ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4527

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 11, 2026

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4527.

      As amended and reported, this bill amends the "Local Public Contracts Law" to exclude local library cooperatives, as defined in the bill, from the definition of "contracting unit."  The bill also exempts goods and services provided by local library cooperatives from the public bidding process; however, a local library cooperative is required to adhere to the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) for all construction and infrastructure-related projects.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments: (1) specify that the definition of a "local library cooperative" means a group of libraries or library-related agencies that exclusively provides cooperative or reciprocal library services, access to technology, and facilitates the sharing of resources; (2)     specify that a local library cooperative is required to adhere to the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) for all construction and infrastructure-related projects; and (3) make technical changes and updates.