News Flash

The New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Association (NJEPA) is seeking nominations for the Emergency Manager of the Year, student scholarships, and scholarships for emergency managers working on their NJ Certified Emergency Manager (NJCEM) certification.  

Nominations for Emergency Manager of the Year (EMOTY) will close on March 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The EMOTY recognizes and honors an individual or program, private or public, that has demonstrated leadership, partnership, selflessness, and ingenuity in New Jersey emergency preparedness programs by investing time and talent to make positive changes in the emergency management profession. Characteristics include, but are not limited to, inspiring other members to excel; developing and implementing new effective and creative programs; collaborating; or managing extraordinary response and recovery efforts to major disasters. The award will be presented at the Annual Awards & Networking Reception.  

Nominations for student scholarships will close on March 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. To be eligible for student scholarships the applicant, their parent(s) or grandparent(s) must be a member in good standing in any emergency service (police, fire, rescue, EMS, or emergency management) in New Jersey. The student must be a high school senior, planning to attend college, or a current college student with at least one full year remaining. The student must be willing to pursue a career in emergency services, such as emergency management, homeland security, fire suppression, law enforcement, hazardous materials, arson investigation, Emergency Medical Services, Health, Public Health, Social Services, etc. The award will be presented at the Annual Awards & Networking Reception.  

Applications for New Jersey Certified Emergency Manager (NJCEM) Scholarships will close March 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Up to10 scholarships are available for local emergency managers or emergency management staff to ease the financial commitment in obtaining the New Jersey Certified Emergency Manager. 

Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

Last Thursday, the Senate Labor Committee favorably reported S-2781, which permits the minimum number of firefighting personnel for public employers to be collectively bargained.  

As this is a management responsibility, the League testified in opposition to this legislation because it allows employees to determine minimum staffing levels. This responsibility rests with management because there are many factors involved when determining staffing levels. 

This legislation was introduced based on a 2010 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Report on Residential Fireground Field Experiments. 

S-2781 is at second reading in the Senate. A-3400, the Assembly companion, has not yet been heard in the Assembly Labor Committee. We encourage you to reach out to your legislators and urge them to oppose this legislation that impedes management responsibilities.  

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

On January 23, 2026, Governor Sherrill declared a state of emergency via Executive Order 8 in response to the storm on January 24 and 25. The Division issued Local Finance Notice 2026-04 to provide guidance on budgetary and procurement issues related to the storm response. 

LFN 2026-04 establishes the process by which municipal and county officials can make unplanned appropriations and expenditures for weather-related emergencies. Such emergency expenses are those related to storm response, recovery, and restoration of services not anticipated in the current year’s budget.  

Counties and calendar year municipalities may utilize the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:4-20 to make emergency temporary appropriations directly associated with storm response efforts. Expenditures resulting from a state of emergency are treated as an exception to the municipal appropriations cap (N.J.S.A. 40A:45.3(bb)), county levy cap (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.4(q)) and the 2% levy cap (N.J.S.A. 40A:4 45.45(b)).  

Expenditures resulting from a state of emergency are treated as an exception to the municipal appropriations cap (N.J.S.A. 40A:45.3(bb)), county levy cap (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.4(q)) and the 2% levy cap (N.J.S.A. 40A:4 45.45(b)). See N.J.A.C. 5:30-3.9 for the process and terms under which emergency-related levy cap exceptions are permissible. 

Subject to the Director’s review of the local unit’s certified description of the expenditures, levy cap exceptions are only available for "extraordinary costs" incurred for the immediate preparation, response, recovery, and restoration of public services due to extreme weather conditions or other catastrophic events not anticipated in the current budget year and subject to the terms of a gubernatorial emergency declaration. The Chief Financial Officer must certify that the excluded appropriations are permitted exclusions pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.45(b) and 40A:4-45.3(bb), respectively.  The Director is required to approve proposed budget amendments prior to budget adoption. (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-10)  

Emergency resolutions that exceed the 3% percent expenditure limit require approval of the Director ( N.J.S.A. 40A:4-49). If emergency appropriations are paying for disaster-related costs that exceed the cost of providing services under non-emergency conditions, the deferred charge to be raised in the following year’s budget would be an eligible levy cap exception and municipal appropriations cap exception.  

