News Flash

Coronavirus Task Force Established

On Monday, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 102 establishing the Coronavirus Task Force. The task force chaired by the Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli will coordinate all State efforts to appropriately prepare for and respond to...

EPA Proposing Revisions to Federal Lead & Copper Rule

As you may be aware, late last year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule to reduce lead exposure in drinking water. This action represents the first major overhaul of ...

OPRA Study Commission Legislation Introduced

Senator Corrado has introduced S-180, which establishes a 14-member Open Public Records Act Study Commission. The bill has been referenced to Senate State Government Committee. The League strongly supports S-180 and we thank Senator Corrado and Assemblyma...

Plastic Bag Ban Bill Advances

On Jan. 30 in Trenton, the Senate Energy and Environment Committee amended and released a bill that would phase in a ban on non-reusable plastic bags and other food and drink containers.As you may recall, the State Senate and General Assembly failed to ag...

Training & Certification Mandate Hearing Scheduled for Committee Hearing

Scheduled for a hearing before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on Monday, February 3 is A-678, a bill opposed by the League.  A-678 would mandate training and certification requirements for zoning officers and land use board adm...

U.S. House Advances Infrastructure Framework

The National League of Cities (NLC) reports that, on Wednesday, leadership in the House of Representatives, led by the Chairmen of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR), Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Frank Pallone (N...

Governor Delivers State of the State

Following the swearing-in of the new Legislature, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his second State of the State Address to both houses of the new Legislature. The Governor’s remarks, as prepared, are posted online as is the video of the address.

S...

Lame Duck Roundup Week of January 13

The 218th Legislature finished its business on Monday, and the 219th Legislature was sworn in on Tuesday. In its closing hours, there was the expected flurry of legislative activity. Here’s a rundown of bills and issues of interest that were con...

Governor Signs Legislation: January 15, 2020

On Monday, January 13, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law numerous pieces of legislation. The following laws are of municipal interest:

P.L. 2019, c. 335 allows local voters to authorize, through a referendum, an increase of the municipal tax l...

Treasury Funding Release Reported

Politico has reported that the NJ Department of the Treasury will be releasing the balance of the $235 million that the Governor placed in reserve when he signed the State budget last June. His decision to hold off on the distribution of those funds, whic...

BPU Seeks Input on LED Streetlight Conversion & Tariffs

Earlier this week the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) announced they would be hosting a stakeholder meeting seeking input regarding LED streetlight conversion and tariffs. 

Municipalities are a key stakeholder in this issue and your own experience...

Federal Budget Increases Delaware River Basin Funding

Among other items included in the Federal FY 2020 Budget, adopted just before Christmas, Congress appropriated $9.7 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program. This funding will be available to nonprofits and other groups, to support project...

Library Construction Bond Act Grant Funding Applications Now Available

On Monday the Governor announced the launch of the first round of grant solicitations using the Library Construction Bond funds to support libraries providing modern and technologically efficient library facilities. Grants are available to fund projects s...

Bill Requiring Electronic Review of Construction Permits Set for Vote

On Monday, January 13, the State Senate is scheduled to vote on S-3927/A-4463, which the League opposes. S-3927/A-4463 would establish an electronic permit processing review system requiring electronic submission of applications for construction permits, ...

Assembly Appropriations Committee Advances Preserved Farmlands Events Bill

Yesterday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved legislation, opposed by the League that greatly expands the number and type of events that can be held on preserved farmland. The Assembly Committee Substitute for A-5384/A-5157 allows the owners o...

Eleventh Hour Senate Action on Plastic Bag Bill Slated

On Monday, according to reports and despite the continued objections of special interest groups, the Senate will vote on S-2776. The bill would ban the commercial use of single-use foam, paper, and plastic food and grocery containers. The bill, including ...

Gov. Approves Lead Service Line Bill

Yesterday, Governor Murphy, signed S-4110 into law, a bill which the League supported, that provides clear authority for municipalities and municipal water systems to enter onto private property to perform lead service line replacement. The new law takes ...

Governor Signs Legislation

On Thursday Governor Murphy signed into law the following bills:

S-1242, which requires that whenever public water systems issue boil water notices. A notice must also be given to the mayor and municipal clerk of each affected municipality as soon as possi...

Lame Duck Update: PFRS Retirement, Lead Service Line Replacement

The 218th New Jersey State Legislature will end at midnight, January 13. The 219th Legislature will begin its work on January 14, including the State of the State Address by Governor Murphy. Between now and then, we expect significant legislative activity...

