A 5563 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes "Summer Termination Program" for certain utility customers.

This bill creates a "Summer Termination Program" that prevents utility companies (including local authorities, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and public utilities) from disconnecting electricity, water, or sewer service to eligible residential customers during extreme heat. It triggers when a 72-hour forecast predicts temperatures reaching or exceeding 85°F for at least 24 hours. Eligible customers include those receiving assistance under the existing Winter Termination Program or those unable to pay bills due to hardships like unemployment, illness, or family emergencies. The program requires the Department of Community Affairs and the Board of Public Utilities to establish self-certification processes for customers to claim financial hardship.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Signed Sep 24, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 30, 2025 · General Assembly Jun 30, 2025

How they voted

2514
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jun 30, 2025
D Democratic25
24 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
R Republican15
1 Yea 13 Nay 1
86% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Sep 24, 2025
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.145.
executive
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (57-11-11)
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (25-14)
upper
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Amendment (25-14) (Mukherji)
upper
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (57-11-11)
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Transferred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
lower
6 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors