Renters would have increased safeguards against certain rent hikes under legislation advanced by the New Jersey General Assembly on Monday. Bill A3507, sponsored by Assembly members Yvonne Lopez, Cody Miller and Shanique Speight, would clarify and expand a list of factors used to determine unconscionable rent increases.
Continue reading “Tenant Protection Bill Passes Assembly”
Donlon, Murphy bill would authorize patients with developmental disabilities to have a designee accompany them during their hospital stay
(TRENTON) – Working to ensure a level of support for hospital patients who are unable to advocate for themselves, the New Jersey General Assembly today passed Bill A2259. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Carol Murphy, is designed to strengthen protections for hospital patients with developmental disabilities.
The bill would authorize patients with developmental disabilities to have a designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver to accompany them in accordance with hospital policies necessary to ensure patient safety, privacy, infection control and clinical care.
Continue reading “Assembly Passes Bill Boosting Advocacy for Disabled Patients”
Congressman Van Drew renewed his call for immediate action from Governor Sherrill as utility bills across South Jersey continue to skyrocket, with many families now paying delivery fees that are double or even triple their actual energy usage.
“People in South Jersey are opening their bills and seeing something that just does not make sense,” said Congressman Van Drew. “In many cases, the delivery fees are higher than the cost of electricity itself. That is not normal, and it is not acceptable. For years, the state made bad decisions. They shut down reliable energy sources like nuclear, gas, and coal plants, including Beesley’s Point coal plant, which was supposed to be converted to natural gas but was instead shut down. They took dependable power off the grid and never replaced it. Instead, they poured billions into offshore wind projects that were never going to deliver affordable, reliable energy. Now we are forced to import energy from other states at a much higher cost, and that failure is being dumped directly onto the backs of our residents through these outrageous delivery fees.
Continue reading “Van Drew Urges Sherrill to Act on Soaring Utility Bills”
Congressman Van Drew released the following statement regarding the ongoing partial shutdown.
“This has gone on long enough,” said Congressman Van Drew. “The people paying the price right now are the ones showing up every day to do their jobs: TSA agents, Coast Guard members, and others who keep this country running. They are doing everything we ask of them, day in and day out, and they are not being paid for it. It is not right. And that is exactly why Members of Congress should not be paid during a shutdown. If these workers are going without, then we should be going without too. We should be feeling that same pain until this gets fixed. That is why I am sponsoring a bill to ensure that while the government shuts down, Members of Congress do not receive their pay. The Constitution sets clear rules on congressional pay, so this has to be done the right way, but there is a path to make sure Members do not take home a paycheck while the job is not done. Maybe then they will think twice before using people’s livelihoods as leverage in a political fight.”
TRENTON – A law sponsored by Senators Paul Moriarty and Joseph Cryan that would limit the amount a landlord may increase the rent on a tenant of a dwelling site within a manufactured home park took effect on March 1, supporting tenants who plan to install or have installed a modular or manufactured home on land they do not own.
Starting this month, a landlord of a covered dwelling site is not allowed to raise the rent by more than 3.5 percent over a 12-month period without seeking approval from the Department of Community Affairs.
Continue reading “Legislation Takes Effect Limiting Rent Increase on Mobile Home Park Tenants”
Freehold Township, NJ – Michael McGuire, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, retired NYPD officer who answered the call on 9/11, current Naval Reservist, Army JAG selectee, husband, father, and Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd District, today announced that he has been called to active military duty in support of national security operations.
This call to service is a testament to McGuire’s lifelong dedication to duty, honor, and country. These are qualities that have defined his entire career and now drive his campaign to bring the same selfless leadership to Washington.
Continue reading “Congressional Candidate Michael McGuire Called to Active Duty”
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson released a statement about A1715, known as the “John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey” after its advancement in today’s Assembly Appropriations Committee.
“The most fundamental right in a democracy is the right to vote. It is the cornerstone of our civic process, and since the founding of our nation, we have worked to uphold and expand that right for every eligible citizen.
