2023 will undoubtedly bring many new issues to discuss and debate in Trenton, but there are also some that will remain from 2022.
Lawsuits and pending legislation need to be sorted out, and all 120 state legislators are in full campaign mode. They may not be the only ones, but at least he has speculation that one politician has his sights set on running for the highest office in the country after 2023, and beyond New Jersey. flying around.
Below are just a few of the things we’ll see in 2023.
gun lawsuit
Before the ink of Governor Phil Murphy’s signature was completely dry, a new gun control law was being challenged in federal court as unconstitutional.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, Murphy issued an executive order in June requiring state agencies to create a list of “safe places” where the state could ban firearms. signed. Sports stadiums, arenas, bars, restaurants, childcare facilities, hospitals. At the time, he also called for future legislation to set a default rule that firearms cannot be brought onto private property without the owner’s approval.
The law goes beyond that by establishing standards for obtaining a license to carry a handgun, creating an official list for it, and imposing fees and fines on gun owners, as well as insurance requirements and storage obligations. I will do
Lawmakers initially barely approved the bill, and gun support groups are ready for a day in court.
Firearms in New Jersey:The ink is barely dry in New Jersey’s sweeping new gun laws, so gun rights advocates sue to stop it
Abortion compensation for civil servants
After another Supreme Court ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade and removed federal reproductive health protections that had been in place for generations, many states offered protection at the local level. We have taken steps to codify the
New Jersey is no exception, but legislators will prohibit people who undergo or perform abortions in New Jersey from being extradited to states that restrict or criminalize the procedure, and will prohibit New Jersey’s public agencies. It goes even further by prohibiting them from even providing information to help. In a state investigation that criminalizes abortion.
That said, the authorities don’t want to end there.
Murphy signed a bill last January that would give the Bank and Insurance Department the power to make rules mandating the use of abortions if a Department of Bank and Insurance investigation found it necessary.
That study was conducted and published late last year. “State law protects the right to terminate a pregnancy without governmental interference,” he said, adding that “abortion is part of comprehensive reproductive care coverage and is not reasonably covered by health insurance.” should be included in the
court backlog
With 65 judicial positions vacant at the beginning of the year, the backlog of superior courts across the state is going nowhere for a long time.
A meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet been scheduled, but the legislature cannot be directly held accountable. There were only 46 potential judges Murphy named to fill the seats in 2022. Last year, Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Ravner said states needed judges to “address backlogs and give people a day in court.”
It’s not just the lower courts that have problems. He has been nominated and appointed to the state Supreme Court, but there are vacancies.
Shortage of NJ Judges:New Jersey judge shortage continues: ‘Courts are on fire, but no one seems to be paying attention’
Anchor Property Tax Payment
The Anchor Property Tax Refund Program, a highlight of this year’s budget’s “affordability measures,” is open for applications through the end of January. The Treasury Department has said it will process the application and expects to make the payment this spring.
This program replaces Homestead Benefits. Her 870,000+ homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 are eligible for $1,500 in relief. More than 290,000 homeowners with incomes above $150,000 and up to $250,000 are eligible to receive $1,000. Additionally, over 900,000 renters with incomes up to $150,000 are eligible to receive $450 to offset rent increases.
Down in DC
There are new congressmen in town — well, two of them, actually.
The composition of New Jersey’s congressional delegation remained largely the same, with two newcomers: Republican Thomas Keane Jr. and Democrat Rob Menendez Jr. Both have fathers who have won statewide offices, the former Gov. Tom Keene and the latter Bob. New Jersey Senator Menendez.
With Republicans taking control of Congress last fall, legislation in the House is expected to stall as it wields political power over key issues. Menendez’s victory also means that Murphy will have to appoint a new commissioner to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as he has a vacant seat left to head to Washington.
about those tunnels
This year, the fledgling Gateway development is racing to lay the groundwork needed to begin construction on a $16 billion project to build two new tunnels under the Hudson River and rehabilitate the current tunnels. It will be a critical time for the Commission. A century ago.
GDC chief executive Kris Kolluri said in November that the commission would procure a consultant project delivery partner “in the short term” to help with the design and engineering work on the project.
This spring, the committee plans to send a draft funding agreement to the Federal Transportation Administration. The Federal Transport Administration will review gateway development and provide feedback. The GDC will then prepare the final version of the agreement. We hope to do this in the fall, followed by a five-month review and approval process.
That’s at least an optimistic schedule for how that round trip will go this year — or, as Kolluri put it, “a very, very truncated schedule.” Once the contract is complete, a combination of federal, state, and agency funds will be used to determine how the project will be paid for. After that, the commission will allow him to prepare for construction, which is scheduled to start in the fall of 2024. This year is an election year.
more:Can it cut $16 billion in gateway costs? GDC claims it’s asking the federal government for the OK for the next phase.
election season
All 120 seats in Congress are expected to be won this fall. Democrats now control both houses of Congress, but there is always room for turmoil. During last year’s election, Democratic Senate Speaker Steve Sweeney was ousted from his longtime leadership position by a little-known Republican truck driver.
At least one senator (Nicholas Sacco, D-Hudson) has already announced plans to resign, but his resignation is likely in Trenton as he faces Senator Brian Stack (D-Hudson) in the primary. It doesn’t bring new people into the world. for zoning purposes.
Murphy’s chances of running for president
Election Day is just 11 months away this year, so residents are right to keep an eye on their legislators, but there’s one election that’s a little more important for Murphy. That’s his 2024 presidential election. His behavior in 2022 suggests he’s gearing up for running. But after all, with President Joe Biden seemingly poised to run for re-election, Murphy’s repeated denials of his White House dream may finally come true.
But that’s not the end of the speculation, as many New Jersey politicians have presidential ambitions. However, Murphy issued another firm denial earlier this month.
“Sitting here, there is no question that President Biden is running for re-election. “We stand by him 1,000 percent,” he told Fox 5 New York.