Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
James Beach
Sponsored
Became law5
Changes date of 2020 primary election from June 2 to July 7.
Creates office of deputy superintendent of elections in counties of fifth class.
Authorizes Secretary of State and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to share voter and motor vehicle information with state-based non-profit organization for maintaining accuracy of voter registration information.
Appropriates $16,380,595 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses.
Removes requirement for promulgation by Governor of national census.
Vetoed1
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.
Passed the Senate5
Bars nondisclosure agreements to settle sexual assault and harassment claims against certain State officers and employees and members of Legislature; bars use of campaign funds to settle claims.*
Raises pay for election workers to $300 per day; appropriates $7,000,000 to Department of State. ***
Prohibits public school students and employees from immediately returning to school after traveling to certain places during public health emergencies.*
Allows registered voters to submit application to vote by mail using online voter registration website maintained by Secretary of State up to seven days before election.
Allows county board of elections to determine location of certain ballot drop boxes by majority vote of its members under certain circumstances.*
Out of committee26
Creates "New Jersey Life Sciences Internship Challenge" program.
Requires DCA to approve credentialing entity to develop and administer voluntary recovery residence certification program.*
Includes crime of creating false public alarms as form of bias intimidation.
"New Jersey Works Act"; Permits businesses to create pre-employment training programs in partnership with nonprofit organizations or educational institutions; provides tax credit to businesses that provide financial assistance to pre-employment training p
Designates 9-1-1 operators or dispatchers as 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
Allows alcoholic beverages to be consumed outdoors in Atlantic City Tourism District.
Authorizes DOT to establish and administer toll collection and enforcement system on behalf of NJ toll authorities and to enter into reciprocal agreements for enforcement of toll violations with toll authorities from other states.*
Provides county clerks with additional week to mail ballots for 2020 primary election; requires ballot position draw to occur one day early if statutory date falls on holiday.*
Permits county clerk or register of deeds and mortgages to issue identification card to Gold Star Family Member.
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to advertise and promote tours of breweries in the State.
Requires DMVA notify certain veteran organizations and county officers of names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries.*
Allows veteran or personal representative to withdraw honorable discharge papers from county clerk.
Prohibits discrimination against living organ donors in relation to life, health, and long-term care insurance.
Revises permit and license processes for sports pools operators and online sports pool operators; revises definitions of certain sports events; allows for transactional waiver for sports wagering lounge.
Creates grant program to encourage school districts to partner with institutions of higher education in training school-based mental health services providers.
Establishes Student Wellness Grant Program in DOE.
Requires DCF to give priority to certain school districts with student mental health counseling centers in awarding grants under School Based Youth Services Program.
Permits county board of elections to open inner envelopes containing mail-in ballots up to five days prior to election day.
Permits State and county boards of election to purchase or lease decommissioned letter collection boxes for use as ballot drop boxes.
Appropriates $11,777,499 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses.
Increases fee for New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp.*
Prohibits appeal of land use decision related to holding meeting electronically.
Makes $25 million in federal funds available to Department of State for travel and tourism advertising and promotion recovery from COVID-19 pandemic. *
Makes supplemental appropriation of $90,000 to Department of State to support statue of "Jersey" Joe Walcott. *
Permits employment of police officers without examination prior to taking training course and provides for veterans hiring preference in certain cases.
Appropriates $37,174,636.71 from "New Jersey Library Construction Fund" to provide grants for construction, reconstruction, development, extension, improvement, and furnishing of New Jersey's public libraries.
In committee113
Creates a civil cause of action for stalking.
Provides that information technology professionals who find child pornography on computers must report the finding to law enforcement.
Establishes "School Bus Safety and Child Protection Act," requires periodic criminal background checks for certain school employees; and prohibits interference with school bus monitoring devices.
Increases penalties for failing to secure a child in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat while operating a motor vehicle.
Expands school breakfast program to all schools with 5% or more of students eligible for free or reduced price meals.
Requires public school student with concussion to be evaluated by physician or other licensed health care provider before return to school and return to physical activity at school.
Establishes new crime of domestic violence committed in the presence of a child.
"New Voter Empowerment Act"; permits 17 year olds to vote in primary election if they turn 18 years old before next succeeding general election.
Establishes Commission on Career and Technical Education and creates initiatives that promote career and technical education programs in State.