Continue reading “Statement by Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson”
| The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee advanced a comprehensive bill package on Monday that encourages responsible growth of technology – while protecting the rights of consumers, professionals and companies. From commerce to advertising and from elections to companionship, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the way that people consume information, go about their daily business, and form relationships. The legislation passed in committee today would ensure that New Jersey has measures in place to protect New Jersey residents across a broad spectrum of industries and applications. “As generative AI becomes more commonplace, it’s more important than ever to have safeguards in place to protect New Jerseyans from being duped or deceived,” said Assemblyman Chris Tully, Chair of the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee. “The bills we advanced focus on deceptive advertising, disclosure that a user is not interacting with a human and creating common sense policies. All with the goal of protecting everyday New Jerseyans as we move further into a digital future.” The committee advanced the following bills: Bill A4732 would require artificial intelligence companion chatbots to provide clear and conspicuous notifications that users are not communicating with a human. The use of these chatbots has become increasingly prevalent and there is growing use amongst vulnerable populations, including teens and seniors. There is a growing concern about the effects of companion chatbots on users, including impacts on mental health and real-world relationships. Assembly members Marisa Sweeney, Dave Bailey, Jr. and Linda Carter sponsored the legislation. Bill A4728 would regulate deceptive use of artificial intelligence in photo advertising of certain dwellings. Specifically, the bill would prohibit the use of generative AI or photo editing software to deceptively alter listing images, with the exception of photos with staged furniture. It would also require photos used in advertising dwelling units or dwelling sites to reflect the actual, current state of the dwelling unit or dwelling site. Assemblywomen Carmen Morales and Mitchelle Drulis and Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz sponsored Bill A4728. As more people rely on generative AI for information, experts warn that elections are uniquely vulnerable to AI-driven disinformation. Bill A4729 would require disclosure to be made when generative artificial intelligence is used to operate chatbots that provide election-related information. The legislation aims to safeguard transparency for voters and individuals seeking accurate election information. Assembly members Robert Karabinchak, Ellen Park and Avi Schnall sponsored the legislation. Bill A4731 would direct professional and occupational boards to promulgate rules for licensee use of generative AI. Specifically, the bill would direct the Division of Consumer Affairs to create a model policy governing the use of generative AI by licensed professionals across New Jersey’s regulatory boards. The boards would then be able to use that model policy to create and adopt policies for their professions, putting guardrails in place to ensure that professionals use generative AI in ethical and fair ways to best benefit their clients, patients or customers. Assembly members Tennille R. McCoy, Balvir Singh and Luanne Peterpaul sponsored the bill. While a lot of people believe they are good at identifying when they are interacting with AI content or systems, studies show that the actual number who can correctly identify this is much lower. Bill A4730 would require a person or entity to notify certain consumers when communicating with generative AI to engage in trade or commerce that they are not interacting with humans. The legislation would increase transparency and help reduce the instances of deceptive business practices. Assemblymen Tully, William Sampson and William F. Moen, Jr. sponsored the legislation. |
Congressman Van Drew announced progress toward fixing the long-standing traffic design issue at Exit 20 on the Garden State Parkway.”This has been a priority for me since my time in the State Legislature, and I have been working with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to finally get this moving,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Right now, Exit 20 is designed so you can only enter the Parkway heading south and only exit when traveling north. That simply does not make sense for the people who live and work here. The Turnpike Authority has now completed the preliminary design for improvements. The next step is for the project to move through the Authority’s budget prioritization process to be considered for funding. I will keep pushing to make sure this project moves forward so this interchange finally works the way it should for South Jersey.”
| As we commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, now is the time to ensure the places that tell our nation’s story are protected for future generations. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) plays a critical role in preserving our nation’s historic sites, and Congress needs to hear from you! The bipartisan FY27 HPF Dear Colleague letter is circulating in the House, requesting $250 million for the HPF. The deadline for signatures is Wednesday, March 18th at 4:00pm. A huge thank you to Rep. Mike Turner and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández for their leadership and dedication to historic preservation. Your voice matters — please contact your Representative and urge them to support the Historic Preservation Fund today!Thank you for standing up for our shared heritage, Preservation New Jersey Sign on and Send Your Message |