Posted on: January 24, 2023
The Annual Show Off Your City Contest is accepting entries through February 10. Municipalities are invited to send us photos of their tourist attractions, downtown areas, economic development initiatives, parks, city halls, community groups, special momen...
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Posted on: January 13, 2023
In Governor Murphy’s State of the State address, he revisited the topic of Liquor License reform, which he discussed during his speech of the League Conference in November. The Governor’s proposed plan includes phasing out the populati...
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Posted on: January 10, 2023
Today, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his 2023 State of the State address. This marks the first time in three years that the speech was given in person as the last two addresses were virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his speech, Gov...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
The New Year has come and the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will still have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs, unless an immediate solution i...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed A-573, which makes several changes to the Uniform Construction Code Act (UCC). The bill codifies the three-day construction inspection turnaround and allows for developers to contract with private on-site inspe...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
The deadline for the ANCHOR program application is January 31. The state will begin paying ANCHOR benefits in late spring of 2023 in the form of a direct deposit or check, not as credits to property tax bills. Applica...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
In the final week of December, the House and Senate passed, and President Biden signed a $1.7 trillion FY2023 federal budget through September 30, 2023. For provisions of state and local interest, please read the League’s two blog posts, the fir...
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Posted on: December 23, 2022
P.L. 2022, c. 3, which prohibits government dealings with businesses associated with Belarus and Russia, requires the New Jersey Department of Treasury to develop a list of companies it determines engage in prohibited activities associated with Russia or ...
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Posted on: December 5, 2022
State Health Benefits Update
The League continues to work pro-actively and collaboratively with our partners at the NJ Conference of Mayors and NJ Association of Counties to identify a workable plan and means toward a resolution by the Governor and the le...
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Posted on: December 5, 2022
Governor Signs School Security Legislation
On December 1 Governor Murphy signed into law S-2426, which requires public schools and nonpublic schools to submit critical incident mapping data for all schools and school grounds to local law enforcem...
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Posted on: December 5, 2022
EPA Announces New Funding Opportunities for Brownfield Technical Assistance and Research Grants
Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Requests for Applications for $57 million in funding that is available for two new ...
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Posted on: November 11, 2022
Earlier this week, the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) met to consider regular business and appeal requests. During the meeting, SHBC Committee member Dudley Burge asked for an update on and solutions to the 22% cost increase in local government h...
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Posted on: October 31, 2022
On October 19 the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) released Local Finance Notice 2022-19 (LFN). The notice reports that municipalities may appropriate funds for use by their volunteer fire companies or boards of fire commissioners in ...
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Posted on: October 31, 2022
If you were one of the municipalities that had their sick and vacation time policy reviewed by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) earlier this year and asked to make corrective action by September, we ask you to share your response with the League ...
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Posted on: October 31, 2022
On Thursday, the Assembly favorably reported S-2912 which permits police officers to be present at senior residential centers or schools that are used as polling places. The legislation also requires school districts to establish election day sec...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
The comment period for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Draft Tier A Permit renewal closed on September 20. The League in partnership with the New Jersey Conference of Mayors submitted comments focusing on...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Last week, the State Health Benefits Commission adopted the rate increase as proposed in the AON Rate Renewal Report Local Government Employee/Retiree Group and State Employee/Retiree Group. Municipalities in the State Health Benefits Plan will s...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 307, increasing New Jersey’s offshore wind goal by nearly 50% to 11,000 megawatts (MW) by 2040. The Executive Order, which increases the state’s current goal of 7,500 ...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
On Thursday, Governor Murphy issued a conditional veto of S-757. The legislation sought to expand authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The League opposed S-757 as passed by the legislatu...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
On September 22 Governor Murphy signed into law S-1027/A2208, which makes duct cleaning as public work subject to the prevailing wage law. P.L. 2022, c. 113 took effect immediately. Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Dire...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Senators Ruiz and Sarlo have introduced legislation that would expand the State Health Benefits Commission from five members to nine members and add local representation to Commission. S-3033 would add two local government management members, a m...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Please read the League’s recent blog post for newly announced and application instructions for various competitive federal grants that are available to municipalities. Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
As Congress prepares to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), municipalities should be aware of a provision that may have a negative impact on their operations through the imposition of a new unfunded mandate. Senators Mark Warner (D-...
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Posted on: August 12, 2022
Last Friday, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1368 requiring all business owners and owners of multifamily rental units to maintain certain levels of liability insurance. In addition, the new law requires that all business owners and owners of m...
