Posted on: December 1, 2023
On Thursday, the Assembly Labor Committee favorably reported A-5659, which increases workers’ compensation contingency fees.
This bill revises the workers’ compensation law to revise the cap on contingency fees to a prevailing ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 1, 2023
On Thursday, the Assembly Labor Committee favorably reported A-161, which revises workers’ compensation coverage for certain injuries to volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel.
This bill expands the individuals&...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 1, 2023
Governor Murphy has vetoed S-861, a bill that would have allowed municipalities to hold annual events to burn Christmas trees.
Municipalities throughout the state have traditionally hosted community events centered on bonfires using disc...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 1, 2023
On Thursday, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee favorably reported A-4984/S-3605, which would reduce the number of parking spaces required under the statewide site improvement standards at residential developments by 20%, 30%, and 50%, rela...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: November 30, 2023
On Monday, November 27, Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed S-3038, which enables limited breweries to hold unlimited on-premises events, and partner with food vendors for on-site menus. His veto introduces substantial modifications to liquor license regu...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: September 26, 2023
Last summer, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2022, c. 65, which establishes a police licensing program for all New Jersey law enforcement officers. This new law tasked the Police Training Commission (PTC) with adopting rules related to the licensing of police...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: September 8, 2023
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to require certain accessibility standards for state and local government services, programs, and activities offered via web or mobile apps and i...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 28, 2023
Sending in Conference Resolutions that suggest changes to improve municipal life helps build the foundation for the League Legislative team’s annual actions.
If you have a topic to improve local government and address an issue impacting local gov...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 25, 2023
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has published proposed rules amending the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) to expand the use of private on-site inspection agencies, in accordance with the law adopted last year.
In accordance with&nbs...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 18, 2023
Governor Murphy signed into law S-1442/A-5345, which requires public works contractor registration and payroll certification for public works projects to be completed online. P.L. 2023, c. 138 will take effect next year on August 16, 2024. &...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 17, 2023
On Wednesday, August 16, Governor Murphy signed A-5239/S-3734, P.L. 2023 c.144, extending the service life of school buses to 20 years and extends the service life of Type S school buses.
Prior to P.L. 2023 c. 144, school buses weighing...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 17, 2023
On Tuesday, August 15, Governor Murphy signed S-3989/A-5675, now P.L.2023, c.136, establishing the Boardwalk Preservation Fund and appropriating $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the renovation and repair of boardwalks in shore communities ac...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 11, 2023
Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari signed into S-3776, which amends the definition of “custom fabrication” under the Prevailing Wage Act.
The definition was amended to include “other fabrication which is one or more en...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 11, 2023
Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari signed into law S-3374, which concerns fees charged for certain towing and storage of motor vehicles and amends the Predatory Towing Prevention Act.
The new law amends N.J.S.A. 56:13-16 to require towing ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: July 21, 2023
On Thursday, despite the League’s urging to conditionally veto this measure, Governor Murphy signed A-5175/SCS-3519, which makes changes to General Election timelines.
The League opposed this legislation for o...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: July 21, 2023
Governor Murphy signed S-1727/A-3393 into law, designating Franklinite as the State of New Jersey’s official mineral. Franklinite is not only a symbol of state pride, but significant in New Jersey’s industrial history. The Mi...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: July 7, 2023
Governor Murphy has signed A-5596/S-3991 establishing the Urban Preservation Program to promote investments in rehabilitation and reconstruction projects dedicated to preserving affordable housing in urban areas.
The newly created Urban Preservation Fund p...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: July 7, 2023
This week, Governor Murphy signed into law S-3780. The new law provides down payment assistance and provides tax credits to developers that commit to construct or reconstruct housing for certain low to moderate income households.
Prior to the signing of&am...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: July 7, 2023
Governor Murphy signed S-3090/A-4498, which permits police and fire employees to retire after 20 years of service, regardless of age, with a retirement benefit of 50% of final compensation, into law on July 3, 2023. P.L. 2023, 92 took effect immediately. ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: July 7, 2023
Governor Murphy signed S-3943, now P.L.2023, c.94, allowing the Attorney General to appoint the Officer in Charge when superseding certain law enforcement agencies.
This law allows the Attorney General, upon superseding a law enforcement agency, to appoint...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 30, 2023
The FY2024 Budget proposal includes $150 million in Municipal Relief funding in addition to Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief funding.
