State Issues
State Health Benefits Increase Remains Unresolved
Unfortunately, as we reported last week, the talks regarding relief for raising healthcare premium costs remain unresolved. This comes among news that Newark, Camden, and Trenton have all left the State Health Benefits system, or are in the process of doing so. Earlier this week the State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee met to appoint a Super Conciliator; listen to vendor presentations on assisting parents of Special needs and a bill system; and establishing dates to discuss prescription subgroups. There was no action or discussion on the increase to the State Health Benefits program.
The League, along with our partners with the Conference of Mayors and Associations of Counties, continues to remain actively engaged in seeking relief and encourage you to continue to your outreach to the Governor’s Office and your Legislators. It is important that your voices are heard in Trenton.
Contacts:
- Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
- Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Bill Authorizing Special Occasion Events on Preserved Farmland on Track to Become Law
On Thursday, the Assembly voted to approve the recommendations of Governor Murphy’s conditional veto of S-757, after suspending their normal rules to include the bill onto the voting session board list.
The legislation looks to expand authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The League opposed S-757 as originally passed by the legislature because it provided inadequate limitations on special occasion events, allowing preserved farmland to be used for non-agricultural purposes, undermining the intent of the state’s successful farmland preservation program.
The Governor’s recommendations in his conditional veto help to address some of the League’s concerns, including limiting the number and scope of special occasion events and the area on the farmland where the events can be held. The recommendations also provide clarity on municipal review of event applications.
The Senate approved the Governor’s recommendations last October. The bill now heads to the Governor once again, for his signature.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
Senate Committee Discusses Bill Looking to Increase Utility Participation in LIHWAP
This week, the Senate Economic Growth Committee reviewed S-3333 for discussion only. While the League agrees that additional efforts are needed to ensure the success of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), we do not agree that the measures provided for in S-3333 are the most effective way to achieve this goal, and thus opposes S-3333.
S-3333 would prohibit drinking water and wastewater utilities, including municipal utilities, from taking collection actions unless that utility has agreed to participate in the LIHWAP. The LIHWAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay their past due drinking water and wastewater bill. The program makes payment directly to the utility but before payment can be made each utility must sign the vendor agreement with the Department of Community Affairs.
Better success of the LIHWAP program requires a holistic approach that includes not only increased participation from water utilities but also better marketing of the program to ensure individual participation, and to the extent possible, improvements on the individual application to ease the burden placed on customers.
It is our understanding that the hesitancy of many municipal utility and local authorities for entering into the vendor agreement is due to concerns over language within the current vendor agreement that may violate other service agreements and possibly bond covenants. There are also provisions within the vendor agreement that place burdens on these service providers that go beyond the scope and purpose of the LIHWAP that should be removed.
We believe that increased participation can be achieved if these concerns were addressed. The League will be working with the bill’s sponsor, along with municipal utilities and authorities, to try to better understand the hesitancy to participate in the LIHWAP. If your local utility or authority has not signed the vendor agreement necessary to participate in LIHWAP we ask that you please please contact Frank Marshall.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
NJDEP Announces Reimbursements for Radon Test Kits
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is offering Radon Awareness Program (RAP) grants to all municipalities, on a first come basis to be distributed to residents. Please see the Radon Action Partnership Packet, that includes the RAP grant application. The Radon Potential Map presents radon testing data to show the potential for elevated radon concentrations in each New Jersey municipality.
Please email Brian.Giancola@dep.nj.gov at NJDPEP with any questions about the RAP grant.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.
NJDEP Announces 2023 Green Acres Funding Application Deadline
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced that the Green Acres program application deadline is set for March 1. Green Acres funding can be used for land acquisition, park development, stewardship, Jake’s Law inclusive playgrounds, and Urban Parks projects. Supplemental funding applications for active projects also have the March 1, deadline.
NJ Green Acres invites applicants to ask questions and seek application guidance at virtual sessions on the following dates:
Pre-registration is not necessary.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.
Library Per Capita State Aid Applications Available
The application for State Library Aid (Per Capita) is now available. Applications must be submitted by March 15. For questions, please contact Bob Keith, Director of Library Law, State Aid and Statistics, New Jersey State Library, at 609-278-2640, ext. 192, or rkeith@njstatelib.org.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
NJDEP To Host Green Acres Rulemaking Public Stakeholder Meeting
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration (OTPLA), is continuing its series of stakeholder meetings to obtain input on Subchapter 25 and 26 of the Green Acres Program rules. These stakeholder meetings are open to the general public and are in addition to the December 13 and 15 meetings the NJDEP hosted specifically for local officials.
Subchapters 25 and 26 govern the maintenance of Green Acres encumbered parkland and other post-funding responsibilities, including the diversion and disposal application processes. The Green Acres rules are not set to expire until December 2025. However, since the NJDEP has not made substantial changes to the rules since 2005, they plan to update the rules before they expire. The OTPLA has prepared a listing of hot topics that may be addressed in the upcoming rulemaking and are meant to spur discussion at the stakeholder meetings.
The next stakeholder meeting, to be held remotely through Microsoft Teams, is scheduled for January 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. Those who are unable to attend but wish to comment may contact the OTPLA via email at otpla@dep.nj.gov.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
Pass a Resolution to Become a RevolutionNJ Community
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States! This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that allows New Jerseyans to create a lasting legacy. RevolutionNJ is the formal state initiative for the commemoration of the 250th and a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc.
RevolutionNJ will advance the role that history plays in public discourse, community engagement, education, tourism, and scholarship in New Jersey. Their primary goal is to tell a diverse and inclusive story about America’s past that invites participation from all New Jerseyans. RevolutionNJ is inviting counties and municipalities to join them by facilitating new partnerships, programs, and events to engage local stakeholders.
Revolution NJ is calling on all municipalities to pass a resolution to officially become a RevolutionNJ community (view a draft resolution [PDF]). Once passed, email RevolutionNJ to let them know and they will add your community to their growing list of RevolutionNJ communities featured on the RevolutionNJ website.
In addition to passing a resolution, there are many ways to become a RevolutionNJ community
- Highlight and explore diverse stories in your community.
- Connect and partner with local history organizations so they can better attract, engage, and serve visitors before, during, and after the anniversary.
- Promote heritage tourism to your community by using the 250th as an opportunity to positively impact economic and community development.
- Engage the RevolutionNJ’s educational resources to ensure that your schools are teaching the most up-to-date approaches to history.
- Use the 250th for civic engagement, helping members of your community understand how the complexity of our history helps us to respond to the present and prepare for the future.
- Invest and generate funding for history in your community.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
Guidance Issued on Marriage and Civil Union License Reimbursement
If you recall, P.L. 2022, c. 23 prohibited municipalities from charging the fee for marriage and civil union licenses from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The state has just released the Marriage License Reimbursement Program procedures for municipalities to file for reimbursement for licenses issued during this period. Municipalities will be required to submit to the Division of Local Government Services a reimbursement claim in two phases.
Reimbursements are due March 10 for licenses issued between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. For licenses issued between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023, claims are due July 31, 2023. Claims must be submitted using the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS). Marriage License Reimbursement excel template and remitted to mlr@dca.nj.gov. Questions on the reimbursement program can be directed to mlr@dca.nj.gov or 609-913-4401.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
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