Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
Christopher Bateman
Sponsored
Became law3
Establishes "Jersey Native Plants Program."
Requires institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic high schools and middle schools to adopt anti-hazing policies; expands activities encompassing criminal hazing and upgrades penalties for engaging in these activities.**
Authorizes issuance of Protect Pollinators license plates.
Vetoed1
Establishes requirements for sale of cottage baked goods. *
Passed the Senate2
Modifies recordkeeping requirements for secondhand jewelry and precious metal transactions; increases penalties for violations.
Allows public libraries, boards of education, and local governments to dispose of certain personal property without advertising for bids. *
Out of committee8
Establishes farm brewery and winery-brewery beverage license.
Authorizes creation of special license plates commemorating horse as State animal.
Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for removal of lead, asbestos, sodium, chloride, and other contaminants from taxpayer's property.**
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.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021; modifies terms and conditions for certain loan utilizing federal funds.
Appropriates $3,763,625 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY2022; makes various changes to FY2022 environmental infrastructure funding program.
Appropriates $49.932 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.
In committee43
Requires DOH license additional angioplasty facilities, with at least one facility in each county.
Clarifies that period of suspension remains in effect until driver's license is restored in certain cases.
Requires pesticide applicator to notify beekeeper when applying pesticide within three miles of registered honey or native beehive or beeyard.
Requires training for pesticide applicators and operators concerning pollinating bees.
Authorizes school nurses to administer opioid antidotes to overdose victims on school property, with immunity from civil, criminal, and professional liability, pursuant to "Overdose Prevention Act."
Requires DEP to adopt Statewide plan to reduce lead exposure from contaminated soils and drinking water.
Exempts all transfers made to lineal relatives from the Transfer Inheritance Tax.
Limits time continuing care retirement communities may retain refundable entrance fee after resident vacates facility to no more than one year.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to farmers who develop qualified native pollinator habitat on farms.
Provides corporation business tax credit to taxpayers that develop qualified native pollinator habitat on undeveloped property.
Provides corporation business tax credit to public utilities that develop qualified native pollinator habitat in their rights of way.
Amends "Overdose Prevention Act" to clarify that pharmacists and health care practitioners may dispense opioid antidotes pursuant to standing order, and that prescribers may issue such standing order, with immunity from liability.
Requires law enforcement officers to be stationed in all public schools during school hours; authorizes schools to request funding from Safe Neighborhoods Services Fund.
Reforms procedures concerning provisions of affordable housing; repeals "Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act."
Expands eligibility to receive the veterans' property tax deduction and the veterans' property tax exemption.
Adds member from Judicial Retirement System to State Investment Council.
Establishes task force to study recycling streams in NJ and challenges faced by local governments in running recycling programs.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2020.
Permits certain judges and justices, if approved solely by Senate's advice and consent, to continue service upon expiration of term otherwise resulting in mandatory retirement; eliminates mandatory ages for retirement and ceasing post-retirement recall se
Excludes deferred compensation of certain public school and federal tax-exempt organization employees from current taxation under the gross income tax.
Establishes "New Jersey Affordable Housing Internet Portal Study Commission."
Requires resource family parent, relative, preadoptive parent, or caretaker to be party to reviews or hearings involving a child under the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families' care.
Criminalizes exposing first responder or health care provider to controlled dangerous substance under certain circumstances.
Upgrades domestic violence-related assault under certain circumstances.
Concerns statute of limitations for filing estate tax refund claim for certain settlements reached with Continuing Care Retirement Community.
Provides corporation business and gross income tax credits for three tax years for employers that allow telecommuting.
Eliminates automatic adjustments of petroleum products taxes.
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.
Limits instances when license suspension may be reduced or eliminated for driving without motor vehicle liability insurance; requires proof of motor vehicle liability insurance prior to reinstatement of license.
Prohibits victims from being charged certain costs and fees and clarifies victims' right to obtain certain interviews.
Clarifies when penalty points are to be assessed for convictions of driving in an unsafe manner.
Directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse municipalities for certain emergency services.
Clarifies scope of affordable housing obligations.
