Good Tuesday morning!

It’s not late June in Trenton without efforts to shove some potentially controversial major policy changes through the legislative process with as little notice as possible, just as we’re about to see the final version of the budget.

Here’s one that escaped my attention until very recently: Legislation that would overhaul and once again expand the New Jersey’s film and video tax credit.

This bill, S3748, started as a fairly-straightforward 27 pages aimed at helping Netflix secure its Fort Monmouth project, and in the course of committee meetings in the state Senate and Assembly, with little discussion, was replaced by an entirely different 49-page bill that does a whole lot more. That includes expanding the tax credits by at least $200 million, making billions in unused corporate tax credits available to the studios, expanding the incentive program five years to 2039, and allowing the state to invest up to $30 million in taxpayer money in these projects. Or at least that’s how it looked before Senate floor amendments yesterday, which I haven’t had a chance to go through. The bill has been through committees in both houses and is expected to gain final passage Friday. New Jersey Policy Perspective, the progressive group that often criticizes tax incentives, yesterday released an analysis of the bill. You can read that here.

But what, there’s more! Today the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees consider a new bill, A5644, that makes big changes to one of New Jersey’s tax incentive programs, Aspire NJ. I haven’t had a chance to read it in any detail, but from my quick glance it appears to increase the percentages of their projects developers can use tax credits to help pay for and reduce the size of the projects needed to qualify.

New Jersey’s legislative sessions never really end. It’s really quite the coincidence that these ultra-complex and potentially expensive pieces of legislation so often suddenly emerge at the end of the budget season or during a crowded lame duck session, leaving journalists, advocates and lobbyists who didn’t write them little time to actually understand what they do.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I have one question for you, and note that you’re under oath: Do you think Sen. Bramnick is the funniest lawyer in New Jersey?” — State Sen. Joe Lagana to Supreme Court nominee Michael Noriega, who works at Bramnick’s law firm, during his confirmation hearing Monday. Noriega did not answer Lagana’s question.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Gail Gordon, Scarlett Rajski Martin, Jim Schulz

WHERE’S MURPHY? — No public schedule

JUSTICE N.O.R.E. — Supreme Court nominee Michael Noriega sails through confirmation hearing, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: State Supreme Court nominee Michael Noriega sailed through a confirmation hearing Monday, setting him up for what is likely to be an easy confirmation vote in the full Senate. The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to confirm Noriega’s nomination after an hourlong hearing in which senators of both parties showered him with praise and asked no difficult or combative questions. Noriega, a 45-year-old immigration and criminal defense attorney who works for the law firm run by state Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union), is Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s fourth new nominee to the court since he took office in 2018. Noriega is also the third Murphy nominee who, if confirmed and granted tenure after seven years, could potentially serve more than two decades on the court. The mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices is 70. Murphy will likely get one more pick for the Supreme Court when Justice Lee Solomon reaches retirement age in August 2024.

THE CITY SO NICE THEY CHARGED NJ TWICE — New York congestion pricing to get federal green light, New Jersey lawmakers say, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Federal transportation officials are giving a final green light to New York’s plan to toll drivers coming into parts of Manhattan, members of the New Jersey congressional delegation say. Sen. Bob Menendez and Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Bill Pascrell, all New Jersey Democrats, said they are “outraged” after hearing the Federal Highway Administration will not require New York to do more outreach and environmental studies before putting in tolls that will affect New Jersey drivers. The New Jersey trio said highway officials are moving ahead with a “Finding of No Significant Impact” document about congestion pricing. In May, highway officials issued a letter approving the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority environmental assessment and issued a draft impact finding, which was out for 30 days of public review. New Jersey opponents of the tolling plan had hoped to get the administration to reconsider that decision and make MTA do a more exhaustive environmental impact statement, which could delay a tolling plan that has been repeatedly delayed. “This is nothing more than a cash grab to fund the MTA,” the New Jersey Democrats said in a statement to POLITICO.

