The Legislature must approve and the Governor must sign the SFY2025 budget by July 1, otherwise State government will shut down. Later today, both the Assembly and Senate will be holding voting sessions to consider the $56.6 billion SFY2025 budget and various other bills, related and unrelated to the budget.
We previously reported on the bills of municipal interest before the Assembly. Since that notice, the Assembly added A-3986, which increases contingency fees in workers’ compensation cases from 20% to 25% of the judgment. The League opposes the legislation as it raises insurance costs and places an increased burden on municipalities and municipal taxpayers. The Senate companion, S-2822, passed the Senate 27-9 on May 13.
In addition to some of the companion bills before the Assembly, the following bills of municipal interest are before the Senate:
- S-1430, which would provide for expanded use of affordable housing voucher program funding for the purpose of homeownership expense assistance. The League supports this bill as it is a tool to assist residents. The Assembly companion, A-586, awaits consideration by the full Assembly.
- S-3179, which would require all sports and entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and places of worship to file emergency operations plans in an electronic format that is compatible with public safety software systems and includes emergency mapping data. The League supports this commonsense measure. The Assembly companion, A-2941, awaits consideration by the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.
Earlier in the week, various legislative committees met and took action on various bills.
We will continue to keep you posted on budget and legislative activity.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.