The New Jersey Legislature has advanced a number of bills as it wraps up its lame duck session next week.
With one voting day to go before the end of the session, New Jersey legislators scrambled Thursday to finish up a controversial bill that could spur some private construction of new public schools in three low-performing districts.
The initial Urban Hope Act called for Newark, Camden, and Jersey City to participate in the pilot program that would allow nonprofit organizations to apply to the district and the state to build new so-called "renaissance schools." Each district could get up to four new schools. The language was tweaked – taking Jersey City out and putting Trenton in.
The bill has strong bipartisan support and the full Senate and Assembly are expected to vote on the measure on Monday, their last day of session.
Governor Chris Christie is expected to sign it.
One bill that will not likely get Christie’s signature is a measure that would ramp up the installation of solar energy systems in the state. The bill is in a position to be approved by both houses on Monday, but even if it passes Christie will not sign it, according to proponents and opponents.
If that happens, it leaves the solar sector without a clear answer as to how the state will stabilize an industry that has witnessed one of the primary means of financing solar installations -- credits earned by owners of solar systems for the electricity they produce -- drop dramatically in price over the past six months, a decline some fear could lead to a collapse of the sector.
The division also underscores a continuing dispute between Democratic lawmakers and the Christie administration over efforts to promote solar development in New Jersey, which is second only to California in the number of solar installations. Democrats say it is one of the few areas of the state economy still growing, while administration officials question whether that aggressive growth is making New Jersey less competitive with other states, by making electricity more expensive.
New Jersey residents are also one step closer to being able to buy wine directly from Garden State vineyards and have it legally shipped to their doorsteps.
If passed by both houses and signed by the governor, the bill (A-4436) would make New Jersey one of 38 states that allows direct shipping of wine to residents, a list that includes New York but not Pennsylvania, according to the Wine Institute, a lobbying group for California wines. Previous versions of the bill have been in the works since 2008.
Reporting by Tom Johnson, John Mooney and Annie Knox.
NJ Spotlight is an online news service providing insight and information on issues critical to New Jersey, with the aim of informing and engaging the state’s communities and businesses. Read more about these stories at New Jersey Spotlight.