Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
Joseph A. Lagana
Sponsored
Became law10
Requires residential landlords to equip steam radiators with protective covers.
Permits transmittal of certain proposed county ordinances by electronic mail.
Requires public utilities and local units to provide notice prior to initiating certain infrastructure projects.
Requires property condition disclosure statement to indicate presence of lead plumbing in residential property.
Requires public water systems to offer drinking water tests to customers in certain circumstances.
"New Jersey Fair Play Act"; allows collegiate student-athletes to earn compensation for use of name, image, or likeness.
Permits counties and municipalities to bond for alternative fuel vehicles.
Prohibits sale of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals.
Makes $15 million in federal funds available to EDA and New Jersey Council on the Arts to support arts and culture organizations in need.*
Permits prosecutors to enroll in Prosecutors Part of PERS.
Vetoed1
Revises out-of-network arbitration process.
Passed the Senate2
Requires new flooring for schools and child care centers to be certified mercury free.
Expands epinephrine access laws to include epinephrine nasal sprays.
Out of committee17
Prohibits health club services contracts from limiting liability for injuries caused by negligence of health club.
Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are at least 21 years of age to qualify.*
Requires health insurance companies to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger.
Requires publication of certain information related to toll discounts on E-ZPass website.
Upgrades certain crimes of misrepresenting oneself as member or veteran of US Armed Forces or organized militia.
Requires State Treasurer to submit report to Legislature every six months identifying deadlines for applications for federal funds by State agencies.
Requires employers to provide hiring preference to employees who have reached maximum medical improvement following work-related injury.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services.
Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are at least 18 years of age or older to qualify for modified benefit.
Provides temporary exemption under sales and use tax for winterizing certain small business operations.
Requires New Jersey Racing Commission to adopt procedures to enforce internal controls; requires annual audit.
Allows county boards of elections to expand staff and appoint clerk within county budgetary requirements.
Provides for debarment of school bus contractors for certain violations; requires certain information in pupil transportation contract bid.
Creates Office of School Bus Safety in Department of Education; appropriates $200,000. *
Revises violation and fines for approving or assigning unauthorized individuals as school bus drivers.
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA send weekly reports to Commissioner of DOH on status of veterans' homes in State during every future public health emergency; requires such reports through December 31, 2021. *
Revises effective date of "New Jersey Fair Play Act."
In committee73
Authorizes application for dismissal of a "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation " ("SLAPP").
Prohibits firearm possession by persons convicted of certain offenses.
Prohibits medical providers from reporting certain workers' compensation medical charges to collection and credit reporting agencies.
Prohibits leaving loaded firearm within easy access of minor under age of 18; requires law enforcement officers who observe unsecured firearms to conduct follow-up.
Revises certain aspects of out-of-network arbitration process under the "Out-of-network Consumer Protection, Transparency, Cost Containment and Accountability Act."
Requires hospitals to provide breast cancer patients with information concerning reconstructive surgery; prohibits certain provisions in managed care plan contracts.
Provides gross income tax deductions for certain education loan payments made by certain taxpayers.
Provides gross income tax exemption for contributions made to qualified retirement plans.
Provides temporary gross income tax credit to first time home buyers and seniors.
Requires local contracting unit to award local public contract to most responsible bidder.
Requires certain residential property owners, schools, and child care centers to test drinking water for lead every three years.
Requires public water systems to provide customers and local officials with expedited notice of elevated lead levels.
Requires landlords to provide notice to tenants concerning lead in drinking water.
Allows municipalities to establish loan programs to fund replacement of lead service lines.
Provides gross income tax credit to certain taxpayers who pay for certain in-home services through health care service firm.
Increases benefit amounts under New Jersey earned income tax credit program from 40 percent to 50 percent.
Allows gross income tax credit for portion of certain child care expenses.
Requires residential landlords to install protective covers on steam radiators.
Requires boards of education and school bus contractors to designate individuals as certain school bus safety personnel.
Immunizes from civil liability first responders who forcibly enter property to provide emergency assistance.
Requires rate review study of provider reimbursement rates provided by Medicaid and Children's System of Care for pediatric and adult psychiatry services.
Modernizes the distribution of gross income tax refunds by making direct deposit the default distribution method.
