Newsroom

Housing Bill Introduced to Establish a Pre-Approved Design Guide for Accessory Dwelling Units – On October 5th, Senator Wimberly (D-35) introduced Bill S4764 which would instruct the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to develop a list of pre-approved designs for accessory dwelling units. Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are smaller housing units built on the lots already occupied […]

Will Irving’s R/ECON economic forecast research was cited in a recent article from The Shelby Report discussing the closure of 28 grocery stores in New Jersey in the past two years.

Transportation Bill Introduced to Authorize Municipalities to Reduce Speed Limits in Historic Districts – On October 1st, Senator Singleton (D-7) and Senator Tiver (R-8) introduced Bill S4489 which would delegate the power to set speed limits to 15 miles per hour in designated historic districts. The legislation would require municipalities to conduct a traffic engineering study […]

NJ Spotlight News correspondent Catherine Carrera interviewed Executive Director Elizabeth Cooner to discuss trends in higher education enrollment and achievement in the Garden State.

Housing Faith-Based Affordable Housing Bill Introduced into New Jersey Assembly – On September 24th, Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson (D-15) introduced Assembly Bill A5570, which would authorize $250 million in bonds and appropriate $50 million to support the development of inclusionary and affordable housing on properties owned by religious and nonprofit institutions. The bill, titled “Yes in God’s Backyard […]

Digital/Technology Bills Introduced to Regulate A.I. Usage in Mortgages, Insurance, and Wage-Setting – On September 14th, three bills were introduced to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in certain mortgage lending tools, wage setting, and home, auto, and flood insurance pricing. Introduced by Assemblywoman Rowan (D-2), Bill A5496 aims to reduce discrimination by requiring disclosures of […]

The New Jersey Monitor examined the ways some police departments have chosen to utilize various AI programs and referenced recent research into AI policing from the New Jersey State Policy Lab.

Energy & Environment U.S. Circuit Court Revokes Permit for New Jersey Natural Gas Pipeline – On September 8th, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals overseeing Pennsylvania, Delaware, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and New Jersey, revoked water quality permits for a 17-mile segment of a proposed natural gas pipeline in Middlesex County. The $1 billion […]

Public Administration Governor Sherrill Issues Executive Order Adjusting Judicial Advisory Panel – On August 31st, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order 22 replacing four of the eight members of the Judicial Advisory Panel tasked with evaluating potential candidates for appointments on the Superior Court and Supreme Court of New Jersey. Under the executive order, the panel […]

With the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the New Jersey State Policy Lab is excited to announce a new plan for our publishing schedule to make our research and policy insights even easier to follow. Since our inception more than five years ago, the NJSPL has prided itself on developing a broad base of […]

The New Jersey Spotlight nightly newsletter cited research from the New Jersey State Policy Lab examining the results of hospital consolidation in the Garden State.

Health New Jersey Expands PFAS Prohibitions to Include Diaper Products – On August 27th, Bill S1281, sponsored by Senator Greenstein (D-14) and Senator Turner (D-15), was signed into law by Governor Mikie Sherrill as P.L.2026, c.76. The legislation prohibits the sale, manufacture, and distribution of diaper products that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as […]