Gov. Murphy Vetoes 3 NJ Bills, Signs 11 Into Law

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy vetoed three bills on Tuesday while signing 11 into law, approving legislation that would require water customers to be notified about possible elevated lead levels. He also sent legislation back that was intended to promote American-made products and, lawmakers said, boost the state's economy.

Murphy signed legislation (S968/A2836) that will require public water systems to provide notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water to customers and local officials and require landlords to notify tenants of elevated lead levels.

“We must continue to take proactive action to protect our communities from the dangers of lead exposure,” said Murphy. “This legislation will ensure that community members are aware of the levels of lead in their drinking water, a critical step toward protecting our children and families from the dangers of lead exposure.”

The bill requires that written notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water be provided to all customers no later than 10 days after it is determined that lead levels are above the lead action level.

That notice must also include details of the lead action level, provide information on the health effects of lead in drinking water, and provide information about steps a customer can take to reduce risk. Landlords will be required to deliver the notice to all tenants served by the water system within three days of receiving the notice from the public water system.

Murphy also vetoed legislation called the “New Jersey Buy American Act,” which would require all state contracts over $1 million in value for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance or improvement of highways or bridges to contain a provision that any iron or steel products be made in in the United States.

“Requiring the purchase of American-made goods for public contracts is a matter of good economic sense,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “I believe that we have an obligation to use public funds in ways that help our workers and businesses. This is part of a national movement in support of American jobs that will help revitalize infrastructure across the state and bolster the strength of our manufacturing industries.”

Murphy said he applauds the sponsors of the legislation for exploring ways to ensure that the state is investing its taxpayer dollars in American businesses, including small businesses.

"Supporting American companies is particularly important as we emerge from the hardships wrought by the coronavirus disease," Murphy said. "Using domestic goods and materials spurs the creation of well-paid, union jobs and increases investments in the manufacturing industry and workforce, which will aid our efforts to build a stronger and fairer economy."

Murphy, however, said he's concerned that some of the bill’s requirements could inadvertently jeopardize federal funding for bridge and highway projects and cause the state to incur additional costs for those projects.

"Consequently, I am recommending minor changes to the bill to ensure that DOT has maximum flexibility to secure federal funding for bridge and highway projects ," he said.

Murphy also recommended that the bill’s $1 million threshold be removed since there is currently no monetary threshold for triggering the "buy American" requirement under current state or
federal law.

Murphy also signed S975 into law to prohibit animal trunk fighting in New Jersey. Trunk fighting is defined as two or more animals fighting each other that could lead to possible deaths.

With this new law, those who are in violation will be subject to a third-degree animal cruelty felony and/or fined up to $5,000 for each offense.

“Building a stronger and fairer New Jersey includes ensuring animal welfare,” said Murphy. “With today’s bill signing, we are enhancing protections for animals and ensuring that these disturbing activities will not be tolerated.”

Murphy signed the following bills into law:

• S-767/A-4552 (Gopal, Greenstein/Houghtaling, Benson, Tully) – Exempts New Jersey Infrastructure Bank projects from certain local bond requirements
• S-942/A-2890 (Singleton/Lopez, Chiaravalloti, Timberlake) – Requires certain standards for professional and occupational boards considering applicants with criminal history records
• S-1937/A-1597 (Madden, Sweeney/Mejia, Timberlake, Vainieri Huttle) – Establishes Task Force to Promote Employment by State Agencies of People with Disabilities
• S-2486/A-4264 (Sweeney/Taliaferro, Lampitt, Vainieri Huttle) – Establishes Clayton Model Pilot Program in DOE to provide school-based social emotional learning to students in grades kindergarten through five at certain public schools
• S-2728/A-4835 (Sweeney, A.M. Bucco/Verrelli, Burzichelli, Wirths) – Adds two members to State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors
• S-2832/A-5295 (Ruiz, Beach/Quijano, Lampitt) – Allows student enrolled in institution of higher education who has completed 30 semester-hour credits to serve as substitute teacher; extends time period substitute teacher may serve during public health emergency
• S-3145/A-2308 (Greenstein, Pou/Vainieri Huttle, Johnson, Downey) – Concerns names required on applications for professional and occupational licensure
• S-3198/A-5078 (Codey, Gopal/Dancer, Caputo) – Extends time outstanding parimutuel ticket may be claimed from six months to 12 months; allows additional time to claim outstanding parimutuel tickets and unclaimed cash vouchers due to Public Health Emergency
• S-3234/A-5149 (Singleton, A.M. Bucco/Greenwald, Benson, Johnson) – Allows deduction from tax of certain expenses when taxpayer’s federal paycheck protection program loan is forgiven and excludes those forgiven loans from gross income tax
• S968/A2836 Requires public water systems to provide notice of elevated lead levels in drinking water to customers and local officials and require landlords to notify tenants of elevated lead levels.
• S975 Prohibit sanimal trunk fighting in New Jersey. Trunk fighting is defined as two or more animals fighting each other that could lead to possible death(s).

Murphy also conditionally vetoed the following bills:

• S-853/A-5064 (Sweeney, Beach/Verrelli, Giblin, Danielsen) – CONDITIONAL – "New Jersey Buy American Act"; requires certain State agency highway and bridge construction contracts to include iron and steel products made in U.S. Copy of Statement
• S-890/A-1061 (Pou, Codey/Jasey, Johnson, Verrelli) – CONDITIONAL – Requires DOH and DHS to identify and take appropriate steps to secure federal sources of funding to support maternal mental health. Copy of Statement
• S-1676/A-3326 (Smith, Vitale/Conaway, Reynolds-Jackson, Vainieri Huttle) – CONDITIONAL – Allows hospitals to construct housing and provide wrap-around services for individuals who are homeless or housing insecure. Copy of Statement