, or at the least become eligible and utilize, greater levels of public assistance under the many taxpayer funded social programs administered by the State, counties, and municipalities, requiring more revenues to meet this increased demand. In the interests of the retirees and beneficiaries of the State-administered retirement systems, and the State, this bill reinstates the automatic COLAs for retirement benefits under the "Pension Adjustment Act." | In Committee |
| S154 | Establishes New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission. | This bill establishes the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission in, but not of, the Department of State. The commission will consist of 15 members including: three student representatives of the State colleges and universities, a student representative of each of the five public research universities, three student representatives of the county colleges, three student representatives of the independent colleges and universities, and one student representative of a proprietary degree-granting institution. The New Jersey Education Association will appoint one member who is a member of the NJEA Preservice Program and represents any one of the higher education sectors, and the Secretary of Higher Education will appoint the remaining members. Under the bill, a student enrolled in an institution of higher education or a proprietary degree-granting institution in the State may submit an application to serve on the commission to the Secretary of Higher Education. The commission is charged with advising the secretary on system-wide issues of concern to students. The commission is directed to annually report to the Assembly Higher Education Committee and the Senate Higher Education Committee, or their successor committees on the concerns, perspectives, and experiences of students attending institutions of higher education or proprietary degree-granting institutions in the State and may make recommendations on suggested legislative initiatives. | In Committee |
| S444 | Eliminates supplemental realty transfer fee. | This bill eliminates the supplemental realty transfer fee imposed by P.L.2003, c.113, which took effect on July 14, 2003. The supplemental fee has a graduated structure. It is $0.25 for each $500 of the selling price not in excess of $150,000, $0.85 for each $500 of the selling price in excess of $150,000 but not in excess of $200,000, and $1.40 for each $500 of the selling price in excess of $200,000. Counties retain $0.25 of for each $500 of the selling price and remit the remainder to the State. The supplemental fee also includes an additional fee of $1.00 for each $500 of the selling price not in excess of $150,000 that is exempt from $1.00 of the basic fee as "new construction". The State receives all of the proceeds. | In Committee |
| S174 | Permits appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs. | This bill permits the appointment of Class Three special law enforcement officers by county sheriffs. Under current law, a local unit, which is defined as any municipality or county having established a regular police force, may appoint special law enforcement officers to perform certain duties. Current law provides that Class Three special law enforcement officers are authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public or nonpublic school or a county college on the school or college premises during hours when the public or nonpublic school or county college is normally in session or when occupied by students, teachers, or professors. Under the provisions of this bill, in addition to a local unit, a county sheriff would also be permitted to appoint Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at schools or county colleges. | In Committee |
| S177 | Establishes New Jersey Grow Your Own Teacher Pilot Program. | This bill establishes in the Department of Education a four-year "New Jersey Grow Your Own Teacher Pilot Program." The purpose of the program is to address teacher shortages in selected school districts, charter schools, or renaissance school projects and to diversify the teacher workforce in those schools by recruiting, developing, and supporting minority students in becoming teachers in the school districts from which they graduated. The department would provide annual grants to the three selected Grow Your Own Partnerships throughout the four-year pilot program that, at a minimum, would cover the tuition and fee and room and board costs for any students participating in the program who are attending an institution of higher education. To receive support under the pilot program, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project or a group of school districts, charter schools, or renaissance schools would form a Grow Your Own Partnership with an institution of higher education in the State. The bill provides that a Grow Your Own Partnership may also include a supporting nonprofit organization. Under a Grow Your Own Partnership, a student seeking to become a teacher, who attends a partner institution of higher education and who graduated high school from a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that is part of the partnership, would enter into an agreement with that partnership, to teach in a participating district or school for a period of at least three years upon graduation from the partner institution of higher education. Under the bill, a Grow Your Own Partnership seeking support from the State under the pilot program would apply to the Commissioner of Education in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner. The bill establishes certain minimum details and information that would be included on an application submitted by partnership. The bill requires the commissioner to prioritize partnerships that include one or more SDA districts. The commissioner would also give equal consideration to partnerships located in the north, central and southern geographical regions of the State. The bill requires the Department of Education to organize a New Jersey Grow Your Own Consortium, consisting of the Grow Your Own Partnerships selected for participation in the pilot program. The department would organize and convene meetings of the consortium, which shall occur on a quarterly basis during the four-year pilot program. The purpose of the meetings would be to provide opportunities for the partnerships to share their experiences administering the programs supported under the bill and to share best practices and potential ideas for furthering the programs. Lastly, the bill requires the department, on an annual basis throughout the duration of the pilot program, to submit to the Governor and to the Legislature, a report evaluating the effectiveness and progress of the pilot program to date. | In Committee |
| S166 | Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at public and private colleges. | This bill authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at four-year public and private colleges in this State. P.L.2016, c.68 established an additional category of "Class Three" special law enforcement officers under the Special Law Enforcement Officers' Act. The law currently authorizes these part-time officers to provide security in this State's public and nonpublic schools and county colleges. A person is eligible to be appointed as a Class Three special law enforcement officer if he or she is a retired police officer, less than 65 years old, and has served as duly qualified, fully-trained, full-time municipal or county police officer or was regularly employed as a full-time member of the State Police. The person also has to be physically capable of performing the job and have the appropriate law enforcement and safe schools resource officer training. The bill expands the scope of those locations where Class Three special law enforcement officers are authorized to provide security to also include four-year public and independent institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| S197 | Establishes Military Funeral Honors Grant Program to provide grants to certain veteran organizations that provide military funeral honors. | This bill establishes a Military Funeral Honors Grant Program to provide grants to certain nonprofit organizations that provide military funeral honors. The Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will establish a grant program to provide grants in an amount up to $75 to qualified veteran organizations to be used for the providing of military funeral honors in the State. Under the bill, "veteran organization" means a nonprofit veteran organization that provides military funeral honors in the State and qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) federal tax-exempt organization. Under the bill, the department will develop procedures for the submission of grant applications and eligibility criteria for the awarding of grant funds. The grants will not exceed $75 per funeral. The department may decrease the amount of the grant for services performed at a second or subsequent funeral when a qualified veteran organization performs services at more than one funeral on the same day. To implement the grant program, there will be established and maintained a special revolving fund to be known as the "Military Funeral Honors Grant Fund." The fund will be credited with: moneys that the Legislature may appropriate; moneys received by the department as gifts, grants, or donations, including grants accepted by the Adjutant General pursuant to law; any return on investment of moneys deposited in the grant fund; fees collected, if any, from applicants; and other moneys made available for the purposes of the grant program. The department may charge a nominal fee in connection with applications for participation in the grant program as it deems reasonable. The department may claim from the grant fund an amount not to exceed five percent of the moneys annually appropriated to cover administrative expenses. | In Committee |
| S168 | Provides tuition-free credits to certain institutions of higher education for certain law enforcement officers and firefighters and their spouses and dependents. | This bill provides that retired law enforcement officers and retired firefighters are permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at public institutions of higher education or degree-granting proprietary institutions and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free, for a maximum of eight semesters, provided that:· the officer or firefighter retired because of a service-related injury or illness pursuant to certain enumerated sections of State law or any substantially similar statute governing the disability retirement of federal law enforcement officers or firefighters;· the retired officer or firefighter is enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at the institution in good standing, or in a degree-granting program at a qualified proprietary institution in good standing; and· the retired officer or firefighter has applied for all available federal and State student grants and scholarships for which the officer is eligible. Under the bill, the State will reimburse an institution for the tuition of each eligible retired law enforcement officer and firefighter who enrolls in the institution to the extent that the tuition cost is not paid through federal and State student grants and scholarships. The bill also provides that the dependent child or spouse of a law enforcement officer or a firefighter who was a New Jersey resident and who died in the line of duty is permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at a public institution of higher education or a degree-granting proprietary institution and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free, for a maximum of eight semesters, provided that the dependent child or spouse: · is a New Jersey resident;· meets the grade point average requirements of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy;· is accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution. In the event that the spouse has completed an undergraduate degree program prior to the time of the law enforcement officer's or firefighter's death, the spouse shall be entitled to enroll, tuition-free, in a graduate degree program offered by a public institution of higher education, excluding any medical, dental, or law programs; and· applies for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the dependent child or spouse is eligible. Under the bill, the State will reimburse each public institution of higher education or degree-granting proprietary institution for the costs of waiving tuition pursuant to this act. | In Committee |
