The Town Crier - Legislative Backgrounder

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program. This new five-year, $5 billion program has up to $1 billion available in fiscal year 2022 (FY22). The SS4A program funds regional and local initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries and supports the National Roadway Safety Strategy goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. This program was established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). 

On Monday, May 9, the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee heard testimony from key stakeholders of the New Jersey alcoholic beverage industry on the current state of the industry and discussed ways to improve the manufacturing, distribution, and retail sectors along with its impact on the competition with neighboring states and within the hospitality and tourism economies. The New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association, New Jersey Liquor Store Alliance, and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, were among those who testified. 

This week, both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee continued to hear testimony from several departments regarding FY2023 funding. Assembly Budget Committee heard from the Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, Motor Vehicle Commission, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Department of Children and Families. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee heard from Higher Educational Services, Department of Health, Department of Law and Public Safety, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, Motor Vehicle Commission, and Department of Agriculture.