Municipalities and counties are permitted to spread the costs of an emergency temporary appropriation or emergency appropriation over a period of years, subject to Local Finance Board approval. (N.J.S.A. 40A:2-51(a)) The Local Finance Board has historically considered applications where emergency-related costs are very substantial in comparison with the annual municipal budget, and spreading the cost would result in a minimum $50 annual increase to the average residential taxpayer over a minimum of a three-year period.  

N.J.S.A. 40A:4-55.1 through 55.6 establishes the process by which municipalities can adopt, regardless of budget process stage, a special emergency ordinance to facilitate a three-year funding cycle for extraordinary expenses for the repair or reconstruction of streets, roads, or bridges damaged by snow, ice, frost, or floods. If a municipality seeks to issue special emergency notes for such extraordinary expenses, the governing body must adopt a resolution pursuant to 40A:4-55.4. Local Finance Board approval is required before the ordinance (and financing resolution if applicable) can be adopted; the application’s Executive Summary must describe the purposes for which the appropriation will be spent. A copy of the adopted ordinance and resolution, if applicable, must be filed with the Director to become effective.  

Municipalities and counties with a Storm Recovery Reserve are permitted, by resolution, to use those reserve funds for any purpose related to storm recovery, including, but not limited to, snow, ice, and debris removal after current budget appropriations meant for storm recovery have been expended. Any reimbursement of these expenditures shall be deposited back into the reserve.  

In circumstances where an emergency affecting the public health, safety or welfare requires the immediate delivery of goods or the performance of services, a contract may be awarded without public bidding regardless of the bid threshold. (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-6 (Local Public Contracts Law); N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-7 (Public School Contracts Law) and N.J.A.C. 5:34-6.1) . Emergency contracts awarded for purposes of storm response are excepted from Pay-to-Play due to public exigency. (N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20-12) Please note that, pursuant to the State Treasurer’s November 4, 2016, directive, contracting units awarding contracts that fall under the “public exigency” exception to Pay-to-Play are no longer required to file an “emergency procurement report.”  

Regarding the Business Registration Certificate (BRC), contracting units may award emergency contracts without obtaining a vendor’s or contractor’s BRC, so long as the vendor or contractor agrees to provide their BRC within two weeks of the contract’s execution. The contracting unit, which should inform the vendor or contractor of the BRC requirement upon awarding an emergency contract, cannot make payment until a copy of the BRC is provided to the contracting agency. (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44) 

Contractors awarded public works contracts under emergency procedures must be notified of applicable Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR) and prevailing wage requirements at time of award. The contracting unit must confirm compliance prior to making payment for completed work. A similar practice is recommended for truly emergent contracts requiring Russia-Belarus and Iran certifications (Local Finance Notices 2023-11 and Local Finance Notice 2024-04 provide further explanation).  

We suggest you review this Local Finance Notice with your municipal manager, chief financial officer, and purchasing agent.  

Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.

Earlier today Governor Sherrill held a briefing declaring a state of emergency for all 21 counties ahead of this weekend’s storm. During the briefing Governor Sherrill advised municipalities having any local issues to contact their County Office of Emergency Management.

Governor Sherrill noted that the port has road salt and that Morton Salt has stopped all private work and they are working to supply municipalities and counties.  Local governments will have “front-of-line privileges.”

Executive Order 8 was issued in anticipation of a severe winter storm causing hazardous weather conditions across the state, including heavy and widespread snow, prolonged periods of dangerous temperatures below freezing, and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. The Executive Order will take effect at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026 and will remain in effect until such time as it is determined that the Emergency no longer exist. 

