Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Steven V. Oroho
Sponsored
Became law7
Permits DCA to nominate a municipality as a qualified municipality for purposes of NJ Redevelopment Authority program participation.
Exempts board of education and local government payments to entities under BPU jurisdiction from certain certification requirements.*
Clarifies that county sheriff may simultaneously hold position of emergency management coordinator.
Requires nursing homes to offer form designating beneficiary of personal needs allowance accounts from incoming and current residents.*
Increases monetary amounts for transfer of estate assets without administration and for exemption from debts of the deceased.*
Authorizes certain county veteran identification cards to serve as proof of status for veteran designation on driver's license or identification card.
Designates State Highway Route 15 in Sussex County as "Senator Robert E. Littell Memorial Highway."
Passed the Senate2
Authorizes Sunday bow hunting on federal military installations and William J. Hughes Technical Center.*
Requires credit check for certain DEP loans to private dam owners and lake associations.
Out of committee14
Requires voter registration forms be available when applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping license; requires display and collection of completed application if the applicant wishes to register at public agency.
Establishes per se standard for driving under influence of inhalant; designated as "Kimmie's Law."
Revises definition of "landlord" to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility.
Directs State agencies to take certain action to expedite permitting through use of general permits.
Provides for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on gross income tax returns for development of Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Requires MVC to immediately suspend driver's license of alleged drunk drivers who cause a death.
Revises "Administrative Procedure Act" concerning conflicts between rules of different State agencies.
Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses providing employment to certain National Guard or reservists.
Concerns authority of DOLWD to inspect prevailing wage public work projects.
Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to disseminate certain information to contractors who bid on or perform prevailing wage public work.
Removes statutory limitation on number of permits that may be issued by Division of Fish and Wildlife for the taking of beaver.
Eliminates mortgage guaranty insurance coverage cap of 25% of outstanding balance of insured loan.
"New Jersey Rural Microenterprise Act." *
Requires timeframe of standardbred mare residing in New Jersey breeding farm be inclusive of foaling instead of between foal's conception and birth.
In committee42
Clarifies that Fish and Game Council has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Prohibits State departments and agencies from considering or requiring compliance by Highlands planning area municipalities with Highlands regional master plan in certain circumstances.
Extends certain federal income tax advantages of individual health savings accounts to individual taxpayers under the New Jersey gross income tax.
"Zero-Based Budget Act;" requires State Treasurer to develop and integrate certain zero-based budgeting practices and procedures in preparation and submission of Governor's annual budget message.
Requires physicians to provide patients opportunity to undergo obstetrical ultrasound or sonogram within 48 hours of performing abortion.
Phases out estate tax over five-year period.
"New Jersey Jobs Protection Act;" requires verification of employment.
Suspends "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" until certain conditions are met.
Requires minimum geographic cost adjustment for school districts in all counties.
Allows commercial farmer to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees of defending against unreasonable complaints under "Right to Farm Act."
Makes it a crime of the fourth degree for a public servant, during a state of emergency, to use or make disposition of a public resource in an unauthorized manner with purpose to obtain a benefit for himself or another.
Concerns access to information maintained by Prescription Monitoring Program.
Implements recommendations of the SCI report entitled "Scenes from an Epidemic" concerning prescription drug and heroin abuse.
Provides "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act" exemption, and clarifies municipal planning or zoning authority, for certain development along commercial corridors in Highlands Region.
Adds "significant bodily injury" to assault by auto or vessel statute; upgrades penalties for inflicting serious bodily injury.
David's Law; establishes crime of negligent vehicular homicide.
Repeals the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote."
Requires Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to study financial impact of all enacted mandated health benefits.
Clarifies local government unit obligations with regard to DEP loan awards for dam repairs.
Repeals requirement for general hospitals and State psychiatric hospitals to hold annual public meetings.
Caps noneconomic damages in medical malpractice actions at $250,000.
Provides for no net loss of DEP lands for fishing, hunting, and trapping purposes.
Allows for exclusion of certain properties from Highlands preservation area.
Concerns proof of workers' compensation coverage with certain legally required annual reports of employers.
