newsletter header
Click to view newsletter archives

View a Featured Ad at the End of this Email.
 

May 13, 2022

 
I.   State Issues
II.  Federal Issues
III. Also of Interest
 
Municipal Clerks: Please forward to your Mayor, Governing Body and Department Heads.
 
******************************************************************************************************

I. State Issues


a. New Law Increases Municipal Contribution Thresholds to Volunteer First Aid Squads

 
On Monday, May 9, Governor Murphy signed into law legislation that increases the contribution limits by counties and municipalities to volunteer first aid, ambulances, and rescue squads. P.L. 2022, c. 12 increases the maximum amount that municipalities and counties can annually contribute to an incorporated volunteer first aid, ambulance, or rescue company from $70,000 to $125,000. The threshold to increase additional funds, if the volunteer first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad is experiencing extraordinary need, increases from $35,000 to $70,000. This new law took effect upon the Governor’s signing.
 
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

b. Governor Conditionally Vetoes Political Bribery Bill

 
On Monday, May 9, Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed legislation aimed at addressing a perceived judicial misinterpretation of the law concerning political bribery. A-2472 was introduced after federal and state trial courts both interpreted New Jersey’s current political bribery law in a way that precluded candidates not currently holding office from being subjected to the law. These lower courts’ decisions were later overturned by the state Appellate Division. 

The Governor’s conditional veto seeks the same goal as the underlying legislation: to make it a crime for any person to confer an unlawful bribe, as well as for any person to agree to accept an unlawful bribe, regardless of whether the person whose influence was sought or who sought to be influenced was qualified or had the capacity, ability, or jurisdiction to commit the corrupt act at the time of the bribe or agreement. The conditional veto seeks alternative language meant to improve the legislation and further remove any ambiguity from the application of the law.
 
The League supported this legislation and we welcome the Governor’s suggestions. The Legislature will need to review the Governor’s conditional veto and vote to approve the changes before the bill becomes law. We will keep you updated on this matter as it continues to move along the legislative process.


Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.

c. Assembly Oversight Committee Held Hearing on Liquor License Reform 

 
On Monday, May 9, the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee heard testimony from key stakeholders of the New Jersey alcoholic beverage industry on the current state of the industry and discussed ways to improve the manufacturing, distribution, and retail sectors along with its impact on the competition with neighboring states and within the hospitality and tourism economies. For more on the hearing, please see the recent blog post.
 
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116. 

II. Federal Issues  


a. ARP & BIL Presentation


This past Wednesday, May 11, at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, League Senior Legislative Analyst Paul Penna participated in a panel: American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Program Funds: Leveraging Federal, State, and County Funds for Municipal Use. Other panelists included Mary Cruz, Chief of Staff to Congressman Norcross; Dan Kelly, Executive Director, Governor’s Disaster Recovery Office; and Richard Sun, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor and New Jersey Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Coordinator. The panel was moderated by Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, NJLM Past President.
 
The panel discussed available resources and strategies for municipalities to obtain federal funds in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how best to utilize State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds municipalities received through the American Rescue Plan.


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

b. NTIA Announces Municipal Broadband Funding Opportunity 

 
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) featuring Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure, which is direct competitive funding. Municipalities are among the eligible applicants.
 
The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program provides $1 billion in funding for this vital part of our nation's high-speed network to reduce the cost of bringing high-speed internet to unserved and underserved communities.
 
NTIA also announced funding opportunities for the initial state round of funding for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and an initial round of state capacity building and planning funds through the State Digital Equity Program. States are the eligible applicants and we will alert you if New Jersey applies for and is awarded funds and opens funding opportunities to municipalities.


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

III. Also of Interest    


a. DEP Hosting Public Information Session on Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program

 
On May 19 at 10 a.m., the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a public information session on the recently announced Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program.
 
The information session will review applicant eligibility, project types, and the application process. The $15 million grant program is open to municipalities, counties, state agencies, and school boards, as well as others. 
 
Grant awards will range from $250,000 to $5 million for projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing carbon storage capacity in biomass and soils, will reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions caused by increasing salinity of coastal water or changing land use, and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by preventing soil loss.
 
Those interested should register for the information session. For more information on the grant program, please see the DEP’s dedicated webpage.


_______________________________________________________________________

Advertiser Spotlight 

NJ CofR Pet Store Ad
Winter Equip

Winter Equipment’s Xtendor® Universal versatile plow guards can prevent uneven wear which normally forces you to replace your cutting edges prematurely. Your leading edge will wear faster, so simply install a pair of these on each end and get 2-3x more life out of your cutting edge. Learn more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aiisiWQ5lU&t=3s.
 
Contact Name: Scott Fearis, Territory Sales Manager
 
Email: Sales@winterequipment.com  Phone: 800-294-6837

222 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 Phone: 609-695-3481 Web: www.njlm.org

NJLM on Social Media:     Facebook     Twitter    LinkedIn     YouTube

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email

Copyright 2022 NJLM. All Rights Reserved.
222 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608

Powered by
CivicSend - A product of CivicPlus