Bills in the 2020–2021 Session, Senate.
Nia H. Gill Esq.
Sponsored
Became law2
Concerns speech rights of student journalists at public schools and public institutions of higher education.
Requires in person early voting period for certain elections; makes appropriation.
Passed the Senate2
Prohibits use of education, occupation, homeownership status, marital status, or credit score in certain automobile insurance determinations.*
Prohibits gender-based price discrimination.
Out of committee4
Requires availability of early voting for certain elections; makes appropriation.
Regulates use of body cameras worn by law enforcement officers.
Creates "Community Wealth Preservation Program"; expands access for certain buyers to purchase property from sheriff's sales.
Includes false incrimination and filing false police report as form of bias intimidation; establishes crime of false 9-1-1 call with purpose to intimidate or harass based on race or other protected class.
In committee66
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
Establishes loan redemption program for teachers to redeem loan amounts received under the New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program through employment in public or nonpublic schools in New Jersey.
Provides local board of education with approval authority of charter school application.
Establishes a regulatory program for rifle and shotgun ammunition sales.
Strengthens State's assault weapons ban.
The "New Jersey Intern Protection Act"; provides legal protections and remedies for persons engaged in internships with employers.
Requires new voting machines purchased or leased for use in elections in this State to produce paper record of each vote cast.
Revises definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.
"State Bank of New Jersey Act."
Requires replacement of all electronic voting machines used in State by district-based optical scan voting systems by June 5, 2018; makes appropriation.
Allows gross income tax deduction for certain student loan interest.
Revises homestead property tax reimbursement eligibility requirements for certain claimants relocating homesteads within the same municipality.
Prohibits use of education and occupation as rating factors in automobile insurance underwriting.
Establishes law enforcement procedures for responding to immigration detainers and certain requests issued by federal immigration authorities.
Applies law governing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action to gubernatorial transition staff members.
Prohibits attempts by mental health professionals to change sexual orientation of adults.
Prohibits landlords from requiring rent to be paid by certain means of payment or at any off-site location.
"Immigrant Tenant Protection Act."
Restricts use of facial recognition technology and other biometric recognition by governmental entities.
Establishes pilot program in the Department of Law and Public Safety requiring the electronic recording of certain police interrogations.
Requires school bus contractor to provide information to board of education on results of criminal background checks of all school bus drivers assigned routes in district pursuant to contract.
The "Municipal Volunteer Property Tax Reduction Act"; permits certain municipal property owners to perform volunteer services in return for property tax vouchers.
Requires AG oversight of transfer of federal surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies; establishes review and reporting requirement.
"Corporate Disinvestment Property Tax Relief Act"; appropriates $13.5 million.
Shortens statute of limitations on certain contracts claims; clarifies that partial payment on obligation either tolls or revises, as applicable, relevant statute of limitations.
Establishes Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Council.
Requires public hearing prior to use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agency.
Prohibits use of facial recognition or biometric surveillance system on police body-worn cameras.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing, and selling assault firearms for civilian use.
Prohibits distribution of certain intentionally deceptive audio or visual media within 60 days of election with intent to deceive voter.
Requires developers of residential housing to provide low and moderate income housing or pay fee.
Prohibits certain discrimination by automated decision systems.
Requires carriers to disclose selection standards for placement of health care providers in tiered health benefits plan network; establishes oversight monitor to review compliance.
The "Real Estate Installment Contract Act."
Requires Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to establish public awareness campaign about federally required health insurance exchange.
"New Jersey Public Option Health Care Act."
Upgrades crime of stalking when stalking activity is carried out or assisted by installation or use of communication or location monitoring program or device on cellular phone or wireless mobile device.
Enacts the "Reader Privacy Act."
Clarifies that owners of self-driving motor vehicles must comply with existing insurance requirements.
Prohibits offering of health benefit plans in the State that do not meet certain standards; requires Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to take enforcement action against offering of plans not in compliance.
