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.
This bill creates a new legal process for New Jersey residents with dementia to create specific advance care plans that outline their medical wishes for when they can no longer communicate. It allows individuals to formally request "comfort feeding only," which means receiving food and fluids by hand for comfort while prohibiting life-sustaining measures like feeding tubes. To ensure these plans are followed, the state will establish a secure online registry for healthcare providers to access, and facilities will be required to honor these documents. The legislation also includes protections for medical staff who act in good faith according to these directives and mandates training programs to help caregivers understand and implement the new rules.
This bill amends New Jersey law to automatically classify individuals who receive opioid overdose antidotes as 'dangerous to self,' thereby making them eligible for involuntary commitment to treatment. The change directly affects people treated for apparent opioid overdoses by linking emergency medical intervention to mental health commitment criteria. Under the new provisions, anyone administered an opioid antidote would be deemed unable to meet their own basic needs, which is one of the conditions required to force them into psychiatric care without their consent.
This bill allows local government contracting units in New Jersey to award public contracts to a bidder whose price is up to 10% higher than the lowest responsible bid. Under this new rule, a governing body can choose a more expensive bid if they determine it offers the most advantageous combination of price and other factors, or if the higher bidder has a stronger performance history. The legislation also clarifies that local units may disqualify bidders with prior negative experiences, such as failed projects or defaults, after providing the bidder a chance to explain their situation. These changes aim to give local officials more flexibility in selecting contractors while maintaining accountability through defined criteria for both price and bidder responsibility.
This bill establishes employment protections in New Jersey for certified doulas who must leave work to attend births. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against doulas who miss shifts due to active labor clients, provided the doula gives at least one hour's notice. While employers are not required to pay for this unpaid time off, doulas may use vacation or sick days to be compensated for their absence. If an employer violates these rules, the doula can sue for reinstatement, lost wages, and civil fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per violation.
