Bills in the 2022–2023 Session, Senate.
Michael L. Testa Jr.
Sponsored
Became law1
Directs DOE to develop New Jersey Student Learning Standards in information literacy.*
Passed the Senate2
Repeals $100,000 cap on sales and use tax exemption for certain capital improvements made by businesses participating in Urban Enterprise Zone program.
Requires text messages soliciting home owners to provide notice when individuals sending solicitations are not licensed by New Jersey Real Estate Commission.*
Out of committee3
Expands purposes for which civil asset forfeiture funds may be used by law enforcement agency.
Revises permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.
Requires Commission on Human Trafficking to post public awareness signage in additional establishments.
In committee70
Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.
Expands EDA small business loan program to include certain broadband telecommunications service providers.
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.
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.
"Fairness in Women's Sport Act."
Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to qualified veterans purchasing franchises.
Increases from $750 to $3,000 annual State payment made to certain veterans and their surviving spouses.
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 investment in certain manufacturing equipment, facility renovation, modernization, and expansion.
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.
Establishes "Manufacturing Workforce Development Grant Program" for students enrolled at county colleges.
Prohibits teaching of critical race theory in public schools; prohibits public school teachers from engaging in political, ideological, or religious advocacy in classroom.
Revises factors for determining employment or independent contractor status under certain State labor laws.
Creates database of veteran separation documents.
Provides alcoholic beverage tax credits to breweries for qualified capital expenses.
Requires EDA to provide loans through small business loan program at lower interest rates, with more flexible repayment terms if issued to small businesses owned or controlled by certain veterans, and prohibit certain fees.
Designates mile 22 of State Highway Route 9 in Dennis Township as "Charles Richard Ingram III and the Fallen Veterans of Suicide Memorial Mile."
Authorizes retailer to accept exchange of unopened container of wine.
Establishes farm brewery and winery-brewery beverage license.
Authorizes holder of limited brewery license to engage in certain activities.
Creates "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force".
Reduces number of manufacturing jobs required to qualify for NJEDA financing and incentive programs.
Permits certain businesses to complete business registration certificate and annual report together.
Authorizes establishment of new cigar bars in Atlantic City Tourism District.
Allocates all revenue from hotel and motel occupancy fee for arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes.
Requires DOLWD to take measures to ensure State unemployment offices reopen immediately and remain open during and after public health emergency.
Makes various changes to civil service; permits institution of temporary layoffs; permits government entities to opt-out of civil service; requires civil service examinations be offered on continual basis.
Requires school districts to receive written permission from parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys.
Establishes "Trenton Makes Commission."
Establishes education savings accounts for students whose school districts require face masks or do not offer in person instruction.
Concerns removal of abandoned vessels; appropriates $25 million.
Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance.
Establishes "Parents' Bill of Rights."
Allows limited brewery license holder to engage in certain activities; establishes farm brewery and winery-brewery license.
Provides temporary corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for insourcing business to New Jersey.
Waives Civil Service Commission examination application fees for period of three years.
Increases penalties for assault and harassment against sports officials and participants under certain circumstances.
Prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring students to receive COVID-19 vaccination.
Amends Fiscal Year 2023 annual appropriations act to require certain "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" funding recommendations made by Governor to be subject to Joint Budget Oversight Committee review and approval.
Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of purchasing and installing whole house backup electrical generator for resident taxpayer's principal residence.
Reallocates FY 2023 State and federal appropriations totaling $355,738,000, and amends and supplements language affecting appropriations in FY 2023.
Redirects certain State funding for specific arts, cultural, and historic organizations to competitive grant program.
Redirects $300 million in certain federal funds under FY 2023 appropriations act to create competitive capital project grant program in Office of Secretary of Higher Education.
Permits designation of special event zones for traffic regulation purposes during certain large events.
Establishes penalties for certain actions relating to the operation of multi-level marketing companies.
Establishes program in DOLWD to address jobs lost due to automation.
Establishes Urban Enterprise Zone Microloan Program in EDA to help certain businesses in Urban Enterprise Zones and UEZ-Impacted districts; appropriates $5 million.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in Chinese pharmaceutical companies.
Establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with motor vehicle theft be detained prior to trial; imposes mandatory sentencing for thefts involving motor vehicle.
Lowers monetary threshold for certain motor vehicle theft to constitute second degree crime.
Upgrades certain penalties for criminal street gang recruitment and criminality; imposes mandatory minimum sentence for certain offenses; establishes accomplice liability and imposes restrictions for certain recruiters.
Criminalizes participation in criminal street gang.
