News Flash

Bill Reducing Parking Availability Advances

On Thursday, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee favorably reported A-4984/S-3605, which would reduce the number of parking spaces required under the statewide site improvement standards at residential developments by 20%, 30%, and 50%, rela...

Free Municipal Complete Streets Technical Assistance Available

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority’s (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program provides free technical assistance to municipalities to advance a Complete Streets initiative in their communities. 

Eligible appl...

CSSR Announces Relaunch of Brownfield Development Area Program

Contaminated Site Remediation and Redevelopment (CSSR) has announced the relaunching of the Brownfield Development Area (BDA) Program. 

Under the BDA approach, the CSSR’s Office of Brownfield & Community Revitalization works with sel...

NJDEP Releases Model Tree Removal/Replacement Ordinance

Last year the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) revised the Tier A Municipal Stormwater General Permit. They also took steps to reclassify all municipalities into the Tier A category. The revised permit requires municipalities to a...

Green Acres Grant Funding Opportunity Now Open for Municipalities

The Green Acres Program has announced the opening of its 2024 funding round for municipalities, counties, and nonprofits. Applications are now being accepted for land acquisition, park development, stewardship, Jake’s Law (inclusive pla...

Mayor Bollwage Testified Before Congressional Committee

Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, NJLM Past President, testified on Wednesday on reauthorization of the Brownfields Program on behalf of the League’s federal partner, the National League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayo...

Lunch & Learn: State Planning Commission – State Plan Update

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...

NJDEP Holds Inland Flood Protection Rule Q&A Session

On Thursday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) hosted an “Ask the Administrator Q&A Session” to answer questions from the public regarding the Inland Flood Protection rule and implementation.

On hand to answer questions were...

FY 2024 Vibrant Places Program by NJTPA

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...

DCA Issues Proposed Rules Regulating Third-Party Inspectors

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has published proposed rules amending the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) to expand the use of private on-site inspection agencies, in accordance with the law adopted last year. 

In accordance with&nbs...

New Rules and Amendments Proposed for NJ Historic Trust Grants

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has published proposed rules and amendments related to the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund Grants.

The New Jersey Historic Trust is authorized to implement funding for Open Space, Farmland, and Histor...

NJBPU Proposes Rule Amendments Applicable to Municipalities

On August 21, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) published proposed rule amendments governing all utilities, including municipal water and wastewater utilities. These changes include:  

1. The extension of the Winter Termination Program to ...

Governor Murphy Signs Boardwalk Preservations Fund

On Tuesday, August 15, Governor Murphy signed S-3989/A-5675, now P.L.2023, c.136, establishing the Boardwalk Preservation Fund and appropriating $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the renovation and repair of boardwalks in shore communities ac...

USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry 2023 Challenge Cost Share Grant Program

This program works in partnership with State and local forestry agencies, educational institutes, and different kinds of organizations to restore, sustain, and manage more than 140 million acres of urban and community forest lands for the benefit of commu...

Lunch & Learn: NJDEP – Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan

Earlier this week the League held a Lunch and Learn with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on its Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan. A recording of the program is now available on the League’s website.

NJDEP&rsqu...

State Issues Notice on Local Regulation of Beekeeping Activities

The League has become aware of a statement issued by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) to municipal officials regarding restraints on municipal regulation of apiary and beekeeping activities.  

The statement, dated July 14, 2023, exp...

State Enables Expansion of Harm Reduction Centers

This week, the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) published regulatory changes in the New Jersey Register to facilitate the development of harm reduction centers (HRC) throughout the state. Harm reduction centers are an important tool...

NJDEP Announces Green Acres Funding

The NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Green Acres Program has announced its 2024 funding round for land acquisition, park development, stewardship, implementing Jake’s Law (Inclusive Playgrounds), and Urban Parks proj...

Governor Signs Bill Establishing Urban Preservation Program

Governor Murphy has signed A-5596/S-3991 establishing the Urban Preservation Program to promote investments in rehabilitation and reconstruction projects dedicated to preserving affordable housing in urban areas.

The newly created Urban Preservation Fund p...

Governor Signs Bill Assisting First-Generation Homebuyers

This week, Governor Murphy signed into law S-3780. The new law provides down payment assistance and provides tax credits to developers that commit to construct or reconstruct housing for certain low to moderate income households.

Prior to the signing of&am...

Boardwalk Preservation Fund

The Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee released on Tuesday S-3989/A-5675 which establishes the "Boardwalk Preservation Fund." The Boardwalk Preservation grant is part of the Governor’s budget p...

Congress Moves to Reauthorize National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization (NFIP-RE) Act of 2023 (H.R.4349/S.2142) has been introduced in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support in both chambers. 

The National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization (NFIP Re)...

Bill Preempting Local Control of ROW Advancing in Congress

A bill was recently passed out of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, that would impose new restrictions on local authorities to regulate local land use and zoning issues related to the deployment of telecommunications equipment.

The Ame...

Amendments Expand Public Works Registration to PILOTs Projects

S-1439/A-5085, which requires employers or contractors engaged in government work for a public body to register with and submit payroll records to the Department of Labor Workforce Development, was recently amended to include PILOT projects. 

S-14...

Inland Flood Protection Rules to Take Effect in July

The new Inland Flood Protection Rules update New Jersey’s existing flood hazard and stormwater regulations by replacing current precipitation estimates with modern data that attempts to account for observed and projected increases in ra...

Bill Limiting Review of Wireless Facilities Approved by Committee

On Monday, the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee amended and favorably reported A-4376, a bill that would further weaken already sparse local oversight of the collocation of wireless equipment in the local right of way. 

The Leag...

Bill Clarifying Electronic Public Meetings Clears Committee

On Thursday, the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee approved S-2603. The bill seeks to clarify the ability of a public body to hold electronic meetings, and if doing so the appropriate notice requirements.&n...

League Hosts USDA Rural Development Webinar

On Thursday, the League hosted a Lunch and Learn with Jane Asselta, USDA Rural Development New Jersey State Director who discussed available funding and loans for municipalities.

Among the programs highlighted where grants and/or loans that are available f...

Right to Farm Protections Extended to Aquaculture Activities

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...

League Seeking Information on MS4 Permit Compliance

The League is asking our members to answer a short survey aimed at gathering information related to individual municipalities efforts to comply with the NJDEP’s new MS4 permit program requirements.   

The New Jersey Department o...

NJDEP Announces Grants to Assist with New MS4 Permit Requirements

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has announced the availability of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting requirements. Details on the grant program have not bee...

Special Occasion Events on Preserved Farmland Bill Signed

Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation authorizing commercial farms located on preserved farmland to hold special occasion events.

The new law expands authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The...

Governor Signs Bill Allowing Use of Third-Party Private Construction Inspectors

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...

FY2023 Federal Omnibus Budget Passed

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...