Expands Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Programs to include assistance for water utility bill.

This bill expands New Jersey's existing Lifeline Credit Program and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program to include water utility bill assistance, which was previously limited to electric and gas bills. It directly affects low-income residents who qualify for the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security disability benefits and meet income/residency requirements. The key change adds water utility bills to the covered services, with one-third of the annual $225 credit now applied to water bills, while the remaining two-thirds continue to cover electric and gas (split between them or combined if provided by one utility). The eligibility criteria and credit amount remain unchanged, but the expansion ensures water costs are included in the assistance.