Weekly Legislative Update
Senate Environment and Energy Committee
A5121 - Concerns provision of energy to certain manufacturing facilities by providing exemptions to certain energy related taxes. Passed
S697 - 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 w/ amendments
S2605 - Establishes successor program to solar renewable energy certificate program in BPU, including solicitation process for certain solar power generation facilities. Passed w/ Committee substitute
S3263 - Increases fee for New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp. Passed w/ amendments
S3287 - Concerns provision of energy to certain manufacturing facilities by providing exemptions to certain energy related taxes. Passed
S3504 - Requires all newly constructed warehouses to be solar-ready buildings. Passed
S3618 - Makes a supplemental appropriation of $10 million for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes. Passed
S3667 - Codifies certain energy goals related to 2019 Energy Master Plan. Passed w/ amendments
Senate Higher Education Committee
S3216 - "Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry.
S3536 - Requires financial aid award letter provided by institutions of higher education and certain proprietary schools be consistent with financial aid shopping sheet. Passed w/ amendments
SJR86 - Designates December 4 of each year as "Alpha Phi Alpha Day" in New Jersey. Passed
SR91 - Urges Congress to address in future federal higher education stimulus legislation inequities in incorporation of part-time and online learning students in formula calculation. Passed
Assembly Education Committee
A679 - Provides that student-athlete who sustains concussion must return to regular school activities prior to return to competition; requires school districts to implement six-step return-to-competition process. Passed w/ amendments
A1599 - Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed. Passed
A2300 - Requires apportionment of membership on certain regional district boards of education to be based on amount of district costs apportioned to each constituent municipality. Passed
A3369 - Establishes Commission on Asian Heritage in DOE. Passed
A4693 - Prohibits school official from using district resources to influence any partisan or nonpartisan election. Passed w/ amendments
A5365 - Permits parent or guardian to request grade retention for student during 2021-2022 school year. Passed w/ amendments
A5366 - Requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain students exceeding age of eligibility for special education and related services. Passed w/ amendments
A5701 - Creates special education unit within the Office of Administrative Law; requires annual report. Passed
S225 - Provides that student-athlete who sustains concussion must return to regular school activities prior to return to competition; requires school districts to implement six-step return-to-competition process. Passed w/ amendments
S3434 - Requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain students exceeding age of eligibility for special education and related services. Passed
Assembly Judiciary Committee
A1749 - Amends statute that criminalizes display of symbols, objects, or graffiti exposing another to threats of violence to specifically include noose, burning cross, or other symbol of hate. Passed w/ amendments
A2787 - Creates New Jersey Innocence Study and Review Commission. Passed
A4588 - Increases strangulation assault to crime of second degree. Passed
A4903 - Adjusts statute of limitations on damage claim for construction defect in common interest community. Passed w/ amendments
A5509 - Provides that in civil actions, calculations of damages for lost earnings or impaired earning capacity resulting from personal injury or wrongful death shall not be reduced based on race, ethnicity, or gender. Passed
A5510 - "Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act"; provides alternative process for handling partition actions filed in court concerning real property with multiple owners, at least one of whom had acquired title from relative. Passed
A5599 - Establishes order of protection for current or former judge; upgrades and clarifies harassment against current or former judge; bars firearms possession by persons against whom current or former judge order of protection is entered. Passed
S282 - Creates New Jersey Innocence Study and Review Commission. Passed
S396 - Adjusts statute of limitations on damage claim for construction defect in common interest community. Passed w/ amendments
S2503 - Increases strangulation assault to crime of second degree. Passed
Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
A995 - Establishes Veterans Assistance Grant Program for nonprofit organizations to provide certain services to veterans. Passed
A1001 - Permits DMVA to receive voluntary contributions for veteran suicide prevention public service announcements. Passed
A2764 - Eliminates requirement under veterans' gross income tax exemption that taxpayer serve in active duty status or federal active duty status to qualify for exemption. Passed
A4042 - Establishes price preference program on State contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Passed
Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee
A1971 - Directs BPU to develop and implement electric school bus pilot program. Passed
A2108 - Establishes numerical requirements and zoning standards for installation of electric vehicle supply equipment and Make-Ready parking spaces. Passed w/ amendments
A4894 - Incorporates boardwalks into transportation local aid program and provides for Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants to boardwalk projects. Passed
A5032 - Provides that electric vehicle charging stations are permitted accessory uses and structures and requires ordinance concerning electric vehicle charging stations. Passed
A5193 - Requires MVC to provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities during certain knowledge examinations. Passed w/ amendments
A5392 - Requires MVC to allow certain visa holders to renew driver's license and identification cards online and by mail. Passed w/ amendments
A5686 - Requires MVC to operate hotline to assist with online transactions. Passed w/ amendments
S3223 - Establishes numerical requirements and zoning standards for installation of electric vehicle supply equipment and Make-Ready parking spaces. Passed w/ amendments
Assembly Women and Children Committee
A5502 - Establishes grant program in DCA to provide funding to youth mentoring programs. Passed w/ amendments
AR243 - Urges federal government to modernize access to WIC. Passed w/ amendments
Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
The committee received testimony from invited guests on technology transfer from academic institutions to the private sector, why it is crucial to the State’s innovation ecosystem, and how the State can support this research, development, and commercialization process.
