Legislative Briefs

NJBIA prepares detailed Legislative Briefs on all important bills that are pending in the State Legislature, as well as Issue Briefs and Regulatory Briefs on other priority issues.  If your employer is an NJBIA member, you can request a free copy of one or more Briefs. Please go here to submit a request form and we will Fax or e-mail the Brief(s) to you.

Our Paid Family Leave Brief has been made available for download here as a sample.

If you are not an NJBIA member and would like to join the Association, please submit your contact information to our Membership Department or give us a call at 609-393-7707, ext. 238 or 220.

INDEX OF NJBIA BRIEFS
Updated April 30, 2008

Economic Development & Taxation | Education | Energy | Environment
Healthcare | Human Resources | Legal | Small Business

Economic Development & Taxation
Online Request Form

• A-500
  This bill revises existing State affordable housing laws, providing for new targets for affordable housing creation and methods of affordable housing financing.

• A-506
  Property tax exemption for business equipment and machinery

• A-723/S263/S259
  This bill would restore “net operating loss” (NOL) tax deduction for businesses liquidated between 2002 and 2005.

• A-1181
  Virtually eliminates the hiring of private employers to provide noneducational services in public schools. 

• A-1449
  Structure corporate tax to reward businesses with headquarters and plants in New Jersey.  Adopt single-sales factor corporate tax formula and eliminate the “regular place of business” requirements.
  
  
• A-2599/S-1556
  This bill permits all municipalities to impose an “occupancy” tax on petroleum product refineries and storage facilities.  The bill permits the municipality to establish the tax rate. 
  
  
• S-1564/S-1565
  These bills prohibit or discourage subcontracting or privatization of government services to private or nonprofit entities
  

• SCR-39 / ACR-87
  State constitutional amendment would require voter approval of independent authority bonds backed by budget appropriations.  

• Issue Brief
  Governor Corzine's $40 Billion Fiscal Restructuring Plan
  
  
• Issue Brief
  Governor Corzine's proposed $33.0 Billion FY2009 State Budget

Education
Online Request Form

None at this time

Energy
Online Request Form

• A-616
  Establishes that the funds collected for energy efficiency, clean energy and renewable energy programs under the Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) imposed on utility customers be allocated to the different rate classes based on their contributions.  It also would allow a ratepayer to bypass the Board of Public Utilities  (BPU) and take credit for efficiencies installed on site.
  
  
• A-843
  Requires the Board of Public Utilities to provide equal opportunity for prospective business applicants from all areas of the State to apply for, and receive, incentives for funding under programs that the BPU determines shall be funded by the societal benefits charge imposed on ratepayers' energy bills.
  
  
• A-849
  Directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish programs to assist large commercial and industrial electric power customers with reduction of their energy usage.
  
  
• A-1085/S-1032
  Exempts sales of energy and utility service to manufacturing facilities from the sales and use tax and the transitional energy facility assessment (TEFA) unit rate surcharge.
  
  
• A-1506
  Requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to consider the co-firing of biomass as an acceptable and encouraged method to meet the State's renewable energy portfolio standards.
  
  
• A-1629/S-702
  Authorizes the Department of Community Affairs to change the energy subcode of the Uniform Construction Code at any time.
  
  
• A-1636
  Expands the demand-side management programs administered by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to include low-interest loans to municipalities for energy efficiency programs and grants to municipalities for innovative energy technologies.
  
  
• A-2344
  Places unreasonable requirements on certain businesses that receive telephone or electronic mail messages.

Environment
Online Request Form

• S-1166/A-2411
  Authorizes the creation and operation of stormwater utilities which can effectively levy a tax on rain.
  
  
• S-1454
  This bill would impose a tax of $.40 per 1,000 gallons of water used or diverted, which would generate approximately $150 million annually. The funds would be used for open space and farmland preservation.
  
  
• A-2203
  New Jersey Clean Water, Drought Mitigation and Water Resource Security Trust Fund Act.  Imposes a tax of 4 cents per 1,000 gallons of water consumed, to be used for various water protection projects.
  

Healthcare
Online Request Form

• A-435
  Requires healthcare facilities to report possible misconduct or incompetence of members of their healthcare staff .

• A-1126
  Extends income tax advantages of health savings accounts (HSAs) to individual taxpayers under the New Jersey gross income tax.  Currently, HSAs only receive federal tax advantages

• A-1335
  Requires chiropractors and podiatrists be reimbursed at the same rate as physicians.
  
  
• A-1962/S-1290
  Prohibits participating providers under managed care plans from charging certain fees in excess of co-payments and deductibles. 

• A-1966
  Expanding Access to Health Care Act” which requires large employers to either spend a specified amount on health benefits or pay the difference to the State.

• S-375/A-1579
  The "Health Insurance Affordability and Accessibility Reform Act."

• S-607
  Requires virtually unlimited coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Human Resources
Online Request Form

• A-873/S-786Sca
  This bill would make New Jersey only the second state in the United States to implement a mandate requiring employers to provide paid family leave (PFL) to employees with newborn children or ill family members. This bill would apply to every New Jersey employer.
  

Legal
Online Request Form

• A-652
  Permits business entities to be represented in court by persons other than an attorney. 

• A-1101
  Authorizes the dismissal of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits arising from a defendant’s exercise of free speech. 

• A-1128/S-642
  Establishes the Commercial and Technology Part in the Superior Court.
  
  
• A-1158/S-125
  Greatly expands liability in wrongful death cases, resulting in increases in automobile, product liability and medical malpractice insurance rates.
  
  
• S-235
  Prohibits lawsuits against food manufacturers or sellers on the grounds that a person’s consumption of food caused weight gain or obesity. 

Small Business
Online Request Form

• A-832
  Expands the scope of the New Jersey Regulatory Flexibility Act to lessen the impact of rules and regulations on small businesses.