MASTRO! — Gov’s office statement: “The Federal Highway Administration’s decision to green-light the MTA’s proposed tolling program marks yet another slight against hardworking New Jerseyans in favor of an agency concerned not with removing vehicles from our roads, but with lining its own coffers. While we are not necessarily opposed to a carefully crafted congestion pricing proposal, we are deeply disappointed by the FHWA’s limited review and skeptical of the motives of a financially ailing agency that has failed to meaningfully engage with our Administration on this issue. To that end, we have retained Randy Mastro and Craig Carpenito of King & Spalding to explore all of our legal options, and we anticipate announcing a course of action soon. We will continue to stand resolutely against a tolling scheme that will disproportionately burden environmental justice communities and severely harm our commuters and transit agencies.”

—@BridgetAKelly: “Promoting men who make a living destroying women is unacceptable, especially in a leader of this state. It is disgusting that @PhilMurphy has given Randy Mastro another taxpayer-funded multi million-dollar contract but it is not surprising…”

THE EXPENDABLES — “NJ tax rebates are usually politically expendable. Can StayNJ be the exception?” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “The New Jersey Democratic Party’s triumvirate of power did its best last week to sell the significance — and certainty — of one of the most grandiose benefits ever promised from Trenton: a credit that could slash property tax bills for senior citizens by as much as 50%. The Big Three used more sales-pitch superlatives than an over-caffeinated QVC channel host hawking gaudy watches at 2 a.m. … Yet, as hard as the trio tried to commit to a “spiritual” obligation to deliver the program, they could not offer any ironclad guarantee that homeowners 65 and older — and with incomes of $500,000 or less — will ever see the promised cut, or a maximum $6,500 credit on tax bills, starting in 2026. Still, as the plan faces likely votes in both houses of the Legislature this week, we’re most certain to hear heartstring-pulling floor speeches about how StayNJ will keep Grandma and Grandpa near their loved ones in New Jersey — rather than risking their flight to some low-tax development in the Carolinas.”

—Senate approves DOBI Commissioner Caride to judgeship

—“$1M state fund helped make life easier for those with hearing loss. So why was it shelved?”

—“Air quality at Veterans Home at Menlo Park is good, but mold abatement work continues, officials say”

—“This is why the Meadowlands needs a convention center | Opinion”

—“NJ Transit gets $47M federal grant to help electric buses roll in Newark”

—“N.J. progressives tell leaders working on state budget: ‘Statehouse is not for sale’”

—“Scarinci: Fulop’s traction In N.J. governor’s race creates uproar over ELEC advisory opinion”

—“Bill to require updated reporting of election results heads to governor’s desk”

—Opinion: “Tougher drug penalties are a setback, not a solution”

—Snowflack: “Obfuscating OPRA”

JOEY FOX TO BE REPLACED BY NEW STATEHOUSE REPORTER NAMED KANGAROO CUB — “Joey Fox Is headed to Washington,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Joey Fox is headed to Washington, D.C. early next month to begin a new assignment as the New Jersey Globe’s Capitol Hill reporter, where he’ll cover the state’s congressional delegation as well as New Jersey news coming out of the Biden administration, the federal judiciary, and national political parties.”

DC ON AC — “AC Housing Authority fails HUD rules on how residents get in, pay, and more,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “The Atlantic City Housing Authority has not followed federal rules for years in most of its operations, including how public housing residents residents are chosen, how their rent is calculated and collected, and how public health and security issues are handled, according to a recently released federal compliance review. Perhaps most disturbingly, it has not tested children living in its complexes for lead-based paint poisoning or taken steps to address any problems found, as required by law. It also has not followed rules on required criminal background checks or sexual offender background checks. And it has not kept security deposits in interest-bearing accounts, as required under state law, the report said. On Thursday the authority’s new Executive Director Matt Doherty told its board of directors the results came in and they outline corrective actions that make a lot of common sense.”

