News Flash

Law Increases Municipal Contributions Allowed for Volunteer First Aid Squads

On Monday, May 9, Governor Murphy signed into law legislation that increases the contribution limits by counties and municipalities to volunteer first aid, ambulances, and rescue squads. P.L. 2022, c. 12 increases the maximum amount that municipa...

Governor Conditionally Vetoes Political Bribery Bill

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...

Assembly Oversight Committee Held Hearing on Liquor License Reform

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...

Cannabis Use by Off-Duty Law Enforcement

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...

Office of Legislative Services and Department of Treasury Give Testimony on FY2023 Budget

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....

Court Upholds Governor’s Vaccine Mandate Authority for Certain State Workers

Last week, a State appellate panel affirmed Governor Murphy’s authority under the Disaster Control Act and the Emergency Health Act to impose through Executive Order 283, a COVID-19 vaccination mandate on State corrections officers. The NJ Supre...

Legislation Restoring Energy Tax Receipts Advancing

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 ...

Public Health Emergency Reinstated

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 ...

Governor Delivers State of the State Address

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 COVID and noted the progress of New Jer...

State Minimum Wage Increase

Effective January 1, 2022, the state’s minimum wage increased $1 to $13 per hour. The increase is part of legislation signed into law in 2019 that will ultimately see the state’s minimum wage increase to $15 per hour by 2024. ...

Winter Sewer and Water Termination Legislation Advances

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...

Legislation to Address Implementation Challenges to Daniel’s Law

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 fr...

Legislation Permitting Certain Municipalities to Opt-Out of Civil Service Advancing

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...

Senate Panel Approves Bill Restricting Farmland Assessed Properties from Redevelopment Law

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...

Substantial Expansion of Power for Public Sector Labor Unions

With the lame-duck session fast approaching and the Legislature is likely to reconsider the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act (S-3810/A-5862). It would substantially expand the power and influence of public sector labor unions to negotiate previousl...

Governor Signs Legislation Dedicating Annual Funds to Special Needs Housing Trust Fund

On June 29, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1255, which requires that $20 million of certain realty transfer fee revenues are to be credited each year to the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund, beginning with the first fiscal year next f...

Governor Murphy Signs Exempt Firefighter Certificate Bill

On Thursday, June 24, Governor Murphy signed A-4745, which raises the eligibility for exempt firefighter certificates and membership in New Jersey State Fireman’s Association maximum age from 45 to 57. Under previous regulations, firefighters we...

Senate Holds Preemptive Small Cell/5G Deployment Bill

After being added late on Tuesday to Wednesday’s Senate Voting session, the Senate held and did not consider S-2674/A-1116. This legislation seeks to preempt and supersede local regulation of small cell (5G) deployment within the municipal rights-of-way.T...

Senate to Consider Bill Preempting Local Control Over Small Cell/5G Deployment in Municipal ROW

Just added to tomorrow’s Senate voting session is S-2674/A-1116, legislation which seeks to preempt and supersede local regulation of small cell (5G) deployment within the municipal rights-of-way. The League opposes S-2674/A-1116 becaus...

2022 Budget on Gov. Murphy's Desk

On Thursday both the Assembly and Senate passed A-5870/S-2022, which appropriates $46.3 billion in state funds and $6 billion in federal funds for New Jersey’s FY22 state budget. The budget will now be sent to Governor Murphy desk for his signat...

Assembly Approves Bill Preempting Local Control Over Small Cell/5G Deployment in Municipal ROW

The Assembly voted yesterday to approve A-1116(R3), legislation that seeks to preempt and supersede local regulation of small cell (5G) deployment within the municipal rights-of-way. The League opposes A-1116 because it provides broadband telecommunicatio...

Assembly Approves Bill Preempting Local Control Over Small Cell/5G Deployment in Municipal ROW

The Assembly voted yesterday to approve A-1116(R3), legislation that seeks to preempt and supersede local regulation of small cell (5G) deployment within the municipal rights-of-way. The League opposes A-1116 because it provides broadband telecommunicatio...

Contact Governor's Office on Offshore Wind Projects Bill Preemptions

S-3926/A-5894, fast-tracked legislation preempting local say over offshore wind projects, passed in both houses. This legislation would give the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) authority to preempt and supersede all necessary local approval of projects ne...

Legislators Approve Conditional Veto Recommendations of Bill Exempting Certain Housing from Zoning

In March, legislators passed S-1676/A-3326, which would allow hospitals to construct housing and provide wrap-around services for individuals who are homeless or housing insecure. While we support efforts aimed at providing health care and housing to thos...

Responsible Collective Negotiations Held in Both Houses

Many thanks to all of you who reached out to your Legislators and raised objections to the “Responsible Collective Negotiations” bill (S-3810/A-5862). The legislation was held in both houses.The League is by joined and also thank the New Jersey A...

Act Now! Responsible Collective Negotiations Before Assembly and Senate

Later today (Thursday) both the full Senate and Assembly are scheduled to consider the amended “Responsible Collective Negotiations” bill (S-3810/A-5862). The League has joined the New Jersey Association of Counties, New Jersey Conference of Mayors, New J...

State FY 22 Budget Introduced

On Tuesday June 22, the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees released A-5870/S-2022, which appropriates $46.3 billion in state funds and $21 billion in federal funds for New Jersey’s FY22 state budget. The Governor’s original proposed budget allocated $4...

Please Take Action: Fast-Tracked Bill Removing Management Prerogatives

Action is needed to oppose legislation that would remove important management prerogatives and drive up costs for local governments. On Wednesday the Assembly Appropriations Committee will be considering A-5862, which expands the subjects that would becom...

Bill Removing Management Prerogative Advances

Senate President Sweeney with Senators Addiego and Greenstein, recently introduced S-3810 known as the “Responsible Collective Negotiations Act” to provide additional worker safeguards in response to the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court Janus v...

Senate Committee Scheduled to Review Small Cell Regulation Bill

The Senate Economic Growth Committee is scheduled to review S-2674 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 10 a.m. The purpose of this legislation is to provide for uniform regulation of small wireless facility deployment in the state and mirrors, and in some cases...

Senate Committee Scheduled to Review Small Cell Regulation Bill

The Senate Economic Growth Committee is scheduled to review S-2674 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 10 a.m. The purpose of this legislation is to provide for uniform regulation of small wireless facility deployment in the state and mirrors, and in some cases...

S-1 Passes Senate

Last week S-1, which would encourage shared services, passed the full Senate. We thank Senate President Sweeney for the various amendments to the bill to address our concerns. We appreciate the civil service reforms and are optimistic they will make shari...

Expedited Construction Inspection Bill Heads to Governor

Yesterday, the Senate approved S-3095/A-4850, which the League opposes, sending the measure to Governor Murphy for his action. The legislation would establish an expedited construction inspection program that would allow able and willing property...

Governor Signs Parental Notification Legislation

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...

Legislative Preview: Week of March 8

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...

Senate Panel Approves Bill Restricting Farmland Assessed Properties from Redevelopment Law

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...

Governor Delivers FY 2023 Budget Address

Governor Murphy delivered his Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Address. The proposed budget is $48.93 billion, which is a 5.3% increase over FY 2022 state budget. The budget does not include any new taxes or fees.  The overall state aid ...