Concerns access to records of wages for prevailing wage public work projects.
Classifies electric energy produced at certain small scale hydropower facilities as Class II renewable energy.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Authorizes Parole Board and sheriff's offices to hire alternate route trained police officers; exempts alternate route trainees from certain civil service requirements.
Permits county correctional facilities to annually use 10 percent of inmate welfare fund to offset costs of certain medical services.
Revises individual cause of action under consumer fraud act.
Excludes corrugated containers sold by the manufacturer from definition of "litter-generating product"; exempts such sales from user fee imposed under "Clean Communities Program Act."
Limits annual increase in tuition rates charged by county vocational school districts to two percent.
Limits annual increase in tuition rates charged by school districts, county vocational school districts, county special services districts, jointure commissions, and private schools for students with disabilities to two percent.
Establishes "Business Tax and Incentive Task Force."
Prohibits local units of government from adopting increased minimum wage and mandatory paid sick leave for private employers.
Designates "Franklinite" as official mineral of State of NJ.
The "School Safety and Security Act"; establishes penalties for certain criminal acts committed on school property.
Provides that crimes committed outside the State under certain circumstances may be prosecuted in New Jersey.
Prohibits use of volunteer driving activities in underwriting for private passenger automobile insurance; revises charitable immunity statute as applied to volunteer drivers.
Requires local governments to purchase excess insurance for certain renewable energy projects financed by bonds.
Designates Lake Mohawk German Christmas Market as New Jersey State German Christmas Market.
"New Jersey Small Business Retirement Marketplace Act."
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law5
"New Jersey Rural Microenterprise Act." *
Concerns authority of DOLWD to inspect prevailing wage public work projects.
Requires Commissioner of DOLWD to disseminate certain information to contractors who bid on or perform prevailing wage public work.
Requires timeframe of standardbred mare residing in New Jersey breeding farm be inclusive of foaling instead of between foal's conception and birth.
Eliminates mortgage guaranty insurance coverage cap of 25% of outstanding balance of insured loan.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 19
Establishes apprentice firearm hunting license and apprentice bow and arrow license.*
Extends for five years expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres program and farmland preservation program for lands in Highlands Region; makes change to special appraisal process for certain farmers.*
Appropriates $22,463,000 in 2003 bond act monies for loans to fund dam restoration projects.*
Requires each State agency to review permits issued by the agency and make necessary changes to expedite and facilitate permitting.
Repeals anachronistic, superseded, or invalidated sections of statutory law.
Exempts certain temporary farm structures from permit and transition area requirements of "Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act."
Authorizes counties to establish mosquito control reserve fund.
Eliminates consumer data collection requirements for certain gift cards.
Regulates pharmacy benefits managers and requires certain disclosures concerning multiple source generic drug pricing.
Authorizes Attorney General to coordinate Statewide law enforcement efforts against opioid drug abuse.*
Streamlines responsibilities of Division of Local Government Services and local governments; designated as the Division of Local Government Services Modernization and Local Mandate Relief Act of 2015.*
Creates "Fishing Buddy License."
Authorizes establishment of Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts for persons with certain disabilities.**
Authorizes mobile electronic waste destruction units to operate without DEP permit.
Appropriates $4,750,000 from various Green Acres funds for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Prohibits Division of Developmental Disabilities from compelling transfers of individuals with developmental disabilities from out-of-State to in-State facilities unless certain exceptions apply.
Creates definition of certified.*
Allows businesses due to receive grant under Business Employment Incentive Program to receive tax credit instead of grant.
"Certificates of Insurance Act;" governs use of certificates of insurance; provides DOBI with enforcement authority.
Vetoed · 3
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.*
Permits public-private partnership agreements for certain building and highway infrastructure projects; provides for EDA oversight.
Revises laws concerning real estate licensees.
Passed the Senate · 6
Designates May of each year "Military Appreciation Month" in New Jersey.
Designates five State songs.
Creates Clinical Trials Working Group.
Establishes Task Force on School District Regionalization.
Allows NJ gross income tax deduction for charitable contributions of food made from business inventory.
Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools.
Out of committee · 43
Requires certain State oversight of budgets of regional sewerage authorities.
Requires public schools to allow certain students not enrolled in the school to participate in interscholastic athletics.*
Provides sales and use tax exemption for compressed natural gas used to fuel certain bus operation.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act"; imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances. *
Restores State fiscal year 2011 reductions to Garden State Preservation Trust payments in lieu of taxes; appropriates $3,400,000 to DCA.*
Establishes State Transportation Infrastructure Bank within New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside; restricts locations of certain child care centers and school bus stops.
Establishes durational limits and enumerates certain factors concerning modification and termination of alimony; establishes "open durational" alimony."*
Provides one-third of motor vehicle fine moneys generated through State Police issued tickets go to municipality where violation occurred.
Authorizes rural electric cooperative and certain municipalities to establish municipal shared services authority.*
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.*
Dedesignates portions of Route 24.
Allows modernization for the form of disbursement for certain State government and local unit payments to individuals and business entities. *
Limits when bidders can be required to submit a financial statement in order to bid on a local public contract or county college contract.
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial beekeepers, with some restrictions.
Prohibits certain agencies from establishing checkpoints limited to specific vehicle types.*
Requires an annual State debt affordability analysis be included in the State Debt Report.
Requires Department of Agriculture to post on its website certain information regarding State's farm to school program.
Establishes "Best in New Jersey 'Farm to School' Awards Program" to annually recognize the best farm to school programs implemented by a school or school district.
Allows contributions to "New Jersey Farm to School Program."
Revises exemption from license requirement for raffles for door prizes of donated or purchased merchandise; increases total retail value from $50 to $200 or higher if permitted.
Makes construction work on public utilities subject to "The Public Works Contractor Registration Act."
Eliminates duplication and redundancy in registration of certain apartments.
Establishes exclusive State regulatory authority over apiary activities and allows for delegation of monitoring and enforcement authority to municipalities.
Establishes forest stewardship program for State-owned lands.
Provides remedies for certain fraudulent financing statements.*
Establishes Equipment Loan Program in NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust; changes submission and approval requirements for financial plan.
Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of the United States Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard and make recommendations on how State should address issues.
Revises "Accountancy Act of 1997."
Concerns registration of contractors and sets criteria for responsible bidders in public work.
Establishes Division of State Museum in Department of State; continues New Jersey State Museum within division; abolishes museum board of trustees.
Amends definition of "Class II renewable energy."
Prohibits existing child care subsidy recipient from being treated as a new applicant for subsidy after moving to a new county of residence.
Authorizes the establishment of federal impact aid reserve account.
Creates cidery and meadery license.
Reestablishes certain historic driving privileges afforded holders of agricultural driver's licenses in operating farm equipment and vehicles.
Extends for one year expiration date of certain permits pursuant to "Permit Extension Act of 2008."
New Jersey Stolen Valor Act; makes unauthorized use of military uniforms, medals or insignias, and certain false statements regarding receipt of military awards with intent to obtain benefit crimes of third degree.
Requires drivers to slow down before passing slow moving vehicles; establishes Statewide educational campaign on rural roadway safety; updates agriculture-related motor vehicle laws to reflect current industry practices.
Revises definition of all-terrain vehicles.
Makes FY 2016 supplemental appropriations of $6,500,000 and adds language provision.
Authorizes local units of government subject to "Local Public Contracts Law" and "Public School Contracts Law" to use electronic procurement technologies.
Realigning the transfer inheritance tax payment due date to coincide with the payment due dates for State and federal estate taxes.
In committee · 96
Subjects county and municipal sewerage authority service rate increases to approval by Board of Public Utilities.
Eliminates payments for unused sick leave earned after effective date; limits carry forward of unused vacation leave; requires suspension and forfeiture of certain payments; limits use of unused sick leave in year before retirement.
"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."
Provides that English shall be the official language of the State.
Upgrades burglary of a residence as a crime of the second degree; upgrades it to a crime of the first degree if committed while armed.