DLGSA Extends CY 2020 Budget Deadlines

The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2019-16 regarding 2020 Calendar Year (CY) Budget matters, including information on the Transitional Aid Application process, health benefits cap, municipal aid, and local examinatio...

Addressing a Toxic Culture

Recent reporting has focused on a toxic culture of sexual harassment in governmental settings. One example is Sunday’s Star-Ledger and NJ.com's "#MeToo was supposed to fix things." Government generally and the League Conferenc...

20 & Out Expansion Poised for Senate Action

On Monday, the General Assembly approved A-6024. This bill, along with its Senate companion S-4297 would create an additional category of service retirement for Police Fire Retirement System (PFRS) employees. Under the bill, a PFRS emplo...

Expungement Expansion Approved and Signed into Law

Also on Monday, S-4154 was approved by both houses. The Governor, in turn, signed the new law in Newark on Wednesday. The new law establishes a process for individuals who have not committed any crimes for 10 years and have only been convicted for certain...

Marijuana Legalization Headed to the Ballot

As expected, both houses of the State Legislature voted Monday to place a question on the November 2020 ballot asking the citizens of the State to approve the legalization of marijuana. The measures both passed the respective houses by a 3/5 majority, whi...

Final Votes on Ballot Measure to Legalize Cannabis Scheduled

Yesterday, the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee and Senate Commerce Committee held the required public hearings on ACR-840 and SCR-183, authorizing a 2020 public question on legalizing adult use of recreational cannabis. The ball...

Expungement Revisions Up for Final Vote

Yesterday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced A-5981, legislation to revise the laws for those seeking expungement of marijuana and other minor crimes. The bill reflects the major provisions of a similar bill that was sent to the Governor but ...

Division Issues Guidance on Electronic Procurement

Recently the Division of Local Government Services issued Local Finance Notice 2019-15 providing provisional guidance on the use of electronic procurement pending the adoption of regulations. The Division anticipates promulgating the regulations for P.L. ...

League of Municipalities Executive Transition

Trenton, NJ (December 11, 2019) The New Jersey State League of Municipalities Executive Board today announced the retirement of Executive Director Michael J. Darcy, CAE effective July 1, 2020.  At the same time, a transition committee has been fo...

League Mourns Passing of Past President Mayor Chuck Chiarello

NJLM Past President Francis Charles “Chuck” Chiarello, 64, Mayor of Buena Vista, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2019 in Atlantic City surrounded by his family and friends.

Chiarello began his service in Buena Vista Township as a ...

NJLM New Officers & Executive Board Members

On Thursday, November 21, 2019, New Jersey’s mayors elected new officers and executive board members for the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. These public servants will help lead the Association that represents New Jersey’s 5...

NJLM Small Cell Wireless Bill Testimony Slated

For Thursday, November 14, the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee has scheduled a discussion only hearing on A-5560, which seeks to provide uniform regulation of small wireless facility development across New Jersey. The League has been i...

NJ Senators Booker & Menendez Seek Reasons for Gateway Delays

In a Wednesday letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Senators Booker and Menendez reiterated the need for timely federal action to advance the vital Gateway Project, and, again, offered their assistance. The letter highlights the c...

FEMA to Delay New Flood Insurance Rates

On Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it would delay the implementation of new National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rates, which had been scheduled to become effective October 1, 2020 - just before next year’s gener...

State Releases $114M in Transitional Aid Funding

As you may recall, when signing the State’s FY 2020 spending plan back in June, uncertainty about meeting revenue targets prompted Governor Murphy to direct the State Treasurer to withhold funding for certain programs. The total held in abeyance...

Domestic Violence Policy for all Public Employers Set

P.L. 2017, c. 272 required that the Civil Service Commission develop a uniform domestic violence policy, which all public employers regardless if they fall under Civil Service, must adopt and distribute to their employees. On Tuesday, the Civil Service Co...

PFRS Personnel Hire & Search

At its October 7 meeting, the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) Board of Trustees appointed Gregory Petzold as the new Executive Director at an annual salary of $225,000. Petzold is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff of Intergovernmental Affairs i...

New Law Will Help Fund Drinking Water Remediation

On Friday, October 4, the President signed into law S.1689, a bill co-sponsored by New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez. The new law provides New Jersey, and other States, with the funding flexibility needed to respond to lead from antiquated ...

League Provides Testimony to Senate Committee on WQAA

Earlier this week the League was invited to provide testimony before the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee concerning the administration of the Water Quality Accountability Act. The Act became effective in October of 2017 and requires public wa...

