70+ New Laws Signed In NJ, Including Major Lawmaker Salary Boost

NEW JERSEY - Gov. Phil Murphy is crossing some items off his 2024 to do list.

The New Jersey governor signed over 70 bills into law on Tuesday in what serves as his largest bill approval of the year so far. The new laws come on the heels of several other notable measures signed by Murphy this January, of which strengthen immigrant workers’ rights, establish a NJ State Parks and Open Space Foundation and offer $10 million in resilience funding to homeowners impacted by December flooding.

You can view the full list of bills signed Tuesday here.

Here’s what some of the new measures mean for New Jerseyans:

Salary Boosts For Governor, Other Lawmakers (A5910)

Starting in 2026, the salaries for members in both Legislative houses will see a boost from $49,000 to $82,000. The governor's salary will also see a boost from $175,000 to $210,000, though Murphy's term will be over by the time the measure goes into effect. The same increase will go into effect for certain gubernatorial cabinet members as well.

The increases, which serve as the first salary boost in the Legislature in over two decades, will cost taxpayers $3.1 million in 2024 and 2025 and at least $12.4 million in 2027, per the Office of Legislative Services.

Minimum Liability Coverage Raised For Some Motorists (S-2841/A-4292)

Commercial vehicle and taxi owners will have to shell out more after just one incident that results in injury, property damage or death, according to a new law signed by Murphy. The minimum liability coverage for owners will be $1.5 million after an accident; for a vehicle with a weight of more than 10,000 pounds but less than 26,000 pounds, that minimum will be $300,000.

Last year, Murphy signed a similar law that raised the minimum liability insurance amount for non-commercial drivers from $15,000 to $25,000. The minimum will go up yet again in 2026 to $35,000. Read more: NJ Insurance Rates Could Skyrocket Under New Law

Unaffiliated Mail-In Voters Can Declare Party Later (S-3758/A-5343)

IN 2023, unaffiliated New Jersey voters had to declare their party affiliation nearly two months before the primary election to vote by mail, according to the governor's office. However, per a new law signed by Murphy, unaffiliated voters may vote using a mail-in ballot if the voter submits an affiliation declaration form before the mail-in ballot registration deadline, which is typically around the day before the primary election.

Hazard Plans Must Include Climate-Change Threat Assessments (A-4691/S-1530)

Hazard mitigation plans adopted or revised by state or county officials must address the current and future impacts of climate change, according to another law signed by Murphy. The plans must identify the specific hazards and risks to the applicable community associated with climate change and include strategies to prevent the impacts of climate change on any identified natural hazards and threats to infrastructure found in the planning process.

Related: Water Rescues, Power Outages, School Delays: See NJ Storm Aftermath

The measure comes after a string of winter storms rocked the Garden State, prompting road closures, evacuations and long-term river flooding that damaged some homes near the Passaic River. The most recent bout of flooding last week that drowned cars and blocked access to local businesses still has residents pumping out basements and working to restore electrical service, according to NJ Spotlight News.

Fines, Summonses For Underage Persons In Possession Of Alcohol, Cannabis (A-5610/S-3954)

Underage persons found in possession of booze or cannabis will no longer just get a written warning: under a new law, individuals under legal age to purchase alcohol or cannabis will be charged with a violation on a complaint-summons and subject to a fine of $100. If the underage person is under 18 years of age, a written notification will also be provided to a parent or guardian.

"It is imperative to protect the youth in this state by preventing underage drinking and the related harmful effects," the law reads, noting that youth who drink alcohol are at increased risk for problems in schools, legal issues, disruption of normal growth and development and increased risk of suicide and homicide.

The law is expected to result in tens of thousands of dollars in state, county and municipal revenue from fine collection, according to the Office of Legislative Services.