5 New NJ Law Proposals That Could Impact Your Life

NEW JERSEY — Legislators paused on a major proposed overhaul of the New Jersey's campaign finance system this week, after last-minute changes drew criticism from activists and lawmakers alike.

Codifying interracial marriage, funding schools, and protecting people from "sexortion" are among the other bills that New Jersey legislators are considering this week.

Here are five bills that could impact you (or your children) if they become New Jersey law:

Elections Transparency Act

Both houses of the Legislature postponed votes Monday on this proposed state finance system overhaul. Last Thursday, lawmakers made substantial changes to the bill that included putting the governor’s office in control of the Election Law Enforcement Committee (ELEC) and giving the governor power to appoint the executive of that committee.

Another late amendment allowed local political parties to create and raise money for "housekeeping funds" which they could use on daily expenses.

The New Jersey League of Women Voters said the transparency provisions in the bill were "notably weak" and that the recent amendments gave them "even greater cause for concern." They urged residents to call their lawmakers and ask them to vote "no."

"New Jersey desperately needs to require disclosure for dark money campaign ads, but that transparency must not come at the expense of limits on campaign contributions and of our anti-corruption laws," the LWV of NJ said.

The bill eliminates local pay-to-play laws and brings them under one state system.

The act would double the amount that individuals or groups could give to non-gubernatorial candidates, parties, and political committees. The bill requires reporting of any campaign contribution over $200.

It also reduces the statute of limitations for ELEC to enforce campaign finance violations to two years, and more than triples the amount which may be spent in aid for governor and lieutenant governor candidates, according to the most recent version of the bill.

Harry Pozycki, founder of Metuchen-based The Citizens Campaign, said the act was both "ill-advised" and "ill-timed" in an op-ed for NJ Spotlight News last year.

"The explosion of super PACs and independent expenditure efforts have made increased enforcement of New Jersey’s pay-to-play protections more critical than ever," Pozycki said. "The answer is not to throw out smart contracting protections under the cover of a broad campaign finance overhaul."

Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act

This Republican-led initiative would fully fund schools using state income tax revenue, legislators say. It appropriates $2.9 billion for additional school aid, funding schools consistent with the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 adequacy budget. It also requires a school district to reduce property taxes if it receives an increase in state aid, until taxes fall below 5 percent of the district’s income.

This bill was introduced Monday and referred to the Assembly Education Committee.

Bipartisan Sexual Extortion Crime Act

This bill, which has been passed by both houses, would make it a third-degree crime for anyone to use nude or explicit sexual images to extort victims, such as to threaten to harm them or their reputation.

If the act of sexual extortion is committed on a child under 18 or an adult with a developmental disability, it would be a second-degree crime.

Currently, “sextortion” crimes could fall under sexual assault, harassment, endangering the welfare of a child, or distributing child pornography.

This bill now awaits Gov. Murphy’s signature.

Protecting Homeowners, Tenants In Floodplains

A Democrat-sponsored bill would require landlords and property sellers to notify potential tenants and buyers if the premises are either in a flood zone or have experienced flood damage or water damage due to a natural flood event. Seasonal rentals of less than 120 days would be exempt from the requirements.

If the landlord violates the law and the tenant suffers substantial loss or damage to their own personal property, the bill allows them to terminate the lease and pursue legal remedies to recover damages.

The NJ Assembly passed this bill 78-0 on Monday, and it was received in the Senate for second reading on Tuesday. .

Codifying Interracial Marriage

Democrat sponsors of this bill say it’s crucial to codify the right of people of any race to marry in New Jersey; there has never been a law against it, and the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia legalized interracial marriages nationwide. However, given the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, legislators say “other personal decisions, currently protected under the federal constitution, could be returned to individual states for determination, including the right of persons of different racial or ethnic backgrounds to marry.” This bill declares the right of a person to marry or enter in a civil union with a person of any race.

The Assembly passed this bill 78-0 on Monday, and the Senate received it Tuesday; it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

You can view the full legislative calendar here.