Oroho Bill Addressing Confusion About Homeowner Fees Advances
Senator Steve Oroho’s bill shielding homeowners in some common communities from unforeseen fees and assessments cleared the Senate today.
Sen. Steve Oroho’s bill affirms that homeowner associations cannot require fees if the association did not have the authority to compel payment prior to the enactment of the Radburn Law on July 13, 2017. (SenateNJ)
Oroho’s bipartisan bill (S-908) affirms that homeowner associations cannot require fees if the association did not have the authority to compel payment prior to the enactment of the Radburn Law on July 13, 2017. Provisions of that law have been misinterpreted by some community associations as an opportunity to levy fees and enact rules on homeowners who are not members of the association.
Pennacchio Bill to Position NJ as the Leader in the Evolution of Clean, Safe Fusion Power Earns Senate Approval
Initiates Scholarships for Scientists Specializing In Fusion Energy and Plasma Physics
Senator Joe Pennacchio’s legislation to help establish New Jersey as a trailblazer in fusion energy was endorsed by the Senate today.
Sen. Joe Pennacchio’s legislation that would provide scholarships to help attract top-level scientists to the fields of fission energy and plasma physics passed the Senate. (SenateNJ)
“The successful development of fusion as an affordable, efficient and eco-friendly source of energy would herald a new era of economic and scientific growth across the globe,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “New Jersey is the home of Princeton Physics Lab and a growing network of startups committed to making fusion power a reality. Just as California has its Silicon Valley, New Jersey could have its Fusion Epicenter if we play our cards right. This bill is a big step in that direction.”
Senate Approves Bucco Bill to Support Garden State Entrepreneurs
Improves Workers’ Comp Laws for Small Startups
Senator Anthony Bucco’s legislation to assist New Jersey entrepreneurs and reform workers’ compensation laws has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Bucco’s legislation, S-967, revises the definition of “employer” within the workers’ compensation law to make certain exceptions.
Sen. Anthony Bucco’s legislation to assist entrepreneurs and reform workers’ compensation laws has unanimously passed the Senate. (©iStock)
“For a one-person business or partnership just staring out, acquiring worker’s compensation insurance solely for themselves is an onerous and expensive mandate,” said Bucco (R-25). “Starting a business in New Jersey is expensive as it is, so we should look for every opportunity to lower unnecessary costs for those creating companies from the ground up. Giving new business owners this option will allow them to use more of their money to grow their operations and possible higher employees in the future.”
Kean Bill Helping Military Dependents Attend College in New Jersey Clears Senate
Extends In-State Tuition Rates to Students Whose Families Moved Away Due to New Military Assignments
Children of service members who attended high school in New Jersey would be eligible for in-state college tuition rates under legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and approved today by the Senate.
Under Sen. Tom Kean’s bill, military dependents who attended three years of high school in state would qualify for more affordable resident tuition at public colleges or universities, regardless of their place of residence at the time they enroll in school. (©iStock)
“When military obligations cause families to relocate to New Jersey, they become part of the community, going to school, playing on teams, working in local businesses and making life-long friendships,” said Kean (R-21). “New orders may take them away, but this bill is an incentive for students to attend college and start careers in the Garden State.”
O’Scanlon Bill Allowing Electronic Authorization for Medical Cannabis for Patients Passes Senate
Senator Declan O’Scanlon’s legislation to expand access to authorized medical cannabis through telemedicine has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Declan O’Scanlon’s legislation to expand access to authorized medical cannabis through telemedicine has passed the Senate. (Flickr)
“Those who rely on medical cannabis to treat their conditions will benefit from more convenient and less expensive digital doctors’ appointments,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “Utilizing available technology is a practical approach that will improve the health and wellness of eligible New Jersey residents.”
Senate Approves Singer Measure to Study Impact of Medicaid Reimbursement Changes on Nursing Homes
A commission to study the health of nursing homes in the state would be created under a bill sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and approved today by the Senate. The commission would scrutinize the impact of increased hourly reimbursements on nursing homes.
Sen. Robert Singer’s legislation would establish a nine-member commission to collect and evaluate crucial data from nursing homes to study the impact of changes to Medicaid reimbursement rates. (SenateNJ.com)
“To ensure quality care for our most vulnerable residents, it’s essential that we understand what the rate changes mean to the important services provided at these facilities,” said Singer (R-30). “Have these new rates affected staffing, the cost of care for residents, or the financial stability of nursing homes? This measure will help us get the answers.”
