Bills in the 2014–2015 Session, Senate.
Bob Smith
Sponsored
Became law6
Establishes apprentice firearm hunting license and apprentice bow and arrow license.*
Designates New Jersey Big Data Alliance as State's advanced cyberinfrastructure consortium.*
Provides standards for, and requires registration of, home elevation contractors.*
Extends for five years expiration date of special appraisal process for Green Acres program and farmland preservation program for lands in Highlands Region; makes change to special appraisal process for certain farmers.*
Increases electric power net metering capacity threshold to 2.9 percent of total annual kilowatt-hours sold in State.**
Authorizes DEP to require public access to waterfront and adjacent shoreline as condition of waterfront development approvals and CAFRA permits.
Vetoed5
Establishes "Solar Roof Installation Warranty Program" in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to initially fund program.
Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles; establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.
Establishes position of State Oceanographer.
Permits BPU to approve qualified wind energy project; requires BPU to provide application periods for those projects.*
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs.
Passed the Senate4
Authorizes creation of stormwater utilities for certain local government entities.
Directs Rutgers Discovery Informatics Institute, Office of Information Technology, NJ Edge.Net Inc., and New Jersey Big Data Alliance to develop advanced cyberinfrastructure strategic plan; appropriates $150,000.*
Requires BPU financial incentives for photovoltaic equipment for residences that are Energy Star compliant receive preferred treatment.
Establishes requirements for provision of energy from Class I renewable energy sources.*
Out of committee20
Concerns conveyance of certain State-owned lands.*
Concerns combined sewer overflows; exempts improvements thereto from 2% property tax cap; requires certain permit holders address such overflows in capital improvement plans; and appropriates $5 million.
Authorizes rural electric cooperative and certain municipalities to establish municipal shared services authority.*
Requires NJ Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program to give additional weight in ranking system to projects including green or blue roof.
Requires adoption of certain rules and regulations by DCA and DEP concerning blue roofs and green roofs.
Requires certain State departments, divisions, commissions, and authorities to consider use of green or blue roof in construction of certain new State buildings, facilities, and structures.
Establishes notification, signage, and monitoring requirements related to combined sewer overflows.
Authorizes municipalities to facilitate private financing of water conservation, storm shelter construction, and flood and hurricane resistance projects through the use of voluntary special assessments.*
Prohibits issuance of DEP permits and approvals for development related to drilling for oil and natural gas off NJ coast.
Permits alternate members of county planning boards to vote in place of any absent public member.
Creates Office of Clean Energy in BPU.
Prohibits development over 35 feet in height in Hudson River Palisades viewshed.
Establishes forest stewardship program for State-owned lands.
Establishes Class I renewable energy certificate multiplier program for certain energy production facilities fueled by methane.
Clarifies liability for discharges of hazardous substances from drilling platforms that enter NJ waters.
Amends definition of "Class II renewable energy."
Creates Office of Sustainability.
Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex.
Makes certain changes to Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Revises electronic waste recycling laws.
In committee36
"Carryout Bag Reduction and Recycling Act."
Establishes temperature control guidelines and standards for school facilities.
Requires the State and local contracting units to purchase biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel manufactured in NJ.
Requires water purveyors to develop and implement a drought interconnection system.
Requires development and implementation of mitigation plans for radon contamination in certain child care centers; requires DOE to develop such plans for child care centers operating in public schools, request funding, and implement plans when funded.
Establishes governance structure for county administrative school districts.
Authorizes sale of certain property interests in public roads by local governments to connect certain electric generating facilities with customers; provides for net metering, virtual net metering and connections by public utility.
Amends law concerning application, sale, and use of fertilizer to exempt organic fertilizer from certain requirements.
Prohibits use of certain fishing gear at artificial reef sites.
Permits certain deer control activities; prohibits deer feeding; and establishes check-off donation on hunting license applications to support venison donation program.
The "Preserve New Jersey Act of 2013"; implements constitutional dedication of sales tax revenue for preservation of open space, including lands that protect water supplies and flood prone areas, farmland, and historic properties.
Provides sales and use tax exclusion for charges for student parking provided by certain colleges and universities.
The "Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2014," authorizes bonds for $600 million; appropriates $5,000.
Requires adoption of 2012 International Building Code and 2012 International Green Construction Code.
Requires construction of new buildings, facilities, and structures using State, EDA, or NJ Schools Development Authority funds to include green or blue roofs.
Requires Site Improvement Advisory Board to offer recommendations to encourage sustainable development.
Imposes water consumption and diversion user fees to fund open space and farmland preservation projects.