| S163 | Establishes presumption of joint legal and physical custody in child custody matters. | This bill provides for a presumption of joint legal and equal or approximately equal physical custody in a child custody determination. The current law provides that the court will order any custody arrangement which has been agreed to by both parents unless it is contrary to the best interests of the child. Courts may award joint custody, which is comprised of legal custody or physical custody with the child residing either solely with one parent or alternatively with each parent according to the needs of the parents and the child, and the parents sharing in the decision-making regarding their children's health, education and general welfare; sole custody to one parent with appropriate parenting time for the noncustodial parent; or any other custody arrangement as determined to be in the child's best interest. The bill makes it a presumption that the court will award parents joint legal and equal or approximately equal physical custody of their children. Under the bill, a child will reside for an equal or approximately equal amount of time with each parent in accordance with the needs of the child, and the parents will share decision-making authority and responsibility as to the important decisions affecting the child's welfare. This presumption may be rebutted if the parent can show by clear and convincing evidence that an order of joint legal and physical custody is harmful to the child. If the presumption is successfully rebutted, then custody will be awarded according to the child's best interests. | In Committee |
| S1671 | Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension. | This bill provides for the termination of a state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or a public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) by the Legislature by concurrent resolution if the resolution receives a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. Also, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days after the date of issuance unless an extension is authorized by the Legislature, and limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days (the initial 30 day duration and one 30-day renewal by the Governor as provided by current law). The bill permits the Legislature to authorize, after a notice required in this bill is received, an extension of the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, with as many extensions of not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The bill prohibits the Governor from issuing for the same emergency a declaration to the same or substantially same effect as one terminated pursuant to this bill, except in accordance with a law that permits the issuance of another declaration specifically for that emergency. The bill permits the Legislature to conduct the vote on any concurrent resolution specified in the bill by any means it deems necessary and appropriate, including, but not limited to, in-person, teleconference, and remotely by electronic means. For the purpose of this bill, "same emergency" means the initial event or events that gave rise to the emergency declaration that has been terminated, and any event that occurs subsequent to the initial event or events as a direct result, continuation, or consequence of the initial event or events or the origin of which can be traced directly to the initial event or events. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Legislature in writing of the need for an extension of any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature pursuant to this bill. The notice will provide information on the need for the extension of such declaration and the threat to the public health or safety that requires the extension. When notice cannot be given at least seven business days before an extension is authorized by the Legislature, the notice has to be given by the Governor as soon as possible, but not later than at least 24 hours before the extension is authorized, and the notice has to include an explanation of why the notice could not have been given at least seven days before the extension. Under the bill, the Governor will receive and publish in the New Jersey Register any comments from the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant standing reference committees of the Legislature on any notice given in accordance with this bill. The publication is to include a response from the Executive Branch. If the Governor fails to provide the notice required by this bill for an extension, the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration will be terminated unless an extension of the declaration is approved, after the notice required in the bill is received, by the Legislature by concurrent resolution that receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration: (1) rescinding an order, rule, or regulation issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.); (2) applying exclusively to any or all of the executive and administrative offices, departments, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of State government; or (3) issued under the authority of the Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State. The bill provides that any state of emergency declaration issued by the Governor and any public health emergency declaration issued by the Governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic or any other emergency that is in effect on the effective date of the bill, and (1) that has been in effect for more than 60 days as of that effective date, or (2) that has been in effect for 60 days or less but was issued for the same emergency as the term is defined in the bill and has the same or substantially the same effect as a declaration that was issued more than 60 days prior to the effective date, will terminate automatically on the effective date of this bill unless, on the day that this bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, or has passed both Houses of the Legislature after amendments recommended by the Governor have been made to the act or after objections to the bill have been received from the Governor, whichever occurs later, a concurrent resolution to extend the state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration, or both, for not less than 30 days, but not more than 90 days, receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each House of the Legislature. The termination and extension provisions of the bill will apply to any state of emergency declaration or public health emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) after the effective date or within 60 days prior to the effective date of this bill. Any other emergency declaration issued pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.) that is in effect on the date of enactment will automatically terminate upon enactment unless the Legislature authorizes an extension by concurrent resolution. The bill provides that it is not to be construed as limiting the authority of the Governor to designate a state of emergency as may be authorized under the annual appropriations act, for the sole and limited purpose of establishing the eligibility of the State to receive federal funds. However, no such emergency declaration may under any circumstances serve as the basis for invoking any authority or powers set forth in P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.). | In Committee |
| S167 | Creates offenses related to election officials; permits election workers to shield personal information from public. | This bill establishes four disorderly persons offenses concerning offenses against election officials. First, the bill establishes a disorderly persons offense for any person to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce an election official or election worker in the discharge of their official duties. Second, this bill establishes a disorderly persons offense for any person who attempts to induce an election official to violate or refuse to comply with the election official's duty or any law regulating the same. Third, this bill establishes a disorderly persons offense for a person to knowingly and willfully prevent an election official or election worker from performing their official duties. Fourth, this bill establishes a disorderly persons offense for a person who knowingly makes available on the Internet personal information about an election official or an election official's immediate family if the dissemination of the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the safety of the election official or the election official's immediate family and the person making the information available on the Internet knows or reasonably should know of the imminent and serious threat. Finally, the bill requires the Divisions of Elections in the New Jersey Department of State to remove an election worker's personal information from records that are available on the Internet at the worker's written request. The request is to provide evidence that the person submitting the request is an election worker and evidence as to why the person believes the dissemination of personal information in the records poses an imminent and serious threat to the safety of the worker. | In Committee |
| S725 | Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings. | This bill would criminalize unlawful occupancy of a dwelling, also known as "squatting." Currently, squatting is not a criminal act. In order to lawfully evict a squatter, the owner of the property must apply to the court for a writ of possession. This bill would create three criminal offenses: housebreaking, unlawful occupancy, and unlawful reentry. They would be crimes of the fourth degree. Housebreaking. Under the bill, a person who forcibly enters an uninhabited or vacant dwelling knowing or having reason to believe that such entry is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner, with the intent to take up residence or provide a residency to another therein, would be guilty of housebreaking. The bill provides that a person is presumed to know that an entry is without the permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Occupancy. The bill provides that a person who takes up residence in an uninhabited or vacant dwelling and knows or has reason to believe that such residency is without permission of the owner of the dwelling or an authorized representative of the owner is guilty of unlawful occupancy. A person is presumed to know that the residency is without the permission of the owner or an authorized representative unless the person provides a written rental agreement that is notarized or signed by an authorized agent of the owner, and includes the current address and telephone number of the owner or the owner's authorized representative. Unlawful Reentry. The bill provides that a person commits unlawful reentry if an owner of real property has recovered possession of the property from the person pursuant to a court order and, without the authority of the court or permission of the owner, the person reenters the property. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. | In Committee |
