The lame-duck legislative session is coming to a close, and lawmakers continued Thursday to button up final bills and other proposals they want moved before they start over next week.
One significant development was a compromise agreement on new rules for breweries and distilleries, a deal that left out Gov. Phil Murphy’s hopes for broader liquor licensing reforms but eased some planned restrictions on local breweries.
Said state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), who sponsored the compromise bill: “It does a lot on easing restrictions on breweries, whether its events or the ability to contract with food vendors, trivia nights, to having food trucks. It’s going to make it much easier for small businesses to operate.”
Meanwhile, proposed affordable housing reforms look to be headed to the next session. One measure that would kill the existing Council on Affordable Housing and create special regional masters was announced with great fanfare. Now, it is getting a more muted response.
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen) said: “In my opinion, that needs a little more work. I’ve gotten calls from constituents in my district who say they have issues with it, that it’s going to be detrimental to the city of Englewood, so I have a problem with that bill.”
Lawmakers are also close to passing their first pay increase in more than two decades. The fast-tracked legislation cleared key committee hurdles along party lines on Thursday.
Annual salaries for the part-time lawmakers would go from $49,000 to $82,000 and take effect in 2026. The same bill calls for other taxpayer-funded salaries to increase, including for legislative staff and gubernatorial cabinet members, among others.
Staff Writer John Reitmeyer contributed to this report.