Singer’s measure (S-51) would establish the nine-member “Impact of Medicaid Personal Care Services Reimbursement Change on Nursing Homes Study Commission” to collect and evaluate data from nursing homes, including whether any facilities closed after the effective date of the rate changes.
Under the bill, the commission is required to submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature not more than 12 months after its first meeting.
New Jersey nursing homes say they are losing more than $400 million a year. Homes providing care for Medicaid residents lose close to $50 a day for each client, according to the Health Care Association of New Jersey.
Brown Bill Increasing Funding to Promote Regional Tourism Advances
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Brown to help boost regional tourism advertising and promotion across the state cleared the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown to help boost regional tourism advertising and promotion across the state has advanced. (SenateNJ.com)
“Everyone knows the competition for tourism dollars is intense, which is why we need to continue to fight to ensure Atlantic County gets its fair share of marketing dollars to protect the 70,000 families whose jobs depend on tourism,” said Brown.
Brown noted though the State raises over $100 million from the hotel-motel occupancy fee, it only spends $9 million of that revenue for tourism advertising, the same amount for the last 15 years. The hotel-motel occupancy fee is supposed to support tourism, the arts, culture, and history, yet most of the revenue is diverted for other purposes. Further, while Atlantic County generated $5.4 million in State hotel and motel occupancy fees in 2018, it only received $158,000 in State grants to help promote local tourism.
Pennacchio to NJ Taxpayers: ‘The Joker is On You’
Sunday night’s Oscar Award telecast should have left a bitter taste in the mouths of New Jersey taxpayers, Senator Joe Pennacchio said.
“On a night when the entertainment industry elite lectured Americans on priorities, politics and principals, New Jersey didn’t even get a ‘thank you’ for the $2 million from hard-working taxpayers in our state that helped finance the filming of ‘Joker,’” said Pennacchio (R-26). “They didn’t need our money to make the movie, but they gladly accepted it.”
Sen. Joe Pennacchio said New Jersey taxpayers deserve better than having $2 million of hard-earned money to help pay for the filming of a $1 billion blockbuster movie. (Wikimedia)
The money flowed through the state’s contentious film tax credit program, recently extended by Governor Murphy for five more years, through 2028. More than $57 million in tax breaks were awarded last year.
Bucco: Murphy Must Provide Clarity on Executive Order Requiring NJDEP to Impose “Climate Change Considerations” in Permitting
Wants Governor to Explain How Order Will Be Applied Without Hurting Homeowners, Economic Growth, or Property Rights
Senator Anthony M. Bucco called for Governor Phil Murphy to provide clarity on Executive Order 100 which gives broad new powers to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to deny virtually any type of development due to undefined “climate change considerations.”
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco called for Gov. Murphy to provide clarity on Executive Order 100 which gives broad new powers to the NJDEP to deny virtually any type of development due to undefined ‘climate change considerations.’ (©iStock)
“We need a balanced approach to development that doesn’t add additional cost and complexity to projects when New Jersey is already over-regulated and too expensive for families and businesses,” said Bucco (R-25). “Governor Murphy should explain to New Jerseyans how the vague language of his executive order will be applied by the NJDEP without negatively impacting homeowners, economic growth, or property rights.”
Special Committee on Economic Growth Issues Report with Recommended Reforms & Improvements
Includes Strategies for Greater Transparency & Oversight, Actions to Improve Effectiveness of Tax Incentive Programs
The special Senate committee created to evaluate the state’s economic development programs issued its report today with a broad array of proposed reforms to bring greater transparency and oversight to the Economic Development Authority, and to improve the effectiveness of the policies used to create jobs, attract investments to distressed communities and generate long-term economic growth in New Jersey.
The bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies issued its report, including an evaluation of past tax incentive programs and proposed reforms to improve their effectiveness. (SenateNJ.com)
The bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies’ report follows eight months of work, which included a comprehensive review of past programs and four public hearings that focused on the best practices for economic expansion, said Senator Bob Smith, the committee’s chairman, and Senator Joe Pennacchio, the panel’s vice chairman.
“I would like to commend Chairman Smith for ensuring the Select Committee’s review of New Jersey’s tax incentive programs was accomplished in a fair and bipartisan manner,” said Senator Pennacchio. “The report includes significant input from Senate Republicans that reflect many of the priorities we laid out at the beginning of the process. Given New Jersey’s challenging business environment, we believe the final report represents a thoughtful strategy to make the Garden State more competitive, create new opportunities for residents, and better protect taxpayer dollars.”
