Governor Murphy Signs New Bills into Law: Motor Vehicle Safety, Education, Infrastructure & More

Governor Phil Murphy has signed a broad array of bills into law, covering diverse issues from motor vehicle safety to farmland preservation, infrastructure development, and educational reforms.

S-349/A-1490 (Diegnan, Zwicker/Karabinchak, Stanley, Swain) – This law addresses motor vehicle safety by requiring drivers to take extra precautions when overtaking pedestrians, bicyclists, and those using personal conveyances, ensuring safer interactions on New Jersey roads.

SCS for S-2082/A-3413 (Gopal/Lampitt, Carter, Matsikoudis) – This bill establishes the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force to assess and clarify the collection and use of student growth data in teacher evaluations, aiming to improve educational accountability and outcomes.

AJR-86/SJR-66 (Greenwald, Speight, Wimberly/Vitale) – This joint resolution designates the fourth Wednesday of May as Crisis Professionals Day, acknowledging and honoring the vital work done by crisis professionals throughout New Jersey.

S-2930/A-4045 (Sarlo, A.M. Bucco/Danielsen, Flynn) – Reforms the process for accessing government records under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and appropriates $10 million to enhance the efficiency and transparency of government data access.

S-2792/A-3697 (Cruz-Perez, Turner/Spearman, Park, Simmons) – Appropriates $500,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT (Corporate Business Tax) revenues and the “2009 Farmland Preservation Fund” for municipal planning incentive grants aimed at preserving farmland.

S-2793/A-3698 (Cruz-Perez, Turner/Reynolds-Jackson, Fantasia, Stanley) – Allocates $1.723 million from CBT revenues and the “2009 Farmland Preservation Fund” for grants to nonprofit organizations engaged in farmland preservation.

S-2825/A-3906 (Gopal/Peterpaul, Donlon, Flynn) – Removes time limits on the issuance of additional alcoholic beverage licenses within the boundaries of former federal military installations, encouraging business growth in these areas.

S-3192/A-4454 (Diegnan, Moriarty/Freiman, Pintor Marin, DiMaio) – Introduces the Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act, designed to offer stronger safeguards for real estate consumers in New Jersey by enhancing regulatory measures.

S-3275/A-4448 (Gopal, McKeon/Donlon, Pintor Marin, Wimberly) – Revises provisions of the state’s film and digital media content production tax credit program, further incentivizing media production in New Jersey.

S-3371/A-4457 (Pou, Singer/Freiman) – Increases the limits for net cash surrender and net cash withdrawal values for certain annuity policies from $100,000 to $250,000, providing greater financial security for policyholders.

S-3384/A-4426 (Burzichelli, Schepisi/Katz, Atkins, Drulis) – Allocates funds to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for environmental infrastructure projects during fiscal year 2025.

S-3385/A-4602 (Singleton/Lopez) – Adjusts the deadline for municipalities to report certain non-residential development fee information, ensuring better tracking and use of development fees.

S-3474/A-4570 (Greenstein/Carter, Speight, Wimberly) – Appropriates $10,067,905 to the DEP from CBT revenues for grants to nonprofits to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, further enhancing public spaces.

A-1677/S-3263 (Lampitt, Bagolie, Stanley/Diegnan, Turner) – Authorizes extended terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses, supporting New Jersey’s transition to cleaner transportation in the education sector.

A-3772/S-2334 (McCann Stamato, Sampson, Lopez/Stack, McKnight) – Revises the process for property tax lien holders to foreclose on a right to redeem, giving property owners additional protections to maintain their equity in the face of tax lien foreclosures.

A-4046/S-3303 (Pintor Marin, Spearman/Pou, Mukherji) – Extends accommodations for businesses participating in state economic development programs, helping businesses recover and grow in the post-pandemic economy.

A-4425/S-3383 (Ramirez, Spearman, Atkins/Gopal, Mukherji) – Authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to expend funds for environmental infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2025.

A-4458/S-3342 (Sumter, Sampson/Greenstein, Sarlo) – Establishes exemptions and revises the timeline for implementing the requirement that newly constructed townhouses be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems, addressing safety while managing costs.

A-4478/S-3367 (Calabrese, Karabinchak, Wimberly/Burzichelli) – Authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to expend funds for transportation infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2025, making key investments in roadways and transit systems.

A-4572/S-3473 (Donlon, Sumter, Drulis/McKeon, Space) – Appropriates $101,696,535 from CBT revenues to the DEP for local government open space acquisition and park development projects, ensuring that green spaces continue to grow and serve New Jersey residents.

A-4581/S-3471 (Haider, Sampson, Tully/Mukherji, O'Scanlon) – Authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to expend funds for the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP), enhancing local disaster resilience.

A-4587/S-3451 (Stanley/Cryan, Pou) – Increases the required hours for obtaining licensure as a teacher in cosmetology and hairstyling or as a massage and bodywork therapist, strengthening professional standards in these industries.

A-3364/S-2552 (Conaway, Speight/Vitale) – Clarifies the cap on fees imposed and modifies the definition of “participating county” under the County Option Hospital Fee Program Act, ensuring clarity and fairness in healthcare funding.

S-2344/A-3582 (Ruiz, Cruz-Perez/Haider, Speight, Murphy) – Limits the availability of Child Care Facilities Improvement Program grants to licensed child care centers, ensuring that only eligible facilities receive funding.

S-2837/A-4084 (Sarlo, Ruiz/Pintor Marin, Greenwald, Speight) – Authorizes school districts to submit separate budget proposals for additional spending at special school elections, giving districts flexibility in managing their budgets.

S-2875/A-3972 (Pou/Freiman, Drulis, Speight) – Adjusts the calculation of minimum loss ratio requirements for health benefits plans in individual and small employer markets, ensuring that more funds are directed toward patient care.

Governor Murphy’s signing of this comprehensive legislative package demonstrates the state’s commitment to safety, environmental protection, education, and economic growth. These laws address critical needs across multiple sectors, ensuring that New Jersey continues to move forward in improving the quality of life for its residents.