SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 756

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 26, 2025

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 756.

      As introduced, Senate Bill No. 756 establishes the “Swift Access For Emergency Response Actions Preservation Program (SAFER APP).”  Under the bill, whenever the Attorney General determines that the guidance provided to motorists by a turn-by-turn navigation system or systems has resulted in or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition with regard to the flow of vehicular traffic in this State, the Attorney General may order the operator of that system, when providing instructions to a driver, to detour, reroute, or divert vehicular traffic so as to alleviate or eliminate the ongoing emergency traffic condition. The Attorney General will provide a copy of the notice to the municipality and to the commissioner.

      The bill also provides that the governing body of a municipality may adopt a resolution, accompanied by supporting documentation and analysis, requesting the Attorney General to investigate whether the guidance provided to motorists by a turn-by-turn navigation system or systems has resulted in or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition with regard to the flow of vehicular traffic within the municipality.  Upon receipt of such a resolution, the Attorney General is required to consult with the commissioner and appropriate local authorities and may initiate an investigation to determine whether the conditions meet the criteria for an ongoing emergency traffic condition.

      Within 90 days of receipt of the resolution, the Attorney General would be required provide written notice to the municipality and the Commissioner of Transportation indicating whether an investigation will be conducted or whether the Attorney General is declining to act and the reasons for declining. If the Attorney General determines the guidance provided by a turn-by-turn navigation system has resulted in or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition, the Attorney General may exercise the authority set forth in subsection a. of this section.

      The bill provides that any person, business, or other entity having ownership or control of a turn-by-turn navigation system that was determined by the Attorney General to have resulted in or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition and fails to detour, reroute, or divert vehicular traffic as  ordered by the Attorney General to alleviate or eliminate the ongoing emergency traffic condition would be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 per day until the person, business, or other entity complies with the order of the Attorney General.

      The bill requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature assessing the implementation and public safety impacts of rerouting directive within 24 months. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.