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2018 New Jersey legislative session

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2018 legislative sessions coverage
New Jersey State Legislature

Seal of New Jersey.png
General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
Session start:   January 9, 2018
Session end:   January 8, 2019
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Stephen Sweeney (D
House Speaker:  Craig Coughlin (D)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Loretta Weinberg (D)
House: Louis Greenwald (D)
Minority Leader:   Senate: Thomas Kean Jr. (R)
House: Jon M. Bramnick (R)
Structure
Members:  40 (Senate), 80 (General Assembly)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (General Assembly)
Authority:   Art Article IV, New Jersey Constitution
Salary:   $49,000/year
Elections
Redistricting:  New Jersey Redistricting Commission has control

This page provides an overview of the 2018 New Jersey State Legislature and its general and special sessions. The timelines below contain noteworthy events from the sessions curated by Ballotpedia throughout the year.

If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Overview

In 2018, the New Jersey State Legislature was in session from January 9, 2018, through January 8, 2019. New Jersey has full-time legislators who may meet throughout the year after adjourning their regularly scheduled sessions.

Partisan control

New Jersey was one of eight Democratic state government trifectas in 2018. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.

The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the New Jersey State Legislature in the 2018 legislative session.

Senate

Party As of December 2018
     Democratic Party 25
     Republican Party 15
     Vacancies 0
Total 40

House

Party As of December 2018
     Democratic Party 54
     Republican Party 26
     Vacancies 0
Total 80

Leadership in 2018

Senate

House

Regular session

Status of legislation

Status of legislation
Legislation Subject area Actions during the regular session Status
S 1893 Allow towns, school districts to set up charitable funds for property tax payments Passed Senate
Passed Assembly 		Governor signed
A 1181 Allow seizure of firearms from individuals determined by a licensed healthcare professional to pose a risk Passed Assembly
Senate 		Governor signed
A 1217 Authorize extreme risk protection orders Passed Assembly
Senate 		Governor signed
A 2758 Provide legal definition of justifiable need for a handgun Passed Assembly
Senate 		Governor signed
A 2757 Require background checks for all firearm sales Passed Assembly
Senate 		Governor signed
A 2759 Prohibit armor-piercing ammunition Passed Assembly
Senate 		Governor signed
A 2761 Reduce amount of permitted firearm magazines Passed Assembly
Senate 		Governor signed
A 2014 Allow automatic voter registration Passed legislature Governor signed
A 3380 Reestabish the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate in the state Passed legislature Governor signed
S1878 Stabilize individual health insurance premiums Passed legislature Governor signed
S 2313 Establish Zero Emissions Certificate program for nuclear plants Passed legislature Governor signed
A 3723 Improve and expand New Jersey's renewable energy programs Passed legislature Governor signed
S 2534 Ban smoking at public beaches and parks Passed legislature Governor signed
A 4111 Authorize sports betting Passed legislature Governor signed
S 589 Approve online voter registration Passed Senate No further action in the state Assembly
S 2794 Require online sellers to collect state sales tax Passed legislature

Conditional veto 		Revised in A 4496. Click here for more information.
A 1718 Allow transgender individuals to alter birth certificate Passed legislature Governor signed
S 493
(A 1726) 		Allow death certificates to reflect gender identity Passed legislature Governor signed
S 705
(A 1727) 		Create transgender equality tax force Passed legislature Governor signed
A 3267 Establish a fee on plastic bags Passed legislature Governor vetoed
Joint resolution Anti-harassment and discrimination policy Passed legislature N/A
A 4496 Provide for sales tax collection by out-of-state online sellers Passed legislature Governor signed
S 2465 Prohibit guns assembled with untraceable components Passed legislature Governor signed
S 2019 Budget Passed legislature Governor signed

February 26, 2018

New Jersey Senate approves bill related to state and local taxes
The Democratic-led New Jersey State Senate approved 28 to 9 a bill (S 1893) related to state and local taxes in response to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017. The new federal tax law capped the amount of state and local sales, income, and property taxes that are deductible from federal taxes at $10,000 beginning in 2018. The New Jersey bill would allow—but not require—towns and school districts that collect property taxes to set up charitable funds. Taxpayers would be able to pay taxes to the funds and receive a deductible tax credit in return. The bill did not place a limit on charitable deductions.[1]

At the time of the bill's passage, New Jersey had one of the highest property tax rates in the United States. Using transition reports from the governor's office, The Associated Press reported that over 40 percent of taxpayers itemized deductions in 2015, and the average deduction was about $18,000.[1]

The bill was sent to the Democratic-controlled General Assembly for approval. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy also expressed support for the measure.[1]

Update: The New Jersey State Assembly approved the legislation on April 12, 2018, and Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed it on May 4, 2018.