| S855 | Permits police officers to travel to and from and remain within police station located within 100 feet of polling place; permits Class Three special law enforcement officers to be assigned to certain polling places. | Under current law, the presence of police officers at polling places during the conduct of an election and at ballot drop box locations in use during the conduct of an election is limited. This bill provides that nothing in the current law is to prevent a police officer or law enforcement officer from traveling to and from, or remaining within, a police station in their official capacity for employment related activities if that police station is within 100 feet of a polling place or ballot drop box. This bill also amends current law to permit a district board, superintendent of elections, or a county clerk to request the assignment of a Class Three special law enforcement officer to a polling place located at a public school to maintain order and provide security at the school during the conduct of the election. | In Committee |
| S190 | Requires grading of offenses involving manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing heroin based on dosage units in addition to weight. | This bill requires offenses involving manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing heroin to be graded based on the number of dosage units of heroin, in addition to the weight. Under current law, the distribution of heroin and cocaine are punishable as if they were the same substance. However, heroin provides more pharmacological effect from a given weight than does cocaine. A dosage unit of heroin typically weighs approximately 0.02 grams. It is not uncommon for a dosage unit of cocaine to weigh approximately 14 grams, or 0.49 ounces. Under current law, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute a dosage unit of cocaine in the amount of up to 0.5 ounces would be punishable as crimes of the third degree. Accordingly, a single dosage unit of cocaine that weighs 0.49 ounces would be would be punishable as a crime of the third degree. A person who manufactures, distributes, or possesses approximately 700 dosage units of heroin would also only be guilty of a crime of the third degree. Thus, in effect, the current statutes allow those who distribute heroin to be treated far more leniently than those who distribute cocaine. The new classification scheme established under the bill for the crime of distribution of heroin would be as follows: · A person would be guilty of a crime of the first degree for manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute heroin, or its analog, in a quantity of 50 grams or more, or 2,500 dosage units or greater;· A person would be guilty of a crime of the second degree for manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute heroin or its analog, in a quantity greater than two grams but less than 50 grams, or greater than 100 dosage units but fewer than 2,500 dosage units. · A person would be guilty of a crime of the third degree for manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute heroin or its analog, in a quantity of two grams or less or 100 or fewer dosage units. Under the bill, "dosage unit" is defined as either the smallest discrete pill, tablet, capsule, vial, packet, fold or other unit of distribution or packaging of the controlled dangerous substance, or the amount which is commonly distributed for consumption at one time by an individual to achieve the desired effect, whichever method of measurement results in the greater number of dosage units. | In Committee |
| S196 | Establishes option for students nearing completion of program in chiropractic medicine to participate in preceptorship provided by state-licensed chiropractor. | This bill requires the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the "board") to allow for preceptorships for students in the final year or final two semesters of a program in chiropractic medicine. "Preceptorship" is defined in the bill to mean a clinical program in which a student participates in the practice of chiropractic medicine under the direct supervision of a New Jersey-licensed chiropractor. The board is to approve the State-licensed chiropractors who can act as preceptors for students. Additionally, the school, institution, or college of chiropractic in which the student is enrolled is to be approved by the board pursuant to current law. Under the bill, a student seeking to participate in a preceptorship is to apply to the board for a limited license. The limited license is not to be renewed upon expiration. To the extent the board considers it appropriate, the provisions of current law governing chiropractors and additional staff are to apply to students in a preceptorship. The bill aims to retain graduates of programs of chiropractic medicine based in New Jersey to work as licensed chiropractors in the State. | In Committee |
| S2045 | Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance. | This bill requires any cat, dog, or ferret used for product testing or research conducted or contracted by a company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility in the State to be offered to an animal rescue organization or private individual for adoption when the testing or research is concluded, if the animal is assessed to be suitable for adoption. Current law limits circumstances under which animal product testing or research may be conducted by manufacturers and contract testing facilities. Current law also requires, pursuant to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act," P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), that cats and dogs used for educational, research, or scientific purposes by an institution of higher education or a research institution that contracts with an institution of higher education for such use of cats and dogs, to be assessed for the suitability of adoption, and if suitable, to be offered for adoption. The bill expands the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to include testing or research using ferrets and to provide for adoption of ferrets used in that way. The bill directs the Office of Veterinary Public Health (OVPH) in the Department of Health (DOH) to establish procedures for documenting the assessment and disposition of any cat, dog, or ferret used by a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or a research institution for such purposes. The bill authorizes the OVPH to monitor compliance with the procedures and enforce the provisions of section 1 of the bill and section 1 of P.L.2019, c.414 (C.18A:3B-85), concerning the assessment of the suitability of animals for adoption and the requirements to offer suitable animals for adoption. The bill further requires that each company, corporation, manufacturer, or contract testing facility that is subject to the bill, and each institution of higher education and research institution that is subject to the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act" to register with the OVPH when undertaking animal testing with cats, dogs, or ferrets, and to report to the OVPH: 1) the type and number of animals being used; 2) the date on which the testing or research is completed or upon which the animal is no longer being used in the testing or research; 3) an assessment of the condition of any animal no longer being used in the testing or research and its suitability for adoption; 4) the disposition of the animal, including the name and contact information of the animal rescue organization with which, or the animal rescue organization facility in which, the animal is placed; and 5) if an animal assessed as suitable for adoption is not adopted, documentation of the good faith effort to place the animal with an animal rescue organization or in an animal rescue organization facility, and any effort to offer the animal for private adoption. The bill provides that private individuals who have adopted animals would not have to be identified but requires documentation of which animals were adopted by private individuals. The bill establishes civil penalties for noncompliance with the bill's provisions and requirements, and the provisions of the "Homes for Animal Heroes Act." The bill provides for a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense, and $50,000 for a second offense, to be collected in a summary proceeding brought by the DOH pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). Upon finding of a third offense, the DOH is required to institute an action for an injunction to prohibit the company, corporation, manufacturer, contract testing facility, institution of higher education, or research institution from conducting animal testing. The bill provides that the Superior Court would have jurisdiction for enforcing the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" and for imposing an injunction for a third violation. Finally, the bill requires the DOH to maintain a registry of animal rescue organizations and animal rescue organization facilities, directs the DOH to establish a database of those animal rescue organizations and facilities that accept animals that have been used in testing or research, and requires a company, corporation, manufacturer, contract facility, institution of higher education, or research institution, as applicable, to contact an animal rescue organization or animal rescue organization facility listed in the database whenever a cat, dog, or ferret used in testing or research is determined to be suitable for adoption. | In Committee |
| S2128 | Exempts local utilities from certain reporting requirements. | This bill excludes local utilities and local utility authorities from certain reporting requirements. Under N.J.S.A.48:2-29.57 et seq., both public utilities and local utilities are required to report information on the effects of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on utilities and certain other information, including utility supply, demand, revenues, and expenses, the average amount billed to customers' accounts, infrastructure projects the utilities' planned to undertake that were canceled or for which the start date was delayed for certain reasons, and other additional information. Under this bill, only public utilities would be required to submit this information. Because these reporting requirements would no longer apply to local utilities and local utility authorities, the bill also provides that the BPU would no longer be required to consult with the Department of Community Affairs when implementing the provisions of N.J.S.A.48:2-29.57 et seq. | In Committee |
| S2011 | Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. | This bill increases from $25 million to $50 million the amount that is annually credited to the Shore Protection Fund from the collection of realty transfer fees. The realty transfer fee is imposed on the recording of deeds transferring real property and is calculated on the basis of the amount paid in the deed. The basic rate is $1.75 for each $500 of consideration, of which $0.50 is retained by the county and $1.25 is the State share. Currently, the first $25 million of the State share collected annually is credited to the Shore Protection Fund. | In Committee |
