Posted on: June 29, 2022
The FY 2023 Budget legislation was favorably released from both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee along a party-line vote in both committees on the evening of June 27. The Budget legislation includes an alloc...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
With the FY2023 budget deadline of June 30 fast approaching, Governor Murphy and the State Legislature continue to consider how to use the $6.9 in surplus revenue. Governor Murphy and majority leadership continue to follow their affordability agenda for N...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
Please remember, the new lead-based paint inspection requirements pursuant to P.L.2021, c.182, are becoming effective July 22, 2022. The law, signed by Governor Murphy last year, imposes an obligation on municipalities to perform or hire a certified lead ...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) issued Local Finance Notice 2022-12 announcing a calendar year 2021 audit deadline extension and GASB 68 and 75 for municipal and county audits. All local units with a calendar year budget must com...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
On Thursday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee favorably reported A-4127, which mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for firefighters who are not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). This provides for the approxim...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
NJLM’s Lunch and Learn series continued on June 3 with a briefing featuring Kia King, Director of Policy & External Affairs for the Department of Community Affairs, and Marie Daniels, Program Specialist 2, Regulatory Program, Code Developmen...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
According to statute, the second tranche payment for local governments in areas defined as Metropolitan Cities by U.S. Treasury will be made available no earlier than 12 months after the first tranche. The second tranche payment for localities will occur ...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
On June 2, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) released a letter to remind municipalities of the various financial assistance programs for residents who are in danger of utility shut-offs for non-payment. There are additional shut-off protect...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
On June 1 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a Compliance Advisory noting that MS4 Permit Compliance Submissions are past due. DEP’s Division of Water Enforcement is conducting compliance evaluation inspections ...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
Last week we reported that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced to stakeholders that it anticipates issuing emergency rulemaking, making changes to the Flood Hazard Area Control Act (FHCA) Rule and the Stormwater Managem...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
The weekend of June 4 while Governor Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Oliver were out of the state on personal business, acting Governor Scutari signed P.L 2022, c.16 allowing for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in pedicabs under the following circum...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
At the Local Finance Board Meeting this past Wednesday, June 8, Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) Director Jacquelyn Suarez announced that the Division was beginning to issue fines to the 2,171 delinquent Annual Financial Disclosure Statement f...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
A-3804/S-330, which would restore distributions to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Municipal Distribution Program (ETR) over two years and require additional funding to be subtracted from the municipal property tax levy, is the fi...
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Posted on: May 27, 2022
988 Suicide & Crisi Lifeline
On July 16, 2022, 9-8-8 will become the nationwide 3-digit dialing code for crisis and suicide prevention, replacing the 1-800 number currently used by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When dialed, 9-8-8 connects t...
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Posted on: May 27, 2022
Update on Legislation Undermining Local Planning and Zoning
The League is continuing to monitor and advocate against A-1294/S-2103. This legislation would authorize the conversion of certain office parks and retail centers to mixed-use development...
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Posted on: May 13, 2022
On Monday, May 9, Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed legislation aimed at addressing a perceived judicial misinterpretation of the law concerning political bribery. A-2472 was introduced after federal and state trial courts both interprete...
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Posted on: May 13, 2022
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, dis...
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Posted on: May 13, 2022
This past Wednesday, May 11, at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, League Senior Legislative Analyst Paul Penna participated in a panel: American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Program Funds: Leveraging Federal, ...
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Posted on: April 22, 2022
Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin sent a memo to law enforcement chief executives regarding compliance with P.L. 2021, c. 16, the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act. In the memo, Acting Attorney Gener...
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Posted on: April 22, 2022
Budget hearings continued this week with the Senate Budget and Appropriations meeting on Thursday, April 21. A number of individuals testified including some who reaffirmed the League's requests to restore fund...
