Bills in the 2022–2023 Session, Senate.
Holly T. Schepisi
Sponsored
Became law1
Allows certain municipal water systems, under certain circumstances, to use lands preserved for recreation and conservation for drinking water wells and associated treatment equipment or facilities.
Out of committee2
Revises emergency care services referral standards for providers of telemedicine and telehealth.
Authorizes establishment of regional economic development partnerships.
In committee54
Establishes "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission."
Authorizes municipal challenge to non-redevelopment housing projects ordered by COAH unless order is based on exclusionary zoning; excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis; provides housing obligation cap.
Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations.
Requires DCA to collect information about State residents seeking affordable housing in State and provide that information to COAH.
Requires COAH to calculate affordable housing obligations on Statewide basis.
Regulates the authority of the court to make provision for the educational expenses of an unemancipated child in certain instances involving child support.
Provides electric public utility customers' right to decline installation of smart meter under certain circumstances.
Upgrades simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against registered security officer.
Enhances "Crime Victim's Bill of Rights"; prohibits defendant from entering crime victim's home throughout criminal justice process, including in relation to any investigation or discovery.
"Personal Injury Trust Fund Transparency Act;" requires plaintiff to file personal injury trust claims under certain circumstances; addresses allocation of trust claims; establishes scheduling and discovery requirements for certain tort actions.
Provides gross income tax deduction for certain moving expenses for taxpayer moving to New Jersey to commence work in State.
Exempts personal identifying information of minor from disclosure in public record; requires information to be redacted.
Requires business entity that was issued or applied for certain permit or license to file annual disclosure statement with ELEC; requires annual disclosure statement for certain businesses that make contributions to independent expenditure committees.
Establishes procedures for disqualification from public office or employment upon conviction of certain crimes; creates registry.
Directs DCA to establish online database of affordable housing settlement agreements and other declaratory judgment actions.
Prohibits imposition of builder's remedy in exclusionary zoning litigation.
Establishes Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Allows municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for their residents.
Prohibits certain property from receiving property tax exemption or abatement.
Prohibits affordable housing obligation exemptions for urban aid municipalities.
Requires COAH to administer affordable housing obligations of municipalities based on Statewide obligation.
Requires additional credit against fair share obligation for abandoned property converted to affordable housing.
Increases maximum municipal percentage of affordable fair share housing satisfied by age-restricted units to 50 percent.
Requires DEP and owners of certain reservoirs to implement certain flood control measures; authorizes Office of Emergency Management to order lowering of reservoirs levels in response to severe weather events.
Requires exterior exit doors in school buildings to remain unlocked from egress side and locked from access side at all times.
Permits patient visitation in licensed health care facilities if consistent with federal or State law.
Limits amount of real property that may be exempt from property taxation under "Long Term Tax Exemption Law."
Requires Legislature to approve concurrent resolution settlements of over $10 million or more of claims for damages against the State.
Prohibits teaching staff members from inputting information and conversations regarding individually identifiable health information into third party software applications managed by entities engaging in partisan political activity.
Prohibits court from requiring victim of sexual assault to submit to or undergo gynecological or certain physical examinations.
Extends eligibility for short-term financial assistance under Transitional Aid to Localities program to municipalities that lose a major commercial ratable.
Concerns vaccine mandates and eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain health care workers.
Creates offense of making false child abuse report; permits assessment of penalty.
Provides that organ donor designation on driver's license or identification card remains upon renewal of license or card under certain circumstances.
Directs State Board of Education to rescind New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education and directs boards of education to establish Parental Advisory Committees and adopt standards for health instruction.
Requires child care center vehicles to be equipped with alarm system prompting driver to inspect vehicle for children left unattended in vehicle.
Revises requirements for infertility coverage under certain health insurance plans.
Prohibits use of schools as polling places.
Creates offense of tracking for unlawful purpose; imposes enhanced penalties.
Requires Div. of Fish and Wildlife to conduct annual black bear population count.
Establishes "COVID-19 Learning Loss Study Commission."
Requires parental consent for student to participate in health, family life education, or sex education program and provides parents with access to certain public school curricula.
Provides certain protections for employees of temporary help service firms.
Concerns the taxation of certain business personal property.
Repeals law providing that violation of rear seat belt law be treated as secondary offense; establishes certain reporting requirements; requires AG to issue report.
Requires State Board of Education to provide five days' notice of public meeting and permit public comment on agenda items of public meeting.
Lowers age at which certain insurers are required to provide coverage for mammograms.
Exempts local utilities from certain reporting requirements.
Establishes annual cost of living adjustment, based on Consumer Price Index, to base Medicaid per diem rates for assisted living programs; makes appropriation.
Extends membership in TPAF to four years after discontinuance of service and to 20 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination.
Provides Supplemental Transportation Growth Aid for school districts in 2023-2024 school year; appropriates $31.6 million.
Prohibits hospital from billing patient for inter-hospital medical transport services under certain circumstances.
Establishes legislative internship program; makes appropriation.
Establishes penalty for certain undeclared possession of hypodermic needle or syringe.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 8
Establishes Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care. *
Increases contribution limit by counties and municipalities to volunteer first aid, ambulance, and rescue squads.
Requires Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in DHS to accept permanent change of station order for purposes of satisfying residency requirement for provision of home and community based services under certain circumstances.
Establishes procedures for seizure, care, and forfeiture of animals involved in animal cruelty violations.*
Authorizes certain boards of education to issue bonds to repair damages caused by natural disasters in certain circumstances.*
Concerns timely payment of UI benefits.
