ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4687

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 28, 2026

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4687.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill ensures that the leasing term for fire vehicles and apparatus is set at 20 years to align with the bonding terms of all fire vehicles and apparatus established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:2-22. 

      Under current law, the board of commissioners of a fire district, following authorization by voters of the issuance of bonds, may issue bond anticipation notes for a period of one year with a maturation and payment date not later than the third anniversary of the date of the issuance of the note.  This bill amends the law to make the maturation and payment date not later than the 10th anniversary of the date of the issuance of the note.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amended the bill to:

     1) provide that fire vehicles and apparatus that are lease-purchased are required to comply with the 20-year leasing term.  As introduced, the bill only applied to fire vehicles and apparatus that were purchased or leased;

     2) change the maturation and payment date for bond anticipation notes from three years to 10 years;

     3) eliminate the requirement that the governing body of a local unit ensure all fire vehicles and apparatus adhere to nationally or internationally recognized standards;

     4) eliminate the provision requiring the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Fire Safety, to adopt rules and regulations; and

     5) make other technical changes.