Prohibits severance pay agreements from barring certain employee claims against employer.
Prohibits employers from obtaining, requiring, or discriminating on the basis of credit reports.
Establishes compensation limits for licensed public adjusters.
Provides an adjustment to school district tax levy cap for increases in special education costs per pupil in excess of $40,000 that exceed such prior year costs by more than 2%.
Requires school districts and DOE to post on their websites information regarding student participation in certain assessments.
Revises "The Professional Service Corporation Act."
Increases mandatory retirement age for Administrative Law Judges, Workers' Compensation Judges and county prosecutors from 70 to 75.
Requires minimum temperature in senior citizen housing projects to be maintained at 70 degrees from October 1 to May 1.
Concerns accomplice liability of law enforcement officers who fail to de-escalate and intervene when another officer commits offense.
Prohibits employer from reducing salary of remote employee who moves to area with lower cost of living than where employee lived at time of hire or last adjustment of salary.
Permits voters to cure signature defects on mail-in and provisional ballots.
Regulates certain rental-purchase agreements.
Requires boards of education to adopt policies to make schools asthma-friendly.
The "New Jersey Law Enforcement Transparency Act of 2020."
Requires electronic voting system vendors disclose financial ties prior to electronic voting system approval by Secretary of State.
Criminalizes distribution of childlike sex dolls.
Allows parent or guardian to exclude student from administration of State assessment.
Prohibits law enforcement officer from administering anesthetic or sedative during arrest or traffic stop.
Requires postal tracking of mail-in ballots.
Requires DOT to study and issue report on use of plastic roads.
Establishes "Future Road Technologies Fund"; makes annual appropriation of $3 million.
Eliminates qualified immunity defense for law enforcement officers.
Ends civil immunity provided to certain health care professionals and health care facilities related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response.
Eliminates qualified immunity and sovereign immunity in certain cases.
Prohibits certain digital application distribution platforms from engaging in certain payment-for-service practices.
Prohibits NJTA from implementing automatic toll increases and increasing tolls for three years; reduces NJTA tolls.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law2
Includes false incrimination and filing false police report as form of bias intimidation; establishes crime of false 9-1-1 call with purpose to intimidate or harass based on race or other protected class.
Regulates use of body cameras worn by law enforcement officers.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 29
Designates, as State and public holiday, third Friday in June as Juneteenth Day.*
Authorizes operators of motor vehicles to display electronic proof of registration; requires MVC to send applicaion for registration renewal to lessee of leased vehicle.*
Enters New Jersey into Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
Prohibits provision or sale of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products; limits provision of single-use plastic straws; appropriates moneys from Clean Communities Program Fund for public
Concerns arbitration for certain non-teaching school staff.
Prohibits sale of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals.
Eliminates eligibility of postsecondary students and other individuals for State student assistance, training, and employment services if school or training provider requires student to consent to arbitration agreement or proceeding or to waive certain ri
Requires hospitals to report COVID-19 demographic data.
Requires health care facilities to report certain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data related to health care workers and certain first responders.
Increases strangulation assault to crime of second degree.
Establishes postconsumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, and plastic trash bags; prohibits sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging.*
Revises requirements for health insurance providers and Medicaid to cover services provided using telemedicine and telehealth; appropriates $5 million.*
Establishes Multigenerational Family Housing Continuity Commission; provides municipal guidance to periodically analyze local advancement of commission's senior citizen housing recommendations.
Requires DMVA assist service members discharged solely due to LGBTQ status with petitions to change discharge designation.
Authorizes expanded provision of harm reduction services to distribute sterile syringes and provide certain support services to persons who use drugs intravenously. **
Establishes "Sexual Violence Restorative Justice Pilot Program."
Requires law enforcement provide victim of sexual assault with intial incident report; provides victim with option to review intial incident report and submit corrective form.*
Requires resources be made available to victims of sexual assault.
Establishes right of victims to be notified of county prosecutor's charging decision in sexual assault cases.