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) will issue a commercial vehicle restriction for all tractor trailers, empty straight CDL-weighted trucks, passenger vehicles pulling trailers, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, January 25, effective for the following roads:  

• I-76 (entire length); 
• I-78 (entire length);
• I-80 (entire length); 
• I-195 (entire length);
• I-280 (entire length); 
• I-287 (entire length);
•  I-295 (entire length);
•  I-676 (entire length); and 
• New Jersey Route 440, both directions from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287.

Governor Sherrill encouraged New Jerseyans to visit ready.nj.gov for important weather updates and safety information. 

 Contacts: Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 120 or Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 112

The National League of Cities (NLC), the League’s federal partner, alerted us to the fact that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee opened their internal Congressional portals to accept nominations/requests from Congressional members for Army Corps projects and/or water infrastructure projects. The parameters are slightly different for each committee: 

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 

• Members of Congress can submit requests on Army Corps projects/authorizations pertaining to flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration through the end of January.

Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee (no specific Water Resources Development Act page) 

• Members of Congress can submit requests on Army Corps projects/authorizations pertaining to flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration through Feb. 6.
• Members of Congress can also submit water infrastructure reauthorization requests to the portal. This is not for specific project earmarks, but rather general requests around maintaining level funding from IIJA levels (plusinflation) for keywater infrastructure funding and financing programs, such as the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, and direct grants to local governments. 
• NLC also has an online form for local leaders to take action on both surface transportation and water infrastructure reauthorization

On EPA water infrastructure programs, the reauthorization process is beginning in the House and Senate, but only the Senate has an official portal open for Senator priorities. 

We encourage you to review this information from NLC and reach out to your member of Congress if there is a specific request in your municipality.  

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

Last week, Governor Phil Murphy announced the allocation of nearly $50 million from New Jersey’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to support programs, connect New Jerseyans with tools to reduce overdoses and other harms of substance use, and support residents’ treatment and recovery.This new allocation, the State of New Jersey brings the total to more than $324 million in state-level opioid settlement resources directed toward prevention, treatment, recovery, and community supports. The new investments will allow the State to expand its treatment infrastructure, reduce barriers to care, and enhance services that improve long-term stability and health for residents. 

The new funds allocation of $47.84 million includes a mix of expansions to evidence-based programs, capital investments to serve more patients, family health-focused innovative programs, and strategic planning initiatives, including the following. 

• Bridge Access to Community-Based Substance Use Treatment:$15 million to provide access to treatment for uninsured individuals.
• Capital Investments for Substance Use Treatment Providers:$8 million for critical facility repairs, modernization, expansion, and mobile unit investments to improve treatment access.
• Housing Continuum Expansion:$10.5 million over three years toestablishnew housing and wraparound services for medically complex individuals in Essex County, including 20 housing slots, case management, provider certification and training, and drop-in center capacity building.
• Keeping Families Together Expansion:$4.86 million over three years to support 30 to 35additionalfamilies and address rising housing costs in this nationally recognized Housing First supportive housing model.
• Perinatal Centers of Excellence:$6.2 million over two years to launch a pilot center offering integrated maternity, behavioral health, and wraparound services to address substance use disorder, the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in New Jersey.
• Monitoring and Evaluation of State-Level Opioid Settlement Programs:$3 million over three years to measure program outcomes and ensure accountability and impact of settlement-funded programs.
• Study on Administrative Barriers to Care:$250,000 toidentifypolicy changes that can improve access to care and advance a public-health-focused, harm-reduction strategy.

The recommendations were advanced by the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council, which was established in 2022 and charged with advising the Administration on the effective, equitable use of opioid settlement dollars. The Advisory Council’s Strategic Plan prioritizes housing, harm reduction, treatment access, and coordinated wraparound services. 

New Jersey, along with eligible counties and municipalities, will receive more than $1 billion in settlement funds over the next two decades. The newly allocated funding builds on more than $276 million in previously allocated opioid settlement spending, including nearly $145 million to continue growing harm reduction services through 2030.  