March 26, 2018

New Jersey Assembly votes on six firearm-related bills
The Democrat-majority New Jersey State Assembly approved six bills related to firearms. The bills were sent to the New Jersey State Senate, which is also under Democratic control. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy released a statement saying he would sign the bills: "I applaud the General Assembly for passing these commonsense gun measures to protect our communities and families."[2] The following provides a summary of the bills:

  • A 1181 would allow law enforcement officers, upon court orders, to seize firearms from individuals determined by a licensed healthcare professional to pose a risk to themselves or others.[3]
  • A 1217 would establish protocols for "obtaining a protective order against persons who pose a significant danger of bodily injury to themselves or others by possessing or purchasing a firearm." The individual subject to the protection order would be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm, ammunition, or a permit to carry firearms.[4]
  • A 2758 would provide a legal definition of a justifiable need to carry a handgun. Under current New Jersey law, an individual hoping to obtain a handgun permit must submit "a written certification establishing 'justifiable need.'" The bill defines justifiable need as "the urgent necessity for self-protection, as evidenced by specific threats or previous attacks which demonstrate a special danger to the applicant's life that cannot be avoided by means other than by issuance of a permit to carry a handgun."[5]
  • A 2757 would require all firearm sales to be conducted through a licensed dealer, except for sales between immediate family members, law enforcement officers, licensed firearms collectors, and temporary transfers for training courses. The dealer would be required to complete a background check prior to the sale of the firearm.[6]
  • A 2759 would make it illegal to possess or manufacture armor-piercing ammunition. Offenders would face up to $10,000 in fines and/or up to 18 months in prison.[7]
  • A 2761 would reduce permitted firearm magazines from 15 rounds to 10 rounds.[8]

The legislation faced opposition from groups such as the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, which describes itself as "the official NRA State Association in New Jersey" with a mission "to implement all of the programs and activities at the state level that the NRA does at the national level." Scott Bach, the association's executive director, said of the bills, "We think they’re misguided and they won’t make anybody safer." He also said his organization would challenge the bills in court.[9][10] Read more here.

Update: The New Jersey Legislature approved all six of the above bills on June 7, 2018, and Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed them on June 13, 2018.

April 12, 2018

Legislature passes bill adjusting potential impacts of federal tax law
The New Jersey Legislature passed S 1893 by a 23-12 vote in the Senate and a 69-0 vote in the House. S 1893 would authorize a municipality, county, or school district, to set up charitable contributions to which residents could donate in exchange for tax credits. The bill aimed to adjust the expected impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which limited state and local tax deductions at $10,000. Lawmakers expressed doubt that the Internal Revenue Service would allow New Jersey to implement S 1893. According to Politico, acting IRS Director David Kautter said before Congress that charitable contributions actually intended for charitable purposes qualified for tax credits.[11]

Update: Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed S 1893 on May 4, 2018.

Legislature approves bill providing for automatic voter registration
On April 12, 2018, the New Jersey General Assembly adopted A2014, a bill providing for automatic voter registration of eligible residents who apply for driver's licenses, examination permits, probationary licenses, or non-driver identification cards. The Assembly voted 50 to 23 to approve the legislation. The New Jersey State Senate followed suit the same day, approving the bill by a vote of 24 to 13. On April 17, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed the bill into law, making New Jersey the 12th state to enact an automatic voter registration policy.[12][13]

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D), one of the bill's sponsors, said, "This bill is designed to encourage participation in the democratic process by integrating voter registration with the process of driver registration. This simple move will hopefully encourage more young people to register to vote and make it easier for residents to fulfill their civic duty." Senator Kristin Corrado (R), a former Passaic County Clerk who voted against A2014, said, "I am very concerned that mandating automatic voter registration without safeguards or penalties for the bad actors will compromise the integrity of future elections. We cannot allow that to happen."[14][15][16]

Update: Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed the legislation on April 17, 2018.