| S194 | Clarifies regional municipal court jurisdiction over State Police and other matters originating outside of participating municipalities. | This bill clarifies the jurisdiction of regional municipal courts established under the pilot program set forth in P.L.2021, c.191 (N.J.S.A.2B:12-34, et seq.). Under the pilot program, a county in cooperation with five or more municipalities can create a regional municipal court operated by the county to consolidate the individual courts of participating municipalities. Currently, in addition to having jurisdiction over cases originating from the participating municipalities, the pilot program also required regional municipal courts to handle cases filed by the State Police or any Statewide law enforcement agency, or by any county law enforcement agency, any county code enforcement entity, or by any other non-municipal law enforcement agency, on a countywide basis, even if those matters did not originate from a participating municipality. The bill clarifies that regional municipal courts will no longer be required to hear State Police or county police cases originating from outside the participating municipalities; but counties may still, by ordinance, confer upon the regional municipal court with certain countywide jurisdiction if it chooses to do so. The regional municipal court will retain jurisdiction over currently pending countywide cases, but new cases originating from non-participating municipalities brought after the effective date of the bill will be filed in their municipality of origin. In the view of the sponsor, requiring regional municipal courts to handle these types of countywide cases has resulted in a higher than anticipated caseload and higher than anticipated expenses where such courts have been established. At the same time, in non-participating municipalities where a large volume of cases involve the State Police or county police, that municipality is required by law, N.J.S.A.2B:12-1, to continue to operate a municipal court even if its caseload has been significantly reduced. In the view of the sponsor, this unintended result runs counter to the cost-savings goal of municipal court consolidation. | In Committee |
| S187 | Prohibits State Board of Education from limiting number of certain two-year college credits that may be applied towards meeting teacher certification requirements. | This bill prohibits the State Board of Education from limiting the number of professional education credits earned at a regionally accredited two-year college that may be applied towards meeting the requirements for teacher certification, provided that the credits are accepted by a State-approved college professional education preparation program. | In Committee |
| S153 | Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges. | This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to conduct a study to determine the extent and causes of the outmigration of New Jersey's high school graduates to out-of-State colleges and universities. The study will include, but need not be limited to: · a survey of high school seniors enrolled in public and nonpublic schools in the State to determine the reasons why a student might choose an out-of-State institution; · a review of the academic characteristics of students who choose an in-State institution and students who choose an out-of-State institution; · a review of the socio-economic characteristics of the families of students who choose an in-State institution and the families who choose an out-of-State institution; · a review of the academic quality of the out-of-State institutions in which New Jersey high school graduates choose to enroll and a comparison of the academic ranking of those institutions with New Jersey's public and independent institutions of higher education; · a survey of and consultation with public and nonpublic high school guidance counselors on the reasons for the outmigration of high school graduates; · an analysis of the extent to which the outmigration of high school graduates is impacted by the small geographic size of the State and the desire of college students to experience independent living at a distance from their families; and · a review of available literature and data on the outmigration of high school graduates in New Jersey and other states. The bill requires the secretary to prepare and submit a report of the study's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 18 months of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S2044 | Requires establishment of grant programs to provide workforce shuttles and cover transportation costs; appropriates $10 million in federal funds. | This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department) to establish and administer the "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" (grant program) for the purpose of awarding grants to local government units or non-profit organizations that provide workforce shuttle services in areas of rapid population and housing growth. The bill also requires the department to establish and administer a temporary program, until the grant program is operational, to provide grant funding to qualified businesses, nonprofit organizations, and temporary help service firms (temporary program) to provide temporary grant funding to offset the transportation costs incurred by qualified small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and temporary help service firms. The purpose of the grant program is to support the purchase of workforce shuttles and the operation of workforce shuttle services in order to reduce traffic congestion in areas experiencing rapid growth. To qualify for the grant program, a local government unit or non-profit organization is required to meet certain eligibility requirements set forth in the bill, including a requirement to enter into agreements with employers to provide workforce shuttles, and any other eligibility criteria established by the department. The amount of each grant is determined by the department. The grant funds may be used to support: (1) the purchase or leasing of workforce shuttles; (2) the operation of workforce shuttle services targeting high traffic corridors; (3) the effectuation of partnerships with local employers to provide workforce shuttle services; or (4) any other workforce shuttle related purposes as determined by the department. Under the bill, applications for the grant program are to be submitted to the department in a form and manner determined by the department. In addition to any other information required by the department, each application is required to contain information demonstrating that the local government unit or non-profit organization meets the eligibility requirements, outlining the anticipated use of the grant, and identifying the funding sources available to support the workforce shuttle services. The department is permitted, under the bill, to approve applications for the grant program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds. The department is required to prioritize applications submitted by local government units or non-profit organizations that have experienced a significant increase in population, housing development, or traffic congestion and those that have the greatest level of financial support from participating employers. Under the bill, the department would be required to prepare and submit a report on the "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" to the Governor and the Legislature and make the report available on the department's Internet website. The report is required to include certain information as set forth in the bill. To qualify for the temporary program, applicants are required to demonstrate to the department that the applicant: (1) qualifies as a small business, nonprofit organization, or temporary help service firm; (2) intends to use the grant to offset transportation costs; (3) intends to enter into an operating partnerships with either a county or nonprofit entity to provide transportation on a permanent basis after receipt of the grant funding; and (4) meets any other eligibility requirements that the department deems appropriate. Under the bill, applications for the temporary program are to be submitted to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the department. In addition to any other information that the department may deem appropriate, each application is required to contain information demonstrating that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and outlining the anticipated use of the grant. The department is permitted, under the bill, to approve applications for the temporary program on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds, and is also permitted to prioritize applications based on any considerations that the department deems appropriate. Once an applicant is approved, the department may establish any terms and conditions that the department deems appropriate for the provision of grant funding to a small business, nonprofit organization, or temporary help service firm. Finally, the bill appropriates $10,000,000 from the federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund," established pursuant to the federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," to the department to provide the grant funding for the temporary program until the "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" is fully operational, at which point the funds are required to be used exclusively for that program. After the grant program has been established, the bill also requires the State to annually appropriate $10,000,000 to the department to support the operations of the grant program. | In Committee |
| S157 | Establishes "New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission." | This bill establishes a New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission. Under the bill, the commission will consist of 11 members including: the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee, who will serve ex-officio; the executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, or a designee, who will serve ex-officio; five members to be appointed by the Governor including a representative of the State colleges and universities, a representative of the public research universities, a representative of the county colleges, a representative of the independent colleges and universities, and one public member; one member to be appointed by the Senate President; one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The duties of the commission will be to: · examine higher education funding formulas for institutions of higher education, including medical schools, law schools, and graduate schools in other states, review performance-based funding formulas in other states, and identify best practices;· solicit and review detailed information from all of the State's institutions of higher education, including medical schools, law schools, and graduate schools, on their funding needs, programs and operations, and outputs; and · develop a report that includes a higher education funding formula for the State support of all institutions of higher education, including medical schools, law schools, and graduate schools. The report may include such recommendations for legislative or regulatory action as the commission deems appropriate. The bill directs the commission to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Governor, the Senate Higher Education Committee, and the Assembly Higher Education Committee no later than six months after its organizational meeting. The commission will expire 30 days after the submission of the final report. | In Committee |