Allows modernization for the form of disbursement for certain State government and local unit payments to individuals and business entities.
Appropriates unexpended funds from "1999 Statewide Transportation and Local Bridge Fund" and "New Jersey Bridge Rehabilitation and Improvement and Railroad Right-of-way Preservation Fund of 1989."
Requires NJTA and SJTA to display amount of tolls paid in lanes used for electronic toll collection system, commonly known as E-ZPass.
Exempts customer with account for electronic toll collection system, commonly known as E-ZPass, from certain fees if motor vehicle is stolen.
Directs NJTA and SJTA to apply 10 percent discount to toll payments made by customers having New Jersey electronic toll collection system account in event of motor fuel tax increase; sunsets two years from increase.
Requires NJTA and SJTA to establish temporary amnesty program for fees associated with outstanding unpaid tolls.
"New Jersey Toll Payer Protection Act"; establishes requirements concerning certain toll payment.
Includes self-insured entities and plans under certain provisions of "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act."
Broadens scope of information sharing and civil immunity therefor, related to insurance fraud.
Places $100 cap on amount paid by covered persons for purchase of insulin drugs; requires Division of Consumer Affairs to investigate insulin prices.
Requires filing of certain findings on out-of-network arbitrations and requires Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to conduct surveys and produce certain reports.
Establishes various initiatives to expand availability of medication-assisted treatment.
Permits import of Canadian prescription drugs.
Allows gross income tax deduction for certain qualified charity care services provided by qualified physicians.
Requires opioid antidote dispensation to be monitored under Prescription Monitoring Program, and authorizes certain entities to submit info regarding opioid antidote administration for inclusion in secondary, linked database; designated as "John Wagner's
Establishes task force to study presence of mercury in floors of certain facilities.
Provides tuition reimbursement to certain psychiatrists who contract with DCF.
Establishes gross income tax credit and corporation business tax credit for student loan payments.
Establishes new crime of domestic violence committed in the presence of a child.
Requires applicant for certain firearm permits and identification cards to sign document acknowledging risk associated with having firearm in home.
Provides gross income tax credits to support development of New Jersey-based small business start-ups.
Prohibits SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid from denying coverage for maintenance medications for chronic conditions for covered persons solely because of change in health benefits plan or pharmacy benefits manager.
Authorizes appointment of limited guardian to direct treatment for person with substance use impairment, or involuntary commitment to treatment when substance use disorder poses imminent danger to self, others, or property.
Provides for establishment of internal Statewide discharge planning list to facilitate prompt and efficient discharge and transfer of patients with mental health or substance use disorders from hospitals to community-based residential facilities.
Establishes criminal penalties for sale and possession of binary firearm triggers.
Adds to property tax levy cap exclusions increases in flood insurance premiums.
Prohibits disclosure of certain religious affiliation information by State or local government agencies.
Establishes State to oversee application for and receipt of federal funds Ombudsman by State agencies.
Requires State Auditor review of certain Department of Corrections privatization contracts.
Provides that criminal history record checks for employees of nonpublic schools are mandatory.
Extends certain benefits to veterans who received a badge, medal, or ribbon for serving in federal military campaign or expedition.
Requires Medicaid coverage for testing and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.
Requires insurance coverage for testing and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.
Authorizes Attorney General to use forfeiture funds for public health response during certain declared emergencies.
Authorizes local units to temporarily make special emergency appropriations for COVID-19 response.
Requires institutions of higher education to send out annual student debt letters; requires students enrolled in public institutions of higher education to complete course on student loan debt repayment.
Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to reduce monthly loan repayment for New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) loan borrowers who have child enrolled in Grow NJ Kids-rated child care program.
Provides veterans with up to 60 credits tuition-free at county college serving county of residence.
Directs Commissioner of Education to develop sexual assault prevention training program for high school athletic directors and coaches of interscholastic sports programs.
Clarifies that violation of "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act" results in loss of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in certain circumstances; provides certain coverage for innocent persons in event of fraudulent actions by policyholders.
Requires all new State buildings to have solar or geothermal energy systems, where feasible.
Establishes guardianship monitoring program in Office of the Public Guardian for Elderly Adults.
