This bill requires public and independent colleges and universities with over 2,000 full-time equivalent students to pay an annual community service fee to the municipality where their main campus is located. The fee, calculated using a formula based on on-campus and commuter student enrollment (starting at $100 per student, adjusted annually for inflation), must fund local services like police, fire, emergency medical, traffic control, and event management directly impacted by the institution. Institutions may receive up to 50% credit toward their fee by providing direct community benefits (e.g., local public safety funding or scholarships for residents), and those with campus police departments get a 50% reduction in the law enforcement portion of the fee. The municipality must deposit all fees into a dedicated fund and transfer 5% of total collections to the county.
This bill (A 3012) allows emergency vehicles in New Jersey to use LED lights in their warning systems, which were previously prohibited. It amends existing law to explicitly include LED as a permitted light type alongside strobe, halogen, and incandescent lights for low-profile warning light bars. The Motor Vehicle Commission must update its regulations to reflect this change while maintaining current rules limiting emergency lights to two per vehicle and specifying their placement. The bill takes effect three months after enactment.
This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to display the exact toll amount paid by E-ZPass users on electronic screens in every toll plaza lane of their systems. It applies to toll plazas on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway, but excludes lanes using high-speed gantries. The requirement ensures drivers see the specific toll charged as they pass through, enhancing transparency for E-ZPass account holders. It does not change toll rates or payment methods, only mandates visible display of the paid amount. The bill is pending in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
Bill A 1221 would require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to check if every applicant for a driver's license, permit, or state ID card is a person wanted by law enforcement. The Chief Administrator of the MVC would conduct this check as part of the standard application process for all applicants. This change would directly affect all New Jersey residents applying for these forms of identification. The bill adds a new background check step to prevent individuals with outstanding warrants from obtaining official state documents.
This bill changes New Jersey's seat belt law by making it a primary offense for rear seat passengers to not wear seat belts, meaning police can now stop and ticket drivers solely for this violation (instead of only when stopping for another reason). It repeals current law that treated rear seat belt non-compliance as a secondary offense. The bill also requires all state and local police departments to submit detailed reports one year after implementation, tracking traffic stops related to rear seat belt violations, including reasons for stops, citations issued, searches, and arrests. The Attorney General must then analyze this data against prior years' information to assess impacts on law enforcement practices and report findings to the governor and legislature within six months. Additionally, the state must include this information in its federal Highway Safety Plan, detailing effects on crash injuries and fatalities.
This bill establishes a standardized framework for New Jersey municipalities to impose impact fees on developers for new construction projects. It requires fees to be calculated using localized data (like traffic, school enrollment, and construction costs) and mandates that collected revenue funds only new infrastructure directly tied to the development, such as roads, schools, or utilities. Municipalities must follow phased, multi-year increases for fee hikes (with public hearings for large increases) and cannot use fees for maintenance, existing debt, or retroactive projects. The law directly affects local governments (which set fees) and developers (who pay them), creating clear rules for this long-standing revenue tool.
This bill (A4155) allows New Jersey municipalities to establish restricted parking spaces for volunteer firefighters without needing approval from the state transportation commissioner. It amends traffic laws (R.S. 39:4-8) to permit local governments to directly create these spaces, provided they follow standard traffic control guidelines and safety requirements. The policy directly affects volunteer firefighters (who need quick access to stations during emergencies) and municipal governments managing local streets. Municipal engineers must certify that these parking designs meet safety standards before implementation.
This bill consolidates three New Jersey transportation authorities - the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and New Jersey Transit Corporation - into the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). It requires NJDOT to assume all powers, assets, debts, and responsibilities of these entities on a specified "Transfer Date," ending their separate existence. Employees of the consolidated entities transfer to NJDOT with retained benefits, pensions, and collective bargaining rights, while creditors and contractors can enforce existing claims against NJDOT as the successor. The bill prohibits NJDOT from issuing new bonds under the former authorities’ names and updates legal references to reflect the consolidation. This structural change aims to streamline transportation oversight and operations under a single agency.
This bill creates a $1 million grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to reimburse small retail businesses for increased costs caused by public highway projects. It directly affects small retail businesses (with 50 or fewer employees) operating within areas blocked by highway construction, covering expenses like lost sales during the project period. Businesses must apply for reimbursement based on documented increased costs compared to pre-project levels, with applications reviewed as funds allow. The program is funded by a one-time $1 million appropriation from the state General Fund.
This bill requires developers of new affordable housing projects (10+ units or 4+ stories) to meet LEED Silver or equivalent green building standards. It also mandates that these developers submit four impact studies to local municipalities before construction: traffic, school, storm water, and carbon (if clearing over one acre of land). The requirements apply to "inclusionary developments" as defined under existing law and do not affect projects with applications submitted before the bill's effective date. The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt implementing rules within eight months of enactment.