| S185 | Establishes Elementary Home Reading Grant Program; appropriates $500,000 to DOE from federal funds. | This bill would establish the Elementary Home Reading Grant Program to increase reading opportunities and parental engagement for elementary students around the State in order to improve reading proficiency. The grant program would support school districts in partnering with nonprofit organizations providing home reading programs. Each home reading program would be required to meet certain minimum criteria, including (1) mailing independent reading level books to the residences of elementary school students on a weekly basis; (2) incorporating weekly phone calls, texts, or application notifications in multiple languages to a parent or guardian; (3) building on pedagogical and literacy principles; (4) providing at least six and not more than nine books for a student to permanently keep; (5) providing a customizable portal to generate individualized data reports for analysis of student progress; and (6) collection, disaggregation, and distribution of detailed data on metrics of the program including parental engagement, the number of books read, and non-identifying demographic data. A school district wishing to participate in the grant program would submit an application to the Department of Education in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. The application would be required to include: (1) a detailed description of the home reading program; (2) information on the nonprofit organization partnering with a school district to administer the home reading program; (3) a description of the goals of the home reading program and a method of measuring student academic success and program outcomes; (4) a description of the methods to be used to identify underperforming students for participation in the home reading program; (5) the number of students able to be supported by the home reading program and the number of students expected to participate; (6) the projected per student and aggregate cost of implementing the home reading program; and (7) any other information the commissioner deems necessary. Under the bill, grant funds would be awarded to participating school districts on a matching basis. Per student costs proposed by a school district would be matched by the State at 100 percent. The bill would appropriate $500,000 for the grant program. The funding for the program would first be provided by any available unexpended federal funds. The Legislature may appropriate additional funds for the grant program. | In Committee |
| SR13 | Urges Congress and Department of Veterans Affairs not to reduce funding for ambulance services for veterans. | This Senate resolution urges the United States Congress and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to refrain from implementing proposed reductions in reimbursements for ambulance services for veterans. Shifting this financial burden from the federal government to state and local entities would have detrimental effects on the ability for veterans to access free ambulance transportation. Given that there are 338,012 veterans living in the State of New Jersey, it is imperative to maintain these federal reimbursements. The average ambulance bill in New Jersey, ranging from $400 to $600, would place a significant financial burden on veterans if reimbursements are reduced. This burden is especially concerning in rural areas, which are already grappling with a surge in hospital closures and higher ambulance transportation costs. In light of these challenges, it is crucial for Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to uphold their commitment to veterans by continuing to provide necessary reimbursements for ambulance transportation. | In Committee |
| S58 | Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions. | The bill grants a property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability in proportion to their disability percentage rating. The exemption is only granted to those with a disability percentage rating of at least 30 percent, and the exemption is capped at $10,000. Those with a 100 percent disability percentage rating would still be allowed a 100 percent property tax exemption without a cap, as is the case under current law. In addition, the bill grants those honorably discharged veterans having less than a 100 percent service-connected disability, but who are unemployable, a 100 percent property tax exemption, which matches the current 100 percent property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a 100 percent disability percentage rating. As under current law, the bill allows the 100 percent property tax exemption to extend to the surviving spouse of a veteran. However, the newly allowed property tax exemption for a veteran with a less than 100 percent property tax exemption would not extend to the surviving spouse. The bill also eliminates all references to medical conditions so that any service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, will make a veteran eligible for the property tax exemption. Finally, the bill proclaims that the State shall annually reimburse taxing districts, including for administrative costs, for the property tax exemptions granted to disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill includes reporting provisions so proper reimbursement can be made. | In Committee |
| S156 | Establishes pilot program to provide guidance to students applying for federal financial aid. | This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year pilot program to provide information on and assistance in the proper completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The goal of the pilot program is to ensure that each 12th grade student has the opportunity and instruction necessary to apply for federal financial aid. Under the bill, a school district that wants to participate in the program must submit a proposal to the commissioner. The commissioner will select four districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to participate in the program. The bill requires the board of education of a participating school district to ensure that each student receives information at least once before the student enters grade 12 on how to properly complete and submit the FAFSA. Information may be disseminated through classroom instruction during regular school hours. Information may also be provided through an existing school program, family information sessions, or group or individual sessions with school counselors. The information provided must include, but need not be limited to, material related to: (1) the types of documentation and personal information that each student financial aid application requires; (2) an explanation of terms used for each application; (3) eligibility requirements for student financial aid; and (4) application timelines and submission deadlines for the FAFSA. The bill also requires the board of education of a participating school district to ensure that the parent or guardian of each student entering grade 12 receives, via written or electronic means, information on the FAFSA and how to properly complete and submit the form. Under the bill, the board of education of a participating school district must ensure that a paper copy of the FAFSA is provided upon request to each high school student or his parent or guardian. The board of education must also ensure that any information shared by a student, parent, or guardian pursuant to this bill is handled according to applicable State and federal privacy laws and regulations. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education is directed to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature. The report must contain information on the implementation of the pilot program including the commissioner's recommendation on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis. | In Committee |
| SCR61 | Constitutes special committee of Senate and General Assembly entitled "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." | This concurrent resolution constitutes a special committee of the Legislature entitled the "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee." The creation of this committee is in response to several news articles highlighting the recommended increase in premiums and periodic charges for the State health care programs and allegations the Governor's Office may have intervened during contract disputes with the State's contractor, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. The committee will review and investigate the recommended increases in the premiums of the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will also investigate allegations that the Governor's Office may have pressured staff at the Department of the Treasury to halt the contract dispute with Horizon and the effort by the department to recoup the $34 million from the contract. Additionally, the committee will review the implementation, if any, of P.L.2019, c.143, which created subaccounts in the State Health Benefits Program Fund and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Fund and also required the State to procure a professional services contract for a third-party medical claims reviewer for the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The committee will make recommendations that address this subject. | In Committee |
| S186 | Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply of opioid antidotes and permits emergency administration of opioid antidote by campus medical professional or trained employee. | This bill requires public and independent institutions of higher education in New Jersey to obtain a supply of opioid antidotes to be maintained in one or more secure and easily accessible locations at the institution. The bill requires the institutions to develop a policy for the emergency administration of an opioid antidote to a student, staff member, or other person who is experiencing an opioid overdose. The policies must: (1) designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee the institution's program for the maintenance and emergency administration of opioid antidotes; (2) permit a licensed campus medical professional and other designated trained employees of the institution to administer an opioid antidote to any person whom the licensed campus medical professional or trained employee in good faith believes is experiencing an opioid overdose; and (3) require the transportation of an overdose victim to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of an opioid antidote. Under an institution's policy, a licensed campus medical professional will have the primary responsibility for the emergency administration of an opioid antidote. The governing board of an institution of higher education will designate additional employees of the institution who volunteer to administer an opioid antidote in the event that a person experiences an opioid overdose when a licensed campus medical professional is not physically present at the scene. The licensed campus medical professionals and designated employees are required to receive training on standardized protocols for the administration of an opioid antidote to a person who experiences an opioid overdose. The training will include the overdose prevention information set forth in the State's "Overdose Prevention Act." The bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services and appropriate medical experts, to establish guidelines for institutions of higher education in developing their policies for the administration of opioid antidotes, including guidelines concerning the training requirements for licensed campus medical professionals and designated employees. Institutions of higher education will be required to implement the guidelines in developing their policies. The bill provides immunity from liability for licensed campus medical professionals, trained designees, and other employees or agents of an institution of higher education, and for pharmacists and prescribers of opioid antidotes for an institution of higher education, for good faith acts or omissions consistent with the bill's provisions. | In Committee |