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Posted on: August 8, 2022
Friday afternoon, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1368 requiring all business owners and owners of multifamily rental units to maintain certain levels of liability insurance. In addition, the new law requires that all business owners and owners...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
Earlier this week we advised you that the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) was scheduled to meet Monday, July 25, via conference call for its Annual Rate Renewal meeting. The SHBC has removed the rate hike proposal from the July 25 agenda for consi...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
On Thursday, July 21, Governor Murphy signed into law S2742/A4194, establishing a statewide police licensing program and appropriating $6 million to establish the program. Governor Murphy highlighted that with this new law New Jersey would join t...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
As a reminder, the new lead-based paint inspection requirements, pursuant to P.L.2021, c.182, take effect today, July 22, 2022. The law, signed by Governor Murphy last year, imposes an obligation on municipalities to perform or hire a certified l...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced a $45 million expansion of the New Jersey Zero Emission Incentive Program (NJ ZIP), doubling the amount of funding dedicated to the program. NJ ZIP provides vouchers to businesses an...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2022-14, CY 2022/FY 2023 State Aid payment schedule. Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief (CMPTRA), Energy Tax Receipts (ERT), and the Municipal Relief Fund aid ACH d...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
The FY 2023 Budget legislation was favorably released from both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee along a party-line vote in both committees on the evening of June 27. The Budget legislation includes an alloc...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
With the FY2023 budget deadline of June 30 fast approaching, Governor Murphy and the State Legislature continue to consider how to use the $6.9 in surplus revenue. Governor Murphy and majority leadership continue to follow their affordability agenda for N...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
On Thursday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee favorably reported A-4127, which mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for firefighters who are not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). This provides for the approxim...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
NJLM’s Lunch and Learn series continued on June 3 with a briefing featuring Kia King, Director of Policy & External Affairs for the Department of Community Affairs, and Marie Daniels, Program Specialist 2, Regulatory Program, Code Developmen...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
According to statute, the second tranche payment for local governments in areas defined as Metropolitan Cities by U.S. Treasury will be made available no earlier than 12 months after the first tranche. The second tranche payment for localities will occur ...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
On June 1 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a Compliance Advisory noting that MS4 Permit Compliance Submissions are past due. DEP’s Division of Water Enforcement is conducting compliance evaluation inspections ...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
The weekend of June 4 while Governor Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Oliver were out of the state on personal business, acting Governor Scutari signed P.L 2022, c.16 allowing for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in pedicabs under the following circum...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
A-3804/S-330, which would restore distributions to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Municipal Distribution Program (ETR) over two years and require additional funding to be subtracted from the municipal property tax levy, is the fi...
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Posted on: May 27, 2022
988 Suicide & Crisi Lifeline
On July 16, 2022, 9-8-8 will become the nationwide 3-digit dialing code for crisis and suicide prevention, replacing the 1-800 number currently used by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When dialed, 9-8-8 connects t...
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Posted on: May 27, 2022
Update on Legislation Undermining Local Planning and Zoning
The League is continuing to monitor and advocate against A-1294/S-2103. This legislation would authorize the conversion of certain office parks and retail centers to mixed-use development...
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Posted on: May 13, 2022
On Monday, May 9, Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed legislation aimed at addressing a perceived judicial misinterpretation of the law concerning political bribery. A-2472 was introduced after federal and state trial courts both interprete...
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Posted on: May 13, 2022
On Monday, May 9, the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee heard testimony from key stakeholders of the New Jersey alcoholic beverage industry on the current state of the industry and discussed ways to improve the manufacturing, dis...
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Posted on: May 13, 2022
This past Wednesday, May 11, at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, League Senior Legislative Analyst Paul Penna participated in a panel: American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Program Funds: Leveraging Federal, ...
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Posted on: April 22, 2022
Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin sent a memo to law enforcement chief executives regarding compliance with P.L. 2021, c. 16, the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act. In the memo, Acting Attorney Gener...
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Posted on: April 22, 2022
Budget hearings continued this week with the Senate Budget and Appropriations meeting on Thursday, April 21. A number of individuals testified including some who reaffirmed the League's requests to restore fund...