Excludes deferred compensation of certain public school and federal tax-exempt organization employees from current taxation under the gross income tax.
Permits high performing school districts to be monitored by the DOE every seven years rather than every three years.
Permits sale of home-baked goods under certain circumstances.
The "Bio-based Heating Oil Act."
Requires executive county superintendent to designate a county special services school district, jointure commission, or educational services commission as the county education services agency to assist local school districts in sharing services.
Changes restrictions on certain county or municipal stream cleaning activities.
Requires prosecutors to determine risk of re-offense under Megan's Law prior to offender's release from incarceration.
Bars companies which hire illegal aliens from public contracts, grants, loans, or tax incentives for seven years.
Allows certain drug dealing offenses to be graded by "units," rather than weight, of controlled dangerous substances.
Eliminates general purpose, supplemental and mansion realty transfer fees.
Requires tenure charges be filed against any public school employee found to have bullied a student and requires the employment of any nontenured public school employee be terminated for such activity.
Authorizes special license plates with proceeds to the families of NJ troops overseas.
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
Clarifies definition of reasonably necessary deviation when legally transporting firearm or weapon in motor vehicle.
Establishes Common Core State Standards Evaluation Task Force; delays use of assessments developed by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers until task force submits final report.
Authorizes the establishment of federal impact aid reserve account.
Establishes special license plates for honorably discharged veterans.
Requires life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of the murder of a minor under the age of 18 in the course of the commission of a sex crime.
Restricts access to motor vehicle accident reports under certain circumstances.
"Transparency in Government Act;" provides for establishment of State public finance website; requires certain public entities receiving State funds to establish similar website; makes an appropriation.
Reduces gross income tax rates by ten percent over three years.
"The Reliability, Preparedness, and Storm Response Act of 2012"; requires public utilities to file certain information concerning emergency preparedness with BPU and increases certain penalties.
Requires annual review of all released sex offenders to determine if they were registered and tiered.
Permits domestic violence victim witness to testify via closed circuit television under certain circumstances.
Requires proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain certain benefits.
Requires public referendum prior to issuance of general obligation bonds by local units.
Establishes a formula for the distribution of State aid to school districts.
Authorizes chiefs of part-time municipal police forces to issue firearms ID cards and handgun purchase permits.
Removes authority of MVC to increase certain fees; sets certain fees by statute.
Requires Director of Division of Taxation to study impact of State business income taxes on business out-migration, business formation, and employment.
Establishes the New Jersey State Commission on Education Reform to develop academic outcome-based per pupil public school funding amounts.
Increases filing threshold for the New Jersey estate tax to $1,000,000.
"Direct Tax Relief for New Jersey Families Act"; Establishes the New Jersey Direct Property Tax Relief Program; increases the renter's gross income tax credit for property taxes; and increases the earned income tax credit.
Strengthens rights of certain sexual assault victims to sole custody; allows victim to place child for adoption without notice to person who committed sexual assault resulting in birth of the child.
Allows charitable contribution tax deductions under New Jersey gross income tax.
Requires notification of certain domestic violence victims through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday System (VINE).
Expands duties of State Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator; establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public members, to help conduct performance audits.
Expands eligibility under the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act by broadening certain municipal qualifier provisions.
"Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children.
Enacts the "Jessica Lunsford Act"; imposes mandatory term of imprisonment; provides for negotiated reduction of mandatory term under certain circumstances.
Creates crime of home invasion; makes crime subject to No Early Release Act.
Establishes Solar Thermal Expansion Loan and Grant program; appropriates $10 million.
The "New Jersey Right to Home Defense Law."
Prohibits simultaneous holding of certain State, county and municipal elective and appointive positions.
Provides for mandatory imprisonment and forfeiture of retirement benefits for public officers or employees convicted of certain crimes.
Provides full forfeiture of pension of elected or appointed official convicted of any crime touching office.
Suspends pension of any retired public employee who resumes public employment with compensation more than $15,000.
Establishes measures to improve transparency and accountability of regional authorities of this State; enhances oversight of those authorities by Governor and State Comptroller.
