TRENTON WATCH
September 13, 2013
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is tracking legislation and other items important to the business community:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Streamlining Economic Incentives - A-3680 (Coutinho/D-29; Singleton/D-7; Watson Coleman/D-15; Ramos/D-33; Green/D-22; Bramnick/R-21; Bucco/R-25; Conaway/D-7; Wimberly/D-35; Moriarty/D-4): Re-Sent to Governor. Senate approved governor's conditional veto 33-1; Assembly approved governor's conditional veto 71-6. The Governor had conditionally approved the bill with two recommendations. The conditional veto removed a provision in the bill requiring that anyone receiving a tax credit would have to provide prevailing wage for maintenance workers. The State Chamber opposed the inclusion of this requirement because it would have driven up costs of many critical projects. The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 enhances and merges five of the state's economic incentive programs for businesses into the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program. The State Chamber believes enhancing the state's incentive programs will benefit small businesses, attract larger businesses to the state, and encourage new entrepreneurs - making New Jersey a formidable competitor in both the national and global economy. Contact: Michael Egenton
Eminent Domain Reform - A-3615/S-2447 (Coutinho/D-29; Bucco/R-25; Munoz/R-21; Van Drew/D-1; Rice/D-28): The Governor signed this bill into law on September 9. Amends the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law" to incorporate the decision of the New Jersey Supreme Court in Gallenthin v. Paulsboro, 191 N.J. 344 (2007). That decision clarifies the requirements a municipality must meet in order to use eminent domain. The State Chamber believes this clarification will create more opportunities for towns and developers to advance beneficial redevelopment projects throughout the state. Contact: Matt Malat
TRANSPORTATION
Third Degree Crime on Trucking Companies - A-1578/S-1450 (Wisniewski/D-19; Prieto/D-32; Giblin/D-34; Quijano/D-20; Weinberg/D-37): The Governor issued an absolute veto on September 9. Creates a third degree crime on trucking companies that contract with independent owner-operators. This would hurt the independent owner-operators, which are usually small businesses. The State Chamber opposes this measure because it prohibits trucking companies from continuing pre-established relationships with independent owner-operators through a federal lease and could potentially drive up the cost of goods throughout New Jersey. Contact: Michael Egenton
Call the New Jersey Chamber Government Relations Department at (609) 989-7888 with questions or comments.
