Public Administration
Murphy Signs Bill on Liquor Licensing and Brewery Activity – On Jan. 16, Gov. Murphy signed S4265, a liquor license reform bill which also repeals restrictions on brewery activity strongly opposed by the industry. NJ’s liquor licensing laws cap the number of licenses issued in a municipality at 1 for every 3,000 residents, making licenses scarce and very costly. The Governor proposed significant reforms to this system last year, but resistance from Democrats in the legislature restrained changes to the system in this new legislation. Opponents of more sweeping reform fear that plummeting license values will cause significant financial losses to restaurant owners. Codified as P.L.2023, c.290, the new law limits how long a license may go unused before a municipality may reclaim it, allows for transfers of licenses between municipalities, and creates new licenses at shopping malls. The changes may release as many as 1,356 licenses back into the market. The law also expands allowable activity for breweries, repealing many restrictions which were set to go into effect in the new year. (NJ.com)
Murphy Approves Salary Increases for Public Officials – Gov. Murphy signed on Jan. 16 A5910, codified as P.L.2023, c.349, which will raise salaries for public officials for the first time since 2002. Lawmakers will see a 67% raise from $49,000 to $82,000 in 2026; legislative staff, cabinet members, judges, and the governor will also see pay increases. Sponsors of the new legislation argue it will enable people from lower-paying professions to hold public office. (6ABC; NJ.com)
Transportation
New Legislation Aims to Curb Toll Evasion – Gov. Murphy signed two pieces of legislation on Jan. 16 which aim to reduce toll evasion, which cost NJ Toll authorities $117 million in 2022. S4084, codified as P.L.2023, c.285, raises fines for dealers and users of fraudulent temporary license plates, which are often used to avoid tolls. A5799, codified as P.L.2023, c.339, enables the Department of Transportation (DOT) to call on the Motor Vehicle Commission to suspend the vehicle registrations of violators with $500 or more in unpaid fines – a power previously held only by the Turnpike Authority. This law also creates an avenue to enforce fare evasion from out-of-state drivers: the DOT may negotiate reciprocity agreements with other state toll agencies to suspend registrations of out-of-state violators. (NJ.com)
Education
Students Must Complete FAFSA To Graduate – A new law signed by Gov. Murphy on Jan. 16 will require high school students to complete an application for financial aid for higher education – either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application – in order to graduate. A1181, codified as P.L.2023, c.295, aims to ensure students access any public financial aid opportunities for further education for which they qualify. The law will go into effect for this year’s 11th grade class. (NJ.com)
NJ Expands Eligibility for Free School Meals – On Jan. 16, Gov. Murphy signed the Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act (A5684, codified as P.L.2023, c.336), which expands eligibility for free meals in schools. The new law makes eligible for free meals students enrolled in schools who participate in the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program and whose households make up to 224% of the federal poverty level. 60,000 families will now be eligible for this program, which aims to combat food insecurity. (NBC Philadelphia)
Health
NJ Joins 32-State Counseling Compact – On Jan. 16, Gov. Murphy signed A5311, codified as P.L.2023, c.324, which enters the state into the Counseling Compact, an agreement with 31 other states which allows professional counselors licensed and residing in one member state to practice in all member states without the need for a new license. The change addresses a shortage of mental healthcare providers in the state. Six other states introduced similar legislation this year. (American Counseling Association)
State Mandates Hospitals to Allow Doulas to Accompany Maternity Patients – Gov. Murphy approved new legislation aimed to resolve disparities in maternal mortality rates and reduce infant and maternal mortality on Jan. 16. S4119, codified as P.L.2023, c.286 and championed by NJ First Lady and candidate for U.S. Senate Tammy Murphy, requires hospitals and birthing centers to develop policies and procedures to allow doulas to accompany maternity patients at their appointments before, during, and after childbirth. The new law requires the notification of the policy to patients as well as the designation of a liaison between staff, doula, and patient. (Audacy)
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Action |
Bill No. | Bill Title | Date |
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2022-2023 Legislative Session |
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| Pass | A5664 | Establishes the “Community Wealth Preservation Program”; expands access for certain buyers to purchase property from sheriff’s sales. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | A5326 | Establishes the Community Crisis Response Advisory Council and community crisis response teams pilot program; designates “Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act;” appropriates $12 million. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | A5840 | Extends certain accommodations implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency for businesses participating in NJ economic development programs. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | S2415 | Requires that State agencies update demographic data collection methods on Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian and Indian Diaspora residents of this State. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | S723 | Creates the “New Jersey Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Act.” | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | S2459 | Requires that State government entities provide vital documents and translation services in at least seven of the most common non-English languages. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | A3117 | Clarifies juvenile’s right to attorney representation. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | A5235 | Revises health insurance coverage requirements for the treatment of infertility. | 1/12/24 |