Reinstates moratorium on imposition of Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Establishes Governor's authority over approval of minutes of certain regional commissions.
Concerns procedures for public comment about matters before municipal planning and zoning boards.
"Post-Viability Protection Act."
Changes membership of Lake Hopatcong Commission and requires DEP to develop water level management plan for Lake Hopatcong to be approved by commission.
Doubles amount of certain retirement income that may be excluded from gross income under gross income tax, eliminates income cap on exclusion.
Allows certain fuel dealers and distributors refunds of petroleum products gross receipts tax and credits against motor fuel tax for certain bad debts from sale of fuel.
Requires health benefits plans in Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, SHBP, and SEHBP to offer equal terms for participation of certain health care providers in their provider networks.
Clarifies that crime victim has a right to make a victim impact statement directly to the defendant at sentencing.
The "New Jersey Parental Rights and Property Tax Reduction Act."
Allows county sheriffs to issue firearms identification cards and permits to purchase handguns; authorizes county sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns.
Revises procedures for securing a permit to carry a handgun.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.
Requires OAL to maintain Internet database summarizing all State rule-making actions.
Requires any State entity administering State or federal public benefit programs to verify recipient's personal information against death records to prevent payment to deceased individual.
Extends limit for nonpublic school busing to 30 miles in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren Counties, and requires existing bus stops to be used.
Restores the death penalty for certain murders.
Eliminates imposition of sales and use tax on charges for initiation fees, membership fees, or dues for access to or use of certain health and fitness clubs and organizations.
Eliminates power of DRPA to finance economic development; changes composition of board; imposes restrictions regarding financing, contract procedures, conflicts of interest, and review audits; creates commuter's council.
Revises exemption from "unemployment compensation law" for operators of certain motor vehicles.
Limits amount of appeal bond in civil actions to $50 million.
Requires State Auditor to report on finances of public institutions of higher education.
Creates first degree crime of home invasion, makes crime subject to No Early Release Act, and upgrades burglary of a residence to a second degree crime under certain circumstances.
Repeals "Global Warming Response Act" and related sections of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative implementing law.
Establishes program certifying certain broadcast station personnel to undertake certain actions during emergencies.
Requires release of bid list prior to bid date under "Local Public Contracts Law."
Revises requirements and training standards for first responders under New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Act of 1987.
Expands authority of emergency management departments in requesting assistance outside normal territorial jurisdictions.
Provides discounted hunting and trapping license, permit, and stamp fees for senior citizens.
Dedicates $140,000 of revenue from motor vehicle violations to DHS for brain injury services.
Requires professional boards to provide for online processing of application for licensure or renewal.
Reforms procedures concerning provision of affordable housing; reinstates moratorium on Statewide non-residential development fees until January 2015.
Requires electric public utilities to provide training, equipment, indemnity, and reimbursement to certain municipal employees for moving and securing detached, above-ground distribution lines impeding vehicular traffic during lengthy power outages.
Implements certain governance and transparency reforms at PANYNJ.
Expands scope of New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act dealing with economic impact of rules on small businesses.
Requires Standardbred organization to use certain portion of purse moneys from in-State Standardbred races to fund foundation providing retired Standardbred race horses pre-adoption care and support Standardbred racing and breeding legislation with nonpub
Permits certain breweries to sell beer at community farm markets.
Establishes multi-species depredation permit.
Provides governance, transparency, and accountability reforms at PANYNJ.
Extends full protection of Law Against Discrimination to persons having liability for service in Armed Forces of United States; guarantees equal employment opportunity in State contracting to all veterans.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for value of certain fruit and vegetable donations made by commercial farm operators.
Prohibits any reimbursement for donation of cadaveric fetal tissue and prohibits use of cadaveric fetal tissue in research for cosmetic treatment.
Permits construction of electric transmission and distribution lines on certain areas of preserved farmland under certain circumstances.
Filed · 3
Designates May of each year "Military Appreciation Month" in New Jersey.
Amends law concerning county and municipal stream cleaning activities.
Extends protections of the new vehicle "lemon law" to new farm tractors purchased or leased in New Jersey.*