Relates to notice requirement of adult care facility closures

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jo Anne Simon

Requires state entities to post OPRA public-record studies and papers online on their websites, produced or commissioned by the state, within 30 days after enactment.

PRINT NUMBER 5998A

Summary — Assembly Bill A5998 (Print No. 5998A)

Status: PRINT NUMBER 5998A
Introduced: November 17, 2025
Primary sponsor: Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon
Committee referrals (as provided): Assembly State and Local Government; Health (records show multiple referrals and amendments)
Related bills: A10560 (prior session); S6959 (companion)

Note on available materials
- The title provided ("Relates to notice requirement of adult care facility closures") does not match the text of the introduced version supplied. The actual introduced-version text available with this submission concerns electronic publication of certain studies or papers produced/commissioned by State entities under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). There also appear to be inconsistent or out-of-order legislative action dates in the record provided. Readers should verify the bill text and status on the official legislative website for the most current version.

Purpose and intent
- Require State entities to make studies or papers they produce or commission — when those documents are public records under OPRA (P.L.1963, c.73; C.47:1A-1 et seq.) — available electronically by posting them on the appropriate State entity website. The intent is to increase public access and transparency for studies/papers created or commissioned by State government.

Key provisions
- Requires that all studies or papers produced or commissioned by a “State entity” that qualify as public records under OPRA be made available electronically.
- Mandates posting such documents on the appropriate State entity website.
- Defines “State entity” to mean: State departments or agencies in the Executive Branch and any board, commission, corporation, authority, or instrumentality thereof.
- Effective date: the 30th day after enactment.

Who would be affected
- Executive-branch State departments and agencies and their boards, commissions, authorities, corporations, and instrumentalities.
- Members of the public, researchers, journalists, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders who use State-produced or State-commissioned studies.
- State IT/web publishing staff and records-management offices responsible for posting and maintaining these documents online.

Potential impacts and implementation considerations
- Transparency: Expands public, online access to State studies and papers, facilitating easier retrieval and review.
- Administrative burden: Agencies may incur costs and staff time to post historical and newly produced documents, ensure proper formatting/searchability, and maintain web access.
- Privacy/confidentiality: Agencies will need processes to identify and withhold (or redact) records or portions thereof that are exempt from OPRA or contain confidential/sensitive information.
- Consistency with OPRA: The requirement supplements OPRA by specifying electronic posting; implementation will need to align with existing records-retention and disclosure rules.

Procedural/timeline notes
- Provided record lists multiple committee referrals and an amendment/recommit to Health with Print No. 5998A. The introduced version text supplied is limited and may not reflect later amendments. Verify the latest bill text and status (committee reports, amendments, votes) on the New Jersey Legislature website.