News Flash

Cannabis Legalization Update

As you may recall, legislation to legalize adult, recreational use of marijuana was moved out of respective committees in late November but have not advanced for final floor votes. There remains at least two significant areas of disagreement between the M...

Removing the Statute of Limitations on Civil Actions for Sexual Abuse

In its current form, the League of Municipalities must oppose S-477/A-3648, which would remove the statute of limitations on civil actions for sexual abuse, including claims against public bodies, and expand the categories of people who are potentially li...

NLC Launches Opportunity Zone Resources

The opportunity zone program, authored by N.J. U.S. Senator Cory Booker, was created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to provide local and national investors with a tax incentive for investments made in economically distressed areas of the country.

Und...

USDA Extends Deadlines for Broadband Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on February 6 that it would extend the application deadlines for its Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) due to delays caused by the recent partial federal government shutdown. Initial applicat...

Lead-Pipe Inventory Bill Moved Out of Committee

On Thursday the Senate Environment and Energy Committee voted to approve A-2697/S-1783 which would require public water systems to compile and submit to DEP lead service line inventories within one year of the bill’s passage.  Although ...

Beach/Public Access Mandate Held by Committee

On Thursday, the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee took testimony on but HELD A-4221/S-1074, which seeks to provide protections for the public’s right under the public trust doctrine. 

While the League is supportive of publi...

NJLM 1st VP Jim Perry Visits NJ Congressional Delegation

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, League First Vice President, Committeeman Jim Perry of Hardwick joined the National League of Cities and municipal colleagues from all around the Nation in Washington, DC to discuss local concerns with Members of Co...

Creation of Gateway Commission Advances

Yesterday the Senate Transportation committee approved S-3410. This bill will transition the current nonprofit Gateway Corporation to a Gateway Development Commission, which would act under federal law as the coordinating agency for the purpose of receivi...

Vegetation Management Bill Held From Senate Vote

Last week, S-2505, known as the “Vegetation Management Response Act” was scheduled for a full vote before the Senate.  The League opposed the bill as it would give electric utility companies complete discretion to clear, move,...

Minimum Wage Signed into Law, Applies to Local Governments

On Monday, Governor Murphy signed legislation that will phase in the state minimum wage to $15/hour for most workers. This initiative has been a top legislative priority for Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig C...

Bill Advances to Permit Delay of Property Tax Bills for Furloughed Federal Employees

Yesterday, both the State Senate and the General Assembly approved S-3347/A-4904, which permits a municipality, upon adoption of a resolution, to not charge interest on delinquent quarterly tax payments as the result of a federal shutdown. Specifically, t...

NJ Reps Urge U.S. DOT to Prioritize Gateway Down Payment

New Jersey Freshman Representative Mikie Sherrill, joined by a bipartisan coalition of House Members, including our State’s Albio Sires, Bill Pascrell, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jeff Van Drew, Donald Norcross, and Frank Pallone, has delivered a let...

Federal Legislation Aims to Overturn FCC Preemption of Local ROW Control

Rep. Anna Eshoo from California introduced legislation (H.R.530) to overturn the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) September Order preempting local authority over small cell wireless infrastructure. The bill would not preclude fu...

Join the Push for Federal Infrastructure Initiative

With the shutdown ended, it is time for Congress to focus on the need to repair and modernize America’s aging infrastructure. To encourage our representatives in Washington to do so, the National League of Cities (NLC) is calling on local leader...

Hopewell Scores Tax Court Win in Verizon Case

On Monday, January 28, Hopewell Borough scored a major win in an NJ Tax Court case, filed 10 years ago, by telecommunications giant, Verizon. The case, Verizon v. Hopewell, stemmed from a decision rendered by the Mercer County Board of Taxation, in which ...

Call to Action: Minimum Wage Bill Amended to Include Municipalities

Yesterday legislation to eventually increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour was amended to specifically include the State, counties, municipalities, and school districts as employers. 

As a result, the League presented joint testimony with the N...

Max Cap on Volunteer Fire Co. Municipal Appropriations Increases

P.L. 2015, c. 95 included a statutory adjustment, every two years, to the maximum appropriation a municipality may make to their volunteer fire company. For CY2019/ SFY2020 there is a 2.5% adjustment which brings the maximum annual contribution to $154,51...

