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Bill

SCR 47

Requires Legislature to make bills and joint resolutions available to public on Legislature's website at least seven days before final vote.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Latham Tiver

Requires New Jersey Legislature to post all bills online seven days before final votes to increase public transparency and review time.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
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Bill Summary · SCR 47

Legislative bill overview

SCR 47 mandates that the New Jersey Legislature post all bills and joint resolutions on its official website at least seven days before a final vote is taken. This is a procedural requirement designed to increase transparency and public access to legislative information during the drafting and consideration phases.

Why is this important

The seven-day advance notice requirement gives constituents, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders time to review legislation, contact representatives, and mobilize responses before votes occur. Currently, bills can sometimes move through the legislative process with limited public awareness, particularly when amendments are made near the end of consideration. This measure directly addresses concerns about deliberative democracy and informed civic participation.

Potential points of contention

  • Emergency procedures exemption: The bill doesn't explicitly address how emergency legislation or time-sensitive bills would be handled, potentially creating loopholes for bills claimed as urgent
  • Definition of "final vote": Ambiguity exists around whether this applies only to final passage votes or includes committee votes and procedural votes, which could significantly expand posting requirements
  • Implementation costs: Website maintenance, coordination systems, and staff resources needed to ensure compliance across all bills may have budgetary implications not addressed in the resolution

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

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