Bills in the 2022–2023 Session, General Assembly.
Edward H. Thomson
Sponsored
Passed the General Assembly2
Allows planning and zoning board members to satisfy training requirements on Internet.
Authorizes schools to administer commercial driver license exam and other motor vehicle services for school bus drivers.
Out of committee2
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to certain shellfish aquaculture activities.*
Requires public works contractor registration and payroll certification for public works projects to be completed online.
In committee48
Requires criminal history record background checks on certain volunteer sports personnel.
Exempts certain volunteer emergency service organizations from charitable contribution filing fees.
Provides that person who impersonates law enforcement officer and commits crime is guilty of third degree crime.
Criminalizes participation in criminal street gang.
Requires AG to defend challenges to certain municipal ordinances that establish residency requirements for convicted sex offenders.
Eliminates statute of limitations in civil cases involving certain sexual offenses.
Permits municipalities to charge fee to cover ancillary costs of traffic control; limits fee.
Regulates assignment and use of State vehicles.
Requires school district that includes grades kindergarten through six to offer Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program.
Allows certain sole proprietors to join small employer health benefits purchasing alliance.
Establishes penalties for manufacture, purchase or possession of certain keys.
Requires public and nonpublic school to provide student with more information about NJ STARS Program and improve notification of potenial eligibilty.
Extends certain civil service and tuition benefits to family members of servicemembers who died while in service.
Limits long term tax exemptions in municipalities with school districts receiving certain State school aid.
Includes value of certain properties exempt from taxation in valuation used to calculate State school aid in SDA districts.
Requires DCA to provide certain long term tax exemption information on website.
Establishes Children's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
Provides for identification and study of infant fatalities and near fatalities resulting from vaccination; requires inclusion of vaccination information in sudden infant death reports; and requires use of federal infant death reporting form.
Establishes "Subcommittee on Affordable Housing Needs" within "Joint Committee on Housing Affordability"; requires subcommittee to make determinations concerning affordable housing needs.
Requires mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for leaving scene of accident resulting in serious bodily injury.
Eliminates use of census-based funding of special education aid in school funding law.
Provides preference for in-State businesses in State contracting.
Permits municipalities to charge reduced or no beach fee for children ages 12 to 17; revises law concerning beach fees for veterans.
Requires all public school teachers and paraprofessionals working with autistic students to possess Registered Behavior Technician credential by 2020-2021 school year.
Requires DCA to collect information about State residents seeking affordable housing in State and provide that information to COAH.
Allows municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for their residents.
Establishes training wage.
Grants full police status to special agents in Department of Treasury; authorizes special agents to carry firearms at all times.
Allows person calling certain State or local government entities to have option of speaking or leaving recorded message with human telephone operator during normal business hours.
Requires DOH to administer coronavirus disease 2019 antibody testing.
Requires State to purchase personal protective equipment from in-State companies.
Establishes municipal liability for gross negligence in failing to protect person and property during riots.
Prohibits State aid and grants to municipalities that reduce law enforcement budgets by certain amount.
Broadens offenses of riot and disorderly conduct; enhances penalties for public monument destruction; addresses riot victim assaults; creates crime of promotion of violent, disorderly assembly.
Permits municipalities having population in excess of 100,000 to appoint up to five alternate deputy registrars.
Permits employer to prohibit use of cannabis by certain employees.
Establishes two-year pilot program for certain mental health care facilities to treat additional juvenile patients.
Creates the "Mold Safe Housing Act."
Authorizes certain large food waste generators to send food waste to sanitary landfill facilities for purpose of generating Class I renewable energy or renewable natural gas.
Removes 72-hour waiting period for marriage or civil union licenses.
Requires certain school districts to include fitness and nutrition wellness program as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Establishes certain shellfish aquaculture activities as eligible for Right to Farm protections.
Establishes certain animal abuse offenses committed in manner manifesting extreme indifference to value of animal's life as crime of second degree; designated as "River's Law."
Requires any increase in local government costs for employee health care and prescription benefits coverage be offset by equivalent increase in municipal energy tax receipts property tax relief aid.
Requires adult day care centers to provide reasonable accommodations for certain persons.
Permits public and nonpublic schools to utilize security categorical aid to hire school security personnel.
Requires Medicaid coverage for ovulation enhancing drugs and medical services related to administering such drugs for certain beneficiaries experiencing infertility.
Expands Community College Opportunity Grant Program to include career and technical education programs at county colleges and county vocational schools.
