On January 23, Governor Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 7, instituting a regulatory freeze or 90-day pause on the proposal and adoption of new rules and regulations in the State.
In an effort to ensure that the new Administration is afforded adequate time to examine the proposed rules and regulations prior to their adoption as well as address potential impacts that these proposals may have, Executive Order No. 7 directs that no agency can propose or adopt any rule for a period of 90 days.
The Executive Order further directs that any rules that have been filed with the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) but not published in the New Jersey Register must be withdrawn.
According to Executive Order No. 7, State agencies that have pending proposed rules are to notify the Governor by February 2 of any proposals whose non-adoption will adversely impact public health or security or obstruct essential operations, among other considerations. At that time, the Governor’s office will review and determine whether to lift the pause on those proposals and adoptions. If the Governor decides to rescind the 90-day bar, her office will notify the agency and OAL that the OAL shall proceed with publication of the notice of proposal or adoption for the proposed rule. The Executive Order takes effect immediately.
Contact: Sadayah Q. DuRant-Brown, Legislative Counsel, sdurantbrown@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.