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 is expanded from seven members to eight, with an additional requirement that five members must be former judges. Practicing attorneys can fill any of the remaining three positions on the panel. Former Justice Lee Solomon and former Superior Court Judges Julio Mendez, Bonnie Mizdol, and Charles Dortch will replace outgoing panel members, which included former Chief Justice Deborah Poritz, former Justices Stewart Pollock and John Wallace, Jr., and former Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne. Governor Sherrill is expected to replace one justice on the state Supreme Court during this gubernatorial term, Justice Anne M. Patterson who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2029.
New Jersey Joins 21 States, NJDCA, and FTC in Amazon Advertising Suit – On August 31st, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport joined the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission in a lawsuit filed by a bipartisan coalition of 21 states suing Amazon, alleging the company illegally overcharged advertisers by rigging advertisement bidding systems. The lawsuit alleges Amazon overcharged more than 500,000 businesses since 2019, using fake customers to upbid prices for advertising slots and adding hidden surcharges to further inflate auction prices, netting the company over $20 billion in profit. Amazon denies these allegations claiming its advertising tools do not artificially inflated prices, rather they project a 58% increase in sales using this model of advertisement bidding and prioritize showing customers relevant ads rather than the highest bidding advertiser.
Energy & Environment
Governor Sherrill Signs Garden State Balcony Solar Act into Law – On September 1st, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed into law Bill S2368 as a revision of P.L.1975, c.217, exempting select plug-in solar systems of up to 1.2 kWh from certain utility service regulations, enough electricity to power a refrigerator. Proponents of the legislation argue it will help renters and homeowners access renewable energy to reduce utility bills by enabling solar panels that deliver power through simple adapters that plug-in to electrical outlets. Landlords and realtors raised concerns over the safety of the plug-in systems, though research has shown little to no safety incidents linked to the products. Plug-in solar kits vary in price from about $600 to $2,600 offering flexible options for the roughly 40 percent of New Jersey residents living in apartments to offset energy costs.
Economics
Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation to Expand Support for Employee-Owned Businesses – On September 4th, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Bill A5016 as an amendment to P.L.1974, c.80, establishing a program within the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide assistance to small businesses seeking to transition from sole ownership to employee ownership of the business. The legislation expands the resources available to help companies explore employee ownership models, offset the cost of feasibility studies, acquire consultation services, and access loan financing options. The existing Employee Stock Ownership Plan Assistance Program enables sole owners to liquidate the value of the company into employee retirement accounts, creating a model of employee ownership.