Requires AG issue annual report concerning sexual assault cases.*
Establishes sexual violence liaison officer in Division of State Police and local police departments.
Requires sexual assault training for prosecutors.
Eliminates certain juvenile justice fines, fees, costs, and other monetary penalties.
Permits expungement of possession or distribution of hypodermic syringe or needle offense in cases of previous expungement; repeals criminal offense of possession of syringe.
Permits teacher and professional staff member who provides special services retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF if employment commences during 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.**
Establishes Commission on Asian American Heritage in DOE. *
"Responsible Collective Negotiations Act."
Establishes Kean University as public urban research university.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
Vetoed · 2
Establishes program allowing certain applicants to perform community service in lieu of paying motor vehicle surcharges.
Requires assignment of unemployment claims handlers to legislative districts during COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency; appropriates $1.8 million.
Passed the Senate · 10
Concerns eligibility, procedures, and post-program relief for certain drug or alcohol dependent persons sentenced to special probation, or regular probation which as a condition of such requires substance use disorders treatment. *
Requires State Capitol Joint Management Commission display representation of Alice Paul in State Capitol building.
Concerns family leave and gestational carriers.
Establishes "New Jersey Higher Education Funding Formula Commission."
Requires certain persons and business entities to maintain comprehensive information security program.
Exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from payment of municipal parking meter fees when vehicle bears veteran's or recipient's special license plate or placard issued by MVC.
Codifies State Workplace Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policy.
Requires gift card issuer provide certain protections to consumer.
Establishes School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force.
Requires health insurance carriers to offer clear cost share plans for individual health benefits plans.
Out of committee · 27
Requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain firearm purchaser identification card and register handguns acquired out-of-State. *
Requires landlords to provide tenants with certain notice concerning conditions that may cause damage or hazards on rental property.
Establishes Prescription Drug Affordability Board; appropriates $1 million. *
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.
Requires certain actions by motor vehicle operators when overtaking or passing pedestrians, bicycles, or scooters.*
Requires county boards of election to establish ballot drop boxes in each county at least 45 days before election; revises procedures concerning mail-in ballots for 2020 general election.**
Provides for resentencing of certain inmates.
Establishes "The Ballot Cure Act" to modify and establish various voting procedures.
Extends ballot receipt and election certification deadlines; increases certain messenger and bearer ballot limits; requires certain information to increase public awareness and use of voting by mail.*
Requires AG to collect, record, analyze, and report certain prosecutorial and criminal justice data.
Requires certain entities authorized to issue health benefits plans to pay annual assessment.
Establishes "Student Mental Health Task Force." *
Requires county board of elections to mail notice to mail-in voters after each election confirming ballot was received and counted.
Limits law enforcement presence at polling places and ballot drop boxes; prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of ballot drop box.*
Permits syringes and related supplies to be exchanged via postal mail.
Requires certain family or household members and victims be notified when firearms are returned to persons charged with domestic violence or subject to extreme risk protection order.
Requires State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to establish long-term care advocacy and educational training program.
Prohibits employer use of tracking or electronic communications device in vehicle operated by employee under certain circumstances. *
Prohibits State and local entities and private detention facilities from entering into agreement to detain noncitizens.*
Requires certain transportation research to consider needs of individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
Appropriates $10 million in federal funds to Department of Agriculture to support food bank organizations.
Requires MVC to create mobile driver's licenses and identification cards.
Establishes order of protection for current or former judge; upgrades and clarifies harassment against current or former judge; bars firearms possession by persons against whom current or former judge order of protection is entered.
Renames Dismal Swamp and Dismal Swamp Preservation Commission as "Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve" and "Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission."
Revises effective date of "New Jersey Fair Play Act."
Requires incarcerated individual from State to be counted at residential address for municipal, county, and congressional redistricting purposes and for apportionment of regional school district board of education members. *
Requires provider of electronic communication service to preserve information reported to law enforcement related to endangerment of children for 180 days.