Healthcare reinsurance and stabilization bills pass legislature
Two bills related to health insurance in New Jersey were sent to Gov. Phil Murphy (D).

A 3380, known as the New Jersey Health Insurance Market Preservation Act, would reestablish the individual mandate instituted under the Affordable Care Act. The mandate was repealed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill would require New Jersey residents to obtain health insurance or pay a fine equal to 2.5 percent of the household income, or $695 per adult and $347 per child, whichever is greater. The bill passed 23 to 13 in the state Senate and 50 to 23 in the Assembly.[17]

A 3379 (S 1878), known as the New Jersey Health Insurance Premium Security Act, would create a reinsurance plan that would use federal funds to help cover healthcare costs and stabilize individual health insurance premiums. AB 3379 passed by a 22-14 vote in the Senate and a 46-22 vote in the Assembly.[18]

Update: Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed both bills on May 30, 2018.

May 23, 2018

Gov. Murphy signs bill establishing Zero Emissions Certificate program for nuclear plants
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a bill establishing a Zero Emissions Certificate (ZEC) program. A ZEC is a certificate issued by the New Jersey Public Utilities Board that shows a nuclear power plant generates one megawatt-hour of electricity in environmental attributes including fuel diversity and air quality. Nuclear power plants wishing to participate in the program must be licensed to operate by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, demonstrate that they contribute to state air quality by minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and provide documents demonstrating that the plant is slated to close in three years or less. The law also requires retail distribution customers to pay $0.004 per kilowatt-hour which would raise a projected $301.4 million per year, according to an analysis using 2016 numbers by the Office of Legislative Services.

The revenue would be used to subsidize three nuclear power plants in New Jersey—Hope Creek (1 unit) and Salem (2 units)—which, together with a fourth plant slated for closure in October 2018, generate approximately 40 percent off the state's electricity. The units in Salem and Hope Creek were estimated to receive $253 million in revenue from the ZEC program.

Ralph Izzo, CEO of the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), which operates the Hope Creek and Salem plants, said, "These new laws will preserve and create good-paying jobs and spur billions of dollars in investment in clean energy and energy efficiency across the state." New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel was not as happy about the bill, "This bill package will mean New Jersey stays hooked on nuclear power at the expense of renewables like solar and wind. It will essentially block our efforts to get to 100 percent renewable energy and will lead to a crash in our solar market."

As of the bill's becoming law, three other states—New York, Illinois, and Connecticut—had enacted similar programs to provide funds to nuclear power plants.

Gov. Murphy also signed legislation requiring 50 percent of the state's energy to come from renewable sources by 2030; planning to build an offshore wind farm generating 3,500 megawatts by 2030; implementing programs to reduce electric and gas usage, and planning to achieve 2,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030.[19][20]

June 7, 2018

New Jersey Legislature sends six firearm-related bills to governor's desk
The New Jersey Legislature sent six firearm-related bills to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's desk. Murphy posted on Twitter that he planned to sign the bills on June 13.

The bills passed the state Assembly on March 26.

  • A 1181 would authorize law enforcement officers to confiscate firearms from individuals determined by a licensed healthcare professional to pose a risk to themselves or others. It passed 62-7 in the state Assembly and 30-5 in the state Senate.
  • A 1217 would establish protocols for issuing extreme risk protection orders, in which individuals can petition a judge to issue an order seizing firearms from individuals deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. It passed the state Assembly 59-12 and the state Senate 32-5.
  • A 2758 would require state residents to demonstrate a justifiable need to carry a handgun and would provide a legal definition of a justifiable need. It passed 48-26 in the state Assembly and 24-13 in the state Senate.
  • A 2757 would require all firearm sales, with select exceptions, to be conducted through a licensed dealer and would require the dealer to conduct a background check. It passed 62-10 in the state Assembly and 31-3 in the state Senate.
  • A 2759 would prohibit the possession of armor-piercing ammunition. It passed unanimously in both chambers.
  • A 2761 would prohibit firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. It passed 48-25 in the state Assembly and 23-13 in the state Senate.[21] Read more here.
Update: Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed the bills on June 13, 2018.

