This bill imposes a 2.5% annual cap on most municipal budget increases in New Jersey (or the cost-of-living adjustment, whichever is lower), directly affecting all towns and cities. It allows exceptions for capital projects (like infrastructure bonds), debt payments, emergencies (approved by two-thirds vote), specific contracts (e.g., water/sewer agreements), and federal/state grant matching funds. Municipalities must still comply with this cap for routine operating budgets, but can exceed it for the listed exceptions without additional approval. The bill aims to control local spending growth while permitting flexibility for essential services and unforeseen costs.
This bill creates a program to reimburse county governments for providing transportation services to disabled veterans traveling to medical appointments at Veterans Affairs facilities in New Jersey or neighboring states. It removes a previous restriction requiring appointments to be specifically for service-connected conditions, expanding eligibility to all VA medical appointments. The bill appropriates $2 million from the state budget to fund this program through the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. It directly affects disabled veterans (defined as those with a VA-certified service-connected disability) and county governments offering transportation services.
This bill (S 101) increases penalties for commercial vehicle operators who fail to display required owner/business information. Currently, violations carry a $10 fine; this bill raises fines to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses. The law applies to commercial vehicles (excluding passenger cars and pharmacy delivery vehicles) that must display their owner’s name, business location, and municipality in plain view. Fines collected will fund state road repairs, as specified in the amended statute. The bill amends New Jersey’s vehicle marking requirements under R.S.39:4-47.
This bill (S 2780) appropriates $45 million from New Jersey's Transportation Trust Fund to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for disaster recovery construction projects. The Commission must repay the full $45 million to the state Treasury regardless of whether it receives federal funding for these projects, as required by a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, because the funding was already approved under another bill (P.L.2025, c.318). It does not change existing laws but provides supplemental funding for specific park infrastructure recovery work.
This bill (S 1931) increases penalties for reckless vehicular homicide when the driver was intoxicated. It elevates the offense to a first-degree crime if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a vehicle near schools or school zones, including: within 1,000 feet of school property, through designated school crossings, near school crossings with juveniles present (even if unmarked), or in highway construction zones. Convictions under these circumstances require a minimum prison term of one-third to one-half of the sentence or three years (whichever is greater), with no parole eligibility during that period, plus a license suspension of 5 years to life. The law applies directly to drivers convicted of causing death while driving intoxicated in these specific locations.
This bill (S 543, "School Bus Safety and Child Protection Act") requires nonpublic schools and charter schools receiving state/federal funds to conduct criminal background checks every four years for school bus drivers, aides, and other staff with regular student contact. It also prohibits tampering with school bus monitoring devices, making it a crime to disable cameras or recording equipment. The law applies specifically to positions involving student interaction, such as bus drivers, security, and maintenance staff in eligible schools. Schools must verify candidates have no disqualifying criminal history per public school standards before hiring and annually notify the state if charges arise against employees.
This bill (S 1823) clarifies and updates requirements for two key parts of New Jersey municipalities' master plans: the land use plan and housing plan. It mandates that land use plans adopted after specific dates must include climate change hazard vulnerability assessments (analyzing risks like flooding and sea-level rise) and address electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The housing plan element must now evaluate existing housing stock, project future needs for 10 years, and explicitly consider affordable housing availability. These changes directly affect all New Jersey municipalities required to maintain master plans, ensuring their planning processes address climate resilience and modern infrastructure needs.
This bill ensures safety inspections for New Jersey's transportation infrastructure continue during a state emergency declared due to the state's failure to pass its annual budget by the constitutional deadline. It applies to both existing roads, bridges, and newly constructed projects funded by the Transportation Trust Fund Authority. The law requires ongoing funding for these inspections and designates inspection staff as essential personnel who cannot be furloughed. This prevents safety checks from halting during budget impasses.
S 2928, "The Preserving Affordable Main Streets Act," modifies zoning rules in New Jersey municipalities to encourage residential development near transit and commercial corridors. It requires municipalities with transit stations to remove minimum parking requirements and use variances for mixed-use or multi-unit developments meeting specific criteria: at least 15 dwelling units per acre, 50% lot area served by water/sewer infrastructure, and location within a half-mile of a transit station. For municipalities without transit stations, it allows similar developments in high-density areas (500+ people/sq mile or 7,500+ population) within a quarter-mile of a main street corridor. The bill also mandates 65-day approval timelines for qualifying projects and voids non-compliant zoning rules if municipalities fail to update ordinances within six months.
This bill allows individuals with traumatic or acquired brain injuries to voluntarily add a notation to their New Jersey driver's license, ID card, and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) registry. It creates a secure registry where users can provide emergency contact information and vehicle details to help law enforcement communicate more effectively during traffic stops. The registry is accessible only to law enforcement during vehicle-related interactions, and users can remove or update their information at any time. The bill also requires training for officers on interacting with people who have brain injuries, ensuring the system prioritizes safety and clear communication without compromising privacy.
