In The News
New Jersey Tries To End Doctor-Shopping For Opioid Prescriptions
New Jersey is trying to end doctor-shopping for opioid prescriptions by streamlining prescribers' access to medical records, state officials said this week.
Singleton's 'Food Truck Friday' Tour Provides 1,150 Meals To Families
MOORESTOWN, NJ -- Earlier this summer, Senator Troy Singleton rolled out his "Food Truck Fridays" program as part of his ongoing commitment to address food insecurity. In just the few months, 1,150 meals have been provided to children and families in need throughout Burlington County.
NJ Lawmakers Say Uniformed Patrol Officers Must Wear Body Cameras
Uniformed patrol officers in New Jersey would be required to wear body cameras under a bill state lawmakers sent to Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday.
Landmark Bill To Protect Poor Communities From Pollution Just Passed N.J. Legislature
New Jersey lawmakers have passed major new environmental protections for low-income communities.
NJ Legislature Passes Landmark Environmental Justice Bill To Protect Minority Communities
It will be harder to build or expand projects that produce a heavy amount of pollution in low-income and minority communities in New Jersey under a landmark environmental justice bill passed by the state Legislature on Thursday.
Communities Would Get Power To Block Polluters
Gov. Phil Murphy now has final say on bill sought by environmental-justice advocates for decades
Election 2020: Making Sure Your Vote Will Count
State officials move forward with plans for an election that’s mostly vote by mail, even as GOP challenge is still pending in federal court
Vote-by-mail: NJ Lawmakers Push Raft Of Measures To Make It Easier — And Make Sure Votes Count
A New Jersey Senate committee on Thursday approved seven measures designed to improve the ability of people to vote — and ensure their votes count — during this year’s presidential election amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Discussion during the two-hour hearing by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee amplified the complexities of conducting a mostly vote-by-mail election in a state with 6.2 million registered voters who have only begun to embrace mail-in balloting in substantial numbers in recent years.
Mortgage Refinancing Is About To Get More Expensive
All year, homeowners have been knocking down mortgage lenders’ doors looking to refinance their loans to take advantage of record-low interest rates. But refinancing is about to cost more.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-controlled mortgage financiers, will charge a new 0.5% fee on refinanced loans starting Sept. 1. The government-sponsored entities said the fee is necessary to offset future costs of delayed and delinquent loan repayments resulting from high unemployment and economic uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic. Borrowers with loans backed by the entities who haven’t locked in their rates can expect an average of $1,000 to $1,500 to be added to the costs of refinancing.
Senate Committee Advances Legislation To Improve Vote-by-Mail
In an effort to increase voter participation in the 2020 election, and beyond, the Senate State Government, Wager, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee approved a series of bills today to increase voting accessibility and improve the vote-by-mail processes.
“Voting is the most fundamental right in our democracy. As elected officials we must advance the expansion of greater voter access,” said Senator Nia Gill (D-34). “The problems in May and June highlighted the vulnerabilities within our voting system and underscored the need to improve the process. Establishing early voting will create a more accessible, secure, reliable voting and safe process that will ensure access and the integrity of the vote.”