2024 NJ Legislative Scorecard
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the New Jersey Legislature in 2024 and ranks their assemblymen and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
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Senate Votes
A4047 makes several changes to New Jersey's unemployment insurance (UI) laws. It expands benefits to include disabled adult dependents, allows full-time students to receive UI if available for work, and removes repayment requirements for overpaid benefits due to employer or agency errors. The changes are expected to increase state UI fund expenditures by $14.4 million in the first year and $11.5 million annually thereafter.
The New Jersey State Senate passed A4047 on October 28, 2024 by a vote of 36 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill expands a socialist welfare program, redistributing wealth through government-mandated benefits and increasing the financial burden on taxpayers. By broadening eligibility and eliminating repayment requirements for improperly distributed funds, A4047 promotes dependency on government rather than personal responsibility. Additionally, this bill sets a precedent for further expansion of government welfare programs.
A4700 allocates $56.6 billion in state funds and $27.5 billion in federal funds for New Jersey's fiscal year 2025 budget. It introduces a 2.5% corporate transit fee, alongside a sales tax increase from 6.625% to 7%, aimed at funding NJ Transit.
The New Jersey State Senate passed A4700 on June 28, 2024 by a vote of 27 to 13. We have assigned pluses to the nays because federal funds come with strings attached, handing over state sovereignty to the federal government. Additionally, lawmakers should focus on reducing all taxes, including corporate and sales taxes in New Jersey.
A2280 prohibits discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals and mandates that appraisers undergo anti-bias training. The bill specifies that appraisers cannot consider factors such as race, gender, or marital status when assessing property values.
The New Jersey State Senate passed A2280 on May 20, 2024 by a vote of 26 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the government should not interfere with private entities or the free market. This bill imposes unnecessary regulations on appraisers, potentially leading to artificially adjusted property valuations that do not accurately reflect market conditions. By mandating anti-bias training and restricting the factors appraisers can consider, A2280 subjects professionals to government oversight that could pressure them into valuations based on political considerations rather than economic realities.
A4161 creates the Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to help school districts facing state aid cuts in the 2024-2025 school year. Eligible districts will receive grants covering 45% of their aid reductions, with $44.7 million allocated for funding. It also allows districts that lost aid since 2020-2021 to increase property taxes without voter approval.
The New Jersey State Senate passed A4161 on March 18, 2024 by a vote of 24 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the nays because education is not a proper function of government, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund schooling for other people’s children. This bill further entrenches government control over education by propping up failing school districts with grants—an unjust redistribution of wealth that picks winners and losers rather than allowing competition to drive improvement. Additionally, A4161 makes it easier for bureaucrats to increase the financial burden on homeowners. We encourage parents to remove their children from government-run schools and seek sound alternatives, such as homeschooling or patriotic private institutions such as FreedomProject Academy, which operate without government funding.
S2611 requires each public higher-education institution in New Jersey to form a menstrual equity task force. The task force, appointed by the institution’s president, will develop a plan to improve menstrual equity on campus. This plan must include estimates of need, distribution locations, cost projections, and an implementation timeline.
The New Jersey State Senate passed S2611 on March 18, 2024 by a vote of 36 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund unnecessary task forces that push ideological agendas under the false pretense of “equity.” Equity does not promote true equality — instead, it enforces government-mandated outcomes that redistribute resources unfairly. Public universities have become places of Marxist indoctrination, and funding should be cut off.
S1313 requires the New Jersey Treasury Department to establish a standardized LGBTQ+ business certification process for businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by LGBTQ+ individuals. It sets criteria for certification, denial, revocation, and appeals while ensuring confidentiality. The bill aligns with Governor Murphy’s 2022 Executive Order 295, which directed the Treasury to develop an LGBTQ+ certification program and integrate it into the state's Minority and/or Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program, expanding access to state contracts. It also allows reciprocal agreements with other certifying entities to streamline the process.
The New Jersey State Senate passed S1313 on March 18, 2024 by a vote of 33 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because government-mandated certification based on identity promotes reverse discrimination, fosters division, and advances a woke agenda. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund policies that prioritize contracts based on identity rather than merit. Government interference in business and personal matters undermines free enterprise and violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.
