News Flash

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 ...

Spread the Word: Feb. SNAP Benefits to be Distributed Early

As a consequence of the long-jam in Washington, the NJ Department of Human Services will be distributing, to qualifying recipients, February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (commonly known as Food Stamps) on January 17. On that d...

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...

Cannabis Legalization Impasse

Legislation to legalize adult, recreational use of marijuana was moved out of respective committees in late November but has not advanced for final floor votes. There remain at least two significant areas of disagreement between the Murphy Administration ...

Minimum Wage Progress

The Governor, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin emerged from a meeting in December with indications that they moved closer to an agreement on a minimum wage increase, which would eventually phase-in to $15/hour. Legislation advancing ...

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...

Vegetative Management Bill Develops

On Monday, the State Assembly voted 70-1 (with 4 not voting and 5 abstentions) to approve A-2558, known as the “Vegetation Management Response Act.”  The League opposed this bill as it would give electric utility companies complete discretion to ...

Bill Allows Grocery Stores to Sell Alcoholic Beverages Without Local Approval

On Monday, the Assembly approved A-4700. The vote was 53-24, with one abstention.

The bill, which aims to encourage supermarkets and grocery stores to better serve the residents of ‘food desert’ communities, currently includes a provisi...

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 ...

Update on Marijuana Legalization

Last week the Senate Budget and Appropriations and the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted out legislation to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana.  The amended bills now stand at “2nd reading” and could be scheduled for a final f...

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...

Update on Marijuana Legalization

Last week the Senate Budget and Appropriations and the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted out legislation to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana.  The amended bills now stand at “2nd reading” and could be sch...

$15 Minimum Wage Legislation Introduced

On Monday the Assembly Labor Committee will consider A-15, which will over time raise the hourly minimum wage to $15.00. We call your attention to Allen v. Fauver, 327 N.J. Super. 14 (App. Div. 1999), an appellate division case which held that the State i...

Marijuana Legalization Advances

During a joint hearing Monday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations and the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted out legislation to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana.  The amended bills now stand at “2nd reading&rd...

BYOB Advertising Ban Found Unconstitutional

Last week, a federal judge ruled that New Jersey’s law prohibiting BYOB establishments from advertising their BYOB status violates constitutional free speech rights. The GJJM Enterprises, LLC v. NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control ruling e...

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...

Local Control Denied in ABC Portion of Food Dessert Grocer Bill

On Thursday, November 29, the Assembly Human Services Committee held a hearing on a number of bills meant to address the problem of hunger in New Jersey. One bill, A-4700, the “Food Desert Elimination Act,” is intended to provide incen...

FCC ROW Rules Take Effect Early 2019

As we previously noted, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules this September that restricts the kinds and types of limitations and standards that local governments can set for wireless facilities seeking access to the ROW. This include...

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...

Gov. Ok on Revised Animal Cruelty Law Date Changes

Yesterday, Governor Murphy signed A-4225 into law. A-4225 revises the effective dates of certain sections of the recently enacted reforms to the Animal Cruelty Laws (P.L. 2017, C.331). Specifically, Section 6 (which pertains to the appointment of certifie...