As we previously reported late Thursday, both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Appropriation...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 29, 2023
Last night, both the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee favorably reported A-5669/S-2024, the $54.3 billion FY2024 New Jersey Budget Bill. It includes an additional $150 million for Energy Tax Receipts (ETR), doub...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 23, 2023
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, continue to call for the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. As a result of our collective outreach, Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman DeAngelo are sponsoring ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 23, 2023
A bill was recently passed out of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, that would impose new restrictions on local authorities to regulate local land use and zoning issues related to the deployment of telecommunications equipment.
The Ame...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 15, 2023
S-1350/A-5430, which establishes procedures and standards regarding public services privatization contracts, has been released from committees.
Legislation that would limit local government’s ability to privatize public services is adva...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 15, 2023
On Monday, over the League’s objection, S-3593/A-5175 was amended and favorably reported from the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee. As a reminder, this legislation passed the full Assembly on May 25...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 9, 2023
The comment period for rules proposed by the New Jersey Police Training Commission to implement the new statewide police licensing program ends on June 16. The League intends to submit comments and is interested in hearing feedback from our members.
Last s...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 9, 2023
Senators O’Scanlon and Testa have introduced S-3906, the “Give It Back” property tax relief plan. The plan calls for $4.32 billion from the New Jersey Debt Defeasance & Prevention Fund to be appropriated to each municipal...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 9, 2023
During the Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee hearing on June 8, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin testified before the committee on the “Stay NJ Act” proposal. Assembly Speaker Coughlin highlighted the importance of recognizin...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 9, 2023
Municipalities throughout the state have hosted community events centered on bonfires using discarded Christmas trees. These events have become economic drivers for the local economy and provide a fundraising opportunity for local causes, including, most ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 8, 2023
On Monday, the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee amended and favorably reported A-4376, a bill that would further weaken already sparse local oversight of the collocation of wireless equipment in the local right of way.
The Leag...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 8, 2023
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, continue to call for the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. As a result of our collective outreach, Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman DeAngelo are sponsoring ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 5, 2023
On May 25, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin unveiled the "Stay NJ Act" property tax relief plan, a comprehensive initiative designed to alleviate property taxes for seniors while also addressing the affordability of healthcare insurance and presc...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: June 2, 2023
The League, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association continue to call for the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. As a result of our collective outreach, Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman DeAngelo are sponsori...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 26, 2023
On Thursday, League staff worked the Statehouse and spoke with Assembly representatives before they went into caucus, urging them to support the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. Our thanks to East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, who joined us and sp...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 19, 2023
Last week, over the League’s objection, A-5175 was favorably reported from the Assembly State and Local Government Committee and second referenced to the Assembly Appropriations Committee where it was held on Thursday.
While the League supports t...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 19, 2023
On Monday, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced S-861, legislation that would allow municipalities to conduct an annual event for the open burning of Christmas trees.
Municipalities throughout the state have hosted community even...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 19, 2023
On Thursday, the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee approved S-2603. The bill seeks to clarify the ability of a public body to hold electronic meetings, and if doing so the appropriate notice requirements.&n...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 15, 2023
Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed legislation (S-3090/A-4498) that would permit police and fire employees to retire after 20 years of service, regardless of age, with a retirement benefit of 50% of final compensation. The League joined the New Jersey A...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 12, 2023
As part of his conditional veto of S-3110/A-4783, Governor Murphy has suggested the bill be amended to provide that a tenant whose landlord fails to provide the required notifications may terminate the lease without penalty any time afte...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 12, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy signed A-4836 and A-4184, cybersecurity bills into law this week.
A-4836 requires the State Office of Emergency Management to develop a plan to address internet outages resulting from cyber-attacks...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: May 5, 2023
Signed last month, P.L. 2023, c.33, requires any municipal water and wastewater utility or authority to enter into a vendor contract with the DCA to participate in the LIHWAP. LIHWAP is a federal program being administered by the DCA that provide...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: April 12, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has released two draft model ordinances related to the new conditions as part of the updated MS4 Tier A permit and will be accepting informal comments until May 12.
The firs...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: April 6, 2023
Governor Murphy has signed S-3333, which protects low-income households from having their water services disconnected due to unpaid bills. Water utility providers, including local authorities that have not signed up to participate in New Jerseys Low Incom...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 31, 2023
On Thursday, the full Assembly unanimously approved A-4498/S-3090, which provides police and fire a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age. The bill is now before the Governor for his consideration.
