Trenton – In response to the consolidation of multiple New Jersey transportation authorities, the Senate Transportation Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal that would establish the New Jersey Consolidation Transportation Task Force.

The bill, S-1764, would create a task force to investigate and evaluate the consolidation of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, Transportation Trust Fund Authority, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and Department of Transportation.

Gopal Receives “Legislator of the Year” Award from the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Gopal has received the Legislator of the Year award presented by the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.. He was recognized for his legislative leadership in support of the armed forces and veterans’ communities of the United States of America. 

Gopal Begins Bill Proposals for Quicker Vote Count
Senator Gopal is pursuing legislation to establish quicker vote count methods for elections in New Jersey.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal has announced his plan to pursue legislation relating to the timely counting of election results, and ensuring the county boards of elections offices have what they need to improve their vote-by-mail counting and processing capabilities. The pieces of legislation will be introduced into the State Senate in the upcoming weeks.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal’s legislation to assist municipalities in receiving assistance from the NJRA has passed through the Senate Economic Growth Committee. 

Legislation aims to help residential customers with unexpected increases and penalties during public health emergencies.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Gopal’s legislation passed with amendments through the Senate Economic Growth Committee this week. Bill S2325 prohibits utility service rate increases, penalties and discontinuances to residential customers during certain public health emergencies. These prohibitions and service restoration requirements are to remain in effect for the duration of, and 180 days following, a major public health emergency.

Pieces of Legislation establish protection for those domestically abused ranging from changing the definition of domestic violence to extending medical help and care.

TRENTON - Senator Vin Gopal introduced a Domestic Violence Bill Package into the State Senate today. The bill package is dedicated to Stephanie Parze’s family, who has suffered a terrible loss due to an abusive boyfriend one year ago this month. The bill package has been introduced in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Joann Downey. Two bills from the package are Senate companion bills for legislation previously introduced in the Assembly by Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Lisa Swain.

TRENTON - This week, Senator Vin Gopal’s legislation S2785 has been signed into law by Governor Murphy. This law requires the Department of Health to implement and oversee an Isolation Prevention Project in long-term care facilities that would be operable during public emergencies. 

Legislation establishes the need of protective equipment for residents in nursing home communities. 

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal’s bill S2566 has been voted out of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today and will move to the State Senate for a vote. The companion bill has been introduced in the Assembly.

TINTON FALLS, NJ - State Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, and Assemblywoman Joann Downey honored Dr. Paul Stuart Wichansky with a joint legislative proclamation for educating others about disability awareness and acceptance, and for 40 years, encouraging our youth to learn to believe in themselves and the beauty of their dreams.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - This week, the Senate State Government passed Senator Vin Gopal’s  bill S2785 which requires the Department of Health to implement and oversee an Isolation Prevention Project in long-term care facilities that would be operable during public emergencies. 

OCEAN TOWNSHIP—Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune), and Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Freehold) released the following statement slamming efforts by federal political appointees to hinder the efforts of the United States Postal Service (USPS), which have caused unprecedented and widespread delays and pile-ups at post offices across Monmouth County:

LONG BRANCH, NJ—Congressman Frank Pallone joined Monmouth and Middlesex County New Jersey state legislators Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), Senator Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Monmouth), Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Monmouth), and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-Middlesex) to call on Governor Murphy, NJ Transit Commissioner Gutierrez Scaccetti, and NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett to avoid taking any steps to alter existing one-seat ride schedules or expand these services should it mean a reduction in services from other rail lines in the system.

New Jersey residents may be aware of the Property Tax Reimbursement Program, also known as the “Senior Freeze” program: a state program that reimburses eligible senior citizens for property tax increases on their primary residence. Once a household applies for the “Senior Freeze,” their future property taxes are “frozen” at their current level for all future years in which they meet the requirements.