Posted on: December 8, 2023
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac and Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp have been appointed to the Stay New Jersey Task Force, which was established to implement the Stay New Jersey Property Tax Relief Program.
On Monday, December 4, Governor Murphy, Senate Presid...
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Posted on: December 7, 2023
Last week, we reported that A-5687/S-4074, which requires boards of education, municipalities, counties, and certain other local contracting units to determine and utilize cost-saving practices when procuring goods and services, was scheduled for consider...
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Posted on: December 1, 2023
A-5687/S-4074, which requires boards of education, municipalities, counties, and certain other local contracting units to determine and utilize cost-saving practices when procuring goods and services, has passed the Assembly State and Local Government Com...
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Posted on: November 30, 2023
On Monday, November 27, Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed S-3038, which enables limited breweries to hold unlimited on-premises events, and partner with food vendors for on-site menus. His veto introduces substantial modifications to liquor license regu...
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Posted on: November 21, 2023
Due to a technical issue, the tracking system for the 108th Annual League Conference will not be available on November 27 as previously published.
We are working to get this resolved as soon as possible, and anticipate t...
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Posted on: October 13, 2023
The Rutgers Center for Green Building (RCGB) is conducting an online survey for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to better understand how the New Jersey Clean Energy program can better meet the needs of municipalities. The goal is to gain ...
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Posted on: September 26, 2023
Last summer, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2022, c. 65, which establishes a police licensing program for all New Jersey law enforcement officers. This new law tasked the Police Training Commission (PTC) with adopting rules related to the licensing of police...
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Posted on: September 25, 2023
The Rutgers Center for Green Building (RCGB) is conducting an online survey for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to better understand how the New Jersey Clean Energy program can better meet the needs of municipalities. The goal is to gain ...
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Posted on: September 15, 2023
Governor Murphy has named Division of Local Government Services Director Jacquelyn Suárez as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Effective September, 18 Suárez will serve as Acting DCA Commissioner pendi...
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Posted on: September 15, 2023
The Mayor Wellness Campaign is hosting two virtual training courses for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), one for Adult Mental Health First Aid Training and the other Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.
As part of its Mental Health Initiative, ...
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Posted on: September 15, 2023
The Rutgers Center for Green Building (RCGB) is conducting an online survey for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to better understand how the New Jersey Clean Energy program can better meet the needs of municipalities. The goal is to gain ...
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Posted on: September 8, 2023
Earlier today, Governor Murphy announced Secretary of State Tahesha L. Way is the next Lt. Governor of New Jersey.
Lt. Governor Way was sworn in as Secretary of State on February 26, 2018. As Secretary of State, Lt. Governor Way serves as the St...
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Posted on: September 8, 2023
Board of Public Utilities (BPU) President Joseph L. Fiordaliso passed away suddenly on September 7. President Fiordaliso was a BPU Commissioner since 2005. As a former Mayor of Livingston, President Fiordaliso understood firsthand the issues that faced mu...
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Posted on: September 8, 2023
The State Planning Commission has embarked on updating the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. Come learn about the Plan, the process involved, and how the Commission can help make this process valuable to municipal stakeholders. After an...
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Posted on: September 8, 2023
The Governor’s Disaster Recovery Office (GDRO) is offering municipalities free American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) compliance consulting. The GRDO is utilizing four separate consulting firms to offer ARP SLFR...
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Posted on: August 31, 2023
NJTPA is now accepting applications for Vibrant Places Program, which provides technical support for local development initiatives. Applications are due by September 30.
The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) is requesting pro...
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Posted on: August 31, 2023
The New Jersey Department of the Treasury's Unclaimed Property Administration (UPA) announced an outreach campaign last week to reunite New Jersey's counties and municipalities with their property.
UPA will proactively contact th...
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Posted on: August 28, 2023
Sending in Conference Resolutions that suggest changes to improve municipal life helps build the foundation for the League Legislative team’s annual actions.
If you have a topic to improve local government and address an issue impacting local gov...
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Posted on: August 18, 2023
A recent legal challenge has caused State officials to temporarily halt the enforcement of the law prohibiting government dealings with businesses associated with Russia and Belarus.
On August 4, the United States District Court for the District ...
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Posted on: August 11, 2023
Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari signed into S-3776, which amends the definition of “custom fabrication” under the Prevailing Wage Act.