Carried from the Senate
Became law2
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to certain shellfish aquaculture activities.*
Requires public works contractor registration and payroll certification for public works projects to be completed online.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 11
Authorizes creation of special license plates commemorating horse as State animal.
Revises effects of delinquency and insolvency proceedings against insurer-members of federal home loan banks.
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2023.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2023.
Requires State Auditor to annually publish user-friendly report summarizing and analyzing contents of State's Annual Financial Report.
Establishes crimes of theft of motor vehicle and receiving stolen motor vehicle as separate statutory provisions; provides extended sentences for certain persistent offenders.
Designates portion of State Highway Route 71 as "John Tarantino Highway."
Eliminates presumption of pretrial release for certain motor vehicle theft offenses if prior arrest or conviction occurred within prior 90-day-period.*
Establishes nonpublic school transportation program to provide funding to consortiums of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing.
Provides that 10-year term does not apply to lease of certain municipal properties unless they are waterfront properties or related to waterfront concessions.
Appropriates $87,783,515 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues and various Green Acres funds to DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, and for certain administrative expenses.
Passed the General Assembly · 4
Authorizes certain individuals to drive Type S school buses.
Requires geotechnical testing and certain monitoring of transportation projects.
Permits certain persons to operate Type S school buses.
Authorizes home detention for juveniles adjudicated delinquent for certain motor vehicle offenses.
Out of committee · 15
Requires school district to submit emergency communication policies and protocols to Department of Education for review.
Excludes contributions made to certain retirement savings plans under gross income tax.*
Prohibits State Board of Education from requiring completion of performance-based assessment as condition of eligibility for certificate of eligibility with advanced standing or certificate of eligibility. *
Requires telemarketers to provide name, mailing address, and telephone number of person on whose behalf call is made.
Provides gross income tax credit for certain expenses paid or incurred for care and support of qualifying senior family member; designated as Caregiver's Assistance Act.
Establishes Animal Advocate Program in AOC. *
Permits counties to operate airports as county utilities; provides that bonds for county and municipal airport purposes be issued in accordance with provisions of "Local Bond Law."
Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $100,000 appropriation; appropriates $100,000.
Exempts shellfish aquaculturists with commercial shellfish aquaculture permit from law prohibiting taking of shellfish on Sunday; requires submission of annual shellfish harvest report.*
Allows certain airports to carry over certain grant money into future years.*
Authorizes special license plates for members of the United States Coast Guard.
Requires State Planning Commission to adopt model ordinance for siting certain warehouses and permits conforming updates to municipal master plans and zoning ordinances and establishes fund in DCA; appropriates $5 million.
Requires employer or contractor engaged in work for a public body to register with and submit payroll records to DOLWD.*
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY 2024.
Establishes exemption from State school aid reductions for certain school districts.
In committee · 130
Establishes "New Jersey Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act."
Provides that school district may not prohibit active or retired law enforcement officer or registered security officer from carrying firearm in performance of school security duties if authorized under State law to carry.
Provides small businesses with gross income tax or corporation business tax deduction for wages paid to minimum wage employees.
The "New Jersey Right to Home Defense Law."
Requires COAH to administer affordable housing obligations of municipalities based on statewide obligation.
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.
Requires COAH to calculate affordable housing obligations on Statewide basis.
Establishes additional factors for municipal adjustment used in calculating fair share affordable housing obligations; provides population-based cap for these obligations.
Provides free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel.
Directs Attorney General to provide annual training to public and nonpublic school students and staff on roles and responsibilities before, during, and after school emergencies.
Requires school districts to institute policies to improve emergency communications to increase school security.
Requires State Police to maintain 24-hour hotline for receiving anonymous tips regarding potential threats to school safety and security.
Requires DOE to establish online school security resource clearinghouse.
Requires Police Training Commission to adopt training course on school emergency response.
Requires Commissioner of Education to review school safety and security plans.
Allows commercial property owners to claim certain amounts of commercial tenant rent forgiveness during COVID-19 emergency as deduction against property owner's income under CBT or GIT.
"New Jersey Disclosure and Accountability Transparency Act (NJ DaTA)"; establishes certain requirements for disclosure and processing of personally identifiable information; establishes Office of Data Protection and Responsible Use in Division of Consumer Affairs.
Establishes procedures for disqualification from public office or employment upon conviction of certain crimes; creates registry.
Appropriates $10 million to the DEP for Black Creek and Wreck Pond dredging.
Upgrades theft to a crime of the first degree if amount involved is $500,000 or more.
Changes State assistance to urban enterprise zones over seven years by increasing reduced sales tax in enterprise zones and dedicating increase to zone municipalities.