Requests for proposals and grant availabilities relating to the State’s portion of opioid settlement funds are available on a rolling basis. 

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is offering a FY25 grant opportunity, Mentoring for Youth Affected by Opioid and Other Substance Use, to help municipalities and community-based organizations expand mentoring programs that support youth impacted by substance use through personal experience, family exposure, or community trauma.  

This funding enables local governments to launch or enhance trauma-informed, evidence-based mentoring initiatives, partner with schools and public health agencies, reduce juvenile justice involvement, and support families navigating addiction. Eligible applicants include local governments, and nonprofits. Applications are due by October 30 (Grants.gov deadline: October 23).

Full details and application instructions are available on OJJDP’s official website. 

On September 19, Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed A2929/S1034 into law, requiring landlords to report information about known or potential lead in drinking water to tenants of residential units. Additionally, it requires public water systems to conduct a no-cost lead water test at the request of the tenant and requires landlords to be cooperative with the replacement of lead pipes.In 2021, Governor Murphy signed the Lead Service Line Replacement Law mandating that public water systems replace lead lines by 2031. P.L. 2025, c. 144 amends the existing law to include the disclosure and testing requirements.  

Landlords are required to inform current and potential tenants if the property has a service line that may contain lead. Additionally, landlords are required to disclose any violations of the law. If landlords deny access for a lead line replacement, a tenant may terminate their lease without penalty.  

Under the law, the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH), Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will develop information for consumers regarding the health risks associated with lead in drinking water and ways to minimize exposure.

In 1986, the federal government prohibited the use of lead in service lines and other plumbing; however, the removal has proved to be challenging, with both property owners and public water systems having split ownership of lines. According to the Governor’s press release, “over the past four years, New Jersey has replaced 22,007 lead service lines. The state has a total of 135,547 lead service lines and 872,942 service lines of unknown materials.”For more information about lead service lines in New Jersey, visit https://dep.nj.gov/lead/.To learn more about lead impacts on our health, visit nj.gov/health/childhood-lead/.Parents and guardians can view their child’s lead test results by downloading the Docket® app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) or visiting myHealthNJ.com.For more information about environmental lead exposure reduction, visit dep.nj.gov/lead/. 

Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.

On September 2, the DEP and the NJ Spill Compensation Fund agreed to a settlement with DuPont, et al. to resolve pending litigation involving discharges of PFAS in the state.  

The DEP published a Notice to Receive Interested Party Comments on the Proposed Judicial Consent Order (JCO) approving a settlement with EIDP, Inc. (formerly known as E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company), Corteva, Inc., DuPont de Nemours, Inc., DuPont Specialty Products, USA, LLC, The Chemours Company, and the Chemours Company FC ,LLC. The NJDEP also published a Notice of Withdrawal of Discretionary Oversight in the Matter of NJDEP, et al. v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, et al., Case No.: 1:19-CV-14766-RMB-JBC (D.N.J.).  

The JCO would resolve certain claims against these companies in pending litigation for past and future cleanup and removal costs, unmet remediation obligations, and injuries to natural resources resulting from discharges at, from, and/or related to the following properties:  

• “Chambers Works Property,” 67 Canal Road and Route 130, Pennsville and Carney’s  
• Point Townships, Salem County
• “Parlin Property,” 250 Cheesequake Road, Parlin, Old Bridge Township, and Sayreville Borough, Middlesex County.“ Pompton Lakes Works Property,” 2000 Cannonball Road, Pompton Lakes/Wanaque Borough, Passaic County 
• “Repauno Works Property,” 200 North Repauno Avenue, Gibbstown, Greenwich Township, Gloucester County
• All properties listed in the Statewide Directive, and broadly related to the Settling Defendants’ sale, marketing, distribution, use of, and/or any other conduct related to per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in or into the State prior to entry of the proposed JCO or January 1, 2026, whichever is later. 