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Posted on: April 22, 2022
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has released its decision in City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC, Et al. This case examined the City of Austin’s sign ordinance, which regulates “...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 14, both the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) gave testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee. DOE Acting Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillian's testimony high...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 12, Governor Murphy signed into law A-2158, which took effect immediately. P.L. 2022, c. 9 permits an existing police chief or fire chief who attains the age of 65 within the next two years to continue serving as chief until the end of t...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 13, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 294 clarifying that vaccination requirements for covered workers at health care and high-risk congregate settings under Executive Order No. 283 include only one booster dose of the COVID-19 vacc...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
The recently signed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 reinstituted the congressionally directed spending process, also referred to as earmarks. The Act authorized $9 billion for earmarks for state and local projects. New Jersey’s senators ...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
We want to share correspondence from the U.S. Treasury that was sent to the League’s federal partner, the National League of Cities, regarding a SAM.gov registration scam targeting Non-Entitlement Units (NEUs) as classified by the federal government.&...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
Starting on Wednesday, May 4, New Jersey will implement P.L 2020, C.117, which bans single-use plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene foam foodservice products. The law states that New Jersey businesses are banned from providing or selling single-use plast...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
On Monday, April 4, the legislative hearings on Governor Murphy’s proposed $48.9 billion FY2023 budget began. The Assembly Budget committee heard testimony from the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services (OLS) and the New Jersey Department of Treasury....
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
Yesterday, the Site Improvement Advisory Board (SIAB) considered advancing a proposal to amend the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS). However, the SIAB tabled the proposal for further review by their Stormwater subcommittee. The proposed rule ...
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
On Tuesday, March 15, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) issued Local Finance Notice 2022-10 (LFN 2022-10), outlining the 2023 State Aid Certification process. The Calendar Year (CY) 2022)/State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023 Aid Certification for each mun...
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of New Jersey issued its decision in Rivera v. Union County Prosecutor’s Office. This case dealt with a request made under the Open Public Records Act and the common law for a police internal affairs...
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
With the uncertainty in the world because of the conflict involving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we want to remind you to take steps to protect municipal assets from a cyber-attack. Once malware is deployed, it has the potential to infect syste...
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Posted on: February 24, 2022
As the State begins to consider its FY 22-23 budget, it is critical for municipalities to advocate for S-330, which will increase distribution to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years, restore munici...
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Posted on: February 24, 2022
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will be hosting three virtual regional hearings on the use of tax revenue for social equity purposes on March 7 for northern New Jersey, March 9 for central New Jersey, and 16 for southern New Jersey. Al...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
On Thursday the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously approved S-330, which increases distribution to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years to restore municipal aid reductions and requires ...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
In November of 2020, Governor Murphy signed Daniel’s Law, amending the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and other statutes intending to protect certain people in public service. Despite its laudable goals Daniel’s Law, as initi...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking applicants for its latest round of grant funding, which prioritizes projects that will restore and protect New Jersey’s watersheds while better managing stormwater runoff and...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
At this week’s briefing Governor Murphy announced the new emergency rescue mortgage assistance program and the opening of new vaccination megasites in Passaic and Bergen counties. The Governor noted that COVID-19 cases are down by roughly two-thirds from ...
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Posted on: January 13, 2022
On Tuesday, Governor Murphy issued two Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic: Executive Order No. 280, reinstating the state’s Public Health Emergency, and Executive Order No. 281 allowing certain prior executive orders to remain in effect. Th...
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Posted on: January 13, 2022
Governor Phil Murphy delivered his 2022 State of State address in a pre-recorded video. Illustrating the theme of the Governor’s address, “Resilient and Moving Forward,” he reviewed New Jersey’s response to...
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Posted on: December 17, 2021
This week, Treasury released the Treasury Portal that Non-Entitlement Units of government (NEUs) that have requested American Rescue Plan funding from their state will use for reporting and compliance. Your municipality should have received an email to us...
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Posted on: December 17, 2021
The League opposes A-6115/S-4081, which seeks to prohibit certain sewer and water utility service discontinuances; would establish the Winter Sewer and Water Termination Program; and would require the BPU to include electric, gas, sewer, and wate...
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Posted on: December 17, 2021
Last year Governor signed P.L. 2020, c. 125, which prohibits disclosure of active, formerly active, and retired judicial officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers’ home addresses, both primary and secondary. The well-intended law is fraught with...
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Posted on: December 14, 2021
On Thursday, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee unanimously approved A-1335/S-2667, which would permit municipalities with a population under 2,500 to withdraw from Civil Service by ordinance.
The League testified in support of thi...
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Posted on: December 14, 2021
Earlier this week the Senate Economic Growth Committee reviewed and approved S-4067, a bill the League opposes. S-4067 would exclude any farmland assessed land from being designated as a redevelopment area or rehabilitation area under the Local R...
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Posted on: October 1, 2021
Earlier this month, we alerted you to an interim relief order issued by the Public Employment Relation Commission (PERC) regarding a municipality implementing a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for municipal employees. The PERC ruling determined that a public...