The definition was amended to include “other fabrication which is one or more en...
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Posted on: August 11, 2023
Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari signed into law S-3374, which concerns fees charged for certain towing and storage of motor vehicles and amends the Predatory Towing Prevention Act.
The new law amends N.J.S.A. 56:13-16 to require towing ...
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Posted on: August 11, 2023
The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the launch of StopOverdoses.nj.gov to assist residents in finding pharmacies offering free naloxone anonymously. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an ...
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Posted on: August 1, 2023
New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor, Sheila Y. Oliver, died today. The first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly and in State Executive Leadership, she is remembered by many for her work in Trenton and around the state.
Her famil...
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Posted on: July 28, 2023
The State Health Benefits Program Design Committee (PDC) met on July 26, 2023. They focused on the issue of rising service costs, identified as the main factor for the uptick in state health benefits expenses.
The committee passed nine resolution...
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Posted on: July 7, 2023
The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute's Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC), in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities has announced a funding opportunity for communities working to address local mental health needs. The...
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Posted on: July 7, 2023
Governor Murphy signed S-3090/A-4498, which permits police and fire employees to retire after 20 years of service, regardless of age, with a retirement benefit of 50% of final compensation, into law on July 3, 2023. P.L. 2023, 92 took effect immediately. ...
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Posted on: June 30, 2023
The FY2024 Budget proposal includes $150 million in Municipal Relief funding in addition to Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief funding.
As we previously reported late Thursday, both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Appropriation...
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Posted on: June 29, 2023
Last night, both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee favorably reported A-5669/S-2024, the $54.3 billion FY2024 New Jersey Budget Bill. It includes an additional $150 million for Energy Tax Receipts (ETR), doub...
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Posted on: June 23, 2023
Assemblyman Danielsen has introduced four pieces of legislation to begin the conversation on OPRA reform. The bills are:
A-5613, which makes various changes to the process for requesting access to government records;
A-5614, which increa...
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Posted on: June 23, 2023
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, continue to call for the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. As a result of our collective outreach, Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman DeAngelo are sponsoring ...
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Posted on: June 15, 2023
We are two weeks away from the deadline for the State to adopt their FY 2024 budget. Now is the time to act to get full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts included in the state budget.
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and New Jers...
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Posted on: June 9, 2023
Senators O’Scanlon and Testa have introduced S-3906, the “Give It Back” property tax relief plan. The plan calls for $4.32 billion from the New Jersey Debt Defeasance & Prevention Fund to be appropriated to each municipal...
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Posted on: June 8, 2023
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, continue to call for the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. As a result of our collective outreach, Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman DeAngelo are sponsoring ...
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Posted on: June 2, 2023
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association continue to call for the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. As a result of our collective outreach, Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman DeAngelo are sponsori...
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Posted on: May 26, 2023
The State Health Benefits Program Plan Design Committee met on Wednesday for the regularly scheduled meeting and discussed the following items:
- Potential increase in the contribution amount for High Deductible Health Plans to comply with recent guidance fr...
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Posted on: May 26, 2023
On Thursday, League staff worked the Statehouse and spoke with Assembly representatives before they went into caucus, urging them to support the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. Our thanks to East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, who joined us and sp...
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Posted on: May 19, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed A-4889 this week.
A-4889 eliminates the requirement for local government officers to disclose their property addresses, including their home address, on the Annual Financial Disclosure Statement f...
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Posted on: May 19, 2023
Earlier this week, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM), the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM), and the New Jersey Urban Mayor’s Association (NJUMA) issued a letter signed by 401 mayors from across the state urging the State...
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Posted on: May 15, 2023
Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed legislation (S-3090/A-4498) that would permit police and fire employees to retire after 20 years of service, regardless of age, with a retirement benefit of 50% of final compensation. The League joined the New Jersey A...
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Posted on: May 12, 2023
On May 8, Governor Murphy signed into law S-2423/A-3746, which permits local government deferred compensation plans to invest in collective investment trusts. The League supported this legislation that adds collective investments to the types of investmen...
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Posted on: May 12, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy signed A-4836 and A-4184, cybersecurity bills into law this week.
A-4836 requires the State Office of Emergency Management to develop a plan to address internet outages resulting from cyber-attacks...
