Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
Michael L. Testa Jr.
Sponsored
Became law2
Allows Board of Cosmetology Hairstyling licensees to operate mobile facilities when providing services.
Exempts certain commercial fishermen from coverage under "unemployment compensation law."
Passed the Senate1
Expands EDA small business loan program to include certain broadband telecommunications service providers.
Out of committee2
Provides gross income tax deduction to surviving spouses of certain veterans.
Requires instruction on information literacy in curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12.
In committee47
Directs AG to enter into agreement with U.S. Attorney General to empower certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates.
Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.
Concerns eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits for certain seasonal employees.
Establishes State Debt Capacity Advisory Commission.
Requires chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when non-citizen applies for firearms purchaser identification card or handgun purchase permit.
Establishes School Funding Commission to study school funding formula and prepare report that will serve as basis of new formula.
Removes principal place of business requirement of "Set-Aside Act for Disabled Veterans' Businesses."
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Requires coronavirus disease 2019 testing for certain persons.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in Chinese pharmaceutical companies.
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to purchase agricultural food products from NJ farmers impacted by coronavirus pandemic, and distribute products to school breakfast and lunch programs and food banks; appropriate $1 million.
Authorizes elective surgeries and invasive procedures to be performed during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.
"Murphy's Law"; nullifies Governor's order, rule, or regulation to address declared emergency, or relevant portion thereof, when Governor violates same; creates affirmative defense to prosecution for same violation committed by Governor.
Requires MVC to review certain services and provide certain services online.
Makes Fiscal Year 2020 supplemental appropriations of $125.575 million for Homestead Benefit - Calendar Year 2020 Program and Senior and Disabled Citizens' Property Tax Freeze.
Requires development of manufacturing business attraction, expansion, and retention marketing plan for areas located in certain counties within southern New Jersey.
Provides that public school parent who objects to learning material or activity that parent considers harmful may receive voucher from school district to enroll student in nonpublic school.
"Michelle's Law"; requires health benefit plans to cover mammogram for an individual if recommended by health care provider.
Expands purposes for which civil asset forfeiture funds may be used by law enforcement agency.
Requires New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education include content on risks of cannabis and marijuana use.
"Fairness in Women's Sport Act."
Requires public institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart Medal military recipients.
Exempts qualified veterans from paying certain firearm related fees.
Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to qualified veterans purchasing franchises.
Establishes "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program."
Increases from $750 to $3,000 annual State payment made to certain veterans and their surviving spouses.
Provides additional home ownership assistance for certain military service members.
Establishes NJ Military Family Relief Fund; provides for designation on State gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to military family relief fund.
Establishes New Jersey Veteran Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Prohibits State from requiring private businesses to confirm individuals received COVID-19 vaccine for entry.
Requires MVC to provide certain vehicle and licensing services in each county in State.
Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment, facility renovation, modernization, and expansion.
Permits board of education to employ certain veterans in coaching positions in school district's interscholastic athletic program.
Requires Commissioner of Education to provide professional development resources for guidance counselors on scholarship and grant programs and develop informational pamphlet on these programs.
Establishes certain requirements for social media websites concerning content moderation practices; establishes cause of action against social media websites for violation of content moderation practices.
Requires State employees work in person if job requires face-to-face interaction with public; requires State agency provide alternatives if closure is unpreventable.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to develop career and education guide for postsecondary students disabilities.
Establishes "Trenton Makes Commission."
Requires DOH to establish Statewide standardized requirements for licensure and operation of mobile food vendors; designated as "Streamlined Food Truck Licensure Act."
Establishes "Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program" for students enrolled at county colleges.
Establishes "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force".
Provides that in municipal courts participating in regional municipal court pilot program, conditional discharge would be expanded to encompass certain additional offenses and second offenders.
Makes various changes to law governing limited breweries.
Prohibits teaching of critical race theory in public schools; prohibits public school teachers from engaging in political, ideological, or religious advocacy in classroom.
Permits a marriage or civil union license to be issued and solemnized via audio-visual technology.
Requires licensure for veterinary technicians.
Revises factors for determining employment or independent contractor status under certain State labor laws.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 15
Requires institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic high schools and middle schools to adopt anti-hazing policies; expands activities encompassing criminal hazing and upgrades penalties for engaging in these activities.**
Requires DOH to develop and implement plan to improve access to perinatal mood and anxiety disorder screening.
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Permits nonprofit corporations to allow members to participate in meetings by means of remote communication, and permits nonprofit corporations to hold meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency.
Excludes from severance requirements under "Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act" mass layoffs resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Requires hospitals to report COVID-19 demographic data.
Delays physical examination requirement for certain student-athletes who participate in school-sponsored athletic activities during fall athletic season of 2020-2021 school year.*
Requires long-term care facilities, as condition of licensure, to implement policies to prevent social isolation of residents.*
Requires DMVA assist service members discharged solely due to LGBTQ status with petitions to change discharge designation.
Expands opportunities for restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries to provide outdoor dining and permits certain sales at seasonal farm markets in response to COVID-19 public health emergency.
Requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain students exceeding age of eligibility for special education and related services.
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA and New Jersey Council on the Arts to support arts and culture organizations in need.*
Makes $25 million in federal funds available to EDA to support microbusinesses in need.*
Concerns liability of certain non-profit and governmental employers for unemployment benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency. *
Revises elective pass-through entity business alternative income tax. *
Vetoed · 5
Supports activities of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc.
Establishes Employment and Business-Related Tax Deferral Assistance Program in EDA to allow small businesses to defer the payment and remittance of certain employment and business-related taxes during COVID-19 public health emergency.
Appropriates $30 million to EDA from federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund" to assist food establishments impacted by Executive Order No. 158.
Establishes county-based mitigation plan to allow businesses to operate during pandemic.
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Passed the Senate · 12
Establishes grant program for homeless veterans shelters.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Allows shore municipalities to provide spouse and dependent children of veterans free or reduced cost access to beaches.
Allows CBT and GIT tax credits to certain taxpayers that retain employees during COVID-19 pandemic.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations during COVID-19 pandemic.
Provides temporary modifications to payment and use of certain casino gaming taxes and fees; permanently redefines promotional gaming credits to include certain coupons and table game wagers; requires priority funding for senior and disabled transportatio
Permits State and local government employees in civil service to be transferred in certain circumstances.
Allocates $50 million to Department of Labor and Workforce Development from federal government assistance to improve unemployment insurance benefit claims processing capacity.
Makes information related to public health emergency accessible with certain limited exceptions.
Requires State Treasurer to issue report concerning New York's taxation of New Jersey residents' income.
Revises permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.
Allows taxpayers with fewer than 50 employees to accelerate depreciation of capital expenditures incurred to comply with COVID-19 executive orders.
Out of committee · 31
Expands scope of law prohibiting age discrimination.
Establishes Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission.
Provides tuition fee waiver apprenticeship courses.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ apprentices in DOL registered apprenticeships.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability. *
Creates office to encourage creation of federal jobs and infrastructure investment in the State.
Changes designation on official State logo denoting manufacture of products in New Jersey.
Upgrades certain crimes of misrepresenting oneself as member or veteran of US Armed Forces or organized militia.
Establishes NJ Hospitality Emergency Loan Program in EDA to provide no-interest loans to qualified small hospitality businesses; makes $100 million appropriation to EDA from federal funds for qualified small business assistance.**
Directs State Auditor to audit Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance in DOLWD.
Increases allowance paid to war veterans with certain service-connected disabilities.
Recognizes Howell House in Cape May as Harriet Tubman Museum in New Jersey.*
Expands offenses eligible for expungement upon successful discharge from drug court.
Allocates all revenue from hotel and motel occupancy fee for arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes.
Concerns approval process for personal protective equipment and State stockpiles of personal protective equipment.
Permits dogs to visit at State veterans' residential facilities.*
Modifies process for obtaining working certificates for minors.
Waives shared responsibility tax payments for certain individuals without minimum essential health benefits coverage during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Expands opportunities for restaurants, bars, distilleries and breweries to provide outdoor dining and permits certain farms to adjust operations in response to COVID-19 public health emergency.*
Requires compensatory time off for certain correctional police officers and parole officers for work during state of emergency.*
Appropriates $87,444,690 from "New Jersey Library Construction Fund" to provide grants for construction, reconstruction, development, extension, improvement, and furnishing of New Jersey's public libraries.
"Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry.
Addresses certain landlord expenses in response to COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $350 million.*
Provides fast track hiring and advancement employment opportunities by State for persons with significant disabilities.
Provides for employment by State of certain persons with disabilities.
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA to support businesses and nonprofits in need.*
Makes $10 million in federal funds available to EDA to support child care providers in need.*
Makes $35 million in federal funds available to EDA to support food and beverage establishments in need.*
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism establish Black Heritage Trail; establishes NJ Black Cultural Heritage Commission.
Temporarily expands summer working hours for certain minors.
Appropriates $500,000 for USS New Jersey Commissioning Committee to support commissioning of boat and assigned personnel.
In committee · 55
Removes 48-hour provision for acceptance of ballots postmarked by election day; increases penalties for violation of ballot messenger and bearer limits and candidate prohibition.
Requires certain health care plans to be offered by SEHBP and local boards of education; requires SEHBP commission to establish employee contribution rates for certain plans; requires local boards of education provide certain information on health care be
Increases penalty for certain voting violations from third degree crime to second degree crime when aggravating factors apply.
Limits forum of consumer contract disputes to New Jersey.
Requires Sexual Assault Response Team to include person trained in interacting with persons with developmental disabilities; designated as "Harrison's Law."
Exempts 100 percent disabled veterans from payment of motor vehicle registration fees; requires notification of eligible motorists.
Revises requirements for administration of vaccines to patients.
Modifies "New Jersey Tort Claims Act" to provide for State to be strictly liable for injuries caused by State-mandated vaccines.
Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty.