The JCO will also result in binding final judgment of the extensions of the State including the DEP and Commissioner of the DEP, the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs and its Directors, the Attorney General on behalf of the State of New Jersey, all of the State’s political subdivisions, departments, agencies, authorities, divisions, boards, commissions, districts, and instrumentalities of any kind, as well as any person or entity acting or purporting to act on behalf of the general public. The JOC will preclude future claims related to the Settling Defendants’ conduct regarding PFAS.  

The DEP also entered into a settlement agreement with 3M Company (3M) arising out of the same incident, in which a notice of the proposed JCO was published on July 21, 2025. The U.S. District Court of New Jersey has directed the DEP to file its motion to approve the DuPont settlement by November 21.  

Requests to extend the 60-day comment period for the 3M Notice of Proposed JCO have been declined. Comments on the 3M Proposed JCO may be submitted until September 19, on the DEP’s site, by email, or by mailing to the NJDEP.  

Comments on the DuPont Proposed JCO may be submitted on the DEP’s site, by email, or in hard-copy form to the DEP. Comments must be submitted by November 1.  

The League is in discussions with other interested stakeholders, including the Association of Environmental Authorities and individual MUAs, in develop its response.

Contacts: Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120, Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110, or Sadayah Q. DuRant-Brown, Legislative Counsel, sdurantbrown@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced the 2026 Recreation Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities (ROID) Grants programdesigned to help municipalities and counties create inclusive, engaging recreational programs for residents with disabilities. This funding supports both short-term special events and long-term integrated programs such as sports, arts, after-school activities, and more, allowing all community members to participate in local recreation. 

Each grant requires a 20% local match and must demonstrate a community impact by promoting participation and helping meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Applications are due by September 26, 2025. Municipalities are encouraged to apply through the DCA Grants Portal. 

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.

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Last week, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee advanced the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025 to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency by a vote of 57-3.  

As we reported when the legislation was introduced, key provisions include Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, Mitigation, and Transparency/Accountability.  

• Public Assistance (PA)
  • Block grants for small disasters defined as up to 125% of the state’s per capita damage threshold)
  • Incorporating mitigation measures into funding for repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of public facilities.
  • Expedited funding for emergency protective work, including debris removal to no more than 120 days once 90% of the costs are validated.
  • Create a temporary task force and process for closing out existing disasters not moved into the new process.
  • Provide greater weight and consideration to disasters impacting economically distressed or rural areas.
  • Reimbursement of costs to shelter emergency response personnel.
• Standardized closeouts and procurement guidance.
• Individual Assistance (IA):
  • Universal application for survivors.
  • Plain-language notices.
  • Expanded non-congregate sheltering, rental aid, and repair/rebuild options.
  • Cover substance abuse under existing crisis counseling assistance.
  • Allow for permanent repairs for homes, if it is more cost-effective than a temporary housing solution.
  • Prohibits FEMA from issuing denial letters prior to final determinations on available insurance.
  • Amount of displacement assistance immediately following a disaster for victims can provide for expenses such as hotel rooms, gas, and food for disaster survivors.
• Mitigation
  • Pre-approved projects.
  • Support for utility resilience and cybersecurity.
  • Expanded revolving loan funds.
  • Incentives for modern building code.
  • Incentivizes faster power restoration after a disaster by clarifying eligibility to build in mitigation.
  • Consolidated grant application for pre-disaster and post-disaster hazard mitigation funding, streamlining the application and review process.
• Transparency & Oversight
  • Public dashboards.
  • Uniform eligibility/appeals guidance.
  • Risk-based audits.
• Prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation in disaster areas.
• Assessment of issues of identity theft and fraud in disaster areas.
• Safe harbor protections for compliant procurement.

The legislation may be considered by the full House. It is not yet clear what path the Senate will take. We will report as developments warrant.  

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO); Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA); former Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee lead Republican Daniel Webster (R-FL); and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Ranking Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ) introduced the section-by-section summary of the "Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669). 