Prohibits payment to public employees at retirement for certain unused sick leave, provides for forfeiture of payment for unused sick leave for certain criminal convictions, and requires documentation for use of sick leave.
Directs certain unclaimed water utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund be paid to Statewide nonprofit utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.
Requires all sex offender registration information to be published on Internet registry.
Excludes certain increases in school security expenditures from the tax levy cap applicable to school districts.
Revises certain motor vehicle fines imposed on motor vehicle drivers or operators for failing to have required documentation.
"Parent Empowerment and Choice Act"; enables parents to initiate reform in low performing schools through a petition process.
Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential customer for cost of food and prescription medicine spoiled or compromised as a result of sustained electric service outage.
Provides gross income tax credit to essential employees working during COVID-19 pandemic.
Clarifies municipal consent over cemeteries.
Prohibits certain actions relative to endangered and threatened plant species; directs DEP commissioner to take certain actions to protect endangered and threatened plant species.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law5
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.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021; modifies terms and conditions for certain loan utilizing federal funds.
Appropriates $3,763,625 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY2022; makes various changes to FY2022 environmental infrastructure funding program.
Appropriates $49.932 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.
Passed the General Assembly1
Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for removal of lead, asbestos, sodium, chloride, and other contaminants from taxpayer's property.**
Co-sponsored
Became law · 26
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.*
Revises law governing training and duties of Junior Firefighters' Auxiliary members.*
Provides resident tuition rate to certain non-resident dependent children of United States military personnel attending public institutions of higher education.
Establishes mandatory domestic violence training for municipal prosecutors.
Restricts use of neonicotinoid pesticides.**
Requires SEHBP and eligible employers that do not participate in the SEHBP to provide certain plans for public education employees and certain public education retirees.
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts and county colleges.
"COVID-19 Fiscal Mitigation Act"; clarifies filing and payment deadline for CBT and GIT taxpayers, modifies duration of State Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, requires certain updates and presentation for State Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.
Permits nonprofit corporations to allow members to participate in meetings by means of remote communication, and permits nonprofit corporations to hold meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency.
Requires Medicaid and health insurance coverage for certain refills of prescription drugs during state of emergency.
Excludes from severance requirements under "Millville Dallas Airmotive Plant Job Loss Notification Act" mass layoffs resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Delays mandatory retirement in SPRS when it would occur during period of state of emergency; extends eligibility for appointment as member of State Police and enrollment in SPRS for 160th Class of NJ State Police.*
Requires hospitals to report COVID-19 demographic data.
Requires Commissioner of Education to establish three-year "Bridge Year Pilot Program" for certain students who were impacted by public health state of emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019.*
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2021.
Requires builders to offer unit concrete products that utilize carbon footprint-reducing technology as option in new construction; establishes tax incentives, and State and local purchasing requirements, for unit concrete products that utilize carbon foot
Establishes numerical requirements and zoning standards for installation of electric vehicle supply equipment and Make-Ready parking spaces. *
Appropriates $11.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for municipal planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $29,886,172 to State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $12 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for county planning incentive grants for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $30.387 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects.
Expands opportunities for restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries to provide outdoor dining and permits certain sales at seasonal farm markets in response to COVID-19 public health emergency.
Directs DEP to establish grant program for local governments to support development of community gardens.
Establishes immunity relating to COVID-19 spread in planned real estate developments.
Appropriates $5 million to New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Fund.
Vetoed · 6
Requires DOLWD and DHS to conduct assessment of community rehabilitation programs and community businesses.
Establishes "2020 New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program"; appropriates $100 million.
Establishes Employment and Business-Related Tax Deferral Assistance Program in EDA to allow small businesses to defer the payment and remittance of certain employment and business-related taxes during COVID-19 public health emergency.
Affords employment protection to certain emergency medical responders.
Appropriates $30 million to EDA from federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund" to assist food establishments impacted by Executive Order No. 158.
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Passed the Senate · 12
Encourages sharing of services; makes appropriations.
Establishes grant program for homeless veterans shelters.
