Gov. Murphy signs dozens of bills into law on first day of 2nd term

Gov. Phil Murphy signed over 100 new bills into law on the first day of his second term.
The bills touch on everything from student education to warding off potential voter suppression.
Police officers can now review their own body cam footage before filing incident reports or interviews under one of the new laws. But there are some exceptions, such as if the video shows the use of police force resulting in death or serious injury or if an officer fires their weapon. Sponsors of the law say it will give officers access to the tools needed to ensure accuracy and continued transparency in police reporting.
Another new law is aimed at protecting New Jersey residents and their votes when they head to the polls. It bans police from standing within 100 feet of a polling location or ballot dropbox. Exceptions include if the officer is voting or if they are called there for an emergency. There also can’t be a ballot box inside or within 100 feet of a law enforcement agency.
Another law makes stealing a package from someone’s front door a third-degree crime. Thieves can get three to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. About 35 million Americans say that they have been the victim of package thefts in the past 12 months.
And another law creates a new office to make sure kids are safe when they board a school bus. The new office is called the Office of School Bus Safety and it is responsible for reviewing a bus driver’s information for a history of criminal charges or alcohol and drug-related violations. The office will also recommend changes to school bus safety rules.
A full list of all the new laws can be found on the state’s website.