Bill to ban smoking at public beaches and parks passes legislature
The New Jersey Legislature approved S 2534, which would revise the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act to prohibit smoking at public beaches and parks. The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 10, 2018. It passed the state Senate by a 34-1 vote with five members not voting and the state Assembly by a 66-1 vote with 11 members not voting. The legislation would amend the state's 2005 law, the New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act, to include all public beaches statewide. First-time violators could face up to $250 in fines. The bill would allow smoking in beach parking lots and authorize towns to designate smoking areas on beaches.

At the time of the bill's passage, smoking on beaches was banned in 19 New Jersey towns, including Asbury Park. Bill sponsor Sen. Vin Gopal (D), an Asbury Park representative, said beach-goers "have a right on public land to be free from a public health situation." Regarding the designated smoking areas, he said, "We are trying to be very conscientious. We don't want to infringe on people's private rights."[22]

Another bill sponsor, Sen. President Stephen Sweeney (D), said, "This is an issue that impacts the environmental quality of the Jersey Shore, the health of beachgoers exposed to second-hand smoke, the quality of life for residents and visitors, and ultimately, the economic well-being of Shore communities. We don't want our beaches littered with cigarette butts, the air polluted with smoke or the ocean wildlife exposed to the threat of discarded cigarettes." Patch.com reported that cigarette filters were among the top types of litter found on New Jersey beaches.[23]

According to 6abc.com, previous attempts to ban smoking on public beaches were vetoed due to lack of clarity of the ban's enforcement.[24] Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign S 2534.[23]

Update: Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed S 2534 on July 20, 2018.

June 11, 2018

Gov. Murphy signs bill authorizing sports betting
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation authorizing sports betting in New Jersey. The legislature approved two bills (A 4111 and S 2602) establishing an 8.5 percent tax on revenues from horse racing bets—subject to a 1.25 percent increase if bets are made on both horse racing and sports—and a 13 percent tax on internet-based sports betting. Casinos and executives who own their own professional sports teams are prohibited from offering bets.[25] Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) said, "New Jersey has led the way on sports betting and we will now capitalize on our decisive Supreme Court victory by putting in place a vibrant sports gaming industry. We can now seize the opportunity with a new sector of gaming that will help create jobs, generate economic growth and be an important boost to the casino industry and horse racing."

Professional sports leagues opposed the bill, arguing the legislation does not protect against cheating and saying the law requires them to spend more on monitoring bets and conducting investigations. "The legislation does not include basic protections to mitigate risks to the integrity of sports and to ensure fairness for New Jersey consumers," the MLB, NBA, and PGA said in a joint statement.[26]

On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Murphy v. NCAA that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a federal law that prohibits states from authorizing sports gambling, violated the anti-commandeering doctrine, which is based on the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and dictates that Congress cannot commandeer state governments to enforce federal law.

June 13, 2018

Gov. Murphy signs six firearm-related bills
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed six firearm-related bills into law. The bills passed the state Assembly on March 26, 2018, and the state Senate on June 7, 2018. The governor said in a statement, "Today, I’m proud to sign this series of common-sense gun safety bills into law to protect our children and families from the reckless dangers of gun violence, something the federal government has failed to do on behalf of its residents. By setting these higher standards for gun safety, New Jersey continues to bolster its reputation as a national leader on this critical social and public health issue." The statement also said that the law's signage made New Jersey one of the states "with the strongest and most formidable gun laws in the nation."[27]

The National Rifle Association opposed the bills. In a statement following the bills' passage in the state Senate, the NRA said the legislation would have "virtually no impact on public safety and do little more than punish law-abiding gun owners."[28] Read more here.