A5449 - Removes certain property rights of State agencies in certain instances. Passed
A5592 - Adds technology transfer duties to New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. Passed
Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee
A1965- Requires certain community residential facilities have standby emergency power generators. Passed
AJR33 - Designates June 2 of each year as "Gun Violence Awareness Day." Passed w/ amendments
AJR153 - Designates October of each year as "Cyber Security Awareness Month." Passed
SJR41 - Designates June 2 of each year as "Gun Violence Awareness Day." Passed
Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee
A5223 - Establishes State purchasing preference for low embodied carbon concrete, provides CBT tax credit for costs of conducting environmental product declaration analysis. Passed w/ amendments
A5479 - Requires each solid waste management district to develop strategy in solid waste management plan to reduce food waste. Passed
A5588 - Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2022. Passed w/ amendments
A5589 - Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2022. Passed w/ amendments
ACR213 - Approves FY 2022 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. Passed
Assembly Human Services Committee
A1004 - Increases hourly limit of reimbursable personal care assistant services under NJ WorkAbility Program. Discussion Only
A2770 - Increases number of home health aide service hours provided to individual with disabilities residing on post-secondary school campus following initial assessment; Requires reassessment every six months. Discussion Only
A2771 - Provides that persons between 18 and 21 years of age with disabilities are eligible to receive direct support professional services from DHS. Discussion Only
A2772 - Authorizes certain Medicaid recipients residing on post-secondary school campus to participate remotely in meetings of non-medical nature regarding Medicaid benefits.
A3266 - Requires Medicaid managed care organizations to notify certain beneficiaries of maximum coverage for personal care service hours. Passed
A5262 - Revises eligibility requirements for NJ Workability Program and Personal Assistance Services Program. Passed w/ amendments
Assembly State and Local Government Committee
A2763 - "New Voter Empowerment Act"; permits 17 year olds to vote in primary election if they turn 18 years old before next succeeding general election. Passed
A4543 - Requires civil service commission to notify a certified eligible by certified mail and via electronic mail. Passed
A5200 - Requires bidders on public works construction projects to submit information on fire safety features. Passed
A5346 - Allows members of PERS Prosecutors Part to establish purchased PERS credit in the Part at additional cost. Passed
A5587 - Concerns matters related to operations and obligations of casino gaming properties and finances of Atlantic City.
A5590 - Extends period of municipal stabilization and recovery, with certain modifications, under "Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act." Passed
A5696 - Expands modified basic training program to allow county corrections officers to be certified as county prosecutor's detectives or investigators, and county or municipal police officers. Passed
AJR177 - Designates December 4 of each year as "Alpha Phi Alpha Day" in New Jersey. Passed
Senate Education Committee
A2455 - Establishes pilot program in DOE to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts. Passed
A4433 - Creates grant program to encourage school districts to partner with institutions of higher education in training school-based mental health services providers. Passed w/ amendments
A4434 - Establishes Student Wellness Grant Program in DOE. Passed
A4435 - Requires DCF to give priority to certain school districts with student mental health counseling centers in awarding grants under School Based Youth Services Program. Passed w/ amendments
A5147 - Establishes Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in establishing or expanding certain educational programs to address learning loss in students. Passed
S1025 - Requires certain additional school district personnel to complete training program on suicide prevention. Passed
S1030 - Establishes pilot program to create student mental health assistance programs in selected school districts.