Establishes deadlines for publishing quarterly crime data, issuance of annual report by Attorney General.
Concerns possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages or cannabis by underage persons.
Allows municipality to establish alcohol-free and cannabis-free areas and to impose civil penalties for violations.
Removes five-year prohibition on municipalities promulgating ordinances or regulations related to cannabis industry.
Provides CBT and gross income tax credits for replacement of abandoned commercial building with new commercial building.
Requires legislative approval of updates or revisions to core curriculum content.
Prohibits financial institutions from penalizing individuals for exercise of free speech.
Concerns certain agreements entered into by State political subdivisions with groups outside US.
Requires parents to provide certain legal documents to change student name on official school records.
Establishes State aid reduction cap for calculation of State school aid.
Provides for EDA oversight and control over certain local economic development, community development, and housing programs if corruption is suspected following criminal charge or conviction of local official.
Establishes Civil Air Patrol Fund to be supported by annual appropriations of $100,000; appropriates $100,000.
Requires organizations training disabled veteran assistance dogs to register with Division of Consumer Affairs and provide disabled veteran assistance dogs with vests or harnesses.
Exempts certain oversized vehicles from requirement of additional escort vehicle if transported load is property illuminated during nighttime.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law1
Expands purposes for which civil asset forfeiture funds may be used by law enforcement agency.
Vetoed1
Revises permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Codifies and increases under certain circumstances, current minimum Medicaid per diem reimbursement rates for assisted living residences, comprehensive personal care homes, and assisted living programs; makes appropriation.*
"Manufacturing in Higher Education Act"; requires various State entities to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and provides assistance to manufacturing industry.
Establishes that "100 percent Disabled Veterans" are not required to submit to MVC certain documentation to renew parking privileges.
Concerns timely payment of UI benefits.
Concerns use of tents and other fixtures for outdoor dining on certain property.
Provides for oversight and improvement of administration of unemployment compensation.
Establishes "Boardwalk Preservation Fund" in DCA; appropriates $100 million from federal "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021."
Makes various revisions to alcoholic beverage manufacturing and retailing license laws.
Vetoed · 1
Establishes sales and events privileges for certain alcoholic beverage manufacturers. *
Passed the Senate · 1
Requires DMVA assist discharged service members who have diagnosed service-connected mental health condition with petitions to change discharge designation.
Out of committee · 25
Establishes grant program for homeless veterans shelters.
Establishes "New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program."
Makes permanent temporary enactment allowing certain alcoholic beverage retailers to sell and deliver alcoholic beverages and mixed drinks; establishes certain sale and delivery privileges for alcoholic beverage manufacturers.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for cost of exemptions.
Provides tuition fee waiver apprenticeship courses.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ apprentices in DOL registered apprenticeships.
Revises emergency care services referral standards for providers of telemedicine and telehealth.
Indexes for inflation taxable income brackets under New Jersey gross income tax.
Provides for transfers from General Fund to UI trust fund, reduces employer contributions to UI trust fund, assesses contributions from employers to repay transferred amounts, and provides tax credits to small businesses to offset UI tax increases.*
Establishes Helmets to Hardhats program in the DMVA; appropriates $400,000.
Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses.
Increases allowance paid to war veterans with certain service-connected disabilities.
Permits certain persons to drive Type S school buses.
Directs Secretary of State to contract with qualified vendor to develop national marketing campaign promoting State's innovation economy; appropriates $1,000,000. *
Requires New Jersey Historical Commission to establish Black Heritage Trail; permits New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation to use funds for markers on certain trail sites; appropriates $1 million.*
Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund."
Requires minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding.
Directs DCA to establish grant programs for public water systems.
Increases qualified research expenses tax credit for corporation business taxpayers engaged in targeted industries; increases basic research payment tax credit; allows research tax credit to be refundable.
Permits alternating proprietorship of certain wineries.
Expands working hours for minors; updates process for obtaining working papers for minors.
Provides project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education at county colleges; appropriates $19,993,837.
Provides project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for career and technical education at county vocational school districts; appropriates $36,960,028.
Replaces statutory terms regarding alcohol and substance use.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to DMVA for New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group.*
In committee · 70
Upgrades burglary of a residence to a crime of the second degree; requires mandatory period of parole ineligibility if residence was occupied at time of offense.
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 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."
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.
Requires registered voters to present photo ID when voting at polling place.
Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses.
Revises requirements for administration of vaccines to patients.
"Children's Vaccination Bill of Rights"; provides children in State with certain protections concerning vaccines.
