Panel Advances Oroho Measure Easing Burden on Small Towns
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would make it easier for small municipalities to fill seats on government boards passed the Senate Community and Affairs Committee today.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would make it easier for small municipalities to fill seats on government boards passed the Senate Community and Affairs Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
By law, every municipality is required to have a board of health. New Jersey towns with 20,000 residents or less are permitted by law to fill the board with members of the township committee.
“It can be difficult, if not impossible, for small towns to come up with enough volunteers to sit on the board,” said Oroho (R-24). “This legislation (S-652) builds on a sensible and efficient solution that has worked in the State’s smallest towns and expands the law to include municipalities with populations of 30,000 or less.”
Endorsed by Senate, Oroho Bill Would Hold Reckless Absentee Landlords Responsible
Absentee landlords of trouble-plagued rooming and board houses would be held accountable under legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho and advanced today by the Senate.
Absentee landlords of trouble-plagued rooming and board houses would be held accountable under legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho and advanced today by the Senate. (©iStock)
The bipartisan measure, S-648, would revise the definition of “landlord” to include rooming and boarding house owners and operators with regard to ordinances holding landlords to certain standards of responsibility.
District 24 Lawmakers Commend Decision to Reinstate Bear Hunt
Senator Steven Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths (all R-24) commended the decision to reinstate New Jersey’s bear hunt and expressed appreciation to Governor Murphy for his willingness to follow the wildlife experts.
Sen. Steven Oroho and Asm. Parker Space and Hal Wirths commended the decision to reinstate New Jersey’s bear hunt and expressed appreciation to Gov. Murphy for his willingness to follow the wildlife experts. (YouTube)
“Hunting is an important part of the comprehensive set of practices that the state employs to manage the black bear population and minimize danger to people and property,” said Senator Oroho. “By his executive action to allow the bear hunt to recommence, I believe the Governor is recognizing this fact and I applaud his actions. Going forward, I hope the Administration will continue to follow the data and allow the wildlife conservation experts—who best understand the issue—to guide New Jersey’s bear management policies.”
Oroho Bill that Would Increase Financial Transparency Clears Committee
New Jerseyans may soon have access to a user-friendly, plain language report that summarizes the contents of the New Jersey Annual Financial Report thanks to bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho and approved today by the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
New Jerseyans may soon have access to a user-friendly report that summarizes the contents of the NJ Annual Financial Report thanks to legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho and approved today by committee. (Pixabay)
“For far too long, New Jersey’s annual financial reports have been written by technocrats who pay little attention to the wonky, often obscure, financial language that comprises their assessments,” said Oroho (R-24). “This legislation will increase transparency and build public trust by allowing New Jerseyans to read, in layman’s terms, the financial status of the state, and to see exactly where their hard earned tax dollars are going.”
Panel Passes Oroho/Madden Bill Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Extortion
Legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and Senator Fred Madden (D-4) that would establish the crime of sexual extortion to fight a growing trend frequently victimizing minors was advanced today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho (R-24) that would establish the crime of sexual extortion to fight a growing trend frequently victimizing minors was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Pixabay)
Law enforcement agencies have cited an alarming increase in reports of sexual extortion, or sextortion, which often victimizes teenagers and children who are targeted by adults online.
“This despicable conduct cannot be tolerated,” said Oroho (R-24). “This is cyber bullying at the highest level, and the young victims deserve the support and protection offered by this bill.
“It is time to empower the legal system to identify, convict and punish the perpetrators with a law that fits the crime.”
Republican Budget Members Call Out Treasurer for Lack of Transparency on State’s Health Insurance Plans
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee criticized the State Treasurer today for not responding to nine pages of budget questions, and requests for data, about the State’s health insurance plans for public employees submitted seven months ago.
Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called out the State Treasurer for not responding to nine pages of budget questions about the State’s health insurance plans for public employees submitted seven months ago. (©iStock)
Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho, Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Sam Thompson, and Senator Michael Testa again requested that Treasurer Muoio finally admit her lack of transparency and failure to ever provide responsive answers to routine budget questions and requests for data that are answered every year (except this one) as part of the budget process.
Republican Budget Members Call for Subpoena Power to Compel Treasury Docs & Testimony on Health Benefit Rate Increases
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee have called for the committee to be given the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the Treasurer to provide documents and testimony under oath related to massive increases in State health benefit premiums.
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee have called for the committee to be given the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the Treasurer to provide documents and testimony under oath related to massive increases in State health benefit premiums. (©iStock.com)
The request was made in a letter sent by Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho, Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Sam Thompson, and Senator Michael Testa to Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, and Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo.
The Republican senators said subpoenas were necessary since the Murphy administration has refused to answer important questions or provide documents that could help the Legislature, impacted employees and retirees, and the public to understand the recent 22% rate increase.
Senate Advances Oroho Bill Freeing Raw Honey from Cottage Food Regulations
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would exempt raw, unprocessed honey from Department of Health cottage food regulations was approved today by the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho that would exempt raw, unprocessed honey from Department of Health cottage food regulations was approved by the New Jersey Senate. (Pixabay)
“For far too long, beekeepers have been subject to unnecessary government red tape that prevents them from easily distributing fresh, unprocessed honey,” said Oroho (R-24). “My legislation will exempt raw honey from these needless Department of Health regulations so that beekeepers and farmers can get their product to the public in an efficient manner.”
Oroho Resolution Calling for the Establishment of a Northwest NJ Vet Center Advances
A new Vet Center for the northwestern part of the state could move closer to reality under Senator Steven Oroho’s resolution, endorsed during today’s Senate session.
Senator Steven Oroho’s resolution which could bring a new Vet Center to the northwestern part of the state was endorsed by the Senate. (Flickr)
“A new state-of-the-art complex in this area would be embraced by the almost 50,000 veterans living in Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon and Warren counties,” said Oroho (R-24). “It would ensure easier, quicker access to care, counseling, and other assistance for the men and women who earned it.”
Senate Passes Oroho Bill to Make Franklinite the Official State Mineral
A mineral often found in the northwest portion of New Jersey but regarded as rare around the globe would become the official mineral of the state under legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho and approved today by the Senate.
Franklinite, a mineral only found in the northwest portion of New Jersey would become the official mineral of the state under legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho and approved by the Senate. (Wikimedia Commons)
The legislation, S-1727, would elevate franklinite in a nod to Sussex County’s rich mineral mining heritage.
“This bill recognizes the many contributions of mining in the area,” said Oroho (R-24). “Franklinite is known around the world and this legislation acknowledges the role of the mines and the miners throughout our state’s history for their positive contributions to New Jersey’s mining heritage.”
