WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 5859

Enacts the "assuring college campus and educational safety and support (ACCESS) act" relating to harassment of students and applicants at educational institutions

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Berger and 16 co-sponsors

Waives the 5% down payment and Local Finance Board review for hazard mitigation and resilience bonds, easing financing for local governments.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 5859

Summary of Assembly Bill A-5859 (ACCESS Act)

Note: The documents describe amendments to local bond law rather than provisions addressing harassment on campuses. The bill’s substantive changes pertain to local government bonding for hazard mitigation and resilience projects.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A-5859
  • Title (as introduced): Enacts the “Assuring College Campus and Educational Safety and Support (ACCESS) Act” relating to harassment of students and applicants at educational institutions (note: the text provided for this bill focuses on local bond law changes, not campus harassment provisions).
  • Current Status: Referred to the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee (per the legislative actions section). The companion and related actions appear in the related bills list.
  • Introduced: June 19, 2025
  • Sponsors: A broad slate of sponsors including Micah Lasher (primary) and many cosponsors.
  • Related Bills: Companion bills in the Senate (S 4472, S 4669)

What the bill does (key provisions)

  • Adds hazard mitigation and resilience projects to the set of exemptions from a five percent down payment requirement.
    • Under current law, bond ordinances generally require a down payment of at least 5% of the authorized obligations.
    • A-5859 would exempt local governments from this 5% down payment requirement specifically for bonds financing hazard mitigation and resilience projects.
  • Exempts local governments from Local Finance Board (LFB) review for certain maturities and annual installment payments.
    • The law currently requires scrutiny by the Local Finance Board regarding the maturity and annual installment payments of bonds.
    • The bill would remove this requirement for hazard mitigation and resilience projects financed by eligible bonds (including certain loans and programs listed in the statute, such as NJ Infrastructure Bank loans).
  • Technical corrections and clarifications to existing law are included.

How it would operate (practical effect)

  • Local governments (counties and municipalities) could issue bonds for hazard mitigation and resilience projects without requiring a 5% down payment upfront.
  • Local governments could structure bond maturities and annual installments for these projects without needing to apply to the Local Finance Board for approvals of maturity schedules, subject to applicable exemptions (e.g., where financing is via NJ Infrastructure Bank loans or similar programs).
  • The exemptions apply to bonds funded by state grants or environmental infrastructure programs if they meet the specified criteria.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Fiscal impact (OLS and fiscal note): The bill may increase costs for counties and municipalities due to higher debt financing costs associated with issuing 100% financing (no down payment). Interest costs would depend on debt amount, term length, interest rates, and other factors.
  • Possible administrative impact: The bill could modestly reduce administrative workload for local units and the Department of Community Affairs by reducing the number of applications and reviews for these specific bond financings.
  • Duration and costs: The increase in local costs is described as indeterminate and varies by jurisdiction and financing terms.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Counties and municipalities issuing bonds for hazard mitigation and resilience projects.
  • Secondary: The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (as the overseeing agency for Local Finance Board processes) and potentially bond underwriting and lending entities (e.g., NJ Infrastructure Bank).

Timeline and implementation

  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (as indicated in the introduced version).
  • Implementation notes: Applies to bond ordinances for hazard mitigation and resilience projects that otherwise would be subject to the 5% down payment and Local Finance Board review under current law.

Additional context

  • The bill’s stated goal is to ease financing for hazard mitigation and resilience projects by removing certain upfront and approval requirements. The fiscal notes acknowledge potential higher long-term debt service costs for local governments and a potential, small reduction in some administrative costs.

For readers seeking more detail, consult the full text of the introduced version (N.J.S.40A:2-11 and N.J.S.40A:2-26 amendments) and the accompanying fiscal notes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.