Cannabis
Gov. Murphy Signs Bill to Limit Minors’ Access to Intoxicating Hemp Products – On Sept. 12, Gov. Murphy signed into law S3235/A4461, codified as P.L.2024, c.73., which will place hemp products under the purview of the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). The legislation aims to close a legal loophole which allows minors to purchase intoxicating hemp products. The new law will make it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase hemp products with a detectable amount of THC, and businesses will have 30 days to remove hemp products from their shelves until new rules are set by the Commission – which may take a while. Although Gov. Murphy called the bill flawed, he signed the bill to address the immediate health risks posed by the status quo.
Health
Assembly Considers New Oversight of Health Insurance Claim Denials – On Sept. 12, the state Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee received testimony on A3858/S3298, which would expand oversight of health insurance claims. The legislation aims to relieve the burden placed on patients and healthcare providers who must appeal denied claims. The proposal would require health insurance providers to submit to the Department of Banking and Insurance data on the claims they have received. Insurers who are found to have no justification for at least 20% of their denied claims would have to reimburse customers for the full cost of services that were denied coverage. Opponents from the health insurance industry stated the proposal would likely receive pushback from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and that the process to determine whether or not denied claims are justified remains unclear. The bill remains pending in committee.
Housing
New Law will Ban Discrimination in Housing Appraisals – On Sept. 9, Acting Gov. Tahesha Way signed into law A2280/S1311, codified as P.L.2024, c.63., which bans discrimination in real estate appraisals and requires appraisers to undergo anti-bias training. The legislation seeks to address the role of discrimination in real estate appraisals in exacerbating the racial wealth gap and preventing Black and Brown families from building generational wealth through homeownership. Under the new law, appraisers may not discriminate against homeowners’ race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, familial status, or immigration status when considering the valuation of a home. The Attorney General’s office established penalties for such discrimination in January.
Murphy Conditionally Vetoes Bill Offering Foreclosure Protection to Ida Survivors – On Sept. 12, Gov. Murphy conditionally vetoed a bill which would have offered protections to residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The legislation would put mortgage payments on hold for one year for impacted homeowners, barring foreclosures during that time. Gov. Murphy supports the initiative, but he stated that the legislation should require residents to demonstrate their eligibility for the relief and allow mortgage lenders to seek documentation. Many impacted homeowners are ineligible for those programs when a state policy change restricts homeowners who want to rebuild in flood-prone areas. The governor urged lawmakers to restrict relief to participants in existing relief programs. The bill was returned to the Assembly, where sponsors will reconsider its language.
Public Administration
Middlesex and Burlington Counties Agree to End County Line on Ballots – Two NJ counties have settled a lawsuit brought by the New Jersey Working Families Party in 2020, agreeing to end the use of the ‘county line,’ a controversial ballot design specific to NJ which gives favorable placement to candidates endorsed by the county party. A judge offered a preliminary injunction barring the use of the lines in the June 2024 Democratic primary, and the underlying case brought by U.S. Representative Andy Kim remains pending. Some expressed optimism that these settlements could signal the end of the county line.
Murphy Earmarks Horse Racing Subsidies Through End of Decade – On Sept. 12, Gov. Murphy approved A2610/S3203, codified as P.L.2024, c.76., approving annual subsidies for the horseracing industry through 2029. The subsidies aim to keep afloat an industry that provides 3,700 jobs to NJ residents and over $75 million in tax revenue. In signing the bill, the governor cautioned that governors and lawmakers can only budget on an annual basis, so the subsidies will still be subject to appropriation through 2029. Gov. Murphy will end his second and final term in January 2026.