Mike Testa

A New Jersey lawmaker wants to allow parents to choose a different school district for their children if their home district unilaterally adopts a mask policy for students.

State tax collections are growing at an unprecedented rate and a portion of the windfall appears likely to be used to provide more direct tax relief to residents.

State lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand temporary disability and paid family leave benefits for middle-income earners by more than $200 a week.

When indoor dining at restaurants closed at the start of the pandemic, outdoor dining became an option and lifeline. The law enabling it expires in November.

“Gov. Murphy has taken so much from New Jerseyans since the start of the pandemic,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho. “He’s taken money, he’s taken power, and he’s taken rights, choices, and freedoms from every single New Jerseyan.”

State senators grilled the head of the New Jersey State Police over the chaotic early December day at the Statehouse after the vaccine-or-test access policy went into effect, didn’t get answers – but nevertheless advanced his nomination to become the permanent superintendent.

State Sen. Mike Testa, R-Cumberland, said “clearly, the timing is intended to further tighten gun restrictions on law-abiding residents as quickly as possible, giving opponents little to no time to be heard."

Senator Mike Testa, R-Cumberland, said the money appears to have been used to reimburse the state for the salaries of troopers doing their regular job, some only tangentially involved with the pandemic such as marine police.

"I see this as a program that seems quite ambitious,” said Sen. Mike Testa, R-Cumberland. "…How long can this project be funded? I share the fears with Chairman Sarlo that we start this program and it’s going to be phased out quickly."

Sen. Mike Testa, R-Cumberland, said the state can’t leave it up to districts and should step in more forcefully to direct school openings regionally.