In The News
N.J. lawmakers consider expanding lieutenant governor's duties
A measure advancing in the New Jersey legislature would expand the responsibilities of the lieutenant governor.
N.J. Democrats' pension funding push moves forward
State lawmakers are one step closer to putting a constitutional amendment mandating contributions to New Jersey's public pension system on the ballot in November.
The state Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday advanced a resolution that would create a ballot question asking voters whether they want to write regular payments for the state's underfunded pension system into the constitution.
Unlike NJ population, state’s elected officials mostly white male lawyers
A new study finds the makeup of the state legislature is not representative of New Jersey’s population.
The study from the William Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University found 7 in 10 Trenton lawmakers are male, and 83 percent are white, compared to 69 percent of the state’s population.
Singleton introduces new legislative redistricting reform bill
New Jersey lawmakers are pursuing possible changes to the way the state redraws its legislative districts each decade, and Assemblyman Troy Singleton has introduced his own proposal to inject a nonpartisan perspective into the process.
Proposed Bill Would Create Public Animal Abuser List
Remember Patrick, the pit bull starved and thrown away like garbage by his former owner? Patrick survived, but Assemblyman Troy Singleton wants to deter this kind of abuse by creating a statewide list of animal abusers.
Restarting N.J. hospital billing debate
Surprise medical bills just keep coming for patients in New Jersey, five months after the Legislature’s effort to fix the problem died. Some come from hospital-based doctors who don’t accept the same insurance plans as the hospital where they work. Others are received by patients with out-of-state or federally regulated coverage who go to out-of-network emergency rooms — New Jersey regulations that require the insurer to protect its members from balance billing in such cases don’t apply to their plans
Deadline looms for Transportation Trust Fund fix
At the Statehouse, the month of June typically features a flurry of debate, negotiations and deal making on the budget and other legislative priorities before the current fiscal year ends. But the next few weeks could be even noisier than usual, as Gov. Chris Christie and lawmakers wrestle with the budget as well as the impending insolvency of the Transportation Trust Fund.
N.J. extends June deadline for property tax relief program
Wednesday's deadline for homeowners to apply for the Senior Freeze property tax relief program has been extended through October, Gov. Chris Christie's administration announced Friday.
The state routinely pushes back the deadline for the program, which offsets taxes for more than 170,000 seniors and disabled residents. Acting Treasurer Ford Scudder said the delayed deadline so more residents who are eligible for the program can apply.
SOME SENIORS, DISABLED COULD BE FROZEN OUT OF NJ’S ‘SENIOR FREEZE’ PROGRAM
Fine print in annual state budget will eliminate cost-of-living increases for property-tax relief program, unless Christie changes his mind
A state program designed specifically to help keep seniors and disabled residents from being forced out of their homes by New Jersey’s ever-rising property-tax bills is once again in line to take a hit from fine print in the annual state budget.
STATE TURNS ATTENTION TO TWO MORE CONTAMINANTS FOUND IN NJ DRINKING WATER
DEP wants Drinking Water Quality Institute to come up with recommended levels for PFOA and PFOS