Goods & Services Prompt Payment Law Guidance

Beginning February 1 all goods and services contracts awarded, regardless of dollar amount, will be subject to goods and services prompt payment law, P.L. 2018, c. 127. Unless otherwise specified in a contract, the payment for goods and services will be d...

Gov. Murphy's State of the State

Tuesday, January 15, in Trenton, Governor Murphy delivered his first State of the State message to the Legislature and the people of New Jersey. His central message was focused on progress made and prospect to create more opportunities for economic improv...

Municipal Property Tax Relief and the Next State Budget

On March 5, Governor Murphy is scheduled to present his Budget Address to the Legislature and the people of New Jersey. At that time, he will propose a State spending plan for the Fiscal Year that will begin on July 1. That proposal will be the basis for ...

NJ Supreme Court Orders Municipal Court Dismissals

Yesterday, the State Supreme Court issued an Order dismissing certain older unresolved complaints on minor municipal court matters. This comes at the suggestion of a three-judge panel’s report that was issued after hearing public comments in the...

Bonding and Grants for Addressing Lead Hazards

League President Colleen Mahr, Mayor of Fanwood commented on the addressing of Lead Hazards saying, “Recent reports of the need to upgrade water infrastructure to address lead are unfortunately not unique. The League has, for years, worked to he...

2019 New Jersey State of the State

Today, in Trenton, Governor Murphy delivered his first State of the State message to the Legislature and the people of New Jersey. His central message was focused on progress made and prospect to create more opportunities for economic improvement and for ...

Reminder: SNAP Benefits Update

Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the NJ Department of Human Services distributed, to qualifying recipients, February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (commonly known as Food Stamps) on January 17. On that date, the monthly ...

Governor to Deliver State of the State

On Tuesday, January 15, Governor Phil Murphy will deliver his first State of the State address to a joint session of the New Jersey State Legislature. In his address, the Governor will likely highlight his policy objectives for 2019 and beyond and will li...

Court Makes Eminent Domain Ruling

On Monday, the Appellate Division ruled in Borough of Glassboro v. Grossman, et al. that the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, which authorizes municipalities and redevelopment agencies to condemn properties, also requires the condemning authority to a...

Comptroller Report on State-Level Tax Incentives Released

On Wednesday, the Office of the State Comptroller released a critical report on the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s administration of programs, meant to increase employment opportunities that gave certain business entities state tax ...

Federal Shutdown Update

As the partial shutdown of Federal agencies and services continues, the impact on the citizens and municipalities of our State will increase incrementally. The immediate and personal impact was felt on Jan. 11 when over 5,000 New Jerseyans employed by the...

116th Congress Convenes

As the partial shutdown of the Federal government grinds on, a new Congressional session begins. While Senators (and former Mayors) Bob Menendez and Cory Booker will continue to represent our State in the Upper House, a number of new Jersey voices will jo...

Be Heard: New Authority & Fire District Budget Rules Proposed

Earlier this week the Local Finance Board published proposed amendments to N.J.A.C. 5:31 and various new rules pertaining to the budgeting and reporting requirements of authorities and fire districts.  Of particular note are proposed regulations ...

Gov. Signs Electronic Procurement Legislation

Yesterday, Governor Murphy signed into law as P.L. 2018, c. 156 legislation supported by the League, the New Jersey Association of Counties and the New Jersey School Boards Association. The legislation, passed as A-3112, authorizes local units of...

Division Extends CY 2019 Budget Deadlines

The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2018-28 regarding 2019 Calendar Year (CY) Budget Matters, including information on the Financial Automation Submission Tracking (FAST).  All CY 2019 budgets must be submitt...

Shared Services Pilot Program Expanded

On November 27, Governor Murphy signed into law A-1100, which added Monmouth and Atlantic County as pilot counties for the purposes of “Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act.” Effective immediately municipal governing bodies l...

Governor Outlines Strategy for Economic Development

On Oct. 1, 2018, Governor Murphy presented his outline to grow the New Jersey economy. In a speech in Nutley, the Governor presented a vision focused on investments in the state’s education system and workforce development programs so t...

Jake's Law for Inclusive Playgrounds Signed

Last week, Governor Murphy signed into law A-2187, otherwise known as “Jake’s Law.” The law incentives counties to build inclusive playgrounds for children and adults with disabilities by prioritizing Green Acres fund applica...