This bill allows high school students in grades 11-12 at New Jersey public schools to miss up to three days per school year for college visits, visits to technical institutions, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Students must provide documentation to their school, and these absences will not appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Military recruitment-related activities include required testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting for enlistment. The law aims to support students exploring college or military career paths while maintaining attendance accountability.
This bill, "Anthony Maruca’s Law," requires New Jersey law enforcement officers who have access to epinephrine auto-injectors to complete approved training on emergency administration. It allows police departments to provide these devices to officers for use during official duties, storing them in vehicles or medical kits per health department guidelines. The law directly affects officers employed by police departments and mandates certification of training completion for those using the devices. Key provisions include the training requirement and authorization for departments to maintain the injectors, with no new funding or cost mandates specified.
S 593 requires New Jersey county clerks to automatically mail a mail-in ballot application to every registered voter who is 17 years old upon their 18th birthday. This directly affects 17-year-old registered voters who will turn 18 before the next general election. The bill mandates that counties send these applications without voter action, and the state will reimburse counties for mailing costs up to the standard rate for a two-ounce first-class letter. The policy aims to simplify mail-in ballot access for newly eligible voters at age 18.
This bill (S 413) extends the protected tenancy period for qualifying senior citizens (62+ years) and disabled tenants in New Jersey when their rental buildings convert to condos or cooperatives. It changes the previous 40-year protection to a full lifetime of the tenant, preventing forced evictions due to building conversions. Tenants must have lived in the unit for at least one year before conversion and meet income or disability criteria (e.g., medically determined disability or 60% veterans' disability rating). The law applies specifically to buildings converting from rental use, ensuring these tenants can remain in their homes without rent hikes tied to the conversion.
S 3023 protects residents of long-term care facilities (like nursing homes and assisted living facilities) and long-term acute care hospitals by preventing facility staff, owners, or financially benefiting parties from managing residents' finances or serving as their legal representatives. It requires facilities to use standardized admission forms developed by the Department of Health, with input from stakeholders, and prohibits residents from signing non-standard documents during admission. The bill also gives residents a legal right to sue if facilities violate these protections, allowing recovery of damages, attorney fees, and punitive penalties for financial exploitation. These changes directly affect residents, their families, and facility operators by creating new safeguards against financial abuse during admission and care.
This bill (S 1773) requires New Jersey school districts to include specific post-graduation data in annual school performance report cards. It mandates reporting the number and percentage of graduates placed in employment or further education, including apprenticeships, as part of the required school profile. The change applies to all high schools and districts, adding this metric to existing report card requirements like graduation rates and student test scores. The bill aims to provide families and communities with clearer insights into student outcomes after high school.
SR 18 is a non-binding Senate resolution urging states within the PJM Interconnection region (including New Jersey and 12 other states plus D.C.) to require data centers to source electricity from new zero- or low-emission energy sources. It does not create new regulations but calls on state governments to adopt policies addressing data centers' growing energy demands, which currently consume about 4% of U.S. electricity and are projected to reach 9% by 2030. The resolution cites concerns about grid strain, noting data centers use 10-50x more energy than typical offices and could double demand by 2030. It emphasizes clean energy sources like solar and wind as scalable solutions to support grid reliability and climate goals.
This bill (S 3142) prohibits New Jersey auto insurers from allowing policyholders to select health insurance as the primary coverage for medical expenses after car accidents. It amends existing law to require personal injury protection (PIP) coverage under auto insurance to be the primary source for medical benefits, eliminating the previous option to choose health insurance as primary. The change directly affects auto insurance policyholders who would have previously been able to elect health insurance as primary coverage for accident-related medical costs. The key mechanism is a statutory amendment making PIP coverage mandatory as primary, with health insurance only covering costs not paid by PIP. This policy change simplifies coverage coordination for accident victims without altering existing PIP benefit limits.
This bill prohibits sports wagering licensees (like casinos and online sportsbooks) in New Jersey from offering "micro bets," which are live wagers on the outcome of the very next play in a game (e.g., whether the next baseball pitch will be a strike). It directly affects businesses operating sports wagering services by requiring them to stop this specific betting type and establishes penalties for non-compliance. The key mechanism is a clear ban on micro bets, defined as proposition bets concerning the next immediate play during an ongoing event. The bill aims to address concerns about rapid betting contributing to problem gambling, as highlighted by rising helpline calls and studies on athlete gambling risks.
This bill prohibits third-party reservation platforms (like OpenTable or Yelp) from listing, advertising, or selling restaurant reservations without a written agreement with the restaurant. It directly affects third-party services and food service establishments (including restaurants, pushcarts, and stands serving food to consumers). The key provision requires written authorization from the restaurant before a third-party platform can offer its reservations, with violations subject to daily civil penalties up to $1,000 per restaurant per day. The bill mirrors similar laws in New York and Illinois, aiming to prevent unauthorized reservation arrangements. It is currently pending in the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee.
New Jersey's S 1583 requires free cancer screenings every three years for volunteer firefighters through the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) network. The screenings cover 11 specific cancers (including colon, lung, prostate, and breast) with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Physicians providing these screenings can be reimbursed up to $1,250 per three-year period by the state, and fire districts must maintain records to facilitate payment. This extends an existing benefit for paid firefighters to volunteer firefighters, who previously did not have guaranteed access to such screenings.
S 601, "Dylan's Law," requires vessel owners in New Jersey to receive specific information about U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) when applying for vessel numbers. It mandates that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission include details on required and recommended PFD types in vessel application forms, and that approved boat safety courses must cover this information as part of their curriculum. The law directly affects vessel owners seeking registration and boat safety course providers. Key mechanisms include adding PFD requirements to application forms and course content standards, ensuring boaters understand proper safety equipment usage under state and federal rules.