| S160 | Requires MVC to issue one license plate instead of two. | This bill amends current law to require the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to issue one license plate for each automobile and motorcycle registered in the State. The bill requires that the single license plate be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. The bill specifies that any person who was issued two license plates prior to the effective date of the bill may return one of those plates to the commission. | In Committee |
| S149 | Eliminates shellfish license fee for veterans and active duty service members. | This bill exempts honorably discharged veterans and active duty members of the U.S. military from the resident's recreational shellfish license fee. Currently, New Jersey residents under the age of 62 are required to pay a $10 license fee for the license, which allows them to harvest shellfish such as hard and soft clams, surf clams, oysters, bay scallops, and mussels during the summer months. Licensees may harvest up to 150 shellfish per day for non-commercial use. | In Committee |
| S155 | Establishes "Supporting Educational and Entrepreneurial Development (S.E.E.D.) Program" in Office of Secretary of Higher Education. | This bill establishes a "Supporting Educational and Entrepreneurial Development (S.E.E.D.) Program" in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The purpose of the S.E.E.D. Program will be to support original student-led projects through the awarding of grants. Awards made through the program will provide the initial funding necessary to support the development of promising new concepts, products, or companies led by the next generation of researchers. Under the bill, the S.E.E.D. Program will be implemented by a seven member board that includes the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee; a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; and five public members. The board will establish a competitive application process for receipt of a S.E.E.D. grant that considers objective factors which include, but need not be limited to: the intellectual merit of the proposed project; the overall feasibility of the proposal; and the qualifications of the applicant. The bill directs the board to award S.E.E.D. grants from the fund to qualified applicants enrolled in each public institution of higher education, within the limits of available funds. The board will determine the amount of each grant awarded under the program and may award multi-year grants. The bill creates a special fund in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education entitled the "S.E.E.D. Fund," consisting of all moneys appropriated by the State for the purposes of the program and all interest and investment earnings received on moneys in the fund. The fund will be used to provide S.E.E.D. grants. The bill provides that in each of the first three years of the S.E.E.D. Program, the State must appropriate to the S.E.E.D. Fund for each public institution of higher education an amount equal to $2,500 per each 500 full-time student cohort and $2,500 per each 1,000 part-time student cohort. In the event that the funds available to an institution are not awarded as S.E.E.D. grants in any of the first three years of the program, the board may either allocate those funds to the institution in subsequent years or reallocate those funds to other institutions of higher education. | In Committee |
| S195 | Establishes penalties for use of unmanned aircraft in furtherance of commission of criminal offense; requires forfeiture of device upon conviction. | This bill establishes penalties for operating an unmanned aircraft system in the furtherance of a commission of an offense or a crime. Under the bill, a person commits a crime of the fourth degree if the person operates an unmanned aircraft system to further the commission of a petty disorderly persons offense or a disorderly persons offense. For any other offense, the crime is graded one degree higher than the underlying offense for which the unmanned aircraft system was used to attempt or commit. The bill also requires the forfeiture of an unmanned aircraft system used to further a crime upon conviction. | In Committee |
| S1518 | Establishes procedures and standards regarding public services privatization contracts. | The purpose of this bill is to ensure that no public services are privatized unless there are cost savings without increased charges or reduced services to the public, or lowered workforce standards. Each prospective private contractor would be required to demonstrate cost reductions based on improvements such as management efficiencies or technical innovation, not based on added burdens imposed on the members of the public using the services or the employees producing them. The bill requires that a contract for the privatization of public services not be entered into without cost analyses demonstrating that there will be actual cost savings for the public agency and the taxpayers without increased fees, fares, or other charges to the public, reduced quantity or quality of services, or lowered workforce standards, including reduced staff qualifications and remuneration. The bill further requires sustained oversight and public disclosure regarding those contracts to provide accountability to taxpayers, public users of the services, and employees producing the services, that the cost savings actually occur without increased charges, or reduced services or workforce standards, and provides penalties and sanctions for any noncompliance involving agency or contractor misrepresentation, fraud or other malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance. The bill prohibits any agency of the State or political subdivision from entering into a contract of $500,000 or more, if the agency is a political subdivision, or $1 million or more if it is not a political subdivision, to purchase from private entities services previously performed by agency employees, other than legal, management consulting, planning, engineering or design services, prevailing wage construction work, or certain services provided by disabled individuals employed by rehabilitation facilities, unless: 1. The agency solicits competitive sealed bids for the contracts based on a comprehensive statement of requirements by the agency; 2. The contract requires that the public not be charged fares, fees or other charges greater than those currently charged, that the quantity and quality of the services provided equal or exceed the quantity and quality of services currently provided, that the contractor is qualified, and that contractor employees have qualifications and wage and benefit rates at least equal to the agency employees currently performing the services. Contractors are required to submit payroll records to the agency and, upon any failure to pay the agreed upon wage and benefit rates, are subject to the remedies and penalties provided by the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act," P.L.1963, c.150 (C.34:11-56.25 et seq.) for failure to pay the prevailing wage; 3. The agency permits the union of the affected agency employees to review the agency's estimate of current costs and submit an alternative cost estimate and propose cost saving measures compliant with requirements of the bill and the agency reviews the union estimate and proposal and makes a determination whether to reduce the agency's estimate of current costs; 4. The contract requires compliance with antidiscrimination standards, requires available positions to be offered to qualified displaced agency employees, and requires the agency to prepare a plan of training and assistance for displaced employees; 5. The contractor and specified associates have no adjudicated record of substantial or repeated noncompliance with any federal or State law pertaining to the operation of a business, including laws regarding contracting and conflict of interest; 6. After receiving bids, the agency publicly designates the bidder to which it proposes to award the contract and issues a comprehensive written analysis of the total contract cost of the designated bid; and 7. The agency provides written certification that the agency and the proposed contract are in compliance with all provisions of the bill and the total estimated contract cost is less than the cost of agency employees performing the services, with a statement of the amount of the savings. The Office of the State Comptroller would be required to review the certification and prohibit the agency from entering into the privatization contract if the office provides a written determination that the bid does not provide cost savings or that the agency has otherwise failed to comply with any requirement of the bill. The State Auditor would be required to conduct post-audits of contracts subject to the bill, evaluating whether the projected cost savings were obtained without raising charges, cutting services, or lowering workforce standards. If the noncompliance was related to agency or contractor misrepresentation, fraud or other malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance, the agency or contractor would be subject to penalties and sanctions including, where appropriate, debarment or rescission of contracts, or reimbursement of excess charges to the public and underpayments of employees. The requirements of the bill do not apply to any privatization contract first entered into before the effective date of the bill or to the renewal, extension, or transfer of any privatization contract first entered into prior to that effective date, but do apply to the renewal, extension, or transfer of any contract entered into after the effective date. | In Committee |