Requires, after assessment, DEP to adopt total maximum daily loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem.
Requires, after study, DEP to adopt total maximum daily loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and requires DEP to adopt nutrient standards for NJ marine waters.
Authorizes Ocean County Planning Board and municipal planning boards in Ocean County to take certain measures to control stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution in Barnegat Bay watershed.
Authorizes the State, with prior approval by the State House Commission, to use eminent domain power to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes provided lands are protective of drinking water sources.
Establishes the Renewable Energy Infrastructure and Advanced Technology Vehicle Task Force.
Repeals law providing CAFRA permit exemption for certain grading or excavation of a dune.
Provides matching grant program for local governments to facilitate energy efficiency and conservation of resources in public buildings; appropriates $50 million.
Clarifies application of business personal property tax on local exchange telephone companies that were subject to tax as of April 1, 1997.
Allows elected officials who retire based on other PERS service to remain in office; prohibits retirees newly elected to municipal office from receiving pension credit, health care or salary for that office.
Extends in Highlands Region, and establishes in certain transfer of development rights sending zones, special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs; and revises calculation of market value of lands in sending zones.
Permits fifth and sixth class counties to assume control and responsibility for operation and maintenance of beaches bordering Atlantic Ocean unless control and responsibility are reserved by a municipality.
Requires certain employers to plan and implement traffic reduction programs for employees.
Prohibits contribution action against local public entity for cleanup and removal costs or any other damages associated with discharge of hazardous substances.
Removes cap on tax on transfers of hazardous substances to fund emergency preparedness and response to certain spills.
Permits cosmetologist-hairstylists to operate mobile facilities when providing services.
Establishes appraisal method for taxation of watershed lands.
Requires large food waste generators to seperate and recycle food waste and amends definition of "Class I renewable energy."
Requires electric public utilities to enter into long-term contracts for certain forms of Class I renewable energy.
Permits construction of electric transmission and distribution lines on certain areas of preserved farmland under certain circumstances.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law3
Authorizes rural electric cooperative and certain municipalities to establish municipal shared services authority.*
Amends definition of "Class II renewable energy."
Makes certain changes to Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Vetoed2
Authorizes municipalities to facilitate private financing of water conservation, storm shelter construction, and flood and hurricane resistance projects through use of voluntary special assessments.*
Revises "Electronic Waste Management Act."
Co-sponsored
Became law · 3
Creates "Fishing Buddy License."
Provides certain definitions for biofuels under "Motor Fuels Tax Act."*
Revises certain requirements concerning provision of emergency medical services.
Vetoed · 2
Prohibits treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadway, or storage of wastewater, wastewater solids, sludge, drill cuttings or other byproducts from natural gas exploration or production using hydraulic fracturing.*
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.*
Passed the Senate · 6
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ's required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Prohibits contribution action against local public entity for cleanup and removal costs or any other damages associated with discharge of hazardous substances.*
The "Adopt a Stormwater Management Basin Act."
"Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act."
Authorizes installation of automatic standby generators in certain residences without zoning or planning board approval.
Establishes veterans' preference for affordable housing in certain housing projects.
Out of committee · 5
The "Green Building and Infrastructure Tax Credit Act"; provides tax credits for certain green buildings and wood utility poles.*
Prohibits firearm possession by persons convicted of carjacking, gang criminality, racketeering and terroristic threats.
Prohibits escrow agent evaluation services from charging escrow agents fees.
"New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program Act"; establishes retirement savings program for certain workers.
Increases tax credit cap by $165 million for certain qualified residential projects under Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program and restricts increase to certain projects.*
In committee · 10
Establishes one-year moratorium on replacement of copper-based landline telephone service with non-copper-based landline or wireless telephone service; requires BPU to report to Governor and Legislature.
Designates "I'm From New Jersey" as State song.
Expands definition of "acquisition," for purposes of county and municipal open space trust funds, to include demolition, removal of debris, and restoration of lands being acquired.
Provides certain exemptions from sales and use tax for compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or propane fueled vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and for equipment used for refueling or recharging certain vehicles.
Eliminates transfer inheritance tax and increases filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.
Authorizes wiretaps for investigation of certain crimes.
Authorizes use of juvenile records for prosecution of gang criminality.
Increases amount annually credited to Shore Protection Fund to $50 million.
Prohibits installation and sale of wheel weights containing lead or mercury; prohibits sale of new motor vehicles equipped with wheel weights containing lead or mercury.
Prohibits use of smokeless tobacco in public schools.
Filed · 2
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
"Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act."