The summary covers key provisions across Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, Mitigation, and Transparency/Accountability, including:  

• Public Assistance (PA): Block grants for small disasters defined as up to 125% of the state’s per capita damage threshold); incorporating mitigation measures into funding for repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of public facilities; expedited funding for emergency protective work, including debris removal to no more than 120 days once 90% of the costs are validated; create a temporary task force and process for closing out existing disasters not moved into the new process; provide greater weight and consideration to disasters impacting economically distressed or rural areas; reimbursement of costs to shelter emergency response personnel; standardized closeouts and procurement guidance.
• Individual Assistance (IA): Universal application for survivors; plain-language notices; expanded non-congregate sheltering, rental aid, and repair/rebuild options; cover substance abuse under existing crisis counseling assistance; allow for permanent repairs for homes, if it is more cost-effective than a temporary housing solution; prohibits FEMA from issuing denial letters prior to final determinations on available insurance; amount of displacement assistance immediately following a disaster for victims can provide for expenses such as hotel rooms, gas, and food for disaster survivors.
• Mitigation: Pre-approved projects; support for utility resilience and cybersecurity; expanded revolving loan funds; incentives for modern building code; incentivizes faster power restoration after a disaster by clarifying eligibility to build in mitigation; consolidated grant application for pre-disaster and post-disaster hazard mitigation funding, streamlining the application and review process.
• Transparency & Oversight: Public dashboards, uniform eligibility/appeals guidance, risk-based audits, prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation in disaster areas, assessment of issues of identity theft and fraud in disaster areas, and safe harbor protections for compliant procurement. 

 Please review the legislation and share your thoughts with Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs.

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering grants to interested municipalities to apply for funding to address problems related to housing lead-based paint hazards. This grant is intended to enhance public health and improve housing conditions. With a total funding of $364.5 million, awards range from $1 million to $7 million. Eligible applicants include local governments, counties, states, and tribal governments.  

Applications must be submitted by August 14, 2025, and require EPA-authorized lead abatement certification. For more details, please visit grants.gov.  

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published a Notice of Substantial Change in the July 21, 2025, edition of the New Jersey Register. The DEP’s Notice provided responses to public comments received, updated scientific data, and other input on its original Resilient Environment and Landscapes (REAL) Rules. A public hearing regarding these changes will be held virtually on September 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM. A link to the virtual public hearing and more information about the live hearing can be found on the NJDEP’s website.  The DEP’s Notice and response is followed by an additional 60-day period for public comment, which will close on September 19, 2025. The League will review the proposed changes, provide timely updates, and submit comments to the agency.  

Contacts: Sadayah Q. DuRant-Brown, Legislative Counsel, sdurantbrown@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 137, Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112, and Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.

We invite you to explore the latest updates on grant opportunities for FY26 featured in the League’s Town Crier blog. The latest post provides timely and helpful information designed to help your municipality stay informed, prepared for forthcoming grants. 

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant Program will soon reopen this Fall, offering cost-share funds to rural volunteer fire departments for wildland firefighting equipment, training, and supplies. Volunteer Fire Departments serving communities of 10,000 or less can apply for funding between $5,000 and $20,000, with a 50% match reimbursement. This means that eligible expenses must be purchased upfront. Common purchases reimbursed through the grant include radios, turnout gear, and PPE, with limitations on items over $5,000 and exclusions for capital projects. Volunteer Fire Departments must be registered in NJSTART and have an active DUNS number. The last announcement concluded in November 2023; now is the time to prepare for the next round. 

To prepare, departments should start compiling equipment needs and cost estimates, verify NJSTART and DUNS registrations, and monitor NJDEP’s grant page for updates. Based on past cycles, applications are expected to open in Fall 2025 and close by November 30, with awards announced in early 2026.  

For assistance, contact Taylor Devlin at taylor.devlin@dep.nj.gov . 