Governor's Desk: Bill Could Mean New Municipal Obligations Under MLUL

Last week, the NJ Senate voted to approve A-1371/S-606, a bill which the League opposed. With the Assembly approving the measure early this summer the bill now goes to the Governor for his action. The intent of A-1371/S-606 is to encourage local units to ...

Looking Ahead to Lame Duck: Path to Progress' Pension Hybrid Plan

As noted in the Path to Progress Report, “the State’s combined pension and retiree health benefit liabilities of $151.5 billion are four times the size of the State’s annual budget; and more than three times the size of the S...

NJ Transit Submits New Portal Bridge Proposal to Feds

In another effort to end Federal inertia on the Portal Bridge project, New Jersey Transit (NJT) has forwarded a new funding plan to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The plan to finance the construction of a new crossing was approved by the NJT Bo...

Gov. Murphy Issues Executive Order 83

Since municipalities use State contracts to purchase law enforcement equipment we would like to bring to your attention the recently signed Executive Order 83. On September 10, Governor Murphy directed the Division of Purchase and Property (DPP), within 3...

Recap of September PFRS Board Meeting

At the September 9 Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) board meeting, as a matter of routine business, the Board considered the creditable compensation of three Atlantic City police officers. The three officers, with various ranks, honorably retired ...

Lame Duck Preview: Supporting Telecommunications Legislation

The League fully supports A-5450/S-3827, which will clarify telecommunications industry corporate tax responsibilities, and shield local taxpayers from the costs of endless tax court litigation. We thank the sponsors for their attention to this problem.

Wh...

2020 Rate Drop Recommended for SHBP

At yesterday’s State Health Benefits Commission Rate Renewal meeting AON, the Commission’s consultant, recommended premium rates for plan year 2020. The recommendations include a 4.3% decrease for Active Employees, no increase or decre...

Looking Forward: NJ Legislature

We expect that time between Labor Day and the election to be a relatively slow period for legislative activity. The Assembly, with all 80 seats on the ballot in November, is not expected to quorum again until after the election.

We do expect, however, the ...

Congress Returns to Work as Fiscal Year Nears End

The Federal Government’s Fiscal Year ends at the end of this month. Both Houses of Congress will reconvene for legislative action this week. We expect to see timely action on appropriations, which will prevent, or at least postpone, yet another government...

Murphy Returns Tax Incentive Bills With Suggestions

Governor Phil Murphy has issued a conditional veto of S-3901, returning the bill to the Legislature with recommended changes to reform the state’s tax incentive programs. S-3901 would have extended the Economic Opportunity Act in its entirety to...

Gov. Vetoes Digital Parking Meter Monitoring

On Monday Governor Murphy vetoed A-4135, which would have authorized the State or a local government to use a digital parking meter or other electronic parking compliance device to monitor parking compliance within its jurisdiction. The bill would have al...

NJ Violence Intervention Program Bill Conditionally Vetoed

On August 23 Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed S-3309, which would have established the New Jersey Violence Intervention Program (NJVIP). Furthermore, the bill would have required the Attorney General to award funds on a competitive basis to municipali...

Contaminated Site Remediation Bill Signed

Governor Murphy on Friday signed into law A-5293 (now, P.L.2019, c.263) which makes various changes to laws governing the remediation of contaminated sites. The new law, which the League supported, expands the functions of the Site Remediation Reform Act ...

Urging Federal Action on Gateway Portal Bridge

Yesterday Governor Murphy was joined by New Jersey Legislative Leaders and members of New Jersey Congressional Delegation in calling upon federal officials to join the State in funding the replacement of the 108-year-old moveable Portal Bridge. In his rem...

DCA Refers League Rulemaking Petition for Further Deliberations

The Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards issued a Public Notice earlier this week relaying that the DCA has referred for further deliberation, the Petition for Rulemaking submitted on behalf of the League along with New Jersey&...

DLGS Discusses Best Practices with Key Partners

On Aug. 20, 2019, The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS, or the Division) consulted with the League, the Managers Association and the Finance Officers, regarding the soon-to-be released 2019 Best Practices Inventory (BPI, or the Inventory). As h...

New Law Requires Property Tax Relief Info on Tax Bills

On Monday, Governor Murphy signed into law P.L. 2019, c.186, which requires property tax bills printed on or after September 17, 2019, include a statement indicating that State property tax relief program information is available on the New Jersey Divisio...