June 25, 2018

New Jersey Senate approves online voter registration bill
The New Jersey State Senate approved S 589, which would authorize online voter registration. The bill was sent to the state Assembly for consideration. If approved, the state would be required to set up a website with established security measures to ensure accurate information and verify birth dates and license card numbers. State Sen. Anthony Bucco (R) opposed online voter registration, which he believed was wasteful and increased the possibility of voter fraud. Ann Vardeman, program director for New Jersey Citizen Action, a group which supported the bill, argued that it would increase voter participation.[29]

July 1, 2018

Bill requiring online sellers to collect sales tax passes both chambers
Legislators passed a bill (S 2794) requiring online sellers with at least 200 sales or collect $100,000 worth of sales in New Jersey to collect sales tax. The bill would take effect October 1, 2018.

According to NorthJersey.com, online purchases in the state were already subject to sales taxes in certain circumstances at the time of the bill's passage. S 2794 would broaden the state's ability to collect the tax. The independent, nonpartisan New Jersey General Accounting Office estimated the tax would bring in between $216 million and $351 million in annual revenue.[30][31]

Update: Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued a conditional veto August 27.
See also: South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.

July 3, 2018

Gov. Murphy signs bills related to transgender individuals
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation authorizing transgender individuals to alter the sex on their birth and death certificates.[32] The bills signed were:

  • A 1718, which authorized the state Registrar of Vital Statistics to amend a person's birth certificate and removed the requirement that the person must provide medical records showing a reassignment surgery had taken place.[32]
  • A 1726, which allowed individuals planning the funeral of a transgender person to request that the death certificate reflect the person's gender identity.[32]
  • A 1727, which created a transgender equality task force to assess legal and social discrimination and provide recommendations to prevent such discrimination.[32]

According to NJ.com, New Jersey became the 17th state to allow transgender residents to change their gender on birth certificates and the fourth state to include transgender as an option on birth certificates.[32]

August 27, 2018

Governor vetoes plastic bag tax legislation
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) vetoed A 3267. The bill would have established a five-cent ($0.05) fee for each single-use carryout bag provided to a customer. In his veto letter, Murphy wrote, "While well intentioned, the approach reflected in this bill strikes me as incomplete and insufficient." Read the full veto message here.

Governor issues conditional veto of online tax bill
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) issued a conditional veto of A 4261 (S 2794). The legislature approved the bill July 1. According to Bloomberg, the revisions would help the state Division of Taxation collect sales taxes from out-of-state online sellers. They would also clarify provisions about tangible property and digital products.[33]

Update: The legislature approved revised legislation September 27.

September 27, 2018

Legislature unanimously passes new anti-harassment and discrimination policy
The legislature unanimously approved a joint resolution outlining an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy for the legislative branch. The policy clarified actions constituting inappropriate conduct, provided details on handling allegations, and set up an appeals process and consequences for false accusations. It also mandated legislators to attend anti-harassment training at least once every two years. The policy applies to lawmakers, staff, lobbyists, journalists, and other individuals doing business with the legislature.[34]

Legislature approves out-of-state online sales tax collection bill
The legislature passed A 4496, which would impose sales tax collection requirements on out-of-state online sellers and marketplace facilitators like eBay and Amazon, effective November 1. The bill clarified the tax collection would apply to sellers who conducted more than $100,000 worth of sales or more than 200 transactions in New Jersey in the calendar year. It exempted travel agencies.[35]

A 4496 followed Gov. Murphy's conditional veto of similar legislation in August.[36]

The Office of Legislative Services estimated A 4496 would bring in $212 million in tax revenue.[37]

Update: Gov. Murphy signed A 4496 October 4.
See also: South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.

November 9, 2018

Governor signs bill banning 3D-printed firearms
Gov. Murphy signed S 2465, a bill prohibiting the manufacture and distribution of homemade or 3D-printed firearms. The bill passed the Senate June 7, passed the Assembly September 27 with amendments, and repassed the Senate October 29.

