Briefs
Minimum hourly wage in N.J. to jump to $13 for most workers
Some New Jersey workers will start the new year by taking more money home as the minimum hourly wage increases to $13 starting Jan. 1. The statewide, $1 increase is mandated under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy that will bring the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024 for most employees. […]
New program intended to curb rising health care costs in New Jersey
Gov. Phil Murphy announced a new program Tuesday intended to study how much and why health care costs rise in New Jersey, with the goal of identifying ways to contain those costs. Health care providers, insurers, and governmental officials will collaborate under the new Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark Program to quantify increases and identify […]
Lawmakers approve writing same-sex marriage into N.J. law
Same-sex marriage is one step closer to being codified into New Jersey law. A bill approved by both chambers of the Legislature Monday, S3416, would enshrine gay couples’ right to marry into law. Same-sex marriages were legalized by a New Jersey court decision in 2013, and the U.S. Supreme Court did the same for the […]
N.J. public school teachers would no longer have to live in state under new bill
The New Jersey Legislature is one step closer to eliminating the in-state residency requirement for public school teachers. A Senate bill (S4203) would make teachers and other district employees exempt from the controversial 2011 law known as the “New Jersey First Act,” which bars nearly all public employees from living out of state unless they […]
Legislation creating school bus safety watchdog advances
New Jersey lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that would create a school bus safety watchdog to ensure drivers are qualified and buses are safe. The legislation is the last of several measures — already enacted into law — that lawmakers introduced in response to the 2018 crash of a Paramus school bus that killed a […]
Bill requiring baby changing stations in N.J. restrooms advances
Any new bathrooms in rest stops, gas stations, and county buildings would be required to install baby diaper changing stations under a bill the Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced Monday. The measure, A857, requires certain buildings to include at least one diaper changing station in at least one women’s restroom and one men’s restroom each, or […]
Supporters demand action on bill to end discriminatory car insurance rates
A coalition of business leaders, racial justice groups, and consumer advocates are calling on the New Jersey Assembly and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin to advance a bill intended to root out racism in auto insurance rates. The Fair Auto Insurance Rates Act would prohibit insurers from using factors like education, occupation, credit score, marital status, and homeownership status in setting car insurance […]
Bill expanding SNAP to more college students advances
Assembly lawmakers took another step toward loosening work requirements for college students in need of nutritional assistance Monday. In a near unanimous vote Monday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced a bill that would allow students at higher education institutions, including community colleges, to qualify for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) without meeting a 20-hour […]
Republican suit over Statehouse vaccine rules won’t be heard until April
A Republican lawsuit against the Statehouse’s new vaccine rules won’t be heard until next year, according to a scheduling order filed Friday. Incoming minority leaders Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-Warren) and Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Sussex) last week filed a suit against rules requiring legislators, staff, and visitors be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit proof of a […]
Bill to measure students’ pandemic learning loss advances in N.J. Legislature
New Jersey lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that would require the state Department of Education to measure any learning loss during the pandemic and report its findings by the end of May. The bill, introduced last December by Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-Hudson), requires state education officials to examine student achievement from March 2020 through June […]
Bill protecting same-sex marriage moves forward in Assembly
New Jersey is one step closer to codifying same-sex marriage, nearly a decade after a judge made it legal in the state. The Assembly Judiciary Committee Thursday unaninmously advanced a bill, A5367, that would write same-sex marriage protections into New Jersey law. The move comes as some LGBTQ leaders fear a U.S. Supreme Court that […]
Singleton to introduce second bill that would OK early vote counting
A proposal from a Democratic lawmaker would allow election officials to tally mail-in ballots and early in-person votes before polls close on Election Day. The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), would allow county election boards to begin canvassing vote-by-mail ballots starting 10 days before Election Day and count early in-person votes starting […]