Federal Cybersecurity Agency Releases Strategic Intent Document

On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a Strategic Intent document. Agency Director Christopher Krebs notes, in the document, “In no arena is this framing of ...

NJDEP Begins Stakeholder Process for Requirements Under the Beach Access Law

As many of you are aware, earlier this year the Legislature passed and Governor Murphy signed into law P.L. 2019, c.81, commonly referred to as the ‘beach access’ or ‘public access’ law. Under the newly signed law, ...

Municipal Liability Standard Law Correction Signed

Today, Governor Murphy signed into law A-5392, which establishes new liability standards in sexual abuse lawsuits filed against public entities and public employees. The League supported this bill, which is a technical amendment to P.L. 2019, c. 120 neces...

Multiple Dwelling Inspection Schedule Gets Gov's Ok

Earlier this week, Acting Governor Sheila Oliver signed into law S-1150, which authorizes the Department of Community Affairs to establish a flexible multiple dwelling inspection schedule. Current law requires the DCA to inspect multiple dwellings at leas...

AG Issues Police Well-Being Program Directive

Earlier this week NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a Directive seeking to promote emotional and mental well-being of New Jersey law enforcement officers. The Directive creates the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (“NJRP-...

NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force Established

Governor Murphy signed legislation establishing the NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force. The 16-member task force, which includes the Mayors of Newark, Jersey City, and Camden as ex-officio, will study if state, county, and municipal governments can benef...

Innovation District Designation Program Established

On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2019, c. 214 establishing the “Innovation District Designation Program” to promote the development and redevelopment of an area in a manner that facilitates collaboration between government, hig...

Vetrans' Expansion of Peddler's License

On Monday, Acting Governor Oliver signed P.L. 2019, c. 211 which expands veterans eligible to obtain a peddler’s license. Before the expansion, only honorably discharged veterans could get a peddler’s license. This new law now allows t...

Acting Gov. Oliver Signs Law Prohibiting Worker’s Wages Inquiries

Yesterday, Acting Governor Oliver signed into law A-1094, which prohibits all employers from asking about workers’ wage and salary history. Specifically, the new law makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to screen a job applic...

Secretary of State Designated Major Events Coordinator

On Tuesday, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2019, c. 198 which designates the Secretary of State as the Major Event Coordinator. The Secretary of State will provide a consolidated one-stop centralized location of information and assistance for persons plannin...

Tax Bills to Include Relief Information

Last week Governor Murphy signed into law A-1048, which requires property tax bills to contain eligibility information on State tax relief programs. P.L. 2019, c. 186 requires that the property tax bills include a link to the Division of Taxation&rsqu...

County Board of Freeholds Can Increase Board of Election Membership

Last week Governor Murphy signed into law A-5162, which permits the county board of chosen freeholders, by a majority vote of the full membership, to increase the membership of the board of elections from four to six members. The two new members must be l...

New Law Changes Advertisement Requirements for Polling Locations

A new law signed by Governor Murphy last week removes the requirement to include the physical location of each polling location in the mandatory polling location advertisement. Instead P.L. 2019, c. 170 requires that the advertisement include a link to vi...

Gov. Ok's Bill Removing Obstacles to Land Preservation

Last week, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1707 which exempts governmental entities acquiring lands for open space located in deed-authorized common interest communities from paying community fees, if, at the time of the acquisition, the community has n...

Pension Forfeiture Bill for Sexual Assault Convictions Signed into Law

Last week, Governor Murphy signed into law A-3766, which requires a public officer or employee to forfeit their pension upon a conviction for corruption of public resources, sexual contact, lewdness, or sexual assault when the offense involves or touch up...

Council on Local Mandates Holds Hearing in Challenge to Vote-by-Mail Law

As you may be aware, the New Jersey Association of Counties is challenging as an unfunded mandate before the Council on Local Mandates, P.L. 2018 c. 72, which requires county clerks to furnish mail-in ballots to all qualified voters in future elections wi...

July 2019 Interest Arbitration Update

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...

New Requirements to Change from Non-Partisan to Partisan Form of Governments

On Monday, Acting Governor Oliver signed into law P.L. 2019, c. 161, which modifies the provisions of the Optional Municipal Charter Law procedure to change the manner of holding certain municipal elections. The new law increased the number of pe...

NJ Sues Federal Administration over IRS’ SALT Workaround Regulations

This week, Governor Murphy and State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced that New Jersey has joined with New York and Connecticut to sue the federal government, challenging IRS rules related to certain workarounds to the $10,000 cap on state and loca...

