Bills in the 2026–2027 Session, Senate.
Bob Smith
Sponsored
Became law1
Appropriates $15,546,575 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.
Passed the Senate4
Establishes "Fleet Conversion Task Force" in DEP.
Creates Joint Blue Ribbon Task Force on Impacts of Climate Change on Property Insurance.
Modifies certain requirements for transmission-scale energy storage procurement under BPU incentive program.
Authorizes renewable energy systems on preserved farmland to provide power or heat to adjacent properties, under certain conditions.
Out of committee7
Requires BPU to establish distributed energy storage incentive program.*
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.
"Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act"; requires certain business entities to publicize annual greenhouse gas emissions data.
Requires energy usage plan for proposed artificial intelligence data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities; requires all electricity for artificial intelligence data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities to be derived from new clean energy sources.
"Electronic Cigarette Extended Producer Responsibility Act."
Establishes thermal energy network pilot program for gas public utilities.*
Allows value of SREC-IIs to be included in cost-benefit calculations under energy savings improvement programs.
In committee87
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex.
Establishes standards for food date labeling; requires Commissioner of Health to establish public education program and promulgate guidelines related to food safety.
Establishes Renewable and Efficient Energy Financing Program; authorizes BPU to transfer up to $20 million annually in societal benefits charge revenues to New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for purposes of program.
"Water Resources Protection Trust Fund Act"; establishes user fee on water consumption and diversion; utilizes fee revenue for water quality, supply, and infrastructure projects.
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.
Directs New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, Office of Information Technology, and New Jersey Big Data Alliance to develop advanced cyberinfrastructure strategic plan.
Authorizes local law enforcement officers to conduct certain alternative deer control methods.
Revises "Franchise Practices Act."
Requires producers of packaging products sold in New Jersey to adopt and implement packaging product stewardship plans.
Provides CBT tax credit for retrofit of existing warehouses with solar-ready zone once solar panels are installed.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging stations and for commercial zero emission vehicle fleet conversions.
Requires Division of Rate Counsel to consider environmental impacts of proposed rate or service measure when representing public interest in certain proceedings and appeals.
Directs BPU to update interconnection standards for Class I renewable energy sources and develop fixed fee structure for interconnection costs.
Establishes certain State goals for sale of zero-emission medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks, and certain off-road vehicles and equipment.
Requires all motorbuses purchased for public transportation service to be electric-powered by 2035; makes annual appropriation of $82 million.
Requires school districts to include environmental sustainability plan in long-range facilities plan.
Directs Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote State aquaculture products through Jersey Fresh Program; establishes annual $25,000 appropriation.
Prohibits sale and use of certain gas-powered leaf blowers; provides CBT credit for purchase of electric leaf blower that replaces gas-powered leaf blower.
Directs NJ Infrastructure Bank to establish financing program for electric school buses; allocates $20 million annually in societal benefits charge revenues to NJ Infrastructure Bank for purposes of program.
Establishes limits on zoning restrictions for certain electric battery storage equipment installation.
Establishes Nuclear Power Advisory Commission.
Codifies certain energy goals related to 2019 Energy Master Plan.
Authorizes regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)" and "Global Warming Response Act."
Directs BPU to establish certain standards concerning electric public utility use of customer energy usage data.
Prohibits sale, distribution, and import of certain products marketed as recyclable, unless DEP determines that products are widely recycled.
Prohibits use by certain retailers of shipping box greater than two times volume of product being shipped.
Allows public bodies to conduct meetings by electronic means.
Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program.
Requires HMFA to establish "Sustainable Tiny Home Pilot Program" in three regions of State; appropriates $5 million.
Exempts solar energy systems from building fees.
Requires owners and operators of certain landfills to control and monitor landfill gas emissions.
Establishes NJ Wind Institute for Innovation and Training.
Establishes Capital Project Development Loan Program to support certain large-scale redevelopment projects; appropriates $300 million.
Establishes tax credits and financial grant related to construction and operation of advanced nuclear energy facilities.
Requires electric public utilities to submit to BPU and implement integrated distribution plans.
"New Jersey Clean Energy Act of 2024"; establishes 100 percent clean electricity standard and directs BPU to establish clean electricity certificate program.