The governor signed the legislation one day after a shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, which resulted in 12 casualties. In a press release, Murphy said,

“ Ghost guns can be created by anyone with a computer and access to a 3D printer, giving the public at large the ability to build their own unregistered, unsafe, and untraceable firearm. Now, thanks to the Legislative sponsors who worked to quickly make this bill a reality, kits to assemble ghost guns will no longer be allowed in New Jersey.[38] ”
—Governor Phil Murphy[39]


Ghost guns are firearms that include homemade or 3D-printed parts untraceable by law enforcement.[39]

Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, disapproved of the legislation. He said, "This legislation targets hardware instead of criminals and accordingly makes no one any safer, but does provide plenty of headlines for lawmakers trying to appear like they are doing something about gun violence." The association is an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.[40]

In a statement, David Pucino of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence approved of the legislation, which he said would "make New Jersey safer by ensuring that all firearms can be detected by security systems and traced by law enforcement. We applaud Governor Murphy for signing this bill and, once again, leading the way for the nation."[41]

Budget

2018

The New Jersey State Legislature approved and Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a $37.4 billion state budget on July 1, 2018, avoiding what would have been the second government shutdown in two years and ending a conflict over tax rates and estimated revenue. The legislature passed a $36.5 billion budget bill on June 21, 2018, ignoring Gov. Phil Murphy's (D) vow to veto the bill because it did not include priorities laid out in his proposed $37.4 billion budget. They reached a budget deal on June 30, 2018.[42][43]

The final budget

The final budget bill did not raise the sales tax, as the governor wanted, but expanded the sales tax to online rentals like Airbnb. It raised taxes on residents with more than $5 million in income from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent, a compromise between the governor (who wanted to raise taxes on residents making over $1 million) and the legislature, which did not support the tax. The governor also agreed to increase corporate taxes from 9 percent to 11.5 percent for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (as the legislature wanted). Other tax measures included raising the state income tax deduction for property taxes to $15,000, creating a child care and dependent tax credit, and implementing a 50-cent surcharge on rides through ridesharing apps.[43]

Republican lawmakers did not support the tax increases. Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick said July 1 should be called "Governor Murphy Tax and Spend Day," saying, "Probably in the history of New Jersey, we haven’t seen a day where we raise so many taxes and spend so much money."[44]

Murphy said, "This is not a win for any of us individually. This is a win for the middle class and working families and for those who look up and dream to be in the middle class all across New Jersey."[42]

The disagreement

Before striking a deal, lawmakers and the governor disagreed over tax rates and estimated revenue. Murphy’s budget included a 10.75 percent income tax rate on millionaires, an increase from the previous budget’s 8.97 percent. Both Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D) opposed that increase. The legislative budget included a corporate income tax increase from 9 percent to 11.5 percent for companies earning between $1 million and $25 million, and 13 percent for those earning more than $25 million. Murphy and leaders from the state’s business community opposed that increase.

Both proposals would increase the state's yearly public employee pension contribution by $700 million, provide a $170 million increase for New Jersey Transit, and boost financial assistance for community college students. Both proposals would also raise K-12 education funding although Murphy's proposal allocated $61 million while the legislature proposed $345 million. The legislature would also fully fund the Homestead property tax relief program and increase the cap on state income tax deductions for local property taxes from $10,000 to $15,000.

Republican leaders blamed the governor for failing to communicate with legislative leaders. "They are shutting down government because this governor is not communicating with the Democratic or Republican leadership," said Assembly Republican leader Jon Bramnick.

Murphy, however, said he was willing to negotiate: "I’ve said publicly and privately, we’re here, any moment, any hour, of any day."[45][46][47]

Process

See also: New Jersey state budget and finances
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Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[48]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in September.
  2. State agency requests are submitted in October.
  3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the New Jersey State Legislature on or before the fourth Tuesday in February.[49]
  4. The legislature adopts a budget on or before June 30. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
  5. The fiscal year begins July 1.

New Jersey is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[48][50]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is also constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[48]

Noteworthy events

Legislature votes to investigate hiring practices of Murphy administration

See also: Sexual assault and harassment in American politics (2017-2018)

On October 29, 2018, the state Legislature voted to establish a special commission (Legislative Select Oversight Committee) to investigate the hiring practices of Gov. Murphy's administration. The identical resolutions, SCR 148 and ACR 203, established a 15-member commission chaired by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D) and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D).[51]

The commission was created to look into the administration's hiring practices and stemmed from rape allegations against former staffer Albert J. Alvarez. On October 14, The Wall Street Journal reported that Katie Brennan, chief of staff to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, accused Alvarez of raping her after a campaign event in 2017. At that time, Brennan and Alvarez were volunteers for Murphy's gubernatorial campaign.[52]

