S 3113 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Supplements FY2026 Appropriations Act; makes $10 million off-budget appropriation to NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program.

This bill adds $10 million from the Universal Service Fund (an off-budget source) to the NJSHARES-S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance in New Jersey. It directly helps homeowners and tenants facing financial hardship with past-due utility bills, including arrearages. The program requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs to quickly establish eligibility guidelines, ensuring applicants aren’t receiving duplicate benefits from private insurance or other programs. This supplement builds on an existing $5 million appropriation for the same program in the FY2026 budget.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 5, 2026

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What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill → Introduced · 4 edits · Jan 13, 2026

MODERATE

The bill moved from a prefiled technical review stage to introduced status. A new STATEMENT section was added summarizing that the bill supplements the FY2026 Appropriations Act by appropriating an additional $10 million from the off-budget Universal Service Fund to the NJSHARES S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance, on top of a prior $5 million General Fund appropriation. The statement also clarifies eligibility rules requiring recipients not to be eligible for or receiving private insurance or other available funding (duplication of benefits).

FISCAL

A STATEMENT section was added confirming the bill appropriates an additional $10 million from the off-budget Universal Service Fund to the NJSHARES S.M.A.R.T. Program for utility payment assistance, supplementing a prior $5 million General Fund appropriation in the FY2026 Appropriations Act.

ELIGIBILITY

The new statement clarifies that to be eligible for a grant, a homeowner or tenant may not be eligible for, or a recipient of, funding from private insurance or any other available funding opportunity, which would constitute a duplication of benefits.

REQUIREMENT

The statement directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with the bill to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner.

TECHNICAL

Procedural changes: bill designation changed from 'S3113 TR' to 'S3113', status changed from 'As reported by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee with technical review' to 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel', and co-sponsor list was reduced from 11 senators to 2 (Greenstein and Singleton).

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee

upper

2 primary · 10 co-sponsors