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Posted on: April 21, 2023
Earlier this week, the National League of Cities (NLC), the League’s federal partner, hosted a webinar with Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (WA), and Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and J.D. Vance (OH) who, in light of the train derailment and chemical s...
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Posted on: April 21, 2023
On Wednesday, by a vote of 47-49, the U.S. Senate failed to amend S.870, the Fire Grants and Safety Act. The amendments offered by Sen. Scott (FL) would redirect unobligated American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to fund ...
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Posted on: April 14, 2023
On Monday, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 327 to review current practices with the goal of expanding state job opportunities for New Jerseyans without college degrees.
The Order directs the Civil Service Commission to identify job classif...
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Posted on: April 12, 2023
Municipalities that choose to participate in the latest settlement with Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS must submit their signed participation forms by April 18. New Jersey is set to receive up to $508.1 million from the latest settlements, wi...
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Posted on: April 6, 2023
Governor Murphy has signed S-3333, which protects low-income households from having their water services disconnected due to unpaid bills. Water utility providers, including local authorities that have not signed up to participate in New Jerseys Low Incom...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
Thomas Koeing, Legislative Budget and Finance Officer for the State’s Office of Legislative Services (OLS), provided a budget overview and revenue forecast. Mr. Koeing revealed that the combined state revenues for Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Yea...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
Municipalities that choose to participate in the latest settlement with Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS must submit their signed participation forms by April 18. New Jersey is set to receive up to $508.1 million from the latest settlements, wi...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
On Thursday, the full Assembly unanimously approved A-4498/S-3090, which provides police and fire a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age. The bill is now before the Governor for his consideration.
The League joins the...
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Posted on: March 24, 2023
Legislation (A-4998/S-3090) which provides police and fire personnel a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age unanimously passed the Senate earlier this week and is before the full Assembly on March 30. The League joins the New ...
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Posted on: March 17, 2023
The Senate Budget committee was scheduled to consider a bill expanding prevailing wage requirements to PILOT projects, however, after outreach by the League and other stakeholders, sponsor Senator Gopal held S-2798 for additional review and possible amend...
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Posted on: March 17, 2023
On Monday Assembly State and Local Government Committee will be considering A-4498, which provides police and fire personnel a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age. The League joins the New Jersey Association of Counties in ou...
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Posted on: March 16, 2023
This week, Governor Phil Murphy signed S-428 into law, amending the Right to Farm Act to specify that shellfish aquaculture activities are eligible for Right to Farm Act protections.
To be eligible for Right to Farm protections a shellfish commer...
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Posted on: March 16, 2023
This week, Governor Murphy signed A-4524/S-2709, now P.L.2023, c.22, which permits the appointment of additional alternate deputy registrars. The League supports this legislation because is especially necessary in municipalities that host hospita...
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Posted on: March 10, 2023
On March 9 Governor Murphy signed into law S-3595/A-5177, which changes certain primary election deadlines. The new law took effect immediately.
The deadlines changed include the following:
- Submission by the Municipal Clerk to ...
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Posted on: March 10, 2023
As a reminder, the annual ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Plan (SLFRF) Project and Expenditure (P&E) Report is due on April 30. The portal will open on April 1.
Working with the National League of Cities (NLC), the League’s fed...
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Posted on: March 10, 2023
In February, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced it would be making available of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting requirements. Additional details o...
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Posted on: March 3, 2023
On February 28, Governor Murphy delivered his 2024 Fiscal Year Budget Address. The proposed budget is $53.1 billion, includes a surplus of over $10 billion, and is 5% greater than the FY2023 budget. While the budget document is not available yet, the Budg...
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Posted on: March 3, 2023
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has issued a Request for Comments, seeking input from interested parties regarding the conversion of existing streetlights to LED streetlights. Specifically, seeking information related to streetlight and p...
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Posted on: February 24, 2023
On Wednesday, the State Health Benefits Commission Plan Design Committee met for its February meeting. During the Director’s report, it was noted that 27 entities have left the State Health Benefits Plans since it enacted a nearly 23% rate incre...
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Posted on: February 24, 2023
The Division of Local Government Services issued Local Finance Notice 2023-04 announcing one-time exemptions to the appropriation cap for certain items for the Calendar Year 2023/State Fiscal Year 2024 budget and guidance on usage and reporting Opioid Set...