Brennan said she told the administration about the allegations before Alvarez was hired as chief of staff to the Schools Development Authority. Alvarez resigned from his position October 2, 2018. Alvarez denied the accusations.[53][54] The governor's office said Alvarez passed a background check before he was hired. The governor also launched his own investigation.[54]

The commission released its report on June 5, 2019. Its findings included a statement that Brennan's sexual harassment allegations against Alvarez should have been investigated before Alvarez was hired by Murphy's administration. "Upon learning of the sexual assault allegation made against Mr. Alvarez by someone working on a transition advisory committee, transition leadership should have immediately conducted a thorough and rigorous investigation into the allegation," the report stated. It also recommended changes to state laws and policies.[55]

Executive order on gun violence data

On April 6, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed Order No. 21 directing the state Department of Law and Public Safety to publicly release information related to gun use and criminal activity on a regular and ongoing basis. The order required state departments, offices, and agencies to cooperate with the Department of Law and Public Safety in providing relevant information.[56] Murphy said the order would allow residents to understand the impact of trafficked firearms and "to see how gun violence impacts their communities."[57]

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal also announced that the state police would post quarterly reports identifying the state of origin of any firearm seized in a crime.[57]

Murphy, along with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D), and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), established the States for Gun Safety coalition in February. According to a New Jersey press release, the coalition wishes to stop the flow of black market guns, improve information sharing, fund gun violence research, and propose "parallel tracks on gun safety legislation."[57]

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods by which the New Jersey Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article IX of the New Jersey Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in New Jersey

The New Jersey Constitution provides for a legislative process to amend the state constitution.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

The New Jersey Constitution provides two legislative methods for referring a constitutional amendment to the ballot. First, the legislature can refer an amendment to the ballot through a 60% vote of both chambers during one legislative session. That amounts to a minimum of 48 votes in the New Jersey General Assembly and 24 votes in the New Jersey State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Second, the legislature can refer an amendment through a simple majority vote (50%+1) in each legislative chamber during two successive legislative sessions. That amounts to a minimum of 41 votes in the New Jersey General Assembly and 21 votes in the New Jersey State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.


