Bills in the 2018–2019 Session, Senate.
Bob Smith
Sponsored
Became law18
Requires NJ to join U.S. Climate Alliance to uphold Paris Climate Accord.
Establishes "New Jersey Solar Panel Recycling Commission."*
Provides that electric power supplier license issued by BPU may be renewed without expiring if certain conditions are met.
Provides that natural gas supplier license issued by BPU may be renewed without expiring if certain conditions are met.
Encourages local units to plan for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Authorizes municipalities, counties, and certain authorities to establish stormwater utilities.
Provides for protection of public right of access to certain public trust lands.*
Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries.*
Establishes goals and initiatives for increased use of use of plug-in electric vehicles.**
Establishes funding allocations for constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for Fiscal Year 2020 and thereafter and revises law for State's open space, farmland preservation programs; appropriates $500,000.*
Establishes new timeframes for implementation of, and revises, certain requirements in "Global Warming Response Act." *
Establishes Recycling Market Development Council.
Amends "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" to add definition of "open access offshore wind transmission facility" and revises law concerning "qualified offshore wind projects."
Permits member of Judicial Retirement System to defer retirement to serve as county prosecutor.
Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000.*
Allows BPU to increase cost to customers of Class I renewable energy requirement for energy years 2022 through 2024, under certain conditions.
Appropriates $1,350,000 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to State Agriculture Development Committee for grants to certain nonprofit organizations for farmland preservation purposes.
Appropriates $36.143 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.
Vetoed2
Concerns installation of electric vehicle charging stations in common interest communties.*
Requires State to sell and convey to Educational Services Commission of New Jersey certain land and improvements known as Piscataway Regional Day School.
Passed the Senate4
Prohibits sale and distribution of mercury relays and switches under certain circumstances.
Directs EDA to establish program for public or private financing of certain renewable energy, water, and storm resiliency projects through use by municipalities of voluntary special assessments for certain property owners.*
Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles; establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.
Prohibits provision or sale of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products; limits provision of single-use plastic straws; appropriates moneys from Clean Communities Program Fund for public
Out of committee20
Increases electric power net metering capacity threshold to 5.8 percent of total annual kilowatt-hours sold in State.
Exempts solar energy systems from building fees.
Dedicates first $300 million from State's participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for electric vehicle programs.
Requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends definition of "Class I renewable energy."
Establishes State goals for adoption of plug-in electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure; directs DEP and various other State agencies to develop programs to achieve those goals. *
Directs DEP to classify neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use pesticides.
Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex.
Establishes and modifies clean energy and energy efficiency programs; modifies State's solar renewable energy portfolio standards.
Establishes notification standards regarding automatic renewal of service contracts.
Permits certain deer control activities; establishes check-off donation on hunting license applications to support venison donation program; authorizes issuance of multi-species depredation permit for wildlife control on farmland.*
Makes supplemental appropriation of $50 million from General Fund to DEP and adds language provisions concerning use of certain environmental settlement monies for natural resource restoration projects.
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste.
Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey.
Authorizes sale and conveyance of certain State-owned real property in Stafford Township, Ocean County to US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Requires land use plan element of municipal master plan to include climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment.
Requires, by energy year 2050, all electric power sold in NJ by each electric power supplier and basic generation service provider to be from zero-carbon sources.
Makes various changes to laws governing remediation of contaminated sites.
Authorizes local law enforcement officers to conduct certain alternative deer control methods.
Modifies powers and duties of New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.
Prohibits sale, lease, rent or installation of certain equipment or products containing hydrofluorocarbons or other greenhouse gases.
In committee57
Establishes forest stewardship program for State-owned lands.
Establishes "Solar Roof Installation Warranty Program" in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to initially fund program.
Modifies State's solar renewable energy portfolio standards.
Revises "Franchise Practices Act."
Allows 50 percent credit against societal benefits charge to electric or gas public utility customers who install and maintain publicly available zero emission vehicle charging stations.
Requires BPU and electric public utilities to conduct energy storage analysis.
Encourages development of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in redevelopment projects.
Requires BPU to establish demand response programs for electric public utility customers.
Permits municipalities to require that new construction be solar ready.
Concerns high performance green building standards for certain State buildings.
Requires electric public utilities to install smart meters at customers' premises upon customer approval; makes meter data available to certain electric-related service entities.
Requires new photovoltaic installations to comply with most recent National Electric Code standards for rapid shutdown of photovoltaic arrays.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of machinery and equipment and sales of natural gas used to generate electricity in certain fuel cell facilities.
Requires that, by 2025, at least 30 percent of all energy consumed by State entities be from renewable energy sources.
Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of fuel cell devices and systems and certain tangible personal property powered by fuel cells.
Prohibits development over 35 feet in height in Hudson River Palisades viewshed.
Prohibits retailers from scanning consumer's identification card for return of merchandise.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Provides for BPU incentives for district energy collaboratives and certain combined heat and power facilities.
Creates Office of Clean Energy in BPU.
Requires electric public utilities operating or providing service to certain LED street lights to charge customers only for actual costs.
"New Jersey Traffic Management Act"; requires certain employers to plan and implement traffic reduction programs for employees.
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.
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.
Expands One-Call Damage Prevention System to include underground contamination with engineering or institutional controls.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain solar energy system expenditures.
Requires Site Improvement Advisory Board to offer recommendations to encourage sustainable development.
Requires DCA to authorize municipalities to impose highly-enhanced energy conservation construction requirements.
Requires DCA to adopt Statewide solar installation subcode.
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.
Requires water purveyors to develop and implement a drought interconnection system.
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.
Requires electric public utilities to enter into long-term contracts for certain forms of Class I renewable energy.
