John Dimaio

A 15-second commercial by the New Jersey Education Association sparked a parody video by state Republican lawmakers. They say its removal from YouTube over a copyright claim is censorship.

Income taxes would be cut, property taxes would be helped by municipal and school aid and residents would get rebate checks under Assembly GOP budget sketch.

The Murphy administration says revenues in the current and upcoming years will be $7.8 billion higher than it expected in March.

Though lawmakers have expressed interest in restoring aid to municipalities that is diverted to the state, that's not in Gov. Phil Murphy's budget plan.

Gov. Phil Murphy proposes property tax rebates starting at $700 and growing to $1,150, including homes with incomes of up to $250,000. Renters get help, too.

Property taxes in New Jersey climbed by nearly 2% again last year, restrained by the cap but still amounting to a $583 million tax hike.

In a State of the State that was mostly a four-year retrospective, Murphy called for tackling prescription drug affordability and gun measures this year.

The positions of Senate president, Senate majority leader and Senate and Assembly minority leader each change hands for the first time in 10 years or more.

An Assembly committee Wednesday endorsed a six-bill package aimed at helping restaurants and other small businesses.

The action comes as agency locations continue to work through heavy demand built up during state-mandated closures, and are forced to close themselves on a case-by-case basis due to coronavirus cases among workers.

Two state lawmakers want to ban reusable bags until a month after the health crisis is over, citing concern over contamination.

New Jersey’s average residential property tax bill grew at the fastest rate in three years in 2019, 2.1%, reaching $8,953.