State & Federal Updates

General Information

• NEW! The NJDOH released a guidance sheet for college and university students traveling home for winter break. Access the document by clicking here: Guidance for College and University Students Traveling Home for Winter Break (PDF)
• The Senior Freeze Program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax fee increases on their principal residence. To qualify, you must meet all the eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the application year (the current application year is 2019). The application deadline for the 2019 Senior Freeze Program has been EXTENDED from November 2, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Click here for additional information: NJ Division of Taxation Senior Freeze.
• The State has launched COVID Alert NJ, a free and secure mobile app that anonymously alerts users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app also provides users with up-to-date information on New Jersey reopening news, key COVID-19 metrics, and a user-friendly symptom tracking tool. For more information and to download the app, visit COVID Alert NJ App. 
• The New Jersey Department of Health has released guidelines for permitted sporting activities, including some contact sports. Read the full document here: DOH Guidance for Sports Activities (PDF).
• The Governors of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut announced that individuals traveling to or returning to New Jersey from states with increasing rates of COVID-19 are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days. This includes travel by train, bus, car, plane and any other method of transportation. See the latest list of states and territories that meet the criteria at the NJ COVID-19 Information Hub.
• Information from the NJ Department of Health and NJ Communicable Disease Service on COVID-19 Antibody testing (PDF).
• Governor Murphy unveiled a multi-stage approach to executing a responsible and strategic restart of New Jersey’s economy. Read the press release on the plan here: Strategic Restart of the NJ Economy (PDF).
  • The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health through Public Health (PDF)
• Senators Menendez and Cassidy introduced a bipartisan legislation to deliver critical, federal resources to states and communities on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight. This legislation, the State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act, targets $500 billion in emergency funding to every state, county and community in the country. Read more information on the bill here: Menendez, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan SMART Fund to help Frontline States, Communities in COVID-19 Fight (PDF).
• The New Jersey Poison Information & Education System  published a story on the safe use of COVID prevention products. Read the information here: Safety, Sanitizing and Social Distancing (PDF)
• The State of New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness maintains a webpage dedicated to rumor control and disinformation surrounding COVID-19 to help the public distinguish between facts and rumors regarding the pandemic. This page will be updated as more information becomes available. See it here: COVID-19 Rumor Control and Disinformation.
• The Office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker has complied and shared a specialized resource guide for New Jerseyans, featuring important information for Frontline Workers, Homeowners and Renters, Veterans, New Jerseyans Abroad, and more. See the full list of resources here: A Coronavirus Pandemic Resource Guide for New Jerseyans.
• On March 20, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Department of Environmental Protection and Board of Public Utilities asked that every water provider, private or public, including those operated by municipal governments, suspend any water shut offs for reasons of non-payment, safe reconnection of anyone previously shut off, and a suspension of the use of liens as a collection practice until the outbreak of COVID-19 has subsided. Read the notice here: All Water Providers Asked to Suspend Shut Offs During COVID-19 Outbreak.