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Hamilton Council backs resolution supporting state nurse‑to‑patient staffing standards
Summary
Hamilton Township Council moved Resolution 1‑24‑063 to the top of the Jan. 16 agenda and approved it after public testimony from nursing advocates who said about 22 municipalities have passed similar measures and that the bills are now before the state Senate.
Hamilton Township Council unanimously moved a local resolution of support for pending New Jersey legislation on minimum registered nursing staff standards to the top of its Jan. 16 meeting agenda and approved it after public testimony from nursing advocates.
Council members described the resolution as specific to nurse‑to‑patient ratios and voiced support for nurses’ work and activism. Council President and Councilman Tye both spoke in favor of the measure and cited its sponsorship history in the state Legislature, noting prior sponsors including Sen. Greenstein and former Assemblyman Benson.
Coby Walsh, a nursing advocate who appeared during public comment, told the council that roughly 21–22 municipalities had passed similar resolutions and that the issue gained visibility at recent hearings in Trenton. Walsh said Sen. Vitale was a strong supporter and described hearing both union advocates and hospital representatives during Senate testimony.
After public comment the council made and seconded a motion to adopt Resolution 1‑24‑063. The clerk conducted a roll call and the resolution passed; an affirmative vote count was recorded on the roll call.
Council members asked Walsh about union representation among nurses and which local towns had signed on; Walsh estimated only a small number of hospitals statewide are unionized and named Robbinsville, East Windsor and Hamilton among municipalities that have signed on. Council members thanked the advocates and noted the resolution’s text includes explicit staffing ratios.
The resolution is advisory: it expresses municipal support for Assembly Bill A4536 and the companion Senate bill (identified in the meeting as S304) to establish minimum registered nursing staff standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities. The council did not amend the town code or adopt operational rules; the vote communicates municipal backing to state lawmakers and provides local testimony of community support.