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Posted on: February 3, 2023
The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee favorably reported S-3519, which makes various changes to primary election, vacancy, municipal referendum, and mail-in ballot mailing deadlines.
On Thursday, the ...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
Unfortunately, as we reported last week, the talks regarding relief for raising healthcare premium costs remain unresolved. This comes among news that Newark, Camden, and Trenton have all left the State Health Benefits system, or are in the process of doi...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
On Thursday, the Assembly voted to approve the recommendations of Governor Murphy’s conditional veto of S-757, after suspending their normal rules to include the bill onto the voting session board list.
The legislation looks to expand au...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
This week, the Senate Economic Growth Committee reviewed S-3333 for discussion only. While the League agrees that additional efforts are needed to ensure the success of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), we do not agree t...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States! This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that allows New Jerseyans to create a lasting legacy. RevolutionNJ is the formal state initiative for the commemoration of the 250th and a partnership between t...
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Posted on: January 13, 2023
In Governor Murphy’s State of the State address, he revisited the topic of Liquor License reform, which he discussed during his speech of the League Conference in November. The Governor’s proposed plan includes phasing out the populati...
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Posted on: January 10, 2023
Today, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his 2023 State of the State address. This marks the first time in three years that the speech was given in person as the last two addresses were virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his speech, Gov...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
The New Year has come and the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will still have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs, unless an immediate solution i...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed A-573, which makes several changes to the Uniform Construction Code Act (UCC). The bill codifies the three-day construction inspection turnaround and allows for developers to contract with private on-site inspe...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
New Jersey extended its health benefits contract with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for another year, media outlets report. This occurred after state officials alleged the health insurer failed to meet the terms of the deal. ...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
In the final week of December, the House and Senate passed, and President Biden signed a $1.7 trillion FY2023 federal budget through September 30, 2023. For provisions of state and local interest, please read the League’s two blog posts, the fir...
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Posted on: December 30, 2022
Earlier today the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) met to consider items including the transfer of Federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds. The transfers, which were already outlined in the State budget, included:
- $300 million for various ca...
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Posted on: December 23, 2022
Last week, the White House released the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Guidebook of Clean Energy provisions in the law. This guidebook provides an overview of the clean energy, climate mitigation and resilience, agriculture, and conservation-relat...
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Posted on: December 23, 2022
On Thursday, the Senate, by a vote of 68-29 passed the FY2023 federal budget. As of this writing on Friday morning, the House is expected to pass the budget bill. The $1.7 trillion document funds all governmental departments through September 202...
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Posted on: December 23, 2022
P.L. 2022, c. 3, which prohibits government dealings with businesses associated with Belarus and Russia, requires the New Jersey Department of Treasury to develop a list of companies it determines engage in prohibited activities associated with Russia or ...
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Posted on: December 23, 2022
The statutory deadlines for budget introduction and adoption have been revised. Municipal budgets must be introduced by March 31, instead of February 10, and adopted by April 28, instead of March 20. The Mayor/Council Faulkner Act budget transmission to g...
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Posted on: December 20, 2022
Congress' last task before the holidays is the FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and as of Friday, the ARPA Flexibility provisions that the League’s federal partner, the National League of Cities (NLC), has been advocating wa...
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Posted on: December 20, 2022
In less than two weeks, the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs. It is imperative that the Governor and...
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Posted on: December 19, 2022
The League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, and New Jersey Association of Counties have been working with other interested stakeholders, including the major public sector union representative...
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Posted on: December 19, 2022
On Monday the Senate will be considering S-3380, which would exempt gasoline and diesel fuel costs; solid waste and recycling collection and disposal costs, as well as disposal of yard waste; cyber insurance costs; liability insurance costs; work...
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Posted on: December 19, 2022
S-861 would permit municipalities to conduct an annual event for the open burning of holiday trees. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) would be tasked with establishing rules, regulations, and standards for the open burning of C...
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Posted on: December 19, 2022
This week, the House and Senate passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through next Friday, December 23, and sent it to President Joe Biden for his signature. This allows them time to complete the federal budget next week. Had the f...
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Posted on: December 19, 2022
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) has introduced the bipartisan Auto Theft Prevention Act with U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), which would dedicate funding to local law enforcement agencies for resources to combat auto thefts under the U.S. Departmen...
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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: 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: 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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