Requires training for law enforcement officers and assistant county prosecutors concerning handling of domestic violence cases.
Permits counties to share county tax administrators.
Permits certain portion of municipal development trust funds to be spent on housing affordability assistance to veterans.
Prohibits persons convicted of criminal animal cruelty offenses from owning domestic companion animals and from working or volunteering at animal-related enterprises; establishes presumption against pretrial intervention for certain persons; designated as
Requires refunds or credit for transient space reservations when public health emergency or state of emergency is in effect.
Allows CBT and GIT tax credits to certain taxpayers that retain employees during COVID-19 pandemic.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations during COVID-19 pandemic.
Permits State and local government employees in civil service to be transferred in certain circumstances.
Codifies certain energy goals related to 2019 Energy Master Plan.
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.*
Out of committee · 30
Requires shared service agreements to include certain provisions.
Directs the development and posting of notices containing information for victims of human trafficking.
Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex.
Requires DOH to license certain qualifying hospitals to provide full service adult diagnostic cardiac catheterization, primary angioplasty, and elective angioplasty services.
Establishes Prescription Drug Affordability Board; appropriates $1 million. *
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected disability. *
Directs EDA to establish program for public or private financing of certain renewable energy, water, and storm resiliency projects through use by municipalities of voluntary special assessments for certain property owners.
Establishes fire safety standards and protocols for certain light frame residential construction; requires project labor agreements for this construction; requires placards identifying primary structural systems of buildings.
Encourages development of zero-emission vehicle fueling and charging infrastructure in redevelopment projects.*
Establishes pilot program in DOE to support FIRST Robotics Programs in school districts.
Extends certain permits, approvals, and deadlines during COVID-19 emergency.*
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.**
Concerns delivery and sale of alcoholic beverages during declared state of emergency; requires ABC director to notify licensees of certain tax exemptions during emergency.*
Expands existing EDA loan program to include certain small producers and retailers of alcoholic beverages.
Authorizes the issuance of "coronavirus relief bonds" by municipalities and counties.
Establishes successor program to solar renewable energy certificate program in BPU, including solicitation process for certain solar power generation facilities.**
Requires BPU to establish and maintain electronic public document search system on its website; requires BPU to provide certain notice of its meetings and hold quarterly public comment meeting.*
Permits conduct of bingos and raffles remotely.
Establishes fund to reimburse municipalities for police costs related to crowding at MVC sites; appropriates $500,000.
Permits State and county boards of election to purchase or lease decommissioned letter collection boxes for use as ballot drop boxes.
Expands opportunities for restaurants, bars, distilleries and breweries to provide outdoor dining and permits certain farms to adjust operations in response to COVID-19 public health emergency.*
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to finance aviation and marine infrastructure projects; makes various other changes to bank's enabling act.
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding for FY2021 to include new projects and modify estimated loan amounts for certain projects; modifies terms and conditions for certain loans utilizing federal funds.
Appropriates $37.16 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.
Establishes minimum energy and water efficiency standards for certain products sold, offered for sale, or leased in the State.
Establishes small hospitality business winter preparation purchase or reimbursement program in EDA; appropriates $50 million to EDA from federal funds.
Increases amount of solar energy generation on lands eligible for farmland assessment under certain conditions; revises law concerning solar energy generation on preserved farmland; directs BPU to provide certain incentives to "dual-use" solar projects on
Ensures student well-being during school security drills.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2022.
Temporarily expands summer working hours for certain minors.
In committee · 54
Establishes NJ Animal Abuser Registry.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under the gross income tax.
Increases maximum gross income tax deduction for homestead property taxes paid to $25,000.
Provides gross income tax credits for certain taxpayers who provide blood donations.
"Consumer Freedom From Unwanted Expense in Health Insurance Coverage Act."
Allows cultivation of commercial shellfish species in certain coastal and inner harbor waters for research and educational purposes and repeals law that allows DEP to adopt certain regulations concerning such cultivation.
Provides tuition benefits at public institutions of higher education for dependents of certain veterans.
Removes 48-hour provision for acceptance of ballots postmarked by election day; increases penalties for violation of ballot messenger and bearer limits and candidate prohibition.
