New Jersey Bills

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3179: Concerns certain emergency operations plans required to be submitted to law enforcement agencies.

New Jersey bill S 3179 requires sports/entertainment facilities (over 5,000 seats), movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (now over 300 seats, down from 500) to submit annual electronic emergency plans to local law enforcement. The plans must include specific "emergency mapping data" like digital floor plans, aerial images, hazard locations, and access routes, formatted for public safety software systems. This replaces current requirements to submit paper copies of building layouts and explicitly excludes these plans from public record laws. The bill aims to improve law enforcement preparedness for mass casualty incidents at these venues by standardizing accessible emergency information.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

SJR 76: Designates second Friday in December of each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize contributions of paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs).*

SJR 76 designates the second Friday in December each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). This resolution honors PSRPs, including instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodial staff, who support students through tutoring, classroom assistance, meal preparation, facility maintenance, and student transportation. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but calls for the Governor, Legislature, and citizens to observe and acknowledge these staff members' contributions. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 2331: "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act"; establishes procedures regarding collection of child support on behalf of children in custody of DCPP.

This bill eliminates the requirement for parents to pay past-due child support owed to New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) for children in its care. It specifically voids all existing child support arrears (over $3 million in 2023), related court judgments, liens, and warrants for these cases, making them unenforceable. The change aligns with a 2022 federal policy allowing states to reduce child support collection efforts for children in foster care, addressing that 90% of involved parents are indigent and collection costs often exceed amounts recovered. This directly affects parents legally responsible for children in DCPP custody, removing financial barriers to family reunification.

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 30, 2025

A 4968: Modifies list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025.

This bill modifies the list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank for Fiscal Year 2025. It adjusts which projects qualify, changes their priority order, and modifies the allowable loan amounts for specific projects. The bill authorizes the bank to expend up to $61.4 million (an increase from $53.8 million) for these projects, which include bridge repairs, road improvements, pedestrian bridges, and trail projects across various municipalities. Local government units, including cities, counties, and townships, would be directly affected as they apply for these loans to finance transportation infrastructure projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3308: Requires electric public utilities to implement certain improvements to interconnection process for certain grid supply solar facilities and energy storage facilities.*

S 3308 requires New Jersey electric utilities to accept and process interconnection applications for grid supply solar facilities up to 20 megawatts. Utilities must approve applications unless incomplete (with specific feedback provided) or unsafe (with modification suggestions), and must compensate approved facilities for electricity supplied in real time. Facilities must pay interconnection costs and comply with utility tariffs. This applies to commercial solar projects selling power to the grid, excluding net metered, on-site, or community solar installations. The bill streamlines grid access for mid-sized solar developers seeking to connect to the state’s electric system.

Topics ✓ Energy

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 684: Requires telecommunications, cable television, and Internet service providers to allow for service contracts to be paused or canceled following service recipients's admission to long-term care facility.*

This bill requires New Jersey telecom, cable, and internet providers to let customers pause or cancel service contracts without early termination fees when they move into a qualifying long-term care facility. It directly affects residents admitted to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes, or residential health care facilities for at least 90 days, as verified by a physician’s order or care plan. Providers must pause billing for a minimum 90 days upon admission, then cancel the contract if the resident remains in the facility beyond that period. The law mandates no fees for this pause/cancellation, though customers must provide physician documentation and typically give 45 days’ notice (or 48 hours in urgent cases).

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3921: Reallocates standardbred horse racing purse subsidies from Freehold Raceway to Meadowlands Racetrack under certain circumstances.

This bill reallocates $3.2 million annually (16% of standardbred industry funds) currently designated for Freehold Raceway's overnight horse racing purses to Meadowlands Racetrack whenever Freehold ceases live racing. It directly affects these two racetracks, ensuring Meadowlands receives funds during Freehold's closure (planned after 2024) and returns funds to Freehold if live racing resumes. The reallocation is automatic during periods without live racing at Freehold, per the bill's trigger condition. Other allocations - like Meadowlands' 60% share, Sire Stakes, and breeder awards - remain unchanged.

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 720: Requires DCPP to consult with Division of Developmental Disabilities following finding of child abuse or neglect to create services plan for person with developmental disability under certain circumstances.

This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to consult with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) when a court finds an individual with a developmental disability abused or neglected a child. It mandates DCPP to work with DDD to create a tailored services plan for that individual, considering their specific disability. The key mechanism ensures therapeutic services (like counseling or support programs) are designed around the person's disability needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. This directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities who are found to have abused or neglected a child and are eligible for DDD services.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3936: Appropriates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.

This bill appropriates $60 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues - funds voters approved in 2014 for open space and conservation - to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The funds will directly support state park, forest, and historic site development projects under the Preserve New Jersey Act, including repairs to bridges, buildings, and recreational facilities, as well as habitat improvements and camping access. Specific allocations cover projects like $10 million for health/safety upgrades, $13.5 million for recreational development, and $7 million for historic structure repairs. The funding comes from existing CBT revenue streams, not new taxes, and requires no additional legislative approval for DEP project spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3879: Amends lists of projects eligible to receive loans for environmental infrastructure projects from NJ Infrastructure Bank for FY2025.

S 3879 amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects eligible for loans from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for FY2025. The bill updates the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Clean Water Project Eligibility List" (152 projects) and the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2025 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List" (67 projects) by adding new projects, removing some projects, and adjusting loan amounts for certain projects. This affects local governments, public water utilities, and other project sponsors seeking funding for clean water and drinking water infrastructure improvements. The bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide loans for a total of 219 eligible projects for FY2025, with a total authorized loan amount of $2.47 billion (down from $2.73 billion).

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 30, 2025

S 3922: Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses.

This bill appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to fund historic preservation projects through the New Jersey Historic Trust. The funds will support 43 capital preservation projects ($15.03 million total) including historic buildings and landmarks like fire stations and lighthouses, 34 historic site management projects ($1.47 million total) for preservation planning and heritage tourism, $100,000 for easement purchases, and $1.92 million for administrative costs. All projects must be listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, and recipients must provide matching funds. The funding comes from revenues constitutionally dedicated to historic preservation under the Preserve New Jersey Act, with changes to projects requiring Joint Budget Oversight Committee approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jan 23, 2025

S 1323: Revises various provisions concerning New Jersey Aspire Program and surrender of tax credits issued under New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020.*

This bill (S 1323) clarifies key definitions for New Jersey's Aspire Program, which provides tax credits to support economic development projects. It revises terms like "commercial project" (requiring 50,000+ square feet of office/retail space in most areas) and "collaborative workspace" (minimum 2,500 sq ft with specific community features) to determine eligibility for tax credits under the 2020 Economic Recovery Act. The changes directly affect developers seeking tax credits for qualifying projects, such as large-scale commercial redevelopments in designated areas. The bill does not create new incentives but refines how existing program rules apply. It was signed into law as P.L.2025, c.2.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results