| S180 | Requires cost of living increase to be granted in each of two calendar years for certain retired members and beneficiaries of PFRS; makes appropriation. | This bill would provide for cost of living increases for certain retired members, surviving spouses, children, or beneficiaries who are receiving monthly payments from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. The increases would be provided on January 1 of the calendar year following enactment of this bill and on January 1 of the next following calendar year. The increase would be provided only when the amount of a retirement allowance, pension, or benefit originally granted was at or below 450 percent of the federal poverty level for a household of one. The federal poverty level for 2022 for a household of one is an annual amount of $13,590, and 450 percent of the federal poverty level for a household of one is an annual amount of $61,155. In addition, the adjustment would be provided to retired members who are receiving a retirement allowance or pension, other than for accidental or ordinary disability, only if the retired member has attained the age of 62 years as of January 1 of the calendar year following the enactment of this bill. The adjustment would be provided to all other retired members, surviving spouses, children, or beneficiaries regardless of their age. For the purposes of calculating an adjustment, the maximum consumer price index used would be three percent and the minimum would be one percent. The bill defines the consumer price index as the annual average over a 12-month period beginning September 1 and ending August 31 of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), All Items Series A, of the United States Department of Labor, for the NY-Northeastern New Jersey region. The bill requires the State to fund the cost of these increases and makes an appropriation for that purpose. The adjustment would be calculated using the chart as follows:Annual retirement allowance, pension, or survivorship benefit as a percentage of federal poverty level for household of one.Percentage of CPI-W to calculate adjustment. 0.000%150.000%150.0% of CPI-W150.001%175.000% 120.0% of CPI-W175.001%200.000%100.0% of CPI-W200.001%225.000% 85.0% of CPI-W225.001%250.000% 75.0% of CPI-W250.001%275.000% 67.5% of CPI-W275.001%300.000% 60.0% of CPI-W300.001%325.000% 50.0% of CPI-W325.001%350.000% 40.0% of CPI-W350.001%375.000% 30.0% of CPI-W375.001%400.000% 27.5% of CPI-W400.001%425.000% 23.0% of CPI-W425.001%450.000% 20.0% of CPI-W | In Committee |
| S1986 | Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. | This bill establishes the School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to study, evaluate, and assess the provision of State school aid pursuant to the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (SFRA). The task force will consist of seven members, including: the Commissioner of Education or a designee; and six public members, each of whom shall have educational experience and expertise in education and municipal finance and school budgeting. Two of the members will be appointed by the Senate President, two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly will each appoint one member. Under the bill, the duty of the task force is to study the effectiveness of, and provide recommendations on potentially improving, various aspects of the SFRA including, but not limited to:? the manner in which school district adequacy budgets and local shares are calculated;? the current methodology of measuring and weighting at-risk students and students with limited English proficiency and the impact on the educational outcomes of those students; ? the weights applied to students in different grade levels, as well as those applied to students enrolled in county vocational school districts; ? the current methodology used to calculate the geographic cost adjustment;? the formula's use of the census-based funding methodology for determining the amount of State aid a school district receives to educate its special education population and the effects of potentially employing different methodologies; ? the provision of extraordinary special education aid and the cost thresholds used as the bases for reimbursement of extraordinary special education costs; ? the methodologies used to calculate security categorical aid and transportation aid; and ? the impact that the reallocation of State school aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.67, commonly referred to as "S-2," had on school districts' finances. The bill requires that the task force will issue a final report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The report will be posted in a prominent location on the Internet website of the Department of Education. | In Committee |
| S1752 | Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard. | This bill would authorize special motor vehicle registration plates for active members of the United States Coast Guard or former active members who have been honorably separated from the United States Coast Guard. These special plates would also be available to the spouse or parent of any person who is an active member of the United States Coast Guard or former active member who has been honorably separated from the United States Coast Guard. The plates would identify the holder as a member or former member of the United States Coast Guard and bear "The United States Coast Guard Seal." Under this bill, the fee for the motor vehicle registration plates is $25, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles. The Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would be authorized to retain monies collected from the plate purchases to defray all costs incurred by the commission in the implementation of the special plate program. The chief administrator may increase the fee for the plates as provided in the bill or discontinue the issuance of the plates if the average cost per plate exceeds the application fee in two consecutive fiscal years. | In Committee |
| S1469 | Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems. | This bill authorizes the use of a school bus monitoring system to enforce section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), the State law governing passing a school bus. A school bus monitoring system is defined as a system meeting certain requirements set forth in the bill and having at least one camera and computer that captures and records a digital video or image of any motor vehicle operating near a school bus. Under current law, school buses are required to exhibit flashing red lights when the bus has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any person with a developmental disability or a child. Drivers of vehicles approaching or overtaking the school bus are required to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that has activated its flashing lights. The penalty for violating this law, for a first offense, is: 1) a fine of no less than $100; 2) imprisonment for no more than 15 days or community service; or 3) both. For subsequent offenses, the penalty is: 1) a fine of no less than $250; 2) imprisonment for no less than 15 days; or 3) both. This bill provides that the penalty for violating the law, when the violation is not evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system, would be: 1) a fine of $250; 2) 15 days of community service; or 3) both, in the case of a first offense. For each subsequent offense, the penalty would be a fine of $500 and no less than 15 days of community service. Under the bill, a civil penalty of $250 would be imposed on a person who passes a school bus in violation of current law if the violation is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system. Under these circumstances, any civil penalty imposed and collected for this violation is to be forwarded to the financial officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred and used for general municipal and school district purposes, including efforts to improve the monitoring and enforcement of this law through the utilization of a school bus monitoring system and other public education safety programs. A violation that is evidenced by the recorded images captured by a school bus monitoring system would not result in penalty points or automobile insurance eligibility points being assessed on the violator. The bill authorizes a municipality or school district operating or providing Type I or Type II school buses that transport students to contract with a private vendor to provide for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a school bus monitoring system for enforcement purposes. The bill provides that a school bus monitoring system must be capable of capturing and producing a record of any occurrence that may be considered illegal passing of a school bus, and include in that recorded image: -- if the school bus is exhibiting its flashing light; -- if a motor vehicle passes a school bus; -- the license plate, make, and model of the violating vehicle; and -- the date, time, and location of the violation. The bill requires any suspected violation captured in a recorded image produced by a school bus monitoring system to be made available to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the violation occurred. A law enforcement officer is to issue a summons within 90 days of determining that a suspected violation occurred. A summons may not be issued for a violation occurring more than 90 days from date of the violation. The bill provides that any recorded image or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system is not a public record under New Jersey's "Open Public Records Act," is not discoverable as a public record except upon a subpoena issued by a grand jury or a court order in a criminal matter, and is not to be offered into evidence in any civil or administrative proceeding unless directly related to illegally passing a school bus. The bill provides that recorded images or information produced in connection with a school bus monitoring system pertaining to a specific violation are not to be retained for more than 60 days after the collection of any civil penalty imposed, and are then to be purged. All recorded images and information collected but not resulting in the issuance of a summons are to be purged within 95 days of the recording. The bill provides that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable for a summons for illegally passing a school bus as evidenced by a recorded image captured by a school bus monitoring system. However, a lessor or owner of a motor vehicle is not liable for a summons if: -- the lessor demonstrates that the vehicle was used without the lessor's express or implied consent, and provides the name and address of the vehicle operator or registrant; -- the lessee was operating or in possession of the vehicle at the time of the violation and the lessor provides the name and address of the lessee; or -- the owner, lessor, or lessee demonstrates that the vehicle was stolen at the time the violation occurred and provides a copy of the police report regarding the vehicle theft. The bill permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill, including specifications and certification procedures for the school bus monitoring systems and devices that may be installed. The bill also permits the Supreme Court of New Jersey to adopt Rules of Court as appropriate or necessary to effectuate the purposes of the substitute. The bill will take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, but permits the Commissioner of Education, the Superintendent of State Police, and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to take anticipatory administrative actions in advance of the bill's effective date. | In Committee |