Directs AOC to establish implicit bias training for judges and judicial personnel.
Requires suspension of certification of homemaker-home health aides under certain circumstances; designated as "Maria's Law."
Permits emergency medical technicians to administer certain vaccines during certain declared public health emergencies.
Requires DEP to make certain information regarding water purveyors available on its Internet website.
Prohibits the sale of certain children's products containing lead, mercury, or cadmium.
Requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to design and make available to public a webinar on TDI, family temporary disability leave, and family leave.
Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for cost of certain spoiled products resulting from service outage more than 72 hours after end of storm.
Makes $1.3 billion in federal funds available to DEP for use in New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program for lead service line replacement projects.
Requires DMVA to develop mobile application to provide guidance on available resources to veterans and their families.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law11
Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are at least 21 years of age to qualify.*
Upgrades certain crimes of misrepresenting oneself as member or veteran of US Armed Forces or organized militia.
Requires State Treasurer to submit report to Legislature every six months identifying deadlines for applications for federal funds by State agencies.
Requires employers to provide hiring preference to employees who have reached maximum medical improvement following work-related injury.
Requires institutions of higher education to provide students with access to mental health care programs and services and to establish a hotline to provide information concerning the availability of those services.
Expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program to allow taxpayers who are at least 18 years of age or older to qualify for modified benefit.
Creates Office of School Bus Safety in Department of Education; appropriates $200,000. *
Allows county boards of elections to expand staff and appoint clerk within county budgetary requirements.
Revises violation and fines for approving or assigning unauthorized individuals as school bus drivers.
Provides for debarment of school bus contractors for certain violations; requires certain information in pupil transportation contract bid.
Requires Adjutant General of DMVA send weekly reports to Commissioner of DOH on status of veterans' homes in State during every future public health emergency; requires such reports through December 31, 2021. *
Vetoed2
Provides temporary exemption under sales and use tax for winterizing certain small business operations.
Requires New Jersey Racing Commission to adopt procedures to enforce internal controls; requires annual audit.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 24
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.*
Expands requirement of health insurers and Medicaid program to cover prescriptions for contraceptives for up to 12 months. **
Reopens Workers Compensation Judges Part of PERS and requires Workers' Compensation Judges to be enrolled in PERS.*
Prohibits provision or sale of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products; limits provision of single-use plastic straws; appropriates moneys from Clean Communities Program Fund for public
Requires public water systems to provide notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water to customers and local officials; requires landlords to notify tenants of elevated lead levels.
"Healthy Terminals Act"; requires certain airport and train station workers to be paid certain wage rates and benefits.*
Provides retirement allowance after 20 years of service regardless of age for current members of PFRS who retire within two years.*
Allows member of Board of Public Utilities to serve in unsalaried State government office.
Excludes Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation.
Repeals family cap in Work First New Jersey program.
Revises requirements for health insurance providers and Medicaid to cover services provided using telemedicine and telehealth; appropriates $5 million.*
Establishes minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes.*
Allows municipalities to designate outdoor areas upon which people may consume alcoholic beverages.
Codifies same-sex marriage in the statutes.
Revises and expands authorization for any person or entity to obtain, distribute, and administer opioid antidotes.**
Permits expungement of possession or distribution of hypodermic syringe or needle offense in cases of previous expungement; repeals criminal offense of possession of syringe.
Adds two public members to State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and prohibits licensure for individuals convicted of certain offenses.*
Makes $25 million in federal funds available to EDA to support microbusinesses in need.*
Requires institutions of higher education to provide certain student loan information.
Provides financial relief to certain landlords and tenants in response to COVID-19 pandemic, adjusts certain court fees; and makes appropriations. *
Concerns liability of certain non-profit and governmental employers for unemployment benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency. *
Makes $135 million in federal funds available to EDA to support eligible entities impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
Makes changes to film and digital media content production tax credit program.
Vetoed · 3
Concerns emergency unemployment benefits and shared work benefits.
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Establishes Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund and Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council; provides for funds received from opioid settlements to support substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs.
Passed the Senate · 8
Requires school bus driver's complete motor vehicle driving record be shared with board of education or school bus contractor and local police.
