Establishes two-year pilot program to address antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in State water systems; appropriates $3 million.

This bill creates a two-year pilot program in New Jersey to detect and monitor antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in various water systems, including wastewater plants, hospitals, surface waters, and agricultural areas. The Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Health, and New Jersey Infrastructure Bank will collaborate to implement the program using advanced testing methods like biosensors and metagenomic sampling. The state will appropriate $3 million for the initiative, which includes establishing a centralized database for results, issuing public health alerts when threats are detected, and requiring quarterly reporting from tested sites. Testing frequency will increase to weekly for locations with recent detections of antibiotic-resistant organisms, while the program will also fund annual training for personnel conducting these specialized tests.