Economics
Assemblyman Announces Bill to Ban “Surveillance Pricing” – On February 24th, Assemblyman Chigozie Onyema (D-Newark) announced Bill A4523, the “Fair Price Protection Act,” which would prohibit grocery retailers from using surveillance technology and personal data to charge individualized prices to New Jersey consumers. Under the proposal, electronic surveillance technology includes sensors, cameras, device tracking, and other forms of observation capable of collecting information about consumer behavior, characteristics, location, or personal attributes. The bill would prohibit grocery retailers from using such data to set customized prices for individual customers.
Bill Would Address High E-Book Costs for Public Libraries – Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex) introduced legislation in January that would make it a violation of New Jersey’s consumer fraud law for publishers to charge libraries more than consumer prices for e-books or impose restrictive licensing agreements that limit normal lending practices. Bill S1674 would prohibit contracts with provisions that restrict how many times libraries can loan e-books, prevent libraries from disclosing contract terms, or limit interlibrary loans and preservation copies, among others.
Education
Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Requiring Mercury-Free Flooring in Schools and Child Care Facilities – On February 24th, the Senate unanimously approved Bill S1370, legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Lagana (D-38) that would require all new flooring installed in schools, community centers, and child care centers to be certified as mercury-free to protect children from exposure to the toxic heavy metal. The legislation aims to establish clear health standards for building materials in educational settings and ensure manufacturers provide proper certification of mercury-free products.
Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Requiring Menstrual Equity Plans at Public Colleges – On February 24th, the Senate unanimously approved Bill S2243 which requires each public institution of higher education to develop a menstrual equity plan ensuring students have free access to menstrual products on campus. The bill has been sent to the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee for consideration and is a carryover from previous bills (S2611 and A3567) introduced in the prior legislative session. The measure aims to eliminate the financial burden of purchasing menstrual products for college students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, by requiring institutions to provide these essential items at no cost in campus restrooms.
Environment
Senate Advances Climate Task Force Bills Targeting Insurance Costs and Emissions – On February 24th, the New Jersey Senate approved a pair of climate-focused task force bills sponsored by Sen. Bob Smith (D-Piscataway) aimed at addressing surging property insurance costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Bill S685 would create a “Fleet Conversion Task Force” to examine recommendations for transitioning motor vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles. The second bill, S687, would create the “Joint Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Impacts of Climate Change on Property Insurance” to assess the current and predicted impacts of climate change on residential and commercial property insurance. Both proposals now move forward for further action by the full Legislature.
Assembly Introduces Bill to Incentivize the Development of New Natural Gas Power Plants – On February 24th, Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-14) introduced Bill A4491, legislation that would mandate the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to issue a request for at least 1,100 megawatts of new gas-fired electricity generation in response to growing concerns about the state’s tightening power supply and surging demand. The bill aims to address supply-demand imbalances as New Jersey faces large load inquiries from potential major electricity users. The measure comes as Governor Sherrill has separately issued executive orders to explore supply options including community solar and battery storage.
Housing
Bill Would Require Landlords to Explain Rent Increases for Senior Housing Tenants – On February 24th, Senator Linda R. Greenstein (D-14) introduced Bill S3641, legislation requiring landlords of senior citizen housing projects to provide written explanations for any rent increases to elderly tenants, a measure aimed at increasing transparency and protecting vulnerable senior residents from unexpected or unjustified cost hikes. The bill is a carryover from the previous legislative session (previously S1028). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee for review.
Public Administration
Senate Unanimously Confirms Five Sherrill Cabinet Nominees – On February 24th, the New Jersey Senate unanimously confirmed five of Governor Mikie Sherrill’s cabinet nominees in a 38-0 vote during a virtual session. The confirmed officials include Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha, Education Commissioner Lily Laux, and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Vincent Solomeno. The nominees had been serving in an acting capacity since Gov. Sherrill took office last month and are the only cabinet nominees who have appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to date.