S2204 - Establishes pilot program in DOE to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts. Passed w/ amendments
S2715 - Creates grant program to encourage school districts to partner with institutions of higher education in training school-based mental health services providers. Passed w/ amendments
S2716 - Establishes Student Wellness Grant Program in DOE. Passed
S2717 - Requires DCF to give priority to certain school districts with student mental health counseling centers in awarding grants under School Based Youth Services Program. Passed w/ amendments
S3469 - Mandates training on remote teaching for all candidates for teaching certification. Passed
S3479 - Establishes Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in establishing or expanding certain educational programs to address learning loss in students. Passed
S3531 - Requires public schools to offer or expand summer school programs to students. Passed w/ amendments
S3654 - Establishes Amistad Curriculum Award Program for teachers who perform exemplary service providing instruction on slavery and African-American history; appropriates $5,000. Passed w/ amendments
S3684 - Requires DOE to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students. Passed w/ amendments
S3685 - Permits school teacher who is retired from TPAF to return to employment during public health emergency and state of emergency for COVID-19 pandemic, for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF. Passed
S3725 - Establishes "Summer Earn and Learn Pilot Program." Passed
Senate Commerce Committee
A2891 - "Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act." Passed w/ amendments
A3605 - Prohibits insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP from charging fee for paper bills and notices. Passed
A4834 - Requires disclosure letter be included with mail falsely implying State government connection. Passed
A4918 - Allows corporations to hold remote shareholder meetings. Passed
S2089 - Prohibits insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP from charging fee for paper bills and notices. Passed w/ amendments
S3132 - "Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Act." Passed w/ amendments
S3266 - Allows corporations to hold remote shareholder meetings. Passed
S3474 - Requires disclosure letter be included with mail falsely implying State government connection. Passed
S3494 - Requires appointment of new State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, adds two public members to board membership, and prohibits licensure for individuals convicted of certain offenses. Passed w/ amendments
S3512 - Authorizes purchaser of automobile by private sale to operate automobile for three-day period following purchase without permanent registration or transfer of title. Passed w/ amendments
S3700 - Clarifies that any State entity that issues professional or occupational licenses will not require individuals to demonstrate lawful presence in New Jersey to obtain professional or occupational licensure. Passed
Senate Judiciary Committee
S3049 - Establishes regional municipal court pilot program. Passed w/ amendments
S3614 - Requires stipends for certain members of boards, commissions, committees, and other public entities. Passed w/ amendments
S3690 - Expands modified basic training program to allow county corrections officers to be certified as county prosecutor's detectives or investigators, and county or municipal police officers. Passed
S3692 - Establishes criminal penalties for production, sale, and use of false COVID-19 vaccination verification card; requires AG to establish COVID-19 vaccination fraud prevention program. Passed
Governor Murphy signed the following legislation into law this week:
S767 / A4552 (Gopal, Greenstein / Houghtaling, Benson, Tully) – Exempts New Jersey Infrastructure Bank projects from certain local bond requirements
S942 / A2890 (Singleton / Lopez, Chiaravalloti, Timberlake) – Requires certain standards for professional and occupational boards considering applicants with criminal history records
S1937 / A1597 (Madden, Sweeney / Mejia, Timberlake, Vainieri Huttle) – Establishes Task Force to Promote Employment by State Agencies of People with Disabilities
S2486 / A4264 (Sweeney / Taliaferro, Lampitt, Vainieri Huttle) – Establishes Clayton Model Pilot Program in DOE to provide school-based social emotional learning to students in grades kindergarten through five at certain public schools
S2728 / A4835 (Sweeney, A.M. Bucco / Verrelli, Burzichelli, Wirths) – Adds two members to State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors
S2832 / A5295 (Ruiz, Beach / Quijano, Lampitt) – Allows student enrolled in institution of higher education who has completed 30 semester-hour credits to serve as substitute teacher; extends time period substitute teacher may serve during public health emergency
S3145 / A2308 (Greenstein, Pou / Vainieri Huttle, Johnson, Downey) – Concerns names required on applications for professional and occupational licensure
S3198 / A5078 (Codey, Gopal / Dancer, Caputo) – Extends time outstanding parimutuel ticket may be claimed from six months to 12 months; allows additional time to claim outstanding parimutuel tickets and unclaimed cash vouchers due to Public Health Emergency
S3234 / A5149 (Singleton, A.M. Bucco / Greenwald, Benson, Johnson) – Allows deduction from tax of certain expenses when taxpayer's federal paycheck protection program loan is forgiven and excludes those forgiven loans from gross income tax
S968 / A2863 - requires public water systems to provide notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water to customers and local officials and require landlords to notify tenants of elevated lead levels.