Creates grant program for business accelerator and incubator networks; transfers $1 million in societal benefits charge revenues to EDA to administer program.
Bars sex offenders from jobs which primarily consist of contact with children.
Establishes Gold Star Family Scholarship Program; appropriates $100,000 from General Fund to Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Allows certain members of PFRS to serve until age 70 upon approval by municipal governing body.
Directs Department of Agriculture to establish Jersey Fresh sales pilot program; appropriates $500,000.
Expands eligibility for tax credits for development of qualified wind energy facilities.
Requires certain special law enforcement officers to be under 65 years of age.
Clarifies that school district is not required to restrict access to school meals if school meal bill is in arrears.
Requires State to use certain energy-efficient outdoor lighting fixtures.
"Compounding Pharmacy Quality Assurance Act"; requires accreditation of compounding pharmacies.
Establishes procedures for determining enforceability of standard form contracts; invalidates certain indemnification clauses.
Requires counties to make available voluntary medical identification cards containing relevant patient health information.
Exempts certain plenary winery licensees from filing requirements imposed on retail sellers of litter-generating products.
Establishes social innovation loan guarantee pilot program and study commission within New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority concerning opioid and other substance use disorders.
Provides for receipts for applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Provides that children under care, custody or supervision of DCPP may not be home-schooled.
Prohibits pharmacies from charging additional fee for processing prescriptions transmitted by telephone or electronic means.
Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 24 hours.
Provides credits under corporation business tax and gross income tax for qualified wages of certain disabled veterans.
"Tipped Wage Worker Protection Act."
Establishes a gross income tax credit for attendance at New Jersey county colleges.
Extends gross income tax medical expense deduction to certain cord blood banking services.
"Holocaust Reparations Tax Exemption Act"; exempts value of certain payments to Holocaust survivors and their eligible descendants from transfer inheritance tax.
Increases flexibility, clarity, and available tools of certain municipal consolidation processes.
Concerns certain actions brought under "Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act."
"Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act"; doubles pension amounts for beneficiaries of certain deceased volunteer emergency service providers; provides for burial expenses and adjusts life insurance coverage for volunteer firefighters; permits fire code
Includes e-mail addresses in list of confidential items to be redacted from public records under OPRA.
Enhances requirements for applicant seeking to locate substance use disorder treatment center within 500 feet of school.
Permits juror donation of statutory juror compensation to New Jersey Vet2Vet Hotline program.
Prohibits distribution to students of literature that promotes, favors, or opposes candidacy of any candidate for election at any general, municipal, or school election.
"The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.
Requires local recreation departments and youth serving organizations to have defibrillators for youth athletic events.
Requires certain ratios of school library media specialist to students in public schools.
Requires public institutions of higher education to waive or reimburse application fees and transcript fees for veterans and members of the military.
Regulates pay-off of trade-in vehicles and certain vehicle title releases.
Prohibits private correctional facilities from detaining persons pursuant to agreement with federal immigration authorities.
Permits sale of certain alcoholic beverages and related products at seasonal farm markets.
Prohibits sex offenders from holding any job, position, or type of employment that primarily consists of contact with children.
Makes all persons convicted of sexual assault subject to the No Early Release Act; specifies that any use of force elevates sexual assault to aggravated sexual assault.
Makes various changes to law governing winery salesrooms.
Requires Sexual Assault Response Team to include person trained in interacting with persons with developmental disabilities; designated as "Harrison's Law."
Permits qualified person with post-traumatic stress disorder to obtain handicapped parking placard.
Requires dealership to notify buyers of recalls on used motor vehicles for sale.
Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their name and telephone number on any caller identification service.
Allows Chief Administrator of MVC to enter into cooperative arrangements with foreign countries for reciprocal recognition of certain motor vehicle driver licenses.
Requires hospitals to inquire whether patients have substance use disorder and establish protocols for providing or referring to treatment.
Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs.
Permits patients to indicate that they should not be prescribed opiates and certain other controlled substances in prescription monitoring program information.
Establishes trail signage program for alcohol manufacturers in New Jersey.
Creates task force to study feasibility of paperless State government.
Requires certain places of public assembly to have automated external defibrillator on-site.
Requires Division of Developmental Disabilities to make comprehensive list of its programs available to public.
Requires State to use at least half of future federal "Help America Vote Act" funds for voting systems with paper record.