Eliminates prohibition on paper bags, and allows packaging options, for certain grocery orders for three years; requires program for disposition of reusable bags; extends timeframe for use of certain bags by food banks and pantries.
Establishes "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" to support repurposing, remanufacturing, and recycling of electric vehicle batteries; dedicates amounts based on certain sales of electric vehicles.
Requires BPU to allow low- and moderate-income residential customers to self-attest to income for participation in community solar programs.
Requires manufacturers of electric vehicles to establish and implement electric vehicle battery management plans.
Directs BPU to conduct study to determine feasibility of use of large-scale geothermal heat pump systems in State.
Requires BPU to study and implement methods to allow additional distributed energy sources to interconnect to electrical grid.
Establishes new position of Clean Energy Advocate in BPU to facilitate coordination and cooperation among various State agencies in association with implementation of interagency clean energy projects.
Requires BPU to establish beneficial building electrification and decarbonization program and requires electric public utilities to prepare and implement beneficial building electrification and decarbonization plans.
Requires BPU to designate solar portion of critical renewable microgrid as solar energy project under Community Solar Energy Program; requires Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to designate certain microgrids as assets of importance.
Requires owner or operator of certain trains to have discharge response, cleanup, and contingency plans to transport certain hazardous materials by rail; requires DEP to request bridge inspection reports from US DOT.
Concerns contracting powers of certain local entities related to redevelopment.
Establishes conditions for net metering for authorized food waste recycling facilities.
Requires electric public utilities to submit new tariffs for commercial customers for BPU approval; regulates non-volumetric electricity fees charged to operators of fast charging electric vehicle chargers.
Authorizes State Treasurer to appoint Garden State Preservation Trust acting executive director under certain conditions.
Requires electric public utilities to develop and implement grid modernization plans; appropriates $300 million.
Directs DEP to establish leasing program for State-owned land to be used and managed as pollinator habitat.
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain solar energy system expenditures.
Provides FY 2024 supplemental appropriations to, and establishes "Drinking Water Emergency Response Fund" in, DEP; appropriates $6.85 million to fund and various divisions of DEP.
Increases FY2024 appropriation from General Fund to DCF for the Center for Great Expectations by $1.5 million from $500,000 to $2.0 million.
Establishes various programs in DEP concerning management of publicly owned forested land; appropriates $60 million.
Requires solid waste management districts to develop strategy to reduce food waste; requires DEP to adopt certain rules and regulations regarding composting facilities.
Establishes "Solar Roof Installation Warranty Program" in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to initially fund program.
Codifies Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Eagleton Institute of Politics; makes appropriation.
Requires installation of smart thermostats in all new residential construction.
Requires electric public utilities to submit to BPU and implement electric infrastructure improvement plans.
Establishes natural disaster relief grant program in DEP; appropriates $250 million.
Requires producers of plastic packaging and certain other plastic products to reduce quantity of plastic sold; restricts additional substances under "Toxic Packaging Reduction Act."
Prohibits food service business from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers under certain circumstances and requires DEP to establish education campaign on benefits of reducing single-use utensils and condiments.
Provides gross income tax deduction for amounts paid to taxpayers for sale of certain real property interests for conservation purposes.
"Packaging and Paper Product Stewardship Act."
Requires electric public utilities to upgrade certain portions of electric transmission and distribution system with advanced conductors.
Revises New Jersey Aspire Program to clarify that certain incentive awards may not be prorated.
Requires filtration system to capture microfibers and microplastics on washing machines sold on or after January 1, 2030.
Requires certain State-funded construction projects to utilize plastic construction materials that contain certain amounts of postconsumer recycled content.
Requires State Police to establish recovery leave policy for troopers presenting proof of pregnancy.
Revises various provisions of MLUL; provides for certain model applications and checklists.
Authorizes BPU to provide site approval for small modular reactors; authorizes operators of small modular reactors to store spent nuclear fuel on-site.
Requires electric public utilities to apply to BPU for certificate of public convenience and necessity prior to undertaking transmission project.
Requires Commissioner of Community Affairs to amend or supplement State Uniform Construction Code concerning use of balcony solar panel systems.
