Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce: Advocacy Update
From Advocacy Committee Chair Dennis Palmer
The Legislature has reconvened after a long summer and election break. We know the outcome of the governor’s race, but maybe as many as five Assembly seats were also picked up, the biggest blue majority in the Assembly since Watergate. More than 3.2 million New Jersey voters cast ballots in the governor’s race, far outpacing the 2.6 million in 2021 and 2.1 million in 2017. One rumor is that in lame duck there will be a move to raise the state sales tax to increase revenue, and so the new governor will not carry the blame.
Committee hearings were scheduled for November 10, 12, 13, 17, 20, and 24.
Action on November 10 included hearings in the Senate for Community and Urban Affairs, Education and Transportation.
Bills seeing action or proposed in the upcoming hearings:
• Bill A4101 Requires social media companies to establish a toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions.
• Bill A5422 Allows businesses to receive information via email concerning new regulations and economic incentives that affect business.
• Bill S4347 The “Safeguarding Livable Units through Municipal Landlord Oversight and Regulation by DCA” or “SLUMLORD Act”; strengthens habitability protections for residential tenants; This bill appropriates $5 million. It may impact some local landlords and is a quality of life issue. Voted out of committee 3 yes-1 no and 1 not voting.
• Bill A4328 Enters New Jersey into Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Up for a vote on 11-13.
• Bill S3195 Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site.
The following Bills were introduced , but no committee action:
• Bill S4808 “Tariff Transparency Act;” requires disclosure of final retail price attributable to tariffs and other import taxes. This seems to be burdensome to small businesses and how is it calculated? Retail establishments with revenues below $500,000 in annual sales and products whose tariff-related pricing impact is negligible are exempt from the bill.
• Bill S4765 Suspends sales and use tax and societal benefits charge on electric and gas public utility bills during one year period beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026. A small help with increasing electric bills.
