This bill requires property owners of hotels and multi-unit buildings with two or more floors (excluding small owner-occupied homes) to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities during elevator outages. Specifically, owners must restore elevator service within two hours or provide alternative access (like evacuation chairs, ramps, or stairlifts) if elevators are out longer. Owners must also immediately notify residents of outages and estimated repair times. Violations carry daily penalties up to $2,500 for ongoing issues, with a grant program available to help cover costs for accessibility equipment.
This bill proposes to increase the New Jersey earned income tax credit from 40 percent to 50 percent of the federal earned income tax credit amount, effective for tax years beginning in 2026. The change directly affects New Jersey residents who qualify for the federal earned income tax credit, allowing them to receive a larger refundable state tax credit based on their federal eligibility. By amending the state tax code, the legislation ensures that eligible working individuals and families will calculate their state tax benefit using the new higher percentage.
This bill makes it a fourth-degree crime to operate a civilian drone equipped with a weapon in New Jersey. It defines a weapon as any device designed to harm or incapacitate a human being and applies this rule specifically to drones owned or operated by private individuals or businesses. If convicted, a person could face up to 18 months in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both penalties. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill expands the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program to provide more funding for security measures at high-risk nonprofit organizations. It increases the maximum grant amount for hiring security personnel to $25,000 per application and for target-hardening equipment to $100,000, while also raising the total annual budget request for the program from $2 million to $14 million. The legislation allows eligible nonprofits to receive multiple personnel grants for different properties in a single year and removes restrictions on receiving both personnel and equipment grants simultaneously. Additionally, the bill establishes specific allocation percentages for the program funds, directing 55% toward security personnel, 36% toward equipment, and 4% toward outreach and administrative support.
This bill creates a two-year pilot program to improve flood monitoring and rainfall sensing across New Jersey, primarily benefiting municipalities in flood-prone areas. The Department of Environmental Protection will partner with the Davidson Laboratory at Stevens Institute of Technology to install sensors in 30 selected locations and analyze flood risks in the northern, central, and southern regions. The legislation appropriates $2 million to fund the project, with at least $1.5 million allocated for research and administrative support. At the end of the pilot, officials must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the program's results and recommending whether to make it permanent.
This bill imposes an additional fee on the transfer of real property in New Jersey valued over $1 million, expanding the tax to include industrial properties and apartments that were previously exempt. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the sale price, ranging from one percent for properties between $2 million and $2.5 million up to two and a half percent for those between $3.5 million and $3.5 million. Exemptions apply to transfers involving tax-exempt organizations, certain corporate mergers, intercompany transfers, and apartment buildings where at least 10 percent of the units are designated as affordable housing. The fee is collected by county recording officers when deeds are recorded and sent to the state treasurer within ten days of the month of collection.
This New Jersey bill requires most private health insurance plans to cover coronary artery calcium screening tests for eligible members. The screening is mandated for individuals aged 45 and older or those identified by a doctor as having an intermediate risk of heart disease based on standard medical calculations. Insurance companies must provide this coverage every five years, though doctors can recommend more frequent tests if a patient has specific underlying health conditions. The rule applies to hospital, medical, and health service corporations as well as individual policies issued or renewed in the state after the law takes effect.
This New Jersey bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from using spread pricing, a practice where patients pay more at the pharmacy counter than the actual cost of the drug. Instead, the law requires these managers to pass 100% of rebates and fees directly to insurance carriers or purchasers while allowing them to charge standard administrative fees for their services. The legislation also mandates greater transparency by requiring pharmacy benefit managers to submit detailed financial statements and audits to state officials. Additionally, it ensures that patients never pay more out-of-pocket for a prescription than they would if they bought the medication without insurance.
This bill strengthens enforcement of local rent control laws in New Jersey by creating a new Rent Control Ombudsman within the Department of Community Affairs and providing $4 million in funding. It requires municipalities with rent control ordinances to establish clear complaint procedures and strict response timelines, while also allowing tenants to sue in court if their complaints are ignored for over 30 days. Additionally, the law authorizes the Attorney General to intervene and appoint a special master if a city shows a pattern of willful non-enforcement, and it permits tenant groups to represent multiple residents in legal actions.
This bill creates a new Commission on Black Women and Girls in New Jersey to address their specific needs through education, health, and policy recommendations. The commission will consist of eleven members, including several state officials and three public members appointed by the Governor to represent medical research and community organizations. Its primary function is to identify and suggest programs focused on issues like social-emotional learning, access to higher education, restorative justice in schools, and comprehensive sexual health education. While housed within the Department of Children and Families, the commission operates independently and has the authority to request information from various government entities to carry out its work.
This bill designates April 18 of each year as "Worker Safety Day" throughout New Jersey to raise public awareness about workplace safety. It directly affects employers, employees, government agencies, and community members by encouraging them to collaborate on maintaining safe working environments. The key mechanism involves the Governor issuing an annual proclamation to call for appropriate activities and programs on this day. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or regulations but serves to highlight the importance of preventing work-related injuries and fatalities.
This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally recognizes the 100th anniversary of Shrewsbury Borough in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the borough's history and incorporation in 1926. The resolution will be sent to the borough's mayor and clerk to commemorate the occasion.