Requires mail-in ballot applications be available at polling places on election day for voting in future elections.
Establishes "New Jersey Elections Security Act."
Expands eligibility for veterans' civil service preference; creates additional preference benefits.
Requires insurance coverage of epinephrine for persons aged 18 or younger when medically necessary.
Requires dealerships to notify buyers of recalls on used motor vehicles for sales; limits attorneys' fees in certain consumer actions.
Invalidates consumer contracts which require a waiver of right to file a consumer complaint.
Prohibits investment of pension and annuity funds by State in entities that avoid Superfund obligations to State.
Creates New Jersey Cold War medal.
Creates gallery space on State House grounds for display of certain art works.
Makes consent to register with Selective Service part of driver's license application process for males under age 26.
Amends "Law Against Discrimination" to provide every person engaged in raising a dog for guide or service the right to access public facilities.
Directs Secretary of State to develop national marketing campaign promoting State's innovation economy.
Makes six-month driver license suspension optional penalty for casino gambling by person under legal age of 21.
Clarifies certain responsibilities of licensed wineries and retail salesrooms.
Permits wineries to operate salesrooms in certain municipalities with restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside; restricts locations of certain child care centers and school bus stops.
Revises certain licensee filing requirements for alcoholic beverage price lists; removes requirement that limited brewery and distillery licensees provide tour when selling certain alcoholic beverages to consumers.
Authorizes temporary waiver from requirement that farm winery use NJ grown fruit.
Exempts certain health information contained in 9-1-1 calls from definition of government record.
Prohibits snowplow operators from depositing snow in front of certain access points used by persons with disabilities.
Requires annual General Fund appropriation to DMVA for purposes of base realignment and closure.
Establishes pilot program in DOE to use therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs.
Makes pilot program for special occasion events at wineries on preserved farmland permanent program.
Authorizes certain restaurants to advertise that patrons may bring their own beer or wine or purchase wine from on premises salesroom.
"Atlantic City Urban Enterprise Zone and Property Tax Relief Act"; creates urban enterprise zone in Atlantic City for 10 years.
Requires New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to require criminal history records check for person to serve as official at athletic events sanctioned by association.
Provides same military service credit for compensation purposes to noncertificated employees of school districts that is provided to certificated employees under current law.
Creates pilot program to fund adult education programs for residents of certain communities.
Requires MVC to check Social Security Administration records and mark deceased individuals in MVC database once per month.
Allows a gross income tax deduction for certain higher education tuition and fee expenses.
Provides primary and school election sample ballots may be sent to registered voter by electronic mail if so requested.
Provides free or reduced fee beach access to certain New Jersey National Guard members.
"One Strike, You're Ours;" adds use of Internet as aggravating factor in child sex crimes and requires lifetime electronic monitoring of offender.
Permits persons who are hearing impaired to apply for vehicle identification placards.
Permits certain mental health professionals working in school districts to refer or help facilitate referral of students to private professional counselors.
Revises and updates law pertaining to guardianship to encourage ethical conduct by guardians and to provide stronger protections for wards and proposed wards.
Revises and updates law pertaining to conservatorship to encourage ethical conduct by conservators and to provide stronger protections for conservatees and proposed conservatees.
Revises certain requirements concerning reported cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
Revises requirements concerning disqualification from registration as, and duties of, a professional guardian.
Requires residential psychiatric and long-term care facilities to provide certain financial information to facility residents and other individuals.
Reduces allowed diversion of funds from stormwater, water, and sewer purposes to municipal and county budgets; requires municipalities and counties to notify Division of Local Government Services of diversions.
Permits DOC and DCF to award contracts for medical and dental services to vendors.
Permits wagering by business entities with horse racing and sports pool operators.
Establishes "Zero Energy Construction Act"; requires all new residential and commercial developments to be zero energy ready; requires developers to offer zero energy construction.
Increases dedication of certain revenues to "New Jersey Wine Promotion Account."
Requires county boards of health to ensure on-site COVID-19 vaccines are available to persons age 65 and older residing in certain facilities; appropriates $2 million.
Requires cable television, direct broadcast satellite, and television streaming service companies to include certain fees and charges for service in advertised price to consumers.
Requires DOH to disseminate information on seizure first-aid to employers.