Please share this information with your volunteer fire departments.  

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.

The Department of Community Affairs launched the Bringing Veterans Home program in April with the goal to “end veteran homelessness by enhancing existing systems, creating rapid access to housing, and ensuring homelessness becomes rare, brief, and non-recurring.” Its enhanced website provides an avenue to refer veterans, information on the Bringing Veterans Home regional partners, and types of assistance. 

Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

The NJ Board of Public Utilities (NBPU) is now accepting applications for its $5 million Urban Heat Island Mitigation Program. Municipalities can get grants in three tiers to help cut energy costs.  

The program funds three grant tiers: two Comprehensive Interventions of up to $1 million each for large‐scale green infrastructure, cool pavements, or misting systems; four Built-Environment Upgrades of up to $500 thousand each for cool/green roofs, geothermal heat pumps, or resilient cooling centers; and twenty Micro-Climate Projects of up to $50 thousand each for shaded bus stops, community gardens, water stations, and other spot-cooling solutions. 

All projects must be on public or publicly accessible land. For updates, eligibility details, and application instructions, visit www.nj.gov/bpu. 

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering grants to interested municipalities to apply for funding to address problems related to lead-based paint hazards in housing. This grant is intended to enhance public health and improve housing conditions. With a total funding of $364.5 million, awards range from $1 million to $7 million. Eligible applicants include local governments, counties, states, and tribal governments.  

Applications must be submitted by August 14, 2025, and require EPA-authorized lead abatement certification. For more details, please visit grants.gov.  

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.

The New Jersey Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council released its inaugural Strategic Plan. It’s a comprehensive, five-year plan for the equitable and data-driven investment of opioid settlement funds. The vision of the plan is “individuals and communities will view substance use disorder as a health condition and those impacted by it will have equitable access to treatment and long-term support services that meet their basic needs, reduce harm, and foster recovery and wellbeing, ultimately reducing drug-related fatalities.”The Advisory Council makes recommendations for the state allocation of the national opioid settlement funds. The Strategic Plan outlines goals to promote and expand housing, harm reduction, treatment, and wraparound services, all grounded in extensive public input and a statewide needs assessment.Key highlights of the Strategic Plan include: 

• A vision of substance use disorder as a health condition that should be met with equitable access to treatment and support services that endeavor to reduce drug-related fatalities. 
• Four key investment areas: safe, stable, and supportive housing; harm reduction services; treatment services; and coordinated wraparound services. 
• Twelve core strategies are designed to reduce overdose deaths, improve treatment access, and address the social determinants of health that include: 
  • Expanding Housing First initiatives 
  • Expanding affordable, supportive and transitional and permanent housing models 
  • Distributing Harm Reduction supplies through community-based organizations 
  • Integrating Harm Reduction services into health care settings 
  • Training emergency services in Harm Reduction 
  • Conducting treatment gap analysis 
  • Expanding evidence based/best practice treatment services (medication for opioid use disorder and trauma informed care) 
  • Enhancing or expanding transportation options 
  • Developing guidelines for discharge planning 
  • Expanding peer specialist capacity to provide case management services 
  • Expanding family support groups and treatment programs 
• A robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the impact of investments and ensure accountability. 

New Jersey will receive $1 billion over 18 years from national opioid settlements. The state will receive half of this funding, while the other half will be provided directly to participating county and municipal government agencies. Governor Murphy in 2024 announced allocations of $95 million and $25 million on the advice of the Advisory Council. New Jersey is expanding proven harm reduction strategies, legal services, and housing for those in recovery.For more information and to view the full Strategic Plan, visit the state’s opioid settlement page. 

Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.

The “Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025” is a bi-partisan draft legislation aim at overhauling FEMA and streamlining disaster response programs. The proposed FEMA Act of 2025 proposes a significant restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and reforms across mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery functions.  In joint release on the bill the sponsors Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) noted that the “bill also rewards effective state and local preparedness, protects taxpayers, cuts red tape, and ensures that relief efforts are fast, fair, and free from political bias.” 

