State Issues

Individual Affordable Housing Calculation Briefings with DCA

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is making itself available for 30-minute virtual meetings to provide municipal officials and staff with an explanation of their individual affordable housing calculations. The Department is requesting no more than three attendees for a session. Municipalities can sign up for a meeting at the following site:https://outlook.office365.com/book/AffordableHousingCalculationBriefingReservations@SoNJ.onmicrosoft.com/

Contact: Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.

AOC Directives: Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has taken action to implement recent changes to the Fair Housing Act, including issuing a directive establishing procedures for the Affordable Housing Alternate Dispute Resolution Program’s operation.

Read more: AOC Directives: Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program 

Contact: Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.

Court Invalidates AG Takeover of Municipal Police Department

This week, an appellate panel in a published decision ruled that the New Jersey Attorney General lacks authority to take over the entire operations of a municipal police department.    

Read more: Court Invalidates AG Takeover of Municipal Police Department

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

Legislation Advances to Address Public Notice Issue

Legislation (S-3957/A-5151) to address the publication of public notices in light of the recent Star Ledger announcement of an all-digital newspaper starting in February 2025 has passed both houses and is on the Governor’s desk.

Read more: Legislation Advances to Address Public Notice Issue

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

Local Finance Notice 2024-20 Revises CY2025 Budget Deadline Extensions 

Local Finance Notice 2024-20 was published revising the deadline schedule for the introduction and adoption of CY2025 municipal budgets.

Read more: Local Finance Notice 2024-20 Revises CY2025 Budget Deadline Extensions

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

LFN 2024-21 Outlines Cap Relief for CY2025/SFY2026 Budgets

Local Finance Notice 2024-21 outlines cap relief for CY2025/SFY2026 budgets applied to garbage and trash removal increases in excess of 3.5%.  

Read more: LFN 2024-21 Outlines Cap Relief for CY2025/SFY2026 Budgets

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

Legislation Advances Moving 2025 Primary Election Date

Legislation (A-5152/S-3965) moving the 2025 Primary Election Date to June 10 passed both houses and is on the Governor’s desk.   

Read more: Legislation Advances Moving 2025 Primary Election Date 

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

FY25 Pensions Bills Available  

The Division of Pensions and Benefits has posted the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) local employer billing for the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS).  

Read more: FY25 Pensions Bills Available  

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

Guidance on Workplace Accommodation under the NJLAD

The NJ Office of Attorney General and Division on Civil Rights issued guidance to clarify the workplace accommodations the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination affords to employees for pregnancy, lactation, and related medical conditions.  

Read more: Guidance on Workplace Accommodation under the NJLAD

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

Cybersecurity Hearing Includes League Suggestions

On Monday, Robert McQueen, Director of Information Technology for the Township of Franklin (Somerset County), & Past President of the New Jersey Chapter of GMIS represented the League at the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee hearing on cybersecurity.

Read more: Cybersecurity Hearing Includes League Suggestions

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

Bill Requiring Construction Permit Applicants Disclose Financing

Recently, the Assembly Housing Committee favorably reported A-4626, which requires construction permit applicants to disclose the financing for their construction projects.  

Read more: Bill Requiring Construction Permit Applicants Disclose Financing

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

Also of Interest

Affordable Housing Lunch & Learn Presentation & Slide Deck Available

On Tuesday, December 17, the League hosted a briefing with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Data Hub. The presentation and slide deck are available on the League website.    

Read more: Affordable Housing Lunch & Learn Presentation & Slide Deck Available

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

Free Complete Streets Technical Assistance and Training 

Attention NJ Municipalities Located in Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic Counties 

The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program provides free technical assistance to municipalities to complete a specific task related to advancing a Complete Streets initiative. Eligible applicants include municipal governments within the SJTPO's 4-county region comprised of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties. 

Towns can apply to receive free technical assistance for services focused on a Community Workshop with Walk Audit, a Bicycle Network Plan, Complete and Green Streets for All Policy Guidance, and Temporary Demonstration projects. Applications are due on February 28, 2025. To implement the program, SJTPO is partnering with Sustainable Jersey, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University and the Cross County Connection Transportation Management Association. 

In January 2025, SJTPO is sponsoring two interactive training sessions covering all aspects of Complete Streets. Professionals and members of the public are invited to register for training sessions and attend one or both. 

Show Off Your City 2025: Apply Today 

Municipalities are invited to send the League photos of their tourist attractions, downtown areas, economic development initiatives, parks, city halls, community groups, and new projects for the 2025 Show Off Your City Photo Contest! 

The winning photo will be featured on the cover of the April issue of NJ Municipalities and the winner will also receive a free League publication of their choice. Entries will be posted on the League’s Facebook page, and some featured in the April issue of NJ Municipalities, and possibly other issues.  

Photos should be high-resolution JPEG, at least 3MB in size. Please provide photo credit if necessary. Unfortunately, stock photos and images that are too low in resolution will not be considered. By submitting a photo, you are agreeing that you own the rights to the photo and that NJLM has permission to use the photo in NJ Municipalities, on NJLM’s social media and website, and on other printed materials. Note that photos displayed in a portrait orientation work better on the magazine cover than a landscape orientation. The due date to submit entries is February 7. 

Submit photos using the Show Off Your City submission form or mail a CD or flash drive to 222 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.