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Posted on: October 1, 2021
Today the Division of Local Government Services issued the 2021 Municipal Best Practices Inventory. Local Finance Notice 2021-17 provides guidance on this year’s process. All municipalities, including State Fiscal Year, must submit their Best Pr...
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Posted on: September 2, 2021
As you are no doubt aware, catastrophic, damaging tornado activity, widespread power outages across the state, as well as excessive rainfall and flooding from Tropical Storm Ida has created massive damage and long-term challenges throughout much of the st...
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Posted on: August 13, 2021
Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill, Congress to Consider
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the bi-partisan infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), by a vote of 69-30, which represents a significant step forward on $550 billion in...
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Posted on: August 6, 2021
On Thursday Governor Murphy signed S-3049/A-5176 into law. This law establishes a regional municipal court pilot program. The Administrative Office of the Courts will establish the pilot program in no fewer than two qualified counties and no fewer than fi...
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Posted on: August 6, 2021
Earlier this week Governor Murphy signed into law two bills providing eviction prevention and utility assistance for renters who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
S-3691 appropriates an additional $500 million for the COVID-19 Emergency Rental As...
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Posted on: August 5, 2021
The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2021-12 summarizing the state aid payment and payment schedule dates. While the adopted SFY 2020 state budget has maintained formula aid program appropriations, the Open Space PILOT...
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Posted on: August 5, 2021
An opinion released this week from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) examines whether or not federal law prohibits public agencies and private businesses from requiring COVID-19 vaccines. According to the opinion, “section 564 of the FDCA [Fo...
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Posted on: August 5, 2021
Before the end of the budget break both the Senate and Assembly were poised to consider the “Responsible Collective Negotiations Act” (S-3810/A-5862). This fast-tracked legislation would effectively subject to negotiations the entire l...
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Posted on: July 16, 2021
This week Governor Murphy announced the NJ Docket App for COVID vaccination records and continued to urge New Jersey residents to get vaccinated. The Division of Pensions and Benefits issued guidance on the termination of retirees who returned employment ...
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Posted on: July 16, 2021
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released an initial recommendation to raise the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSAs) core population threshold from 50,000 to 100,000. This change would have resulted in 144 MSAs being removed and would have signi...
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Posted on: July 16, 2021
Over the past two weeks, a bipartisan group of senators has been working to develop legislative text around the bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. During the week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated in news accounts that the Senate ...
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Posted on: July 16, 2021
Last Friday, Governor Murphy signed into law a package of bills related to clean energy and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, three of which will have a direct municipal impact.
- S-3223, (P.L.2021, c.171) among other things, makes an application for...
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Posted on: April 20, 2021
On Monday, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission held its first meeting. The Commission is tasked with creating rules and regulations regarding legalized and medical cannabis within the state. At this first meeting, the Commission took the necessary procedur...
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Posted on: March 26, 2021
Earlier today, Governor Murphy signed S-5472/S-3565 requiring law enforcement to provide a parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of a person under the age of 18 with a written notification for any violation for underage consumption or poss...
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Posted on: March 15, 2021
March 10 was the one-year anniversary of New Jersey’s first COVID-19 confirmed death. Governor Phil Murphy noted that “the toll of this virus has been staggering. It exceeds the numbers of New Jerseyans lost in any war. In one year, we have lost an averag...
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Posted on: March 9, 2021
Legislative front:
Various Assembly and Senate committees will be holding hearings and considering numerous pieces of legislation during the week. The municipal issues before the various committees include:
- Assembly Oversight, Reform &am...
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Posted on: February 24, 2021
On Tuesday, February 23, Governor Murphy delivered the annual budget address. The Governor’s proposed $44.8 billion budget will guide the State’s spending through the next (FY 2022) fiscal year. While the full details of the Governor’s budget will be rele...
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Posted on: December 1, 2020
Dear Elected and Appointed Officials:We would like to take a moment to thank you for attending the League’s 105th Annual Conference, presented virtually in 2020. When the ball dropped last New Year’s Eve, little did we know what lay ahead in 2020, and now...
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Posted on: August 9, 2019
Earlier this week NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a Directive seeking to promote emotional and mental well-being of New Jersey law enforcement officers. The Directive creates the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (“NJRP-...
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Posted on: July 19, 2019
In June, mediators appointed by the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) issued three interest arbitration awards. The first interest arbitration awards to be issued since the expiration of the 2% cap. Each of these awards arose out of an impasse...
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