Not only is this an opportunity to comment on any changes that are based on your experience that you think should be made to FEMA but to provide input on the proposed legislation. Please review the information and share your comments with the League via email with Paul Penna at ppenna@njlm.org.  

Adjust Disaster Declaration Thresholds 

The Act formalizes “small disasters” as a distinct category and sets an upper limit for this designation at 125% of the per capita damage indicator multiplied by a state’s population. This change expands the number of disasters that would qualify as “small disasters,” allowing them to be managed by states under alternative procedures with reduced federal oversight. 

Importantly, disasters that exceed the per capita damage indicator – such as those causing $9 million to $11 million in damages in a state with 5 million residents – already qualify for major disasters declarations under current FEMA policy. However, under the Act, those same disasters would be reclassified as “small disasters” and handled by the state with streamlined federal assistance, shifting responsibility for compliance, audit, and recovery program delivery more heavily to state and local governments.  

Alternative Procedures for Small Disasters 

This section authorizes the use of simplified and expedited procedures for disasters classified as “small” under the new thresholds established in Section 103 (Adjust Disaster Declaration Thresholds). The goal is to reduce administrative burdens, accelerate recovery timelines, and cut down on paperwork and audit requirements for events that have relatively limited impacts. 

It allows states and local governments to access federal assistance through a more flexible framework, including the option to receive fixed-cost estimates and lump-sum payments rather than navigating the traditional reimbursement model. By delegating more authority to state and enabling streamlined project management, this section seeks to improve efficiency, lower costs, and ensure that communities affected by smaller-scale disasters can access timely support without being entangled in complex federal processes. 

Information Sharing for Federal Agencies 

This section aims to improve coordination among federal agencies by allowing secure data sharing to streamline aid delivery and reduce paperwork for disaster survivors. The goal is to eliminate duplicate application and accelerate support by enabling a unified federal response. 

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

On June 1, P.L. 2024,c.91 took effect and requires employers to make reasonable efforts to announce or post opportunities for promotion that are advertised internally or externally to all current employees in the department or other departments prior to making a promotion. The law requires employers to disclose the hourly wage or salary and benefits for promotions, new jobs, and transfer opportunities that are advertised either externally or internally. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development may enforce the provisions of the legislation, and an employer who violates the bill will be subject to a civil penalty of an amount not to exceed $1,000 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second violation, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

Please review this information with your Labor Attorney and Municipal Manager.

Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.

On June 2, Governor Murphy signed A4652 into law creating the offense of inciting a public brawl and upgrading the penalties for engaging in disorderly conduct under certain circumstances. The legislation specifically targets groups of four or more with the intent to imminently engage in disorderly conduct.  

Additionally, the law provides that a person who attempts to conceal their identity by wearing a mask or disguise while engaging in a course of disorderly conduct with purpose to instill fear, hinder prosecution, or avoid apprehension is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. There is an exemption for a person who wears a mask or disguise solely for medical, religious, or expressive purposes.  

Inciting a public brawl is a fourth-degree crime if the person acts with the purpose to incite or produce the course of disorderly conduct. It is punishable by up to 18 months of imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A person who commits a fourth-degree crime may be eligible for entry into a pretrial intervention program (PTI).  

P.L. 2025, c. 59 took effect on June 2, 2025. 

Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) canceled $11 billion in grant agreements across the country, leading to a series of stop-work orders. According to the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials, a detailed list has not yet been released. 

Attorney General Matthew Platkin has joined a group of 23 State Attorneys General suing the Trump Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services for unlawfully cutting funds.  

Due to this, the New Jersey Department of Health issued a stop-work order. We encourage you to review how this impacts your municipality with your public health professionals.  

Contact: Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

Published last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “Local Elected and Appointed Officials Guide: Roles and Resources in Emergency Management” is an important resource for municipal officials. For more information, please read the League’s recent blog post. 

Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.