In addition to sending the Governor the SFY2025 budget, the legislature passed and sent to the Governor nearly 60 bills for his consideration. Including the following of municipal interests:
- S-2822/A-3986 - Revises workers' compensation law to increase contingency attorney fee cap in contingency case from 20 percent to 25 percent.
This legislation increases contingency fees in workers’ compensation cases from 20% to 25% and places an increased burden on municipalities, municipal taxpayers, and injured workers. Each year, municipalities are being asked to do more with less when crafting their budgets. Municipalities are facing the pressures of increasing inflation along with rapid cost increases in cybersecurity, trash pickup, and liability insurance, to name but a few. At the same time, they must stay within the 2% levy cap. If the legislation is enacted, municipalities will be left with the difficult choice of cutting services like recreation and refuse collection. The League opposes this measure as an increased cost benefitting attorneys that does not improve care for injured workers.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.
- S-3885/A-4602 - Concerns deadline for municipality to report certain non-residential development fee information.
This legislation would address an oversight in the housing legislation passed earlier this year and extend the deadline for municipalities to report non-residential development fee information by an additional 90 days and would apply retroactively to the enforceability of penalties for noncompliance. The League supports this commonsense legislation as it allows additional time for municipalities to provide the necessary reports.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
A-3772/S-2334 - Revises process for property tax lien holder to foreclose right to redeem a property tax lien; allows property owner to protect remaining equity.
This legislation would revise the “Tax Sale Law” and the “In Rem Tax Foreclosure Act” to bring those laws in compliance with the 2023 United States Supreme Court decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, which led to concerns that New Jersey’s system concerning the sale and ultimate foreclosure of tax liens could violate the U.S. Constitution.
The League supports this legislation as it represents a fair and balanced approach to resolving the issues created by Tyler and provides protection for property owners, all while ensuring the viability of the tax sale certificate market.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
S-2435/A-3537 – Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund."
This legislation provides that an individual may be eligible for reimbursement from the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund for the unreimbursed costs of training and certifying a volunteer EMT and outlines the process for reimbursement. The legislation was unanimously passed in both the Assembly and Senate. The League supports this legislation because it addresses the ongoing issue of expansion and retention for Emergency Medical Technicians by removing a financial barrier to volunteerism.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.
S-3235/A-4461 - Regulates production and sale of certain intoxicating hemp products.
This legislation would allow liquor stores to sell intoxicating hemp drinks without a cannabis license and tasks the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to regulate the sale of all hemp and cannabis products and put new regulations in place for retailers.
The Department of Agriculture would continue to regulate the cultivation of hemp, while the Attorney General’s office would enforce the law against those selling hemp products without a license, similar to cannabis.
The sale of such intoxicating hemp drinks is currently unregulated. Under the legislation, those sales would be prohibited until the CRC establishes regulations. The CRC would have one year from the date the legislation is signed to promulgate these regulations. Once the CRC adopts rules, liquor stores would be able to apply to the CRC to sell the products. The approval process for liquor stores would be separate from the usual cannabis licensure process and would not include requirements such as obtaining local approval.
The League has not taken a position on this legislation.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
S-3368/A-4623 - Concerns law protecting residential tenants from lead-based paint hazards.
The legislation amends P.L.2021, c.182, which requires all municipalities to perform inspections of certain rental properties for lead-based paint hazards by clarifying that municipalities have the option to hire a lead evaluation contract to conduct inspections, or enter into a shared service agreement, rather than having inspections performed by a construction code official.
The legislation also extends the validity of lead-safe certification from two years to three so that the certification period will run together with the lead inspection timeframes. In addition, the legislation would empower the State Department of Health to identify other data appropriate for distinguishing whether an inspection must include a dust-wipe sampling or may be accomplished through visual inspection.
The League did not take a position on this legislation.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
A-2884/S-2070 - Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer
Provides for purchase of PFRS credit for service as class two special law enforcement officer. The League supports this bill because the cost is borne by the individual seeking to purchase the time and serves as an incentive for municipalities seeking to hire officers that have some experience.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.
A-4534/S-3439 - Revises definition of qualified assistance fund expenses under UEZ program to include costs of transportation infrastructure projects and related debt service.
This legislation clarifies the type of transportation related projects an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) municipality may fund from zone assistance funds. The definition of “qualified assistance fund expense” is expanded to include the improvement of public infrastructure in a commercial or transportation corridor and transportation infrastructure, including, but not limited to, payment of debt service related to the financing of a transportation project and the pledge of funds credited to assistance funds toward the repayment of any loan issued by State Transportation Infrastructure Bank or any government agency for transportation infrastructure projects. The Legislation unanimously passed both the Assembly and Senate. The League supports this measure as it expands economic development in UEZ communities.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.