"Opportunity Scholarship Act"; establishes pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children.
Permits municipality to use proceeds of beach access fees for areas near beach facilities that are significantly affected by beach tourism; requires municipality to provide explanation of expenditures on website.
Reauthorizes use of regional contribution agreements.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $2.125 million to Howell Township in Monmouth County for drinking water infrastructure project.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on water safety as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Directs COAH to adopt regulations to require municipalities to prioritize current residents in affordable housing applications.
Designates Earth Day week each year as Litter Law Enforcement Week for special effort to enforce littering laws.
Provides tax levy growth limitation adjustment for school districts experiencing reduction in State aid.
Establishes Office of Tourism Research; requires specific measures concerning tourism advertising, marketing, research, and tourism-related business training.
Establishes certain protocols for prescribing and dispensing benzodiazepine.
Provides gross income tax credits to taxpayers who purchase certain low-speed electric bicycles.
Allocates all revenue from hotel and motel occupancy fee for arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes.
"Michelle's Law"; requires health benefit plans to cover mammogram for an individual if recommended by health care provider.
Permits New Jersey Historical Commission to develop manual for counties and municipalities to use to plan celebration of 250th Anniversary of ratification of Declaration of Independence.
Permits New Jersey Council on the Arts to develop and promote historical mural program and program for 250th anniversary of Declaration of Independence.
Revises Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program; requires all energy taxes to be paid directly to municipalities.
Permits board of education to employ certain veterans in coaching positions in school district's interscholastic athletic program.
Limits to 14 days effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations.
Limits "tobacco and vapor products tax" on cigars to up to $0.50 per cigar.
Establishes New Jersey Veteran Grant Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
Establishes NJ Military Family Relief Fund; provides for designation on State gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to military family relief fund.
Provides additional home ownership assistance for certain military service members.
Establishes "Bring Veterans to New Jersey Program."
Requires EDA to establish program providing grants to qualified veterans purchasing franchises.
Exempts qualified veterans from paying certain firearm related fees.
Authorizes proportional property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans having a service-connected permanent disability and proclaims that the State shall reimburse municipalities for costs of exemption.
Requires public institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart Medal military recipients.
Clarifies that chief of police or Superintendent of State Police has burden of proving applicant's disqualification for permit to purchase handgun or firearms purchaser identification card.
Provides mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for certain crimes of domestic violence.
Requires school district to allow graduating student to wear military sash while participating in high school graduation ceremony.
Allows gross income tax deduction for functional improvements and home repairs made to taxpayer's primary residence.
Increases distribution to municipalities from Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years to restore municipal aid reductions; requires additional aid to be subtracted from municipal property tax levy.
Creates crime of victimization of a senior citizen or a person with a disability.
"Murphy's Law"; nullifies Governor's order, rule, or regulation to address declared emergency, or relevant portion thereof, when Governor violates same; creates affirmative defense to prosecution for same violation committed by Governor.
Allows tax credits for nonresidential and multifamily building improvement expenses to reduce spread of COVID-19.
Revises and updates public utility franchise process; allows State's political subdivisions to revoke franchises; increases certain penalties.
Repeals surtax imposed on certain businesses.
Requires testing for infectious disease for certain persons who have been administered opioid antidote by first responder.
Increases percent of public employees' charitable contributions that may be spent on administrative costs.
Requires additional credit against fair share obligation for abandoned property converted to affordable housing.
Expands indoor capacity for food or beverage establishments and banquet and wedding venues under certain circumstances during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Requires health insurers, SHBP and SEHBP to provide coverage for diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of lymphedema.
Provides that amounts remaining in inactive Internet gaming accounts will be abandoned property after three years under unclaimed property law.
Creates offense of making false child abuse report; permits assessment of penalty.
Prohibits candidates from nomination for more than one elective office at primary or general election.
Requires certain toll road operators and bi-state agency to allow drivers to choose towing company.
Makes it a crime of the first degree to coerce a patient to request medication pursuant to the "Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" or to forge a patient's request for such medication.
Requires NJT rail stations and bus and rail terminals to display historical information about area in or around stations and terminals.
"Homestead School Property Tax Reimbursement Act"; provides State reimbursement for 50% of school property taxes paid by seniors, 65 years and older.
Increases fines for failing to have required markings on commercial vehicles.
Establishes immunity for businesses against damage claims for COVID-19 exposure; excludes reckless or intentional conduct.
Requires use of annual baseline concussion testing for student-athletes and cheerleaders in grades six through 12.