Provides that purchase of insulin is not subject to deductible and requires health insurers to limit copayments and coinsurance for insulin.**
Prohibits gender-based price discrimination.
Establishes the "COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission."
Expands definition of landlords required to provide receipt for rent cash payment made by tenant.
Exempts honorably discharged veterans from payment of passenger motor vehicle registration fee; requires notification of eligible motorists.
Requires DEP to develop and implement electric school bus program; provides for $15 million in first year and $15 million annually in subsequent two years to DEP, subject to availability, to provide grants.*
Allows deduction from New Jersey gross income of certain capital gains from sale or exchange of New Jersey qualified small business stock held for more than five years.
Out of committee · 54
Requires property condition disclosure statement to include questions concerning lead plumbing and lead service lines; requires lead service lines to be replaced upon sale of residential property. *
Expands scope of law prohibiting age discrimination.
Establishes NJ Fuel Cell Task Force to increase use of fuel cells in State.
Establishes Prescription Drug Affordability Board; appropriates $1 million. *
Requires health benefits coverage for adolescent depression screenings.
Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for removal of lead, asbestos, sodium, chloride, and other contaminants from taxpayer's property.**
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability. *
Establishes "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program."
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.**
Excludes unemployment benefits paid during coronavirus pandemic state of emergency from calculation of employer unemployment contributions and payments in lieu of contributions.
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for adult medical day care services.
Requires long-term care facilities and hospitals to maintain minimum supply of personal protective equipment..**
Establishes successor program to solar renewable energy certificate program in BPU, including solicitation process for certain solar power generation facilities.**
Establishes minimum wage requirements for certain long-term care facility staff; establishes direct care ratio requirements for nursing homes; requires nursing home care rate study.**
Revises licensure, operational, and reporting requirements for nursing homes.*
Prohibits disclosure of certain personal information of active, formely active, and retired judicial officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, and their family members; establishes crime and civil action for disclosing such information.*
Requires DOH to publish total number of COVID-19 deaths and cases in long-term care facilities.**
Requires State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to establish long-term care advocacy and educational training program.
Requires certain insurers to provide summary concerning business interruption insurance.*
Allows current and former judicial officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers and certain family or household members to register to vote without disclosing residential address; prohibits public disclosure of that information.
Allows corporations and certain financial institutions to hold remote shareholder meetings. *
Provides gross income tax deduction to surviving spouses of certain veterans.
Requires BPU to post on its website report from public utility on public utility's capital investments in response to petition from public utility to increase rates.
Requires public community water systems to inventory and replace lead service lines within 10 years; provides for recoupment of costs by investor-owned public water systems. *
Allows certain taxpayers to accelerate depreciation of certain expenditures under corporation business and gross income taxes. *
Requires certain transportation research to consider needs of individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
Requires DOT, NJT, and DHS to study and implement transportation mobility and accessibility improvements for persons with autism and developmental disabilities. *
Removes restrictions on special assessments and bond issuances for replacement of residential lead service lines; revises budgetary requirements for operators of certain water systems.*
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.*
Increases income eligibility limits for PAAD program and Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program by $10,000.
Establishes permanent unit in Office of Emergency Management to address access and functional needs of residents related to disasters and emergencies.
Provides tax credits to qualified small employers in industries impacted by COVID-19 emergency.
Permits dependents of military member to enroll in school district in advance of military member's relocation to district.
Permits spouses and dependents of military service members to qualify for in-State tuition in event that service member is transferred to another state.
Requires certain health insurers, Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, SHBP, and SEHBP to cover opioid antidote without imposing prior authorization requirements. *
Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to publish retail price of certain opioid antidotes.
Concerns sign fabrication and prevailing wage requirements. *
Requires administrator and assistant administrator at State veterans' memorial home have prior work experience in clinical setting.
Requires DMVA veterans' memorial homes to communicate with veterans' guardians via at least two communication means.
Allows veteran's guardian to remove veteran from DMVA veterans' memorial home under certain emergency circumstances.
Requires DMVA veterans' memorial homes to hold quarterly town hall meetings with veterans' guardians.
Requires position of resident advocate at each State veterans' memorial home.
Requires DMVA veterans' facilities provide payroll-based journal information to NJ Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Requires Director of Division of Veterans' Healthcare Services in DMVA to have prior clinical and long-term care experience.
