The Efficient Energy Use Act requires electric public utilities in New Jersey to offer time-varying rates to residential customers who have smart meters. Under this bill, these customers must voluntarily choose to enroll in a pricing plan where electricity costs change based on the time of day, rather than being charged automatically. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will oversee the creation of these rates and must work with other state agencies to ensure enrolled customers can still access energy efficiency programs and financial assistance. Utilities are required to inform eligible customers about the new options on their bills, and the Board must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year detailing how many people signed up and how the new rates affected their bills.
This bill allows retirees from the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and the Public Employees' Retirement System in New Jersey to update their beneficiary names if their originally chosen recipient dies before them. It amends existing state laws to ensure that members can nominate a new person to receive survivor benefits, such as lump sums or annuities, after the initial designated beneficiary passes away. The change applies to various benefit options available to retirees, ensuring flexibility in designating who receives payments after the retiree's death.
This bill imposes a temporary five-year surtax on corporations in New Jersey that receive refunds for specific federal tariffs, with the goal of funding consumer relief programs. The tax requires businesses to pay an amount equal to 90 percent of the refunds they get from the U.S. government for tariffs linked to national security concerns, such as those addressing illegal drug flows or trade deficits. All money collected from this surtax must be placed into a special fund to provide grants to small businesses affected by price hikes, issue rebates to low- and moderate-income households, and support consumer protection enforcement. The measure applies to privilege periods starting on or after January 1, 2026, and ends before January 1, 2031.
This bill creates a grant program to help small retail businesses in New Jersey cover extra costs caused by temporary bridge closures. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will manage the program, offering funds to offset increased expenses like transportation and service costs incurred during the closure period. To receive aid, businesses must prove they are small, independently owned, and show documentation of their regular expenses compared to the higher costs during the bridge project. The state has allocated $1 million for these grants, and the Department of Transportation must notify the authority when such emergency projects begin or end.
This bill expands the role of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to improve access to mental health care for children by creating a new data dashboard and coordinating system improvements. The legislation transfers $3 million from the Department of Children and Families to the Department of Human Services to fund this initiative, which includes hiring a stakeholder group to map out the current process families face when seeking care. The Health Care Quality Institute will conduct research across the state to identify barriers, analyze funding structures, and develop a visual guide that outlines the steps required to access services. Additionally, the Institute will serve as the central entity to implement recommendations from this research and ensure better coordination among schools, state agencies, and insurers. The bill also requires the Institute to submit a comprehensive report within 13 months detailing eligibility rules, coverage details, and policy suggestions to address disparities in pediatric mental health outcomes.
This bill creates the Commission on Women Veterans within the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs to study and address the specific needs of women veterans, including housing, healthcare, and job training. The commission will consist of 15 members, nine of whom must be women veterans, along with representatives from various military branches and veteran organizations, all appointed by the Governor. Members will serve without pay but can receive expense reimbursements, and the commission is required to meet at least quarterly to review policies and make recommendations to improve services for women veterans.
This Senate resolution honors the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and New Jersey's role in the American Revolution. It formally recognizes the state's historical contributions, including early adoption of the Declaration, key Revolutionary War battles, and the service of diverse citizens. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to federal leaders and state historical officials, but it does not change laws or allocate funding.
This New Jersey bill requires insurance carriers to maintain an up-to-date directory of mental health providers and mandates that they approve exceptions when no qualified in-network options are available. It also compels the Department of Banking and Insurance to monitor mental health coverage for minors and submit annual reports detailing how insurers set medical necessity standards and apply non-quantitative treatment limitations. These provisions aim to increase transparency by forcing insurers to publicly explain their decision-making processes regarding mental health and substance use disorder benefits.
This bill establishes a new role for youth mental health care professionals within New Jersey's family court system to support cases involving individuals under 21. These professionals, who must be licensed social workers, psychologists, or psychiatrists with specific experience in youth trauma, will assist judges by identifying mental health needs, recommending interventions, and connecting families with appropriate services. The legislation grants these professionals access to confidential records held by the court and other agencies to better evaluate each case while providing them with immunity from liability when acting in good faith. Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to clarify which entities are authorized to view sensitive juvenile records, ensuring that the new professionals can legally access necessary information to perform their duties.
This Assembly Resolution honors the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and New Jersey's role in the American Revolution. The document formally recognizes historical events such as the state's early adoption of a constitution, the Battle of Monmouth, and the contributions of various individuals to the fight for independence. It does not create new laws or change any policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment to be shared with federal leaders and historical commissions.
This Assembly Resolution condemns the Governor for allegedly supporting and politicizing the riots that occurred outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark. The bill asserts that the Governor downplayed the actions of rioters who obstructed federal agents and encouraged the violence by framing detainees as community members despite their criminal histories. Additionally, it calls for a bipartisan, independent investigation into the Governor's and the Mayor's responses to the unrest, which included claims that law enforcement was ordered to stand down.
This bill creates a new trust fund to provide health benefits, including medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage, to public school employees and their dependents in New Jersey. It establishes a board of trustees to manage the fund and defines eligibility to include full-time employees working at least 25 hours a week and their spouses, domestic partners, and unmarried children up to age 31. The legislation also clarifies that dependents who enlist in the military are not covered during their service and gives the board final authority on determining employee and dependent status.
