As we approach the deadline to adopt the SFY2026 budget, the Assembly and Senate will be holding a voting session on Monday, June 30. In addition to considering the SFY2026 budget, the following bills of municipal interest will be considered:
S-4128/A-5130, requires enforcing agency to conduct inspection of construction in a two and half hour window. The League opposes this legislation because the recruitment, training, and retention of Code Enforcement Officers has been an ongoing challenge for local governments that has continued to get worse. Very often, they compete with private firms that offer better pay and benefit options that municipalities cannot match. Further, the rulemaking authority permits potentially punitive measures to be taken against municipalities. The bill passed the Assembly 71-4 and is before the Senate.
A-5538, prohibits municipal utilities authority from imposing water service charges for fire protection systems upon a fire district or fire department if the authority also imposes water service charges upon customers of the authority who are taxpayers of the fire district or of a local government unit that finances the operations of the fire department The League opposes this legislation as it forces other utility users to subsidize the cost of the fire district. The bill is before the Assembly. The Senate companion, S-4344, awaits consideration by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
S-3287, provides for a gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers in exchange for their sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes. The New Jersey gross income tax provides a deduction for a charitable, qualified conservation contribution of real property interests for land preservation purposes modeled on the similar federal income tax deduction which covers full land interest sales and restricted land use easements. The bill will allow deductions for both parts of some mixed transfers referred to as bargain sales in which there is both a charitable donation aspect and a cash purchase payment for less than the land’s fair market value. The legislation was favorably reported from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on a vote of 13-0 and will be considered by the Senate on Monday. The League supports this legislation because it is another avenue where land can be conserved without additional cost to taxpayers. The Assembly companion, A-197, awaits consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
A-3035, which prohibits certain vehicles from parking in electric vehicle charging spaces under certain circumstances. The bill prohibits parking in an electric vehicle charging space if the vehicle is a non-electric vehicle or is a plug-in electric vehicle, including a battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, that is not actively charging; and the space is clearly marked with signage and pavement markings indicating the space is reserved for plug-in electric vehicles that are actively charging. Vehicles in violation may be towed at the municipality’s discretion and at the expense of the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle. The bill, which the League supports, passed the Senate 28-10 and is before the Assembly.
S-4590/A-5792, which provides for workers’ compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential. As introduced, the League had no position on this legislation. However, as amended, the League opposes this bill because it permits the employee to select the provider, potentially to more costly out-of-network providers. The League is working with MEL-JIF to address these concerns. The bills will be before both the Assembly and Senate.
S-4472, amends the local bond law to eliminate the required five percent down payment for local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. The bill also exempts local governments from having to apply to the local finance board concerning the maturity and amount of annual installment payments related to the financing of local bond ordinances involving hazard mitigation and resilience projects. The bill, which the League supports, is before the Senate for a vote on Monday. The Assembly companion, A-5859 awaits consideration by the full Assembly but is not scheduled for consideration on Monday.
Contacts: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112, Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110, and Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, x116.