Transportation
New Law Expands On-Demand Micro-Transit Options – Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Bill A4761 into law on August 7th, which authorizes counties to expand on-demand microtransit options for seniors and people with disabilities. This bill expands upon existing legislation to include county-run on-demand microtransit services, enabling transportation access for seniors and people with disabilities through ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft. Under the new law, counties may now apply for a portion of NJTransit’s Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program budget, which allocated approximately $56 million to fund microtransit systems as well as fixed-route transit services.
Public Administration
Attorney General Issues Subpoena to Delaney Hall Alleging Civil Rights Violations – On August 7th, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that the state would be opening a civil rights investigation into conditions at Delaney Hall. The investigation was announced Friday after reports that a third person died after detention in the Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, which is privately owned and operated by The GEO Group, Inc. Conditions at the facility have been under ongoing scrutiny as detainees recount spoiled food, neglected medical care, and unsanitary conditions. The investigation seeks to determine whether The Geo Group violated detainees’ civil rights by denying humane treatment and sufficient medical care. In May, after reports of detainees going on hunger strikes and protesting, state health inspectors were allowed to conduct a limited inspection and reported “satisfactory” food conditions, but operators of the facility continue to block state officials from conducting a full health inspection of the entire facility.
AG Davenport Files Antitrust Suit Against Amazon, Alleging Unlawful Monopsony Power – On August 4th, the Office of the Attorney General filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Amazon maintains unjust power over labor wage negotiations with its delivery drivers. The lawsuit aims to restrict the company’s ability to prevent unionization, arguing union hostility is harming thousands of New Jersey delivery drivers through unfair compensation and unsafe working conditions. Attorney General Davenport alleges that Amazon created the independent contractor program Delivery Service Partner (DSP) to control labor, suppress unionization, and circumvent labor standards. AG Davenport alleges Amazon dominates the labor market for drivers and utilizes the DSP program to prevent drivers from finding higher paying jobs, tightly monitor driver activity through cameras and artificial intelligence, and disrupt union organizing. Amazon, which employs 49,000 people in New Jersey, making it the largest employer in the state, denies these allegations.
Energy & Environment
Judge Approves $2.5 Billion Settlement with Forever Chemical Manufacturers DuPont and 3M – On August 7th, the Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced judicial approval of a settlement in an ongoing lawsuit against DuPont and 3M to remediate PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” contamination in New Jersey. Judicial approval will set forth an agreement reached in August 2025 between the State of New Jersey and two major PFAS manufacturers—DuPont and 3M—to fund cleanup efforts. Payments will be made over 25 years to abate PFAS through funding of water filtration upgrades, restoration of polluted natural resources, and cleanup of heavily contaminated sites. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that were developed in the 1940s and used in household products such as nonstick cookware, food wrappers, and waterproof clothing.
Gov. Sherrill Signs Bill Requiring Sellers Disclose Presence of Dams on Property – On August 6th, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Bill A4007/S3403 to require real estate sellers to disclose the existence of any known dams on the property. About 1,700 dams exist in New Jersey, but only a few still serve a purpose. Non-operational dams trap sediment, restrict river biodiversity, and pose a danger to humans. Concrete dams typically have a lifespan of 50 years, but many out-of-service dams remain long after the expected lifespan, requiring costly repairs and maintenance every two to four years. The legislation requires disclosure to ensure transparency of dam condition, routine inspection expectations, and dam management responsibilities. Removal of dams is often cheaper than repairing and can restore nutrients, fish migration, and sedimentation patterns and offer recreational benefits.