See also

Elections New Jersey State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fox Business, "State senate passes workaround of federal tax overhaul," February 26, 2018
  2. ↑ Governor Phil Murphy, "Statement by Governor Phil Murphy on passage of gun safety bills through General Assembly," March 26, 2018
  3. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "A1181," accessed March 27, 2018
  4. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Assembly, No. 1217," March 22, 2018
  5. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Assembly, No. 2758," February 28, 2018
  6. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Assembly, No. 2757," February 28, 2018
  7. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Assembly, No. 2759," March 22, 2018
  8. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Assembly, No. 2761," March 22, 2018
  9. ↑ Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Club, "Our Mission," accessed March 29, 2018
  10. ↑ The New York Times, "New Jersey’s Gun Laws, Already Tough, Could Soon Get Tougher," March 26, 2018
  11. ↑ Politico, "New Jersey Legislature passes SALT workaround," April 12, 2018
  12. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "A2014," accessed April 16, 2018
  13. ↑ The Hill, "New Jersey governor signs automatic voter registration bill," April 17, 2018
  14. ↑ NJ.com, "N.J. Democrats just took a big step to vastly increase voter rolls," April 13, 2018
  15. ↑ WBGO.org, "NJ Legislature Approves Automatic Voter Registration Bill," April 12, 2018
  16. ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "A Chorus of Voices Supporting New Jersey's AVR Bill," April 12, 2018
  17. ↑ Press of Atlantic City, "Sick leave, Obamacare bills head to governor’s desk," April 16, 2018
  18. ↑ App, "Obamacare: NJ lawmakers vote to bring back health insurance mandate," April 12, 2018
  19. ↑ World Nuclear News, "New Jersey passes ZEC legislation," April 13, 2018
  20. ↑ Reuters, "New Jersey governor signs nuclear power subsidy bill into law," May 23, 2018
  21. ↑ NJ.com, "Big N.J. gun bills about to clear final hurdle, and Phil Murphy wants to make them law," June 7, 2018
  22. ↑ App, "New Jersey may ban smoking on all beaches," May 10, 2018
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Patch.com, "NJ Gov. Phil Murphy To Sign 8 Bills That May Change Many Lives," June 12, 2018
  24. ↑ 6abc.com, "New Jersey tries again to ban most beach smoking," June 4, 2018
  25. ↑ Jurist, "New Jersey lawmakers approve sports betting legalization," June 8, 2018
  26. ↑ Observer, "New Jersey Legislature Passes Bill to Legalize Sports Betting," June 7, 2018
  27. ↑ State of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, "Governor Murphy toughens New Jersey's gun laws by signing safety measures to protect children and families," June 13, 2018
  28. ↑ National Rifle Associaton Institute for Legislative Action, "New Jersey: Gun Control Bills Pass Legislature, Now Heading to the Governor," June 7, 2018
  29. ↑ NorthJersey.com, "Want to register to vote online? New Jersey is moving to make that happen," July 12, 2018
  30. ↑ Insider NJ, "Senate Approves Internet Tax Fairness Bill," July 1, 2018
  31. ↑ NorthJersey.com, "Supreme Court ruling on online sales tax could mean windfall for New Jersey," June 21, 2018
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 NJ.com, "Phil Murphy signs laws protecting transgender rights in life and death," July 3, 2018
  33. ↑ Bloomberg, "State of Wayfair: New Jersey Governor Wants Tweaks," August 28, 2018
  34. ↑ NJ Spotlight, "NJ legislature unanimously approves tougher sexual harassment policy," September 28, 2018
  35. ↑ NJBiz.com, "Legislative committees approve tax on out-of-state businesses," September 24, 2018
  36. ↑ Bloomberg, "State of Wayfair: So Many Marketplace Facilitator Questions," September 27, 2018
  37. ↑ New Jersey Legislature, "Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee statement to Senate, No. 2990," September 24, 2018
  38. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 State of New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy, "Governor Murphy signs legislation making 'ghost guns' illegal in New Jersey," November 8, 2018
  40. ↑ New Jersey Herald, "Murphy signs bill barring ‘ghost guns' in N.J.," November 9, 2018
  41. ↑ Giffords.org, "Giffords applauds New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for signing legislation to ban untraceable weapons," November 8, 2018
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 NJ.com, "No N.J. shutdown! Phil Murphy, top Dems reach last-minute deal on budget and tax hikes," July 1, 2018
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 NJ.com, "N.J. budget finally signed by Murphy after another really long day at the Statehouse," July 1, 2018
  44. ↑ NorthJersey.com, "NJ budget agreement: Deal on taxes, spending increases includes gimmicks Murphy faulted," July 1, 2018
  45. ↑ NJ Spotlight, "In open challenge to Murphy, Dem lawmakers move their own spending bill," June 20, 2018
  46. ↑ Patch.com, "NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Vows Veto of Budget, And Wants Tax Hikes," June 18, 2018
  47. ↑ NJ.com, "Phil Murphy vows he'll veto fellow Democrats' state budget plan," June 18, 2018
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  49. ↑ The deadline may be extended for new governors with the agreement of the state legislature.
  50. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  51. ↑ Insider NJ, "Assembly and Senate Pass Concurrent Resolutions to Empower Legislative Committee to Investigate Murphy Admin Hiring Practices," October 29, 2018
  52. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "A Sexual-Assault Accusation in New Jersey Spotlights a National Dilemma," October 14, 2018
  53. ↑ Fox News, "New Jersey legislature votes to investigate after Gov. Murphy hired staffer despite rape claim," October 31, 2018
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 NJ.com, "N.J. lawmakers give themselves the power to investigate rape claim against former Murphy staffer," October 29, 2018
  55. ↑ New Jersey State Legislature, "REPORT OF THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE SELECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CONCERNING THE HIRING OF ALBERT J. ALVAREZ AS CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY," June 5, 2019
  56. ↑ NJ.gov, "Executive Order No. 21," April 6, 2018
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 NJ.gov, "Governor, attorney general announce actions to keep public informed about gun crimes, sources of weapons," April 6, 2018
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