We find ourselves in a liminal legislative time: the November elections have been called, yet the current New Jersey Legislature holds office until January 11th, 2022. This unique window, called the “lame duck session,” can represent a window of opportunity for bills that struggled to progress during the regular legislative session.
The “lame duck” also represents a closing window of opportunity. January 12th, 2022 will mark the beginning of the new Legislature, and all bills that have not passed will go back to square one. A bill that is not passed by the 219th New Jersey Legislature (2020-2022) loses all progress and needs to be reintroduced in the 220th New Jersey Legislature (2022-2024).
Now is a critical time to be watchful and engaged in the legislative process! Our Task Forces have provided a digest of legislation to watch in the lame duck.
Criminal Justice Reform
- A4656/S2963 – Authorizes municipalities and counties to establish civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct.
Gun Violence Prevention
- A1280/S103 (Greenwald/Gill) – “Revises definition of destructive device to include certain weapons of 50 caliber or greater.”
- A3686/S372 (Vainieri Huttle/Cryan) – “Requires firearm owners who become New Jersey residents to obtain firearm purchaser identification card (FPIC) and register firearms acquired out-of-State.”
- A1292/S1481 (Greenwald/Weinberg) – “Regulates sale of handgun ammunition and develops system for electronic reporting of firearm information.”
- A5030/S2169 (Reynolds-Jackson/Weinberg) – “Provides that firearms purchaser identification card is valid for four years; requires training prior to issuance of firearms cards and handgun purchase permits; revises procedures for passing of firearms to heir or legatee.”
- A1141/S3605 (Freiman/Cryan) – “Increases from 18 to 21 age at which person is eligible to receive firearms purchaser identification.”
- A5727/S3726 (Greenwald/Weinberg) – “Ensures student well-being during school security drills.”
- A5647/S3757 (Downey/Gopal) – “New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act”; establishes certain requirements and penalties regarding firearm storage; repeals law governing minor’s access to firearm; requires AG to establish public awareness campaign regarding firearm storage; appropriates $500,000.”
- A5787/S3826 (Downey/Weinberg) – “Requires newly manufactured semi-automatic handguns to be micro-stamped; establishes handgun database.”
Environmental Justice
- “Clean Energy Equity Act” [A4185/S2484] – Aims to help low-income New Jersey families and overburdened communities equitably enjoy the benefits of solar energy, solar energy storage and energy efficiency programs. It’s been a year since the Clean Energy Equity Act passed in the NJ Senate; send a message to your Assembly members with NJ Shines.
- “Liberty State Park Protection Act” [A2189/S1449] – Establishes a Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and DEP requirements related to Liberty State Park. This bill would preserve Liberty State Park as a public urban green open space free of inappropriate privatization.
Immigration Justice
- “The Values Act” [NJAIJ Press Brief] – ICE does not belong at our hospitals, courts, and houses of worship. Our communities deserve to live and access services free from fear. The Values Act builds on the best intentions of the Immigrant Trust Directive by closing loopholes and ceasing State and municipal government agencies’ entanglement with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as ICE & CBP.
Reparations
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“New Jersey Reparations Task Force” [A711/S322] – Establishes a task force to conduct research and develop reparatory proposals and recommendations to address the generational harms caused by New Jersey’s role in America’s institution of slavery and its legacy of systemic racial discrimination.
Reproductive Justice
- “Reproductive Freedom Act” [A4848/S3030] – The Reproductive Freedom Act will protect access to time-sensitive care such as birth control and pregnancy-related care, including abortion, prioritizing the health and well-being of all New Jerseyans who need reproductive health care.
- “Listening to Mothers Survey Act” [A1837/S1818] – Requires the the Commissioner of Health to establish a survey to evaluate and improve maternity care access and services. Collected data is to be reviewed to identify trends in the provision of maternity care and disparities in care across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups, to develop strategies and programs to improve maternity care throughout the State.