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Acting Governor Signs Legislation Codifying VIVA

On Wednesday, Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed A-4978, codifying the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) within the Department of Law and Public Safety. VIVA was a division created in 2022 by the Offi...

Police Training Commission Adopts Licensing Rules

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...

Register for Mental Health First Aid Classes

The Mayor Wellness Campaign is hosting two virtual training courses for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), one for Adult Mental Health First Aid Training and the other Youth Mental Health First Aid Training. 

As part of its Mental Health Initiative, ...

FEMA Local Elected and Appointed Officials Guidebook Blog Post

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, plea...

Municipal Fire Department Chaplain Benefits Legislation Signed

On Monday, Acting Governor Nicholas Scutari signed A-5275/S-3671 that allows a municipality to determine if newly appointed individuals serving as municipal fire department chaplains will hold rank and receive salary and benefits.

Under current law...

Reminder: Opioid Settlement Annual Reports Due September 1

Eligible subdivisions participating in the national opioid settlements are required to submit an annual report to the state Department of Human Services (DHS) by September 1.

As part of the nationwide opioid settlements, eligible New Jersey subdivisions ar...

NJBPU Proposes Rule Amendments Applicable to Municipalities

On August 21, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) published proposed rule amendments governing all utilities, including municipal water and wastewater utilities. These changes include:  

1. The extension of the Winter Termination Program to ...

State Launches Stop Overdoses Website

The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the launch of StopOverdoses.nj.gov to assist residents in finding pharmacies offering free naloxone anonymously.  Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an ...

NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid Restarts Eligibility Review

Since March of 2020, NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid has followed special rules related to the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). These rules have allowed most NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid members to keep their health coverage, even if they no longer qualif...

State Issues Notice on Local Regulation of Beekeeping Activities

The League has become aware of a statement issued by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) to municipal officials regarding restraints on municipal regulation of apiary and beekeeping activities.  

The statement, dated July 14, 2023, exp...

State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee Meets

State Enables Expansion of Harm Reduction Centers

This week, the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) published regulatory changes in the New Jersey Register to facilitate the development of harm reduction centers (HRC) throughout the state. Harm reduction centers are an important tool...

Governor Signs Advanced Clean Cars Proposal

Governor Phil Murphy announced New Jersey has signed the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) proposal. The goal of the ACCII is to have zero-emission vehicles make up 100% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2035. While the proposal does not impose obligations ...

$200 Million Allocation for State Health Benefits Cut from FY2024 Budget

Governor Murphy's plan to dedicate $200 million from federal pandemic relief funds to offset the over 20% rising health insurance premium rise did not secure a place in the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. This plan was initially laid out in Governor Murphy's FY ...

MWC & NJLM Launches Mental Health Grant Opportunity

The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute's Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC), in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities has announced a funding opportunity for communities working to address local mental health needs. The...

New Law Requires Sellers and Landlords Provide Notice of Flooding

Governor Phil Murphy has signed S-3110/A-4783, now P.L.2023, c.93, which requires sellers of property and landlords to make certain notifications regarding flooding. Under the law, sellers of real property and landlords must disclose knowledge of...

Bill Preempting Local Control of ROW Advancing in Congress

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...

Governor Signs EO 332 Regarding COVID-19 Vaccines

On Monday, due to recent changes to federal requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccines, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 332 lifting the requirement for employees in health care settings who were not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations ...

DCA Issues LFN Explaining LIHWAP and Winter Termination Program

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...

100% Participation by Municipalities in Latest Opioid Settlement

The nationwide settlement with pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, and drug makers Teva Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, is in addition to the settlements reached with drug distributors in 2021 –&nbs...

U.S. Senate Passed a Clean Version of S.870, the Fire Grants & Safety

After attempting to attach an amendment that would claw back unobligated American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, the U.S. Senate passed a , the Fire Grants and Safety Act, without any amendments on Thursday. There is not yet a House co...

NJ Attorney General Updates Law Enforcement Drug Testing Policy

This week, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued a revised Law Enforcement Drug Testing Policy. The revised Policy includes necessary updates to account for legalized cannabis consumption and sales. Of relevance is the inclusion of a reaso...

FY2023 Federal Omnibus Budget Passed

In the final week of December, the House and Senate passed, and President Biden signed a $1.7 trillion FY2023 federal budget through September 30, 2023. For provisions of state and local interest, please read the League’s two blog posts, the fir...

SHBP Update: No Relief In New Year

Earlier today the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) met to consider items including the transfer of Federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds. The transfers, which were already outlined in the State budget, included:

• $300 million for various ca...

Week of February 1: Covid-19 Update

This week Governor Phil Murphy issued an Executive Order expanding indoor dining and limiting the 10 p.m. curfew on closings of restaurants. The Governor announced that Johnson and Johnson has submitted an application for emergency use authorization from ...