Requires municipalities, public utilities, and State to use LED technology in certain street lights.
Requires certain State projects to be designed and managed to include sustainable landscapes.
Establishes electric vehicle rebate program.
Establishes standards for food date labeling; requires Commissioner of Health to establish public education program and promulgate guidelines related to food safety.
Expands net metering aggregation to all customers and provides credit for excess electric generation at full retail electricity rate to net metering aggregation customers.
Repeals law providing CAFRA permit exemption for certain grading or excavation of a dune.
Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to issue up to $20 million in bonds to finance cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in State, local, and school district buildings.
Establishes uniform alternative assessment for commercial renewable energy systems and limits municipal construction permit fees for non-commercial renewable energy systems.
"Water Resources Protection Trust Fund Act"; establishes user fee on water consumption and diversion; utilizes fee revenue for water quality, supply, and infrastructure projects.
Requires all newly constructed warehouses to be solar-ready buildings.
Establishes Statewide targets to reduce disposal of organic waste in landfills; requires DEP to adopt regulations to achieve targets.
Prohibits municipal zoning ordinances from regulating solar panels under certain circumstances; limits fees for certain renewable energy installations.
Authorizes DEP rulemaking to prevent backsliding of certain State environmental regulations due to changes in federal law or regulation.
Requires all motorbuses purchased for public transportation service to be electric-powered by 2029.
Directs New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, Office of Information Technology, and New Jersey Big Data Alliance to develop advanced cyberinfrastucture strategic plan.
Establishes pilot program in DOE for organization of county administrative school districts.
Directs DEP to adopt regulations concerning identification and testing of microplastics in drinking water.
Directs DEP to develop model ordinance for municipalities to regulate deposit and storage of soil and fill materials.
Establishes "NJ One Health Task Force."
Requires each solid waste management district to develop strategy in solid waste management plan to reduce food waste.
Requires developers to offer electric vehicle charging stations as option in certain new home construction.
Provides purchasing preference to local and environmentally responsible businesses in awarding of State contracts.
Requires DOT to develop asphalt pavement fine aggregate mixture specifications and minimum use requirements for waste glass.
"Plastic Container Recycling Enhancement Act."
Filed2
Requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends definition of "Class I renewable energy."
Provides two-year exemption for hospitals from requirement to source separate and recycle food waste.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law8
Establishes and modifies clean energy and energy efficiency programs; modifies State's solar renewable energy portfolio standards.
Makes supplemental appropriation of $50 million from General Fund to DEP and adds language provisions concerning use of certain environmental settlement monies for natural resource restoration projects.
Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey.
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste.
Authorizes sale and conveyance of certain State-owned real property in Stafford Township, Ocean County to US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Makes various changes to laws governing remediation of contaminated sites.
Modifies powers and duties of New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.
Prohibits sale, lease, rent or installation of certain equipment or products containing hydrofluorocarbons or other greenhouse gases.
Vetoed1
Requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends definition of "Class I renewable energy."
Passed the General Assembly1
Permits certain deer control activities; establishes check-off donation on hunting license applications to support venison donation program; authorizes issuance of multi-species depredation permit for wildlife control on farmland.*
Co-sponsored
Became law · 5
Extends statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims; expands categories of potential defendants in civil actions; creates two-year window for parties to bring previously time-barred actions based on sexual abuse.*
Increases civil penalties for certain natural gas or hazardous liquid facility safety violations.
Requires BPU consideration and approval of amended application for qualified wind energy project offshore in certain NJ territorial waters.
Establishes zero emission certificate program for nuclear power plants.
Revises "New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act" to prohibit smoking at public beaches and parks. *
Passed the Senate · 1
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.
Out of committee · 10
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ's required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.*
Establishes and modifies clean energy and energy efficiency programs; establishes zero emission certificate program; modifies State's solar renewable portfolio standards. *
Revises criteria to establish base year for homestead property tax reimbursement after relocation.
Specifies minimum 20-year planning duration for NJ Statewide Water Supply Plan and adds new requirements for plan.
Authorizes prescribed burning in certain circumstances.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to farmers who develop qualified native pollinator habitat on farms.
Establishes fee on single-use carryout bags used in certain stores and dedicates fee revenue to "Healthy Schools and Community Lead Abatement Fund."
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.
Permits municipalities to establish affordable housing preference for first responders.
Establishes "Comprehensive Geriatric Fall Prevention Pilot Program" in DHS; appropriates $11.7 million.*
In committee · 15
Prohibits use of smokeless tobacco in public schools.
Establishes "The Democracy Act" to modify various voter registration and voting procedures.
Requires pesticide applicator to notify beekeeper when applying pesticide within three miles of registered honey or native beehive or beeyard.
Requires training for pesticide applicators and operators concerning pollinating bees.
Requires water purveyors to develop and implement leak detection programs.
Revises requirements and training standards for first responders under New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Act of 1987.
Requires State's full participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Adds two student representatives to board of governors of Rutgers University.
"Water Infrastructure Improvement Bond Act of 2018," authorizes bonds for $400,000,000, and appropriates $5,000.
Allows cultivation of commercial shellfish species in certain coastal and inner harbor waters for research and educational purposes and repeals law that allows DEP to adopt certain regulations concerning such cultivation.
Authorizes installation of automatic standby generators in certain residences without zoning or planning board approval.
Directs certain unclaimed water utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund be paid to Statewide nonprofit utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.
Revises DEP's Green Acres Program to encourage promotion and protection of urban forests.
Allows gross income tax deduction for amounts paid for lead or asbestos hazard abatement in taxpayer's primary residence.
Requires public water systems to provide customers and local officials with expedited notice of elevated lead levels.