NJ Statehouse Rules Eased: Vaccine or Test Dropped, Masks Needed

TRENTON – COVID-related protocols for entering the Statehouse complex will no longer require people to show they’re fully vaccinated or recently tested negative for the virus.

The new, loosened policy was adopted Tuesday by the State Capitol Joint Management Commission and takes effect Friday.

People will still be required to wear masks in public areas of the complex. But in addition to dropping the controversial vaccine-or-test rule, the new approach also ends the requirement that people have their temperature taken when entering the complex.

“The intent with this new policy is to recognize that cases are dropping, that the vast majority of people who enter the Statehouse have had access to a vaccine and a booster,” said Seth Hahn, director of the Assembly Democratic office and chairman of the commission.

Get our free mobile app

“But still we have people who work here with children who don’t have developed immune systems, who are immunocompromised, and the CDC still recognizes that Mercer County has a high transmission rate and recommends mask-wearing,” Hahn said.

“We’re trying to get back to normal while still protecting the public health of people who are entering the Statehouse and who work here,” he said.

The change comes shortly ahead of Gov. Phil Murphy's budget introduction on March 8, which will be the first major speech delivered in traditional fashion at the Statehouse after nearly two years of addresses done outdoors or pre-recorded and issued through social media.

The policy was approved unanimously and without controversy or discussion, other than executive director Christine Shipley of the Senate Republican office noting that some supply deliveries had been having a tough time getting to the building because most entrances to the complex are blocked off.

“Maybe the barricades could be removed and the testing tent, just that we can make this place a little bit more welcoming again,” Shipley said.

The relaxation of the rules stands in sharp contrast to their introduction three months ago, which led to a showdown at the Statehouse in which state troopers temporarily barred some Republicans from entering the Assembly chamber, after which those lawmakers defied the police and entered anyway.

At a subsequent voting session where lawmakers were forced to participate by phone if they didn’t adhere to the rules, some Republicans intentionally slowed the process to a crawl with repeated speeches on often innocuous bills.

Best coffee shops & cafes near NJ beaches

When it comes to food, New Jersey is known for many things such as pizza and pork roll. Don't count us out when it comes to coffee.

With all the hustle and bustle involved in the average New Jersey resident's day, coffee is essential. It doesn't matter whether you're living in the cities of North Jersey or the vacation spots at the shore.

In fact, as the former owner of two Jersey shore coffee houses, Coffee Dot Comedy in Sea Isle City and the Daily Grind in Ocean Grove, I know firsthand how much people at the Jersey shore love their coffee.

With respect to that, I asked my social media following where the best coffee houses at the Jersey Shore were, especially since my two places no longer exist.

Below is what they came up with. (And see this other article for their coffee shop and cafe recommendations for Central Jersey.)

New Jersey's smallest towns by population

New Jersey's least populated municipalities, according to the 2020 Census. This list excludes Pine Valley, which would have been the third-smallest with 21 residents but voted to merge into Pine Hill at the start of 2022.