| S229 | Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program. | The bill appropriates $450,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection to fund the cost of implementing the Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program. The money would be appropriated from the "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund," a statutory account established to receive fines and penalties from convicted drug offenders that are used to support State-authorized drug and alcohol abuse abatement programs. The bill encourages the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funding annually from the "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund" or any other appropriate source to maintain the operation of the program in future years. | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1636 | Changes MVC voter registration procedures. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2167 | Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S317 | Revises "Athletic Training Licensure Act." | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2019 | Authorizes pharmacists to dispense HIV prophylaxis without individual prescription under certain circumstances; mandates prescription benefits coverage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S862 | Requires DOT to provide additional information in annual report on pavement condition; makes report available to public. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2051 | Requires law enforcement officer to conduct risk assessment of and provide assistance to domestic violence victims. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S1403 | Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for public body to submit payroll records to DOLWD. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S1320 | Requires certain information be included in certain contracts with licensed public adjusters. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S1067 | Directs DHS to conduct landscape analysis of available mental health services. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3323 | Requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for TPAF purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3361 | Establishes limit on rent increase for certain dwelling sites for modular or industrialized buildings or manufactured homes. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3128 | Authorizes HMFA to use certain tax credits; directs HMFA to conduct tax credit auctions to provide financial assistance for certain housing purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A1948 | Requires VCCO to issue annual report to Governor and Legislature. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2346 | Creates Code Red alert pilot program to shelter at-risk individuals during certain hot weather and air quality events; appropriates $5 million. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2373 | Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3424 | Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3518 | Requires MVC to create digital driver's licenses and digital non-driver identification cards. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2783 | "Travel Insurance Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A3802 | Differentiates certain legal services from traditional insurance products. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| SJR96 | Permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2951 | Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S2961 | Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| SJR100 | Designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in NJ. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4085 | Allows for natural organic reduction and controlled supervised decomposition of human remains. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4178 | Authorizes State Treasurer to grant temporary deed of easement in Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3132 | Imposes certain requirements on secondhand dealers of cellular telephones and wireless communication devices. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3189 | Makes various changes to "New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act" and Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program; repeals "New Jersey Ignite Act." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4331 | Establishes licensure for cosmetic retail services. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4429 | Expands prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3287 | Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3309 | Establishes "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act"; revises motor vehicle franchise agreements. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4455 | Allows exemption from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3418 | Authorizes certain types of permanent structures, recently constructed or erected on preserved farmland, to be used, in certain cases, for purposes of holding special occasion events thereon. | Senate Floor: Concur Governor Recommendations | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4603 | Allows commercial farmer to be awarded reasonable costs and attorney fees for defending against bad faith complaints under "Right to Farm Act". | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4712 | Establishes Office of Veteran Advocate and ombudsman for DMVA; appropriates funds. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3618 | Directs DEP and DOT to establish "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan." | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4897 | Revises law requiring certain student identification cards to contain telephone number for suicide prevention hotline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3711 | Makes annual allocation of $500,000 from Clean Communities Program Fund for public outreach concerning single-use plastics reduction program permanent. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3776 | Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4937 | Concerns satellite cannabis dispensaries, Cannabis Regulatory Commission membership, and post-employment restrictions on State employees. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4954 | Requires members of historic preservation commissions to complete historic preservation planning course. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4971 | Requires EDA to provide grants to certain small businesses affected by State infrastructure and construction projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A4969 | Ensures boards of elections have discretion to make initial determination of validity of cast ballots; requires Secretary of State to establish uniform guidelines for assessing validity of ballots. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3858 | Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3887 | Requires DEP to provide public access for boats to certain State-and county-owned lakes and reservoirs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5049 | Removes certain limitations on receipt of retirement or death benefits under PFRS under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3910 | Makes various changes to provision of preschool aid and facilities requirements; establishes Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee; requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3917 | Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3931 | Updates requirements for licensure in occupational therapy. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S3933 | Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5100 | Re-appropriates unexpended balance of FY2024 appropriation for Town of West New York to support recreation center; appropriates $3 million for Town of West New York - Recreation Center to restore lapsed FY2024 funding. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5130 | Requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in specified time window. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5170 | Requires State to purchase certain unused tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4028 | Limits amount of payment that State agency as property owner may withhold from certain contractors on State construction contracts to two percent of amount due. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5267 | Requires BPU to procure and incentivize transmission-scale energy storage. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5264 | Requires establishment of automated platform to expedite construction code approval of applications to install residential solar energy systems. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4122 | Revises apportionment of State lottery contributions. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4135 | Provides allowance for certain redevelopment projects undertaken by institutions of higher education under New Jersey Aspire program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5309 | Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and physicians for license renewal. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5378 | Modifies provisions of Cultural Arts Incentives Program, New Jersey Aspire Program, and Grow New Jersey Program; eliminates Community-Anchored Development Program. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5381 | Provides medical documentation requirement for certain members of PERS, PFRS, and SPRS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations; removes filing deadline. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4263 | Revises certain provisions concerning, and establishes certain education and data reporting requirements related to, involuntary commitment. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| 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. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5463 | Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Reconsidered Vote | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in House Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4293 | Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5563 | Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers. | Senate Floor: Amend | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5546 | Concerns financial powers and responsibilities of Capital City Redevelopment Corporation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4376 | Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5687 | Establishes Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program to incentivize in-State manufacturing investments and job creation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| A5688 | Imposes surcharge on hotel occupancies in certain municipalities to fund fire services; provides for appropriation. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4426 | Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects in FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4467 | Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2026. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4451 | Clarifies requirements for land use plan element and housing plan element of municipal master plan. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| SCR131 | Approves FY2026 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4400 | Extends hours that minor employed by national sports association, league, or team may work under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4387 | Requires establishment of tracking system in Division of Consumer Affairs to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4423 | Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4476 | Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of board of education; extends maximum length of preschool education services contracts to three years. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4472 | Eliminates five percent down payment requirement for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4506 | Exempts minor league baseball players from certain State wage laws under certain circumstances. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Third Reading - Final Passage | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| S4530 | Requires BPU to revise community solar program targets. | Senate Floor: Concur in Assembly Amendments | 06/30/2025 | Abstain |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | New Jersey Senate District 02 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 11/08/2021 | |
| NJ | District 2 | House | Republican | Out of Office | 01/08/2008 | 01/16/2024 |