NJ Legislative Update
Assembly Education Committee, 9:00a, remotely.
A180 Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety. Passed with committee amendments
A1281 Extends period of time for filing special education due process petitions related to COVID-19 school closures and periods of virtual, remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction. Passed with committee amendments
A1588 Permits use of preferred names on student diplomas. Passed with committee amendments
A2066 Requires public schools, and nonpublic schools which receive federal funding, to provide students with information on rights afforded under Title IX, and provide contact information for Title IX coordinator. Passed
A2067 Requires Department of Education to annually report use of federal COVID-19 relief funds. Passed
AJR59 Designates February 28 of each year as "Amistad Day." Passed
Assembly Women and Children Committee, 9:30a, remotely.
A795 Requires employer to provide certain accommodations to employee who is breast feeding. Passed with committee amendments
A804 Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery. Passed with committee amendments
A821 Requires certain health care facilities to offer consultations with lactation counselors to persons who have given birth. Passed with committee amendments
A829 Expands number of disorders included in newborn screening program. Passed with committee amendments
Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, 10:00a, remotely.
The committee took testimony on how the State can improve equity and access for New Jersey's workforce by reducing regional, economic, and other disparities in the transportation network.
Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, 11:00a, remotely.
A315 Requires professional boards to issue licenses for veterans with good standing license or certification in another jurisdiction under certain circumstances. Passed
A655 Exempts discharge of student loan debt of certain veterans through the federal Total and Permanent Disability discharge process from taxation under the gross income tax. Passed
A856 Grants certain leaves of absence for Vietnam Veterans of America conventions. Passed
A1455 Permits county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages to issue identification card to Gold Star Family Member. Passed
A1477 Increases allowance paid to war veterans with certain service-connected disabilities. Passed
A1591 Makes $2.5 million in federal funds available to EDA to support veteran-owned businesses in need. Passed
A1662 Allows shore municipalities to provide spouse and dependent children of veterans free or reduced cost access to beaches. Passed
AJR57 Expresses support for commissioning of SSN-796, U.S.S. New Jersey, in New Jersey. Passed
Assembly State and Local Government Committee, 12:00p, remotely. (Revised 02/03/2022)
A208 Raises pay for election workers to $300 per day; appropriates $7,000,000 to Department of State. Passed
A992 Authorizes State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct disparity study concerning utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in State procurement process. Passed
A1107 Requires State agency to redact a person's handwritten signature prior to publishing documents on agency's Internet website. Passed
A1450 Concerns information security standards and guidelines for State and local government. Passed
A2026 Reduces from 18 to 12 specific credit hours required for Animal Health Technician job title in civil service; allows substitution of five years of experience for education requirement. Passed
A2158 [bill added] Allows police chief and fire department chief members of PFRS to serve until age 67. Passed
Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, 12:30p, remotely.
A642 Concerns use of steel slag as aggregate. Passed with committee amendments
A1438 Increases maximum penalty for certain violations concerning asbestos hazard abatement; allocates moneys from increased penalties to asbestos programs. Passed
A1439 Requires each solid waste management district to develop strategy in solid waste management plan to reduce food waste. Passed
A2065 Exempts food banks and food pantries from law prohibiting sale and distribution of plastic and paper carryout bags by certain businesses, and amends definition of "reusable carryout bag." Passed
Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, 1:00p, remotely.
The committee met to take testimony from invited guests on the cybersecurity tools available to state and local governments and small businesses to combat ransomware and other cyberattacks.
Senate Economic Growth Committee, 10:00a, 1st Floor, Committee Room 4, Annex.
S339 Requires electric public utility to install and operate smart meter infrastructure and technology at certain customers' premises; provides employment protections for certain electric public utility employees. Passed with committee amendments
S341 Requires electric public utility to replace certain distribution service equipment over period of 36 months if certain sustained service interruptions occur. Passed with committee amendments
S757 Authorizes special occasion events at certain farms on preserved farmland, under certain conditions. Passed
S772 Directs Department of Agriculture to establish New Jersey Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry. Passed with committee amendments
S787 Requires request for proposal to establish demonstration program to develop distributed energy resource microgrids for electric fleet and heavy-duty vehicle use. Passed with committee amendments
Senate Environment and Energy Committee, 10:00a, 1sr Floor, Committee Room 6, Annex.
The committee met to hear testimony from invited guests on the impacts of climate change in New Jersey, and what actions the State is taking, and should take, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
S333 Prohibits persons convicted of criminal animal cruelty offenses from owning domestic companion animals and from working or volunteering at animal-related enterprises; establishes presumption against pretrial intervention for certain persons; designated as Held
S336 Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program. Passed with committee amendments
S417 Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. Passed
S419 Establishes Renewable and Efficient Energy Financing Program; authorizes BPU to transfer up to $20 million annually in societal benefits charge revenues to New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for purposes of program. Passed with committee amendments
S1005 Authorizes common law public nuisance suits regarding lead paint under State law; exempts Attorney General from certain aspects of public nuisance claims when pursuing lead paint actions. Passed
Senate Commerce Committee, 1:00p, 1st Floor, Committee Room 6, Annex. (Revised 02/08/2022)
S334 Requires carriers to pass prescription drug savings to consumers. Passed with committee amendments
S348 "Packaged Ice Plant Operator and Packaged Ice Dealer Licensing Act." Passed
S760 [bill added] Expands number of health care professions profiled under "New Jersey Health Care Consumer Information Act." Passed
S775 [bill added] Requires person with an alcoholic beverage license to carry alcoholic beverage liability insurance under certain circumstances. Passed with committee amendments
S891 Prohibits tax preparers from engaging in certain practices involving refund anticipation checks and loans. Passed with committee amendments
S901 Updates notice requirements for actions alleging consumer fraud violations and adds indirect purchasers as parties who can receive damages for antitrust violations. Passed with committee amendments
S902 Imposes consumer protection requirements on service contract providers. Passed with committee amendments
S1104 [bill added] Revises requirements and process for temporary courtesy licenses and certificates issued by State Board of Examiners, NJ Board of Nursing, and other professional and occupational licensing boards to nonresident military spouses. Passed
