New Jersey's A-2159 requires parties in civil lawsuits to disclose third-party litigation funding agreements to the court and all parties at the time of filing or when the agreement is made. It defines "litigation funders" (excluding family, attorneys, banks, and nonprofits) and imposes fiduciary duties on them, banning funders from influencing case decisions or charging fees exceeding 25% of settlement/judgment amounts. The bill also prohibits funders from offering legal advice, securing waived damages, or assigning funding agreements, and makes violations unenforceable. This applies to all civil actions (excluding workers' compensation) and aims to increase transparency in funding arrangements for lawsuits. The bill is pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions Committee.
This bill requires New Jersey to issue special license plates for veterans certified by the VA as having service-connected disabilities. The plates, displaying "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol, allow these veterans to park in disability-reserved spaces without needing additional permits or placards. The plates are free, non-transferable, and must be displayed on the vehicle while parked. Misuse of the plates can result in revocation and forfeiture of the plate. The bill directly affects disabled veterans who meet federal VA certification criteria.
This bill expands the types of information insurance companies, agents, and support organizations can share to prevent fraud, while providing legal protection (civil immunity) for those who share it. It directly affects insurance institutions, agents, and insurance-support organizations by broadening what qualifies as fraud-related information they can legally exchange. Key provisions clarify definitions like "adverse underwriting decision" and specify that sharing information to detect fraud - such as misrepresentations in applications or claims - falls under protected disclosure. The bill does not change insurance rates or coverage but streamlines fraud prevention efforts by reducing legal barriers to information sharing.
This bill establishes a state-funded internship program allowing New Jersey legislators to hire students as interns. It requires the program to be open to undergraduate and graduate students (excluding law and PhD candidates) from accredited colleges, with priority for New Jersey residents or students attending New Jersey institutions. Interns must complete a work period at a legislator's district office, set by the legislator, and may extend their internship with mutual agreement. The program will seek federal grants (such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act's "On-the-Job Training" program) and state funding to support these internships.
This bill amends New Jersey's community solar program to allow "dual-use" solar facilities - those combining solar panels with ongoing agricultural production on farmland - to participate. It sets a 5-megawatt maximum per project, requires at least two participating customers, and mandates access for low- and moderate-income residents. The law also establishes phased registration goals (225 MW by 2024, then 3,000 MW total by 2029) and requires monthly reporting on energy generation and bill credits. This directly affects electric utility customers in New Jersey who can now access community solar projects on farmland, with specific protections for low-income participants.
This bill establishes a mandatory licensing system for general contractors in New Jersey, requiring all individuals or businesses classified under trades 006, 007, 008, or 009 (as defined by the state Treasury Department) to obtain a license. It creates the New Jersey State Board of General Contractors to set licensure standards, review applications, administer exams, and manage renewals, with six board members required to have at least 10 years of contracting experience. To qualify, applicants must meet one of three pathways: complete a construction degree with field experience, complete a state-approved apprenticeship with four years of supervised work, or demonstrate five years of field experience under a licensed contractor. The law prohibits unlicensed practice, mandates license display at job sites, and includes grandfathering for contractors with 10+ years of experience prior to the law's effective date.
This bill establishes a pilot program allowing solar energy projects on state and local government-owned roadside rights-of-way (land adjacent to roads, 30-100 feet from the road centerline) in New Jersey. Projects must not exceed 10 megawatts individually, with a total program cap of 200 megawatts, and must avoid disrupting traffic, safety, or road maintenance. The Board of Public Utilities, with input from the Transportation Commissioner, will review applications based on criteria like safety monitoring, environmental impact, and project size, requiring permits before construction. The pilot runs for 36 months, with possible two 12-month extensions (max 50 megawatts increase per extension) to evaluate outcomes.
This bill (A 3434) requires New Jersey dialysis centers to allow patients receiving treatment to be accompanied by a designated support person who can assist with communication, mobility, and care decisions. It directly affects dialysis patients and the centers providing their treatment. Centers must create and display clear written policies for support person access, implement reasonable health/safety rules (without unnecessary restrictions), and train staff on these policies. The New Jersey Department of Health will enforce the law, investigate complaints about denied access, and impose penalties for non-compliance. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill (A 3240) amends New Jersey's insurance law to clarify that contracts between insurance policyholders ("subscribers") and their appointed attorneys in fact (who manage their insurance affairs), along with any fees from these contracts, are not considered "related party transactions." It directly affects insurance subscribers and their designated attorneys in fact by removing these agreements from a specific regulatory category. The key provision explicitly states such contracts shall not be construed as related party transactions under state law, preventing them from being subject to additional oversight typically applied to such deals. This change ensures these insurance arrangements are governed solely by the existing reciprocal insurance statute, not other insurance regulations.
This bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and electric utilities to establish a program developing 500 megawatts of distributed battery storage capacity statewide by 2030. It mandates the BPU to set minimum program requirements, including specific storage targets per utility, size standards, and enhanced incentives for projects in overburdened communities and redevelopment areas. Electric utilities must submit implementation plans to the BPU for approval, with annual reporting to ensure compliance and cost savings for ratepayers. The program aims to improve grid stability, reduce interconnection times, and lower system costs by leveraging federal funding and avoiding distribution upgrades.
This bill changes the composition of New Jersey's State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. It reduces the number of public members from three to two, adds one representative from public school vocational programs in cosmetology, and one from private cosmetology schools. The bill also broadens the requirement for licensed professionals on the board to include any licensed cosmetology, barbering, or hairstyling practitioner (instead of specifying those professions), while maintaining requirements for two hair braiding shop owners/operators and one State executive department member. These changes directly affect who serves on the board, which oversees licensing and regulations for cosmetology professionals in New Jersey.
This bill requires contractors working on New Jersey public works projects to verify that each craft worker meets specific qualifications. Contractors must register electronically and confirm workers either completed a federally compliant apprenticeship program or have four years of documented work experience in their craft. Workers covered by union collective bargaining agreements (which determine prevailing wages) are exempt from these requirements. The law directly affects contractors and craft workers on state-funded construction projects by setting clear, verifiable standards for employment.