Increases accidental death benefit for surviving spouse or surviving children of certain PERS members and retirants; provides accidental death benefit to beneficiary of certain PERS and PFRS members and retirants; redefines child.
Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions.
Permits exemption from civil service examination requirement for entry-level county sheriff's officer.
Filed2
Allows public bodies to conduct meetings, and provide notice, by electronic means during periods of emergency.
Allows county board of elections to determine location of certain ballot drop boxes under certain circumstances.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law17
Allows alcoholic beverages to be consumed outdoors in Atlantic City Tourism District.
Revises permit and license processes for sports pools operators and online sports pool operators; revises definitions of certain sports events; allows for transactional waiver for sports wagering lounge.
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to advertise and promote tours of breweries in the State.
Provides county clerks with additional week to mail ballots for 2020 primary election; requires ballot position draw to occur one day early if statutory date falls on holiday.*
Allows veteran or personal representative to withdraw honorable discharge papers from county clerk.
Prohibits discrimination against living organ donors in relation to life, health, and long-term care insurance.
Designates 9-1-1 operators or dispatchers as 9-1-1 first responder dispatchers.
Allows public bodies to conduct meetings, and provide notice, by electronic means during periods of emergency.
Increases fee for NJ Waterfowl Stamps.
Creates grant program to encourage school districts to partner with institutions of higher education in training school-based mental health services providers.
Establishes Student Wellness Grant Program in DOE.
Requires DCF to give priority to certain school districts with student mental health counseling centers in awarding grants under School Based Youth Services Program.
Prohibits appeal of land use decision related to holding meeting electronically.
Appropriates $11,777,499 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses.
Allows county board of elections to determine location of certain ballot drop boxes under certain circumstances.**
Makes $25 million in federal funds available to Department of State for travel and tourism advertising and promotion for recovery from COVID-19 pandemic. **
Appropriates $37,174,636.71 from "New Jersey Library Construction Fund" to provide grants for construction, reconstruction, development, extension, improvement, and furnishing of New Jersey's public libraries.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 10
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.*
"New Jersey Buy American Act"; requires certain State agency highway and bridge construction contracts to include iron and steel products made in U.S.
"New Jersey Fair Play Act"; allows collegiate student-athletes to earn compensation for use of name, image, or likeness.
Grants reciprocity to teachers with certain out-of-state certificates.
Allows student enrolled in institution of higher education who has completed 30 semester-hour credits to serve as substitute teacher; extends time period substitute teacher may serve during public health emergency.*
Establishes regional municipal court pilot program.
Requires continuation of live horse racing for standardbred racetracks holding sports wagering license.
Increases purchasing threshold permitting Director of Division of Purchase and Property to delegate authority to agencies; increases bid advertising threshold on certain contracts by same scale*.
Allows alternative evaluation in place of basic skills testing requirements for certain teacher certification.
Concerns apprenticeship programs of public works contractors.
Vetoed · 1
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Passed the Senate · 8
Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program.**
Allows installation of residential solar energy systems prior to obtaining construction permit or interconnection approval during COVID-19 emergency.
Allows public libraries, boards of education, and local governments to dispose of certain personal property without advertising for bids. *
Directs NJ Department of Agriculture to request necessary waivers from US Department of Agriculture to provide food and meals during school closures due to COVID-19 public health emergency.
Establishes the "COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission."
Establishes program for certain individuals to become certified nursing assistants and provide private duty nursing services to certain Medicaid enrollees under increased reimbursement rates.
Revises permitting thresholds for certain types of development requiring CAFRA permit from DEP.
Establishes Helmets to Hardhats program in the DMVA; appropriates $400,000.
Out of committee · 24
Requires use of email for certain community notification under Megan's law.*
Establishes "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" within Department of Treasury to provide funding for grants to counties to support tourism advertising and promotion.
Establishes task force to examine public school programs and services designed to address student mental health.
Restricts authority to terminate reciprocal personal income tax agreements with other states.
Requires student representative be appointed to each board of education of school district and board of trustees of charter school that includes grades nine through 12. *
Authorizes sharing of municipal court administrator under "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act."
Creates "Economic Gardening Program" in Department of State to provide customized services to certain businesses.
Establishes "Electronic Permit Processing Review System."