Establishes minimum NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for traumatic brain injury special care nursing facilities; establishes enhanced NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for nursing facilities under certain circumstances; makes an appropriation.
Concerns prevailing wage requirements for certain fabrication.
Vetoed · 1
Establishes sales and events privileges for certain alcoholic beverage manufacturers. *
Passed the Senate · 3
Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years; prohibits anticipation of certain revenue in municipal budget; requires additional aid be subtracted from municipal property tax levy. *
Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force.
Expands definition of child under PFRS and SPRS.
Out of committee · 24
Requires institutions of higher education to implement suicide prevention programs and raise awareness of mental health services.
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.
Establishes Helmets to Hardhats program in the DMVA; appropriates $400,000.
Increases amount of cigarette and other tobacco products tax revenues provided to New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research to $10 million; establishes dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund.
Establishes "Kidney Disease Prevention and Education Task Force."
Allows certain volunteer firefighters, rescue and first aid squad members to claim $2,000 gross income tax exemption.*
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for brain injury services.
Revises certain requirements concerning eligibility for reimbursement from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund."
Increases penalties for carjacking and for theft of motor vehicle.
Establishes crimes of theft of motor vehicle and receiving stolen motor vehicle as separate statutory provisions; provides extended sentences for certain persistent offenders.*
Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans.
Requires health insurers to cover colorectal cancer screenings recommended by United States Preventive Services Task Force and eliminates cost-sharing requirements for certain colonoscopies.
Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for programs providing mental health, substance use treatment, or services to persons with developmental disabilities.
Mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for professional firefighters not enrolled in SHBP; makes appropriation.
Appropriates $70 million in federal funds to EDA to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Expands crime of leader of auto theft trafficking network; establishes third degree crime of participant in auto theft trafficking network.*
Enters New Jersey into Counseling Compact.
Upgrades crime of leader of auto theft trafficking network; establishes second degree crime of participant in auto theft trafficking network.
Mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters.*
Replaces statutory terms regarding alcohol and substance use.
Establishes Second Chance Program in charge of providing opportunities through labor organizations for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Establishes "Volunteer Fire Company Assistance Program" in DCA to support operations and sustainability of volunteer fire companies; appropriates $10 million.
Establishes Employer-Based Child Care Assistance Partnership Program in DCF.
Appropriates $58 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.
In committee · 54
Exempts poll worker wages from affecting unemployment compensation.
Establishes Office of Inspector General for Veterans' Facilities.
Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools.
Eliminates the New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax and repeals parts of chapters 33 through 37 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes.
Establishes "Household Water Assistance Program"; appropriates $75 million.
Establishes certain guidelines for health insurance carriers concerning step therapy protocols.
Re-establishes Arthritis Quality of Life Initiative and Advisory Council on Arthritis in DHS.
Requires MVC to provide certain vehicle and licensing services in each county in State.
Requires State employees work in person if job requires face-to-face interaction with public; requires State agency provide alternatives if closure is unpreventable.
Revises factors for determining employment or independent contractor status under certain State labor laws.
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 suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners.
Reduces alcoholic beverage tax rate on cider and low-percentage alcohol by volume liquors.
"New Jersey Ticket Consumer Choice Act."
Requires Director of Division of Developmental Disabilities to align rates for self-directed employees with maximum service provider rates.
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.
Establishes Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission.
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for pediatric special care nursing facilities; makes an appropriation.
The "School Safety and Security Act"; establishes penalties for certain criminal acts committed on school property.
Creates "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force".
Requires local recreation departments and youth serving organizations to have defibrillators for youth athletic events.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations.
Requires DOLWD to take measures to ensure State unemployment offices reopen immediately and remain open during and after public health emergency.
Provides a gross income tax deduction for veterinarian expenses.
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.
Permits taxpayers to deduct the total amount of State property taxes paid on principal residence from gross income tax obligation.
"Gas Price and Inflation Tax Credit Act."
Establishes task force to study impact of COVID-19 on children's health.
Establishes independent State Office of Consumer.
Removes requirements for weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated school district employees.
Permits county clerk to remove voters from vote-by-mail lists under certain circumstances.
Requires school psychologists and school counselors to complete mental health first aid training.
Provides that certain school districts will receive State school aid in amounts equal to aid provided in 2020-2021 school year.
Amends law to exempt food banks and food pantries from prohibition on sale and distribution of single-use plastic and paper carryout bags.
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.
Prohibits adoption of any State rule or regulation mandating electric heating or water heating systems in buildings prior to issuance of DCA report.
Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $10 million to DOT for construction of highway guard rail along entirety of Route 208 through Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland in sections without highway guard rail, where necessary to ensure health and safety of motorists and residents whose properties abut Route 208.
Prohibits DOH from issuing recommendations or regulations that are more stringent than recommendations or regulations issued by federal government.
Requires health insurance coverage for annual mental health screening.
"Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness; decriminalizes, and expunges past offenses involving, psilocybin production, possession, use, and distribution.
Establishes and codifies certain privileges for limited and restricted brewery license holders.
Permits issuance of special license in certain municipalities with shopping malls.
The "New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act."
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.
Allows municipalities to transfer inactive alcoholic beverage retail licenses for use in certain redevelopment and revitalization areas; establishes procedure to transfer inactive retail licenses.
Exempts municipal electric utilities from regulation by BPU.
Removes registered apprenticeship program requisites of public work contractors; sets apprenticeship standards for prevailing wage projects.
Delays fourth round of affordable housing obligations, including present and prospective need and related litigation, until July 1, 2028.
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to beneficiary eligible for brain injury services.
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.
Requires boards of education to adopt suicide prevention policies and DOE to establish model suicide prevention policy.