I. Preview: Week of March 1
On the legislative front
Various Senate committees will be holding hearings and considering numerous pieces of legislation on Thursday. The municipal issues before the committees include:
- Senate Environment and Energy Committee: Takes testimony on legislation that establishes postconsumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, plastic trash bags, and prohibits the sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging (S-2515). Considers legislation that requires producers of architectural paint sold in the State to implement, or participate in, a statewide architectural paint stewardship program (S-2679). Legislation that directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a utility-scale solar energy development program, and modify the State’s renewable energy portfolio standards (S-2605). Legislation that would increase the credit to the Shore Protection Fund from the collection of realty transfer fees from $25 million to $50 million (S-1071). 10 a.m. Thursday, March 4, 2021.
- Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee: Considering legislation to increase the allocation of revenues from the State’s hotel and motel occupancy fee towards arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes from 40% to 100% (S-2986). Permits current and former judicial officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, and certain family members and persons residing in the same household, to register to vote without disclosing their residential address (S-3185). Considering a resolution designating September 23 of each year as “Bruce Springsteen Day” (SJR-45). 10:15 a.m. Thursday, March 4, 2021.
Voting Session
The full Assembly will be holding voting session on Monday.
The Assembly will be considering legislation that permits a Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) employee who is enrolled before or after the bill’s effective date to retire, regardless of age, upon attaining 20 or more years of service credit and would allow that employee to receive a retirement allowance equal to 50% of the member’s final compensation (A-2562/S-1017). Allowing solar energy providers to construct and install residential solar projects on single-family homes prior to obtaining a construction permit during the duration of the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 (A-4397/S-2606). Establishing expedited construction inspection program (A-4850); creating a “Broadband Access Study Commission” (A-850). Permitting a municipality with a population under 5,000 to appoint a nonresident as its municipal emergency management coordinator if a qualified resident cannot be recruited (A-1057/S-551); and establishing in-person early voting for certain elections (A-4830/S-3203).
Federal
On the federal front, the Senate will begin consideration of the American Rescue Plan, which passed the House last week. The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider HR 1, legislation expanding voting rights legislation and the HR 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act this week.
Administrative Code
As a reminder, new green infrastructure rules, adopted last year, become effective Tuesday, March 2. Municipalities and the Department of Environmental Protection will begin the implementation of the rules to manage stormwater runoff generated by development across the state. The rules require all applicants of residential and non-residential projects to use green infrastructure, rather than more traditional engineered structures, to reduce stormwater discharge and runoff and to achieve water quality goals.
Any complete application for residential development received by a municipality before March 2, 2021 will be reviewed under the existing Stormwater Management rules. Any application received after this date or determined to be incomplete as of that date will be reviewed under the newly effective rules.
Non-residential applications will be reviewed for compliance with the local stormwater control ordinance, which is required under a municipality’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. The MS4 permit requires that this ordinance be at least as stringent as the DEP’s Stormwater Management rules. The DEP required municipalities to revise their stormwater ordinances and make them effective no later than March 3, 2021.
Any complete application for a non-residential development received by a municipality before the effective date of their new ordinance will be reviewed under the existing ordinance. Any project applications received after this date or determined to be incomplete will be reviewed under the amended ordinance.
II. Print Your CEU Certificates from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference
The tracking system from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference is now open. To print your certificates visit the Tracking System webpage.
The system will be available until May 1, 2021.
III. Let Your Vendors Know About NJ Municipalities Magazine!
Do you work with vendors that you would recommend to other municipalities? Let these vendors know about the League’s magazine, NJ Municipalities. Placing advertisements in the magazine helps to increase the reach of their marketing messages and supports the League as an organization in the process.
Contact Taran Samhammer at tsamhammer@njlm.org with your vendor’s mailing address and we will send them a sample issue!
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