Requires county boards of election to establish ballot drop boxes in each county at least 45 days before election; revises procedures concerning mail-in ballots for 2020 general election.**
Establishes "Student Mental Health Task Force." *
Requires Internet websites and web services of school districts, charter schools, renaissance schools, and the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf to be accessible to persons with disabilities. *
The "New Jersey Social Innovation Act"; establishes social innovation loan pilot program and study commission within EDA.
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.
Requires State agencies to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities and on mobile devices.
Reduces alcoholic beverage tax rate on cider and low-percentage alcohol by volume liquors.
Eliminates one percent tax on purchasers of Class 4A commercial property transferred for consideration in excess of $1 million.
Changes deadline for New Jersey Racing Commission's annual report from end of calendar year to end of State fiscal year.
Allows certain voters residing overseas to vote in certain elections in this State depending on overseas residency or intent to return. *
Requires certain health insurers, Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, SHBP, and SEHBP to cover opioid antidote without imposing prior authorization requirements. *
Extends period of municipal stabilization and recovery, with certain modifications, under "Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act."
Establishes State supplement for "breakfast after the bell" meals.
Provides supplemental appropriations of $20 million for loan redemption program and tuition reimbursement program for certain teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Prohibits circumventing intergovernmental transfer process for law enforcement officers in certain circumstances.
Includes duct cleaning as maintenance work subject to the prevailing wage law.
In committee · 35
Expands eligibility to receive the veterans' property tax deduction and the veterans' property tax exemption.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
"Consumer Freedom From Unwanted Expense in Health Insurance Coverage Act."
"Combat to College Act"; grants priority course registration to military service members and veterans attending public institutions of higher education.
Requires court to consider results of domestic violence assessment before dissolving certain domestic violence restraining orders.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Requires State reimbursement to municipalities of cost of disabled veterans' total property tax exemption.
Creates New Jersey Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act.
Permits school bus driver to administer epinephrine to student in emergency under certain circumstances.
Directs Attorney General to provide annual training to public and nonpublic school students and staff on roles and responsibilities before, during, and after school emergencies.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Establishes Animal Cruelty Offender Registry; prohibits purchase, adoption, and breeding of animals by animal cruelty offenders.
Requires DOH to approve credentialing entity to develop and administer a voluntary recovery residence certification program.
Establishes "Atlantic City International Airport Spaceport Feasibility Study Commission."
Provides anti-stigmatization protections to public school student whose school breakfast or school lunch bill is in arrears and requires school district to communicate about arrearages to parent and not to student.
Requires school district to establish "School Meal Fund" to assist students with school meal bill in arrears.
Establishes Task Force on Safety in School Transportation.
Establishes "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" in Department of Education.
Establishes the four-year "New Jersey Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Pilot Program" in DOE to fund non-traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs for students in grades K through 8.
Allows person with implanted medical device to voluntarily make notation on driver's license or identification card.
"Food Desert Elimination Act"; provides incentives to supermarkets and grocery stores that locate in "food deserts."
Requires school districts take certain actions to increase participation in free or reduced priced meal programs; prohibits shaming students with school meal bills in arrears; prohibits certain district actions in collecting unpaid school meal fees.
Provides tax credits to vineyards and wineries for qualified capital expenses.
Establishes the "Domestic Violence Tuition Waiver Program."
"Retrofitted Green Building Tax Credit Act."
"Green Building Tax Credit Act."
Eliminates veterans' gross income tax deduction requirement that New Jersey National Guard member serve in federal active duty status.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Requires refunds for payments made to venues for events canceled due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and caps additional venue charges at no more than rate of inflation for rescheduled events.
Establishes certain guidelines for health insurance carriers concerning step therapy protocols.
Expands crime of bias intimidation; establishes additional penalties for crimes of bias intimidation, harassment, and cyber-harassment; establishes bias intimidation motivation damages.
Establishes summer transition pilot program for rising kindergarten students who meet certain criteria.
Requires DMVA establish Veterans Outdoor Recovery Task Force.
Establishes temporary COVID-19 Family Relief Assistance Office in DHS; appropriates $10 million.
Establishes Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as principal department in Executive Branch and specifies functions, powers, and duties of department.
Filed · 11
"Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act"; requires certain school meal information be provided to students' parents; establishes protocols for identifying eligible students for meal programs; prohibits stigmatizing student with bill in arrears.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
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.
The "New Jersey Social Innovation Act"; establishes social innovation loan pilot program and study commission within EDA.