Provides for certain energy storage projects to be considered "inherently beneficial use" under MLUL.
Requires four-year public institutions of higher education to require undergraduate students to complete course on climate change.
Increases solar development goals of SREC-II program and extends certain target dates of program to 2035.
Modifies provisions concerning licenses for persons who transport, broker, or process solid waste or soil and fill recyclable materials.
Establishes certain protections against demand by large-load addition customers in State.
Establishes program and investment fund in DEP to support implementation of Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; authorizes creation of special Wildlife Corridor license plates.
Authorizes long-term public contracts of up to 25 years for provision of electricity and related products for energy storage systems.
"Clean Water and Safe Communities Bond Act," authorizes bonds for $5 billion; appropriates $5,000.
"Protect our Health from Plastics Act."
Aligns criteria for designating endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species with federal standards.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law1
Modifies certain requirements for transmission-scale energy storage procurement under BPU incentive program.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 2
Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing reproductive health care services; establishes right of residents to reproductive health care activity that is restricted in other states.*
"Garden State Balcony Solar Act"; exempts portable solar generation devices from certain requirements, and requires certain entities to allow use and installation of portable solar generation devices.**
Out of committee · 9
Establishes "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey." **
Requires construction project applicants to disclose project financing.
Establishes Office of Clean Energy Equity in BPU; directs establishment of certain clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs for overburdened communities; makes change to community solar program.
"Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act"; imposes cost recovery payments on certain fossil fuel companies for funds needed for climate change adaptation; establishes program in DEP to collect and oversee distribution of funds.*
Supplements FY2026 Appropriations Act; makes $10 million off-budget appropriation to NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program.
Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract.
Establishes "New Jersey Private Contractor Registration Act."
Regulates use of artificial intelligence-based systems for electronic monitoring regarding employment and public services.
"Power NJ Act"; establishes advanced nuclear energy procurement program in BPU.
In committee · 27
Authorizes EDA to provide grants from "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to finance replacement of certain agricultural equipment.
Requires BPU to work with neighboring states to research and recommend certain action concerning electric capacity and transmission.
Prohibits aquaculture of any species of octopus for purpose of human consumption.
Directs DEP to develop State water infrastructure investment plan; requires NJ Infrastructure Bank to publish additional information about water infrastructure projects; appropriates $200,000 to NJ Infrastructure Bank.
"Invasive Species Management Act"; prohibits sale, distribution, import, export, and propagation of certain invasive species; establishes NJ invasive Species Council.
"Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act"; establishes requirements, prohibitions, and programs for regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Requires public water systems and landlords to provide certain notice of elevated perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances levels in drinking water; requires DEP to establish educational program.
Requires health insurance coverage of diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing.
Authorizes use of school bus monitoring systems.
Permits purchase of service credit in PERS for time served as Eagleton Science and Politics Fellow.
Requires state entities purchase five percent of goods and services from Central Nonprofit Agency; requires Division of Purchase and Property establish training protocols for all purchasing agents; grants Central Nonprofit Agency right of first refusal.
Authorizes provision of monetary awards to whistleblowers who report State tax law violations committed by employers in construction industry.
Reaffirms continuation of Rutgers Institute of Management and Labor Relations; appropriates $750,000.
Prohibits certain uses of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.
Establishes low-carbon transportation fuel standard program in DEP.
Excludes environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from designation as vacant or available for purposes of affordable housing construction.
Allocates $7.5 million annually of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenue for preservation of land in Highlands Region.
Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act."
Establishes "New Jersey Reparations Task Force."
Healthy and Affordable Construction for Tomorrow Act.
Establishes requirements for on-demand micro transit programs operating in NJ.
Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act."
Changes certain allocations and amounts of constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for Fiscal Year 2026 and thereafter; authorizes Garden State Preservation Trust and local governments to acquire lands in urban areas for agricultural or horticultural purposes.
Establishes Division of Energy Resource and Development; transfers certain responsibilities from BPU to the Division of Energy Resource and Development.
Includes Sikhs as protected class in bias intimidation law; appropriates $100,000.
Clarifies that amateur sports official is independent contractor for purposes of State employment laws.
"Public School Employees' Health Benefits Trust Act."