A panel of legislative experts presented a program to break down the process of how a law is made from idea to drafting to passage. Office of Legislative Services Lead Counsel Sheree Henderson, Assembly Republican Counsel Kevin Logan, and Assembly Judiciary Chair Raj Mukherji gave a peek behind the scenes of the committee room and the staff room in Legislative Basics: How to Read, Write and Pass Legislation. The program was moderated by New Jersey State Bar Association Senior Managing Director Lisa Chapland.
“The best time to chime in about changes to a bill is before it gets posted in committee,” said Mukherji in response to a question about how receptive legislators are to amendments to a bill. The panelists discussed little known or less publicized means to move legislation, slow down legislation or mobilize support for a bill. “I owe the most to my district because they elected me as their representative in office,” said Mukherji, discussing what bills he closely monitors.
For more Trenton insider programs, check out Inside Trenton at the Annual Meeting and convention on May 18. The program features legislators discussing what to expect in the upcoming session. To find out more about the educational programming or register, visit njsba.com.
This is a status report provided by the New Jersey State Bar Association on recently passed and pending legislation, regulations, gubernatorial nominations and/or appointments of interest to lawyers, as well as the involvement of the NJSBA as amicus in appellate court matters. To learn more, visit njsba.com.