Concerns enforcement of employee misclassification and stop-work order laws.
Creates "Office of Strategic Enforcement and Compliance" in DOLWD; appropriates $1 million from General Fund.
Streamlines identification of employee misclassification.
Provides partial pension and retirement income exclusion for taxpayers with income between $100,000 and $150,000.
Awards project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for school security projects in certain school districts; appropriates $66,173,243.
Awards project grants under "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" for water infrastructure projects in certain school districts; appropriates $6,608,212.
Provides project grants under "Securing Our Children's Fund" for career and technical education expansion in county vocational school districts; appropriates $222,904,769.
Establishes "New Jersey Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund," appropriates $3.7 billion.
In committee · 35
Revises certain permissible rating factors for premiums charged for individual and small employer health benefits plans.
Requires reporting of opioid deaths.
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
Upgrades certain types of assault against sports officials to aggravated assault.
"Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties.
Requires public water systems to compile, and submit to DEP, lead service line inventories.
Changes eligibility of Workers' Compensation Judges and Administrative Law Judges from DCRP to PERS.
Restricts use of restrictive employment covenants for physicians and nurses.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Establishes COVID-19 Frontline Mental Health Claims Program in Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in DHS and makes appropriation.
Requires Office of Information Technology to establish centralized, one-stop website resource guide to assist persons in navigating the State's developmental disability service system.
Provides that effective date of unemployment claim is date on which individual becomes unemployed.
Appropriates $10 million to EDA to assist certain nonprofit arts and cultural organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Prohibits posting or publishing on Internet home address or telephone number of certain judges and prosecutors.
Directs Attorney General to establish program for anonymous reporting of potential threats to school safety.
Appropriates $5 million to EDA to assist certain event-related businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Establishes certain guidelines for health insurance carriers concerning step therapy protocols.
Requires long-term care facilities to annually review residents' proxy directives.
Permits certified medical assistants to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.
Permits paramedics to administer vaccines during outbreaks of communicable diseases.
Creates Veterans' Memorial Homes Oversight Board.
Permits emergency medical responders to dispense opioid antidotes.
Prohibits Internet service providers from increasing service rates during public health emergency or state of emergency; requires Internet service providers to notify subscribers six months in advance of service rate increase.
Establishes Office of Statewide Mobility Manager to assist individuals with autism and their families with transportation and mobility needs.
Directs DOE to request waiver of certain student academic assessment requirements from federal government.
Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to the use of legalized cannabis items.
Provides tax credits to small employers that rehire employees laid off for reasons of economy due to COVID-19 public health emergency.
Provides electric public utility customers' right to decline installation of smart meter under certain circumstances.
Prohibits public utilities from discontinuing residential electric, gas, water, and sewer service after expiration of coronavirus public health emergency; requires those utilities to implement deferred payment agreements for those services.
Requires use of small pharmacies to facilitate State response to public health emergencies, including administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Requires provision in municipal solid waste collection contracts to hold bidder responsible for collection of solid waste.
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to develop career and education guide for postsecondary students disabilities.
Authorizes issuance of Operation Desert Storm license plates.
Makes $2.5 million in federal funds available to EDA to support veteran-owned businesses in need.
Revises conditions for use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement.
Filed · 14
Allows member of Board of Public Utilities to serve as board member of New Jersey Transit Corporation.
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 and for telemedicine and telehealth during coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency.
Creates "Temporary Lost Wage Unemployment Program;" allows persons to claim for lost wages due to coronavirus disease 2019, and employers to pay wages to workers ordered under quarantine by licensed healthcare practitioner; appropriates $20,000,000.
Provides enhanced penalty for distribution of counterfeit drugs and medical devices during declared states of emergency.
Requires written notification to parent or guardian of person under age 18 who commits first offense of unlawfully buying or possessing alcoholic beverages or cannabis.
Requires law enforcement to provide written notification to parent or guardian of person under age 18 who commits first offense of unlawfully possessing or consuming alcoholic beverage, cannabis, marijuana or hashish.
Permits dentists to administer vaccines under certain circumstances.
Establishes Asian American Pacific Islander Commission.
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.