Excludes certain increases in school security expenditures from tax levy and appropriation cap, as applicable, for municipalities and counties.
Requires DCA to verify income of low-income home energy assistance benefit applicants.
Requires school districts to take certain actions in circumstances when school meal bill is in arrears; prohibits shaming students with school meal bills in arrears; prohibits certain district actions in collecting unpaid school meal fees.
Establishes Red Tape Review Commission.
Increases gross income tax deduction for contributions to the New Jersey Better Educational Savings Trust (NJBEST) Program.
Excludes under gross income tax certain contributions to qualified pension plans, deferred compensation plans and provides deduction for certain individual retirement savings.
Authorizes State Auditor to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain programs and initiatives.
Revises gross income tax rates for joint filers and similar taxpayers and designated as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act.
Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions.
"Innovate New Jersey Act"; establishes tax-free business incubators at institutions of higher education.
"Judy and Nikki's Law"; provides for life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of murder of a child 16 years of age or younger.
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Grants parents, guardians, and authorized representatives online access to medical and personal history of residents of certain residential care facilities.
Requires limited liability company to disclose ownership information when submitting deed for recording.
Permits any member of PERS to receive accidental disability retirement allowance for disability resulting from participation in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup options.
Requires DOT to develop common design for signs that indicate historic district or site.
Mandates that "Honor and Remember Flag" be displayed at certain public buildings.
Authorizes DOT and historic entities to accept gifts and grants for purchase and erection of historic markers and signs.
"Microphone-Enabled Devices Act"; requires user consent before enabling device microphone.
"Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act."
Converts senior freeze reimbursement program into credit program.
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism establish New Jersey Historical Markers Trail.
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.
Clarifies court's discretion in imposing monetary conditions of bail; establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with violent crime be detained prior to trial.
Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
"Emma's Law"; requires school buses that transport students with special needs to be equipped with certain safety features.
Allows property tax rebate for disabled veterans.
"Parents' Bill of Rights Act"; requires public school and school district provide certain information to parents and guardians and obtain parental consent prior to taking certain actions.
Requires school districts to include information on events of September 11, 2001 as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies; requires public schools to hold annual events commemorating September 11, 2001.
Establishes State definition of anti-Semitism.
Prohibits board of education from providing instruction in family life education, sex education, sexual health, sexual orientation, or gender identity to students in preschool through grade four.
Repeals $100,000 cap on sales and use tax exemption for certain capital improvements made by businesses participating in Urban Enterprise Zone program.
Establishes rebuttable presumption that person charged with theft of motor vehicle be detained prior to trial under certain circumstances.
Lowers monetary threshold for certain motor vehicle theft to constitute second degree crime.
Authorizes certain large food waste generators to send food waste to sanitary landfill facilities for purpose of generating Class I renewable energy.
Concerns removal of abandoned vessels; appropriates $25 million.
Clarifies the newspaper media delivery person and news media stringer are independent contractors for purposes of State employment laws.
Establishes mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment for second offense involving use of juvenile in automobile theft.
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.
Excludes certain insurance costs from appropriations cap and property tax levy cap for certain local units.
Establishes three-year nonpublic school student transportation pilot program in certain eligible school districts.
Increases penalty for motor vehicle theft if, during course of theft, vehicle is operated in manner creating risk of injury or property damage.
Increases penalties for repeat convictions of certain motor vehicle related crimes; increases penalties for leader of auto theft trafficking network in certain circumstances.
Adds county and municipal representation to State Health Benefits Commission.
Requires DCF to administer school-based youth services program as currently established.
Allows gross income tax deduction for donations made to animal shelters.
Amends Fiscal Year 2023 annual appropriations act to require expedited payment of property tax benefit under ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program.
Increases penalties for motor vehicle theft; authorizes home detention for minors.
Increases penalties for certain motor vehicle theft and carjacking offenses; establishes presumption of pretrial detention in enumerated circumstances.
Permits designation of special event zones for traffic regulation purposes during certain large events.
Establishes matching grant program in DCA to support community-based nonprofit organizations that provide shelter services during Code Blue alerts.
"Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act"; repeals certain sections of law; requires additional aid to lower property taxes commensurate with residents' ability to support schools; appropriates $2.9 billion.
"Pandemic Education Relief Act"; provides additional State school aid for certain school districts that have previously experienced reductions and establishes allowable uses of aid.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $3.5 million to provide additional State school aid to Freehold Regional School District.
Establishes program, in DEP, for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands.
Establishes minimum NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for certain out-of-state hospitals that provide services to NJ FamilyCare pediatric beneficiaries.