New Jersey Statewide Pay to Play Reform to be Introduced in the Senate Today

This afternoon, Senate Democrats plan to introduce legislation aimed to overhaul “loopholes” in New Jersey’s current pay-to-play laws.  One of the goals of this legislation is to direct local governments to follow the same rules that currently apply to State government contractors.  If municipal and county governments are required to follow restrictions similar to those in place at the State Executive Branch level of government, the “fair and open process” exception to the local contracting process may become obsolete.  Another goal set by the proposed legislation is to broaden political contribution disclosure requirements for public government contractors and to require political candidates and non-profit advocacy groups to disclose all donors (regardless of the amount of their contribution or donation).  Another significant potential change is that the broadened disclosure brings non-profit advocacy groups into the ambit of New Jersey’s pay-to-play regime.  If this bill moves forward, it will likely present the most significant changes to New Jersey’s pay-to-play laws since their inception in 2004.