Land Banking Legislation Gets Gov. Murphy OK

On Wednesday, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1214, which would authorize a municipality to enter into an agreement with a non-profit or a redevelopment entity to serve as the municipality's land banking entity. The League supported this permissive legi...

Governor Freezes Most Transition Aid

Upon signing the FY 2020 State budget, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 73, which impounds up to $235 million in spending, and is not subject to a potential override. Specifically, EO 73 directs the Department of Treasury, Office of Management and B...

Recap of the July PFRS Board Meeting

At the July 8 Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) board meeting, the Board unanimously hired Robert Garrison as in-house legal counsel and appointed existing Division of Pensions staff to various positions needed to run the day-to-day operations of t...

Spotted Lanternfly Information

The State Department of Agriculture sent out this advisory this morning. We forward it to you as an FYI.

The Spotted lanternfly, initially found in Berks County Pennsylvania in 2014, was discovered in the New Jersey environment in July 2018 in Warren Count...

U.S. Senate Introduce Companion Bill to Overturn FCC Small Cell Preemption Order

Recently, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California introduced S.2012 also known as the Restoring Local Control of Public Infrastructure Act of 2019. S.2012 is a companion bill to H.R. 530 or the Accelerating Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communi...

Governor Signs State FY 2020 State Budget; Line Items Out $48.5 million and Reserves $235 Million

On Sunday Governor Phil Murphy signed the State FY 2020 budget following a 2 pm public event. In doing so, the Governor used his authority to line item out $48.5 million in expenditures in the budget.  From the just over $48 million in spending t...

League Petitions DCA for Changes to UCC’s Minor Work/Ordinary Maintenance Provisions

This week, the League along with New Jersey’s six professional code official associations petitioned the Department of Community Affairs seeking to amend portions of the Uniform Construction Code regarding ordinary maintenance and minor work. Ou...

IRS Final Regulations Effectively End NJ’s SALT Cap Workaround

On Tuesday, the IRS issued final regulations regarding the deductibility of charitable contributions when the contributor receives in exchange a state or local tax credit. These final regulations come about after New Jersey and many other states took effo...

Cannabis Update

On Monday, the General Assembly is expected to concur with Senate amendments to A10/S10, which expands access to medical marijuana. This legislation establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to oversee the regulation of medical cannabis in the ...

Senate Acts on Medical Marijuana

Yesterday, the State Senate amended and then passed S-10, which expands access to medical marijuana by a vote of 33-4. This legislation establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to oversee the regulation of medical cannabis in the state, includ...

Path to Progress’ Pension Hybrid Plan

As noted in the Path to Progress Report, “the State’s combined pension and retiree health benefit liabilities of $151.5 billion are four times the size of the State’s annual budget; and more than three times the size of the S...

Expansion of Medical Marijuana Passes

On Thursday, the General Assembly passed A-10, which expands access to medical marijuana by a vote of 65-5-6.  This legislation establishes the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to oversee the regulation of medical cannabis in the state, inclu...

Recreational Marijuana Stalls

On Wednesday, Senate President Steve Sweeney announced that he would not post legislation again to legalize adult use marijuana for a floor vote. If you recall, the bills were posted on March 25 but did not garner enough votes for passage. Instead, the in...

Legislation Introduced to Implement Path to Progress Recommendations

Yesterday Senate President Sweeney and Senator Oroho held a press conference announcing a 27-bill package to implement some of the recommendations of the Path to Progress Report. While we are currently reviewing the bills presented in the package, we woul...

HUD and White House release Opportunity Zone Plan

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC) have released an implementation plan outlining how local leaders can maximize benefits when participating in the Opportunity Zone...

NJ Prepares for 2020 Census

We are now within 12 months of 2020 Census Day – April 1, 2020. The U.S Census Bureau has been staffing up for the count that will determine New Jersey’s representation in Congress, Congressional and State Legislative District boundari...

Cannabis Vote in May?

We cannot tell you if or when the legislation to legalize recreational, adult use of marijuana may be scheduled again. On March 25, the State Legislature did not act on A4497/S2703, which would legalize adult use of recreational cannabis. The measure did ...

League Statement on Cannabis Legislation

Today the State Legislature did not act on A4497/S2703, which would legalize adult use of recreational cannabis. League President Colleen Mahr, Mayor of the Borough of Fanwood offered the following comments:

“While the League did not take a posit...

Final Vote on Marijuana Legalization Set for Monday, March 25

On Monday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary each amended and approved legislation that will legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana. The committees also approved legislation to expand the State’s medical ma...