The League joins the...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 24, 2023
Legislation (A-4998/S-3090) which provides police and fire personnel a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age unanimously passed the Senate earlier this week and is before the full Assembly on March 30. The League joins the New ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 17, 2023
The Senate Budget committee was scheduled to consider a bill expanding prevailing wage requirements to PILOT projects, however, after outreach by the League and other stakeholders, sponsor Senator Gopal held S-2798 for additional review and possible amend...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 17, 2023
On Monday Assembly State and Local Government Committee will be considering A-4498, which provides police and fire personnel a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age. The League joins the New Jersey Association of Counties in ou...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 16, 2023
This week, Governor Phil Murphy signed S-428 into law, amending the Right to Farm Act to specify that shellfish aquaculture activities are eligible for Right to Farm Act protections.
To be eligible for Right to Farm protections a shellfish commer...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 16, 2023
This week, Governor Murphy signed A-4524/S-2709, now P.L.2023, c.22, which permits the appointment of additional alternate deputy registrars. The League supports this legislation because is especially necessary in municipalities that host hospita...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 10, 2023
On March 9 Governor Murphy signed into law S-3595/A-5177, which changes certain primary election deadlines. The new law took effect immediately.
The deadlines changed include the following:
- Submission by the Municipal Clerk to ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 10, 2023
A bill meant to increase participation in the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was advanced through Senate committee this week. While the League initially opposed S-3333, amendments were made allowing us to now support the bill.
This ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 10, 2023
The League is asking our members to answer a short survey aimed at gathering information related to individual municipalities efforts to comply with the NJDEP’s new MS4 permit program requirements.
The New Jersey Department o...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 10, 2023
In February, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced it would be making available of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting requirements. Additional details o...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 3, 2023
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has issued a Request for Comments, seeking input from interested parties regarding the conversion of existing streetlights to LED streetlights. Specifically, seeking information related to streetlight and p...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: March 3, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will be hosting an executive information session for mayors to review the recently announced grant program to assist municipalities with the new stormwater permitting requirements.&...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 17, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has announced the availability of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting requirements. Details on the grant program have not bee...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 10, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation authorizing commercial farms located on preserved farmland to hold special occasion events.
The new law expands authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 6, 2023
This week, League staff participated in a stakeholder meeting hosted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regarding the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit fees. The meeting was to introduce the NJ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 6, 2023
The League continues to work with legislators and the administration to better understand the scope of municipal utility and local authority participation in the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), and to develop an agreeable solution ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 3, 2023
There continues to be no progress in efforts to mitigate the impact of the unprecedented health care contribution increase for State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) participants and employers. As reported last week, employers are beginning to leave the sys...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 3, 2023
The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee favorably reported S-3519, which makes various changes to primary election, vacancy, municipal referendum, and mail-in ballot mailing deadlines.
On Thursday, the ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: January 31, 2023
On Thursday, the Assembly voted to approve the recommendations of Governor Murphy’s conditional veto of S-757, after suspending their normal rules to include the bill onto the voting session board list.
The legislation looks to expand au...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: January 31, 2023
This week, the Senate Economic Growth Committee reviewed S-3333 for discussion only. While the League agrees that additional efforts are needed to ensure the success of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), we do not agree t...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: January 9, 2023
The New Year has come and the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will still have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs, unless an immediate solution i...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 19, 2022
The League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, and New Jersey Association of Counties have been working with other interested stakeholders, including the major public sector union representative...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 19, 2022
On Thursday, the Assembly unanimously approved ACS A-573, with the Senate is scheduled to vote on the legislation on Monday. The bill would expand the use of third-party private construction inspections, allowing muni...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 19, 2022
On December 5, the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee heard testimony from New Jersey State Police Major Larry Williams, Deputy Attorney General Joseph Giordano, and Alexander Shalom, Senior Supervising Attorney and Director of Supreme Court Advocac...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 19, 2022
On Monday the Senate will be considering S-3380, which would exempt gasoline and diesel fuel costs; solid waste and recycling collection and disposal costs, as well as disposal of yard waste; cyber insurance costs; liability insurance costs; work...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: December 19, 2022
S-861 would permit municipalities to conduct an annual event for the open burning of holiday trees. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) would be tasked with establishing rules, regulations, and standards for the open burning of C...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: August 8, 2022
On Wednesday, Governor Murphy signed S-2364 into law. The new law expands the time period during which certain restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries are allowed to utilize tents, canopies, umbrellas, tables, chairs, and other fixture on ...
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Legislative Advocacy
Posted on: February 24, 2022
Last week, a State appellate panel affirmed Governor Murphy’s authority under the Disaster Control Act and the Emergency Health Act to impose through Executive Order 283, a COVID-19 vaccination mandate on State corrections officers. The NJ Supre...
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Legislative Advocacy