S703 / A1079 - requires all health care professionals who provide perinatal treatment and care to pregnant persons at a hospital or birthing center undergo explicit and implicit bias training.
A740 / S2846 (Johnson, Conaway, DeCroce / Gopal, Singleton) – Requires State agencies in awarding contracts for purchase of items that require power source to consider items powered by fuel cells
A3384 / S3171 (McKeon / Pou) – Makes various revisions to "Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act"; renames act to "Uniform Voidable Transactions Act"
A4240 / S2855 (Downey, Vainieri Huttle, Houghtaling, Coughlin / Pou, Turner) – Provides for technological upgrade of application process for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
A4246 / S3175 (Verrelli, Benson, Vainieri Huttle / Pou, Corrado) – Permits expedited licensure in mental health professions for certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency
A4477 / S2789 (Chiaravalloti, Conaway, Downey / Vitale, Weinberg) – Revises licensure, operational, and reporting requirements for nursing homes
ACS for A4556 and 4145 / S2611 (Karabinchak, Zwicker, Quijano / Smith, Bateman) – Requires BPU to establish and maintain electronic public document search system on its website; requires BPU to provide certain notice of its meetings and hold quarterly public comment meetings
A4671 / S3326 (Schaer, Swain, Tully / Ruiz, Singleton) – Requires public and local utilities to provide notice to residential customers of available relief measures during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
ACS for A4805 / SCS for S3169 (Freiman, Tully, Danielsen / Pou, Gopal) – Requires certain insurers to provide summary concerning business interruption insurance
A4806 / S3188 (Dancer, Chiaravalloti / Pou, Singleton) – Permits municipalities to authorize programs encouraging local shopping through property tax rewards; validates certain related municipal actions
A4932 / S3066 (Johnson, Murphy, Downey / Pou) – Permits use of alternate names by limited liability partnerships
A5222 / S3306 (Mukherji, Verrelli, Lopez / Diegnan, Turner) – Authorizes optometrists to administer immunizations against coronaviruses and influenza under certain circumstances
Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed the following bills:
A850 / S2864 (Chiaravalloti, Karabinchak, Reynolds-Jackson / Oroho, Singleton) – CONDITIONAL – Establishes "Broadband Access Study Commission"
A2116 / S2009 (Tully, Swain, Armato / Lagana) – CONDITIONAL – Requires State Treasurer to submit report to Legislature every six months identifying deadlines for applications for federal funds by State agencies
S853 / A5064 (Sweeney, Beach / Verrelli, Giblin, Danielsen) – CONDITIONAL – "New Jersey Buy American Act"; requires certain State agency highway and bridge construction contracts to include iron and steel products made in U.S.
S890 / A1061 (Pou, Codey / Jasey, Johnson, Verrelli) – CONDITIONAL – Requires DOH and DHS to identify and take appropriate steps to secure federal sources of funding to support maternal mental health
S1676 / A3326 (Smith, Vitale / Conaway, Reynolds-Jackson, Vainieri Huttle) – CONDITIONAL – Allows hospitals to construct housing and provide wrap-around services for individuals who are homeless or housing insecure