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Posted on: April 22, 2022
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has released its decision in City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC, Et al. This case examined the City of Austin’s sign ordinance, which regulates “...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 14, both the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) gave testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee. DOE Acting Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillian's testimony high...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 12, Governor Murphy signed into law A-2158, which took effect immediately. P.L. 2022, c. 9 permits an existing police chief or fire chief who attains the age of 65 within the next two years to continue serving as chief until the end of t...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 13, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 294 clarifying that vaccination requirements for covered workers at health care and high-risk congregate settings under Executive Order No. 283 include only one booster dose of the COVID-19 vacc...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
We want to share correspondence from the U.S. Treasury that was sent to the League’s federal partner, the National League of Cities, regarding a SAM.gov registration scam targeting Non-Entitlement Units (NEUs) as classified by the federal government.&...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
Starting on Wednesday, May 4, New Jersey will implement P.L 2020, C.117, which bans single-use plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene foam foodservice products. The law states that New Jersey businesses are banned from providing or selling single-use plast...
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Posted on: April 13, 2022
On Monday, April 4, the legislative hearings on Governor Murphy’s proposed $48.9 billion FY2023 budget began. The Assembly Budget committee heard testimony from the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services (OLS) and the New Jersey Department of Treasury....
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
Yesterday, the Site Improvement Advisory Board (SIAB) considered advancing a proposal to amend the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS). However, the SIAB tabled the proposal for further review by their Stormwater subcommittee. The proposed rule ...
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
On Tuesday, March 15, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) issued Local Finance Notice 2022-10 (LFN 2022-10), outlining the 2023 State Aid Certification process. The Calendar Year (CY) 2022)/State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023 Aid Certification for each mun...
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of New Jersey issued its decision in Rivera v. Union County Prosecutor’s Office. This case dealt with a request made under the Open Public Records Act and the common law for a police internal affairs...
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Posted on: March 22, 2022
With the uncertainty in the world because of the conflict involving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we want to remind you to take steps to protect municipal assets from a cyber-attack. Once malware is deployed, it has the potential to infect syste...
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Posted on: February 24, 2022
As the State begins to consider its FY 22-23 budget, it is critical for municipalities to advocate for S-330, which will increase distribution to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years, restore munici...
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Posted on: February 24, 2022
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) will be hosting three virtual regional hearings on the use of tax revenue for social equity purposes on March 7 for northern New Jersey, March 9 for central New Jersey, and 16 for southern New Jersey. Al...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
On Thursday the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously approved S-330, which increases distribution to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years to restore municipal aid reductions and requires ...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
In November of 2020, Governor Murphy signed Daniel’s Law, amending the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and other statutes intending to protect certain people in public service. Despite its laudable goals Daniel’s Law, as initi...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking applicants for its latest round of grant funding, which prioritizes projects that will restore and protect New Jersey’s watersheds while better managing stormwater runoff and...
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Posted on: January 31, 2022
At this week’s briefing Governor Murphy announced the new emergency rescue mortgage assistance program and the opening of new vaccination megasites in Passaic and Bergen counties. The Governor noted that COVID-19 cases are down by roughly two-thirds from ...
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Posted on: March 26, 2021
Earlier today, Governor Murphy signed S-5472/S-3565 requiring law enforcement to provide a parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of a person under the age of 18 with a written notification for any violation for underage consumption or poss...
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Posted on: March 15, 2021
March 10 was the one-year anniversary of New Jersey’s first COVID-19 confirmed death. Governor Phil Murphy noted that “the toll of this virus has been staggering. It exceeds the numbers of New Jerseyans lost in any war. In one year, we have lost an averag...
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Posted on: March 9, 2021
Legislative front:
Various Assembly and Senate committees will be holding hearings and considering numerous pieces of legislation during the week. The municipal issues before the various committees include:
- Assembly Oversight, Reform &am...
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Posted on: February 24, 2021
On Tuesday, February 23, Governor Murphy delivered the annual budget address. The Governor’s proposed $44.8 billion budget will guide the State’s spending through the next (FY 2022) fiscal year. While the full details of the Governor’s budget will be rele...
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Posted on: December 1, 2020
Dear Elected and Appointed Officials:We would like to take a moment to thank you for attending the League’s 105th Annual Conference, presented virtually in 2020. When the ball dropped last New Year’s Eve, little did we know what lay ahead in 2020, and now...
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Posted on: July 19, 2019
In June, mediators appointed by the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) issued three interest arbitration awards. The first interest arbitration awards to be issued since the expiration of the 2% cap. Each of these awards arose out of an impasse...
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