(CNN) The Internal Revenue Service plans to delay this year’s tax filing deadline by roughly a month, to mid-May, according to an official familiar with the plans. The official said the decision was made in order to allow filers more time to navigate tax situations complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers, led by Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Bill Pascrell of New Jersey had urged the move, citing the pandemic.
Last year, the IRS moved the deadline to July 15, giving Americans an additional three months to file their taxes amid the pandemic.
BILLYGRAM for St. Patrick’s Day, 2021 (photo by @justjo1002)
Sculpted by artist Glenna Goodacre, the Irish Memorial at Front and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia was dedicated in 2003 as a national monument. Its 35 life-size figures remember the one million lives lost during immigration from Ireland to the United States in the mid-19th century.
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The Assembly Appropriations Committee will meet remotely at 10:45 a.m. today
Due to the public health emergency, the State House Annex remains closed to visitors. The public may not attend the Committee meeting in person but may view and participate in the meeting via the New Jersey Legislature home page at https: / / www.njleg.state.nj.us / .
Among the bills to be considered are the following:
A1841 (Timberlake / Quijano / Schaer) – Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for removal of lead, asbestos and other contaminants from taxpayer’s residential property.
A1976 (Benson) – Establishes Renewable and Efficient Energy Financing Program; authorizes BPU to transfer up to $20 million annually in societal benefits charge revenues to New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for purposes of program.
A4819 / S3033 (Lampitt / DeAngelo / Giblin / Sweeney / Singleton) – Establishes School and Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program in BPU.
A4825 / S647 (McKeon / Karabinchak / Greenstein / Singleton) – Revises cybersecurity, asset management, and related reporting requirements in the “Water Quality Accountability Act.”
A5121 (Coughlin / Zwicker / Karabinchak) – Concerns provision of energy to certain manufacturing facilities by providing exemptions to certain energy related taxes.
A5478 / S2714 (Mazzeo / Freiman / Dancer / Sarlo / Addiego) – Authorizes special occasion events at certain farms on preserved farmland, under certain conditions
Bipartisan legislation that would help spur the adoption of electric vehicles in the state is endorsed by the New Jersey Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor
Released from the committee on March 11, the bill, (S-2142/A-1653), co-sponsored by Senators Bob Smith (D-17)andKip Bateman (R-16), encourages the inclusion of zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure in municipal redevelopment projects.
“To meet New Jersey’s goals for clean, renewable energy requires expanding access to charging sites for drivers of electric vehicles,” said Bateman. “This bill encourages local governments to incorporate new charging infrastructure in plans for redevelopment. It makes sense to accomplish both initiatives in one unified project.”
The Senator noted that authorizing towns to utilize funding resources for redevelopment projects will also help save local taxpayer money.
A report of the New Jersey Energy Master Plan Alternative Fuels Work Group identified the development, installation, and maintenance of the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, both at home and at strategically selected public places, as one of the most significant opportunities for, and barriers to, advancing the deployment and use of EVs in the state.
“The more charging locations that are available to drivers, the more confidence motorists will have in driving electric cars. Most EV drivers will power up their cars at home, but public charging pumps are necessities for motorists taking a longer trip beyond their normal route,,” said Bateman.
The Assembly approved the legislation in July. It now is in position for a Senate floor vote.
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho and Senate President Steve Sweeney that would assist New Jersey dairy farms struggling to survive was endorsed yesterday by the NJ Senate Economic Growth Committee.
The bill, S3465, would direct the State Department of Agriculture to provide reimbursement to dairy farmers for annual premiums paid to participate in the federal Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
“Who doesn’t enjoy a ride through New Jersey’s dairy farming communities? The open space pasture and seeing the cows. And what child is not wide-eyed when they get to see it up close and real?” said Senator Steve Oroho (R-Sussex / Warren / Morris). “Unfortunately that could all be lost, because unlike what most of us realize, underlying this beautiful scene is a dedicated life that for New Jersey dairy farmers is extremely unpredictable. Too often it has become a losing and unsustainable proposition.
“This legislation is an effort to help save our state’s remaining dairy farmers.”
Oroho noted that not long ago, the Garden State was home to more than 400 dairy farms, but today the number has dropped below 50.
“This legislation will help preserve the remaining farms, protecting them from unstable milk prices in the marketplace that threaten profitability, and enabling them to remain in business in a stress-filled environment,” Oroho said.
Established by the federal 2018 Farm Bill, the DMC is essentially an annual insurance policy against milk prices too low to cover overhead.
“With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis teaching hard lessons on risk management throughout agriculture and with dairy margins expected to be volatile over the next year, farmers need the option of securing coverage under the dairy margin program,” said bill co-sponsor Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester / Salem / Cumberland). “This program offers certainty in times of need. The coverage is designed to protect individuals from having to pay very high out-of-pocket costs, and offers coverage in times of emergencies.”
A voluntary risk management tool for dairy producers, the program issues payments when the national average income-over-feed-cost margin falls below a coverage determined by the individual farmers.
The legislation would encourage participation in the program and make it easier for farmers to afford the coverage.
Only 23 dairy farmers, barely half the milk producers in New Jersey, applied to participate in the program in 2019.
Trenton, NJ – The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association (NJRHA) has announced that Dana Lancellotti will become the association’s new President & CEO effective March 29, 2021. Lancellotti is currently the Director of Business Development & Tourism for Ocean County. She was selected to replace Marilou Halvorsen, current NJRHA President & CEO, who leaves New Jersey this month for a national role in the industry.
“Marilou has been a tremendous leader and a tireless force for the industry from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to the most challenging year for our industry,” said Lancellotti. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work for the NJRHA members and continue her mission. Restaurants, hotels, and tourism are vital to the New Jersey economy. The NJRHA is poised to lead the industry forward towards a successful recovery,” she added.
Marylou Halvorsen
Halvorsen is leaving the organization to join the American Hotel & Lodging Association as Vice President of State Relations and Government Affairs.
“I’ve known Dana for over 20 years and am so pleased to see her take the reins. She will do a tremendous job for the association and its members,” said Halvorsen. “The restaurant industry has been devastated by the pandemic with over 37% of restaurants either permanently or temporarily shuttered. Strong leadership is critical at this time.”
“On behalf of myself and the NJRHA board, we thank Marilou for the 8 1/2 years she served as President and CEO of the NJRHA. She has been our leading voice for the hospitality industry, especially this last year. She is a true champion for the industry and will greatly be missed,” said Chairman Bhavesh Patel of NJRHA. “We welcome Dana to the NJRHA. Her vast background in tourism, hospitality and marketing will help the association move forward in such a crucial time” he added.
The NJRHA is the state’s leading hospitality industry representing over 25,000 restaurants, 1,500 hotels as well as numerous bowling alleys, amusement parks and more. The industry is the state’s largest private-sector employer, employing over 500,000 people.