Requires entities to accept confirmation of prior COVID-19 infection or protective immune response against COVID-19 when proof of vaccination is required.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Allows taxpayers with fewer than 50 employees to accelerate depreciation of capital expenditures incurred to comply with COVID-19 executive orders.
Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State.
Increases penalty for certain voting violations from third degree crime to second degree crime when aggravating factors apply.
Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate.
Requires ABC to waive certain alcoholic beverage license renewal fees in response to COVID-19 pandemic; allows municipalities to waive renewal fees.
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.
Requires Governor to transmit budget sustainability statement along with annual budget message.
Requires State Treasurer to issue report concerning New York's taxation of New Jersey residents' income.
Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of residence to second degree crime under certain circumstances.
Clarifies court's discretion in imposing monetary conditions of bail; establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with violent crime be detained prior to trial.
Prohibits mandatory mask use in licensed child care centers.
Prohibits mandatory mask use at youth camps.
Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations.
Permits Legislature to terminate certain declarations by Governor for state of emergency or public health emergency and limits duration of such declarations unless Legislature approves extension.
Broadens riot; enhances penalties for certain crimes committed during riot; creates new crimes of mob intimidation and cyber-intimidation by publication; establishes duty in municipality to permit law enforcement to respond appropriately.
Requires Sexual Assault Response Team to include person trained in interacting with persons with developmental disabilities; designated as "Harrison's Law."
Directs BPU to establish program concerning renewable natural gas; provides gas public utilities with customer rate recovery mechanism for costs associated with program.
Requires certain documentation as proof of voter identity to vote; updates procedures for challenging voters regarding proof of identity.
Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed.
Removes requirement for branch office registration certificates and modernizes requirements to notify State and consumers of locations where dentists provide services.
Prohibits discrimination against corrections workers, first responders, and health care workers who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine or booster.
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.
Authorizes certain individuals to drive Type S school buses.
Authorizes schools to administer commercial driver license exam and other motor vehicle services for school bus drivers.
Requires school districts to allow home-schooled students to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities in the student's resident district.
Permits police officers to travel to and from and remain within police station located within 100 feet of polling place; permits Class Three special law enforcement officers to be assigned to certain polling places.
Allows gross income tax credit for Tax Year 2021.
"Gas Price and Inflation Tax Credit Act."
Requires MVC to issue one license plate instead of two.
Removes diversity and inclusion instruction requirements for students in grades kindergarten through eight.
Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Establishes "Parents Bill of Rights Act"; prohibits school district from interfering with fundamental right of parent or guardian to engage in and direct student's education; permits opt-out of school district curriculum.
Establishes two-year pilot program for persons with disabilities; appropriates $1.5 million.
Provides that certain school districts will receive State school aid in amounts equal to aid provided in 2020-2021 school year.
Increases degree of crime for unlawful taking of motor vehicle.
Creates second degree crime for operation of stolen vehicle in manner that creates risk of injury to person or property.
Requires proof of ownership prior to resale of catalytic converter and upgrades theft of catalytic converter to one degree higher than underlying offense.
Requires school districts to institute policies to improve emergency communications to increase school security.
Requires DOE to establish online school security resource clearinghouse.
Establishes certain shellfish aquaculture activities as eligible for Right to Farm protections.
Establishes crime of gang shoplifting.
Requires any increase in local government costs for employee health care and prescription benefits coverage be offset by equivalent increase in municipal energy tax receipts property tax relief aid.
Prohibits mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 as condition of attending public K-12 schools.
Requires State Board of Education meetings to be accessible virtually and in person.
Restricts all ownership of agricultural land in State by foreign governments and persons.
Prohibits adoption of State and local rules that prohibit use of fossil fuel-powered kitchen appliances.
Requires certain animals used in testing to be offered for adoption; requires establishment of procedures for assessment and disposition of animals; establishes penalties for noncompliance.
Requires State Division of Investment to review pension and annuity fund assets to determine extent to which fund assets are invested in businesses with ties to Chinese government.
Criminalizes unlawful occupancy of dwellings.
Concerns penalties for possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.
Prohibits deepfake pornography and imposes criminal and civil penalties for non-consensual disclosure.
Provides tax credits to small businesses to offset increases in unemployment insurance contributions.
Establishes "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of Individuals."
Credits $2.35 billion to "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund"; appropriates $4.32 billion to Department of Treasury to provide funds to municipalities and counties for debt retirement and avoidance.
Establishes minimum NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for certain out-of-state hospitals that provide services to NJ FamilyCare pediatric beneficiaries.
Requires legislative approval of State Board of Education rules and regulations; repeals equity regulations.