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.
Amends State college law to remove certain employees from civil service system and allow boards of trustees to conduct collective bargaining.
Allows gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions to certain New Jersey-based charitable organizations.
Authorizes holder of limited brewery license to engage in certain activities.
Establishes process for recovering cost of caring for animals involved in animal cruelty violations.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Prohibits municipal zoning ordinances from regulating solar panels under certain circumstances; limits fees for certain renewable energy installations.
Requires, by energy year 2050, all electric power sold in NJ by each electric power supplier and basic generation service provider to be from zero-carbon sources.
Establishes "Monica's Law" concerning domestic violence risk assessment pilot program.
Expands categories of individuals who may bring a claim under wrongful imprisonment statute.
Concerns local taxation of business personal property of local exchange telephone companies.
Suspends "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" until certain conditions are met.
"Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act"; requires Internet-connected devices to have blocking capability in certain circumstances.
Modifies "inherently beneficial use" definition for purposes of zoning variance to discourage siting of wind and solar energy facilities on agricultural land and open space.
Establishes State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force.
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
"Steven Schmincke's Law"; facilitates sober living home construction financing.
Permits persons at horse racetracks and off-track wagering facilities to place wagers on previously-recorded live horse races.
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.
Restricts State and municipal government employee health plans to gold level and directs related savings to property tax relief.
Requires public water systems to compile, and submit to DEP, lead service line inventories.
Establishes Task Force on Safety in School Transportation.
Establishes that failure to maintain lane may constitute recklessness under vehicular homicide statute; designated as Eileen's Law.
Prohibits certain light frame residential construction in densely populated census tracts; establishes construction requirements for certain light frame residential construction in other census tracts.
Permits municipalities to require that new construction be solar ready.
Establishes forest stewardship program for State-owned lands.
Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations.
Establishes staffing requirements for certain emergency medical services.
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.
Concerns certain economic activity.
Establishes certain guidelines for health insurance carriers concerning step therapy protocols.
Requires Secretary of State create website for voters to report irregularities regarding mail-in ballots; establishes "Vote by Mail Study Commission."
Appropriates $300 million to EDA for small business and not-for-profit organization assistance.
Provides additional ways for transferring deceased voter's record to Statewide voter registration system's death file; requires Secretary of State match registration system with Social Security Administration deceased persons database.
Requires ABC to waive fee for alcoholic beverage COVID-19 Expansion Permit.
Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis.
Modifies eligibility requirements for other retirement income exclusion concerning other sources of income.
Appropriates $300 million to EDA for small business and not-for-profit corporation assistance to preserve and create jobs, spur economic growth, and preserve the viability and vitality of communities.
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.
Prohibits requiring individuals who have received COVID-19 vaccine to wear masks indoors.
Prohibits mandatory mask use at youth camps.
Prohibits requiring students to wear face masks in schools and on school buses.
Prohibits mandatory mask use in licensed child care centers.
Provides CBT tax credit for retrofit of existing warehouses with solar-ready zone once solar panels are installed.
Filed · 14
Requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends definition of "Class I renewable energy."
Makes FY 2020 supplemental appropriations of $15 million for grants to food banks.
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 and for telemedicine and telehealth during coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency.
Authorizes EDA to make grants during periods of emergency declared by Governor and for duration of economic disruptions due to emergency; allows EDA to grant certain business documentation submission deadline extensions.
Limits return of items purchased from retail food stores under certain circumstances.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
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.
Permits extension of deadlines for adoption of county and municipal budgets under certain circumstances.
Allows conduct of State business and legislative sessions at locations other than Trenton during periods of emergency or other exigency; allows conduct of legislative business using electronic means.
Automatically extends time to file gross income tax or corporation business tax return if federal government extends filing or payment due date for federal returns.
Permits professional and occupational licensing boards to reactivate licensure of certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.
Allows remote notarial acts, and other acts executing and verifying certain documents, by notaries public and other authorized officials during public health emergency and state of emergency declared by Governor's Executive Order 103 of 2020.
Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
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.