NEXTFLIX AND PHIL — “How Fort Monmouth got Netflix and one of the world’s biggest movie studios,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Michael L. Diamond: “The idea that the renowned streaming company would pick central New Jersey for a hub would strike some as fanciful. After all, even if Netflix set aside the Garden State’s long-standing reputation as being unfriendly to business, it had plenty of other locations in the state from which to choose. But interviews with elected officials, policymakers and developers show the location made perfect sense as a Netflix landing spot. The fort needed several pieces to come together. Among them: Failure. As the economy changed rapidly and developers abandoned initial proposals, Fort Monmouth officials finally saw an opening to craft a proposal that would be suitable to big companies like Netflix. A new economic development strategy. Gov. Phil Murphy came to office in 2018 with a focus on New Jersey’s technology and innovation economy, including tax breaks for film production. He went so far as to personally solicit film companies, both privately and publicly. A buyer. Netflix was an appealing target. In an arms race to make content and win over an audience with limitless options, Netflix needs production space. Meanwhile, the company’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos had personal ties to the area. He was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. And Murphy counts Sarandos and his wife, Nicole Avant, as friends.”

PATERSON SHOWS UP NEWARK BY PICKING SISTER CITY THAT EXISTS — “In nod to Palestinian community, Paterson signs new sister city agreement with Ramallah,” by The Record’s Hannan Adely: “A stretch of Main Street in the southern part of Paterson is affectionately known as ‘Little Ramallah,’ nicknamed for the Palestinian city where many local families and business owners have their roots. On Monday, the kinship between the two cities became official as their respective mayors joined together at Paterson City Hall to sign a sister city agreement. Andre Sayegh, mayor of New Jersey’s third largest city, and Issa Kassis, mayor of a West Bank cultural and economic hub, inked the document while hailing ties between them.”

MEETING ENDS ABRUPTLY WHEN BLACK AND WHITE SURROUNDINGS ARE SUDDENLY COLORIZED — “Pleasantville BOE meeting ends abruptly during argument over assistant superintendent,” by The Press of Atlantic City Christopher Doyle: “The Board of Education was thrown into disarray Thursday as an argument over administrative positions led the board president to make an abrupt exit and force an informal adjournment. The discord comes as a new superintendent is set to begin her tenure and has vowed to listen to community members who say they have grown frustrated with the school board and what they describe as its characteristic dysfunction.”

—“[Wall] principal getting raise — even though she was put on leave more than 1 year ago”

—“Cumberland County leverages Medicaid funds to address more health challenges”

—“New Jersey Senate confirms Al Santos as superior court judge, resigns as Kearny mayor”

—“Pride banners vandalized in South Jersey town [Harrison Township], mayor says”

MY MENTAL HEALTH EPISODES MAKE NJ PLAYBOOK MORE FUN TO READ — “Mental health days gain traction with employers in burned-out Garden State,” by The Record’s Gene Myers: “The ‘mental health day,’ once mocked and often hidden, is going mainstream, say counselors and HR professionals, as employees and businesses in New Jersey recognize the high costs of worker stress. A poll by Breeze, a disability insurance broker, found that 63% of employees took a mental health day in 2021, as the COVID pandemic ground on — though almost half of those people felt they couldn’t be honest with bosses about why they were out. Michael Tozzoli, CEO of Ridgewood-based West Bergen Mental Healthcare, sees it all the time. In a state known for its high cost of living and crowded highways, mental health days are the top reason he hears from clients who take time off from work. ‘We talk and move and dress and work in a very fast and loud way. You know: what we call productive,’ said Tozzoli, a lifelong Jersey resident. ‘There’s something attractive about us. We’re productive.’”

—“NJ hospitals expand LGBTQ+ health care amid firestorm over adolescent hormone treatment”

—“Stockton renames economics center following $2M donation”