| Pass | A5684 | Requires certain nonpublic schools to provide meals to all students under the “Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act”; authorizes limited expansion of income eligibility to qualify public and nonpublic school students for free lunch. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5909 | Revises workers’ compensation coverage for certain injuries to certain volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S2304 | Permits excused absences for students who attend civic events. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S2249 | Revises the number of qualified disabled veterans’ businesses required to designate a set-aside contract from three to two. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S332 | Requires notification to consumers of collection and disclosure of personal data by certain entities. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S281 | Concerns automatic fire sprinkler systems within newly constructed townhouses. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S539 | Permits online purchase of eligible foods using fund from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as well as the use of WIC funds for grocery delivery charges. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S659 | The “Manufacturing in Higher Education Act” requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to the manufacturing industry. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S1110 | Authorizes the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to finance transportation projects between Atlantic City Airport and Atlantic City Tourism District. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S1680 | Designates each community college in the state as a provider of allowable services under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) employment and training program. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S2076 | Establishes the “Twelfth Grade Postsecondary Transition Year Pilot Program” in the Department of Education. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S2535 | Requires health benefits coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S2841 | Raises the minimum amount of liability coverage for commercial motor vehicles and autocabs. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S3080 | Establishes the position of Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson; establishes “School Disconnection Prevention Task Force”; appropriates $200,000.** | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S3102 | Establishes an uptime requirement for electric vehicle charging station incentive programs. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S3176 | Requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Drinking Water Quality Institute to perform a study concerning the regulation and treatment of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S3632 | Requires the labeling of non-flushable disposable wipes. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S3758 | Changes the deadline for unaffiliated mail-in voters to declare their political party before primary election. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S4084 | Concerns temporary registration certificates and license plates. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S4130 | Special legislation to change name of “Township of South Orange Village” to “South Orange Village”; changes titles of certain municipal officials; permits nonpartisan municipal elections to be moved to November; permits stipend for governing body members. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S4206 | Changes the number of signatures required on primary election petitions to nominate certain municipal candidates in certain municipalities. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S4209 | Eliminates the vote on school budgets for Type II school districts in April elections, except for separate proposals to spend above the cap. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | S4268 | Permits certain special State officers to represent licensed cannabis and casino businesses. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A203 | Authorizes the creation of special license plates commemorating the horse as the state animal. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A1100 | Requires entities to remove abandoned telecommunications lines and mark information on certain lines. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A1107 | Directs the Chief Technology Officer to conduct a study on the impacts of redacting handwritten signatures published on state websites; allows for protocols for such redactions to be established by rules and regulations. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A1255 | Updates requirements and standards for authorization and prior authorization of health care services. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A1755 | Requires the installation of operational automatic rain sensors or smart sprinklers as condition of the sale of certain real properties, and on certain commercial, retail, and industrial properties and common interest communities within specified timeframes. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A2146 | Creates a state business assistance program to establish contracting agency procurement goals for socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A2581 | Provides that certain cosmetology and hairstyling courses may be taught using distance learning technology. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A3142 | Authorizes grants to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for homeless veterans. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A3211 | Establishes “New Jersey Feminine Hygiene Products for the Homeless Act.” | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A3980 | Grants children placed in resource family care and resource family parents the right to be notified when a case manager or supervisor is assigned to the child; grants children in resource family care the right to be notified of certain property and benefits. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4015 | Requires the Department of Corrections to provide prenatal and post-partum education and services for certain inmates. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4183 | Concerns the local unit filing requirement for certain shared services agreements. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4212 | Establishes the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey at Thomas Edison State University. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4337 | Requires the Department of Health to provide information to the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system regarding the location of safe disposal sites for hypodermic syringes and needles and prescription drugs. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4496 | Revises various provisions of the law governing the construction of school facilities projects and operations of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority; establishes “Charter School and Renaissance School Project Facilities Loan Program” in the Economic Development Authority. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4522 | Requires certain disclosures by sellers of single-family homes with solar panels installed. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4691 | Requires hazard mitigation plans to include climate change-related threat assessments and hazard prevention and mitigation strategies. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4723 | Requires motor vehicle dealers to offer to delete personal information in motor vehicles in certain situations. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4791 | Establishes the “Resiliency and Environmental System Investment Charge Program.” | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4794 | Requires request for proposal to establish demonstration projects to develop electric vehicle charging depots serviced by distributed energy resource charging centers for certain electric vehicle use. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4814 | Removes the expected family contribution from the calculation of financial need under circumstances in which public institutions of higher education may reduce a student’s institutional financial aid. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A4821 | Directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to take certain actions concerning the identification and testing of microplastics in drinking water, and requires the DEP and Board of Public Utilities to study and promote the use of microplastics removal technologies. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5094 | Concerns the licensing of security officer companies. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5227 | Expands eligibility for the “fishing buddy license” fee. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5285 | Requires copies of certain law enforcement records to be provided to victims of domestic violence upon request. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5293 | Concerns the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5391 | Imposes conditions on drivers approaching disabled vehicles. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5412 | Establishes a nonpublic school transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5416 | Requires the State Board of Education to authorize alternate routes to expedite teacher certification of persons employed as paraprofessionals in school districts. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5442 | Directs the Board of Public Utilities to conduct a study to determine feasibility, marketability, and costs of implementing large-scale geothermal heat pump systems in NJ. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5462 | Revises the law establishing the Office of Food Security Advocate and establishes certain conditions for the use of monies appropriated to emergency food organizations. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5495 | Clarifies the types of firearms allowed to be carried or transported while hunting. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5516 | Requires certain health care professionals to undergo bias training. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5565 | Provides that a 10-year term does not apply to leases of certain municipal properties unless they are waterfront properties or related to waterfront concessions. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5567 | Extends the period of usefulness of fire engines for bonding purposes from 10 to 20 years; eliminates the exclusion of passenger cars and station wagons. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5582 | Establishes a grant program for NJ YouthBuild programs through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; makes appropriation. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5610 | Revises penalties for the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5755 | Enhances notice requirements and occupancy restrictions for hotels and multiple dwellings following a determination of potentially hazardous conditions. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5799 | Authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish and administer toll collection and enforcement systems on behalf of NJ toll authorities and to enter into reciprocal agreements for the enforcement of toll violations with toll authorities from other states. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5806 | Appropriates $48 million from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenues to the Department of Environmental Protection for state acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including the Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5807 | Appropriates $58 million from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to the Department of Environmental Protection for state capital and park development projects. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5808 | Appropriates $15,564,293 from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenues to the NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5809 | Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from the NJ Infrastructure Bank for Fiscal Year 2024. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5810 | Amends lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding by the Department of Environmental Protection under the Fiscal Year 2024 environmental infrastructure funding program. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5828 | Authorizes the State Treasurer to sell as surplus certain real property and improvements in the Township of Woodbridge in Middlesex County. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5835 | Authorizes a regional authority to develop and operate a regional rehabilitation and reentry center. | 1/16/24 |
| Pass | A5836 | Makes a supplemental appropriation of $650,000 to the New Jersey Division of State Police for trooper recruitment and retention. | 1/16/24 |