Bill to Keep State Government Running Passes Senate Budget Committee

S-20, which cleared the 12-member committee by an 8-4 vote along party lines, essentially buys the state three months to keep operating, in keeping with the agreement to extend the budget cycle during this most unusual of years.

June 26, 2020 at 07:28 PM

6 minute read

Suzette Parmley

A critical bill to keep state government fully functioning over the next three months amid tanking revenues and double-digit unemployment as a result of the pandemic-induced shutdown passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Friday.

On Monday, both the Senate and Assembly approved S-20 and its Assembly version, A-3. The measure now goes before Gov. Phil Murphy.

On Friday S-20 cleared the 12-member Senate budget committee by an 8-4 vote along party lines. It essentially buys the state three months to keep operating, in keeping with the agreement announced April 1 between the governor and Legislature to extend the budget cycle during this most unusual of years.