In committee · 36
Limits patient information behavioral health care providers may disclose to health insurance carriers.
Establishes Clean Energy Technology Center and Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund for purposes of creating clean energy-related employment opportunities; allocates revenues from societal benefits charge to support its activities.
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
Establishes grant program for school districts and charter schools to develop dual language immersion programs.
Requires public transportation employees to complete training course on handling and responding to suspected human trafficking.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Requires certain health care plans to be offered by SEHBP and local boards of education; requires SEHBP commission to establish employee contribution rates for certain plans; requires local boards of education provide certain information on health care be
Establishes "Monica's Law" concerning domestic violence risk assessment pilot program.
Establishes Animal Cruelty Offender Registry; prohibits purchase, adoption, and breeding of animals by animal cruelty offenders.
Establishes procedures for individuals arrested for drug intoxication offenses to be transported to substance abuse treatment, and for municipal court to commit such individuals to treatment in lieu of prosecution.
Concerns participation in special probation drug court.
"New Voter Empowerment Act"; permits 17 year olds to vote in primary election if they turn 18 years old before next succeeding general election.
Establishes additional requirements for operation and oversight of animal shelters, pounds, kennels operating as shelters or pounds, and veterinary holding facilities.
Converts senior freeze reimbursement program into credit program.
Expands wrongful death act to allow recovery for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society and loss of companionship.
Prohibits sale of cats, dogs, or rabbit by pet shops; prohibits certain transactions between animal shelters, pounds, animal rescue organizations, and animal breeders or brokers; repeals "Pet Purchase Protection Act."
"New Jersey Fair Workweek Act."
Establishes minimum registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and certain DHS facilities.
Establishes the "Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Pilot Program."
Establishes animal cruelty offense of cruel confinement of a gestating pig.
Requires labeling of foods containing genetically engineered material.
Concerns earned sick leave benefits.
Establishes one-time payment program in Department of Treasury for aid for certain eligible taxpayers; appropriates $35 million.
Requires AG to establish public awareness campaign concerning Crime Victim's Bill of Rights and VCCO.
Requires Prison Rape Elimination Act committee in each State correctional facility.
Requires access to law enforcement disciplinary records as government records; requires such records to be retained for certain period of time.
Increases maximum penalty for certain violations concerning asbestos hazard abatement; allocates moneys from increased penalties to asbestos control and licensure programs.
Permits voter registration at polling place on election day.
Requires DOC to implement certain procedures to facilitate reporting of sexual abuse by Edna Mahan inmates.
Requires administrators at Edna Mahan to have access to information concerning investigations of sexual abuse allegations.
Requires revision of State Legislature's anti-harassment policy; specifies investigation of discrimination and harassment complaint process.
Establishes Council for Community Recovery and Family Success; appropriates $1.8 million.
Requires use of small pharmacies to facilitate State response to public health emergencies, including administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Expands mail-in ballot technical defects eligible for curing; makes various changes concerning mail-in cure processing and documentation.
"Establishes Children, Youth, and Families Bill of Rights" to recognize and protect certain rights for children, youth, families.
Creates "New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act."
Filed · 10
Concerns subcontracting agreements entered into by public school districts.
Authorizes all licensed health care facilities and laboratories to collect specimens to test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); allows waiver of staffing ratio requirements.
Establishes confidentiality of court records of certain eviction actions initiated during COVID-19 pandemic.
Establishes Asian American Pacific Islander Commission.
Appropriates $20 million from General Fund to EDA to support food and beverage establishments impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $50 million from General Fund to EDA to support businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $10 million from General Fund to EDA to support Sustain and Serve NJ Program.
Establishes Startup Business and Nonprofit Assistance Program in EDA to support new businesses and nonprofit organizations following COVID-19 pandemic; appropriates $25 million.
Appropriates $120 million from General Fund to EDA to support microbusinesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Appropriates $10 million from General Fund to EDA to support child care providers impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.