Requires State agencies to post Internet links to programs and services for women as applicable.
Provides for background checks and other requirements for certain agencies providing temporary home for child or pregnant woman during crisis.
"Children's Vaccination Bill of Rights"; provides children in State with certain protections concerning vaccines.
Designates mile 22 of State Highway Route 9 in Dennis Township as "Charles Richard Ingram III and the Fallen Veterans of Suicide Memorial Mile."
Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations.
Appropriates $100 million to EDA from federal funds for small business assistance.
Removes limit in Emergency Health Powers Act on access to public and government records.
Requires registered voters to present photo ID when voting at polling place.
Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State.
Requires commissioner of registration to move voters with undeliverable mail-in ballots to inactive file; removes such inactive voters from Statewide voter registration system following failure to vote in two consecutive federal general elections.
Requires county boards of elections to establish ballot drop boxes at each office of municipal clerk.
Requires ABC to waive certain alcoholic beverage license renewal fees in response to COVID-19 pandemic; allows municipalities to waive renewal fees.
Suspends automatic voter registration until implementation of standards and procedures to maintain accuracy of voter rolls.
Requires AG to create voting fraud task force.
Requires Secretary of State create website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots; establishes "Vote by Mail Study Commission."
"Made in New Jersey Tax Credit Act"; provides CBT tax credits to taxpayers that purchase "New Jersey made" products.
Appropriates $300 million to EDA for small business and not-for-profit organization assistance.
Directs Secretary of State to establish grant program for counties to improve paper ballot counting process; appropriates $10 million.
Provides additional ways for transferring deceased voter's record to Statewide voter registration system's death file; requires Secretary of State match registration system with Social Security Administration deceased persons database.
Establishes "Voting Improvement Task Force."
Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities.
Requires Secretary of State to establish voter list maintenance and crosscheck program and to include certain voter registration data in annual report to Governor and Legislature.
Appropriates $50 million to BPU from federal funds for reimbursing broadband telecommunications service providers for broadband infrastructure expansion to rural areas in State.
Prohibits approval of voting machine or voting system if vendor is foreign company, if domestic vendor exports technology overseas, or due to major non-citizen ownership.
Transfers Division of Elections from Department of State to Department of Law and Public Safety; designates Attorney General as chief election official and requires two bipartisan co-directors.
Creates Veterans' Memorial Homes Oversight Board.
Requires voter who wishes to vote by mail to complete application for mail-in ballot each calendar year; repeals automatic vote-by-mail designation.
Prohibits mail-in ballot outer envelope from containing political affiliation or designation visible to public.
Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity.
Requires do not forward label on mail-in ballot envelopes; allows mail-in voter to cure mail-in ballot due to missing or detached certificate; requires certain voter data be entered into voter file within 30 days.
Provides for agreement between Secretary of State and AOC to match information in Statewide voter registration system with certain jury records in order to identify and remove ineligible non-citizen voter registrants from system.
Incorporates boardwalks into transportation local aid program and provides for Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants to boardwalk projects.
Appropriates $300 million to EDA for small business and not-for-profit corporation assistance to preserve and create jobs, spur economic growth, and preserve the viability and vitality of communities.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $750,000 to New Jersey Library Network for continuation of services.
Provides that if minor under age 18 unlawfully buys or possesses alcoholic beverages or cannabis and receives written warning from law enforcement, the minor's parent or guardian would be notified in writing.
Removes criminal liability for law enforcement officers who have investigative encounter with underage person for possession of alcohol or cannabis unless civil rights are violated.
Makes $10.5 million supplemental appropriation for increased Per Capita Library Aid.
Revises emergency care services referral standards for providers of telemedicine and telehealth.
Requires Governor to transmit budget sustainability statement along with annual budget message.
Provides that certain school districts will receive State school aid in amounts equal to aid provided in 2020-2021 school year.
Amends provisions concerning federal emergency and economic stimulus funds in State appropriations act ending June 30, 2021.
Allocates $2.5 billion to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.
Prohibits mandatory mask use at youth camps.
Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses.
Prohibits mandatory mask use in licensed child care centers.
Requires entities to accept confirmation of prior COVID-19 infection or protective immune response against COVID-19 when proof of vaccination is required.
Filed · 11
Permits corporations to hold shareholders' meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency.
Permits professional and occupational licensing boards to reactivate licensure of certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.
Allows remote notarial acts, and other acts executing and verifying certain documents, by notaries public and other authorized officials during public health emergency and state of emergency declared by Governor's Executive Order 103 of 2020.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
Provides enhanced penalty for distribution of counterfeit drugs and medical devices during declared states of emergency.
Appropriates $20 million from General Fund to EDA to support food and beverage establishments impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $50 million from General Fund to EDA to support businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $10 million from General Fund to EDA to support Sustain and Serve NJ Program.
Establishes Startup Business and Nonprofit Assistance Program in EDA to support new businesses and nonprofit organizations following COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $25 million.
Appropriates $120 million from General Fund to EDA to support microbusinesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $10 million from General Fund to EDA to support child care providers impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.