Now, it’s our responsibility to pivot and provide the necessary education and training on the new law. Through this long legislative process, there has been a great deal of misinformation or misunderstanding of what is in the new law, so we will provide an overview of its provisions. As we do this, please note that this new law will take effect in 90 days, just after Labor Day. It is imperative to remember that the existing requirements of OPRA remain in effect and the new provisions will not apply to OPRA requests submitted before the effective date. 

The League is holding a Lunch and Learn to review the new law at noon on Tuesday, June 11. While the session is free, advanced registration is required.       

Since first announcing this program after the Governor’s actions,  over 400 have already registered. So due to this popular demand, we will repeat the program later that same day, at 3 pm on Tuesday, June 11. You can register for this 2^nd program now and advanced registration is also required. 

Yesterday, the Governor issued a statement upon signing the bill discussing the merits of the bill and his rationale for signing the law. In the statement, the Governor acknowledged that his decision to sign the bill would disappoint many advocates but if he “believed that this bill would enable corruption in any way, I would unhesitatingly veto it.” The Governor noted that OPRA “has not been the subject of any type of comprehensive update until now. Today’s world is very different than 2002, a time when the Internet was far less ubiquitous and there was vastly less access to individuals’ personal information.”  Governor Murphy also stated that “After a thorough examination of the provisions of the bill, I am persuaded that the changes, viewed comprehensively, are relatively modest.” 

Governor Murphy also stated that “Over a hundred mayors from both parties have asked for it to be enacted into law. I understand that some may view this support cynically, but I do not believe it is fair to dismiss an overwhelming bipartisan consensus from local elected officials. Serving in local elected office is a deeply thankless and glamour-free job, and I have consistently found mayors from both parties to be dedicated and hard-working public servants. Mayors subject themselves to constant scrutiny by their neighbors and their very own communities, especially in the age of social media, and I simply reject the idea that those calling for the bill’s passage are part of a nefarious plot to evade transparency and accountability.” 

We are planning additional educational and training opportunities in the coming weeks and months. We will provide you with additional information on that training shortly.  

Contact(s): Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120 and Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.